The Source

I look for inspiration from other bead artists all the time, but I don't copy their work, unless that work has been published in a magazine or a book with the specific intent of distributing that work and the instructions for how to make it.  Even then, I rarely use the same colors or size of beads.  I'm trying to find my own voice.  I'm inspired by them.

Unfortunately, many of the small pieces I've been doing lately are very easily reproduced or copied.  I'm not flattered when this is done.  It's stealing.  I'm happy to show anybody who asks how to do the technique, how to do peyote stitch or right angle weave or brick stitch or bead embroidery or any of the many stitches I've studied over the last 10 years.  I'm flattered by that request.  It's an honest desire to want to learn how.  Lord knows, it's been my obsession for over 15 years now and I'm happy to pass the information on, but I would like to encourage them to find their own voice.

What inspires YOU?  Do you find joy in large beads?  In certain colors?  Look at what excites you and learn from it!  Are you a sunny person?  Do you enjoy blues and yellows and think of the ocean mists?  Do you gravitate toward darker, metallic colors?  These are details that take sometimes years to recognize.  Are you monochromatic?  Do you like tweeds and browns?  What colors have you painted the rooms in your home? What clothes do you wear?  What patterns excite you?  Do you get joy from 60's flower prints or Chinese coral?

These things are all going through my mind when I choose to make a piece;  every decision, from the tiniest size 13 Charlotte, to the largest neck piece, is chosen with care and purpose.  With intent.  Sometimes those decisions are well-thought out ahead of time; sometimes made on the spot.  But they have to be made sometime along the creation process, so I take ownership of them.  It's a complicated process.

Just because you CAN copy something, doesn't mean you SHOULD.  Peace, Love, Rayo

Rick Rack hat pin

Is it possible to look past all the fuzz on this old hat?   This is adorable on though.  It's a rick rack pattern, another experiment from the Contemporary Geometric Beadwork book.  It started out as a bracelet, but I made it too small, even for my tiny wrists, so I adapted it into a flower rather than take the whole thing out.  I think it turned out rather sweet!

Excited!

 The book, Contemporary Geometric Beadwork, will be out soon so watch for it! www.beadmobile.wordpress.com

Lovely Earrings

I've had what might be called the worst day of technical nightmares ever experienced by a rookie blogger.  First of all, I updated my cell phone to the new IOs6 system which started a cascade of FAIL across every trick this old dog has ever learned.  Couldn't get a wi-fi connection, couldn't get on facebook (if you know me, you know this alone was enough to push me over the edge), couldn't post any pictures onto this blog, couldn't access my email.  Charlie went on an extended trip to a conference and took our trusty lap-top which I've been using to accomplish said tricks, so I was forced to use my i-pad.  No luck.  No pictures from i-pad to blog without downloading google plus.  STILL no luck.  Forced to use the Mac.  Still no luck.  I know this sounds like pathetic whining from a very spoiled person who has every single gadget known to mankind, but sometimes more is just not better.  It takes a tremendous amount of time and focus to learn how to use these things, and it just doesn't help that I've been trying to learn them under the influence of double doses of DayQuil and NyQuil.  For the love of all things holy, couldn't something just go right?  I decided to bead instead.

I just can't seem to stop making these beautiful earrings!   They are so elegantly simple to wear and look beautiful all dolled up or just having lunch with a friend.  These are made with the really top-end Miyuki delicas in 24kt gold plated, 22kt white gold, and nickel plated steel.  They really shimmer!

Here they are in matte green turquoise, tri-cut green iris, and nickel plated steel.