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!

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!

What's on my bead mat today?

My muse has been a little ornery these days, but I seem to have put a little crimp in her snit! I can't really identify the problem, but I just didn't feel like doing anything creative. Does that happen to you? I filled my time with reading and such, and while I've always loved doing this, I'm afraid that it cannot always compete against a full on burst of creative energy! If the scientists studied this carefully (and I know they have), I'm sure that they'd find out that creativity stimulates either your endorphins, or some other chemical in your brain!! Seriously, it's the best drug there is! (Image courtesy of the internet - fractalpanda.com)

This week I've been either working on, or contemplating the following projects. A freeform peyote ring, my purple beaded art doll, another freeform beaded bead, and a few other projects not fully fleshed out yet. Let's start with the ring! I pulled most of the beads from my stash, but couldn't help buying a couple of tubes of orange and red Rizos, to use as an accent. The ring was terribly hard to photograph (red is just bad!), but I'm more than a little in love with the colour combination of red, orange and pink. Why did I choose this range? Are the bright colours a reaction to the dull, dreary weather? You'll be interested to know that I was able to start and finish the ring last Sunday. A quick and easy project! All that's left to do, is put away the mess of beads! Will I sort them back into their neat little tubes? No way!!! More luscious bead soup for me!

The purple doll has been patiently waiting for inspiration to strike! She's been sitting around for a couple of months, until I could decide what to do about her hair (I finally stitched on around 150 split rings). No hair ideas = a naked hairless doll! Unfortunately this doll's trials are far from over, as I haven't quite figured out how I'm going to bead her yet. Will I include some free form peyote, or just stick to intuitive bead embroidery? The main colours will be purple and turquoise, but as she's not talking to me yet, there's still lots of room for change.

My final project is another freeform peyote bead! This project will be ongoing, as I plan to continue making these beads until I have enough for a statement necklace. They're actually quite light, as the base is a wooden bead, so no worries about future neck pain!! Now what colour scheme should I choose this time? How about dark green? Although I haven't settled on the accent colour(s), I'll fondle the stash, and audition a few eager prospects. Do you have any ideas?

It seems like it's all or nothing for me! Weeks of frustration, followed by long periods of creativity! Doll and bead workshops have already been scheduled, and I'm currently designing another for the rings. More resin and collage (paper/fibre) projects are also in the works, so I guess that's another sign that spring is a time for renewal. Keep tuned!