Suffering for Art

There is an interesting blog I follow by Christian Mihai, a writer, wherein he discusses a lot of topics, but of particular interest to me are his art topics. One of the blogs had to do with suffering for art, which I always found to be a fascinating subject, particularly since it has been much debated as far back as I can remember which is quite a few years now. I always picture Vincent Van Gogh whenever I hear about this because it seems he suffered quite a lot from his mental illness, and then translated that into physical suffering when he sliced his ear off. I also equate artistic suffering with financial suffering, since that seems to be another popular link, and not without some basis in fact.

Now being a working artist is not an easy task by any means, and let's face it, work usually equals some kind of suffering, no matter what it entails. Many people work at jobs that do not pay very well for the amount of effort they expend, and always dream of earning more money and bettering their lot in life by doing so. So are artists really any different than any other working individual or is their suffering unique by virtue of their vocation?

I don't have any definitive answer to that question, but I will tell you what I know. After being in the workforce all my life and working very hard every day to earn a paycheck that certainly did not equal my efforts, ever, and never being able to truly own what I did, it amounted to a lot of suffering equals little reward. However, when I am working on my art in any capacity, I am rewarded with the gift of creative release and satisfaction. My spirit knows an inner joy that is rejuvenating, healing, and rewarding. It feels like I have taken my soul to the spa, and instead of feeling depleted, anxious, and stymied, I feel gratified and fulfilled.

So do artists suffer for their art? I believe that people that are fortunate enough to work at what they love may suffer financial hardships as well as other stumbling blocks along the way, just as anyone in the work force anywhere does. What makes the difference is if you are doing something that you truly love and are passionate about, because when that is the case, it no longer is a torturous everyday existence that exerts a mind numbing control over your being, but instead, one that you embrace with anticipation and happiness every day.

Magdalena Abakanowicz

Agora by Magdalena Abakanowicz, permanent installation in Grant Park, Chicago

There are so many giants in the field of fiber arts that we now stand on the shoulders of, and I love to read about them and their work. They are remarkable for their innovation, vision, and hard work. They are inspiring for those of us that are on the same path, and teach us that the creative spirit has a long history of makers that blazed trails against formidable odds.

One such artist is Magdalena Abakanowicz. This amazing artist from Poland, grew up during some of the most tumultuous times in history, World War II and the spread of Communism. This  remarkable woman, even with these obstacles, managed to make her art and become an internationally recognized talent. Her story is one of the most inspiring I have read. I hope you will take a moment to find out more about her. Here are two links to her information:

http://www.abakanowicz.art.pl/

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magdalena_Abakanowicz

More of the Other Guys

As a needlework/fiber artist I love to see the creative works of other artists working in the same media. There is so much excellent talent out there it is a never ending source of awe and inspiration. One such artist is Michelle Kingdom. I was blown away by her work with needle and thread. Her art proves that work that is small can be as impactful as a large piece. Her work feels intimate to me, a look into dreamscapes that leaves the viewer to their own devices for explanations. To be amazed by the talent of this artist, go here:
https://michellekingdom.com/

Go here for an interview with the artist:
https://www.textileartist.org/michelle-kingdom-exploring-secret-thoughts/

Quick Addendum About Twinkling H2O's

So I got a newsletter recently from one of my favorite shops, Artistic Artifacts, and it seemed they were highlighting Twinkling H2O's! And July Gula, the owner/artist, sells them by the pot, so you don't have to buy packages of them! Yeah! I also got to thinking about the permanence of this product on fabric and so I will heat set my sample and see if the paint stays or washes down the drain, an important consideration of using it in any art project. I will reveal the results on the next video and then post the results on my blog too. How wonderful we can still access this amazing product and can do it on an individual basis! Be sure to check out Judy's shop and blog, it really is a blast and I have done business with her for years and know her products are top notch and customer service just awesome.

I'll be back soon!

Switching It Up

We have been talking about fabric paints for a while and I think it is time we changed it up a bit. With DMC's release of their new cotton floss colors, I think it is time to look at some fibers, don't you? After all, they are the lifeblood of any kind of needlework, and ever so much more important to those that are pursuing the artistic vein of it. There are such a variety out there now that of course it makes our jobs so much more of a joy and gratifying. I have used a lot of different fibers over the years and must confess I love them all! That is not to say though that they are all easy to work with, because some of them can be a challenge, but the effects are always more than worth it.

Let me start with the tried and true and my most favorite cotton floss, DMC. I love DMC because I have used it since I was a child and they still make the same great quality fiber to this day. The fact that they continue to expand their line, shows they are still committed to providing needleworkers with great resources from their company. I also was very fortunate a few years back to snag up all that I could of their linen floss and their flower threads before they disappeared forever. I was really saddened by the fact that they discontinued those two lines, in addition to their crewel wool. I admit, I have tried others, mainly out of curiosity, but I never did see any significant difference, and even though others will always burst upon the scene with claims of being better, it's hard to beat the company that has been around since 1746. I've always considered them to be the benchmark of floss by which I judge all others. Plus, they are carried practically everywhere, so there is never a problem finding the color I need, and pricing is truly reasonable, especially when you catch them on sale. How can you not love this fiber?

As for storage, I tried winding them on those cardboard floss bobbins, but they just didn't really work for me. Instead, I use the plastic storage bags and here is why. I usually have more than one skein of floss in various colors and the bags store more of them. They also are handy to hold any leftover strings I may be able to use next time. I don't have those sharp folded angles on my thread to hassle with and it saves me time to just pop them in a bag rather than have to wind them. Since they are stored on rings, when they come up with a new color number, I just add a bag to the ring and don't have to move a bunch of them around to be in correct order. Easy Peasy!

Also, be sure to check out their website. They have lots of wonderful free patterns, including archived alphabets and designs, to download and use. They also showcase the original works of contemporary needleworkers, which is wonderful to see who else is out there and what they are doing. You can sign up for their newsletter too to stay on top of new announcements. My understanding is that they have a site for the United States and one for Europe so be sure to check the correct site for information.

So stay tuned until next time for more fibers!

Thought Nugget:
To practice any art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow. So do it.
~Kurt Vonnegut

Quick Update 10-28-17

So Halloween is almost here! Love this holiday! I love seeing all the children out in their costumes, having fun, getting candy. I also love that this holiday is relatively unchanged since I was a kid, that this is still a chance for the little ones to use their imagination and dress up as someone else for a single evening. They also get to stretch their legs, along with their parents, going house to house and block to block. I'd say that was healthy to boot!

This week I did get my new DMC colors and they certainly didn't disappointment. Just lovely. I also got the Marabu liners in and played with them a bit too. I got my latest magazine issues of Where Women Create Business and Professional Artist and have been busy devouring those and not getting much work done on Ladybug Lake. However, I fully intend to get back to business on it next week as well as more info on the blog and have started plans for the next video.

Have a great weekend all and be sure to check back soon for more good stuff!

My Favorite Art Things

MY FAVORITE  ART THINGS

I think it is absolutely WONDERFUL that we artists now have such an abundance of materials available to us to use, and they just keep coming! Yeah! I love looking at what's new out there to play with, and while I can't use or buy them all (that must be what heaven is, an endless supply of new and free art supplies), I can still look, and dream, and yes, sometimes purchase and play with them. Over the years I have come to rely on sources for great supplies and don't know how I would get along without them, or even gotten as far along with my art if it hadn't been for them. So what I am going to do is list some of my favorite sources from time to time, and am doing this because I love 'em and have no other affiliation with them.

The first one I want to mention is an online shop called Joggles. This is my textile mixed media heaven on earth! The owner, Barb, has put together a shop that is a joy to visit and is always trying new great stuff for us to own and use. And there is so much stuff! What a great inventory! And she is always adding new things so her shop never gets old or boring. She regularly restocks items and has some of the best sales out there to stretch those hard earned dollars. And yes, we get to see her get her hands artistically dirty because she puts together great instructional videos on these products so you get to see how they are used, and she usually has an innovative way that she would use them as well. The instructions are clear and easy to follow so you know how to use it in the real world right away, instead of looking at a description and trying to figure out what they are trying to get across. Shipping is fast and merchandise always arrives well packed. If you are interested in taking a look here is the shop link:
https://www.joggles.com/

Also be sure to sign up for her weekly blog here:
https://www.joggles.com/blog/

Have a peek and enjoy!

This Past Week

Wow! The weekend is here already! How time flies. It's been a busy week here in the PBD Studio. First of all I want to tell you about some neat things going on. I got some of the new Miyuki colors of Delica beads. They are categorized as Picasso colored which gives them an aged or rustic kind of appearance. There are 6 new colors, very cool and can't wait to use them.

Next up are something new for me because I have never used them before, Marabu Fashion Liners. What is so cool about this is that you can actually use them to outline or draw using a fine tip of fabric paint. I specifically got these for a future project that I think they will work very well in. Have not received them yet but they should be here soon.

Of course I had to get the new colors of DMC embroidery floss too. I got them in the tin and they are also on their way. They look so pretty and I'm so excited about getting them. Of course because they are fibers! Thanks to DMC for giving us more beautiful colors to work with!

I got the Marabu Fashion Liners from one of my favorite online mixed media shops, Joggles. I love this store! Barb always has videos to go with the products she carries and they are always fun to watch as well as instructional.  The amazing thing is she is always adding new, neat stuff to the mix and I love seeing these new products and how to use them. It's such a treat! She also has fabulous sales too so be sure to check it out.

I purchased the DMC tin of new cotton embroidery floss colors straight from the DMC site which for me, had a good price, around $25.00.

I will be showcasing a couple of these in my next video, so be sure to stay tuned. Work is going tremendously well on Ladybug Lake. Looking Good! Should be done by next month sometime.

So much fun to come, and since the weather is turning a bit cooler here in Oklahoma, it won't be long when staying indoors will be the order of the day, which means more studio time and who doesn't love that!

Thought Nugget:
An artist is not paid for his labor but for his vision.
~James Whistler

Just Do It!

 There are some car designer shows that I love to watch. One of several reasons I love to watch them is because they are self-taught, and that fascinates me because I think it is FABULOUS! While some artists are drawn to the academics of art, design, theory, and all the rest that goes with it, there are some that would absolutely suffocate under those learning parameters and therefore it would do more harm than good to them. These are the artists that just need to "Do It". They feel the art, the pull of the materials, the lure of the colors, and can't help but get busy with their vision. They can't explain why this thing went with that piece, but they can tell you how exciting it was to put them together, because they felt in their soul that it was supposed to go that way. They don't mind the immense amount of exploration with certain materials in order to get a good feel for what they do and how they do it, they revel in the just doing of it.

Now please don't get me wrong, I believe that an academic component is critical for the survival of art, and those artists that pursue the education before the doing are certainly on their preferred path. I applaud them and their efforts every bit as the untrained artist. However, I also believe that there are those of us that know with the first touch of a needle or thread, or a blow torch and hammer, or colors of encaustic wax, that this is ours and we have to own it. The skill comes to us from the doing, the hours and days and months and years of doing it and experimenting and learning what works and what doesn't. We use books to reference techniques and YouTube to see examples of them, we visit places that carry supplies we love in search of tried and true and the next great thing, we are always moving forward to understand, to try, to succeed and sometimes to fail too. The important thing is that we recognize that inner fire to do it and give it license to burn.

So while I believe that academically trained art is wonderful, I want to give a special shout out and show of appreciation for those that cannot wait to get their hands dirty, their workspace a blast of chaos, and that piece of fabric or canvas a going over of fiber color, because these are the pioneers of today and the masters of tomorrow, every bit as those that learn in the classroom.

New Video 10-08-17

Here is the latest YouTube video from Pear Blossom Designs! Learn more about fabric paint sprays and more!

Flower Thread News!

This is just a short and sweet message to let everyone know that is interested, that Ginnie Thompson Flower Thread has a great deal going until October 20, 2017. You get all the colors of flower thread, 40 yards on each notched card, the storage box and Color Reference Card with real thread samples on it. All for $165.00!!! Wow! There is more to read about it here:
http://flowerthread.com/

Artistic Style - Beauty or the Beast

History has shown us that we as a society and individuals are always pushing the envelope of known boundaries in all aspects of life, whether it be science, technology, medicine, or art. The evolution of art since the time early man made cave drawings to the present time when art can be fashioned from anything from recycled trash to intricate mosaic tiles and from oils and brushes to graffiti drawn with cans of spray paint, has been to push what we are comfortable with viewing and asking ourselves, "What made the artist do that?". On the flip side of this coin are those artists, and I count myself in this category, of which much of the world has been seen through the years, measured not so much in time, but in events, both tragic and wonderful. At this point, the knowledge of what we are capable of in terms of horror and destruction has turned our inner vision into a place of peace and renewal. Where the baton for social commentary has been turned over to those ready to take it and move forward with it, while introspection and the need to see the beauty of what lies inside us are needed by other artists. I choose to make art that doesn't descry social injustice, I have been lamenting that all my life, but instead, I want to give the weary souls who do it now a respite from it by allowing them to see something valuable in beautiful color or a pleasant scene. Because while we need to always be aware that change to make things better always needs to be looked at under a magnifying glass, we all also need to know that we need an oasis away from the turmoil, and nature and art gives us that calm to weather the storms. Now, in this stage of my life, my soul yearns for the beauty in a world that can be dark with despair, and my art gives me the ability to convey that message. A message of hope and beauty now and into the future. I believe we need to see art that is interesting, beautiful and thoughtful, to ease our souls in turbulent times. It is a blessing that bathes the soul in serenity for a brief interlude, a quiet moment of freedom to let our mind bask in memory of an image that gives us joy.

So while my art may not be the basis of a societal message of change or to point out the wrongs of mankind, what I hope it does is help the brain to know that there is still joy and light in the midst of the dark forces that seem to surround us, and that indeed that experience is worth it to enjoy, for our own mental and physical health, and that of the world at large too. The soul needs a balm, just as a wound needs a bandage, and art can be that balm when needed.

Painting on Fabric

I have been extolling the virtues of painting on fabric for a while, and will be getting a video out about it soon. My samples are all just about ready and I have been having a blast doing this! First and foremost it is FUN! Second, it is a great way to customize fabric and therefore projects. Lastly, but certainly not least, it spurs the creative juices on and leads to planned and serendipitous inspiration. How can you NOT want to play with this technique? LOL!

First of all I will let you know the media I used. I have talked about the Shiva Paintsticks, Jacquard Fabric Paints and Martha Stewart Multipurpose Paints, which are my first loves and staples with fabric painting. Next of course are my Faber Castell Gelatos, which I have now learned I can't live without. I also have some spray on fabric paints which includes, Mr. Huey's, Tattered Angels, DecoFabric Glitter Spray and DecoFabric Spray. I also have experimented with Twinkling H20's (which sometimes I mistakenly call Sparkling H20's-I guess because they sparkle to me more than twinkle), but they are in little bitty pots and not spray bottles. Now, here's the thing, I have had most of my paints for years now, and so I'm not sure if some of them (besides the top 4 on the list) are still made, and/or available. I have seen that Twinkling H20's are no longer made, however, I cannot verify that for sure, it was just something I read on someone's blog, so you may have to do your own investigative work if you are interested in trying them.

I did order and receive the new Gelatos and added them to my palette sampler, as well as used one of the iridescent colors in my mist sprayer. These new colors are just gorgeous and what a surprise how it turned out!

Now here is a site that has something quite different to use for coloring fabric. Colored pencils! Which just goes to show that you can never stop experimenting with new media to see what will work for what you need. Check it our here:

https://featheredfibers.wordpress.com/2011/12/29/inktense-fabric-paint-tutorial/

I again have out of town family visiting for several days so will not be posting until next week. I do hope to have my next video posted tomorrow, but those take a bit of time so who knows for sure, but that is the plan at least! LOL!

Another thought nugget:

The artist is nothing without the gift, but the gift is nothing without work.
~Emile Zola

Big Announcement of the Fiber Kind!

 

EXTRA, EXTRA, READ ALL ABOUT IT! DMC WILL BE RELEASING THEIR NEW COTTON FLOSS COLORS SOON! 35 IN ALL!

I am very excited about the  DMC release of these new colors, and so grateful they are not making us buy the whole batch at once to get them, and then having to reorder the whole batch if you just need one skein of a certain color. Super bad marketing ploy in my humble opinion of the way they made their last release available. Once released we will be able to purchase them individually. Can you imagine having to buy all 35 colors for just one skein of them? UGH!

Surprisingly, when I looked at my next project, Eastern Expressions, and the colors of DMC cotton floss to match the glass beads I intend to affix with it, I was pretty disappointed by the scant selection of greys they offered (deja vu with my silks for this project). I finally found one, but it was from my preciously rare and nonrenewable DMC Flower Thread collection. When I looked at the upcoming new collection of DMC floss colors (as you can see above), I saw several greys in the mix and was overjoyed. To say that I'm anxious to add all of these to my collection is a gross understatement! Thank you DMC for expanding your already fantastic line of existing colors. As a needlework artist I can never have enough colors from which to select for my projects, it certainly makes it more fun and adventurous with a larger color palette!

So for all the fiber artists out there, or for those just curious about the process, I hope this information provided some fun and interesting information.

Thanks so much for reading and there will be more good stuff to follow soon! 

Just a Hodge Podge of Sorts

Yes, this is my Shrinky Dinks Maker that I hope to one day use to make some
wonderful mixed media stuff for my work. I thought it would work better than using
my kitchen oven. Though temporarily in moth balls, I have every intention of using
it someday, hopefully sooner than later! Doesn't it just look like fun waiting to happen?

Today I am going to run the gamut of all kinds of different subjects for discussion. The variety will be very cool of course.....I hope! LOL!

First of all there are a couple of articles in magazines that I want to bring to your attention because they are just marvelous. The first one is in Quilting Arts Magazine/October-November 2017 issue. The article is "Mosaic Imagery in Art Quilts" by Heidi Proffetty. Heidi makes these amazing quilts that look like they are made from small mosaic tiles using a digital cutter. Her designs are intricate and detailed and the overall effect is jaw dropping. See her website here:
http://www.heidiproffetty.com/home.html

The second is in Cloth, Paper, Scissors, September/October 2017 issue. Now they have really great articles and information in this issue which I am still poring over again and again, but in particular I want to draw your attention to Julie Haymaker Thompson and her article "Shrink Plastic Whimsy". I have to tell you I fell in love with shrink plastic when my daughter was young and we played with Shrinky Dinks and used our kitchen oven. When they re-emerged all these years later I hurriedly bought some shrink plastic sheets and a real Shrinky Dinks oven! I haven't gotten around to using any of it yet, but am so excited about the possibilities with mixed media! Well, Julie gives wonderful ideas for this fabulous medium with a necklace she shows you how to make using it. Julie has even made special tools to use with shrink plastic that she sells on her website, amongst other great things and even kits with tutorials! She also has a fun Etsy shop with all kinds of great stuff too! She is a very talented mixed media artist so be sure to check out her sites here:
http://www.juliehaymaker.com/about

https://www.etsy.com/shop/bisbeebliss

Diana Springall

Now for fantastic books! If I could meet one fiber artist, it would be Diana Springall, I am a 100% dyed in the wool fan! Ever since I picked up her book "Embroidery", published in 1980, I have been enthralled with her work and the sheer variety of what she does, and how well she does it all! She was a pioneer in the world of embroidery and still believes that embroidery should be regarded as "fine" art, as can be seen in her book "Design for Embroidery-A Fine Art Approach". This book, signed by Diana, is one of my greatest treasures, in which she gives detailed information on Concepts, Application, and Thread, and Equipment and Techniques (as listed in the Table of Contents). Next is her book "Inspired to Stitch-21 Textile Artists". Now notice the description "Textile Artists" as opposed to embroiderers, which shows how she has expanded the term to include a larger variety of surface design styles and techniques. This gives detailed information about each artist, almost like a resume or curriculum vitae of sorts, and then lovely examples of their work. Last, but certainly not least, is "Diana Springall-A Brave Eye" by June Hill. This book is about her life and her work with beautiful photos throughout. It covers her early years up to its publication in 2011, so pretty comprehensive.

Diana is a national treasure in Britain, and rightly so. She has worked diligently not only at her own craft, but sought to expand needlework to textile art, the operative word there being "art". She has shared her fund of knowledge with the rest of us in furthering the use and popularity of needlework and to expand its view beyond current definitions. If you are a needleworker  or just someone that loves and admires the resulting works, and you ever get a chance to look at these books, please take the opportunity to do so because you will be richly rewarded in information and inspiration.

Here is her website with textile art she has collected over time from other artists:
http://dianaspringallcollection.co.uk/

Thanks for visiting and here is a thought nugget until next time:

"People discuss my art and pretend to understand as if it were necessary to understand, when it's simply necessary to love."
~Claude Monet

Lovely Autumn and More!

It has certainly been a rough two weeks! I have been battling a terrible case of food poisoning and just last Thursday was able to get on an antibiotic that hopefully will finally put an end to this ongoing medical drama. UGH! So tired of not feeling well! It has put a terrible crimp in my stitching as it is hard to concentrate and it seems the blending filaments are being at odds with me as well and keep unravelling. I hate wasting any materials and I feel like that is what I have been doing the last couple of weeks. The upside is I have been getting lots of reading done as a result. I really haven't had much time to read lately, maybe a book a month, so I guess this was a nice change of pace.

I think autumn is my favorite time of year, not only because the temperatures become more accommodating, but because the colors and smells are so wonderful. As the precursor for so many wonderful holidays, it seems it opens the door for many happy expectations. So even though I may not be feeling 100% right now, just thinking about what the next few months hold cheers me up. The only down side for me are the shorter days, as I love the sunshine and do miss it when it isn't around as much, especially when the weather turns grey. I actually have a pattern in mind for a fall project that I hope to get to one day soon. There were these beautiful maple trees on the campus where I once worked, and one particular autumn the conditions were perfect for these trees to have an absolutely stunning autumn color change. Needless to say, that image has stayed with me all these years later, and of course I just have to make something from it! LOL!

Something I have to fight off this time of year is the yearning to work on some of the patterns and kits I have hoarded over the years for holiday gifts. As much as I would love to pick them up now and plan to get them done by Christmas, I realize I have to keep working on my business and getting my own creations done. I also have to catch myself and resist the urge to start making my own designs for gifts for family and friends. I always keep it tucked in the back of my mind that once I get enough of my own work done, I will be able to indulge in taking time out here and there for making gifts again, but right now it cannot be on my priority list. What we sacrifice for art! LOL!

I have a long list of books in my collection of fiber and needleart topics and think I will begin to talk about those on my blog. They are too wonderful I believe not to share, especially the wonderful information they hold. I'll have one for you later this week. In the meantime, stay well, stay kind, and bring happiness with you wherever you go.

P.S. I am working out the details for the next video too, in which I hope to add some information on Twinkling H2O's.

Read All About It!

Reading is probably my second favorite past time, after spending time with family and friends. (I don't consider working at my art a past time, it is work.) I am a voracious reader with very eclectic tastes and this past month I found I was reading two books, one was historical fiction and the other a biography, that were set in the same era. Now the one, "The Forgotten Flapper" by Laini Giles is the story of Olive Thomas, a fictionalized account of the real Ziegfeld chorus girl to silent screen actress. I am now in the middle of "The Curse of Beauty: The Scandalous & Tragic Life of Audrey Munson, America's First Supermodel" by James Bone, which tells the tale of Audrey's rise and fall and the legacy she left all over America with the beautiful sculptures of her standing therein. Oddly enough, these themes both revolve around human beauty. Olive Thomas was voted the most beautiful shop girl in New York City and Audrey Munson was the most beautiful and sought after model of sculptors. These two women epitomized the standards of beauty in the early century, but for all their beauty, their lives took tragic turns.

What was interesting for me in these stories as well, is the times they lived in. There was such change going on at the turn of the century with many advances in technology and industrialization. The style of art was changing too from the classic Beaux Arts to modern art. So on the one hand you have the beautifully sculpted statues of Audrey by Piccirilli, Weinman, Calder, French, Konti, Scarpitta, and many others, in contrast to the new art forms bursting on the scene of Picasso, Picabia, Cezanne, and Marcel Duchamp, with all the -isms of cubism, fauvism, Dadaism, futurism, expressionism and surrealism. Audrey even posed for Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, a sculptor and founder of the famous Whitney Museum (in addition to being a member of one of America's wealthiest families of course).

I thought that was so exciting and can liken it to the times we live in now too. We have at our disposal so many avenues of artistic expression and such a multitude of materials to do it, that would have amazed and astounded the artists of just fifty or sixty years ago! And it just keeps growing! Who knows what media will be in existence in the future fifty or sixty years or how current modes will change then? It truly boggles the mind and teases the imagination doesn't it?

So I guess what I am taking away from these stories is that while certain beauty does fade and is forgotten amongst the ages, the beauty of art is a mainstay. It can be seen in public venues or in galleries and museums. It can be historically priceless or it can be avant-garde in-your-face. The important thing is that we love and treasure art in all its many forms, past and present. It not only provides us endless pleasure, but it also gives a glimpse into the time when it is made which may also answer the why and how, and that information is a treasure unto itself.

What Will Ladybug Lake Look Like?

The blending filament work on the left side of the design is going quickly and I am almost done on that side. However, with getting more done, I am more anxious to get the beads on it and how the finished product will look. So I did a preview of it by laying it flat and playing with the beads on it. I am even more excited now looking at it with the beads laying on top of it with the stitching progressing so far than I was at the beginning and originally laid it all out on the pattern. I want to share the look. Please know that again I am not able to get the color of the water true to what it really is, it is such a beautiful turquoise and not the darker blue color that keeps showing up in the pictures, hopefully I can get that problem solved soon. Here is a photo:

This really makes it come alive for me and gets the excitement factor going again. So Fun! Hope you enjoyed this sneak peek. More posts coming soon!

Thought Nugget:
"The job of an artist is to offer a sanctuary of beauty to an ugly world."
~Jeff Goins

Be the Artist You Were Meant to Be

One of my favorite websites is http://www.textileartist.org/ because it is one of the best resources around for textile artists of every stripe. I love getting their newsletters and the most recent had a story that I had seen on television, but only the last part of it. Fortunately, the story in the newsletter was complete and I am just in awe of these two sisters. Born twins, one had Down's Syndrome, and was institutionalized for most of her life. Her sister, however, never stopped missing or thinking about her, and once grown and able, she found her and brought her home to live with her and her family. As it turns out, the missing sister had an absolutely amazing talent for mixed media fiber art! This is such an awesome story about how each of us are imbued with a talent of some kind, no matter our circumstances, and that the resilience of the human spirit is nothing short of miraculous. The link to the story is here and I hope you take a few minutes to read it. It truly is inspiring. Here is the link:

http://www.textileartist.org/textile-artist-judith-scott-uncovering-innate-talent/

Sometimes it is hard to find what your artistic niche is but I think Judith held the key to discovering it. You sit down and you do the work. You grab what you love whether it be yarn, strips of fabric, paint, or beads and you play with it. You roll it around, you wrap it, you fold it, you glue it, or stitch it. You tweak it, then tweak it some more. You add colors you love, textures you're crazy about, and perhaps a sparkle here or there. You change it, add to it, remove from it and start all over. You challenge yourself to not give up just yet, there are more than enough alternatives left. You smile at it, puzzle over it, and get frustrated because of it. You keep doing it, making it, creating it and finishing it. It is what you were born to do. And in the doing and all that it entails, you find that niche, that specialty that is yours and yours alone, and it feels fantastic.

Never give up on your dreams or your talent. Do what speaks to your heart, that makes you tingle with excitement and absolutely electrified. Go for it, no matter the negatives you may feel or hear, it is your destiny and creative soul at stake. Be content that you have realized it and that the work needs to begin. Own it, because it is yours.

Silks Are In! Yahoo!

So last Saturday when I checked the mail, there were my silks! I was almost doing a happy dance back to the house from the mailbox! So now at long last I can match them to my paints and actually start painting the background for the next project which I have renamed, "Eastern Expressions". I like the flow of that even better than the original, so it worked out great. I decided I would use the acrylic paints for this one and not the Shiva paintsticks, because they gave me more variety with the greys, and I don't want to mix and match the oils and acrylics on this particular project. Here is a picture of the paint palette swatch with the colors for Eastern Expressions:

I don't normally like to work on two projects at once, but I have an idea for another project to work while I am doing Eastern Expressions. I will reveal more details as I flesh them out in my head and then on paper.

Also, I have been thinking a lot about doing the video on backgrounds and the more I do, the more I want to do it, so I think that will be the next video coming up. Fun Stuff!

So stay tuned and until next time, here's another thought nugget:

"An artist cannot fail, it is a success just to be one."
~Charles Horton Cooley

More of the Other Guys

I accidentally ran across Linda Doyle's work completely by accident when I was looking for someone else. What a happy accident! Linda's work is a mixed media artist's dream. Her painting is bold and gutsy and she is not afraid to use a myriad of materials in her work, including fiber. The result is playful, full of texture and inviting. You just want to get close to it so you can absorb all the wonder they contain. Her very clever use of stitching and beads adds a unique dimension to her work that utilizes color for a cohesive whole. Check her work out and I'm sure you will be looking for more because it is just a pleasure for the eye to behold, as well as inspiration for fiber artists everywhere.
You can find some of Linda's work here:


http://www.fineartoffiber.org/artists.htm

https://www.saatchiart.com/account/artworks/755227

http://lindadoyleart.com/

New Video #2, Gelatos and More

 

 

Next video for Pear Blossom Designs. Gelatos, Color Swatches, Ladybug Lake update and more!

A Fair and Balanced Life

I read somewhere that a particular cross stitcher spends 10 hours a day stitching. 10 hours! I first thought, wow, they must get so much stitching done and complete so many projects quickly. But then I thought, what else do they do? It didn't say how many days a week they did this, or if it was for so many weeks in a month. I thought to myself, what if I stitched 10 hours a day? In my minds eye I could see mounds of laundry, dust an inch thick on my furniture, floors needing vacuuming and mopping. And then what about other activities like reading or baking, lunches with friends and family, watching favorite television shows? How would I have time for my blog, or looking at the beautiful work of other artists if waking hours were nothing but making my own stitched creations?

I then thought about my own work and the time it takes. Yes, I stitch daily five days a week, in the mornings. Sometimes I can catch some stitch time on the weekends, but I prefer to spend that time with my family and friends if possible. Sometimes, in the evening, after my hubby goes to bed, I may pull out the work and stitch before I start nodding off myself. But as much as I love the work and could do it probably 10 hours a day, I prefer not to do it, and life dictates that I cannot do it. You see, to me, my daily experiences and interactions with people and the world are as much an inspiration to me as my flosses and beads, except they inspire me to be a well rounded person. To have a balance of what is needed of you and what you need is what makes life the wonderful, crazy experience we need to be whole. Art certainly is a large part of my life and what I need to nourish that part of my creative soul, but I also need the daily interactions with people and the mundane tasks of everyday life to keep me grounded and my values intact. So while I salute the tremendous dedication the 10 hour stitcher has to their craft, I tend to lean to a more balanced approach to my art and life, realizing that both aspects need the same nourishment.

Under the Weather

So I have been working on the next video for PBD but have been under the weather with some kind of a stomach bug the last few days, culminating in my hanging out in the bed yesterday. Ugh! It was another grey, overcast day so it made it easier not to want to do much anyway. I have begun to feel better this morning and will get busy again with the video. If not today, then Monday for sure I will get it done.

Just the low-down on what the video will present will be about the Faber Castell Gelatos. There are lots of reasons to love these multipurpose pigment sticks, mostly because they are just FABULOUS! They can be used on any surface and my favorite feature is that they can be used on fabric like a watercolor. Yes, when I want a more watercolor effect on fabric the Gelatos are my go to tool, because sometimes I need that lighter pastel color on my work. The variety of colors make it virtually impossible not to find the one you need and they are highly mixable for even more. They do have the larger, Double Scoops, if you need to use a lot of color on a large surface and do not want to run out. They last forever too, I've had mine for at least five or six years and they are still as good as the day I purchased them. They can be heat set with an iron on medium heat and using a pressing sheet so as not to risk burning or scorching. And try this for another great effect.....dissolve them in water and `use them in a spray bottle to spray them on your fabric! How cool is that!

There are also tons of YouTube videos of demos with Gelatos and their various uses. They are not only informative but a lot of fun to watch too.

Here is the link to the Faber Castell Gelatos web page: http://www.fabercastell.com/design-memory-craft-us/products/gelatos

Also, I want to mention an article I read in the September/October edition of Cloth, Paper, Scissors, a mixed media magazine I subscribe to that has tons of wonderful information in it. The title was "Nothing Up My Sleeve (Releasing the Creative Spirit) by Michael deMeng, and it likened the creative process to magic tricks because artists literally take nothing and turn it into something. I thought it was a pretty cool analogy, and though it may be similar in that respect, anyone who has worked on a creative piece knows it doesn't magically happen, exactly. It is comprised of the tools and elements the artist has at his or her disposal, however it also incorporates a lot of dreams, hopes, aspirations, love, and of course, sweat. So in the end I guess it could be declared somewhat magical for the ethereal components it contains, as well as those it evokes.

Thought nugget:
"Every artist was first an amateur".
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Ladybug Lake Update

Even with my camera I couldn't get the colors
on the photo to look as vibrant as they really appear.

I have been working on another video but for some reason this second one is turning out to be more difficult than the first. After numerous tries and failures I thought I would give it another try today so this blog post will be brief.

I am very disappointed in the fact that I still have not received my silks that I ordered last month. I checked with the distributor and it looks like they started sending orders out the beginning of this month according to their Facebook page. I will not name the retailer here, but needless to say I will not be doing business with them again anytime soon. I emailed them again and this time mentioned that if I didn't get them by next week I would have to cancel my order and they would have to refund me the money. Absolutely ridiculous to have to wait this long, and the shame of it is that this is a store that I normally do not do business with but the silks were cheaper there so I ordered from them. Next time I'll remember that there is usually a catch when you want to save money rather than go with a tried and true source. Ugh! Just aggravated as all get out about it.

Now onto something more pleasant! I have finished the water on Ladybug Lake and the photo is above. All I have to do is get the blending filament done and then the stems on the leaves and lastly the beads and it will be ready to go! Yeah! Stitching the blending filament actually is going pretty fast, I'm just worried about running out of it and then having to wait on another order forever in order to get it done! LOL! Certainly will not be ordering from the problem source as before.

The big buzz this week was the U.S. eclipse. My there was such hubbub about it! LOL! We didn't get the full eclipse here in Oklahoma, but still people were thrilled about what they could see. We are supposed to get the full eclipse I think in 2024. Maybe I'll look at it then. In the meantime there were lots of lovely photos of it on the news so I got to see it that way.

Have a very lovely day and upcoming weekend!

Thought Nugget:

"Love of beauty is taste. The creation of beauty is art."
~Ralph Waldo Emmerson

Progress and Fun!

So here in the middle of Oklahoma we have had unexpected relief from the usual drought we experience during our searing summers, especially in August. Rain has been falling off and on since last week and we are ever so grateful for it. In return though, when it is not raining, we have muggy, humid weather which quite frankly we are not used to around here, where the air hangs thick and motionless. When I moved to Oklahoma almost 40 years ago I learned three things, the wind always blows so your hair is usually a birds nest, the residents do not wear coats in cold weather (most of the time anyway), and they don't generally carry umbrellas (unless they are walking a great distance, as from a distant parking lot to work and have to look nice when they get there). I guess that is why they are a hardy bunch, and though I was amazed at these habits at first, I confess that now I own a winter coat that is barely touched and an umbrella that half the time I have no idea where it is, and the other half when I do, it is pretty much ignored.

So while the rain is doing its hit and miss routine, I have been busy with stitching and want to give a quick update. I am about nine rows away from finishing with the blue of the water. Yes, I am doing a happy dance! Then I will begin again on the blending filament to highlight the water stitching. While blending filament can be a pain when it is uncooperative, when it does, it actually stitches up very quickly, at least that is what I have found over the silk fiber. So I am hoping that finishing that part of the project up will not be unduly complicated or slow, but even so, it will be fun to see it get closer to the finish line.

I will be doing another video hopefully by weeks end on Faber Castell Gelatos. These are the Swiss Army Knife of mixed media, as they can be used with water like a water color or straight from the holder. They can be used on a variety of surfaces, my favorite of which of course is fabric. Another great way to color fabric without the use of dyes. So stay tuned this week for more fun in the studio. In the meantime, here is a thought nugget:

"He can who thinks he can, and he can't who thinks he can't. This is an inexorable, indisputable law."
~Pablo Picasso

The Other Guys

I love art! I love many different kinds both old and new, but of course my very favorite is fabric/fiber art. I want to highlight some of these talented individuals in my blog from time to time. This time I want to shine the spotlight on the art of Yumi Okita of Raleigh, North Carolina. Yumi uses various elements in her art such as embroidery thread, wire, fabric, and fake fur amongst others, to create very large replicas of nature, particularly moths and butterflies. You can see from her work how her attention to detail and her talent with needle and thread make these gorgeous one of a kind beauties truly collector's pieces. You can visit her Etsy shop at this link to look at her work. It looks like her work has sold out but happily she may be moving into another subject matter with a flower piece currently for sale. Enjoy this amazing artist and her beautiful creations with needle and thread.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/YumiOkita?ref=pr_shop_more#items

 Article on Colossal
http://www.thisiscolossal.com/category/craft/

Video #2, Figured Out YouTube!

 

 

 

So here is Video #2 which goes into a little more detail than Video #1. I set up a YouTube channel so I could put longer videos on the blog. I'm trying not to let them go too long because then it just gets boring. LOL! Here is a link to my YouTube Channel if you want to view it there and subscribe. Looking forward to getting more of these done in the future for you and hope you enjoy them as much as I do making them! See you next time!

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2nkBXbglbRWPj1dP6CeaKw

 

 



About Those Seed Beads

Beads come in all varieties of shapes, sizes, colors, and especially quality. I use the highest quality I have found to date of Japanese seed beads, and believe me, I have tried a lot of them. My search began years ago with my daughter's Christmas stocking I was cross stitching. This was a difficult piece to stitch for a number of reasons but something I was excited about was adding my own distinctive touch to the design by adding glass seed beads. I bought what I considered to be the very best beads I could find which was sold by my local needlework shop. I stitched them on and was working on a different part of the design when I realized that the finish was wearing off the beads the more contact I had with them, either by touching them or rubbing against them on my clothes. I was frustrated and angry that I would have to go back and not only get them off the stocking but now had to find another alternative. It wasn't like good quality seed beads could be found at just any local hobby and craft store, and how would I know which they were even if they did?

So I began the arduous task of going on line and researching, researching, researching. Oh so many articles, websites, blogs, discussions with friends and strangers, and looking into what pattern designers were using. As it turned out, I discovered the best beads that had a consistent sized larger hole to accommodate a tapestry needle was made in Japan. Not only did they have the right size and quality, but they made them in an enormous variety of colors, finishes, and sizes. I was in bead Nirvana! I still incorporate these beads in my work since they hit the high quality mark every time and have never failed to exceed expectations.

The importance of quality in what I use is supreme and no substitutions are ever made in favor of expedience or convenience and even these tiny seed beads are no exception. Longevity dictates that even they need substance and quality.

First Ever Pear Blossom Design Video

  

 

Vintage Treasures

My love of vintage jewelry began as a child. Back in the fifties and early sixties, my mother, and in particular my paternal grandmother, would don beautiful costume jewelry whenever leaving the house for errands, as was the custom for most women back then. My fascination was particular with the rhinestone jewelry they wore. The colorful dazzle of what I considered precious treasures fascinated me and it was always a treat to see them. Of course they fell out of favor later in the 60's and 70's for love beads and more organic materials such as leather and cotton. I mourned the loss of those beautiful vintage pieces and picked up a few here and there when I could but soon lost track of them in favor of the leaner, cleaner look of the jewelry designs since then. Then in my fifties, maybe as I began feeling more nostalgic, I wanted to revisit those lovely objects again and so my search began. Brooches were my favorite since the designs could be so much more intricate and use a variety of materials. They also came in a great array of sizes too and so could accommodate any number of projects, from large or small.

After years of seeking out what I consider to be beautiful and interesting brooches, I amassed quite a large collection to choose from when designing a project. The brooch actually determines the colors and the design. The fibers and embellishments come later and sometimes I have those on hand and other times I have to do some sleuthing to find what I need. It makes it easier for me to get ideas on the actual content of the work when I have a good stock of things to initially begin the search with and can either include or eliminate items and ideas as I go. That is why I have a large collection of beads and fibers, as having them immediately available makes the work progress faster than if I didn't. So actually having the brooches and materials here provides me an endless source of inspiration and I am seldom at a loss for what to do next. As a matter of fact, I have quite a few things in the queue now that I am very excited about.

Often when I look at these alluring pieces I wonder about the amazing women that owned and wore them. Was it a gift from a loved one to her? A piece she loved and saved any extra nickel and dime for? Something she obtained as a result from the loss of a friend or relative? Did the piece travel with her across the United States or even to different parts of the world? So I like to make up stories about the jewelry as well, and that makes them even more personal and valuable to me, and I hope to those that enjoy my work as well.

Amazing Acrylics

I have some beautiful acrylic fabric paints that I have been experimenting with, in addition to the Shiva's. They are different to them but still wonderful. I have Jacquard Lumiere and Martha Stewart acrylic fabric paints and really enjoy using them both. One of the merits of the acrylics is that they dry super fast so there is no waiting. They are washable after being heat set, which is easy to do with an iron, and I believe in many cases are dry cleanable as well. The cleanup is very easy with water and just about any kind of soap. I use the Martha Stewart craft paint brushes which have held up beautifully and are not an expensive investment. The shorter stiffer bristles hold up well on the uneven, rough texture of the Aida. I don't mean to sound like a commercial for Martha Stewart, but hey, if the product is good, it's good no matter the source right? And if you get more bang for your buck, then that's just icing on the artistic endeavor cake. 

Oh, and pay no attention to that lavender color sample! LOL! It was in with my greys and so I thought it would be fun to see what it looked like on the fabric. Absolutely no way does it go with the color scheme!

I do want to primarily use silk fibers on this project but did not have the Splendor in all the greys I needed, so those are on order and hopefully will be here next week. If they work out, fingers crossed, I will just have to match my paints with them which is the reason for the sampler. The fabric has been prepped, which means it is washed, ironed and the edges treated so they won't fray. Once the fiber and paint are matched, I can get going on painting the fabric so there will be no delay in getting started once I finish Ladybug Lake.

I'm hoping this will all work out according to plan but if they don't, there are other options available. It is always good to have a back-up plan I've learned! LOL!

So until next time another thought nugget:

"Only put off until tomorrow what you are willing to die having left undone."
~Pablo Picasso

Glorious Vintage Glass Beads!

When I was looking for vintage brooches I ran across some vintage glass beads designed by Miriam Haskell, a well known American jewelry designer of the 20's through the 60's, whose company still makes beautiful jewelry. I was enthralled by the simple beauty of these beads, and amazed how unaware I was that glass beads from the past survived to the present. What a revelation. I then began my search for what I thought I could use in my work of these glorious treasures. To my surprise and delight, I found there were more than I expected.

A lot of what I found I couldn't use, like cabochons, being too big, and unworkable colors for me, but there were many that I could use. These are so special to me because of their history and the fact that they are survivors of those bygone times which adds an intrinsic value that could not otherwise be had. Since these are not a renewable resource, they add a unique feature to my work.

The problem is, because they are finite and quite lovely, it is hard to let them go! LOL! It is crazy how you can be so anxious to use them and yet know that once gone, they can't be replaced, so there is that hoarding aspect to contend with too. What a paradox!

Since these beads cannot be used in every project, it is easier to incorporate them in the smaller group of those that they will work in. Letting go of them over a longer period of time will ease the loss of a dwindling inventory, although I will still be on the lookout for more and hopefully able to replenish stock, even if not in the same kind. I think most people can identify with these beads in that they are still around, surviving the abuses of time and existence. And like us, they can still maintain a quiet dignity and beauty all their own and keep shining through somehow in their own special way.

Working with Shiva Paintstiks

Shiva Painstiks are a wonderful way to add color to fabric. What makes them exceptional is that they are made from oil rather than acrylic, so they have a rich depth of color that is hard to beat. They come in a nice variety of colors, are blendable, and have beautiful iridescent colors as well. They stay put when applied and do not bleed around the borders of their color. Clean up is easy. The down side is that they are difficult to apply evenly to a rough textured fabric like Aida cloth and they do take a while to dry. They are a bit messier than acrylics as well, since they have a tendency to leave tiny bits of themselves around the work area (so you have to be diligent since they are permanent). That is why you see the parchment paper under the items. But they are washable (not dry cleanable) and they are OIL paints for use on fabric which I absolutely love. So here you can see that I am experimenting with the different colors to see how they look and how fast they dry on my samples of Aida. I'm also looking at silk fibers and Floche to see how those match up as well. I will be playing with acrylics next and maybe, if I am still undecided, I'll get the fabric markers out too. Right now I just want to get the fabric prepped for the next project so I can start to work right away when ready.

I am loving the colors for this project!

Big thank you to Joe for getting my laptop back so quickly and doing a great job!

Until next time a small thought nugget:

"If one only wished to be happy, this could be easily accomplished; but we wish to be happier than other people, and this is always difficult, for we believe others to be happier than they are."
~Montesquieu

Ladybug Lake Update

Here is the latest and greatest pix of Ladybug Lake. I am going to compare the last one with the latest one, which was taken with my little Canon camera.

Taken with my old iPhone

Taken with Canon camera

The Canon pix has the colors right, and there isn't a distortion of the fabric color like the iPhone. Now my iPhone is an old hand me down from my husband, who is more taken with phone technology than I am, so he gets the newer phone and I inherit the old. It's a good working arrangement for the two of us. However, an older technology means that there are discrepancies to be put up with, i.e., the difference in color from the phone camera to a real camera. You can see here too that a bit more progress has been made on the design.

So now with this great upgrade to provide better quality pix, I can feel confident that what I put up on my blog is true to what I am actually seeing, and that is what I want, a better experience for those readers of my blog.

Hopefully the next time I give you an update, I will be at the bottom of the stitching as shown in the pix, and will be starting on the last twenty or so rows beneath it.

In the meantime, I have been experimenting with my Shiva Paintsticks for the next project. I am thinking about painting the background with either the Paintsticks or Jacquard fabric paints to match the stitching, that way I won't have any white background show up. This will take some time to get the fabric ready if I do this, since I have to wash the fabric to get all the sizing out of it so it will take either the oil or acrylic paint and then letting it set up after I paint it. I may even use my Martha Stewart's. I'll have to see how the matching goes. I have also been looking at fibers for it too. So it has been busy here at Pear Blossom Designs, which is okay, because the weather outside has been sweltering. Summer truly is here in Oklahoma.

Stay cool, comfortable and serene until next time.
Debbie

Artist Statement?

The modus operandi for artists has the requirement of an artist statement. Now I have read a lot of artist statements and some are interesting and others I have a hard time understanding. Not that there is anything wrong with the sophisticated explanations, but they are confusing to me as to the pertinence of their art. So after all this research I have tried on a lot of different explanations for my art and tried to be brief, all encompassing, in-depth, insightful, funny, etc., etc., etc.. None of these really gave me an honest story about what I do and why so I experimented more with other variations on this theme and here is what I have come up with that states the who, what, why and how of my artistic endeavors.

My Artist Statement:

I am a self-taught mixed media needlework artist, with a long experience in various types of embroidery, crewel, and cross stitch embroidery, skills passed down from my grandmothers and mother, while others I acquired on my own. Needlework captured my imagination at an early age with its variety of stitches and fibers giving it an almost inexhaustible array of applications and beautiful design possibilities. With the discovery of beads, fibers other than ordinary cotton embroidery floss, and mixed media items that I could use, I soon started coming up with works of my own that employed a variety of these elements. My primary inspiration is the magnificent designs of the famous Faberge eggs. I realized that their quality is what gave them the substance for their longevity and I wanted that same formula for my own work. What makes this work so special to me is that it involves meticulous planning of not only the stitching involved but the placement of all the other elements that make it a beautiful and cohesive whole. That detailed planning and then time exhaustive completion of each project makes the end result more than just rewarding, it is downright magical for me. My future plans are to keep doing the work I enjoy tremendously and make it more interesting and diverse as time goes on, but always, and without fail, to keep it authentically mine.

I understand that there is the general, overall artist statement, but that there are others that will be needed specifically for the actual projects. I believe those will be easier to describe as they are more focused on a particular work or works. So after what seems like hundreds of revisions of the original, I hope this is what is needed for people to understand what I do and why. I believe what is most important for me to stress now is that what I do is truly a labor of love, cultivated over many years, that is still my preoccupation and heartfelt obsession. 

Perfection in Imperfection

I was discussing with a friend the dilemma I was having about using a vintage brooch that I loved and wanted to design with, but it had a few minor flaws to it that though apparent, really didn't detract from the beauty and individuality of the design. At least that is the way I thought of it.

Now I don't have a set formula for what I require in a brooch or beads or any other embellishments, it just has to strike an inner chord of mine that stirs my imagination. That could be the unique design, the color, the material it is made from, or some other interesting qualities, and in that moment I am careful to look for imperfections as well. However, I never discount a piece if I find one or two things wrong with it because I am not looking for perfection in a piece that is old and may have been a beloved piece of someone in the past and used often for that reason. Don't misunderstand, I have many brooches that are perfect and I love those as well, however, those that are flawed truly show me what women of the past used and cared about and that is what drives the decision to get it even when it has had a small mishap or two along the way. I repair what I can when it is possible without being obvious or if it's not too complicated, but even if the flaw remains, it is still endearing to me because I know that its history was remarkable in some way to someone. I can just imagine the stories these lovely pieces of jewelry could tell if they could only speak.

Even though they sit silently waiting for the next phase of their future, and no one really knows much of their past, they do talk to those that listen and let them know that like people, they can endure much and still manage to maintain a beauty all their own and hold secrets only to be imagined and never told.

Customizing Beads

On my next project, Oriental Expressions, I found some beads that I really thought would be perfect for the design and ordered them. When they arrived, the color was wrong. I had already looked at so many beads that had to be rejected for one reason or another and so was not sure if I could find substitutes for them. When that happens, I turn to my Martha Stewart All Purpose Acrylic Paints that can be used on glass, and therefore, on glass beads. I used the satin finish paint for these and I couldn't have been happier with the results. Since the beads I work with are relatively small, it can be messy, and usually takes several coats of paint to cover completely and some time for them to dry and cure, but the results are well worth it.

I don't like to employ this method except in rare instances when there is no other recourse, simply because I am a purist and prefer to use materials that are 100% of what they claim to be. That is one of the reasons why I would not use any type of glue unless as a last resort to fasten things in my work. And only then the very best of the best that has proven great ability to hold and last indefinitely. My track record in the past with most glues has been disappointing at best, so I avoid them as much as possible. Stitching items onto a base with fibers is my absolute favorite way to go because of its longevity and what I think is just a classier look.

I'm also including a picture of the brooch that is the centerpiece of the design. I love the colors and how unique the design is of this vintage brooch.

Will be updating the progress of Ladybug Lake next time, until then I leave you with this thought:
"Searching for possibilities outside your safety zone will plunge you into learning processes that never stop".
-Michael Fleishman