Friday 18 December 2009

Use the Muse III revealed

Finally I can show my piece from the Use the Muse III competition run by Scarlett Larson.

Autumnal Muse

This Muse - the gorgeous copper butterfly - conjured up memories of flowers, gardens, romanticism and Autumnal colours. Using bead embroidery, some newly acquired lace flowers, and learning how to make peyote leaves, I set about creating a romantic Autumnal garden for this “musing” butterfly.

A butterfly lights beside us, like a sunbeam ... and for a brief moment it's glory and beauty belong to our world ... but then it flies on again, and although we wish it could have stayed, we are so thankful to have seen it at all.
Anon













You can check out all the entries and the winners here.

Thursday 17 December 2009

Beading goals for 2010

As we near the end of 2009 - (and believe me I am personally glad to see this year bite the dust) - and we round the corner to 2010, I get to thinking where I'd like my beading, and wearable art, to go next year.

There are so many techniques out there that I just don't know about, so my main objective is to learn lots of new techniques .... things like a spiral rope (can't believe I haven't done this one yet). Ndebele is another technique I'd like to take up. I'd like to take my wire-work to another level - get out of this rut that I seem to have found myself in with wire, and explore and create more satisfying pieces out of this great medium. As far as Bead Embroidery goes ... I'd like to explore and make the designs that have been swimming around in my head for ages ... and incorporate the new techniques I want to learn. It seems that seed beads have taken over my beading desk LOL ... I know I have "normal" beads on there somewhere, but these pesky little things just get in the way. :)

2010 sees my first major Exhibition as well - set down for the month of May. I am both scared and excited all at the same time at the prospect of doing this. Now, I'm sure everything will turn out OK, and if I can sell some of my pieces, that would be a major bonus.

Competitions seem to be a major part of my beading life now ... I love the challenge of entering competitions. The 2010 Swarovski comp is one that I've already got a piece made for - and I hope to explore wire and crystals again next year for the same comp. I also hope to be entering more shows - Brisbane and Sydney just for starters. The "Muse" competition (a US based comp) - run by Scarlett Lanson, is one that I just love entering as it inspires me to go that little bit further ... and who doesn't love a mystery with the "Muse".

So, 2010 ... I'm hoping that it's a better year, and it brings lots of new and exciting ventures. :)