A Bead Muse Muses

Easy Gifts: Holiday treats!

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Making easy gifts, seems to be one of my holiday traditions! But I’m not happy, unless I’m rushing to make something, at the last minute. I do make more complicated gifts, but the easier ones always seem to be my favourites. Why, I wonder? I don’t really like to work on a production line of wee gifties, yet I admit to doing a little of that, during the holiday season. I’m a little late getting started this year, but there’s still time to make a handful of easy gifts! So, let’s start talking about what we can accomplish. Earrings are …

A Bead Muse Muses

Unfinished Projects: Good or bad?

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Are unfinished projects the dreaded enemy? Do they frustrate you, or are you just happy to have an easy project to work on? Before I started adding workshops to my roster, I probably finished off more projects than the majority of people. However, now my workspace is filled with class samples, but those samples are really unfinished projects (UP’s). I make a lot of samples, yet not all of them, should be finished. But of course, I am my own worst critic! What the heck am I supposed to do with the ones that I don’t like? I know that …

A Bead Muse Muses

November 2019 Bead Mat Update

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My November 2019 Bead Mat Update is a study in contrasts. As a mixed-up media artist, I feel that it’s my duty to show you a variety of projects, but that’s not all! I want to educate you, by showing both the good, and the bad! Okay, it’s not all bad, but I must admit that I’m not feeling all that creative these days. Mainly due to the fact that I’m in organizing mode, but also because my left and right brain, seem to be having a stand-off!  But I’m normally very creative, yet when I organize, my nit-picking, detail-oriented, …

A Bead Muse Muses

Ice is Nice: But this is way too early!

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Yes, ice is nice, but this early in November? Is that really fair? It snowed on Monday, and I’m sure that it will snow again soon! We woke up to -15C temperatures, on Tuesday morning, and I must say, no one was really ready for it. Okay, I do live in Canada, but we’re used to it being a little milder at this time of the year. Snow tire weather is now!!! Yet, The only good thing about “ice is nice” weather, is the fact that it reminds us of the upcoming holiday season. But looking at the slightly crazed …

A Bead Muse Muses

Colour Cues: Always pay attention!

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Colour cues are very special! We all need them, but working with them is definitely not a picnic! Always pay attention! While designing a project, do you automatically decide on the colours you’re going to use, or just work with the ones that you’re used to? Not me! My favourite colours are always in the blue, to blue/green range, but I often force myself to reach for others. Yet what about the old “blue mood” reference? Is it true? My experiences with the Bead Journal Project (BJP), taught me to explore my relationship with various colours.  It’s only natural to think …

A Bead Muse Muses

This and That: Random thoughts!

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This and that, what’s new, and lots of other things!!! Oh no! She doesn’t know what she’s going to write about today, but she’s just going to do it anyway! Okay, I’ve done this before, but not all that often, so please forgive me. If you care to follow, yet are prepared not to judge, just read on!! I was planning to write about jewelery trends, started researching the subject, then decided that I’d rather push the topic to another week. My brain started to hurt, just thinking about it!! My first this and that, is what’s kinda new in …

A Bead Muse Muses

October 2019 Bead Mat Update: Fiddling around a bit!

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My October 2019 bead mat update involves both work, and discretionary spending. Other than that, I haven’t been all that creative this month! But I certainly hope that changes soon, because how can I be a bead muse, if my inspiration is suspiciously missing? Yet no real loss, as I’m positive that it will change shortly!!! Last weekend, Amanda P. and I represented BeadFX at the Grand River Bead Society, annual show and sale, in Guelph, ON. The show was great, the weather wonderful, but the traffic on the 401 was miserable! Yet we still had fun, as it’s always …

A Bead Muse Muses

Change is Good: But how will you deal with it?

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Change is good, but it’s also a way to show that we’re evolving. Yet, what does that have to do with anything? The changing of the seasons is sign of renewal, and regeneration. Don’t we need to do this as well? I know that many of us resist the “change is good” scenario. Yet without it, we probably won’t grow into our potential. But don’t you want to grow into your potential? I know that I harp on you about classes, but that’s one way to grow as a beader, or knitter, metal worker, fibre artist, weaver, etc. I love …

A Bead Muse Muses

What makes an artist an artist?

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Is “what makes an artist an artist” a fair question? How is an artist defined, and who exactly is an artist? An artist is someone who makes art! But then, how do you define art? Do you need a particular set of skills, or formal training to make art, or is it just something you can just call yourself? What if someone else calls you an one? Does that make it so? Is a designer an artist? At times, but who knows where to draw the line? I do know that there are artists, in many different disciplines. Jewelery is …

A Bead Muse Muses

Leaf Drama: The story continues!

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A little leaf drama, is good for the soul! It’s now officially Autumn, despite the fact that yesterday was disgustingly hot, and humid! But now we’re in for cooler temperatures, and the colours have started changing. Back in 2013, I had a vision of what I’d like to do for my 2013/2014 Bead Journal Project (BJP), but I needed more visual input, before I could make definite plans. Enter, leaf drama exploration! My vision involved making a series of twelve intuitive, bead embroidered leaves. But how would I do that, you ask? Why collect some actual leaves, of course! So, …