Paradise Lost

Our family was lucky to escape winter for a few days last week. We made our way to the warm and sunny beaches of Grand Cayman Island. My husband goes for business meetings and we all tag along. My kids were obviously thrilled because they got out of school for a week. I think we all needed the escape. The ever increasing amounts of snow and gray was taking its toll on all of us.

We swam, lounged, and drank virgin daiquiris by the pool. We ate and ate and ate enough for many weeks, but it is hard to resist the wonderful fish and sticky toffee pudding. If you've never tried it, you must. I recommend it paired with vanilla ice cream.

(image from chtiryworld)

(image from bbcgoodfood.com)

I was hoping to share some of my own photos, but my camera decided it wanted to take a dip in the ocean too. So I'm off to buy a new camera this week.

Now that I'm relaxed and refreshed, I'll be starting some new beading projects and will start sharing as soon as I've gotten a new camera.

Yellow Sunflower Cuff

Last weekend I needed a pick me up from all the snow that is now piled up around me.

I've had this beautiful yellow flower cabochon from Lisa Peters Art. This cabochon reminded me of the sunflowers we grow each summer. However, yellow is a really difficult color for me to incorporate into my pieces so this beautiful cabochon has been waiting to be used. I pulled out my trusty color wheel and decided to pair the yellow cabochon with purple. The color combination provided me with that color pick me up.

I decided to embroider the yellow cabochon with bronze seed beads. I wanted to mimic the feel of flower petals so I added the two rows of fringe beads in bronze and rainbow opaque. The centerpiece is attached to a metal cuff that was covered with genuine purple leather. The underside of the cuff is lined with lavender ultrasuede. You can see more pictures of the cuff here.

If you'd like to see more of Lisa's work, you can find more of her lovely beads, buttons, and cabochons here.

Continuing Explorations in Silk

I'm continuing to play with silk soutache braid. Here's my most recent creation. I made these for the Thursday Sweet Treat Weekly Challenge. You can see more pictures of these earrings here. Head on over to Thursday Sweet Treat to see what others made this week.

Etsy BeadWeavers February Challenge

Voting has started at the Etsy BeadWeavers blog. The theme was the ocean, which provided a wealth of creative directions. Obviously, this appealed to many team members because there were an incredible 46 entries. Voting goes until February 15.

My entry was my bead embroidered purse "Bottom of the Ocean". Please take a moment to stop by the blog and enter your vote.

A Few Snow Photos

Just a few photos of our snow adventure the last few days.

Juno swimming in the snow.

The imprint of a bird taking off or landing, not sure which.

The window in the tree house.

One of the apple trees.

A Beading Marathon

On the eve of my 30th birthday, I took up running. As a stay at home mom of two (at the time), I felt like I needed something to focus on, besides the kids and getting the laundry done. I signed up for a 5 K and started training. Fortunately, I have a good friend who was a runner and she provided some good training advice. I was off and running. I carved a little time out every other day to run. It did my mind and body good.

Many years later I still run, sometimes not as much as I'd like. I've run countless 5K races and have now completed two half marathons. What have I learned? Consistency is key and you just have to do it (even when you don't feel like it). Some days the run will be great. You'll feel incredible afterwards. Then, there will be days when it takes every ounce of effort to get your butt out the door and you'll still feel crappy at the end of the run. Fortunately, most of the runs are good and I did feel pretty good afterwards.

I applied these same techniques while working on my bead embroidered purse. Bead a little bit each day and the project didn't seem too overwhelming. But like training for a marathon, you have to listen to your body and mind. There were days when I felt like I'd never complete all the beading. There were days when got into a groove and the beads seem to sew themselves. Sometimes I sat there staring at the piece not knowing direction I was headed. But like running, consistency is the key and I kept at it even when I didn't feel like.

I hope you come take a look at the result of my beading marathon here.

I feel exhausted and proud now that it done. I'll do another purse, but maybe after a few shorter projects. But I will be back and I will do another half marathon in the future too.

Happy beading and running!

Earthy Green Earrings

I just listed these new earrings in my etsy shop.

I've been doing a lot of experimenting with silk soutache trim the last few weeks. I ordered many yards of the trim for an on-line supplier. They had the most beautiful colors.

I love earthy colors especially greens. The trim was a perfect match to these ceramic beads I found.

I have a number of pieces to photograph and post, but here's the first pair. The center is a ceramic bead. Four layers of silk trim surround the bead and curls around two pyrite beads. The earrings are backed in black ultrasuede. You can see more pictures here.

Amoeba or Raindrop? - You be the judge

A couple of months ago I found these great wrap sweaters. I love them and I bought them in three different colors. However I needed a brooch to dress them up and keep them closed if needed. Here's the brooch I made.

The rivoli is an incredible shade of blue/green. While I was beading it, I kept thinking it looked like amoeba especially when I added the fringe. But now when I look at it, it reminds me of a rain drop.

What do you think?

A Few More Hearts

I posted a few more bead embroidered heart pins to my etsy shop today. Please stop by and check them out.

Have a great weekend!

Sharing My Heart with You

Like many others I've been overwhelmed by the holidays and the new year. Blogging wasn't the only thing that wasn't getting done on the list. Now that I feel like my head is above water, I will be trying to get back on the blogging horse.

The last few weeks have been filled with lots of activity on the beading front and I'm excited to start sharing some with all of you.

A friend of mine started this great website for 'tween' girls called iTwixie. iTwixie is the ultimate online hangout for 'tween' girls. They inspire and unite girls ages 8-14 on a site that is safe, age appropriate, and fun. Since I have a 9 year old daughter, I love that she has a safe on-line place to go to interact with other girls her own age and have fun while doing it.

I had talked to my friend last year about developing a project for the site. Finally, after a few starts and stops (on my side), my bead embroidered heart pin project is debuting today on the site.

I hope you'll go check it out and share it with any 'tween' girls in your life. The project can be viewed by anyone. I'm also offering kits in my etsy shop for anyone interested.

A Little Piece of Art on Your Wrist

While preparing for my recent art show, I made a lot of new cuffs. These ones are a little different from the others I usually make. These ones have a beaded centerpiece and then the cuff is covered in ultrasuede.

Here's one that I made using one of my handmade cabochons with an Alphonse Mucha print. You can wear a little piece of art work on your wrist.

You can see more photos here.

Don't forget I'm offering free world wide shipping today through Monday. All items purchased during this time will be shipped on December 1, 2009.

FREE WORLD WIDE SHIPPING

Yep, that season is upon us. So get a jump on your shopping this weekend from the comfort of your home.

I will be offering FREE world wide shipping from my etsy shop between Friday, November 27-Monday, November 30, 2009. All orders placed on these dates will be sent out on December 1, 2009.

I'll be adding new items over the next few days, so stop by often.

If you have a minute come on over to ETSY lots of sellers are offering a variety of special offers. Maybe you'll finish all your holiday shopping by next Monday.

New Cuff

I love these 1/2 inch bead embroidered cuffs. They are perfect for everyday wear and they are lightweight. I just listed a new one at my etsy shop.

I've had these long bugle beads for awhile. I've used some for long fringe on bead woven earrings. I hadn't really tried to use them on any cuffs. They fit perfectly across a 1/2 inch cuff. These bugle beads are twisted and have a beautiful color that is both blue and purple. The texture of these beads provide a lot of interest to a simple cuff. The abalone provides a nice contrast and breaks up the line of beads. The beadwork is attached to a metal cuff and the underside is lined with ultrasuede.

You can see more pictures of the cuff here.

Guess who came to dinner?

Well not dinner (although there were wine and hors d'oeuvres), actually the art bazaar I was participating in this last weekend.

Sherry Serafini, the bead embroidery master herself.

The previous weekend she had invited me to an artisan open house that she was doing. We spent a little time catching up and she wanted to know what I was up to so I invited her to the show. And like that she was there. Her support and encouragement meant the world to me.

If you've never seen her work, you can find her website here. If you have a chance to see her in person (either a class or art show), I highly recommend it. Her classes are great. She shares so much information and is genuinely interested in you. She encourages you to work outside your comfort zone to create something that truly comes from your heart. It is a great experience.

Additionally, she has some really incredibly cool new pieces in her collection. Her neckpieces and purses are show stoppers!

So Sherry, if you are out there. THANK YOU!

Art Bazaar Preview Continues

Here's a few more things I'll have at the Art Bazaar, which starts tonight at 6:00 pm at the Boyd Community Center. You'll find more information here about the event.

This is a pendant made with with one of my handmade cabochons using a print of a Alphonse Mucha illustration.

The second is a pendant using another handmade cabochon of a sea shell print.

Art Bazaar

Sorry folks about my hit and miss blogging the last few weeks. Now that the BIG charity event is over, (as I wipe sweat from my forehead) I've got an art show this weekend. I've been madly beading the last few weeks. I've got most of my ducks in a row for the event and I'm crossing my fingers.

So, if you find yourself in Pittsburgh this weekend, you can find me here this Friday and Saturday. It is the Art Bazaar at the Boyd Community Center. The event is benefiting Art for Autism. Join me and over 30 other local artists and get some holiday shopping done while supporting a great organization.

Here's a sneak peak at a few items I will be selling at the show.

All dressed up and I have a place to go

Tonight is the night. It's finally here. After months of preparation and the last few weeks of coordinating ticket sales and seating, the benefit performance of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular starring the Rockettes for Child Watch of Pittsburgh is here. It is going to be SPECTACULAR. So many people have worked to make this event a huge success. The theater is going to be packed.

I was originally working on the bib necklace to wear to the event, but due to some technical difficulties and lack of time, plan b is going into action.

This past weekend I finished these earrings. These earrings came together so easily. It was like all the parts were meant to be. I just love them. So mama's got a new pair of earrings (and shoes) and ready to hit the town.

Bib Necklace Update

Well, I finished the beading on the necklace last weekend. I made a trip to the bead store to look at chain and decided it just wouldn't do. So instead I bought three strands of pearls, chain and a clasp. I'm thinking that there will be three strands of pearls on each side that meet at the top together at the clasp. I'm going to add some chain to the clasp so that they necklace will be adjustable. Unfortunately, I haven't had time to go back and finish the necklace, but the picture shows how it might look when it is done.

So, what do you think? Did I make the right decision with the pearls?

Stop the train, I want to get off

I've been MIA for awhile because I've been working on this HUGE charity event coming up next week. My job took a lot long than I would have ever expected, but it is a good thing because the event is going to be a tremendous success. However, I will be extremely happy when it is all over so I can back to some normal routine. I think that my kids are starting to think that the phone has been surgically attached to my head. So only 5 days to go and this train will come to a screeching stop!

In the few moments that I haven't been focused on this event, I have been beading. It has been a must for me to find a few minutes here and there to bead. It is my stress relief. (Oh and by the way, I have an art show coming up in two weeks, so beading for business is a must too.)

I've been working on a bib necklace that I may wear to the charity event. It is a dress up occasion so I'll be wearing my usual uniform (black dress pants and black top) so the necklace will take center stage.

Here's what I've got done so far...

I'm thinking that I will attach silk ribbon from the top edges so that the necklace can be adjustable, although I've also had thoughts about using chain.

What do you think ribbon or chain?

Creativity at Any Age

Last week was my youngest daughter's 6th birthday. She decided to have her birthday party at our local "paint your own pottery" place. The age range was 4 - 11. Boy, they were a really creative bunch. Everyone was working so hard that it was actually quiet. The adults could hardly belief that it was a kid's birthday party. It was so much fun to watch the kids working on their pieces. Each of them had a specific idea and were very precise in their work.

The kids made HUGE cups and saucers. Perfect for a huge cup of hot chocolate with whipped cream on top. The adults even got into the fun and made travel coffee mugs. The picture above shows the kid's finished pieces. I can't wait to see them when they are done being fired.