Serendipity... connections

I have always loved what I call "the small world phenomenon" - finding the connections between people. My friends and family know how much I love to talk to people, and I can almost always find something in common - like a hobby, mutual friends, or finding that my brother-in-law grew up next door to their cousin... stuff like that. I talk to hundreds of people each week at the bead store, so I find LOTS of connections. A few months ago, two customers connected in our store - one was looking for a new pet, hopefully an adult greyhound, the other... rescues greyhounds! That kind of stuff gives me the chills, it's so cool!

In high school, I used to sing in the choir, and I majored in music. I took music composition, theory, and humanities. I sang in the choir at Dixboro United Methodist Church, too, from the time I was a "Cherub Choir" member (I think I was kindergarten?) After high school, I didn't actively persue singing, but always wished that I had. My dream gig would have been singing back up "doo-wop" vocals for some big star... like Elvis, maybe. I never aspired to a solo career, just wanted to sing all the great harmonizing that altos usually get to do. I never persued singing after high school... life was just too full, I guess...

About two months ago, on a Sunday morning, I was ready to teach a bead class. It was going to be small - just two students. One of them called and said she was going to be a few minutes late. To fill up the time, I asked the other student, Cathy Brodie, what she "did for a living" other than play with beads! She told me that she is an adjunct professor of music at Eastern Michigan University. I asked a bunch of questions, of course.

I made a comment to her that was soon going to make a big impact on my life. I said "I used to sing. My kids don't believe that I could ever because I'm so far out of shape." Cathy then told me that she sings in a women's group that meets locally. It turns out that it meets at my daughter Stephanie's high school (Lincoln Consolidated), and is directed by the choir director, Karen Nevins. The group is called The Carillon Women's Chorale.

So, the high school is just connection #1. I've met Karen before; Stephanie was in choir for a while. Karen is very good friends with Susan Matych-Hager, who is a bead artist. We have her beads in our shop on commission and she does trunk shows for us (next one is May 31st.) Connection #2 (theirs) and #3 (each of them individually to me.)

I considered attending a rehearsal, but let a week slide by... The following weekend, the shop had a booth at the Great Lakes Beadworkers Guild's Bead Bonanza. Susan had her beads in the booth next to ours, as planned. Connection #4. Her good friend Karen Nevins was helping her all day, and we were all so busy that there was not time to talk until the last 15 minutes of the show.

Karen said to me: "Cathy Brodie told me you were interested in singing with Carillon." Full of self-doubt, I explained how "I used to sing, but..." We talked for a bit about my musical background, and when she issued the invitation to come and try it... I couldn't refuse. I told her that I would attend rehearsals, but if I really no longer "had it in me" and was a detriment to the group, she had to promise to kick me out! And I meant it!

Well, it's been seven weeks of Monday night rehearsals. We're preparing for two concerts, and I am LOVING the music. I was pleased to realize that I can still read music, and I can still stay on pitch. My voice quality is still a bit rusty, but I'm working on that, too. This week, I reminded her of the promise, and her reply was "You're IN!"

I've rediscovered singing, something that I've always loved to do. While I will probably never consider myself a "vocal artist," being part of a group that makes such beautiful music is certainly feeding my creative soul. Combined with my joy in making beautiful bead jewelry, and in teaching classes to help others make it, too... Wow... LIFE IS GOOD!

Round Robin Embroidery Project

I belong to a group of beaders, semi-formally named "The Loomatics" (loom' - a - tics) which is a study group derived of members from the Great Lakes Beadworkers Guild (GLBG).

GLBG members are from all across the state of Michigan, and across the country! The GLBG, 400 members strong, encourages its members to find other Guild members who live close to their homes, and form study groups. The Loomatics is one of these groups.

Loomatics is a group of 12 creative, accomplished women, 11 beaders and one non-beading, yet very creative, friend. This is actually a pretty big group to get together - not everyone is lucky enough to have a table large enough for beaders to spread out their mats! If you are considering forming a group, you may want to consider your space carefully.

Last fall, I suggested a project to The Loomatics, and wonderful women that they are, took this suggestion and are running with it. A group project - a Round Robin Embroidery project.

Each of us started with a design on a background (Lacy's Stiff Stuff or felt, etc.,) maybe beaded a bit of it, then passed it on to the next person on the (alphabetical) list. Each person gets one month to work on it, then on it goes to the next one on the list. We are only in the second month and already we've seen beautiful work.

We get together once a month and share the project that we've worked on. Part of the excitement of this project is that the "owner" leaves the room while the rest of us get to see her project. We will not get to see our own project until it has made the complete "Round". It's great fun, but when I'm the one out of the room, I hate not knowing what everyone is saying and laughing about!

If you think a Round Robin is a project your group may want to try, important to know the group members well enough to trust them with your project - skill level is not the only consideration. There should be some basic rules, and respect for the individual artist's vision, yet with lots of room for creativity.

If you would like to learn more about the basic "rules," please contact me at:
SueSchwartzenberger@hotmail.com

The Ancient Garden Collar

The Ancient Garden Broadcollar is my most intense piece of beaded art to date. I stopped keeping track of the time I worked on this piece after I logged 150 hours! It was probably closer to 200, and I loved every second of it.

As many gardens do, this one took on a life of its own. I planted the five jasper stones, drew three swirled lines (the first five inches of the rust colored vines connecting near the center stone) and the rest... grew!

The color scheme is simple - green, rust and black. Limiting the color to just these few unusual tones allows you to concentrate on textures and shapes that may otherwise go unnoticed in a garden that is rioting with color.

Very simple bead embroidery techniques are used. I used mostly back-stitch, some peyote stitch for the stone bezels, couching only when necessary, and a tiny bit each of netting and brick stitch.

Those of you who know me are aware of my love of using black matte beads in my jewelry projects. The background of this Garden is worked in tiny black matte seed beads, sparked occasionally by a single shiny one. Black matte beads add depth and definition, without really being a dominant color - the perfect background.

Bead Embroidery has become a very popular class that I teach at Stony Creek Bead. I warn people that the technique can be very dangerous! It's like painting... with beads! And you may not want to stop once you've started!

The shop has many smaller projects on display, and I encourage people to start with a piece that will become a brooch or a pendant, about a three-hour project. Save the broadcollars for your second project!

Paisley - Study in White

My husband, Bob, found these great drusie quartz beads at a show in Tucson. I've been toying with the idea of monochromatic pieces and this is the first in a series of five.

Other than the quartz focal piece, the remaining beads are Czech glass and Japanese seed beads. This piece has a handmade fine silver fibula (pin back) and rings where a chain or beaded necklace can be attached. The backing is UtraSuede.

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.