Fall-Winter 2009 Color Report

The Fall-Winter 2009 Color Report for Bead & Jewelry Designers by Margie Deeb is now available on-line. Yipee!!!

It actually came out last week, but this is the first chance that I've had to tell you about it.

Twice a year Margie releases reports based on the 10 colors predicted by global color authority Pantone to be popular in fashion and home decor for the Spring-Summer and Fall-Winter seasons.

She brings these colors into the bead world by matching each Pantone color with a corresponding Delica, Swarovski crystal, and gemstone bead, then inviting several guest artist to create jewelry based on combinations of these colors.

The combinations and proportions that she suggests for each of the ten colors are inspirational and challenging. She even "double-dog" dares you to try some of her palettes!

Warm Olive, described as "adding a touch of elegance and sophistication to fall." is the color that I chose to work with. I paired it with hints of Rapture Rose and American Beauty. You can read more about the necklace, "Pandora", that I created just for this report in my August 29th blog post.

This season's contributing artists are: Chrissie Day, Jamie Cloud Eakin, Candace Cloud McLean, Derralynn McMaster, Maureen Buckley McRorie, and Kristy Nijenkamp,

I am pleased and honored to have been a part of these color reports from the beginning and I'm already working on my projects for the Spring-Summer 2010 season. My colors have been selected and the palettes have been put together; a little bit of bead hunting and I'll be ready!

Hello Autumn!

And hello cooler weather! Even though the day time temperatures are still in the 90's during the day, the nights are soft and cool. Over the next few weeks the harsh brassy blue sky will soften to a pale cornflower blue and the gray green grass will become a crisp emerald green. Sounds more like spring, doesn't it? But, that's the way of it in the Arizona desert.

As the weather cools off I come out of my summer hibernation feeling alive, awake, and refreshed. I'm ready to exercise my green thumb. There are house plants to be repotted, the rose bushes that have been so sadly neglected over the past 3 years need tending, I must have some flowers to hang on the front porch, and Cousin It, the Brazilian Pepper tree in the front yard is in desperate need of a hair cut.

For My Next Trick.....

.....I'll be finishing the beaded bag that I started about 3 years ago.

This was originally intended to be an entry in Beadwork magazine's 2007 "Beaded Bag" competition. Unfortunately, about that time I became ill with Grave's Disease, so I had to put this aside with the idea that I would get back to it someday.

Someday was Tuesday. I have an embarrassingly large number of unfinished projects squirreled away in my bead closet, something I'm sure that most of you beaders out there can relate to. Selecting from more than a dozen projects, all clamoring to be paid a little attention to can be overwhelming, so I used the highly scientific method of "Eenie Meenie Minie Mo" to choose what I would work on.

Rarely do I ever plan a project out from beginning to end. My starting point is usually something that has inspired me, such as an intriguing color palette, cabochon, or focal bead, or in this case, a theme. From there it's all improvisation, which means that I have no idea of where I was going with this bag in terms of surface embellishments, fringe, or handles.

I spent a few hours on-line looking at some incredible vintage beaded bags in the hopes of finding some good ideas of fringe. Big mistake! Now I have too many ideas buzzing around in my head. But, once I've finished the purse strap I should be able to narrow the fringe and surface embellishing choices down.

The photo makes the beads look like a soft sage gray, but there are really more of a vibrant tourmaline color.

I'll keep you posted as to my progress.

Yoga, Yoga, Yoga-15 days & Counting

Yes!!! I am now 15 days into my 30 day yoga challenge and am feeling better than good.

I started this challenge with no specific goal in mind other than to practice every day and quietly observe the changes within myself. The most significant change has been that I can direct my breath into and release an area of muscles that feels tense, which is something I've been able to carry over and use when practicing belly dance techniques and drills.

The improved mind-body connection also means that I am feeling more fluid and light as I move through the asanas, (and through the rest of my day), as well as more relaxed and energized.

The big bonus is that I am sleeping better and have returned to being aware of and able to control my dreams, which is something that I have always enjoyed.

On a purely physical level I have recovered my ability to set in a straddle position and bend forward all the way to the floor with ease and have nearly recovered both splits.

Updated My FB Album

Updated my FB album with a few new photos of my bead work.

The bracelet is called Autumn River and is one of the first embroidered cuffs I ever made.

This was probably one of the quickest palette of beads I ever put together. It literally took me only about 10 of 15 minutes to select all these beads.

I started with the warm bordeaux colored fresh water pearls, then almost immediately pulled from my stash size 6'0 & 8'0 seed beads, vintage 9'0 tri-cuts, 10'0 & 11'0 seed beads, 12'0 & 13'0 Charlottes, & 15'0 seed beads.

The design is embroidered on Lacy's Stiff Stuff, that was then glued to a brass cuff blank, and backed with a piece of muted peach ultra-suede.

Animals With Light Sabers

I found this little gem at Cute Overload.

If this really, really, really floats your boat you can find more at Animals With Light Sabers.

New Swarovski Colors & Styles

Calling all Swarovski Bead Fans! Here's a link to a blog that has a preview of the new styles & colors that will be available next month.

I'm just loving this new Cyclamen Opal color.

October suddenly seems a looooong way off. ;-)

Pantone Color Report-Fall 2009

It's almost here! The Pantone Color Report-Fall 2009 will be available on-line from Margie Deeb on Sept. 15th.

I have 3 projects in this report. My 4th, a goddess necklace with lots & lots of sparkly Swarovski crystal beads old & new, is being held in reserve for a future publication.

In the meantime, check out these 3 videos of Margie and some of her wonderful tips on using color in your bead work, or whatever medium you work in.

Complementary Color Schemes
Bead Fest Pennysylvania
Beads, Baubles, & Jewels

Vintage Belly Dance circa 1904

This is one of my all time favorite belly dance clips of one "Princess Rajah" (c. 1904) dancing with a most unusual prop.

30 Day Yoga Challenge

Yeah me! I'm on day 7 of a 30 day yoga challenge.

I usually practice yoga once or twice a week, but having heard and read so many stories lately about the transforming power of a dedicated practice I decided to experience it first hand for myself.

Three of these first 7 days were a bit rough because I was having back to back migraines. What can make it difficult is that along with the pain, I can sometimes experience nausea if I move around too much. But I stuck with it, even if I did only 20 minutes of a gentle practice consisting of mostly seated forward bends, child's pose, and breathing exercises.

I started this challenge with no specific goal in mind other than to practice yoga for 30 days in a row and observe how I feel.

Migraines & migraine hang-overs are all gone, so right now I'm feel pretty darn good.

The photo is of my cat, the late Tia Sushi, aka Yoga Poodie, hanging out in one of her favorite spots, the cupboard where I keep all my yoga gear. She wasn't too happy with me for disturbing her nap simply because I wanted my mat. But she never had knickers in a knot for very long. She was nicknamed "Yoga Poodie" because she would always snuggle with me during Savasana. I miss that. She was an amazing cat. Almost 2 years ago she saved my life and the life of my then unborn daughter.

But that's another story for another time.