Garland

 

I was inspired by Jennifer Jangle's blog to make my own garland

I used a mixture of the small, medium and large multimix felt balls, beading thread

 

and I found one or two beads in a variety of shapes and colours. 

So I have strung them together leaving about 10cm of beads between each ball. 

Using 50 mixed size balls I will have 5m garland.

 

If you would like to make your own - I have made up some kits which are on the website including 50 mixed size balls, 100gm mixed beads, silamide beading thread and a beading needle. Great project to do with the kids to help decorate the tree.

Bead Storage

I have been asked to show how I store my beads so the easiest thing is to put some photos up here.
Bulk Beads for my bead mixes are stored in take away containers bought in packs of 5 for a few dollars

My own stash with smaller quantities (and getting smaller) are stored in food containers that I buy in bulk from a packaging company. They come in different sizes of 125ml and 250ml. They are square and stack. I also use these for my bead mixes.

Monthly Metres and Beautiful Beads

We are just packing the Monthly Metres and Beautiful Beads for August.
Isn't the fabric gorgeous? Browns and golds and russets reminiscent of the Australian Outback.
The coordinating bead set is just as yummy.


This fabric is only available to members so if you want some too then you need to sign up quickly as once it is gone - it is gone.

New Website

I have finally launched the New Dyed & Gone to Heaven Website. I am very pleased with it and would welcome comments. My enforced convalescence has allowed me the luxury of time to stop procrastinating and just get on with it.

It contains Galleries of my work as well as student and customer work and a comprehensive listing of Workshops and Events where we will be over the coming year.


There are also new products including a Beautiful Bead Club to complement my very popular Monthly Metres Club. Each month you will receive a stacking container of coordinated beads to inspire you. There is also a free reel of Silamide (the best beading thread) with your first stack so you can start beading straight away.

I hope you will visit.

Quilters Meet in Seoul

The internet is wonderful thing which I am sure you will all agree. When I posted that I would be in Seoul I was contacted by fellow textile artist Frances Holliday Alford whose work I have always admired. She was going to be there at the same time so we agreed to meet and spend the day doing stuff. Although we had only met once before briefly at Houston, within minutes we were chatting away like long time friends.

We met up with one of her Peace Corps friends who graciously showed us around the InChaDon area which is full of beautiful Korean art and incredibly stylish clothes with (unfortunately) prices to match. It did show, however, that style and art is definitely alive and well in Seoul. I think I may need a return visit before we leave.

We also (finally) found the bead market although I didn't do my normal damage as although there were many stalls the variety was not really there and prices were similar to those at home so it seems silly to have to buy another suitcase to carry more home. You never know though - I might find something else to load up the already excess baggage.




Also popped down to another floor where there was wall to wall fabric. I didn't know there were so many types of denim.

These men carry bolts of fabric up and down the stairs all day on their backs - even though there are lifts in the building. They looked very hot.

Had a great day with Frances and we talked and talked and talked .........

Sea Foam

Taking a break from pictures of Calcutta to show you a little piece I call Sea Foam just to prove I am being creative.
This work was created accidentally while doing some wet felting when the fabric used to keep everything in place decided to felt itself into the piece. I loved the effect so much I left it there.
Some beads added themselves magically for additional texture




I am a member of the Australian Textile Arts and Surface Design Association and they have just updated their website. It is worth checking out.