Beaded earrings

So, I put down the Hello Kitty earrings for a bit. I didn't finish them in time, so I've started on another item that was an order. They are "hot pink" earrings a customer requested. I used a double point rivoli stone with the color called Ultra Pink AB. The Rivolis come in a lot of colors, the ones I purchased are pink, purple, light blue, green and orange.The pictures show the backing I used, it is upholstery leather. I couldn't find my Pellon, so I used this. It actually works better for earrings with this stone than the Pellon does. The front of it is smooth and the back has a netting on it that seems to adhere to the stone better. The stones are pointed in back and front, so you need to cut an "x" on the back so the point will have somewhere to go and so the stone will be flush with the material. I just fold the material in half and cut a little "x" into it. I used E6000 to attach the stone to the material. I then clamped it (with a chip clip) and waited for about an hour before I started to bead them. You don't have to wait an hour, but the packaging asks that you give it 24-48 hours to "cure". I beaded the earrings with pearl white size 9/0 3-cut beads. I used japanese 3-cut beads for accent in turquoise blue, lime green and yellow. They are edged with hot pink rhinestones with AB finish.

Bolo Tie Finished

I finished the bolo tie. I gave it to my uncle and he said "Now I need somewhere to go so I can wear the matching set", so we are heading out on Friday. My next project is to make a pair of Hello Kitty beaded earrings for my niece's birthday. I didn't bead on the 3rd (because I was at work for 12 hours), but I did glue them down, so I consider that still working on beadwork. I just printed them on regular paper and used a glue stick to glue them to a piece of pellon. The pellon I use is the thickest one they had at the store and it has a heat-sensitive adhesive on the back. I haven't actually utilized the adhesive, but it is good to know that it is there if I ever need to. I need to have these done by Saturday, so I am glad that I have committed to working on beadwork every day. I think I might do something new, then finish a project, then something new, and alternate through the year. I think that most people I speak with about beading have several unfinished projects. I tend to put something down if I get tired of looking at the same bead color, or if it doesn't look the way I thought it would, or if I run out of the bead I'm using. I'm sure I quit working on them for other reasons too. *Your Next Muse*

I Resolve

I resolve to bead every day, even if it is for only 15 minutes. What happens when you commit to at least 15 minutes of beading each day? You end up doing it for more than 15 minutes. This is what I am hoping. I will be blogging about my beading projects this year with pictures as well as sharing my tips and tricks to how I choose my designs, colors and techniques. My first project for this year was to finish a bolo tie I started for my uncle last year. I tried to finish it for his birthday in July, but didn't finish, then I never picked it up again. It was a bolo tie to match his favorite belt buckle that I fixed for him. At the New Years Powwow he was wearing the belt buckle, and I had the unfinished beadwork with me. I showed him how it matches and it made me feel guilty, so it was the first project I worked on in my effort to bead every day. Here is the bolo with the edging in progress.

The Bolo Tie has porcupine quills, and is done in size 13/0 charlotte cut beads. The colors are light red, dark red, black, lime green, turquoise green, turquoise blue, capri blue, and dark blue. Of course, these colors are called something different depending on the bead store you go through. I beaded this on canvas, which was two layers heat-and-bonded together. I backed it with white buckskin (my personal favorite). I don't like using canvas to bead. The little grooves where the fabric is woven gets tricky to work with. Canvas is thick, durable and recommended by some beaders for a fully beaded traditional women's yoke. I personally don't like using canvas for small items. *Your Next Muse*

Powwow Trail

Well, the powwow trail has begun (as of the weekend of June 11-13). I have gone to three powwows so far. Alvin Littlehead Memorial Powwow. It was really nice, it was held at the Muckleshoot Powwow grounds. The weather was great. I didn't do well in sales, but I had a nice time. I saw a lot of family (it was almost a reunion) and friends but our main reason for going was to support the family of Alvin Littlehead. My husband won some beautiful art in the raffle.

The next powwow we went to was The Delta Park Powwow and Encampment in Portland, Oregon (home). I wasn't going to do this powwow at first, sales are usually low, but at "the last minute" we decided to set up. My friend Jolene gave me one of the prettiest (maybe THE prettiest) beads I have ever seen. They are Cheyenne Pink (Crow Pink, Czech Rose, Dusty Rose) size 11/0 cut beads with AB finish. They cost her a pretty penny and she made a heart shaped set with them. I teased her all weekend "is my set done yet?" Then she gave me a hank of my own.

The last Powwow was the Muckleshoot Veterans Powwow. They held it at the White River Amphitheater this year. I was excited because I had heard that this venue would be great. It wasn't good for sales. Some people came up the last day and said that they didn't even know I was there until Sunday. I didn't get to see any of the dancers, I couldn't hear the drums. I will go to this powwow next year, but will hope for the original powwow grounds. I did sell all of my green rhinestones at this powwow, so it was nice to sell out on the first showing of them. I saw some really pretty beadwork at the powwow too. I'll update again, hopefully before the next powwow.

Olive Luster beads

When I first saw Olive Luster beads were available, I thought "no one will want these". I thought about avocado green appliances and wondered what colors would go good with this shade of green. I could see it being used for leaves, but not much else. I was wrong. I started seeing it available at other bead stores and when I bought some to sell, I quickly sold out. I met a Yakima beader who used this color as the main color for a barrette. Her choice of colors to go with it were beautiful as well. Overall, the effect is stunning. (Click the picture to get a larger image) A friend purchased the barrette for me because I kept commenting on it and going to the other beaders booth to look at it again. I have these beads in size 11/0, true cut, available on my site and I carry them to the powwows I attend. I have most of the bead colors that are in the barrette as well (the red iris is hard to find, so that one is not available in size 11/0). This color is also available in size 13/0, but I currently do not carry this color in this size. So if you have this bead and are looking for a good way to use it, here it is. I also like this color with dusty rose (cheyenne pink, crow pink), eggshell, pale blue, and dark red. *Your next muse*

Eggshell Beads

One of my new favorites is the Eggshell colored bead. It is a cream color, or bone color, with a pearl finish (almost a luster). I really like this as a neutral bead that looks so good with so many other colors. It is a good alternative to white as it is light colored and goes well with almost any other color. I really like this with pink (cheyenne pink, crow pink, or dusty rose). The other colors it looks good with are darker colors like dark red, Montana blue, dark amethyst, and olive luster. One beader I met at the Muckleshoot Powwow used these beads in her feather designs, instead of white. I liked it. In the future I will include pictures of finished beadwork using the "bead of the day". I have these beads available in size 8/0 charlotte cut (true cut), 11/0 charlotte cut (true cut), 13/0 charlotte cut (true cut) and in size 9/0 3-cut. They are also available in 12/0 3-cut, but I don't have these in stock right now. *Your next muse*.

Why Blog?

I was a little skeptical about blogging. It seems so pretentious that I felt I shouldn't do it. In my "free time"-like there is much- I have found myself going to Google and doing searches with various terms to see what appears. I use Native American beadwork, American Indian beadwork, beadwork... etc. I just want to see what is out there and what is genuine. My New Years Resolution is to bead everyday (didn't happen), and to help promote and uphold The Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990. You can read about this at http://www.doi.gov/iacb/act.html

As an American Indian vendor at powwows, I am highly irritated by the presence of other vendors selling their goods as made by Indians, when in fact it is imported. I won't promote other sites, but if you Google Mayan Beadwork, or Guatemala Beadwork, you will see items that are sold at powwows located along the I-5 Corridor, which is generally Oregon and Washington, I haven't traveled to California for any powwows at the time of this post. My first powwow for 2010 was going to be at the Portland Community College Powwow on January 23, 2010. Our Vendor contract already had the law outlined and I am so proud of them for not letting these misrepresentations be allowed at the powwow.

My goals for this blog are going to be to educate, create open discussions about American Indian Beadwork, the techniques used to create it, tips, tricks, material selection, color selection and photos.