BEAD SOUP BEAD PARTY... SEVEN!!!!

Can you believe it?  It's party time again... Bead Soup Bead Party 7... SEVEN!  That is a lot of beads and a lot of happy.  With a huge thank you to the founder and host, Lori McDaniel Anderson.

'Sparklefly' by Diana Mains Welte 2013

My creation features beads from Sandra Richardson of Texas.  Pulling out the red and blue of the beads, I was able to come up with a fun but very wearable piece that would look great with a summer white dress or those comfortable jeans and breezy top.  With the gold accents behind the focal... well, that sparkle makes it great for July 4th celebrations, too! 

'Sparklefly' by Diana Mains Welte 2013

 

Now run on over to Sandy's blog to see what she did with my handmade ceramic beads.  Also you can link up to the party and browse all the other eye candy made for this event.  Don't forget to mark your calendars for April 6 and April 13 for the second and third reveals of this 3 part extravaganza!

Human again!

After almost 3 weeks of feeling Fluey-icky-BLAH... I honestly believe I feel human again.  Woohoo! I slept well and woke with just the tiniest remnant of a cough.  Finally.  lol

Batik Log Cabin

Today I am piecing quilt squares... by hand... I've sworn off my machine for a long while.  Burned out from years of clothing design and alterations.  I am really enjoying sewing by hand.  So after lunch, I am headed to the basement to wash towels and stich for a couple of hours.  Hiding out in the guise of chores and relaxing with my needle and thread. :)

I received my Texas Soup! Bead Soup, that is!!!

Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Bead Party is one of the most enjoyable experiences.  It partners you with new beaders and challenges you to design outside your comfort zone. 

Talented Texas beader, Sandra Richardson, sent me this lovely soup.  The confetti glass focal is backed with gold leaf and I didn't capture that in my photo but will do a better job when the reveal happens on March 30th.  She also fused one of the square beads into the focal! 

I have ideas.... can't wait to clear the worktable and begin! Thanks, Sandy!!!

My Bead Soup arrived in Texas!

These are the beads I sent to Sandra Richardson for Lori Anderson's 7th Bead Soup Bead Party.  They arrived safely and I cannot wait to see what she designs with these!  Stay tuned... the reveal is March 30th!

Keeping a better blog and entering the world of clay!

I've been away for a bit... blogging the last thing on my mind.  Some days I cannot believe how long it's been since I last posted.  Geez Louise!

But that doesn't mean I've not been busy... creating, destashing, designing and learning, learning, learning. My goal for 2013 was to improve upon my clay skills...  something I've longed to do forever, but thought was going to have to drive over an hour to attend classes.  But the Universe gifts... In December, I happened onto the Open Potter's Studio, met the extremely talented potter/teacher/friend Toby Fried and her trusty pup, Lily and I was on my way.  Honestly, I have not been this happy in some time. Artist Betsy Baltzer rounds out our trio of regulars and I pray that her color sense rubs off on me.

The funniest thing I've noticed is that, besides overcoming my unsuspected color issues (decades working in white as a bridal atelier will do that to you) was getting used to my hands being dirty.  Working with delicate fabrics meant no make up, no perfume, no hair products, and, most importantly, clean clean hands!  It felt weird to have clay all over my hands while I work.  But that took a teensy poof of time to get over.  I am no longer a member of the clean hands club.  LOL

When we moved in to our huge apartment, our friends helped us move 45 boxes of fabric and notions.  Those have been sewn or gifted down to two cupboards and several plastic tubs. I now find myself itching to buy glazes!  When I next move, will there be 45 boxes of those? 

So stick around for the misadventures of a new potter... I am quite excited to be among those who play in clay.