tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43885491490836053822024-03-06T00:30:52.853-05:00The Beaded HeartWhere creativity, particularly in reference to beading is discussed, with occasional forays into hot topics, random thoughts, etc.The Beaded Hearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00739528597326923759noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388549149083605382.post-15654863629402269652011-04-12T09:35:00.000-04:002011-04-12T09:35:51.667-04:00BuddingAfter the long, difficult winter, spring is really ready to go. We've had a gradual warming, threats of showers, and most of the bushes and trees show evidence of tiny buds! It's a fabulous thing!! And the approaching spring is inspiring my beading in many ways. I only wish I had the time to do all I want to do!<br />
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I've been making berries and leaves for more Stephanie Eddy-style projects. I really liked the magnetic pins I made around Christmas time and am working on designs for spring "pins" that feature appropriate colors of berries and leaves. <br />
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Additionally, as I think I previously mentioned I'm working a lot with pearls. I don't know why they say spring to me, but they do. The pale shades are lovely and I'm having great fun with those!<br />
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Over the weekend past I designed a wedding-style choker of clear crystals and a beige-y colored bead that looks like the shape of a pasta. If you aren't familiar with these beads, they are somewhat farfalle shaped, although personally they remind me more of a peanut in the shell with a hole drilled through the middle. They fit together in interesting ways and provide great texture. In this particular choker similar colored pearls are set periodically between the other beads and the shape of the necklace lies in a V that reaches just below the clavicle. I'm trying to find the perfect clasp for it. <br />
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Very soon some of my jewelry will be available on consignment at Heart in Hands Quilt Store in Weymouth, MA. :=)))<br />
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Hopefully new pics of this choker and a couple of other newly completed pieces will be up.<br />
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In the meantime, plans are underway for the first-ever BeadBoston...a weekend-long beading event designed for both the casual and not-so-casual beader to get to his/her hearts content for an entire weekend, share their beading obsession with like-minded others, and learn a new technique or two! More info to come over the summer!<br />
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Happy Beading,<br />
TBHThe Beaded Hearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00739528597326923759noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388549149083605382.post-63775954882031808772011-03-21T10:21:00.000-04:002011-03-21T10:21:39.673-04:00Selling Jewelry..so hard to part with it!This weekend the Rhododendron Needlers Quilt Guild had their biannual quilt show. It was a fabulous success with more than 1600 visitors! We are a happy but tired group this Monday morning!<br />
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The show always features a members' boutique where guild members can sell items (either things they have made or things they want to get rid of, like old books and magazines). Ninety percent of the sale price goes to the guild members and 10% goes to the guild. Business at the boutique was always busy, sometimes bordering on frenetic. Most of the items were from the "I want to clear out space in my sewing area" variety, but some where higher priced items that people had made. My jewelry, starting at a low of $15 and going as high as $185 for a double pearl necklace, was the priciest on the table.<br />
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I only sold a few pieces because most of the time when people are shopping in a venue like this they are hoping to find bargains, not pay the appropriate price for a good piece of jewelry. That was fine with me. I knew that going in and didn't expect gigantic sales.<br />
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What I also didn't expect was to feel little tinges of anxiety when one of my pieces sold. During the creation process each piece takes on a little life of its own. They are fun to make. They are fun to hold and sometimes wear. And now they're not mine anymore! <br />
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Most of the pieces at this point in my collection are larger bracelets because that's the way I like them. I need a larger size and therefore things just tend to turn out in a size I can wear (I wonder how that happens?!) I really need to start making all of the pieces in the standard size range. I was able to give out my business card to several people (even though we really weren't supposed to "advertise") and think I've made some good contacts.<br />
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I also thought I should pass on information about one of the vendors at the show. The business is called "We Got the Buttons" and feature dichronic glass shank buttons in fabulous shapes, sizes, and colors. She also has wonderful pendants finished with sterling silver bails that would be terrific hanging on a beaded rope. I'm adding the email address to my list of favorites, just in case you want to take a peek.<br />
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Happy Monday!<br />
TBHThe Beaded Hearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00739528597326923759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388549149083605382.post-21800138481835049922011-03-07T14:57:00.000-05:002011-03-07T14:57:00.815-05:00Spring?Not long ago the piles of snow where so high I couldn't see over most of them. The lower portion of the view out of our living room windows was blocked. It seemed winter had come to stay. You know that "global warming" is a misnomer, don't you? We're really supposed to say "climate change." And this winter "climate change" was making it's case in a big way (still is if you live in NY or VT!).<br />
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But where there were once minor mountains of the frigid stuff, now trash liters the sides of roads where the mounds were. Around trees where broken branches and limbs are testament to the weight they have been under, water pools, indicating the high level of saturation. And rain is in the forecast. About this time last year we had some of the heaviest rains seen around New England in years. Let's hope we don't have anything like that again...there will be where for it go. I hear the sump pump business is booming.<br />
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I recently read where someone called the end of February and the beginning of March "the fat branch season" because if you look carefully, you can see the branches starting to bulge with the promise of new growth. Tiny buds are bravely facing the howling March winds, promising to appear on what a friend of mine calls "pop" day...that great spring day yet to come when it seems all the leaves and early flowers POP out all at once. Beware that you are not so busy that you miss pop day!<br />
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A recent signal to me that winter's days are numbered and spring is on its way is an annual quilting retreat. Once again we gathered for stitching and laughter. I did spend one day of the retreat sewing, but the rest of the time was spent in the satisfying pursuit of beading. I completed several necklaces (one of which, in my humble opinion, is one of the best pieces I've made yet) and four bracelets. I sold one necklace and made a matching pair of earrings to go with it. I have orders for 3 bracelets in specific colors. <br />
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Beading is very gratifying!<br />
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TBHThe Beaded Hearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00739528597326923759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388549149083605382.post-39499514793985812502011-03-02T14:48:00.000-05:002011-03-02T14:48:02.363-05:00RetreatSometimes words have certain connotations that can never be escaped. For many people, the word "retreat" has a negative implication, as in "We had to beat a hasty retreat." It's like falling back. Failing.<br />
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Escaping. <br />
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For me, that's what retreat means. I'm heading to a retreat this weekend. Actually, sooner than that. And I can't wait. Every year some quilting buddies and I go away to a small little hotel down on Cape Cod and for a few blissful days we just sew. Those who have demands of children or husbands or expect a complete dinner on the table every day at 6 p.m., they are no longer pulled from their machines just as they are hitting their stride. For those who create in the company of friends, it's the ultimate enjoyment. <br />
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Lately, many of my quilting buddies have also been bitten by the beading bug. This year, my beading supplies I'm taking to the retreat with me almost outweigh my sewing supplies. And instead of thinking lovingly of which sewing project I'll get out first, I'm consumed by thinking about crystals, wire, pearls, and clasps. Did I bring the right tools to do what I want to do? And what happens if inspiration hits and I don't have what I need on hand?<br />
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For years I've worked on making my quilting supplies portable so I can go take classes and be ready when a retreat beckons. Now I have to figure out a way to make my beading supplies equally mobile. It's a challenge I think I'm up to!<br />
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TBHThe Beaded Hearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00739528597326923759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388549149083605382.post-53363516635725441222011-02-27T17:37:00.000-05:002011-02-27T17:37:46.656-05:00Inspiration!Yesterday the two "Cs" and I (my buddies Claudia and Carolyn) went to a local bead show...not huge but lovely and definitely worth the trip. While disappointed not to find a vendor with good findings for current projects, we DID find lots of other things to spend our pennies on, including a new invention for tying knots between components (I haven't actually had time to try it yet...will report when I do). One vendor, Beads Bagan, from Delaware, was especially inspiring with her fabulous shell pearl bead designs. All of a sudden, I'm completely smitten by pearls. I bought both shell pearls and glass pearls yesterday, and look forward to sharing the designs I create with them. <br />
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Speaking of sharing, my bro-in-law has become interested in photography and he built a light box and photographed some of my pieces. I'm thrilled that someone with more knowledge of photography than I have has taken some pics that I'm now able to share with you. Please scroll down past all of the blog posts and see the new visuals!!The Beaded Hearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00739528597326923759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388549149083605382.post-46371801066887611482011-02-08T14:28:00.000-05:002011-02-08T14:28:34.693-05:00RAWI have tried doing some right angle weave (RAW) from book and magazine patterns in the last year or so but usually gave up when it seemed a bit too confusing. However, I recently took a class at Pflora Beads in Canton, MA and Phyllis, the shop owner <i>par excellence</i>, taught a lovely bracelet of her own design featuring RAW. You can see it on her website at http://pflorabeads.com/pflora_beads_jan_2011_004.htm, although I don't think the photo quite does it justice.<br />
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I thoroughly enjoyed the class (she's a terrific teacher) and the technique and rushed right home to pull out my book by Marcia DeCoster, <i>Beaded Opulence</i>. All of the designs in the book are based upon RAW and now I'm excited to try to tackle some of them. <br />
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Oh, so many lovely designs and beads and so VERY little time!!<br />
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TBHThe Beaded Hearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00739528597326923759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388549149083605382.post-39398371009339049002011-01-31T15:09:00.000-05:002011-01-31T15:09:28.475-05:00When time slips awayEach day is precious, yet each day flies by before we really have a chance to think about what it is we want to do with the time we are given. Nearly two months have passed since I last blogged. What have I really done in that time?<br />
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The craft fair at work was a terrific experience. I was amazed at how popular my pieces were and how quickly they found new homes. In fact, I kind of miss some of them! I had wanted to take pics but couldn't find the charger for the camera. sigh<br />
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The holidays came and went in a blur. Hubby and I got to spend a whole week together. It was relaxing. Was it only a month ago? I'm ready for a repeat.<br />
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Health issues plague me. I've been diagnosed with a highly treatable form of cancer, but cancer all the same. It's something I never thought someone would say to me: "You have cancer." My options are clear and treatment is not nearly as difficult as for some, but the thought of having the disease creeps up when you least expect it. And you wonder, in the end, is this what will someday kill me? Follow the plan, do what you should, get rest, live your life. Did you do the best with today that you could have?<br />
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Creative outlets may not heal the body but they definitely heal the soul. Whether quilting for the upcoming Rhododendron Show in March or playing with wire during a designer pin class, peace and satisfaction are within. Creating something with your hands...concentration on shape, line, form, function. The work lives on.The Beaded Hearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00739528597326923759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388549149083605382.post-92002597014649868932010-12-07T14:50:00.000-05:002010-12-07T14:50:39.611-05:00Love KnotI've been busy getting ready for a little craft fair we're going to have where I work. Last Saturday I spent the day working with wire projects. I was using 18 and 16 gauge wire and made earrings, bracelets, and some pendants. By the end of the day my hands were beat! The next morning I took a healthy dose of tylenol arthritis meds to try to get them loosened up again. I was planning on doing some beading for some more magnetic pins and my fingers were just not cooperating! I even woke up during the night on Saturday night to find myself massaging my hands.<br />
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Of the bracelets I made on Saturday, several included the love knot. This is a beautiful piece of wirework. I used 18 gauge non-tarnish craft wire (silver around copper. You make coils (I used a 5.5 mandrel) and then separate about every 4-5 coils. I used my flush cutters to trim the ends neatly and then you screw them together like you would a key into a key chain (only you keep going until one piece of coil is screwed all the way into the other). This interlocks the coils at an angle and looks like a knot. Very cool! As soon as I can find my camera I'm going to post some photos.<br />
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Cheers!<br />
TBHThe Beaded Hearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00739528597326923759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388549149083605382.post-84747546576325640702010-11-15T14:03:00.000-05:002010-11-15T14:03:48.338-05:00magnetic pinsWelcome to the week of November 15th. I can't believe Thanksgiving is next week. That means that the craft fair for which I'm supposed to be making things to sell is only a few weeks away. YIKES!<br />
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This weekend I did make more petals and leaves for my poinsettia pins. They are fun but time-consuming. I don't know how many I'll be able to put together by the time of the craft fair. I was successful at finding a source for magnets to use on the backs instead of pins. They are 1 1/2 inches long and 1/2 inch wide and very strong. Best of all, they were much cheaper than I thought they'd be...came to about a quarter a piece. I ordered 100! I'll be able to make pins of various types for ages! I glued one to the back of the first pin I made with E-6000. It seems to be holding fine. I wore the pin to work one day last week and showed it around the building (I work in a 7 story building). Everyone seemed interested in the design and when I showed them it was a magnetic pin EVERYBODY thought that was a fabulous idea.<br />
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I've been trying to figure out how to make a beaded holly leaf. I think a pin with holly and mistletoe would be a good seller.<br />
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When I needed a break from poinsettia leaves, I worked up a lush embellished bracelet similar to the one at the website noted at Fire Mountain Gems (http://www.firemountaingems.com/galleryofdesigns/jewelry_design_gallery.asp?docid=7448&doccat=projects). I did a blue palette and merely used a vial of "bead soup" beads that I bought from a vendor at a show. The mix in the vial gave much dimension and texture to the bracelet. I made the bracelet to fit a 7 inch wrist and it will be included in the items for the craft fair. It only took me a few hours to put together. I used a button and loop closure. It was nice to finish the bracelet in one day.<br />
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Happy beading,<br />
TBHThe Beaded Hearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00739528597326923759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388549149083605382.post-16626828556593208122010-11-01T12:27:00.000-04:002010-11-01T12:27:36.882-04:00holiday designsSo, yesterday while I watched the Patriots trounce the Vikings, I worked on my poinsettia "pin" design. I created 3 large and 3 medium leaves using brick stitch and a 11 matte red bead. Three large green leaves followed. I stitched the center of each of the large red leaves of the flower together with the center of a green leaf in between. I created a peyote base and sewed the flower to the center of the base. Next I laid the 3 medium red leaves on top at slightly different angles and stitched them into place, followed by some bright clear with yellow lining beads in the center. The result actually looks like a poinsettia! The base I had created was wider than the flower, plus the flower needed a little something extra to set it off, so I created evergreen branches using green 11s and the fringe stitch. At the end of each fringe I made a golden picot using rocailles. The gold beads were the perfect touch to bring a sense of festivity to the piece. I stitched one of these fringe branches on either side of the main flower. The piece is really lovely, if I say so myself. I have some pink sparkly beads and think I'll make another "pin" using them instead of the red matte and I also have some sparkly red beads. I hope to be able to make 3 or 4 of each: matte red, sparkly red, and sparkly pink as I think they will be very popular.<br />
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I also created another Russian spiral necklace. This time I used a size 8 peach bead with size 11 clear lavender lined beads. The two colors don't seem to be compatible at first, but once you get the twist of the stitch going, they are lovely together...very soft. The necklace could be worn with a multitude of colors. On Saturday I had stopped at a nearby family-owned fabric store and shopped for buttons. I found many more than I had expected and ended up spending nearly $40 on buttons. I used one of these and a loop closure on the peach/lavender Russian spiral. The buttons all are 5/8 inch or less and have an antiqued or frosted glass (roses) look to them. They should keep me in button/loop closure mode for quite some time.<br />
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Happy November!<br />
TBHThe Beaded Hearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00739528597326923759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388549149083605382.post-87285823500067358432010-10-19T14:52:00.000-04:002010-10-19T14:52:11.600-04:00A rose by any other name...I've long been wanting to make a necklace from the Russian spiral stitch. On Sunday, while watching the Patriots on TV, I started one. I like the way the two colors continually spiral like an endless staircase. Imagine my surprise when I realized that the stitch I'd been waiting to "try" turned out to be nothing more than a version of odd count peyote. So simple! <br />
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That's one of the things I love about beading. Sometimes the most complicated looking piece is really just a combination of relatively easy elements. A recent class I took with Stephanie Eddy is a good example. The base for both the bracelet and the necklace was nothing more than peyote stitch. The straps of the necklace was daisy chain (the very first thing I did in beading all those many moons ago as a teen.<br />
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The leaves were brick stitch, which I needed a bit of a refresher on because I hadn't done it in a while, but still an easy stitch to master. The berries are tedious, yes, but difficult? Not at all. I imagine many beaded berries being created before this football season is over.<br />
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I've been looking at different floral designs to see how I can translate them into pieces as lovely as the ones Stephanie designs. I can see that instead of bracelets or necklaces I can use the peyote base with a glued magnet on the back to create "pins." I can craft petals and seasonal leaves, I can fill in spaces here and there with bits of this and that...look carefully at some of your favorite designs and see how to easily break them down into components. If you spend time building a reserve of various components, then when you're in the mood to produce a finished piece, you're more than halfway there!<br />
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Especially of interest to me has been the idea of poinsettia pins. They're already done in my mind. I just need the time for that image to be translated to my fingers.<br />
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Be well,<br />
TBHThe Beaded Hearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00739528597326923759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388549149083605382.post-86651567971648960072010-09-30T11:15:00.000-04:002010-09-30T11:15:32.094-04:00Farewell Tony, Farewell September-slightly OTIn addition to the fact that it is a dull gray day here in the Boston area, I feel a lingering sense of sadness. September has always been one of my favorite months. I'm not particularly fun of always feeling hot and sweaty as I do in the summer months and September brings cooler air. The skies in this part of the country can be the most brilliant in September. There's the beginning of a feeling of crispness in the air. Things are comfortable.<br />
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Yet September is also a sad time. My father passed away at the end of September. It's been a while now...1989...21 years. Is that possible? It still seems like only yesterday. He's always with me, but... .<br />
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And of course there is September 11. I'll never forget that. <br />
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And today the news of the passing of a Hollywood legend...Tony Curtis. Not that I was a huge fan. Still, it's sad. My favorite movies of his were surely not considered his greatest...the one where he's a casino operator in Reno and a little girl gets abandoned and he ends up taking care of her...love that one. And of course the American film adaptation of the play Boeing-Boeing, about the guy who dates 3 airline stewardesses with different schedules...until their schedules get changed and "mayhem" ensues. My sisters and I loved to watch that one as well.<br />
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So, tomorrow we welcome October. I've been seeing autumn decorations everywhere, many including "indian" corn. Have you ever noticed how much those different kernels resemble beads?The Beaded Hearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00739528597326923759noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388549149083605382.post-47445555450835243172010-09-28T09:33:00.000-04:002010-09-28T09:33:48.851-04:00out of the comfort zoneHi all. Hope you are enjoying good weather wherever you may be and have had some time to bead. I spent last weekend taking a 2 day class with Stephanie Eddy. It was so much fun. She's a very good teacher, well versed in what she is presenting, patient with her students, easy to talk with. We made tiny berries and tinier berries and leaves and bracelet and necklace bases for them to go on. I finished my bracelet and wore it to work yesterday.<br />
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I must say, having something so dimensional and with such movement is more than a bit out of my comfort zone. When I asked hubby what he thought of it his comment was, "well, of course it's got a lot of green in it and it looks like a wrist corsage." (he's not crazy about the color green)<br />
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It does look a bit like a wrist corsage and I was a big self-conscious wearing it. Wait until I get the necklace done. That is even a bit MORE over the top than what I would normally wear. We'll see how brave I become. <br />
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Having said that, they are really lovely. I enjoyed the process of creating them very much and ended up getting several of Stephanie's other kits because I'm enamored of the style. There's a Victorian necklace design that has a lot of netting work, which I enjoy doing. I can't wait until the Columbus Day weekend when I hope to have some time to play!<br />
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Getting out of our comfort zone is good for us. Reach out. Experiment with a new style. Add some umph to your normal routine. It could be just the thing you've been needing to put a little spark in your day.<br />
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Best wishes,<br />
TBH-LindaThe Beaded Hearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00739528597326923759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388549149083605382.post-41052849668630315662010-09-24T11:38:00.000-04:002010-09-24T11:38:37.882-04:00Thinking About ColorAutumn officially started yesterday and a few of the trees around here have started their change of color. I love fall. I do think it's my favorite time of year. The leaf peak is usually around Columbus Day, but I hope it holds on a bit this year as my Mom is coming from Texas for a visit later in the month and it would be great if there's a bit of New England color left for her to see.<br />
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But I've been thinking more about color as it relates to our beading, especially those of us who make things for sale. Most of you probably already know about the Pantone color predictions, but if you don't, let me share some good news. Pantone predicts the fashion colors for every season and manufacturers ranging from everything from home dec to clothing to car companies use their predictions as guidelines for the colors of their products. You can easily access the fall and winter 2010-11 colors from the Gemorama website with a link provided in this blog, as well as from the Fire Mountain Gems website. This fall's colors are delicious. Do you have colors that you really like and rarely venture away from? Well kid, you need to break some of those habits and look beyond your comfort zone...OR find new colors that work well with your faves.<br />
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Check out the Gemorama site. The first thing I see is a saturation of color in the fall/winter tones. Deep colors are definitely the way to go. Scroll down a bit and you'll see Pantone's top 10 fashion colors. Let's examine these closely. Good color combinations for beading mean you should have a variety of light, medium, and dark colors. The top 10 gives you that option. But beyond that, remember to look for combinations in your beads of finish: shiny, matte, sparkle, etc. Additionally, working on changing the size and shape of your beads as well as the colors will enhance your work; a simply strung necklace can move from nice to "WOW" if you can work in extra texture along with your colors.<br />
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The other thing I notice about the top 10 fashion colors is they work well with each other...another useful key in beadwork. Once you find a group of colors that works together, you have a huge combination of colors you can incorporate into your work because tints or shades of those colors will also within that group. Let me explain by giving you an example from my quilting instruction. Let's say you have a small piece of fabric that is a certain color and it goes with some others you have that you want to make a quilt out of. Unfortunately, that small piece is all you have of the color. You go to the store and can't find a match for that color anywhere. BUT, if you can find a tint (the color with white added to it to make it lighter) or a shade (the color with black added to it to make it darker) that selection will also work with the fabrics you have chosen. You don't have to match colors EXACTLY...you can find a tint or shade of the color that you only have a small piece of and it will still work with the other fabrics you have chosen. <br />
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Remember to try this with beading. If you have a small amount of a certain color of bead in your stash and want to incorporate it but you know the amount is not going to be enough, and you can't find the exact same thing again, a tint or shade of the color will be fine. And the cool thing about beading is you can also consider the finish and the shape as adding extra interest.<br />
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I'm taking a beading class this weekend with Stephanie Eddy. The beads are already kitted up, but I certainly plan to compare what I receive with items in my own stash to see if I can kick my project up a big by mixing in additional shades or tints of the colors in the kits. I can't wait to play!<br />
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TBH-LindaThe Beaded Hearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00739528597326923759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388549149083605382.post-80773451500833806892010-09-23T10:59:00.000-04:002010-09-23T10:59:23.068-04:00P.S. Rocket SurgeryBTW, have you heard about rocket surgery? I love this description. Someone (can't remember who) got confused and instead of saying "it's not rocket science" or "it's not brain surgery" accidentally confused the two, birthing "rocket surgery."<br />
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Isn't it great?!?! I love it! "Rocket surgery" is one of my new favorite things to say. The best part is it usually takes folks a second to realize what has happened when you say it, and then the expression on their face is pretty fun.<br />
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It's these little moments that give the daily grind some lightness, don't you think?<br />
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TBHThe Beaded Hearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00739528597326923759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388549149083605382.post-9173025958570070862010-09-23T10:56:00.000-04:002010-09-23T10:56:13.577-04:00JaBS is born!As I've mentioned in a couple of previous posts, a group of us who live south of Boston have gotten together and formed a new bead society. Actually, because several members don't do beading as much as metal work, we decided to name the group the Jewelry and Bead Society, or JaBS. <br />
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The cool thing about getting together is that we have a wide variety of talents already existing within the group which means there is a lot to learn from each other. We had signup sheets and asked people to list the types of things they want to learn. We have enough topics listed to plan programs for a couple of years! We are looking forward to the months ahead.<br />
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Our first "project" next month will be for everyone to bring stuff from their stash so each person can create a lanyard for nametags/membership cards. The goal is to have your lanyard express the type of work you normally do. If you do metal work, chain maille, stringing, whatever...your lanyard should say to others "Here is my comfort zone...here's what I already know how to do."<br />
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I usually bead. However, over the last 6 months or so I've been collecting some of the funky flowers and leaves available in lucite. It's not what I usually work with, but I've got a pretty good supply going now. I'm thinking I have to use some of it in my lanyard. Maybe my lanyard will look more like a lei!!<br />
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One of the challenges of starting the group is getting folks to step up and participate in the organization that is necessary for such a group to exist. We have someone who's a bookkeeper and is taking care of setting up a bank account, etc. I'm willing to set up programs. But we need a secretary and a president. No one at the first meeting came forward. I mean NO ONE. This is a dilemma, not only in a group like this but in our society in general. Everybody wants to play, but nobody wants to do the organizing that makes the play possible. It's frustrating as hell. <br />
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I sometimes think that folks worry about whether or not they would do something the right way. Hey, sometimes there <i>isn't<i> </i></i>a right way. Just jump in and do what works for you and your style. And have fun. It's not rocket surgery, you know.The Beaded Hearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00739528597326923759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388549149083605382.post-52066739783177449862010-09-23T10:46:00.000-04:002010-09-23T10:46:04.194-04:00weaving and wire wrappingLast month I spent some time at Bead Feast in Philadelphia. It was a fabulous experience and I now I am pouting because I can't go to Bead Feast in Arlington, TX (even though I'd have a place to stay w/family in the area). This working for a living thing really gets in the way of some serious jewelry play time.<br />
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Several of the folks who were in my class in Philly were from my general area, so we are getting together tonight to play! Can't wait. We made a basket weave bracelet in the class and are making a different version tonight. There will be about 6 of us and it should be a fun time. I believe out of everyone I'm the newest at wire wrapping (the class was listed as an intermediate, but I'd never done it before). I was the last one finished with my bracelet in Philly (I know...it's not a race). I'm hoping I remember most of what I learned so my next endeavor will turn out as nice as the one from the class did.<br />
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There are many things to remember about wire wrapping. You have to keep the wires straight and flat, especially if you're using half round (HR) which we are. You need to keep the tension good, but not too tight. You need to lock down each wrap. You want to make sure that you're not marring your wire with your tools. Everything should look nice and even. I'll post some pictures of the results!<br />
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TBH-LindaThe Beaded Hearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00739528597326923759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388549149083605382.post-80669233193030596352010-09-10T10:48:00.000-04:002010-09-10T10:50:50.535-04:00New Beading Society South of BostonIt's going to happen. A group of around 30 women will be getting together on September 18 and creating a new bead society. We can't wait to get started. It'll be terrific. It'll be fun. There will be laughter. Supporting each other creatively, we'll share techniques and ideas. In the beading world, there's no much better than that. I'll keep you posted on activities as they develop!The Beaded Hearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00739528597326923759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388549149083605382.post-87067224532539784062010-09-10T10:36:00.000-04:002010-09-10T10:48:11.830-04:00Come September!Not only is September here already, but we're nearly halfway through it! Where did summer go, you might ask? Well, for me it went to recovery from surgery in May, followed by getting back into the swing of work, followed by my first ever trip to BEAD FEST in Philadelphia! This was a fabulous experience. Have you been? Then you know! If you haven't....you must!<br /><br />First of all, as a long-time quilter and attendee at many quilting shows and conferences, I'm used to crowded class rooms. This is NOT the case at Bead Fest. The class I was fortunate enough to take was in a large room and there were less than a dozen enrolled. How do they make any money on those types of enrollments? Each student had all the elbow room and teacher attention they could possibly need. I checked out other classrooms as well and found the same held true throughout.<br /><br />In my class I made a woven bracelet. I can see where my errors are, of course, but those who've seen the bracelet since my return have oohed and ahhed over it and I have at least 2 orders for one. I want to practice a little more before making them for sale, but I will be doing that in the not too distant future. Plus, it's a lovely design and you can make one in a few hours, once you get proficient. <br /><br />Meeting fellow beaders was terrific...so nice to know that I'm not alone in my obsession. While quilters are creative, I truly believe beaders are one step beyond creative. I left inspired, to say the least.<br /><br />And now, to think of the vendors....it was like a dream come true. Two entire floors of every vendor you could imagine. Of course all the big names were there...Beadalon, etc. But there were also terrific small booths. I had a shopping list I was trying to adhere to and for the most part I did well. My, my the damage I could have done! My best buy was on wire. There's a guy in PA who doesn't sell online but you can do phone orders. His booth was very busy. I bought rose gold, argentium, sterling silver, and gold filled wire. I bought half round. I bought square. I bought 18 g and I bought 26 gauge. And the more you buy the bigger a discount you get on your total order. FAB!!<br /><br />The Whole Bead Show is coming up in Providence, RI in less than a month. Of course I'm going to go. Of course I'm going to spend $. Of course it will be exciting. But it won't compare to Bead Fest. Try to put it on your calendar for next year. There are a couple of shows a year in various locations. Don't miss it!<br /><br />Happy beading,<br />TBHThe Beaded Hearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00739528597326923759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388549149083605382.post-13017385642822975502010-08-09T09:10:00.000-04:002010-08-09T09:25:40.825-04:00Bead Society of the South ShoreToday is Monday, August 9, and we are having an information meeting at Gemorama in Hanover, MA for anyone who would like to learn more about the Bead Society. It's very exciting...we've got some creative people just waiting to get started, learn new techniques, share what they already know, and just basically get together and play. The meeting schedule is the 3rd Sat of the month starting September 19.<br /><br />There will probably be a membership limit because of the size of the meeting space, so if you are interested in joining, let me know.<br /><br />BTW, did you do any beading this weekend? I'm happy to say I did! While watching the Red Sox get beaten up by the Yankees (sigh) I worked on a sterling silver bracelet I started last weekend. It has alternating plain and twisted links, three sizes of tahitian pearls in different settings (bead caps on both ends of one size, set with a crystal from my wedding dress for the smallest size, and wrapped in a thing sterling silver wire for the largest size. I made sterling wire coils and spirals and added "love," "hope," etc. charms. I also started to make some tubular peyote embellished beads, but only got 2 done and would like to have about 10 of them dangling from the bracelet. THAT will take some time to finish.<br /><br />I also started a square stitch base for a loop bracelet...well, I'm not sure that's what they are called, but that's what I call them. You make the square stitched base and then embellish each bead with a variety of sizes and textures of beads in a loop. I think there's a picture of one of these types of bracelets in one of the tutorials on the Fire Mountain Gems website (may not be there anymore). A friend made one for me before I was really back into beading, and I would like a couple more in different color schemes. They are a little labor intensive to make, but they pack a punch and are definitely worth it. I'll try to add a pic to the blog when it's finished.<br /><br />Happy beading,<br />TBHThe Beaded Hearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00739528597326923759noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388549149083605382.post-69952647519166349282010-08-03T14:50:00.000-04:002010-08-03T16:31:34.928-04:00The Beadin' PathSo, I was in the bootiful state of Maine on Sunday and we went to Freeport on the way home to visit The Beadin' Path. It's a lovely store and if you're ever in the area you need to make sure you stop by!! Of course, they also have an online store and you can browse their pages just chock full of lovely toys!The Beaded Hearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00739528597326923759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388549149083605382.post-86915899188289234412010-07-20T15:25:00.001-04:002010-07-20T15:29:19.037-04:00Pflora Beads!By the way, I meant to say that the other day I stopped by a new bead store in the area south of Boston. Pflora Beads is located at 355 Turnpike in Canton, MA. It's a lovely shop...if you're in the area be sure to stop by. Phyllis Flora, the proprietor, has a wide array of wonderful stuff, ranging from funky to functional, and everything in between, a good selection of reference books, and everything is very artfully displayed (for example, lovely, large cabs are nestled in a shallow, rice-filled bowl). If you stop by, tell them you read about their shop on The Beaded Heart's blog!The Beaded Hearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00739528597326923759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388549149083605382.post-32567702762572779142010-07-20T10:13:00.000-04:002010-07-20T10:20:02.291-04:00"farfalle" beadsIt's July. It's hot. And humid. But I now have central AC at home, so my two favorite hobbies, beading and quilting, are consuming me this summer season. Now that I feel my health is recovered, I can't wait to get my hands on beads and fabric...and sometimes spend so much time deciding which to play with, I don't get anything done! I'm sure you've never experienced anything like that!<br /><br />In early May I went to a local bead show and one of the vendors had a type of seed bead I'd never seen before. At least, I think it would qualify in the seed bead category as it's small, comes in a container like seed beads do, and comes in lots of fabulous colors. The shape is similar to farfalle (or bowtie) pasta, except instead of being flared on the ends, they are rounded. Perhaps a description like a dog bone would be better. The hole is in the center and when you sew these together in a stitch like peyote, they nestle up to each other and form a lovely, dimensional, piece. I made a simple peyote cuff bracelet about an inch wide using sage green beads. It's simple, yet remarkable elegant. It could work dressed up or down. If you come across these funny little shaped beads, I highly recommend them. The look is definitely not run-of-the-mill.<br /><br />TBHThe Beaded Hearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00739528597326923759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388549149083605382.post-56506990004674117832010-07-12T14:30:00.000-04:002010-07-12T16:08:23.925-04:00The Long Road BackOver the last six months I've had the poor luck of having a series of medical procedures. I'm hoping that now I'm actually OVER it and can resume my normal activities. To quote the notorious BP oil exec Tony Hayward, "I want my life back!"<br /><br />Part of that process involves getting the Bead Society of the South Shore (Boston) rolling this fall. To that end, I'll be at Gemorama in Hanover, MA on August 9 from 6-8 p.m. hosting an information session. The owners of Gemorama have been very supportive of this idea and are offering their upstairs loft classroom free of charge for our meetings. Hooray!! <br /><br />More info to come :=))The Beaded Hearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00739528597326923759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388549149083605382.post-49546252306643332822010-05-11T09:14:00.000-04:002010-05-11T09:32:07.873-04:00Viking Knit and KumihimoUnfortunately, I was not able to attend the kumihimo class I signed up for last weekend. I had a little bit of a medical setback and as it was a stormy day, holed up at home.<br /><br />I did, however, buy a kit to make a Viking knit bracelet while I was at a recent bead show. The instructions and pictures where OK, but not quite as helpful as they might have been. I found the following website, which had fabulous step-by-step photos, helping me to complete my bracelet: http://www.fineartbyrocio.com/vikingknitdirections<br /><br />I'm thrilled with the result. The feature lampwork bead on the bracelet really cool...I'll post a picture as soon as I can remember where I put the digital camera! (I hate menopause!)<br /><br />Here's hoping you find in time in your day to fondle a few beads!<br /><br />TBHThe Beaded Hearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00739528597326923759noreply@blogger.com0