Fabric and Lace and Ribbon, OH MY!

Working with fabric, lace and ribbon, let alone using a sewing machine, has never really been on my radar.....but recently, I have become fascinated with fabric and journals.  I've also been incorporating more fibers into my jewelry.

This fascination started with Deryn Mentock's online course, Artisan's Day Journal. Sewing fabric on paper, I found, was really fun.  It didn't have to be perfect!

I now have a sewing machine and have been slowly accumulating fabrics, laces, ribbons, and trims.  I never knew it could be so much fun looking at fabric.....as a kid, my mom dragged me through fabric departments all the time and I was always happy when we moved on to the toy department!!!

An on-line workshop, Fabric and Lace Composition Journal, instructed by Gail Schmidt from Creative Workshops has now sparked further fabric and lace fascination!

Learning to print on fabric with your printer and.....techniques for giving fabrics and lace a vintage look were just a few of the techniques from this workshop. Gail's videos are very clear and informative! It's been great fun creating this journal and I've started a second one.  If you have the chance, check out this workshop. You won't be disappointed. 

Altering clipboards has also become an interest of mine.....and given me an outlet to use not only my acquired fabrics, laces, ribbons, and trims but also paper, stencils, rubber stamps, paints, inks, and bits and pieces of old jewelry that I've been using in my jewelry creations.

Talking about acquiring laces....I purchased a fabulous array of French vintage laces from La Clariére on Etsy.  



Everything was beautifully presented when I opened my package. I'm looking forward to using these and hopefully visit her shop on our next trip to Paris.

Given the opportunities to learn new techniques and acquire new interests has truly been a blessing that I am ever grateful for.

Until then.....continue to pursue new interests!

Jewelry Affaire Magazine, Autumn 2012 and Winter 2013......REALLY???

Once again, I was thrilled  
(I just can't come up with another word....
anyone have a suggestion?) to be published in  the Autumn 2012 and Winter 2013 Jewelry Affaire magazines.


I wonder what their process is for selecting jewelry pieces for publication. 
I can't imagine it being an easy task. 



If you are so inclined, purchase  a copy of Jewelry Affaire magazine and become inspired by creative artists such as Kathy Menasco, and her Tattered Dream Cuffs (Winter 2013 issue);  Brooke VanDerzee,and her very French necklace "Magestically" (Autumn 2012); and Tina Shiefer,  and her Vintage Drift necklace (Winter 2013).

Until then......Happy Creating!!!

It Really Came True.....Paris!!!!

A trip of a lifetime....Two Weeks In Paris!

My husband and I decided in August 2009 to take a long-dreamed about trip to Paris in October 2009. Planning and preparing for the trip was fun and exciting....where to stay, what to wear (I was more into that than my husband), tours to go on, what sights did we want to see.

We chose a small hotel in the 7th Arrondissement at Hotel Duquesne near the Ecole Militaire and the Eiffel Tower. Through Google Earth we could actually see what our hotel looked like from the street. Our view from our 2nd floor room through the French windows was of the top third of the Eiffel Tower. I was thrilled.

We took the Metropolitan (subway) almost everywhere we went in Paris and got quite good at finding which routes we needed to take. We would end each evening at the Cafe Bar Le Tourville with a glass of wine. We knew the staff quite well by the end of our trip and enjoyed talking with them.

We spent three days in Avignon and loved strolling through all the narrow streets. We stayed at the Hotel D'Europe which was very old but had been updated and was beautiful. We took a private day tour with a wonderful guide and saw the ancient Roman Aqueduct, walked through Arles and saw the collesium that is still be used today for bullfights and sipped coffee at the Van Gogh Cafe that is depicted in his painting, Cafe Terrace. Lastly we went to winery located in a cave called Sancerre.

A day trip to Normandy was one day I will not forget. Seeing Gold Beach, Omaha Beach and the American Cemetary with rows upon rows of crosses representing those that fought and died during WWII, was a day of reflection.

I think the beliefe that the French are not friendly is false...we found people to be friendly and always helpful. I could go on and on about our trip but these were some of the highlights.

We're already thinking of returning in 2010 and hopefully it will be another dream come true for us.

Until then......enjoy life!!!

WAS I AWAY THAT LONG?

Ignoring my blog is what I've done! How can I expect anyone to read my blog if I'm not updating it on a somewhat regular basis!!! Beading just got in the way, I guess! A family visitor for a month this summer was great fun for the husband and myself...a time to enjoy sites and area activities that are taken for granted.

I've really gotten interested in wire as you may have read in an earlier post. Having a great time with it and hopefully I've gotten some other fellow beaders interested in working with wire, too! I've made lots of bangle bracelets and have arranged for several of them to be on display for sale in a very prominent shop in the area. Even if nothing is sold, maybe they will remember me and Circle of Beads.

Take a look......

A new acquaintance is a lampworker who loves to experiment with glass and manipulates the glass into some fantastically awesome colors, hues, and tones mostly on the earthy side. We're always talking beads and we have totally different interests when it comes to beads and beading but we connect....I love to make things with beads and she loves making beads. We're a match made in beading heaven!!!!

My personal Circle of Beads continues to grow. As a result of two quilters wanting to get together to quilt for a day, of them looking for a place to quilt, and me offering a perfect environment for that to happen, a Day of Creativity was started and continues to grow. Quilters, beaders, painters all come together to share, to be inspired, and just to enjoy each other. The Day of Creativity continues to grow and I am so fortunate to get to meet new people and have the opportunity to get to know them.

The Bead Expo is coming to our area early next year and am happy a small group of us are going together. We're already planning to take classes, shop, and enjoy being around other beaders.

Please check out my etsy shop: circleofbeads and let me know what you think. There are a lot of talented people on etsy and it's worth the time.

Mmmh, I bet Paris is beautiful at this time of year!

Until then.....HAPPY BEADING!