The Collector

After several months, I have finally finished this piece. I have never done a piece with so many interruptions..ever! I almost dreaded sitting down with it each day because I knew I would have to put it down. I also had many many stuck moments on it, I spent far more time pondering it then working on it!  This was a massive undertaking and worked together like a puzzle, which I am not every good at LOL Alas, it is finished and I am very happy with its outcome. This was all brewed from a challenge on working with the Miyuki Long Magatamas. The focal ceramic piece is done by

Lisa Peter’s Art.

To see details/close up images just go to my website.

and so begins ‘The Battle of the Beadsmith’ I had decided what colors to use some time back and have come up with a somewhat design now. This is all on the ‘QT’, so all I can do it drop hints until July 10th! That is going to be super difficult! I am going against Christine Boyer Maj for the first round. Yikes!

Battle of the Beadsmith

and let the beading begin!!

I find myself swept up in this Battle and my knees are knocking with nervous energy! This is a bead Battle of monumental proportions!! The list of Battle participants is to the extreme and the talent is mind boggling!

I have been thinking about what I am going to do. Thankfully, it is one entry and due June 10th, so we have a few months. I wanted to start right away, but I have a mega project on the table nearing completion. So while I am finishing up, I shall keep contemplating my plan of attack. The one piece has to make it past 40 Entrants to win the Battle. Below is the list of pairings. This esteemed contest was assembled by Steven Weiss of Helby Imports/The Beadsmith

Round 1

 1) Jacquie Champion-Canada vs Irina Chikineva-Russia

 2) Anastasia O’sarantseva-Ireland vs Annie Hatvani-Hungary

 3) Lea Palickova-Czech Republic vs All Naslennikova-Russia

4)  Christina Neit-USA vs Christine Boyer Maj-USA

 5) Hannah Rosner-USA vs Kassie Inman-USA

 6) Olga Haserodt-Germany vs Melissa Ingram-Australia

 7) Ulyana Rakcheyeva Seryankina-USA vs Joanne Browne-Australia

 8) Mouna Marini-France vs Nancy Dale-USA

 9) Nella Moskvichjova-Russia vs Linda Roberts-USA

 10) Denise Kangas-Czech Republic vs Ibolya Ingesne Barkoczi-Hungary

 11) Heather Kingsley Heath-United Kingdom vs Katherine Gezey-Ukraine

 12) Alla Vizir-Ukraine vs Sandra Dokter van Esveld-Netherlands

 13) Olga Shumilova-Russia vs Patrick Duggan-Australia

 14) Ella Des-Belgrade Serbia vs Neva Brown-Australia

 15) Christian Rodriguez-USA vs Marta Koudelova-Czech republic

 16) Ann Braginsky-Israel vs Edgar Lopez Disenos-Dominican Republic

 17) Susan Brackett-USA vs Callie Mitchell-USA

 18) Jill Thomas-United Kingdom vs Maryanne Villalba-Australia

 19) Tammuna Lezhava-Georgia vs Kinga Nichols-USA

 20) Iva Jar-Czech Republic vs Olga Petterson-Sweden

 21) Guzialia Reed-Japan vs Katka Vaclavikova-Czech Republic

 22) Marsha Wiest Hines-USA vs Eva Dobos-Hungary

 23) Orsolya Fuzesi-Hungary vs Cynthia Newcomer Daniel-USA

 24) Betty Stephan-USA vs Elka Leonhardt Rath-Germany

 25) Eva Csizmadiz Lajosne-Hungary vs Mikki Ferrugiaro-USA

 26) Jennifer Chasalow Van Benschoten-USA vs Ekaterina Kalinina-Russia

 27 Sharayah Sheldon-USA vs Miriam Cielo Shimon-Israel

 28) Sue Horine-USA vs Misan Tejre-Sweden

 29) Anneta Valious-France vs Lynn Day-United Kingdom

 30) Alexandra Sydoerenko-USA vs Katalin Budaine Nagy-Hungary

 31) Rosita Pisarchick-USA vs Helena Tang-Singapore

 32)Dini Alves-USA vs Laurence Dethier-Belgium

 33) Nausikaa Gahllof-Sweden vs Eliana Maniero-Italy

 34) Rachel Nelson Smith-USA vs Amy Katz-USA

 35) Kathy King-USA vs Karyn Healy White-Australia

 36) Roxan O’brien-USA vs Julia Turova-Russia

 37) Marina Nosova-Russia vs Lauren Macregor-Australia

 38) Anna Bystryk-Ukraine vs Terri Richards-USA

 39) Sigifredo Contreras-Mexico vs Anna Lindell-Sweden

40) Noel Wyres-Australia vs Carol Dean Sharpe-USA

The Judges: 2012 Battle Of The Beadsmith:

Australia:

Kelly Nealon (Australian Beading Magazine Editor),

Finland:

Jana Tarhala

Germany:

Sabine Lippert

Claudia Schuman

Verena Greene-Christ (Perlen Poesie Magazine)

Israel:

Smadar Grossman

Patrizia Tager

Japan:

Kenj Katsuoka (Miyuki Company)

Netherlands:

Marjon Donker-Netherlands ( Editor Polymer To Art Magazine)

Russia:

Galina Pchelkina-Russia (Editor of Чудесные мгновения Magazine) 

South Africa:

Heather Collin

Sweden:

Karin Nilsson

Switzerland:

Cath Thomas

United Kingdom:

Kerrie Slade

Chloe Menage (Bead Magazine Editor)

Jean Power

Jo Lochhead

Juliet Browse

USA:

Maggie Roschyk

Adele Rogers Recklies

Diane Hyde

Jean Campbell

Zoya Gutina

Laura Boudloche Zeiner

Laura Andrews

Kathleen Mccabe-Elsey

Julia Gerlach-USA (Bead and Button Magazine Editor)

Diane Fitzgerald

Ana Garcia

Paulette Rosner Baron

Amy Blevins

Melinda Barta (Beadwork Magazine Editor)

Kandra Norsigian

Jamie Cloud Eakin

Pamela Hawkins (Bead Design Studio Magazine Editor)

Kate Bannister Tracton

Deb Moffet Hall (Bead- Patterns The Magazine & Quick Stitch Peyote Card

Barbara Conrad

Lea Avroch

MaryLou Holvenstot

Anna Elizabeth Draeger

So this is how it looks. Fun, yet intimidating! I put the links on the combatants that I could find online and will add links to the Judges as I have time. For right now, I need to get busy. Have a wonderful day! I shall have my current piece finished real soon and am really looking forward to sharing it!

Fission

I was offered a cool opportunity to bead with some beads that are new to the market. Naturally, I jumped at the chance! They are 6MM coin beads with 2 holes. It is kind of funny because the 2-hole bead has been around for some time. It seems that they were becoming obsolete a few years before they hit the market again and with a vengeance. I recall being intrigued with them and had bought some on ‘clearance’ because they were being discontinued. In our quests to make unusual and unique work and ‘get away from the norm’, they have done a come back..and how! Personally, I am thrilled because it offers me new challenges, new patterns and designs as well as all the other beaders out there.

The following is the design I came up with…so far. Right in the middle of a month long, taking me forever piece, I came up with this one. When the beads arrived, my mind starting swimming with possibilities. This is just one and I have others on the to-do list, but have to finish this ‘taking forever’ piece first.

There is only one set of the 6MM coin beads available right now. More colors of these are coming, next up bronze.  Bead Stalkers has the only set available at the moment. We have more of the Crystal AB (Shown) coming as well. You can get the tutorial for this on my website HERE.

Other matters: Rocky Mountain Bead Show is this weekend! Sherry and I are going this afternoon. Debating on the camera to lug around, but I think I will take it.  Going to charge battery! Bead show pics are a good thing! 

The monster piece I am working on is different than anything I have done. It has morphed into this dark and mysterious piece. I was going to name it ‘Caviar’, but have decided ‘The Collector’ works with it much better. April was a crazy month and my Sister visited for a week, as you know. I have never had so many beading interruptions in my life and it feels like they are not dissipating either. My phone rings off the wall, my dogs need to go out or come in within minutes, cleaning the house, running errands, visiting with friends or family, working on Bead Stalkers…etc etc. I think I will take my phone off the hook for a few days this coming week LOL

Last week I met up with Claudia and Elena from Mirrix Looms. They were in town for a few days working with Craftsy doing a video. They took us out to dinner and we had so much fun! They are such wonderful Ladies! Down to earth and cheerful and of course, inspirational. Their auras ooze inspiration  Oh and did I say, they put me on their website as an Official Mirrix Loom teacher! Now how exciting is that?!

Next blog post..Bead show photos ..yipppeee!

Victoria Tutorial

I just finished this piece last night and the tutorial is also ready. I used a mix of plenty of seed beads, Miyuki cube beads, Long Magatamas, 6MM Fire Polish crystals, and Twin Beads. The goal is to use long magatamas. They are a tad difficult to design with, but a fabulous challenge!!

The tutorial is available HERE.

Czech Twin Beads VS Czech Super Duos

I am no expert on the subject, but I have an opinion I was given some Czech Super Duos to do a comparison with the Czech Twin Beads. What better pattern to use than Plum Craaazy! The two major differences between these beads is the uniformity and the price. The Twin Beads have to be culled. I did not have to cull any of the Super Duos. The Twin Beads have imperfections. Occasionally one side fatter than the other and sometimes a hair shorter. I am not sure how these are made, but I am guessing they are by hand. I love the colors and their organic nature. the Super Duos would be the ‘Delicas’ of the 2. Perfection and machine pressed, they are exact and precise and from what I have seen, they have a gorgeous color line!

In working with them, I didn’t find a difference really, just that I didn’t have to pull any glaringly obvious flawed ones out of the batch like I had to with the Twins. They worked up the same for me in my Plum Craaazy design. Both pieces came out the same. The same curves, the same puckering in certain spots (until you get to the next row), etc. I am totally pleased with the results from both sides of this and could not recommend one over the other…for my design. I think they will both a certain place in the bead world, but I would recommend both.  The Super Duos would be best used for exact precision pieces. If you are doing a row for example, as in a Super Duo, seed bead, Super Duo, then coming back down the other side with a seed bead to connect a ‘serpent’ type’ piece. Otherwise, I would go either way.

Below is a side-by-side photo of each type.

Full Size Images

Click Image for Details/Purchase of the Tutorial

 

So that’s my story..and I am sticking to it LOL

Gypsy Bag-Bag of Holding et al

Hi everyone! Sorry I have been away for a tad too long. I have been super busy! Add to beading, I have a visit from my Sister who is coming next week and she is staying for a week! First up is the Filigree Challenge I did for Etsy Bead Embroidery Guild. I named it Gypsy Bag because that is exactly what it reminds me of. Dave added the ‘Bag of Holding’ from a bottomless bag used in the ‘Dungeons and Dragons’ game. Perfect I would like to do a line of these. The center fringe is 6 1/2″ in length and the rope is 58″ long. To be worn over your shoulder and on the opposite hip. Two colors of suede. Not easy on the fingers..for sure!

I have a new barrette customer. This was a custom order after she received one she had purchased from me. The instructions were ‘green and brown please’. Love that freedom on a custom order!

and last, but not least. I wanted to try some beaded soutache. I have seen it here and there and have always been inspired by Dori Csengeri. Here’s my take. I plan on playing more!

So that is what I have been doing. I will be posted back to back blog posts tonight. The next one needs its own ‘space’. My take on the Czech Twins vs Super Duos.

Winter Moon Fairy-Bead Dreams Submission

I can’t even begin to say what a sense of relief I feel right now!! The piece is finally finished and officially entered into the 2012 Bead Dreams competition. Phewwwwww! This was a piece short of blood (but close), sweat for sure (hurrying to the finish line) and no tears, but definitely swears LOL I am happier with the end result than the visual I had to start with. The feathers were a funny/scary situation at the end. I had purchased them AGES ago, stripped coque rooster feathers, 2 packs, white. As I was nearing the finish line, I decide to start gathering the stuff…think I can find them..oh hell no! Searched and searched with fine tooth comb, Dave even offered his eyes and had no luck. Go to Bass Pro Shop to substitute. He works nights and this was just this past Saturday and he was tired and they weren’t quite open yet. So we decide after he wakes we will go. I start looking around because I just KNOW Bass Pro Shop won’t have those fancy feathers. I FINALLY found a shop here in Denver that had feathers…one problem! Dave asked me to wake him at 3:30 in the afternoon. The shop I found closed at 3! Sadly, I am dependent on Dave to take me around. He has gone to sleep late that day and I waited until 1 to wake him. He didn’t respond well and I figured he would go back to sleep and forget even having spoken to me. 15 mins later, he comes out of the bedroom all ready to go. He said he ‘couldn’t live with himself’ if he didn’t accommodate me on this. This brought tears to my eyes and still does! He sacrificed HUGE for me that day!! Forever grateful! It was fate though, all of this little fiasco! The store is AMAZING! They had what I need to replace and even more! So the ‘feather part’ of this is even better than I had planned!! YAY!! YAY to Dave! and YAY to fate!!

I would like to give special THANKS to Kristen Hernandez for the beautiful photos and the patience she had (with a severe concussion even!) to have her face painted with an unorganized, inexperienced face painter (me) LOL

To see a PILE more images, just go to my website:

http://goodquillhunting.com/Winter_Moon_Fairy.html

You can click on my images to enlarge them on my site.

So on the heels of this enormous endeavor, I go to work on my challenge piece for Etsy Bead Embroidery Guild, work on Bead Stalkers, my friend Sherry and I are doing this and then I have to get along on a huge freeform piece to enter into Fire Mt Gems Contest, but one mega task (bead Dreams) ..done!

Tila Cuff and Barrette Tutorial

I finally got this one up and running bright and early this morning. Many of you have asked for it, so here it is. Some of these pieces just made a trip to the UK this past week with Helby Imports. YAY!!

For Details/Purchase go HERE

I acquired a tall tube of peanut beads yesterday, thank you Sherry! Going to see what I can come up with with those beads, they are really beautiful!

Plum Craaazy

I just finished my 3rd tutorial with the new Twin Beads. All 3 of them started out to be bracelets, but morphed into a full on necklace. LOL Here are 2 versions, both of which are included on the tutorial. The reason for this is that the 1st one took exactly 23 grams of Twin Beads, with about 10 to spare. So I had to do up a 2nd one to write the tutorial and after culling I didn’t have enough to do the same bottom. ..which is not all bad

Click Image for Details/Purchase of the Tutorial

 

Click Image for Details/Purchase of the Tutorial

I look forward to doing up some more with these awesome beads!

I have my Bead Dreams piece in full swing and hopefully will be done soon! I am very happy with it and even have a model for it! I can’t even wait to share it with all of you!! I also have to work up soon the Etsy Bead Embroidery Guilds challenge piece, the theme is filigree. After that, I have the Fire Mountain contest piece to work up. It is a collaboration with an awesome friend of mine, Bev McCarthy from Bead Fiesta the Shoppe. She gave me a gorgeous hunk of lampwork about 4 years ago and it is a beautiful but challenging piece. I started it ages ago, but it just didn’t sit right with me, so I have a new idea for it. On top of all this, my Sister, Karla, is coming to visit in April and if I don’t empty out the spare room, she will be sleeping in the living room. Also in April, I have to take my work up into the mountains to Roy’s Last Shot in Blackhawk, Co. They have expanded greatly and have a beautiful gift shop. I have been asked to bring my work up there and trust me, in the summer, that place is standing room only! I have driven by many times where there is not one more place to park. So this year is flying by and I have lots to do! Oh and to top that off, I have a side project I am working on:  http://beadstalkers.com More about that later

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• New Work and New Tutorials (goodquillhunting.wordpress.com)

Tila Accordian Bracelet Tutorial

I finally finished this piece last night. I only started it a year ago! LOL Here is my latest tutorial.

Click Image for Details/Purchase