Latest beading...

All photos are clickable for a larger view

I am not sure if it is the cold weather or the gloomier skies here, but I have been drawn towards brighter beads recently, specifically pink and yellow.



I do not consider myself a huge fan of pink... the color - not the singer. I AM a fan of the singer.

I was digging around for stuff to bead and was drawn to these. The first is a real flower set in resin. It was sold as a necklace strung on a cheap black cord. I bought several of these - many of them have real bugs inside - beetles, spiders and scorpions. Some even glow in the dark, really kind of cool.



I thought this one might be nice as a fob. It fits in the palm of my hand and I can see it dangling from a multitude of things. I will not be keeping this one though - it will be given away, stayed tuned for details on that in a couple of weeks.



It seems I never go too long without beading with one of Jen Martin's faces. I enjoy working with her little works of art, they are consistently well crafted and painted to perfection in vibrant colors. I am always inspired by her faces.



This one is no exception - such a happy face! It is polymer clay and screams sunshine and spring to me. I have embellished it with green Swarovski crystals, yellow charlottes and green Czech pressed glass leaves with pink size 15/0 beads whip stitched around the edge.



It is finished off with sunny yellow Ultra suede and a pin back with bail that allows it to be worn as a pendant or brooch.

A few notes on the method I use to finish my pieces. After the beading is complete, I measure and cut out a piece of poster board to help stabilize the piece.



Next, I glue the poster board to the back of the beaded piece and measure out a piece of Ultrasuede for the backing.



If it is going to be a pin, I measure where I need to make small cuts to allow the pin back to come through the Ultrasuede backing. I add glue to the pin back and the poster board that is exposed and then add the Ultrasuede - picture a sandwich and the poster board is the "meat". Next I secure the two pieces together by beading the edge. The face is whip stitched, the fob it is more of a brick stitch with an added picot stitch on top of that.

Fall Brooches...

*** WINNER *** Congratulations to Tammy Lang, she won the little orange pin. Hey Tammy - second win today for you, don't they come in three's? Better get yourself down to the store and pick up a lotto ticket for tonight! Expect your pin to arrive sometime next week (provided I can get to the post office by Wednesday)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Playing catch up with blog posts, so I'm a bit out of season with this one.

For Halloween, I beaded up a couple of face pins for fun. First is a witch. This polymer clay face was created by Linsart - such character in that face! Accented in purple and green beads, she was a hit at Halloween. Isn't she grand?



Here's the back for those that are interested.



Then I moved on to a pumpkin face. This polymer clay face was created by Jennifer Martin of GraphixOutpost. With that grimace, I found it to be kinda creepy, kinda cool and absolutely perfect!




Again, the back for anyone interested




For Thanksgiving or just autumn in general - a perfect little pin in fall colors. This started out with a small Swarovski Elements Crystal Filigree found at Fusion Beads. Several months back they had a wide variety of wonderful colors in 2 different sizes. They were discontinued and 50% off. How can you say no to that? It's a sweet little pin with an amazing amount of sparkle!



Here's the back


all photos are clickable for a larger view

I never did get a chance to wear it and would like to offer it up now for a drawing. Would you like to call it yours? I know autumn is over (as the thermometer keeps rudely telling me), but there is always next year, right?

Just leave a comment here and I will throw your name into a hat some time next weekend. Please make sure there is a way to contact you, either a link to your blog/website or if you don't have a website, your email address in your comment will work. Comments will be closed around midnight December 18.

Three blessings that leave me feeling most thankful ...

Justine, Alicia and Michael

Faces...

*** WINNER*** is... Nologic

Congratulations - I hope you'll let me know (and post pics) when you bead it up!

Thanks to all that participated.



I recently signed up to participate in a face swap over at All About Beads. I enjoy participating in swaps and the ladies that participate from that group will often share items I have not previously seen or worked with.

For this swap, we are to put together 3 packages containing a face or any other cab with complimentary seed beads. I thoroughly enjoy putting together this type of package, since it gives me an opportunity to look through my stash of faces and all those wonderful seed beads.

I figured while I was at it, I'd put together a package to share with you kind folks that stop in and say hi. It's been quite awhile since I shared anything here so I'm over due!



This package will include a beautiful face by the very talented Jen Martin from GraphixOutpost which measures about 1 1/4 inch around. Also included are plenty of seed beads in a range of sizes including 15/0, 11/0 and 8/0. A few leaves and some pinched beads.



While I was at it, I pulled out a coordinating piece of stiffened felt, ultrasuede (they are each about 2 1/2 inches) and enough lavender C-Lon thread to get you through the project. I thought I might as well include a couple of needles - so you should have everything you need to make a bead embroidered face. I would be happy to include a pin back if you'd like .



Maybe you'll even be inspired to enter the annual face swap by SassyArtGoddess? I'm making a big assumption that she's doing it again this year. Even if she isn't - there's tons of inspiration for beaded faces there - so check the links for each swap year.

All you need to do is leave a comment here by midnight eastern time on April 10 and I'll add your name to the virtual hat. Please make sure you leave some way to contact you in your comment

I think it's a great way to kick off spring and since it finally looks like we might actually experience some spring weather soon, I'd like to celebrate - won't you join me?

Faces from swap

It's been an exciting mail day around here today. Not only did I receive a RAK package from a great friend (more on that in a later post), I also received the much anticipated faces from Carol's annual beaded face swap and I could not be happier! The following are the faces I received as swaps for the four I submitted.


First up - this amazing face - "Mermaid" by Becka Rahn.


Next up - this beautiful face by Cyn Bicker



Third is this beauty by Monica Magness

Last, but certainly not least...

This gorgeous face is by Nancy Simel

Honestly... how lucky am I??? Every one - a work of art.

If you want to take a peek at all the faces swapped out this year (they are all gorgeous and diverse), please check out Carol's website for some great eye candy. It's so much fun and anyone can play! A really great way to acquire a wonderful little work of art by another artist.

If any of the artists that created/beaded the above faces happen to stop in here for a visit, let me just say...THANK YOU! I cherish each and every one of them.

One more for the face swap and a couple of questions...

Let me introduce Rose, this is my fourth and final entry for the 2008 Beaded Face Swap hosted by Sassy Art Goddess.

She is just under 2 1/2 inches tall and wide if you don't count the dangles. This is another wonderfully crafted polymer clay face by Jen Martin.

This time I used a stacked stitch method for the bezel as described in Heart to Hands Bead Embroidery by Robin Atkins - her latest book and a wonderful addition to my library. The finishing edge stitch is found in Beading with Cabochons by Jamie Cloud Eakin.

Now my questions to all of you that use face cabs in your creations...if you could make or order the perfect face for your art...

What size would it be?
Would the eyes be open or closed?
Would the cab have holes for attachment or do you prefer it without?
Would it be a bit concave on the back or flat?
Do you prefer them in a range of colors or closer to skin tones?
Do you prefer hand sculpted or one of a kind faces?
And if so, would you pay more for those? Or are faces from mass produced molds just fine for your projects?
Would you like the option of matching hands and feet?

Here are my thoughts -

For dolls, I consistently reach for faces that are about 1 inch or sometimes even 1/2 inch if I'm using a really tiny doll form. For flat work, the faces can be bigger, but I have found that I don't tend to seek out faces that are any bigger than 1 1/2 inches. I have several faces by Diane Briegleb, and they are stunning, but I have yet to use one because they are fairly large

The eyes - hmmmm, a touchy subject for me - I'm not sure why, but most faces give me the creeps. I don't care for masks, and I was never a big fan of dolls as a kid. I have seem to overcome a lot of this feeling as I began beading dolls, but it does linger. More often than not, I prefer the eyes closed.

I prefer my faces without holes - I glue faces to my work or hold them in place with a beaded bezel.

I think the back just a bit concave works best with dolls and when it comes to the thickness - the thinner and more consistent size all the way around, the better! That seems to be an art in itself.

Color - Skin tones, bright colors or crackled, I like them all! When I think about all the faces I have worked with in the past there is one that always pops into the forefront. It's a raku face I used on my October Bead Journal page last year. That in conjunction with the leaves is probably my all time favorite. I was fortunate to come by that face and the matching leaves through someone that was clearing out their stash. I have not been able to find a face like it since. The colors are nothing short of amazing. If you don't remember or haven't seen it, here's a link to check it out. If you do, make sure you click on the photos for a larger view. Aren't the colors jaw dropping?

I love hand sculpted faces, but good artists are in short supply. Actually I can only think of two, Diane Briegleb mentioned above - the creator of 'The Face' and Dottie Hoeschen of Stonebrash Creative Arts. It wasn't that long ago I discovered her wonderful faces on Etsy and have since been back to buy several more. Check them out when you get a chance. She was also kind enough to add a tutorial to her website on how to shape a face cabochon. I spent one Saturday playing with clay and my poor face ended up looking like a circus side show. Made me appreciate the work of those that hand sculpt faces all the more!

Hands and feet - I like them, a lot. I did find some GREAT feet and matching hands at Anima Designs. I love the ease of use with the holes in these too! I made a birthday doll for/of me a couple of years ago and used these feet - I thought they were adorable!

I'd love to hear your thoughts on faces you have used and your preferences and by all means if you have links you'd like to share, please do!

Home early, work space and another face...

Well... that didn't last long - the trip I mean! It was a tough trip out, I'm not a morning person and my flight was at 6:00. I tried my best to sleep on the planes (I had a layover in Atlanta), but it's never terribly comfortable trying to cram into a space meant for an average 12 year old with your back straight up and down. I don't have one of the neck pillow things - I hate the feeling of waking up - mouth hanging agape, facing the aisle and some poor unsuspecting traveler! Anyway, I made it to West Palm Beach and was well into my work and focused on meeting a deadline when I got a call... the job has been postponed - really? I had just unpacked my 10 days worth of clothes and was now being told to start checking for flights out the next morning. After a break for a well deserved margarita and dinner, I started packing back up to leave the next morning and am happy to be home now.

So one of the first blogs I visited is that of Denise of Bits of Beads and Fibers where she posted a giveaway for beads - she asked folks to post photos of their bead desk. So that is mine at the top of this post - a closer up shot of my little creative space. And just above from a bit of a distance. I use an old custom made work station that was originally built for the Mister's tattoo shop. It is black with a red, white and black tile top. I have a piece of vellux on top of a piece of foam - it's about 9 x 12 and works perfectly for me! When I travel, I roll it up and take it with me - perfect!

I love my little corner in the living room. I have several cats so it is a necessity that I keep my projects put away. I use cigar boxes for each project, so I can have more than one going at once and keep them out of harms way. When I sit to bead, I spread everything out and go from there.

Before I left, I completed another face (actually 2, but the last one will be another post). So here I introduce Twilight. Isn't she sweet? This is another face by Jen Martin. I have quite a stash of her faces and found myself reaching for one yet again. This one is about 1 1/2 inches around and unlike the others is held down with peyote stitch. I really like these colors.

A little face time!

It's that time of year! Sassy Art Goddess' annual beaded face swap is happening this month. If you have not participated before, I suggest you do your darnedest to get involved. Every year there are more and more amazing participants and faces!

I beaded up this one last night for the swap and hope to get 2 more done before the deadline. You can do it too! They are small (no bigger than 2 1/2 inches by 2 1/2 inches) so they bead up pretty quickly. The polymer clay face was created by Jen Martin at GraphixOutpost

Check out Carol's blog for all the details and please join me if at all possible!

Feeling a bit green

This is about 2 1/4 inches across, is backed with a teal colored ultrasuede and has a pin back.

I have a 'thing' for faces. I have a stash of beautiful faces made by various artists. This particular face is by Jennifer Martin at GraphixOutpost. Her color and designs are amazing.

Another artist I admire is Dottie Hoeschen from FaceToFace, her wonderfully detailed hand sculpted faces have such character and seem to come to life when I add beads. I used one of her faces on the doll I donated for Beading For a Cure

Yet another is Linsart. She has some great hand crafted witch face cabs and skull beads up for sale right now.

If you haven't seen the work of these artists - do yourself a favor and check out their websites/Etsy stores when you get a chance.

It's here... it's here!!!

Remember when I won Lora's beaded face contest??? Well - she arrived today and as with every thing beaded - the photos just did not do it justice. The colors are spectacular and what you can't see is how it feels - rich.



It could not come at a better time... I am celebrating my birthday (among other things) this month, so the timing was perfect!



Since I winning this drawing, and because it's my birthday month - I wanted to find a way to have my own give away. I hope to post more details by the end of this week, so please check back.

A collaborative effort

In the not too distant past, it was revealed in one of my online groups that one of our members was battling cancer. I felt compelled to bead a doll for her - if for nothing else - to maybe provide some smiles as she went through treatment. I wasn't the only one that had that idea. Another group member (Alexia) and I decided we would bead a doll together.

Alexia creates beautiful beaded faces. She started the doll by adding this wonderful beaded face and some embellishments. She then sent the doll and the beads she had been using to me. I added a few beads from my stash and continued working on her until the doll felt complete.

This doll turned out to be larger (8" tall) than what I work on most of the time. It was challenging to me, but refreshing at the same time. I don't know that I have ever worked with this many colors at once - what fun!