Sometimes A Girl Just Needs To Feel Sparklie

Once in a while when I get together with my best girlfriends, my Ya-ya's, we get silly and wear wild head gear. I've been meaning to make myself a tiara for these special times, but haven't had the time. This weekend I made time. For the flowers I cannibalized some wire-wrapped earrings that I've had in inventory forever. Special sale pricing proved ineffective at moving them, so I used them for this bit of Sparklie Goodness...

OK, Girls, I'm ready for our next meeting!

copyright 2010 Shibori Girl

Prayers For Ricardo

My dear friend, Isabel, from A Room Of One's Own needs our prayers and positive thoughts. Her brother, Ricardo, was in a serious auto accident and is in a coma on life support. She's asked for a collective prayer to help him through this terrible trial.

I'm praying for you, too, Isabel...


copyright 2010 Shibori Girl

Perserverance Pays Off

The Tea Party is over: the cups are washed and put away, glitter and crumbs swept up, and life goes back to normal. I picked up where I left off with Mikkey's beaded amulet bag and finished it yesterday.

This was the mother-of-all-beaded-projects for me so far and here's how it progressed since my last update:

I finished the cylinder section of the bag and then went to the directions to find the next step. This wasn't hard, since the instructions were fairly terse:

"2. Work bottom and close." Well - not too helpful! HOW do I work the bottom? What is it supposed to look like? Is that little strip of blue at the bottom of the color map supposed to be the bottom? Or are they supposed to be flaps that hang down behind the bag with fringe attached to them, like the front flap diagrammed between them? Where is it written down?

I finally shouted "S**T" to the skies and headed to the bead shop for some help. I've heard rumors of a peyote stitch expert who works there, and maybe SHE could give me some direction... I showed her the pattern, the bag itself, and the kit directions. She stared at it for a good long while and said, "Huh!" She'd never seen such poorly written instructions before. After banging our heads together for several minutes, she pretty much said that however I decided to finish off the bottom was going to be right. OK.

So, I went home and figured out how many stitches and rows were in those two little patches of blue at the bottom of the color map. Maybe, they weren't supposed to be TWO flaps, but one joined in the middle behind the front flap? Sure enough, after making it up, this flap was JUST big enough to fill the bottom area. I stitched it closed with a huge sigh of relief.

The next step, the triangular flap at the bottom front, required some research - I hadn't learned to do decreases at the edge of peyote stitch yet. Easy peasy! I worked the flap and added it to the center front of the bag.

The fringe was also easy, just time consuming. Three down...

forty-seven to go!!

The strap was the final step, and required some patience. The words on it read:

"... and from the sea rose Venus, Goddess of Love, the brightest star in the infinite sky." ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

I did take some liberties with the strap. By the time I got close to the end of the alphabet, the strap was REALLY long. Then I saw there were TWO "X's" as well as several punctuation marks after the letters in the diagram. I'm not a fan of redundancy, especially when my eyes are at stake. So, I left out the second X and those punctuations.

I tried on the bag, and the top hung even with my navel! With the added characters in the strap, it would have hung like a sporran in front of a kilt.

At any rate, it's done, and I'm happy with the result:

With all the fringe, it's fairly heavy, a little over four ounces. I think having the fringe run all around the front flap and the back at the bottom was unnecessary. But, it is very lush to look at.

~~~

What I learned from this project:

I know I can do something really difficult if I'm patient and ask for help.

I know I could write better directions! One simple line drawing diagram of how the bottom should look would have been a huge help. Even an additional photo of the back would be been a good idea.

After peering at the complicated pattern diagram, then switching to peering at tiny Delica seed beads, I fear I need a pair of these.

I prefer to see Botticelli's on the wall here.

Time to let out a deep breathe, pack the bag up and mail it out, then go onto something new...

Beaded Bag Progress

After I posted this, I knuckled down and got to work on Mikkey's "Venus" amulet bag. The first few rows were a complete nightmare. I had trouble reading the pattern - there are so many rows, and the peyote stitch creates half-step rows to make things worse. I remembered a magnet board I used when I did cross stitch many years ago. I dug that out, and it made life so much easier! By late Saturday night, I'd reached this point:

After I finish a row, I skootch the magnet bars up about 1/8 of inch to line up with the next row. Be very careful! Too far, and you've got a mess!

I always work a little faster when facial features start appearing - the piece starts to come alive for me then. This is where I am with it right now:

There's been a great deal of experimentation with my work environment during this project. The intricate pattern requires total involvement: body and brain. Any less, and mistakes start to happen, which means the household swear jar gets an infusion of quarters.

I've tried silence, but then I talk out loud to myself as I count the bead sequence for each row - very wearing. I found my mind wandering every couple of rows and I'd go get a snack, walk to the mailbox, read some email, not really wanting to go back to work.

Next I tried some instrumental music and found it works for this setting. My favorite: Ottmar Liebert and his Luna Negra band. Here's a little sample of his phenomenal classical guitar work:



It's a pleasant background, and surprisingly, the repetitive nature of it keeps me focused. Then, every four or five rows, my back and shoulders cramp up and my brain freezes. I switch over to some Billy Idol. It gives me a chance to get up and dance around my studio like a crazy person. Ahhh, now I'm loosened up and can get back to work. BUT, before I can get up, I need to leave all sorts of notes to myself reminding me of where I am in the project. If I don't, I get hopelessly lost.

I'm very nearly done with the main cylinder of the bag. Once that's done, I need to go to my local bead emporium for some lessons on the next step. The pattern designer assumed a great deal of knowledge on the part of the beader - just a reminder for me that I've overstepped my skill level this time.

Stay tuned...

The Peter Principle Proving True

My mother's friend, Mikkey, is moving house.

While packing up, she found some beading projects she's decided she'll never get around to doing. In a great move of generosity she's passed them to me. The one she really hopes I'll do for her is a little peyote stitch amulet bag by designer, Ann (Paxton) Winebrenner. I've gotten quite comfortable with tubular peyote stitch now, so I thought I'd try this pretty project.

The kit came neatly packaged up in a small tube:

If it all fits into this little package, how complicated can it be, right? I emptied the tube to assess the contents, and....

.... "Holy s**t-pile of beads, Batman!" There were long tubes, short tubes, and itty bitty ziploc baggies of seed beads. And there were color charts mapping the design.

*gulps and repeats to herself:* "OK, I can do this, I can do this..." One baby bead at a time. I think this is going to be a long-haul enterprise, but I'll give it my best.

I'm all for trying something just beyond my current skill set, but this is a BIG reach. Thanks for the challenge, Mikkey! And safe travels...

Let Me Introduce My Friend,...

... Christie, of Sweetbriar Studio here in sultry North Carolina.

She is a purse designer extraordinaire,

has designed fun reversible fabric hats,

and felted pieces for the home.

She has two Etsy shops: one for her purses, hats, and accessories, and one for home accessories.

Christie and I have been friends for years (I've bought and made some of her purse patterns). Periodically, we meet for lunch and a chance to get caught up. Today was our first lunch in several months - time has flown by! During our chattering this afternoon, she let drop that she's started a blog. While you are sitting at your computer, why don't you hippity-hoppity your way over to her corner of Blogland and give her a big Bloglandia welcome?

Christie was one of my "helpers" at my show last November

Let's Get This Party Started!

To celebrate May Day, my best friends, my Ya-Ya's, met to make faerie gardens. It turned into a birthday celebration for Debbie and me (our Special Day's are one day apart in the middle of May). We had a three-flavored birthday cake with cream cheese frosting

and gin-and-tonic lollipops!

To drink we all had a ruby red grapefruit/apple juice/vanilla concoction.

Yowzah! It was all so good - I took a tiny detour off my diet for this celebration, and I'm so glad I did.

~

For the gardens, we all brought low planters and our hostess provided some plants to share. Others brought things to decorate: sea shells, crafty items, broken pottery shards, etc. Then we got down to it and had a blast.

Some were simple and spare. Faeries can frolic in a field of moss in this little garden...

Toadstools and picket fences make good garden features...

A rockery with a dainty pool... See the little tart form with blue beads glued around the edge?

A birdbath is transformed into a lovely park with a faerie swing...

A faerie can always use a welcome sign and some bling! See the little rhinestone hair clips in the soil?

My faerie garden has a birdbath made from a scallop shell glued to a wooden spool, and a tiny silver faerie sunning herself while perched on a moon shell. a little trail of river rocks and shells meanders throughout the garden. A tiny potted plant is off to the side:

Thanks to all my favorite ladies for a lovely birthday party and May Day celebration! You're the best.

Purple, Blue... Or Both?

Thankfully, Hanna seems to have fizzled out. We supposed to get some rain and wind, but nothing more. Now we just have to worry about hurricane Ike, which doesn't look like it will hit us head on. Poor Florida, they do get more than their fair share!

Thanks so much to Kelly, from Boxing Day, for the Brilliant Blog nomination! Now THAT'S the crowbar I needed to pry me out of the "poor me" mood I've been wallowing in. If you haven't seen her blog, it's very entertaining - she makes art for sale on Etsy using recycled materials.

My list of nominees:

A Fanciful Twist
Rochambeau
Collage Diva
Artsortments
Somepinkflowers
Tea and Honey Bread
A Whimsical Bohemian

The rules for the nominees:

1) Add the logo of the award to your blog
2) Add a link to the person who awarded it to you
3) Nominate at least 7 other blogs
4) Add links to those blogs on your blog
5) Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs!

~

On another note, I had quality studio time last night and made some bracelets. How is it possible, that after two years of jewelry making, I've neglected this huge corner of the market?!? In tough times when people don't want to spend for a necklace, I should have smaller ticket items like bracelets for them.

I started with some gorgeous lampworked glass beads, bought a few years ago on ebay (lovingly referred to as feebay around here). This was a set of three different groups of beads intended to be used together. When I bought them, I saw some black with purple and blue flowers, some purple with blue dots, and some were clear lavender.

After I made the bracelet, I stuck it in the light box to photograph it. I turned on the fluorescent spotlights, and...Holy Crap! Those clear lavender beads turned sky blue!! How freaky is that?

I checked with some glass workers on Etsy and found out there is a special Moretti alexandrite glass that will do this. But how is it possible that I had these weird and lovely beads for years and never saw this? I spent a half hour walking back and forth in the doorway from the den (which has incandescent lighting) to the kitchen (which has fluorescent), just to watch the color change back and forth. Simple pleasures, right?

Author, Author...!

I've been kicking around this idea for a couple of years: I'm going to write a book. Whew! There..., I actually said it out loud. I don't know if it'll be a good book, but I'm going to try it.

Since my big injury back in 2005, I've been trying to find my new path. I'm unable to comfortably dye fabrics anymore, and basic sewing tasks make my hand pain flare up. I had to abandon my wearable art business just when it was getting on it's feet. Now, here I am attempting to resurrect the business with a jewelry focus.

In that summer of 2005, while recuperating from torn ligaments and a dislocated thumb, and in considerable pain, my dominant hand was immobilized in a rigid brace. I couldn't do much except lie on the sofa watching mind-numbing television, gorked on Vicodin. I actually found a picture that Marble Man took of me in this pathetic state, but I'm not posting it here - too sad!

As I struggled to climb the steep and slippery sides of the Pity Pot, my friends suggested things I could do to be productive. They pointed out I've taught myself a lot of art skills, and I should teach classes to pass them on to others. I know for a fact that I'm a terrible teacher with no patience. The next suggestion: "write a book describing your 'artistic journey'." I could tell stories of my travels from medium to medium, and why not end each chapter with a simple project the reader can do?

It feels strange, and downright narcissistic to be writing all about myself, but I'll keep at it. (I've got a whole two pages written now!) I don't know the right way to go about writing a book, shopping for publishers, etc. So I have a ton of research to do.

What do you think? Is this something you would want to read?... Honestly?

Blueberry Corn Muffins

I had so many exclamations of "I've never heard of blueberry corn muffins!" at the tea party, that I thought I'd post the recipe here for anyone interested:

Blueberry Corn Muffins:

Makes 12
Preheat oven to 400 degrees

1-1/3 C all-purpose white flour
2/3 C yellow cornmeal
1 T baking powder
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1 C blueberries, washed and stemmed
1 egg
2/3 C skim milk
1/2 C honey
3 T vegetable oil
1 tsp sugar

Spray muffin tins with nonstick cooking spray.

In large bowl, stir or whisk together the flour, cornmeal, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Add the blueberries and toss to coat with flour mixture.

In smaller bowl, lightly beat the egg. Add the milk, honey, and oil, whisking until well combined.

Add the liquid mixture to the dry ingredients, stirring until just combined. Do NOT over-mix!

Divide the batter equally between the 12 muffin cups, filling each about 2/3 full. Sprinkle the tops with sugar.

Bake 18-22 minutes, until risen and golden. Turn onto a baking rack to cool.

169 calories
4 grams fat
143 mg sodium
18 mgs cholesterol

Note: If using frozen blueberries, don't thaw them. Just rinse off ice crystals and pat dry. Toss separately with 3 T of the flour and stir in after liquid is added.

**These muffins go stale very quickly, but then taste fabulous cut in half, toasted, and spread with some sweet butter.

And the Winners Are...

~

~

I've just completed the name-drawing for the pink flower earrings giveaway contest and we have some winners: (drumroll please... and perhaps a flourish of trumpets)

somepinkflowers

Fete et Fleur

Rochambeau

Congratulations All! What I need from you now is your snail mail addresses so these little beauties can start their adventures.

Thanks to all who participated.

1:00PM Follow-up:

I thank all of you for getting your mailing info to me so super-quick! I'm sending them this afternoon.

Be sure to tell all your friends where you got the earrings when they "ooh" and "ahh" over them!