I'm back

Yeah, just a bit of a break. Think of it as a gestation period and that I've come into the world again. Not much has been happening art wise. Most of my time has been spent driving back and forth to my Mom's house and packing boxes and boxes and boxes of stuff. I can finally say that the house sold, it is all cleaned out and my garage is FULL of furniture and, yeah you guessed it, boxes.

Now comes the the fun part of incorporating all that stuff into the house. I will most likely be working on this until the first of the year. There is major house re-organization to do and that also includes the basement. This is my only creative endeavor until I can get it all done.

Art has been put on hold. Which bothers me, because I wanted to take part in the current Use the Muse Challenge. But my Muse has run off with the Use the Muse and they are partying somewhere in the south of France. Although the postcards are lovely.

I'm at the point now when I look at it all and just wonder where to start. I'll be like the tortoise, slow and steady wins the race. And if all else fails, I'll call my friend, Jennifer, a professional organizer, to help me get out of this mess. ;)

Half way point with BJP

Ahhh,six pages down and six to go. I have the dowel that holds the pages hanging off the bookshelf in my bedroom. I think these are looking great and I can't wait for the other six to join them!

Not all hearts are red

Here is the page for my Bead Journal Project for February.

February was named for the Roman goddess Februa, mother of Mars. She is the patroness of the passion of love. The birthstone of the month is amethyst.

When I decided to bead a heart for this month I didn't want to do the prerequisite red and so picked purple, not knowing about the birthstone. Isn't serendipity a wonderful thing? I needle felted the heart, a bit off center, with a lovely purple wool roving and then beaded around it with size 8 seed beads and clear flower beads.

After I did this heart, I got out some more of the cleaned respirator filters (20) and needle felted hearts on them. I think they will make fun brooches for some of my summer shows this year.

Snowflakes at BJP

Snowflake Ok, so it's only one snowflake, but it's a big 'un! For this month's page I had a hard time thinking up a theme. Then is snowed again. Well, duh! What else. Snow in winter, what a novel idea!

I had started a beaded bead earlier in the week and wasn't quite happy with it, so I took my little piece of flat, round peyote stitch and used it as a centerpiece for my page. I didn't have a plan and scrounged around for beads for each round. I left quite a bit of the background unbeaded to give it an airy feel. Then finished it off with a 3-bead edge and the peyote stitch hanger.

It was my first time at the "Hunt and Bead" method of working a piece. I had fun and got exercise at the same time. Usually, I have an idea of what I'm going to do in my head and I try to gather up my materials for the project I'll be working on. (see post below) This time both the page and my brain were blank. Hey....be nice. ;) I think it worked well.

How a necklace begins

This necklace started out in my head as a very simple design that used black velveteen beads and the leopard pendant. I decided to take a few steps out of the simple box and make a fringed necklace out of them. I had purchased these pieces in early December and decided recently to work with them.
Copper is one of my favorite colors for beading and this copper colored leopard was there just asking me to buy him. How could I say no? The large black beads were hanging close by and I HAD to have these soft and fuzzy beads to go with my leopard.

After setting these two elements out, I searched through my bead desk and my studio for just the right combinations of beads. I still need some 12mm or 10mm black glass beads for the necklace part of this fringed necklace.

This is also serendipity. My guild's Spring Theme Show this year is "Story Time". We will have a short paragraph from the story depicted by our art. "How the leopard got his spots" by Rudyard Kipling, is the story that will accompany this necklace. I didn't know about the theme until last week. I love it when things like that happen.

Can you see the necklace in the various elements of this design?

December BJP

I was just over at the Bead Journal Project to tell everyone I had my page done. But, I forgot to get it up here! So now it is.

I call this page "Silent Night, White Night". We had very powerful snowstorms, for this area, and the worst weather in about 40 years. Up here, we had 22" of snow with a light glazing of freezing rain and another layer of snow on top. It was white. Very white. One night I took the cat out and the moon was peaking through the clouds. It was beautiful and extremely bright. That gave me the idea for my page. The trees are brickstitch with straight stitch trunks and the moon is a flat wooden bead that I "encased" in silver-lined seed beads.

I wanted to add one of my wisdom teeth to it, but can't seem to find my stash of body parts. As it is, the page tells the story of the end of December for me. But, when I do find those teeth, I will sew one on.

Catching Up

My last post was Friday night, December 19th. It was snowing and beginning to pile up. We were well provisioned for the coming storms and I had my projects ready to work on while we were snowed in. I even had projects ready when the power went out! Saturday came the twinge, then Sunday, Solstice, came the pain. One of my molars was becoming abscessed. There was no way to get out and even if I could, it was Christmas week AND all the dentists were snowed in, too. I ended up sleeping through most of the week and taking aspirin for the pain. Christmas morning was a relief. I got one of the best gifts ever, the major pain stopped, just the annoying background pain hung on. That was bearable under the circumstances. I called my doctor on Friday to have him call in a prescription at my local drug store, but I couldn't get out. We tried and got stuck half way up our road. After digging out and working the truck back and forth for about 20 minutes we finally got up to the main road and found it hadn't been plowed. So, we turned around and went home.

We finally got out on Sunday. I was able to get my antibotics and some food for the coming floods. (We certainly had a "fun" Christmas/New Years holiday.) Tuesday was the dentist appointment where I learned that one of my root canals went bad and I needed to have it re-rooted. WHAT? I've never heard of that before! Off to the specialist and more appointments. This actually happens more than we would like to know. This Friday, I get back to my regular dentist and have the temporary filling drilled out and a new cap on my gold crown. It's nice to be without pain in my face. I certainly don't want that again!

What a way to start the new year. Hopefully this is all the major doctor/dentist things I have to put up with this year.

So.....did I get all those projects done or even started? Not a chance. I worked sporadically on my December Nature Gathered piece. I didn't even start my December Bead Journal Project until after New Year's. I'm running about a month behind on that one, but am up to date on the Nature Gathered work.

November BJP

Three Goddesses

I've had this piece done for weeks and completely forgot to upload it to my blog. I guess I got into the thought process that since is was done that's all I had to do. Duh! I was very busy at that time with getting ready for a large show and having enough jewelry and art for it.

When I started looking at the month, November, I went to my Pagan Book of Days by Nigel Pennick, to get an idea. I read down the page a bit, describing the month and what it held, and thought I could do a Moon month page. Then I read farther and saw that November "is sacred to the Mothers, the three goddesses that personify the triple goddess of girl, mother, and old woman, particularly in her third aspect. Its sacred color is red." That worked for me.

I went through my stash and found three faces that would signify the Mother, Maiden and the Crone. I divided them up in a not so even way, (not everything in life is fair), and put the Crone at the top. Each goddess has her color, white for the Maid, black for the Mother and red for the Crone. Each is surrounded by her "color" in a separate bead stitch, with a silver background and a red border.

As the days darkened while I could find the time to work on my page, I was able to acknowledge the Crone in myself. Persephone sleeps and my creativity slows down, waiting for the first green sprouts of Spring.

Busy Hands.....

Zebra Bead Necklace with handmade bead pendant
Zebra Bead Necklace with black and silver beads and black facted glass beads
Antiqued Silver Necklace in various bead designs
Chinese Turquoise and Coral Necklace These are a few of the necklaces I've been busy working on in the past few weeks. Yep, I'm having fun with my beads! While working on one necklace I come up with other ideas for more necklaces and it seems my mind is busier than my hands can keep up. Now I have to come up with a way to display my work for the Open Doors Show. I don't want to use the same thing as I did last year. Hmmmm, I'll have to do a trial set up in the garage. I'll take pics to show what it will look like.

Last Monday, my friend Diane went in for surgery for her cancer. After a number of chemo treatments we all thought the tumor was shrunken enough to cut it out and have no more problems. Well....come to find out, the chemo had destroyed it completely and there is NO sign of it anywhere! To ensure the there would be no "female" problems later in life, the surgeon performed a hysterectomy, a procedure that was discussed with Diane before the first surgery. She is doing VERY well and sounded clear and happy and relieved. I was not able to go see her while she was here because of a cold I have. grrrr This is what I get for going out and being sociable the week before. But, I'm so GLAD everything came out great! She still has two more chemo treatments before the end of the year and then she gets to grow her hair back!

Crystals and more

I've been rather busy this past week. I had fun playing with more of my crystals and created this necklace,got about 30 pairs of earrings done and had a challenge with the October theme for my 8 x 8 challenge. You can see what I did for it here: Natured Gathered

Now I have to finish up my November page for the Bead Journal Project and get some more little things done for the Portland Art Collective show. Don't forget to periodically check on our blog to see some great art and further information regarding the Open Doors Show Portland Art Collective

Fire and Wind

Here are the two necklaces that I finally came up with for the
Earth, Wind, Fire, Water show in Gresham. Take in is tomorrow and runs until December 11th. Each one of these necklaces has been reworked, restarted in different forms and changed from the original ideas I had for them. I'm happy with the way they turned out and hope that everyone at the show will be too.

The Tao Speaks

While cleaning out things I came across my Pocket Edition of the Tao te Ching. I opened the book at a quite appropriate page relating to the past few weeks.

Chapter 75
"When taxes are too high,
people go hungry.
When the government is too intrusive,
people lose their spirit.

Act for the people's benefit.
Trust them; leave them alone."

Stephen Mitchell, Tao te Ching, 1988

Dreamweaver

This is my Dreamweaver. I purchased the face about 12 years ago and had this basic idea for using him. Originally I was going to use red beads in a rectangular frame, but that changed. I like the round frame and the black beads work better. The frame measures 16" in circumference and it is all bead embroidered. It took me over 300 hours to do and don't even ask me how many beads I used.

The piece is about color, texture and movement. Even though the beads cover most of the surface, you can still see some color underneath. That represents those strange dreams just under the surface. The mirror is the Void, the place we don't want to see and from which things come forth into our nightmares. The doll's hand is there because I like it and it creeps out some people. hehehe

I have put in some fun things in the background to try to find. A squirrel, a flower, a snake and a zen garden. I want to add more embellishment to the beads around the face, but that is a future project....and you know how that always goes. ;)

October Page - Bead Journal Project

Autumn is my favorite time of year and Halloween is my favorite holiday. Here is my page for this month. I made this pumpkin as a sample for a class years ago and when cleaning up, I found it. It sat on my table for about a week before I even considered it for this month's page. Added the moon and cat for the right atmosphere and lots of black beads, of course. The drop beads in the edging represent the colors of autumn and the falling leaves. The spider is there because this is the time of year that they spin and spin those beautiful webs. (I have this HUGE web on the outside of my front window and enjoyed watching the resident spider spin it up.) While beading this page, I remembered the fun times I had during the many Halloweens of my childhood.
Happy October, everyone!

Cleaning House

Haven't done much art lately. I've been playing catch up on getting the house clean and organized. The garage workshop is almost done. I got the big table up from the basement this week and already I have stuff all over it. I still have to get the frig move over to the other side of the garage and the rest of the flat surfaces moved to where the frig now sits. The spiders are moving in so this is going to be slow and icky. I don't mind the spiders, I just don't want to get bit. I try to capture them and put them somewhere else so they will get those nasty flying bugs before they fly in the house. It rained today and I saw the most beautiful web full of rain drops in the tree out front.

Fall is here, Happy Equinox, but has been here all week. Last weekend it was in the 90's and this weekend, we didn't even get up to 60 degrees. A good weekend for organizing or art or all the other things I didn't do. I did go through some old Somerset Studios to find some ideas for up coming challenges. Got some great ones and will start on them this week.

Oh...cute story tonight...I went out in the garage to let the cat out and found a water dog (mud puppy) hauling tail across the floor. Got him captured and moved out to the tool shed. There is no water source close, so how do these guys get up here? And why? They must like me, this makes three in the past couple of years.

I wish everyone a Fabulous Fall Season and a plentiful Harvest, if you garden. This is my favorite time of the year!

Stones of the Earth

Here is a new necklace that I've been working on the past couple days. It is made with three unakite rectangles, three rhodonite donuts, square crystals and chain. You can't see the smaller two donuts here, they are on the back side close to the clasp. It sits nicely around the neck and drapes down to end in three crystal dangles.

This piece has been made for the upcoming theme show in Gresham, Earth, Wind, Fire & Water. I already have a Water necklace done. That one was from The Sea show earlier this year. Now I have to figure out how to bead Wind. That one is going to be a toughie. Fire is easy and fun to bead. I have all the necessary colors and don't have to buy any new beads. Oh boo hoo, no bead shopping.

Portland Art Collective

My art group is expanding our footprint and adding a blog. This will keep those who are interested in our show up to date on the artists and the work that we plan on selling. The show is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, December 5 and 6 at the Multnomah Art Center in Portland, Oregon.

More info will be forthcoming on the PAC blog in the near future. Stay tuned.

BJP September 08

So...with all the cancer coming into my life through family and friends, my bead journal page reflects how I'm feeling about the Big "C". The buttons represent the normal blood cells flowing in a "clean" stream down the arteries, veins and capillaries. The big C is the cancer cell that is messing everything up.

My journal pages will be beaded on recycled respirator filters. They have been washed and dried, at least twice, and I have 12 that are approximately all the same size. I hadn't planned on how I would display them until I finished this first one. I decided to add a beaded loop and hang them on a dowel. Each one will be signed and dated on the back. This is going to be an interesting way to keep a journal for a year. I'm glad I was able to sign up this year.

BJP Check out some of the other great beaded journal pages from the Bead Journal Project.

More Sad News

This month has been a hard one for me, mentally and emotionally. As mentioned previously, my friend Diane was diagnosed with pertioneal cancer. After a few more tests, trying to figure out the best doctor and hospital, she was finally sent to Oregon Health Sciences University (Pill Hill as we call it here in the Portland area.) Last Monday she went in for surgery. I was there with/for her all day. They opened her up and found the tumor was much bigger than expected. So they closed her up with plans to get her intensive chemo therapy to shrink the tumor. After it is shrunk to a size that is not jeopardizing her internal organs, they will open her up again and remove it with all her female parts, and probably the appendix.

This past week has been hard on all family and friends. I'm glad I'm up here. I can't be there every day, the gas is killing us this month, but I can call and see how things are going. They don't know when she is going to be coming home, some time this next week. She has already had one treatment and will be scheduling more in Eugene. She should know tomorrow when they will be releasing her.

Between Mom and Diane, I'm worn out. I have no real gumption, just want to sit and do a lot of nothing. Some beading, but that's about all.

Thoughts and prayers are welcome for Diane. Thank you.

Sad news

After I got my pieces to the fantasy show, I decided I needed to change things in my life a bit. We have this beautiful oak roll top desk that's been sitting in the corner of the living room for years. I wanted to move it across the room and make it my bead station. That way I can sit in the living room with my husband in the evenings and not feel like a out cast back in my studio. After three days of cleaning and moving furniture and moving it again, the living room is the way I want it of awhile. This happened the week of July 21st.

By Friday I was in a nursing home in Cottage Grove sitting by my mother's bedside. It had been a very quick downhill slide that none of us had expected. She had been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer at the beginning of the month. Treatments had been scheduled and she went to one. While trying to get dressed, she fell against the chest of drawers and broke five ribs. Already weak from radiation and chemo this incident didn't help her health. She was in the hospital on the weekend and from what I was told, she got a slight case of pneumonia on Tuesday. That was cleared up quickly, thankfully. My sister and aunt found a nice nursing home on Thursday and got her transferred over. The trip made her weaker. So I got the call to come quick. I did, even though I had to borrow my MIL's car. I left at 9 and got down there about noon. It's so much fun driving with only about 3 hours sleep.

I spelled my sister and stayed all night with her. I'm glad I was there. We got to talk and laugh and just be together. Most of the time she was drugged up pretty good, but she still was coherent for our time together. The weekend was spent with all the "kids" talking about what to do. She wanted to come home, but I knew she wouldn't. Sunday night, a little after midnight, she passed. Quietly and with no long, lingering illness.

Almost two weeks later, it's weird, I feel like she's still here. I'll be going down again to talk with the bank lady about the estate.

Today I also found out that one of my very best friends has been diagnosed with peritonitis carcinoma. We won't know about treatment until next week. I've known her for almost 40 years. Good thoughts and prayers would be much appreciated.

Dragon's Tooth Necklace

This piece has been in the back of my mind for almost a year. Because of this fantasy show I was able to finally get it done. I picked up the pendant at a bead show last year and some pearls to go with it. Even though this piece has pearls in it, they aren't the ones I bought. I like the way this necklace came out. I just hope someone likes it enough to buy it at the show. Only time will tell.

Draco Necklace Done

Finally! It's done and I'm not doing anymore to it now. Maybe after the show I'll add some fringe things around the snout and "ears". The dark picture is more color accurate than the light one. I photographed the finished necklace outside on an overcast day. Obviously it wasn't overcast enough. I like the little dragons in the necklace. I also bought some larger green dragon beads for this pieces, but they didn't work right. I'll have to make another necklace with them. Oh gee, playing with more beads. Life is rough. *wink, wink*

Debbie's Necklace

These pictures are of the commission I did for my friend and bead buddy, Debbie. She had the fabulous focal bead and asked me to do up a necklace, ala Sand into Pearls, (below) for her. I had a hard time with this particular bead because of the size and weight. I started and tore apart this necklace about three times before I finally finished it today. I hope she likes it. I'll be giving it to her on Thursday.

I was able to take this necklace to my Portland Art Collective Summer Picnic and show it off before giving it to Debbie. Everyone loved it and drooled over her bead.
I'm very pleased how well it was received and happy that Debbie liked it so much. This was a wonderful bead to work with and Debbie picked out the rest of the beads, crystals and pearls from the stock in her store (Bead Happy). It's too bad you can't see how beautifully it sparkles in the sunlight. This necklace turned out fantastically, if I say so myself! (wink, wink)

Draco - The Dragon Necklace

After realizing that it's been awhile since I posted anything, I wanted to show why I've been absent. This is my most recent necklace, still in process. I will be adding more beads around the outside before I cut it out and add the backing and necklace. The necklace will be black and gray or clear crystals. This necklace will be in the Mystical World of Fantasy show by the Gresham Art Advisory Committee in Gresham, Oregon. I will also have two more necklaces and five brooches in this show. Just have to finish them all by the 18th. No pressure.

My Fairy Name

Your fairy is called Pagan Goblinfilter

She is a bringer of riches and wealth.

She lives close to ancient monuments and stone circles.

She is only seen on midsummer's eve.

She wears raven-black feathers. She has gentle green wings like a butterfly.

Get your free fairy name here!