IT'S SOOO COLD AND RAINY TODAY

Hi Everyone!

It is so cold and rainy today. Dark and well... just creepy. I did manage to set up some lights and get a few photos for you.

Last week my very good friend Lori Cook sent me some glass. Lori and I have known each other over 5 years. We met on line when I lived in North Idaho she lives in Spokane WA. We set up a date and met up in Spokane. We were instant friends. We were able to meet up a few more times before I moved to Florence OR. We email each other several times a day and share so much. So last week I received a package in the mail and ooohhh la la it is glass from Lori. What a great friend. Lori's glass is so special. She creates the best in color and shapes.

If you want some of the best glass to incorporate in you bead embroidery then see

Lori Cook Out of the Flames

So most of this weekend I spent beading. First I found this bottle a few months ago. When I need a break from designing jewelry I bead bottles. Quick and easy. This bottle stands over 7 inches and 4 inches around.

During the OWOH event this year I was the honored winner of Lisa Atchison's tourch art. Ohhhhh come on if you are not aware of Lisa's glass are you are truly missing out. Anyway I won two of her beautiful beads.

Here is what I have created with one of them.

 Go visit Lisa at Lisa Atchison and if you are going to the Bead n Button show she will be at booth 1222

So I am off to airbrush some leather faces that have been waiting for me.

I hope your day is a good one.

Honor and Integrity in Life in Art

Nicole/Beadwright

MY MILITARY FAMILY

Hi Everyone!

I am feeling better that blogger has fixed my followers. Hope they have for you as well.

In my family, as I am sure most of you there have been and are military members. I have a long list of men and women who have served our country as far back as the Civil War. But most recent, my son Troy, served in the Army during Desert Storm and his daughter Koral Marie now serves in the Air National Guard. Hopefully she will never have to be deployed. My son-in-law, Dax, joined the US Marines right out of high school and loves being a Marine. He and my daughter are now stationed in Tx but Dax has been deployed 9 times. Thank the gods he has come home safe each time.  Our troops go through so much more than we can ever imagine. They give ALL of themselves in what they have been trained in. For what? For all of US. Yes us as a people and US for our country.

Thank you to all of the men and women who have served and are serving. And a special thanks to my grand daughter Koral Marie and my son-in-law Dax Ridgeway

Yes this beauty, Koral Marie, inspects airplanes

You would think she was my daughter's daughter they look so much alike

 My daughter April Dawn and Dax

 Home safe after his last deployment

Honor and Integrity in Life in Art

Nicole/Beadwright

MORE BLOGGER UPSETS

Hi Everyone!

Well it seems blogger can not get their act together. Hmmmm maybe it is time to switch. Last night I was checking blogs and Bahhhhmmmmm my followers list disappears right before my eyes. It seems LOTS of people are having the same problem. I think I will stay off the computer today and just bead.  That makes me happy.... Blogger doesn't......

Here are some patterns I have listed over that last week you can see more at the Beadwright Bead Coop

Have a great weekend everyone and remember our men and women

who keep fight the battles to keep us safe.

Our US troops.

Honor and Integrity in Life in Art

Nicole/Beadwright

BLOGGER EEERRRRGGGGGG

Hi Everyone!
I am so frustrated with blogger I could scream!!!!! I have been trying for three days to leave comments on your blog posts and BLOGGER WON'T ALLOW ME TO!!! So please, I have not forgotten about all of you I just can't get in.
BLOGGER GET IT TOGETHER.

Wheeewwwww that's getting it out....LOL
OK I am calm now.

Honor and Integrity in Life in Art
Nicole/Beadwright

MY TRADITIONAL SIDE

Hi Everyone!

In yesterday's post I promised to show you some of my traditional beading and if you follow me you may know that my brother, Pat, sent me these wonderful gifts for my birthday. Bear and Moose teeth.

For a girl like me it is the best!!!

Here is what I made yesterday.

Traditional peyote begins differently than the modern day peyote and thus gives the most perfect fit and the most perfect diagonal bead count. I used Czech seed beads in my Native colors.

It begins like this

Measure beads around the item you want to peyote

Then remove half of those beads

Run the needle back through the beads to form a circle around the object

 From here simply pick up a bead and go through a bead . The step down is very easy to keep tract of with this method. I have had this traditional start up for peyote published in many beading magazine and in my own books.

The perfect bead count

The finished piece

I used a small shin bone for the clasp

Honor and Integrity in Life in Art

Nicole/Beadwright

BEADING MODERN

Hi Everyone!

I can't believe how pretty it is here today. If I had time I would go sit on the deck and take in some of the sun.  hmmm might just do it anyway.

If you follow me then you know that my beading background stems from a very traditional beginning. Sometimes it is difficult to bead in modern day techniques, even though I was the one who developed and was published for a lot of what you do today in beading. So today's post is showing you my latest piece. Tomorrow I will show you a traditional piece that I am working on and will finish today.

It doesn't matter how you bead or create in any art form as long as you are doing it with love, passion, respect, honor and integrity. For the most part I see that in my friends who stop by here.  My hope has always been, over the last 46 years,  to inspire creativity in others.

So take a look at this piece and come back tomorrow to see just a bit my traditional work

Have a great day today

It starts with my Nicole's BeadBacking and a glass cab created by Lori Cook

Layers of flatwork using my unique technique

These colors are like sherbet ice cream

Add some modern day chain and the piece is finished.

The bugles I bought from ArtBeads.com they are the perfect size and the colors could not be more perfect for the glass. Check them out at http://artbeads.com/

Honor and Integrity in Life in Art

Nicole/Beadwright

SUE HORINE'S BEAD STORE

Hi Everyone!

It's the start of a new week. I hope that all of you had a great weekend. 

I am starting this week off by sharing with you some amazing bead art and if you don't know Sue Horine then an introduction. Over the years Sue has been a guest artist on my http://nicolecampanella.com/ web site, and this blog. First, she is one of the nicest people you would ever want to meet. There is not an arrogant bone in her body, which in my opinion, makes for the best artists. She owns and maintains a nursery where she has her small but busy bead store. This time of the year when people are planting gardens and getting yards overhauled from winter Sue is very busy. She did take the time to write and send photos.

For this spot I simply asked her what she was doing and if there was anything new going on with her. Wowow there is!!!

By the way Sue has been using my Nicole's BeadBacking for quite some time and when you see her bead art...well hang on to your seats.

Words from Sue;

This summer I hope to do some classes but right now my time is spent running back and forth between the Bead Gallery and our retail nursery next door. My loyal customers know to come and find me at the nursery! Sometimes I even give them the key to the shop and they bring their baskets over to the nursery to check out! This is a really small town! I do help folks with projects they need help with and am considering putting together some kits with instructions to get them started. Sometimes I wish there were 48 hours in a day so I could offer all the classes my customers want! I do quite a bit of repair work which I find fun because I love to see how things have been put together. I also do quite a bit of custom orders, though they are more stringing and not so much bead embroidery.

Sue's Bead Store

There are some new items I have brought in that have been very well received. They include lucite flowers, a line of antiqued brass findings and focals and recently I received my first shipment of Toho seed beads. I must admit that I truly love tiny seed beads, the look and the feel of them. Perhaps I am obsessed - but they are just so cool!

Several months ago I was contacted by Presh Designer Collective in San Anselmo, CA to put 10 items in their shop. This collective was founded by jewelry designer Nicole Apostoli and features hand made jewelry. I thought this would be a great opportunity to show my beadwork in a more affluent area. Though I have not actually seen the store, those of you in the area can check it out at Presh Designer Collective, 560 San Anselmo Ave., San Anselmo, CA 94960 (415) 251-9088.

The majority of my beadwork sales continues to come from my Etsy shop and linking my new listings to my facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bead-Art-by-Sue/210154317785?ref=ts) Several times I have sold a new listing within minutes by linking it to my Facebook page. Those folks on Etsy or Art Fire should have a Facebook page if they don't have one already. I resisted at first but it has been really a good thing for exposure and sales.

Nicole, I love your bead backing and use it regularly with my beadwork. I sell it to my customers too! It holds up so well for my larger pieces!

Thanks Sue I love hearing that Nicole's BeadBacking is doing it's job.

Just a few pieces of Sue's art

Okay you can stop drooling now. LOL

Sue's shop is located in the Sierra foothills about an hour east of Stockton on Highway 4. Or about 10 minutes east of the junction of Highway 49 and 4. Look for the big nursery greenhouse of Murphys Nursery.

The actuall address is Murphys Bead Gallery

88 West Hwy 4

Murphys, CA

If you are in her area please stop in to say hi and buy some beads!!!

Here are some links for Sue Horine

Bead Art by Sue Horine

Sue Horine's Etsy Shop

Honor and Integrity in Life in Art

Nicole/Beadwright

RHODY DAYS IN FLORENCE OR

Hi Everyone!

It's Rhody days in Florence. Rhody for Rhododendron. You have never in your life seen so many Rhododendrons than in Florence OR. So every year there is a parade, craft show, carnival rides, and bikers come from all over to show off their bikes. Old town, which is a small area located on the river with food, shops and lots of beer takes on the bulk of people that come to Florence for this weekend. There is an awesome old car show too. So what do I do on this weekend???? Stay home and bead. LOL I live walking distance to Old Town so I get quite a show of bikes and cars that drive by my house. There are just tooooo many people,  and tooooo much traffic for me.

I did have a very nice morning talking to Dawn Marie on the phone. She helped me out with FB. You know that social network that I dislike so much. However, after Dawn walked me through it all I may just end up liking it... a little..... LOL

If you don't know who Dawn is then you are truly missing out on knowing a wonderful lady. Click on the banner to visit her blog and be sure to tell her Nicole sent you.

So yesterday I created this necklace and today finished the strap and dangles. Ahhhh the dangles are died African porcupine quills. I love this piece!!! I will have a hard time parting with this one. It looks fabulous on!!! I snap these shots in the dull light of a cloudy Florence day. Ohhh like that is such an oddity here LOL

Hope all of you are having a great weekend.

Honor and Integrity in Life in Art

Nicole/Beadwright

JUST GET IT DONE

Hi Everyone!

I have a huge day today. My energy level has been in the gutter so I am behind in EVERY THING!!! LOL

So this morning I took extra energy herbs, real herbs not some street crap,  and am hoping to get some real work done today. I have a show in June, and classes set up and need to be on top of my game.

I did get two more patterns finished. I love making them. I use 4 different programs to get them made the way I want them.

Now you all know I love skulls so here is the second in The Human Skull series. This is another 3x3 inch piece.

This is a design I made 18 years ago. I had it on my very first web site in 1995 and then moved it over to the site I have had since 2000. These types of patterns never grow old.

Check out all of my pattners on my

Beadwright etsy store

and my

Beadwright Bead Coop

Honor and Integrity in Life in Art

Nicole/Beadwright

WHAT A WEEKEND

Hi Everyone!

What a weekend! and I don't mean in a good way. I feel like the health gods have taken a vacation and have left me to fend for myself. LOL Today is a bit better but we will see what happens as the day goes on.  For those of you who know and follow me, also know that I am a fighter against this lupus crap and all that it throws at me. I try to work through what ever, especially the fatigued and head pain. So even though it took me allll weekend I did manage to get three things finished. One is a loomed cuff from one of my patterns. This pattern is actually one of the many that are published in my loom book. "My Favorite Loom Book" I really do like the soft summery colors.

Here are two new patterns I was able to finish. The "Here Kitty 2"  is another pattern from my  "My Favorite Loom Book"  Lions Miss is a Lion's head I drew and then carved on an Elk shoulder bone in 2000.

I think it turned out pretty nice for a beading loom pattern.

Now I know you have seen a lot of feline art from me lately never thought of myself as a "cat person" but they do fascinate me. LOL

You can buy all of my patterns at my Beadwright etsy store or my Beadwright Bead Coop

Honor and Integrity in Life in Art

Nicole/Beadwright

THINGS I'VE BEEN DOING

Hi Everyone!

This will be another quick post. Just wanted to share two piece I finished up. Several years ago I bought some face cabs from Beth. I had planned to make kits with them buttttt things happened and so now I am going to bead them up. Also here is a necklace that I really like. Most of the beads are matt ABs (can't see the AB in the photo) I showed these two pieces because I finished the backs with the burnt orange boars hide. It is SOOOOO nice to work with and truly leaves the most professional finish on your work.

Have a great weekend!!

Honor and Integrity in Life in Art

Nicole/Beadwright

BEAD PATTERN THE HUMAN SKULL

Hi Everyone!

Finally blogger is back on line. LOL  I have a lot to share with you but I have mega head pain today so I will show you only one thing. My good friend Donna Z from Florence, Or. beaded up one of my most favorite patterns. The Human Skull. She works on a no-warps-loom so this pattern was perfect for her. 3x3 inch.

Hope you like it. I am off to bed.

You can purchase this pattern in my

Beadwright etsy store

Or

Beadwright Bead Coop

Honor and Integrity in Life in Art

Nicole/Beadwright

ARTBEADS.COM BEAD CHALLENGE

Hi Everyone!

It has been a long and busy day for me.

I did waaayyy too much walking and so my foot is screaming at me!!!

I did get my Artbeads.com challenge finished. This time the theme is "What is old is new again" I had a plan in my head for this but when I tried to execute it.... well my fingers just wouldn't cooperate with the beads. LOL

So I looked in my "old" box and found a lovely cameo that belonged to my great grandmother Sadi. This is her at the age of 17 an apprentice tailor. She later traveled with my great grandfather who was a surveyor for the US government. Where ever they stopped Sadi had work. 

I love this photo. My grandmother in her arms and her sister Phylis walking along. The hat is spectacular and  her coat is something I would wear today.

She made all of her daughter's clothes too.

I tried to find the photo with her wearing this cameo but it must be in a different photo box.

Anyway from old to new here is Great Grandma Sadi's Cameo

I think Sadi would like the chain and today's beads

You can find all of these beads on Artbeads.com site

Fire Polished 4mm Crystal Twilight

Fire-Polished Bead 4mm Bronze

Czech Fire-Polished Bead Jet 4mm

Toho Size 11/o Gold line Rainbow Crystal

Chain

Honor and Integrity in Life in Art

Nicole/Beadwright

I am a reviewer of products for Artbeads.com. I received the beads above free of charge. I have used and reviewed this product and my statements are an honest description. I receive no compensation from Artbeads.com for my endorsement as it pertains to the product above.