Ottawa - Days 4 & 5

Saturday in Ottawa was another grey and rainy day, which made it a great day to spend beading. Maria taught to classes for the Ottawa Bead Society. In the morning the class was for diagonal weave and swag necklaces. In the afternoon is was a variety of "V" necklaces, everything from the basic single "V" to the new Pearl Drops Crystal "V". Everyone had a wonderful time creating something new.

Maria assisting a student

 

Today dawned sunny and bright. Maria and I went to Sunday service at St. John the Baptist Shrine. The service was in Ukranian, so I did not understand it, but it was a beautiful church and service. We then setup for Maria's presentation about contemporary Ukranian beadwork. Over 40 people attended the presentation. They also had a chance to purchase a selection of Maria's kits, patterns and books.

Tomorrow before we head back to Toronto we are going to check out a few of the other bead stores in the Ottawa area.

Ottawa - Day 3

It was a grey and rainy day today. We spent a few hours viewing the amazing collection at the National Gallery.

I was inspired by this painting by Lawren Harris. I am not sure what I am going to make using these colours. Maybe a box or a pendant.

from National Gallery

We also stopped by the National Library and Archives. We spent some time looking at books about genealogy.

Tonight we setup for tomorrow's classes with the Ottawa Bead Society.

Ottawa - Day 2

Today was spent at the Museum of Civilization. Here is a selection of the many wonderful things that we saw.

 The plaster sculpture "Spirit of Haida Gwaii" by Bill Reid

 Neckpiece with Raven design from the Tlingit

From the late 1800 a Sioux doll embellished with beads

 Pueblo coral and turquoise necklace 

Beads and needles

A hat embellished with shell in a display about the postmistress of Cavendish, Lucy Maud Montgomery's grandmother

A collage picture created with postage stamps

Tomorrow we are off the the National Gallery.

Ottawa - Day 1

Maria and I have arrived in Ottawa. On our way into the city we stopped and visited Dragon's Lair Beads. Their store is bright and open. The classroom space has lots of natural light.

 Maria and the Dragon's Lair family

I of course could not leave without buying some beads. I purchased a faceted glass bead to use as a finial for my Smaug box. I also got a beautiful 27mm Swarovski rivoli to make into a bezeled pendant.

Tomorrow it is off to the Museum of Civilization which is across the street from our hotel

Growing Bougainvillea

Here is my first of a small bunch of bougainvillea for a necklace designed by Kerrie Slade. This piece is in the April issue of Bead and Button. It is worked in my least favourite stitch, brick stitch. Once I got going it was not difficult to do, but I may not make as many of the flowers as suggested in the design.

Bermuda Crown Jewel

I finally finished this crown jewel from Laura McCabe's book "Creating Crystal Jewelry with Swarovksi".

I always admired these jewels in Laura's ad in beading magazines. I purchased the book last year along with a number of Swarovski rivolis to make some crown jewels. I had difficulty with the bezeling. I am now more comfortable creating the bezel around the rivolis. I did have to undo a few as I was going along, but I love the finished piece.

I used Bermuda blue rivolis and 2XAB jet 3mm bicones.

Bezeled Turquoise Pendant

My latest creation is a bezeled turquoise pendant. I had this beautiful turquoise pendant.

I decided that it would look better bezeled with some bronze coloured beads.

I just have to make the band to wear it on. I have tried a few different styles but have not been happy with them. Maybe the next will be better.