Kate Boyan's Gallery

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

DAMAGE

This is a story of a well meaning nature lover who was trying to rescue a hurt bee. Unfortunately while transferring the injured insect (who was resting on her raven bag ) she tripped and fell into a rock wall. The bee didn't make it and the raven bag took a bad blow. So the bag is back on the table being remade. You wouldn't think that I would have to take the whole thing apart but I do. You have to undo the lazy stitch to get to the back of the beadwork. Today I carefully undid all portions of the beadwork that were broken, backing out lots of threads to make them long enough to tie knots. Tomorrow I will rebuild the birds wings. Not to bad, right? The problem is you can not do the lazy stitch on a purse that is assembled, you can't, I've tried. ( not to mention the lining.) It has to be on a flat piece of leather. So the whole purse has to be remade. This happens sometimes. The owner has request a beaded bee be sewn into the lining which I think is a wonderful idea. A memorial. It all goes toward the idea that these bags are meaningful heirlooms but also they are to be used everyday and then, if need bee, (lol) repaired...

injured

Sunday, October 31, 2010

THE END OF OCTOBER

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

TODAYS SCENE

Here's the progress on the still life piece. It's coming along, I added the chair in the foreground and the silhouette behind the curtain, (haven't beaded that yet, wanted to make sure you can tell what it is) Let me know if you can make it out. Thought putting something behind the curtain would add to the transparency effect. Still undecided on the table cloth color, probably going with pale blue but will consider any suggestions. I like the mirror. Should there be one more thing on the table or would that be over kill? Anyhow, as you can see there is fresh snow on the mountains this morning, looking very chilly out there on the inlet. No snow on the ground yet though. It's coming...

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

NEW BOOTS

Love, Love, Love my new boots! Don't they remind you of beadwork? In Alaska everybody has rubber boots, they are a must. About a year ago these colorful with great patterns boots started showing up in the stores. What a treat, why do they have to be black and brown anyway? BOGGS! Like beadwork on the feet only waterproof, and warm too...

Saturday, October 16, 2010

FIREWEED AND MOUNT ILIAMNA

Sent this out on Thursday, an order for a fellow beader and wonderful lady. It's intimidating to do beadwork for a beader, I hope it's just what she is wanting. Didn't want to spoil the opening of the box but she asked for a picture, are you peeking Jeanette? Check out her work, maybe you already know her, she organizes the bead quilt for breast cancer every year, a fun and worthwhile thing to participate in...

Jeanette Shanigan Check out my beadwork books and bead kits! http://shanigansbeadshenanigans.com

Blog: http://beadyshenanigans.blogspot.com

Bead-It-Forward Breast Cancer Projects: http://shanigansbeadshenanigans.com/BCProjects.html

Monday, October 11, 2010

ON THE TABLE NOW

The application for the solo show has been sent in! Yea, that's done. They let people know at the end of December, so I can move on and think about other things. Wanted to challenge myself so I'm trying to do things I consider difficult, like sheer curtains, clear glass, reflective surfaces. I drew this still life up and started on it but I can see it's missing something. I could go simple and put another small item on the table. Maybe a pair of glasses? But I'm thinking of adding a hand up close, another major challenge for me. Hands are hard! Maybe then some nail polish on the table??? Any suggestions? Added some how-to stuff on this piece since I'm just beginning and you can see the process. I like using a hoop but know lots of beaders who don't. The thread is Nymo, size B and size 0. The beads are size 16 to size 11. I mix them around, using the small ones where I need detail.