That Special Bracelet

Do you have a favorite piece of beaded jewelry? Something you put on just before you walk out the door? A piece that makes you feel like the person who created it is with you in spirit? I have just that bracelet. I am always telling Heather, I brought you with me today. I am wearing the bracelet you gave me. Her response "hmm which bracelet is that"? (I have a few of them. All of which are my favorites) My other favorite bracelet is the bead embroidery cuff my sister Rosanne made. I am waiting for cooler weather to arrive so I can start wearing it again.

August 2007 Bead Journal Project

I decided I could not start or finish a bead journal page for August. It weighed so heavy on my mind I had nightmares about it. My son once told me cry a river, build a bridge and get over it. Well, I cried that river, I built a bridge but I can not get over it. What is IT? Living in New Orleans Post Katrina. Sharing my birthday August 29th with a devastating event that changed so many lives including mine. The center of my page is an procelian button of an eye. Representing the eye of the storm. In my mind I beaded eye lashes on the top and bottom. Storm are still brewing in the south and a dark cloud hangs over those of us living on the edge. On the edge of trying to rebuild. Living on the edge watching the next storms forming in the Gulf. So for now just like this city of New Orleans my page will be waiting....waiting for a rebuilding.

Hot August Night Etsy Beadweaver Challenge

Hot August Night Treasury on Etsy Midnight on the Bayou Raku Necklace The night brought relief from the hot summer sun on the bayou. The burning sun lay to rest on the water's edge with hues of copper and blue. A raku bead is the focal of this necklace. The beaded crocheted rope meausres 20 inches in length with square raku beads and a copper toggle clasp. The raku bead measures 1 1/4 inches in length. This is my entry for the Etsy Beadweavers Street Team Challenge "Hot August Night" Visit the Etsy Beadweavers blog And place your vote for your favorite entry!

Big Bold and Made to be Noticed

A couple of years ago I was gifted with this gorgeous lamp work pendant for my birthday. The pendant measures 2 3/4 inches in length. It is Rich, bold and a substantial art bead. The colors explode from within and were hard to capture in one of my old picture. The bead required something that would not take away from it's beauty. I crocheted the rope using black 4mm puffy faceted rondells with a hint of bronze on the ends. It adds to the sparkle and gives the rope a vintage look. Tribal Silver bead caps and toggle complete the design. This piece is in my personal collection.

Pictures Verses Scans

A good quality picture makes you want to reach out and touch the beadwork. These are a few pictures I took yesterday. This is the orginal scan. Ouch!!

The Learning Curve

I have been complaining loudly to my daughter and my husband about my camera not taking good pictures. I must admit I am stuck in a time warp. I was not willing to play with all the bells and whistles on my Kodak camera that I have had for 5 years. My birthday is coming up and I just wanted a new camera. For years I have scanned my jewerly on a 3-D HP scanner. I thought I was doing a good job...until tonight. I set up my lights, white background and played with the macro on the camera. What a difference in a picture verses a scan! By taking the time to experiment and learn just what that old camera of mine could do, I produced this detailed picture of the crocheted bracelet I posted about last night. Mardi Gras Baubles Stay tuned. Better pictures of Bead Art are on the way.

Beads and Baubles

Beads and Baubles were on my mind tonight. I love the big bold sparkly of bright shiney beads. I picked these up at the Bead Show this weekend. Size 8 one-cut royal blues, purples and bronze seed beads. These will be made into a necklace to match the bracelet and earrings. I felt like dancing after making this bracelet. I wanted to celebrate another day of being safe from a Hurricane. Everybody needs some beads. Wear these to your Mardi Gras party as you shout "Hey Mister toss me some beads"! I need some to go with these! Thanks for sharing my joy tonight

July Bead Journal Project

Like sand in an hour glass so are the days, weeks and years of my life in New Orleans. Captured in the stone an insect, which reminds me of the dragonflys that have visted me in the month of July. I wonder, will my beadwork be captured and passed down to the life that comes after me. Will that life see the passion I had for creating each piece of Bead Art? Will they feel the love that went into each stitch that sewed my designs together? Will they know how I treasured each friend I have made in my journay into this bead world? *Note* Supplies used: Fossil stone bought at the Gem & Mineral Show 2004. Black onyx and gold stone cabachons from Baldwin Taylor Hardware Store, Jefferson, LA. Steel cut seed beads, marcasite seed beads. The orange beads used as highlights in the stripes are from my sister Rosanne. I tried to tell her I would never use that color when we were sharing beads on my last visit. She knew. She told me take them you will see! Little did I know they would be just what I needed to complete my July page. **Second Note** Can you tell which soaps I watch in the afternoon?

Dragonfly in Progess Part II

This is the progress I have made so far on my July Bead Journal page. I am putting it up for the day. I worked so much on it last I poked holes in the tips of my fingers! How is that for commitment? I was going to blog about it last night but the band-aids on my fingers stopped me. I did not like the bugles on the sides and took them out. On to mondane things. Like putting the dishes away and making the bed. Must not forget to figure out what I am going to fix for dinner. The man of the house will be home soon.

2 Rivoli's Please

It was hot today! How hot was it you say? It was SOooo hot when we drove to Turquoise Coyote this morning we saw birds using potholders to get the worms out of the ground. The mission we chose to accept today was a ride across the swamps to buy Rivoli's. After some fine turning I got my pattern tweaked to perfectly encase these sparkly jewels. Tomorrow a few of the girls from our bead society are getting together for an afternoon of beading. I am hoping they enjoy make a pair of earrings from these beauties. My last brain cells is suffering from so much heat I am going to go give it a rest for the night. Thanks for stopping and taking took.

Dragonfly in Progress

Today I got a few more beads added to my bead journal page. Along with the fossil stone, I have used gold stone, picture jasper heshi beads and black onyx cabachons. Filling in the back ground are twisted bugles, vintage steel cuts, large copper size 6 seed beads and size 11 seed beads. It is 12:28 and the temps are still the 80's. Tomorrow we have a heat advisory. 108 is to hot for Mom and beast. I worry about taking Cricket out in it. We won't be getting a Schnauzer cut but rather a summer-do at Bark Avenue. My poor baby is having a lot of skin problems. Tomorrow when I pick him up he will only have a beard left. We are going through the routine of trying to figure out the cause. We are on our second round of antibotics and steroids and eating prescription dog food. After 8 weeks if it does not stayed cleared up he will go through allergy tests. I hate to think it could be the enviroment we live in after Hurricane Katrina causing the problems. Cricket hasn't had much gumption to play these last couple of days. I find that very sad.

A Dragonfly has landed in NOLA

This afternoon a package arrived in the mail. My sister told me yesterday she sent some things. Wrapped up safe and sound was a wooden bead with a dragonfly carved into it. It's a sign! I am on the right track with July BJP. I held my dragonfly bead in my hand and made a wish. Maybe I will get to go home soon and have some bead time with my sister.