"Adrift" Freeform Bracelet

"Adrift" Freeform Bracelet, originally uploaded by ambrosianbeads.

Again, a tale of procrastination and inertia but with a happy ending ! This bracelet started out as a project for the EBW Spring Swap, but I had a hard time moving ahead using these colors....they just don't motivate me. I used them because my swap partner liked "earth tones." I searched my bead stash for the "earthiest" bead colors I could find, and found only a few. The clock was ticking and the shape kept growing and I couldn't stop it, but knew I didn't have enough time to let it grow into the size it wanted to be. So I set it aside and started the round pendant (see previous blog post).

Fast forward a couple months and the as yet unfinished bracelet...determined to submit a completely new item to the recent gallery show, I took it out and let it reach it's destined size. It was kind of growing on me, but I probably won't attempt using these colors again anytime soon. Finished in time for the gallery jury day, I submitted it and it was accepted, and just a week later it sold to a lady from France ! And I'm happy to report, I've also sold a necklace I finished last December and three pairs of earrings ! I think my "year of inertia" has finally come to a close :-)

Source: http://ambrosianbeads.blogspot.com/2010/07/freeform-bracelet.html

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Making Books

I just finished the above book, called "Love Hurts," because the person in the photo on the cover has had her head chopped off - ouch! All in the name of love... Maybe her photo is going in a locket that will be close to someone's heart.

I'm sitting at my dining table, which is covered in bits of paper, bookmaking how-to books, acrylic paint, mod podge, paint brushes, gesso, newspaper, and previously bound book and sketchbooks. It feels good to make a mess and make some art. I just finished making another book, but it will be drying all day, so I won't be able to share it until tomorrow. I have taken a few days off from listing and making things for the Etsy shop in order to get back to bookbinding (it's been months since I've made a book!) and making things for myself (it's also been a while...). I thought I would be rusty when it came to making books, but it came back pretty quickly, even though I couldn't find the instructions for the type of book I wanted to make, so I just had to wing it.

Source: http://howtomakeart.blogspot.com/2011/01/making-books.html

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It's Been Forever and a Day...

...but things have been busy with moving to my new place, settling in, working, making stuff, etc.

Here are some photos of what's been going on...








More photos soon!

Source: http://howtomakeart.blogspot.com/2010/11/its-been-forever-and-day.html

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Tatted Earrings with Beads

Tatted Earrings with Beads, originally uploaded by ambrosianbeads.

Needle tatting seems to have taken over my beading life, especially since I'm getting a clue as to how to design. Here are some earrings I made recently. I'm working on a video tutorial and learning how to use Windows Movie Maker in the process. Hope to post that soon.

Source: http://ambrosianbeads.blogspot.com/2010/07/tatted-earrings-with-beads.html

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Ruby Roo is FOUR!

Roo is FOUR!, originally uploaded by howtouseart.

She just turned four on May 1. Can you believe it? I feel like only yesterday she was a tiny little thing that only took up half of my purse. Now she is this full grown little doggy full of personality and energy!

I can't wait to move into my new home, because there Ruby will have her very own backyard...no more leashes ever!! :)

Source: http://howtomakeart.blogspot.com/2010/05/ruby-roo-is-four.html

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Vintage summer

In honour of the most gorgeous summer weather we've been having in the UK for the last week, here's a collection of images that give me good summer vibes. They're all examples of a vintage/ethereal type post-processing treatment that I really like, has a very nostalgic and soft summery feel about it. I've experimented a little to try and replicate the look of this with some of my own pictures, but haven't really been satisfied with many of the results so far - can't quite get the same soft pastel feel happening. Shooting in RAW on a 50mm with slight overexposure seems to be a good start

Added to my 'Vintage summer' gallery on flickr - check here for photo credits :)

Source: http://microcosmic.blogspot.com/2010/07/vintage-summer.html

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Water Falls Treasury

Another lovely treasury entitled "Water Falls" by Trinity Designer Jewellery features my "World on a String" necklace. I appreciate her efforts and artistic eye and wish I could reciprocate with a treasury of my own, but I have never been able to snag one...and I know how much fun it would be to make one !

Source: http://ambrosianbeads.blogspot.com/2010/05/water-falls-treasury.html

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Regarding Vogart

Ditto to Doe-c-doe's post here. If you're a Hoop Love member you can read the discussion in the group. I'm so sad. Hopefully things will become clearer soon.

Source: http://stitchybritches.blogspot.com/2008/08/regarding-vogart.html

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Needle Tatting Tutorial Uploaded !

Needle Tatted Earrings with Beads

It was so hard getting this project off the ground. My Windows Movie Maker maker and I were no longer married, so I had to figure out how to do it myself :-/ and I had to wait until the mood hit (which is the way I've been operating since we split). Anyway, I figured out how to import, drag and drop, add fades, titles, captions and music (which disappeared when I added narration...arrrgh !) and voila ! My second tute in two years. Now that I know how, there will be more to come :-) I prefer making photo sequences because if I screw up while in the middle of a project, I would have to start another one and work up to that point just to re-record the video. Maybe I'll use video with a quick project. However, I have a very vocal parrot who tends to dominate the airwaves whenever he senses something important is going on (aarrgh !). I hope you like the video (don't know why it looks so out of focus...the photos were crystal clear when I was working with them...maybe compression altered them...oh, well).

Source: http://ambrosianbeads.blogspot.com/2010/07/needle-tatting-tutorial-uploaded.html

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It's Been Forever and a Day...

...but things have been busy with moving to my new place, settling in, working, making stuff, etc.

Here are some photos of what's been going on...








More photos soon!

Source: http://howtomakeart.blogspot.com/2010/11/its-been-forever-and-day.html

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Modern Motifs of Mexican Trend

aka "My best friend went to Mexico and all I got was this tiny sombrero"*

Yes stitchy friends, here's your erstwhile blogger managing a post...although I can't feel guilty because a) so many other great bloggers regularly share stitchy goodness and b) I still don't have a scanner.

Mexico is on my mind - literally:
...As my best friend recently returned from two weeks in Mexico and brought me back a wee present. Hope I'm not scaring you with my pic!

I haven't been to see all her photos yet, and for those of you without your own sombrero (because I know you're jealous) I present "fiesta motifs for colorful touches of Mexican gaiety". You know your breakfast nook wants it.

Apparently:
"Your needle will fly along the simple sitches of these motifs of Mexican flavor. Gay up your kitchen with Mexican-inspired dish towels and pot holders. Put a variety of these designs on curtains and table linen in the breakfast nook to add charm to informal meals. Delight the bride-to-be on your gift list with hand-made guest towels, refreshment napkins, luncheon sets or dresser scarfs reflecting in these designs the happy Fiesta spirit of our South-of-the-Border neighbors."

I'm keen to see if my friend's holiday snaps include women with baskets of fruit on their heads, giant cactii, boys eating bananas, and fighting cocks (actually sounding "gay-er" by the minute...oh dear! Come back readers...please...**) But this pattern assures me that these are common South of the Border capers.

Men wearing rugs will give you flowers:

Doves, cactii and maracas abound:

But the scariest thing in Mexico are the deadly attack parrots!

Watch your fruit girls.


*only kidding Nat, I do love my pressie.
**sorry, really I am.

Source: http://stitchybritches.blogspot.com/2010/04/modern-motifs-of-mexican-trend.html

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Sailor girl and Sailor boy

sailor girl, originally uploaded by 'Playingwithbrushes'.

Given the fact that I've been neglecting my scanning lately, when I find something cute and stitchy in my Interweb travels I have to share with you. Two cuties to stitch, from a vintage colouring book, courtesy of Playing with Brushes' Flickr.

Source: http://stitchybritches.blogspot.com/2008/10/sailor-girl-and-sailor-boy.html

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Before and after

The vagaries of April...one day it's golden sunshine, a couple of days later you're ankle deep in the white stuff

Source: http://microcosmic.blogspot.com/2008/04/before-and-after.html

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EBW Spring Swap-Tale of Procrastination and Regret !

A couple months ago, an idea for a swap of beadwoven creations among members of the Etsy Beadweavers started to be tossed around. 12 members signed on and then the beading began. I received Laura Zeiner's name. I didn't know Laura, but she listed her preferences and said her favorite colors were earth tones...wouldn't you know, most of the bead colors in my stash are bright "jewel" tones like magenta, purple, royal blue...alot of black, gold and silver beads too. I had to search the stash for a few muted colors and thought about trying out a new beadweaving technique. I was curious about the spiral peyote stitch I had recently seen in Bead and Button and thought about creating a bracelet for her. I poured out the beads, got settled and time after time, got lost in the pattern and found myself ripping and restarting. For some reason, I couldn't wrap my brain around the directions, or the pattern just didn't present itself in the beadwork as I went. Oh, well, back to the drawing board.

After having procrastinated long enough on even starting the project, I found myself up against the deadline and feeling guilty. I tried a couple more designs, but they weren't interesting enough or shaping up properly. I had some round agate slices and one of them was in muted brown shades. I started beading around it in peyote stitch, switching bead sizes, but the edges were too wavy...more ripping ensued. Finally, the piece began to shape up, but I needed to finish and get it in the mail. I slipped it on a silver neck cable and packed it up to send, regretting that it was just a mere shadow of the project I had in mind initially. Fortunately, Laura wrote that it was beautiful and she loved it. Whew ! I hope she's not just being nice ! Please visit Laura's blog: Stick Lizard Designs and make sure to follow the link to her Etsy shop.

Today I received the swap item that was made for me by Hadass and was thrilled that she used my favorite color, magenta and that it fit perfectly. She added pearls which I never use, so I'm pleased to have some to wear. Please visit her blog: Spring Colors and make sure to check out her Etsy shop.

Thanks to Christine of Christine's Beadworks for keeping us all in the loop ! Please stop by her blog and see the beautiful mosaic of all the beadwoven creations made for the swap.

Source: http://ambrosianbeads.blogspot.com/2010/04/ebw-spring-swap-tale-of-procrastination.html

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Etsy Beadweavers' December Challenge Entries

The latest beadweaving challenge is all about peace and the winter olympics. Take a look at what members of the Etsy Beadweavers have beaded up this time !

Source: http://ambrosianbeads.blogspot.com/2009/12/etsy-beadweavers-december-challenge.html

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Treasuries !!!

"Red for You"
"Colors (5)"
Two days and two treasuries ! My Caribbean Sea Blues necklace and African Helix and Glass Pendant necklace were featured in treasuries ! Ileana of Enchanted Beads and Daniella of Daniellart were kind enough to include my two necklaces. Plus Ileana took the time to send me a full screenshot as I have practically given up figuring out how to get the entire treasury in a screenshot. Please click the links under the photos to go to the treasuries :-)

Source: http://ambrosianbeads.blogspot.com/2010/01/treasuries.html

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