One of a Kind

On Friday Maria and I made what is becoming an annual trip to the Christmas One of a Kind Show. It is always great to see the many and varied creations of the amazing vendors.We were please to see the many different jewellry and lampwork artists. There were some very amazing glass and pottery which I resisted buying.

I purchased a few gifts for my two nieces for Christmas. I hope that they will like their one of a kind gifts. Maria and I could not leave without getting some Tinkleberry's chocolates (chocolate covered dried fruits).

I went back to the show on Saturday evening with Anna, she want to get something for her grandson. I went back to one booth that I liked on Friday. Studio Robert Wu, had the most amazing hand marbled pieces of art. I decided to get one of the beautiful peacock graphics.

from artist's website

Beadwork - Rainforest Cascade Necklace

I finished the second class project from the classes with Margie Deeb last month. I realized after I was done that I had not followed the instructions. I did not have two fringes coming out of each of the anchoring beads. I also did not like the way the drop enamel beads hang. I need to redo this part of the necklace.

I have been wearing the foundation multi-strand necklace. It looks great on this own.

Beadwork - Snowflake revised

I remade and rephotographed my small snowflake design. I used a blue felt background so that the white and silver-lined beads would show better. The pictures were better but could still be improved. I am reading Photographing Arts, Crafts & Collectibles by Steve Meltzer and learning many things to help improve my photos.

I now have 10 kits ready for techniques night next week at the Toronto Bead Society meeting. Each kit includes enough materials to make 6 snowflakes. They are very quick and easy to make. Techinques night is always a fun and creative evening, especially in December as we also share holiday treats!

My happy colour!

At the end of one of my toddler programs this morning, one of the toddlers came up and started to talk to me about the colour I was wearing. I was wearing my finished red collar of colour and light with my favourite red top. She thought that red was a colour that made me happy. I told her she was right, it is one of my favourite colour. I asked which colour made her happy... it was pink of course. I then pointed out to her that there were some pink daggers on my necklace.

Beadwork - Red Collar of light and colour

Friday's class with Margie Deeb was for the Collar of light and colour. This piece has a foundation of tubular herringbone fringed with a variety of red and pink daggers. During the class we started the foundation. Later in the afternoon we started to do the fringing. Based on the sizing of the class sample, I realized that I needed to adjust where the fringe starts. My foundation needed to be 18 inches long, so I started the fringe 2 inches from the end.

Collar in progress at the end of class

Finished collar!!

Colour Play

Yesterday was a great, colourful day. I attended the Around the colour wheel in 5 hours class with Margie Deeb. We learn the properties of colour and how to create various palettes. It was fun to see how different the palettes were even when we start with type of scheme.

Here is a palette Suzanne and I create for a floral print.

To help Roxann use some interesting pink beads we did this.

Thanks Margie, it was a great day. I am ready to create colour palettes with contrast in hue, value, intensity and temperature!

Colour Guru Margie Deeb

I am so looking forward to tomorrow, as I will be taking my first class with colour guru Margie Deeb. She is coming to Toronto to teach and present with the Toronto Bead Society. Wednesday's class is Around the wheel in 5 hours. On Friday I will be making the Collar of glass and light and on Saturday the Rainforest Cascade Necklace. She is also going to be presenting to the general Toronto Bead Society membership at our meeting on Wednesday November 11 @ 7 p.m.

I have enjoyed her two books about colour, The beader's guide to color and The beader's color palette. I used one of the palettes as inspiration for my Sea Aneome box series .

It is going to be an inspiring time. I will post thoughts and pictures over the next few days