Rings and things and resin!

I started thinking about what I was going to write this week....and then....absolutely nothing!!! Don't you hate it when that happens? Nothing funny or bright or even remotely interesting crossed my thinking path. Were my creative neurons on strike? What to do, what to do? Then I started reflecting on what was going on around me, and came up with a few ideas! The first one is freeform related (see last Wednesday's post), and has to do with my obsessive need to try out everything that interests me.

Karen Williams posted some delicious little Valentine rings on her Baublicious blog. I drooled and obsessed for a while, and then decided to give it a try. Her idea for the starting string of beads is solid, but of course I didn't end up making mine that way! No little charms because I don't own any....but I do reserve the right to add a few in the future. How about a little Swarovski heart or a sparkly dangle? Pretty but fragile....I wonder? The blue/green ring is my first and it's a little large, but does fit my middle finger. The black/grey one turned out just right, and I absolutely love it! I'm simply enchanted with this process, and predict many more rings in my future (and perhaps even a wee workshop). It's amazing how much design you can pack into these little treasures!

Next obsession, resin! When you forget to bring along your personal supply of bezels (to the workshop you're teaching), you're forced to improvise. I had a "what if" moment and decided to turn more trash into treasure. I've used metal bottle caps before, but I wondered what would happen if I included some rayon thread ends (saved from my fibre days) and then added Ice Resin in to a larger plastic cap. The metal bottle cap (with a few small shells and a bit of birch bark) turned out great, but the plastic cap was certainly not awe inspiring! Mainly because the colourful threads darkened considerably, and seemed to suck all the light out of the piece. Not entirely daunted, I decided to add some teeny stones, a bit of dyed silk cocoon, and a final sprinkle of fine glitter (to represent pond scum). It's not perfect, but certainly improving. I still need to disguise the white plastic, but what if I made a bead embroidery piece, cut a hole in it and then inserted the little pond? Wouldn't that be interesting? I'll probably cover up the white plastic with Apoxie Sculpt (I'm giving a workshop on that tomorrow evening), Gilders Paste, and perhaps a dash of Vintag Patinas! I know, I probably should have done all this before adding the resin, but oh well!

Improvise, improvise, and improvise some more! If you're obsessed, it probably means the universe wants you to do something about it. Also remember that creativity sometimes takes a vacation, but will always return!!

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!

Reflections on an exploding stash!

Santa Baby, I've been a very bad girl this year!! I purchased tons of stuff, with absolutely no idea, what I was going to make! Sure, I whipped up some class samples, and made an Inspiration or two, but did I really need all of those pearls? I ask you, would you?

Then, let's chat about the paint I purchased. Yes, I absolutely needed the Pebeo Fantasy paints, Adirondack, Alcohol Inks, Ice Resin, Iced Enamels, Gilders Paste, Mica Powders, and Spectrum Noir markers, for workshops I was teaching, but did I need so darned many of them? Not to mention seed beads, shaped beads, stones, buttons, bezels, rusty objects, found items, and perhaps even a cabochon or two. Should I mention the findings, threads and tools? It doesn't matter, because they make me happy, and if that means that Santa is not going to slide down the chimney this year, then so be it!

Now, how about talking about the stash from my pre-beading life, when I fancied myself a fibre artist? I own piles, and piles of thread, paint, paper, embroidery floss, and even a bunch of yarn (despite the fact, that I don't knit). It's not like it suddenly disappears, in a puff of smoke, when I head off in a new direction! It's still there, and it's clogging up my studio, and if the truth be told, my living and dining room, and storage area. When will I ever learn? I'd be embarrassed to show a photo of said studio, so I won't....but believe me, you're not missing anything! Sign me up for hoarders anonymous!

So, in the interest of full disclosure, I've been participating in an international paper swap, for a couple of years. Do I need more paper? No, of course not (except as collage fodder for my altered dominos), but I still signed up for 2016 (if anyone is interested, it's www.paperswap.com). It's a fun way to add some unusual papers to your stash, and meet a bunch of lovely people, along the way. Should I mention the fact, that I also monoprint my own papers (mainly for collage, paper beads, and swaps), via a wonderful tool, called the Gelli Arts, Gelli Printing Plate? You'll need to look them up, because they're not sold in the store (but I do use the printed papers, in several of my workshops). There are tons of YouTube videos on the subject, and it's just waaay too much fun!

I'm not really one to make resolutions, but if I were, I'd vow to make a pile of pearl pieces, and perhaps a few mixed media projects, over the holidays. In addition, I would dust off my neglected sewing machine, and give my beads, a little dose of fibre, for good measure! You see, I love it all, and it saddens me, when my older treasures are neglected. But seriously, I really do need to purge and organize my stash!!!

It's an exciting time of the year, despite the fact that Toronto is having unseasonably mild temperatures (by contrast, the above photo was taking after the ice storm, on December 22nd, 2013). There is, no chance of a white Christmas, but that's not stopping us, from celebrating the spirit of the season. So with that, I'll wish you all a very Merry Christmas, and to those that do not celebrate, a happy and healthy holiday of your choice. Enjoy your time with family and friends, and if you get a chance, try to relax, with a few beads! You've earned it!

I'm late, I'm late, and my creative dilemma!

Once again, I seem to have given myself a bit of a challenge! What better time to do this, than when you're supposed to be madly shopping, creating, wrapping and sending gifts off to the west and the north? Rats! I do this every single year, while vowing to never do it again. Despite this fact, I don't remember ever being late for the big event. If you pay enough dollars to the postal gurus, and remember to send your parcels a few days early, your package will get there on time (I always keep my fingers crossed,and still worry). Although most of my shopping is done, I haven't wrapped a single present, despite the fact that it's already the 16th. I know what I'll be doing, later today!! But wait, I ran out of tape......aaargh!

Back to my dilemma! I don't really want to wrap, I want to play! I seem to be in a high creative phase, and I've been madly working with both Ice Resin, and Apoxie Sculpt. Not in the same project, of course, and both are quite different, but fun just the same! For those of you, not familiar with Apoxie Sculpt, it's a two-part epoxie clay, similar to Crystal Clay. BeadFX carries both products, and the only reason I've chosen to work with this one, is that I already had a couple of tubs of it, in my stash. I also like the fact that it comes in a plastic container, with a tight fitting lid. That's important, when you're not planning on using it all up on a single project, as it won't dry out. I purchased a fairly large quantity (like the ones, shown below), before I realized that BeadFX carried the product. Another interesting fact about Apoxie is that, while it has a fairly long shelf life, you can actually freeze it, to extend it even further (but I don't know if the same can be done, to Crystal Clay). You will also be able to thaw it out, use it, and then re-freeze, without compromising the integrity of the product. Sculptors use it to sculpt and carve, and I've seen some very creative pieces, made out of this medium (especially in the world of dolls). You can even use it to repair, almost anything. As usual, YouTube is full of videos to delight you!

My personal challenge, is to come up with a project, that's completely different from many of the two-part epoxy pieces, that I've seen in the past. Oh, don't get me wrong, I love the look of the crystal based pieces, but I have a burning need, to make something completely different! Not being a sparkle girl, and still in love with my techniques, I'll be designing something, more mixed media inspired. My first piece is actually finished, although it seems to be more of a hybrid, than true mixed media. It does include crystals, but I also mixed in some pearls and metal, to give it more of an edge. The components are already laid out for my second piece, and it's turning out to be quite different. More metal, a teeny bit of sparkle, and a non-traditional coating or two. Will it work? Only time will tell! I'm working this up for a class sample, so won't be able to show the photos, until it's up on the site. I believe that this new workshop, has been scheduled for February.

I originally purchased the Apoxie Sculpt, for last year's Toronto Bead Society, Bag of Beads challenge. I made a doll, out of a silver plated spoon, fork, plate, fibre, polymer clay, and the challenge beads. I ended up attaching the face to the doll, and the doll to the base (a small silver plate), with the Apoxie Sculpt. I've learned that it will virtually attach anything, to anything!!! The photos, don't really show the Apoxie Sculpt, but believe me, it's on there, and it's rock hard!!! I buried a few beads on it, and sculpted it to look a little like grass (I never said that I was a sculptor, did I?).

The Ice Resin piece that I mentioned earlier, is a gift, so I won't be discussing it, except to say that it involves my monoprinted paper, metal, leather, and I'm happy to say that it's finished! While it's curing (resin dries overnight, but takes 3 days to cure), I'm going to let myself play with the Apoxie a little more. Now, what are you up to this week? Still scrambling to buy, or make that perfect present? Or perhaps you're just relaxing with a snack, beverage, and sappy TV movie of your choice? Whatever you're doing, enjoy the season!

What's new is old, and what's old is new!

Who says that you should only use new beads, crystals and pearls on your jewellery projects? I'm here to say that it's okay to combine newer purchases, with some of your more seasoned favourites. Why not take a hammer or shears to an old piece, combine it with wire, pearls apoxie clay, or crystals, and make a knockout piece of work! I wish that I could say that I had a lot of personal, finished jewellery to illustrate this idea, but so far these pieces, mostly reside in the depths of my imagination. I keep looking at some of the more artsy, jewellery magazines, and wondering if I could possibly re-fashion some of my collections, into similar pieces. Let's just call it, a serious case of jewellery envy!

My main focus, over the last few years, has been a combination of intuitive bead embroidery, stitching and mixed media. As a curious soul, I often wonder if this is enough for me? Are there ever enough techniques, for my muse to handle? It's in my nature, to constantly evolve, and I have a stinking suspicion, that I'll be working on more mixed media, jewellery pieces in the future. Over the past few years, my focus has been on intuitive bead embroidery (both flat pieces, and dolls), and mixed media. Although I'm still in love with the process, perhaps it's time that I branched out! My plan is to take more wire and metalwork classes, with the aim of combining this knowledge, with my earlier experience, and influencing my future work and direction!

Now back to combining the old, with the new! I know, that somewhere in this mess I call my studio, I have a box (and probably more than one box), chock full of old jewellery bits. Not to mention, boxes and boxes of seed beads and stones! Perhaps I should give myself the personal challenge, of turning some of those pieces, into my mixed media dreams? But of course, I'll still need new beads and findings, to spice it all up, and point me towards the right path. As if I could resist!! I doubt that I will start much before the New Year, and I promise not to abandon my old favourites (I'll still be teaching workshops), but there's always room for new beginnings. Not to mention the fact, that suppliers keep coming up with new and exciting products to tempt us!

Is anyone ready to take up the challenge with me? Do you have memorabilia and/or collections, just waiting to be used? Would you like some help with your direction? All you need is a little plotting, planning and perhaps a workshop or two! It's all too exciting, isn't it? But first, let's get all of our holiday gifts finished.....Sigh! BTW, the junk jewellery photos, were grabbed from EBay, as I still haven't located my collection!!! Double sigh!

Button, button, who's got the button?

Do you remember playing in your mother's button box as a child? Reach back, far back, and reflect on the sound and feel of your fingers running throught the coolness of the buttons. Aren't memories wonderful?  Who doesn't remember the sweet, sweet smell of apple pie baking, or waking up to the rythmic sound of the percolator (I know, this has nothing to do with either buttons or beads).

According to "The Button Craft Book", by Dawn Cusik, the earliest buttons date back to 2000 B.C.  I'm pretty sure that those buttons were probably made of bone, wood or rock, and destined for purely utilitarian purposes.  I won't pretend to be a historian, but the art of crafting buttons, certainly grew from there.  Buttons have been made in all shapes and sizes! They can be made of glass, metal, shell, ceramic, china, clay (including polymer), plastic, Bakelite, resin, paper mache, stone, wood, nut, and many other materials, that I've probably never heard of.  I bet that you could even laminate layers of paper, and make a button out of them!   Hmmmm, perhaps I should try!

In the 1860's, a popular pastime for Victorian girls was to make Charm Strings out of buttons (and other decorative bits). The aim was to collect 999 buttons on the string, because when you did that, Prince Charming would come and sweep you away.   Rules for collection were few, but buttons could not be purchased, as they needed to be gifts from family, friends, or suitors.

Prince Charming is long gone, and I may never make a charm string, but there are many other beading applications that could use a button or two!  Vintage buttons are still available, but are increasingly harder to find.   Luckily, BeadFX has a good supply of metal, Swarovski Crystal (including Crystalettes), and vintage Czech glass buttons (made from the original molds).

Use them in bead embroidery, necklaces, bracelets, earrings, Kumihimo, quilts, bead crochet, and knitting! Glue them to a button converter, and make a brooch out of them! You could even frame your collection, or (shocking thought) use them to actually fasten or embellish clothing!  I've made molds (using two-part silicone, mold making putty) from vintage buttons, and then filled them with either paper clay, polymer clay, or resin, for totally unique cabochons.   The choices are endless!

On a personal note, I've used vintage, new and family buttons, in my bead embroidery, and have also used vintage shell buttons in one of my favourite mixed media necklaces. Perhaps I should challenge myself, to make a mixed media "Inspiration", that includes buttons!  Would that be something that interests you?  Have you ever made anything button inspired?   If so, I'd love to see photos!

Please, please, start your own button collection.  Your children and grandshildren will certainly thank you for the memories!!!

Complicated Simplicity

Have you ever noticed, that the simplest things in life appear more complex, once you look a little closer!  If you haven't, try going for a little stroll, and really examining the world of wonder, beneath your feet. You'll find a surprising array of colours, textures, and shapes, each one more complicated than the next!

The world is full of designs, and design principals, but the one I seem to have adopted lately, is what I like to call, "Complicated Simplicity".  As a fairly informal person, I find myself designing, and reaching for simple jewellery pieces, that consist of multiple elements.  Now that's not to say, that I'm not tempted by other styles, but this just seems to fit my current lifestyle.  Am I allergic to bling, or do I simply find this casual design style, more comfortable?  Of course, I reserve the right to change my mind, because I do love other styles, and a little sparkle is good for the soul!

"Complicated Simplicity" plays a starring role, in my intuitive design process.  I start by buying a few pretties at BeadFX, pull some elements from my stash (either handmade or not), and then perhaps, cutting up something vintage.   The pile on my bead mat gets higher and messier, until my muse jumps to the rescue, and items are eliminated.   Let's call this an audition process, or rather, a beady "cattle call"!

When the pile reaches a manageable size, I start the shell game, of moving items into a pleasing configuration.  I add, subtract, and move things around the bead mat, until I'm satisfied with the results!  Then the construction phase begins!  I admit to being a rabid lover of techniques, so it's not surprising to find multiples of them, showing up in my pieces.  For instance, you could take a handful of paper beads, mix them with a little chain, then add Swarovski Pearls, using stringing (or you could even try wire wrapped loops),  for a one of a kind necklace! Or how about an Intuitive Bead Embroidery piece, combining different sizes and shapes of seed beads, with crystals, pearls, cabochons, stones, family buttons, metal, broken jewellery, left over chain, and perhaps a rusty bottle cap (but not necessarily all in the same piece)?

Limiting colours, simplifies the piece, while adding multiple textures and techniques, adds an interesting level of complexity.  I didn't say that the life of an intuitive designer was easy, did I? I design on the fly, and rarely use a sketchbook!  When I do break out the pencil and paper, it's normally to capture a simple shape.   I sometimes wish that I was more disciplined, but I suspect that my creativity might suffer, if I tried to restrict my free and easy style.

I love beads, and I love techniques!   I try to keep my work fairly simple, but my intuitive nature, has been known to bury me in an avalanche of ideas.   Not necessarily a bad thing, but it can, and does, complicate my designing life!  Who needs sleep, anyway?  Does anyone want to share my pain?

A Bevy of Bezels

Today, we're going to chat about the wonderful world of metal bezels!  As you can see from the photographs, BeadFX has quite an extensive collection, which is great for aspiring mixed media artists (all that metallic bounty in one place)!  I'll let you in on a secret though; you don't really need to know anything about mixed media, to use these remarkable products. Bezels are versatile, and suitable for an endless variety of uses. We even carry the popular Susan Lenart Kazmer, Hobnail bezels and the Klick line of interchangeable components.

Believe it or not, I haven't tried everything yet, but imagine your bezels, filled with any of the following: collaged paper, photographs, downloaded images, pencil sketches, minature landscapes, old love letters, a child's art, postage stamps, paper napkins, ephemera, text, commercial and hand painted papers, eggshells, broken china, sea glass, fibre, dried flowers, charms, beads, glitter, shells, and even more! Didn't think of that, did you?  If that's not enough, you could also fill them with either Crystal Clay or Apoxie Sculpt, and then embed Swarovski crystals, old keys, watch parts, game pieces, or other exciting stuff, and wait for it to dry! Don't you just hate, waiting for things to dry?

But what about Polymer Clay (PC), you say?  I'm sure that someone out there, has been purchasing bezels, and filling them with all types of PC.  They're metal, aren't they?   So why couldn't you bake them at low temperatures?  I'm not telling you to do this, but in the spirit of experimentation, I just might!  The official disclaimer is.....do this at your own risk, as I don't know how the coatings and finishes will react.......but I'm a Mixed Media Artist, so serendipity is my friend!  Besides, I like the distressed look!!!

You've filled your bezel, so now what do you do?  More choices! You could top it up with Ice Resin, after adding a lovely edging of Iced Enamels, and perhaps some of their Inclusions.  How about trying one of our glass tiles (but not all will fit)? You wouldn't need more than "a little spit and polish", for the various clays.....unless you'd like to add a dab of Renaissance Wax.

A few of my images to tempt you!

When using paper products, with your resin, remember to seal carefully.   Mod Podge or white glue is recommended (as are other types of collage or decoupage mediums), but don't forget to seal the front, back and edges, to avoid staining.  Botanicals should also be sealed!  Mix the resin slowly and carefully (instructions on package), wait five minutes, and then add to the bezel, a little at a time, to avoid air bubbles. Pop any that you see, and don't forget to cover your pieces while they dry.....no dust motes, or cat hair allowed!!! If you're not yet confident enough, to do this on your own, or just like the structure of a hands-on class, check out my November Resin workshop.   It's not on the schedule yet, but it's definitely in the works (and you could probably get yourself on a waiting list). Keep tuned!

Anne Marie

All Mixed Up at BeadFX

I'm Anne Marie, and I'm here to share Mixed Media with you. I have a passion for beads, textiles, fibre art, bead and thread embroidery, paper, paints, collage, free-form peyote stitch, art dolls, printing, metal, wire, various types of clay, botanicals, found objects, recycling, repurposing, and oh, so much more!  Let's just say that I'm a mixed up media person, with a serious lust for techniques!

You're probably wondering what Mixed Media is all about?   Let's start with the definition (or should I say, one of the definitions out there):

"The term "mixed media art" is a broad definition that covers many arts and crafts, including collage, assemblage (both 2D and 3D), altered objects, including books and boxes, handmade greeting cards, artist trading cards (ATC's) and tags, art journalling and book making.

The "mixed media" used includes paints, papers and board of all descriptions, glues, buttons, fabrics, found objects, photos, metal bits, fibres, things from nature, inks, pencils, crayons, markers, pastels and polymer clays, to name a few." - Mixed Media Art

Why isn't jewellery mentioned in this definition, and where do the beads fit in?  Well, in my case, beads fit with just about everything!  I first used them in my early, fibre art days.   Copper Charlottes mixed in with the embroidery, and even more on the freeform edging.  Oh look, there's even a tree, made out of copper wire!

Now they can be found in some of my more intuitive work.   Beads, lots of lucious, sparkling beads!

I've stitched them onto paper, glued them to rocks, and embedded them into Apoxie Clay. You never know where they'll turn up next!

I admit that I don't work exclusively with beads.   How could I, when there's such a wealth of other materials out there, to tempt me?  I make and teach, how to make, unique jewellery, cabochons, beads and small art pieces, suitable for framing and gift giving.  In the coming weeks, I'll be introducing some of the products and techniques available.  I do teach a variety of workshops at BeadFX, and will be hosting a monthly, Mixed Media: Open Studio, on Thursday evenings, for those interested in exploring this facinating art form. First play date - September 17th.

My upcoming September 19th workshop - "Painted Fantasy: Pendants and Bezels"' explores the mysteries of the new Pebeo Fantasy paint line.   The effects are unique, amazing, and can be used on a wide variety of surfaces.  So far, my substrates of choice have been glass and metal bezels, but I do plan to start combining with other products, and surfaces in the future.   Keep tuned!

Mixed Media is a way to express your creativity in a non-traditional way.   It's a very forgiving art form, that gives you permission to relax, and actually start using some of your collections (also known as stash), while making unique, out of the box, jewellery, gifts and art.   I invite you to join me on this journey of discovery!

Anne Marie

Getting to know...Anne Marie Desaulniers

Mixed-media has been a relatively new addition to the range of techniques and classes that BeadFX has offered. Anne Marie Desaulniers has been leading the charge by offering several classes in Intuitive Bead Embroidery, Paper Beads, and Altered Dominoes. Her classes have been very well received and more are on the way!

Anne Marie has always been a 'creator'. "I’ve been involved in artsy pursuits all my life," says Anne Marie. "It started with playing with my grandmother’s scraps, moved to art lessons and sewing clothes, then being pressed into service for fancy wrapping paper jobs and flower arranging. I’ve always loved to work with my hands. Art is as necessary to me as breathing!

Altered Dominoes

"I backed into creating jewellery," she admits. "As a self-professed fibre person, I became interested in jewellery 10 or so years ago, while taking basic classes in stringing and off-loom weaving.  A technique junkie, I learned what I could and then quickly abandoned any involvement in beading, until stumbling onto the Bead Journal Project in 2007. I was working with Intuitive Bead Embroidery, but still not creating jewellery. It’s only in the last year, that I’ve renewed my interest. New areas of opportunity have opened up, since blending jewellery design, with my love of fibre and mixed media.

Intuitive Bead Embroidery

Learning her craft of mixed-media was a process. “I started out with sewing my own clothes, graduated to quilting, then art quilting,” says Anne Marie. “I took some jewellery classes, wandered off into photography, paper, paint and mixed media, then hand and bead embroidery.  I’m currently blending this knowledge, by applying it to mixed-media jewellery and other projects."

Anne Marie is inspired by all that is around her. “Mountains, the ocean, water droplets on a leaf, rust, decay, recycling, re-purposing, vintage jewellery, fabrics and lace, my favourite colours of blue, red and green, the sound of birds outside my window, running water, rain, rocks, flowers, trees, tiny baskets and bowls,” says Anne Marie.

Anne Marie’s approach to her projects is as intuitive as her projects are. “As an intuitive artist, projects just seem to happen! A bead, a piece of fabric, an idea, a theme, or even a dream, might spark my imagination. Find just one object that interests me, and I’ll be able to create something special around it!  Perhaps not immediately, but my house and my mind are exploding, with projects just waiting to happen,” she explains.

Intuitive Bead Embroidery

“I collect and record ideas in a very haphazard and totally undisciplined way,” continues Anne Marie. “I jot down notes on napkins, envelopes, sticky notes and the odd sketchbook, surf the internet, save endless photos, and dabble in photography.  My best ideas seem to come out of my imagination, dreams or a tight deadline."

Paper Beads

Anne Marie thoroughly enjoys teaching. “The energy in the room,” exclaims Anne Marie enthusiastically. “Creativity is electric, and there’s no beating the concentration and satisfaction in my students faces, when they’re enjoying the process.  They energize me to do better!”

Anne Marie’s advice to others who create? “Exercise your creativity, and make some memories! Don’t worry about the dishes in the sink or the dust on the table.  If you feel the urge to create, just do it! Some may be organized, tidy and planners, and others intuitive, messy and disorganized.  It doesn’t matter! What matters is that you’re doing something to feed your soul!”

Upcoming classes with Anne Marie Desaulniers:

Sunday, June 8

NEW Charm School: Inchie Charm Bracelet

11:30am - 4:30pm

Complete information about this class and more can be found on our website. Click on Classes and follow the link to the current monthly calendar.

Digital freebie!

Happy Monday! (yeah, ok) It's Monday, and I think a little freebie is in order. I've been playing around with Photoshop and the Gimp creating backgrounds and textures to use in my mixed media and resin jewelry.  It's been a fun little diversion that I'm happy to share with you. Print them out, cut them up, layer them with other images - these can be used however you wish.  Each file is print quality at 300 dpi, and scrapbook paper sized at 12x12 inches! I've posted them up on flickr for easy downloading (printables set). Be sure to download the largest image to ensure nice clean printing. I hope you like them!