Challenge of Travel

Leave it to Erin Prais-Hintz and Marcie Abney to come up with another wonderful challenge for us.  This time, it is a Challenge of Travel -- our chance to experience a new location through beads.  It might not be the same as actually being there, but it's a start.  :)

I chose Japan.  I've always loved different parts of Japanese culture and was excited to learn more.  A few things came right to mind:  sushi, cherry blossoms, anime, karate and kimonos.

In the early centuries, Japan adopted many parts of Chinese culture and early kimono styles were influenced by Chinese clothing.

A traditional kimono is made from one bolt of material which is stitched together and folded around the body.  The obi holds the drapes together.  The fabric, pattern and color all hold significance.

I intended to make a necklace that incorporated the folds of the kimono, but it fell short.  I still wanted to make something inspired by a kimono.

I remembered a book I picked up on a trip to New York a few years ago.

The book is entirely in Japanese.  I still bought it because the miniature beaded dresses are amazing.  As luck would have it, the book contained a pattern for a beaded kimono.  I looked at the pattern (written in Japanese) and thought "how hard can this be?"  Um, how about *really* hard?

Truthfully, it wasn't as bad as I'm making it out to be.  The pattern was well drawn and easy to follow.  As I started beading, the kimono began to take shape and it even started to make sense.  :)

The back of the obi features a small bow.

I really love the way this turned out and am dying to try a few more dresses in the book.  (I haven't mentioned this to the kiddo, but there is a Snow White dress in the book that looks amazing.)

I didn't have time to order a miniature dress form, so I made my one by chopping up a wine cork.  If you look closely, you can see the tan of the cork through the holes in the beading.

While the kimono was fun to make, I still wanted to make a piece of jewelry for the challenge.  I was inspired by the Japan's flag, the Hinomaru, which means "circle of the sun."

I used a 12mm rivoli to represent the sun and attached it to a copper pendant.

Japan is often called "the land of the rising sun."  The Japanese words for Japan are "nippon" and "nihon," which mean "the sun's origin."  I wanted to create the colors of a sunrise on the copper, so I grabbed my small torch and went to work.  

This was my first attempt at heat patina and it will not be my last.  It was so much fun watching the oranges, reds and blues appear on the metal, almost like "painting" the metal.

You can see a bit of the color variation in the close ups.

You can also see a small hole in the corner of the pendant.  Originally, I wanted to rivet the copper piece to a leather backing.  After I punched the holes, I thought it might look more "finished" if I beaded a bezel for the pendant.  I ended up adding a few extra beads on the corners to cover those pesky holes.

With the pendant finished, I started on a simple spiral rope.

I used this awesome tutorial by Heather Powers on the Art Bead Scene Blog to create my clasp.  I added a heat patina to the clasp as well.

The end result:

I could not be more pleased with this necklace.  I tried a few new techniques and was able to incorporate some metal work into my beading.  The oranges and reds remind me of the rising sun and I hope the pendant is reminiscent of Japan's flag.  

Erin and Marcie, thank you for such an awesome challenge.  I love the extra "push" these challenges seem to give me.  For more awesome designs, check out Erin's blog or hop over to the rest of the participants below:

Monique Urquhart	http://ahalfbakednotion.blogspot.ca/
Niky Sayers	http://silverniknats.blogspot.co.uk/
Therese Frank	http://www.theresestreasures59.blogspot.com
Raychelle Heath	http://abeadloveaffair.blogspot.com/
Joan Williams	www.lilrubyjewelry.wordpress.com
Sherri Stokey	http://www.KnotJustMacrame.com
Regina Santerre	http://reginaswritings.blogspot.com
Raida Disbrow	http://havanabeads.blogspot.com
Kristi Wodek	http://livedinlife.blogspot.com
Sally Russick	http://www.thestudiosublime.com
Melissa Trudinger	http://beadrecipes.wordpress.com
Tracy Stillman	http://www.tracystillmandesigns.com
Sandra Wolberg	http://city-of-brass-stories.blogspot.de
Tanya Goodwin	http://pixiloo.blogspot.com
Susan Kennedy	http://suebeads.blogspot.com
Beth Emery	http://storiesbyindigoheart.blogspot.com
Lisa Cone	http://inspiredadornments.blogspot.com/
Tanya Boden	http://fusionmusebangkok.blogspot.com/
Inge von Roos	http://ingetraud.wordpress.com
Erin Prais-Hintz	http://treasures-found.blogspot.com
Dee Elgie	http://cherryobsidia.blogspot.com
Carolyn Lawson	http://carolynscreationswa.blogspot.com
Lisa Stukel	http://carefreejewelrybylisa.blogspot.com
Elly Snare	http://themagicsquarefoundation.wordpress.com
Shelley Graham Turner	http://www.shelleygrahamturner.blogspot.com
Mallory Hoffman	http://rosebud101-fortheloveofbeads.blogspot.com/
Paige Maxim	http://www.pmaximdesigns.blogspot.com
Jenny Davies-Reazor	http://www.jdaviesreazor.com/blog
Sharyl McMillian-Nelson	http://sharylsjewelry.blogspot.com
Evelyn Shelby	http://raindropcreationsbyevelyn.blogspot.com/
Holly Westfall	http://silverrosedesigns.blogspot.com/
Rebecca Siervaag	http://www.godsartistinresidence.blogspot.com
Toltec Jewels	http://toltecjewels.blogspot.com
Lee Koopman	http://StregaJewellry.wordpress.com
Laren Dee Barton	http://larendeedesigns.blogspot.com
Cindy Wilson	http://www.mommysdreamcreations.blogspot.com
Kathleen Lange Klik	http://ModernNatureStudio.blogspot.com
Shaiha Williams	http://shaihasramblings.blogspot.com/
Jennifer Justman	http://soulsfiredesigns.blogspot.com/
Elsie Deliz-Fonseca	http://ladelizchica.blogspot.com
Lola Surwillo	http://www.beadlolabead.blogspot.com
Kim Hora	http://www.kimmykats.com
Leanne Loftus	http://firstimpressiondesign.blogspot.com
Patti Vanderbloemen	http://myaddictionshandcrafted.blogspot.com
Marcie Carroll	http://labellajoya.blogspot.com
Marlene Cupo	http://amazingdesigns-marlene.blogspot.com
Ine Vande Cappelle	http://jewelsbyine.blogspot.com
Tammie Everly	http://ttedesigns.blogspot.com/
Alice Peterson	http://www.alice-dreaming.blogspot.com
Elisabeth Auld	http://www.beadsforbusygals.com
Susan McClelland	http://mistheword12.wordpress.com/
D Lynne Bowland	http://islandgirlsinsights.blogspot.com
Denielle Hagerman	http://somebeadsandotherthings.com
Rebecca Anderson	http://songbeads.blogspot.com
Mischelle Fanucchi	http://micheladasmusings.blogspot.com/
Kari Asbury	http://hippiechickdesign.blogspot.com
Cece Cormier	http://www.thebeadingyogini.com/
Emma Todd	http://www.apolymerpenchant.com
Debbie Price	http://greenshoot.blogspot.com

i heart macro Sunday - Back to School

This was the kiddo's first full week of school.  We've slowly been settling into a new routine which includes walking to and from school.

The kiddo is psyched to walk to school.

On the way, we pass her favorite tree, a neighbor's blue spruce, and  talk about what we think the day will bring.

We say "good morning" to the crossing guard, a sweet woman who greets us with a big smile every morning.  She makes a point to address everyone, adults and children, by name.

We cross the small bridge that the kiddo has loved to run over since she was old enough to, well, run.

Shading the bridge is the largest willow tree I have ever seen.

I walk her to the classroom, make sure to get my hug, and am usually half way home when I hear the school bell.

The kiddo is in half day kindergarten, so I pick her up around lunchtime.  The classroom opens to a small patio on the front of the school.  All of us moms and dads wait by a nearby flagpole for the teacher to lead the children out to the patio for dismissal.

The walk home is my favorite part of the day.  The kiddo chatters about all the things she did in class.  She tells me how many stars the class earned (10 stars = a special treat) and about extra curricular of the day (music, art, gym, etc.).  I love to see her so excited and hear about her day!

I apologize that the majority of these were not macro shots.  If you would like to see some awesome macro goodness, check out Studio Waterstone

And what I'm still working on ...

A few days ago, I showed you what I've completed over the past weeks.  Today, I want to share what else  has been moving through my bead table.

I'm slowly putting together my creation for Erin Prais-Hintz's and Marcie Abney's Challenge of Travel.  I chose Japan and am hoping to produce something worthy of the country's rich cultural heritage.

My original idea didn't pan out, so I went back to the beading board.  I'm hoping to create two different pieces, one literal and one interpretative.

I'll let you guess which one this is.

Karyn chose four projects for our Beading Babes group this time around.  I have a two completed and am in the process of finishing the other two.

I can't show you the projects until our reveal date, but I can share a few teaser pictures.

My favorite project this round is "Josephine's Collar," designed by Jill Devon and published in the June 2012 issue of Beadwork Magazine.  I had so much fun with this, I set everything else aside so I could finish it.

I also finished "Retro Daisies," designed by Janice Chatham, and published in the April 2012 issue of Bead and Button.

I need to complete the edging for the "Ripple Effect Cuff," designed by Sherry Serafini, and published in the June 2011 issue of Beadwork Magazine.

I also need to finish the "Soutastic Soutache Earrings," designed by Amee McNamara, and published in the June 2012 issue of Bead and Button.    This may or may not happen as the soutache is giving me fits.  (It's entirely my fault, of course.  The soutache itself is soft and and cuddly.)

When those are complete, I can start on a piece for Lisa Lodge's My Bead Table Blog Hop.  Lisa sent me the following selection of stray and orphan beads from her own stash.

The colors are right up my alley and I am hoping to do her proud.

Please check back in a week for the Challenge of Travel reveal.  The reveal date for our Beading Babes group is September 16 and Lisa's My Bead Table Blog Hop reveal is October 13.  I hope to see you then!

What I've been working on ..

It's been awhile since I've posted anything "beady."  You might think I've been slacking, but I've been working on my Beading Babes projects and on my piece for the Challenge of Travel.

In addition to those, I have been also working on a few other things, and even managed to complete a few of them.  :)

First up is a UFO that's been hanging around for a bit too long.  It is a bracelet based on Scarlett Lanson's "Aegean Sea" necklace in the October/November issue of Beadwork.

I'm not sure why I never finished it, although I suspect it's because I didn't like the open area at the side of the focal.  Oh well, I'm over it and enjoying my new bracelet.  :)

I made the necklace some time ago.  I don't typically create the project in the same color scheme as in the magazine, but I totally fell in love with the colors and *had* to match the sample as best I could.

You can wear this lariat either symmetrically or asymmetrically.  I love it both ways.

Scarlett's designs are amazing.  She combined so many techniques to create this lariat.

I made two more small beads using Melinda Barta's "Seeing Stars" pattern, published in the February/March issue of Beadwork.

I also made a bigger "Cube Cluster Beaded Bead," designed by Gwen Fisher and published in the April/May issue of Beadwork.  I started with 10mm beads in the base and ended up with a 1.25 inch bead.

Here they are with the others beads in the series.

The other beads are the "Stargazer Beaded Bead," designed by Florence Turnour and the "Treasure Trove Beaded Bead," designed by Cynthia Newcomer Daniel.  These were published in the June/July issue and  August/September issue of Beadwork, respectively.  

These beads are destined to work together in a single piece for Beadwork Magazine's Beaded Bead Contest.  You can find more information on the contest and about the beads in an earlier post here.

Speaking of beaded beads, I finished a necklace using the Infinity Ubercube pattern designed by Gwen and Florence.

I love making these cubes.  They don't take too long and are so satisfying to create.

My necklace is based on this design by Gwen.

I also have a few more Infinity Cubes waiting in the wings, this time in pink.

I think they will work well with these beads by Donna Millard.  If you are as wowed by these beads as I am (and you really should be), you can find more of Donna's work for sale in her etsy shop and on her website.

I can't decide how to put everything together.  Maybe with some chain or leather?

And if you are wondering how to make you own Infinity Ubercubes, you can find that pattern and more on Gwen and Florence's website, Bead Infinitum.  You will find more beaded cubes, rings, prisms and spheres than you thought possible.

So, that's what I've been up to.  Check back later in the week for a glimpse (or two) of  my Beading Babes projects and my piece for the Challenge of Travel.

i heart macro Sunday

This week, I have a few more pictures my husband took while we were on vacation.

I'm not normally a fan of bugs or insects, but I generally make an exception for photography.

For more macro goodness, check out Studio Waterstone