And Away I GO!!!

Only A few days to go!! I have packed (4 times). I repacked again today because of the email I received from my tour guide in India. Since the monsoons were so late, the temperature is forecasted to be 100-110 (with high humidity) UGH….so, my long sleeved shirts are out of my suitcase. I have a light jacket, in case it is much cooler in Bhutan and Nepal. If it is cold there, I guess I can always buy a sweatshirt.

I have done all my pre travel chores. House is clean (as much as it ever will be). I HATE leaving a messy house. Coming back from a trip with a month’s worth of dirty clothes to a messy house is way to depressing.

Garden is trimmed so I won’t come back to a wilderness.

I called my credit card issuer and bank to let them know I may be using the cards in India. Both times, I spoke to Indian gentlemen who seemed delighted to handle my request. Both of them were eager to tell me of their home country. I could tell they were nostalgic for their homes. They were in no hurry to get off the phone with me! Small world, huh?

I have even come out of my prehistoric cave! I am now a proud cell phone (iPhone) owner! Yes, until last Friday, I only had a landline, and the work issued-work-only cell phone in my possession. I rarely use the phone, but the iPhone does have various perks that won me over. I can even use it to take credit cards at shows (so I cancelled my wireless terminal which got too costly).

And...I am addicted to "Angry Birds". I just love that game with all the little birdy noises!

My Journey begins Thursday night. I will drive to Millbrae which is near the San Francisco airport. There I will spend a night in a hotel, and leave my car there for the duration of my trip. The night at the hotel with free 2 week parking (2 weeks more at a nominal fee) cost much less than parking long term near the airport in a regular lot. What a deal!

My flight leaves at 6am (yes, 6AM!!!). A change of flight at O’Hare in Chicago where I will meet up with Cathy and Ron, then straight to Delhi, India. A change of planes will bring us to Calcutta. A stay of 2 nights, then off to Bhutan for a few days. Then it is back to Delhi for the main part of the trip. The last few days will be in Nepal.

If you would like to check out my trip, it is here:

http://www.oattravel.com/Trips/2011/Heart-of-India-2011.aspx

Bhutan and Nepal are trip extensions.

So, this will be my last post for a month, unless somehow I find a way to “check in” while I am abroad….with my new i-Phone, I might just give it a try!!  J

Book Review: Color, Texture & Casting for Jewelers

First, my disclosure....The Publishers at Lark Crafts/Sterling Publishing sent me this book to review on my blog. They do NOT pay me for the review, other than the book(s) that they sent me for review.

Color, Texture & Casting for Jewelers

Carles Codina

Lark Crafts/Sterling Publishing

2011

Hard Cover 128 pages $29.95

ISBN 978-1-457-0017-3

This is a book for serious jewelers. Written by a professional studio jeweler who has taught at the Escola Massana in Barcelona, Spain for more than 20 years. It is evident that he really knows his stuff.

There are many techniques covered in this book, all illustrated with fantastic photographs. Techniques covered include plating, Mokume Gane, Granulation, Texture and Finishes, Patinas, Sand Casting and a whole lot more.

If you ever want to expand your work to include traditional jewelry techniques, this book will be a great introduction. Even if you are only curious to know how certain techniques are done, this is one book that can show you quite a lot. It's like having a jewelry making classroom at your fingertips.

Bragging Rights: Gail Warren

Gail asked me to create a castle pattern for her. This is the pattern I did. I think it came out really nice!
If you like the pattern, it is available on http://www.beadedbear.com

This is what Gail says about this particular castle:

 Gravensteen Castle (Ghent) is the castle of the counts. The Castle of Ghent is the only one which survived the centuries more or less intact. A true Medieval castle in the middle of the city. The original castle was built around 868 by count Baldwin I, rebuilt and expanded by the count of Flanders around 1180. The Castle served as the seat of the Counts of Flanders until they abandoned it in the 14th century, the castle was scheduled to be demolished. In 1885 the city of Ghent bought the castle and started a renovation project. The newly built houses were removed and the walls and dungeon were restored to their original condition. People argue whether the castle can still be considered authentic. Despite these discussions, the Gravensteeen attracts huge numbers of tourists. The castle has been repaired enough to allow people to travel through it and climb on top. It is still partly surrounded by the moat. Inside is a museum with various torture devises and a guillotine that were historically used in Ghent. I think Castles are interesting, and the history about them. I wouldn't have wanted to live in the medieval times. Just in the Castle.

Ms. Beadbehavior on a Matter of the Heart

Ms Beadbehavior received a question in the comments section of her last post from a young man:

Mr. McCarthy asks:

" How can I make Jennifer Lopez like me back?"

Here is her answer:

Dear Gentle Person,

Ms Beadbehavior is well versed in matters of the heart. Despite rumors circulating that the rigid Victorian morals which Ms Beadbehavior adheres to causes her to walk as if a dime were constantly clenched tight in the crevice of her shapely buttocks, she has been known to be a wildcat.

Your question of “How can I make Jennifer Lopez like me back?” does puzzle Ms Beadbehavior. A fine strapping young man possessing a fine Scottish surname should be quite the lady’s man. Judging from the grammar used in the question posed, Ms Beadbehavior suspects that you also have a fine Scottish brogue which should make the ladies swoon.

Since you do not state that Ms Lopez finds your front distasteful, she should likewise admire your back. 

Perhaps the muscles of your front are more defined than your back muscles. Perhaps you have taken to the current fashion of having your chest shaved smooth as a baby’s behind. Is your back similarly cared for? Do you spend an equal amount of time developing a manly back as you do developing a manly front? Maybe you have vast roads of unshaven back hair that you have missed while grooming yourself. Granted it is difficult to shave one’s own back. You might consider finding an extension for your razor and a good sized mirror to make this task easier. Or perhaps you might consider enlisting some help so that your back does not resemble a crop circle created by a crazed alien. That in itself might frighten Ms. Lopez. The thought of aliens visiting at night during an inopportune time to create a not so artistic crop circle pattern on a partner’s back side would cause Ms Beadbehavior’s tightly clenched dime to become a flying missile (much like a Tiddly Wink) traveling at an unheard of velocity. Or at the very least, a nut or two could be cracked by the excessive clenching brought on by the embarrassment of having uninvited visitors during an intimate moment. How does one serve proper tea under such circumstances?

In any case, if Ms Lopez doesn’t like your back, she might not have the class you think she has. No loss, dear chap. Move on to someone who would like your back, and your front, as well as other parts you possess.

Perhaps you would like to call upon Ms Beadbehavior for a cup of tea? Maybe you could help her find a silver dime that seems to have disappeared somewhere……

Stuff You Can Use: Product Review: Easy Canvas Prints

I was contacted by Easy Canvas Prints to do a review of their product. I had never heard of them before, but I discovered that  Easy Canvas Prints will turn your   photos to canvas.  Hmm….seems like a good product.

I have to admit I was a little skeptical when I was asked to review this product. Why would someone ask me to review a photo to canvas product? I never had contact with them before, or even knew of them. I went to the website, poked around a bit and I thought, hey….this looks really nice. I have been wanting to do something special with my favorite travel photos. This seemed perfect. Ok, I will bite.

The ordering process is really easy. You simply choose your size canvas, upload your image, how you want the printed canvas to wrap around the frame (I chose black, but there are other options).  They even offer photo retouching if you need it.

Original Photo

Ok, so I figured lets give it a go.  I chose the donkey photo I took while I was in Fez Morocco a few years back. I chose my options and ordered my canvas last week.

I received my canvas yesterday. I could hardly wait to see it! Let me tell you, I am HONESTLY blown away!! The canvas is in a word ASTOUNDING! I absolutely LOVE it!! I am so excited by it. The colors are bright and true to the photo I took. The image itself is crisp and clear (my photo of it really does not do it justice).

Here is my canvas on the wall

The image is like a photo, but being on the canvas it takes on the personality of a fine painting. It has the best qualities of a photo and a painting.

A Close-Up

It Comes Ready to Hang!

So, how is this relevant to you as a beader? Think about it….for those of you who do shows, you could take a photo of your favorite piece(s) and have that image transferred to canvas. Hang several of them as backdrops on the wall (or from the booth frame). Having larger than life images of your best work displayed like this will certainly catch the eye of potential customers and draw them into your booth. They can’t miss seeing your beadwork displayed in this way!

With the holidays coming up, of course family photos or your other favorite photos transferred to canvas would make excellent gifts.

Will I be a repeat customer? I guess that is the true test of my satisfaction. Without a doubt, my answer will be “Yes!” When I get back from my trip to India, I am sure I will have a hard time deciding what photos I want to have transferred to canvas so that I can add it to my travel wall. I am already considering adding a photo or two from past trips!

Here it is proudly displayed with other travel mementos!

Oh…and if you go to their Facebook page, you can get some great deals. “LIKE” them and you will get a 50% off offer with free shipping. How can you beat that??

Be sure to visit their website! CLICK HERE!

Book Review: PUSH

First, my disclosure....The Publishers at Lark Crafts/Sterling Publishing sent me this book to review on my blog. They do NOT pay me for the review, other than the book(s) that they sent me for review.

PUSH

Lark Crafts/Sterling Publishing

2011

Hard Cover 176 pages $19.96

This review is of two books, PUSH Paper (ISBN13:978-1-60059-788-6 ) and PUSH Stitchery (ISBN:12:978-1-60059-787-9).  Both of these books contain the works of 30 artists that are pushing the boundaries of their art.

In Push Stitchery, the style of work ranges from very realistic needlework to modern art inspired pieces. While this in itself may not be unusual, the innovation and media used certainly is.

Direction
By
Severija
Incirauskaite
Kriauneviciene

Have you ever considered doing cross stitch on a metal shovel? No? Neither have I. But Severija Incirauskaite Kriauneviciene has. Her works on metal objects is stunning but homey.

Dad By Cayce Zavaglia

The very realistic embroidery by Cayce Zavaglia at first glance looks like a photo. You wonder, just how is this possible?

If you ever made paper cutout snowflakes or paper dolls back in elementary school, this book will show you what very talented grown ups can do with paper and a pair of scissors (and a wild imagination, not to mention talent).

Of the two books, I especially love this one. I really love the forms that took shape with the talents of these paper artists. Three dimensional forms made of paper take on the impossible.

Little Crimes By Bovey Lee

Summer Owl Tree By Helen Musselwhite

As I went through this book, many pieces made me smile with the whimsy and joyful colors. Others made me think “WOW! That is incredible” while others made me think “You gotta be kidding!! That looks IMPOSSIBLE”.  Not only were these wonderful pieces of art, but also incredible pieces of engineering and exacting precision. Since some of these cutouts were rather large in scale, it made me wonder what would happen if a mistake were made. It’s not like beadwork or stitching where you could just tear out a row of beadwork or stitches to fix the mistake. A slip of the scissors could ruin hours of work, with no going back. You just have to admire that!

Both of these books showcase works that push beyond the boundaries of what we might think of stitchery or paperwork. Seeing how these limits are knocked down will certainly get you thinking about pushing your boundaries, no matter what your chosen artwork media might be.

I-Sad

Like much of the world, I am saddened by the passing of Steve Jobs. I am a fan of all things Apple. I have owned nothing but Macs. I love Macs, they make so much more sense than the other PC's. I am wanting an I-phone.

Having lived in the San Jose area, I have had many friends who worked for Apple. They all loved it. It was and still is a place that encourages innovation. Steve Jobs is an icon for our age. Inventors like him are so few. You just have to admire someone like him.

I hope that Apple continues with the spirit of creativity and thinking out of the box as it has for years.

May Steve Jobs be in a place where he is happy and playing with the big computer in the sky.