Unseasonably Warm

Just enough of a morning chill in the air to enjoy, but it's going to be 64 degrees today! Makes the winter coat I brought seem silly. Alaskans of course are all wandering around in tee shirts, where as I think a light wrap is still in order.

Urchin Lariat is on the agenda today. This one, featured on the cover of Masters Beadweaving.



I have so many color enlightened students in class, can't wait to see what they come up with!

New Blog Alert! I love the glimpse into someone's life that comes from following their blog and so I was thrilled to see my friend Susan, extraordinary knitter and very good friend, share bits of her knitting and creative life. Have a look! Should you live near San Diego or plan to visit, a trip to the Grove is definitely in order.

Beaded!

Have you ever beaded and beaded and beaded some more and you're not sure you are realizing the vision, not even sure you like what you're beading and then in the end it all comes together and you're in love? Yeah, Kate's ring was like that.....both the beading and beading part and the love part.

In Tucson this year, I became enamored of some Green Girl Studio Birds


and bought two of them for Kate to create one of her amazing rings with. We arranged a trade to be exchanged at Bead and Button. Beading for Kate was..... well intimidating, I think artist trades are that way, for me at least.



Well all I can say is that it is a good thing I've had a glimpse of my bird ring, or I might have a hard time giving this one up! But as it is, I look forward to wearing my newest Kate ring and I hope that she will enjoy her new ring as well.

The Road to Seward

Yesterday I had the amazing good fortune to drive the road to Seward which was filled with awesome beauty. Linda from the Alaska Bead Company and friend Deborah Smith were my companions on this beautiful drive.

Linda's eagle eyes spotted this treat in a tree next to the waterfront


Yep, an eagle!

When we first arrived a thick layer of fog obscured the Resurrection Bay view, but as it lifted I was treated to this amazing view.



We had a delicious lunch, wandered a bit and resumed the drive back to Anchorage. Linda pointed out the hauntingly beautiful ghost trees. A result of the salt water tsunami of the 1964 earthquake which had killed the trees but left them standing.



We did spot a Dall sheep, but without my proper zoom lens it was a speck on the mountainside, next time I'll bring the grown up camera.

But I did think you might appreciate this stunning vista.



What a day!

On Wednesday I was able to finish my final Beadwork Designer of the Year project which will be in the December issue. Suffice it to say, I love it. Simple yet elegant, I've been wearing it ever since. I'm actually ahead of the June 12th deadline, so I get to enjoy it for awhile. When I get home to my proper camera I'll give you a sneak peek.

I saw a Lion!

Ok, not quite so cool as the moose, but he was rather fierce.

Linda and I went out and about yesterday and stopped at this fabulous gift shop with lot's of eclectic furnishings in a huge hot pink building. I should get better at remembering names....but it was very fun.

Then on to the Knitting Grounds which offered a selection of yarns, fibers for spinning and many many fibers for felting. There were beautiful hand dyed selections and many inspirational pieces hanging from the walls. Zaynab the owner was delightful as she showed me around. My friend Arlene , a very accomplished felt artist teaches here on occassion so you may want to keep an eye out for her classes. Her Nuno scarves are amazing and I love her pillows and wall hangings, all very colorful and artistic.

Then on to the shop where I was teaching Ringlets. Many of the folks from the weekend were back. Karen was wearing a gorgeous Romantica with earrings to match.

Shannon's fun colored Romantica was well on it's way.

Here's Shannon and Shera who very nicely color coordinated their outfits for the photo shoot.

Too bad you can't see Shera's very cool bracelet. Curved right angle weave, nicely designed, beautiful colors.

More Ringlets tonight and tomorrow we're off for a drive to Seward where the bar has been raised to include sheep and whale viewings, we'll see.....

I saw a Moose!

I told you yesterday it was on the list and Linda the wonder hostess accommodated with not one but three moose sightings, including a bull moose with full rack, apparently a more rare sighting. I don't have the good camera with me, just my little point and shoot with minimum zoom capability so you'll have to trust me on that one, but look at this moose!. Literally by the side of the road, munching away, oblivious to me taking photos of him.

It was a stellar day with visits to Portfolio

my kind of store where I purchased a URU shirt....

and a fabulous yarn store whose name escapes me at the moment. They were super friendly and I just happened to purchase some hand dyed boucle for another Satine.

We stopped at Black Elk and at the Bead Shack and Skinny Raven where I was able to resist the temptation of the hand painted danskos only because they didn't have my size.

I was then fortunate enough to be invited to Cheryl Frasca's beautiful home for dinner. Cheryl owns Beadventure and we have the beginnings of a plan....more later.

Andrew is always posting pictures of luscious plates of food, well look at this one!



Maple and chipotle glazed pork roast on top of herbed polenta with a side of olive oil marinated asparagus, baked with parmesan and drizzled with lemon. This was one fantastic meal!

Back to the hotel I was able to take this picture of the very pretty and most pleasant Roberta

who was responsble for my room with a view.

What an amazing day! Thank you Linda, thank you Cheryl, it was truly lovely.

A room with a view!

I'm in Alaska at the Dimond Center hotel which is a very nice hotel, big spa tubs with granite surrounds, Aveda toiletries,and cushy beds....but when I checked in they were full and although from the lobby I could see the exquisite view, the only available rooms looked out onto the couryard, no mountains...

When I arrived last night the darling Roberta , a very customer service oriented young women was at the front desk and I inquired if there just might be a room available with a view (I'm not usually so high maintenance, ok maybe a little) but I'm here for ten days and it seemed worth asking and Roberta came up with my new room and this view!



Sunday was another great teaching day with many familiar faces from Saturday and a few new ones. Many fabulous Romanticas are in progress.

I've yet to see my first real moose (it's on the list of things to do) but here are the Alaska Bead Company store windows. I took these for you Liz. I'll spare you the Moose poop earrings, but I'll find some other moosey trinket in my travels. Requests?





Last night Linda, my lovely hostess for the week took me to sushi and we were joined by Cheryl Frasca of Beadventures. I met her once previously and find her delightful to be with. We're having dinner at her house tonight!

I have some deadline beading to get done this morning and then Linda will pick me up for a day of shopping. Thanks to my friend Arlene who lived in Anchorage for many years, I have the list of places to shop and eat. I'm starting out at the Skinny Raven and though the website looks sports oriented I've been informed they have hand painted Dansko's. I may get in trouble....

Jeannette facebooked that Color Creek will be another good destination. I'll report on my shopping success tomorrow!

History is made in Alaska

Or there's a man in my class!; but first....

I arrived to the beautiful view of mountains. Since I was sitting in the aisle my first glimpses of the Alaskan landscape were from a distance out a 10 x 12 inch window and I was still wowed. Lest you think the plane was about to crash, these pictures were actually taken on my morning walk. It is breathatkingly beautiful here.



And now the man story....Wanda came to class accompanied by husband Byron. I commented that in ten years of teaching I had never had a man in class and Byron signed up then and there! He was not new to seed beading, he'd done other classes in both metal and seed beads. What a guy. We were making the tiny La Boquita medallion and with a little guidance from me and a little from very accomplished wife Wanda, Byron was off. In fact at the end of the day he had four beautiful medallions complete!



Wanda was making a bridal piece and the wedding is taking place on a Hawaiin beach. With her pearl and crystal pallete she introduced the tiniest little seashells. I loved it! If only I had gotten a good picture I would share. It was really really pretty.

Sian was in class. She had taken a ringlets class from me ten years ago in San Ramon, wow! First I noticed her really fun socks.


Then decided you might like to see more of her! Sian's pallette was Hyacinth, frosted drops and gold seeds. Again, beautiful.



Shannon and Beth came to class prepared to laugh and have a great time and I think they did. Both had amazing colors and lots of good ideas for changing things up.



Karen was somewhat new to beading but was a quick study and left with several medallions. Karen number two is a painter who arrived in class with an amazing freeform piece!

And Shampagne tied last week's record with Amy of Minnesota with 9 completed medallions at the end of the day. Look at the smile, what a cutie!



Everyone was a delight and I look forward to my next classes.

Mark the store owner was warm, friendly and funny and Linda the store manager is making sure that I am well hosted. We're going on a yarn outing on Tuesday and a roadtrip on Thursday. She's the best!

Loving it here.....more as the week progresses

Oh and Arlene, I had my first cup of Kalidi coffee, really good, thanks for the tip.