Tatting Addiction

Red Tatted Bracelet, originally uploaded by ambrosianbeads.

I haven't done any real beadweaving in ages it seems. It has to do with my emotional state during the divorce I just went through :-( However, I got a little kick in the creative pants, so to speak, by learning how to tat recently. The two basic design elements, ring and chain, are all I know, but I figured out how to link them along the edge and turn corners so I designed this bracelet with beads. This one I made for a friend for Valentine's Day. She has been an enormous source of support for me in the last year, and I wanted to present her with this little token of gratitude. She loved it !I've posted more bracelet photos on Flickr and will be listing a bracelet or two in my Etsy shop soon.

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 :-)

Interview on Beads Perles

I was contacted recently for an interview on the beading blog Beads Perles and today my interview was published. I'm honored because this seems to be the ultimate resource for interviews with talented beadweavers from around the world. The blog is in Spanish with the interviews published in both Spanish and English. I guess I could compare my answers to the Spanish and learn a few more words !(I have a lazy ongoing project to learn Spanish) Good thing I have it bookmarked now because I hope to get caught up with reading all the interviews one day !

Blue agate necklace

Blue agate necklace (PixUp), originally uploaded by ambrosianbeads.

Better photos will be coming shortly. This is a necklace that I did a couple years ago. I originally used a purchased glass leaf pendant, but everyone who saw it in my art gallery said "oooohh !!! did you make the pendant ?" After saying "no" one too many times, I vowed never to make another artist's or commercially made pendant the focal point of a piece of beadwork. It took me two years to come up with an idea that I like for another pendant.

I purchased the agate slab while on vacation in Bar Harbor, Maine the summer before, and at the last minute before gallery jury day, I decided it would work perfectly with the unadorned necklace. Feverishly working all day yesterday, going out for a few hours with a friend then staying up until 1:30 am, it was ready to visit the gallery this morning. I haven't checked yet, but I hope it was accepted and will find a new home shortly !

EBW Members Nearly Meet !

A couple days ago I got a Facebook message from a fellow Etsy Beadweaver, Rosita aka CrownRoseGems. She was visiting the Washington, DC area and I felt very honored that she wanted to make a special trip to my fiber co-op to see my beadwork. We nearly made a connection, but plans didn't favor our meeting in person. However, she was able to visit the Potomac Fiber Arts Gallery in the Torpedo Factory Art Center, and graciously complimented my jewelry that she saw while she was there. Please take a look at her beautiful beadwork here . I hope we do get to meet sometime and I hope I get to meet other beadweavers too. My place is always open for a visit from a fellow bead fanatic !
CrownRoseGems

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 !

Freeform Necklace Set

Freeform Necklace Set, originally uploaded by ambrosianbeads.

I wanted to stitch up a quick herringbone bracelet, but for some reason, it didn't want to be a bracelet after all. What started out as an easy plan for finishing, turned into a weeks long project that I put aside numerous times. My deadline was the big gallery holiday show, so that forced me to bring this thing to a conclusion. At 11:30pm the night before jurying, I stitched up some earrings to match. It's in the gallery now, and hopefully someone will think it's the perfect gift.

Gallery show necklaces

Gallery show necklaces (PixUp), originally uploaded by ambrosianbeads.

Yesterday was the jury day for the big holiday show at Potomac Fiber Arts Gallery . I was on the jury panel and had fun scrutinizing all the great fiber art that passed under my nose. I am good with detail and was able to spot tiny flaws in knitting, beadwork and sewing. If I could only get paid to do that every day ! Anyway, our gallery has an unbelievable amount of beautiful fiber works to wear, view or use and there is something for everyone on the shopper's gift list. I got 35 items accepted into the show which lasts through December.