The Beading Yogini

* macrame * lampwork beads * jewelry*

Owl Totem Seed Bead Embroidered Necklace With Micro Macrame Cords

Written By: admin - Nov• 25•11

Owl Seed bead Necklace Strings by The Beading Yogini

My second attempt at seed bead embroidery. I intended this piece to be a cuff bracelet, but the laws of physics did not allow that to happen. The cabs on it were too large to bend at the proper angles. So, as most designers know, flexibility is the key to creativity. Hence, with a few micro macrame cords, a necklace came into being. What I like about bead embroidery is that there is creative space to meander and allow the piece to take on it’s own life. This one gradually worked it’s way into being an owl design. Again, not intentional, but it happened that way. Owls are one of my spirit totem animals. In native American tradition, Animal spirits usually appear to people during dreams or meditations and the qualities of each particular animal have a lesson to teach. About owls: they can see well in the dark, hence the relation to help us develop and get in touch with our own psychic abilities, honor your intuition and inner knowledge, seek the truth beyond appearances. Stay tuned for several more pieces that I’ll be working into my spirit animal totem series.

Owl Seed bead Necklace 1 by The Beading YoginiOwl Seed bead Necklace by The Beading Yogini

 

Wednesday, November 23, 2011 – BTW

Written By: admin - Nov• 23•11

I’m multitasking here this afternoon. Listening to C.C. White – This is Soul Kirtan while I wait for the propane guy to come fill the big tank, cooking soup, chili, doing laundry, posting on the business blog and facebook page. Just the usual mundane activities that make life what it is. Here’s a peek of what’s on my bead table this Wednesday afternoon:

Wild About Beads by The Beading YoginiHave I mentioned that I meet the nicest people at the cactus nursery? This kit was a little gift from Chris, Jessica and baby Collin. They have been visiting Cactus Joe’s for a few years now, and we always chat about beads when they visit. They are from Rhode Island and own Wild About Beads in Tiverton, RI. I did not have the opportunity to visit their store when I lived in Lil’ Rhody, but if I ever get back that way for a visit, you bet I’ll check it out. If you live in that region of the world, stop in and say hello. They also dropped off a loaf of Portuguese Sweet Bead from Amaral’s Bakery in Fallriver, MA. While I have been refraining from eating wheat for the past nine months, I found I could not resist having a wee bit of this toasted with butter for breakfast. Can you say, mouthful of bliss? Thanks so much.

Vintage Thrift Beads by The Beading YoginiI sound like a country bumpkin, but I usually only get into the city of Las Vegas once a week on teaching day. Trying to be mindful of my carbon footprint and such. Really enjoying being a homebody these days too. But here’s my find for the week… vintage thrift store discovery of lucite, bamboo, and paper beads. The thrill of the find! See what other have on their table at Bead Table Wednesday flickr group.

Artistic Photographer : Elena Ray

Written By: admin - Nov• 18•11

You know how sometimes you meet an artist and their work just seems to resonate with you. Introducing Elena Ray of Antaratma Art & Photography. She is a most spectacular woman with a real flair for artistic photography. She worked up this great photo portrait for me and I am liking it so much that it’s now become a part of my blog. You can view more or purchase her ethereal images at www.antaratma.me. Thanks so much Elena <3

2011ElenaRayCopyright_644

November Art Bead Scene Challenge

Written By: admin - Nov• 16•11

Madonna Pietradegli Scrovigni November ABS

Madonna Pietra degli Scrovigni

by Marie Spartali Stillman (1844-1927)

Watercolour, gouache and gum arabic, 30.9in × 24.1 in.

Really is a lovely painting and the palette contains such warm colors too.

NOV 2011 Color Palette ABS

I felt like keeping it simple this time around for the November Art Bead Scene Challenge. A pair of wire wrapped earrings using a my lampwork glass head pins, lucite flowers, lucite leaves, thin gauge bailing wire, and silk sari ribbon.

NOVABS Earrings 2 by The Beading YoginiNOVABS Earrings by The Beading Yogini

November 9, 2011 – BTW

Written By: admin - Nov• 09•11

Time passes so quickly when you love what you do. As always, I feel that I am seriously blessed to be able to do what I do to pay the bills. Teaching yoga for the City of Las Vegas, one of my long time loves; helping things grow at Cactus Joe’s Blue Diamond Nursery and making art. For the past few years, that art has been melting glass, making lampwork beads, wire wrapping and making jewelry. This year I have focused on micro macrame jewelry. Now I’m branching out a bit and getting into basic metals, torch fired enameling, clay, and seed beading. One of my absolute favorite things to do is to hunt down used items and incorporate (repurpose) them into my art. Here’s a smattering of what is on my Bead Table Wednesday

Trying my hand at a seed bead embroidered cuff. First attempt, wish me luck.Attempting a Cuff Bracelet by The Beading Yogini

Messing around with metal embossing.
Metal Mania by The Beading YoginiUsing the new tool, The Vintage Big Kick. It was a splurge, but I don’t gamble, so…

Vintaj Big Kick by TBYTorch enameling some objects I found in the growing grounds at work.

Rustic Recycled Enameling by The Beading YoginiEnjoying some seed bead goodness from a recent visit to the local bead store (Bead Haven). I only stopped in for beading needles. Most likely a bracelet in the works.

Seed Bead Goodness by The Beading YoginiAnd last but not least, mulling over a design for the Challenge of Color Blog Hop, hosted by Erin at Tesori Trovati Jewelry, with color palette creation by Jessica Colaluca of Design Seeds. I chose the color teal because I rarely use it and it seems I have lots of teal beads. I really did end up with a lovely color palette to experiment with. 

Challenge of Color Blog Hop

Andrew Thornton October Readers Challenge Blog Hop

Written By: admin - Nov• 04•11

I was real pleased with myself when I was able to snag one of Andrew Thornton’s October Challenge kits. These kits always seem to sell out FAST. I diligently checked my mailbox and after a reasonable amount of time had passed, sent the “I didn’t get mine yet” email out. Alas, the kit finally arrived on October 25th. So, I ended up with a few days to mull and began to design. I’m referring to this one as the “Blue Straggler”. Appropriate I think.

Blue Straggler Necklace Under Construction by The Beading Yogini

What’s a Blue Straggler? Blue Stragglers” are unusually hot and bright stars found in the cores of ancient star clusters known as globulars. Globular clusters are located in galactic halos, of which the Milky Way may have from 180 to 200, or more. Most are located at least several thousand light-years away from Sol, and most are around 12 billion years old or more. The Milky Way’s largest and brightest globular is Omega Centauri (NGC 5139), which contains about 10 million stars totalling about five million Solar masses spread over some 150 light-years. Read more about them here: http://www.solstation.com/x-objects/bluestrag.htm

Anyway, here’s what my completed Blue Stragglers look like; a micro macrame necklace featuring a repurposed locket, a simple dangling pendant, and a memory wire bracelet featuring a Humble Beads focal. Thanks to Andrew for hosting the Blog Hop and for the inspirational assortment of beads. Here’s the list of participants:

Blue Straggler Necklace Full by The Beading YoginiAT OCT Reader Challenge Pendant by The Beading YoginiAT OCT Reader Challenge Bracelet by The Beading Yogini

 

Silk Sari Earrings

Written By: admin - Nov• 03•11

I found a way to use all those little bits and pieces of thread, cord and silk sari ribbons that are left over from other jewelry/craft projects. Silk sari earrings. Looking forward to some interesting color combinations and recycling is always a great thing.

Silk Sari Earrings Pink by The Beading Yogini

 

 

Wednesday, November 02, 2011 – BTW

Written By: admin - Nov• 02•11

Bead Table Wednesday, probably time to tidy up the remnants from the last creative blizzard. Seriously, every flat space is occupied in the work room. Even the chair seat and some of the floor. I need room to play with some real clay today. I believe I finally mastered inputting a bisque firing program into my kiln. A wee bit of math required to figure out ramp speed and such. I’ll let you know how this experiment turns out at a later date.

Those blue beads in the foreground are leftovers from Andrew Thornton’s October Reader’s Challenge. The challenge reveal date is Friday, November 4th. So, pop back then to check out the resulting design. The mess in the center is the start of the design for the Art Bead Scene November Challenge. There’s lots of time to join in on this one. Check out the link if you are so inclined.

BTW 11.02.11 by The Beading Yogini

 

 

Dia de los muertos

Written By: admin - Nov• 01•11

big skull Beading Yogini

I’m really not into Halloween all that much. Not a single trick or treater out my way ever since I’ve been here. They’d have been sadly disappointed since I don’t eat sugar these days. But, I am into skulls lately and I think it’s because I really enjoy the folk art that springs up around Dia de los muertos. Here’s a sampling of my small but growing skull collection. I’m not sure where this is headed, but somehow skulls just keep finding their way into my stash cache.

growing Skull Collection Beading Yogini

Double Headed Skull Beading Yogini

Halloween Haircut

Written By: admin - Oct• 30•11

I don’t put many non bead-jewelry-art related posts on the blog, but a good haircut deserves a mention.  Here’s the locks before my annual haircut… long, thick and a little unruly.

pre haircut the Beading Yogini

Now here’s my locks after the haircut…

pumpkin head at Cactus Joe's Las Vegas

Tricked ya. Just having a bit of Halloween fun with you. Here’s the real deal. Layna Tyson at Another Wild Hair is an artist or sorts. She really tamed my locks with an excellent cut.  See for yourself… a short inverted bob cut.

annual haircut The Beading Yogini