Beading Book Reviews

9/10ths of the beadweavers of my acquaintance recommend Carol Huber Cypher's Mastering Beadwork. I was a bit ambivalent. I love bead books but try not to collect every one ever printed in English.

I subscribe to Bead&Button and Beadwork magazine, both of which focus on beadweaving. Even when I was strictly stringing I enjoyed those two which seemed to offer more than the eyecandy offered by Stringing or Step by Step Beads (which now has much more beadweaving than it used to). I even subscribed to the old Lapidary Journal, even though I don't do that sort of thing.

No, I'm not knocking stringing-- I do plenty of it, but I have an artist's independent soul and am past the point, if I was ever there exactly, where I want anyone to tell me how to string beads, thanks. Maybe I just love the mystery of 'things I can't do'.

Though I own quite a few bead books, the best of which is Robert Liu's Collectible Beads, none are beadweaving which is the most recently acquired skill in my jewelry making set.

As for my magazines, after I scan them, read the features and mark projects I may want to look at again you can find me laboring over Tips and Techniques or Basics as I try to wrap my mind around where the needle goes next in a stitch I'm trying to learn. Still with all the hoopla I really wondered if I needed this book.

Then Crafter's Choice sent a mailer that featured it and it would basically run me $7 if I added a few more books. $7 is unbeatable. The list price is $25. So I bit the bullet and bought the book along with Theresa Flores Geary's the illustrated bead bible, Juju Vail's The Beader's Handbook and Barbara Case's Making Jewelry with Gemstone Beads.

After looking through Mastering Beadwork I understand why Marlaine of Rainy Lane said it wasn't really for beginners. I wouldn't want to teach myself peyote from this-- please-- go get a few copies of Bead&Button and Beadwork and labor over Tips and Techniques or Basics.

I also understand why Carol Dean Sharpe of Sandfibers and Triz Tager of Triz Designs and others love the book!

Now that I've taught myself peyote, brick stitch, ladder stitch, right angle weave, square stitch, netting, herringbone and Ndebele (boy, I've been busy!) I'm so glad I have this book to help me go farther!

Just in the first section are awesome tips about bead mats, needles and their differences, keeping a journal, bead color consideration, and ergonomic tips. Then she has sections devoted to different types of beadwork. I can already tell that this book will be extremely useful as I better my craft.

As for the rest of the books I picked up, Geary's bead bible is the best of the lot. It's a nice little bead dictionary, a nice gift or addition to a bead lover's library. If you're a beginning beader the others may be of use.

If you're somewhat past the start of your beading journey save your bucks and pick up Creative Bead Weaving or The Art & Elegance of Beadweaving by Carol Wilcox Wells. They're the next books on my list.

Thoughts? Have a favorite or not so favorite book? Give us a heads up!

Focus On: Mink Hebert

A few months ago I got a yen for a bag. I don't do bags so it was quite a challenge for me to identify what I wanted and to stay in any sort of budget. Enter acajou, quirky, yet not too loud and with the addition of a custom pocket, perfect!
Mink impressed me with her professionalism as well, and I'd recommend her any time!
Love my bag, by the way!

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Name: Mink Hebert

Shop: http://acajou.etsy.com

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Tell us about yourself. What makes you, you?
I communicate through making things. I am interested in beauty and freedom~ creating for me is always an attempt to express that.

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Do you see yourself as an artist or craftsman or both?

Both. I think of Acajou as craft because a bag's function outweighs the import of it's visual language. I also paint and consider that more "serious" art.

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What made you want to be an artist?

I don't know that I ever made the conscious decision to be an artist. I have always been driven to create and I just think of it as play. It is a privilege and also a necessity.

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Why bags?

Bags are fun to make... I like pushing the possibilities of with them because the form is basic and their purpose so commonplace.

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How do you see your style?

Sophisticated yet childlike. Sometimes elegant, sometimes quirky.

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What's the most wonderful thing you've made? The oddest?

One of the first Little Kite Handbags I made captures what I am trying to achieve- I still go back to it as a reference. The oddest? Some of the things that don't make it to my shop!

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What inspires you?

Many things. I am inspired by Japanese, Scandinavian, and French design. Nature, children's books, the animal kingdom, anatomy, color, etc.

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Tell us about your creative process.

I spend the most time putting fabrics together. Looking at how colors and textures work together or contrast. I have patterns I made that I use for construction of each style of bag. The fun part is working with the individual textiles to make a piece unique.

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How did you get on Etsy and where else do you sell?

I found Etsy by chance almost two years ago and it took me a while to open shop. I also sell my bags in a boutique called, Tapestry, in Calgary, Canada and I am currently looking at other local venues to feature my designs.

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Describe your shop.

Busy, cheerful!

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Make a recommendation.

This is the first shop on Etsy that I hearted:http://www.charmfoundry.etsy.com/

I love it...

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Tell us the answer to a question that we didn't ask, but should have. If you can't think of anything, tell us something random.

What is next for Acajou? I am making dolls with the leftover scraps from my bags- I am excited because this is a way for me to keep from wasting fabric.

The Deadline Approacheth

The September theme for the EBWC is Complementary Contradictions, brought to us by Smadar's Treasure. I've no clue what I'm going to do with that!

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When the new theme is announced it's a sure sign that the deadline for the current theme is expiring. But my excitement isn't for the Art Deco EBWC. I broke three, read it, 3, needles yesterday and now am left with this one sadly bent and sorry excuse for a needle as I try to rush through the last third of my project (humph!)

No what I'm talking about is the Tatting Is Not A Lost Art Challenge that TotusMel is running. Today is the deadline and the judging will commence soon.

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I was disappointed that she blogged a totally different subject today. Oh well.

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The Rose Distilled piece was my entry. I folded the medallion up and embellished it, beaded a Ndebele rope-- my first-- and embellished it too. Different for me, but nice. I look forward to seeing if it places. Even if not, when TotusMel runs her next challenge I'll probably participate. I love her work but I find it so much easier to spend money on supplies than on finished jewelry.

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Here are most of the other entries. There's some really unique jewelry!

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I'll post about the winning entries when it's all over!

Poetry, Inspiration, Cats and God

Oh no, another cat pic!
Originally uploaded by Ramperto

Last week I spared you Smart in favor of Szymborska, but I'm ridiculously tired so Smart you get! Most of you have probably read it as it's frequently anthologized. I'm interested in your thoughts on it.

For myself, I love the rhythm and solemnity. I love how Jeoffry wreathes, fleas and camels as well as leaps, rolls, performs, looks, kicks up, works it, sharpens, washes, rubs and on and on and on. Jeoffry's constant motion and moods, his cleaning ritual and then his peaceful sleep are something all cat lovers have observed in their own furry friends.

I love Smart's idealization of Jeoffry's dallying with prey.

These lines:
For he keeps the Lord's watch in the night against the adversary.
For he counteracts the powers of darkness by his electrical skin and glaring eyes.
For he counteracts the Devil, who is death, by brisking about the life.
For in his morning orisons he loves the sun and the sun loves him.

are my favorite in the poem. But my favorite thing about it is how much Smart learned from his cat.

He admits:
For he is good to think on, if a man would express himself neatly.

and mentions things like duty, cleanliness, benevolence, patience, electricity and the blessing of God. Now certainly one can't agree with all of Smart's conclusions, but his appreciation and affection are touching.

It's something of a guilty pleasure for me because in my heart of hearts I feel that for poetry to be truly great I should be able to buy into it hook, line and sinker. I can't, but I think maybe he did which is close to, but not quite, good enough. Thus, while I love it, this poem misses perfection for me.

Some of this is prosaic, some of it just insane and some of it is brilliant and lyrical. Enjoy!

For I Will Consider My Cat Jeoffry (excerpt, Jubilate Agno)

For I will consider my Cat Jeoffry.
For he is the servant of the Living God duly and daily serving him.
For at the first glance of the glory of God in the East he worships in his way.
For this is done by wreathing his body seven times round with elegant quickness.
For then he leaps up to catch the musk, which is the blessing of God upon his prayer.
For he rolls upon prank to work it in.
For having done duty and received blessing he begins to consider himself.
For this he performs in ten degrees.
For first he looks upon his forepaws to see if they are clean.
For secondly he kicks up behind to clear away there.
For thirdly he works it upon stretch with the forepaws extended.
For fourthly he sharpens his paws by wood.
For fifthly he washes himself.
For sixthly he rolls upon wash.
For seventhly he fleas himself, that he may not be interrupted upon the beat.
For eighthly he rubs himself against a post.
For ninthly he looks up for his instructions.
For tenthly he goes in quest of food.
For having consider'd God and himself he will consider his neighbour.
For if he meets another cat he will kiss her in kindness.
For when he takes his prey he plays with it to give it a chance.
For one mouse in seven escapes by his dallying.
For when his day's work is done his business more properly begins.
For he keeps the Lord's watch in the night against the adversary.
For he counteracts the powers of darkness by his electrical skin and glaring eyes.
For he counteracts the Devil, who is death, by brisking about the life.
For in his morning orisons he loves the sun and the sun loves him.
For he is of the tribe of Tiger.
For the Cherub Cat is a term of the Angel Tiger.
For he has the subtlety and hissing of a serpent, which in goodness he suppresses.
For he will not do destruction, if he is well-fed, neither will he spit without provocation.
For he purrs in thankfulness, when God tells him he's a good Cat.
For he is an instrument for the children to learn benevolence upon.
For every house is incomplete without him and a blessing is lacking in the spirit.
For the Lord commanded Moses concerning the cats at the departure of the Children of Israel from Egypt.
For every family had one cat at least in the bag.
For the English Cats are the best in Europe.
For he is the cleanest in the use of his forepaws of any quadruped.
For the dexterity of his defence is an instance of the love of God to him exceedingly.
For he is the quickest to his mark of any creature.
For he is tenacious of his point.
For he is a mixture of gravity and waggery.
For he knows that God is his Saviour.
For there is nothing sweeter than his peace when at rest.
For there is nothing brisker than his life when in motion.
For he is of the Lord's poor and so indeed is he called by benevolence perpetually--Poor Jeoffry! poor Jeoffry! the rat has bit thy throat.
For I bless the name of the Lord Jesus that Jeoffry is better.
For the divine spirit comes about his body to sustain it in complete cat.
For his tongue is exceeding pure so that it has in purity what it wants in music.
For he is docile and can learn certain things.
For he can set up with gravity which is patience upon approbation.
For he can fetch and carry, which is patience in employment.
For he can jump over a stick which is patience upon proof positive.
For he can spraggle upon waggle at the word of command.
For he can jump from an eminence into his master's bosom.
For he can catch the cork and toss it again.
For he is hated by the hypocrite and miser.
For the former is afraid of detection.
For the latter refuses the charge.
For he camels his back to bear the first notion of business.
For he is good to think on, if a man would express himself neatly.
For he made a great figure in Egypt for his signal services.
For he killed the Ichneumon-rat very pernicious by land.
For his ears are so acute that they sting again.
For from this proceeds the passing quickness of his attention.
For by stroking of him I have found out electricity.
For I perceived God's light about him both wax and fire.
For the Electrical fire is the spiritual substance, which God sends from heaven to sustain the bodies both of man and beast.
For God has blessed him in the variety of his movements.
For, tho he cannot fly, he is an excellent clamberer.
For his motions upon the face of the earth are more than any other quadruped.
For he can tread to all the measures upon the music.
For he can swim for life.
For he can creep.

Christopher Smart

Do tell me what you think. Like it? Love it? Hate it? Why?

Art Deco Project Update

I'm really pushing at this point to finish. It took so long for me to settle in technique wise. Things are going faster now at least.

I wish I had more beads in different styles/sizes/colors/finishes and a better idea of the finishing techniques too.

Anyway, I'm loving it so far and may end of keeping this one!

Fives

If you don't want to do all 5, pick one or two! I'll go first:)

What are your 5 favorite art works? Have you seen them in person? Do you have plans to?
And I mean art in a very broad sense here.

The pyramids-- seen them three times-- worth seeing
The Great Wall of China-- no plans to see it, but would like to
The Taj Mahal-- no plans to see it, but would like to
Anything by Van Gogh-- seen several, worth seeing
Dali's Persistence of Memory-- seen it, but wasn't much more impressed by it in person than I am by it in a picture

What are 5 crafts you couldn't live without? Have you done them? Any good?
Jewelry Making-- yes and yes
Carving-- yes and no and I have the scars to prove it.
Glasswork-- not really, though I've played with frits and enamels, and no
Metalwork-- coldforging and PMC only, decent at simple wirework
Sewing-- yes and not bad

What are 5 crafts you'd like to learn? Have you ever tried them? Will you?
Lampwork-- no, maybe
Mosaics-- no, maybe
Metalwork-- in a very limited fashion, but I'd like to do more, maybe someday
Stained glass-- no, probably not
Weaving-- I had a three minute 'lesson', probably not

What are 5 arts and crafts you've tried that weren't for you?
Needlework
Carving
Calligraphy
Painting
Music

What are 5 things you aim for with your art/craft?
Individuality
Humanity
Wearability
Harmony
Primitivity

Your turn! If you can't do all five just pick one or two!

Clinkscales

Susan of ClinkscalesArts just posted her entry in the EBW Art Deco Challenge! Her beautiful earrings feature the clean lines she favors, but with the perfect hint of embellishment. So for the ever helpful, supportive and talented Susan . . .

To the prettiest pair of beadwoven earrings ever, I added a fabulous bead by SherryBellamy, a little bird by MNSCeramics, a gorgeous necklace by irregularexpressions, and a felted vessel by sugarplumoriginals, which sellers I found in Susans faves.

For beadwork, I chose the magic of a thejadedog Embroidered Purse and a Tigers Eye Necklace by CieloDesign.

If memory served me gabriel is a favorite of Susan and her Armor 21-bead/pendant was a perfect fit.

My own favorites offered reuler's alligator and bird bowl, beadsofpassion's scaley bead, Bellebeads' scintillating blue bead and LaPellaPottery's textured Nature Lover's Soap Dish.

Excitingly enough within hours two of the chosen beads sold so I traded them out. Then an alternate sold, so I traded it out too!

You can see the beauty up closer here.