The Lone Beader

RED is more than a color

noreply@blogger.com (The Lone Beader) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 05:30:00 +0000

Today, I have some exciting news to report! My beaded fire truck, Engine Co. 6, has been juried into the Cambridge Art Association's current art exhibit, RED: It's more than a color! This show was juried by Carl Belz, Director Emeritus, Rose Art Museum at Brandeis University. Works in all mediums will be shown, including beadwork! If you happen to be in the Boston area in the next few months, please stop by and take a peek!

You're invited to attend:

RED: It's more than a color.
Presented by the Cambridge Art Association.

EXHIBIT DATES: November 10, 2009 - January 14, 2010

RECEPTION:
Friday, November 20, 6-8pm in both galleries:
Kathryn Schultz Gallery, 25 Lowell St. Cambridge, MA.
University Place Gallery, 124 Mt. Auburn St., Cambridge MA.
Just a short walk from Harvard Sq. T stop!
Awards: 7pm at University Place.

ADMISSION: Wear at least one red item!! :)

Most works will be available for sale. Please check the Cambridge Art Association's website for more details! Thanks for your interest in my beadwork, and I hope to see you there! :)

Washers for Wheels

noreply@blogger.com (The Lone Beader) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:10:00 +0000

Last night, I worked on the wheels for my beaded M1 Abrams military tank. I really liked the washers that I had shown previously because they were the perfect size for the piece, so I decided to just bead right over them using lazy stitch.

I am using tiny size 15 seed beads, so it is taking awhile. Also, due to the weight of the hardware, I must stitch through each row of beads twice to make sure the washer is secure.

Semi-beaded M1 Abrams main battle tank. Bead embroidery on f elt.
17" wide x 5.5" tall (40 x 13cm)

You're probably wondering about the colour of the wheels. Real military tanks have no metal showing - they are painted almost entirely in camo colours, but since this is art, not an exact replica, and I want this piece to look a bit edgy. I really like the look of seed beads over metal. I am hoping it will remind the viewer of the power of the vehicle itself even though mine is made mostly from tiny glass seed beads. Guess I won't know exactly how it will look until I'm completely finished, so I'd better get back to beading! :D

Beaded Tank Moves Forward

noreply@blogger.com (The Lone Beader) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:05:00 +0000

Semi-beaded M1 Abrams main battle tank. Bead embroidery on f elt.

17" wide x 5.5" tall (40 x 13cm)

Here is a quick look at my semi-beaded M1 Abrams main battle tank. Using mostly size 15 Japanese seed beads, I finally finished beading the first layer of the tank. I am now ready to move on to the wheels and undercarriage of the military vehicle. My plan is to 'finish' beading the entire tank before I go back to add details. How do you think it looks so far?

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Seed Bead Shopping in NYC

noreply@blogger.com (The Lone Beader) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:45:00 +0000

It's amazing to me how fast time flies! My weekend in New York City went by so quickly, but it was so much fun!! My sister and I went to the Kandinsky exhibit at the Guggenheim on Friday (fascinating) , and the Statue of Liberty on Saturday. Then, we went to see Jersey Boys on Saturday night (fantastic!). And, finally, on Sunday, I went bead shopping! :)

Since I only had a few hours for bead shopping, I didn't get the chance to go everywhere I wanted. Also, since it was Sunday, several shops weren't even open. But, I did happen to find two great shops that were open. The first was Toho Shoji located at the edge of the Garment District on 990 Sixth Avenue.

In addition to their New York location, Toho Shoji also has several shops in Japan and two shops in China. They carry Japanese seed beads in both large and small quantities, as well as an acrylic & metal beads, crystals, sequins, and an abundance of findings to make just about anything your heart desires.

I was a little overwhelmed with the selection here - it was much like bead heaven! (Boston could use a bead shop like this!)

This shop sells retail & wholesale, and their prices are very reasonable!

I found some Matsuno size 12/o seed beads (which my local bead shops do not carry), and I also picked up a few boxes of Deli cas.

The next shop I visited was Beads World located on 1384 Broadway between 37th & 38th Street.

I thought I had seen it all when I went to Toho Shoji, but I was even more impressed with Beads World. They have quite an assortment of seed beads available in every colour of the rainbow!

I enjoyed Beads World because they also sold tiny size 15 Japanese seed beads in large quantities. They were a little hard to find because they were mixed in with the size 12s, but they are there. There are also many packages of seed beads which originate in Hong Kong. I normally will not buy Chinese beads because they are generally poor quality, but these seemed to be different. I picked up one package of gray beads just to try them out. I also found some fascinating 1x 4mm bugle beads in black and white. (I had never seen bugle beads that small before in my life!) I also found some cool metal beads which I hope to use on my beaded cars & vehicles at some point.

Beads World also had excellent service. They were very happy to help my find what I needed, and the store clerk told me that they also do mail orders! Just email them with product code and the quantity that you desire, and they will be happy to ship to you! I might just take them up on that offer! :) That's all for now. Can't wait until my next trip to NYC. There are many more bead shops there to explore! Which shop is your favourite?? :)

Beadwork Never Sleeps

noreply@blogger.com (The Lone Beader) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:15:00 +0000

I'm taking a short break from beading & blogging for the next couple of days because I'm going to New York City with my sister! We plan to check out the Guggenheim, attend a Broadway show, go to the Statue of Liberty, and maybe do a little bead shopping along the way! Of course, it wouldn't seem right if I didn't bring some beadwork to do, so I packed the above small project to work on at the hotel or on the train! Please follow me on Facebook or Twitter to see what I'm up to! Have a great weekend! :)

Never Forget

noreply@blogger.com (The Lone Beader) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:10:00 +0000

With 55 lives lost, October now holds the record for being the deadliest month for U.S. military in Afghanistan since this 8-year war began. This post is in memory of the all the servicemen who gave their lives for this country. They will not be forgotten.

Semi-beaded M1 Abrams main battle tank. Bead embroidery on f elt.
17" wide x 5.5" tall (40 x 13cm)

Abigail in Perspective

noreply@blogger.com (The Lone Beader) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 05:05:00 +0000

Today, just a quick reminder.. You're invited to an art exhibit of works that were inspired by Abigail Adams, including my beaded portrait, 21st Century Abby! Abigail in Perspective is a visual arts competition presented by the Quincy Art Association & the Quincy Historical Society. Many works on display will be available for sale.

21st Century Abby. 12" x 12".
Bead embroidery on felt, collage, acrylics.

Abigail in Perspective
Quincy Historical Society
8 Adams Street
Quincy MA 02169

October 26, 2009 - January 8, 2010
Monday - Friday, 10am - 4pm

Artist reception takes place on Abigail's birthday, Nov. 11 from 7-9pm.

View Larger Map

If you happen to be in the Greater Boston/Quincy area anytime soon, please stop by & take a peek! Thank you for your interest! :)

Cut it Out

noreply@blogger.com (The Lone Beader) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 12:05:00 +0000

Semi-beaded M1 Abrams main battle tank. Bead embroidery on f elt.
17" wide x 5.5" tall (40 x 13cm)

The other day, I got an email from a new reader who noticed that I cut out my felt shapes before I bead them. She asked " Wouldn't it be easier to work if you beaded the shape first on a larger piece of felt, THEN carefully cut it out? You'd be able to hold on to it more easily, and it would be lots easier to bead the edges. "

I know that plenty of beaders work this way, and I have tried that before, but I have found it is easier for me to work in the opposite manner. Since my pieces are so larger, it is much easier for me to work if there is no excess material, and it is actually easier for me to bead the edges of the felt if it is already cut out. Also, I would be afraid to try to cut out an odd shape such as a beaded military tank after it is beaded. What if I accidentally cut a thread that I can't see?? Then, all of my work would fall apart! So, I guess there is a method to my madness, afterall. Which method would you prefer?

Half-Beaded Military Tank

noreply@blogger.com (The Lone Beader) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 04:15:00 +0000

Semi-beaded M1 Abrams main battle tank. Bead embroidery on f elt.
17" wide x 5.5" tall (40 x 13cm)

After many hours of stitching seed beads to felt, I think I finally finished half of my beaded tank! Now, on to the next phase... Will it be the wheels or the rest of the vehicle?? And should those parts be camouflage print or not?? I guess only time will tell! :D

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Buttons, Buttons, No Buttons

noreply@blogger.com (The Lone Beader) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 05:45:00 +0000

The other day, I was reading the comments on my Facebook page and noticed that someone suggested using buttons for the wheels of my beaded M1 Abrams main battle tank. I thought that was a great idea, so yesterday, I went to Windsor Button in downtown Boston.

I looked at almost every button they had (they have many!). I almost bought a set, but then, at the last minute, I decided not to. I don't know why. Maybe it was because the buttons I liked were actually plastic instead of metal, or maybe it was because they were pricey, or both!

So, disappointed, I came home & just kept beading my tank.

Semi-beaded M1 Abrams main battle tank. Bead embroidery on f elt.
17" wide x 5.5" tall (40 x 13cm)

Now, I don't know what to use for the wheels...
Maybe I'll just make beaded ones!! :o

Digitized Beaded Camo Print

noreply@blogger.com (The Lone Beader) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 13:04:00 +0000

The other day, Allison commented on my last military post. She said (when I am finished creating this M1 Abrams main battle tank), my beadwork will "unfortunately look like the new digitized camo print... " I hope she's right- I want it to look like that! You can see a sample of the digitized camo HERE. Now look at a close up of my beadwork - do you think it looks similar?

If I were going for one of the old style camouflage prints, I would stitch in completely different directions, but since I want it to look like the new camo, I am stitching in straight lines. The one thing that is making it difficult is that I am using 2 different size seed beads - 15/o and 11/o. So, the beaded lines aren't exactly perfect... :o

Semi-beaded M1 Abrams main battle tank.

17" wide x 5.5" tall (40 x 13cm)

I still don't know what I'm going to do for the wheels & undercarriage of the tank, so I put a set of metal washers there to give you an idea of how it might look. They seem to fit perfectly, though! How do you think it looks so far? And, what do you think I should use for the wheels??

Another Beaded Old English Sheepdog - Finished!

noreply@blogger.com (The Lone Beader) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:21:00 +0000

Rachel. Beaded Old English Sheepdog pin/pendant.
Bead embroidery on felt. 2.5" x 1.25" (6 x 3cm)

Thanks for all your comments on my last post, and thanks for the birthday wishes, too! Since some of you have requested to see my finished sheepdog pin, here she is! I estimate that this piece took approx. 10 hours to create since she requires very tiny size 15 glass seed beads! But, I think the extra effort is worth the results. This sheepdog is now listed in my Etsy shop! (Please click the pic for more photos!) I still have another one to finish, but I think I'll take a break and get back to working on my beaded military tank first. So many things to bead, so little time! :o

Beaded Old English Sheepdog Factory

noreply@blogger.com (The Lone Beader) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 04:01:00 +0000

Rachel. Semi-beaded Old English Sheepdog pin/pendants.
Bead embroidery on felt. 2.5" x 1" (6.5 x 3cm)

Here's what I'm working on during this long weekend. Two more beaded Old English Sheepdog pins! My beaded sheepdogs are my best-selling item, so I feel I always need to have at least one completed! I don't usually make 2 pieces at once like this, but I received a custom order request from the owner of The Divas pet portrait. She wants to start collecting my beaded pins! So, when I am finished, one will be reserved for my best customer, and the other will be listed in my Etsy shop. (Look for Rachel in my shop within a day or two!) And, speaking of custom orders, I also added a listing in my Etsy shop for commissioned pin/pendants. I love to create dogs and cats, but could also create beaded horses, parrots, fish, potbelly pigs or any other animal you may love. :)

Other plans for today include celebrating my birthday by going to the MFA's Fall Open House! That's all for now. Hope you are having a wonderful Columbus Day weekend! :)

Camoflauge Seed Beads

noreply@blogger.com (The Lone Beader) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 12:30:00 +0000

People always ask me where I get my beads. The truth is, I get my beads anywhere I can! I do have my favourite shops, but I don't shop exclusively at any one place because every shop carries something different. Yesterday, I went to my local bead shop in Scituate Harbor, MA - Beaucoup Beads. I picked up 3 new colours. Check out the beads in the tubes below:

I got Miyuki 15/o and 11/o Matte Opaque Olive, 15/o Dyed Opaque Olive, and 15/o Sparkling Lined Sand Dune Mix (my new favourite colour!). Also, in the photo is a bag of a lighter shade of 15/o olive-coloured seed beads that I got from Beadworks in Boston, 15/o Toho Brown Lined Light Green from Artbeads.com, and 11/o Matte Olive Green I got from Fire Mountain Gems! These colours are very close to the colours U.S. soldiers wear in Afghanistan.

I am starting by stitching beads to one of the felt layers of my M1 Abrams tank. In real life, these military tanks are usually only one colour, like sand, but I think it will look more interesting in camoflauge print! What do you think? :D

Semi-beaded M1 Abrams main battle tank.

16" wide x 5.5" tall (40 x 13cm)

8-Layered Tank

noreply@blogger.com (The Lone Beader) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 13:23:00 +0000

Last night, I finished cutting out the felt foundation for my beaded M1 Abrams main battle tank. There are 13 felt pieces total.

Now stitched together, my tank is 8 layers thick (3/4"), measuring 16" wide x 5.5" tall (40 x 13cm).

Now, I can finally start picking out some seed beads & parts for wheels! What colour do you think it should be?

Beading a Jack O'Lantern

noreply@blogger.com (The Lone Beader) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 09:45:00 +0000

Thanks for all your comments on my last post. I liked the idea of earrings, but I finally decided to turn my set of beaded pumpkins into metal-free buttons! You can see more photos of them HERE. And, I guess I'm in a Halloween mood! Either that or I was too lazy to put away my orange seed beads because yesterday, I worked on a beaded Jack O'Lantern!

First, I cut out some felt. Then, I stitched on his face using size 15 black seed beads.

Then, after quite a few stitches and a few hours later, he is (almost) complete!

Something made me stitch beads in all different directions, and I really like how it looks. Kinda makes him look even scarier! He is larger than my last set of beaded pumpkins (1"), so I think he will be a pin. Now, all I have to do is add a pinback & some Ultrasuede! Look for him in The Lone Beader's Gallery Shop! :)

Beaded Pumpkin Buttons or Earrings?

noreply@blogger.com (The Lone Beader) — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 03:25:00 +0000

I am trying to get back on my regular schedule of making Etsy items on the weekends. Today, I made two small orange beaded pumpkins! I used 5 different shades of orange and brown seed beads. The pumpkins measure about 3/4" (2cm). I will list them in my Etsy shop today as soon as I figure out what they should be! Do you think they should be buttons, earrings, or appliques? If I can't decide, I will list them as 'Your Choice'... Next, maybe I'll make a beaded Jack o'Lantern! :D

Designing a Felt Tank

noreply@blogger.com (The Lone Beader) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 05:25:00 +0000

On my last post, Bluebirdcrafts mentioned that she works for the company that builds these M1 Abrams military tanks.

Very cool, but I bet they don't build 'em like I do! ;)

And, as soon as I figure out how I'm going to build my beaded tank, I will let you know! ;)

Back to cutting out felt! :D

Sketch of a Tank

noreply@blogger.com (The Lone Beader) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 17:15:00 +0000

Here is a quick sketch of what will hopefully be my next beaded subject. An M1 Abrams main battle tank. This is the principal battle tank for the United States Army & Marine Corps., as well as armies in Egypt, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia. It probably seems like an odd vehicle to bead, but I think it is most appropriate this year. Perhaps beads will help make this subject sparkle...
What do you think?

Book, Exhibit & Treasury News

noreply@blogger.com (The Lone Beader) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 17:00:00 +0000

Just a few quick news updates today. First, I would like to announce that my current exhibit, Under the Microscope at Bead + Fiber Gallery, has been extended for one more week - through Oct. 4! If you haven't had the chance to stop by & view my beaded paintings up close, you still have a few more days! Bead + Fiber Gallery is located at 460 Harrison Ave., Boston, MA. SoWa First Friday is on October 2 from 5-9pm! Please see gallery's website HERE for hours and location.

Second, my beaded Airedale Terrier pin/pendant has just been featured in this Etsy Treasury curated by TwirledTreasures! Click the pic to view treasury page. I am honoured! :)

And, third, my latest publication, Great Dogs Amazing Artists - Canine Art Today, is now available for sale on Amazon.com! If you missed it, you can see a sneak peek HERE. That's the news for now! Back to planning my next piece. :)

Cat Got My Beads!

noreply@blogger.com (The Lone Beader) — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 21:45:00 +0000

Since I just finished a bead-painting, I thought it was time to make a new item for my Etsy shop - a beaded black cat! :)

Inspired by a photo I saw on Faz the Cat's blog, I cut out a few pieces of felt and stitched them together. First, I started with green eyes, then I stitched several different black seed beads onto the felt. I used the backstitch technique. Since most of the beads are size 15 Japanese seed beads, this little project required many stitches!

One day & several hours later, I finally completed my black cat named Onyx. :)

Onyx beaded black cat pin/pendant. 1" x 2.25".
Bead embroidery on felt.

This piece is now available for sale in my Etsy shop. (Click the above pic to view listing.) It is both a pin and a pendant which can be worn on a necklace! I think Onyx will definitely make a statement at any Halloween party! Just don't let her cross your path! ;)

21st Century Abby

noreply@blogger.com (The Lone Beader) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 01:00:00 +0000

Today, I finished my beaded portrait of Abigail Adams. Abigail was the wife of John Adams, the 2nd President of the United States of America, and mother of John Quincy Adams, the 6th.
Here is a closer look:

After I completed the beadwork, I added a wire support to the back of her face. Then, I stitched the piece to my painted canvas. Now, it really does look like a mask! One side of the face looks to be suspended in mid-air! Then, of course, I stitched a few Swarovski Crystal stars onto her hair.

The title of my piece is 21st Century Abby. Abigail is sort of a historical pop icon in my home city of Quincy. She is remembered because she was modern, bold, insightful, and her ideas were very advanced for a woman of the late 1700's. I wonder... what are Abby's hopes & dreams for American citizens today? And, what are her visions for us for tomorrow? My guess is that her ideas would be very similar to what they were 200 years ago. Even though much has changed since then, there is still so much more work to be done...

21st Century Abby. 12" x 12".
Bead embroidery on felt, collage, acrylics.

This piece is my entry for the upcoming visual arts competition, Abigail in Perspective presented by the Quincy Art Association and the Quincy Historical Society. Exhibit dates are Oct. 26, 2009 - Jan. 8, 2010 (Mon. - Fri. 10am - 4pm) at the Quincy Historical Society. Reception is on Abigail's birthday, Nov. 11 from 7-9pm... Mark your calendars! :D

50 Etsy Items

noreply@blogger.com (The Lone Beader) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 05:21:00 +0000

If you've been following me on Twitter, you'll know that I have been pretty busy over the past few days! I haven't had much time for my artwork, but I did have time to list 2 of my small beaded paintings on Etsy - Rufous Hummingbird & Tufted Titmouse & Berries. I am also proud to finally have 50 items listed in my Etsy shop! Some are beading books & magazine back issues, but it is still an accomplishment for me. Also, I do plan on adding more items to my shop in the coming weeks. I hope you'll check back to see! :D

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade
thelonebeader.etsy.com

Now, back to my beaded Abigail Adams portrait! :)

Beaded Abigail Lives On

noreply@blogger.com (The Lone Beader) — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 19:15:00 +0000

I'm a little nervous about this, probably because it is unlike anything I have ever done before, but here is the progress of my beaded Abigail Adams portrait:

Beaded Abigail Adams portrait in progress. 12" x 12".
Bead embroidery on felt, collage, acrylics.

None of the beadwork is stitched to the canvas yet, because I'm not sure if I'm finished with my painting yet. So far, I did a little collage work and painted her hair blue. I didn't think about it in advance, I just sort of did it. Now that I look at her hair, it kind of reminds me of the American Flag as it flows freely, so I am thinking to add the few Swarovski crystal stars that I recently ordered from Artbeads.com... How do you think they look?

My collage is made of newspaper clippings of all the old buildings & landmarks around Quincy, MA. and Abigail's headpiece is an image of the arch at the top of the cemetery gate at the old burying ground. It reads "This Mortal Shall Put On Immortality". It's true - Abigail Adams' spirit will forever live on in Quincy. :)

Great Dogs - Amazing Artists

noreply@blogger.com (The Lone Beader) — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 12:30:00 +0000

Today, I have some exciting news! Two of my pieces have been published in a new book called Great Dogs Amazing Artists - Canine Art Today. The author, Jan Irving, invited me to participate in this project several months ago. Jan is the editor & publisher of both Clumbers Magazine and Canine Collectables Courier, so I am honoured that she chose my beadwork!

The book features artists from around the world working in all mediums. There are also notes about the artistry, as well as the breed of dogs themselves and how they inspire art. In addition, you will find information about several dog-loving organizations and other doggie publications. Overall, it is a beautiful book that is sure to inspire the animal lover in everyone. Here's a sneak peek - click the pics to enlarge:

You can learn more about this book & the artists who were chosen for the project HERE. If you are interested in purchasing a copy, you can buy directly from the printer on Createspace.com, and you can also purchase it on Amazon.com! Enjoy! :)