by Barbara | Jan 31, 2013 | Art to Wear, Beading, Beads and Materials, Designer Patterns, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind, Seed Beads
This latest geometric piece is my interpretation of the Sea Serpent design from Kate McKinnon’s book, Contemporary Geometric Beadwork. It is taking far longer to weave than the two bracelets I made previously. Starting with a foundation of modified raw angle...
by Barbara | Jan 29, 2013 | Art to Wear, Beading, Beads and Materials, Handmade, Inspiration, One-of-a-Kind, Seed Beads
My neighbor had a birthday yesterday (Happy Birthday, Julie!) and received a bouquet of gorgeous roses of which I am the fortunate beneficiary because she left for vacation today. The fragrance is like a breath of summer – most welcome in our midwest winter...
by Barbara | Jan 28, 2013 | Art to Wear, Beading, Beads and Materials, Components, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind, Seed Beads
This photo was taken in San Francisco at Hotel Monaco’s restaurant, Le Brasserie, last August. I was quite taken with the splendor of the dining room, but what really caught my eye were thousands of tiny mosaic tiles that cover the tall columns. They sparkled...
by Barbara | Jan 26, 2013 | Art to Wear, Beading, Beads and Materials, Designer Patterns, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind, Seed Beads
Why this renewed burst of beading energy? I’m first to admit that my interest in beading had waned. Contented to hammer away in my metals studio and work with polymer clay and resin, I hadn’t picked up needle and thread in months. It had been well over...
by Barbara | Jan 23, 2013 | An Aside, Art to Wear, Classes, Handmade, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind
People ask that question all the time. I used to do art fairs and, besides the occasional comment by some proud parent (i.e. My daughter makes jewelry just like this!), the question of how long it took to create a piece just drove me crazy. Making art is not like...
by Barbara | Jan 21, 2013 | An Aside, Art to Wear, Beading, Beads and Materials, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind, Seed Beads, Techniques
I’d rather be doing just about anything other than taxes. I’d gladly clean my cat’s litter box all day long in lieu of this boring task. I’m wading through last year’s receipts, tallying up sales slips, figuring expenses…what a...
by Barbara | Jan 18, 2013 | Art to Wear, Beading, Beads and Materials, Designer Patterns, Handmade, Inspiration, One-of-a-Kind, Seed Beads
If you were raised on a diet of television in the 1950’s, you are sure to remember the Flash Gordon series. I would rush home from school and tune in to the latest episode to see what dire deed Flash Gordon’s nemesis, Emperor Ming the Merciless, was...
by Barbara | Jan 16, 2013 | Beading, Beads and Materials, Designer Patterns, Embellishments, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind, Seed Beads
Such a bevy of beautiful colors – over 200 in all! My new stash of Delica beads has arrived! Can you imagine the fun I’ll have playing with these! Each tube came wrapped individually in a plastic bag – it took several hours to just unpack these...
by Barbara | Jan 13, 2013 | Art to Wear, Beading, Designer Patterns, Jewelry kits, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind, Seed Beads, Techniques
That saying applies to this beaded cuff as well. I have invested at least twenty hours so far and depending on where this beading adventure takes me, I may be investing another twenty hours. I’m designing as I go along and I never quite know the outcome of a...
by Barbara | Jan 12, 2013 | An Aside, Art to Wear, Beading, Beads and Materials, Handmade, Inspiration, Mixed Media, One-of-a-Kind, Techniques
It’s that time of year again – registration for the Bead&Button Show is open and classes are filling rapidly. I’ve signed up for four metals classes, two of which have already sold out! Being one who likes immediate gratification, I always look...
