I Heart Macro - Vintage Style

A few vintage blue beads from over at Bead Haven

I like the original shot, but felt like playing a little more, so here are a few other versions:

and this one...

Thanks to Lori Waterstone and the rest of the "macro" crowd...you can see more if you click here:

Vintage Ladybugs

I was working at Bead Haven last night with Joanne and we had a fantastic night rearranging displays so she could put out a huge selection of vintage beads.  I was absolutely drooling as she pulled out bag of vintage glass strands...seriously, I realized I was basically standing at her elbow for five minutes just staring and coveting until she finally looked and me with that "there are things you could be doing" look.  haaaaaaaaaaa 

My favorites are these big ceramic tubes with crazy, funky ladybugs!! They're huge, but I want them all!! (I settled for buying six of them when we closed up shop.) I've never seen anything like these before, and I've seen a lot of beads. If any of you are coveting and need one or a dozen, let me know and I'll go shop for you. haaaaaaaaaaa

Lovely winter cuticles help demonstrate the size of these cuties.

Don't they make you want to go macrame?

Playing Wire Freestyle

I joined the Bead Haven team at a show on Saturday at the Hampton Convention Center.  It was a long, long day as shows tend to be, but I got to be the demonstrating designer of the day, so I got to sit most of the time!  haaaaaaaaaa

I spent most of the time on crimping and stringing since it was easier to have those supplies, but there was also some wire coiling and wrapping on the schedule.
I haven't done much with wire like this lately because I usually use sterling silver and that is just waaaaay too expensive to play with nowadays.  But, I picked up some 16g plated wire that Joanne, my BHBF (Bead Haven Boss & Friend), keeps in stock for people like me to try.  I was afraid it would be too hard and my pliers would dig into the finish too much, but, as it turned out...it was just fine!  And, I just sort of went freestyle, added some coils, and came up with some pretty funky designs.

I'm kind of excited to try some more--especially with the gold-tone metal since I did up a quick swirly pair for Margo, the third member of the team manning the booth on Saturday.  I was surprised at how nicely they finished up!  I wouldn't say I have my groove completely back, but it feels good to come up with something new and unique, that's for sure.  :)

Got My Bead Groove Back!

It's all thanks to the Bead Haven August Challenge kit.  This is a local dealio, but I loooooove it and want to share!!  My new LBSO (local bead store owner) hero, Joanne, and I were talking the other day about creative blocks.  I have had zero crafty energy lately.  My new job is much more stressful than I thought it would be and I've had a headache for about six days now.  Massages, medicine and some exercise are helping, but I really felt the best this weekend when I sat down and got my bead groove back!!!!

Here's what came in the kit...picture jasper, abalone, gold-tone spacers, and Swarovski bicones in "purple velvet."

I first went for this focal...

The photo's from the Fundamental Findings Etsy shop where I got this fantastic Pamela Wolfersberger lampwork tab bead back in the fall.

But, I started finding a lot more brown and purple around my table so I got to the point where I laid out five different "focal" arrangements.  There's

lepidolite (a purpley stone),

 coconut shell (from my Hawaii trip in 2007!),

lampwork from Sue Beads (that I got in a bead swap),

and a dark wood floral disk.

I decided to go with one long piece that could be worn with any of those "focals" all around.  I added lots of purple Swarovski crystals and pearls, vintage glass, and brass accents to separate each section.  I'm so thrilled!

If you're in my local area, please go into the Bead Haven shop here in Peninsula Town Center in Hampton and vote for my piece!

Pic Me Up: Rural with a Twist

Celebrating the good old country feeling of Pennsylvania and Virginia with a little bit of photo-editing fun.  I cannot believe how unproductive I can actually be!  haaaaaaaaa  So much for getting things done on this day off!  

A bit of bull up in Colonial Williamsburg

Neatly rolled wheat in the fields near my sister's house in Dutch Corner

More from Dutch Corner...usually these chickens are down in the road.

Wish me luck with getting the workshop set up this week.  Ms. Joanne from Bead Haven gave me some "challenge" beads to string so I have to get to work so she doesn't think I just took them and ran. Plus, I'm going to be teaching a class down there in a couple of weeks on designing asymmetrically; we're going to focus on a bracelet to keep it easy.  :)

Happy Summer!!!

Missing My Blog Family!

I can't believe it has been over a week since I last posted!!  But, alas, I have been moving my household...including two ridiculous cats and a boatload of crafty stuff...and am finally down to just a few boxes left in my cute/tiny apartment.  I've been living without connectivity for a while...other than my little phone...and that has felt just about crippling for communicating. But, the cable people girl was here last night and now I'm back in action!!

I've been down to Bead Haven a few times to chat with Joanne and plan my first teaching gig...whoo hooo!  I'm starting small with an asymmetric bracelet class and I'm so excited to do some research and paw through everything she has in the store.  haaaaaaaaa  That's coming up in a couple of weeks.  Plus, I have a holiday weekend coming up so that means lots of time for beach strolling and being inspired in the morning with hot afternoons in the coolness of the workshop.  I'm soooo looking forward to it.

In the meantime, I actually found some time before I left Alabama to shoppity shop.  It's all about the orange on these Donna Millard beads.  There's a matching focal, too, that's just sooooo sweet!

Plus, the antique and flea markets back in my hometown, Bedford, Pa., provided lots of distractions while I was home visiting.  I can't wait to show you the vintage goodies I found!

I have to get ready for a little PT before it gets up to the 100's again...great.  :)

It's a Beautful Day in my New Neighborhood

I'm settling into my new neighborhood which happens to have a bead shop in walking distance...it's right near the bar, so I had a perfect evening last night with martinis and then some bead chat with Joanne, the owner of Bead Haven.  She just moved the shop into this growing area called the Peninsula Town Center, so how lucky am I?!  haaaaaaa

Even luckier, she had the new Summer issue of Stringing so we oooohed and aaaahed over the great projects, including three of my necklaces!!!  I feel like I've made the Bead Celebrity D-List.  haaaaaaaaaaa  Amidst all the drama of moving and unpacking and starting a new job, it's so nice to be able to chat with someone as excited as I am about crafting and art and creating new pretties.

So here's a little preview of the pieces in this issue...

Once I get back from some leave visiting family, I think there might be a giveaway in order!!!  I can share some extras of the beads I used in these pieces...aquamarine nuggets & cool turquoise bits.  :)