Bead Expo

I went to the Portland Bead Expo today. Didn't spend too much money, for a change. I think I was in overload. There were some lovely lampwork beads at small booths with the artists right there to talk to. I met Leslie Rogalski of Step-by-Step Bead magazine, and got to see some of her fantastic beaded jewelry in person. It was worth the trip to the Expo Center, and the dash through the deluge back to the train.

Dancing Shadows

Dancing Shadows
Originally uploaded by satyridae

It's not a very good shot, but it shows the shadows. This is my latest piece, a votive candle holder. The copper dancing women are actually two different candle jackets which I put together and then encased from the bottom up in free form peyote stitch with a little netting. There are flowers too, but I haven't decided exactly how they will be attached yet. This will be my next challenge entry for the Etsy Beadweavers monthly challenge.

Grrrr

I'm eyeball deep in my Etsy Beadweaver challenge piece for April. I have everything all laid out on my lap-board, including all the beads I need to finish the part I'm currently weaving.

We had a bunch of folks over for St. Patrick's day dinner, and I was cleaning fast and not carefully. I put the lap-board on the coffee table downstairs, kind of out of the way but it was a dumb place to put it. The dog and the kid were playing chase...you know how this ends, don't you? Not only did they knock over the board & send the beads forty ways to Sunday, when the lad picked up such beads as he could locate, he tossed them in my huge 'bead soup' bowl where they sank without a trace.

I have hope that picking out all new beads will in fact improve the piece. Otherwise I'd be giving up.

Stormy Weather Challenge

There are 32 entries in this month's Etsy BeadWeavers Challenge! The blog post just went up and is waiting for you to go and vote. This month's theme was Stormy Weather and it's pretty amazing to see what spins this talented group of beaders put on it. See for yourself here: Etsy Beadweavers Blog.

Another Treasury

Etsy Treasury 3/7/08
Originally uploaded by satyridae

I'm so thrilled, I'm in another etsy treasury!

Eggs!

I made several little beaded eggs while my parents were here visiting. They feel like Spring to me! I finally got 'em listed on etsy today.

Last night I had to stop working on a spiral I started last week. It kept getting uglier and more weird by the hour. I've put it in the unfinished box, maybe someday it will look like something to me. In the meantime, I don't think I'll mix cubes with seed beads in a spiral again. Bleagh.

Etsy Treasury

Etsy Treasury
Originally uploaded by satyridae

Whee, I'm in an etsy treasury!

Just a few days till the voting on the Stormy Weather challenge starts. It looks like there are going to be a lot of beautiful entries again this time.