September BJP

I am not making much progress, I am afraid I'm going to be a behinder before I even start. I just can't get going. I finally, this past weekend, decided on a shape - a smaller circle than last year - and I decided to use a certain color pallette and see how far I can go with it for every month. I gathered lots of beads of all kinds in the pallette, different sizes and shapes. I put them in a bin with my circles and I'm happy to look at them. They look very nice in the bin. Okay...now what?

Bead class and lunch

Yesterday and today I took a wonderful class from Margie Deeb about color. My head is still spinning from all the different ways to look at color and play with it. When I went to lunch yesterday I noticed a few women beading and went over to see what they were doing. Turns out I knew one of them and met the other. And, the one I know was working on her September page, inspired, she says, by ME! She saw my pages exhibited in Findings and registered for the project. How cool is that!

My favorite and least favorite bead stitches

As I was looking through some of my beadwork, I realize that the one stitch I use consistently is the spiral stitch. It was one of the first stitches I learned. It is easy, versatile, and always looks good. You can change the number, order, and size of beads, embellish the heck out of it, and use all kinds of clasps. It is great for making lariats and adding fringe to the bottom. It is also fast to make, once you choose your beads. I love the double spiral stitch as well.

And now, for my least favorite stitch: Right angle weave. I think if you have a mathematical or analytical mind, RAW is the stitch for you. I am competent in using RAW, and have used it quite a bit for bracelets that I embellish. I can even make a RAW four sided rope for a bracelet or necklace. But do I enjoy it? No way...and it is such a popular stitch right now. Marcia DeCoster and Rachel Nelson Smith excel at RAW and I am in awe of how beautiful their creations are. And that's just the way I like it, looking and enjoying.

I was pretty busy this summer making and finishing up pieces. There are many influences here, including Rachel Nelson-Smith, Laura McCabe, Bead Culture,
NanC Meinhardt, Diane Fitzgerald, Shelly from the Bead Parlor in IN, bead magazines, and even some of my own creativity!

Fall is on its way. I found this wonderful part of a branch on my walk this morning.

Previous Post

My previous post came about as a reaction to the Republican Convention last week, specifically the talks on Wednesday night, in which several of the speakers made fun of Barak Obama for being a social worker and community organizer. I was listening to the convention because I feel it is important to have as much information as possible to make a good decision, and to understand people who have different points of view from me.

I understand that politics is a game, and that the object is to win. But at what risk do you alienate voters in your quest to be number one?

My Life's Commitment

In 1981 I received a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Michigan in Community Organization. All the social work I did was connected to the community in order to provide services to people who needed them. I worked for an area agency on aging, providing resources to allow elderly people to remain in their homes. I was able to do this by coordinating care with visiting nurses, meals on wheels, transportation, and housekeeping services to the elderly. When I started working in hospitals, they were community hospitals, so that I had to develop relationships with similar people as above, as well as nursing homes and rehabilitation centers and medical equipment companies. I even had to collect names of facilities that would come out to people's houses and care for their pets, because a lot of people would refuse care unless they knew their pet was being cared for first. I knew where to get clothes for people, where they could get food, where they could sleep if they were homeless, and where to find them if they were homeless. I had contacts within the police and sheriff's departments to look for people if they didn't come in for treatment. I connected people to hospice when it was time to die. I am proud of every single thing I did as a community organization social worker. When I stopped working I did volunteer work in the community. After seven years at one volunteer program, I decided to move on to use my beadwork to create items for charity. I make approximately 6 items a year that are auctioned to raise funds for cancer, for food banks, and for homeless shelters. I am proud of how I have spent my life's work, and I will continue to contribute as long as I can.

Off to College

Okay, both boys left for college this past week. I love the way Jason packed the car. I also love that he just can't wait to leave, look at the expression on his face. It says, can I just leave already? Get off my back, I'll be fine. He pulled out of the driveway and didn't look back or even wave. That's Jason for you.

Here's Sam, leaving for law school (Go, Sam!). Sam is much more organized than Jason, as you can see how neatly the car is packed. Here is with his Dad, looking totally content and ready to start his new adventure.

The house is quiet. Dennis and I don't know what to do after the chaos of the last week and the boys getting ready. We can't bear to look at the mess they've left, so we do the next best thing. We take a walk and sit in a field to watch a sunset.

I am honored to have an exhibit of my BJP pieces at Findings bead store, in Ann Arbor, MI. Gerry, the owner, is a great supporter of her beaders. Thank you Gerry!

The pages look so good displayed. During the year I just kept piling them up in a plastic bag, so seeing them altogether like this I can really appreciate and enjoy viewing them.

Here I am with some of the Wednesday Bead Group. We meet every Wed for beading, lunch, and creative inspiration. From the left are Kathie, me, Wendy, and Hollie.

The 2008 Bead Journal Project starts this September. Registration is still open until Friday, August 15th. It's not too late to join this fantastic group of online beaders.

BJP Exhibit

Yesterday was the "grand opening" of my BJP exhibit at Findings. It was actually very exciting. Three people came in just to see the exhibit. We had coffee and coffeecake and homemade zucchini bread. I felt like an artist! And I hope I inspired people to sign up for next year's project. Here are some pictures, as promised.

Here's something cool - my bead pages are being shown at my local bead store (Findings, in Ann Arbor, MI) and here is the write up in the weekly newsletter. I'll try and get pictures of the display on Wed.

NEW FEATURE ARTIST!
Susan Kolovson dedicated one year to creating a beading journal with a group organized by national bead artist Robin Atkins. The results ~one design for each month ~ are stunning. We are pleased to exhibit Susan's year long journey at Findings. Susan will be in the shop on Wednesday from Noon to 4:00.You can see pictures of Susan's and several other participants of the 2007 Bead Journal Project by visiting http://www.BeadJournalProject.com. It is quite impressive. Those interested in joining Robin (and Susan) in the 2008 journal event can register at this sight. The deadline for signing up is August 15. I know Susan learned a lot about herself and her creativity in the process.

Albuquerque was divine!

Albuquerque is such a great place. The city is large and spread out, it's old and new, and everyone I met was friendly. I visited several bead stores and bought seed beads, cabochons, pressed glass, and of course some turqouise. I also walked, swam, enjoyed the mountains, and, most of all, enjoyed spending time with my husband. Here are some photos from the trip:

Visiting Morwyn (on the left) in her great book store. It was a pleasure to meet her in person and to see her bead journal project, plus an entire case of her bead work.
Some friends invited us over for dinner. We ate outside in their lovely courtyard. The meal was delicious and the company was great. Here is my husband having a conversation with our host, who unfortunately didn't make it into the photo.

Here is Dennis again with his new friend in front of one of the Flying Star restaurants.

This photo shows part of sculpture outside of Elinor Oldham's eclectic bead store. There are quite a few sculptures and I liked the detail on this one and the way it flows.

Back to the Flying Star, here is an indoor mural. My father was in the bakery business and this mural reminds me of many hours spent in the bakery.

And finally, some detail from an indoor column at the Flying Star. Not only is the food good, but the decor is so stimulating, it's like taking an Artist's Date, for those of you familiar with the Artist's Way.
I had hoped to visit KV in Las Cruces, but it didn't work out, much to my disappointment. But I fully expect to be back in New Mexico in the future. Both my husband and I like it very much and my husband has a sabbatical coming up, so who knows???

But for now it's back to regular life, working on the magazine I copy edit, sorting out my new beads, thinking about next year's journal project, and enjoying summer.

Visiting Albuquerque

I am visiting my husband, who is spending the summer in Albuquerque. I love Albuquerque! I am so glad I came. We took a wonderful walk this morning and walked by an acquantaince of his and his wife and had a delightful talk. The weather is great, a clear sunny morning.

On Monday I will start visiting the bead stores, of which there are many here.

I'll take pictures and post them of my visit. Lots of outdoor art, interesting scenery (when you're from Michigan), and anything that catches my eye.

Be back soon!

My Gorgeous Garden

My rock garden was kind of barren this year. I asked my neighbor, who loves to garden, if she would help me. And just as we beaders think about colors and finishes and sizes, so do gardeners. Dottie spends all winter reading books about plants, looking at their size, color, leaf shapes, and draws out her ideas. And then when spring comes, she spends all her time gardening. In particular, she likes digging up and moving plants until they feel just right. Wait 'til you see what she did with my garden, or, as I say, our garden.


First off, though, is the windmill that my husband made from a kit. He had fun making it, but I have to say I was a little shocked when I saw that he put it right on the front lawn! It kind of broke up the flow of the gardens between my neighbors house and ours.
The garden is kidney shaped.
This is the fuschia end of the garden, bright and happy.
This section is the green transition from fuschia to purple.
And this end is yellows, including a hybrid black eyed Susan!My son is going to mulch the garden tomorrow and it will look even better, plus hold the moisture from the water.

Thank you, Dottie, for being the best neighbor!

(I don't know why there are lines under my writing, or why some of the colors are different. If anyone knows how to fix this please tell me!!!)

My final mandala

This is my final mandala for the 2007-08 BJP. I call it Spring is Blooming, and I wanted to capture the feeling that spring is on its way, that life and nature both have evolving cycles.

I wish the photo turned out clearer so you can see more detail, but try as I might I couldn't get a better shot. I enjoyed making this mandala a lot, first because it follows the flow of a true mandala, starting in the center and working out, and second because it feels light to me, like winter is lifting and hope is waiting.