Where I've Been

Where have I been? Basically, right here at home. But I've got my own studio now, so I've been up there in my little room creating and designing...muhuuhaaaahaaaa!

I've got a beading area, which is basically the same set up as I had before, but it's more streamlined and it has a lot more storage for all of my beads, and now, in addition, I've got an art/sewing center! I've been doing some watercolors and acrylics (no oils yet...I've got carpeting!) and I've done some minor creative sewing projects. Nothing utilitarian yet. It's fun.

So where's the stuff?! Right... Well, I'm not very happy with the quality of the photos I've been taking. I don't think they really show my beads in a favorable light. I have been experimenting and working with different locations and props and lighting and I'm gradually getting to a place where I might be comfortable with the pictures. In the meantime, I will post one picture here that doesn't make me vomit and that should be enough for now.

Another question? When is all this stuff going to be available on etsy? That's going to have to wait until the pictures get good. It should be soon, though. In the meantime, I'm stockpiling a whole bunch of good stuff. :)

Aaaanyway. TTYL.

First BA Guide Post- Shoreline Amphitheatre

OMG, I wish I had a picture. I've been to Shoreline MANY times, it would make sense that I would have a picture, but I don't. My husband and I have seen such awesome names as James Taylor, The Who, Beach Boys, Gwen Stefani, Sheryl Crow and (hello!) John Mayer. Twice. Anywho. Shoreline is located in Mountain View, which is just South of Palo Alto. The actual Amphitheatre is probably called "Shoreline" because it's built on the outskirts of a little marshy slough area right in the South Bay. You will know you are there from a 1/4 of a mile away because you can spot the unmistakeable white tent-like structures that cover the stage. They're kind of Saarinen-esque. There's a picture here at their website (along with information on every upcoming show).

The Shoreline experience, IMHO, can only be experienced one way: on the lawn. I've tried sitting in the seats which line the front rows of the Amphitheatre. I thought, "Heh-heh. Now I'll get to see the artist more close-up!". Wrong. Unless you have front row tickets (lucky you!), buy lawn seats. You get to bring a blanket, some food; you get to stretch out, be comfortable: it's the only way to go. And I can't believe I haven't yet mentioned the Jumbo Screens that project images of the artist on stage! You totally have to arrive at the concert AS SOON AS THE GATES OPEN! Get to the lawn as fast as you can and stake out your bit of land right in front of one of the screens. You may be sitting for hours guarding your blanket, but those hours will be worth it when you're enjoying the best concert of your life. Come on! Bring a book and have a picnic!

Shoreline is a great venue for concerts, and it draws all the big names and festivals. There's also a park attached, if you'd like to come back on a non-concert day and paddleboat on the lake or bike ride. I think there's a doggie park, too. It's a great location in the Bay Area and one well worth checking out.

Look for another Bay Area Guide Posting soon. And you'll definitely see more on Beads!

TTFN.

Oh My!

Well things sure have changed since the ice age (January) when I wrote last. My bead art has evolved yet again and I'm working on vintage necklaces now. I wish I had a picture...in fact, I may have a really *bad* picture, but you would get the idea. I need to get some pics taken of the beautiful stuff I've been doing or else no on will ever see it!

Another thing I wanted to talk about is that my husband and I are considering a move to the East Coast. It would be a big change for us...a big change for me, who's lived in California all her life. But there are benefits. We travel a lot and living on the East Coast makes travel a breeze. Home prices and cost of living are lower in the area we're looking, so that would be great. We're making a trip in April to see how viable the move would be for us. I may do a blog about our trip, so check for that here April 2-5 or 6.

Another thing I 'd like to do is a guide to living in my area, for people who might be relocating. What to expect, what to do, where to go, all that jazz. I'll probably start that up tomorrow.

TTFN.

What I'm Up To

These are some Kumihimo projects I have done in the past week.  They're all variations on a keychain.  They have varying string quantities and the bead placements are different.  In one, I placed a wire in the core so that it could be poseable.  I'm kind of switching off between Kumihimo and Chain Maille this week, I'm doing another Byzantine bracelet, but I'm also experimenting with colors in Kumihimo.  Look for the Byzantine bracelet on Etsy in the next few days (that's a conservative estimate...I should have it done sooner).  And I may list one or two key chains as well.  We'll see.  TTFN.

I've Got Maille

Chain maille. Most people's minds certainly don't associate those two words with beading...Ren Faire, maybe.  :)  But seriously, beading and chain maille go hand in hand and share many of the same nuances.  (Time consumption, endless fiddling, detail and minutiae, need for 3x magnification, use of specialty tools, ---both are an art.)

I'm working on a project right now (in progress, on the left), integrating some beads into the Byzantine chain.  I'm even hoping that the copper begins to patina because I think the greenish tinge will look really beautiful with the rosy beads.  

On the topic of chain maille, at this year's To Bead True Blue in Tucson, AZ, Marilyn Gardiner- a beading and maille teacher in Canada and the US, will be offering several different classes on many different weaves.  I wouldn't give my right arm (I need that to bead!) to go, but I might give a couple of my lesser-used toes.  I almost had my husband convinced, but he turned on me at the last second.   I'll have to keep up with her schedule and see if she might be in the area sometime.  One site that offers a few great classes on chain maille is Beaducation.  They're affordable, too.  I've taken quite a few classes there, and I'm really excited about what I learned.  Finally, probably the best site I've found on the subject of chain maille (in the very short time I've been such a big fan) is Maille Artisans International League.  They don't mess around.  They've got ALL KINDS of information, and basically anything you'd need to know all in one place, plus they are a network of artisans from all over the world, promoting knowledge and growth of chain maille as an art.  

I've definitely caught the maille "bug".  It's an interesting and exciting new thing to work on and it's really fun.  I can't even tell you how much I love to learn new things, and from what I've seen, there is much to learn on this subject!  The weaves themselves can be VERY complicated!

Check back here, and on my etsy page for more of my chain maille projects.  TTFN!

On Songbirds

Henry van Dyke, American author, educator, and clergyman once said, 

"Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang except those that sang best."

What an excellent thing to say.  Words I live by.  If I didn't try new things (and usually fail miserably at them) I would never make it to that next step: mediocrity.  Mediocrity is a place where I don't like to get too comfy, but I find myself there all too often.  And I think that's where Mr. van Dyke has it right.  You've got to "sing"...or create...no matter what the outcome, because there's an inherent beauty in your contribution.  Many of my creations end up in the "Dead Beads" bin.  Occasionally I like to pick through them and acknowledge my failures...it helps me to see where I've been and where I'm going.  The point is, though, that I KEEP the dead beads...each one is important to me and holds value, even though they are for all intents and purposes, useless.  

Of course we're all, as beaders (and as a larger group, as artists), striving for success on every project, but unless you're one of the very lucky (and talented!) you're going to have days of mediocrity just like me.  Fill the woods with song!  Know that you are heard!

Scary Christmas, Everyone!

Can you believe it's already Christmas?

I've been working on some bigger projects in the last few weeks; projects that take more time to complete.  I'm also trolling all my fun beading books for new projects.  I'm kind of on a search for the next cool thing.  

We are on our way today to spend some time with our extended family, which will be a lot of fun.  Getting together with my family always makes for a good time.  I just hope I don't gain any weight...my mom told me she's making a gluten free chocolate coconut cake!

I will find my new project in the next week or so and I will keep you posted on the latest.  It will definitely be something new and different.  TTFN and Merry Christmas.