#doodlebits – BeadFX

What if I Changed my Focus to Plan B?

By Anne Marie August 23, 2023 August 22, 2023

What if I changed my focus to Plan B? Would that make it easier to work out some of the problems? Not really a burning question, but I do like to explore my options. What is Plan B? I think that I would like to add more mixed media into my work. But to do that, I’ll need to spend less time with beading, and stitching. Is that something that I could do? Perhaps if planned more, and spent less time going with the flow. Am I prepared to do that? Only time will tell. In last week’s update, we …

A Bead Muse Muses

Changing it Up: In a colourful way!

By Anne Marie August 9, 2023 August 8, 2023 4

I’m changing it up, but in a colourful way! Just because I’m having some trouble with my dominant hand, it doesn’t mean that I cannot do anything creative. Although I’m trying not to do any lengthy beading, or stitching marathons, it doesn’t mean that I will stop those activities completely. I plan to take more breaks, then switch off with less hand intensive, activities. First up, the beading! Only the blue/green pin was stitched last weekend. The rest were done over time. However, I thought that you might like to see them all together. Now that I have enough samples, …

A Bead Muse Muses

Jump Start Your Summer – With beads of course!

By Anne Marie July 5, 2023 July 4, 2023

Will you jump start your summer, with both beads and stitch this year? I didn’t plan on it, but I will! I love both, and started my beading in 2007 with Robin Atkins, Bead Journal Project. She introduced me to both Visual Journals, and working in a series. My Doodle Bits, are mainly stitched, but I do slip a bead or two in when the mood strikes. They are very meditative, so fit nicely into Stitch Meditations. What would you use them for? I’m working on two Embellished Orbs right now. Both are works in progress. First up, hand embroidery. …

A Bead Muse Muses

A Concrete Solution: Is needed to cement your ideas!

By Anne Marie August 17, 2022 August 16, 2022

A concrete solution is a capital idea! I’m afraid that I’ve been slacking off during the summer, so it’s definitely time to cement my fall plans! Let’s start this blog post off with some jewelry that I made out of Artist’s Concrete (purchased at BeadFX, of course). I absolutely love this stuff, because it has a clean industrial look, no smell, and is very easy to work with. I have taught classes for this in the past, and the necklaces in the first photo (and the directions for making them), were published in the Belle Armoire Jewelry magazine in 2019. …

A Bead Muse Muses

What’s Old is New Again: Isn’t that the truth?

By Anne Marie June 15, 2022 June 14, 2022 2

What’s old is new again, and I’m not just saying it! Of course, what’s old is also old, but that’s what memories are made of. Not to mention, what’s new, is still new, but that’s another story. First up is one of my favourite Bead Journal Project (BJP) series from the past. I never remember which year is which, and am too lazy to actually look it up, so let’s just say it might be 2009. This series is loosely based on colourful row houses. It was tons of fun, and includes many lasting memories. In each house, you will …

A Bead Muse Muses

Rocking Retro Plus!

By Anne Marie June 8, 2022 June 7, 2022

I’m definitely into the rocking retro plus mode! This week is no exception, because once I start down this path, it’s oh so hard to stop! Let’s face it! I’ve made one heck of a lot of stuff over the years, and I still have more to show you! Why do I have so much, and where do I store it all? Well, that’s a good question. I’ve always been a maker, and I wish that I had some rocking storage solutions for you, but I’m afraid not. I store in a combination of boxes, piled on shelves, and a …

A Bead Muse Muses

Rainy Evening Musings – Pondering the possibilities!

By Anne Marie May 4, 2022 May 3, 2022

Aren’t rainy evening musings just the best? I get to sit in front of my computer, with the window open, listening to the sound of both heavy rain, and the traffic. It’s very relaxing, and rain softens that which could often be thought of as an irritation. Instead, it’s just white noise to dream, and ponder by! Last Saturday was exciting, because BeadFX held a Trunk Show, to benefit Ukraine. Not to brag, but yours truly snagged some serious loot! It was a blast! There was a definite party atmosphere happening, people were enjoying both the friendly atmosphere, and camaraderie. …

A Bead Muse Muses

Dream a Little Dream of Beads!

By Anne Marie September 22, 2021 September 21, 2021

If dream a little dream of beads is a little vague, then I need to tell you what I’m dreaming about. It’s all there, but like all dreams, it won’t be easy to explain. I’m in a transition phase with my art. I feel stalled, and need to give myself a good kick in the pants! I want to start a new project, but my muse is lusting for something more complicated, so I’m at an impasse. Darn that muse! It feels like I’ve been drifting along, with no particular focus. Have you ever had that happen to you? I …

A Bead Muse Muses

What’s Old is New!

By Anne Marie September 15, 2021 September 14, 2021

What’s old is new, at least to some of you! I’ve been bouncing around a bit, so I thought that you would like to see some of my work from the early days. This post will be a mix of the old, and the new! I’ll start out with the new, then talk a bit about some of my older projects. If you’ve seen them before, my apologies, but I’m hoping that some are old enough, that they will be fresh inspiration. I designed this bracelet, in response to the new Polymer Clay, Vinyl Heishi beads that Dwyn introduced a …

A Bead Muse Muses

Win or Fail: That is the question?

By Anne Marie September 1, 2021 August 31, 2021

Win or fail is one of the questions that we struggle with, all of the time? Why are we so afraid of failing? Are we just a product of our upbringing? I’m not afraid of failing! Failure is just a part of life, and if you never do it, then you just didn’t try hard enough. I win or fail, most of the time. Ha! Isn’t that a silly thought, and isn’t it true of all of us? How can we do both? I do admit to having a lot of arty experience, but I don’t like everything that I …