Luna C Bede

Another Magnet

noreply@blogger.com (Brenda) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 17:07:00 +0000

I have found whenever my life gets to hectic/somber, that making one of these magnets puts the fun right back into it.

I made this one for my Aunt Marie, while I was on vacation. Marie lives in Florida so we don't get to see her very often. She came up this summer because another Aunt (her sister) died.

I remember the three of them getting together. They would stay for a weekend in a hotel, no men, just sisters. They would take fun food and play cards. They would laugh and talk and have an all around great time.
My Aunt Delores loved margaritas. While my Aunt Marie was here we went to Applebee's and had one of their Perfect Margaritas, we toasted to my Aunt Delores.

I'll never look at a Margarita again without thinking of her.

Shortly after my Aunt Maria went back to Florida she moved. As a house warming and a remembrance I made this magnet for her new frig. She says it makes her thirsty every time she looks at it.

Ahhhh - Madeline Island

noreply@blogger.com (Brenda) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:37:00 +0000

After the hectic summer I always love to go up to Madeline Island to unwind.
This year my parents came up also. This was the first time in many years we vacationed together. But I think they liked it - a lot!
The first day my mom comes up with a huge rock to take home. Shopping at the lake is so inexpensive. Then there were bowls of chili, puzzles to put together, yes and of course beadwork. Even my mom tried her hand at beading, first a star and them around a piece of driftwood.
My dad has a bad knee and a bad ankle so a trip down those stairs was out of the question. He would take my dog, Shambala, and walk around up on top. He would see all sorts of wildlife on his walks. Here he is resting on the deck with 'bala between walks. While he was sitting out there one day, an eagle flew right over the edge of the cliff. So cool!
When the sun was out it was nice outside, the deck is sheltered from the wind, and what a view.
Every day I would walk down to the lake, to look for rocks and driftwood. I was collecting driftwood to finish off my BJP for this year. I am making an accordion style book with the driftwood for the end pieces.
While I was down there one day I decided to try my hand at a self portrait. I would set up my camera on a rock and then run to the other rock to sit down. My dog thought this was such a fun game. I had to be careful running so I would not break anything on the rocky shore. Here is one of the better attempts. Shambala was not there in time to turn around and smile!
She probably had the most fun of all. She is a water dog, loves to swim. That water is sooooo cold, but she didn't care. Look at the smile!

Let's Go Back to Where I Stopped

noreply@blogger.com (Brenda) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 15:48:00 +0000

I usually stop blogging in the middle of the Renaissance. This year was no different.
For those of you that don't know, I have a booth at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival. The Festival lasts 7 weekends, starting in mid August thru September. This year it even went thru the first weekend of October.
I sell smelly things out there, soaps, oils, incense. I started that business almost 18 years ago. I have been at the Rennie for 13 of those years. It feels like that part of my life is over, so I put my booth up for sale this year. I love my booth, it sits under an ancient oak tree that drops its acorns on us through out the fall. When I started, my friends and I hauled in tons of rock and made the beds you see in the photo. There is something very magical about it all.
But - I am done with it. Its not only the 7 weekends that I have missed of late summer and fall for the last years. It is the hours that go into cleaning it up every year so it looks like this, the hours that go into filling that tent with products to sell. It feels like work now, its time to move on.
Of course, now I just need a buyer. I'll let the universe figure that one out for me.
So now you know where I stopped blogging, tomorrow I'll post about the fun week after!

I'm Back

noreply@blogger.com (Brenda) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 19:04:00 +0000

I have done so much since I last posted!
That I can not even begin to describe it all in one post, it would go on forever.
So that I don't get bogged down with it all, I'll just start with a photo of one of the headdresses I am working on for the MN Start Arts Board Grant that I received for this year.

I tentatively named it Neptune's Daughter. I could use some help with a cooler name for it. Anyone?

Submission guidelines for "All Things Oz"

noreply@blogger.com (Brenda) — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 18:38:00 +0000

Symbeadotic Gallery just posted guidelines for the on-line exhibition - "All Things Oz".

What a great theme, I can't wait to see what people dream up!

More Magnets

noreply@blogger.com (Brenda) — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 15:06:00 +0000

In keeping with the Mango magnet theme here is my next refrigerator magnet.
I think it is hysterical!
I made the Mango magnet for a dear friend of mine, her husband didn't get it. I asked him what type of magnet he would want. At first he couldn't think of anything, then a couple fo hours later he came out and said an eyeball! At first I was like. WHAT? But as I was beading it I fell in love with it, who wouldn't want one of these on the refrigerator keeping an eye on things?

The Beginning of the End

noreply@blogger.com (Brenda) — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 16:33:00 +0000

August, who would have thought it would arrive so soon.

You are right, it is still 10 days away. But my August and September are so hectic with the Renaissance Festival lasting 7 of those 8 weeks. That I feel I should get this finished while I can.

This is the start of my piece. The sunset photo is the last photo I took, the last time I was up on Maddy Island. We were waiting for the ferry to take us back to the mainland. It is always so bitter sweet, I have had such a great time being in nature but I am also leaving and I know I won't be back any time soon. This photo was taken a year ago.

The stamp that I am using this time is Reach for the Stars. It is an image of all these women holding each other up while the top one reaches for the star. I love this rubber stamp. I have had it for ages but never had the perfect time to use it. Now it feels perfect. The imagery reminds me of all the help I feel from the blogging community, both the commenters and the readers. Each one is dear to me. And this image reminds me that you can not very well reach for a star when it is bright daylight out, you won't know where they are, you have to wait until it gets shadowy and dark before you can see where they might be.

Thanks for giving me a "leg up".
Stop back to see the beadwork on this piece.

Beadwork competition announced

noreply@blogger.com (Brenda) — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 17:21:00 +0000

Symbeadotic Gallery has announced their first beadwork competition!
The theme is "All Things Oz".
Cash prizes.
Details coming soon.

Gives us all time to envision a beaded OZ.

Symbeadotic Gallery

noreply@blogger.com (Brenda) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:53:00 +0000

Symbeadotic Gallery has a new logo!

The links are not working yet.
I am expecting them to be working by Monday.
Which is when the gallery will announce its first beading competition with CASH prizes!

Let me know what you think of the logo,
do you get it?
is it too subtle?
have I missed the mark?

Its There

noreply@blogger.com (Brenda) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 14:15:00 +0000

The new site is open. Its not pretty, its not done, but the idea is ready to grow.

Symbeadotic Gallery
The idea behind this gallery is that unless you can travel to different destinations you never get to see the gorgeous beadwork on exhibit. You might get to see a few photos here and there but not the full scope. I want to curate exhibits of fabulous beadwork surrounding themes, that anyone can view. So then I thought about how you would want to view an exhibit, the ideal way is to walk around a piece, see it from all angles. I am doing research on the software that would let me do that, show each piece of the exhibit in the round.

The gallery name comes from the word
sym·bi·o·sis

1. Biology A close, prolonged association between two or more different organisms of different species that may, but does not necessarily, benefit each member.

2. A relationship of mutual benefit or dependence.

Of course I want this to be a mutually beneficial relationship. I am open to ideas and criticism. Lets make this work together!

What do you think of the first competition's theme to be "All Things Oz" this is in tribute to it be the 70th Anniversary of The Wizard of Oz movie. Comments?

New Idea

noreply@blogger.com (Brenda) — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 19:14:00 +0000

My new idea - an online beadwork gallery.
Rotating views of each piece.
Competitions with cash prizes.
I just bought the domain name.

Stay tuned!

Obstacles

noreply@blogger.com (Brenda) — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 15:11:00 +0000

This year of the BJP, just to reiterate, I wanted to add more elements to my beadwork. I have done that with using my own photos of Madeline Island, I have tried to incorporate some of my rubber stamps, and then I have added fabric (Illusion tulle and fiber). Then the theme of the year is The Pursuit of Peace. I wanted to bead those things that help me find my inner peace. This month my theme is obstacles.

One of my favorite things to do on the island is to walk the shoreline, my back is bent for hours looking at sticks and stones. And then sooner or later I will happen across a downed tree, its roots have given way to erosion. When I come across this obstacle I have this funny attitude, I just know that the best stone or stick is going to be just on the other side. I will wade through freezing water (this is Lake Superior) or if it is too far out I will climb through the branches, getting all scratched up. It just doesn't matter, I know there is something great once I get past that.

Life lately has given me a ton of those obstacles. I have looked at them and felt the urge to turn around and run the other way. No more. I am going to remember that feeling I have up on Maddy. I am going to face it head on, knowing that if I get beat up a little and come out the other side I am going to find the jewel I have been searching for.

Happy Freedom Day to all!

Just tear it out!

noreply@blogger.com (Brenda) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 21:43:00 +0000

Well Blogger is turning my photo sideways no matter what I do, so just turn your head at an angle, please! What the heck!

Last time I posted I had started beading a row of bugle beads along the bottom. Every time I would get about an inch done, I would look at it and it had started to angle ever so slightly on me! So what do you do?

You tear it out! I tore that darn thing out 3 times and then I left it out and started with the triangle in the middle, so far so good on that. So if anyone has a trick to making bugle beads stay straight, please pass it on!

As you can see, the design has already changed a bit, as far as the beading is concerned. I am a little concerned about the beads not being sparkly enough, but I figure if I make the next layer (fins) sparkly, the contrast will be just right.
Opinions?!

Water Headdress - Beginning

noreply@blogger.com (Brenda) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 21:47:00 +0000

This year I received a grant to make more of my signature headdresses, one for each of the four elements (air, earth, fire, water). As the year started though I was so busy finishing up other projects that were accepted into shows that I only now have started on the headdresses for real.

I know I had a hard time starting also because I was scared. Scared that they would not live up to the board's expectations or even mine. Well no time like the present. I figured I would take you along on the ride.

My first headdress is for the element of Water. The first thing I did was choose the Ultrasuede I would use. I have a lime green, a soft butter, and an aquamarine color. The bead colors came next, I kept imagining the colors of the Caribbean, the turquoise, the beautiful blue and the colors of the sand. I have shells and a starfish on my tray for inspiration.

My idea is to have the the waves all the way around the bottom of the headdress. Then the next layer above will be fins, one large one in the center and then two smaller ones on the sides. I also want to incorporate a fish scale look someplace. The back will have a beaded net which will act as a veil. I also would like to see some beaded shells and perhaps a starfish either stuck in the net or cascading down one of the sides.

One thing I have learnt about how I bead is that what I have in my mind and what happens with the beads are two different things. Sometimes things do not work like I expected, or I have a brilliant! idea right in the middle of the project. That is one of the reasons why I thought it might be fun to see the progress. Who really knows how it will turn out!

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Its the headdress roller coaster ride!

Midsummer's Weekend

noreply@blogger.com (Brenda) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 17:11:00 +0000

I ended up with the weekend off, due to poor planning on the part of my move, long story. So I decided what a great weekend to bead my June page.

On my peace island there is a little fairy village, at least I call it a "fairy" village. No one will tell you where it is, just that it is there somewhere. It took us 6 years to find it. The village is made up of stone houses, each one has a year on it, going back to at least 1956. There is an opera house, a church, houses and outlaying farms and bridges. The forest has taken some back with growth.

This is one of my favorite photos. On the right in the back is the little house, in front they made a fairy ring of rocks and planted a stick. Well the stick is sprouting, was it the fairies?

So of course my page had to include a fairy, giggling behind her hand, she will never tell.

Whether its remembering our awe and wonder, or its the idea of fairies out there creating magic, but something makes me very peaceful when I think on the fairy village, all by itself, in the forest that won't tell......

Two Post in One Day!

noreply@blogger.com (Brenda) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 21:22:00 +0000

Two post in one day, you know what must have frozen over!

Not really, I also just got done with my May page, so I figured I better post so I could actually start June's page in June! WhooHoo!

May's page signifies May Day for me. My brother and my son use to live in the same apartment building that I did, right on the shores of one of the lakes in Minneapolis. Every year on May Day we would go across the street and run with ribbons around a particular tree.

In keeping with my year's theme, it is these memories that give me peace. I know things change, but some of the great things that we do, I wish those could go on forever. But at least every May Day I think back on those times, remember and smile.

The LeDuc Crowne Affair

noreply@blogger.com (Brenda) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 20:14:00 +0000

This is the what I have been working on for the last month, instead of my BJP. This headdress is called The LeDuc Crowne Affair, it is named after two sisters from Hastings, MN that had a needlework company. Hastings just celebrated the 125 year anniversary of the sister's company. Included in that celebration is an exhibition of the LeDuc sister's designs used by modern artists.

This headdress features two of their designs, the scallops are one design, and then the front piece with the birds, is another design. I used all size 15 seed beads with flat back Swarovski cystals.

If you happen to be in Hastings, Minnesota between now and and then end of August stop in and see the exhibit. I think the curator said there was 33 entries. here is the website, http://www.dakotahistory.org/LeDuc/home.asp

The exhibition is called Modern Interpretations of Historic Designs.

Healing Spirals

noreply@blogger.com (Brenda) — Thu, 28 May 2009 23:25:00 +0000

I am moving today.

As I would pack a load into the Jeep, I would stop, catch my breath and bead a little. I have four days to move, not that I want it to take that long. But I am taking over my last load for the night and realize that April's piece is finished. I am sitting at the computer with a mostly empty place, the internet gets turned off tomorrow. But in the midst of all this chaos, I finished my April page.

Frikking Amazing!

And as I type this post, there is a Native American drumming session going on across the way, the sound is carrying through my window. Again, amazing.

I am getting together with one of our fellow BJPer next week, I hope to start my May page. I might even start June's page in June, simply amazing.

Back to April's page, if you go to Madeline Island in the spring, you get to see these fields of lupine flowers. I have tried to grow them here and can not, they only last a season. So it is so magical to come upon a whole field of them. I love the way the water/dew collects in their leaves, just like Lady's Mantle does. So beautiful. The healing hand is of course for me, to remember that there are fields like this out there, that magic still exist.

Off to pack my last load of the evening.
Take care everyone.

Mango Madness

noreply@blogger.com (Brenda) — Sat, 23 May 2009 14:36:00 +0000

I have been doing a lot of thinking since my last post, trying to figure out a way to get myself out of this funk. I have worked through issues with my beading so I hoped it would work the other way around too.

A while back a friend had told me her friend needed a new golden boy, the one she had had disappointed her, I knew exactly who she needed, Mango! With his gold sequined shorts and his pouty lips, he would never let her down.

I figured I could find a photo of him, attach magnets to the back and she could have this great refrigerate magnet that would make her smile every time she went into the kitchen. I found this great photo of him, slapping his butt, with his finger up saying his classic line "You can not have the Mango!" It begged to be beaded. After Dark Recesses I needed to bead something frivolous, just for fun. I started with his beret, every time I looked at it I smiled, it was working. Beading not only could help me work through issues it could help me find joy again. What a eye opener! So if ever your beading makes you go too deep, find your own Mango to bead.

I leave you with this quote from Marcus Aurelius, said over two thousand years ago, "Accept whatever comes to you woven in the pattern of your destiny, for what could more aptly fit your needs?" Wise man.

March - From the Dark Recesses

noreply@blogger.com (Brenda) — Mon, 18 May 2009 19:31:00 +0000

When I was told I had to move out of my apartment, for no other reason than he doesn't want to rent it anymore, I thought it couldn't get any worse than that. Events since then have proven me wrong.

I usually can keep a sunny disposition, I always try to remember that things happen for a reason but lately I can not see the silver lining. I only see the deep dark recesses.

The photo I chose to bead on for this month is of a piece of bark, again from my special island. Out of the dark recesses of this bark, things are growing. I hoped as I beaded I could remember that the universe wastes nothing, from death grows life, it is just transformation. I am still having a tough time believing it.

Grandma B

noreply@blogger.com (Brenda) — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 21:59:00 +0000

No new beadwork that I can show you so I thought I would do a tribute to my grandma, I credit her with getting me started down this bead path.

The thing I remember the most about her was her cooking, she made the most beautiful almond cookies, it had a little almond right in the middle of this perfect circle cookie, and she made mashed potatoes with cream cheese, my favorite! Every one of her grandkids, and there where many, would get $2 for their birthday, this was from a woman on social security. How she ever did it is a marvel. She would take us kids to the Museum of Natural History in Waterloo, Iowa, that is where I grew up.

One of those trips we went to see an exhibition of Native American crafts, beadwork being included. Even as a small child I remember standing there with my mouth gaping at the headdresses and cradles and moccasins. I always wondered if I would have had the patience to do beadwork like that with the primitive tools they used. For most of my early beading years I copied the patterns that I saw in the historical pattern books. I can't remember when for sure but I ended up with one of those small child beading looms. I still have the first piece I did on it, it was going to be a guitar strap, now I am trying to think of a way to include it on my BJP from last year. It has only been in the last four years, since I closed my aromatherapy shop that I have had time to expand on my beadwork. First I started with freeform, which really made me think outside the box, then with the start of the Bead Journal Project I have been focusing on bead embroidery.

Many times while I sit and bead I feel her looking over my shoulder with that same beautiful smile.

February - The Nature of Emotions

noreply@blogger.com (Brenda) — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 13:24:00 +0000

Unless you stay on the island the third week of July you are going to experience some rain, sometimes days at a time. By the second day we would always have cabin fever. This is one of the photos I took as I was out walking in the rain, the water has no where to go but down.

When you come across these streams, they are amazing, that little drops of rain could produce something this abundant. The element of water is likened to emotions, probably because they can run dry or they can burst the dam!

I thought the Water/Emotion was fitting for February since it is the month of love (Valentine's Day). I have no significant other in my life, so I gathered my single girl friends and we had a craft (carafe) night at my house. We got together and had a glass of wine, some fun finger food, and we crafted. By the end of the night nobody was lamenting their lack of romance, they did not have the energy after all the laughter.

So to make a long story short, that is why the quote "Art washes away the dust from your soul". I am not certain who penned this quote. I do know that at this point in my life my soul is dust free!

January - Thinking about Time

noreply@blogger.com (Brenda) — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 17:52:00 +0000

January was my month to think about time, most everyone thinks about it in January, with the ending of a year and the beginning of a new one. We think about what we wanted to accomplish, what we need to accomplish, what we are going to accomplish. Whew! Just thinking about it makes me tired!

So I go back to my Pursuit of Peace, last month I told you how I could spend hours walking up and down and looking at sticks and stones. The photo behind this month's piece, Time Can Be Magical, is an old root ball that over time water has transformed into a piece of sculpture. It was not over night, it took years, but how beautiful.

I have added some of the smaller driftwood pieces I collected along the shore, and a piece of sea glass, all of them formed over time. The pockets of beads are where the sand sits in the root ball, still transforming that piece of wood.

Being on the island reminds me to be present Now, not to worry about the past or what is coming in the future, but to enjoy the time I have Now.

Back from the Bead Fest, Santa Fe

noreply@blogger.com (Brenda) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 20:00:00 +0000

Hi everyone!

I am back from Bead Fest and finally feeling back in the groove. It usually takes me a couple of days to come back to earth. For those of you that did not go I brought back just a couple of photos of The Beaded Book winners, the Best of Show and my favorite Aladdin's Lamp. I had the pleasure of meeting the creator of Aladdin's Lamp, Sherri White. She creates using eggs, see her flowers here made out of eggs, I think she said Rhea eggs, this lamp is so whimsical.

Actually, Best of Show, characters from the book, A Journey of the Imagination (James Christensen artist) by Ellen Solomons was also very whimsical. Her award was well deserved, she even made the faces out of polymer clay. Absolutely Fabulous!

I made some new friends, bought some new beads, ate fantastic food. I can't wait to go back, nobody ever ask me here if I want red or green on my food!

While I was there I finished beading my January BJP page. Once I add the yarn around the outside edge I'll post a photo.

December - The Quiet Silence of Snow

noreply@blogger.com (Brenda) — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 19:24:00 +0000

As I continue to bead my theme "The Pursuit of Peace", I have been reminding myself of all those things that give me a sense of both peace and joy. I started my December page a week and a half ago, the day we received a half of foot of snow in only a few short hours. I work from home so I get to enjoy the snow. I would walk outside with my dog, I would marvel at its beauty and at the sound it made. The sound was like that of a ting on a crystal glass, then I realized these were crystals, thousands of them. And as they fell, the quietness was so peaceful.

Also as I was beading, I realized I have two stories going on, my pursuit and my walk on the island. I am referring to Madeline Island. The island is in Wisconsin on Lake Superior. No matter what emotional state I am in, as soon as I cross onto the island I can feel the land drain all that negativity out of me. It is the only place where the knots on my neck and shoulders have a chance to go away.

This month's photo is of the shoreline, I can walk for hours up and down the shoreline looking at rocks and sticks!