Tag: #beadfxworkshops

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

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

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, …

A Bead Muse Muses

Class Shenanigans: How to wile away a weekend!

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The class shenanigans certainly made last weekend very lively. I hosted two full classes at BeadFX, now I’m exhausted, but it was well worth it!! First up, my Needle Felted Landscape class, which is an escape into creative freedom. Mix imagination, colour, stabbing out the frustrations of the day, then sprinkle in some hand embroidery, and a few beads! Pure bliss!! I can’t speak for my students, but judging from their comments, enthusiasm, and results, a good day was definitely had by all! I worked on this demo during the class, then finished it off after I got home. I …

A Bead Muse Muses

Swarovski Love: A sparkly affair!

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A little Swarovski love is what we need, now that the season is turning. Who turned the switch, and where did summer go? It seems earlier than normal, but fall is certainly sneaking up on us! But is there anything that we can do to hold back the season? Unfortunately, not, but we can always warm up our creativity, by adding a little sparkle back into our lives. I blame the child in us, for our attraction to sparkle. Swarovski love, is certainly not for the faint of heart, but it does give you something to think about. Is sparkle just …