I'll be delivering it on Sunday, so farewell my lovely...
copyright 2010 Shibori Girl
Thursday, March 31, 2011
I'm In!
I just got word yesterday that "Jewels For Sheherazade" was accepted to the NC Museum of Art's silent auction.
I'll be delivering it on Sunday, so farewell my lovely...
copyright 2010 Shibori Girl
I'll be delivering it on Sunday, so farewell my lovely...
copyright 2010 Shibori Girl
Monday, March 21, 2011
"Spring is Around The Corner"
"Spring is Around the Corner" is the theme of April's Etsy Beadweavers Street Team challenge. I'm currently enjoying an early Spring here in North Carolina, so I decided to participate in the challenge.
This theme would also enable me to fulfill my New Year's resolution: use up beads I already own - in this case, pale pink seed beads and carved flower beads. I'd bought the seed beads in an effort to fill out my stock of color choices, but I very rarely work in pink. As a result, these beads have been taking up space in a drawer for years.
I made a right angle weave amulet bag with a profusion of flower and leaf beads. To finish it, I indulged my new love of fringe.
Wow. Apparently competition is good for me! This pretty amulet bag is listed for sale in my etsy shop.
To read more about the challenge, please visit the team blog.
copyright 2010 Shibori Girl
This theme would also enable me to fulfill my New Year's resolution: use up beads I already own - in this case, pale pink seed beads and carved flower beads. I'd bought the seed beads in an effort to fill out my stock of color choices, but I very rarely work in pink. As a result, these beads have been taking up space in a drawer for years.
I made a right angle weave amulet bag with a profusion of flower and leaf beads. To finish it, I indulged my new love of fringe.
Wow. Apparently competition is good for me! This pretty amulet bag is listed for sale in my etsy shop.
To read more about the challenge, please visit the team blog.
copyright 2010 Shibori Girl
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Final Preparations
When I wrote this post about my museum competition piece, I mentioned my plan to make a box for presentation. I've been mulling over different ways to do this.
My super-crafty best friend had a number of great ideas and loaned me a book titled, "Crafting Personal Shrines" by Carol Owen. Surprise, surprise: Carol is an old acquaintance from my association with a local craft co-op! All sorts of people are going to have a hand in this fabulous piece of mine. In this book, Carol demonstrates the best way to treat foamcore to prevent the warping that occurs over time.
My initial thought was to make a box, from scratch, using foamcore. But, the weight of the collar made me worry the box wouldn't be strong enough to hold up. I decided to start with a ready-made white cardboard mailing box from Staples, and embellished it with some gorgeous marbled rice paper from my local studio supply shop. I used a solid colored rice paper in a nice deep burgundy to line the inside of the box, as well as reinforcing the outside corners.
To showcase the piece inside the box, I used foamcore as a slanted surface, inserted a column of mat board where the neck area would lie, and draped the whole thing with kiwi green silk velvet.
Hazzah!
My jury photo and artist statement have been uploaded, and now it's in the hands of the powers-that-be. I'll find out around the end of the month whether I was accepted or not. Either way, I'm very proud of what I've done here.
copyright 2010 Shibori Girl
My super-crafty best friend had a number of great ideas and loaned me a book titled, "Crafting Personal Shrines" by Carol Owen. Surprise, surprise: Carol is an old acquaintance from my association with a local craft co-op! All sorts of people are going to have a hand in this fabulous piece of mine. In this book, Carol demonstrates the best way to treat foamcore to prevent the warping that occurs over time.
My initial thought was to make a box, from scratch, using foamcore. But, the weight of the collar made me worry the box wouldn't be strong enough to hold up. I decided to start with a ready-made white cardboard mailing box from Staples, and embellished it with some gorgeous marbled rice paper from my local studio supply shop. I used a solid colored rice paper in a nice deep burgundy to line the inside of the box, as well as reinforcing the outside corners.
To showcase the piece inside the box, I used foamcore as a slanted surface, inserted a column of mat board where the neck area would lie, and draped the whole thing with kiwi green silk velvet.
Hazzah!
My jury photo and artist statement have been uploaded, and now it's in the hands of the powers-that-be. I'll find out around the end of the month whether I was accepted or not. Either way, I'm very proud of what I've done here.
copyright 2010 Shibori Girl
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Surprise!
A couple of weeks ago I was sitting on the couch, doing my blog-hopping thing, when I landed on MadDesigns, the blog of Marcia DeCoster: Right Angle Weaver Extraordinaire. I've been a big fan of her work for years, drooling over pictured projects published in bead magazines. Usually I just lurk when I read her blog. But a recent post showing earrings that a student did in Marcia's class caused me to leave a comment. I admired the earrings design, the colors the student chose, and mentioned that someday I would like to take a class from her.
She wrote back to say she'd like to send me a pair of those earrings I'd admired. They arrived in my mailbox yesterday and they are even more beautiful in person.
This was such a sweet thing to do. They arrived on a dark, chilly, dreary day to deliver some much needed sparkle. Whenever I wear them, I'll think of that bright moment.
I just received her book, Beaded Opulence, and can hardly wait to crack it open and start weaving.
Whenever I visit her blog, I find myself lost in the beautiful photographs she posts.
"Sea Urchin"
Her sense of color and the textural quality of her designs are stunning.
If you get the urge to learn Right Angle Weave (RAW), I hope you'll consider giving Marcia's MadDesigns a try. She sells kits in addition to her books, which you can find on her website.
copyright 2010 Shibori Girl
She wrote back to say she'd like to send me a pair of those earrings I'd admired. They arrived in my mailbox yesterday and they are even more beautiful in person.
This was such a sweet thing to do. They arrived on a dark, chilly, dreary day to deliver some much needed sparkle. Whenever I wear them, I'll think of that bright moment.
I just received her book, Beaded Opulence, and can hardly wait to crack it open and start weaving.
Whenever I visit her blog, I find myself lost in the beautiful photographs she posts.
"Sea Urchin"
"Under the Mast"
"The Rising Sun"
If you get the urge to learn Right Angle Weave (RAW), I hope you'll consider giving Marcia's MadDesigns a try. She sells kits in addition to her books, which you can find on her website.
"Portico"
Please note: The images posted here of Marcia DeCoster's work are her property, used with her permission. Please respect her copyright.
copyright 2010 Shibori Girl
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Let The Competition Begin!
It's taken me three intense weeks to complete my competition piece. During this time I've learned a tremendous amount about how to plan, and execute, a design. I've mentioned before that I don't like to start with a plan. I like the element of surprise at the end, where I look at the final results of my labors and say, "Well, I didn't see THAT coming!".
In this case, however, stakes are high, and I wanted to be sure of my results. The careful planning paid off, Big Time.
Even Marble Man looked at it and said it was amazing, and the best piece I've done to date. High praise, indeed.
With this project, I used up a significant portion of my bead stash - beads I liked but didn't have a plan to use when I bought them - I just liked them at the time. They've remained in their drawers, waiting to be counted each year at tax time. Those troublesome beads went together quite beautifully, and I'm so happy with the results.
I have so much time left until the entry deadline that I'm thinking now I'll make a presentation box for it, something lined with velvet for the potential owner to store the necklace. Now that my work is done with this project, it's up to the judges to decide if it's good enough for the auction. *crossing fingers*
BTW, if you are interested in what my inspiration for this piece was, I found some images online of Afghani kuchi tribal bellydancer jewelry:
It was great fun to translate the silver work into colorful beading.
copyright 2010 Shibori Girl
In this case, however, stakes are high, and I wanted to be sure of my results. The careful planning paid off, Big Time.
Even Marble Man looked at it and said it was amazing, and the best piece I've done to date. High praise, indeed.
With this project, I used up a significant portion of my bead stash - beads I liked but didn't have a plan to use when I bought them - I just liked them at the time. They've remained in their drawers, waiting to be counted each year at tax time. Those troublesome beads went together quite beautifully, and I'm so happy with the results.
I have so much time left until the entry deadline that I'm thinking now I'll make a presentation box for it, something lined with velvet for the potential owner to store the necklace. Now that my work is done with this project, it's up to the judges to decide if it's good enough for the auction. *crossing fingers*
BTW, if you are interested in what my inspiration for this piece was, I found some images online of Afghani kuchi tribal bellydancer jewelry:
It was great fun to translate the silver work into colorful beading.
copyright 2010 Shibori Girl
Wednesday, February 09, 2011
Royalty Throughout Time Challenge
As promised, here is the link for voting on this month's Etsy Beadweavers Challenge: Royalty Throughout Time. There are SO MANY beautiful entries, I don't know how I'm going to choose one as my favorite.
I hope you'll go and vote for your favorite piece, too. Don't feel you have to vote for mine, just pick your fave. The poll will be open at the team blog until midnight, Feb 16th.
copyright 2011 Shibori Girl
I hope you'll go and vote for your favorite piece, too. Don't feel you have to vote for mine, just pick your fave. The poll will be open at the team blog until midnight, Feb 16th.
copyright 2011 Shibori Girl
Wednesday, February 02, 2011
Fancy, Schmancy
Marble Man talked me into entering a piece in the North Carolina Museum of Art's silent auction competition. This is a juried event with a Best in Show award which includes a VERY nice prize. The deadline for entries is March 15th; time to get my rear in gear!
The trick is designing a standout piece which won't be so over-the-top that it can't sell. The purpose of this event is fund-raising for the museum, after all. I decided to make a statement collar which is a little wilder than my usual - longer in the front with an added pendant and some sparkly fringe. I have a clear image in my head and, to make sure I stick to that image, I put it down on paper.
For the focal pieces, I'm using a couple of the polymer clay cabochons I made from push molds.
Now it's up to me to fill the space with seed beads, and some sparkly Swarovski crystals.
I think this piece will take me the full amount of time I have until the deadline!
copyright 2011 Shibori Girl
The trick is designing a standout piece which won't be so over-the-top that it can't sell. The purpose of this event is fund-raising for the museum, after all. I decided to make a statement collar which is a little wilder than my usual - longer in the front with an added pendant and some sparkly fringe. I have a clear image in my head and, to make sure I stick to that image, I put it down on paper.
For the focal pieces, I'm using a couple of the polymer clay cabochons I made from push molds.
Now it's up to me to fill the space with seed beads, and some sparkly Swarovski crystals.
I think this piece will take me the full amount of time I have until the deadline!
copyright 2011 Shibori Girl
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Meet Jennifer Maestre
"Urchins"
This amazing artist makes her own beads by cutting hundreds of colored pencils into short lengths.
She sharpens each piece, then drills a hole in the unsharpened end for stringing purposes. Finally, she weaves the little pencils together, painstakingly, to create her sculptures.
Jennifer at work
Her pieces are striking,
"Say Ah"
"Pencil Test"
and gorgeous.
"Ibentina"
Who says a bead has to be glass or plastic and have a hole in it when you buy it at the store? I'll be looking at items around me in a whole new way after seeing Jennifer's work!
Note: All images used in this post are the property of Jennifer Maestre and were used with her written permission. Please honor her copyright.
copyright 2011 Shibori Girl
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
New-Found Courage
I think Santa gave me an extra gift this past Christmas that wasn't wrapped in sparkly paper and a perky bow.
It wasn't anywhere under the tree where I could see it and open it. Instead, he gave it to me in dreams, where I could turn it and enjoy it from all angles, in any kind of light I chose to view it. Like the Cowardly Lion, I got the gift of Courage.
My latest jewelry designs are the proof. New materials, new color combinations, new techniques. I can't explain where this new-found courage came from, but I'm reveling in it.
I might have mentioned in a past post that I've joined the Etsy Beadweavers Street Team. This is a group of like-minded beading artisans, who nurture and encourage their fellow members. Each month there is a design challenge, and to maintain membership, we must participate in one of these challenges a year. The thought of this requirement had me tied up in knots. My designs usually happen as I work, a very organic process where I let the piece tell me what it wants to be. Whenever I've started with a preset design, something happens halfway through the project and it veers off in a new direction.
The idea that I'd have to start with a plan, and a theme I didn't come up with on my own was a tiny bit scary. But I did it. The theme for February was titled "Royalty Throughout Time". In my research, I found some images of reproduction Tudor pieces, loaded with gold filigree and dripping with pearls. Lovely. During a road trip this past year, I'd picked up some fabu-liscious 1930's French brass stampings and at the time I had no idea how I'd use them. I just knew I needed to have them. The result was my very first challenge piece:
Voting on these challenges is open to anyone - Usually between the 9th and 15th of the month. I'll post a link when the poll is open.
I have no idea what's next on my work schedule, but I'm betting that it will knock my socks off! All of the pieces shown in this post are listed for sale in my Etsy shop.
copyright 2011 Shibori Girl
"Animal Dreams Pendant"
It wasn't anywhere under the tree where I could see it and open it. Instead, he gave it to me in dreams, where I could turn it and enjoy it from all angles, in any kind of light I chose to view it. Like the Cowardly Lion, I got the gift of Courage.
My latest jewelry designs are the proof. New materials, new color combinations, new techniques. I can't explain where this new-found courage came from, but I'm reveling in it.
"Sponge Coral Bracelet"
I might have mentioned in a past post that I've joined the Etsy Beadweavers Street Team. This is a group of like-minded beading artisans, who nurture and encourage their fellow members. Each month there is a design challenge, and to maintain membership, we must participate in one of these challenges a year. The thought of this requirement had me tied up in knots. My designs usually happen as I work, a very organic process where I let the piece tell me what it wants to be. Whenever I've started with a preset design, something happens halfway through the project and it veers off in a new direction.
The idea that I'd have to start with a plan, and a theme I didn't come up with on my own was a tiny bit scary. But I did it. The theme for February was titled "Royalty Throughout Time". In my research, I found some images of reproduction Tudor pieces, loaded with gold filigree and dripping with pearls. Lovely. During a road trip this past year, I'd picked up some fabu-liscious 1930's French brass stampings and at the time I had no idea how I'd use them. I just knew I needed to have them. The result was my very first challenge piece:
"Tudor Brooch"
Voting on these challenges is open to anyone - Usually between the 9th and 15th of the month. I'll post a link when the poll is open.
~~~
This past weekend I finished up a project that had been on my worktable for a while. I combined this polymer clay cabochon with some bead embroidery, added a profusion of branched fringe, and a beadwoven neck strap. Meet my Woodland Nymph in all her glory:
"Woodland Nymph Pendant"
I have no idea what's next on my work schedule, but I'm betting that it will knock my socks off! All of the pieces shown in this post are listed for sale in my Etsy shop.
copyright 2011 Shibori Girl
Friday, January 14, 2011
Professional Photography
Last November, my friend and mentor-supreme, Lorin Fields, assisted in my booth during our local annual Alternative Gift Market. She wished I had a display print showing a comely lass wearing one of my pieces. During lulls she also worked on me to consider entering high-end craft shows, specifically the Piedmont Craftsmen Guild show in November.
Both of these issues require better photography skills than I've achieved so far. Lorin, in her mentor capacity, arranged for me to tag onto a photo shoot she already had scheduled for last Saturday at her church. The photographer, Seth Tice-Lewis, is well-known in our area and came highly recommended by Lorin, who has worked with him several times in the past year, as well as by other artists. The model, Angie, is a friend of Lorin's from church.
Keep in mind, each piece entered in a portfolio only gets seen for a few seconds and needs to make an instant impact on the jury. Lorin came by my house a few days before the shoot to help pick out 10 of my strongest pieces, and to figure out what Angie needed to wear to show them off.
The day of the shoot, I arrived at the church and tried to stay out of the way as Seth and Lorin got to work.
This group has wonderful energy. Before her first shoot with Lorin, Angie went online to research modeling poses. Then she practiced in front of a mirror until it came naturally. In this picture, she's goofing a little bit:
Here, we've set up the pose for one of my bracelets:
The result:
Angie wanted to try a more natural hand position for the next bracelet:
Wonderful!
I think I've got my display print in this one:
copyright 2011 Shibori Girl
Both of these issues require better photography skills than I've achieved so far. Lorin, in her mentor capacity, arranged for me to tag onto a photo shoot she already had scheduled for last Saturday at her church. The photographer, Seth Tice-Lewis, is well-known in our area and came highly recommended by Lorin, who has worked with him several times in the past year, as well as by other artists. The model, Angie, is a friend of Lorin's from church.
Keep in mind, each piece entered in a portfolio only gets seen for a few seconds and needs to make an instant impact on the jury. Lorin came by my house a few days before the shoot to help pick out 10 of my strongest pieces, and to figure out what Angie needed to wear to show them off.
The day of the shoot, I arrived at the church and tried to stay out of the way as Seth and Lorin got to work.
This group has wonderful energy. Before her first shoot with Lorin, Angie went online to research modeling poses. Then she practiced in front of a mirror until it came naturally. In this picture, she's goofing a little bit:
Here, we've set up the pose for one of my bracelets:
The result:
Angie wanted to try a more natural hand position for the next bracelet:
Wonderful!
I think I've got my display print in this one:
When choosing a photographer, ask for recommendations, and look at samples of their work. Keep in mind fees are handled very differently amongst them: some charge by the roll of film, others charge a large set-up fee, others charge by the shot. Choose what works for you and get the best you can afford. The better your work looks, the more likely people will want to buy.
copyright 2011 Shibori Girl
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