Bead Artists

Before I show some of my 'efforts' at art work, just let me show you some true BEAD ARTISTS! The first one is Beth Murr at Until We Bead Again. I'm happened upon Beth via some YouTubes she had on the peyote stitch. You know this is becoming one of my favorite stitches! Beth has been 'firing' (read her blog for stories on firing!) Raku Turtle Cabochons and a pendant and guess who bought the pendant!! Yep, I just rec'd it in the mail today!! I love it!!!! Thanks, Beth!!!!
You have to make sure to check out Beth's blog and web site as well as her tutorials if you are at all interested in beading. She does a great job - no talking but has the camera up close and works slow enough for you to see exactly what to do. Her beading is exquisite!! Just check out some of her beading patterns for sale.

The next bead artist you really need to check out is Kate Boyan at LivingBeadWork. Kate uses beads the same as a painter uses paints! Her work is also spectacular. I'm just amazed at the depth and detail of her work. Both Beth and Kate are true artists and I'm so inspired by their work. I know if you just take a quick stop by their sites you will be as well.

Geezz..I'm not even showing my beading today! But I am showing my KISS challenge. Dijanne presented a challenge to her blog readers to create a 20" x 20" art quilt using only two colors or fabric but as many colors of thread work - but - only using straight stitching, no machine embroidery stitching. This is my finished piece. I think I only showed some areas of it a few months ago. Dijanne is going to post our finished pieces soon. I can't wait to see what others have done.
I used a piece of snow dyed fabric my friend Mary gave me last year. I wanted to do straight stitching (which I'm not good at!) and then I did hand stitching on the circles and other areas.
Just another closeup.
And this is my shibori piece over dyed for the last time. The black dye I used does have a blue cast to it and over dyeing with the two blues added to that. I also used a cranberry dye in some areas. I'm pleased with this piece and hope to use it as a whole cloth and added hand stitching and of course beads!
Today was the memorial service for my friend Mary's son, Father Tony. They had well over 250 people in attendance at the church and the luncheon after. It was such a nice gathering of family and friends to be around Mary. So now life goes on for her and her family but they certainly have some wonderful memories and stories from those who knew Tony. I only wish I had met him but I feel like I know so much about him now.

KISS Challenge in progress

OK, before I get into my KISS challenge project....My DIL sent this email today:

Well – we were just notified at 8 this am that Amber’s audition for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory seems to have gone well. Amber is playing the part of Regina (Charlie’s Grandmother). She is VERY excited.

Amber is only 10 and how great that she even wanted to audition! Yikes!! She always sings in the concerts and just enjoys being on stage! How exciting for her (& us!).



So this is my design for the KISS challenge sponsored by Dijanne. The piece measures 20" x 20".

Dijanne's rules are quit simple:

KISS- Keep it Simple Stupid)- make a 50 cm square quilt using only two coloured fabrics ( or white for that matter) and threads ( as many colours as you would like) but using only straight stitch by hand or machine- no fancy stitches- of course straight stitching can be done in any form- and absolutely no embellishing- just fabric and stitch and your imagination!

My friend Mary gave me on of her beautiful snow dyed pieces of fabric and I thought it would be perfect for this challenge. I also had a great blue/purple piece that I screened printed a year or so ago that I was going to use but decided against it. KISS, remember..at least that's what I have to keep telling myself!

So this was the start of my piece. Because I don't do straight lines well...I thought I should challenge myself to include some in my piece. Hard to see in this pix so you might have to click on it to see better.

Here's some of the lines finished. I'm using different color threads for both hand and machine stitching. I know..some of my lines aren't straight. I must have some type of attention deficit when it comes to sewing lines...my mind and hand both wander!

Here's some of the hand stitching I'm doing in the small circles. I'm using perle cotton both commercial and some that I hand dyed a year or two ago.

And here are some of the larger circles I'm hand stitching. There are only a few more larger ones to do then I'll finish adding some more to the smaller circles.

I just love doing the hand work and it's really hard for me to KISS! I mean really hard! This is a good challenge and I'm glad I signed up to do it. I'm sure Dijanne won't think it's simple but for me it sure is!

Friday and Sat. were beautiful days here and I actually got sun burned! But only on my knee caps and upper arms! I was stitching on my piece while sitting outside so you can figure out why only those areas got 'kissed' by the sun! Sure looks funny! Sunday it did rain all day and today it's overcast one minute and sunny the next. A nice breeze out (Bob calls it wind!) but it still should get in the mid to high 60's. Kids arrived in Florida safe and sound and we'll be meeting up with them one day this week. hope the weather holds out for them.