AnnePomeroyDixon

Wonky Urban Stripes Completed

2011-08-30T10:55:00.000-07:00

My Urban Stripes Necklace is done and I kinda love it. I've dubbed it Wonky because it waves a bit due to the disparate sizes of beads I used. I learned alot from the project. I am back to enjoying bead crochet. I learned I can splice to add length to a rope - useful if a rope is too short or I made a stringing mistake. I have a new crochet hook which is much kinder on my poor fingers.

Most of all I appreciate the kindness and artistic spirit of Judith Bertoglio-Giffin, who sponsored the project and provided the pattern. Her help and encouragement was great. It was real incentive to bead this project with the other members of the group, and to see their color choices and interpretation of the pattern. I am hopeful that an Urban Stripes 2 pattern will be added to the collection!!!

Urban Stripes by Judith Bertoglio-Giffin - progress

2011-08-10T06:49:00.000-07:00

There are 34 happy beaders working away on Judith Bertoglio-Giffins urban stripe necklace project. We receive sections of design for a crochet necklace that we each string and crochet. We have 4 sections so far, and will have 6 or 7 when the project is complete. The color combinations that have been picked by beaders are based on the urban landscape, and are wonderful variations of the landscape in an urban setting and what it has to offer. One of the beaders is happily working away on four different ropes. Some beaders have yet to start.

It took me awhile to get started and complete the first few rows of crochet. After several rows I had my rhythm going. The rope above shows two sections complete. Its a bit wonky because I used different shaped beads. I've strung section three and am working on the now. I've learned alot on this project - one big thing is how to add string to a long project like this. Wonderful if you find a stringing mistake or don't want to wear down your thread if the project it huge. This simple trick is also going to let me go back to a project that I had stopped years ago because it was too short.

The project has been a huge amount of fun. Receiving each section is like getting a new present. If your interested in learning more about the project, you might want to visit Judith's blog http://www.beadline.blogspot.com/

Andre Thornton Challenge - The Reveal

2011-08-01T05:26:00.000-07:00

Well, here it isl. This is what I did with the bead package that Andrew Thornton sent out as part of his first challenge. I think that I am definitely going to have to call this a statement piece. When worn, the art clay focal and the large ceramic bead sit at the top of my wrist, and it is very comfortable. I used peyote and right angle weave.
I hope that you take the time to see what the other blogger's did with Andrew's package of beads!

Katie James, Sarajo Wentling, and Margriet Schnabel will have pieces shown on Andrew Thornton's blog.

Jessica Nelson http://stilettospirituality.blogspot.com/

Holly Baldwin http://trickoflightstudios.com/

Paula Kramer http://cavecreekbeads.blogspot.com/

Karyn Bonfiglio http://plussizebangles.com/blog

Sally Russick http://www.wireworked.com/

Lori Bowring Michaud http://artfullyornamental.blogspot.com

Norma Turvey http://moonlitfantaseas.blogspot.com/

Anne Dixon http://annepomeroydixon.blogspot.com

Melissa Meman http://melissameman.blogspot.com

Mary K McGraw http://mkaymac.blogspot.com/

Patty Gasparino http://www.mylifeunderthebus.typepad.com/

Andrew Thornton http://andrew-thornton.blogspot.com/

Urban Stripes by Judith Bertoglio-Giffin

2011-07-31T16:25:00.000-07:00

Judith Bertoglio-Giffin has organized a crocheted rope bead along and I am one of the lucky participants. Participants are receiving pdfs that contain patterns for a 42 inch rope that will be crocheted in sections. The colors are inspired by the urban landscape. I've chosen a smoky blue, cream, lilac, truqoise ande a mettalic purple.
There are 35 participants and Judith has set up a page on Facebook so that we can share our color combinations as we go along. I find this all very exciting. Each pdf is like opening up a new present, and you don't know exactly what you are going to get until it is all assembled. My first section is strung and I will start crocheting tonight

Every Charm tells a story - Artbeads Blog challenge

2011-06-13T13:23:00.000-07:00

Artbeads sent a new blogging challenge to its blog partners titled "What's old is new again" For this theme we were asked to seek inspiration from the past by incorporating old, vintage or antique items into our designs and combine them with modern elements such as Swarovski crystals, Glass, Resin, etc. Each piece needed to have at least one old element; a family heirloom, vintage cameo, an interesting bead, pendant or item you found in an antique shop, an old key, photo or any unique element of the past. We could even re-use an old jewelry piece and ‘borrow’ items from.

The challenge came at a time that was both good and bad for me. I was in the process of going through the house, room by room, and drawer by drawer. As I sifted through 31 years of accumulation I was trying to decide what to keep and what would no longer be useful. I had a sterling charm bracelet and several necklaces with sterling charms. Each charm on the bracelet and each charm on each necklace had meaning: the Nantucket basket charm that I bought on a vacation in Nantucket, the painters palette to symbolize my interest in painting, the thimble and scissors given to me because I sew and have made quilts in a former life. I ordered a new charm in memory of out cat Annabelle, the Sterling Silver Angel Kitty Charm http://beads.artbeads.com/search?w=charms and two kinds of seed beads 15/0 Metallic Hematite Hex Cut TOHO™ Bead Round Hybrid 8/0 Marbled Hematite AB. http://www.artbeads.com/delicas-seed-beads.html I also had a pin that was one of my first pieces of jewelry. It had ivory colored flowers wired to it. Over the years, several of the flowers had gone missing. I ordered tiny Swarovski crystels (5000 2mm Faceted Round Black Diamond) http://www.artbeads.com/swarovski-5000.html serve as the centers of the flower. to

My finished results are pictured The tiny 15 hex cut seed beads were perfect for the chains of the necklace that I made. The hex cut reflects the light and makes that strands sparkle. The finish on the marbled 8o beads reflects the colors I wear most often. I created two strands with charms. For the third strand I restung a simple silver necklace that I had. This third strand is removable. I plan on beading some more chains that I can add to the two charm chains so I have different looks.

The Swarovski crystals were perfect for the center of the flowers. I added some green-gold megatamas that I had in my stash to make a carpet for the flowers and to fill in the blank spaces.

These two pieces did not require alot of beading, but they resulted in pieces that I will wear often, with many happy memories that go along with them. I thank ArtBeads for the opportunity to participate in their blog program, and I was delighted with the items I received.

**Disclaimer I have received these products free of charge by Artbeads.com. I am honestly reviewing the products and have not been paid for my endorsement as it pertains to the products received.**

Bead Embroidery

2011-05-29T09:17:00.000-07:00

LaBella Joya http://labellajoya.blogspot.com/2011/05/big-giveaway.html?showComment=1306685395507#c4421084320093611880wanted input on bead embroidery - what we liked in terms of embroidery, and have we done it. I've only done one piece of embroidery - my chatelaine - shown above, which I use to store scissors, tape measure, scoop and sewing needles. It took hours and I received an honorable mention for this work.

I do like bead embroidery and love the dramatic collars and bracelets. I do find that they are heavy and war. and I get concerned about odors clinging to them because of the fabric.

Art Bead Scene Giveaway

2011-05-24T04:14:00.000-07:00

Even though I work in seed beads, I admire and collect one of a kind artist beads. They truly elevate simple designs into unique pieces of art that make you smile when you wear them. The Art Bead Scene is offering a giveaway of some of the most beautiful art beads I've seen. Follow this link to enter to win http://artbeadscene.blogspot.com/2011/05/giveaway-with-little-help-from-our.html

Do You Remember the Banana Man?

2011-05-10T14:50:00.000-07:00

I remember going to the circus years ago, sitting on the bleachers and watching the performance. At one point the ringleader announced that the banana man was coming and a clown came out. He had a bright red nose, big floppy shoes and a large coat with pockets. He kept reaching into his pockets and pulling out bananas on a string. He'd pull and pull, and more and more bananas would appear. You had to wonder how so many bananas could fit in one coat.

Right now, our house is just like the coat on the banana man. More and more items come out. Out of drawers, out of closets, out of boxes. Out of two storage rooms and one storage shed. They go in to the garage to get ready for a tag sale this weekend - rain or shine. I found a plate in the kitchen yesterday that I do not remember owning, and a planter today that I don't recognize. My husband just found a yard implement that we don't know the use for (Practically, or probably, unused) Crystal decanters, china shoes, fabric, paints, paintings, tapes, books and records. So very many things, and so very many memories. After 31 years of living in the same house I expected some treasure troves, but certainly not this much. I hope that the items in the garage find a good home. I don't want them to contribute to the land fill.

If you are interested in tag sales, come on by this Saturday and Sunday 9-3 each day. Seven Dara Lane, North Granby Connecticut. Who knows what treasures you will find.

The Original Scrapbox Giveaway

2011-03-17T04:56:00.000-07:00

The Original Scrapbox is hosting a giveaway for National Craft Month. I've been eyeing the scrapbox for months now. Designed for scrapbookers, it looks perfect for beaders and jewelry makers too. Link to the site is here:http://theoriginalscrapbox.com/ You can see scrapbox designs and many videos that show how it works. Their Facebook fan page(http://www.facebook.com/TheOriginalScrapbox) gives you up to date news about the Scrapbox, including information on how to enter the contest to win a free scarpbox!

Tannia's Lariat

2011-03-16T04:54:00.000-07:00

Another item from my Friday beading group. Tannia combined spiral stitch with coralling to create this lush and gorgeous lariat. I love the corally berry-like beads combines with the navy and cream. Today I'm off to have lunch with my mom and my Auntie Ellen. I am so looking forward to the visit. On my worktable is another long necklace using russian spiral, square stitch and RAW for a pendant. I should finish is soon and be able to post the finished piece tomorrow

Made by Marge

2011-03-15T04:55:00.000-07:00

This is a picture I took before the holidays of two bracelets made by Marge, one of the beaders that I bead with on Fridays. The first bracelet is by Rachel Nelson-Smith, from her book Seed Bead Fusion. The second is a simple Right Angle Weave bracelet that I wrote up to teach my students RAW. Beautiful colors, as usual. They stack together really nicely. Last week Marge came to class wearing Laura McCabe's Faery Vine necklace. She had modified it using charms collected from her family. It was stunning. I forgot to take a picture.... I'll ask Marge to bring it in for this Friday.

Three Cheers for claudia

2011-03-14T04:45:00.000-07:00

Last year I had one new student in my senior center class. The other seven students were "repeats". Claudia was a bit nervous and wanted to do a good job in the very biggest way. She made several projects and did a wonderful job. On the last day of class she came in with this necklace - made from the Margeurite pattern. I love the bright and cheery colors she used. I loved even more the smile on her face as she brought it in the show me.

So many things are going on right now that I am not teaching a new class. Instead, we have informal drop in sessions. I'm looking forward to what Claudia makes next with her new found hobby!

Artbeads Winter Enchantment

2011-03-13T06:02:00.000-07:00

I participate quite happily in the ArtBeads Winter Enchantment program. Its a wonderful opportunity to try out new designs and to stretch myself. When the email came this winter, it was right after one of the largest snowstorms of the winter. The snow was waist high on either side of the sidewalk. Piles of plowed snow were higher than buildings, and I was having a bit of trouble being enchanted. I'd just finished a chain I made for my mother using Russian spiral weave, and I had been working on some beaded beads. I decided I wanted to combine the two. It was night time, and I looked over the winter landscape with its inky colors. Lights up our driveway illuminated portions of the snow and there were areas of refracted light. My color scheme was born and I put in an order for seed beads http://www.artbeads.com/delicas-seed-beads.html and swarovski crystals http://www.artbeads.com/swarovski-crystal-beads.html from the Artbeads site.

Coordinating colors from the Artbeads site is very easy. Once you order your item and put it in your shopping bag, small thumbnails appear that show the beads you have chosen. Once the beads arrived, I was delighted with the way they coordinated, and I finished my necklace yesterday. The necklace is quite long and I can wear it easily with heavier winter clothing. I made a separate beaded bead for the closure, which I can wear in the back and in the fron. I think I'll wear it today

Disclosure...As a reviewer of products at Artbeads.com, I received the Swarovski crystals, and seed beads free of charge. I have been asked to review these products and give my honest opinion of the products...positive or negative. I am not being compensated by Artbeads.com for my endorsement as it pertains to the products received and reviewed.

Marge and Martha's multi strand necklaces

2010-12-03T12:47:00.000-08:00

Martha came to class one day and said that she would like to make a necklace like the one worn by an actress she had seen on Oprah. Marge found a picture and sent it to me. I drew up a pattern. They both made the necklace. Martha's is in the silver tones, Marge's is in the bronze colors that she favors. I think that they turned out wonderfully.

Aline's necklace

2010-12-03T12:40:00.000-08:00

Aline had come to all four of my classes at the senior center. Early on she fell in love with spiral stitch. Her sisters have fallen in love with the necklaces she has created from spiral stitch, and she has made several versions of her colorways. I love this one that she made to match a blazer she owns. The colors are so very bright and cheery.

Its not crochet bracelet by Nancy

2010-12-03T12:36:00.000-08:00

Peaking out from Nancy's jacket was a herringbone bangle. I'd written up this pattern over four years ago, and have never done anything with it, other than give it to my students as a pattern. Nancy came in today with this beautiful version, done it matte colors that matched her sweater. She also had a beautiful necklace made from lampwork beads that I did not get a picture of. Next week hopefully.

Next to Last Class Session at the Senior Center

2010-12-03T12:30:00.000-08:00

Necklace by Tannia

One more class at the senior center, and I will be done with another eight week session. I've had a wonderful group of students, and I was just awestruck today at the beautiful things that they have created. The group of women are wonderful too, and we've built some very meaningful friendships. Next week, I'll ask them to bring in all of the things that they have finished. The necklace above was made using six rows of chevron chain. It hangs beautifully, but I could not convince Tannia to let me take a picture of it on her neck. It truly looks spectacular on. I love her use of lampwork beads as a closure, letting her adjust the length of the necklace depending on what she is wearing.

Chevron Chain Necklace

2010-11-11T09:56:00.000-08:00

I have a copy of "The Art and Elegance of Beadweaving" by Carol Wilcox Well. I had never done chevron chain and decided to make the Ribbon Choker by Dawn Dalto that is in the book. Problem is, chokers don't really look that good on 61 year old necks. (At least this 61 year old neck.)So I extended the choker so that it fit at the base of my neck, added size 15o see beads to the top row of chevron chain to stabilize it, and finished it with a sterling silver clasp rather than ribbon. Very classic and easy to wear.

Inspired by Jane Fonda

2010-11-07T12:15:00.000-08:00

Jane Fonda appeared on the Oprah show recently. Of course looking as elegant as ever. And she had this gorgeous necklace on. Simple and elegant, nestling at the base of her neck just perfectly. My class at the Senior Center challenged me to see if I could make something similiar. And it looked like seed beads. And swarovksi crystal. and Pearls. Here is my take on the necklace. Fun and simple to make and it feels wonderful on.

Lorelei Michael's Blog Challenge

2010-10-17T06:18:00.000-07:00

Lorelei Eurto sponsored a blog challenge for anyone to participate in. Participants were asked to go to Michaels and purchase a set of beads and make a necklace. Additions could be two types of beads, a clasp (which we could make) and a focal. I went for a multi-strand Chico's type of look. My two types of beads were seed beads in an amber and a cream. The green pearls were smaller than the rest of the beads, so to make them into larger components, I wove them into margeurite beads and used the amber beads to make a chain. I like the two stranded effect of the amber beads, but will redo this chain and use metal seed beads. I chose not to add a toggle - the necklace is long enough to slip over my head. I have a jade butterfly that I wanted to use as a focal, but could not find it anywhere.....time to clean!! I absolutely love the colors - they are nice and crisp and clean, and wanted to to the challenge because I do very little stringing - mostly beadweaving. I think there is a trick and a talent to stringing a necklace that is interesting and wearable. Now you may want to head over to Lorelei's blog - check the necklaces made by people who do not blog, and click on the links to see what other people did. Thanks Lorelei - this was fun. http://lorelei1141.blogspot.com/2010/10/michaels-reader-challenge-blog-hop.html

Yesterday's Class at the Senior Center

2010-10-16T05:53:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I held my first class at the Senior Center. Passed out packets of information: general beading, stringing and fringing packets. I'm converting all my patterns to Open Office from Microsoft and organizing them by type. I'm working on another version of Hera's jewels, which teaches fringing, and we talked about taking a pattern from a designes and recreating it using different supplies. I have one new student, and we pulled beads from her stash to make Hera's jewels as her first project.

Sandy came to class with a lovely necklace that he had finished and given to her niece for her birthday. Her niece wanted the necklace longer, so she worked on lengthening it. I designed this project to teach flat peyote and used metallic beads for the bar that holds the pendant. Sandy used beautiful blue delica beads for her bar. I think it is a lovely interpretation - once its longer, I hope her niece wears it often

First class at Senior Center and new patterns

2010-10-15T04:43:00.000-07:00

I woke up this morning to pitch dark and the steady timpanny of rain. Its light out now, and I am packing for the first class at the senior center. Seven old friends, and one new student, who sounds excited and happy to be at class.

I am redoing all my patterns in Open Office - my computer is one its last legs, and I do not want to pay for the Microsoft Office Suite (Yankee). I am loving the drawing program.

Class today will cover design, color, stringing and fringing. Nine patterns to choose from - including the two new patterns for a dragonfly and Hera's Jewels - a new necklace I designed this summer.

Summer Drop in and Bead - Marge's Laura McCabe Necklace

2010-10-11T13:05:00.000-07:00

A few members of my class have joined me on Fridays this summer, working on their own projects. My friend Marge completed this lovely necklace based on an early pattern by Laura McCabe. I love her use of color.

Class begins on Friday and runs for eight weeks. All the students are "returns" and one new member. I've been busy this summer designing new patterns and am looking forward to the weeks ahead

Painting with Laura J. Eden

2010-09-16T08:40:00.000-07:00

I was about ready to hang up my paintbrushes and John Pike palette, but that has all changed. Yesterday Mom and I went to our first painting class with Laura Eden http://www.laurajeden.com/ Laura is a great friend and a fellow artist of Granby Artist's Association. I'd taken a class from Laura years ago and learned so much from her style of teaching. The painting I created in that class is one of my favorites. The first class was a demo and it was wonderful. The class was held at Holcomb Farm in Granby, the perfect venue for enjoying the local scenery. Both Mom and I came away with copious notes, new skills, and renewed enthusiasm for painting.

ArtBeads Giveaway ends Thursday

2010-07-27T12:21:00.001-07:00

Just so you know: Artbeads biggest sale of the year, ‘The Summer Spectacular Sale’ will be ending this Thursday, July 29th at 9am PT. Tomorrow is the last full day to take advantage of great savings storewide. You can save 20% on orders over $60! Enter coupon code ZZW20P-60 at checkout to take advantage of these savings

My First Pattern

2010-07-24T07:51:00.000-07:00

I am fortunate enough to live near Manchester Connecticut, near Beads East, a wonderful beading store owned and operated by Ann Benson. The store has a wonderful collection of seed beads and czech glass, as well as an amazing assortment of kits and patterns. Ann published my first pattern, the Pearlfest necklace, over four years ago. The pattern is available at http://www.beadpatterncentral/. Beads East is moving to newer, larger quarters and is having a rather awesome sale right now. The new store will be open some time in August. Exciting, no?

Windsong Earring - New pattern

2010-07-13T07:38:00.000-07:00

I'm working on a new pattern. Two of my Friday beading friends offerred to test the instructions for me. Marge's version of the Windsong Earrings in green is first. Ann's in blues is second. I enjoyed seeing their color combinations, and how different color choices result in different earrings. I am working on incorporating the changes to the instructions that they suggested. I hope to publish the patten on my esty site: auntiannie.etsy.com later on today!

Sandy's Progress on the Pansy Bracelet

2010-07-10T08:49:00.000-07:00

Sandy has ber bracelet partly done, and I think that she is doing a beautiful job. (Sandy, if you remember, is one of the people I bead with at the Senior Center on Fridays during the summer. ) The bracelet is single stitch peyote. The pattern is not done with a graph or a word chart, and the technique is working well. I'm hoping to create a pattern once the piece is finished.

Sandy and the Pansy Bracelet

2010-06-27T12:13:00.001-07:00

Its summer, and my senior center classes are officially not in session.....but several of the people who took the beading class wanted to continue beading over the summer. Sandy is one of the beaders, and did not have a project for the summer. I took a watercolor painting that my mother had done and matched some of the colors with delica beads. I then came home, drew a band of pansies, scanned the picture and colored it in Photoshop. Sandy is now beading away, and doing an absolutely beautiful job. I can't wait for the finished project!!!

Organizing beads.

2010-05-28T05:23:00.000-07:00

Heather Pyle of the blog My Muse http://aquariart-chocoholic.blogspot.com/ posted a contest with the question How do you organize your supplies? The prize is a fabulous pair of beads.

I work a short note in reply this morning, but wanted to expand on my thoughts.

I've been working for the last few years to find a way to organize my beads. I work primarily with seed beads. At first, I had the seed beads organized by size in plastic boxes. The boxes were labeled with the size, and I kept the boxes in a rolling cart in my work room. This didn't work. Every time I went to complete a project, I had to go through several of the boxes before I hit the size of beads that I needed in the color tone I wanted. The beads were in their original containers - long and short tubes, tic tac boxes etc., and I really couldn't get them to be neat. Last year, I moved everything out of the tubes, etc. that they came in and organized by color. I took the beads out of their original containers and put them in 4mml zip top bags that I labeled with size and supplier. Didn't work. I had to go through each color to find the sizes I needed. I now have my seed beads in hardware store containers that have 8 drawers across and 8 drawers down. The beads are still in their zip top bags that I converted to last year Row one goes vertically by size with size 15 beads in the first row. The horizantal rows are organized by color, white first, with sizes ranging from 15 to six across . Works!!!!! I have two of these bins. They are on a ledge in my work room and I can get at the bins easilyThe rest of the beads, are still being put in zip top bags if I have several - labeled with size and where I purchased the beads. Drops, cubes pearls, crystals and bugles will go in their own bozes. Larger beads and random beads will still be stored by color in large flat fishing tackle boxes. I can pull the tops off of these and line them up so I can see what I have. When things are a bit neater, I will take pictures.

Aphrodite's Smile for the Bride and Bridesmaid

2010-05-26T12:54:00.000-07:00

Summer seems to have arrived early. It is August warm today, over 90 degrees. The Mountain Laurel that is so abundant on our land is about to burst into bloom and carpet the landscape in light pink flowers. The temperature and time of year makes me think of the abundance of Mother Nature and June weddings in all their beauty

A few months ago, I designed a pattern I called Aphrodite's Smile because I thought the design would be perfect for a June Bride. I made a few changes and then created a necklace that I thought would be perfect for the bridesmaids and flower girl. When Artbeads contacted me as a part of their blogging partner program I ordered Swarovski pearls and complementary beads to create the two styles of necklace. The Swarovski pearls can be found here on Artbeads site.
Link: http://www.artbeads.com/swarovski-5810.html

HTML Link: Swarovski pearls
I also had an idea for a necklace for the mother of the bride using my Marguerite pattern.

My major concern when ordering online is ordering beads that will be the same color and finish as I see on my computer screen. I was thrilled when I opened my packages. What I thought would go together well went together perfectly. The soft green of the Swarovksi pearls is creamy and gorgeous and the bridal pearls have just the lightest and most perfect tinge of creamrose.

It took me an evening to stitch up each of the three necklaces shown. The bridal necklace uses the Swarovski pearls I ordered as part of the blogging program. I added rainbow crystal seed beads (TBRD11-994) and a clasp (CLASP18-GP) from Artbeads that blend perfectly with the creamrose pearls. I added TBMT3-457 -3mm Gold-Lustered Green megatamas and - TOHO Bead 3-Cut 12/0 Olive Gold-Lined seed beads TBTC12-C262 to the bridesmaids necklace and the same clasp. The patterns to make these necklaces are on my ETSY site.

Disclaimer: Artbeads.com sometimes sends me products to review on this blog. I am free to choose from designated beads/findings and whatever I choose. I do not receive any compensation from Artbeads and am expected to review their products honestly.

The Muse Missed Her Target Date

2010-05-17T12:47:00.001-07:00

It used to be that I was meticulous about meeting deadlines and dates. I worked writing procedures at an Insurance Company in Hartford and did not miss one deadline in 1 1/2 years. Not one. Since retiring, the days often run in to each other. I have to remind myself what day of the week it is. Some days, the whole day will pass by in a wink. Not that this is bad - but I missed the deadline for "Use the Muse" by a day. In spite of having the time set aside. In spite of having the project almost done.

This time, I made a choice to make something totally for me. Not a really complex item, but something simple and wearable. I used the wooden muse as a setting for a leaf and three trillium. They were created using lacemaking techniques that I learned from a pattern purchased from the immensely talented Cynthia Newcomer Daniel. The neckband uses the beautiful and tiny tiger eye beads and was completed using Russian Spiral. Its sits nicely on the neck. I am happy.

Procrastination

2010-04-29T14:56:00.001-07:00

Last week I was asked to bring some completed necklaces to the Senior Center tomorrow for a potential birthday present for one of the staff - "nothing too fancy". I decided at the last minute to make one of my Margeurite necklaces in neutral colors. I love making this necklace. It incorporates small beaded beads that are created as you string your beads, rather than making the beads individually and tying off the threads. The necklace takes about 1 1/2 hours to make. The pattern is available on my ETSY site: auntieannie.etsy.com

Honey Chicken

2010-04-25T07:11:00.000-07:00

I don't cook as much as I used to. Part of the problem is the fact that I like my own cooking too much. The other part of the problem is - I like my own cooking too much. But, one of my nieces is interested in cooking, and I thought my blog would be a great way to share some of the family favorites. I made Honey chicken with my neighbor Celeste yesterday. The sauce is easy to put together and includes ingredients likely (for me at least) to be on hand.

Sauce:
4 TBSP butter
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup prepared mustard
1 tsp salt
t tsp curry powder

Combine above ingredients and Melt sauce in a saucepan

The original recipe, which I used, called for boneless breast of chicken. You preheat your over to 375, roll the chicken in the sauce and throw it in the oven for an hour until the chicken is tender and glazed. The sauce is ample enough for 10 servings. To shorten the time for this recipe, I've pounded my breasts thin and sauteed them with cooking spray or grilled them in a George Foremen, then poured the sauce on top. Sometime I will try refrigerating the sauce, stirring well, and putting a tablespoon of the sauce under the chicken's skin. I may try making stips out of the uncooked breast, rolling in the sauce, then rolling in panko bread crumbs for chicken fingers......

Aphrodite's Smile

2010-03-23T09:49:00.001-07:00

I spent most of the weekend working on a new design to teach this Friday. Its a quick pattern, and I am seeing it in pearls and in cream colors for the bride, and in the palest of pearls for the bridal party. There are 3 variations of the design, and I plan on publishing the pattern in the next few days to my ETSY site: auntieannie.etsy.com.

Tutorial: No Headpin, No problem. Using Fireline to make a pair of earrings

2010-03-16T11:08:00.000-07:00

Earring instructions normally specify that you use headpins and wire working tools. I’ve found that you can make simple earrings using your needle and Fireline!

What you’ll need:
Fireline Thread 6 lb
Beading Needles - I usually use size 11 or 12
Beads of choice (I used turqoise chips and nuggets, sterling nugget beads, bali silver beads and bali silver earwires and thread guards for the sample.
thread guards (item # H20-4050FY in Fire Mountain catalog
Something to bead on (beading mat)
Scissors
Good lighting

1. Cut a two foot length of Fireline and place a needle of both ends of the thread
2. Center a bead on the thread. The bead should be large enough so that it will not slip through the hole of the next bead that you use.

3. Place your two needles together and slip the remaining beads on your thread.

4. Using your right needle, thread through the right side of your thread guard. Use your left needle to thread through the left side of you thread guard. If you don’t have a thread guard, thread 4 size 11o seed beads on each needle.

5. Tie a square knot, and pass both threads down the length of your earring. Make some half hitches if you can and trim closely.

6. Attach your earring finding.

7. Repeat for a second earring.

Beaded Fishy?

2010-03-14T08:30:00.001-07:00

Have you ever been in one of those mellow moods where you are ready and happy to try something new? At a recent meeting of the Granby Artist's Association, fish to benefit the Farmington Valley Watershed Association (FVWA) were offered to members to paint. The fish would then be autioned off to benefit the FVWA. As soon as I got mine, one of my friends said "Oh Anne, you will have to bead yours!" I knew that to bead it sculpturally would take a few hundred hours, so I thought I would try beads and glue...After I started gluing the beads on, I thought that I should have underpainted the fish first.....so I bought some glitter....and glued the glitter on after the beads were glued down. Impatient to see the fish before the glue dried, I took hairdryer to it. The glitter flew everywhere - in my hair, up my nose, all over my clothers....Ah well. The fish was finally modpodged to seal the glitter, and here is a picture, in all its fishy glory. Now he(or she) just needs a name. Sparkle Plenty, Liberace Fishy? Haven't decided yet.

ArtBeads Giveaway ends tomorrow

2010-03-03T08:06:00.000-08:00

Don't miss art beads giveaway, which ends on March forth. Its a wonderful place to shop. Its a $1000 shopping spree. Oh, think of the beads you could receive!!!

Homage to Horace R. Goodhue and Ruby

2010-02-21T13:47:00.000-08:00

Indian Bead-Weaving Patterns. Its not a very big book, only 80 pages long. The last update was 1989. None of the pictures are in color, and all the diagrams are handwritten. There is a photograph of Horace, the author, in the front of the book. He's 78, tall and lean, dressed in buckskin in the Delaware Style at a Narragansett Tribal Gathering. It is still one of my favorite beading books, in part for the lack of detail and the lack of color. When you follow a pattern its like finding a treasure; you never know exactly what you are going to get until the beading is done.

In the back of the book there is an essay on beads that helps me to understand why I bead. It tells me that the Obiibwa name for seed beads is Manido Minensug, meaning "god's little berries". I also found out that the word bead comes from the Middle English word "bede" meaning to pray.

So when a woman on one of the Yahoo groups wanted to know what stitch was used in a picture of a necklace on Ruby's beadwork page I went to Horace's book and found the pattern for circle bar daisy chain, and stitched up a quick necklace. I thanked Horace for all the work that he did documenting and recreating the native beading patterns. And I thanked Ruby for her use of color and design when interpreting these traditional patterns you can see her necklace here labeled gold and silver necklace :http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/245633

Driving Miss Daisy

2010-02-03T11:48:00.000-08:00

Another class project for my group of beaders at the senior center. This pattern was developed for students that had gone through the class once. Its now been made in plums, in pinks, in blues, in reds & golds, and in black, grey and taupe.

Donut with curved bail

2010-01-30T06:46:00.000-08:00

Every Friday I bead with several of the women who took my beading class at the Senior Center. I look forward to this time and getting together. I don't really teach - I do problem solve with them and we all get a chance to bead. A few weeks ago one of the women asked my about gemstone donuts. I have a stash of them, and always wanted to play with creating a bail for them. This is what I came up with - its a work in progress. I like the curve of the bail and the way it follows the shape of the donut. I plan on finishing it this weekend - so wish me some beading time.

Marguerite by Day and Night

2010-01-17T11:58:00.000-08:00

Well, I finished updating the pattern I talked about in my post yesterday. I found 101 other things to do in between, so it took me hours to complete. The picture shows all the samples that I have created to date. Meanwhile, I started on another idea in Friday's "drop in and bead" session at the Senior Center. My sample is coming along really well. I'm excited and can feel a new pattern in the works!

Goals for 2010 and Margeurite by Day or Night

2010-01-16T07:29:00.000-08:00

I finally dipped my toes in to the wonderful world of ETSY and published my first pattern. I really don't know why I procrastinate so much???? I'm working on getting the second pattern fine tuned and put on ETSY. I sold all three necklaces that are pictured at a Christmas Show in Connecticut and ended up working up more samples. The women in my class have made several of these necklaces, so the pattern has been tested and works well for a beginning beader. My husband stopped by and thought one of them could be masculine - which I think is his code that he wanted one...so I made another sample for him. And of course the samples had to be made out of supplies that anyone could obtain easily. Maybe this is not procrastination, but a never ending quest to do what I do a bit better? In any event, this will be pattern #2 for ETSY

Moroccan Fan Earrings

2010-01-09T10:59:00.000-08:00

The Moroccan Fan earrings first came in to being in 2008 when I designed a pair of earrings using 7mm and 4mm glass beads. They reminded me of the beautiful fretwork on buildings in Morocco. After making a few pairs, I wondered what would happen if I turned the earrings up side down and added a drop for a fancier earring. As soon as a “flipped” the earring it was transformed from an every day earring in to an elegant night on the town earring.

I wanted to work up the earring and offer the design in a pattern that would use materials that beaders could locate easily, I went to artbeads.com, where I knew I could order just the amount of supplies I needed for the earrings. I chose Swarovski crystals and pearls, and was delighted with my package when it came in the mail in less than a week. Then, to add to my joy, Artbeads invited me to become a member of their blogging community, and I was able to order more beads for another version of the earrings.

I was delighted with how well my color choices worked, and how easy it is to order from the site, and to find compatible colors using a description, such as Montana, in the search field. The first picture shows the earrings I made from the Swarovski crytals and pearls that I ordered from artbeads, as well as two pair of earrings that I made by going through my "stash" of beads.

The single pair of earrings you see in the second picture highlights the earrings that were made using materials I ordered as part of the blogging program. I used swarovski crystal, olivine cz pendants, tarnished silver delica beads, and montana blue crystal ab beads. I love the ear wires, sterling silver shield back earrings, and plan on ordering more.
You can find the specific supplies at Artbeads: Link: http://www.artbeads.com/glass-beads.html

If you are interested in the pattern, you can find it on my ETSY shop:http://www.etsy.com/shop/AuntieAnnie

All the materials for the Olivine and Montana Sapphire Moroccan Fan earrings (except thread and needles) were provided by Artbeads.com, as part of their blogging program. The author of this blog has not received any payment from above-mentioned company. The information in this post is my opinion of the materials offerred.

Away for Awhile

2009-11-09T09:10:00.001-08:00

I had no idea that I had not posted in my blog in so long. Its been a time of transition for me and I make changes to my daily pattern of life and living - small steps, but good ones. I'm going to have to put a schedule together so I make sure I don't let too much time go by between posts. I've started another class at the Senior Center. Last Friday we worked on Brick stitch and I worked up a quick bracelet and pair of earrings for class samples

UFO Rescue

2009-08-14T12:05:00.000-07:00

What is a UFO? - well its an Unfinished Object in beader's terminology. I have several drawers and working boxes full of UFOs. A UFO can be something I was not super happy with, or something that is taking hours and hours worth of beading, and I just have not had the fortitude to continue with the project. Today I rescued a UFO and I'm pretty happy with it. The UFO in question started life as a pendant, but when I beaded rows of peyote around the bead, the center bead twisted and turned. I've solved the problem since, but I kept my original. I liked the colors and the herringbone shape that extended around the bead.

The UFO has found new life as an applique on a bag. The bag came to my mom as a freebie from AARP. Of course it had AARP initials on the front of the bag. I used some tacky tape to hold my UFO in place and appliqued it onto a piece of ultrasuede. The ultrasuede was appliqued on to the bag. I now have a small bag that will fit around my waist and will hold essentials (keys, pen, etc) for my trip to Kripalu this coming Sunday!

Kripalu and Use the Muse

2009-07-23T06:02:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a beautiful, sunny day in Connecticut. For those of you who do not know, we have been having a rainy summer in New England. The country side is lush and verdant from all the rain, but the sky is often misty, grey and cloudy. We have had thunderstorms and lightning and heavy rain that has beaten a constant percussion of timpani against our rooftops. So we need to take advantage of the beautiful, warm sunny days.

I picked up Mom at 10:30 and we drove to the Bershires, to the Kripalu Yoga Institute. After a wrong turn and a trip through downtown Springfield we drove through Lenox Mass and up the winding driveway to Kripalu. The approach to Kripalu is beautiful, with huge trees lining the driveway and gardens full of lilies and other blooming summer perennials. People were walking, biking, and sitting and chatting as we approached. There is a tremendous atmosphere of peace and quiet and you enter the building. Mom and I had lunch in the cafeteria - tempeh chili burgers, which were delicious, salad full of herbs, and mint tea. We stopped at the bookstore and I bought the Kripalu cookbook an Eckhardt Tolle CD (Finding Your Life's Purpose) and two other CDs - Ultra Metabolism and Ultra-Prevention. And I hope to go back in the middle of August for a five day retreat. :-)

I wore my Use the Muse necklace and received many compliments on it. I was happy to have finished it. It is a variation of an old familiar design that I have done before. (I can't show the muse yet)

Creative Beading Volume IV

2009-07-12T08:12:00.000-07:00

We actually had another sunny, beautiful day yesterday. My sister-in-law, Judi Dixon and I went to Hillcrest Museum on a butterfly walk, shopped a bit at Design Forum in Farmington (yes, another frog), ate lunch at the Copper Mill Bistro (outstanding).

I came home to a box with a book : "Creative Beading Volume IV" and a thank you note from their editor. My design for a three-tiered necklace was included! The necklace shown is in browns and plums and belongs to my sister Rachel

Hoopla 2

2009-06-23T07:35:00.000-07:00

This is the second version of the hoops - a variation on a theme. They measure an inch in diameter.

I'm on to working up new samples of the third variation.

Hoopla

2009-06-21T09:25:00.001-07:00

I've been making these earrings, and a few variations on them, for close to two years now, and am in the process of writing instructions. And...then I think I will finally dip my toes into Etsy and see what happens.

The trouble (or good thing) about these earrings is that they never seem to stay around for very long. If they are are my work table and a niece happens to come along they go home with a happy recipient, and I know that I have given my nieces something they like :-)

Hoops petite coming next.

A Beautiful Day

2009-05-23T04:49:00.000-07:00

Every once in a while a day comes along where everything seems to turn out absolutely right. For me, Thursday was that type of day.

My Mom got a digital camera from my sister for her 90th birthday. We've been taking baby steps as she gets used to it: (a) turn it on (b) look at the mini screen to see what your picture is going to look like (c) push the button for a picture...and on. We took a picture of the pansies in the front of her apartment. Then went to Target, then lunch and back home. I am so greatful for the companiable times we share together.

Home to find the bathing suit I had ordered from Lands End. It fit, which at my size and age is all I ask for!!!!

I went to a meeting at six, full of friends and a wonderful discussion

Later my husband came home, full of happiness from a wonderful discussion at the meeting he had attended.

The weather was beautiful, the cats behaved, all in all a pretty nice day!!! The necklace at the top of this post has happy colors in it. Its made using just one strand of Fireline, and no clasp...so it goes on quickly and you are out the dooe!

What Inspires You?

2009-05-22T04:01:00.001-07:00

I live in Granby Connecticut. Granby is a small town in Northern Connecticut, in the foothills of the Berkshires. The landscape is stitched with rock walls, put in place by early farmers, and gently rolling hills that are colored in muted greens as Spring makes its way for summer weather and brighter shades.

I am lucky enough to belong to Granby Artists Association, a group of about 35 artists in a variety of mediums. Last night we talked about what inspires us. We brought food and wine, and items that inspire. It was a wonderful discussion. Things brought: a beautiful bowl with warm glazes that moved in circles, pictures of glass sculptures that showed the amazing characteristics and tranformative abilities of glass, and a strange doohickey that no one knew the purpose of...

And of course we talked about what inspires us: color, gardening, light, the tactile experience of carving or potting. We talked about time wasters, the economy, blogging, whay people expect artists to work for free, inspirational quotes, who moved my cheese.....and more. A wonderful two hours.

I've included a picture of a bracelet I made last year as my entry in to what inspires me. Its a bracelet done in random right angle weave, inspired by Nanc Meinhardts Izzy and Lucy bracelet....and also inspired by those wonderful rock walls that stitch the landscape here.

Color Play & Pattern Play

2009-04-18T04:50:00.000-07:00

Have you ever brought a piece of fabric to the bead store to help you pick out beads for a design? Have you ever wanted to play with variations of a stitch and combine them into a cohesive piece? I picked one of my favorite pieces of fabric, a beautiful piece of celadon green with oriental symbols and brought it with me to a local bead store. I picked the beads, then played with spiral weave, and this is the result. The necklace is both a study in pushing color, and pushing pattern. I still need to write up the pattern, but that will wait until after Mom's birthday party

What my students did

2009-04-17T06:38:00.000-07:00

I've been a bit busy lately. My Mom turns 90 and there is a party in the works. My class of students finished last week, complete with diplomas and and show and tell of the items they had finished during the eight-week class. Here are finished projects from two of the students. Classy, I think. Makes me feel so good to see the creativity and style.

Family Fun Day

2009-04-03T08:26:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday was full of fun and hectic activity. Over 300 people attended a Family Fun Day at Holcomb Farm in West Granby Connecticut. They tried to make paper and fabric beads, brangles, watercolor, oil painting, weaving, and cartooning. Teachers were from Granby Artists Association, and I taught the fabric beads session. It was great fun to see hands of all ages make a bead with fabric wrapped in yarn and strung with wire.

More classes

2009-03-23T10:17:00.000-07:00

I'm still working on classes at the local senior center. This class has been a bit different than the first, but they have both been fun. This group finishes their projects between classes, the last class only beaded in class. I am working on a write up for right angle weave tomorrow. I did the necklace pictured, and I am working on one right now that is in black, lime green and turquoise for a more informal look. Only three classes to go, and the eight-week session will be complete

Browns

2009-02-19T05:53:00.000-08:00

It snowed again yesterday. Today it is warm enough so that the snow and detritus is melting and hitting the skylights in clinks and clanks . Tuesday's class went well, and I have a nice group of students. I wondered how things would go with both new and returning students, but it was just fine. The new students listened, and the returning students got right in to their projects. This week was learning how to string. Next week we will do chains, then peyote, then brick. I taught brick medallions last time, so this time I put together a simple bracelet in brick stitch. Seems I am working with browns and golds lately. The necklace I should finish today is in the same color tones.

Getting Ready for Class

2009-02-15T13:30:00.000-08:00

I'm getting ready for my first class - a new session at the Senior Center in Granby. Because I have three new students and five returning students, I decided to add eight new projects, or one for each week of class. Week I is basic stringing and color, and there are actually three new classes. This is one of the projects, a continuous necklace with three strands of beads. A bit different for those returning to class

2009-01-28T10:34:00.000-08:00

Its been snowing in New England today, followed by a light and steady rain. At 24 degrees out, the rain will form a sheet of ice that will make for fun traveling. I'm trying not to dwell on travel because I don't need to go out today. I've finished a write up for my senior center class, and will be including instructions for three pair of earrings in the class. These earrings all start the same, but have variations in the way they are completed so you have three different styles of earrings from the same basic design.

Sets of Metallic Beads

2009-01-17T14:46:00.000-08:00

It took me quite a while to build a collection of metal tone beads. I use them in the majority or items I make. This means that when I've finished a necklace or bracelet I can coordinate the item with gold or silver jewelry. I’ve tried to collect coordinating sets of beads in size 15o, 11o, 8o, and delicas. Makes and sizes and where I purchased the beads follow:

Bright gold
15o – Toho 15o #557 www.beadseast.com
Size 11o – www.shipwreckbeads.com 11SB851
Delica DB 410 – www.beadseast.com
Size 8o – Toho 8o #559 – www.beadseast.com

Bronze
Size 15o – Metallic Antique Gold SDB-15-4570 www.beadinpath.com
Size 110 Toho #11 221 www.beadseast.com
Delica DB- 22 firemountaingems.com
Size 80 – Miyuki #457 www.beadseast.com

Bright Silver
Size 15o – Galvanized Metallic Hex beads SDB15-470Hex – www.beadinpath.com
Size 11o - 11SB – 812 www.Shipwreckbeads.com
Delica – DB 035 www.beadseast.com
Size 8o 8SB812 –metallic silver www.shipwreckbeads.com or
Galvanized metallic silver SDB8-470

Silver lined grey beads
Size 15o – Silver Lined Shadow SDB-15-21 – www.beadinpath.com
Size 11o Silver Lined Grey Japanese Seed beads SDB 11-21 www.beadinpath.com
Delica – DB 048 – www.beadseast.com
Size 8o – SDB8 -21# Silver Lined Gunmetal www.beadinpath.com

Pearl Vine and Peyote Woes

2009-01-14T03:44:00.000-08:00

I'm working on handouts for the next class at the senior center. The class will run for eight weeks, and I am giving them eight new patterns and expanding on some of the initial information I'd given them. I'd designed the pattern for the Pearl Vine almost two years ago, but did not write it up until last week. Its a fun pattern to make and looks elegant when worn.

I'm also struggle with reading a charted peyote pattern. My eyes just don't seem to want to pick up the correct rows across the page. Very frustrating and today I'll start my forth attempt at the pattern. I have an idea for a way to make it easier to read. It it works, you will hear me shouting with joy.

Beader's Chatelaine and Getting Organized

2009-01-11T09:35:00.000-08:00

Its quiet here today. A few inches of snow fell last night and we were just plowed. Its beautiful, but I am getting tired of winter and its only January.

I just ordered 1000 plastic bags so that I can organize all my beads. I've been thinking about doing this for awhile. The containers that I have are an amazing assortment of sizes and shapes, and although they are organized by size, I would like them to be a little neater. My treat to myself when done will be to go to Beads East in Manchester to fill in sizes and colors. I have a gift certificate that I earned when I won honorable mention at Beads East for their annual contest. I'm a wee bit embarassed to go in. My husband stood in front of the entries and announced that they were the ugliest pieces of beadwork he had ever seen! The colors and beads were challenging to work with.....but.

Anyway, my honorable mention was for a chatelaine that I can use to hold scissors, needle, a scoop and my tape measure. All things that I keep on hand all the time. Here is a picture of the chatelaine

A New Year

2009-01-10T10:49:00.000-08:00

Well this was easier then I thought. I spent the morning working on a newsletter for an Association that I belong to, and the rest of the day is devoted to working on a handout for a class at the Senior Center in Granby Ct. I taught my first class in beading to women in their 60s - 70s. I almost gave up at the third class, but by the end I was hooked on teaching. I think I have hooked a few of them on beading too, six of the eight have signed up for the next class. I was totally enchanted by the beautiful things these women created after they got going, and it was pure joy to get to class and see what new things they have worked on. The picture shows the sample designs they were given to work with.