Beadwork by Joanne

More Artists Community Service

2011-12-17T12:43:00.000-08:00

Continuing on with the felting warm innersoles for homeless and needy people. We felted and cut over 80 pairs on warm innersoles:

Happy Holidays to all, Joanne

Artists Community Service

2011-12-17T12:29:00.000-08:00

My felting study group (a subgroup of the Potomac Fiberarts Guild) decided for our December meeting to apply ourselves to a community service project. We all decided that we had failed felted projects such as purses, wall hangings, etc that just didn't come out right but would be perfect for cutting up into innersoles that would provide warmth for the feet of the homeless or otherwise needy people. So we organized shoe patterns in various sizes and began by cutting up items that we had already felted. We continued by making more felt from odds and ends of wool to provide more felt for soles. We ended up with over 80 pairs of warm wool innersoles to be distributed by local charities.

Cutting soles out of previously felted failed projects:

Laying out wool for new felt:

A quick trip through the needlefelting machine:

Wetting down the wool:

Rolling for wet felting:

Wetting and rolling the needlefelted piece:

Unrolling and rerolling in the opposite direction:

Some help from the rolling machine:

Hand Fulling:

More Cutting:

Organizing the soles by size:

Upcoming Studio Tours

2011-11-28T22:51:00.000-08:00

I will again be doing the Carroll County Artists Studio Tour, Taneytown, MD locationhttp://ccartists.com/ Dec 5-6 as well as the Countryside Artisans Studio Tour Dec 4-6 plus 11-13 in Dickerson, MD http://www.countrysideartisans.com/.

At The Taneytown location in Carroll County only, I am clearance discounting my knitted and felted hats at $50 to $75 (were $89 to $149) as I am moving on to other things. JOanne

Update by Joanne

2011-11-17T09:57:00.000-08:00

Wow, has time been flying. My solo show is over as well as Holiday shows at the Yorktowne Chapter of the PA Guild of Craftsmen, the Hanover Area Arts Guild, and the York Art Association. I am flattered to report that I won awards at the latter two.

I am now recovering from my second foot surgery this year and hope to be able to actually wear hard shoes this winter. I can't remember the last year I was able to have boots. It will be a new experience to have warm feet this winter.

While I have given up successive weekends of craft shows, I am preparing for two studio tours the first 2 weeks in December, one in Carroll County, MD and the other In Dickerson, MD. I do miss the meeting of customers that craft shows gave me. I will have an assortment of my machine embroideries, my pet paintings, my felted hats and accessories, my photography as well as my beadwork. I will be alternately demoing machine embroidery and beadwork at the Carroll County location in Taneytown.

Photos of last year's Studio Tour at Thistledown Farms in Taneytown, Carroll County Studio Tour:

In addition, I am the designated blogger for the month of November for the Potomac FiberArt Gallery in the Torpedo Factory in Alexandria, VA. Check me out there. Joanne

Machine Embroidery Exhibit Opening

2011-09-07T17:12:00.000-07:00

Just before the opening of my machine embroidery exhibit "Thread Pictures at the Delaplaine Visual Arts Center in Frederick, MD last Saturday. Ben, Jerry and Apolo helped me open the exhibit which runs upstairs through the end of September. The National Quilt Exhibit has the big gallery space downstairs and is a real treat. I was surprised to find the Delaplaine a dog friendly environment. We were on our way(dogs too) to the Boston area to visit my husband's mother who broke her hip at a stopover between Philadelphia and my brother-in-law's summer cabin in Maine. So now she is stuck in a rehab unit near Boston and appreciated the company. My kids are fortunate to still have all 4 grandparents in their 90's. Joanne

Machine Embroidery Exhibit continued

2011-08-30T18:23:00.000-07:00

I went down to Frederick, MD today to hang my machine embroidery exhibit at the Delaplaine Visual Arts Center. I have the little upstairs room and managed to get 20 thread pictures finished and framed for the exhibit. The National Quilt Show taking up the bulk of the gallery space looks awesome. The opening is Saturday 3-5PM and both exhibits will run through the month of September. Here are the latest 2: Joanne

Machine Embroidery Exhibit

2011-08-26T19:40:00.000-07:00

I am almost finished the set of machine embroideries for my one person exhibit at the Delaplaine Visual Arts Education Center in Frederick, MD. I just finished framing the 19th one. I hope to complete 2 more this weekend as my dog agility seminar has been cancelled due to Irene. Subjects range from flowers to architecture (windows and doors) to lighthouses to animals. Hanging will take place next week. The opening is Saturday, Sept 3, 3-5 PM. Here are a few of the latest. Joanne

French Window 1

Zinnias

Window Box Geraniums

Black Eyed Susans

Old and New Necklace #2

2011-07-21T07:42:00.000-07:00

I wasn't sure which filagree flowers would coordinate with each other to make the asymmetrical necklace that I had in mind and which is shown in the last post. Therefore I ordered more vintage brass filagree flowers (note that exactly what flowers and beads are posted on the website seems to depend on what is in stock at that time) that I planned to use in the first necklace. I also ordered a filagree cylindrical bead. I had to wait till I actually saw the pieces to decide what paired with what. I used the same vintage brass floral toggle catch used in the first necklace.

Since just returning from a trip to China, I decided to use a distinctly Chinese influence in creating the second necklace both is the bright red colors of the resin beads and the tassel formation. I began by starting to make a brick stitched seed bead circle for support but then decided that I could save time by using circles cut from ultrasuede. The ultrasuede would also serve the purpose of protecting the large resin disc from being scratched by the glass beads. I used 2 layered circles on the back and another smaller circle between the filagree flower and the disc. The filagree flower was stitched through the ultrasuede layers to the large resin disc through the center with 10 lb fireline. I stitched the conso braided nylon upholstery thread through the ultrasuede and strung the resin beads with size 8 glass bead spacers on it, knotting and gluing the knots at the toggle. Repeat for the tassel.

The ultrasuede circles collapsed somewhat when the necklace was held upright--I would probably solve this in another necklace by ironing interfacing to the ultrasuede before attaching to the necklace parts. However, in the existing piece, I decided to whip stitch red artistic wire around the edge of the ultrasuede on the back of the piece. For this I used red silamide which I no longer use for beading (I now use fireline). My stock included red wire at 26 gauge and either mauve or copper wire at 18 gauge. I would have preferred a gauge in between but stuck with the red and used a double strand of wire. Problem solved.

I have often said that if a piece is totally planned, I lose interest in the actual doing of it. For me, it is the problem solving challenges and decisions that occur during the construction that keep me interested. Joanne

Disclosure: The Vintage brass filagree flower pendant and cylinder bead were kindly provided free-of-charge by Artbeads.com, within the frames of Artbeads.com blogging program. The author of this blog has not received any payment from above-mentioned company. The post above represents only personal opinion of the blog author.

Old and New Necklace

2011-07-20T16:20:00.000-07:00

Now that I am back from traveling and teaching, I have completed my old and new element necklace design proposed by Art Beads. The antique brass flowers are imbedded on a brick stitched circle with loops designed to take the strung "new" resin bead elements. I wanted the flowers to stay right side out and not swing to the wrong side as they were being worn. The brick stitched palette with the spaced loops holds the flowers right side out. The resin elements are arranged in a rainbow progression, becoming larger toward the bottom to balance the asymmetrically placed flowers. The beads are strung on Conso, a braided nylon upholstery thread and knotted, gluing the knots. I find that I am just not adept with crimp beads and have never had a Conso necklace come apart. I had to delay stringing the strands of resin beads as I only had gold and silver closures which just didn't match the antiqueness of the flowers. Although I would have preferred a closure with two separate attachment sites, I felt that the brass color was more important and found the antique brass flower toggle gave just the right flavor. Joanne

Back view of brick stitched supports

Disclosure: The Vintage brass filagree flower pendants were kindly provided free-of-charge by Artbeads.com, within the frames of Artbeads.com blogging program. The author of this blog has not received any payment from above-mentioned company. The post above represents only personal opinion of the blog author.

China Trip #2

2011-07-19T20:30:00.000-07:00

Leaving Jingdezhen, the porcelain city, we stopped at a silk weaving workshop where the tapestry weavings were over embroidered with silk stitching. Really beautiful work. Here are some examples of silk weavings where the animals or other motifs including text were then further embellished with silk embroidery. I can't wait to get back to my own embroideries and beadwork.

We then preceded on to a cruise of the Yang zee River. Following that we visited the panda preserve in Chengdu where I got to hold a baby (10 months) panda. He was heavy!

It was a great trip. Joanne

Trip to China

2011-07-02T19:03:00.000-07:00

Wow. I am back from a trip to China. It was a great trip. We saw handpainted porcelain, silk embroidery, embroidery embellished tapestries and much more. I even got to hold a baby panda bear. We finished up in Cambodia and are planning to return to Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam next year. However, I did return with food poisoning and have been taking my good old time recovering.

Tomorrow, I saunter on down to Westminster, MD to teach my Falling Leaf Peyote stitched beadwork necklace at Common Ground, McDaniel College. I will also be taking a Japanese dyeing technique workshop. AND concerts every night.

Here are some photos of the porcelain painters.

And of course me and the 10 month panda baby.

More when I return from Common Ground. Joanne

Current Exhibits

2011-05-23T13:44:00.000-07:00

I have had a very busy weekend delivering work to 3 exhibits that I have been accepted into. The first is one of my pet paintings ("Prince of Wales"-the Sealyham-see my previous post) to

The Towson Arts Collective 4th Anniversary Exhibition
June 10-August 12
406 York Rd, Lower Level
Towson, MD 21204
Hours Thu, Fri, Sat noon-5PM +by appt
Opening June 10 6-8PM
410-916-6340

The second is the Machine Embroidery "One Red Window" to
8th Annual Adams County Arts Council Juried Art Exhibition
June 10-19
Schmucker Art Gallery, Gettysburg College
500N Washington St
Gettysburg, PA 17325
Gallery hours 10AM-4PM daily
Opening June 10 5-7PM, awards 6PM
717-334-5006 or 717-334-0853

And the Third is 3 pieces of machine embroidery :Three Apples", "Summer Stoop", and "Lazy Sailing" to
Creative Crafts Council 2011 Show
May 28-July 9
Opening June 2, 7-9PM
The Mansion At Strathmore
10701 Rockville Pike
North Bethesda, MD 20850
Hours Mon-Fri 10AM-4PM, Wed to 9PM, Sat 10AM-3PM
Opening reception and awards June 2, 7-9PM
301-704-4613

New Necklace: Old and New

2011-05-17T21:24:00.000-07:00

Artbeads has provided me with a challenge to create something using old and new elements. I have chosen antique brass flowers from their website.

I could not tell till I received the actual flowers how they would coordinate together. After receiving the elements, I have decided to divide the pieces and make 2 necklaces as the upper filigree flower has a completely different feel to it. The new elements I will choose are glass seed beads in sizes 8 and 11 as well as a variety of multicolor resin beads.

I plan to set the flowers asymmetrically within strands of the glass and resin beads.

I do not want the flowers to flop over onto their reverse sides, so I start by brick stitching small circles on which to attach the flowers, adding loops for the strands at appropriate places along the edges.

That's as far as I got tonight. I am hoping that these bases in brick stitch will,keep the flowers right side up. Joanne

Disclosure: The antique metal flower elements were kindly provided free-of-charge by Artbeads.com, within the frames of Artbeads.com blogging program. The author of this blog has not received any payment from above-mentioned company. The post above represents only personal opinion of the blog author.

Thursday Group Painters Exhibit, Towson MD

2011-04-07T08:57:00.000-07:00

There, I finally figured out how to get the whole invitation to my Studio Thursday Group Painters Exhibit downloaded properly. It will be a fantastic exhibit. I am definitely the newcomer to painting and honored to be included in such an august group of painters. Here are a few of my pet portraits:

"Good Hair Day"

"Prince of Wales"

"Claire"

"Curiosity Did What!"

"Biscuit, Did I Hear Biscuit?"

"Happiness Is"

"Sheltie"

"Palm Puppy"

I Just Felt Like It--Studio Tour

2011-04-05T21:23:00.000-07:00

The fantastic panels pictured in my previous blog sessions of Dogwood in the four seasons were a collaborative effort of the Potomac Fiberarts Guild felting subgroup "Daughters of Genghis Kahn" (as we call
ourselves). If you missed them at our Saville Gallery show 'Just Felt Like
It' in Cumberland, Maryland you will have another opportunity to view them
at the Countryside Artisans Tour April 15, 16, 17. See also work of guild
members: Rae Cumbie, Jeanne Bohlen, Nancy Pollack, Grace Mahanes, Joanne
Bast, Roz Houseknecht, Renata Maile-Moskowitz, Kathy Korin and Bev Thoms,
all at Tiewyan Artisans. *
*
*
*For more information: www.countrysideartisans.com. Click on Artisans,
Tiewyan Artisans and then *studio notes**
*This is a self-directed driving tour of 12 studios scattered in the rural
countryside of (mostly) Montgomery County.*

Below are a few of my small felted hangings that will be available at the studio tour. I hope any of you in the area will be welcomed at Bev Thoms Studio, Tiewyan Farms. Joanne

I am also happy to announce that I will be the featured blogger on the Potomac Fiberarts Gallery blog for the month of April. Join me there at http://potomacfiberarts.blogspot.com/

Common Ground on line: Painting Exhibit Opening

2011-03-31T12:47:00.000-07:00

The Common Ground Class Schedule is now on line and accepting registrations.

Common Ground on the Hill Traditions Weeks 2011 Registration and catalog are live online now at

www.commongroundonthehill.org/11reggateway.html

I am teaching a peyote stitched beadwork necklace with plated leaf pendant week I which is July 4-8, periods 3+4 (afternoon). Photo of the necklace is in a previous post.

I also paint with a lively group of artists on Thursday nights at the Towson Arts Alliance. We will be having a show of our works April 15- May 14; opening April 15 6-8PM at the Framing Gallery in Towson 406 York RD. Come on out if you are in the area. Joanne

I Just Felt Like It Exhibit continued

2011-03-23T21:12:00.000-07:00

Here are more photos of the Potomac Fiberarts Guild Felting Study Group I's exhibit at the Saville Gallery. Would you believe felt could be so varied?
Allegheny’s Arts Council’s Saville Gallery in Cumberland Maryland, 9 North Centre Street, Cumberland, MD 21502; 301-777-ARTS. The show runs from 10 March until 2 April 2011. www.alleganyartscouncil.org

Gallert hours: Mon-Fri 9AM-5PM; Sat 11AM-4PM

I Just Felt Like It Exhibit

2011-03-22T06:16:00.000-07:00

The I Just Felt Like It Exhibit is now open at the Saville Gallery, Cumberland, MD. Since I posted photo sequences of the creation of the "Spring" nuno felted-wool on tulle-banner, I thought that I would post a few photos provided to me by Roz Houseknecht of the finished banners.

Summer, Fall and Winter: Felted and fulled

Allegheny’s Arts Council’s Saville Gallery in Cumberland Maryland.

The show runs from 10 March until 2 April 2011.

Saville Gallery is located at 9 North Centre Street, Cumberland, MD 21502; 301-777-ARTS; www.alleganyartscouncil.org

Gallert hours: Mon-Fri 9AM-5PM; Sat 11AM-4PM

Banners in place: Fall and Winter

Summer

Spring

Members of the Study Group participating in the exhibit include:

Joanne Bast, Bev Thoms, Roz Houseknecht, Zita Simutis, Dalis Davidson, Sharon Janda, Kathy Korin, Grace Mahanes, Paige Garber, Renate Maile-Moskowitz, Francine Stefancic, Terri Fisher, and Jeanne Bohlen

Here we are at the opening:

Sorry, but I happen to be missing from the opening as I had already left on my trip up the coast of Norway--more about that later. Joanne

Fall Beadwork Necklace

2011-03-02T19:06:00.000-08:00

I'm a little late with my Tribute to Fall necklace. I fell in love with this particular hand painted porcelain and sterling pendant from Artbeads, paired it with some stoneware tube beads repeating the triangles found in the pendant, and thought that I would imbed it in brick stitched chevrons and arrowheads. However, when I actually received the pendant, it was so strong that I just couldn't see surrounding it with seed bead work. I thought about this piece all winter. It just needed to stand alone. I am not a bead stringer but prefer to work with more elaborate stitching. I appreciate "less is more" when others do it, but tend toward a "more is better" person in my own work.

I finally hit on a strip of right angle weave and some glass chevron beads. I chose to work the RAW in large (for me) about size 6 beads so that I could use a heavier thread that I usually use since it would need to carry the weight of the pendant. The areas of right angle weave are alternated with short strung sequences containing the stoneware tube beads, glass chevrons and beads of glazed porcelain by Clay River Designs. The catch is a sterling toggle with imbedded carnelian by Star's Beads. I like to repeat elements found in the necklace in the catch, either by metal, color or both.

I was pleased that I could incorporate some beadwork stitching and still showcase this spectacular pendant. Joanne

Star's sterling-carnelian toggle clasp

Stoneware tubes

Clay River Beads

Disclosure: The Hand painted porcelain and sterling pendant as well as the stoneware tube beads were kindly provided free-of-charge by Artbeads.com, within the frames of Artbeads.com blogging program. The author of this blog has not received any payment from above-mentioned company. The post above represents only personal opinion of the blog author.

I JUST FELT LIKE IT: Felting exhibit #3

2011-02-24T19:25:00.000-08:00

Now the work begins. Roz Houseknecht and Dalis Davidson carry the rolled and tied wool on tulle piece outside and drain off the excess water.

Roz, along with Paige Garber, Bev Thoms and Sharon Janda begin rolling the wrapped log back and forth with their feet.

The roll is reversed and rolled in the opposite direction.

After a spate of rolling, the log is carried back inside and unrolled on the set of tables. The design is checked for shifting and tweaked back into position. Dry spots are rewetted.

It is recovered with the plastic sheeting and rerolled into a log starting from the opposite end and retied.

More rolling to continue the felting process. This will be repeated several times.

The roll containing the Spring panel is wrapped in black plastic garbage bags for transportation home where rolling will be continued until the wool is totally adhered to the tulle backing and to itself. At this point the process of fulling will begin where the panel is beaten and thrown to encourage the wool to draw up and shrink. The 19-20 foot long original size will end up 15 feet or less. Come see the finished 4 seasons panels at the Saville Gallery in Cumberland, MD March 10- April 2 along with many individual examples of felted work.

Again, many thanks to the Barnsville, MD Town Hall for the use of this wonderful space. Joanne

I JUST FELT LIKE IT: Felting exhibit #2

2011-02-21T13:30:00.000-08:00

Continuing on with the creation of the last panel "Spring" in the 4 piece installation artwork to be exhibited at Saville Gallery, Cumberland, MD in March:

Dalis Davidson rolls brown wool roving into tree branches:

The rolled roving is placed onto the panel, tucking edges under the dogwood flowers:

Roz Houseknecht, Paige Garber and Bev Thoms assist Dalis in placing the branches.

When the placement of branches is complete, Dalis and Roz pat down the layers of wool while Bev adds color to the clouds.

Sharon Janda, Roz Houseknecht and Bev Thoms begins spraying cool, lightly soapy water onto the panel. When felting wool onto a finely woven background that is not wool, beginning with cool water slows the felting process so that the wool fibers have time to migrate into the brackground before felting to each other.

When the wool is thoroughly wetted, the panel is patted down again using plastic to prevent the wet wool from sticking to hands.

The wetted panel is covered by a large single piece of plastic.

The plastic is smoothed down eliminating air bubbles.

Bev, Dalis and Zita Simutis check the panel for last minute adjustments.

Dalis and Jeanne Bohlen cut off the excess plastic sheeting.

Using a swim pool noodle for a core, Zita and Dalis begin rolling the panel up into a log.

It takes a lot of hands to smooth the panel so that the rolling is consistent.

Excess water is squeezed out and mopped up along the way.

Draining the excess water.

The roll is tied with nylon stockings.

Whew! Time for a break! Joanne

I JUST FELT LIKE IT: Felting exhibit

2011-02-18T12:20:00.000-08:00

While beadwork is my primary love, I also work in other fiber media including embroidery, both hand and machine, as well as knitting and felting.

The Felting Study Group #1 members of the Potomac Fiberarts Guild will have their own show at the
Allegheny’s Arts Council’s Saville Gallery in Cumberland Maryland.
The Opening Reception of the show, I JUST FELT LIKE IT, is at 6PM on
Saturday, 12 March. The show runs from 10 March until 2 April 2011.

Saville Gallery is located at 9 North Centre Street, Cumberland, MD 21502; 301-777-ARTS; www.alleganyartscouncil.org

Gallert hours: Mon-Fri 9AM-5PM; Sat 11AM-4PM

Members of the Study Group participating in the exhibit include:

While each of us will have individual works of art on display, including felted wall pieces, clothing, sculptures, scarves, hats, purses and jewelry, we are also creating a large installation piece specifically for this exhibition. It will consists of 4 floor to ceiling panels following the branches of a dogwood tree through the four seasons. Yesterday we met and laid out the final piece in the series: Spring. I thought that I would digress from beadwork and follow the creation of this major piece.

First, 6 tables are arranged and raised to working height on bed risers. The tables are covered by plastic and then bubble wrap. Jeanne Bohlen, Sharon Janda, Zita Simutis and Bev Thoms stretch out the plastic.

A piece of tulle predyed with ground, grass, and sky areas is places on the plastic. The tulle is 19-20 feet long and about 3-4 feet wide.

Hand dyed wool roving to be used in the panel. Wool is a fiber with scales that can be made to open up and attach to each other producing a fiber mat called felt. Thin layers of wool may also be made to penetrate and attach to fine openweave fabrics such as the background tulle used here. This is referred to as nuno felt.

The roving is pulled into fine wisps and carefully placed onto the tulle. Bev Thoms and Jeanne Bohlen lay out the grass area:

Sharon Janda and Paige Garber lay out the ground and rocks:

Roz Houseknecht, Paige Garber, Zita Simutis, Renate Maile-Moskowitz, Jeanne Bohlen, and Dalis Davidson lay out the sky:

Bev Thoms and Zita Simutis add shadows and highlights:

White wool has been slightly felted (called prefelt) from which the dogwood petals are cut and attached together by pricking with special barbed needles. This is called needle felting.

The needle felted flowers are placed on the background.

Checking the composition:

It's not all work!

Prefelt in various colors for leaves:

Dalis Davidson cuts leaves out of prefelt:

Roz Houseknecht and Dalis Davidson add leaves and flower details:

Lunch break. I will continue in the next posting. Joanne

We thank the Barnesville, MD Town Hall for allowing us this wonderful space to work in.

Beadwork teaching at Common Ground

2011-02-14T19:23:00.000-08:00

I have been remiss in working on my blog and my beadwork in the past few months. I have had 4 eye surgeries since November and am just getting my vision straightened out so that I can bead again. I have made a new necklace teaching sample using peyote stitch to suspend a gold plated leaf. I will be teaching this necklace at Common Ground, a wonderful composite of traditional and non traditional arts and music held at McDaniel College in Westminster, MD the first 2 weeks of July. My class will be the first week July 4-8. Come live on the campus and fill your days with a selection of classes and your nights with concerts. Great for the whole family. Check out www.commongroundonthehill.org for more info.

Artbeads contest

2010-11-23T20:58:00.000-08:00

Artbeads is holding a contest for their artist bloggers on "What Inspires You". there are 2 categories: jewelry and non jewelry.

I entered the contest by Artbeads on design inspiration for jewelry and non jewelry items. The voting is open to the public. Click on

http://wildfireapp.com/website/6/contests/61138/voteable_entries/11445293 to vote for my non jewelry item

USA Duffel Bag Series I, II, and III

and http://wildfireapp.com/website/6/contests/55615/voteable_entries/11447171 to vote for my jewelry item.

Finding Nemo Necklace

Joanne

Potomac Fiberarts Gallery Holiday Show

2010-11-16T10:37:00.000-08:00

Notice: I am a member of the Potomac Fiberarts Guild in The Washington DC area. We have a coop gallery in the Torpedo Factory at 105 N. Union Street, Alexandria, VA. The gallery has a blog and I am the designated blogger for the month of November. To view my blogs this month please go to the Gallery blog. I have posted a discussion of peyote stitched beadwork and will begin one on brick stitch later this week. In December, I will return to blog here as I pass the gallery baton on to another blogger member. The Potomac Fiberarts Gallery has just installed their Holiday Treasures Show that will run through the end of the year. Please visit if you can. I also have work in the Somethings Looming Gallery in Reading, PA, The Hanover Area Art Guild, Hanover, PA (where I won a second place award for 3-D work for my Clubbing the Night Away-6 of clubs beadwork piece) as well as participation in two studio tours: The Carroll County Studio Tour Dec 4-5 and The Countryside Artisans' Studio Tour Dec 3-5 and 10-12. Thanks, Joanne

Fall Work by Joanne

2010-11-08T09:24:00.000-08:00

Fall has been an exciting time. First, a 3 week tour of the Peruvian Amazon, the Sacred Valley and Machu Pichu, followed by Ecuador and the Galapagos. I am full of new ideas and photos. Second, a wonderful Sewing by the Sea retreat in Ocean City, MD. I am preparing for an exhibit of my machine embroideries to be shown at the Delaplaine Visual Arts Center, Frederick, MD in September 2011 in conjunction with a national quilt show. I was able to do 4 of these embroideries in the retreat setting-a good way into the dozen I will need by next fall.

Summer Activities

2010-09-03T10:24:00.000-07:00

I have been away a good bit this summer. First taking some awesome photoshop courses at Maine Media College in Rockport ME with Sue Bloom and Jean Miele. I can't wait until my new Photoshop CS5 arrives. The first shipment was windows instead of MAC and I really had to jump through hoops to get it refunded and replaced.

Second was a Bast family reunion at Lake Kezar in western Maine. It was a lot of fun seeing all the cousins and their new families. It was to celebrate the 90th birthday year of my in-laws. My parents are both 92 this year, in fact my mother will turn 93 in November. She is 9 months older than my father. He says he was made for her.

My other summer project is my new puppy, another Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. He was born during the winter Olympics and is named Apolo. Note the little white "beard". He is "Langford Skate me to the Moon"- as an old Trekkie, I couldn't resist the Apollo Moon Mission reference. I am hoping for another agility dog-but faster! Joanne

Chasing Butterflies

Off to see the Wizard.

Artbeads Discount Code

2010-07-06T11:16:00.000-07:00

I have had a delightful short break on a Cruise to Key West and Nassau (was supposed to be Cozumel but the weather didn't cooperate). I returned home to find an offer by Artbeads for 10% off that I may share with all of you. So from now till July 31, 2010, enter the Savings Discount code SCF10P-ARTBEADS-0125 and save! Thank you Artbeads. Keep cool! Joanne

Disclosure: I received this offer within the frames of Artbeads.com blogging program. The author of this blog has not received any payment from above-mentioned company. The post above represents only personal opinion of the blog author.

"Three Apples" Update plus Peacock Bracelet

2010-06-22T10:25:00.000-07:00

"Three Apples" Update:

I am thrilled that my Machine Embroidery "Three Apples" won third place in the Adams County Arts Council Show and that it did so competing against "real" paintings. The exhibit continues till Sunday at Schmucker Gallery on Washington Street, part of the Gettysburg College campus.

Peacock Bracelet:

I was allowed to choose a summer pendant from Art beads and decided on the Russian Black Onyx Peacock. I thought that I would feature the peacock in a bracelet and surrounded it with a band of peyote stitching in black seed and fringe beads with accents of orange, yellow, lime green and turquoise repeating the colors of the peacock feathers. I also stitched 2 feathers in brick stitch to dangle off of the focal bead. The closure is a vintage German glass button and bead loop. When I use loops as closures, I like to alternate medium and small beads. I feel this enhances the curvature of the loop. Enjoy! Joanne

Disclosure: The Peacock pendant was kindly provided free-of-charge by Artbeads.com, within the frames of Artbeads.com blogging program. The author of this blog has not received any payment from above-mentioned company. The post above represents only personal opinion of the blog author.

Machine Embroidery "Three Apples" in Exhibit

2010-06-15T08:13:00.000-07:00

I am pleased that my machine embroidery "Three Apples" has been accepted into the Adams County Arts Council Seventh Annual Exhibit to be held at Schmucker Art Gallery of Gettysburg College, 300 N Washington Street, Gettysburg. PA 17325 717-337-6080

Gallery Hours 10AM-4PM June 18-27
Opening Reception Friday June 18, 5-7PM
Awards 6PM
Building is wheelchair accessible

Hope to meet any of you who are close by at the opening.

"Three Apples" was also shown in the Blackrock Tribute to Fiber Arts Exhibit earlier in the year in which I won an Honorable Mention Award. It is based on a photograph of a window in a beautifully quaint UNESCO Heritage site village in Portugal. Joanne

Beadwork Interlude

2010-06-08T07:16:00.000-07:00

I am relaxing and refreshing my creative juices by adoring my new puppy, Apolo. He is still trying to get my old dogs, Ben and Jerry, to play with him to no avail and is fascinated by the cats, Culpepper and Keswick (named after horse show venues that my daughter shows at). He also sits and stares at the old retired horses in the front yard paddock. We have an equestrian center on adjacent property (Swan Lake Stables) and run horse shows ourselves. We visited our son and family in upstate NY over the holidays and Apolo got to dip his feet in Lake Owasco.

Boro Toggle Peyote Beadwork Necklace

2010-05-25T11:48:00.000-07:00

When I first saw the boro glass toggles on the Artbeads website, I thought that they could be a design element in themselves. I have worked a basic beadwork necklace with short peyote tubes looped to strung bead sections with loop in loop hinges. The hinges provide flexibility as well as places to relieve stress without wearing thread. I have done the necklace in two portions with duplicate catches so that it can be worn as a short necklace and bracelet set or as a longer necklace. The boro toggles can be placed anywhere around the necklace and act as focal points within the necklace. I especially liked the toggles with an internal contrasting spiral. In this case, I used an aqua toggle which is the main color for the beads in the necklace. The toggle has a spiral of yellow which I also picked up in the beadwork as accent beads of yellow as well as orange for spice. And I did have a few pieces of yellow striped aqua furnace glass which I also included, placing the large holed furnace glass on short strips of seed beads so that they have some sliding movement. This was a fun piece to design as well as wear. Now I need to go play with my new puppy. Joanne

Disclosure: The boro glass toggles were kindly provided free-of-charge by Artbeads.com, within the frames of Artbeads.com blogging program. The author of this blog has not received any payment from above-mentioned company. The post above represents only personal opinion of the blog author.

Sleight of Hand fiber art deck of cards

2010-05-12T15:09:00.000-07:00

The Sleight of Hand Exhibit of the fiberart pieces that were photographed to make the decks of cards is now closed. I am thrilled to hear that my "Clubbing the Night Away" 6 of clubs tied for the People's Choice award with Sandy Kephart's "Jack and the Beanstalk" Jack of Diamonds. The decks of cards have been immensely popular and are already into a second printing. They can still be purchased. For retail locations or to purchase online: http://www.fiberartinternational.org/sleight-of-hand Joanne

Mini Show, Hanover, PA

2010-05-11T16:32:00.000-07:00

I am pleased to announce a mini show of my work at the Hanover Area Art Guild, 32 Carlisle Street, Hanover, PA 17340, just a block off the square for the month of May. Not only will I have my beadwork creations, but also my photography, oil paintings and stitched and felted fiber work as well. It was great fun putting together such an eclectic exhibit and had the added benefit of clearing out my studio for the new puppy that I am getting next week. He was born during the Olympics and his name is Apolo. He is the black and tan Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy on the left. His brother, the ruby on the right (Shaun, of course) goes elsewhere. My existing pair, Ben and Jerry, both Blenheim (that is red and white-see if you can pick them out in the above artwork), can only adapt to one new brother at a time. Joanne

Seahorse Necklace #3

2010-05-07T07:44:00.000-07:00

My Seahorse necklace is complete featuring the lovely resin and sterling pendant by Tania Hartman and boro glass toggle closure provided to me by Artbeads (www.Artbeads.com). The result is an asymmetric design of brick stitched starfish and strung beads in cool aquas and teals with flexible loop in loop hinges. A summer combo. The Seahorse necklace will follow my bluebird necklace into the Potomac Fiberarts Gallery, Studio 18, at the Torpedo Factory Arts Center, 105 N Union Street in Alexandria, VA. Joanne

Disclosure: The Tania Hartman Resin and sterling pendant as well as the boro glass toggle were kindly provided free-of-charge by Artbeads.com, within the frames of Artbeads.com blogging program. The author of this blog has not received any payment from above-mentioned company. The post above represents only personal opinion of the blog author.

Seahorse Necklace #2

2010-05-06T08:20:00.000-07:00

I am continuing to work on the seahorse necklace featuring a seahorse resin on sterling pendant by Tania Hartman provided to me by Art beads (www.Artbeads.com). I have pictured a beadwork starfish in progress. I first establish a ring of five beads and then construct a bead ladder out from each bead one at a time, brick stitching back to the center along one side of the ladder to move on to the next arm. The starfish arms are tapered by varying the size of the beads used.

I also like to incorporate "hinges" in my necklaces. This gives a pivot point that does not stress the thread. Here I have connected separate modules (the starfish) with loop in loop hinges. For more information on this method, look up the back issue of Beadwork magazine: Beadwork. "Stress Redux: Send in the Reinforcements!" by Joanne Strehle Bast, Summer 1998 issue.

I am also using as a closure the boro glass toggles, also provided by Artbeads. I really like the use of a catch that does not add a distracting metal element into the beadwork. Joanne

Disclosure: The Tania Hartman Resin and sterling pendant and boro glass toggle were kindly provided free-of-charge by Artbeads.com, within the frames of Artbeads.com blogging program. The author of this blog has not received any payment from above-mentioned company. The post above represents only personal opinion of the blog author.

Beadwork Seahorse Necklace

2010-05-05T17:56:00.000-07:00

I have begun the second beadwork necklace using one of the resin on sterling pendants by Tania Hartman provided at no charge to me by Artbeads (www.Artbeads.com). I had to think about this one for a while and decided to use brick stitch starfish to suspend the pendant. Here is the beginning. Joanne

Disclosure: The Tania Hartman Resin and sterling pendant was kindly provided free-of-charge by Artbeads.com, within the frames of Artbeads.com blogging program. The author of this blog has not received any payment from above-mentioned company. The post above represents only personal opinion of the blog author.

"Sleight of Hand" exhibit

2010-05-04T06:32:00.000-07:00

The "Sleight of Hand" deck of cards exhibit closes in Pittsburgh this Saturday May 8. I am going to Pittsburgh for the Saturday afternoon artist's talk and will bring my piece "Clubbing the Night Away" 6 of clubs home when the exhibit closes at 5PM. I am excited to see all the pieces together and to hear others talk about their work. The exhibit is at the Borrelli-Edwards Gallery listed below. The deck of cards will continue to be on sale at least through he extent of Fiberart International.

Due to Popularity, Sleight of Hand decks are being reprinted and will continue to be available at:

BE Galleries

3583 Butler Street, Lawrenceville, PA 15201

412.687.2606 / begalleries@mac.com

TUE-FRI: 11am - 6pm / SAT: 11am - 5pm

Patricia Boutique

115 Center Avenue, Aspinwall, PA 15215

412.799.0819 / MON-SAT: 10am - 6pm

3g Gallery (Westin Hotel concourse)

1001 Liberty Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15222

412.288.4320 / M-F: 10am - 6pm

The Quilt Company

3940 Middle Road, Allison Park, PA 15101

412.487.9532 / www.thequiltcompany.com

M & TH: 9:30am - 9pm / TUE, W, F & SAT: 9:30am - 5pm

Also at the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts

and Society for Contemporary Craft

For retail locations or to purchase on-line:

www.fiberartinternational.org

Bluebird Necklace

2010-04-06T08:54:00.000-07:00

Here are the product links for the elements in my bluebird necklace:

Tania Hartman pendants
Link: http://www.artbeads.com/silver-resin-pendants.html
HTML Link:
href="http://www.artbeads.com/silver-resin-pendants.html">Tania Hartman
pendants

Pressed Czech Glass Beads
Link: http://www.artbeads.com/glass-beads-czech-glass-beads.html
HTML Link:
href="http://www.artbeads.com/glass-beads-czech-glass-beads.html">Pressed
Czech Glass Beads

Sterling Clasp
Link: https://www.starsclasps.com

Disclosure: The Tania Hartman Resin and sterling pendant was kindly provided free-of-charge by Artbeads.com, within the frames of Artbeads.com blogging program. The author of this blog has not received any payment from above-mentioned company. The post above represents only personal opinion of the blog author.

Blue Bird Artbeads Resin Piece continued

2010-03-31T09:53:00.000-07:00

I have continued working in right angle weave to complete a light, airy environment for Tania Hartman's lovely resin on silver bluebird. The beigy-yellow beads are the right angle weave base in which I periodically add selected pressed Czech glass leaves and flowers in blue. The pressed glass additions sometimes take the place of one of the right angle weave beads and sometimes are added on top of the right angle weave base. Every time I add a pressed glass element, I go through the element a second time with treads to stabilize it. I am using #10 fireline and a #12 needle. This makes it a little tight for some of the beads and I have learned just how hard I can pull the needle with a pliers to get it through a tight bead without breaking it. If I have to back out and go around a particular bead, I catch the thread next to the bead and continue on. If a hole appears, I cover it with a pressed glass piece. I always try to use the heaviest thread that a particular project will allow and if I were not adding the pressed glass pieces, I would have done the right angle weave with #8 fireline, but I feel that the heavier thread will support the projecting pieces better.

I usually try to avoid metal findings as I don't like the addition of metal in a clasp if it does not appear elsewhere in the piece. That is why I was so excited over the boro glass toggles that Artbeads offered. However, after seeing them, I felt that they were too big in scale for the delicacy of the bluebird and elected to go with a sterling clasp inset with a yellow citrine from Star's beads (www.starsbeads.com) instead. The bluebird does contain silver and the yellow citrine helps blend the clasp to the beads. Sometimes I will add silver (or gold, or brass) spacers or heishi beads in the beadwork itself if I know that I am going to use a metal clasp.

This is a very light piece due both to the lightness of the resin pendant and the openness of the right angle weave. I think it will complement a casual outfit as well as something dressy. I thank Artbeads for the opportunity to work with their selection of wares. I have not forgotten the boro toggles--they will be next on my to-do list. Joanne

Blue Bird Artbeads resin piece

2010-03-30T16:24:00.000-07:00

I can't wait till my son gets here for Easter to install a new internet connection. I have been having trouble for the past few weeks connecting. I have chosen to begin working in right angle weave with the Tania Hartman resin and sterling blue bird piece from Artbeads. I think that the right angle weave in beigy-yellows with blue flower and leaf accents will be delicate enough to support but not overwhelm the pretty bluebird. Joanne

Sleight of Hand card decks

2010-03-19T17:33:00.000-07:00

Just a note to let you know that the Sleight of Hand card decks have their own facebook page at

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=373582627137

Artbeads-new beading projects

2010-03-10T12:49:00.000-08:00

I have found a new bead supplier on line: www.artbeads.com They have graciously allowed me to select a few choice elements at no charge to me to design with and post. I just love being stimulated by new items. In fact, I was a bit down and reluctant to tackle something new after completing the 6 of Clubs project. This is just what I need to jump start my creative juices again. I have chosen some sterling silver and resin pendants by Tania Hartman as well as hand made boro glass toggles. Now--back to work! Joanne

Disclosure: The Tania Hartman Resin and sterling pendants as well as the boro glass toggles were kindly provided free-of-charge by Artbeads.com, within the frames of Artbeads.com blogging program. The author of this blog has not received any payment from above-mentioned company. The post above represents only personal opinion of the blog author.

FGP#28 More Sleight of Hand info

2010-02-28T20:59:00.000-08:00

6 ♣ Joanne Strehle Bast Clubbing the Night Away Prohibition birthed the nightclub when women had to go out at night for illegal alcohol. Men+women+alcohol+party atmosphere=dancing. My six of clubs depicts three eras of nightclub dancing.

Sleight of Hand exhibition

March 20 - May 8, 2010

Opening March 20, 6:30-9 pm

3583 Butler St., Lawrenceville, PA 15201

Tues.-Fri. 11-6 Sat. 11-5

www.begalleries.com 412-687-2606

Sleight of Hand card decks will be for sale at the Mad Hatter's Tea Party March 13, the Sleight of Hand opening March 20, and on the Pittsburgh Fiberarts Guild websitewww.fiberartspgh.org.

The Fiberarts Guild of Pittsburgh, Inc. is a non-profit, member supported organization that promotes appreciation of fiber art and fosters its development. The Sleight of Handproject is a fundraiser for Fiberart International, an acclaimed triennial juried exhibition of contemporary international fiber art sponsored by the Fiberarts Guild of Pittsburgh.Sleight of Hand is a fundraiser for Fiberart International, a triennial juried exhibition of contemporary international fiber art sponsored by the Fiberarts Guild of Pittsburgh.

Fiberart International 2010 exhibition

April 16, 2010 - August 22, 2010
Pittsburgh Center for the Arts www.pittsburgharts.org

6300 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15232 and

Society for Contemporary Craft www.contemporarycraft.org

2100 Smallman Street, Pittsburgh PA 15222

Opening Reception April 16, 5:30-8:00 PM at both locations

www.fiberartinternational.org

FGP#27Sleight of Hand composite Deck

2010-02-17T12:21:00.000-08:00

Here is a photo of all the cards in the Sleight of Hand Deck. Quite a project! Joanne

FGP #26 Sleight of Hand Exhibit information

2010-02-16T08:14:00.000-08:00

MAD HATTER'S TEA PARTY AND FIBERART INTERNATIONAL FUNDRAISER MARCH 13TH

Date: Saturday, March 13th, 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Location: Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, Simmons Hall (corner of Shady and Fifth Ave)

Admission: $10, Children free

Join in the fun for an Alice in Wonderland card party brought to you by the Fiberarts Guild and PCA! This festive event will feature a special appearance by the Queen of Hearts herself! Attendees will participate in interactive card games, and are welcome to assemble a group to host their own game of choice as well. Children are welcome to attend and will be encouraged to design their own deck (materials provided). Be sure to stop by the Creative Card table for our Castle Challenge to build a tower of your own. Prizes awarded. Attendees are encouraged to bring a tray of cookies or tea sandwiches to share. Costumes/festive apparel encouraged, but not required. The Sleight of Hand deck of playing cards was created as a fundraiser for the Fiberarts International 2010. Each of the 52 cards feature reproductions of fiber works by guild members. Decks of cards will be available for purchase at the time of this event at PCA (attendees are welcome to bring any deck in lieu of the Sleight of Hand deck.)

The Sleight of Hand show will be installed at Lawrenceville's BE (Borelli-Edwards) Galleries in March. The Show opens March 20, 6:30-9, and runs until May 8. The decks will premier at the opening, with both single and double decks for sale. They will also be available at the Fiberart International opening, the Forum, and other venues to be announced. Joanne

I will post more details as they become available. Fiberarts Guild of Pittsburgh is www.fiberartspgh.org fiberartspgh@yahoo.com and PO Box 5478, Pittsburgh, PA 15206

FGP#25 "Clubbing the Night Away" final touches

2010-02-08T13:18:00.000-08:00

It is always tricky thinking out the presentation of a beadwork piece. I was not satisfied with the way that the 6 of clubs piece hung. The wire joins at the top where I placed loops for hanging created small hinges which moved just enough to allow the piece to bend and not hang straight. I searched for heavier wire but would have to had used brown. The 14 gauge wire that I used was the heaviest black I could find, I really did not want to add a brown border by whip stitching another round of wire with a different join site. I had no luck at craft and/or hardware stores finding something that would do the trick. However, it was time to get my teeth cleaned, and I asked my dentist about wire. He sent me to an orthodontist friend who gave me a piece of thin but very stiff orthodontic wire. It did the trick. All I needed was to support the top line that contained the loops and joins of the original wire. I whip stitched the orthodontic wire to the back of the piece between the first 2 rows of beads. It is barely visible and improves the hang immensely. Joanne

Here are the final shots and details of each couple. I am still waiting to here when and where the deck of cards may be purchased and when and where (in Pittsburgh, PA) the exhibit of all the card pieces will be. I will post here when I know.

FGP#24 Finished 6 of Clubs "Clubbing the Night Away"

2010-01-26T11:29:00.000-08:00

Th dance floor is continued flipping and repeating shapes from the already finished side to the other side. Bead ladder first, then rows of brick stitch in varying sizes, shapes and values of gray, and last filling in spaces with right angle weave maintaining high contrast between the figure edges and the background.

I can't wait to see the whole deck where each card is interpreted by a different fiber artist. Joanne

FGP#23 Dance Floor continued

2010-01-21T18:02:00.000-08:00

I am continuing to work the dance floor in brick stitch outlines with right angle weave filler. The brick stitching is sometimes tapered. It helps to have multiple sizes of the same or similar bead. Working down to the deadline now. The photography for the deck of cards is commencing. I will post here where the cards may be ordered and when the exhibit of all the deck pieces will be when I get the information. Joanne

FGP#22 Dance Floor Brick Stitch

2010-01-17T19:15:00.000-08:00

The collaged dance floor is used as a pattern for brick stitched lines in large gray on gray beads. Cylinder, triangle, rectangle and other beads are used to emphasize the lines and squares. Right angle weave fills in the center opf the squares as well as the background surrounding the squares and lines.

By this time all 4 corner nails have been removed so that the holes could be filled in with beads. Side nails are placed to maintain the size spread and they are repositioned as needed to make room for the stitching. Joanne

FGP#21 Right Angle Weave Background

2010-01-17T18:30:00.000-08:00

Once the upper left corner is done, I began on the upper right, repeating the process--stitch the motif, then surround it and fix in place with right angle weave. I also wanted to repeat the pale bluish rectangle beads from the disco ball so that they did not appear in only one place. They made a cool tall drink.

FGP#20 Background Right Angle Weave

2010-01-17T15:01:00.001-08:00

Last week we had a family vacation scheduled. We took our two adult daughters, our son, his wife and their 6 year old daughter on a cruise out of Baltimore Harbor to the Bahamas. I took my beadwork.

Since the project is due next week and I had been working 12 hour days at home, I had to continue to do so on the cruise. My first hurdle was just getting the project and tools onto the boat through security. They confiscated my hammer. I had to beg and plead for my pliers which I need to pull the needle when it is a smidge tight. I really can't work without it. They finally let me have the pliers because they were bent nose (so that I could reach under the beadwork to grab the needle against the board). They agreed that I would have a hard time stabbing someone with a bent nose pliers. But they ignored the hand drill! To move the nails, I predrill a hole so that I can just tap in with the hammer. I would hate to miss the nail with a full force hammer strike and smash my beads. If I really wanted to stab someone, I think that a drill bit would be much more effective than a pliers.

I worked in my cabin and on deck. I didn't go to any shows and didn't get off the boat at ports of call. My only break was dinner. Evenso, I believe I managed to put on weight.

The background is to consist of right angle weave surrounding brick stitched lines to form the dance floor and tie the figures together. I began by supporting the upper Charleston figures around the heads and shoulders with right angle weave Then began establishing the brick stitch dance floor squares with larger beads as well as rectangle, cylinder and triangle beads. I followed the lines of the collaged pattern underneath but not the colors. After all, clubs are black cards--no red allowed. And I wanted the background to be gray on gray so as to distract less from the figures.

Now, I was really dissatisfied with the speakeasy door and its eyehole. I felt that would not translate well reduced to playing card size as well as be too heavy a feel in the upper corner. In order to keep the entire background gray, I decided to eliminate the brown door. Since the Charleston era relates to prohibition and prohibition is what drew women out to clubs to drink (men always had had their "gentleman" clubs), I replaced the door with cocktails and liquor bottles and distributed them on both sides of the figures.

The first bottle and its cocktail included some medium and large triangle beads to simulate ice cubes and of course were done in brick stitch--two beads high to accommodate the height of the triangle beads. Note the hint of cherry--not too red, of course. The bottle was stitched in vertical rows to contrast with the horizontally stitched glass and to give the bottle straighter sides. While stitching, constantly compare the beadwork to the photo to maintain shape, size, color or value and direction of bead rows.

Encapsulate the cocktail and bottle in right angle weave maintaining contrast at edges--light background around dark sides and dark background around light sides.

FGP#19 Background Right Angle Weave

2010-01-07T14:57:00.000-08:00

I removed the nail in the bottom corner and filled in the hole with a bead as I worked the right angle weave in that corner. When I get over to the other corner, I will do the same. The piece remains attached to the board by the nails in the top corners and loops. I have placed the picture template under the figures to follow for placement. Next time I will sand the board. I am getting splinters in my finger tips.

There is a second way to add picots to the edge of brick stitch in preparation for butting against right angle weave. First, with the thread coming out of a bead in the brick stitch row, add 3 beads onto the thread. Pick up a thread bridge with the needle (you might have to skip a bridge depending on the size of the beads). Snug the three beads down so that they rest in a triangular point. Go back through the last bead only. Now put 2 beads on the thread and move over to the appropriately distanced thread bridge. Pass the needle under the thread bridge (again, you might have to skip one), snug the beads down and go through the last bead. Continue adding beads 2 at a time, passing the thread back through only the last bead. This forms a picot edge of little 3 bead triangles with shared base beads. The top bead of the picot is the one that will be picked up and incorporated into the 4 bead circle of the right angle weave structure.

I am also doing some brick stitch rows that will become the dance floor pattern--all gray please. There is no red in a black playing card. I have also removed the brassy beads as I felt they were too distracting.

I do like the way that right angle weave complements the figures. I feel that the change in texture that the right angle weave structure provides helps the figures stand out from the background.

I added my signature initials to the bottom by bending brick stitch ladders into letter shapes and surrounding them with right angle weave. When the signature block is done, it is incorporated into the corner stitching. I do like a subtle signature so I chose dark gray on black leaving the texture of the beads
to define the letters.

After establishing where the brick stitch lines will be placed, I removed the picture from behind the figures and added nails in the sides of the piece to make sure that the wire frame stays spread out tom the required shape.

In doing the right angle weave, interior spaces are filled first so that the figures and their spaces can be flattened and pressed toward the edges. If I worked from the outside in, I could end up with wrinkled figures. The right angle weave is then connected to the frame to completely encompass the figures. Shading in grays is worked to maintain high contrast between the figure and the background. I have to always keep in mind that fact that this will be photographed and reduced so the figure outlines must not be subtle.

I must also say that I had forgotten how much incredibly slower going stitching in single needle right angle weave is than brick stitch. Also, right angle weave around irregular figures can be confusing. However, I believe that I have previously stated that I believe in fudging--if the bead doesn't fall off--it's right! Stitch on. Joanne

FGP#18 Frame continued

2009-12-29T23:15:00.000-08:00

Well, Back from a holiday break. We went to visit the granddaughter in Rochester, NY. I did take 2 days off before Christmas to sew a snow white dress.
But now back to the project: First, I photographed the figures on black and gray backgrounds to decide which I liked better. For all but the disco balls, I preferred the gray.

I stitched 2 rows of round #6 seed beads in black and very dark brown around the entire wire frame. I like the depth that close but not identical shades provide. I decided to up the weight of the thread to 10 lb fireline as the bead holes allowed it and I figured, the heavier the better.

After the 2 rows of round beads, I added a row of dark iridescent rectangular beads, followed by a row of bluish gray rectangular beads. I think that the rectangular beads will add rigidity to the frame and the gray will help shade the frame into the proposed gray background. As I bead around, I attach any figure that butts the frame.

I have decided to leave the upper left corner to last. This is where I planned the speakeasy door with the eye hole. I am debating leaving this feature out as I am concerned with getting the background too busy as well as adding a detail too small (the eye in the hole) to carry down to the reduced playing card size.

Another decision is what stitch in which to actually do the background. Brick stitch will be more stiff but add lines to the background. I like to surround my brick stitch figures in a background of right angle weave as there are no distracting line of beads in right angle weave. However, right angle weave is a softer stitch, it will not be as stiff a supporting structure. Right angle weave also takes longer to stitch than brick stitch. I have chosen to do the lines of the dance floor in brick stitch and the surrounding background in right angle weave. I think that the dance floor lines will add sufficient support especially if done with rectangle beads.

I am sampling some of the brick stitch lines representing the dance floor. I may or may not decide to keep these. I do like the blue and gray, but like the gold-brassy beads less. I am concerned they might draw attention too much away from the figures. I will wait and delay my decision till more is stitched.

I have decided to do the background in right angle weave. To prepare the brick stitching for right angle weave, I do a picot row. I add a bead, pick up the thread bridge between the 2 beads below and DO NOT go through the bead a second time. This allows the bead to set up with its hole perpendicular to the previous beads below in the brick stitch row. These picot beads will be incorporated into the 4 bead circles that are the basic unit of right angle weave. Joanne

FGP#17 Frame

2009-12-23T15:40:00.000-08:00

When I first started to do brick stitch pictures, I worked from the figures out to the edge. I found it very difficult to end up with straight edges. Since this particular project has a required finished size, I am going to establish the outside edge first then work the background to tie the figures into the already set frame. Because of the size, I feel that this beadwork will require some support, so I am going to wire the outside edge. I chose 16 gauge black colored artistic wire.

First, I sawed a board a little bigger than the 12"x19" finished project size and drew with marker and ruler the 12"x19" rectangle on the board.

I drilled small holes just inside the corners as well as 2" in from the top edge and hammered finishing nails into these holes. I added nails for hanger loops at the top above the extra nails.

I looped the wire around the nail 2" in from the top corner and wound the wire around the bottom nails and the other top corner to the nail 2" in from that edge. The wire was cut and looped off. I threaded a second piece of wire through the two top wire loops, wrapped over the nails above the piece and refastened to itself. I am not an expert wire wrapper but did not want an asymmetrical fastening of the wire. This was my solution.

I then brick stitched size 6 beads around the wire by picking up a bead, putting the needle around the wire and going back through the bead.

A second row of beads is brick stitched to the first forming a framed edge of brick stitching to the supporting wire. Note that the board is temporary only, it exists to establish a definitive size and shape to the outline. The piece will be removed from the board when it is stable. Each project requires an individual presentation technique. When this project is done, I will try to remember to do a blog on presentation variations. Joanne

FGP#16 Second Disco Ball

2009-12-20T13:10:00.000-08:00

The second, smaller disco ball has a different orientation showing the bottom of the ball. I choose to start with a circular bead ladder at this bottom circle. After a few rounds, the smaller ball is attached to the side of the first and larger one.

Rounds of brick stitch continue with smaller beads on the bottom and larger beads on the top.

When the bottom edge is neared, a bead ladder is thrown to outline this edge, then filled in. As before, bead ladders in new areas are done in small increments. It is much easier to control the shape of a short bead ladder than a long one.

When the bottom is done, the thread is attached at the top and beadwork progresses upwards. After the smaller ball is completed, rounds of brick stitch are finished around the larger ball adjusting its shape. Joanne

I think what I like most about doing pictures in brick stitch is that the designing decisions are not done with the original collage. Decisions need to be made and adjusted continually as the bead stitching progresses. I find that once all the decisions are over and done with as in working a charted design, I lose interest. Tweaking the design, changing it, making it work is the carrot that keeps me going. Joanne

FGP#15 First Disco Ball

2009-12-19T18:48:00.000-08:00

The original collage was made with disco balls that were photos of pictures. I was never quite satisfied with them. I searched until I found a real disco ball that I could photograph and do so in several orientations. I am much happier with these new photos so have pasted them over the original disco balls.

To begin the beadwork, I chose a line in the photo to make as my first bead ladder. It happens to be in the lower middle of the ball. And remember, I do not do a bead ladder the length of the line, I do the bead ladder in 1"-2" stages, curving the line by increasing, decreasing, and bead size changes in the second and third rows. I decided to add bugles and rectangular beads to add to the mirrored tile effect of the disco ball. I am using 8 lb fireline as a thread. The largest beads will be in the center, belly, of the ball to attempt to add dimension.

As the beadwork progressed, I shaped the curving lines by tapering the edges with 2 and 3 drop brick stitch (that is adding 2 or 3 beads at a time in a single stitch).

When I came near the bottom, I stopped and restarted at the bottom and then worked up, attaching the two pieces.

I then went back to the original line and added beads on the other side working upwards and incorporating the arm of the female disco dancer.

When the top of the ball was completed, I did an extra row of brick stitch around the circumference of the ball to smooth out the edges. Note that this stitching requires a large selection of beads of varying colors, sizes, finishes and shapes. I tried to follow the value differences in the disco ball photo and use specialty beads to enhance the dimension and reflection of the ball. Fun! Joanne

FGP#14 All Three Nightclub Dancing Couples

2009-12-13T18:27:00.000-08:00

I have now completed all 3 nightclub dancing couples. I am entranced by the gestural expression that can be achieved by brick stitch beadwork. I am not a grid person. I have seen wonderful work done in peyote and loomed beadwork that has been beautifully gridded, but I prefer the freedom to stitch in whatever direction I choose and to use the varying direction of bead rows as a part of the design. In addition, freely changing bead shapes and sizes can be used to emphasize certain areas over others and give a better impression of what is in front and what is behind.

Note that since the end result is to be photographed as a playing card, The disco couple is upside down.
However, this is not the end. Now all three couples need to be fixed in place by a beaded background including a pair of disco balls, a speakeasy door and a dance floor. Joanne

FGP#13Charleston Couple

2009-12-13T18:15:00.000-08:00

The Charleston Couple is completed by adding the hands and faces. When constructing the first bead ladder of a new area, I often do not choose an outer edge but instead choose a prominent inner line. There is little room for detail in the hand sand faces, so jaw lines and cheek shading must convey the essence of the face, especially in this couple who are facing away so that features are not apparent. More important than detail is the feeling of the motion of the dance and the fun of the nightclubbing experience that is the essence of my interpretation of the 6 of clubs.

FGP#12 Charleston Couple

2009-12-09T22:20:00.000-08:00

Since the dark areas of the woman and man blend together, I felt it best to stop working on the woman and begin the man's figure so that the blending of the heads could be done together.

To begin the male figure, I started vertical rows of beads against the side of the female body. I then threw bead ladders in black to mark the creases in the man's pants. The pants were then filled in choosing the direction of the bead rows to follow the drape of the clothing fabric.

The woman's hand was added and the man's shirt worked up to the woman's arm.

The man's legs and shoes were completed and arm and shoulder begun.

Joanne

FGP#11Female Flapper

2009-12-01T10:55:00.000-08:00

Skirt redone. Much better!!! Joanne

FGP#10 Female Flapper

2009-11-29T09:26:00.000-08:00

This will be a short post. I began the flapper at the hipline of the dress and worked upwards into the bust and torso, shaping mainly by progressing from one bead brick stitch to brick stitch made up of two (or 3) stacked beads. The change is gradual--going from one regular bead to one larger bead to two small beads to one small, one regular bead to two regular beads, etc.

When I got to the top of the torso and started to add bead ladders laterally for the outstretched arms, I worried that the darks would not match the darks of her partner. Woking in color from a black and white photo has its limitations. I felt that I should stop and finish the bottom of the flapper, move on to her partner and then blend in the darks of both figures at the same time.

I started the dress skirt by throwing a vertical bead ladder down from the low waist. I had wanted to repeat the blue 0n blue stripe that I had used in the swing bodice and the disco vest. However, as I progressed on with the skirt, I felt that the striping was too static and did not reflect the swing of a flapper dress. Sooo--I cut it off and started again with a skirt matching the dress top. Again, throwing a vertical bead ladder to start. However, I went back and marked the photo with curving lines to follow and did some increasing and decreasing on the second row to avoid the straight static striped look. I am much more optimistic with this second skirt.

I often place a bead, check the piece against the photo and remove the bead, selecting another of differing color, shape or size. It is a bigger decision to remove a whole area, BUT if the final effect demands it--DO IT.

Also, never underestimate the help that drawing lines to follow on the photo provides. It really does keep you following the small changes in direction that can easily get out of hand.

Another point: If a particular area of beadwork is found to be too narrow, turn it on its side. See the up and down beads reminiscent of peyote stitch? Just peyote across these to add width.

If the piece is found to be too wide as I decided here in the waist area, cut off the last bead(s) of each row and reinforce the new edge beads with additional thread (change to a smaller needle if necessary). Here I am not worried about little pieces of thread sticking out the side as I will cover them up when I add the background. If this were to be a final edge, I would carefully burn these threads to a lump one at a time with a cigarette lighter so that they would not work out of the beadwork. Joanne

FGP#9 Female Disco Dancer

2009-11-26T08:17:00.000-08:00

Turkey Day but I got up early. Luckily I have a husband who does the holiday dinners. So while he is preparing the turkey, I can be over in my back yard studio finishing up and posting Ms Disco.

First is to pick a place to begin. I chose the waist. Note that I am ignoring the colors of the photo and doing all of my dancers in the same color range as the first pair. Ms Disco poses an additional problem as the photo I am working from is particularly bad (I photographed UTube video clip dancers off my computer screen and then pasted different dancers together to get the pose and costume that I wanted).

In working the skirt, I exaggerated the creases in the skirt by stitching short rows to emphasize movement. When the skirt was at an appropriate place, I joined it to Mr. Disco's leg. Ms Disco's legs were done in the same manner previously describes in past posts. And off course she needs platform shoes.

When the lower body was finished, I went back to the waist and worked the torso upwards, extending bead ladders for the arms. Shading the bead colors and sizes provides roundness to the body and bust.

Hair and face were last. Due to the small size of the face area and the resolution limit of the bead size, face detail needs to be kept to a minimum. Now its time to go enjoy family and dinner. Joanne

FGP#8 Male Disco Dancer

2009-11-23T10:19:00.000-08:00

OK--to procede on with Mr. Disco Dancer, I began at the waist, changing the direction of the brick stitch by adding a bead and inserting into the thread between 2 beads and then going back through the new bead.
After a few rows, I began the right leg by extending a bead ladder. It just doesn't work to make the bead ladder the entire leg length. I do 1"-2" at a time, then stabilize by adding a second and row. A third row takes me back to where I can then extend the bead ladder further down the leg. Repeat till the correct leg length is achieved.

Since the right leg needs to connect into the crotch, I switched to the left leg. When the left leg and crotch areas were completed, I returned and finished the right leg. Note that shading the white leisure suit takes a large selection of cream and tan colored beads in sizes from 15 to 6. Smaller beads are needed for tapering. Larger beads are used for shaping and to emphasize rounded areas such as the knee and butt.

Switching to black thread, the feet were added on with a direction change in the brick stitch rows. Note that I also shape by stacking beads 2 and even 3 beads high in a single brick stitch row. Joanne

FGP#7

2009-11-17T20:28:00.000-08:00

I've just had a vacation break cruising down the Saone and Rhone from Lyon to Avignon. Lots of rain but it didn't stop me from getting lots of good photos for future projects. However, time to get back to work on Mr. Disco. I usually start a figure somewhere in the center. Here I chose the lapel line. I do the first bead ladder only an inch or two at a time, shape it by adding a second row, then continue. If the original bead ladder is too long, it becomes difficult to properly shape it. I then decided to start a second piece working form the second lapel. I repeated the blue on blue striping of the Swing dancer's bodice in the leisure suit vest of the Disco dancer and joined the 2 pieces.

Arms and jacket were executed in a manner similar to that described for the Swing Dancers. I decided to start the hair as a bead ladder circle and add other circles of beads to provide a more hairlike texture. I am using #8 Fireline for my thread. It comes in crystal (white) and smoke (black). I do switch thread color--using the crystal for light beads and smoke for dark beads. Again, I find it easier to establish the outer edges of the figure and then fill in the center. I am constantly measuring the growing figure against the photo collage for shape, size and direction of lines. I do this as often as every bead and if a bead doesn't fit, I remove it before going on. It is very easy to get off pattern without this constant checking.

FGP#6

2009-10-30T12:53:00.000-07:00

The face involves many changes in direction of beadworking. The lapels are worked vertically. The neck switches to horizontal rows of beadwork. To switch direction, put a bead on the needle and dig down into the existing beads and catch the thread that goes between two beads, go back through the new bead. The head continues up and around. The ear is a semicircle within a semicircle. When I do a face, I almost always think that the face will just not come out as I am in progress. However, I concentrate on dark vs light vs medium areas and on establishing lines such as cheek ridges, nose bridge, eyebrows, etc. If you can't see enough detail in the photo you are working from, enlarge it on a copier, playing with the dark/light buttons till you get an image with value differentiation. Fine details are just not possible. I usually find that when I am done, a readable face emerges.

The woman's legs are done just like the man's pantlegs. The socks and shoes do pose a problem since one is in front of the other and they still need to read as separate. The forward sock is lighter and the forward shoe is edged in a gray metallic. I choose not to depict the toe of the behind shoe. The feet read OK as is and the behind toe might add confusion. If I felt that the behind toe was necessary, I would have chosen to do it in small matte black beads.

The face was finished by working in toward the center, weaving the last hole together with tiny beads. The most important thing to remember is to constantly check the size, shape and direction of the beaded piece in progress with the photo you are working from. I sometimes do this every bead or two. It is easy to get an area too big or forget to change direction when needed. Often I will place a bead and then have to remove it and replace with a bead of a different size, color or value.

The Swing Dancers are complete. Joanne

FGP#5

2009-10-24T21:21:00.000-07:00

The second leg of the Swing Dancer is begun by making several bead ladders extending off of the jacket and following the lines of the pants creases as drawn on the original photo. Subsequent rows of brick stitching fill in between the ladders. Short rows and changing bead sizes change the direction of the brick stitched rows.

Another ladder is constructed to form the top of the thigh. It is connected to the jacket and then rows of brick stitching are done to fill in the space between the new bead ladder and the previous stitching. I find it easier to define the shape I want by establishing the edge and then working inward. I much prefer Czech beads to the more uniform and cylindrical Japanese beads. I am always looking for a bead that is a smidge thinner, fatter, shorter, taller to fill in a specific space. In changing direction of lines, I find that sometimes I need to pick up the thread between beads and sometime I need to go through a bead when adding a new bead. I have a theory about beadwork--1. I put a new bead on the needle- 2. I put the needle through the existing beadwork- 3. I go back through the new bead- 4. I pull the thread tight. If the new bead does not fall off, IT'S RIGHT!!

To begin the lower leg, another bead ladder is thrown. I choose to begin again with the dark crease line down the center of the leg. I then fill in with additional rows, first to one side then to the other. I often do rows of brick stitch stacking 2 or even 3 beads at a time to change the angle of the row.

Smaller and darker beads butt the jacket to place the leg behind the jacket. Larger and lighter beads advance the knee and the center line of the leg for roundness.

The foot again begins with a bead ladder off the pant cuff and proceeds to the heel, changing direction for the sole. I love doing brick stitch because decisions are continuing to be made throughout the construction. In doing a scene in peyote or loomwork, the design is entirely charted out in advance. I find that once all the designing decisions are made, I lose interest. Brick stitch keeps my attention because it cannot all be planned in advance. You have to keep mental flexibility and change as the piece warrants.

FGP #4

2009-10-18T09:39:00.000-07:00

Still working on the Swing Couple. Male Leg #1 is completed. I begin each new area by selecting a prominent line which I have drawn on the photo and creating a bead ladder to follow this line. Bead rows are then added to either side with increasing and/or decreasing to maintain the line's orientation. In the man's first leg, I choose to begin with the dark crease line extending down the pants. Bead rows were then worked to the right and left to complete the pants using short rows and changing bead sizes to achieve the proper shape. I constantly, sometimes ever bead, place the beadwork over the photo to check size and alignment. The direction of bead rows is changed to most appropriately depict the figure. Larger, lighter beads advance and smaller, darker beads recede. Changing bead sizes attempts to add to the dimensionality of the figure. Note that on the left edge of the pants, tiny beads are used to make the pant's edge appear to be further back than the knee and shin.

The sneakers are first worked with vertical bead rows and then switched to horizontal rows at the toe.

The woman's hair is alternately done in rows of larger and smaller beads as well as matt and shiny beads to give a strandlike appearance. Also the first bead row done after the initial bead ladder alternates increasing and decreasing to zig zag the line made by the original bead ladder. This hopefully will make it look more like hair.

Note the hand foreshortened behind the hair. The fingers are just bead ladders of tiny beads. The thread at the end of the bead ladder finger is worked back through the beads to the body of the hand to begin the next bead ladder finger. The fingers will be set in place when the background is done.

Now I'm ready for the second leg. Joanne

PLaying Card Project #3

2009-10-10T15:01:00.000-07:00

Woops, I have started over. I forgot that the end result is to be photographed in playing card size. This means I must keep contrast high between differentiated areas. I knew that I wanted to darken the skin of the Swing Dancers, but leaving the bodice black does not provide enough contrast. I certainly do not want to imply a topless dancer!

I have also switched the blue in the skirt to a truer blue not an aqua. Thus will blend better with the entire picture.

The man's coat is providing additional challenges. The arm forward of the body is done in bigger beads and lighter shades and the coat tail also progressed to bigger and paler beads to put it in front of the pants. Again, I use the collage template to control my size, shape and direction of design lines. Only by constantly laying the working beadwork against the template can I keep myself from drifting off course.

FGP Card Project #2

2009-10-01T12:50:00.000-07:00

To begin the beadwork, I choose one of the lines I have drawn and construct a bead ladder laying it directly on the photo to measure length. I work to one side of the ladder, again measuring frequently by placing the beadwork on the photo. I shape the line by increasing-that is using larger beads or stacking 2 or 3 beads and/or decreasing-that is using smaller beads or short rows. If the direction needs to change drastically, I will start a new bead ladder following an adjacent line and work from the new bead ladder towards the old. To work perpendicular to existing beadwork, just turn the work 90 degrees and pick up the thread between bead rows instead of the normal thread between tops of beads. I am assuming a knowledge of brick stitch here. I am sure that how to do brick stitch can be found elsewhere. The trick is to keep measuring constantly against the picture to check size, shape and direction of the beadwork. Enough for now. Joanne

Playing Card Project

2009-09-30T10:32:00.000-07:00

I have committed to a joint project with the Fiberarts Guild of Pittsburgh to produce a set of playing cards from fiber art to benefit FiberArt International 2010. All cards will be photographs of artworks done in various aspects of fiber. I believe that I am the only one to choose beadwork as my fiber art medium. I have the 6 of clubs and am basing my design on 3 sets of nightclub dancers from 3 different dance craze eras--The Charleston of the 20s and speakeasies, Swing, and Disco. My planned design is collaged to fit within the allotted 19"x12" proscribed space. I have elected to reverse the orientation of the Disco dancers as they would be in a real playing card and to choose a swing set where the female dancer is in a reversed throw position.

My preferred beadwork technique is brick stitch. The advantage of brick stitch over loomwork or peyote stitch in expressing a design is that brick stitch begins with a "bead ladder" which can be bent in any direction and fixed in place by increasing on the outside of curves and/or decreasing on the inside of curves in the adjacent rows. Therefore, the lines of beads can be made to extend in any direction following the lines of the design. Curves can also be smoothly reproduced. A variety of bead sizes and shapes incorporate nicely as well. I can also start anywhere and link the various parts later.

When planning a 2-D brick stitched figure (I call them “paper dolls”), I start with a photograph, drawing or collage as here in exactly the same size that I want the finished figure or picture to be. I plan which direction the beads will run in the various parts of the photo and DRAW THE LINES ON THE PICTURE. I have decided to start with the swing dancer's skirt.