#stitchmeditations Archives

Colouring Outside of the Lines – Just because I can!

By Anne Marie March 24, 2021 March 23, 2021 0

Colouring outside of the lines is just something that I do! I’ve been doing this for years, so I’m not about to stop now! What does colouring outside of the lines mean for me? I allow myself to work on multiple projects, but I do not restrict myself to any materials, or techniques. That’s what it means! My beaded orb is almost finished. What will I do with it, how will I display it, and was it worth it? I don’t have all of the answers, but it was an interesting, exercise. Any day that I can play with beads, …

A Bead Muse Muses

Ready to Roll – Spring forward!

By Anne Marie March 10, 2021 March 9, 2021 0

I’m ready to roll, but it’s not only because Daylight Savings springs forward this weekend. Creativity abounds, yet I’m still pushing myself to do more. Why is that? I have always done well with deadlines, though I’m a last minute person! LOL! You gotta do, what you gotta do! Enough of this, now time to blog. Let’s celebrate the return to light! I spotted a girl running by the side of the road, and she had shorts on!! A few degrees above freezing, and people in Toronto go crazy!! Seriously though, the weather is pretty nice. I haven’t started yet, …

A Bead Muse Muses

Blending Old and New!

By Anne Marie February 17, 2021 February 16, 2021 0

The act of blending old and new, isn’t really new for me. But, like everything else, it comes in stages. I’m in a creative phase right now, but I wonder how long I can keep it up. Do I have limits? Will I be up to the challenge? Only time will tell, but I promise to do my best. Blending old and new, is just one way of looking at things. But what that means to me, is that I’ve given myself permission to combine old techniques, new techniques, stash, components, and/or projects, into new 2021 art! It’s a fun …

A Bead Muse Muses

Beading Wire Trials – and playful experiments!

By Anne Marie February 3, 2021 February 2, 2021 0

Beading wire trials, seem to be an occasional occurrence for me! However, playful experiments will be the real name of the game. I spotted some lonely hearts hanging on the wall, so decided to give myself a wee Valentine’s gift. Totally out of character for me, but the hearts are cute!! I won’t wear my heart on my sleeve, but figured that it would be okay to wear them on my wrist. In this case, simple was definitely better than fancy. The crimping, went well at the beginning, but when I reached the end, I found that the hole in …

A Bead Muse Muses

January 2021 Bead Mat Update: Mixing it up again!

By Anne Marie January 27, 2021 January 26, 2021 0

My January 2021 Bead Mat Update is mixing it all up again! But what else would you expect out of me? I added a new beaded path, to my free form peyote ‘Dancing’ piece, during the U.S. Presidential Inauguration. The new path, includes the large green heart, that signifies hope, and renewal. Would you believe that I looked down at my bead mat, and there it was? Strange, isn’t it? Where did it come from? I stitched a new orb, and this one is Indigo! What’s next? A beaded one? Perhaps I should stop thinking, and just do! Next up …

A Bead Muse Muses

Jewelry Trends 2021 – What do the designers say?

By Anne Marie January 13, 2021 January 12, 2021 0

As far as Jewelry Trends 2021 goes, the world is our oyster!! The designers say, what the designers say, but then it’s up to us to interpret them to suit our fancy. I always start by Googling “Jewelry Trends 2021” (insert the current year), and then choose the very best to share with you. Some are lovely, others ugly, then still more, not all that practical. So, we take what we can, out of each design, then make it our own. NYFW (New York Fashion Week), says that pearls, chains, and charms are still hot for Fall/Winter (2020/2021). Forbes said …

A Bead Muse Muses

December 2020 Bead Mat Update _ Ring in the New Year with beads!

By Anne Marie January 6, 2021 January 5, 2021 0

My December 2020 bead mat update is late, because I forgot about it. BeadFX was closed for the holidays, and I was vegging out! However, I did redeem myself, by ringing in the new year with beads. I spent New Year’s Eve, stitching on my Free-form Peyote “Dancing” piece, and watching sappy movies. No, I didn’t stay up until midnight, because nothing much was going to change overnight. “Dancing” is now very sculptural, but that’s not all! It’s becoming an interesting backdrop, for other pieces. Next up on my December 2020 bead mat update, earrings! I decided to experiment with …

A Bead Muse Muses

Good Riddance 2020 – Come to Mama 2021!

By Anne Marie December 30, 2020 December 29, 2020 2

Good riddance 2020 is an appropriate title for this blog post! It has not been a good year overall, so I’m certainly not sorry to see the back of it. It has been devastating for many, but beading, stitching, arting, and crafting in general, has helped to keep many of us sane, grounded, and in control of our emotions. When this is all over, you will see that there has been a renaissance in the beading, quilting, sewing, and knitting/crocheting movements. I’m sure that there are other crafts out there that I might have missed, but you get the picture! …

A Bead Muse Muses

Retro Gifting Post: Exploring your options!

By Anne Marie December 23, 2020 December 22, 2020 0

My retro gifting post, is not intended as a “how to” post, but rather an introduction to possibilities. Beading, and crafting in general is a pretty wide field, but we are all in it together, so let’s have some fun! First, I would like to wish you a Merry Christmas, or Happy Holidays, or whatever else you celebrate! I know this has been a dismal year, but it’s almost over, and things will get better in 2021, so let’s get crafting! First up on my retro gifting post are some of the simpler items. Next, a little more complicated, but …

A Bead Muse Muses

This and That 2020 – and that’s how the story begins!

By Anne Marie December 9, 2020 December 8, 2020 0

This and that 2020, is definitely how the story begins! What else could you expect? I have not been particularly creative this week, because I was rushing to get some parcels in the mail (all that wrapping is tiring). I made my deadline, so now I get to sit back and relax. Not really, because I still need to work on my in-town gifts, but at least I have a couple more weeks (I work fast!). Toronto, retail is shut down now (don’t get me started on the exceptions, which I’m personally boycotting), so Christmas shopping is a totally new …