Snippets from a bead artist.

10.06.2012

Newsish, Pay it Forward and a Book Review

Good Saturday, all!  I hope everyone is having a gorgeous Columbus Day Weekend here in the States, and a wonderful Thanksgiving in Canada, and a lovely regular Saturday everywhere else!

I've been busy embroidering with my beads... and not, surprisingly, on a piece of jewelry.  A group that I am a part of on Facebook, Operation Tackle That Bead Stash (don't you love that name??), is hosting a round robin for a piece of bead embroidery 6" x 6" and my first attempt to put something together for it was a little too much; many of the participants are in the UK and elsewhere, and the dichroic cabochons that I chose for focals were just too heavy, in hindsight, to be mailing around, especially as we aren't paying the shipping costs for our own piece's stops along their way back to us.  So I put together another square, this time with smaller, polymer clay cabochons, to take its place.  I'm left with my all-set-up square with cabs glued down... could I resist?  Ha!  Noooo... so I'm embroidering this one by myself.   I have been having so much fun and it's very freeing to be able to put anything anywhere without worry that it must conform in some way to a person's neck or wrists.   I am, of course, also feeling mega guilty that I'm not producing tutorials or jewelry for sale, but I think I need the break.  I'm realllllllly looking forward to when I receive the next person's square to work on, though - what a challenge to work with their colors and their design!!  I can't wait!

I made a beaded rock before this project. :)  I present Froggy Rock:

Froggy Front 

Froggy Butt

I was gifted with a pair of gorgeous polymer clay cabochons, as well, from my friend Mary Marshall.  I started working on them immediately because they were just so inspiring to me.  I made these earrings up, and although they seem HUGE to me, my friend Mary really liked them... and she's a wonderful friend too, so her cabs are going to go home to her.  :)

Dancer Earrings

On to the Pay It Forward part now...  I entered in to win something handmade from a wonderful blogger I follow, with the stipulation that I then must make something handmade for three other people.  You have to make the things within 365 days, and they must be handmade, and each person who enters to win your item must agree to the same.  So if you decide to enter mine, you have to keep in mind that you also will need to make three somethings which are handmade and mail them on to the people who win your giveaway, and so on.  :)  It does not have to be jewelry, it can be anything from a handmade greeting card to an ornament or a handmade art bead.  I'm not saying ahead of time what I'll make, but if you enter in, I will make you something; it may or may not be jewelry.  The first three people who leave a comment here saying they would like to participate will be my three 'winners.'

This weekend, I want to do a short review of Sonoko Nozue's Japanese Beadwork.


I honestly think this is a lovely book, and she has some fabulous projects in it, and uses stitches that aren't often focused on these days.  For example, I am tempted to go back to doing something with Chevron Chain after seeing her projects, because there are several that look scrumptious!!   Her Midnight Necklace is made with chevron, and it's gorgeous and lush looking.  


Her Cheerful Midafternoon necklace is based on Zulu stitch, and although she has placed it in a chapter titled "Casual" I think it is anything but; how elegant is this!  Fit for a princess.


The Crystal Rose Necklace is stunning, and unfortunately beyond my reach, as try as I might, I just can't get the hang of bead crochet.  (I REALLY want to, though, so that must count somewhere.)


I highly recommend this book for those of you who want to branch out and try some new stitches out in some really elegant jewelry.  Although the diagrams are a bit different, and the steps are laid out in a way I haven't seen before, I think the patterns are easy to follow and the results are glorious.  I truly haven't decided if I should do a giveaway, or keep it for myself... but I'll let you know soon!!   :)  Leave me a comment so I can see how many of you would like a giveaway  on it, and I'll muse on it some more.

That's it for now, but next blog post I have some fabulous Blogger Awards to hand out, possibly a book giveaway, and hopefully something concrete on the embroidery to show you.  Off to BEAD!!!!

(Disclaimer; I was given this book to review by Lark, and these are my honest opinons, I am not paid for this nor do I receive any compensation save the book itself.)




31 comments:

  1. I am still in awe with the frog! And you know I am totally now hooked on Sonoko's projects and the beauty they inspire. I have been so lucky to have received gifts from you so I know that anyone who wins the pay it forward will receive a treasure from your incredibly amazing heart!

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  2. Nancy what a lovely entry. Thank you again for making my cabs look so special. I will (with effort) resist the temptation to join your pay it forward, as I have already been blessed with many gifts from you x

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    1. Thanks so much, Mary!! YOU made your cabs look special and they were VERY inspiring! :)

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  3. I would just love to be in the Pay It Forward! What a fantastic idea to share handmade items. So fun!

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    1. Fabulous!! Send me an email at nedale67@aol.com with your mailing address, Lina58!! :)

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  4. I'm so looking forward to seeing the square you make all on your own Nancy as well as all the other squares by everyone taking part in the projects. Enjoy your beading break!
    I adore your rock! Cute little froggy on gorgeous beadwork and I love your 'Mary cab' earrings. Such a beautiful way to encase fab cabs.
    Re: Japenese beadwork
    I recently got a copy of this gorgeous book, although I admit I've been a bit busy to look at it properly, but I thought the crystal rose necklace was only bead crochet for the rope. Can't you substitute a different rope instead?
    Gemxxx

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    1. Thank you, Gemma!! I can't wait to see what everyone's made!! I am not sure on Crystal Rose myself, but I am almost positive you have to use crochet rope to make the flower itself... ??
      Did you want to be in on the Pay it Forward bit? You don't have to have a blog, you could always do it through FB. :) Just let me know!

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    2. I just checked and you're right but beaded crochet does pretty much look like tubular brick stitch, so you might be able to substitute...but crochet is more flexible. Experimentation maybe needed...or I'll crochet the rope bit for you :o)
      I assumed I was too late for the pay it forward as I def wasn't one of the first 3 commenters but would love to join in if I'm not. I do have a blog so I can do it on there. How very exciting! xxx

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    3. I knew it was harder than it looked, lol!! Thanks for looking for me! The first few commenters were't interested in the pif - can you email me your mailing address?? That way I'll be able to send out your handmade goodie sometime this year!! Yayyy!!!

      (nedale67@aol.com)

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    4. Hey it is not that I am not interested! Just sharing you with others!!! LOLOLOL

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    5. Oh hey, sorry - I really thought you didn't want to this time! :(

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    6. <3 <3 <3 you know I am teasing!

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  5. I didn't make it in in time to be one of the first three. I'm bummed. But I love this idea. It's really cool and will be fun to see what people do. You are multi-talented so I'm sure you'll be making something wonderful for each of the first 3.

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    1. Sally, as far as I know, I only have one taker so far for the Pay It Forward (maybe two if Gemma wants to play), so you can be in if you'd like!! Send me an email with your mailing address, K? :)

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  6. Looking forward to seeing the embroidered squares! I love the cabs too, for some reason though, I can't pull myself away from my stones, ah, well, maybe one day.

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    1. You don't need no cabs, lol!! Your embroidery is fantastic as it, Marcie, I LOVE your style!!

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  7. Awww! Looks like I misses joining in by one! Have fun paying it forward!

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  8. I'm so looking forward to seeing the Round Robin square,(Square Robin?) since I should be first to see yours! I hope my beading skills are up to the challenge and my contribution does not look like vulpine droppings! Glad to hear that you are enjoying some 'play time' with the other square and would love to see how that develops!

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    1. Thanks so much Catherine!! And you're NUTS - of course it won't look like droppings, I LOVE your embroidery!!! Crazy woman... I can't wait to see yours, too!!

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  9. Those earrings are totally awesome! I remember you asking on facebook about when an earring is too big, but I didn't see them then, they are definitely not too big, they are perfect in my book. Your signature fringe was done just right.

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  10. Loving your beaded rock... and your generosity. The thing that puts me off the crochet rope in Sonoko's book is the counting and and threading on of all the beads! I guess I'd have to invest in a bead-spinner to make a rope that long without going mental!
    I would love to take part in your PIF if there is a space left. I've been contemplating a give-away for a while, and this would be a perfect opportunity!
    xx

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    1. Thanks so much, Becs!! I am waiting to hear from one of the ladies - if she doesn't contact me back by Tuesday I will let you know and you'll be in!! :) :)

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    2. Did I make it into your giveaway? :)

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  11. Love the little froggy rock, and particularly (for some reason) the butt view! And I can't wait to see what you are doing with your square. Beading without restrictions is freeing and relaxing and I'm so glad you have an opportunity to do this! The book looks lovely. I know Diane Fitzgerald visited there and taught recently, and I certainly see her influence in this work! Hug to you!

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  12. Oh gosh, and I forgot to say, thos earrings are just GLORIOUS! YUM!

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    1. Thank you so much, Marsha - and sorry I am so late in replying! Hugs to you as well!!!

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  13. I love the beaded rock! gorgeous

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