J is for jewelry

For awhile--several years in fact--I was obsessed with bead crochet and during that time I made numerous beaded crochet bracelets and necklaces...I haven't made any of these in awhile--right now I seem to be on a knitting spree, but here is some of the JEWELRY I made then...

the Creative Healing Zone

My fine art and crafting have always sustained me through any big transition or crisis in my life. Currently I am in a major transition, and once again I am finding myself--and taking back parts of myself I gave away--by meditatively, quietly, calmly stringing tiny beads in intricate patterns.

Every night, I sit and string up new bead patterns, exploring different color palettes, and the feeling of being adrift---which has been with me since I was forced to move out of my home of 6 years--melts away and a feeling of well being grows as the string of beads grows longer.


I am stringing the seed beads on thread to crochet into bracelets---and after I have strung enough beads for a bracelet (about 40 inches), then I crochet a few inches to see how the pattern and colors I chose looks.

Like knitting, stringing the beads and crocheting the bracelets is a repetitive act---with a rhythm all its own, which puts me into a meditative state---the healing creative zone--is how I term it. Transitional states are always painful for me--and this one is especially painful and chaotic---but while I am stringing beads nothing else matters---just the beads and the pattern that is growing beneath my fingers. As I do this I meditate on letting go, and on some level I am putting all that I am letting go of---into each bracelet. For me, the process of creating something has always been more important and more satisfying than the end result.

I think this quote from a book I have been reading lately----THE KNITTING SUTRA Craft as a Spiritual Practice by Susan Gordon Lydon--- sums it all up nicely:
"...the purpose of craft is not so much to make beautiful things as it is to become beautiful inside while you are making those things."

Books As Gifts

Only 28 days (yikes!) until that BIG HOLIDAY. Here are some books I think would make great gifts for most Crafters/Artists (most of these are on my wish list):

Kristin Knits by Kristin Nicholas.
Ah! Color for knitters! Noted knitwear designer and color connoisseur Kristin Nicholas encourages knitters to conquer their color inhibitions, learn a little basic color theory, and create personally satisfying fiber palettes. Kristin has created 25 designs for hats, mittens, scarves, socks, and sweaters in sumptious Nashua Handknits Julia Yarn. This book is eye candy I can't wait to own!


Heirloom Buttons to Make: A gallery of decorative fabric, needle-lace, crochet, and ribbon and braid closures you can create by Nancy Nehring. The subtitle says it all here. To quote one Amazon customer review : "If you knit, crochet, or sew and like to give your garments a little extra, this book will give you lots of new ideas."


Favorite Socks: 25 Timeless Designs from Interweave by Ann Budd (Editor), Anne Merrow (Editor). These 25 sock patterns are taken from various issues of Interweave Press magazines such as "Interweave Knits" and "Piecework" and "Spin-Off." Many of the original issues of Interweave Knits have gone out of print and Favorite Socks ensures these patterns are accessible for a new generation of knitters. Besides providing many classic patterns, this collection also includes a helpful tutorial on knitting socks on two circular needles, and instructions for both toe-up and top-down knitted socks.. However, I think this sock knitting book is not for the novice sock knitter---but aimed at more veteran sock knitters--if you have never knit socks, or never used 4 double pointed knitting needles you may want to watch a video or take a class to learn to knit a basic sock.


Crochet Jewelry: 40 Beautiful and Unique Designs by Waejong Kim and Anna Pulvermakher. The 40 crochet projects range from easy to complicated. The instructions at the beginning of the book are quite thorough and cover some unusual techniques not usually found in a crochet book such as hairpin crochet and cable techniques. "Featured projects include multicolored bead and crochet necklaces, lacy spider web chokers, delicate yarn and wire bracelets, lively cherry earrings, mohair flower pins, and pretty cocktail rings embellished with beads and stones." I am an avid bead crocheter, so I am quite intrigued by this book of unusual crochet jewelry.

I have just started working in a bookstore again! so I will be blogging about the store and more crafty books soon--now back to knitting those holiday gifts.....

New Bead Crochet

New bead crochet--orange leaves and fringes....a choker to wear to my daughter's graduation...she's finished her Masters! and this just happens to go with the dress I'm wearing--so I finished it, just in time! and it seems only fitting that the big carved leaf was a gift from my other daughter....

Happy Graduation Kesia! and much Congrats from your Mom! you are precious and will give much to the world.

A note on technique: the free form fringes were added on after I completed the bead crochet.

New Projects

Ripple crochet scarf in various wool yarns (some natural dyed by me about 15 years ago!)--I just need to weave in all the ends, then it will be sent off to the Afghans for Afghans project. They accept not only afghans--made of wool--but hand knit or crocheted (from wool) baby blankets, hats, vests, mittens, socks and scarfs to help keep Afghani people warm.


Some beading in progress (WIP)--this one is a small bead embroidery...rather freeform, as I am just letting the piece lead me...


This one is right angle stitch, then embellished--playing around with a freeform right angle sampler....

Quote for today: "To be on a quest is nothing more or less than to become an asker of questions. " ---Sam Keen

Mermaid & Crystals Bead Crochet

A few years ago my sister sent me this lovely Mother-of-pearl and silver mermaid pendant made by an artisan in Alaska. Since I can't wear metal--I usually wore the pendant on a black cord--but always wanted to create a bead crochet necklace for the pendant...so here it is. Since I used mostly crystals, and white and clear seedbeads this was difficult to photograph with my point and shoot canon---but isn't the pendant lovely? I crocheted the seed beads and crystals around a silk cord--which ties in the back. I used silver bead caps on the ends of the bead crochet to finish this necklace off.

Borealis Beads and Esty.com Links

Today I received an e-mail from another Etsy seller that she has featured me on her blog. (Thanks Imacha!) Last December I opened a shop, Borealis Beads, at Etsy.com, selling my beadwork and other craft items. Etsy.com is an online marketplace for buying and selling all things handmade. One nice perk of joining Etsy has been meeting online all manner of (very helpful) other crafters; and also seeing what other crafters are busy creating. Etsy sellers list new items for sell everyday---today I listed for sale this just finished diamond patterned bead crochet bracelet. If you haven't visited Etsy.com yet--you are in for a nice treat!