#intuitivebeadembroidery

Creative Sparks: Just make something!

By Anne Marie March 15, 2023 March 14, 2023 0

Creative sparks are just one part of the overall artistic experience. They are the kindling that lights the fire. But you need to put in the time, and hard work into keep the flame lit. Imagination, learning, patience, time, repetition, and hard work are all critical to the artistic process. I lurked in the Beaded Art Doll Facebook group, for years, before ever making my first doll. Experienced in intuitive bead embroidery on flat surfaces, but not confident enough to try 3-D, I felt guilty, but still watched, wallowed, and absorbed! My creative sparks smoldered for years, then blasted into …

A Bead Muse Muses

Dealing with a Bevy of Challenges!

By Anne Marie March 8, 2023 March 7, 2023 0

I’m dealing with a bevy of challenges, or am I? Perhaps “bevy” is not the right word, but it sounds much better than a couple, or even a handful of challenges. My first challenge, is undoubtedly the fact that I’m still having pain in my right thumb. This is restricting the length of time that I can work on any activity, and is a real pain in the patootie! It’s getting better, but it’s still annoying! It’s frustrating, because I’m not used to budgeting my creative time. Yes, I visited my Doctor, and she agreed with my diagnosis (heh, heh). …

A Bead Muse Muses

What Colour is your Muse?

By Anne Marie March 1, 2023 February 28, 2023 0

What colour is your muse, is a great way to slide into both our Bead-A-Long, and the month of March. In many other parts of the world, March brings signs of spring, but not in Toronto. Right now, we’re surrounded by the snow that hit us a couple of days ago. More snow to come, but you can never predict just when. We’re always hearing scary news about the latest snow apocalypse, but they don’t always materialize, so it’s a gamble. However, what March does, is it brings us the hope that spring will show up before the May-24-weekend (aka …

A Bead Muse Muses

Bringing New Life Into Old Stuff!

By Anne Marie January 4, 2023 January 3, 2023 2

Is bringing new life into old stuff, a resolution? I don’t really think so, because this seems to be the way I work these days (and I don’t normally do resolutions). As much as I love making new stuff, I also have a fascination with anything old, recycled, natural, orphaned, and tatty. But before I really get into bringing new life into old stuff, let me show you a few things that I worked on over the holidays. Yes, I did have one more Bead Embroidered Button Brooch left in me, mainly because this one is for me. Yes, I …

A Bead Muse Muses

Peace After the Storm!

By Anne Marie December 28, 2022 December 27, 2022 2

Peace after the storm in Toronto, is quite the relief. When the temperature goes from 4c to -14c (39.2f – 6.8f) in a single day, the weather brings unwelcome surprises. Or was it -15c? Rain, freezing rain, snow, high winds, and flash frozen streets, are not good. But it appears that Toronto dodged the worst of the bullet, once again. I feel for everyone in harder hit areas of both Canada, and the US. Electricity is still out, and more storms to come in some places. But the Hydro workers are heroes, and they’re doing their best! It’s sad that …

A Bead Muse Muses

The Holidays Await: Let the good times roll!

By Anne Marie December 21, 2022 December 20, 2022 0

The holidays await, but are you ready for them? Not many beading days left, although if you’re not seeing your friend, or family member, until after the big day(s), then there’s still time to whip something up! Cheating I know, but you need to do, what you need to do, to make it all work without tearing your hair out! I didn’t get my mojo working until early December, so I’m behind on some of my projects. When this happens, and it doesn’t happen that often, I reassess my priorities, and pare down the projects. If it’s not done by …

A Bead Muse Muses

Collect the Collections Blues! – Sing it loud!!

By Anne Marie November 30, 2022 November 29, 2022 0

I’m singing the collect the collections blues! Why, do you ask? I have a habit of making art in series, and when I’m finished, I end up with a collection. Those collections build up, and require both storage solutions, and space. This wouldn’t be a problem, if I actively sold my work! However, I do not do that, so end up with a collection, of collections. That wouldn’t bother me, if I had the space to store everything! I do gift some to relatives, and friends, but I still need to do something else with them. Other than fondling them, …

A Bead Muse Muses

Colour Play is where it’s at!

By Anne Marie November 16, 2022 November 15, 2022 0

Colour play is where it’s at, and I’m not just saying this!! It’s something I truly believe in. But, if it’s just not your thing, I’ll attempt to convince you with my photos. My creativity is making a slow return, thanks to the Making Zen Online Retreat. I’m making progress on this colourful needle book. I feel that it’s important to ramp up the colour, now that we’ve reached a darker time of the year. Colourful cotton batiks, with a touch of Sari silk, makes for a brighter day! Fibrella is the Queen of Fibreland, but she’s also a very …

A Bead Muse Muses

Creative Solutions to the Challenges of an Artistic Slump!

By Anne Marie November 9, 2022 November 8, 2022 0

Do you know any creative solutions to the challenges of an artistic slump? Would you be interested in sharing them? There’s nothing to be ashamed of, we all go through it! I’m just digging myself out of one now, so I have a few ideas to share with you. Don’t get tied all up in knots about it, as it’s something that will pass in time. Take advantage of the downtime, then rev up your engine with something that you want to do. It doesn’t matter what, just do it! After obsessing about it for a while, I frequently decide …

A Bead Muse Muses

Reflections on Change!

By Anne Marie October 15, 2022 October 18, 2022 0

This blog post is all about reflections on change. Why? Because I’m working outside of my normal routine, it’s fall, and I’m writing this in Northern (Sault Ste Marie), instead of Southern Ontario (Toronto). The colours are spectacular (I had an amazing drive up!), and photography is having a huge influence on my state of mind. Strange, isn’t it? I can go months without pulling out my SLR camera, but give me fall colours, and I go crazy with all the shots! Of course, I won’t barrage you with the rest of them, but I will share a few, and …