Where Does the Time Go?

It is already Thursday. It only feels like Tuesday, at the latest. My week off from work is almost done.

What have I done since last Friday?

Of course there was Christmas.

On Tuesday, Jas had an interview at an Elementary school 30 miles north of Sacramento (2 hours from my home).  I drove up with her for moral support. Sadly, she did not get the job.

Then there was a good deal of house cleaning.  We had to make room for all of Jasmine’s and Ozgar’s things.  Jas and Ozgur tackled her old bedroom. Then we went into the “Black Hole” aka the garage.

The Black Hole
AFTER reorganization!

The Black Hole is where I store my boxes of books, prepared kits, and show stuff. Not to mention other odds and ends. How I ever manage to find things in the Black Hole is beyond me. But there is a system to my disorganized mess. Really, there is. That's my story, and I am sticking to it.

Still, I had to find a way to make room for some of Jas’s furniture, boxes and other things. Monday is the day for the move. Between the three of us, we did get some prime Black Hole real estate cleared. So we should be able to get everything crammed in. It will be tight, but we have become experts at using storage space to it’s max (you should see our cupboards and freezer!).

In addition to cleaning, now with two wanna-be chefs in the house, Jas and I are cooking and baking up a storm. The guys are getting stuffed…and beginning to groan…

Last night was Hungarian night, beef goulash, and two varieties of pasteries: one filled with poppy seeds and the other with a walnut/apricot mixture.

Tonight, Jas is taking over, and it will be Turkish night…

In between time, I did find a bit of time to bead. I will post my progress soon.

Did I miss my day job? Not one bit. Am I looking forward to going back on Tuesday? Are you kidding!!

I think today, I will spend most the day beading!!

Russian Nesting Dolls Set: Limited Sale

Here is a new pattern I worked on today.

These dolls make a great necklace and earring set. The large doll is 2.10 X 4.3 inches, 

the small one is 1.4 X 2.6 inches. The earring is 0.7 X 1.3 inches. (Dimensions are

without fringe)

Connect the dolls as you like with your choice of beads and add fringe.

For brick stitch, uses 24 colors of Delicas. Graph provided in color code mode, with list of 

Delicas needed.

The regular price is $10 and will be available on www.beadedbear.com. 

Available here until Dec 29 2010 for $8 via email.

Hope Your Day is Merry!

Even though we are not religious in the traditional sense, we still hold to some of the traditions of my upbringing. To me Christmas is more about family, friends and the spirit of giving than it is about a God that no one can agree upon.

Being with those you love, whether physically or in spirit, and allowing yourself to love without anything to hold you back is what is most important to me.

I did need a new toilet for the house...
But I wonder if they meant that
I am full of S#@%??

We celebrate the season on Christmas Eve, sharing gifts and cheer. This Christmas is a little harder than any we have had. Dealing with several family members illnesses, the first year Jasmine has not had her father with her,  her job loss, and my own issues concerning my day job has made it tough.

Jas and Ozgur

But on the flip side, Jasmine is happily married. We still have each other to lean on. And I am thankful for you, who read this blog, who have given me encouragement, support, and most of all friendship.

I will always be grateful and joyful that you are there.

Last night, we had our traditional Tortilla Soup for dinner. Then we exchanged a few gifts. But what was the most important to me was that we were together.

Wouldn't It be Nice?

Over the years, my mailing of Christmas/Seasons Greetings cards has greatly diminished. I remember not so long ago, I would buy 4-5 boxes of cards to send out. It would take me an entire evening if not two to sign them, include a short personal note and address them. Then, I brought them to the Post Office in a large shopping bag to mail them, having spent a small fortune on stamps.

Then year after year, I would cross out names. Either we no longer had contact or maybe I never received a card from them. Whatever the reason, I have dwindled down my Seasons Greetings cards to ZERO. Ok…really 3. My mom, my dad and my sister. That’s it.

I do get a few cards from some of my closest friends. I send them an email or call instead.

No longer do I have a door frame framed with well wishes. Or a wall decorated with cards.

I got to thinking… (OH NO…me THINKING is ALWAYS dangerous. Have you noticed that?? No??? Then you have not paid much attention to my blog.)

Why is it that I (or YOU for that matter) do not get a Christmas/Hanukah /Solstice/Kwanza  card from those who should send you one?

In my not-so-humble opinion,( and don’t you agree with me?) banks, credit card companies, utilities, and phone companies should be sending us greeting cards this time of year. Maybe even THANK-YOU cards. Gee…I know they have made a bundle off of me this past year (and every year). The least they could do is send me a friggen greeting card thanking me for my business and enhancing their profit margins.

Even better. I think they should be sending me a sing-a-gram. Some nice looking guy looking like Yanni wearing nothing more than tight little speedos and a bow around his neck would be appreciated. They way I look at it, I paid for it, it’s the least they could do.

What do you think? What would you like your creditors to send you as a Holiday Greeting?

Tipsy Tuesday, 12/21/10 : Cleanliness is Next to Compulsiveness

Today's Tipsy Tuesday Question is from Carol from the East Coast. She gets a free pattern for her question. I especially like her question, since it has nothing to do with beads! It makes it all the more fun!

Have a question and want a free pattern? Send it in. Don't be bashful!

Here is Carol's question:

This does not have to do with beading  but rather another one of those "What did they say again"s in life.  Have you seen the new ads for the hand soap pumps? You know, the ones that say, "Who wants to touch a dirty germy pump?" So you stick your  hand underneath and the pump automatically squirts some soap into your hand so you can then proceed to wash. 

Am I missing something here or does one touch the pump BEFORE you wash your hands?  And is there no need to touch the germy pump AFTER you have washed your hands? After all, you don't need soap now, right?  I have not yet checked the prices of these automatic pumps as I do not really wish to demonstrate a lifetime of accumulated swear words in public.  My guess is it is not the same as the non-automatic pumps.  You know, the germy, nasty ones.  Please, please tell me I am not the only one to notice this dichotomy.  Or at least,"Hey you, get a life and stop being so bloody picky!" 

My Response:

Carol,

The automatic dispenser you are referring to makes me laugh. You brought up a valid point. Someone would only be touching it with dirty hands. So what is the worry? How do they turn on their water? Maybe that is automatic too.

When did everyone become such germaphobes? I really don’t quite get it. Good hygiene is important. For example, people should wash their hands after using the restroom. But gee wiz. I can’t tell you how many times I have been in a public restroom and have seen people scrub as if they were going into surgery. Makes me wonder if what they think got on their hands is really radio active plutonium or something. Maybe there should be an automatic butt cleaner and drier installed to every toilet for a totally hands free operation.

Still these same people who are so conscious of cleanliness would never think of cleaning up the mess they leave behind. Paper on the floor, sinks a mess with water everywhere…they probably hover above the seat and miss.

Personally, I don’t worry about such foolishness. I take reasonable care to be clean without being obsessive compulsive. I wonder how clean the kitchen sponges are in the kitchens of the automatic soap dispenser users?

Norm the Gnome in the Know’s Response

Norm is still hiding from the little greedy kids who insist he is a miniature Santa. He is eagerly awaiting the end of this season that is hell on gnomes everywhere.

Barney the Brainy Bruin’s Response:

Bears don’t worry about such foolishness. I just put my hands to the wall and go. I don’t even have to touch myself.

Where Do I to Run to?

Where do you run to when things are tough? What do you turn to? How do you keep marching bravely forward when all you want to do is run and hide?

As many of my closest friends know, for the past year, I have been dealing the best I can with Steve's illness. It has weighed heavy on me. Being the sole source of income for several years had been tough enough. With the added strain of holding myself together with a variety of worries of an illness that just won't seem find a resolution (Dr after Dr have not been able to help with the symptoms), it has not been easy for me. Often it pushes me to the limits of my own strength.

I try to find humor in the mundane things, and of course I find escape in my beadwork. But sometimes it seems it gets harder all the while to keep myself together.

Today when I got home from work, Jasmine (who is home for the Holidays along with Ozgur) was in hysterics. She has just been laid off from her teaching job. She got the phone call with that news just minutes before I walked in the door.

I guess we are all in shock. She is beyond shock. She is beyond herself with a variety of emotions, none of them pleasant. The usual worries you would expect come up. How to pay bills: Car loan, insurance, student loans...

And who wants to move back in with their parents after they just married even if the relationship is close and loving?

Of course there are a few serious concerns considering immigration as well, since she must maintain a certain income to satisfy the requirements for Ozgur's immigration..

There does not seem to be much choice. She and Ozgur will have to move in here. I will have to find a way to now support 3 adults in addition to myself.  Ozgur is waiting for his work visa. He can't work until that finally comes through. Jas will look for other teaching jobs, or anything else that will come her way. But teachers have a tough time everywhere.

I will have to work harder at everything I do. Especially in keeping my own sanity and good cheer. I am no stranger to weathering through tough times. If you followed my "Narcissistic Sundays" posts, you know I have struggled through a lot. I just hope I am strong enough to see everyone through their problems, and still have some strength left for me.

If I get cranky, or less than cheerful in my communications, please understand. I am holding on the best I can.

Where is my FREE Prize? (Here it is!!)

Yesterday, as I was waiting to check in with the receptionist at the Dental Office, a woman was giving the receptionist a hard time.

“Doesn’t my son get a free toothbrush?” She demanded.

“Ummm….no, we don’t give out toothbrushes…” the receptionist replied.

“Are you sure? Jake has always been given a toothbrush after his visit!” the woman said quite angrily.

I looked around. Where was this kid? I saw no sign of a little boy.

“Would you ask the Dr? I want the toothbrush for Jake, just like we used to get!”

“No, there are no toothbrushes to give away. I am certain of it.” the receptionist said with great frustration.

The woman went away in a huff, sans toothbrush. The receptionist drew a big sigh. I stood there mildly amused and irritated at the same time. Why was the damned toothbrush so important to that woman? Why didn’t she just go and buy the kid a (Much better) toothbrush than what might have been handed to her free?

How often is what is given to us for free almost, or even more important than what we paid for?

Have you ever flown anywhere? If so, how important to you was the bag of pretzels (or peanuts) that was handed out? Perhaps you never buy pretzels at the grocery store when you are on terra firma, but in the air, well it’s a whole other thing isn’t it. With the tray folded down, you eagerly wait for your bag of 4 mini pretzels don’t you? If you are in the aisle seat and the attendant gives you a bag, I bet you keep it rather than pass it on to the window seat, don’t you?

What if the guy next to you drinks his beverage, but doesn’t eat his bag of pretzels? When he dozes off to sleep, do you snag his bag to leave him wondering where it went to?

That bag of 4 mini pretzels is as important as the flight, isn’t it? Admit it.

What about Cracker Jacks? How important is that free prize? Do you wait patiently to find the prize, or do you dig for it? It doesn’t matter if that prize is a worthless piece of junk, you have to have it, don’t you?

Have you ever made a decision to subscribe to a magazine because of the “free gift’? I have a nice black apron with the magazine name boldly placed across the top in white letters. It hangs in my kitchen. I have never worn it. I wanted the magazine anyways, but I just couldn’t wait to find my “free item” in the mail.

How about the free samples at the Big Box store? How would your shopping experience differ if they did not have free food samples at end of nearly every aisle? Would you complain to the manager that there were no free samples?

Are you like me when you stay at a hotel? The first thing I check out in the room is the toiletries they have in the bathroom. What kind of shampoo and conditioner is there? What does the soap smell like. The bed can wait. The view out the window can wait. The toiletries can't.

Free things are always nice. Who can argue that?

So with that in mind…how would you like a buy one pattern get one pattern free deal?

Ok…you’ve got it, buy one pattern free, get one free! (The cheaper one is free if they have different prices).

This offer only applies to emailed patterns, and is only valid until Dec 25, 2010.

Email me with your selections at beadedbear@earthlink.net

Santa's Safety Violations

I spent today inspecting a small Mom-And-Pop type of business. The business was very small and owned and run by someone that was a spitting image of Santa Claus.

How could I possibly think of finding violations to give this jolly owner a citation?

It got me to thinking…if I had to inspect Jolly Santa himself, what would I find? I suppose I could find Santa in violation of a few safety standards. This is what I would think:

1. §T8CCR 3202 Injury Illness Prevention Program

 An Injury Illness Prevention Program was not written and implemented that includes all the elements of this standard such as: Designating who is in charge of safety; Conducting work place self-inspections; Training of elves; Having procedures in place to correct workplace hazards; Having an effective way of having elves report hazards; and Procedures to investigate accidents. No, his so-called "LIST" will not meet the requirements.

2.§T8CCR 5097 Hearing Conservation Program

A Hearing Conservation Program was not developed for the Elves and Santa himself when exposed to the wailing and screaming of snotty nosed ankle biters who when sitting on Santa’s lap undoubtedly  expose Santa and his elves to an excess of 110 decibels.

It was noted that hearing protection was not worn by either Santa or the elves.

3. §T8CCR 5199 Aerosol Transmissible Diseases

An Aerosol Transmissible Diseases Exposure Control Plan was not developed to protect Santa himself and the elves from the same ankle biters as mentioned above. The snot-nosed disease carrying diaper soilers are exposing Santa and the elves to countless identified and yet to be discovered diseases that are in all likelihood capable of making Santa and the elves ill, if not having effects of depression, altered states of consciousness, hallucinations of grandeur and suicidal tendencies.

4.§T8CCR 5199.1 Aerosol Transmissible Diseases-Zoonotic

An Aerosol Transmissible Diseases Exposure Control Plan (zoonitc) was not developed to protect Santa himself and the elves from the transmissible diseases generated by the reindeer. This is especially vital for Santa when he spends hours sitting directly behind and in close proximity to the reindeer’s butt-holes on Christmas Eve while delivering gifts. No protection, or means to avoid gaseous releases or flying crap emanating from said reindeer is provided.

5. §T8CCR 5157 Permit Required Confined Spaces

 Santa has not identified the permit required spaces (chimneys) and labeled them as such. Further more, he does not test the air to determine that entering the confined space does not contain a toxic atmosphere, explosive atmosphere, or oxygen deficiency. No rescue operations, and “Man on Top” has been provided in the case the jolly fat man becomes wedged in the chimney and cannot come out on his own accord.

6. §T8CCR 5144  Respiratory Protection

 It has been determined that Santa is often exposed to soot and smoke in excess of Permissible Levels. Regardless of the fact that he might fry like a butterball turkey as he descends the chimney when a log fire is raging, he should have respiratory protection as he enters the smoke pit.

As a side note, please be aware that in order to comply with this standard, the wearer of a respirator must be clean shaven.

7. §T8CCR 3308 Hot Pipes and Surfaces

 In reference to the afore mentioned fireplace fire, the interior of the chimney where Santa is exposed to, must be have thermal insulation or other means to protect him from caramelizing his personal surface and to protect him from becoming crackling.

8. §T8CCR  3395 Heat Illness Prevention Program

It has been determined that Santa is exposed to temperatures above 90 degrees F while descending hot chimneys. This temperature is enough to make this standard enforceable. All the elements such as provision of water, heat stress training, procedures for acclimatization,  procedures to call for medical aid (simply calling 9-1-1 is NOT enough) and shade is required.

9. §T8CCR  3273 Working Area

 Roof tops are not free from slippery hazards since they are often covered with snow and ice. Santa must insist that owners of the facilities he is to visit provides him with a safe working area if he is to bring their greedy little worm eaters the presents they demand. Owners of the rooftops will be considered the exposing, and creating employer in this dual employer relationship and can be likewise cited.

10. §T8CCR 3210 Elevated Locations

 Landing on peaked rooftops with animals with cloven hooves and a sleigh filled to the brim with heavy items, not to mention a heavy person is hazardous. Fall protection of some sort must be provided.  A guard rail can be installed or safety harnesses can be used by all who land on the roof.  The fact that the animals can fly to safety should they slip does not provide an exemption from this regulation, furthermore, as it is obvious that the red-suited jolly guy cannot fly, and no matter how much snow is on the ground, it would not provided ample cushioning to soften his fall.

11. §T8CCR 3215 Means of Egress

Since Santa often plummets himself down into a raging fire, a safe means of egress must be provided. To expect him to go back into a fireplace with logs ablazing is not only hazardous, but potentially life threatening. Exit routes must be clearly marked, and the doors shall be unlocked during business/delivery hours.

12. §T8CCR  3217 Decorative Materials

Decorative materials such as Christmas trees, Stockings-Hung-By-The Chimney-With-Care and sugar plums shall not constitute a hazard. Nor shall they be located close to the fireplace in the event that Santa’s buttocks become enflamed from the fire of the fireplace and thereby cause a great fire by having the said decorative items too close to the source of the fire.

It regrets me to say, that with all these violations of Cal/OSHA, most of which are Serious violations, carrying a significant financial penalty, not to mention the grave dangers these violations would present,  that Santa will be served with an OPU (Order to Prohibit Use). He has 15 days to appeal the citations and prepare a statement as to why he should not be cited. During preliminary discussions with the safety violator, he appears only too happy to have the season off.

Tipsy Tuesday, 12/14/10 : Beaded Suppliers

Today's Tipsy Tuesday Question is from Cryss. She earns a free pattern for her question. Do you have a question (on any subject)? Send it in for us to answer!

I have a friend that works part time at a LBS. Her last supplier of seed beads had to go back to a 'day' job. She is looking for a supplier of seed beads with reasonable prices.

What would be your top three choices of suppliers (in any order)?

Which brings me to my other question. Do you mainly use Delica's for the exquisite work that you do? 

Hi Cryss,

I do use “Mostly” Delica beads. I do a lot of flat peyote work or brick stitch. I like how the Delica beads work out for this type of technique.

Also, for the types of designs I usually work out, you  can’t beat Delicas. The colors are consistent and like embroidery thread, each color has a number assigned to it rather than a color name. It makes it easy for me to tell people what colors to use.

Smart vendors will stick with the same numbers and supply the color number when they sell Delicas. Those who do not….well…I won’t buy from them! I know there are still some vendors who either do not supply the manufacturer’s numbers or give them their own numbers. I think they are making a huge mistake.

Aikos would work well too. But my designing program does not have the Aikos. Otherwise, I might be more inclined to use them more often. When I want to use Aikos, I design in Delicas and manually make the substitution.

I use “regular” seed beads for 3D work, fringe and bead embroidery and several other techniques. For those purposes, I think they work better than Delicas.

My favorite suppliers? Remember I tend to buy wholesale (100gm packages of Delicas, 250 of seed beads). But I think most of my favorites sell retail as well. In no particular order:

Genbead.com

Caravanbeads.com

Whimbeads.com

Bobbybead.com

Norm the Gnome in the Know's Response:

We regret that Norm is not available for comment as he is too busy running away from ankle biters who confuse him with Santa. He is tired of their demands and snotty noses. He remains in hiding until after the Holidays.

Barney The Brainy Bruin's Response:

I suggest hunting around yourself. Why stomp on someone else's hunting ground? You might be able to find better places on your own. It just takes a little effort and time!! I would never honestly reveal my best hunting ground to anyone!

Why Is it??

I was sitting on a camel in the desert, admiring Bedouin art while drinking mint tea. A handsome olive skinned man with dark hair and warm laughing eyes also sitting on a camel was trying to bargain on the price of a carpet with me. I offer him a monkey and a bird. He laughs as he reaches for my hand and says… "Would you like to…”

Then someone interrupts our conversation and says loudly “ It is raining and 45 degrees. An accident on 99 at the Standiford exit is causing a back up…”

What??

I blink. The dark haired man with the laughing eyes is gone. So is the carpet. So is the camel. There is no desert.

I am at home in my own bed. It is dark. I glance at my radio alarm clock. It is 6am. The news announcer continues on with the traffic report.

It is Monday morning. All I want to do is cover my head with my covers and return to the desert and find that dark haired man with the laughing eyes. I do not want to drag my sorry lazy buttocks out of bed and go to work.

I linger in bed for a few minutes. I have to get up. I could go back to sleep if given half an opportunity. Who really wants to get up when it is still dark, and when it is cold outside of the warm covers?

I don’t.

On my days off, I find myself waking up at the same time every morning. 6am. Without fail. I do roll over, cover my head and try to go back to sleep. And without fail I can’t. It is most annoying. I want to linger in bed. I want to indulge myself in an hour or two of extra sleep and perhaps an interesting dream. I will lay for 30 minutes, sometimes 45 thinking…the wheels start spinning and always I give up and get up.

Why is it on work days, I can go back to sleep with no problem?

Why is it that on my days off I can’t sleep in late?

Maybe it’s because I don’t want to waste a minute of a day off from work to do things I need to do around the house and things I want to do. Maybe it’s just that I am so happy that I do not have to go to work that keeps me awake. Maybe it is just habit or maybe just knowing that I can sleep in is enough…

Or maybe it is the darned beads calling me. Maybe it is the darned beads using their subliminal powers saying “get up lazy head and come play…”

Just once, I would like to go back to sleep to see what that man with the dark hair and laughing eyes will offer me…

Guatemalan Costume Progress 12/12/10

It seems that progress was slow this week. I don't know why it seems that way, because I did work on this every night.

The skirt pattern is really repetitive, which is good and bad. I don't need to use the graph anymore, which makes beading a lot faster since I don't have to count. It becomes really, really meditative. On the other hand, other than seeing how much gets done, there is little excitement in seeing how the beadwork looks since it looks the same as what was done before.

Already, nearly 100 grams of the 286 Delicas have been used in the skirt! I still have the rest of the front to finish, and the back to do!

I am not complaining, I am just eager to get this done, that's all...and jump into my next project.


I just designed the sash for this last night. I will be doing it in size 15 Delicas so that it can have the detail without being too wide! The pattern is repeating so it is longer than what is shown here.

Sigh...I had to order the beads since I only had one of the colors in the 15 Delicas. I also ordered a couple packages of  100gms of the 286. And that is all I am admitting to having ordered. I think they will bring my package to the door with a forklift!

I Can't Wait!!  ;)

Want a Great Read?

I just finished reading Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs. It is a diversion from the usual travel books, history books and other books I generally read.

I really, really enjoyed this book. The story centers around a yarn shop and a group of knitters who meet once a week. Their lives are closely woven together. It is easy to love each of the women and it is easy to identify with at least one.


Knitting, much like beading is for many of us, is the activity that these women love and gravitate to, when things get tough. Even though knitting is the glue in this book, I imagined beads as the focal point.


I recommend this book for all of you. It is a great read. Funny, sad, dramas, successes and tragedy. Just like real life.


I hated it when I was done with the book. It felt like I was leaving a bunch of great friends. But, today, I picked up the sequel, Knit Two. Now I can rejoin my good knitting friends! I just gotta know how the story continues!


Oh...and I hear that there will be a movie!!

Artist Witch Hunt

I stumbled across a blog that really made me shake my head. I think it is a version of a modern day artist-witch-hunt. It made me wonder why anyone would take the time, the effort, the anger to go as far as this person did. I am not sure if this blog is spearheaded by one person or several. In any case, it appalls me.

I am all for artists being above board and being ethical and honest. All artists should have proper licenses, pay their taxes to all the tax agencies that hold out their money grubbing hands.  Having a business requires that artists and craft persons who sell their work do indeed pay what is due.

Additionally, having to pay the taxes and business licenses is a cost that should be factored into prices when the crafts are offered for sale. It is part of a business expense. Those who do not comply with the requirement have an unfair financial advantage over those who do comply.

What I cannot imagine is someone taking the time to buy items from ebay, etsy and other places to find out if taxes are collected. What I cannot imagine is someone turning in artist after artist on charges of evasion of sales tax, business tax or not having a business license.

Just because someone may not collect sales tax, does not mean that the person does not pay them. For example, a sale might be made without the mention of sales tax, but it is part of the price. The tax may not be an "add on" but something that the seller pays from the price of the item. The seller could well pay the tax unbeknownst to the buyer. I would never make an assumption otherwise.

Yet, this blog lists person after person that the blog owner has “reported” to the appropriate authorities. Judging by how many are on the lists, it sounds like a full time job.

As a counter point, there is another blog: http://artisantruthreport.blogspot.com/  that clears some of the names of the accusations that were proven to be false. If you follow through this blog, and then put the  name of the accusor in google, what you will find will sicken you. It is disgusting. More disgusting than any "evasion" ever committed by an artist. Evading or not, my heart goes out to all those affected by this.

Smacks of an old fashioned witch-hunt to me.  Accuse someone of being something horrible, without grounds, full information and deluded suspicions. Maybe a witch might be found from time to time, but how many are truly innocent and are burned at the stake trying to clear their name?

If any of you sell your work, be careful. Please, Please,  make sure you have the proper licenses and pay your taxes. You never know who is lurking around, trying to cause trouble in the guise of being righteous.

I just shake my head at people who have nothing better to do, than get in someone else’s business, literally.

Guatemalan Costume Progress 12/5/10

AAARRRGGGHHH!!!

The good thing about a repeating pattern is that I don't have to look at the sheets of paper to do the beadwork.

The bad thing is, that it is very easy to get a little careless as I am zipping along. And that is exactly what happened.

Well, I did get some work done. I am about 1/2 done with the front of the skirt, I would have been further along.

On the positive side, I noticed my mistake before I did a lot more. But...I had to cut off/pull out more than an inch of my work. I noticed I got my colors wrong (2 green motifs next to each other instead of alternating purple-green-purple-green).

It hurt cutting the beadwork off. But it was too big of a mistake to let it go. I have worked beyond that point (barely) so now, I am full steam ahead once again!!

Tassel Project Input

Yesterday, I received the email below. I just wanted to share it with you. I am withholding the sender's name because I am hoping to sway her into taking the tassel she made and going one step further to enter it into the competition.

If you have not signed up yet to be part of it, check out the tassel challenge page. I still have kits and you still have the directions only option.

  DON'T MISS YOUR CHANCE FOR COOL PRIZES! 

Projects are due Feb 11 so you have LOTS of time!

Hi Sig,

I am attaching a picture of the tassel I made from your kit that I purchased a month or so ago.  I am not sending the picture as part of your contest...I am sure there will be many other entries better than mine. But I wanted you to see that I have finished the project because I am very proud of it. There are very few patterns I have undertaken in which I was able to go from start to finish without getting help from someone. I made this tassel completely on my own just using your instructions, so you can be assured the directions are excellent and easy enough even for a beginning/intermediate level of beader. Right now I have the tassel hanging on my Christmas tree but when the tree is taken down I will find another place for it in my house where I can look at it often and remember how much fun it was to make.

Thanks for providing such a wonderful project, and I hope your holidays this year are wonderful.

Book Review: The Big Book of Beading Patterns

If publishing a book based on previously published material were to be considered fashionable, then  The Big Book of Beading Patterns by Kalmbach Publishing is certainly trendy.

I have mixed feelings about magazine articles being compiled into a book. I see this over and over again with my favorite cooking magazines, and I admit that I am a sucker for those books and for those publications that are more than a magazine, but not quite a book. I do buy them. Often.

I know that the contents are reprints from the magazines that I already have. Yes, it’s a waste of money. But the convenience of having “The best of…” or categorized compilations (1000 chicken recipes), or the complete 2009 recipe collection at my finger tips without having to search through mountainous stacks of magazines for the one recipe I want, is worth it to me.

Likewise for beading books of the same breed, these compilations are very nice to have. A collection of previously published seed bead projects in one handy place might help me eliminate magazine clutter. It might save me time looking for that one design I saw several months ago. I knew this book would be compilation of designs already published, and that I had each one in my ever growing stack of magazines. It’s just nice to have these designs all in one handy place in the very unlikely event that I ever have time to bead one of these designs.

On the negative side, with compilations of previously published material, it is easy to be fooled into thinking the book is new material unless you read the fine print, or are savvy enough to recognize it as such. It would be nice if this information is more clearly stated, especially in ads.  I think these compilations are a very easy way for publishers to make more money with very little work. On a side note, I wonder if any of the designers are paid for their “contributions” to the book beyond their initial compensation for the magazine publication? I know…none of my business….

All of the designs in this book have been previously published in Bead and Button’s  magazine, or online. The designs are all very nice, some I would go so far as to say spectacular. There are some very talented contributions to this book. There are photographs of most of the patterns that are offered up. The photos are very clear and quite nice to look at despite the fact that several run into the deep crevice of the spine. I guess we don’t need to see the whole project anyways, right? Nonetheless, the clear, uncluttered photos will inspire you to bead up many of these lovelies. Although, I have to shake my finger at one photo of a bracelet that has several beads that have been broken and as a result there are gaping holes and thread showing where the beads had once been. The publisher should have caught that glaring deficiency and corrected it.

This is a very nice book to look at. The designs are tempting, photographs are beautiful, you get a lot of patterns for your money. Sounds great, unless you get down to actually wanting to use the designs. I have the same chief criticism that I had of the designs in their original format. Unless you are working with a high intensity light, and a powerful magnifier, the patterns are difficult, if not impossible to use. Even the colored rectangles printed to the side of the graph for the “color keys” are inexcusably tiny. I doubt I could write in my color choices beside them in small enough print. The largest project in the book has the tiniest rendering of beads, I would think a 4X enlargement would be needed at a minimum to work with the pattern.

Many, if not most of the designs would benefit being printed as a larger image. For some, there is  plenty of white space on the page where the design could have been made 10-20% larger. Others should have been split over multiple pages. If the publisher paid attention to the demographics of the age group of the average beader, they would know that many of us are of the age where our eyes are in need of some help. The size of the graphs would be enough to discourage many beaders.

The colors used for the project are not specified beyond the color rendering in the tiny (often VERY tiny) rectangular blocks representing beads (with a few exceptions no codes are used, only color). I nearly missed most of the color keys at first glance! I think it is a huge disservice not to list the color numbers, especially if Delicas or Toho beads had been used. I suspect that the publisher did not want to favor one bead manufacturer over another, but come on!! Help beaders with that decision! That is one of the reasons many beaders like patterns, so they can follow and recreate the project.  Make the suggestions as to the color choice, which can be easily substituted if the beader wishes to use different beads.

Some patterns use dark colors. The outline of the rectangles get lost in those dark colors, so that it is very difficult to distinguish the beads.  Being a pattern designer myself, I would be crucified if I offered up patterns in the manner presented in this book. Larger graphs or perhaps even using codes would help the beaders use this book.

Which brings me to wonder how usable is this book? Before you figure out a way to enlarge the patterns so that you can use them, be sure to read the fine print in the beginning of the book. You are not given permission to sell beadwork made from these patterns. Permission is also not granted for using the book to teach (although I cannot imagine anyone wanting to). If you have known me for a while, or have read my copyright posts, you know my take on those “restrictions”.

For me, I like looking at this book. It is pretty, with lots of beautiful designs. I might look at it from time to time. Will I ever use it, even if I had the time?

I bet you will know the answer to that question.

The Intruder

I woke up with it this morning. At first I did not suspect that I had company in bed. In the cold early morning darkness, I  reluctantly left the warmth of my bed  and groggily stumbled to the shower. I was unsuspecting and ignorant of the intruder.

I turned on the shower, shivering as I waited for the water to get hot. I stepped into the shower, washed, shampooed my hair and wrapped myself with a towel. I was still blissfully ignorant of the company I had.

I dressed, brushed my hair and brushed my teeth. As I wiped the foam away from my lips so that I would not look like a rabid dog, I noticed that it was there. Uninvited, unwanted, but unmistakably with me.

If I was not awake before, I certainly was awake when I discovered it. It was big. It was red. It was throbbing. It was burning hot. A ZIT! Not just any zit. It was the pulsating mother of all zits. If it were on my forehead instead of my chin, I would have resembled a unicorn. If it were on my chest, it would have passed for a third boob.

I had the usual zits as an adolescent. Not a huge problem by any means. I had the occasional outbreaks, I guess my eruptions were well within the normal range. After those troublesome years, I experienced a few here and there. Mostly, I have to say, that in my adult life I have been relatively zit-free.

I am sure hormones were to blame for my adolescent outbreaks. Now that I am of a certain age where once again the hormones are out of wack, the zit sightings are a little more frequent. Since I have “grown up”, so have my zits. Bigger. More mature. More assertive. Not at all afraid to make their presence known.

As huge as this thing on my chin was, I am surprised it was able to share my pillow with me. I am surprised that it didn’t want its own pillow and blanket. If I were closer to the ocean, my zit would probably affect the tides.  I worried that perhaps it would collect its own orbital objects. Perhaps an orange or grapefruit would find itself circling my head.

As I leaned closer to the mirror to study the new appendage growing on my chin, I wondered what to do. Should I….you know…squeeze it? UGGHH!!! Tell me you have never done that with one of yours, and I will call you a liar.  I leaned in, the weight of it nearly made me topple over. I wondered if the size of it would interfere with my driving. It might get in the way of the steering wheel, you know. Would I have to seat belt it in? I had to do something to tame this thing.

If I could turn this volcanic wanna-be into an erupting Mt Vesuvius, perhaps it will shrink and be less painful. But maybe like Mt Vesuvius, if it erupted to spew the pressurized contents, it too would cover everything in its path. I cleared away the items on my sink (especially my toothbrush) just in case. I looked at IT again… There was no tell-tale pressure cap. No spot where I could predict my fingers would cause the contents to splatter on to my mirror and give me relief.

It was hopeless. My friend (since it was not leaving anytime soon, I might as well make friends with it, right?) was not ready to become disemboweled. I had to bring my pointy tandem chins to work.

Have you noticed that when there is something different about you, especially if you don’t want it to be noticed, that people stare? They are too polite to say anything. They try not to look at what is different about you, but they can’t help it. They just can’t avert their eyes. 

I half expected my coworkers to ask me to introduce them to my friend. Gee, they spent enough time talking to it. Maybe I should have told them it was my Siamese twin that was just a little slow in making itself known, and that we would have a separation surgery in the not too distant future.

All day long, my friend and I were inseparable. I was becoming fond of my friend. Wherever I went, my friend went. I told my friend stories that no one has heard. And then…just as I was becoming appreciative of my friend, a careless scratch by my own hand on my chin ended it all. I will spare you the gory details of the carnage that ensued. All I will say is that it was not pretty. The authorities have been notified. There is a chalk outline on my desk to mark the position of the deceased at the time of the incident. Yellow crime tape has been placed on my chin.

I think the authorities will have a hard time telling if it was the right hand or the left hand that was the culprit. I am hoping that they will decide it was an accident.