Zoom or In Person

I know there are many bead artists teaching on Zoom.  The Zoom option is making it possible to take a class from talented artists all over the world!  Just deal with a little time difference and you are good to go!  Your favorite designer is in England?  No problem.  Wonderful options abound.  I hope and believe that this online option will continue.  I hope it slows somewhat and we can get back together but it has brought a wonderful new media to the bead world.  I hope you agree.  My next class with SocialBeadia is Split Personality.  It is one of my favorites.  Register at the link soon, not much time left before the cut off due to shipping time.   https://www.socialbeadia.com/marcia-balonis

IN PERSON at The Beaded Garden in Oxford, FL (near The Villages).    There are several classes on the schedule now.  My favorite is "One Moon Circles", yes a Star Trek TNG reference.  August 20, 2021.  More information on side bar.   https://www.thebeadedgarden2.com/classes

And I'm excited to be getting ready for two in person bead retreats.  October 21-24, 2021 is the Bead Society of the Palm Beaches.  Link on side bar.  November 5-7 is the Arkansas Bead Retreat.  More information coming on that one.  There is a Facebook page of that name you can join  now.

In addition, at The Beaded Garden, we are planning a mini weekend in January 2021 featuring 3 different artists.  I will be doing an expanded necklace version of One Moon Circles.  Pamela Garbig is still dreaming something up but I'm guessing it will be ocean related AND we will soon announce a guest instructor for the 3rd day.  As soon as we firm up the details look for an announcement!

What's New Pussycat?

What's New Pussycat??    

I admit with the Covid restrictions world wide, it seems there is less 'new' and more survival going on!  In the beady world this is so true.  So what follows is some beady chit chat.

I can't say I miss the new bead shape of the week, which is what seemed to be happening for a while in the before time.  Bead stores couldn't possibly keep up with them all.  People need to be shown what to do with the new beads and with fewer publications, very few in person classes, and a general slow down of dreaming up designs for others, it now seems we are seeing less in the new bead category for now.  The need for new new new has slowed.  Few if any live retreats, few stores really able to bring in teachers, on and on.  So not a lot out there that's new, a good thing for now. One of my pieces using the Diamond (or Gem) duo bead.  I called it Diamond Fleur and the pattern is in my Etsy Shop.

I think this change is positive, now bead artists are working with our tremendous supply and designing new ways to work the beads.  I have seen some fantastic designs.  The pressure to come up with a design using yet another "new" bead has slowed.  This is good.  The outcome, in my opinion, shows in some great work by talented bead artists.

I know there are many bead artists teaching on Zoom.  The Zoom option is making it possible to take a class from talented artists all over!  Just deal with a little time difference and you are good to go!  Your favorite designer is in England?  No problem.  Wonderful options abound.  I hope and believe that this online option will continue.  I hope it slows somewhat and we can get back together but it has brought a wonderful new media to the bead world.  I hope you agree.  My next class with SocialBeadia is Split Personality.  One of my favorites.  https://www.socialbeadia.com/marcia-balonis

Another resurgence we are witnessing at our local store is beaders going for tried and true Peyote stitch word charts.  The number of our shoppers going for Delica beads to make items has increased.  Beady people know how to do the Peyote word charts, they are very soothing to make, and are great for gifts.  Small items such as pen covers, many bracelets, and detail items such as 3-D pendant shapes and even boxes.  There is a lot that can be done in Peyote shapes!  Fantastic to see a resurgence in that media.  I've joined in on the soothing fun of Peyote and hope some of you have too.

Now for our future hope, we have some planned LIVE IN PERSON retreats.  I'm excited to be teaching at the Bead Society of the Palm Beaches retreat at Club Med in Florida in October, 2021.  https://beadsocietyofthepalmbeaches.com/bead-retreat-2021/  My project features a Raku pendant made by the well known raku artist Marianne Kasparian.

I've also signed up for the Las Vegas Beaders' Dream Retreat spring 2022.  Yes, that is a year away but hope is important.  http://www.beadersdreamretreat.com/  Beki Haley's retreats are well known and a great way to visit, learn, travel, and BEAD.

Soon I hope for details to arrive to be able to sign up for the 2022 Bead Cruise with Heather Powers.  The web site is not updated yet.  We sure had a great time on the 2020 cruise just before........  http://www.beadcruise.com/

I hope this little chit chat finds you well.  Stay safe and BEad happy.

Marcia

Bling Sparkle Glow

Missing your sparkle?

The new year has arrived with my random thoughts related to the beady world:

Bead and Button gone gone gone.  The bead fellowship that event provided has created a void.  It certainly was the highlight of my year for many many years.  Bead and Button - does anyone remember the dinosaur's?  They were all over the streets of Milwaukee my first year.  

2018 - the year of my book signing

What no bead retreats?  No in person retreats to hug and share together.  Replaced for now with Virtual retreats.  I do look forward to getting back to the in person retreats.  Colorado Bead retreat in 2016 was one of the most memorable.  So many others also come to mind.

Bead Store beading classes and events almost non-existent with the Covid numbers surging yet again.  I am missing the events at The Beaded Garden when I often hosted the travelling instructor at my house.  I hope that will return in 2021.

Zoom to the rescue for a bead class fix and some connection with people, not quite the same as in person but still good for these days.   I have done some great pieces with new to me instructors.    Here are a few of them.  "Cupcake" by Catherine Haedrich, a variation of "Frozen" by Cindy Holsclaw, and variation of "Luna Moth" by Holly Bean.  (My variations are all about my lack of height and need to keep things light.)  Zoom has been a great thing for me!!

Then there was that announcement about Swarovski moving out of the DIY market to become more exclusive.  More news will come as they move forward in this transition but for a designer of beady things that sparkle, this news was yet another blow to my beady world.  We sure have had a lot to cope with!  Awakenings by Alexandra Sydorenko sure has BLING.

Covid, Politics, Racial Injustice, Social Distancing, and now no sparkle in our future.  Ok, so seriously, we can deal with this.  Small stuff with all that is going on in the world.  But the gut punch at this time still hurt.  What about that stash of sparkle?  What to do?  Use it?  Sell it? (If anyone is buying - people are MAD at the Swarovski attitude toward DIY artists.)  As with most things in life, time will tell.

And finally, I've gone totally gray/white now.  I promised a picture of the all cut off hair look.  Here it is with my fun new glasses.  I do not missing sitting for the coloring at all.  I may grow the hair back out longer but doubt I will go back to coloring my hair.  I own it now.  This move has been quite a release from the constant coloring requirements as my hair grows fast.  Hair FREEDOM.  Yes indeed, as I have read from so many others on the topic, it is a GOOD thing.  Bring on 2021.

Who would have guessed?

2020 Rambling  

Here is a bit of trivia for you.   WAY back in the 1970's and 80's I was very active in the African Violet societies.  For several years I wrote and edited the state magazine.  My article was called "Ramblings of a Bloomin Idiot".  I guess some things never change.

I'll start with my silly hair.  The 'gray' continues to grow.  First in the total lock down, the length got to me and I cut off (I really should say I hacked it off) about 5".  I resisted cutting more.  A month later, after salons opened, I went in with freshly washed wet hair and told her to cut.  I said, un-tailored, uneven, messy, easy.  She had fun.  My plan was to have a few cuts and then decide if I can deal with the uncolored hair.  This shelter in place with no gatherings time seems perfect for the grand experiment to see if I can tolerate how I look with total gray/white hair.  I am enjoying the shorter wild look.  It is so much easier to care for.  Wash, brush, shake a bit, call it done.  Since I don't go hardly anywhere except outside to walk my miles in sweaty Florida summer weather, short makes sense.  This photo was taken not long after the stylish cut.  The old lady hair was really just starting to come in.  More hair in a minute.

Next bit of rambling is a sad note for the bead world.  The announcement by Kalmbach publishing about the magazine, show and book division closing was very sad indeed.  Bead and Button was for years the focus of my year.  All else was planned around various timelines associated with the big show.  It will be greatly missed.  I can only hope that someone will take up the charge to have something for us to look forward to.  We shall see.  On a personal note, I was in the final stages of approval for a second book.  I'm not sure where that will go, quite possibly no where.  A future book is yet another thing that falls in the category of 'time will tell'.  Finally, also in the Bead and Button saga, a bittersweet chance of fate results in my being published in the final issue of Bead and Button.  I can still remember the thrill to see my first publication in the magazine which was Tila Token.  Another bit of trivia, my final publication in the magazine also uses Tila beads.  So I started with Tila and have ended with Tila.  Is there a song there?

Zoom.  Zooming.  Zoomed.  What the heck!  Zoom is another form of communication which has quickly become common place.  I've taken several beading classes, attended friends get together meetings, even hosted a sale or two as well as demos of how to do things.  You just never know, maybe I will decide I really like it.  But right now, today, I can honestly say it is just barely better than not doing these things at all.  For me, I'd rather be able to be in person.  While that is not a glowing endorsement, these are strange times, so I am recommending that others give it a chance.  It is a way to help cope with this situation, learn from someone normally out of reach or well known, and enjoy beading with others - sort of.

Hair cut #2.  Growing out.  But still not a dramatic change.  Probably another 2 or 3 cuts.  That will have to come in a future blog.

You can see me wearing a "POP ART" necklace.  The basic collage card available from Pamela Garbig on Etsy.  https://www.etsy.com/shop/PamelaGarbigArt  I have a problem wearing anything heavy so I am now working to make necklaces lightweight.  These little wood cut pieces are fun, work up very quickly, and are great for all kinds of projects.  Fun things to make us smile right now are very good indeed.  They make great gifts as well along a theme for a friend.  My butterfly sample flew north.

  

More rambling with possibilities to come....

Here is a sneak peak of a few projects which will be coming out as kits or patterns as I get to it.  Some were going in the "maybe" book.  My topic was the name of one of my projects.  Split Personality.

Why Split Personality?

Well, I have combined some bead weaving and bead embroidery for several years.  I taught several classes that combined the two types of beading, including at Bead and Button.  After my husband passed, I was kind of hung up creating for a long time.  Then when I started making Regina Payne’s Mountain Girl over and over for about a year, it finally stimulated my creative juices and I made my first real “Split Personality” design.  I thought about it and it seemed a natural transition from mostly bead weaving to the combination of bead weaving and bead embroidery as sort of my before and after Jack died creative soul.  I had life with him before, followed by a different life after.  So I have a split personality in that way for me and for my art.

For Now, Stay Safe and BEad Happy.

Change is in the wind

I hope this edition of my blog finds you well.  I have been silent for a long time.  That is mostly a good thing.  Spending less time in front of my computer and more time doing other things is really good for me.  More walking, soaking in my pool, travelling, and creating.

Today, amid the Coronavirus (Covid-19), some time for reflection is in order.  When I started this blog, cases in the United States were at 50,000.   Today, less than a month later, it is 10 times that, over 500,000.  No guess as to where that number will be in another month.  But enough of that, we are all swimming in discussion, fear, and panic over the situation.

My news, I made a decision on my official web site recently, www.baublesbybalonis.net.  That is one of the reasons for this blog.  I am NOT renewing the domain or web site service itself.  It will expire on May 20, 2020.  I decided it was time when I went in to update and realized it had been since sometime last fall that I'd changed things.  My Bead and Button classes had not even been announced.  I decided that if I don't 'care' enough to keep up with the changes for over 5 months, it is time to let it go, save the money for something else.

You can still find me on Facebook both as myself or as Marcia Balonis Designs.  I maintain my Etsy shop at Baublesbybalonis for all patterns, kits, and other odds and ends.  I do have an Instagram account - marciabalonis, and Pinterest is Marcia Balonis.  And I am still sending out my newsletter.  I use Mail Chimp.  You can ask me to add you on the list if you want to.

Busy creating is good right now.  And I have several new items which will be going into my Etsy shop.  These were created to teach at my LBS (local bead store).  Maybe I'll be teaching again, later, I hope.

Scribble up Herringbone

Mosaic Tile

 Rice A Roni

I have continued my beading transition from mostly bead weaving to a combination of bead weaving with bead embroidery.  I think of the dual designs as reflective of my current state of mind.....Split Personality.  This one is called Moon Child.

Why Split Personality?  Well, I have combined some bead weaving and bead embroidery for several years.  After my husband passed, I was kind of hung up from creating for a long time.  All I seemed to do was to make Regina Payne’s Mountain Girl over and over and over, that repetitive process finally stimulated my creative juices and I made my first real “Split Personality” design.  I thought about it and it seemed a natural transition from mostly bead weaving to the combination as sort of my before and after Jack died creative soul.  I had life with him before followed by a different life after.  So I have a split personality in that way for me and for my art.

This last month I have more time at home with kitties.  Chance resulted in my adoption of a new rescue kitty.  He is getting spoiled with the amount of home time.  Meet Marty.

I hope you are surviving well.  This will certainly be a time we will remember.  I do fear for the future and pray some of the changes to come will ultimately be for the better.

Demi Round Beads

At first I wasn't sure I was going to like the Demi round beads.  As I've tried them in different types of projects I have decided I really love them.  There are a few specific uses in which, in my opinion, they are really an improvement over other bead options.

They really work well to cup a round bead in a design when making an angle.  With a pearl or druk, when designing a curve, the demi round really aids in the look and function of the design.  I used both the Demi 11 & 8 in this design called Arabella.  Arabella works equally well with Paisley Duo and Zoliduo beads.

On a brick stitch edge for bead embroidery, I have found I like the Demi round size 8 bead.  It works up as with any size 8 seed bead on the edge, faster than with an 11, yet the slim look of the thinner bead is much more attractive to me than the traditional size 8 on the edge.

For a pretty chain, called the Bicycle Chain, I prefer the Demi 8 to the "O" bead often used for this chain.  The smaller size works up easier to get the stitching nice and keep tension tight.  I use the Demi size 8 with a size 15 seed bead replacing the "O" bead and size 11 seed bead.  It really is a sweet chain for this sparkling pendant.

In this spiral necklace design, I wanted a tiny splash of color without taking up much space.  What a perfect place for a Demi size 11 bead.  This piece, called Spiral Dreams, uses the Demi to add just a touch of color in a small space making the design more interesting.  When a size 15 is too small, or in this case, to add contrast without taking up more space, the Demi bead solved a design issue in style.

And from Diane Dennis, I learned that they are great in a herringbone chain.  Yet another perfect and interesting use for the Demi Round.  For this chain, the size 8 demi round was used with a size 11 catch bead.  It would work equally as well with a size 11 demi round and a size 15 catch bead for a more delicate look.

So, give them a try!  You may find that you enjoy using them as well in may places to add a touch of color or for a new look to an old design.

Mountain Girl Anniversary

It has been nearly a year since Regina Payne released Mountain Girl to the bead world.  I have had so many people ask me why I'm making so many Mountain Girl bracelets or ask me when I'm going to do something new, I thought I'd write about the topic for this blog.  It has helped me to reflect on my year of making Mountain Girl.

I think everyone in the bead world must know the story of Regina Payne's Mountain Girl bracelet.  The condensed version is that after hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, she wanted to do something special to raise funds for the people of the island.  She did a step by step tutorial on Facebook to produce this stunning bracelet with donations going to help.  MANY others from the bead world joined the cause donating items for a drawing for those who donated to help Puerto Rico.  It is a wonderful example of people coming together to help out.  Regina wanted to do something special and ended up with a spectacular demonstration of what people can do when they pull together.
Regina's Mountain Girl tutorial

I started my first Mountain Girl bracelet on October 2nd as Regina posted pictures on Facebook with the tutorial.  I worked each day to keep up as she posted steps.  I captured the daily lesson to have all of her steps for the future.  It is a beautiful design.  This is my first Mountain Girl.

October 10th, my husband Jack died.  I was almost finished, ready to edge the cuff.  My work came to a halt as events took over my life.  I returned to my Mountain Girl on October 24th.  I only needed to put on the edge and the clasp.  During the gap, I did almost no beading.  I certainly did no creative beading, no designing, only some therapeutic work requiring no real thought.  Frankly, until just a few days ago I had not done anything 'new'.  I'd look at new beads, and just go blank.  I continued to bead.  Lord knows I have enough kits from many different talented bead artists ready be made to allow the process to get back to creativity to take a LONG time.  

So, back to my Mountain Girl story.  Timing is everything, well almost, the design is perfection!  At this point, I think I've completed 10 of the cuffs.  I'm tethered to that point in time, October 2017.  All was right in my world.  I was preparing for a bead show and proposing to teach at several other events.  Since that day, when I need some bead therapy, I make another Mountain Girl.  I've made for friends, I've made for family, some sold, some I've kept.  The design I was creating at that point in time has become my mental salvation, my go to, my rock to occupy my hands and create beauty without frustration of designing.  Mountain Girl will all come together to a beautiful result.  That helps me.  For some deep reason I don't quite understand, I'm linked to it.  As I said, I'm tethered to that point in time.

Designing new work from a group of beads is often frustrating with a result being a pile of Fireline pieces and nothing else.  For 11 months, that did not soothe my soul.  I have gone back to 'fix' several designs that needed something to make the design work right.  Several pieces that could have gone in the book were put aside for later because of something I didn't like or maybe because it was to similar to something already going into the book.  So to others it looks like there is something new.  It is not new.  I have fixed several of those things.   Nothing I would call new.  This piece, called Marquee, is actually something done when the Quadra-Lentil first came out.  As a Trendsetter, I often tried something that didn't quite work and set it aside.   When the new Czechmate diamond was released, my problem with the original was solved and this piece was born from the dust of a prior piece.  Not new but recreated.

Still kind of stuck, this summer I tried an Inspiration Kit from Kinga Nichols to spark my mind.  I don't really love what I've done.  The kit from Kinga is beautiful and inspirational.  My mind was not in that place to create.  It is ok and may have started a spark.  I did discover that I really like Demi Round 8's for the brick stitch edge.  They work up quick yet are thinner so I think look better than a standard size 8 seed bead.  Also, this is bead embroidery not bead weaving.  My weaving design mojo was still missing.

I'm happy that I had Mountain Girl and so many other kits from talented bead artists to occupy my hands and mind!  If my design creativity stayed tethered to that point in time, so be it.  I'm was happy with that.  Yet, as I got closer and closer to a year of doing Mountain Girl, I started to feel a gentle pull of ideas for something new.  Time will tell if it continues.  This piece, named Arabella, is all new, it came from a spark of inspiration, a drive to create, and desire to make something new from a pile of beads.

All is well, I'm enjoying my beading, I'm enjoying travel, I'm enjoying the events associated with the release of my book, Lush and Layered Bead Weaving. I'm enjoying my pool and house.  I love walking my new neighborhood, the wildlife is wonderful to see.  And when my hands wish to be busy and my mind does not, I still have Mountain Girl.

My favorite Mountain Girl.