Rachel Nelson-Smith • master beadworks

Fan Beadwork

2011-10-27T15:25:00.000-07:00

Beadwork by Andrea Mangold of Munich, Germany

Beadwork by Christine Dittrich

Its Phraseology from Bead Riffs!

Beaders Andrea Mangold in Munich, Germany and Christine Dittrich whose blog I happened across the other day have made the Phraseology from my new book Bead Riffs (Lark, 2011). It is always a treat to see what fellow beaders do with my designs.

Thanks goes to Andrea and Christine for the time and energy to make these pieces and to share them with us!

Open Studios 2011

2011-10-17T18:19:00.000-07:00

It was a fantastic two weekends of Santa Cruz Open Studios here at the 17th Avenue Studios. 2011 marked the 3rd year I have participated in this annual event and the first year to show my work at 17th Avenue with 15 other artists. Victoria Smith, my mother-in-law was Front Woman showing the work in the front cases and I demonstrated beadweaving in the studio proper. On Saturday, October 15th Frankie Brower and Robert Jan Ridder photographed the studio and visitors. Below, are some of the moments they captured.

Opening My Studio : Next Two Weekends

2011-10-02T20:41:00.000-07:00

Through the great efforts of the Santa Cruz Cultural Council and thankfully being accepted to this fantastic event, my studio is included in the 2011 Open Studios Tour in Santa Cruz, California on the weekends of October 8th and 9th and on the 15th and 16th. Since my studio is included in the 17th Avenue Studios there are 15 other artist studios that will be open for visiting. The artists are Carol Bowie, Carolina McCall, Pat M.-Towery, Susan Hancey, Sefla Joseph, Carin Elise Camblin, Michelle Indiana Anderson, Ronna Schulkin, Daria Salus, Jane Harlow, and 5 others.

This year I am particularly thankful for getting onto the tour as applications were more heavily scrutinized by an outside jury of Bay Area gallery and museum curators. There will be many of my large work on display as well as some new work including torso pendant necklaces. Both my books Seed Bead Fusion and Bead Riffs will also be available and I will autograph them.

I hope you will join me.

Here is the exact location map.

Or, look it up yer own darn self!
Artist #175
980 17th Avenue
Santa Cruz, California
(Google Map)

Warm California Welcome

2011-09-27T12:34:00.001-07:00

In 20 days of travel we visited family and friends and innumerable museums, performances, restaurants and public transit stations—celebrating my husband’s cousin's wedding and our 6th wedding anniversary along the way. It was an incredible trip and I’m overjoyed to be home. Santa Cruz, California welcomed us back with open arms taking the form of a 4-mile walk to a Zachary’s breakfast beneath a beautiful clear sky through Neary Lagoon and along West Cliff. East Coast, I love you. West Coast, I love you more.

-- Posted From My iPhone

Location:Santa Cruz,United States

2011-09-17T22:31:00.001-07:00

Lastnight Friday was Day 10 of our East Coast trip and we arrived by train from Boston to the Newark, New Jersey Penn Station. We got on Path and were with our friends Helen and Kiki in no time enjoying their hospitality over glasses of wine. Helen is Program Chair for Bead Society of Greater New York and hired me to speak to the group in the past.

After visiting this morning the four of us headed to the New York Botanic Garden in the Bronx. On the way home they dropped us off on near brightly lit Times Square where we got TKTS tickets to the 8pm Chicago the Musical in the Ambasador Theater built in 1921—then we were off the have Thai dinner before the show. We used Yelp to find Room Service. Yes, that was the name of the swift and tasty restaurant—Room Service! I had a tasty and effective passion fruit mojito. After dinner we headed to the theater just around the corner. The performance was very entertaining. Afterwards we headed to the 33th at 6th Path station and stopped into Bryant Park on the way to walk around the lawn and pause for a photograph.

Tomorrow will be another adventure to look forward to.

Colin and Helen in the kitchen doorway

Beans Kiki gave me from the garden

Pretty botanic garden plant

Bambusa vulgaris

Pretty botanic scene

Botanic pond

Kiki, Colin and Helen at the Orchid Rotunda

At Room Service enjoying Thai food on 9th at 47th

Stopping in Bryant Park
-- Posted From My iPhone

Location:Day 10: Gardens & Broadway

Acknowledgement Series • Part I

2011-08-30T20:42:00.000-07:00

As an author I have had the opportunity to thank those who contributed to my success in undeniable print. In this series, the contributions of all the individuals named in Bead Riffs will be discussed along with anecdotes and possible additional lauds. The first installment in this series will begin with the book dedication from page 5 of Rachel Nelson-Smith’s Bead Riffs.

Mitchell Wayne Pruiett, to whom the book is dedicated, was an outstanding man whose belief in me was intense. He said, “well done is better than well said.” He first had lunch with my mother on a Valentine’s Day many years ago when they worked at FMC in San Jose, California and almost immediately took her and her two children into his Tracy, California home to live, and to stay. Before that, he already had a long and interesting story. He grew up in Michigan and played basketball on the award-winning Benton Harbor High School team. And, he played football as #60 for Michigan State in 1965, 1966, and 1967 coached by beloved Duffy Dougherty. He still ranks in top PAT kick made on the Michigan State Official Athletics Site. Upon graduating he played one season for the Chicago Bears. Along the way he made friends with the likes of Bubba Smith (Police Academy) and Ernie Hudson (Law & Order, Ghostbusters, Deparate Housewives), Robert Apisa (Hawaii 5-0, Baywatch, Magnum, P.I.), Charlie Wedemeyer, Ron Ranieri, and Butch Main who would later be the colorful characters of stories from his younger days. As we grew up with Mitch as step-father to my brother Joel and I, his past accomplishments presented opportunities to visit Michigan for significant Michigan State football games, award ceremonies, reunions and once even to Pasadena, California for the 1988 and a triumphant win.

Mother’s Day 2002

He was a dedicated father to us though separated by a previously unshared history, he was family and was open to teaching us every last thing he had learned. He was also dedicated to two daughters, Colleen and Michelle, from his first marriage, but that was complicated. He shared with them just as much as with us as often as he could. It was on the front lawn of his Tracy home where we first watched him front and back flip around the yard. With the mist of the past I can now view with awe the athletic man in his late-30s flipping over the grass. He taught us to throw and catch and hit baseballs and how to play tennis and to play racquetball and to swim. He taught us what good sportsmanship was and how to have fun in the park on the 4th of July. He was a never-ending fountain of athletic and good-natured insight which was imparted to us as often by example as by exhortation.

Walking me down the aisle in 2005.

Physical challenges would prove to be among the greatest difficulties of his life. With early onset of diabetes brought on by exposure to Agent Orange as a helicopter plot in Vietnam, he was ultimately determined to be over 200% disabled by Veteran’s Administration with minimized eyesight, loss of his right leg below the knee, and two heart attacks the last of which cost us his presence in early 2009. The last time I saw him was as he and my mother went home early from Christmas Dinner after injuring his hand, but only after staying long enough to sample the tasty Yule Log—he always had such a sweet tooth.

Bead It Tonight

2011-08-05T12:39:00.000-07:00

A bead shop in downtown Santa Cruz, California is where it all began for me 18 years ago and I return there tonight for the First Friday August Wine Walk and Bead It's 24th Anniversary. I will be present with several notable pieces and will speak with the public as work on a large-scale collaboration piece with glass beadmaker Patty Lakinsmith nears completion. The neckpiece is a narrative on the Housing Bubble and depicts symbols from the disaster.

Bead It was the haven for me as I struggled to find my way in life and find that which would be my vehicle of contribution to the world. Little did I know what affect that 3-year working stint would have on my life--really any moment--but, that time in particular. All basic bead jewelry assembly skills were passed to me through a collection of teachers and I found an obsession which would envelope me so comfortably, so warmly, so willingly, I would never be let go.

Details:
Bead It
First Friday & August Wine Walk
Patty Lakinsmith

Driving for Good Theater

2011-07-28T11:28:00.001-07:00

Tomorrow Colin and I will drive 400 miles to witness three incredible theatrical productions by the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Oregon—over 800 miles all told. The great Angus Bowmer Theater will reopen following our departure with the schedule performance of August: Osage County held in the nearby interim location of Lithia Park. Recalling the Angus Bowmer injects me into memories of sitting in the audience of Chekov’s Cherry Orchard and Dietz’ God’s Country many years ago. The performances affected me then even as a teenager and taught me what exceptional theater is. God’s Country with its confrontation of white supremacy helmer by actor Remi Sandri was particularly impressive upon me and I’m brought to tears in remembrance and anticipation. We never saw the scheduled Henry V due to rain in which fellow students Nicole Hale, Emerson Murray and I, and our English teacher Mr. Harris laughed so hard watching the actors peek out from velvet curtains into the Elizabethan constructs of the Black Swan. I look forward to the rollercoaster awaiting Colin and I beginning Saturday evening.

-- Posted From My iPhone

Singing With My Sisters

2011-06-21T15:45:00.000-07:00

Returning to the studio from lunch I ran into Sefla Joseph and two of her painting students. One student, having briefly toured my studio before I left, ejaculated she knew me from the Santa Cruz Jazz Society jam sessions back when they were held at Java House—now Cypress Lounge. I asked her name. She said, “Donna. Do you remember me?” Honestly, I did not and I wanted to explain that was just a snooty jazz singer. But, I didn’t. We stared at one another with Sefla and the other student looking on. “Let’s sing a harmony,” she said. I stared at her so stricken with her order and yet grasping for a song we could sing that I completely forgot my No Harmony Singing agenda. “Let’s sing Autumn Leaves,” I said, paused and began. It wasn’t bad, I was singing it in the shower this morning in French. I could hear the other ladies joining in but I looked directly at Donna. At the end she said, “let’s sing another one.” We sang Summertime with her on the melody and me on the harmony and I was transported to New Orleans to my own funeral creeping past Preservation Hall on Saint Peter and turning onto Bourbon Street. I was singing with my sisters then the song was over and we were back in the studio entry. This is the beauty of being surrounded by artists and crazy people at 17th Avenue Studios.

Here’s a recording of me singing Summertime with Scott Nordgren, Gino Raugi, Dan Robbins, and Steve Robertson many years ago: here.

Child of the Desert, Child of the Sea

2011-06-20T16:20:00.000-07:00

I was probably reading into it—the tone of the article. I asked myself in what state of denial might I be were I not be even a touch melancholic and misty-eyed after reading the 2-day-old NPR article about Representative Gabrielle Giffords returning to her Arizona home. She was the state official shot in the head by officially psychotic Jared Loughner in January. The article called her a “child of the desert” and it made me wonder what I was a child of. Where would I want to be as it were a part of my soul? Where would you want to be? Where is that place that has the greatest influence on who you are?

My first inclination was to locate myself on a Santa Cruz beach—maybe on a grey day looking out at the surf watching for my father to swim back to shore on his watermelon surfboard with raised mounds of coconut-smelling surf wax. The ocean has always meant the world to me—since I was a kid anyway.

And if I wasn’t on the beach rocks, I’d be in my Oma’s livingroom in Eastside San Jose looking at the brown carpet, some one of her shaggy dogs, white lace curtains, with a pile of crochet yarn on the table next to the wood-paneled wall. I’d be sitting in an embossed plastic-covered chair and my Uncle Cor would be watching a soccer game of blurred images on the television set from where he sat in the teak and rattan chair brought from Indonesia. Some aunty would be in the kitchen with Oma where smells of bami and ayam pedis and mee goreng would waft. That’s me and my mom in that living room.

Walk in the Sun

2011-06-09T17:48:00.000-07:00

After lunch I took a walk from the studio. It was so beautiful out that what was intended to be a short walk became quite a long walk. It was the first time I’ve walked alone on Santa Cruz streets and it was well worth the time it took.

Lookout from 26th Avenue

Heading out from the studio on 17th Avenue and two blocks down I turned down Kinsley Street into the most amazingly sweet smelling neighborhood. As I stepped past yard after yard scents from groups of flowers reached my nose in blooming succession. After three blocks I turned onto Darlene Drive and Brommer Street came into view with its steady flow of traffic. Though no highway, to be sure, the vehicles were quite effective and swiftening away distinct flower scents. It was two blocks down Brommer and a turn towards the ocean onto 30th Avenue and 32nd Avenue where I walked three or so blocks, crossed Portola Avenue then after about a block I ducked into the tip of Moran Lake Park. Colin and I once walked there quite regularly along the tidal lake under the cool and tall eucalyptus trees. I followed the park all the way to the beach on East Cliff Drive—oh, the sound of the sea!
I went along the coast route for a long block then ducked down 26th Avenue towards the sea and rested for a while. Back on the walk I passed the beach house where my friend Marcia and her husband will stay later this year. At Sunny Cove Beach I turned up 17th Avenue and enjoyed the last leg of 6 blocks back to the studio. On the way into the complex I met Carlos and his new dog Leah a gorgeous and sweet pit bull. He’ll be in the studio Monday putting a plastic sheeting ceiling on one of the studios so maybe I’ll get to play with her then.

Back to the beads…

Beautiful poppies on 32nd Avenue

How To: Extreme Bead Embroidery

2011-06-08T21:54:00.000-07:00

Beadweaving is a challenge and can yield and immense reward. The time required to complete a large-scale work can be mind-boggling if meant to be completed all at once. However, there are succinct steps along the way as we can see with the planning and execution of You & Eye—made of glass, cotton, nylon, leather, and sterling silver.

A collaboration with Israeli lampwork artist Ronit Dagan, this piece became a test of my will to bead in a single color. It began with an idea for the shape of the piece. The number of eye beads by Ronit which were at my disposal leant themselves well to a flat and wide collar. The beads and crystals were laid out on a paper roll and the initial pattern of the collar was cut.

The cut paper pattern was then used as a guide to snip out the same shape from a plain white cotton and a couple layers of medium weight fusible interfacing. All cotton and interfacing layers were fused with the heat of a household iron—in this case it is a studio iron dedicated soley to the pursuit of beadful things. The beads and crystals were laid out again and it was found there was an excess of surface area to the collar and the base was trimmed. The elements were placed a final time pre-beadwork and circles were drawn directly upon the cotton base to indicate where each component would ultimately lay—a letter key was assigned to each position being marked both on the cotton in pencil and on a small piece of paper and placed in a small plastic bag with each element.

Then the main event began—the massive task of encapsulating the elements upon the cotton base and completely covering the cotton base with white beads. Each element was bound to the cotton base by a round bezel which ran around the outer diameter of each. Rows of beads were added diminishing in size and locking in around the element and preventing it from moving. Further embellishing in the form a fronds were applied to the bezel beadwork around each eye.

Having a relatively short attention span, I would switch between bezelling in components and covering the surface with bead embroidery—a personal approach not apparent in the finished product. Once the cotton base was completely covered a piece of ultra soft and ultra white lambskin leather was cut to spec and glued to the underside of the piece to hide all the beautiful stitching secrets and was bound around the entire perimeter with a lashing of more white seed beads. And, a custom closure was fashioned with an additional Ronit Dagan bead and sterling silver wire and components.

With nearly 20 years of beading experience under my belt, I’m known as a “Speed Beader.” Even with a great amount of experience I estimate You & Eye was completed in approximately 200 to 400 hours. While this piece required many hours at the bead bench, bead embroidery need not be so demanding. But, in this case it was certainly worth it.

Supporting images are below.

This article also appears on Teach Street.

Beginning with possible layout

Initial paper pattern

Pattern atop layers of cotton and interfacing

Revisiting layout of elements

Beadwork late into the night

Closeup of outline and bezelled elements

Filling in with surface embroidery

Possible fringe idea, later abandoned

Open Studios: Great News

2011-06-07T01:29:00.001-07:00

Front of postcard announcing my participation in the 2011 Open Studios

Good news came by mail on Saturday. My work has been accepted into the 26th annual Open Studios put on by the Cultural Council of Santa Cruz. I was nervous and excited by the new jurying process the council opted for this year. Five outside jurors were selected and rated the submitted applications on a scale from 1 to 5 on Technical Proficiency and Consistent Body of Work present in the collection of submitted work.
Fortune smiled upon my work and it will appear alongside 300 other artists in Santa Cruz County the second and third weekends of this coming October—the 8th and 9th and 15th and 16th. Today, most of the day was taken up by the designing of the Open Studio postcard in InDesign for my work to be placed around town and sent out as announcement of my participation. Much of the fancy text graphics were created in Illustrator. A photograph I shot of the CCSCC logo I did in bead embroidery was used for the logo on the backside of the postcard.
I hope you join me for this special Santa Cruz event!

Back of postard

Student’s Work

2011-06-01T22:06:00.000-07:00

Studio assistant Karin Salomon agreed to guinea pig a new project along with two of her Central California Bead Society cohorts in the first-ever offering of the Chiclets—a bracelet beading project—in the maiden voyage workshop in my new teaching space. The space adjoining to my studio in the 17th Avenue Studios where the first First Wednesday Bead Salon wrapped up minutes ago. But I digress. Enjoy the image of Karin’s recently completed Chiclets project—it is lovely.

What I Learned In DM110

2011-05-26T05:25:00.000-07:00

What a fantastic class DM110 has been! Of course it is helpful the instructor is beyond fantastic—sassy, funny, a great teacher—yes, I’m talking about Margaret Loos and her Digital Illustration class. I may come off as rambling a bit as it is 5am in the morning and my final is just finished.

I’m quite pleased with how the final project came out. It might be better given more time, but this is all the time there is to come up with this beaut. It was a challenge incorporating all the things needed to make the grade—I’m hoping the superfancy repeating pattern in the stripe overlay will suffice for the background requirement. I tried to get a nice painterly burlap background in but I just couldn’t get the mask to look the way I wanted—I’ve just been psychologically hampered because I found a fantastic tutorial using the fan brush in CS5 but I’m still using CS4! For about an hour I obsessed over getting the same look I saw in the tut to no avail.

Anyway, it has been a good class this semester. I look forward to our last class meeting when I’ll demonstrate how to make a type brush and apply it to a spiral path, there will be other demos, and we’ll get to review all the final turn-ins. Then, it is cocktails with the teacher!

Joy of the 17th Avenue Spring Show

2011-05-24T20:19:00.000-07:00

This past weekend was the 17th Avenue Studios Spring Show—the 11th in a row. Since moving into the studio complex where 43 artists work, it was the first show I have participated in. Below are photos I and Susan Hancey snapped over the weekend. You can see what a fine group of people I’m surrounded by—it has been an inspiring and energetic experience so far! The weekend went by with nary a hitch and there is less beadwork around these parts—sold two torso necklaces and Life’s a Circus Cuff even!

October will see our next event as many artists in complex participate in the annual Santa Cruz Open Studios sponsored by the Santa Cruz Cultural Council. I hope you join us!

From Right to Left: Sefla Joseph, Victoria Kerr, Rachel Nelson-Smith, Carolina McCall, Susan Hancey, Pat M.-Towery, Ronna Schulkin

Pat M.-Towery in the door to her studio

Pat M.-Towery’s studio

Sefla Joseph in her studio

Sefla Joseph with a visitor before her work

Ronna Schulkin in her studio

Ronna Schulkin and Michele Indiana Anderson on the deck of Ronna’s studio

Ronna and Michele

Michele Indiana Anderson with visitor Marilyn Jean

Susan Hancey with visitors in her studio

Susan Hancey looking mighty lovely with her work

Victoria Kerr with visitors in her studio

Victoria Kerr’s studio and artwork

Adrienne Momi of MomiLani speaks with visitor Susana Arias

Roberta Lee Woods with visitors in her studio

I love the look on Dora Rosenbaum’s face as she interfaces with visitors just before a sale

Dora Rosenbaum’s studio

A peek into Marsh Blaker DeSomma and Paul DeSomma’s gallery—there’s Paul in the background doorway. I’m going to visit their working studio in June to watch them work glass once the kilns are up to temp…

Announcing First Wednesday Bead Salon Series

2011-05-09T18:54:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, June 1st, 2011 will usher in the new monthly First Wednesday Bead Salon Series to be held in the classroom at 17th Avenue Studios. During each 3-hour long Salon, students are invited to bring their on-going projects, inspiration for new projects, and willingness to share and learn. Each Salon is molded by those in attendance and will cover the range between beadweaving, basic jewelry-making (like bead stringing), and wire working through discourse and demonstration.

Reserving your spot:
Teach Street is handling reservations here.

Studio Warming

2011-04-13T15:23:00.000-07:00

Saturday, March 26th an event was held to warm my new studio along with friends, family and supporters at the 17th Avenue Studios in mid-town Santa Cruz, California. A trio of musician friends created a swinging atmosphere. Barry Scott was on guitar, Victor Revere on bass, and Steve Peters on drums. Robert Jan Ridder of Sharif Photography and Frankie Brouwer of Nakisa Photo came to document the event in the images seen below.

welcome to the studio

beautiful double bass

beads for workshops taught in the studio

just a few of the beautiful orchids decorating the event provided by Victoria’s Orchids

The Bun (husband Colin Smith) chats up Lori Schulman and Colleen Hindson with Cat Gunderson and Gian Torre eyeing the potluck table

Mom looking like a movie star from a tabloid page

potluck treats from Jade Garden and King Eggroll

Hee Jin Lee and Jasmine view Tongues & Torsos, a collaboration with Ronit Dagan

guests enjoying the studio

some of my favorite people enjoying the scene—including my aunt Winny and one of my best friends Mary ver Voort

Gian Torre and Lori Schulman speak with Lauren and Joel Nelson outside the studio

Alyce Shepardson sports Jazz from my new book Bead Riffs

speaking with guests or hamming it up for the camera—one or the other

Cheri Wagner gets a close look at You & Eye, a collaboration with Ronit Dagan

Tanya Ossipoff asks about Tongues & Torsos, a collaboration with Ronit Dagan

Mom & I

I sing, Victor swings

having a good time with the band

Barry Scott solos over the changes

speaking with guests

Allan Allen and Judy Miller check out the earrings rack

assistant Liz Penn tours the studio with her husband Michael Penn

with mother-in-law Vicky Smith

Anne Della Corte sports her RNS creation

guests enjoying the awesome potluck spread

Allan Allen looking good in an RNS necklace

speaking with visitors in the studio proper

Victor Revere looking the epitome of Jazz cool

collaborator Patty Lakinsmith in her glass bead finery

Hee Jin Lee and Jasmine smile

Mom looking inordinately lovely

taking a sip of Lori Schulman and Jeanne Buffa’s beautiful chartreuse brew

Lauren and Joel Nelson view Meditation on Life, Death, and Beads

Teaching in Chicago

2011-04-06T21:24:00.001-07:00

Today was special. It began with a bagel and lox breakfast with my host Phyllis Woloshin and ended in a Chicago night club. In between there was a rewarding event teaching peyote, herringbone, and right angle weave to 20 ladies of the North Suburban Needle Arts Guild.

It is tough to describe properly the favorite events of the day. First, was teaching right angle weave in a new way. It was almost the end of the day but I thought there was a chance it would fit. At the last moment I caught an inspiration drawing a clock and some other key notes on the white board and then was emphatic as I explained the stitch. Minutes after the talk then demonstration I was amazed to see ladies with swatches of right angle weave—ladies who had not done beadwork before today. That really made me feel good as the stitch is usually accompanied by a greater amount of one-on-one discussion and further demonstration. I hit my stride today teaching that stitch widely regarded as one of the most difficult! Second, was having a drink at the Green Mill in downtown and listening to a great group of musicians. Alfonso Ponticelli and Swing Gitan were smokin’—for the most part. I got their CD Sweet Home—I cannot wait to hear it.

Tomorrow is the final day with the NSNG working on Beon Freo Cuff then it is back to California and my husband who I miss so much!

-- Post From My iPhone

500 Silver Jewlery Designs

2011-02-15T11:10:00.000-08:00

Lark Books just emailed some great news! 500 Silver Jewelry Designs (978-1-60059-474-8), officially an April 2011 publication, is scheduled to release from their warehouse to stores (both brick-and-mortar and online) at the end of February; pre-ordering has already started on Amazon and BN.com!

It may seem a peculiar interest of a beadweaver in silver. However, I am particularly excited because the image of my Ootheca Cuff silver was juried in and is the only beadwoven piece amongst all the silver designs. I have my fingers crossed a traveling exhibit comes of this book and makes it to Velvet da Vinci in San Francisco.

Lark Books says:

This new addition to the 500 series is an outstanding collection of handmade silver jewelry by both established and emerging international designers. From time-honored forging of cuffs and chokers to cutting-edge brooches and rings, silver's beauty is fully revealed in a range of techniques, styles, and forms that will delight and challenge both the wearer and craftsperson.

Learn more about the outstanding new gallery book 500 Silver Jewelry Designs, by juror Talya Baharal and Marthe Le Van, on BN.com at http://bit.ly/gSVZzH and Amazon.com at http://amzn.to/edbUep

To Google Art Project With Thanks

2011-02-09T13:21:00.000-08:00

If rapture is what you’re after it would be hard to miss; and, online of all places. Google has brought their road-mapping talents into the worlds greatest museums—bringing the common man (and woman) the glory of art history. Admittedly, I was bored as a kid tagging along at my father’s heel through galleries of large generic paintings in echoing halls. Not now, not with Google Art, and especially not after becoming an artist—today, I could spend every waking, useful moment going through this new Google archive in awe of the painstaking detail these long gone artists spent in effort. Here is a short article from The Atlantic which well describes my sentiments. And, here is a link to Google Art Project—may those imaginative Google employees make this project everything they desired. And, may we find inspiration in it.

Some of My Favorite Singers... Are Singers

2011-02-06T00:07:00.001-08:00

Don't take too long to think about it. Twenty vocalists that will always stick with you. List the first twenty you can recall in no particular order. Tag some friends, and me, because I'm interested in seeing what singers my friends choose. (To do this, go to your Notes tab on your profile page, paste rules in a new note, cast your twenty picks, and tag people in the note -- in the 'tag' line.)

Me
Ella Fitzgerald
Louis Armstrong
Billy Holiday
Sarah Vaughn
Carmen McRae
Pipa Pinon
Lori Schulman
My Dad
Rachelle Farell
Astrud Gilberto
Seu Jorge
Sarah Brightman
Kurt Elling
Jon Hendricks
Bobby McFerrin
Edith Piaf
James Moody
Tim Bulkley
Robert Fenwick
Nate Pruitt (he’s the awesome dude in the picture)
Roger Letson
Michael Parker

-- Post From My iPhone

Findings: A Plea for Handmade Jewelry Components

2011-02-02T14:20:00.000-08:00

Marthe Le Van points out two needful items when crafting artful works of jewelry. You must take time to create the right finish and present your work in the bet light with high quality photography. I was a lucky one to be among those who caught her keen eye. Thank you marthe Le Van wherever you are!

Findings: A Plea for Handmade Jewelry Components

New Workshop: Chiclet

2011-01-06T19:11:00.000-08:00

This new workshop is available to be taught to your bead society or bead shop. It is an intermediate to advanced workshop and requires proficiency in tubular peyote stitch and right angle weave. Kits are 130US and include Japanese seed beads, sterling silver beads and findings, Swarovski crystal montées, and thread. The description is below:

Three lengths of simple beads rotating and swinging around a peyote core stoppered by right angle weave chiclets are finished with custom multi-strand components and a sliding clasp. Sterling silver beads and crystal montées in two styles add sparkle.

Email or call for details:
contact@rachelnelsonsmith.com
831-427-1227

The Piece Was Created

2011-01-06T14:06:00.000-08:00

Months and years pass after a work is completed, it is displayed in the studio, at shows, installed into exhibits and through this the original connection of the artist to the work fades as spider webs shone in sun then hidden in the shade of night. It is as though the connection or the impetus behind the work never existed or the thoughts passing through my brain and into the threads and beads never took place. Yet, it all did occur.

This morning a thoughtful person pulled me once more into consciousness and breathed life anew into my connection to Meditation on Life, Death and Beads on public display since early December of 2010. Lacy Asbill of Boys and Girls Moving Forward offered kind words evincing understanding when she cited the seldom mentioned chronicle, the proverbial underpinnings of the piece. She found the below description of the piece amongst the images of my Flickr account.

March, 2009 (Santa Cruz, CA) - This is a work of which the surface is completely covered with thousands of bead embroidered size 15 seed beads approximately 1mm in length. My step-father was being taken care of in the Palo Alto VA intensive care after a surgery considered minor for most people the day the beadwork began. However, his system was delicate and he suffered a minor heart attack within hours of the procedure—a simple clearing of his carotid arteries. He recovered eventually. But, we lost him about one year later to a heart attack. Completing this work was a cathartic process with many hours spent thinking of him, my own life, and the thousands of small colorful globules of glass passing onto my needle.

Below are images taken as the piece was created. It is publicly exhibited with 15 other framed pieces until 28 February. A reception will take place 4 February 5–8pm:

Azhar Hair Design
507 Cedar Street
Santa Cruz, CA
831.426.6334