Aren't they cheerful?

...and they remind me of Tanya's beads recently posted!

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.............

Need I say more?

Weekend in Wendover...

Returned today from a weekend in Wendover, Nevada... My sister and I went for the weekend to Nevada. We gave our donations to a few casinos. Isn't the sky beautiful? The first pic was taken out the Hotel window--the mountains were so nice to wake up to Saturday morning. The second picture was taken outside the church in Wendover---very cool sky. It was cool there but not like what we returned to this afternoon in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (14 degrees now)

Wire Wrapped Bead Bracelet

This wire wrapped bead technique can be done so quickly-you'll be amazed how very easy it is! Click on the above picture to zoom in.

I will teach the 1 hr Wrapped Bead technique class on Tues. Jan. 30 at Bead Haven Beads in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It will offered again on Sun. Feb. 4 at the same location. Contact Bead Haven for limited registration.

On This Day...

On this day in 1957, machines at the Wham-O toy company rolled out the first batch of plastic discs, now known, as Frisbees. In 1955 the model was sold to the new Wham-O company as the "Pluto Platter"--an attempt to cash in on the public craze over space and UFOs. In 1958, a year after the toy's first release, Wham-O changed it's name to the "Frisbee". My sister owns an original "Pluto Platter" - that our parents purchased back then when it first came out!! ...any other "Pluto Platters" out there???

So Many Possibilities...

More cabochons... The left one pictured is a polymer clay cab that I beaded around and made into a necklace, the center one is an old photo pin(no relationship to me-but aren't they sweet?)that I beaded around, and the one to the right is a glass button that I beaded around and made into a brooch. Cabochons are a simple fun project--see Saturday's post for more details!

Beaded Cabochon

This is such a fun, relaxing and EASY project. It is a great way to learn peyote, fringing and finishing. I believe people think it must be hard but it really is not! I will be teaching the "Beaded Cabochon" at Bead Haven on January 24 & 31, 5:30-7:00 pm. Contact Bead Haven for registration. So many possibilities...join us!

Button, Button...

This bracelet is made with antique & vintage buttons--rich browns, greens, and blues...

Fringe of Winter...

This bracelet evolved yesterday. It is made with leafy fringe technique. The Lampwork beads were made by Melissa. (Sea of Glass)

Brrrrrrrrrrrrr....

Stay warm... It's a good day to stay inside!

Tribute to Martin Luther King Day...

To listen, click on above arrow--lower left cornor.

Snowy Day...

Soft, Silent, and Slow Descends the Snow... Seen through my upstairs and downstairs windows.

Peyote Cuff

I did this cuff with even-count peyote stitch using size 11 Delicas. The fringe is done with Swarovski Crystal and additional Delicas.

Bead & Fiber Medley

This is a meeting of glass beads and fibers incorporated in a necklace that I finished this morning. It has many glass beads but they did not photograph very well. It is a gift to my sis who I was to visit today in Bettendorf, however icy conditions kept me home. Sounds like St. Louis, where I use to live, is really getting pounded with ice! We have very little snow here, but we are to get 1"-3" tomorrow. We'll see....

Oh My, It's Friday!

Scream Pin...I used uneven-count peyote stitch using Miyuki size 11 Delicas. The fringe incorporates many wrapped loops of various freshwater pearls, Czech glass, and seed beads.

An Evening At The Theatre......

My son and I had the pleasure of seeing the live musical stage performance of "Jesus Christ Superstar" last night at the Paramount. Ted Neeley (seen in both pictures above) has been portraying the part of Jesus on and off since the '70's. Neeley starred in the motion picture and was later nominated for Golden Globe Awards in 1974. This is Neeley's "Farewell Tour". The musical had a wonderful cast-I was very impressed by the actors playing Pilate and Mary Magdalene. Click on: www.thejcstour.com for more details and pictures about this Farewell Tour.

New Pins...

I've been working with sterling silver wire again today. The two stunning lampwork beads are by Melissa of "Sea of Glass"! Click on the above picture to zoom-in and see her beautiful detailing in the beads...

Beaded Vase

I beaded around this small clear vase using tubular peyote stitch & simple fringing. It's just waiting for some spring flowers...It will have to wait for a while-weatherman talking about colder weather ahead! Snow?

In Honor of Elvis Birthday...

Elvis - "If I Can Dream" (To listen, click on above arrow-lower left.)

Sterling Silver, Nuggets and Czech Glass...

The above is a necklace I recently made for Bead Haven. It incorporates stringing and Sterling Silver wireworking. All supplies are from Bead Haven, of course!

Friday, already?

My clock above, continually reminds me of this concept called time. So many ideas, so many things that we feel like we need to get done but are we enjoying the "moment"? One of my favorite quotes comes from "Field of Dreams" when Doc "Moonlight" Graham says: "You know we just don't recognize the most significant moments of our lives while they're happening. Back then I thought, well, there'll be other days. I didn't realize that that was the only day."

Orange You Crazy About Beads?

Orange you glad when the beads come together in a fast gratifying way?? I made this bracelet with the Tri-Corder Knotter using C-LON cord, czech glass, Swarovski, and metals-pewter, gold and silver.

"Waves of Blue" Bracelet

Just completed this bracelet made with "Mosaic Stitch". This fast and easy stitch shows no thread--note the edges. The bracelet is made of Size 8 Miyuki Delicas. It has a flexible yet sturdy texture that is created by the stitch. Click on the top bracelet picture to see the detail...

A "Fist-Full-Of-Fringe"...

First finished bracelet of the new year! The beautiful lampwork beads featured were made by Melissa of "Sea of Glass"! This fringed bracelet is reflective of what I see around me now in the current landscape-browns, rusts and some green grass still peeking through. Is this really January weather?

Blessings for Your New Year!

Silent, soft, and slow descends the snow...

...BUT not much of it!!!

Another Fibula Pin

This featured focal Lampwork bead is one of Lawrie's from Blue Butterfly Designs! I just got the bead yesterday and made it up into the pin this afternoon.

Fibula Pin - My Version

This is my attempt at hand crafting a Fibula Pin. The beads are dichroic glass and Sterling Silver rounds. The wire is 20 Gauge 1/2 Hard Sterling Silver. I think the wire should perhaps be stiffer, giving the pin more stability. Any suggestions? I will try something new tomorrow. Stay tuned...

Knot Tonight...

Knotting anyone? This 2 strand necklace was knotted with Brown C-LON Cord. (There are so many colors now available from C-LON!) One can really knot fast with the Tri-Cord Knotter and it is a welcome addition for any knotter. The necklace components are: Tiger Eye, Coral, Czech Glass, Mother-of-Pearl, and various shell. All findings are Sterling Silver.

Sunny Day!

Taken out my patio-it's a bright sunny day here. People are really using the walking trail today! The squirrels are very active but they would not let me zoom-in to take a pic...they are just too fast of a critter! No deer out-but I saw 7 last night! Beautiful creatures...

Bad Hair Day!

It's a cloudy weather day. Also, a bad hair day!

Czech Glass Cabochon

This is a beautiful piece of Czech glass that I obtained at a Kansas City bead show "Bead Blast". I beaded around this stunning piece of glass with size 11 Japanese seed beads creating a bevel on the front and back of the cab. I get "lost in the reflections" of the cool greens & golds when I gaze into this glass... Click on the above picture to make it larger, and I think you'll know what I mean... Oh, the stitch I used around the glass is even-count tubular peyote.

Merry Merry Christmas-From my home to yours!

"Mad About Plaid"-bracelet in progress

This is a new bracelet I am working on. It incorporates ladder-stitch and square-stitch. The middle is twisted bugle and the seed beads are size 11.

Set-Your-Spirit Free Bracelet

This is a free-form peyote bracelet I designed with arches, bridges, and ruffles. I was fortunate enough to have it featured on the cover of the February/March 2006 issue of Beadwork Magazine.