Kwan Yin Bracelet

Today I mounted the Kwan Yin beadwork onto a bracelet blank, and I'm very pleased with the outcome. I think this is my favorite bracelet yet. Now to start my planning for November!

October Finished!

It's all done but the mounting. I love the way the page turned out this month, it helped me immensely, and the bracelet! The picture, I think, doesn't really do it justice, but it's my favorite so far. I can't wait to get it mounted on a brass blank and wear it. It's a small Kwan Yin cab surrounded by shell heishi and different sizes of beads. I really feel I've moved out of my normal comfort zone (embroidering with almost all same sized beads), and found a new method of expression.

October Progress

Well, my page for October is coming along nicely, and I expect to be done in a couple of days, then I can concentrate on my bracelet. I work with the hectic and toxic American health care system and am increasingly uncomfortable with the lack of healing in that environment. I've found that images of ancient shamans attract me, and help me center myself more. This shaman was originally found as a cave painting in France, and is called The Trois Freres Shaman. This is my beadwork interpretation of him. I've beaded him once before, on leather pouch for a doctor friend, and I always wanted a depiction of him for myself. I'm pleased with the way he's turning out, and also used some new techniques for using sequins that I learned from Mary Tafoya at a recent bead retreat (she was kind enough to gift me with the shell 'sequins' that I used as the ground under the shaman's feet).

Bead Retreat

I spent last weekend at a bead retreat. It's almost impossible to express how much fun I had and how much I learned. This year we learned how to make a kalaidescope cane with polymer clay (mine didn't turn out too well, but I get the idea). Another participant taught us a nice tubular herringbone stitch utilizing different sized beads that ends up in a lovely supple tube. I've been playing around with it today and also made a pair of dangle earrings along the same lines. A third participant taught us different methods of using sequins. All in all it was a great weekend and I feel so refreshed and inspired.