REST IN PEACE

Today I'm sewing with black beads on a" Day of the Dead" piece. My father passed away late last night,  he was 90 and I'm glad that he was able to die peacefully in his own bed. It's weird that this is what I've been working on. My dad would like this piece.  I remember how he always brought flowers to my mom like clockwork when the ones in the vase started to wilt. He was a talented artist and his medium of choice was block prints. Here's a portrait he did many years ago for some occasion.

He had a very unique sense of style and his work was always very much his own. His atoms are mingling with my moms now. He leaves Mag, Dave and I with lots of crazy memories and a true closeness for each other, not geographically, but with a loving family bond.

SET UP

Busy setting up the gallery. We open May 9th!

ANTSY FOR SPRING

 Working on some spring time pieces even though  the weather is not cooperating. I'm loving the simplicity of the loon piece. I have some clouds drawn in but I think I'll leave them out because I like the stark contrast of the butterflies with the bright blue background. The little cross neck pouch is cheerful, that opal lavender vintage bead is so pretty. 
I've moved the bead table back upstairs to the gallery. It's nice to be back in front of my big windows, the light is so much better. I can't help but feel antsy though, the giant snowflakes falling down today are not part of the spring time feeling I was hoping for. You can bead all the spring themes you want but you can't make it warm up any sooner...

THE COMPLETE PICTURE

So here are the finished wall pockets. I hemmed and hawed on how to make them. Finally I ordered some salmon skins for the the back pieces and used neoprene, (the material that all the fishermans waders are made out of) for the lining, which in my mind tied it all together. While I was putting them together I kept saying I'm in whip stitch hell. This was way, way, way to much whip stitch to do all at once! Using the same colors and pattern on all three helped the continuity though and in the end the whip stitch hell payed off...

LYNX

Just finished the lynx, whew, he turned out better than I thought he would when I was in the middle of it...

TWO DONE DEALS

 Thought I'd put up the bags now that they are completely finished.We attempted something different with these bags. On the back we've added i pad pockets.They are lined with  gorgeous, soft neoprene to keep the electronics safe. I say we, because my wonderful and talented husband Robert does the majority of the leather sewing. This (of course) is the best because I really rather be beading. I use to do it all but then when we got this sewing machine, he liked it because it was such a piece of equipment. The motor is huge! Anyway, I'm always showing pictures of the bead table so here's a shot of the leather sewing machine. I'm really happy with the new pockets, should be interesting to see how well they go over...

back zipper pocket

THIS IS THE END, OR NOT

So, the end, or the new beginning or just as far as the Mayans went with their calendar. I have a feeling that I will be in the middle of a piece of beadwork when my time comes, I guess this would be an appropriate piece, (the owl is calling my name), but I'm a skeptic and I feel confident that I'll be sewing tomorrow. It is the winter solstice.The days are short and the clear night skies are filled with brilliant, sparkling cold stars. I think this piece I'm working on is fitting for just such an occasion. I've done a lot of cut glass black night skies, but this time I added more and more stars and some dark silver in places to get that milky way effect.  For some reason this picture doesn't capture the look. There has been a lot of hemming and hawing over the color of the water in the background. It's penciled in as a gray silver blue but I may still use something darker to keep the night mood, the color choices are on the table. What do you think?
As far as working at the down stairs table, it's okay. I get to enjoy the Christmas tree and be in the middle of all the things going on. One small draw back, there is cat hair all over my bead stuff. Oh well, today I finish the ivy leaves...