Exciting news and magpie tales

Well, Hello to All!

I sometimes feel, like Alice, that I have fallen into a rabbit hole.  No hookah smoking caterpillars or playing croquet with a flamingo, just digging down into a big pile of beads.  Bliss, I tell you. 

But like the title says, I have some exciting news!  The newest issue of Belle Armoire Jewelry is out!  And have you guessed?  Yes, I'm in it!  They have done a really nice article with absolutely incredible photography.   Here is the cover:
San Gabriel Bead Company had them and I think they are getting more.  A friend of mine checked and they were not at Barnes and Noble yet, they still had the last issue.  I'll have to keep checking and let you know when they are available at the book shops.  I'm really excited about this article.  I think this magazine is such great quality and I feel honored to be a part of it.

And now on to some magpie tales.  Bead shopping.  I do believe bead shopping is my favorite thing (besides beading of course).  Fabric shopping is a close second but bead shopping just can't be beat.  I went bead shopping with a friend last week.  One of the nice things about bead shopping with a friend is that you can split strands of beads that are a little more costly and if you don't want the whole strand but just a few of the beads (the costly strands usually don't have an enormous amount of beads to begin with) you can get just the amount you want.

Here are a few of the beads we bought.  Some were strands that we split and some were on strands that only had 3 or 4 beads on them.
Here is a closer view:
Now this just makes my magpie heart flutter with excitement.  Look at that pink chalcedony!  Can't wait to use some of these!  I am thinking of using them for the Fragments pendants.  I did a few pendants using antique photos and finished the pieces with a mixed media approach.  I like hanging a large drop from the bottom.  Looks like I will have to make plenty of pendants!

But aren't they beautiful?

You might have been wondering what I'm working on now.  I have some new designs that I am getting ready to teach this summer.  I have been very excited about the one I call Bohemian Lace.

This piece is a lot of fun to make.  I will be teaching it at Brea Bead Works in Brea, California and  Bead Gallery in San Diego.  I will also be teaching it at  Beads by Blanche in Bergenfield, New Jersey.  I will be teaching it in the fall at Naturally Jennifer's.  There may be a few more places, but right now that's the plan. 

When I come up with a new design, there's usually a flurry of beading around here trying to get as many samples made as I can.  Then, if I have time, and I have to say I usually don't, I like to work on a few variations.  I barely have time to get all the regular samples made so unfortunately, most of those variations just stay in my head.  But I have made a point to take time to work on some variations for this design.  Since I normally work on 3 to 5 pieces, working on each for a couple of hours before going to the next one, I've included a few variations of Bohemian Lace.  

Here's my bits and pieces:
  I'm having a lot of fun experimenting with color as you can see.  And the all black one will be nice I think.  I am also experimenting with using different size stones as you can see from the marquis shaped piece.  I'm not sure of the exact shape of these necklaces but I think most will be a shorter length.  I haven't decided whether the clasp will be in the front or back.  I will probably vary that with each piece.  See?  I don't plan out every little detail.  Sometimes the piece just tells me what it wants to be as I do it.  I just have to listen.

As for a sewing update, I have been sewing quite a bit lately and have a few new dresses.  I will try to post photos in the next few days.  They came out really nice.

Today is a very gloomy day.  It seems we got our June gloom in May.  But it's a fine day for beading, sewing or reading or all three!

Have a great weekend!

Comments

[Sandra]

I love all your pieces. They are so beautiful. And congratulations on the magazine. That is awesome!

[Linda Varela]

Congratulations on your article. My husband just bought it and I was so happy to see you in it. We met at a show in Pasadena and I tried to get into one of your classes at San Gabriel Bead Co. but it was either sold out or canceled. Now that you are famous, I will have to work extra hard to get in one of your classes. Hope it happens soon.
The best of everything to you.

[Mona Ragnhildrød]

Hallo Melanie. It`s long time since we meet yoy in Los Angeles. I didnt now that you have a blog. I also have one. I put you in my blog list. It`s late wednesday evening and tomorrow I and Jan Thore goes to Germany. My corps have 20 years jubilee. We chall play and have much fun. I Came back to your blog later. Have a nice day.

Hugs from Norway

[Melanie]

Thank you! I hope you have a great time in Germany! Asbjorn and I were on your blog the other night! Looks like you are really enjoying all the fabric you bought here! Have a great trip!

[glennis]

melanie-
congrats on the article! a little birdi says i have one coming out too in an upcoming belle armoire...will let you know (sept/oct)
also- thanks for the referral to beads by blanch- nice little ribbon order to go with your upcoming class there in NJ.
i thought of you recently when i was in Japan and was at the Ichiku Kubota Museum. there was a section devoted to his bead collection which was really unique and fascinating.