Bead Inspired

Snowflake Bead Challenge Part 2

2012-01-14T20:22:00.002-05:00

I made a second piece for the challenge. The first piece I made, in the previous post, was influenced by the winter weather of Michigan, using cool colors. My second piece was influenced by the warm weather and colors of Arizona. I unexpectedly spent some time there after my mother fell while hiking and broke her knee cap. After surgery and a short stay in a skilled care facility, I went to help her transition to home.

This pendant is inspired by a class I took with my friend Barb Klann, based on using mixed metals and a beaded bail. These colors are probably my favorite, lime green and turquoise. I incorporated some of the beads in the challenge with additional Czech firepolish and some metal pieces.

A close up of the main section above.

The beautiful porcelain bead hangs at the bottom of the pendant.

Secret Snowflake Participants
Please visit the blogs of all the jewelry designers who participated!

Alice (Alice Dreaming)
Chris (beadjewelry.net)
Christa (Adventures of One Beady Woman)
Crystal (Here Bead Dragons)
Cynthia (Cynth's Blog)
Dawn (Morning Glory Beading)
Donetta (Simply Gorgeous)
Erin A.
Jennifer (JenniferJW)
Jennifer (Jewelry, Art and Life)
Kari W. - Coming soon!
Kate (We Can Make That at Home)
Kay (Palm Coast Art)
Linda (Lindy's Designs)
Lisa C. (A Bead a Day)
Lisa (Inspired Adornments)
Mary (MLH Designs)
Michelle (Beads & Books) - YOU ARE HERE
Michelle B. (Reverie & Revival)
Millie (AMM Jewelry)
Norma (Moonlit Fantasies)
Pam (The Crazier Sister)
Pamela - Designs pictured on this page
Rebecca J. - Designs pictured on this page
Renetha (Lamplight Crafts)
Rosemarie (Gem Rose Designs)
Shannon (Falling into the Sky)
Susan (Bead Inspired)
Therese (Therese's Treasures)
Therese (Domestic Goddess Enterprises)

Snowflake Challenge Revealed

2012-01-14T20:22:00.001-05:00

The time has come to share the results of the Snowflake Challenge hosted by Michelle Mach. My project is a necklace. I used two of the pendant pieces for the focal points.

The ceramic pieces are hung from a peyote triangle bail.

The strap is a 3 unit herringbone. Since the colors are shiny, it was very hard to photograph. What I want to show here is that there is an area of alternating colors in a block pattern, separated by a Czech firepolish beads.

And here is the clasp, a simple hook and eye, which I usually prefer for its simplicity and comfort against the neck.

Thank you, Michelle, for hosting this challenge. I love the ceramic snowflakes (it's snowing out as I write this), and all the fringe beads, which I didn't really take advantage of using. Yet. I look forward to seeing everyone else's creations on their blogs!

Beading on Vacation

2011-12-19T13:48:00.001-05:00

My husband had a conference in Orlando and since it was at a nice hotel and the weather was supposed to be sunny and warm, I accompanied him. Of course, the weather was a bit cool and we only had one day of sun. However, I saw my friend Kathie who drove up from Sarasota and we had a great lunch at a Lebanese restaurant and then went to a very funky bead store called Dear Prudence. We got lots of ideas for bead projects there. Above is a picture of one of the rugs in the hotel. Although not my usual color palette, I liked the design.

I did do some beading on my snowflake challenge. I almost finished the strap for the pendant and bail. I think that perhaps I made the colors too subtle, so when I use the rest of the beads for another piece I will try to punch up the colors a bit. This picture must have been taken before I started the strap.

Next year the conference is in Maui. Tempting....

Snowflake Challenge

2011-12-05T12:00:00.000-05:00

I have been thinking about the challenge and what I want to make. Yesterday I started getting some beads together to see what I like. I have my bead box all set with my needles and scissors and other tools.

I love this ceramic pendant. I think it needs to be the focal point so I am looking at working with subtle colors. I like the blue and brownish seed beads I chose, but not the white ones or the pearls. One of my favorite straps is herringbone, but as I was falling asleep last night I had a flash of an idea about a bail, which may determine what I do next.

Today is a good day to spend a few hours working on the challenge. It's raining here and doesn't look very inviting to go out. So the beads and I have a date!

Blog Hop and Challenge

2011-12-01T15:22:00.001-05:00

I am participating in a Blog Hop and Secret Snowflake Challenge hosted by Michelle Mach. I always love challenges, but the bead hop is new. A certain number of kits were available for the challenge and Michelle will post the final project(s) with the blogs they are on, so you can go blog surfing and see what everyone has created.

I was attracted to the colors of these beads, all the shades of blue, a few white ones, plus the beautiful handmade beads. What's nice about this challenge is that you can do anything you want! You can make one project, several projects, not use all the beads, add any beads you want, make jewelry or not. I have several ideas floating in my mind, we shall see where they go.

Bead Retreat 2011

2011-10-21T17:56:00.002-04:00

Donna modeling her hostess gift.

It's hard to believe that my bead group had its 8th annual bead retreat last weekend. As always, we brought more projects than we could ever finish, and we beaded like crazy. It helped that the weather was stormy and discouraged us from going out. However, when the power went off, we lighted candles and poured some wine and had a lovely evening. Above is our wonderful hostess Donna, with the bracelets we made her. Donna loves to wear multiple bracelets at once, and so each of us made a bangle called XOXO from the book Crystal Brilliance by Anna Elizabeth Draeger. There are several variations to the bangle, such as changing the bugle size or adding a different bead on top. We all started with the same number of beads for the foundation and simply made them using "Donna" colors. I think she was thrilled! Many thanks to my bead cruise friend, Caroline, for wearing this bangle on the cruise and providing the inspiration for our gift. By the way, if you choose to make one of these bracelets, just know that they are quite addictive - one member of our bead group has made over 75!

Summer Jewelry

2011-09-27T13:12:00.001-04:00

Lots of show and tell from summer beading projects. Above and below are details from bracelets I made designed by the talented and creative Barb Klann, nationally published bead artist and member of my bead guild. The bracelet above is 3 strands of St. Petersburg stitch attached with channels of right angle weave.

The second bracelet shows details of a delightful right angle weave bracelet.

Above are the two bracelets in full view. I plan on wearing them as "sister" bracelets and hence I coordinated the colors.

Caravan Beads has a great blog on their website and the bracelet above is from there. I used blue iris beads in 3 sizes, 11, 8, and size 10 triangles. Using the different sizes gives the bracelet the dimensional look.

Wrap bracelets are fun and easy, but hard to photograph! The ones above were made using size 2 seed beads, which are often used by knitters because they're so large. These bracelets wrap around my wrist 3 times.

Half the fun of a wrap bracelet is choosing the button! These bracelets use size 8 seed beads and some pewter beads to give them a little flair.

Linda Richmond is one of my favorite designers and I've bought a lot of her kits over the years. The set above comes from her and it's delightful.

When I went to the Inspired by Nature retreat we made a garden bracelet, which you can see above. The polymer clay beads are made by Heather Powers and then there are 6 passes of Zulu stitch using seed and fringe beads.

When I went on the bead cruise I saw a woman wearing the bracelet above (hers was in navy blue) and she was generous enough to share the pattern with me. Again, it's another bracelet that changes the sizes of the beads, 8,11, and 15, which creates the ruffle.

A few years ago Leslee Frumin came to our bead guild and taught the crystal part of this necklace. I added my own strap, the now favorite St. Petersburg stitch. Leslee is a member of our guild and used to live in Michigan. She now lives in CA but luckily comes back to teach. Her designs are fabulous!

Marcia DeCoster is another teacher that we're lucky to have teach in our guild. The above photo shows detail of a bezeled cab that is actually designed to be a bracelet. I like necklaces, so I made it into one, using, once again, the St. Petersburg stitch.

Here is a full photo of the necklace. If you look at most of the pieces I made this past summer, you will notice I used a lot of blue! I love blue - it is the color of the sky, the sea, the Great Lakes. It is an integral color of nature and surrounds us in our daily life. For me, being a Pisces, I always feel connected to blue and find it both soothing and stimulating.

Hope you've enjoyed my summer tour!

A few summer pieces

2011-09-26T16:59:00.002-04:00

On the tray above, work that I beaded this summer, none of which came out well in individual photos so I will just share what I have here. I made lots of wrap bracelets, they are fun and easy to make, instant gratification. I also completed some old projects. As you can see, blue was the predominant color for summer, blue skies, blue water...

Inspired By Nature Retreat

2011-09-21T21:06:00.001-04:00

Last weekend I attended a wonderful retreat hosted by Heather Powers based on her new book, Jewelry Designs from Nature. Each day was devoted to one of the themes of her book, sea, gardens, and woodlands, as seen in my photos. The sea was actually Lake Michigan from the shores of South Haven, MI, where the retreat was held. Our project for seas was to make a mold from which to make resin beads.

The next theme was gardens. We went to downtown South Haven on Saturday morning and went to the farmer's market, where the above photo was taken. The project we made was a beautiful bracelet using Heather's clay beads.

Our final day was exploring woodlands, with a hike on the Kal-Haven Trail. From there we made what I thought was the most interesting art, jewelry made with special meaning. We were randomly given a poem, which we discussed with the other participants who received that poem. We then had a kit of beads to use to create a necklace. We learned how to make bird's nests and incorporate them into our necklace.

I only finished the bracelet during the retreat, and will take a photo and post soon (I hope). If you are a friend of mine on Facebook you should be able to see lots of pictures that people took of the weekend.

The retreat was very special to me because I was reunited with old friends from past bead cruises. We were able to catch up with each other and see where life had taken us over the last few years. Plus I met many wonderful women who were excited to be participating in such a fun and stimulating weekend.

Sentimental Journey

2011-06-13T13:03:00.003-04:00

The house I grew up in, Lexington, Mass. My bedroom is to the right of the front door.

The famous Lexington Minuteman and the Battle Green behind him.

The path leading to the beach we spent our summers going to.

A beautiful garden in Rockport.

The beautiful harbor at Rockport.

I've always loved these stairs leading to one of my favorite houses at the beach.

Sharon looking for shells. They don't have too many in Arizona!

Toby enjoying a small scoop of Kimball Farm's ice cream with jimmies, known as sprinkles in the midwest. You might wonder if there are any beads in this post, after all, my blog is called Bead Inspired. The pair of earrings that Toby is wearing are a few large rings that I bought as a set at Findings and put an earring finding on. They quickly disappeared from my ears to Toby's and now I have to make a set for Sharon and another one for me!

The first post on this blog was from a visit to my hometown, Lexington, Mass. I visited there again this past week, mainly to visit my father's grave on what would have been his 77th birthday. My 2 sisters joined me and talk about going home...we really did. We visited the house we grew up in, our elementary school, the Battle Green, Michelson's shoe store (now made famous in the movie The Fighter), Bedford Farms ice cream...and on and on.

wearing jewelry

2011-05-22T15:15:00.003-04:00

Here is a great photo of my mother and I. It's from Sam's graduation (I'm still feeling so happy about that event), but the real reason I wanted to put it on my blog is because it shows us wearing bead jewelry that I made, not just photos of the jewelry.

My mother is wearing a necklace that I made for Beading for a Cure 2010, which I actually beaded in 2009. On her wrist is a Wave Me Down bracelet by Shelley Nybakke, who designs wonderful right angle weave bracelets, among other things. The bracelet uses silver metal beads and 3mm turquoise AB 2x crystals. On my wrist is a right angle weave bracelet that is embellished with pearls and crystals. The bracelet matches the strand of pearls that Dennis gave me as a gift.

During the visit my mother also wore my Beading for a Cure 2011 bracelet and earrings. When I find the photo I will put it on the blog. I think it's fair to say that my mother is my biggest supporter and benefactor of my jewelry. Thanks Mom!

Sam's graduation

2011-05-13T21:57:00.005-04:00

Sam


Sam and Jason - Go Green, Go White (MSU's colors)

Today was Sam's commencement from Michigan State Law School. Look at how happy he is! It was a long road for Sam, through teenage years filled with turmoil, and a long road for us as parents trying to keep him from sinking in quicksand. He turned his life around, worked hard, and graduated cum laude. I shed many tears of despair over the years, but today they were tears of pride and happiness, not only at what he has accomplished but also for the opportunities he now has for the future. Congratulations, Sam, we love you!

beads, beads, and more beads

2011-04-30T14:40:00.002-04:00

Last week I promised you pictures of beads. I just walked around the house and took photos of what I have scattered about. I'm in one of my reorganizing modes, so I have things in piles everywhere.

Various bead projects above. Some of these need a little work, a strap to be made, snaps to be moved. A few are colors that I no longer wear so they will be rotated out of my jewelry drawers.

Below, the two projects I took with Bev Herman on the Bead Cruise 2011. Sorry for the smudge in the crystal on the necklace on the left. The necklace is called the Siren's Jewels and it is beautiful! Altogether there are 16 links of chain that are beaded, making for a lovely strap. The next necklace is bead embroidered with Vintaj chain for the strap and reflects our ocean theme.

In my living room, just a group of beady things hanging out.

On my computer desk, a pile of beaded jewelry. Since this is my desk, you will also see some the normal mess of lists and scattered bills underneath the jewelry - not a very interesting background - but just the way it it sorted itself out.

Another pile on my desk. I think these will go to the gallery. I need to check everything out, make sure no threads are showing, that the earring findings are on tight....

Even more jewelry on my desk.

My Bead Journal Project embroidered pieces. I need to think about framing them and just wanted to get a look at what I have. My husband asked me not to frame the ones about depression or headaches on the upper left) or anger (out of frame). I can see his point, so maybe I'll frame them as a separate group.

And finally, the last pile of jewelry on my desk. Almost all of these are bracelets that are now too big. I'm going to redo the clasp on the Rachel Nelson-Smith right angle weave bracelet and see if I can make it smaller. I see a necklace I want to restring, a bracelet I'm going to cut up and make into a necklace, and a bezeled cab I made from a Marcia DeCoster class that I love, but haven't decided what to make with it.

Hope you've enjoyed a tour of my beads. Now I have to pick them all up and do the actual organizing!

To all the University of Michigan graduates, congratulations on your graduation today. I hope you enjoyed your time in Ann Arbor and take away fond memories. And maybe, like Dennis and I, you'll find your way back to this wonderful city and make it your home.

A Week in the Life of...

2011-04-23T17:19:00.002-04:00


A few pictures from this past week. Last Saturday I went to a book signing of Beads Across America by Michigan's representative, Liz Thompson. Liz and I know each other through the Great Lakes Bead Guild plus we both went on the bead cruise.

Monday night was the first night of Passover. Dennis and I went up to Michigan State and had a seder with Sam at his apt. Sam lives fairly minimally - for instance, no napkins, paper towels, regular kitchen towels, pot holders, or serving pieces. He also only has one chair. Luckily he lives alone. He went to Eastern Michigan Univ. as an undergrad, hence the "E" in the mascot eagle. I love this picture of Dennis and Sam.

Sam and I.

And finally, a sunny day in Michigan cannot go unappreciated. The forecast for this coming week is all rain, so I'm enjoying a few rays of sunshine while I can.

You may wonder where the beads are. I'm slowly finishing a few projects and hopefully will post pics soon.

And that's my week, from Saturday to Saturday. Hope you had a good week!

Bead Cruise 2011

2011-04-16T18:25:00.004-04:00

A few weeks ago I went on the Bead Cruise 2011, organized by Heather Powers. It was a 7 day cruise, leaving from Galveston, TX and going to Cozumel, Grand Cayman, and Jamaica. In between the ports we had beading classes from a great group of teachers - Marcia DeCoster, Tracy Stanley, Dallas Lovett, Jean Campbell, Bev Herman, and Heather. I think there were about 65 participants and we all had a lot of fun.

The beach above and below is in Grand Cayman, which is known for its beautiful beaches and water.

In Jamaica we stopped at a new port built by Royal Caribbean called Falmouth. My friend Deb enjoyed dancing with a local band member playing in the square.

In Cozumel I saw a sign for a synagogue. Whoever would have guessed that a small island off the coast of Mexico would have a synagogue? That's one of the fun things about traveling, you always find unexpected treasures.

Everyone loves the pools on the ship. The band is getting ready to play here, so it's probably late afternoon and people are going to be coming back from shore excursions. Off to the sides are tables out of the sun where we often sat and beaded.

One of the great activities about cruising is eating. Yes, it really is an activity. The dining room is lovely, with a menu offering several selections. Or you can eat in the buffet-style Windjammer or several other settings. Luckily, another activity is walking, since the ship is so big. I say luckily because even indulging in desserts like the one below, I didn't gain any weight.

Next year the cruise starts March 25 and leaves from Port Canaveral. The itinerary includes St. Thomas and St. Maarten, places I haven't been to before. I'm waiting to learn who the teachers are before committing...but I had such a fun time this year that I certainly hope to go again. Won't you join me?

Beading for a Cure

2011-03-23T04:07:00.000-04:00

Starting this week and for the next 2 months, auctions for Beading for a Cure will be on e-Bay (click on link, then on auctions, then on e-bay auctions for the week). This will be the 4th year I've participated. Each year a kit is made available to a number of participants, and from this same kit, we create beaded items. All the items are then auctioned to raise money for Colorectal Cancer. The idea began after the death of a bead forum member named Layne, who died of colorectal cancer. Every penny raised goes to research because everyone on the board is a volunteer. My piece is on auction this week and so far has one bid, please check it out and help raise money for this wonderful cause.

on a roll....

2011-03-19T04:33:00.001-04:00

Jason asked me to make a bracelet for a new girlfriend. He had no idea what colors she likes, how large her wrist might be, whether she even wears bracelets...but after some discussion we chose some colorful pearls for a leather wrap, hoping it would go with a variety of clothes. I haven't heard yet if he gave it to her, but I sure hope she likes it. I was still making it when this picture was taken, you can see that it's attached to a clip board to work off of.

75th Birthday Bash

2011-03-19T04:23:00.002-04:00

In December we all went out to Arizona to celebrate my mother's 75th birthday. We had a week filled with activities - hiking, horseback riding, museum strolling, a surprise party with my mother's friends, and lots and lots of eating! Above, the whole crew minus the photographer; below, me, Toby, Sharon, and my mother. Do the 3 of us look like sisters?

more celebrations

2011-03-19T04:16:00.001-04:00

There was a hint of Spring in the air for Sam's and my birthdays. We celebrated our back-to-back birthdays first at Grizzly Peak Brewery for Sam's birthday and then at Common Grill for mine. We were joined by some onlookers from the mural on the wall. Sam (on the right) is now 26 and about to graduate from law school.

Kathie's going away party

2011-03-18T13:39:00.001-04:00

Our beloved friend Kathie is moving to Miami with her husband in a few weeks. We have been beading together for about 6 years and can't imagine our group without her, but that's what happens. We gave her a going away party. These delicious red velvet cupcakes were baked by Laura. We also chose beads from our personal stash to give her, as well as 2 beading books, and a gift card to Jamba Juice, her favorite smoothie place. Hopefully she will visit us for our annual bead retreat in October, or else we're all going to have to troop down to Florida!

Anticipation

2011-02-01T12:38:00.000-05:00

We're expecting a massive blizzard tonight, such that we've not had in years. Right now it is the quiet before
the storm. The sky is heavy with gray. There is already several inches of snow on the ground. Just now a few flakes of snow are starting to whirl in the air. But tonight is when the real action is supposed to start.

In anticipation, I have a pot of vegetable soup simmering on the stove. Let's hope we don't lose power. Yesterday I did some food shopping and made sure we had a lot of candles, fresh batteries for flashlights, and blankets piled up in the living room.

The University of Michigan has a policy of never closing. I seriously doubt my husband will be able to make his 10 am class tomorrow if we really have up to 12" of snow. Our neighborhood doesn't get plowed until about 2 days after a storm, and we live at the top of a hill, so getting in and out of our street can be tricky. There's a stop sign at the end of the street that when it's snowy and icy you can't stop at and just go right through and hit the sidewalk on the street perpendicular to the stop sign. It's happened to me and it's kind of scary to know you have no control.

And yet, in this calm before the storm, everything truly is calm. The soup smells delicious, I've just had a cup of tea, the house is quiet. The anticipation, the waiting, the knowing, is all there, ready to be realized.

Unclasped Bracelets

2011-01-15T12:35:00.000-05:00

I love making bracelets, but I hate making clasps, as you can see. When my son was home he did something to my photoshop, so now everything gets painted a brown background. I need to figure out how to get rid of it, if you know how please tell me!

Happy Birthday Dennis!

2010-12-03T12:03:00.006-05:00

Dennis is 56 y.o. today, Happy Birthday! This pose is one I see every day, working at the end of the kitchen table, going over lecture notes or copy editing a paper, with a cup of tea to sustain him. No snow today, but the sun is out in celebration!

Thanksgiving Family Photo

2010-11-29T12:34:00.002-05:00

My family, Thanksgiving, 2010. Sam, Susan, Dennis, and Jason. As much as I love beading, my family is my main vocation, avocation, and first love.

Anne Hesse Doll collaboration

2010-11-29T12:15:00.008-05:00

I took a wonderful class with Anne Hesse on doll making. During the class, I discovered that I wasn't a dollmaker, so I created the doll as a collaboration with my dear friend, Kathie, and gifted the doll to her. I made the face, put the bunches of ribbon together, and she did everything else, including securing the face to a weighted backing, attaching the face to the doll, putting the ribbon on the doll, the hair, and attaching the arms.

A close up of the doll.

Isn't she gorgeous!!!

Turquoise and Lime Green

2010-10-19T12:31:00.004-04:00

One day when I was reading Marcia DeCoster's blog she just happened to mention turquoise and lime green. A little lightbulb went off in my head. Those are my two favorite colors. I often combine them with fuchsia, sometimes bronze, or navy, but usually I just like the colors together.

2010 Bead Journal Project

2010-10-17T12:37:00.005-04:00

I had high expectations for the third year of my Bead Journal Project. Rather than beading a mandala shape, I decided to bead on felt in a rectangular shape. I started with some needle felting of bright colors, representing the happiness of starting a new project, then surrounded them with black and white, representing the low contrast of color in winter in Michigan.

Well, winter in Michigan can be pretty bleak, as is my piece above.

I always dream of sun in March. In the past I've often gone away for a week in March to someplace that is supposed to be sunny. This past March my husband and I went to Miami and then took a 4 day cruise. It was freezing, overcast, very little sun. The waves were so high we couldn't even go to one of our destinations, which was (supposed) to be a gorgeous beach with turquoise water. Didn't do much for my mental health.

I tried to think of soft colors in anticipation of spring. But I was still feeling the depression of the lack of sun in March, so the sequins and black beads represent feeling down. Notice, though, that I was still trying to be optimistic, as the sequins are very shiny.

And that's as far as I got for 2010. I was not inspired to continue. I wanted to keep the depression at bay, and I didn't want to bead it or explore it further.

More Retreat Photos

2010-10-15T15:17:00.004-04:00

Every year we make our hostess, Donna, a group present. This year we made triangle beads using delicas. We chose a palette that we thought she would like and each of us made about 7 beads of various sizes. Donna likes big, and this bracelet fits the bill.

Our friend Pat couldn't be with us this year since she has been in the hospital since August 2nd. While we were on the retreat we made her this prayer doll. Each of us wrote a message to Pat on ribbon and used them to stuff the doll.
This is the back of the doll. We just learned a few days ago that Pat is coming home today, what a blessing. Pat is one of those people that makes your life better just by knowing her. She is kind, talented, friendly to everyone. She takes time to talk with you. She listens. Her art work is beautiful, whether it's beading or basketry. She is an amazing woman who has had the bad luck to have gotten cancer, but is fighting it with commitment and grace. I hope our little doll puts a smile on her face and lets her know how much we care for her.

Fall is Gorgeous this year

2010-10-12T11:14:00.003-04:00

We are having a gorgeous fall this year. The colors are spectacular. The weather has been very warm, although I suspect the temps will start to fall soon enough. As I was working yesterday, I was distracted by this view out my window. I don't really see as much of the houses as this picture shows, but otherwise all you would see is my computer, and believe me, the work I do is so boring it would put you to sleep - I often have to take a nap because it puts me to sleep! Hey, it pays the bills, and there are days like yesterday when I can enjoy this magical view.

Bead Retreat 2010

2010-10-07T20:11:00.013-04:00

For the last 7 years my bead group has gone on a retreat to one of our member's homes in Petoskey, Michigan. We bead, laugh, eat a lot of good food, stay up late, bead some more, sometimes knit. We always have a great time and this year was no exception. The weather was cool and sunny, just perfect. Why no people in my pictures? Seems like every time I went to photograph someone they were in their jammies!

Re-organizing

2010-09-01T10:54:00.003-04:00

I store all my beads in plastic bins - all different sizes, shapes,and designs. Every now and then I go through my "project" bins, where I have put together combinations of beads for a particular project, or colors I like, or beads in anticipation of a pattern in a magazine. And then I look through them and change my mind, or can't remember what the project was I had in mind, or realize I'm never going to finish what I started. So I empty the bins and (eventually) put all the beads away so they'll be in my general stash. Projects that are started go into my unfinished projects bins, where perhaps they'll enjoy a second life down the road, or provide color or design inspiration, or just sit and bead happy.

Have a super day!

More Gallery Pieces Sold

2010-08-28T20:55:00.002-04:00

I originally sent 9 pieces of jewelry to the gallery, then sent 3 more, now the owner has asked for more because there are only 3 pieces left! There's only a month left to her season, so I'm going to get some more out on Monday.

I was doing this as a one time thing. I was curious if I could rise to the occasion, meet the goal of making many pieces. I am pleasantly surprised that they have sold, amazed actually. Now I feel motivated to work during the winter on new pieces, and I think I can stop questioning whether I am a bead artist or not. Always that little censor sitting on my shoulder saying my work isn't good enough, it's not as creative, or intricate, or original as other beaders work. I think I can quell that voice now.

vacation

2010-08-23T22:28:00.002-04:00

Sam and Jason hiking at Glacier National Park. They had a great vacation, look at that beautiful land.

It's been busy

2010-08-20T17:40:00.006-04:00

Sam, above, in his big U-Haul, going to college 1 hour away.

Jason, ready for his long drive to Penn State in his small car.

What a busy week we've had here. Last week Dennis and the boys were on their annual father/son vacation and during that time Jason found out that the apt. he leased last May had bed bugs, very persistent ones, because they were still there after 3 exterminations. So with Jason in Montana, and his new roommate from Massachusetts, we worked to find a new apt. His roommate and parents drove to State College and I provided telephone support. Not much to choose from at this time of summer, but we managed to find a place. The only problem, it wasn't going to be ready until today, and Jason started orientation this past Monday. He still went, slept on a friends couch, and hopefully has moved in today.

Sam packed up a U-Haul yesterday and we moved him into an apt. at Michigan State. When we arrived we found out that the apt. wasn't ready. So we bought his books (don't even ask how much law textbooks cost), we went to Comcast so he could have internet connection, and the apt. still wasn't ready. The landlord let him move his stuff into a different apt. temporarily and he slept on a couch at a friend's.

Two boys gone off to college in one week, the house is quiet, feels empty, a little lonely. But there is so much more space, too!

Nothing like a good book

2010-08-01T11:08:00.002-04:00

My husband is gone for the week at a conference in Toronto. Then the next week he and the boys are going to Glacier National Park. I am used to being alone, but not without a good book! I've been to the library, the bookstores, and everything I pick up I put back down. So this morning I was heartened to see that the new Tana French book is in transit to my local library branch. I will not be so alone after all. And if you haven't read Tana French, she has 2 previous novels out, they are fantastic, and you will be happy to be curled up with a good companion.

Gallery Pieces

2010-07-26T17:19:00.002-04:00

Four pieces of my jewelry have been sold at the gallery in New York! Wow!

Another kit project

2010-07-13T13:25:00.009-04:00

Another kit completed - I hope I previously mentioned that this is my summer project, working on kits. Above is a kit from Fusion Beads, called a Queen's Ransom. I have actually changed a few of the colors, to keep them bright and in my palette.

I have a few pair of earrings to show, but all the photos I take of them are fuzzy, even with the tripod. Any suggestions for getting a clear photo?

I am currently working on a kit that is making me nuts! It's another one I've had for years and I always thought it would be fairly easy to make, although requiring some time. Not so...the directions are terrible, terrible. There are no counts given, so you have to figure out where the decreases in the pattern are from a diagram. You have to make a lot of little leaves, but there is no clue how to do this - do you make them and then attach them? do you make them as you are beading? The leaves are made from delicas and two colors of 15's, but they are all so close in tone that you can hardly separate them. Same goes for the beads around the cabochon, two shades of pink that you can't distinguish between. So I have taken apart sections of the beading and started over several times. It's only because I've been beading so long that I can get a sense of what's supposed to happen, but it only gets clearer after I've made mistakes. Yikes!

Some More Beading Projects

2010-07-09T13:42:00.009-04:00

Above is a double Jitterbug bracelet. You can see a single row of the bracelet below. This bracelet was originally a kit from Glass Garden Beads. The bracelet that is diagonally draped over the two bracelets below is the actual kit. I made a couple more bracelets using bright, summery, and colorful beads. I love color!

The heat wave has ended, although it is sticky and humid out. But at least you don't feel like you're swimming through the humidity anymore, and you can breathe easier.

New Beading Photos

2010-07-07T09:13:00.009-04:00

It's been a long time, but I do have some new bead projects to show. Above and below are my entry for next year's Beading for a Cure. This is a project that raises money for colorectal cancer. Every participant buys the same kit and we have to use at least one of every bead in the kit, plus we can add one bead. My added bead is the beige pearl. I also added two rivolis for the earrings, but they are not considered a bead, since they do not have a hole in them.

Next is a very fun bracelet, originally based on a kit by Glass Garden Beads. I made a double strand and this bracelet is sparkly!

Another variation of the bracelet, a firepolish and pearl double strand bracelet. I love the subtle colors of this one. You may recognize it as one I made for the gallery.

The lariat, below, is design by Gail Frederickson, one of my favorite local teachers. She taught this at our Guild's local teacher classes. I love the beaded beads!

Finally, a right angle weave bracelet with 3 different colors of firepolish. Turquoise and lime green are among my favorite colors, toned down a bit with the brown seed beads. You saw this bracelet as a work in progress on my beading tray a few entries ago.

I am currently going through kits that I have and making the project in them. So far I have made or completed 3 last week and 2 this week, including the 2-strand bracelets above. Photos to come on the rest of the projects when they are done.

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer. We are in the midst of a heat wave, hot and humid.

Good weather to stay inside and bead! Stay cool!

Jason's graduation continued....

2010-05-10T11:41:00.004-04:00

I always like to have my picture taken with the boys - I suppose no matter how old they are I'll still refer to them that way.
My mother came from Arizona with her husband. They were great sports about the weather, but I think they were very happy to be on the airplane going home this morning. My mother has been to every graduation of her grandsons', including my sister's two boys. Next year she'll have Sam's law school graduation from Michigan State as well. We'll put in an advance order for better weather, mom!

Jason's Graduation

2010-05-10T09:15:00.006-04:00

Jason graduated from Michigan State University this past weekend, with a degree in mathematics. Most of the photos we took came out blurred, but here are a few of the happy graduate. Go Green!
Magic Johnson graduated from MSU, and it seems a lot of students like their pictures taken with this statute of him, Jason included. You can see that it was a cloudy day. It was freezing out, rainy, windy, bbbrrrrr. It even hailed at one point! That's May in Michigan for you.

Gallery Pieces

2010-05-09T20:48:00.008-04:00

The pieces on top are the ones I have sent to the gallery. I had to balance out the
time/money/value aspect of the pieces with ones I felt I could sell. I know you've seen most of these pieces before, but I added a few different ones to the mix. To see the gallery go to
theartloft.org. You can click on Artists to see some of the other exhibitioners and their work.

The Big Reveal

2010-05-06T14:49:00.005-04:00

The Big Reveal winners were announced today in Scarlett Lanson's 4th Use the Muse contest. This is a wonderful contest in which everyone purchases the same kit and then designs an entry based on a special item, the "Big Reveal." Beaders from all over the world participate and it is so much fun to see what wonderful and inspiring pieces are made.

I have participated in the last two contests, but didn't play in this one. I don't know how long Scarlett will keep doing this contest, but I encourage everyone to join if you can. Enjoy!

University of Michigan Commencement

2010-05-01T15:04:00.003-04:00

We had the privilege of President Obama giving the commencement address at the University of Michigan today. He gave a wonderful speech in which he encouraged people to be "nicer" to each other, to listen to other points of view, to appreciate the fact that we can have different opinions in a democracy. He said that change doesn't come easily or quickly, but that historically the people of our country have always responded to change that safeguards and protects our well-being.

And then...I look at the blurb on the Internet about his speech, and almost every single one of the 11,000 comments were negative, ugly, anti-Obama, anti-government. People don't want to listen to what other people have to say, the just want to hear themselves talk, and talk ugly.

How disappointing. How sad. I fear for the future of our democracy when people are so disrespectful, so filled with hate, and so fueled by their self-righteousness and selfishness.

To all the graduates of 2010, including my son Jason, you are our future, please keep your hearts and minds open, please build on the friendships and understanding of other cultures, races, religions, and sexuality that you have grown up with and nurtured in college, so that our world can learn from what you can teach us.

Jewelry for the Gallery

2010-04-26T20:02:00.004-04:00

Here is an intial picture of the jewelry I have made for the gallery in New York. However, I'm not going to send most of it, because I realize that the owner wants to sell the work at a lower price than I suggested to her for most pieces. Actually, I came up with a price based on a formula she shared, but the prices came out shockingly high. That's beadwork for you. It's so time-consuming that you just can't make money selling it. So I have reorganized what I am going to send and taken the more expensive pieces out. I don't have good pictures yet of what I'm substituting, so that will be another day.

If anyone has any thoughts on what you would pay for these pieces, or as a beader, what you would price them at, I'd be happy for you to share them!!!

End of the School Year

2010-04-26T19:56:00.003-04:00

Our boys have been sharing an apt. this past academic year, but the lease is up soon, Jason is graduating, Sam is moving to another apt., and we decided to make a trip to start bringing stuff home.

I love getting pictures of my three men together - left to right is Jason, the graduate (math, with honors), Dennis, the aerospace engineer professor, and Sam, the law student.

Beading Areas

2010-04-26T19:50:00.003-04:00

When I read Marcia DeCoster's blog this morning, she referred to Bev Herman's blog about what her beading tray looks like. I believe several readers then took pictures of their beading trays, including me! The top photo is the coffee table next to where I sit, and the bottom photo is my beading tray. I'm working on several projects at once and kind of push things into the corner when I'm done or going to work on it soon. I am making a right angle weave/square stitch bracelet with fire polish beads in a quilt-like design. I made one, and then decided there was too much thread showing. This is definitely an influence of my friend Deb, who can't bear the idea of thread showing. She won't even do certain stitches because you can see the thread. It never used to bother me, but now that I have found a thread I like, One-G, I'm getting to like the thread to match the beads more.

What I have been doing all winter

2010-04-18T20:54:00.002-04:00

I feel like my blog has gone through a period of drought. But in fact I have been beading more than ever all winter long. I have been making pieces for a gallery that is open for the summer months. I will take pictures the next day we have sun here, hopefully tomorrow!

This is what I have learned. Making jewelry that I think other people will like is very hard. Making jewelry that doesn't have thread showing, or looped over a bead, or cut down to the edge is very hard. For every one piece that I am satisfied with, I have usually made 4 or 5 other pieces. I have worked every day since January and feel I have very little to show for the hours I have devoted to making the jewelry. I don't feel it represents the best work I can do, and I am sure I am overly critical of myself.

In terms of the time and effort I have put into the projects, I will not earn a cent. But I hope the gallery will! In order to do this work, I stopped reading, am behind on my Bead Journal Project, and was unable to complete the most recent round of Use the Muse contest.

However, I really wanted to do this. I wanted to see if I could meet the challenge, really a personal challenge, of committing to something and following through on it. When I post the pictures, I will be curious to see what the feedback is. Until then....

Meeting BJP members

2010-04-01T19:59:00.004-04:00

I've had the privilege of meeting two Carol's recently. Above is Carol from Of Beads and Birds, whom I'm sure many of you know because she posts such nice thoughts on our blogs. She lives in Indiana and I was there the other night visiting family. So we arranged to meet, and we had a great visit! Carol is on the left and I am on the right.

A few days earlier I met another Carol, but we didn't take any photos :). I noticed from her blog that she lives in the same community that I do, so I contacted her and we were able to meet. I went to her house and met her two adorable children plus her husband. Carol is incredibly artistic and I was in awe of her talent.

Two Carol's, two great bead journal artist's, and two wonderful people, what more could one ask for?

Debbie's blog give-a-way

2010-02-10T22:29:00.006-05:00

Debbie is a new blogger and is having a blog give-a-way. Check out her site.

I've not had my regular computer for a several weeks now, while it's being de-bugged for viruses, so I haven't posted, since I don't want to introduce any new viruses on this computer. I've been beading non-stop for weeks now, and once again most things are ending up in my UFO bin. But I am determined that there is meaning in this struggle I am having. That I will somehow plow through whatever blocks I am having and begin to generate ideas, designs, color combo's, and actual pieces.

I'm still not reading - tried the books on tape thing and found it too distracting - I had to listen too hard, and I'm actually finding myself not missing them. This is actually a good place for me to be in. Without the distraction of daydreaming through books, playing detective to mysteries, I'm focusing on one of my goals for the year, to really push my beading and see where it takes me.

I'm also having a "C is for Challenge Month." C as in fewer calories, no chocolate, no cake, no cookies, no candy, fewer carbs, but yes to carrots, creativity, control, and cardio. Oh, also no coffee. The cravings are still there, but I just keep telling myself no C's this month. I'm hoping to feel better at the end of the month, more energetic, and maybe will have lost a pound or two so I can get back on track with weight loss. I haven't started my February BJP yet, but I bet you can guess the theme! Can you think of any more C's that might help motivate and inspire me?

And my reward for the C month - a 4 night cruise full of (hopefully) sunshine and warm temperatures. In preparation, I am studying how to use my Canon camera. I got one of those Canon books for dummies, and I've now correctly set up my camera. Marching right along....

A Different Kind of Reading

2010-01-12T14:00:00.002-05:00

I was reading Susan E's blog and she mentioned listening to a book on tape. Lightbulb! That's how I can still read books and bead. Thanks, Susan, for planting the suggestion in my mind!

Reading

2010-01-11T14:30:00.002-05:00

I love to read, always have. I love books, holding them, turning the pages, reading words that become stories. Ten years ago, when I did the Artist's Way, there was a week of not reading. I never thought I would be able to not read for a week. Much to my surprise, I found myself so productive in other areas that I didn't read for 6 months. I'm at a point now where I'm going to eliminate most reading from my daily life. I made a rough calendar of this year, and realized that if I want to accomplish my artistic goals, in addition to my regular work and responsibilities, something is going to have to be cut. So I will still keep a list of books I want to read, especially as favorite authors release new books, but will save them for later.

Among my favorite authors are Michael Connelly, Dennis Lehane, Susan Hill, Arnaldur Indridason, Aimee and David Thurlo, Margaret Coel, Steven Torres, Julia Spencer-Fleming, Louise Penny, Archer Mayor, Deborah Crombie, Elizabeth George, Peter Robinson, Charles Todd, Karin Slaughter, Donna Leon, Andrea Camilleri, and John Lescroart. As you can tell, I like mysteries.

Here's to making room for my art!

Use the Muse Contest

2009-12-18T11:29:00.004-05:00

The Big Reveal (the focal piece) has been revealed, and if you click on the link it will take you to the winners and galleries of submissions. My piece is above, it is a large (very large) brooch, which, alas, did not win any category, but was a lot of fun to make. There is a lot of fantastic bead work and artistry to see. Enjoy!

snowflake

2009-12-08T23:30:00.003-05:00

For the last few days we've been getting snow flurries, although they haven't added up to anything. A tradition in my bead group is to make a snowflake in December. My snowflake is designed by Sandra Halpenny. I made it yellow and white, with gold firepolish beads so it would be bright and cheery. I have 3 snowflakes from previous years, maybe I'll take them down and photo them to post here. Also, on the day we make the snowflakes, people bring in treats to share, a cheese ball and crackers, candy, lemon cake...and we have a delightful afternoon before breaking for the holidays.

Winter is Here

2009-12-07T08:55:00.004-05:00

There are two leaf pick-ups in Ann Arbor in the fall. Everyone rakes their leaves into the road and you can barely drive. Here is a pile of the leaves that the city trucks have picked up from our street. This was just a few weeks ago, and now the leaves are gone, and the snowflakes are coming down.

I am working extra hard not to be depressed with this transition in seasons. The gray skies really get me down. I already took one trip to AZ, where my family lives, for some sunshine. Over the years I have realized that taking a trip in November and February/March to a sunny climate really helps. It would even help if Michigan winters had some sun, because the temperature is not the issue, it's the sky. Expect to see some bjp on this, whose next season is coming up in January.

Bead Inspired

2009-12-06T12:04:00.009-05:00

Above, bracelets without clasps.

I made this bracelet for my mother years ago. The plastic snaps have broken and the color on the leaves has faded off.

A pathetic snowflake and a herringbone experiment.

Thought I could make something out of this, but am now stuck on how to finish.

I don't believe this bracelet is supposed to twist and turn. In fact, it's supposed to lay nicely on your wrist with a bit of a curl, just a bit.

My tension is way off on the bracelet above. It's supposed to be flat and the herringbone is supposed to look braided. In fact, the thread snapped at one point.

This is supposed to be diagonal square stitch that automatically curls. Mine is straight as can be.

A peyote freeform idea for a bracelet. I just don't like it.

The title of my blog is "Bead Inspired," but lately I haven't had much inspiration. I've been working on a lot of various projects and am unhappy with most of them. Sometimes I have high expectations of how something will turn out, and I'm pretty disappointed when it doesn't. Depending on the project, I will pursue it further, or I may just throw it in one of my unfinished project bins.

One thing I am frustrated with this blog is that the pictures always are above my writing. I have no idea how to start writing above the pictures, even if I write first. So I always feel that I am going back in time, rather than moving forward.

With no further ado, I present a series of unfinished projects, above.

Use the Muse Contest

2009-11-11T08:38:00.002-05:00

I don't know if we can show the "Muse" yet for the contest, so I'll show part of my project. This is only the top half of the piece. I bead embroidered on stiff stuff and then attached it to wool felt. For this contest I felt freer to use beads that were not in the kit, such as the yellow beads. The colors in the kit are not ones I would normally choose (actually, I would never choose them), so for me the challenge was two-fold, designing a piece for the contest, and using colors outside my normal palette.

Photo Thursday

2009-10-22T23:14:00.003-04:00

There is a very nice group called Photo Thursday. Every Thursday a theme is suggested and people take photos related to the theme. Todays theme was Simple. There were photos of rocks in water, sunrises, a meadow, a boat on a lake. It's very fun to browse through these pictures. I haven't joined (yet) but I'm thinking about it. It's another way to see the world, literally, as people on the group come from all over.

Rotating Jewelry

2009-10-13T22:32:00.003-04:00

I remember when my kids were young, we would rotate toys and books, so that just when the kids started to get bored, you could take a new group of items out and it would be like they were brand new. I had the idea to do that with my jewelry. I simply have too much, and I don't see it anymore. However, when I started sorting it out, I realized that I really do have too much-lots of class pieces, lots of pieces from magazines, or my exploration of a stitch. There are some beautiful pieces, as well as items I just don't like anymore, or that never quite fit right, or the color combos don't work.

Then I had a realization - the jewelry represents my learning curve in beading. I put almost all of it in bins, just kept a few pieces out that I really like. At first I was really depressed, because the jewelry represents years of work. Then I felt a sense of exhilaration, like I was ready to move on and develop my own style. It was a sense that now I can move into a different stage, using what I've learned, but making it mine. I've wanted to do this for a while but have been held back by fears - I'm not good enough, I can't design, I'm not really an artist - you know, all those stupid things our censor tells us. Well, I'm going to just swat that censor away and plow ahead.

Bead Retreat

2009-10-06T15:13:00.009-04:00

My beading group's annual bead retreat was this past weekend. We had a wonderful time. For the last few years we have made our hostess, Donna, a gift. This year it was a denim jacket that we all took turns making bead embroidered flowers. Above you can see the back of the jacket.

Below is a detail from the left side of the jacket.

Another view of detail from the right side of the jacket.

Yes, it really is a bead retreat! Here are Donna, Kathie, and Hollie.

Laura made a beautiful freeform bracelet for her daughter.

One of the beading tables. A beadiful mess!
Everyone always brings more beads and projects than we can possibly do, but we are always so optimistic. I pulled all my beads out of the bags I brought up but haven't sorted through them yet - still want to hang on to the good feeling of spending time with friends, beading all day, staying up late talking, and just having a grand time.

Bead Journal Registration

2009-09-30T11:17:00.003-04:00

Tomorrow is a big day. Besides the fact that I leave for my annual bead retreat with my bead group, REGISTRATION starts for the Bead Journal Project!!! Click on Registration to take you to the page to sign up. The project will start January 1, 2010. You've seen my bead pages, so hopefully you have an idea of the possibilities. If you want to see more examples, go to the gallery.

The Bead Journal Project is one of the nicest groups of people around. Everyone is friendly, helpful, supportive. The scope of topics that people bead about can be simple or profound, but the all reflect life, our lives, and because of that the meaning of the pages touches us all.

Come join us for friendship, beading, journaling, and more.

New Bracelets

2009-09-27T14:08:00.015-04:00

I have new bracelets to share today. Above is the detail of the clasp from Marcia DeCoster's Rio Dulce bracelet. I started this one on the bead cruise last year and just finished it.....

Below is a crystal bracelet that I found in Bead and Button magazine from August 2009.

And the third bracelet is from a pattern from Bead Infinitum for a fringe bead, which I have strung with crystals and a rondelle.

Earlier today I met with a friend from high school - Harold, if you're reading this, I had a great visit. It was so nice to catch up and see how the years have treated us over time. I find that life, rather than being a horizontal path, is more like a spiral. It goes round, down, up, around again, it is circular, starting and stopping at different points. And, even with the down times, it is worth every minute, because it is what we have, and it is who we are.

Shana Tova

2009-09-19T21:49:00.002-04:00

To all my friends, best wishes for for a happy, healthy, and sweet Rosh Hashana.

As I heard the announcer from the football stadium say today, you couldn't have painted a nicer day, and it's true. Today was the perfect day for the start of the new year, blue skies, slight wind, low 70s, the leaves starting to change colors. A time of transition, a time to reflect, a time to think about our place in the world, and how we can make it a safer and more peaceful place. Between memory and hope, the new year begins.

BJP Year 3

2009-09-16T10:19:00.002-04:00

The Bead Journal Project is going to have year 3 starting in January, 2010!!!

To register, go to beadjournalproject.com/reg.htm

To see what participants have done, go to the member's gallery

No experience is necessary! Anyone can join as long as you create one visual journal piece each month that uses beads. You can also use other materials - fibers, quilting, collage, buttons, whatever appeals to you.

Come join us and embark on your own journaling experience.

August BJP Done!

2009-09-09T17:25:00.010-04:00

Here is my last month of the BJP project, Hope. Hope is what keeps you going when all other avenues seem shut off. Hope is wishing to stay alive long enough to see your children grow up. Hope is wishing not for a cure, but for treatment that will keep you comfortable and functional. Hope changes constantly, but it never gives up.

Ann drove a 10 year old car 30 miles each way to dialysis because she believed that the director of the program had saved her life (this was a common belief of many patients, I learned). She raised 3 children, who were her pride and joy, and cleaned houses to earn money. Ann was the most generous person I ever met. She would stop if she saw a homeless person to make sure they got a meal or had a blanket. She had next to nothing herself, but she always considered herself more fortunate than others.

Ann had 2 sons and a daughter, Maria. Her hope was to see them graduate first high school and then college. At the time I met Ann, her daughter, Maria, was a college freshman. She often came over from her dorm to sit with her mother for the 3 hours of dialysis. I watched Maria grow up to be a lovely young woman, and I was privileged to be at her wedding and to share in the joy when her 2 daughters were born.

Faith was another dialysis patient whom I bonded with. She worked at the university, although it became increasingly more difficult to do so over the years. We used to have such lively conversations about anything and everything and we both shared a love of crafts.

Ann and Faith both died from health complications. Maria died when she was 32 from an aneurism caused by her kidney disease. A mariachi band played at her funeral. It's hard to be sad when a mariachi band plays, but it was also hard to be happy knowing she was so young and that her 2 children, who were her pride and joy, may never remember her.

From these incredible women, Ann, Maria, and Faith, I learned to never give up hope, and that while hope changes all the time, there is always something new to hope for.

(Thank you to Susan E. for blogging in a style that I have borrowed for this entry. You are an inspiration!)

Happy Anniversary to us!

2009-09-06T11:08:00.003-04:00

Today is our 28th wedding anniversary. And it may also be the 30th anniversary of the day we met. Dennis and I were both graduate students at the University of Michigan and lived in apartments next to each other. The rest is history. And we've come full circle, beginning in Ann Arbor, moving to Boston, then Florida, and back to Ann Arbor. We're happy here, raised the kids here, and hope to be here many more years.

Football Saturday

2009-09-05T09:17:00.003-04:00

Today is the first home game for the University of Michigan, the first game of the season. It's only 9:30 am and I can hear the band practicing. It'll be a beautiful day for a game........however, Michigan is coming off it's worst season ever last year, so we have to wait and see how they'll do this year.

On football Saturdays, as I call them, I can't get out of my neighborhood when traffic is coming or leaving for the game, which is many hours of the day. Even though there's a traffic light at one end of the neighborhood, football fans think they don't have to actually stop at a red light. That is football in Ann Arbor. Shops close downtown, RV's park at the high school, tailgating starts first thing in the morning. Flags wave as the cars stream into town. Everyone is wearing maize and blue (unless they're from MSU - green, or Ohio State - red) and the town becomes one crazed football party.

So I put the radio on to listen to the game, open the living room window, and sit with my beading tray on my lap, enjoying the fall day, the cheers from the stadium, and my shiny little beads!

Enjoy your day!

Final "Firing" Poem

2009-09-02T09:07:00.005-04:00

The following poem is the final piece of what I call my Firing Trilogy - My Vein of Gold mandala, The Door poem, and this, Rainbow. They were part of my healing process and were important when I had a trial against my former employer. I used them to buffer the onslaught of negativity that comes with a trial, mainly an effort to destroy me as an individual and social worker. It took years of hard work to put things in perspective and move on. You may think that by revisiting this time in my life I am going backward, but actually it feels like I am creating the base for how I became a bead artist. I truly feel that sometimes profound events have to happen in our lives to wake us up and embrace what it is we truly want.

Rainbow

On a Sunday night I saw a beautiful rainbow over the autumn foliage at Gallup Park.

The sky was black, and from a break in the clouds the sun was shining just so it hit the tops of the trees, magnifying each hue of orange, red, and magenta of the changing leaves.

I have never seen anything like it before, the black of the sky, the brilliance of the leaves.
It was truly magnificent. It was like a message was being sent:

There is beauty in life even with change and loss.
From pain can come new energy and appreciation for the things that matter.

An ending can become a beginning, a time for growth.
The loss of old dreams can be replaced with new ones.

We don't always know what the challenges in life are going to be, there's not a script we can always follow. Our lives are constantly being rewritten and revised.

Perhaps the real challenge is to grasp the rainbow when we see it.

Doors

2009-08-28T20:36:00.004-04:00

I bought a new issue of Belle Armoire Jewelry today. One of the featured artists' is Lori Wilkes.
As I was looking through her Web site, she had a section of pieces called Metaphoric Doors. She writes beautifully about doors (her doors are beautiful also), and I quote her:

"Doors are a perfect metaphor for change. Like chapters in a book, they provide us with fresh beginnings and intriguing endings. They swing open to future possibilities and close quietly on past (and sometimes painful) experiences. Doors can protect us, entice us, mystify us and make us pause. It's amazing how much of our lives are lived between the opening and closing of doors."

After posting my poem on doors earlier today, and then reading this, I feel like there is some kind of synchronicity. I feel there is a new door opening in my life, and have been feeling this way for a while. There is something awaiting me on a path that I have yet to explore, but am getting ready for. I am eagerly looking forward to the change!

The Clearing

2009-08-28T10:00:00.005-04:00

In the summer of 1997 I went to a wonderful place called The Clearing, in Door County, Wisconsin. I took a class on journal writing taught by Darlene Cole, which was just lovely. Darlene was a person you felt comfortable with, and her suggestions for things to do with your journal widened my journaling experiences. The following poem came out of that week:

I was looking for an exit.
I tried the door, and found that
rather than opening out, it turned in,
and that is how I found myself.

By going inward, to the interior of myself,
I found what I had never lost
but had misplaced, forgotten, left unattended.
Dormant
I began to recycle.
Creativity
Exploration
Discovery.

A mystery: Why did I leave myself at the roadside?
An answer: It remains unsolved.

The past is fertile ground for becoming whole.
A completeness nurtured by loss,
A compass guided by mourning,
A path that leads to my Self,
A greeting that beckons hello.

August, 1997, The Clearing

My Vein of Gold

2009-08-23T22:58:00.010-04:00

Sometimes life throws us unexpected curves. On this day, August 23, 1996, I was fired from my job as a medical hospital social worker after a very traumatic event that involved the daughter of a patient and myself. My life changed forever on that day. I never truly recovered from being fired. I lost my desire to continue with social work, and I never found a replacement career.
What I did discover, though, was The Artist's Way, by Julia Cameron, a book that helped people recover their artistic creativity. I saw an ad for a session being held at the local art center a few weeks after I was fired. It was like a message was being sent to me that this was my next step.
The class lasted 12 weeks. It was my saving grace. Everything else in my life had crashed and burned.

After I finished The Artist's Way program, I signed up to do Julia's next book, the Vein of Gold. The above mandala reflects the influence of that process for me. I titled the mandala My Vein of Gold. It was the beginning of a new awakening of the artist I had always wanted to be. In a sense, social work is an art, because you are always looking for creative ways to help people. But it was an outward art, not an inner one. Now I was looking inward, exploring the call to art that had been with me since I was a child. This mandala reflects that experience. I remember it took me hours to draw and color. It was a healing process, a coming together of wholeness, and a vision of the future.

Rug from New Orleans

2009-08-22T14:56:00.004-04:00

I thought I was the only person who took pictures of hotel rugs, but I saw that Marcia DeCoster does also on her blog! Mine is from a hotel in New Orleans last winter.

New Bracelets

2009-08-20T16:15:00.004-04:00

A few new bracelets to show off! Above, a hugs and kisses bracelets with a beaded bead closure and siam 3mm crystals down the middle.

Below, the Razzle Dazzle Bracelet I mentioned in my last post.

Beading Chaos

2009-08-20T08:10:00.005-04:00

Beading Chaos! When the boys are away, Susan makes a mess on the kitchen table. It's the only time I can really spread out. I can work on several projects at once and leave them overnight. Usually I have to clean everything up so there is room to eat! The bracelet on the mat is by Kim Stathis, called Razzle Dazzle bracelet. What a terrific design. In the upper photo, the beaded beads are a variation of the Spinning Top Bead from Bead Infinitum (it's a free pattern) and lots of fun to make.

Red Bracelet

2009-08-18T15:49:00.003-04:00

Remember Wendy's wedding bracelet that I showed a while ago? Well, I made one in red, using an array of red and pink drop beads and a rainbow of red crystals. I love this bracelet!

The Myth of Death Panels

2009-08-17T10:29:00.004-04:00

The debate about the future of health care has taken an ugly turn. President Obama's attempt to provide health care to all Americans has been hijacked by protesters who fear death panels. The real issue, however, is that what people fear is death itself. No one likes to think of their own death. However, people die, for all sorts of reasons. In most cases, death is a process, and within that process, there is time to contemplate one's death, how one would want to die, and to learn how death occurs. Simply discussing death does not mean you are going to die. For many people, discussing the dying process helps take the fear away. It gives them time to determine what is important to them, what needs to be resolved before their death,and time to see family and friends.

When I was a renal social worker, advance directives were an integral part of the work that I did with dialysis patients. Having an advance directive gives people power and control over their death. It allows them to say what they want or don't want. The important thing about an advance directive is that it allows the person to have their wishes followed when they are no longer in a position to say what they want. I found that people welcomed the chance to express their feelings. An advance directive can be changed, so if a person changes their mind about an issue, the a.d. can reflect that change.

It is good to talk about death and dying. Dying is a part of living. How many times do you hear that a beloved grandparent has died just weeks before the arrival of a new baby? The circle of life is a beautiful one, and by talking about it and showing respect for the individual, we honor that person.

The Big Reveal

2009-08-13T21:35:00.008-04:00

I entered the Use the Muse contest hosted by Scarlett Lanson. Each participant purchased the same kit from Scarlett. The goal was to complete a piece of beading that was wearable in a relatively short time. Above is the front of my completed necklace.

Above is detail from the back of my necklace. Here's something really cool - I thought I made this photos smaller, but they keep uploading large. However, if you look into the shiny beads, you can see my shadow taking the photo! I am outside on our deck, and the house is behind me.

The photo above shows closer detail of the front.

I enjoyed designing a piece with a given set of materials. I was very fortunate to actually like the beads in the kit. I've done other projects where the beads are predetermined and have really disliked them. It's much harder to make something in that case.

I didn't win (I didn't expect to), but you should definitely check out the winners and look at the galleries of entrants There are a lot of wonderful pieces to look at.

Sonia Sotomayor

2009-08-08T22:58:00.003-04:00

Congratulations to the new Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor! May the pearls of wisdom learned by a wise Latina woman illuminate your way, and may your path be one of respect and justice for all citizens of our country.

Jason's Home!!!

2009-08-03T19:36:00.005-04:00

Yay! Jason is home after being away for more than 6 months in Israel. We are so happy to see him! I missed him so much, but was happy that he had such a great time and an experience he will never forget.

Giving him a big hug, hard to do when he's so tall!

Sam and Jason, mirror images.

Jason and Dennis. Look at those bedroom eyes on Jason. He came home, regaled us with stories over dinner, then he and Sam took off...that's how it goes.

July BJP

2009-08-01T09:01:00.007-04:00

My beloved father died August 2, 1998, also the 10th day of Av, which is Tisha B'av, the commemoration of the destruction of the second temple, during which the Book of Lamentations is read. My father died at the age of 64 of non-Hodgkins lymphoma. The day he died the Blue Angels flew over the house as part of the show at nearby Hanscom Airforce Base. It seemed a fitting tribute to my father.

My father became an avid birder in the last several years of his life. He and a pal enjoyed spending time going to the Audobon Sanctuary and other places and watching birds. It was a relaxing contrast to his normally busy work schedule and gave him a much needed respite.

In honor of my father, George A. Kolovson, I have made a mandala in memory of him for my July BJP. If you read my blog, you will know that a little while ago I posted a photo of a birdbath that I can see from my computer window. Initially I thought that the birdbath was what I was beading. But as I beaded, it became apparent that I was really beading memories of my father.

Below you can see a mandala I drew shortly after my father died. In keeping with his love of birds, my parents back yard was designed to attract as many different birds as possible.

This mandala was drawn the day before my father died. I was sitting on the front steps of my parents home and started this mandala. Initially it was part of their garden, but if you use your imagination you can also see that I incorporated an oceany feel, because my father also loved the beach.

I was fortunate to be at home when my father died. My father-in-law had just died 6 weeks previously. My husband and I were spending as much time as we could in Massachusetts, while the kids were at overnight camp back home in Michigan. It was a difficult summer. Both of us feel honored and saddened that we were with our father's when they died.

Necklaces Old and New

2009-07-24T18:31:00.006-04:00

Nikia Angel, designer of the fabulous Sparkly Wheel, is writing a book about them. I've had the pleasure of meeting Nikia, and she brought a bag filled with what seemed like hundreds of Sparkly Wheels. The necklace above, and detail below, was one of my attempts at her wheel.

The necklace below is my "Beach Spiral." Knowing how much I like spirals by now, you should not be surprised that both the necklace above, which I probably made 7 or 8 years ago, and one I just finished, are spirals. The one below has fringe on it, with some sea shell-type beads and other sandy colored beads, plus a little pink and green.

Here's some detail. It's hard to photograph a spiral fringe necklace because the fringe doesn't lay flat, but that's part of what makes it interesting.

View from my computer

2009-07-19T16:19:00.003-04:00

This photo is the view from my computer. I took it through the window and the screen, so it's a bit fuzzy. It's a lovely and peaceful view, and I have my neighbor to thank, because the birdbath is on her property. For my July BJP I am going to try and bead embroider this scene and capture my feelings of summer, the green, the flowers, and the beauty of nature.

Pictures from France

2009-07-13T22:47:00.003-04:00

Dennis came home last night and had a very good trip to France. Here are a few scenic photos. For the bottom photo, you can walk to the building when the tide is low, otherwise you have to take a boat. It looks pretty desolate, but I think it's just because it's a very old building. I love the clouds in the sky and the water, they both blend together.

Bead projects completed

2009-07-12T10:44:00.013-04:00

Here are some of the bead projects I have finished in the last few weeks. Above, a beautiful necklace, Star of India, designed by Jean Campbell. Detail is below. As you can see, I need to finish the back, but I have to wait until I decide what I want the length to be.

A variation of the Ootheca cuff by Rachel Nelson-Smith bracelet. I believe these colors were first chosen by Liz Thompson, then seen by my friend Donna, then used by me. Thank you Liz!

Ruby's Herringbone bracelet.

And finally, a Waves bracelet designed by Ann Benson. The pattern is sold on the Bead Culture web site.

Happy Sunday everyone!

One more thing...

2009-07-11T20:50:00.002-04:00

Okay, can you tell I'm a little stir-crazy and lonely being by myself? I'm writing multiple entries today.... I guess you could say I'm talking to my computer.

We've lived in our neighborhood for 17 years now. One of the great pleasures is watching people walk by our house. We sit on the porch and say or wave hello, or just observe. Just now, a teenager walked by with his dog. I've watched this teenager walking his dog since he was probably 8 y.o. Little boy, little dog. Now he's almost a young man, and his dog is older and slower.

One of the great mysteries I have about people walking by, is why they stop. Have they moved away? Have they gotten ill? Are they away for the summer? So many people I've come to know over the years, and then they're just not there anymore.

Dennis will be home tomorrow. And only one more trip this summer.

Back to beading fringe...

Are you a bead perfectionist

2009-07-11T20:40:00.002-04:00

I usually spend the summer trying to catch up on unfinished bead projects. I seem to work in spurts. With my husband still in France, I've finished a beautiful necklace by Jean Campbell, a bracelet I've wanted to make for about 2 years, my Use the Muse contest piece, and some others I can't remember right now.

But here's what I want to say: Right now I'm putting fringe on a spiral rope necklace. This technique is one of my favorites. However, I always want the fringe to look balanced, and this means a lot of ripping out and redoing the fringe until it 'looks right.' We're talking about balancing fringe on a rotating base. I think I need to let go of being a perfectionist about this. It's taking too long. But if I don't do it this way, I won't bead happy.

Sign

2009-07-11T20:11:00.001-04:00

Today, as I was driving out of my neighborhood, I looked at the sign at the chiropractors office. It said:

What are you waiting for?

Obama in Ghana

2009-07-11T14:40:00.002-04:00

I was just reading about President Obama's visit to Ghana. I was also looking through pictures of the trip, and I started to tear up. This president represents the America that I feel proud about, one that can make a bridge across the world, to all countries and all peoples. Maybe it will take a while for America to get back on its feet after the previous 8 years, but I believe it will happen with Obama at the helm. I know there are people who will read this entry and have different feelings than me, that's okay. I count my blessings that we can do that in this country and still be friends.

Parenting

2009-07-05T10:59:00.003-04:00

I've always thought that our children teach us how to parent. Well, my 21 y.o. son, who has been in Israel since January, called today. He thought he would tell us that his friend, Angela, misses him 4 times more than we do, and she wants to pick him up at the airport and go to Michigan State for the night. Then we can pick him up from there and bring him home. I told him I understood, and I'm sure she really misses him like crazy. But maybe, just maybe, his dad and I will still go to the airport and see him, because we miss him too.

Friday errands

2009-07-03T18:13:00.014-04:00

Every Friday I have a routine for the errands I run. Today was slightly different because I waited for Dennis, above, to get a ride to the airport. He'll be in France for the week. More time for playing with clay for me!

The I go to the local branch of our library. I actually go 2-4 times a week, since I love to read, and love libraries.

I head toward my next destination. I've waited to turn left at this traffic light hundreds of times.
One more left so I can go into the shopping center.
A stop at Barnes & Noble to check if any new magazines have come in...or beading books!
Sometimes I go to Panera's for a cup of coffee and a bagel.
Then my big stop, Whole Foods. I know some people call it whole paycheck...but I'm a vegetarian and the best selection in one place for foods I eat is WF. Plus, they get their bread delivered from Zingerman's, who makes the best bread. I pick up a loaf of challah and pumpernickel.

Aren't these flowers pretty?

One more left turn traffic light. This one is a long wait.

Ah, turning onto my road...almost home.
And here I am, back at home. I have just completed a big circle. Now to unload books and groceries.

And that's my Friday, every Friday. It's like an anchor at the end of the week. Hope your week has been a good one!

June BJP 09

2009-06-29T11:08:00.005-04:00

Last night I was very angry about something. Anger is not conducive to sleep, so I got out of bed, went to my bead room, pulled a few things together, sat on the floor and made this piece. I used markers in my least favored colors, project rejects, embroidery thread, which, when I got frustrated with using it on the needle, I just wrapped around the lacey's stiff stuff. I even left the needle in the piece. Was I less angry? Well, enough to go to sleep. And enough to get out of bed today and move on and leave some of the anger behind.

Hawaii

2009-06-27T08:49:00.002-04:00

Last week my husband was in Hawaii for a conference. When he sent me the hotel information, it said his room had a partial view of the ocean. This is what partial looks like! He's off to France next week for yet another conference. We'll have to wait and see what his room with a view looks like. And yes, I could go if I wanted to, but the truth of the matter is that this is work for him, and engineers take their work seriously. They love to talk about their research, what new work they're doing, renew old contacts, and most of all, talk about their research, and their work... because the bottom line is, they love their work!

Clay pendants

2009-06-23T16:49:00.009-04:00

I have a few new pieces of polymer clay (my DH is out of town again for the week). I have a feeling this clay stuff can be addictive, just like beading. Above is my last leaf pendant. Now I'll have to make something besides leaf pendants, like the heart below. I'm still very much a novice, but I'm enjoying the process and the possibilities seem endless.

Use the Muse

2009-06-16T09:26:00.005-04:00

I'm working on my Use the Muse piece. I've tried several ideas, excitedly gathering beads of different colors, shapes, and sizes, only to discard most of them. Now I'm narrowing down my design, and it's totally unlike my usual beading. Usually my beading is dense, but this design is airy and lightweight. In fact, I'm not sure it's worthy of the contest, but it's been fun for me to do something so totally different, so I feel I have gained something new. I can't show the piece because the muse is in it, and one of the rules is that you absolutely can't share the muse until the contest is over. So check back on July 18th, when all the entries are due!

Use the Muse Contest

2009-06-08T18:49:00.003-04:00

I decided to enter the Use the Muse Contest by Scarlett Lanson. She is a young woman from Sedona, Arizona who is adding lots of energy and enthusiasm to the beading community. Her contest uses a "muse," which does not appear in the photo. Also missing is a lovely piece of ribbon. What's unique about this contest is that the entry needs to be finished by July 18th, so the design and beading needs to be completed in a relatively short time. I love the colors of the beads and hopefully will start getting ideas flowing in the next few days.

Beading for a Cure

2009-06-08T18:39:00.011-04:00

Below is the Beading for a Cure necklace and bracelet that I won through the auctions. Aren't they wonderful? What's really clever is that there is a magnetic clasp embedded in the beaded beads on both the necklace and bracelet!

Polymer Clay Week

2009-06-08T10:29:00.004-04:00

My husband is away for the week, and I've decided to devote my time to making more polymer clay sculptures. Since my class with Christi Friesen I've actually been dreaming about making clay, so here's a chance to dive in... but first, off to meet my bead group friends to design a hostess gift for our annual bead retreat in October. We have an item picked out to embroider, a palette, and now will focus on the design. Above is a photo of part of the "W" we made for her last year. In this part of the W you can see a lake, which the cottage is on, the road leading to the cottage, which is long and one lane, some flowers for the gardens - you can see all that, right?

Have a great week!

New Bead Journal Pieces

2009-05-31T13:10:00.008-04:00

Okay, some new Bead Journal Pieces! For a while, my muse was on vacation. Then my (un)friendly and uninvited critic decided to pay a visit, saying my work wasn't very good, especially compared to what it was seeing on the BJP Blogs. So...having to wait out those two intervals, creativity suddenly struck. It didn't matter if I was good enough or not, I was simply bead inspired and thankful.

Above is a piece I'm calling: Not everything is black and white. This theme is a recurring one in my life. That life has lots of hues and shades to it, and that I personally do better when I can be flexible and open about what is going on. The black and white parts are actually a piece of ribbon. I have added colors in different sections - browns for murkiness, blues for shades of blue (feeling "blue"), yellow for the sun, pinks and oranges for the sun rising and setting, white for crystal clear (because sometimes life is very clear). And then I added color all jumbled together, because that's what I like best - color, energy, happiness.

Above is my May piece. One day I was taking a walk. I looked over at a lawn that had an all orange garden. I loved it! Orange is a color that represents happiness. A whole garden of happiness, I liked that idea and tried to recreate that in my piece.

You have already seen a version of the above piece for April. It is a yin/yang interpretation of the shift from winter to spring. The more I looked at it, the more I didn't like it. My critic was still present and telling me it could be better. But I still liked the idea, so I just changed around the flowers on the right, added a few green leaves to the tree, and a butterfly in between, signifying the transition from winter to spring. I like this piece and feel content with it now.

Beading for a Cure 2010

2009-05-31T12:54:00.007-04:00

Beading for a Cure is a project that has become very dear to me. The goal of the project is to raise money for colorectal cancer. Cancer is indiscriminate, it can happen to anyone at anytime.

I see this more as I get older and my friends are being diagnosed with various kinds of cancer.

Also, my dad died of cancer, ten years ago this summer. Six weeks before he died, my father-in-law died after an operation to determine the "stage" of stomach cancer he had. He never regained consciousness after the surgery. A few years later my mother-in-law died of lung cancer. So I have lost 3 of my family to cancer. Therefore, it is a great privilege to participate in the Beading for a Cure project and hope that the money we raise contributes to treatment and healing.
The way the project works is that participants purchase a kit, at a minimum price, and bead something using the beads in the kit. Everyone receives the exact same kit. What is amazing is the beading that results from the chosen colors and beads.

The projects are auctioned on eBay beginning in March, which is National Colorectal Cancer month. If you want to see the amazing pieces that were auctioned this year, go to Beading for a Cure and look at the gallery.

My piece, as you can see above, is a necklace. It is designed with a herringbone strap, peyote tubes, right angle weave, and crystal fringe! The lampwork bead was lovingly made by one of the participants. I believe she made about 80 of these beads, and they are gorgeous!

So look for this necklace to be auctioned in 2010. Mark it in your calendars now so you don't forget...BFAC eBay auctions, March, 2010.

Variety

2009-05-26T21:15:00.007-04:00

Variety is the spice of life, so it's said, and this blog entry has a lot of variety! Above is a beautiful bracelet my friend Wendy designed and made for a bridesmaid in her daughter's wedding. The bracelet is made with a right angle weave base, 4mm crystal ab bicones, and pearls. It is stunning!

Below is a detail from a necklace to be auctioned off for charity.

And here is the complete necklace. I got the pattern from Bead magazine, a British publication. I used a czech drop I found at Bead's Galore in Arizona and used a chain for an adjustable fit. The auction is for an organization called Food Gatherer's, which does just what it says, and distributes food to shelters and other places that need it.

Next is a photo of one of my favorite gardens in my neighborhood. I just love walking by this peaceful garden.

And finally, the baby robins hatched! Here they are with their beaks open and waiting to be fed. The grew so much every day it was amazing. When they started flapping their wings we knew they were getting ready to leave. Then one day, first one baby, then the next, and then the third, all flew away. Talk about empty nest! The next itself was exquisitely made. It was solid on the sides and bottom, but the inside was layered with soft grass. Those birds were well protected. Now that they are gone my husband and I can sit on the front porch again.

Variety is the spice of life, so they say, and this blog entry has a wide range of variety.