went on vacation, expecting activity. wanted to return each night exhausted, sun weary, ready for a drink. long story, i wasn’t able to do the things i’d hoped. so, i sewed. i like beading, maybe didn’t want the vacation to be solely that…but nevertheless, got a lot done in paradise.
the upside - made new friends as they came to visit while i worked. that was lovely.
placing the beads on in the same way in each space, randomized, not couched. and i want this design to be different from others i have done. considering leaning in to something i saw at the santa fe folk art museum…see below. see how the artist wound threads close together to fill a space? hmm. maybe.
post holiday quiet night.
got a few things. picked up some pieces off the beach and was hoping to make a stocking to honor that time. but the design didn’t work. some of the cords are too stiff, too thick, or too geometric.
found a bead i like. the blue and silver one.
built a design I can expand on. now i wonder if it’s too much otomi. i’ll fix that and it will be unique.
thought it would be interesting to show what the back of one of these looks like. so many stitches! and the front. i varied the bead colors using a lot of black, white, an neutrals so that the brights, in small amounts, would be visibly interesting. also, i wanted to vary the pattern at the bottom to attract the eye downwards, using zigzags and fabric pieces.
bend when you can. snap when you have to.
2022. haven’t had a break in several years. this little trip made up for it. just me.
trail running is like beading - being completely immersed in the path, or in the placement of the bead on the fabric. it’s a creative space like no other, clearing everything.
going further - using milder colors and will lay brighter ones on top for the contrast.
really loving it. using new beads from santa fe. i picked up a few drier colors so the bright ones will pop more.
ruth gifted me the cross with charms for my birthday. for good luck, protection, happiness. she picked it. i love it. the picture is an original landscape i picked up at a street art fair. and the sticks are twisted roots, exposed by the elements, from the land in NM. i liked them. i think they’ll be the basis of the next project.
mom, me, ruth. santa fe. beads, runs, food, museums, shopping, wine, tequila, spa, perfect weather, a beautiful drive, and the best company. a weekend we’ll never forget. thanks, mom.
this weekend. will shop for beads in my favorite place. take a lovely run. spa. mexican food. guess where?!? can hardly wait.
easy weekend. maggie and i enjoyed time together. added more life to this. loving it.
loving it. blended of beads, shapes, sizes. and found a place for the large yellow medallion.
rest and thread. and a movie. taking the afternoon. because pandemics.
me and the girls. and the elk. at the flagpole run at chief hosa this weekend. michelle and laurie, grateful for you and every.single.mile.even.uphill.
i love the life in this one. color, treasures. using pieces and remnants of beads from other projects. it’s satisfying to use up a small amounts of leftover beads in service of the greater project. from the pink down, i’ll begin layering soon. just laying the foundation now.
it’s deeper than one layer. sometimes the most interesting beads are on top, and sometimes they are underneath. i like the black accents because they make all the other colors brighter. ruth said she thinks it feels like a sunset.
sometimes it’s hard to know if you’re on the right path, creatively or otherwise. i think so. the question here is are the bright spots supposed to layer on top, or be underneath peeking through something in the shade. well. that’s the question about bright spots.