When I am old

Which at 59 I'm definitely not, but 'When I am old, I will wear purple'

well at least I used to embrace that poem, but then it got adopted by the red hats and I kind of lost interest.  But I must say I do like the purple.

When I arrived at the salon today for a little color I had teal in mind, but since teal was out of stock, I opted for the purple and I like it.

I'm off to Cherry Hill New Jersey where I will teach a fairly large group of seed beaders, first Dancing Light and then En Pointe, the bracelet version.  En Pointe is close to as challenging as Aberge....turning corners and keeping an inside contrasting color, but the result is beautiful.

And I get to meet two formally unmet Facebook friend and renew a couple of friendships from previous classes.  I'm hoping I'll see Hillary, and I know I'll see Stephanie, so life is good.

One of the previously unmet Facebook gals emailed me when I posted on Facebook that I was traveling to New Jersey.  In the back of my mind somewhere I heard a Kate blogpost, about Kyle Cassidy's philosophy of just say yes...and so I did.  Interestingly I fly into Philadelphia which is Kyle's city and I had hoped to meet up, but he is in Minneapolis taking photos of roller derby gals, and so taking my photo will have to wait to another time when we can meet up.

I'm traveling with the blog enabled iPad, so I'll be in touch.  Until then, have fun.

The allure of the seed bead

As I continue to bask in the glow of last weekends classes at Bead Creative in New Hampshire, I reflect on the community of seed beaders I've met over the years. I began to travel and teach in 1998 and the math suggests that is 14 years of meeting people through the love of seed beads.

Last weekend a group of twelve women took the challenge of Aberge.  I never intentionally design a project that is difficult, but this particular one does take a bit of perseverance.  The different size seed beads which create the gentle curve of the ellipse take on an angle that makes it a bit more difficult to see the pattern of 4 beads which make up the right angles.  Also the point of the first ellipse becomes the interior of the second ellipse making the positioning of the seed bead size and color an important consideration.  In the end however it is a beautiful bracelet and leaves you with an appreciation of the versatility of this stitch. I have a few more of the square vintage rivoli that is the stunning enter of this piece.  After that I will likely use a current production 18 mm round which is still quite pretty, but the vintage square really makes a statement.  I have one new color way coming in medium vitrial with fuchsia and green.   Although with Bead and Button and book deadlines, it may be a while.

Here is a shot of Tessarae, which I think of as a beginning point for me.  It was featured on the cover of Step by Step Beads back in   2007 and was the catalyst for Lark contacting me about authoring a book.  I love the crystal edging on this piece and the simple geometry of it.  It is not true cubic right angle weave, two flat pieces were joined on their edges.  If I were to do it today I might see how different it would look 

if it were true cubic.

And a final shot of my bead embroidered purse which went out on the town with me last night.  Ok, I don't really go out on the town, but I did meet my girlfriends for happy hour at our favorite C level lounge where we sat as close to the water as possible and took in the lights of  downtown San Diego and enjoyed laughter and friendship.

This purse was a gift from one of those people who came into my life through the love of seed beads...Ms Liz Thompson, aka, the bad Liz. You can't help but realize the love and friendship stitched into a gift like this.

Tomorrow it's plane travel again, off to the Southern Jersey Bead Guild to teach En Pointe and Dancing Light, and meet with more of the community. I know I will meet both old and new friends and I'm looking forward to it!

Past photos...

I often amuse myself scrolling through photos from another time.  Here are two that are definitely a design departure for me. This is a treasure bracelet that I did in a Robin Atkins class when she visited the San Diego Bead Society a few years back. What I especially like about it is the use of an assortment of beads, vintage and otherwise. Many were one off beads that I picked up when traveling in Europe. Since the writing of books and making of kits I have gravitated towards repeatable beads, seeds and crystals and findings that I can reliably source. But I love looking at this eclectic piece and will one day return to this design aesthetic.

In that same time frame I decided to work on a bit of bead embroidery, inspired by my life in Holland and Van Gogh's paintings. I chose at the time not to pursue the medium of bead embroidery, but I would like to return to it one day. I still have high hopes of leisurely days where I bead and knit and explore other mediums....I know it's in my future.

crystal supplier

today, after 6 or so years of phone and email contact, I met Maurice for the first time. He sends me crystals!



and I saw lots of pretties
old



and new




and I traveled home with a bag or two




long day, but a big thank you to Cathi who hosted me so beautifully in New Hampshire, including walks on the beach and a lobster dinner. We finished the weekend off with a ride to Rhode Island to buy crystals, yes I did....and then to Logan airport.
Unfortunately weather related delays meant a re routing and a late arrival home...still in Dallas at the moment.
I look forward to a day off tomorrow!

Bead Creative

Cathi, owner of Bead Creative with her new earrings!



With the drops from jp designs, pretty!

Maine Lobster!

Living on the West Coast Maine lobster is close to impossible to get and fried clams impossible....but on the East Coast in Hampton NH, my East Coast host and friends indulged me.





And after dinner a coastal ride and illegal u- turn to take photos of the swans.




Todays Abrege class went beautifully with everyone having success. Abrege can be tricky...it takes a fair amount focus and couple of aha moments, but we got there. Totally worth it.

Tomorrow rain is predicted and if I'm lucky a thunder storm.

Play well and I'll be back soon.

New England

where have I been? I truly feel badly when I abandon you....I arrived safely at Logan International airport and was picked up and transported to Hampton New Hampshire. It's been two whirlwind days of teaching at Bead Creative with a lovely group of gals. Marge, Nancy, Karen, Barbara, Cathy, Deb...I love you. And all the new gals I've met,
I walked on the beach yesterday. The East Coast is my growing up coast and I love it here. It is significantly different then the west coast, the memories are magic.
Hampton Beach sunrise during my morning walk.




And another view




I am so enjoying this trip....the smell of the Atlantic is different as is the color. tomorrow night lobster!
Preceeded by Abrege!