AutumnDawns

Friday, May 9, 2014

Hello Fellow Beaders,

The day has come! It's Bead Soup Party time. Thank you Lori Anderson for hosting this party in spite of all the trials you are going through. I truly appreciate your efforts.

Beccy Peterson is my partner. She sent me a whole store, or so it seemed. Thank you, Beccy.

Treasure Map

In spite of all the time we had, I didn't use all the beads. As I continue to create new pieces I will post them to my blog.

I took Marie Forleo's B-School. It was an intensive 8 week course. It did, of course, cut into my beading time.

I made a necklace, bracelet and earring set. The focal bead is a large floral stone with a small hole in the center. It created problems with the way the bead hung. It wanted to flop downward so I had to create a way to change the hang point. I used the Delica 4172's to wrap the flower petals. This gave me a way to add the brass chain.

Focal Bead with Delicas, Drops and Brass Charm

Backside of Focal Bead

I used the beautiful glass toggle because it complemented the brass chain which I embellished with more of the Delicas.

Beautiful Glass Toggle with Embellished Chain

I made a bracelet and earrings to complete the set.

Matching Earrings

Bracelet with Embellished Chain and Brass Charm

Please leave a comment then visit the other participants for more beading goodness. There are 500 participants this year so instead of copying the participant list, here's a link to Lori Anderson's participant list.
Thanks for visiting.

Monday, March 24, 2014

Started B-School, Worked on Beadsoup

Hello All,

I've been away from my beading for the past 2 weeks because I enrolled in Marie Forleo's B-School. It's an intensive 8 week course for online entrepreneurs. I've learned so much already that I highly recommend it to everyone who wants to run a successful online business. Even if you don't want to take the course right now, Marie Forleo offers free tips and inspiring interviews. She also has a youtube channel called Marie TV.

I did manage to fit in a little beading time last night. :) I'm interested in creating slave bracelets, also known as hath panja and hand flowers. Because the name slave bracelet can be off putting I wanted to know more about the term. I learned that the name slave bracelet has nothing to do with slaves or slavery. A slave bracelet is called that because the bracelet is connected to a ring with a chain. They are also called hand flowers or hath panja. I googled some images and watched some tutorials on youtube. Then I gave it a try myself. Hath panja (the term I prefer because it sounds so exotic) can be simple or very elaborate. My first effort is very simple.

hath panja

I'm not at all sure I will keep it like this. I might embellish it more or even take it apart. (I have to laugh at this picture. The only place I could get a good picture last night was over the kitchen sink, so of course I wanted to change the background. My photoshop skills need work!)

I hope you all do something creative that makes you happy.

Saturday, March 15, 2014

My Bead Soup Has Arrived

Hello All,

My soup is here! My soup is here! My soup is here! Yeah!

When I opened my package from Beccy Peterson I thought she sent me a whole bead store. I was amazed.

The Whole Enchilada

She sent me sooooo many beads she made a map so I would know what everything was. I love maps.

Treasure Map

I love all the natural stones, especially jasper, so I separated things out to take pictures.

Focal Bead and Toggles

Tagua and Jasper

Blues and Greens

Are you feeling the love? I know I am. And there's still more! I'm so inspired. Time to think.

Until next time, I hope you do something crafty.

Monday, March 3, 2014

I Have my Bead Soup Partner!

Hello All,

I have my bead soup partner, yeah! Her name is Beccy Peterson . She's from Klamath Falls, Oregon. I love her purple goddess earrings.

Thank you Lori Anderson for hosting the bead soup blog party. I know it will be lots of fun. It must be hard for you being so ill, but I hope the bead soup blog party gives you something fun to focus on.

Have fun and be creative.

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Greenman Decision Time

Hello All,

The title of this post is a bit misleading. When you create anything you are making decisions continuously. I'm getting to the point where I have to decide on how I'm going to finish my piece.

Greenman 2-27-14

Greenman 2-21-14

Greenman close-up 2-21-14

Greenman close-up 2-27-14

Since I started tracking my time on the 21st, I have spent 16 hours and 22 minutes beading. I love Toggl.

I don't think my idea of attaching it to my green & brown scarf will work. The Greenman is heavy with beads. It would make the yarn sag. Too bad though, it would be really nice together. They both have an earthy, organic feel.

The canvas I was thinking about using has a larger wooden frame on the back so my piece is already too large for it. I could go shopping at the art supply store (yeah!) or keep exploring ideas.

I have a lovely piece of brown linen . . . but even if I added more batting and quilted it all together, I don't think it would be sturdy enough. Over time it would sag.

My vote is the art supply store. It's a great place for inspiration.

Hope you're all staying warm and creating beauty.

Friday, February 21, 2014

Greenman Progress

Hello All,

I've been beading like crazy and want to show off what I've accomplished so far. Beading is very time consuming.

2-15-14

2-21-14 closeup

As a side note, I found (via Heather Powers @ Humblebeads, Flourish &Thrive Academy, Marie Foleo B School, Alex Beadon) a free time-tracking site, Toggl, that allows you to set up projects and track your time. It's very easy to use. I would recommend that everyone who needs to track time spent on a project check out the site. I'm certainly glad I did. (The sign-up page does mention pricing, but the basic service is free.)

My goal is to have it completed, that includes deciding how I want to mount it, by March 15th.

Hope you're all having fun!