Retreat

Sometimes 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.

Escaping.

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.

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?

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!

TBH

Inspiration!

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.

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!!

RAW

I 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 par excellence, 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.

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, Beaded Opulence. All of the designs in the book are based upon RAW and now I'm excited to try to tackle some of them.

Oh, so many lovely designs and beads and so VERY little time!!

TBH

When time slips away

Each 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?

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

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.

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?

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.

Love Knot

I'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.

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.

Cheers!
TBH

magnetic pins

Welcome 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!

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.

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.

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.

Happy beading,
TBH

holiday designs

So, 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.

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.

Happy November!
TBH