Insta Blog :: New Mexico

I'm trying to figure out the balance between my love of blogging and my new favorite form of connecting online; Instagram. I do love being able to just post a picture, and walk away. But it has become more than that as the pictures become sort of an art form for me. But what I miss is the story telling that comes with a blog post. So I'm going to try out something a little different. I'm going to try picking a few of my Instagram posts for a bit more story telling. 

I was able to get a bit of beading done over the holiday (you saw my latest RBG necklace), which I finish one or two and have several in progress. It does give me a bit of anxiety having 'in progress' pieces knowing how quickly I will get pulled under once I'm back in the office. 

Anyway, for this 'in progress' piece, I pulled out a double cab set of azurite I picked up in Old Town Albuquerque from one of the many places specializing in Native American jewelry. They had a huge case of loose stones way in the back of the store. Like any self-respecting beader ... I headed straight to the back to dig. That pile of stones had me wanting to walk out with several bags, but I did show some restraint as I 'only' bought about 10 cabs. I brought in my reinforcement and had my daughter help me narrow things down.

Azurite has the look of turquoise, but for a much more affordable cost. It has intense, deep blue-green coloring and plenty of veining. So if you're in to that ... then azurite might be your stone. I prefer the veining, or inclusions, as it makes for much more interesting patterns in the stone. One thing I didn't know about azurite is that is slowly weathers to malachite (one of my all-time favorite stones). Apparently the elements, and particularly light, 'greens' the deep blue. Huh, that's cool. They say you should store azurite jewelry in darkness (a box, a drawer) away from heat. Perhaps that is why the case of azurite was in the back of the store? 

This one is still on the bead table as I decide exactly how I want to connect the stones and finish off the back strap. But it is at least some progress in a fairly long drought of beading.

Stone Cabochon Series :: #8

The one thing about blogging that I always find so interesting is that it keeps me curious, and pushes me to learn something new. And so it goes with this stone. This is a banded calcite stone that I purchased from Hampton Rock Shop. I love the stripes in this piece; it reminds me of the rock formations in Monument Valley. 

When I did a little background on calcite I found out that this type of stone forms in a globular shape from a precipice where calcium-rich water is flowing. Such as inside a cavern or off a limestone cliff. Some people classify these as just 'rocks' because of the impurities that tend to get trapped in the stone such as leaves, twigs and moss. Just rocks. Well I find the impurities the most interesting part of the 'rock' design. Impurities are what make life more interesting.

Stone Cabochon Series :: #7

This cabochon set is the one where I hit the wall and was completely stumped as to why I just wasn't happy with the first version. 

Sometimes I will be beading along and just not feeling it. The beads don't look right, the color seems off or the way the final piece hangs is just off. That was the case with this one.

The original design I used a copper silk fabric. And while it looked lovely lying on the bead table, the second you put it on it was twisting this way and that. The balance and weight of the stones was just off vs. the delicate silk fabric. 

So I put the piece down to rethink it. And it just sat there for months on the bead table staring at me. I would pick it up and match it to another fabric. Nothing seemed to be working. And so I moved on to other projects as I circle around this one picking it up, and promptly putting it back down again. 

And then it hit me. Why wasn't I using chain? Of course that was what the problem was. I really like how these two stones came together. They are clearly not the same. One is a jadite looking agate (at least I assume it is an agate). The other has almost a Feldspar look to it with all the flecks. I have absolutely no idea what either stone is, but my friend Christine would tell me that when in doubt it probably is an agate!

The other change I made which might not be as obvious is that I pulled off the lower level of beads around the bezel. I realized once I switched out the neck strap that it was too 'bead heavy' for the cabochon. It just didn't need that extra layer. I find myself trying to simplify my beading these days. Not sure why, but just want a 'less is more' look.

Stone Cabochon Series :: #6

I have a few more of the double stone cabochons to post that I was creating last Fall. The others are here: #1, #2, #3, #4 and #5

This one is a pair of pink shaded stones that Melinda Orr gifted to me. They are not the same stone, but look beautiful together. 

Clearly I took the pictures of the Bead Girl this last Fall when the temperatures were still well in the high 80s. With all the snow we've had lately it seems so long ago! 

With this grey weather it is nearly impossible to get a decent photo of any of my work. So I am happily going back through all the projects from the Fall that I didn't get a chance to post yet. There are actually quite a few!

Stone Cabochon Series :: #5

It's been awhile since I posted designs from my stone cabochon series. I have continued to bead and create new designs, but just haven't had time to post.

I was gifted all these beautiful stones from Melinda Orr over a year ago. And I've been working my way through my stash. They don't match exactly, but that has been all the fun. I have enjoyed mixing and matching and beading around them. I have half beaded sets, and quite a few sets still patiently awaiting a strap design. I don't know why I get so stumped on straps?

This particular set sat on the bead table for months until one day I noticed that it was sitting next to another necklace with a hand made chain that really worked with the pattern. So I did what any designer does when hit with beader's block, you steal from another piece! Oh yes I did. I would rather figure out what to do with the other necklace than sit and stare at this one half finished.

For this set, I decided to try something a little different. I beaded around one, but left the second au naturel. I have absolutely no idea what either one of these stones are, but I love how the bottom one plays off the negative space in the one above. 

I have been having so much trouble lately with catching the light in a way to bring out the colors in the jewelry. But I find the pieces photograph so much better on a model. You can see my dilemma here in the picture off to the right. I must have screwed up the settings on my camera, and now can't seem to figure out what I had it on when the pictures were working. Which is really frustrating me.

I did do a little photo shoot with the Bead Girl to make sure I took pictures of the pieces piling up on the bead table to ensure I can show you what other beaded stone sets I've been working on. She was very patient with me pulling necklaces on and off, positioning then this way and that. I've neglected my blog lately, and I'm trying to carve out some time to make it over here to share some of the recent work. I do have more to come.   

Stone Cabochon Series :: #4

Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park

Years ago, before we had our kids, my husband and I took a road trip through the Southwestern US. What a gorgeous corner of the world, and something that continues to influence me when I sit down to create jewelry. 

The red rocks and painted desert of the area are breathtaking and remain carved into my memory along with our hike down into the grand canyon as we watched a thunder storm erupt along the opposite rim. Mother Nature's light show was spectacular.

I will absolutely never tire of the bold, but simple colors and geometric shapes from local artisans. I am inspired by the Southwestern Native American tribes of the region with Navajo, Zuni and Hopi being personal favorites. If you have time to browse, check out my Pinterest board for some of the regions beautiful inspiration.

This set of red stone cabochons gifted to me from Melinda Orr were two of the first I paired together for this series. While they are not of the same stone, they seem to depict the shifts and changes of the rock layers throughout the region. It is one of the memorable things about visiting the Southwest. I love how you can see the the layers of sediment exposed to the elements over the millennium; a rich history you can study as you hike these magnificent natural wonders. You can see more inspiration on my South by Southwest Pinterest board.

Each one of these paired cabochons has taken on its own personality, and this one seemed to need a brass chain to draw out the flecks in the sandstone. As I think about it, the first time I ever saw sandstone was in the small market as you enter Monument Valley. The cluster of vendor stalls were full of local craftsmen selling items in the traditional native Southwestern styles, including pottery, blankets, clothing, bags or jewelry. I've been in love with the stone ever since and it continues to reminds me of our trek through this region each time I pull it out to create.

Stone Cabochon Series :: #3

Haystack Rock Cannon Beach, OR

For as long as I can remember there has been one place, that when I close my eyes it is what I see. I can instantly feel the cool mist on my face, the whipping wind twisting my hair and the roar of the surf. It is the one place that can bring me peace from the moment I crest the hill, and round the corner to head down the long drive to Cannon Beach. The rock will come in and out of view as I wind my way there. 

When I looked into the pattern of the stone that Melinda Orr gifted me, all I could see was the silhouette of haystack rock that dominates the view from Cannon Beach. I see a "moody" winter sky surrounding the rock. Just as I remember it being most days. 

My childhood was spent along this coast line at the various beaches in the area, but nothing captivated me as much as this mammoth rock jutting out of the surf. I always wanted to climb it, and I would shift around to a side, dig in and begin to climb a few foot-holds up. But my mother would notice and yell to "get DOWN off that rock!" Once upon a time I was 7 and would wait until I thought my mother wasn't looking so I could sneak in a little excitement, something I was definitely not supposed to do. Yes people climbed it, and yes it was wet, slippery and dangerous. But there was a time in my life where I just wanted to see the view from up top. 

I no longer have this piece as a friend bought this one from me 2 weeks ago. She tried on almost every one of my stone cab necklaces in this series, and nearly bought the one I showed last weekend. But in the end she took this one. I knew from the beginning that this was the one for her, but it took her most of the weekend before she knew it too. She also took the cuff I posted last weekend. When she told me she wanted it, I was a bit taken aback because she exclaimed "oh, this will be perfect for the wedding I'm going to!" Totally didn't see that coming. But once she told me it was a wedding on a beach and she had a cute cotton jacket it would match, it all made sense to me. Absolutely nothing makes me happier than to think of her wearing these pieces.

ATTS 7: Bead Embroidery

I just love this hop hosted by Christine and Therese. Each one has been a challenge for me to try something new. To practice a stitch or technique. This installment had us trying our hand at bead embroidery. 

While I have been doing quite a few bead bezeling pieces lately, I wanted to try some stitching into fabric. So that is where I wanted to start this challenge. With a piece of fabric, some beads and a simple design. 

The last time that Christine and I got together for a beady weekend, I decided to get started on a piece for this hop. Christine happened to have a bit of grey cloth that matched a bead bezel focal I had just finished. She gifted me the cloth and I got started. I attached the focal and continued the design on the fabric with the same beads. I was going to fill in more beadwork, but both Christine and I agreed simple was better.

But it did just need a bit more, and so I decided to do some bead crochet for an edge. I stitched that in place and then added a suede backing to the fabric. I love the way this one feels on ... that suede backing is so comfortable! And the cuff has that bit of boho elegance that I love. So a win, win for me!

I thought I'd show you all another piece I recently finished. I've been in a bezeling mood lately and I've created a number of pieces with some small polished stones that Melinda Orr gifted me. There is a wide variety and I've had so much fun mixing and matching them. I'll come back and show you more later, but here is one of my favorites. 

I've discovered a nifty trick. If I glue a jump ring to the back of my focal, and then add the suede, I can stitch the whole piece together with a small loop for me to connect the focal. So instead of a large embroidered piece, I get a few individual pieces that connect and have a bit of swing to them. I have a growing collection to show you all that I'be been working on for months. Yes, I am just a tiny bit obsessed with this style.

Be sure to check out the rest of the hoppers today: our hosts Therese and Christine, Amy, Liz E, Kim, Janet, Bobbie, Maryanne, Karen, Becky, Shirley, Lola, Lori, Karin G, Debbie, Paula, Wendy, Jasvanti, Ginger, Alicia, Sarah, Lizzie, Samantha, Sally, and Niky

Make A Statement :: Featuring Therese Frank's Cabochon

Today's hop is hosted by Sally Russick featuring cabochons. She's left the rules a little loose so that people can create with their cabochons using metal smithing, wire wrapping, bead weaving or bead embroidery. I decided to go with a beaded bezel for my cabochon. But not just any cabochon, but one created by my beady friend Therese. 

I wanted to give a little shout out to her hop for next weekend with the ATTS crew (A Time To Stitch) for the 7th installment. Christine and Therese have been hosting this hop for the last few years now (has it really been that long?), and this upcoming hop (Saturday June 6) features bead embroidery. Therese was so sweet to share with many of us her cabochons that she personally made. Her skills seem to know no boundaries, and now she's added lapidary to them. Click here to see some of the other's she made.

The one she sent me I think is just beautiful. It is a plume agate and seems to have a landscape pattern to it. In doing a bit of homework on this type of agate I found that there are several large areas in Eastern Oregon and Idaho (the Owyhee Mountains and Graveyard Point) where they mine this type of agate. They say that plume agates are a seam agates and get their names from the plume like shapes from inclusions in the stones. Many are cloudy plumes, but you'll find brown and black mineral inclusions as well. One 'rock hound' said that when the agate is exposed to the elements it tends to make it look fractured, stained and cloudy. However these stones form, they make for some gorgeous eye candy to bead around.

For my cabochon I decided to use a mix of 'mineral' colors in gun metal grey, copper, brass and gold to highlight all those beautiful inclusions in Therese's stone. I tried (for quite some time) to add leather for the strap, but it just wasn't going to happen. I gave up and went with a simple chainmaille instead which gave this piece just the right balance and substance that I was looking for.

Please be sure to check out all the other artists and their cabochon pieces: Sally (our host), Therese, Sandi, Karin, Paula, Veralynne, Elizabeth, Niky and Terri