Thursday Favorites: My Outdoor Workshop

Once a year we make it up to the Northern part of the Adirondacks, near the Canadian border. It is time to forget about the world, my day job, and the demands in my life. I get to sit on the screened-in porch, bead and listen to the wind and birds. 

Occasionally I get a burst of energy and get out on the lake for a paddle in the kayak, but mostly I get to bead. I love my time in the mountains.

I brought a stash of books with me; inclusive of my favorite bead books. I’ve been revisiting a few patterns that I’ve had book marked for some time. I thought I finally try out some bead stitches I’ve been meaning to practice.

This pretty little pattern is one I’ve looked at for a while, but just never got around to giving it a try. It is from a book that I LOVE called Beaded Allure by Kelly Wiese. There are some amazing beading projects in this book, including this one.

I recently pulled apart several strands of glass pearls my mother gave me a few years ago that she never wore. I hesitate to call them 'antique' just yet. But they are close enough. I wanted something that was sort of 'dressed up-Bohemian' so I used yellow seed beads and a mix of glass pearl sizes. I haven't yet decided how I want to finish the closure as the patterns calls for using a bead, but with the weight of this pattern I doubt that would hold. So I'll sift through my buttons once I'm back home, and perhaps some pearl buttons will do the trick.

Once I've finished up this pattern, I'll re-post it complete with a few modeling shots from my favorite model. My daughter.

Thursday Favorites Blog Hop: The Next Generation

Are you mentoring anyone? I was asked that the other day by a friend who was lamenting that we don't seem to teach our children how to make things from scratch or teach them how to sew, or craft, or knit like our moms and grandmothers did. 

I noticed my daughter kept hanging around the bead table asking if she could help? Usually the answer was "sure can you grab that thread for me?" or "would you mind sorting these beads for me?" But this question from my friend was bothering me. And I decided it was time to do something about it. I started a simple beaded peyote bracelet and showed my daughter what I was doing and spilled the beads in front of her .. then let her at it.


Look at the concentration on her face. It might take a few times to get that stitch straight, but look at her go. The next beading generation? 

Then the funny thing was that within a day's time I saw the exact same post on my friend Thea's blog. Thea over at BabyCocktails is a popular knitter, and someone I've known for a long time. Her post was exactly what was going on in my house. She has the next generation knitter going to town over there! It is a cute story; if you have time, stop by and read the mystery note left for Mom on her table.

So for this week's Thursday Favorites feature, I'm featuring two of my favorite next generation artists. Keep on beading and knitting girls! 

BTW: My Own Room

Usually I show what project I'm working on (up close) on Bead Table Wednesdays. But the project on the table (in this shot) is the one I revealed on Sunday; the turquoise ribbon choker. So since you've already seen that, I thought I'd 'pan out' and show you my table and my newly re-claimed room. Well it isn't an entire room, but a nice big corner of it. 


This room has been dedicated to the kids for years, but now that they are outgrowing all the dolls, blocks, dress up clothes, etc ... I was able to clean it out. I managed to organize a great, dedicated space to focus on my beading projects. Complete with a few closets to store all the tins, tools and photography equipment. 


I've only had this space for about 2 weeks now, but I totally love it. I can lay out my projects and beads and still have space to work. And I'm no longer forever digging through piles of unorganized beading stuff. And I have room for friends ... maybe I'll have to start a beading group?

The Final Piece: Turquoise

I lost track of how many times I pulled this one apart. And in the end simplicity won. I had lots of other beads on this ribbon choker. Large turquoise heshi beads, silver, jasper .. but it was just too heavy and threw the whole thing off. So one, by one .. I pulled the strands apart and worked my way back to even weight beads. It is just what made sense, and you gotta listen to the beads. 


So to finish this turquoise project, this necklace completes the set for my friend. She asked for earrings, bracelet and necklace. She picked the boho bracelet with the charm (I knew she would) and the elegant long silver earrings (check, and check). This was made for her son's girlfriend as her birthday is coming up next week. I hope she likes the set. 

Time to Stitch Blog Hop: My Blue Peyote

It's time to reveal our projects for the Time to Stitch blog hop. Christine from One Kiss Creations and Theresa from Therese's Treasures are hosting this hop and have asked that we focus our beading to one of two stitches: peyote and herringbone. 


I started off with a pattern that I've been wanting to try from the first minute I saw it. It's called Dragon Dance by Csilla Csirmz from the Beadwork May 2012 issue. It is a combination of both peyote and herringbone where you flip the pattern every inch or so to create a wave. I started over several times, and finally completed the 6 waves to the pattern, but I think my tension on this is off and I will likely start again. Christine asked that we post projects even if not yet complete. I don't see it as a failure, but as a start to a stitch that I hope to improve on with each try. I have been wanting to try herringbone for some time, and this is my first attempt. So thank you Christine and Therese for pushing me to finally do this!  So, Instead of getting frustrated and rushing to try the bracelet again, I decided to switch over to quick, simple peyote bracelet. 


Peyote I have tried several times, and find fun. I just picked up these Miyuki seed beads the other day because I just love the color. I've been on a bit of a turquoise jag of late, and this packet was tossed in the basket on one of those trips in search of just the right turquoise combination. These did not end up in any of the turquoise pieces, but they took center stage for this bracelet. I added a silver toggle with some rustic swirls that bring a Mediterranean finish to this pretty sea blue. 


I did double check my stitch in one of my favorite books Teach Yourself Visually Beadwork, which is a great reference for many of the basic stitches. Just in case you're in search of a good reference book. 


And now it is time to check out all my fellow bead bloggers and their projects! 

Therese Frank and Christine Altmiller

Katherine Gale

Emma Andrews

Karin Slaton

Kim Bender

Lola Surwillo

Amy Severino

Bobbie Rafferty

Sally Russick

Tanya Goodwin

Paula Kramer

Sarah

Karen Williams

Shannon Hicks

Andra Weber

Beth

DW

Marla Gibson

Lisa Stukel
Mandy Duffy
Cynthia Machata (You are Here)
Shirley Moore

Inspiration Board: Turquoise

My last couple of blog entries have been about creating a jewelry turquoise series. I have already created a couple of bracelets, several pair of earrings which I'm revealing today. They range from a rustic Boho rough cut stone, to a more elegant silver cone pair to one of my favorite pearl drop styles. I still have a few more on the table that are in need of inspiration, and so I set it aside for now and went surfing. 

Sometimes I just need to look at pictures, and lately I've been turning to Pinterest to wash me over with color and style. This is the Inspiration Board I created from my Island Life board (you'll find my button on the right if you want to follow me and see more), or if you prefer to pin your own you'll find these pictures from a great collection I found on tumblr.


I still have more to come in my turquoise quest. There will be a few more pairs of earrings and a necklace. The necklace is pinned in place on the beading table for now. I've changed out the beads at least 3 times, but I think I finally have a pattern I like. So after a lovely day in this beautiful sunshine I'm heading back to the beading table to power through completing it. I'll show you the final version later in the week. So check back and let me know what you think.

BTW: Herringbone AND Peyote

Ok ladies, say a prayer for me. I have joined the upcoming Time to Stitch blog hop and I am attempting herringbone for the first time. And not only herringbone but combining that with peyote AND flipping the pattern back and forth to create waves. Seriously I must have lost my mind picking this pattern! I've started over a few times, but I am pushing myself to complete this project. So what is currently on my beading table this week is a blue wave bracelet that is nearly complete.


Yes, yes I know Bead Table Wednesday is supposed to be posted on a Wednesday. But I was so busy beading I never got to the post.  So here is a peak at the table as of yesterday. Maybe by next Wednesday I'll be able to post the final picture on Flickr. *Fingers crossed*

Thursday Favorites Blog Hop: Thankful While in India

I've recently joined an on-going weekly blog hop called Thursday Favorite Things over at Katherine's Corner blog. It is focused to either writing about your favorite things or sharing a link to a favorite post.  Still getting the hang of this hop, but here goes.  
I wrote last December about traveling with my Mother-in-Law through India (click here to read the story). It is a true story, and a funny one at that. It is meant to be a series of the top 10 things to be thankful for while in India.  I haven't written them all yet, but will endeavor to complete the series by year's end.  If you've never been to India, I do recommend seeing it at least once in your life. But understand that India is not exactly a vacation, but more of an adventure. Enjoy!

Shop Talk: What Exactly is Boho?

I took the advice of several of you and added both a charm and a little bit of silver chain. This is the final version of the Boho Southwestern bracelet. I also made a second version with contrasting black jasper in a twist pattern and a longer slide clasp. I couldn't decide if this second bracelet was really Boho, and so I decided to check out the definition of Boho.











Got to love Wikipedia. I always get a lengthy explanation to my questions. The search for Boho led me to a definition of Bohemian and "people who live unconventional, usually artistic lives." Hmm, well that could mean a lot of things. Wikipedia calls the fashion trend inspired by Bohemian lifestyles as 'Boho Chic' where "ruffly floral skirts are worn in hopes of looking bohemian or nomadic." The definition also says that it is inspired from gypsy girls who are "sexy precisely because they do not give a hoot for fashion." I love this last part. 


I thought I'd cross reference this definition with one from the Urban Dictionary. Here they call it vintage. I find the use of vintage all over the map, which I wrote about a few blogs back. This definition says Boho Chic combines "colorful, detailed, folk-inspired pieces with simple, modern pieces." They give an example of "wearing a beaded peasant dress with a white tanktop." A popular look in my part of the world. They claim it was started by "Sienna Miller in 2005 who wore bohemian-style clothing to a movie premiere in London." My favorite part of this definition is that they claim the style will be dead by 2007. Really? It's dead?


What do you think .... is Boho dead?

Shop Talk: Turquoise Quest

The turquoise beads that I've been pushing around my table are starting to take shape. This first installment is a twist bracelet with a slide clasp. The stones range from blues to greens in hue, and I mixed in a little dyed coral in a sky blue to balance it on the bluer side. I am not entirely happy with this one. It needs something ... perhaps a charm? 


I am actually in search of more contrast with the beads. So back to the bead store (I know --- can you believe it --- an excuse to shop) to pick up even more turquoise rounds and a contrasting black jasper. 


Fairly certain I will have several extra pieces of turquoise jewelry ending up on my Etsy site given the amount of turquoise I now have sitting in front of me. I'm hoping I have a few turquoise lovers out there.


I'll be back with the next installment and a revised bracelet pattern, along with a necklace and of course earrings. I'm probably going to have to create several pairs of earrings as I can't decide if I should go Southwestern, Boho, or use a touch of elegance with some pearls. Most likely I'll do all three and ask your advice! So check back ... and I'll have more for you to ponder with me in my turquoise quest.

Blog Hop: Linky

Quick Announcement: if you're looking to meet new bloggers out there, you might want to join this Linky Hop. You can find out the details over at New End Studio or contact Katherine at Katherine's Corner. Hope to see you there!