NOVEMBER CHALLENGE: "Beachcomber"

Beachcomber Challenge
(Double click for close-up)

It's that time again, and we are so excited to see who you choose this time!! As the winner of our previous challenge Dini of Beadazzled of Oregon had this to say, when she chose this challenge theme.

"Hubby and I just got back from spending a week moseying up and down the Oregon coast. Tromping on the beaches with our dogs, it's just a wonderful way to relax and let the pressures of everyday life slip away. I love working with "found" items.
So, think of the last time you spent some time at the seashore, lake shore, down by a river or pond. Nature offers us a myriad of "found items" ~ I challenge YOU! "

Six members of the Beadweaving Emporium Market took that challenge. The winner of each challenge will recieve a 10 day showcase and the choice of our next challenge theme. The participants and members of this market would appreciate your support by simply placing a VOTE for your favorite on our voting polls at http://www.thebeadweavingemporium.blogspot.com.

You can follow the links below to review each piece in detail and read the artists stories behind each piece.

VOTING POLL: in the left column of this blog ~ vote for your favorite!

1. Castaway by Beadazzled of Orgeon
2. Mermaid Lore by Rachele's Originals
3. Hawaii's Shabby Sheik by Slave to Beads
4. Starfish and Barnacles Necklace by Designs by Roxan
5. Beachcombing the Indian Ocean by njema
6. Seaside Rendevous by BeadsForever

"WHAT'S ON MY BEADING BOARD?"

This is another piece that has been waiting for me to finish it for almost a month now is this OOAK cuff. I just need to attach the beautiful ceramic button by British artist Laura Walker and create the velcro closure. Almost complete!

I'm almost done with this custom edition (extra wide and extra long) of one of my African Mudcloth pieces. The customer asked that I use a cream bead rather than the original stark white. So far, she's pleased with the results. I love custom pieces; they never fail to expand my beadweaving horizons ;)

Best!
Carol Dean

Carol Dean Sharpe

http://SandFibers.etsy.com

http://Sandfibers.1000Markets.com

http://SandFibers.blogspot.com

BEM Corner: Artist Carol Dean Sharpe

Carol Dean Sharpe

I was born to an American Army brat and a young German officer almost 48 years ago. Most of my childhood was spent in Europe (Germany, Italy, and Belgium) with a short interlude back in Texas for 2nd and 3rd grade while my father was once again stationed at Ft. Bliss. Back in those Dark Ages, German schools still had instruction in "Handarbeit" - handwork and craft - for young girls. My schoolmates and I happily learned to knit, cross stitch, crochet, and sew, challenging each other on to greater feats of needle and thread along the way. It was during those years that I developed a strong love for anything having to do with fibers - be it floss, yarns, or fabric - and needles - be they sewing, knitting, or bent for crochet hooks.

In my thirties, I fell in love with quilting. Oh my. The colors, the textures, the patterns were all so glorious! As I moved from a love of traditional quilts to a fascination with art quilts, I wanted to embellish my creations with beads.

Beads. No one warned me. No one held me back. The first time I received an order of Czech seed beads I thought I had gone to heaven. I wasn't sure what I would do with them. I think my first thought was to just create more of the necklaces with a gazillion strands of beautiful silver lined seed beads that I had always enjoyed. But that wasn't to be.

I discovered that one could WEAVE with these little creatures, WEAVE without a loom. I had never seen a beadwoven bracelet that had not been made on a loom in person. The internet became my best friend. It told me what books to buy to teach myself that most intriguing of stitches - peyote. My first piece was a long tubular peyote rope in color lined yellow and coral seed beads. It was beautiful. And I was proud. And I was hooked.

Beads. I didn't have to sit at a sewing machine to work with them. I didn't have to have struggle with 10 pounds of fabric and batting in my lap to work with them. I didn't need a loom to work with them. All I needed were my oldest friends: needle and thread. Enchanted with all the bead colors and finishes available to me, I would weave monochrome cuffs, sometimes daring to create with minimalist bead soups with two or three colors or shades or finishes. Slowly some very basic graphic designs found their way into my work, nothing that required charting, however. And for the longest time I had no interest in going beyond that.

I can't even remember what changed, but it did change. Only once had I ever even followed someone else's pattern, so why would I consider making my own? Explained perhaps by my old love of counted cross stitch and the affinity for graphs it developed in me, I started beading cuffs from patterns I painstakingly drafted myself.

Now I'm actually becoming known not just for my finished pieces but also for my patterns. I have had a few published (with more on the way) in Step by Step Beads. When other beaders started asking if I would make the pattern for such-and-such-a-cuff available to them, I started offering select patterns for sale directly to beaders.

My greatest challenges these last two years have involved some wonderful collaborations with bead artists. I love watching my skills as both a designer and a beader improve steadily. I can't imagine ever becoming bored with beads and beadweaving.

In the five years since I discovered seed beads, by the way, not a single bead has found its way onto a quilt. One day . . . perhaps.

http://www.1000markets.com

November "Beachcomber" Challenge Announced!!

As the winner of our last challenge, Dini of Beadazzled of Oregon, was the chooser of our next challenge, and this is what she had to say about it.

First of all, I just want to share how excited I am that my little fall flower won our last challenge! Thank you!

Hubby and I just got back from spending a week moseying up and down the Oregon coast. Tromping on the beaches with our dogs, it's just a wonderful way to relax and let the pressures of everyday life slip away. I love working with "found" items.

So, think of the last time you spent some time at the seashore, lake shore, down by a river or pond. Nature offers us a myriad of "found items" ~ I challenge YOU!

Well there you have it! What an exciting and interesting challenge!!

What will you do with this challenge?

What colors immmediately pop in your head?

What fun and interesting objects have you found?

I can't wait to see what BEM members come up with

The Winner Is.....

Dini of Beadazzled of Orgeon was the winner of our September "Fall Themed" Challenge. This is the second win, in a row, for our much loved member and co-manager. I sat down with her earlier today to ask her a few questions, in hopes that we may discover what keeps her at the very top of her game.



Please tell me what your inspiration was for this piece in detail please? I've been playing around with delicas and geometric shapes recently; trying to see how far I can push them. That was the basic inspiration for the shape of the pendant. I love fall, love the smells and the colors and the flowers and foliage.

How long have you been Beadweaving? Took my 1st and only lesson in 2001. I absolutely got addicted from the very beginning.

Tell us a little about the techniques that you used on this piece? I love the peyote stitch, the flower is all peyote with a Herringbone chain. It is merely a series of 4 sided pieces, folded in half to make the pedals.

How long did this piece take you to make? Probably the better part of 2 full days.

And now that you won, how are you going to celebrate? Now this will sound goofy but turn off the computer, put on some music and spend a whole day uninterrupted beading. To me, that's luxury!!

What do you love about 1000 Markets, and about the Beadweaving Emporium? When I first discovered 1K, I really fell in love with the look and the feel of the venue. I loved the idea of specific markets; the whole community at 1k seemed close-knit. But it was when I realized there was a hole in their list of markets and nothing that specifically said "beadweaving" that the idea of creating our own market began to take place. I knew I'd get yelled at for using the EBW forums just once to ask for volunteers but it was worth it!! I am very proud of our market in general. I think the quality we have kept with our members is well worth the time.

Well there you have it! We would like to offer a heart felt congratulations to Dini, and look forward to all of her upcoming creations!!

The theme for our next November challenge will be announced soon, so keep watching our blog for that exciting news!

Thank you Rachele Dagley BEM Management

The voting has been moved

Due to unforeseen technique issues we have moved the voting over to our temporary blog the Beadweaving Market, so please follow the link and show the Beadweaving Emporium Market your support by voting for your favorite!

BEM September Challenge "Fall Themed"

As the winner of our New Horizons challenge Dini of Beadazzled of Oregon chose "Fall" as our September Challenge theme. She states" I love fall! I love the smells and sounds, the dryness of the leaves, the really cold mornings and the beautiful still warm afternoons. Above all, I love the fall colors".

This was a great challenge to show off some of our artist's extraordinary skills:



These are the entries for this challenge.

1. Shades of Fall by Beadazzled of Oregon

2. Autumn Flora Brooch by Nans Glam

3. 'Inspiré d'Automne' by Rachele's Originals

4. Fall Bargello bracelet by GGsDesigns

5. Autumn Goddess by Silver Dragon Creations

Voting will begin on September 9th and go through September 15th Please show the Beadweaving Emporium your support by placing a vote for your favorite entry.

We had 5 shops participate, however we are still building our market and believe as our market grows so will the participation!!

Thank you,
BEM Management

Congratulations Beadazzled of Oregon

Congratulations to Dini of Beadazzled of Oregon, for taking the win in our very first Market challenge. Here's what Dini had said about her challenge piece. "The challenge is: "A New Horizon" and there is a second challenge to use the color green in some way. So here is what I came up with ~

I loved the colors and the way this bracelet worked out so I used it for the photo when I made my shipping labels for Beadazzled. I mailed a custom order to a great customer in Texas, she saw the bracelet on the shipping label and emailed me: "I can't find this bracelet in any of your shops: I HAVE TO HAVE IT!" I really had to chuckle ~ I was saving it for moi!

So, off it went via Priority mail but the photos stayed at home!"

Dini, We love your work, and we look forward to hearing what the next challenge is going to be!!

So everyone let's hear it for Dini, Congrats girl!!

"NEW HORIZONS" Challenge

This is The Beadweaving Emporium's (at 1000markets) first beadweaving challenge, titled: "New Horizons". We are a new market at 1000 Markets and new horizons seems to fit the description of our new shop venture for all of us.

Vote between: July 9-15th.

Please vote for your favorite artist on the voting poll on the left hand column. We will announce the winner July 16th and the winner will choose the theme for our next challenge for September.

RED, WHITE and BEADWEAVING SALE-e-BRATION!

A 4th Firecracker SALE!

BLOG ANNOUNCEMENT:

Many of the shops that are members of The Beadweaving Emporium (BEM) market at 1000 Markets have teamed together and are planning a fantastic 4th of July SHOPPER-TUNITY SALE in their shops. Items on sale will be designated by their SALE-A-BRATION badge; some shops will have selected items and others may have every item in their shop on sale.

Participating beadweaving shops will be:

1. Cigarboxbeads..................Marilyn
2. Beadsforever........................Linda
3. BellaBeadjewele.............Leinaala
4. Nossubgallery.........................Ana
5. Mytreasures.........................Tanya
6. Enchantedbeads.................Ileana
7. Pvener...............................Patricia
8. Conlinscreations.............Amanda
9. BeadazzledofOregon.............Dini
10. RachelesOriginals...........Rachele
11. Littlestonedesign..............Cheryl
12. Hannahrachel..................Hannah

Be sure to check out each and every designated shop for outstanding handmade items and generous sale prices! Look for the SALE-e-BRATION badge in the participating shops for their SALE ITEMS.

Below is your own invitation to join us at BEM anytime the first week of July in our own Independence Celebration. Use scissors to cut out this reminder ~ Shop right here at home!

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RED, WHITE and BEADWEAVING SALE-e-BRATION!

DATES: July 1 through July 8th, 2009
WHERE: http://www.1000markets.com/groups/bem
WHAT: unique and creative beadwoven art
HINT: shop early for the holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, and more!

NOTE: Double click on photos to zoom.

BEM CORNER: Karen Gill

KAREN GILL
Hiding Place Beadery

I’ve been married for 23 years to my lovely husband, Bob. I am mom to two adult children, Eric and Kristen. Grandma, or actually “KK”, to 5 grandchildren-3 girls, and 2 boys, ranging in age from 18 to 8. Bob and I have a dog-Jack, a cat-Charlie, a parrotlet-Bluebelle, (all very original names, of course!) and two tiny finches who remain unnamed at this time.

At 57 years old, I am a Texan, through and through, and having lived in Key Largo, Florida for the last 2 years, I love Texas more than ever before. We have 1 more year (truly, 11 months!) and then my husband’s job will be over and we will return to our home in the country. Even my yankee husband looks forward to it!

I began making jewelry about 3 1/2 or 4 years ago, during a time when my mother was declining in health, and it became an escape for me. Then, it became an obsession for the beads themselves! The textures, the coolness, and the complexities of various stones, shells, and wood…keeps me ooohing and ahhhing over them! The rich and bright colors are so delicious! Then, weaving tiny beads together into a pattern or picture, fascinating. I have always been easily entertained! Yet my attention span is not especially long, so I love to make the simpler pieces. I always enjoy seeing what other people are inspired to do with their gift. Sometimes I think my enthusiasm for it is coming to an end…then I visit my beads!

Presently, I am at home in Texas, busily working on my home, spending time with loved ones, so I’m afraid beading is not number one…….but soon….!

Stay tuned Wednesday for "What's On My Beading Board"

BEM Corner: What's on my Beading Board?

From the beading board of Rachele Dagley:
Here are a couple of pictures that I took this morning for the bead board blog. I’m not sure when I’m going to be able to get back to them, and really I don’t have tons left to do on either of them, so hopefully It’ll be soon.

BEM Corner: Rachele Dagley

Rachele Dagley; Proprietor Rachele's Originals

"I've been with my husband Jim for 19 years, however married for 15 of them. I have two great kids, Tyler (14) and Bailey (10) who I am so proud of. I was born in 1971 in Hillsdale, Michigan. I had very little creative influences in my life, if any. My sister, Carla, is such a natural artist, she is a singer, song writer, and she can draw like nobody's business, so I honestly thought she got all of the creativity in our family....I mean for goodness sakes she is a Libra, and I'm a Capricorn....lol.

All that changed not quite 5 years ago. I had several friends that had been beaders, and although I loved their jewelry, I never even thought about making it myself. My best friend at the time, had just taken a class on how to bead string and how to wire wrap earrings, and she showed me how to do both. She then took me into the bead store where she had learned these new techniques.

Oh My Goodness....I am a huge believer in being in the right place at the right time. I do not believe in coincidences. I believe everything happens for a reason and I was not ready until that very day, to start this new chapter in my life. I cannot easily explain to you what happened to me. This was for me not just like someone picking up a new hobby, it was like my spirit had been awoken. I mean serious Deja Vu, and instant inspiration, like nothing I had ever experienced before in my life.

At this point.... .beading, beadweaving, beading around cabochons, wire wrapping, all of these things brings my soul such peace, that everything in my life since has been affected in a positive and loving way, and now it's brought me to all of you. I feel honored and grateful for being given the ability to create, and ready to be guided to where ever that leads me."

"What's On My Beading Board?"

Marilyn Goodman; Cigarboxbeads

This Blooming Blossoms choker just left my beading table and was purchased by a beautiful woman in Texas --what I really have on my table are the beginnings of small blue flower earrings to match the choker --no picture yet, but picture in your mind--tiny flowers like the dark blue flower on the longer end of the choker---fun in # 15 seedbeads! ;>) Wish me luck!

http://www.cigarboxbeads.1000markets.com

BEM CORNER: Marilyn Goodman

Marilyn Goodman; Proprietor Cigarbox Beads

I'm Cigarboxbeads--Marilyn Goodman - a wife, mother, grandmother, retired Home Ec. Teacher and now- caregiver. I've always enjoyed crafting and was taught to do many needlecrafts by my great aunt- who taught me to crochet and tat. My other favorite things to do- beading, beadweaving, sewing, knitting , collecting, etc.---I learned on my own. I've been beading and beadweaving since the early 90s--when we got our first computer and I became 'addicted' to the AOL Bead Boards!

My name- Cigarboxbeads- comes from the fact that my first beads were purchased in several vintage cigarboxes, at a flea market---I still have many of those beads, still in the cigarboxes- mostly seedbeads--and teeny tiny ones at that.

My first beadweaving was following the patterns from a great beadweaver- Suzanne Cooper--I followed her on the bead boards and bought her first Amulet books and here I am today---totally addicted to beadweaving--and it's all Suzy Cooper's fault!

I've progressed from trying those first amulet bags in peyote, to any other stitches that I can basically figure out on my own---I'm not too great on following instructions- I usually go off on my own---which can be a good thing - and sometimes, not so good! ;>)

I watch my twin granddaughters a few times a week, and one of them 'needles' with me--that's her term- and it seems to fit! I'm going to become a grama again, in September- our other daughter is having a little girl- so it will be crafting and 'needleing' time around here for another generation.
Right now, I seem to be in a beading slump, with lots of ideas but not much started on my beading board --I'm knitting baby afghans again, right now!

http://www.1000markets.com/users/cigarboxbeads

BEM Corner: What's on my Beading Board?

"from Beadazzaled in Oregon's "ZOO COLLECTION" I've been working on this old fella for a little while now.
The wonderful lion head comes from Amee of "Amee Runs With Scissors". (http://www.ameerunswithscissors.com/)

Leo has been on my beadboard recently - I worked on him while my arm and hand was still in a cast (after 4 reconstruciton surgeries) and when the cast came off and the pins out, I worked on it with a traction hand brace. He helped me keep my sanity through my rehabilitation!

We've become good friends ~ this guy will live in my private collection. But, I do have 2 more unspoken for lions (green and coral) and they are asking for a good home; I will make them up as custom orders in your special colors and length."

Artbeads.com also put him in their blog: http://blog.artbeads.com/

BEM CORNER: Dini Alves

Dini Alves, Proprietor Beadazzled of Oregon, Grants Pass, Oregon
"Born in the country outside of Cleveland, OH and moved to the west coast in 1952. Mother to 3, blended family of 6, 15 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. Long Christmas list!"

"Spent many years as a publisher and caregiver for my mother who had MS and lived with us. We were the typical "sandwich generation": raising 6 kids, working and caregiving for Gramma. Hubby and I retired from northern CA to outside of Grants Pass OR in 1996. We now live in the wonderful quiet of the forest with our 2 dogs and a pond full of mallards, a great place to create! We spend a good deal of time traveling all over the country, Canada and Mexico. Other than family, other hobbies include gardening and cooking explorations."

"My mini claim to fame: is that when I turned 65, I set off to realize a personal dream I had had for the last 50 years. I packed up my Jeep, a little refrigerator in the back, a map and my beads and drove out the driveway alone. 3 months later I returned after traveling way over 13,000 miles on the backroads of our country. It was a life-experience I will never, ever forget."

"My mother was an occasional artist; a painter. So I grew up surrounded by paint brushes and tubes of paints. But my own path took another avenue. I have always loved fibers - spent many years as a free-from weaver, then moved on to quilting and art quilting. Dabbled in many other mediums but always came back to yarns and materials and beads."

"So I am primarily an Oregon-based bead artist; a multi-media artist who brings color, texture and originality to each individual creation. Working often with unique embellishments, I consider my work new and constantly evolving. The pieces are truly collectible objects d'art for the discerning jewelry connoisseur. I continue to expand my ability for expression through many medias, using them in harmony with each other. Truthfully, I enjoy any art that pushes the envelope ~ I endeavor to follow that path with my own work. Always looking for that next challenge, I continually ask myself "...what if?"...what if I just added a piece of copper? What if I used a contrasting color? I love walking on the cusp of a new explorations! Each unique creation is a one-of-a kind, wearable piece of artwork and is a product of my own passions. Beads have a spirit all their own ~ they tell me where they want to go."

"WHAT'S ON MY BEADING BOARD?"

"This is kind of long term project-- it's for the BEM New Horizons Challenge."

"A new horizon for me because it's my first freeform art object-- meaning it's not wearable which everything I bead is! "

"And long term because I still have a month and a half to finish so I'm working on it between other projects."