Beadweaving with Huib Petersen

My first bead workshop ever!  I owe a huge thanks the the Great Lake Beadworkers Guild for allowing me to join and get into the classes without ever having gone to a meeting.  I know, I need to make it out there for the meetings.  I was kind of nervous going into this class.  I have been beading for 20 years, but I have had no formal training so I did not know at what level I would be beading in compared to the rest of the class.  Would I be way behind? Would I be taking up a bunch of the instructors time in trying to understand how to do something?  It was quite the opposite.  I feel that I can truly say that I have a firm grasp on how to put beads together and even in following other's directions.  I am also a very fast beader.

I haven't officially finished a total piece from the 2 day class but instead learned new techniques and how to utilize them.  I have done angled peyote stitch with the Russian Leaf stitch before and Huib has taken this to a new level.  The above image shows the flower petals before being pulled together.  Below is after you stitch the centers and edges. 

The pattern for the workshop was a water lilly, mine still needs the next 2 layers of petals and to be put together through the center.  I did make a finished lilly pad which is really pretty.  It also made me utilize bugle beads in a manner that I have never really thought about. 

I have started in on a dragonfly wing to learn how to graph out the angular peyote and do increase and decreases.  My brain is whirring with ideas for these new techniques.  But when I got home I had to finish my tapestery weaving!  So here this project sits, waiting to either be finished or set aside so that I can make new fun pieces from my own designs.  I cannot wait to get my own piece finished so that I can share pictures and my appreciation with Huib.

Happy Birthday Beading!

Today is my birthday, and also the anniversary of reciving my first bead loom...20 years ago.  I started to work on a project on the loom, but as a 4th or 5th grader had a hard time understanding just how to take the piece off and make it into a finished bracelet.  So there it sat, and next to it sat a pie-crust-tin-full of seed beads.  That tin of seed beads inspired me to start stringing beads, which I must admit, has never been my favorite thing.  My mother bought me the best bead book ever: "Native American Beadweaving" and in it had the pattern for a little beaded indian doll.  These tiny dolls were where I began teaching myself the peyote stitch.  Weaving each bead together one at a time seemed to grab me much quicker than lining them up on a string.  Those little Indian dolls are 11 beads around.  My bangle bracelets that I now make are about 160 beads around, with nicer beads.  :)
I still dabble on the bead loom, and only in the past year have I began to take an interest in stitches other than the peyote stitch.  I love the Russian Leaf stitch, and I have grown quite passionate about the St. Petersburg Russian Chain stitch with tiny little 15/0 beads.
Tomorrow I am taking my first bead workshop ever.  I have always been persistent on training myself with my beads, but I'm taking a leap and hope that I can learn from another long time beader and fashion artist, Huib Petersen.  I have to admit, I haven't been that inspired by Herringbone Stitch since I have taught myself this month, but I figure this will open new doors. 
2010, look out for great new bead designs to come! (Including beaded blob accents that are in the works!)

Delicious Seed Beads!

These are the seed beads that I can't seem to live without for my Spring 2010 jwewlry designs!   I found them on our trip up to the U.P. (see http://jennyschu.blogspot.com/2010/01/beads-and-yarn-in-upper-peninsula.html).  I have plenty of seed beads but I always seem to collect more.  My current fetish is for size 15/0 beads (2 sizes smaller than your average seed bead, the 11/0).  This necklace is only 3/8 of an inch wide and it look very delicate.

 I've gone through the first 10g bag and am on the second with this Russian Chain necklace that I'm working on.  I bought the only 2 that were left in the store and it looks like I am going to need more.  They're this delicious fuschia/red color that has a fiery finish to them.  This piece will be sure to make any outfit pop!  Be on the lookout as I will put it up on my Etsy site before it hits the Grove Gallery Co-op. (This necklace will be similiar to my "Midsummer's Fairy Dream Lariat" that sold in January. 

Also, on the same trip to the U.P. I had found this fabulous yarn that I couldn't help but buy (even though I never spend $22 for a ball of yarn).  I had mentioned it in that blog and here's a photo of it.  It's actually making me think about learning to spin.  My mother can spin but I never had any interest in it.  Now, knowing that I can spin anything together is making me chomp at the bit.

Yummy!

Back on the Loom!

Do not leave yarn to run rampant on your loom, as it may jump into your nearby wine!

The next Technology Innovation Center showing has the theme of "Where the Heart is" and I got inspired.  I'm taking a look at my shift from being raised on the farm and being a home body to loving living in a city (or multiple cities) and being close to everything.  It has to start with the barn I grew up playing in.  It stands alone as the place to escape to when you wanted to get away and feel the warmth of old wood and dry alfalfa flakes.  I guess it represents the me that never wanted to go anywhere or do anything, I remember saying that I had no need to travel or want to go anywhere because it was expensive and if I never saw it, then I never knew what I was missing.  I guess I've grown since then and am so excited to go to Europe for the first time in March.  Yay!  Below is my cartoon sketch that I pin to my tapestry as I weave.  I love to make my work become it's own thing, so the colors are not necessarily going to be what it ends up looking like.  I do the same with beadwork.  It's the lines that are most important to me in my sketches.

The shifting colored spirals have been with me and within my artwork for as long as I can remember.  I think they're the one this that will always exist in my work.  They not only represent my love of natural forms, but of movement and lack of control.  Spirals and vines fly out of my drawing utensils while I'm not even looking, it's my constant daydream.

I have also been enjoying tapestry weaving because it is so easy to use up my stash. I love picking up yarns and remembering the trip I was on when I found a particular one.  This piece will have hints of Mendocino and Oakland California, living in Madison Wisconsin, the stockings I knitted this Christmas, and the warp on the loom is the leftover from the wraps I wove my bridesmaids in March of 2009.  And yes, this is my first weaving since!

I know it doesn't look like a lot right now, and we won't know exactly what it looks like until I pull it completely off the loom.  It's much quicker to work from the back of a tapestry than the front.  Plus it helps push me along to finish  because I really want to know what the end-product will look like.  Each of my pieces have a bit of a mind of their own.

Hopefully I'll be able to get this tapestry off loom and ready to hang by its due date for TIC!

Beads and Yarn in the Upper Peninsula!

We just got back from a short trip to go skiing at Marquette Mountain and then visiting friends in the village of L'Anse.  Who knew that there are great little bead and yarn shops up there?!

After a great ski day we popped into Bella Beads in downtown Marquette.  When I walk into a bead store I tend to take a good long look around and see what catches my eye. Unless I have a specific project in mind I look for beads that I haven't seen before.  I also rate a bead store on its selection of seed beads.  I mostly look for 15/0 (teeny tiny) and 11/0 (standard seed bead size).  When I walked into Bella Beads I found a whole WALL of seed beads, yay!  I was wishing I had the supply list for the Huib Petersen class I will be taking in February since I have very little bugle beads and I have no idea what size I need. I did remember that I need to teach myself herringbone stitch before this class so I picked up a fantastic book at Bella Beads by Carol Wilcox Wells "The Art and Elegance of Beadweaving."  I was told to purchase her first book, but this one seemed to have what I needed with an updated twist.  I used it all weekend!  I also purchased some beautiful seed beads to work with that weekend and add to my stash.

The second place I came upon was in downtown Houghton.  Mary has learned how to crochet and as far as she knew, the only close yarn store was Michaels.  I can spot yarn or beads from a mile away.  We popped into a little store that seems to have everything fibers for Houghton.  At first I thought it was just a sewing shop but then I saw yarn in the window and we were pleasantly surprised!  Sew Irresistible Creations had lots of yummy yarn! (They do not appear to have a website so the link has their contact information)  I don't normally spend more than $10 on a ball of yarn, but this was one of those instances where I knew I would be pining over this yarn when I headed back down state.  (I will get a picture/info for it up asap). 

The last related stop that Mary and I had in Houghton was Silver Rae Beading Studio.  It's easy to miss, the only sign we saw was right in our way on the sidewalk with BEADS UPSTAIRS on it.  This shop is kind of awkward because it has 3 little rooms.  It has yet another fabulous selection of seed beads (two walls!), but I ended up finding some really fun glass accent beads that I couldn't pass up.  Warning for down-staters: Cash is king in the U.P. and this store only takes cash or checks.  Luckily Mary and I had enough cash together to purchase everything we had picked out.

I also got started on my very first Herringbone Stitch project!  I was enjoying playing with the way it curves with the larger beads and now I am trying to figure out how i want to finish it.  I have made all of the waves face one way by stitching peyote stitch along the bottom, but now I'm stumped.  Expect a follow-up!

Taking my own art advice, and then not.

I had a lengthy critique/problem solving session with our studio artist at Grove Gallery, Deb, about a piece she was stuck on.  We talked about various ways to make the piece more comfortable for her to work on, but my biggest piece of advice was to move to a different project to get your mind off of it and start fresh. 

I have been knitting almost all of December and instead of coming back to this beaded bangle and looking at it with fresh eyes, I have completely avoided all beads.  Not good.  I try to only have one larger beaded project going at once.  This way when I need a break I either look to my other talents like weaving, knitting, generally getting a fresh start on something.

This time I need to put this beaded piece away, possibly until next fall due to it's theme of fall leaves.  I am currently inspired by the winter.  Itching to get out skiing, and looking toward color forecasting ideas for Spring/Summer 2010.   (And here's another great inspiring "Women's Market Spring/Summer 2010.")

I also did my first ever trade with another artist, against my normal advice.  I try not to get in the habit of trading but Linda Girard is one of the other beaders in the Ann Arbor Fiber Arts Guild and I lvoe her work!  She does a lot with mixing various bead techniques one of which I really love is the spiral stitch.  I haven't taught myself how to do this one yet but now I have a great new bracelet that I can admire in this stitch.  For Linda I took the New Wave pattern and adjusted some of the colors.  It's less-pastel, more rich and really compliments the whole peacock idea well. 

If anyone is interested in this version they would just have to tell me they want the Linda version of it! (Sorry I didn't get a great picture of it before I gave ti to her, I was just so excited to have a new bangle done and out the door!)

On to new bead projects and weavings for 2010!

Jon and Barb Whitney at the grove Gallery Co-op!

If you live in the Lansing area you should already know the fabulous artists Jon Whitney (potter) and Barb Whitney (painter/mixed media). 
They have put together a special show for us over at the Grove Gallery Co-op.  Barb has done a new body of work to compliment her husband's pottery in our display space!  Jon has matching pieces of pottery from bowls that hold their chopsticks, interesting-shaped pitchers, and wine coolers that you pre-chill in your freezer!
Their Artist Opening Reception will be on February 7th from 12pm-4pm. (What a great time to come meet the artist and get a creative Valentine's gift!).