..."beaded art through the eyes of the beholder".

Friday, February 27, 2009

2009 SPRING COLOR CHART...

...according to Margie Deeb, bead artist, and the Panatone fashion color report. Margie has a wonderful site/newsletter where she talks about all kinds of "art of color for bead artists" and you'll find issues of Margie's Muse at: http://www.MargieDeeb.com/muse. She has some wonderful, very useful information and ideas on the use of color - some wonderful, detailed examples of suggested palettes from different cultures. She examines color and dominance, living color, among a few. Margie has 2 downloadable PDF's choked full of wonderful and very useful color information. You'll find them listed and available on her website: http://www.margiedeeb.com.

Other resources from Deeb are: BLOG: http://www.colorforbeadartists.com and NEWSLETTER: http://www.margiedeeb.com/newsletter.

Monday, February 23, 2009

Green with Envy: My Etsy Beadweaver's March Challenge Entry


"Green with Envy"
Length: 14.5" from the closure or 37 cm
Colors: Greens and yellows

DOUBLE CLICK: Be sure to double-click on the thumbnail photos for a close-up, detailed look at this piece.

This necklace has been created specifically for entry in the Etsy Beadweaver's (EBWC) March Beadweaving Challenge. The subject of the challenge is: "Temptations" which openes up a vast array of possibilities! I am a member of this creative, beadweaving group.

First, I choose greens which remind me of the month of March, with St. Patty's Day, and the onset of spring around the corner. New growth,rebirth, green. Green with envy... This necklace is a OOAK (one of a kind) piece that will encircle your neck comfortably and is sure to start a conversation at any gathering. I used a wonderful handmade ceramic pendant and beadsculptured to compliment the colors. Included is a wonderful array of lampwork glass works.
I will blog about all the entries for this month's challenge by March 9th which is the deadline for entries and the beginning of voting for your favorite entry so check back soon!
Price: $175.00
Status: Available
NOTE: Double click for close-up of photos.

Sunday, February 15, 2009

2/15: WHAT'S ON MY BEADING BOARD TODAY?

People ask me: "How do I know what I'm going to bead?" So here are some musings of a bead addict...

Let's see...I have one of Kim Cavendar's (kimcavender.etsy.com) fun and funky faces (I'm
in love with these gems!). I see a smattering of Lisa Peter's (lisapetersart.etsy.com) rustic
raku, a beautifully matrixed turquoise I found in Quartzite, AZ.There are some of Heather Power's (humblebeads.etsy.com) Humblebeads - her colors are "so yum!" And an indian maiden I started on one of my trips that
I have yet to finish - I want it as a necklace; she is being worked on very soft, fluid goat leathers. I think she'll be fun...one of these days!


Starting a project, for me, always includes just about the same sequence of events. Rarely do I ever have a picture in my head of where I'm headed with my beads. Occasionally I will have a combo of colors I want to work with so that's a start. But more often I fill my board with a good handful of focal piece choices, let them kinda stare back at me from the board and in a short amount of time, one will jump out at me; that's the one! Then I go about choosing the colors to go with that center piece. I have no pattern in mind; I just wait for the beads to start "talking" ~ and they invariably do!

Occasioanlly I have a "start" that never seems to go anywhere. Ever been there yourself? Or, I have a "start" that seems to be a struggle no matter how I try to work with it. I don't struggle long - I have learned if it's that forced, my creation is doomed. I never, EVER take apart anything! It's against all I believe in. I have a basket sitting by the window and when I get one of these little orphans, I toss it in the basket. The basket never gets full because eventually, more often than not, I will find a use for each little wad of beads and generally when I do, it becomes a prominent addition to the new creation - "Here's to free-form beadweaving!"

There are no mistakes ~ only lessons.

Saturday, February 7, 2009

"Tropical Holiday"

The entries for the challenge are in and once again they are simply beautiful, creative and amazing! Can you imagine, 46 beadweaving artists (out of a worldwide membership of 170) took the challenge ~ amazing! Imagine that all of these entrants took the time and talent to create these inspiring challenge pieces! Sorry this mosaic is so small but the enlarged version is on our Etsy Beadweaver's Team site - address below in red. You can click on the "item title" in the participant list below and it links to the Etsy Shop listing of each entrant where you will see more detailed photos of each piece and the rest of their inventory!
Beadazzled's entry is #36.

Be sure to cast your vote, February 9th thru the 15th! (Details below....)

1.
Caribbean Surf Collar by: nemeton
2.
Scorpion Fish by: njema
3.
Dreaming of Hawaii by: randomcreative
4.
A Walk on the Beach by: beadsandblooms
5.
Peace on the beach by: PFordCustomJewelry
6.
Orchid Beauty by: ArtfulAr
7.
Rainforest Necklace by: charmingthings
8.
Blue lagoon necklace N961 by: FleurDeIrk
9.
Paradise by: beadsforever
10.
Pink Flamingo Fantasy Necklace by: gypsyeyesjewelry
11.
Sultry Salty Sand and Surf by: janetkemp88
12.
hawaii '09 necklace by: thebeadedlily
13.
Tropical Sunset Garden Necklace (1384) by: clairecreations
14.
The Lively Sea by: farfrumplainjane
15.
Tropical Holiday bracelet by: 6Carmen6
16.
Beachcombing the Sea of Cortez - A Tropical Holiday by: dreambeadweaver
17.
What if I'm a Mermaid by: ThesePreciousThings
18.
Tropical Breezes by: RegalBeads
19.
Tropical Chic - Choker by: Triz
20.
Spinny Girl on the Beach by: BeadArtbyShari
21.
Tropical Garden by: SpringColors
22.
Tropical Paradise Necklace by: CieloDesign
23.
Coral Reef Cuff Bracelet by: FrancescasFancy
24.
TORTUGA by: caraway
25.
CRYSTAL LEI by: fashionsfrome
26.
Tropical Nights by: SmadarsTreasure
27.
Tropical Flower Brooch by: enchantedbeads
28.
Tropical Dream Cuff by: arosebyname
29.
Calypso Necklace by: DeepSeaBeads
30.
Tropical Whale Tails Bracelet by: SalamanderHouse
31.
Tropical Holiday by: veroque
32.
Caribbean Sunset by: totallytwisted
33.
Bougainvillea Bouquet by: KerrieSlade
34.
Tropical greenwood by: beadshead
35.
Beachcomber by: vanishingpearl
36.
Island Treasure Chest by: BeadazzledofOregon
37.
Mayan Sun by: ThreeFatesDesign
38.
Girlie Drinks and Sunsets by: HannahRachel
39.
MAUI WEDDING by: Chrisbeads
40.
Strelitzia by: MadeByOlga
41.
ti leaf and orchid lei by: beadwoman3
42.
Sunset in the Islands by: 1965angelika
43.
Tropical Treasures by: BeadCatcher
44.
On The Beach by: SilverDragon
45.
Loopy Lei Necklace by: beadworkbyamanda
46.
Tropical Rainforest Getaway by: Bead4you

Again, (put it on your calendar!) voting begins on Monday, February 9th and ends midnight February 15th. The best way to show your appreciation for the efforts of these amazing artists is by taking on the difficult task of voting for your favorite. Tell your relatives and friends to view, enjoy and vote with you! Send them this link and give them these instructions.
GO TO: ETSY BEADWEAVER'S TEAM BLOGSITE: CLICK HERE:
http://etsy-beadweavers.blogspot.com
...and exercise your right to vote! (The ballot will appear on the side bar at right). Again, the individual pieces are listed below the mosaic where you can visit each entry for more information by following the link. Thank you, enjoy and be sure to come back to vote between February 9th and 15th!

NOTE: Double click on photo for close-up view.

ANOTHER PHOTO AND THE EBW CHALLENGE

Here she wears my "Tropical Holiday" Etsy
Beadweaver's challenge entry for February.
She purchased this necklace literally 15 minutes
after I had posted it into my Etsy shop! Imagine
my surprise as I was looking at my computer screen
and all of a sudden, the necklace disappeared from
my shop! What had I done wrong? Then I realized
where it went: SOLD! - (chuckle)
NOTE: Double click on photo for close-up view.

TEXAS BEAUTY!

This is a photo sent to me from a wonderful
customer wearing her "Rainbow" custom designed
necklace. I have a feeling she has a closet full of
these great, colorful blouses (Mexican? Indian?)
like I do! She is a gem to work with due to the fact
that she loves jewelry and has a real sense of what
she likes, what she wants and of design. Thankx to you!

NOTE: Double click on photo for close-up view.

Monday, February 2, 2009

GEMS FOR YOUR EARS

I have a new Earring Section in my shop
and this is just a sample!
It just opened today so I invite you to check it out.
Wonderful colors, beadweaving galore.
See you there:
Price: $25-$35

NOTE: Double click on photo for close-up view.

Sunday, February 1, 2009

"FROGGY WENT 'A COURTIN'!"

This was a darling (1" X 1-1/2") soldered picture pendant made
with lead-free 'silvergleem solder', the only solder with real silver
which shows in the extra, added glimmer and shine. The pendant is
made from a vintage postcard of "Dancing Frogs" and on the reverse
side (which you can wear as well) is the saying: "too much stress
will make you croak." My cousin sent me this from Ohio.
It's a very high quality, hand-painted piece. I made a simple
yet elegant Ndebele rope pulling the colors from the pendant -
little touches of red match Froggie's jacket and the apple-green
pulls from the frog's under throat. This dude is charming Miss Froggy;
yes he is!
Two necklaces in one!
Price: $145.00
Status: Available

NOTE: Double click on photo for close-up view.