A Little Something Special

I recently received a wonderful little package from JJ Jacobs, my bead soup partner from last winter.  According to her most recent blog post, she creates a new fused-glass ornament design each year.  And this year I was lucky enough to receive one in the mail!  Don't you just love my little penguin?  I know I do.   

I don't yet have a tree to display him on, so I took him outside and photographed him with some fall leaves. As you can see, it's a bit damp out, but penguins don't mind the rain.  And later on, I'm sure he'll look equally wonderful on our tree. 

Thank you JJ! He makes me smile.

Crunch Time and Sneak Peeks

The end of February is fast approaching along with deadlines; several self-imposed, one external.  It is definitely crunch time! 

This first image is of a series of cabachons I've trapped using a combination of right angle weave and peyote stitch so that they might be incorporated into larger projects.  Speaking of incorporating them into larger projects, they are all samples in an ebook I hope to finish in the next week (yeah, right!) about this very subject.  Originally I thought it would be an 8-page pattern featuring one sample.  It's grown to well over twenty pages, and includes random right angle weave and any number of variation and will include at least one finished project (incorporating the trapped cabochon into a larger piece).  Stay tuned.

Then there's the Bead Soup challenge.  (Check out Lori's latest post "Where is Everyone Coming From" - it's impressive!) The reveal is this Saturday, and while my piece is considerably further along than this picture, I still have quite a ways to go.  Trying to decide just how much I can show in a sneak peak without giving it all away. 

I think I'll leave it at the one picture, but the style is more in keeping with my Hunting Fae necklace, than with most of my other freeform beaded pieces.  It's a combination of freeform peyote, right angle weave and random right angle weave.  The larger beads were all made by my trading partner, JJ Jacobs. 

Cheryl's bracelet in process

Meanwhile, I taught a class on freeform peyote at my studio on Saturday of President's Day Weekend.  Only had one student - turns out scheduling a one-day class over a long weekend causes scheduling conflicts with many of my potential students.  Oops.  But since I'd already penciled it in my calendar, I decided to run with it.  And I'm glad I did. 

Since there was only one student, I went ahead and let her run the show as far as what she wanted to learn.  We spent the better part of the first hour looking through my samples and discussing techniques, bead choices, and colors. 

While Cheryl really wanted to learn freeform beading, she was trepidacious because by nature she felt herself to be a very 'pattern-oriented' person.  So we discussed the underlining patterns.  Despite all of that, she was as she said a quick learner and made a huge amount of progress on her bracelet.  And had a great time working with the freeform techniques.

And here's the bracelet I started on Saturday.  I continued working on it on Sunday and it's almost complete.  Too bad I took the picture 'upside down' - the leaves are supposed to be on the lower edge, just realized that. (The background is a lovely sweater crocheted by my favorite sister). 

Like the paper clip?  A quick way of trying out a button

 I'd had a vague idea of submitting it for Art Bead Scene's February challenge (I really love the images they choose each month), but my colors shifted as I worked and there really isn't an art bead focal, so it doesn't fit.   This may well be the first jewelry piece I post on Etsy.  When I get it finished, and have time to set up my store. 

So that's what I've been up to lately, how about you?

Second, Third and Fourth Courses

Lampworked beads by JJ Jacobs

'Amphora' bead by JJ Jacobs

JJ Jacobs is the cat's pajamas!  She sent a second package of her lampworked beads as "additional courses" in our Bead Soup party exchange.  Aren't they beauties?

She says it's so that I could see more of her 'usual style', and she can see more of it incorporated into jewelry.

Guess I'd better get cracking!  Wonder if I can challenge myself to make something with each of these before the February 26th reveal?

Bead Soup Mix

Bead Soup Mix from JJ Jacobs

Lampworked glass by JJ Jacobs

Arrived home this evening to find a package waiting for me.  JJ Jacobs sent me an amazing assortment of beads for the Bead Soup Party and other goodies.

Many of the pieces are her own lampworked beads.  But they aren't your standard, round beads.  No, they're wonderful, amorphous shapes that remind me of fish and raindrops splatting into ponds and all sort of other watery things.  I love these beads!  While she designated this particular beauty as the focal for my challenge piece, the truth is I'd consider any of her freeform beads focal quality. 

Serenity Now by JJ Jacobs

I need to think about how to do them justice!

And in the meantime, I can also think about ways to use the two warm glass tiles she sent as well.  While she suggested in her note that they make great magnets or tiny paperweights, I want to incorporate them each into a piece.  I could trap her abstract piece, Serenity Now,  and use it as a cabochon.  Black or red beads in the border, maybe? 

Lone Raven by JJ Jacobs

The Lone Raven is trickier because I don't want to obscure the raven at lower left.  But that still leaves three corners for me to work with.

Or it may just find a home in my studio on one of my display shelves, where I can look at it and smile.

Thank you JJ!  You make amazing soup (and beads, too!)

Trading Partners

Dancing Towards the Light by JJ Jacobs

The news is in:  my trading partner for the Bead Soup Party is JJ Jacobs of Coming Abstractions.  We've exchanged emails, and I'm very excited.  While the primary focus of her blog seems to be her abstract, organic acrylic paintings, to which I'm drawn quite strongly, she's also a lampworker.  I need to ask her if the beads in her bead soup picture are her work - they're fantastic!

To the left is one of my favorites of her paintings, Dancing Towards the Light.  Acrylic on Canvas, 36x24.  And oddly enough, I swear didn't notice this until just now, when I went to add the link to her blogsite, but she posted this picture on the day my book was published.  

I have to wonder a little why Lori thought the two of us were opposites, as we both work primarily with color and freeform, organic designs.  But I'm not complaining.  Nuh uh!  Lucky me!

Now to put together her packet of goodies.  Hmmm......