July 19, 2012 · 7:57 am

Would-be bracelets in a chaotic summer

 

 

I’m quite happy with this simple bracelet design of beach rocks or sea glass with sterling silver tubing. The bracelets are strung on 1mm elastic. When I made a prototype last winter, I was concerned about the elastic rubbing against the edge of the tube and wearing out. I kept the bracelet near the TV and as Bruce and I watched a movie, I would stretch and pull against the metal tube, counting to 100 stretches, and marking it in my sketchbook. I stretched the elastic over 2,000 times, pulling it directly against the edge of the tube at least 80% of those times. No wear and tear. I also wore the bracelet, a lot, doing daily stuff both on and off the island. The design works!

As I set down to make a few of the bracelets for Alone Moose Gallery in Bar Harbor, yesterday, I could NOT find the silver tubes I ordered a few weeks ago. I looked for 2 hours, combing the house, my studio, everywhere I could think of. I had no “picture” in my mind as to where I had put them. I was looking for a package I was sure I had never opened. 20 sterling silver tubes!  I really hate wasting my time looking for something I have misplaced. It seems like the most stupid use of time there ever was. With a sinking feeling I realized I must have thrown them out.

I finished the necklaces to drop off today at Alone Moose, ate dinner, looked one more time for the tubes, and gave in. I ordered more, and set up some rocks to drill so I would be ready when the tubes arrive. As I gathered the glass cups full of rocks I noticed the edge of an invoice with “Fusion Beads” in the corner. My silver tube beads! Unpacked, but never stored in a likely place.

Is it time to clean my studio or what?!

 

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July 12, 2012 · 9:07 pm

Oooh la oui! Bead soup from B!

My “bead soup” package from  B.R. Kuhlman arrived last Friday. Woo hoo!!

I know, I know. That was a whole week ago and I am just getting around to blogging about it. What can I say?  Summer on this little island in Maine gets extremely busy overnight. We go from a population of about 70 people to a summer population that matches the number of participants in this Bead Soup Blog Party. (That’s 400 people if you are just tuning in to the BSBP.)

My partner B sent me an amazing package of goodies!

Among all of this beady goodness is not just one, but two of B’s  gorgeous wire-wrapped pendants. I have no experience in wire wrapping, so I am especially in awe of the talent and time it must take to produce these unique pieces.

The rest of the package includes crystal beads, Czech glass beads, and natural stones like the  smokey quartz briolettes you can see them in the middle of the top photo, just under the pendants. There are also beads of Chinese picture jasper and brecciated jasper. And…

below are some pretty golden pieces of mother-of-pearl:

These Czech glass beads have a sweet little color palette:

I love the organic shapes of these agate rondelles:

The fact that I just took these photos today means that I have not yet started on any of my Bead Soup pieces yet.  But, at the same time as I enjoyed a visit from my son and daughter-in-law, and have been catching up this week with my brother, and have had several dinner guests on several nights,  and finished writing a monthly newspaper column, I have been thinking about all the ways I might use these beads. The soup is simmering… heated by a big candle that is burning at both ends!

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July 4, 2012 · 3:26 pm

Happy 4th of July

On our little island the Neighborhood House Association has been putting on a July 4th picnic since 1976. It’s usually held in the Town Field, looking out across the harbor. The weather doesn’t always cooperate, and when it’s too cold or wet, the activity stays right at the Neighborhood House. Many thanks go to the board members and the volunteers who make this a fun picnic. It’s a chance to catch up with people you haven’t seen since last year and to eat some barbecued chicken,  hot dogs, or lobster.

The decision to keep everything at the Neighborhood House occurred around 10 a.m. when it started to sprinkle.

By noon, when food was served, things were hoppin’.

Most people volunteer for 2 jobs, like making a dessert and serving food. Last night I made cookies and today I helped set up the grills and then cooked 25 lbs of hot dogs. Woo hoo! I might eat two hot dogs all year long, and this picnic is one of those occasions.

 

The demand for hot dogs was steady, so I had little time to take photos. But I did catch our head photographer and raffle caller extraordinaire in his Fourth of July finest.

When I came home, ready to do something quiet, I took a moment to appreciate how nice my perennials look on the 4th of July, regardless of the weather.

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July 3, 2012 · 10:41 pm

West and East

Tonight, after a fabulous dinner at the Islesford Dock Restaurant, this was going on as we walked to get our bikes at the end of the dock:

Meanwhile, on the other side of the island, this was going on:

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July 2, 2012 · 11:23 am

Cooking up some…

…bead soup! This is a sneak peak at what’s in the helping of soup that is about to land on B’s doorstep in Texas. I hope she will like the colors of the sea in the batch of goodies I sent to her. It’s fun to think of beads flying around the world to surprise  the 399 people who signed up for this event! 399! I don’t know how Lori Anderson does it, but she has paired us all up and given us reveal dates to show what we have made with the beads that are headed our way from our BSBP partners. There will be a lot of creative cooking going on in the next few weeks!

If you want to check out the blogs of people in my reveal group just start clicking the links below.

Hostess, Lori Anderson, Pretty Things
Adlinah Kamsir, Dream Struck Designs
Adrienn Lukacs, Raszputyin Designs
Agata Grygiel, Cytherea Bijoux
Alenka Obid, Pepita Handmade
Amy Dickerson, Damyjo Designs
Amy Freeland, Copper Diem
Amy Schmidt, Amy’s Treasure
Amy Severino, Amy Beads
Andrea Trank, Heaven Lane Creations
Anke Humpert, Anart Island Studios
Ann Rishell, My Critical Eye
April Grinaway, Brooklyn Bead Goddess
Ashley Bunting, Miss Ashely Kate
Astrid Boyce, Astrid Boyce Beads
B.R. Kuhlman, Mixed Mayhem Studios
Barbe Saint John, Saints and Sinners
Beata Benkone Meggyesi, Beahobbi
Brenda Sigafoos, Sunshine’s Creations
 Bryna Lumb, Bryna’s Bead Box
Carmen Lau, Little Maketto
Carrie Tahquechi, Carrie T
Cate van Alphen, Fulgorine
Cathie Carroll, Cathie Carroll’s Studio
Cathy Khoury, Touch Jewelry
Christina Stofmeel, Feng Beads
 Collette Collins, Fire Fly Myst Artisan Jewelry
Courtney Breul, Beads by Breul
Crystal Thain, Here Bead Dragons
Cynthia Abner, Created Treasures
Debbie Phenes, Deb Joy Sing
Dhea Powers, Java Bead
Diana Welte, Lilyweeds
Dita Basu, alankarshilpa
Dorota Zeranska, gdymamczas
Elisabeth Auld, Beads For Busy Gals
Ema Kilroy, Ema K Designs
Emma Todd, A Polymer Penchant
Eva Sherman, Eva Sherman Designs
Evie and Beth McCord, EB Bead and Metal Works
Francy Inman, Francy’s Studio
Ginger Bishop, lilmummy likes…
Giorgia Rossini, Jo in Wonderland
Hajer Waheed, My Beaded World
Ine Vande Cappelle, Jewels by Ine
Iveth Caruso, Creative Atelier
Jackie Ryan, Kydo Jewellery
Jeannie Dukic, Jeannie’s Blog
Jelveh Jaferian, Jelveh Designs
Jenna Tomalka, Twin Birch Studio
Jenni Connolly, Jenni’s Beads
Jennifer Van Horn, Jennifers Jewels and Junk
Jo-Ann Woolverton, It’s a Beadiful Creation
Johanna Rhodes-Nash, Fire Phoenix Creations
 Joyce Blair, Bent Wire West Coast
JuLee Wolfe, The Polymer Penguin
Karen Vincent, Swallow Tail Jewellery
Karin Slaton, Backstory Beads
Kim Dworak, CianciBlue
Kris Lanae Binsfeld, Cherish Designs by Kris Lanae
Kristen Latimer, MJM Jewelry Designs
Kumi Fisher, Malie Kai Designs
Kym Hunter, Kym Hunter Designs
Laurie Lalonde, HourGlass Studio
Lennis Carrier, Windbent
Leslie Wayment, AA Beads & More
Linda Murphy, Bonita Bead
Lisa Johnson, Whimsey Wonders
Lisa Sittniewski, Love, Yesterdays
Lola Surwillo, Bead Lola Bead
Lorelei Eurto, Lorelei’s Blog
Lori Bowring Michaud, Artfully Ornamental
Lori Finney, Using My Beads
Maria Horvath, Horimarika Beads
Marian Hertzog, M’s Place
 Mary Ellen Parker, BeeTree by m.e.
Mary K McGraw, MK’s Creative Musings
MaryLou Holvenstot, time2cre8
Martha Aleo, Ornamento
 Maybeline Tay, The Jewelry Larder
Megan Collins, Churchy & Her Sailor
Melissa Meman, Art. Life. Love.
Melissa Mesara, One-Eared Pig Beads
Paige Maxim, Paige Maxim Designs
Pam Farren, re-maker
Pam Hurst, Pam Hurst Designs
Patricia Handschuh, The Color of Dreams
Patty Miller, CabariBeads
Penney Klapoth, Faerie Acres
Regina Santerre, Regina’s Writings
Rhea Freitag, starrgazer creates
Toltec Jewels, Jewel School Friends
Rochelle Brisson, A Creative Chelle
Saari Margareta, Mags-koruja
Sabine Dittrich, PerlenDschungel
Sandra McGriff, Creative Chaos
Sandra Neights, Petalo Azul
Sandra Young, It’s a Bead Life!
Sara Oehler, SoftFlex Girl
Sarah Goode, Pookledo
Saturday Sequins, Saturday Sequins
Shanti Johnson, Sunshine Bliss
Shari Replogle, Plays With Paper
Sonya Stille, Dreamin’ of Beads
Stefanie Teufel, Stefanies Sammelsurium
Tammie Everly, TTE Designs
Tania Spivey, Moobie Grace Designs
Terri Gauthier, Blooming Ideas
Therese Frank, Therese’s Treasures
Tina Holden, Polymer Clay Bytes!
Tracey Nanstad, A Beadiful Mess
Tracy Choy, BumbleBeads Designs
Valerie Norton, Hot Art

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June 29, 2012 · 10:31 pm

More new work at Winters Work

I dropped off a bunch of pieces at Winters Work this afternoon. Below are a few of my new pieces at Sue’s great little shop on the dock.

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June 28, 2012 · 11:19 am

“Bring the nuns!”

My friend Miklos stopped by yesterday to borrow my sewing machine. As he was leaving we were startled by a huge beetle on my front porch.

I mean, he was reallyreally big!

Miklos is an artist who has taught me never to go anywhere without my camera.

I’d like to add to that. Never go anywhere without your camera and some kind of prop in your pocket. As I raced inside to get my camera, Miklos called, “Where are your nuns? Bring the nuns!”

They were exactly what we needed for this situation.

Once I identified the bug with the help of Google, I called the state entomologist to see if it was an invasive species and if I needed to do anything about it. (Like kill it and send it somewhere. Yeesh. I was hoping to avoid that.) He asked if we had a  lot of pine or spruce trees around and said that they like to hang out near those. “They’re kind of big and scary, but they’re harmless. It’s the longhorn beetles that are very shiny that we have to worry about.”

Still, I was glad to have some nuns on hand.

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June 26, 2012 · 8:55 pm

Yes, this really was my commute today

After a very rainy morning, and semi-rainy afternoon, the sun started to come out for the ride home on the 4 o’clock boat. As we left Northeast Harbor behind us, I could actually feel a drop in the stress level among the passengers. A deep breath and then aaaaahhhhhh. We were headed home to Great Cranberry and Islesford, having survived another day on the mainland.

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June 25, 2012 · 11:12 pm

Something new to me

I signed up for the 8/11 reveal and just learned that my Bead Soup partner is B.R. Kuhlman of Mixed Mayhem Studios. Some of her cool pieces are below:

   

B has participated in the Bead Soup Blog Party  3 other times and she tells me it’s a blast. The rule is to send your partner an unusual clasp and focal bead. They don’t have to be made by you but they should be nice ones like you would like to receive yourself as a cool surprise! You also add other beads to be used with the focal and clasp in a piece or pieces to be made by your BSBP Partner.  Your partner doesn’t have to use all the beads you send, but she gets to keep them, and vice versa.

As I got back to work today, I kept putting little bits and pieces aside to send to B by the end of the week. Some of them will be metal clay pieces I’ve made. Other will be some special beads I have in my stash. It gives me a new way of looking at my same old same old stash. Suddenly it has brightness and energy again. There is new life in looking to send something you hope will really please your partner. I can’t wait to see what you do with the batch I send to you B! (Though we’ll have to wait until August 11….)

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June 25, 2012 · 10:25 am

Home from Vermont…

…and ready to get crackin’! I’m headed right into a studio Monday before I go off island again tomorrow to see my Mom. This would be a good time to think about realistic expectations for the day. There are so many things I want to get done, and there is no way to fit them all into one day.

One of the first things I’ll do is look around the house for an old camera to use until mine gets back here. I actually left it behind in Vermont yesterday! That’s a first for me. Thank you to Henry or Zoe or whoever retrieved my camera and put it in a shipping envelope. I feel lost without it for even just a day.

Something made me download a few photos before we packed up and headed to brunch yesterday morning. (Brunch is where my camera decided to stay longer than I did.) So, here are a few of my highlights of the wedding of Simon Isaacs and Liza Lowinger:

(Actually the photo above was taken by the groom’s sister, Olive Isaacs. I nabbed it off her FB page. What a beautiful couple in a beautiful setting, eh?)

Idyllic flower girls.

Bruce hangs out with some cool dudes as we wait for the bus to give us a ride to the Barnard Inn for the wedding.

Good and happy friends. (And an amazing step-mom!)

Mainers!

Amazing mix of flower and vegetable centerpieces on the tables.

Who invited the cow? (We must be in Vermont)

The food was incredible!!

Bruce shows Henry how real men wear pashminas. Henry takes a photo to remember how to tie it.

After fried clams at Day’s Seafood in Yarmouth, on the way home, I realized I had left my camera behind. Luckily, Cynthia had her iPhone for the requisite photo op:

What a fun weekend, and what an incredibly lucky person I am to live in a place where coming home is the best part of every trip.

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