Eight is Enough

Well, for now at least, these are my last buttons. After making these for awhile I've started to wish they didn't end so soon. So I'm taking that as a sign that it's time to start a large project.

But in the mean time here are some pictures of the rest of the buttons. A fine little collection if I do say so myself.

Now at least I have some last minute gifts if I need them. Just cut the shanks out and glue a magnet or a pin back on and voila! instant gift.

Here we have the copper and purple button. I am really happy with how this one turned out. The matte copper, apollo gold and matte crystal picasso beads are all SuperNova Hybrids from Starman Inc. I have had these beads since last fall but haven't had a chance to use them until now. I thought the purple and copper was a lovely combination.

The blue and yellow button was my attempt at a pattern. It came out of a doodle I drew and I just wanted to see how it would look in beads. I also love blue and yellow together. This button uses Czech and Japanese seed beads.

The orange and blue button turned out petty good. I sometimes forget what colors orange looks good with, and I end up not using it at all. But when I do use it I really like it. This button uses Czech and Japanese seed beads

So that's all for now. Not much else going on around here. Just waiting for winter to go away and stop snowing every two weeks. Jack is doing good and J.P. is as busy as ever. We have started biking again, it's nice to get out of the house and breath some fresh air, but that's it. Good bye for now, B.

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Button It Up

Lately I have been spending what spare time I have in my bead room. Mostly making button and marathon watching HBO's Rome on DVD (thank you work for the Christmas gift of a portable DVD player). Here are a few pictures of the button collection so far:

So I will admit that this is not my best work, but that's not really the point of making these. For me these buttons are a way of trying out different color combinations and a way to try out and perfect different embroidery techniques. They are also a perfect little respite from larger projects.

This jet & silver one turned out pretty well. The beads used are Japanese seeds with a nice Czech transparent grey rainbow tri-cut for sparkle and a lovely coin pearl.

I love teal and green and purple. When I'm in a rut this is my go to color combination. I'll also admit that this button was a work in progress when I decided to finish it. This button uses all Japanese seeds.

With this pink and grey button I went over board with the beaded ruffle. It turned out a little more messy than I set out to make it. However, I loved playing with pink and grey and I would expect to see a bigger project with this color combination. Again with the Japanese seed beads.

Ah, the red and pink button. There are something I really like about this and others that I considered pulling out and redoing. In truth this button suffers from "too much going on". I wanted to try out too much and as much as I like red and pink together, I have a hard time with it. This button uses Czech glass flowers, Czech seeds and Japanese seeds.

So this is what I've been up to, in fact I already have one more button to photograph and post. But I need to start a wall hanging for someone that I've been putting off for awhile now. I will probably get started on this with in the next week. Latter B.

Getting back into the swing of things

I've been back for a few weeks now, but have had a hard time getting back into my routine and I got a cold immediately after getting home. So you'll have to forgive my absence. My vacation was wonderful. J.P. & I had a fantastic time in Thailand. It is definitely some place I will go back to. Most of our time was spent on the beach with a few days to spend in Bangkok to see the sites. Here are some pictures for your enjoyment.

I have been spending quite a bit of time in my studio. Traveling in a foreign land has given me a burst of inspiration and ideas and that is something that's hard to come by in the middle of February. Hopefully I will get some pictures up soon. That's all for now, it's good to be back. B.

Hello. Goodbye.

Sorry to have been so absent as of late. Lots of mundane stuff going on and we have been getting ready to leave for a few weeks on vacation, so I haven't had a lot of time to write. I have found some time to work in the bead room. Finished "the hand". But I still need to get to the fabric store to find the right fabric for Jen to do the quilting part with. Still the hard part for me is over.

After I finish one of these large pieces I like to make beaded buttons. They are quick to make and I use these as an opportunity to try out different color combos and bead embroidery techniques. The lovely thing about these covered button forms is that I can take out the shank and turn it into a pin or magnet.

This little guy will probably be made into a pin for my little sister, who is a lover of all things pink and looks good in green.

Well that's all there is to report for now. Probably won't have a chance to update for a few weeks so stay safe and we'll talk latter. B

I suppose it's time

Now that the holidays are over it's time to get back in the bead room and try to finish the projects that I've been working on for the last few months. Between work, the holidays, family weddings and life in general I haven't had a lot of time to spend on this square. Here is a picture to show how close I am to being done with it. Just the top left hand corner and in between the fingers and that's it.

Then it's off to my friend Jen to be quilted into a wall hanging, then maybe some fringe or something. It depends on what Jen does with it.

After I'm done I think I'll make some beaded buttons or pins. Something small and quick.

Later B.

Snow Day!

Well, it's Winter. I had been kinda hoping for a no-snow winter this year, and with the fall being so mild I was lulled into a false sense of security. But then this morning we woke up to this.

It's not that I absolutely hate snow, I just hate driving in it. And with the forecast calling for very cold temperatures and more snow it looks like I'll be driving in quite a bit more of it. At least there isn't any wind. That would make it even more scary and messy.

Jackson on the other hand can't get enough of the white stuff. I don't know what it is but snow makes my dog go crazy. He snoots around the yard with his face in it, then comes inside with his "snow beard" only to shake it off on who ever was kind enough to open the door. Nice.

So the great thing about snow today is that it is the perfect excuse not to do a thing. Well, maybe not a thing, I did get my laundry done and I took some picture but that's about it. Tonight I'll finish watching Strangers With Candy and eat some of J.P.'s Sicilian Cream Puff. Mmmm...

Later, B.

My Jack Dog

This is Jackson, my 4 year old Northwest Farm Terrier. I thought I would practise posting pictures and because I have an over abundance of Jack pictures I am using these for practise.

Here is another picture of Jack at about 4 months old. As you can see he has really fluffed out sense he was a puppy.

Okay thats all for now,

B.