An emotional year caused Evie Blanchard to walk away from her busy life in Los Angeles where she worked as a physical therapist. In desperate need of change, she moved to a quiet Colorado town called Hope’s Crossing where she began working at a bead shop. There she met a man named Brodie and his daughter Taryn, who had been seriously wounded in a car crash. Against her better judgment, Evie agreed to help Taryn begin an extensive rehabilitation program, which included going to the bead shop and making bracelets. Still recovering from the shadows of her past, Evie tried not to get emotionally involved, but Brodie & Taryn tugged at her heart and in the end, she couldn’t help but to fall for both of them..

Woodrose Mountain is a story about healing, recovery, and second chances – a story which I could relate to in my own personal way. Coincidentally, I have experienced an emotional year myself – mourning the loss of a friend who died of skin cancer while suffering excruciating heartbreak and the loss of a best friend at the same time. For many months, I have felt emotionally shut down, just going through the motions at my day job in the theatre, riding home on the bus with tears streaming down my face. Beading has been my only solace through it all.

So, like Evie, I have decided to change the direction of my life entirely. If all goes well, I will soon be moving back home to Pennsylvania to be closer to family and lifelong friends who I have missed so much. I have asked my sister if she would like to work with me as my Etsy business grows. Who knows, maybe I will teach classes at the bead shop, too.. Perhaps I will find my own Hope’s Crossing. A new place to begin again..

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*Please note: I have received the above book free of charge. This is my honest review of the product and I have not been paid for my endorsement as it pertains to the products received.

Exhibition runs May 31st – July 5th, 2012.

Reception: Friday, June 8th, 5:30-7:30pm at both CAA Gallery locations:

Kathryn Schultz gallery:

25 Lowell St. Cambridge MA, 02138
Hours: Tuesday through Saturday 11:00am to 5:00pm

University Place Gallery:

124 Mt. Auburn St. Cambridge MA, 02138
Hours: Monday through Friday 9:00am to 6:00pm  •  Saturday 9:00am to 1:00pm.

 Awards given at 6:30pm at University Place Gallery.

Please check the Cambridge Art Association‘s website for more info.

Hope to see you there!

A friend of mine sent me a few pics of Fluffy. Not knowing the breed, I worked from photos only. I came up with a sketch, cut out some felt and started beading. I used several different white, cream, and brown size 15 glass seed beads. The first layer of beadwork (above) is rather sparse, but the second layer more than makes up for it (below). I also added some beaded loops and fringe on the dog’s ears to add dimension. Complete, this piece measures approx. 3cm x 4.5cm.

How do you think Fluffy looks, and more importantly, what kind of dog do you think she is?

For this pin, I first created a sketch based on a photo sent by my customer. My drawing served as template which I used to cut out the felt foundation seen in the photo above. I beaded the entire piece using Japanese size 15 seed beads, 13/o charlottes, and a tiny glass eye for a nose. After the first layer of bead embroidery was complete, I layered beaded fringe on the dog’s ears, tail, and stomach. Finished, this piece is a pin which can also be worn as a pendant. My customer was quite happy with how it turned out. How do you think it looks?

Time to start beading my next order! :O

I also finished a new custom order for my Etsy shop! Two beaded Pug pins with little floppy ears that really move! I really like how these turned out, so I listed this item in my shop as made-to-order. Click the pic for more details:

Back to beading & enjoying this beautiful day!

Bead embroidery on felt. 6cm x 6cm.

I used tiny 1.4mm Czech glass bugle beads or maco beads for this poodle’s long hair. This micro beadwork took quite awhile to accomplish, but I really love the look & feel of it. The beaded fringe almost feels soft like real hair! This poodle will be part of a larger wearable art piece and it is just the first – I have 6 more to complete! :O

Felt poodles waiting to be beaded:)

Looks like I’ll be busy this holiday weekend! Speaking of the holiday, I am running a happy Easter Sale in my Etsy shop this weekend ! 2 days only! Every item in my shop will be 10% -off now through Sunday night. This includes large art pieces, as well as made-to-order items. (Please note that made-to-order items will take some time to make & will be completed on a first come-first serve basis..one bead at a time:) I hope you’ll stop by and take a peek!  Thanks for your interest in my beadwork!

English Bulldog

Blue Persian Cat

Red Shar Pei

Northern Cardinal

Sitting Puli

In the last photo, you will see my latest custom order, a beaded Puli dog pin! This one was quite a challenge to make, as I used tiny 1x4mm Czech micro bugle beads! On Facebook, I noted that I broke at least one bead, one beading needle, and one thread while working on this, but it was worth it. Click the pic for a closer look:) Hope I have better luck beading my Poodle Collar Necklace! :O

 At some point, I realized that beaded poodle possibilities are endless. My plan for this project is to create a ‘dog collar’ (so to speak) featuring 7 beaded poodles.

I started working on the first one, which measures 6cm x 6cm. So far, I have used 4 different shades of gray seed beads in size 11 and 15.

Next I will add some beaded fringe.. Just wait ’til you see!

For this project, I tried something new – Nicole’s BeadBacking. I discovered this product on Etsy, and decided to give it a shot. It is a little less expensive and it comes in every color of the rainbow. This material is similar to Lacy’s Stiff Stuff, but it seems much stiffer. It was easy to cut out the shape of my cat, but when I started beading, I wasn’t sure I’d like it. After working for awhile, it became softer, but still offered the support my beadwork needed. Overall, I think it is much stronger/ tougher than Lacy’s. I really like it a lot!

For my cat, I stitched together several layers of bead backing, then used a combination of size 15 & size 11 glass seed beads in several different shades of blue & gray. I don’t make cats very often, so it was quite a challenge!

After my first layer of beadwork was complete, I layered quite a bit of fringe to accentuate this cat’s long beautiful hair. The fringe actually moves when you touch it, revealing more beadwork beneath. How do you think he looks?

This pin is currently listed for sale on Etsy – you can see more photos there. I really like how this cat turned out – It looks great as a pin, but it really makes a unique pendant! I plan to make him in all different colors!

The other day, I finished beading my first 2-part pin, entitled ‘C’est La Vie En Perles‘:) This piece was inspired by the costume jewelry of the 1920′s and memories of a visit to Paris, France. Who wouldn’t want to go shopping on the Champs-Élysées while walking a sweet little pink poodle?

It may be hard to tell from the photo, but this piece is extremely small. The lady measures approx. 6cm tall x 4cm wide. She is carrying a beaded shopping bag which measures 1.5cm x 2cm wide. She was beaded entirely with Japanese size 15 seed beads and 13/o charlottes. The handbag was beaded with size 11/o seed beads and 13/o charlottes. Its handle was made with sterling silver wire.

My beaded lady is walking a tiny beaded poodle which measures 2.5cm x 2.5cm. The dog was beaded with tiny pink freshwater pearls and size 15 glass seed beads. I also used a 1mm glass eye for the nose. The dog’s leash is a fine sterling silver chain.

I imagine the dog is taking the lady bead shopping! What do you think?