Here we go--a new addiction that I didn't know I wanted. It is needle felting and easy and----inexpensive too! My good friend Alison came to my door one day last week with Benny dog under one arm and a basket full of wool under the other. I never try to second guess what she is doing as it is futile. She will try anything new and excel at it in a matter of hours (damn her!).
It involves a block of foam a few needles and some roving and you poke until you get what you want--
3 D or 2 D, but it's fun and I love it so now I sit up all night poking, poking. I need a nap.
Next week--a needle felting project that involves lots of beads and sequins. My "Demented Bunny".
Poke.

The Club show at the Merchandise Mart starts on Friday and goes thru Sunday--I especially enjoy the demos done by the rock guys and girls in the club. Maybe because my son and grandson will be there showing how to facet clear stones. Check them out--Ron and Chris Snelling. Chris (age 17) has his first showcase this year. He's pretty amazing with his work and I know I am impressed but he has had a great teacher in his Dad all these years.

For more info--google gem shows, Denver, Co. See you there.

13 year old girls know how to have fun. I wish I was 13 again, without the angst. These are photos of my granddaughter, Jordan. She wears skinny jeans, the green tutu over the jeans and has her hair streaked pink. She loves to text and it is an important thing in her life. Communication in this age is very different--I wonder how that will play out in the her adult life. Computers are easy for her and she's always had one in her life for games and education. I still struggle with the computer from time time, but will not give up until I get it right.

When I was 13 years old (in the early 50's), they bought me a pair of Cuban heels (about 1 inch high and TAN) and told me they were high heels that were age appropriate. I wanted some 5 inch heels in red suede and had to wait several years beyond 13 to get them. And girdles--they said nice girls don't "jiggle" and we wore girdles and those awful nylon stockings that were hot in the summer and cold in the winter.
As for any color enhancement--forget it. It didn't happen until I was in my 60's and needed it for other reasons.

Jordan is having fun and she is age appropriate. Do it while you can--it looks silly when you are 70.
Although I might try the tutu with my NYD jeans.

One piece of advice as I am an observer of people at the Mall--don't wear those 5 inch heels unless you know how to walk in them--more of a strut than a walk. Throw your head back and move!

The display while I was there was "animals" with a write up on the wall near the entrance. The script said (and I paraphrase) "When I go into people's homes and they have deer heads and other stuffed animals on the walls, I ask them why they do that. Their answer is 'because they are such beautiful animals--I like to look at them.' I think my Mother is attractive but I just keep photos of her". The author of that statement is Ellen DeGeneres.

Another place to see an amazing collection of outsider art is the House of Blues--I love the one in New Orleans. After the show I got a tour with one of the musicians (love those musicians) and it took over an hour although I could have spent a week in that place.

My favorite online place to see art is the Museum of Bad Art--it is in Boston and they have a great web site, books you can buy and the best fun is the text with the art. Not sure who writes it, but they are genius with words. Not outsider art, just bad art which is very funny. Visit their site at www.museumofbadart.org.
There's enough art out there for all of us. We need to keep an open mind and treat the maker of said art kindly.

The photos are of my Morning colors--I love them with their fast growing flowers and strong color.
Some people, especially back East, say they are weeds. They don't look like weeks to me and for one 99 cent package I get beautiful green climbers and blossoms that stay for months. Since they have a tendency to take over a garden, I plant them in a large silver trash can on my patio.
I have beads like the Morning Glories, things that other people think are junk. I am especially fond of bottle caps that are rusty and have been run over many times. I also like plastic and wood beads, crappy Mardi Gras beads (crappy in a good way) pods and shells and anything that I can string. Don't string
bugs--they fall apart when dry.
I have a friend--Dustin--who collects odds and ends off streets when he is out of town. A foreign
lid for Skol that is rusty--charming.
Next blog I will tell you about my favorite museum in Baltimore that specializes in found object art.

Since I live alone, there are no restrictions to the places where I can store beads, work or leave unfinished projects. I have a large table in the living room that holds my current projects, a mantle and shelves to display finished pieces that I like and a studio on the 2nd floor where I store beads for future use.

One of my outdoor projects is on my front door. It is a wreath where I wired on little birds nests and in the nests are beads to represent the eggs--new creative live, new projects--all that. I see it every day and so far am not tired to looking at it. When I am tired of it, or just don't see it any more, I'll do something new.

My summer has been spent doing things to my house--repair, improvements--that stuff. Home ownership is expensive and necessary but not as fun beading.

I continue to make pieces that celebrate Day of the Dead. Why do this just one month of the year?
I have beaded with friends on occasion but mostly bead alone--alone but not lonely. Being a widow sucks, but I deal with it by having a life and moving on.

The above photo is a necklace I made this summer featuring Kim Field's Lampglass poppies. I like this piece but I do think there is too much seed bead work and it detracts somewhat from the Poppies.
As I said, I like this piece but it is too much. Sort of like the blogger who doesn't know when to stop.

When I began to bead in ernest there were not many books on the market, so I took every class on every technique I could find. That is still the best way to learn, but to enhance your learning base, buy the books.

I love hanging out in book stores and I buy a lot of books online. I buy some used books--if you haven't checked out Stand Books in New York, google it.
Also, I buy from Abe Books.

My favorites today are:
"Creative Bead Weaving" and "The Art and Elegance of Beadweaving" both by Carol Wilcox Wells. These should be in every bead artist's library. They are great books on basic techniques and the color plates are lovely

"Getting Started with Seed Beads" by Dustin Wedekind is another "must have" for beginners and advanced.

"One Bead at a Time" & "Beaded Treasures" both written by Robin Atkins
are great. I am a big fan of her work.

"The Beader's Gide to Color" by Margie
Deeb is a beautiful book and I hear she has a new book coming out on the same subject the summer of 2008. Can't wait.

"The Art and Elegance of Bead Embroidery" by Heidi Kummli and Sherry Serifini is my absolute favorite since I favor the technique. Their web sites are something I visit often for a jolt of inspiration.

"Micro-Macrame Jewelry" by Joan Babcock
is fabulous. She makes an old craft form look modern and elegant.

"Crystal Jewelry with Swarovski" by Laura McCabe makes me want to drop all projects and make something in the book.
Great projects.

"500 Beaded Objects" & "1000 Rings" both from Lark books are filled with inspiration.

These last 3 books are not books about beading, but very wonderful and stimulating.

"Living the Creative Life" by Rice Freeman-Zachery. It features several artists in different mediums and they talk about how they work. I especially love Susan Shie as I had the opportunity to study with her. What a kick in the pants!

"Kaleidoscope" by Suzanne Simanaitis.
Yummy pictures!

This last book is tough to find but worth the time.
"Sacred Arts of Vodou" by Donald J. Cosentino.
This is my favorite kind of art--the "outsider art" and there are other books on the subject.

I'm sure I will get up in the morning and think of any number of books I have forgotten. I will save that list for another day.

In the near future, I will make a list of favorite movies and bead stores and suppliers.
I never met a bead I didn't like.

Happy spring to you all--my friends and loved ones.