What's on my bead mat - October edition!

I thought that it was time to give you an update, on my beady activities! Well, my bead mat is actually a disgrace right now, so I decided to do my bead mat update, off the bead mat this time!! But the good news, is that I finished off a couple of projects this month.

First, my “Silly Goose” doll is now complete. Isn't she adorable? All the beading was finished in September, but I still needed to work out her hair. I normally add it right after I bezel the face, but this time the doll was telling me to mix up her media, and give her some needle felted hair. I had the needles, I had the hair…..all I needed to do, was…..wait for it…….actually do it!!!! I anticipated a lot of down time, at the recent BeadFX, Artisan Trunk show, so I used that free time, to do the deed. I’m not sure why I waited so long, but I did, so no excuses! As a freeform diva, I’m thinking that this doll is my favourite! I’ve been told that she doesn’t really look like a goose, but I’m committed to that name, and am not able to think of her in any other way. So much so, that I’m thinking that a wire nest is in order! What do you think? Although not green, I’m thinking that her riotous hair reminds me of someone else’s hair. I wonder who that could be? Giggle!

Next, I worked on a leaf shape, that I had hanging about. I quickly sketched a flower shape, that I’ve been doodling since I was a teenager, and then proceeded to bead it. This flower would normally have five petals, but there just wasn’t room for all five on this piece, so I elected to go with just four (although it doesn't follow my rule of one, three or five!). As a side note, I’ve drawn, painted, collaged, and free motion stitched this shape in the past, so I just had to bead it! The stitches used are a combination of beaded back stitch, and boucle or moss stitch (I also know it as the bocce stitch, but as I’ve never seen anything about that stitch in writing, I’m going to ignore that name). I’ll let the piece rest for a while, but I think my muse is trying to persuade me to incorporate it into a freeform necklace. Hmm, we’ll see!

Last, but not least, the little bead embroidered pendant, is something I finished off in my Nature’s Mood: Bead Embroidered pendant workshop, this past Saturday. It’s a class sample I started the last time I ran the class. My students were absorbed by their stitching, and the quiet was almost deafening! I hadn’t planned it that way, but It did give me time to get some stitching of my own done. Lucky me! After I initially planned the piece, I thought the stone/shell combination, reminded me of a rickety fence. However, now all I can see are sailboats! I'm not sure how I'll finish it off, but I suspect that leather might be part of the solution! It's not scheduled yet, but if you're interested in taking the class, I do plan to run it again in the spring.

Where will I go next? I have some ideas percolating, about the driftwood I picked up a couple of weeks ago, or perhaps my muse will let me start working on the naked purple doll! Or better still, I should clean off my bead mat! Sheesh! What are you working on, and what does your bead mat look like today?

What's on my bead mat - July edition!

We’re having a heat wave, a tropical heat wave”, so what better way to deal with it, than a long, cool drink, a few beads, and some mixed media items? Once again, I’m all over the place artistically, but that seems to be a huge part of my creative process!

I facilitated two completely different workshops this weekend, and thoroughly enjoyed both, thanks to my eager and talented students! Who knew, when I was living the stressful corporate life, that I would get so much pleasure out of sharing my creativity? I always knew that there would be a “Plan B", when I decided to chuck it all, but I didn’t realize that it would come so soon. Also, I’m not really an art supply junkie; I’ve just been saving for retirement! At least, that’s what I’ve been telling myself! By the way, the bezel in the above shot is still waiting for its resin layer. Somehow, I didn’t get around to adding it in the class.

Which pixie misplaced my beaded pendant (last Friday’s workshop)? This one was made ages ago, but has mysteriously gone missing, and is probably somewhere in my home. Surprise, surprise! Did the faeries spirit it away? Is it hiding under the dust bunnies? Or could it have fallen into an open stash bag, a box, or that infamous “safe place”? Sure, I was able to stitch up a couple of replacement samples, but the mystery remains unsolved! The pendant I started in the class has not been completed, so I expect you may be seeing it in some future update.

I find that I’m never quite as creative in a workshop (resin this time), as I am when I’m working solo. Teaching is less about experimenting, and more about describing a process, and then demonstrating techniques. I had planned to experiment with resin and a torch, but I think that needs to wait for another day. Probably not a good idea to try it, with impressionable students!!!! Confession time! Gulp! I did use the torch just a little! Enough to realize that I liked the effect, but not enough for show and tell! Could this be another class in the making? We played with collage, botanicals and Ice Resin (including various colourants), and I even demonstrated Iced Enamels, and Pebeo Fantasy Paints (Prisme). We had a blast! The shell is a borrowed idea (I learned it on one of my internet groups, but my apologies, because I don’t remember who the tip was from), and a way to use up those leftover bits of resin. Drip them into a seashell, and turn it into a decorative element. This is my first one, but this serendipitous multi-layered approach, seems promising! I’ll be sure to collect some more interesting bits, for future shells!

My “Silly Goose” doll is progressing nicely (I’ve fallen in love with the Czech Rizo beads), though she’s still missing her hair! The pile of Archeology beads will be turned into a bracelet, the filigree pieces are for a future mystery project, and I’ve included a workshop teaser shot! It’s all fine and good, but I do have some paperwork to complete, before settling into any extended beading sessions. Wish me luck!

Despite the heat, summer is a fabulous time for both exploring your creativity, and discovering new techniques, so don’t forget to check out the BeadFX classes! Now point me to a cool drink, because I feel the need to bead, as I find all that paperwork terribly distracting!!