Bead and Button Booty....

...a friend asked what I bought when I was in Milwaukee so I thought I'd share part of it...I bought a few crystals. Just a few mind you - some vintage, some have small scratches, some snaps, but all beautiful..Just a few little pretties to keep busy with...

Just enough to do a project or two or three...a month...for about a year....And this I just couldn't resist.....Chloe was sound asleep when I

took this picture of just her little nose peeking out of the blankets.

Religious Icons - Part 5

I just added the final stitches just a couple of minutes ago.

With this cross, I have beaded a total of five religious icons.

I entered this into a gallery show later this summer and

needed to finish it.

There's one thing off my to-do list from yesterday!

Catching up....

2009 Alaska Cruise

Haven't had a lot of time between my vacation on the Beady Friends Bead Cruise to Alaska, going to Bead and Button in Milwaukee and work. Above is the link to my pictures. This year's cruise was awesome - the group is a really nice group of beaders and family. I'm ready for Alaska again....

Following Alaska, I repacked my bags and took the train to Bead and Button in Milwaukee, where I assisted Marcia Decoster for four days of classes. I really love going to Bead and Button, and although I didn't see any of my Iowa friends lurking around, I caught up with many people that I haven't seen since last year.

Marcia and Liz giggling about something.

My to-do list is getting longer:

• write instructions
• teach RAW to a couple of friends here
• finish my items for a gallery show in August (done June 14, 2009)
• frame above items
• write an artist statement
• loose 100 pounds
• become taller
• catch up on the Bead Journal Project - only 3 months behind...
• clean up my work bench
• determine what beads that I have I will never use and do something to get them out of my way

Back to reality - today's project is to wash that grey right out of my hair.....

Beaded Opulence.......

Beaded Opulence

This book is a MUST HAVE (yes, I yelled) for your collection. While I was at Bead and Button, I was able to caress Marcia's copy of Beaded Opulence. Run, do not walk, to Marcia's web site,MAD Designs to check when you can preorder your copy! It's stunning - many projects, all beautiful, inspirational photos.

You heard it hear first!!!

Books!

I don't purchase many beading books, but I have just recently bought these three: "Masters in Beadweaving" - with many of my personal beading goddesses/gods included in this book, I had to have this in my collection.

When I was in Ohio recently for a beading girly weekend, I had the opportunity to look through these books. Ohmygoodness! What stunning eye candy in "The Beaded Sphere" by Judy Walker. I can't wait to try some of these items.

Also, Diane Fitzgerald's "Shaped Beadwork" shook me out of my non-book buying behavior! Some of the pieces in this book look like cast metal items - it's fabulous.

Finally, I am waiting with "bated breath*" for the release these two books. The first from my personal bead mentor, Marcia Decoster's, book - "Beaded Opulence" and Rachel Nelson-Smith's "Seed Bead Fusion"

{*Bated here is a contraction of abated through loss of the unstressed first vowel (a process called aphesis); it means “reduced, lessened, lowered in force”. So bated breath refers to a state in which you almost stop breathing as a result of some strong emotion, such as terror or awe.}

What to post.....

I just finished my newest necklace the other day and I'm wearing it today: a Crystal Collage beauty. Of course I don't have a picture of it, but it's featured on Marcia's website.

It might be a little "showy" for an office look, but it matches my tank top and I had to do it.....so, here's the picture from Marcia's web page

The woman in the cafeteria asked me how much....Nuff said.

Leaving in the morning......

For a girly weekend in Ohio - at Sharon's house!! I'm driving down Friday morning with another beader from this area, also named Sharon.....that's going to be interesting.

Sharon is also the editor of the Bead a Day calendar, which as beaders we should all have one!

Certainly, beading and cocktails will ensue - I am hoping to finish my Portico necklace that I have been working on, an ID badge lariat for my sister, and who knows what else I will take with me. Sharon (Michigan Sharon) and I might work on a bracelet by Rachel Nelson-Smith

The carved Tagua nut is for my doctor buddy, Roque, who is going to Panama and will be picking up some of these beauties for me. I'm hoping for an octopus or jaguar for me. But I will let him use his eye for selecting me some.....

TTFN!!

Spring!!

Start with any size "O" ring

Cover with Right Angle Weave (or another stitch if you haven't discovered the love of RAW)

Embellish with several rows of beading and crystals on the edges

Add a little metallic bling for some real sparkle



Add a bail in peyote on the back side, make certain your necklace of choice will fit through it.

Inspired by Marcia DeCoster