Let's go walkabout!

Does anyone but me, think that it’s a tad strange to see (and feel) the temperature soar to almost 30C (or did it surpass that) yesterday? We were already geared up for warmer temps, but that high and this early in the year? Toronto is quite unpredictable! Winter, spring and summer, in the space of a couple of weeks…and I’m not exaggerating!!! Is everyone prepared for the change? No of course not, but as true Canadians we’ll adapt, and soon be complaining about how freaking hot it is!! I still need to clean my air conditioner filter, and I haven’t even transferred over to my summer clothing yet. Sigh!

In light of the warmer temperatures, I dusted off my trusty Canon, then spent a pleasant afternoon going walkabout, around the Toronto Botanical Gardens (Edwards Gardens) on Sunday. I snapped tons of photos, but focused mainly on close-up shots of the last remaining tulips, and some fabulous blossoms. The smell was incredible, despite the fact that I tried not to get too close to the lilacs (achoo!). But what does this have to do with beads, you say? Well, (and I think that I’ve said this before) I believe that you can get your colour cues from just about anything. If you’re ever lacking in inspiration, I highly recommend a walk in the park, don't forget to take your camera along, and take photos of anything that catches your eye. Don't worry about composition, you're looking for colourful ideas! The exercise will freshen your brain, and your muse will appreciate the reminders. When you download the photos, you’ll be able to take a second look, and should easily spot a colour scheme or two. If you don’t own a camera (and yes, there are some people who don’t), simply cut out any magazine photos that grab your attention. File them in an "Inspiration" file, and trot them out whenever you’re stumped for ideas! Even better, bring your images to BeadFX, and we'll help you pick out the colours!

My photos have been downloaded, but I admit that I haven’t had a chance to focus on future projects (although I am rather fond of the colours cues in the first and last photos). However, I did complete two new Freeform Peyote Rings. The first was based on a soft, almost Victorian colour scheme, and the second on a Facebook photo I shared last week (of a turquoise door, surrounded by a brick wall). I’m teaching a ring class on Friday, and I’m hoping to design one or more new ones, inspired by my photos. Hmmm, I wonder which photo I'll choose? By the way, feel free to borrow some of my colour cues! I have a million of them!! Close your eyes, and imagine the necklace or bracelet you could make with these colours? Or how about creating something with Ice Resin, Alcohol Inks or Epoxy Clay? Wouldn't they be wonderful?

I encourage you to go “walkabout”, in the hope that it will prod your muse into action! Immerse yourself in colour, and let the summer begin!!!! After all, we deserve it!

Confessions of an extreme stitcher!

In a recent post on my personal Facebook page, I referred to myself as an "extreme" or "rebel" stitcher. These terms most definitely apply to my bead embroidery, bead weaving, hand and machine embroidery. Oh, I'm quite capable of stitching in the conventional way (and still do at times), but there's a little devil in me that simply loves to break the rules!

My subversive qualities stem back to my fibre art days. A week long class with the extraordinarily accomplished embroiderer, Sylvia Naylor, taught me how to torture the threads, just enough to turn them into a garden full of weeds and wildflowers. Her free motion machine embroidery techniques were not new to me, but helped to open my eyes to both a world full of possibilities, and a new way of thinking. I wish that I could say that I was as accomplished as the master, but that would have taken a lot more time and dedication. I do love the effects, but I'm afraid that my eyes didn't appreciate the concentrated effort!

As many of you already know, my bead embroidery path started with Robin Atkins' Bead Journal Project. Participants were required to commit to one visual journal piece per month, in the same shape and size, and use at least one bead. As an experienced fibre artist, I felt that I had it made! My original vision of the series included fibre, free motion machine embroidery, hand stitching, and a sprinkling of beads. Little did I know that I would immediately gravitate to encrusted bead embroidery! Did my beads line up in nice, tidy rows? Of course not! It soon became apparent that I was going to throw "everything but the kitchen sink" on my pieces (I do so love recycling!), and "tidy" was not something my muse recognized. I like to think that my pieces are complicated, and sometimes even thought provoking! They're certainly not orderly, but do contain a strange type of order (at least in my mind they do).

In my early beading days, I learned a handful of bead weaving stitches, including peyote, brick, ladder and right angle weave. I made a ton of bracelets! I wore them, gave them as gifts, and even sold a few. Then I abandoned the process completely! Were they too orderly for me? Am I allergic to perfection? Was I just bored? I've always been interested in freeform peyote (stitch), but didn't even attempt it until a year or so ago. I started with a bracelet, and then made a pendant, gravitated to beaded beads, added it to a beaded art doll, and then started making rings. Could my goal of a freeform necklace be far behind? The ideas are percolating, but I'm not quite there yet! Instead I'm working on another doll, and this time I've included some freeform right angle weave! It's far from the reveal stage, but it's definitely showing promise! Visions of bracelets are dancing in my head, as is the possibility of combining this stitch with my freeform peyote,

Don't ever be afraid to change it up! Be a "rebel", stretch your beading, and ignore your self-imposed limitations. "Extreme" is the name of the game, and it's very freeing! Besides, if you don't like the results, you can always frog stitch! Ripit....ripit....ripit!!!

Bead mat update - April!

In the last update, my bead mat was a fairly sorry sight. My muse had been on vacation, and I was just getting back into the swing of things. I'm happy to say that my batteries have been re-charged, and I'm now brimming with inspiration! Most (but not all) of my beading projects have been motoring along, and new ideas are coming at me faster than I can remember them. Don't you just hate when that happens? I really do need to write them down.

Despite not finding the original (started in my last class), I completed another freeform peyote, beaded bead to add to my collection (the green/dark raspberry one). I've now made a grand total of seven of these beads, and I'm not even close to finishing the series. I was once told that you couldn't call yourself an artist, until you learned how to develop a series of work. Do you believe that? I'm not sure that I do, but my work does seem to be leading me in that direction. I've been striding down that path for years, starting with the early fibre art days, and then moving to the Bead Journal Project. Who knows where I will go from here?

My freeform peyote ring count is now up to four, and I'm seriously contemplating the fifth. Somehow, somewhere I had the idea to include a shank button as the focal on my next ring. So, did I buy just one button to try it out? No, of course not, I purchased five of them! But don't look for a photograph, because I haven't taken one yet. Instead I'll just show you my fourth ring. This was constructed a little differently than the other three, and includes an 8 mm Lapis round as the focal. Do I need to tell you that I love blue? This one is sized just right! I even purchased a ring mandrel, so that it will be a lot easier to determine the correct sizing in the future. Stringing the beads, and then holding your tongue, and attempting to figure out if the sizing is correct, while trying not to drop the beads, is difficult to say the least! I guess I could have asked for help, but why the heck would I do that?

My poor purple doll is in the same naked state as she was in March! I added the hair, and then everything came to a full stop. Yes, I did decide on her colour scheme, but she hasn't even started talking to me yet! Doesn't she like the colours I chose (purple/turquoise)? I don't seem to be able to make a decision on either a theme, or where to stitch the first bead!!! Do you think if I give her a name, she will start whispering to me? What should I call her? Does she actually need a theme, or should I just start beading? Decisions are so difficult! Perhaps I should start working on the odd/shaped acid green doll in the next photo. Would that prompt my purple doll to cry out for attention?

To make things even more difficult, I'm teaching a BAD class (Beaded Art Doll) at BeadFX this Saturday. Have I stitched and stuffed all of my doll forms yet? No of course not, but I am working on it. Today's count is five dolls complete; two and a half stitched; and three more cut out, and ready to stitch. Will I finish by Saturday? You bet I will! Do I procrastinate? Not really, but I do think that I'm addicted to the adrenaline rush! Besides, I've been working on pieces for the Corsage Project over the last couple of weeks, and I've also been playing around with resin. I guess those are valid excuses, right? Don't get frustrated by a temporary slowdown in your creativity. Give it some time, ignore your muse, and she (or he) will sit up and pay attention! All will be well, despite our current sad, chilly temperatures!

Beading on the wild side!

There's beading and then there's beading! Most of us start out learning the basics of stringing. Others start with bead weaving, loom, wire or metal work. There's nothing wrong with sticking with these options, but wouldn't it be fun to be a little more adventurous from time to time?

Traditional peyote stitch (also known as the gourd stitch), is an off-loom weaving technique, and may be worked with either an even or odd number of beads per row. The free form version of this stitch is very organic, as it bends and even breaks many of the rules of traditionsl peyote stitch. I fell in love with free form peyote many years ago, but did not even attempt it until I stumbled onto Karen Williams (Skunk Hills Studio) "Freeform Peyote Beading" group. I started my first project after purchasing Karen's book "Explorations in Freeform Peyote Beading". I was pleased when my first attempt turned into a glorious bracelet! Although it was easier than I anticipated, I didn't end up working on another project until I decided to play with beaded beads. Five beads and one workshop later, I'm still addicted to the process! An interesting side note is that I won the grand prize, in Karen's book launch giveaway! A fabulous cabochon, plus enough beads to make my own free form necklace. Guess who hasn't even started the necklace yet(and how did she know that I love blues?)?

Intuitive bead embroidery is a rather untamed version of traditional bead embroidery. It's like colouring outside of the lines, and I wouldn't have it any other way! I picked up tips by participating in Robin Atkins' Bead Journal Project, but then made it my own when I started including non-traditional objects in my work. The stitches are similar, but it's how you use them that really counts! Another author that you might like to take a look at is Diane Hyde. Although I'm not personally attracted to her work, it's original and certainly contains food for thought! Especially her use of doll heads!

Years ago, I purchased a small bag of red paper beads that were made in Africa. I loved them so much, that they've never been used! That spurred me into researching the process, attempting my own version, and then developing a workshop. Paper beads can be made in all shapes and sizes, and they're great for recyling all sorts of bits and pieces! Why don't you give them a try?

Don't be afraid to take a walk on the "wild side". A little creative play is always good for the soul!

There's nothing wrong with your beady status quo!

But it might be time to evaluate, just where you're going, in 2016.  If you're anything like me, you rarely make resolutions, but when I do, they are quite unstructured.  I do make plans, but most of them evolve and expand, naturally over time.  Ideas committed to paper, make me feel anxious and guilty, and no one needs that type of negativity in their life.  No guilt allowed, as it's sure to mess with your creativity!  Loose plans, can always be adapted, to the changing nature of art, work and life.  Planning is a positive thing, and combined with goals, should always be realistic and attainable.  But don't forget to build in some 'stretch' room, because growth is never really supposed to be easy.

Now it's time to jump off my soapbox!  My plans for this year, involve a new awareness, of where I would like to take my work.  I'll continue to expand my mixed media base, but also want to reach back into the past, and include more fibre (of the textile variety) in my life.  My plans involve the development of more bead embroidery, freeform peyote, and mixed media workshops, but I also feel the pull, to feed my soul with more personal artwork.  Where it fits with the business plan, I will share (via workshops), but if not, I promise that I'll still blog about it.

To evolve, and expand my technique addiction, I recognize that I'll need to participate in more workshops.  Fire, metal and enamel all fascinate me, but I'm certainly not ready to completely abandon my old favourites, for these new temptations!  So instead, I will take a few classes, and tentatively follow this new path.  These new tools, will be welcome additions, to an overflowing artistic toolbox!

I firmly believe that 2016 will be a growth phase for me, because if you're not evolving, you're standing still, and that can't be good!  I want to focus more on freeform peyote, bead embroidery, 3-D, and sculptural techniques.  Mixing beads, with fibre, paper, resin, wire, metal and found objects, continues to fascinate me, so I'll be sure to play with these in 2016!  Are some over-the-top statement necklaces in my future?  Of course, but keep in mind that I don't wear all that much jewellery.   I might like to submit something to a magazine, but that's what I would call a soft committment, so no promises!

 Now how about you?  Is your year already planned out in detail, or do you have room for something new?  Did you leave space for creativity, serendipity and growth?  Don't worry if you don't have big plans because small steps are often all you need.  Plan to learn something new, and expand your own creative toolbox!  I've said it before, and I'll say it again, the BeadFX website, is full of workshops and "Inspirations".  Not local, no problem, as books and the Internet are available 24/7,  Just promise to keep us in mind, if you ever visit Toronto.  Enjoy a happy, healthy and creative 2016!

What's on my bead mat?

Or perhaps I should say, "what's on my bead mat", and rolling around in my head, this week? I had a lovely, quiet holiday, and find that when I have time on my hands, my hands just naturally turn to creative pursuits. During the holidays, I watch sappy movies, eat more snacks than normal, and search for projects to play with. Although, I do start new projects, I confess that I love to dig into some of my UFO's (unfinished objects)! Not just components (stash), but projects that I've started, and haven't found the the time, or inspiration to complete. I'm happy that I managed to finish my free-form peyote beaded bead, but both dolls, are still works in progress!

The starfish (doll form, purchased from a friend), is a definite what if? What if, I used freeform peyote, to bead a doll? What if, I combined it with intuitive bead embroidery? What if, I resisted the internal urge, to finish the doll quickly? Interestingly enough, this doll is turning out to be quite challenging. Freeform is all about problem solving, and some problems, just don't want to be solved quickly! I'm a lot further ahead, but my mind needs rest, before agreeing to unlock more of the puzzle pieces. The second doll (designed and stitched by yours truly), was started in my last doll workshop. She's a little sad, but is sitting patiently on my messy worktable, waiting for me to throw her a few beads. Poor neglected baby!

On the mixed media front, I spotted a simple tutorial, somewhere on the web (sorry, but I didn't save it), showing someone making beads, out of two-part epoxy clay (either Apoxie Sculpt, or Crystal Clay), grommets (or were they eyelets?) and wooden beads. Of course, I just had to try it, and then expand on some of the steps (my mind just never stops). I painted the beads with Vintag Patinas, distressed them, and then added Iced Enamels and micro beads (but only to the larger one). Not perfect, but the technique definitely shows promise. In addition, I made a rather sloppy attempt, at a flower cabochon, while using up some of my leftover clay (remember, I'm still not a sculptor...). But what's happened to those pearls, you say? Absolutely nothing! I did make a little bracelet, for a future Inspiration, but ideas for my pearls, are just not coming......Perhaps next week! Right now, I seem to be more interested in my rusty cloth, hand embroidery project (I'll sneak a few photos in, one day!).

I've also been getting up close, and personal with more than a few blogs. One of my favourites is The Altered Page, by Seth Apter. Absolutely nothing to do with jewellery, but his mixed media, graffiti style, does fill my eyes with colour, and my head with trends and techniques. If you're interested, check out this post! You'd be surprised at how easily transferable, some of his colours, ideas and trend watches, are to your jewellery projects.

Rest, relax, and try to finish off just one more project, before the year ends. Be safe, and I promise that we'll chat more, next week, and next year!