10 11 12

Today is 10 11 12. I wonder how many times something like this happens. You always hear about numerology, I'm sure this must have some kind of story to be told about it. It feels like a pretty ordinary day to me. I've been working on a couple of new necklaces. I bought these most beautiful beads. A gorgeous strand Citrine and two exquisite stands of Labradorite. They inspired me, I love beads.  I'm very partial to the gray tones and think that just silver and gold beads work well to show them off.  Here are the necklaces I came up with to complement their wonderfulness.  

POWER OUTAGE

Sitting in the dark, there's a big wind storm and the power is out. I use to live the cabin life style with no  electricity but now I'm spoiled and I miss it when it's gone. Good grief, what a wimp I am! No beading by kerosene lanterns anymore. Hey, where is that kerosene lantern anyway? Out in the shed I guess. Candles and the light of the ever faithful laptop will work.  In honor of the black out I posting some pictures of past black velvet pieces...

FINALLY DONE!

The Coco Bag is finished! This one was a struggle with the crazy but sweet looking dog, the beadwork on the strap, (it's hard beading directly on the deer hide) and the time deadline. Whew, it's in the mail with only a week to spare and I'm on to other things.

STRANGE DAYS

It's been a crazy couple of weeks.We've had out of town company so there has been fishing, beach combing and even gold panning. The bead table is in a controlled chaos state, three different projects going on at once. This is Coco, a dog portrait order. She has been a real challenge, she's brown with a brown nose, brown eyes, and even a brown collar. This is my third try, the first was hopeless, in the second one she looked like a yak, but this one is turning out okay. The second order is these Tlingit lovebirds for motorcycle gloves.The pattern is from the customers family so I don't have to sweat the design, just do the beading. Sometimes that easier.

Finally, I'm working on some more seagulls for my series. Found a old copy of Jonathan Livingston Seagull that I've been wanting to re-read but can't seem to find the time. And it's a short book!

I'm so loving doing all the seagulls! It's fun to be excited about your projects. Of course it doesn't always correspond with how others feel about your work.  I sent an application off to the Juneau Museum for a solo show there. I didn't get it, just can't seem to break into the museum scene. Maybe the beadwork doesn't fit the criteria. Oh well, I'll keep trying...

GETTING OLD WITH BEADWORK

Let's be honest, getting old is not for the faint of heart. I've just gotten home from a two week trip where I was helping my brother and sister with my 89 year old Dad. He had fallen and had broken his hip and he is not in good shape. Of all the the things that come with getting older, watching your parents ultimate decline is one of the hardest. Nothing you can do... As always with these family gatherings there was a lot of going through old photos and I snagged a few to share with you. These are of a young me, living in a ramshackle cabin in Haines Alaska and yes, doing beadwork. I see that I was beading on Smoked moose hide, red felt, and canvas. Looks like this was before I figured out the drawing on paper method and I was putting my design right on the canvas / felt / smoked moosehide. My little critters look so amateurish but still have a whimsy that is appealing. I suppose my point in all this rambling is that it's nice to know that getting old also has it's perks. The beadwork has matured to a place where I am challenged every day but I also seem to know what I'm doing. You have to be grateful for the good things...

THE RIVER #3

Working on #3. I really like the little girl and the dog, and of course the seagull yelling for more fish! The sky is coming along and when thats done, sigh, more sand. I'm resigned.
I took a break from the beadwork and made some jewelry for the shop. Had some fun working with the abalone, it is such a beautiful shell, nature at it's best!






Met a new beader ( Miri Agassi ) via the web who is from Israel.This is her blog. She does some really cool jewelry and writes about all things beadwork. It really is exciting to be part of the international bead world. So weird how that wouldn't have been possible awhile back...http://beadwonders100.blogspot.com/

DECORATING

 Here are some pictures of the gallery with the new decor for the opening in May. It's looking good with the new black wall. We put in some new carpet and I'm re-covering the chairs too, loved the old bright green but the new black and white paisley fabric will be cool. Crazy the cat seems to approve.