Marcia DeCoster Presents

As this book continues to make its way into the world I am delighted by how it is being received.  It is  not an attempt to be humble when I say, I had little to do with it's success beyond inviting some of the worlds most stellar bead artists to show their work.  They shared beautiful images and parts of themselves as they openly describe their process, their art, their inspirations and motivations.

I think Lark also did a beautiful job of presenting the images and the columns of the artists words which flank their images is nicely done.

I am however responsible for presenting a signed copy to one lucky reader of this blog(you must comment to enter) and the deadline for entering is today, at 12:00 noon pst. Sometime this afternoon I will have Mark draw the name out of the hat, and tomorrow morning I will post the winner.  So if you commented to win, make sure you're paying attention so I can get your details and mail off your book.

Thirty artists are featured in the book and in order to help make my selections I adopted the theme of celebrating our on-line beading community where I have developed so many wonderful relationships.

My only regret is that I wasn't able to select more artists whose work deserves to be shared.  Certainly the list today would be longer as I continue to experience new work and wish I had more pages for including it.  It may be that I will start a presents day on the blog and bring you more images that I admire.  We'll see….I am trying not to set myself up with tasks that extend me beyond a comfortable commitment level.

Three of the featured artists (that I know of, my memory is not longer a trustworthy thing….) have blogged about their experience with the book.  You can read Miriam Cielo Shimon's words here, Nancy Dale's words here, and Cynthia Newcomer Daniels words here.

The bottom left cover is Miriam's work and I find the piece to be very joyful.  The colors are brilliantly put together and Miriam's work is impeccable in coloration, form and workmanship.

I have on-line relationships with the majority of artists in the book, and I have been fortunate enough to have met many of them in person by virtue of the fact that I travel and I bead.  This year I will meet several more of the artists in person which brings me great joy.  I'll be sure to post as I do!

Thank goodness for the Bead Events that bring us together in different venues.  I will see lots of bead friends in Milwaukee this year and more in Hamburg.

I'll be traveling with a copy of the book so I can begin to collect the signatures of those artists whose paths I cross this year.  I'll start with Tucson w here I will see be seeing Beki Haley, Susan Blessinger and Debi Keir Nicholson!