Because my friend Liz asked...

My friend Liz "tagged" me to answer these questions.

What was I doing ten years ago?

Some beading, some quilting, some knitting - in my spare time. I was still walking my 18 year path to graduation from Eastern Michigan University (I did it!) taking some time for family and other interests.

Five things on today's to-do list:

1. Catch up on my email
2. Weed, plant, water.
3. Work on Kate Dunn's Round Robin Project - wow, am I having fun with this!
4. Cook something wonderful with chicken - something creamy, herbed, and with mushrooms!
5. Write an article for the Great Lakes Beadworkers Guild, just in case they need to fill up space.

Snacks I enjoy:

Fresh strawberries, ripe peaches. Ruffles potato chips with French onion dip. Dark chocolate with orange flavor bits. Unsalted roasted cashews, raw almonds. Chocolate chip cookies still warm from the oven. Pie.

Four things I would do if I were a billionaire:

1. Design my own house and its landscape. Each family member would get a "suite" - including an activity room just for them. I'd include a kitchen designed for five cooks and lots of friends, and I'd have a sound-proof music studio so I can play my music as loud as I want!
2. Travel.
3. Share my wealth - give to good causes.
4. Create new jewelry designs with beads, teach bead classes, bead with friends, shop for beads, travel to shop for beads, take lots of classes - specifically PMC.

Places I have lived:

1. Ann Arbor, Michigan
2. Saline, Michigan
3. Ypsilanti, Michigan
4. East Tawas, Michigan, but only a week or two, every year of my life! I don't want to think of it as vacation.

Six people I'd like to know more about:

1. Mother Teresa
2. Ghandi
3, 4, and 5. The people my daughters are going to be when they're my current age.
6. Me.

The Quiet Forest Free - Form Peyote Bracelet

This bracelet was shown at the Downriver Council on the Arts. It features a bead made by Michigan artitst Andrea Lindell. The wonderful colors that she used in this bead inspired the choice of the quiet, earthy greens and bronzes. As much as I loved this bracelet, I'm happy to say that it was purchased from the DCA Gallery exhibit and I hope whoever has it now enjoys it.

Using Free Form Peyote is like painting with beads. I teach this method at the shop (Stony Creek Bead) and use it frequently in my personal jewelry pieces.

I like to use unusual buttons for clasps. While it doesn't show in this picture, this button is different because it doesn't have a shank. Instead, it has a clip that was meant to slide into two button holes, one on each edge of the front of a shirt or blouse. Back in the day of Mangel pressing machines, it was much easier to get wrinkle-free clothing without buttons getting in the way. I found a bag of these buttons at an antique shop.

Stony Creek Bead & Gallery

Stony Creek Bead & Gallery opened May 10, 2005. It is owned by my daughter, Jennifer. Another daughter, Katherine, and I work with her. It's a great place to get supplies and to learn how to make beautiful beaded jewelry.

Stony Creek Bead is a full service bead store, offering classes, lots of beads including: Bali silver beads, Swarovski crystals, semi-precious stones, Czech glass and a huge selection of seed beads. We have lots of great findings, books, and tools.

We feature a several local artist's hand made beads, including Andrea Lindell of Williamsburg, MI, Susan Matych-Hager of Adrian, MI, and Michelle Conde, Boylan Glass, of Columbus, Ohio, and a few others.

Stony Creek Bead offers lots of classes, including beginner "essential" classes along with lots of great projects.

Here's how to contact Stony Creek Bead:

2060 Whittaker Road
Ypsilanti, MI 48197
734.544.0904
StonyCreekBead@hotmail.com

Here's how to drive to us:

Interstate 94, to exit 183 (Ypsilanti, Huron Street)
Go one mile South

We're located in Paint Creek Crossing shopping center, South of Kroger, between the Hallmark store and the dollar store.

Bead Art Pieces

The Great Lakes Beadworkers Guild members exhibit in the Gallery at the Downriver Council on the Arts opened Thursday, October 25. On display in this juried show are more than sixty pieces by eighteen artists. This includes wearable and non-wearable art - necklaces, bracelets, wall hangings, sculpture, whimsical dolls, shoes, and some pieces of Native American design. Many beading techniques were used.

Seven pieces of mine were selected.

Ancient Garden
A bead embroidered necklace - very subtle colors, yet a profusion of vines and flowers in a rock garden.

Paisley - Study in White
Paisley - Study in Black
Paisley - Study in Purple
I'm working on a series of monochromatic pieces. The Black and White were fun, but the purple was very challenging. Not all purples are created equal!

The Cha-Cha Bracelet in Peaches and Cream
I have made four of these Cha-Chas and this one is my favorite. Subtle colors, great impact. Wherever I go, I get stopped with questions and comments about this bracelet, every time I wear it.

Free Spirit Girl
Casually hanging out (waiting for the coffee to brew) in her bathrobe and bunny slippers, she reminds me of me in the morning.

Quiet Forest Free Form Peyote Bracelet
The colors were chosen from the focal bead made by Michigan artist Andrea Lindell. Soft colors of leaves and dappled sunlight.

Jewelry Art Pieces at the Downriver Council on the Arts

Several of my beaded jewelry pieces will be part of a gallery showing. About 20 members of the Great Lakes Beadworkers Guild will have approximately 60 pieces in the Gallery at the Downriver Council on the Arts in Taylor, Michigan, October 25 - November 15.

(Pictures coming soon)
Cha-Cha Bracelet Peaches and Cream
Paisley - Study in White
Paisley - Study in Black
Paisley - Study in Purple
Free Spirit Girl
Free Form Peyote Bracelet
Ancient Garden