Holiday ReCap

Got swallowed up in family time over the weekend. We headed over the Mississippi River and through the Wisconsin Woods to my sister-in-law Molly's brand-spankin' new house.


It was a real Norman Rockwell Thanksgiving, complete with barking dogs and horses in the yard...


rosy-cheeked kids...


a beautifully cooked turkey...


mayhem around the serving table...


and pumpkin pie...Isn't Molly looking the part of the country girl hostess?


As always, I took up my job as dish-doer after the meal. There's something about taking a break after a big meal like that, letting the water run over my hands, and staring out the window that rejuvenates me. The best part about doing dishes at Molly's is the view. I mean really, can you believe this friggin' view? I'd do dishes all day long if I had this view.


Thanksgiving weekend at our house the last few years also means attending a hockey tournament, so I spent three days with my buns frozen to a bench in Roseville, screaming my head off. I really don't like to watch sports, but it's different when it's your kid out there (they came in second place!).


Because of all the hockey, hockey, hockey, Emma and I ended up spending a lot of time together. I was so happy to watch What Dreams May Come with her. If you haven't seen it, check it out! So life-affirming and hopeful, and if you're an artist you'll especially appreciate the visuals...


Now it's back to the around-the-clock grind, as I attempt to finish designing projects for and writing The Book before the holidays. Might be a bit sketchy...might deepen my crow's feet...but I'm still absolutely thrilled about how it's coming together. Please stay tuned!

Beadblogger's Sunday

This weekend has been simplay looflee...today involved a spin class, where I wore the nifty new bike shoes I received as a birthday present. Now that I have the equipment, I guess I'm going to have to stick with this thing...


As I was riding I was thinking how thankful I am to be surrounded by the people who inhabit my life. And I don't mean just my family and friends, but even total strangers. For instance, just last weekend I was teaching in St. Louis and noticed one student's (Michelle) pretty little bowl she was using to hold her seed beads. I made a comment about how much I liked it--I'm a bit of a raven lunatic. Michelle turned the beads out onto her mat, then handed the bowl to me, just like that. "I really want you to have it." "What? Noooo...." "No, take it. I'd like you to have it." Isn't that wonderful? Small, spontaneous gestures like that are what make life so special to me. And now I have this bowl on my workbench and think of her every time I see it.


I had another instance like that while in St. Louis. Kristen Winter, the class coordinator at Lady Bug Beads came up to me with a box. I opened it up, and look what was inside!


Isn't this a wonderfully beautiful Steampunkian pendant? That girl is so full of surprises...so talented. And what a generous gesture! Again, it's those kind of random acts that I know make my life so rich...

Speaking of Steampunk and giving, look what Ornamentea is doing! They're offering a free bag of Steampunk goodies with every purchase of my new book. Isn't that the coolest? It's a great way to get your Steam collection started...you just need to add the punk.


I'm sure you're curious about what Team Beadblog is up to. Here you go with the links...have a great week!

A Bead A Day
Do pearls go with everything? Lisa pairs glass pearls with chain and interesting findings. What do you think?

About.com Jewelry Making
What do you do with a weird piece of chain made from wood? How about making a fabulous necklace out of it.

Art Bead Scene
Art Bead Scene gives you the scoop on findings worth finding - check it out!

Barbe Saint John
I've been a bad blogger!

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi makes a brooch with a cameo and other odds and ends.

Cindy Gimbrone aka The Lampwork Diva
Cindy has a new shop on Etsy - the bleeding heart. Check it out!

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
Melanie shows the piece she made for the new book Chain Style, and talks about her struggles with letting go of her published jewelry pieces.

Jean Campbell
Jean kicks off a new era of self-indulgence with a funky Steampunk necklace.

Jewelry & Beading
Gather up some little beaded flowers and turn them into a very special necklace!

Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio
Lorelei's annual craft fair adventure is over and she share's some photos of the Aftermath.

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Artbeads teamed up with Nintendo DS to create a fantastic virtual learning game for jewelry lovers! Style Lab! Jean shows it off in a youtube clip! FUN for the HOLIDAYS! :)

Strands of Beads
Melissa discusses the virtue of buttons in jewelry-making

Steampunk Heart Necklace

After spending 45 years on this planet, I've decided I need to tip the scales away from the self-denial I'm become accustomed to as daughter, mother, wife, and worker. Yes, it's about time to tip those scales toward self-indulgence. Nothing drastic--just a little more pampering, you know? Yesterday was my birthday, so I decided to kick off this new era in my life with a pedicure, something I'd never done before. There is truly nothing better than an hour's attention to the feet and calf, with the warm soaks and buffing and clipping and oils and massage. I felt like the Tin Man when he first got to Oz--totally rejuvenated and refreshed.

I made this decadent and delicious birthday tart while talking to a good friend on the phone...right in the middle of a workday. (My goodness! What's happening to my work ethic?)


And then I sat down and made myself the necklace I had discussed plans for on Beading Daily this week. The piece features this wonderfully whimsical Steampunk-inspired heart by Jeannie Dukic.


I incorporated colored copper wire, Swarovski pearls, and chain to create the necklace portion.


I concocted the clasp loop by soldering together a key plate from Beadbury and a conduit locknut from the local hardware store. The clasp bar is simply a brass bolt that I wrapped with 26-gauge wire to form a connection loop.


My fantastic day was topped off by a party at Dan's, complete with singing and games and great food. My nephew Josh played One-Eyed Mad Pirate Jenkins:


And here are brothers John and Dan, looking uncharacteristically serious. Dan's got a nice Stephen Colbert look going on there, doesn't he?


And here's Charlie with Aunt Suzy. Little Chuck's looking quite bulked up since the last time I saw him.


What a great day!

So, how about you? Which way is your scale currently tipping? What nice thing have you done for yourself lately?

St. Louis Recap

I packed up my little 1998 Honda Civic and headed to St. Louis last Friday. Space girl that I can sometimes be while on a trip, I missed the turn-off to Waterloo because I was so wrapped up in Revenge of the Middle-Aged Woman--a wonderful story about all kinds of love. The result was that I got to read the whole thing since I spent more time driving the Iowa highways than planned.


(Here's one of my fellow travelers...there were horns on both sides of the cab...)


I wasn't too upset, though. It was so nice to 1) read; 2) talk to my buddies on the phone; and 3) let my hands be still for 11 hours. Quite rejuvenating!


I taught a couple classes at Lady Bug Beads. What a pleasure to finally meet the staff! Susan, Kristen, and Myra were so helpful and friendly. And the students! What great students. Saturday I taught Le Cirque to Kristen, Barb, Anne, and Marjorie. It was a pleasant day, filled with creativity, laughter, and stories.


Marjorie came in wearing her Quercus necklace, one of my Designer-of-the-Year projects from the Aug/Sept issue of Beadwork magazine. The funny thing was that I was wearing my Quercus, too!


On Sunday we had a rousing class of 14, all learning Katarina. It was the first time I'd taught this one, and it was a relief to see so many students catch on and create this pretty chain. There was even a contingent from the Bead Society of Greater Kansas City that showed up. What a great group!


After class, my sister Mary treated me to a birthday meal at Blue Sky, a wonderful little restaurant in Kirkwood. My sister and I keep in touch pretty well via technology, but it's just so much better to talk in person. She's a real sweetheart, and since she's WAY older than me (right, Mary?), she's been an invaluable fountain of wisdom.


The trip back home on Monday was much faster--made it in almost 8 hours. I did stop a few times due to the copious amounts of green tea I was drinking to keep alert. I can't help but share a few snaps of my favorite rest areas. This one is the fanciest one I think I've ever been in, replete with an Iowa gift shop:


This one is very exciting because of its signage.


You just don't see that Grateful Dead-type font anymore on public spaces, do you?


And this was my favorite stop, where I pulled over to catch my breath a little. The Iowa landscape is so mesmerizing...


Now back at home and writing writing writing. Need to get 1/4 of my book turned in to my editor by week's end. Can she do it? Yes, she can!

Beadblogger's Sunday

Sitting in my sister's house this morning. It's so quiet...no cat playing hockey in the hallway with hair bands, loud snoring from the master bedroom, hacking from a sick kid in the basement, or obsessive early-morning leaf-blowing from the neighbor across the street; no, those are the sounds I have at home, but here it's all silent and peaceful. I can only hear the refrigerator humming and the whir of her fancy MacBook Pro (of which I'm quickly becoming envious. And to think I always thought I was a PC...).


I had a sleepover at Mary's because I'm teaching two classes this weekend at Lady Bug Beads in St. Louis, Missouri.


I drove down here from Minneapolis on Friday and took photos along the way--will share all about the trip once I'm back home and can plug in the camera. In the meantime, I wanted to be sure to post the links for The Beadbloggers so you can see what they've been up to this week. Such a talented group!

A Bead A Day
A surprise package of beads arrives and provides a week of fun on abeadaday!

About.com Jewelry Making
Tammy has another installment of Make It Merry this week.

Art Bead Scene
November is full of fairies at the Art Bead Scene. Come check out the inspiration painting for the monthly challenge!

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi has a give-away offer on "the ugly necklace."

Cindy Gimbrone aka The Lampwork Diva
Cindy reflects on how to live life at a slower pace. Her reflections inspire a pair of earrings.

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
Melanie starts a new project, an upcycled film themed jewelry line called Now Showing! Read the story behind this fun new idea.

Jean Campbell
Jean finds her first piece of beadwork in a junk drawer and discusses how important it is to reinforce your work

Jewelry & Beading
Gorgeous jewelry designs by artist Paula Huckabay!

Katie's Beading Blog
Katie's combining resin, chain, and tubular peyote stitch in a project for Beadwork magazine - download the pdf for free!

Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio
Setting up a table at a craft can be daunting, but Lorelei put together a perfectly Vintage Chic display that will hopefully lure people in.

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
In the spirit of the season, whereby "you can get nything you want" as in the famous Alice's Restaurant song by Arlo, you can get some fascinating things at Andrew Thornton's store. Great for holidays to come!

Strands of Beads
Melissa shows off a necklace she made...for herself!

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Using a hand-painted Russian pendant from Artbeads.com, Andrew creates an enchanting response to Art Bead Scene's November prompt: Dadd's The Fairy Fellers' Master-Stroke.

Bring In the Reinforcements

I woke up this morning to this beautiful sunrise. Couldn't help but run out into the brisk 30-degree weather in my jammies to snap a photo to share with you.


Later, I found myself digging through some junk and found my very first piece of beadwork (c. 1990). They have similar colors to the sunrise!


Seeing these earrings made me laugh, not only because I can picture the black/white checked trousers, puffy magenta sweatshirt, and big hair I wore with them in 1990, but also because I just posted a blog on Beading Daily today about how important it is to reinforce and secure your beadwork. I guess it's taken almost 20 years of beading to fully ingrain that lesson. Now I'm a bit of a nutbar about reinforcing my beadwork.


For this bracelet I made with boy-wear in mind, I used doubled 6-lb braided beading thread throughout and wove through the beads so many times that even those size 6 seed beads are filled up. I used Kate McKinnon's edge reinforcement technique, too. This thing is indestructible!

Thanks to Diane Fitzgerald, I'm also in the habit of dipping pieces in Future acrylic floor polish. Pieces like this one, Principessa II, which consist mostly of sharp-edged crystals, are so vulnerable to wearing and tearing the thread. A quick dip and dry in the acrylic really helps strengthen the beadwork.

Are you obsessive about reinforcing your beadwork, too? Do tell.

Beadblogger's Sunday

It was a beautiful weekend here in Minneapolis. I KNEW we'd eventually have Indian summer! Joe, Emma and I went for a hike in the local prairie nature reserve.


Emma was so cute, like a jubilant little foal, jumping, racing, and tackling. It's so fun to see a preteen set down the cell phone and let loose a little.


Emma and Joe are so sweet together. There's something very special about the bond between a father and a daughter, isn't there?


The trees are bare now, so the trunks looked absolutely stunning against the blue sky. We were trying to identify this white-trunked tree stand. They aren't birch because the leaves are maple-like. Anyone know what it is?


As we walked, I'd see a lone tree and feel compelled to stop. These single, now-dormant living things prepared to withstand our ridiculous winters always strike me as powerful.


It was also Joe's birthday, and in a fluke of scheduling, I ended up making two gluten-free, dairy-free birthday cakes for him. Here was Friday night's concoction, which was a huge hit with the family. It has very low sugar content and they ended up eating the leftovers for breakfast on Saturday morning.


Jean's GF/DF Berry Custard Tart

Prepare this GF pie crust or use another type of crust. Press it into a greased springform pan and bake at 350 for 12 minutes.

Whip together:
3 T DF cream cheese
2 T DF sour cream
2 t sugar or agave
1 egg

Pour the custard mixture onto the hot crust and bake for an additional 10 minutes. Set aside to cool.

Combine:
1 c mixed berries
1/2 c fruit juice
2 T arrowroot powder or cornstarch
1 T sugar or agave

Bring to a slow boil, stirring constantly until the sauce just thickens. Set aside to cool.

Pour the fruit sauce over the custard. Garnish with additional berries. Once everything is completely cool, remove the edges of the springform pan to serve.

Here was Saturday night's birthday cake, a GF Banana Cake with Truffle Sauce:


For this one, I actually followed a recipe, a novelty for me. I switched it up a bit by substituting DF sour cream, then melted truffles over the top and sprinkled it with powdered sugar. This one is obviously a lot more decadent than Friday night's celebratory food item, but as well-received.

It was a great weekend, but now I need to buckle down and prepare for my upcoming classes at Ladybug Beads in St. Louis. Hoping the weather holds for my drive down!

Looking for some beaderly inspiration? Check out what my beadblogging pals have been up to:

A Bead A Day
It's Arts & Crafts Week on Lisa's A-Bead-A-Day Blog! A different craft product is featured each day with ideas for incorporating them into jewelry pieces. Stop by and share your ideas!

About.com Jewelry Making
Make it merry with holiday jewelry and crafting ideas.

Art Bead Scene
An Art Bead Scene first - the December sponsors collaborate on a special set of art beads for the December monthly challenge prize!

Barbe Saint John - New Treasures from Forgotten Artifacts
Barbe is the last link in a Necklace Round Robin, Check out the finished pieces!

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi uses a leather button to make a wearable collage.

Cindy Gimbrone aka The Lampwork Diva
Cindy has developed a new line of jewelry to remind us all to live life slowly and enjoy what we have. First in the series is "Grounded."

Jean Campbell
Jean describes what it's like to edit someone's book and shares her thoughts on Marcia DeCoster's latest, Beaded Opulence.

Jewelry & Beading
Cyndi is giving away a copy of Ronna Sarvas Weltman’s unique polymer clay book called "Ancient Modern". Come and get in on this contest!

Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio
Liver of Sulfur is finally in Lorelei's repertoire of jewelry techniques.

Snap out of it Jean! There's beading to be done!
jean is amazed by the treasures you find in Cynthia Thornton's spectacular wonder of a book, Enchanted Adornments!

Strands of Beads
Melissa trys out Friendly Plastic (and likes the results).

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Andrew adds new pieces from Hawaiian artist, Candice Wakumoto, to his shop.

Marcia DeCoster's Beaded Opulence

My job puts me in close contact with lots of creative people. When I edit a book for one of these people, my task is really to act as the doula, or midwife, to see that the book gets born in one perfectly formed piece. I don't know if you've ever given birth or been in attendance before, but it's an incredible experience, filled with equal amounts of drama and joy. Giving birth to a book has many of the same qualities, and I've been so lucky to be around for the arrival of many, many book births.

Like a real baby's birth, helping give birth to a book is very emotional. I see authors when they are at the height of their genius, but often at their most vulnerable. It's during this time that I often make very close bonds to these authors, and I'm so grateful to count many of them as friends.

Editing Marcia DeCoster's Beaded Opulence was no different. I didn't know Marcia that well beforehand--she was just one of those big-name teachers that I'd always dreamed of crossing paths with. So when I was asked to work on her book, I was thrilled. Working with Marcia on her book was a delight, and we became fast friends.


I'll be honest, though. When I was first asked to do this book, I wasn't too excited about the subject matter: right-angle weave. I hated that stitch and avoided it like the plague. But when I dove in to start helping Marcia shape the words and refine the instructions, I was flabbergasted. Marcia's projects, instructions, and illustrations make right-angle weave actually fun. In the book, she gives us a flavor of the stitch with easy projects like Spun Glass and Abacus, then builds slowly to show us different ways to open up, sculpt, embellish, and combine techniques in projects like Amphora and Quetzal.

When editing a book like this, you really get into an author's creative mind, and I found that Marcia's mind for jewelry construction is superb...just plain smart. I'll give you an example: When I'm working on an editing job I usually tackle one project first thing in the morning while my brain is still fresh. Some pieces take a few hours, some take all day. When I was editing Marcia's book, I woke up one morning with lots of energy decided to pick out the most gnarly-looking piece in the box. It was a bracelet called Fanfare, an accordion-like number that undulates with sparkling crystal ribs. As I began to read Marcia's instructions, I audibly yelped with delight! This project is very straightforward and relatively easy. It's the way Marcia combines the elements that make it look so complicated, and as far as I'm concerned, that's just pure genius.

Beaded Opulence has been out for a while now and has consistently been at the top of the Amazon jewelry-making charts. I know the book is doing well and Marcia doesn't need too much help promoting it, but I wanted to underscore that this is a great book for any beadweaver to add to their shelves. If you've been on the fence about getting it, just do it, especially if you hate right-angle weave like I did. Because of Marcia, I use the technique all the time now. Thanks, my good friend!

Beadblogger's Sunday

My head and the sky have been in consort today.


A wall of swirling gray clouds with brief respites of clear blue. I know the rain/snow will come, but afterward the clouds will clear and it'll be blue skies up above.

For me, this swirly-head condition is definitely part of the creative process. Those tumbling, misty thoughts, though sometimes confusing and uncomfortable, are important building blocks to getting things done, whether it's for designing a new piece for The Book (sneak peek!):


Or just getting the motivation to rake the yard...both of which were on the docket today.

What kind of sky does your creative process look like? Fluffy white clouds? Blazing streaks of color in a blistering sunrise or sunset? Thunderheads? Please share, since I know I'm not the only one with my head in the clouds.

While you're pondering that, check out what the Beadbloggers have been up to this week. Such an amazing, creative group!

A Bead A Day
Looking for a great way to commemorate a special moment or gift? Design a piece of jewelry!

About.com Jewelry Making
It's like Wal-Mart, only you want to be there in this virutal tour of Shipwreck Beads.

Art Bead Scene
Art Bead Scene is having a book fair. Read up on your favorites!

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi has finally discovered how great polymer clay is.

Cindy Gimbrone aka the Lampwork Diva
Not thinking about your holiday gift list yet? Cindy helps get you started with a Knot Ready for Prime Time Lucky Knots and Friends Projects so you can get started now!

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
Melanie shares her final Crystal Week necklace... a piece she calls Woodland Mermaid

Jewelry & Beading
Krystal Backer, beading artist, shares her creative inspirations with Cyndi.

Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio
Have you been following Lorelei's Necklace Round Robin? Come take a look at the finished pieces!

Snap Out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Jean reviews a delightful book by the editor of BeadStyle: Cathy Jakicic

Strands of Beads
Melissa shows off her favorite necklace created for Cynthia Thornton's Enchanted Adornments and winner in the metal clay category of the British Bead Awards