Religious Icons - Part 5

I just added the final stitches just a couple of minutes ago.

With this cross, I have beaded a total of five religious icons.

I entered this into a gallery show later this summer and

needed to finish it.

There's one thing off my to-do list from yesterday!

Catching up....

2009 Alaska Cruise

Haven't had a lot of time between my vacation on the Beady Friends Bead Cruise to Alaska, going to Bead and Button in Milwaukee and work. Above is the link to my pictures. This year's cruise was awesome - the group is a really nice group of beaders and family. I'm ready for Alaska again....

Following Alaska, I repacked my bags and took the train to Bead and Button in Milwaukee, where I assisted Marcia Decoster for four days of classes. I really love going to Bead and Button, and although I didn't see any of my Iowa friends lurking around, I caught up with many people that I haven't seen since last year.

Marcia and Liz giggling about something.

My to-do list is getting longer:

• write instructions
• teach RAW to a couple of friends here
• finish my items for a gallery show in August (done June 14, 2009)
• frame above items
• write an artist statement
• loose 100 pounds
• become taller
• catch up on the Bead Journal Project - only 3 months behind...
• clean up my work bench
• determine what beads that I have I will never use and do something to get them out of my way

Back to reality - today's project is to wash that grey right out of my hair.....

Beaded Opulence.......

Beaded Opulence

This book is a MUST HAVE (yes, I yelled) for your collection. While I was at Bead and Button, I was able to caress Marcia's copy of Beaded Opulence. Run, do not walk, to Marcia's web site,MAD Designs to check when you can preorder your copy! It's stunning - many projects, all beautiful, inspirational photos.

You heard it hear first!!!

Books!

I don't purchase many beading books, but I have just recently bought these three: "Masters in Beadweaving" - with many of my personal beading goddesses/gods included in this book, I had to have this in my collection.

When I was in Ohio recently for a beading girly weekend, I had the opportunity to look through these books. Ohmygoodness! What stunning eye candy in "The Beaded Sphere" by Judy Walker. I can't wait to try some of these items.

Also, Diane Fitzgerald's "Shaped Beadwork" shook me out of my non-book buying behavior! Some of the pieces in this book look like cast metal items - it's fabulous.

Finally, I am waiting with "bated breath*" for the release these two books. The first from my personal bead mentor, Marcia Decoster's, book - "Beaded Opulence" and Rachel Nelson-Smith's "Seed Bead Fusion"

{*Bated here is a contraction of abated through loss of the unstressed first vowel (a process called aphesis); it means “reduced, lessened, lowered in force”. So bated breath refers to a state in which you almost stop breathing as a result of some strong emotion, such as terror or awe.}

What to post.....

I just finished my newest necklace the other day and I'm wearing it today: a Crystal Collage beauty. Of course I don't have a picture of it, but it's featured on Marcia's website.

It might be a little "showy" for an office look, but it matches my tank top and I had to do it.....so, here's the picture from Marcia's web page

The woman in the cafeteria asked me how much....Nuff said.

Leaving in the morning......

For a girly weekend in Ohio - at Sharon's house!! I'm driving down Friday morning with another beader from this area, also named Sharon.....that's going to be interesting.

Sharon is also the editor of the Bead a Day calendar, which as beaders we should all have one!

Certainly, beading and cocktails will ensue - I am hoping to finish my Portico necklace that I have been working on, an ID badge lariat for my sister, and who knows what else I will take with me. Sharon (Michigan Sharon) and I might work on a bracelet by Rachel Nelson-Smith

The carved Tagua nut is for my doctor buddy, Roque, who is going to Panama and will be picking up some of these beauties for me. I'm hoping for an octopus or jaguar for me. But I will let him use his eye for selecting me some.....

TTFN!!

Spring!!

Start with any size "O" ring

Cover with Right Angle Weave (or another stitch if you haven't discovered the love of RAW)

Embellish with several rows of beading and crystals on the edges

Add a little metallic bling for some real sparkle



Add a bail in peyote on the back side, make certain your necklace of choice will fit through it.

Inspired by Marcia DeCoster

"Use the Muse" Contest

I am really excited to have been a part of the "Use the Muse" contest. It made me use colours and beads in a combination that I normally wouldn't try. My necklace was started, torn out, restarted and torn out again. The third try worked. I really am happy with the way that the daggers spread out on the ring; the crystals, pearls and bugles lay on the ring, and the subtle colours in the beads and Russian spiral necklace.

I completed my work, duely took pictures and sent them off to be judged. Within several hours, I received a phone call from Scarlett about my submission pictures. (Scarlett! Called me!! Actually called me. Someone from a magazine called me....)

Turns out that there were one or two kits that didn't include the muse.....I was one of the lucky ones. My assumption that the muse was the brass lock charm was incorrect. Scarlett and I talked for quite while - I did my best to assure her that I was okay with what happened. I wouldn't blast her on my blog or bad mouth her to anyone that would listen. Scarlett mailed me the "muse" to see if I could incorporate it into my design.

When I did receive the muse, I looked at it, turned it over, placed it on my necklace, moved it, debated and made my decision. I was happy with the way that my piece looked without the muse and decided that I wouldn't have a piece in this contest. My decision, my call.

I was thankful for the opportunity to "design" my own piece using items that I would never have picked up in a bead store. I learned that I can made something that I really like, love even with items chosen for me and it made me think outside that "box" that I am so comfortable in. As a result, I think that my artistic box is a little larger!

Round Robin Loomatics Project Finished!!

Mr. Moose left my home in January 2008 and returned in early 2009. I finished my portions of Magical Moose (non-gender specific) just this evening and proudly show it to the world.

Thank you to Deb, Sue, Sandy, Sharon, Diane, Jeanette, Kate, Linda and Madeline - this was an awesome year long project that I enjoyed working on. I hope all of the above, and Tamaya - who didn't get a chance to work on my piece - love their results the way that I love Magical Moose

John Wilker

*Dad, the summer of 2007, with his sister Dorothy.

The following is what my stepbrother wrote about my dad Just after his death. It's a beautiful tribute for the last 20 years of his life. Prior to that Dad was married to my Mom for 42 years. In this day and age, it's different to hear of someone married for 62 years!

We had a gathering at my sister's house on Sunday - which was really nice for the family as the actual memorial service will not be until mid-April. My cousins were there - you know the ones that you would like to get to know better, but your lives keep you apart. I guess that there are a bit of friction between my mother and my uncle - so we didn't visit but once a year (sad, too as they only live 90 miles away).

Peacefulness, The final moments, In memorium ... but finally just the tribute; "John Wilker"

As you may already know he died peacefully at 6:56 (CST) this morning (2/24). In retrospect his struggle was short, yet it seemed like forever. He lived a vigorous life traveling this hemisphere with my mother until 3 weeks ago. I do not know many 87 year old men that could drive that big RV and keep it constantly tinkered with and in shape. I saw a man that loved my mother, as she loved him. Being there to watch their love as he lay in an ICU hospital bed, semiconscious, struggling to breathe, unable to move or communicate was a very emotional experience for me....

However it became readily apparent that the stroke left him with no chance of recovery to the vital person he was. In fact it left him with being kept artificially alive via medications and artificial feeding to give him a chance at a recovery that was not to come. Consequently Mom and I came to respect his expressed desire to not merely be alive with no "quality" of life. His death less than 24 hours after withdrawing all medical support shows how poor that quality would have been.
Mom is at peace with the decision and process. Obviously she needs our support as she adjusts to her life without her loving husband and companion....

I celebrate the 20 years my mother had with your father following the loss of my father and your mother.

We ended up telling Dad and Patsy stories, laughing while sharing part of his life with each other. Now you have to remember that my step-mom is also my ex-husband's mother, which really puts a wrench in the works at times, but I believe that we have gotten over that (well, at least I have) portion of our lives...

Dad - I'll miss you - you are in my heart for eternity. I'm glad that we learned to say "I love you" and hugs from the O'Brien side of our clan.

Patsy, thank you for taking such good care of my father during his second childhood. You had a strong influence on Dad and I love you for watching him and taking care of him.

Finished!!

I finished my "Parisian Pendant" necklace yesterday evening, and wore it to work today.

It's so pretty.

Thank you Dallas - what a great design, instructions and patience in the classroom.

Bead Daze 2009

Dallas Lovett helping students in his Etruscan Bracelet class.

I've spent the several days voluntering for the Great Lakes Beadworkers Guild at our annual Bead Daze - four daze of great instructors and classes! I have the opportunity to work with Dallas Lovett and take one of his classes. I haven't done much wire work, but the class that I took was stunning. I'll post a picture when I am done. Today was the last day of classes, and a day of about 4 inches of fresh snow for the instructors to play in....This is bead artists on Michigan coke - er snow.....

Jeanette Cook take aim.....

Kate McKinnon preparing to win the snowball fight....but notice Jeanette on the left packing a good one!

...And those of us from Michigan just do what we normally do.....deal with it....

Thanks to the GLBG for a great session.

Thanks to the instructors:

Dallas Lovett, Barb Switzer, Jeanette Cook, Gail Crosman Moore, and Kate McKinnon

for a great four days!

Use the Muse - seite zwei....

I think that I followed the directions of the "Use The Muse" contest correctly. I am showing a little corner of my piece. Just a teaser......

p.s. Not looking good with my father, but time is the revealer of all secrets. All we can do is wait and see.

Use the Muse....

....Since Dad is holding his own and I have wrapped my head around that whole situation that I can't control (why, why can't I run the entire world the way that I want??), I thought that I would post about something else that I love - those little bits of glass with holes in the middle.

I joined the "Use the Muse" contest and just put the finishing touches on my piece. It really came together better than I thought it would. I actually enjoyed this because it really made me think about beads that I didn't choose and how I should put them together. I added some from my own stash and I learned a new stitch, so I am happy with the piece as it came together. It was worth joining even if I don't win, but with so many talented beaders out there - it will be thrilling to see what everyone comes up with. Now to take some decent pictures.

Dad is stable - he's receiving great care in Southern Texas, and thank you to everyone who left a comment or emailed me. I'm hanging in there, at peace with my decisions and able to talk semi-intelligently with anyone about this now. Whew!

Life in a nutshell right now.....

(deep breath)

For my friends who aren't on Facebook, here is the skinny. I received a phone call Sunday afternoon from my step-mom, Patsy. She and my dad are wintering in Mission, TX - which if you were any further south, you'd be in Mexico. She let me know that my dad was in the ICU at McAllen Medical Center - about 10 miles from where they are staying. He has:

1. coronary artery disease (not unexpected - he's 87 years young)

2. atrial fibrillation (Atrial fibrillation or AFIB describes an irregular and often rapid heart rhythm. The irregular rhythm, or arrhythmia, results from abnormal electrical impulses in the heart. The irregularity can be continuous, or it can come and go), and

3. aspiration pneumonia (Aspiration is defined as the inhalation of either oropharyngeal or gastric contents into the lower airways. Inhalation of these contents can lead to aspiration pneumonia aspiration pneumonitis. Although these two entities are managed differently, they are often interchangeably referred to as aspiration pneumonia.)

He's actually been in the hospital for the last week because of the atrial fibrillation - which means that if your heart is supposed to beat at 70 beats a minute, his is going at 130. The faster that your heart beats, the less effective it works. During the last week, he told Patsy (my step mom) that she wasn't to call us "kids" and bother us with this because he's had the AFIB for years. Dad would call me last year, and tell me that he took another ambulance ride over the weekend and by the time they got the 60 miles to the hospital, his heart was normal again. He treated that like no big deal.

But over the weekend, Dad became disoriented in the hospital, fell, broke his nose (which is how he got the aspiration pneumonia because blood went into his lungs), and the catheter was pulled from his body. From that episode, he's become worse. He is now in an ICU bed, sedated, and intubated.

We are at the wait and see point.

Patsy does not want me to come to Texas. Her exact words were "You'd fly to Texas to sit next to someone who doesn't know that you are there - that's stupid" We are in contact 4-5 times aday.

On the bizarre side, I put a note on Facebook on Sunday - "Do I know any physicians in McAllen, TX?" - I received a note from one of my ex-residents who told me that one of my other ex-residents is on staff there and gave me his cell phone number. When I got a call back, this doctor told me that he actually saw my dad the day before when he was consulted about the blood that he was spitting up (to make certain that there was no internal bleeding - there isn't). He's promised to call me everyday with updates.

So, that's what's going on right now - I know, way too much information.
As you all know, I am not the most hugely religious person in the world, so I am not going to ask for prayers - but I am not going to exclude them either. I want what's best for him (even if that's not the best for me).

Bead Cruising!!!

I just heard that we are officially registered for the Beady Friends bead cruise to Alaska!! I am so excited about this! There are still some openings if you are interested! Don't have a roommate? The travel representative, Shelley, can put you in touch with other beaders traveling on their own - great way to make friends and save money!

We leave Detroit on May 15, leave Seattle on May 16 and have many exciting days beading and traveling!!

It's not time to pack - but it's certainly time to dream!!

Bead Journal Project - February 2008

Doesn't she look like she is doing the happy dance!??

Round Robin Project

In March of 2008, the beading group that I belong to, the Loomatics started a Round Robin Project. My project was, of course, a Moose. I wrote in my journal that traveled with the moose, that I chose the moose because it would "Fit in so well with my decor and [allow me} to see how my friends would bead a moose for me." In the back of the journal, I wrote my infamous quote about bead embroidery:

"Bead Embroidery? Why on earth would anyone want to do bead embroidery? It's f*&^%$g silly, what's the point of it? It doesn't make any sense. I hate bead embroidery!"

Moose came home on Friday night. I still have a little work to complete on it which is not expected because we didn't believe that the pieces would be finished, but have a little bit of my beading friends in the moose.

Didn't my friends do a great job? There are so many parts that I love about it.

Bead Journal Project

Once December was determined, January was an easy choice. January felt right in green, with a blue background! Something just fell into place. Now, February.........

Beading Magazines

It isn't often that I look at one of the beading magazines (Bead and Button orBeadwork) and find a project that I have to do immediately. This Feb/March 2009 Beadwork was different. There were two projects that I just loved.

Now, everyone knows my love affair with Marcia Decoster's work - it's not a secret, and I love, love love the Ellipse Necklace!! Started on Friday, finished Sunday morning using a different color scheme than suggested in the magazine and I just have the neckstrap to finish. I wore it to work today and received kudos for it.

The other piece was "the Alchemist's treasure" by Scarlett Lanson - how pretty is this spiral!! I think that I'll be starting that one really soon.

Kudo's to Beadwork for a great and inspirational issue.

December Project

For some unknown reason, I really like this one. It's plain stitching, nothing fancy, but I like the way that the beads lay out. December was a late start - in January actually, but once my idea hit me, I just went with it. January has about 4 beads on it so far......

Bead Journal Update - December has some progress

I've been watching a British television show called "Time Team" - it's a show that have been around forever and the other day I was watching a DVD. The show was talking about medieval floor tiles. There was my inspiration.....

2008 - Year in Review

2008

2008 - can it be over already?? It just started. I had a really rocky start to the year with my mother-in-law passing away on New Years Day (not a good start to any day....), but that was the lowest point of the year. Although she had dementia due to Alzheimer's, and it was a mixed blessing, she is still missed.



For my artistic side, it was a pretty good year:

• I received notice that I was in the 2008 Bead a Day Calendar (three days)
• I had my Korean Dragon accepted for publication in the August 2008 Bead and Button magazine. I have received emails from beaders around the world letting me know how much they liked this piece
• Nicole Campanella (Beadwright) accepted four pieces of bead embroidery in her book "Flatwork"
• I worked with Marcia Decoster as a teacher's assistant in Milwaukee in June. I also lied to her about the weather - it was scarey. But I wasn't going to let her freak out. Besides, John the bartender would have saved us if necessary.
• Simply Beads published an article on traveling beaders which featured a picture from the 2006 Bead Cruise, of which I am in.
  I finished the 2007/08 Bead Journal Project with Robin Atkins and company, and have started the 2008/09 Bead Journal Project.
• Our study group from the Great Lakes Beadworkers Guild continues to meet. We worked on a round robin project this year, of which the projects should be coming home soon.
• I entered a funky pair of reading glasses into the Great Lakes Beadworkers Guild challenge to Bead an Everyday object.
  

Alan and I had a good year - we went on our second Bead Cruise with Beady Friends in January, we found a campground that we like in Monroe, MI that was can get to in 1/2 hour for long weekends. We also camped for a week in Brighton as gasoline was too expensive to drive too far this year. The state park there is very nice.

Dad and Patsy are doing well and wintering in Mission, TX - enjoying not being in Michigan with all the snow this year.

I hope that your year was as good as mine was.

Bead Journal Project - November 2008

November project is finally finished. Just in time for December to be started.....and finished? Today? I don't think so.

New and Improved

Here is the finished card case from a design by Marcia Decoster. As you know, the first case disappeared somewhere, so I made another. This one I like better, with small 2mm Swarovski crystal rounds coming up the corners. Can you see the hint of bling?? Actually, this would be case #3, because I learned on case #2 that RAW has a "nap" (and I took that one apart). I plan to keep a tight hold of this one!!

p.s. Snow? Detroit has snow? Not after the record highs over the weekend. I have piles of ice and green grass. The dogs are fairly happy.

Detroit's Big Snow...

December 19, 2008. I could post the pretty pictures of my back yard, but I thought this one of the ruler in the snow (measuring 8.75 inches) and Chloe watching me, was all that was needed. Detroit gets snow, but 3 inches, 2 inches, maybe 4. We don't get a lot at one time.

This was a lot of snow for us. My 20 minute commute took 50, and when I drove one of my doctors to the airport, my 25 minute drive to the airport took an hour. But we got there safe, and actually faster than we thought.

2008 Bead Journal Project Completed!

Completely completed!! Several weeks ago, I framed the pieces in shallow shadow boxes from Joann, Etc. About 15 minutes ago, they were hung over my dining room window (please no comments about the dust on the blinds!! I don't have time to dust when I am beading!!) - I love them!

6 Word Memoir

My friend asked me to write a 6-word memoir, based on an article that she read in the newspaper to sum up my life:

Working to support my vacation habits.

Here's the link: What would your six-words be?

Did you know?

Did you know that Right Angle Weave actually has a "nap"? I was almost finished with my RAW business card case, when I realized that the way that the beads were laying in my piece were not correct. I had completed a couple of rows in sections, instead of going all the way across the row, and they really stood out - in a bad way.

So, I am on row 30 of my case. Again. But doing it in rows, it's laying correctly.

Lesson learned: RAW has a nap, just like corduroy.

p.s. If you find the case pictured above - it's mine, I lost it.

Chloe and Her Red Sweater

Chloe loves to be outside. Now that the weather is getting colder, when she comes in she's shaking and shivering. Many years ago, we were given a great fleece jacket for our other dog Casie - who hates to wear it almost as much as she hates to go outside. Molly - our chunky monkey dog can't wear it, she's to big (Molly is arguing that the fleece shrank in the wash and it's not her fault). Chloe doesn't seem to mind it.

Here's Chloe, playing with Big Ben, our neighbor's dog (for those of you that know me, this isn't the mean psycho dog), and generally looking good while patroling for those squirrels.....

And to keep this bead related - yes, I started working on November BJP, finished a piece while up north for a swap, and still working on a RAW business card case since I lost my first one.

Back to coffee and beads.

October Bead Journal

October! The skies are clear and the leaves are changing colour.

Brr, it's getting cold out, but that doesn't bother our owl.

He's hanging out and looking for his dinner.

With the leaves dropping, it's easier to spot

supper running under the trees.

Please take the time to vote!!

Next Tuesday is election day. Please take the time to vote for the politician that will hurt you and your family less. Spend 5 minutes looking up your local proposals and determine where you stand.

My mother told me when I was old enough to vote that it was my duty as a citizen. And if you don't vote you can't bitch.

Next Tuesday - take the time to vote.....

Seven Things about Me......

Okay, I've been tagged by Arline - even though I honestly think that no one wants to know anything about me! Here are the rules:
1. Link to your tagger and list these rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blog.
4. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Now to the facts about me:
1. I love shoes so much that I have promised my husband that if I bring in new shoes, I have to get rid of the same number of pairs of old shoes.
2. I love, love, love to travel. It's the reason that I work. That, and health insurance.
3. My brother died due to complications of liver transplant anti rejections medications several years ago. I am still angry at him for lying to me and other family members about his care - he told us that he was compliant. He wasn't. If he was compliant - he might still be alive.
4. I vote in most elections because I was told a long time ago "if you don't vote; you can't bitch."
5. I have done things in my past that were dangerous and stupid.
6. I would love to speak the Korean and Arabic languages. What is stopping me is that it's not very easy being that the alphabet is different.
7. I love Skittles......

I'm not going to tag anyone, but I invite people to leave a comment here with one or two things that we might not know about them........

Have fun with this!

Rachel Nelson-Smith

I never thought that I would actually make this bracelet, but by adapting the pattern for me, I really like it. Of course, they aren't in the "in your face" colours that Rachel loves and uses, but more toned down for Liz (like some of my orange and green colours are toned down, right?). The flat bracelet is using the new permanent finish Toho beads - using them in a bracelet is the perfect place to see if they will keep their colours.

Next? Working on part of my round robin project with members of my bead guild. Diane's piece is at my house now. And I need to finish a swap piece for Diane - she's making me a felted bag, and I am making her a Marcia DeCoster "Etruscan" necklace. Then I need to complete my October Bead Journal piece - it's about 1/2 done, but was put aside for the above projects.

Housework? I need to do housework?

Oct 15 p.s. I've worn the permanent finish bracelet for three days, 9 hours a day, in an office setting. The colours have not changed.

Neuschwanstein Castle - fertig?

I'm pretty happy with it.

I've been there at least 7 times, maybe more.

First time was in 1981 when I traveled with my friend Tricia.

Then when I lived in Stuttgart between 1984 and 1987, I was there

with friends and family who visited.

I followed the Lone Beader's lead with painting a canvas and

mounting the beadwork on it.

I really like it.

Now, I have a crewel embroidery castle, a lace version,

a cross stitch version and a beaded version.

The public debut will be on Sunday, October 5th at the

Great Lakes Beadworkers Guild Bead Bonanza in Southfield, MI

Now to continue on my Bead Journal project

that I put down a couple of weeks ago.

Galveston, TX

It's not often that I have recently been to a news-worthy place. Last January, I was in Galveston a couple of days prior to leaving on a bead cruise. My hubby and I walked around the beach and took some pictures. Char, who lives in Texas just emailed me a slideshow of the devastation in Galveston - oh my goodness.

One picture really caught my eye because I was there - I know that I was there. We bought bottles of water because it was warm, January and we were on a beach!