My First Zombie Prom

I saw Zombie Prom on Lori's facebook update last year and not only thought it looked fun, but was sad I missed it.  So this year when I heard on the radio (thank you 97.5 Now FM) that it was Friday night, and we were planning on doing something, I jumped on it! 

The thrift store didn't have much for an interesting dress to rip up, so Megan had the good idea to go with something sassy and cheap from Wet Seal.  I haven't been in that store since high school, but we definitely found sassy + cheap there.  I went with a loud animal print that Megan and a teenager in the dressing room helped convince me was a good idea.

In my google searching of zombie costumes I avoided anything that said to use Spirit Gum since I have had terrible skin reactions to it, there is a lot out there that talks about water soluble liquid latex.  I did an early tester on my hand and it didn't irritate me at all and was comfortable on my skin.  The only thing is you do have to have patience with layering it on since it takes time to dry.

I did a fast and loose job but I really wanted a gash or two so I tried this "cheap" way of making gashes with toilet paper and layering liquid latex.  http://www.wikihow.com/Look-Like-a-Zombie  (Scroll to the bottom of this link to see the video.  It makes a lot of sense!)  It worked pretty well, I would probably put some skin-toned foundation on the toilet paper when I do this again so that I don't have to slather as much white makeup on my skin to even the edges of the toilet paper. 

I got tons of compliments on my cheap "going out" zombie dress, we danced all night and a huge thanks to Sprial Dance Bar for putting on the zombie prom and having good DJs!

(Hopefully pictures to come soon!)

"To Autumn" Grove Gallery October Show

For the month of October grove Gallery Co-op is inspired by John Keats!

John Keats (1795-1821)

TO AUTUMN

SEASON of mists and mellow fruitfulness,

Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;

Conspiring with him how to load and bless

With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run;

To bend with apples the moss’d cottage-trees,

And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;

To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells

 With a sweet kernel; to set budding more,

 And still more, later flowers for the bees,

Until they think warm days will never cease,

For Summer has o’er-brimm’d their clammy cells.
Who hath not seen thee oft amid thy store?

Sometimes whoever seeks abroad may find
Thee sitting careless on a granary floor,


Thy hair soft-lifted by the winnowing wind;



 Or on a half-reap’d furrow sound asleep,

Drows’d with the fume of poppies, while thy hook

Spares the next swath and all its twined flowers:
And sometimes like a gleaner thou dost keep

Steady thy laden head across a brook;
Or by a cyder-press, with patient look,
Thou watchest the last oozings hours by hours.
Where are the songs of Spring? Ay, where are they?
Think not of them, thou hast thy music too,—

While barred clouds bloom the soft-dying day,
And touch the stubble plains with rosy hue;

Then in a wailful choir the small gnats mourn
Among the river sallows, borne aloft

Or sinking as the light wind lives or dies;
And full-grown lambs loud bleat from hilly bourn;

Hedge-crickets sing; and now with treble soft

The red-breast whistles from a garden-croft;

And gathering swallows twitter in the skies.

Daphne's Necklace Design

I am currently working on a comission for a friend and trying to keep it in-price range and I wanted to do a test piece.  I'm just going to call it Daphne's design since she kind-of dreamed up how she wanted this piece to come together.

It is a take off of my Midsummer's Fairy Dream Lariat, but mostly the style of the St. Petersburg chain and the way it lays.  It's also a really comfortable beaded necklace chain to wear.  I did a little less baubles and leaves on it than the original necklace design also and I think it has turned out really nice and delicate looking.

This particular piece has a hidden hook clasp at the front-back of it, but I am going to use a box clasp on future ones because it will be far easier to put on.  I am in the process of making Daphne's and will post it when it's done!

This piece is at the Grove Gallery Co-op for the month of October.

"Granery" Golden themed jewelry for October

I had a bout of insomnia last week.  Actually it was bead-somnia.  As I lay awake trying to calm my mind, all I could see when I closed my eyes were the 15/0 seed beads threading one at a time on to needle and thread to some non-existent musical rhythm.  So, I would get out of bed and bead until I was too tired to keep my eyes open.

This necklace has been a tough project because I wanted it to be so much more and have lots more things attached to it.  I threaded on many temporary pearls, baubles, stones and nothing seemed to work.  I wanted it to be adjustable, but the hook didn't look finished enough and the multiple button/pearl style was looking weird when it was on.  Finally, I decided to KISS it (Keep It Simple Stupid) and I am much happier with the outcome!  I have to thank Barbara at the Bead Boutique for suggesting the bead-and-loop clasp on this necklace.  I immediately shot the idea down because I wasn't sure how secure it would be, but it was the best solution.

This guy is 21.5 inches long and $190.00.  It will be living at the Grove Gallery Co-op in the month of October for the themed group show.  I am trying to make a goal of filling the jewelry case in there with golds, bronze and coppery pieces for part of the poem that is the theme of the October show:

"To Autumn" by John Keats

"Thee sitting careless on a granary floor,
Thy hair soft-lifted by the winnowing wind;"

Here are a few earring ideas to match this necklace (I sold the original original stripe beaded blob already but am finishing another pair right now):

Made to Match

I am pretty flexible when it comes to commissions and when you ask me to make something, I try to take care of it pretty quickly.  Shortly after Deb bought my Green "Leaves Between" bangle she asked for earrings and a pendant to match. 

I have struggled making necklaces because I don't like to string beads as much as I enjoy weaving with them.  I very recently have made 2 simple pendants and put them on light chains.  I have sold both of them, and I'm making their loops large enough to place on any chain (I know I have quite the collection of chains at home so I'm only carrying a few).

Up until then I thought of only making simple single drops into pendants.  Not for Deb!  She asked for something with 3 leaves layered together, so I went with it and I love the outcome!  I think they need to be on heavier chains than I have been showing my pendants on, so here's a few pictures before they go to their new home:

I don't have a great image of the bracelet but here you go (thanks Scroggins for pointing out the incompleteness of this blog post!):

Old Town Detox

I had a lovely meeting this morning with Katie over at the Lansing Arts Council.  We are planning a Social Media Seminar on getting artists to promote themselves, so look out for the upcoming invite to that.  After we met I did some wandering around Old Town since I don't get over there very often. 

I generally start by picking up a bag of popcorn over at Cravings Popcorn.  This time I got the Buffalo Cheddar flavor, yum!  It's not going to last the day in my house.  Cravings also has a fun selection of various sodas.  For flashback purposes I bought a Jones Soda, Cream Soda (I drank a lot of Jones Soda in high school).  I then walked over to the new Antique Store across the street.  Lambs Gate is in Grand Ledge and they have opened a nice little store in Old Town too!  I have been looking for old beat-up frames to do some more pieces similar to "Clambering" and haven't had any luck until today!  I found 2 frames that are smaller than the one I used for the original piece, but since I will be doing a lot more beading, they're perfect.

I went around the corner to October Moon which is worth it to just smell all of the wonderful soaps and candles.  It's a great reminder for me to walk around in there in case I have to pick up an impromptu gift.  Plus the selection of Hobo Purses in every color are wonderful!  (I'm not normally "into" purses but I love Hobo)  Then my last stop for my little jaunt was of course Grace.  She has been getting in wonderful things for the fall.   I just love how she blends her boutique with vintage.  Unfortunately that was just a functional purchase.  I saw that she carries Invisibelts which remain smooth so that it doesn't look like you're wearing a belt with a big chunky buckle.  I have regretted not having one of these in my wardrobe too many times while getting dressed so I pick one up from her today. 

Now, back to the photoshop and beadwork for me today.  Although I have the strong desire to hop into a new sculptural piece with one of my new frames, I have a necklace commission to finish that's been hanging over my head!


Sidenote: Lamb's Gate has a Facebook Fan page, CLICK HERE.  And they encouraged me to send photos of any work I do with something I purchased from them.  Apparently they send people to artists that use old antique pieces quite often.
And when in Old Town make sure to visit Absolute Gallery (awesome artwork!), Spin Street for your bike and Polka Dots for any type of lampwork bead you may need!

Have you heard about Jeanologie XX/XY Boutique?

New to East Lansing's growing collection of locally owned stores and boutiques: Jeanologie! 

Located on M.A.C. Avenue around the corner from Mad Eagle and Lou & Harry's. 

Michelle has asked me to make some jewelry to go with the styles that she is currently showing in her store.  This is going to be a fun side project for me.  Some things will be far more simple than what you have been seeing from me lately.  I did start to cross over to that "more simple" line by beginning to make a necklace geared toward sterling silver chain.

Here is what I dropped off to Michelle today:

I'm sorry about the lousy picture that's laid out on top of her glass case.  She also has other fun jewelry so I won't  have to be stocking her store as a full time business and have time to play with my larger beaded blob (pictures to come!). 

So now I will be adding some bling!  Look out for swavorski crystals, glass pearls and a bit more simple color arrangements.

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