Magic Carpet Challenge Favorite

Lotus

Congratulations to Karol, whose Magic Carpet Challenge entry was voted as the favorite among the ten entries. This is a spectacular design and Karol spent many hours beading this carpet. Thank you, Karol, for sharing this beautiful piece.

A thank you also goes out to the other participants. The vote was close and all the entries are amazing and their designs are fantastic. Everyone is a winner.

Hello to Visitors and Members!!!

BAD (Beaded Art Dolls yahoo group) and BDZ (Bead Dreamz yahoo group) have a lot to offer in the way of challenges and swaps and if you are interested in participating, please make sure you are a member so that you can join in. Links to our groups are on the right hand side of this blog.

BAD July/August/September Bead-along - I am aware that members are busy with their Symbolic Class Doll and Four Seasons Round Robin preparations but I would like to remind you that in July we intend to start a new bead-along, inspired by Robin Atkins. Robin has generously offered to introduce a special project to BAD and will give a helping hand and share her ideas with us along the way. I am hoping that members who are doing the Symbolic class will be eager to participate and put their new knowledge into practice.

BAD Puzzle Piece Doll Bead-along has ended and produced wonderful results. I am so proud of everyone and their work. I hope YOU have voted.

BAD Sampler Doll Bead-along is still in progress, finishing at the end of this month. Jeanne certainly placed a real challenge before us when she specified a beaded face. Well, we seem to be managing it with a varying degree of skill and having a giggle at the same time.

BDZ Magic Carpet challenge is almost finished. Moderators made a decision a little while ago that any challenge with less than 10 entries would not have a poll for voting on our favorite. It seems a shame when there are so many beautiful carpets. If any member would like to comment on this, please feel free.

BDZ Spring Panel Swap/Challenge finishes at the end of June and we probably won't see photos until after the swap. These darling little panels are something to look forward to.

BDZ starts a new challenge/instructions/bead-along on July 1 which is a freeform bracelet and ring with Aryd'ell and Sharon Harry. Don't forget to sign up.

BDZ also has a special challenge/swap running September 21 to mid November hosted by Debra Pyeatt. If you want to learn from an exceptional beader, you must sign in for this one.

Always remember that if you have any ideas, suggestions or comments regarding our groups, we love to hear from you. We need your input to make these groups interesting and fun.

On behalf of owners and moderators of both groups, a big THANK YOU to everyone for your continued support.

Lynn

Tassels

Members of Bead Dreamz love to create anything with beads from jewelry to home furnishings to charms. This time the group designed tassels. Some were created to hang around the house, while others will accompany the creator's cell phone or key chain. All of these are lovely. Don't you agree?

Magic Carpets

Currently on Beaddreamz the members are working on creating a magic carpet. This challenge was scheduled to end on May 31st. One of the members has asked for an extension for the entire group and now the challenge will end on June 15th. Although some of the group have finished putting their magic of beads into their carpet designs; others are having difficulty either finding the magic or finding time to complete their projects. Here are the completed entries:

Lynn's Orient Express

Penny's Floral Fantasy

Sue R.

Susan

Christina

Jo

Eye Candy

Heather's Mother and Child

Carol's first embroidery cuff

Two of our members signed up for our recent Cuff Challenges. Due to other obligations, they didn't finish with the rest of the group and weren't in the poll to be judged as a favorite. Both cuffs are lovely and have different designs. One is a flat bracelet and the other is done with the blank inside. They deserve to be mentioned and placed on the blog for all to admire. Congratulations to both beaders. It is a job well done and it confirms that the old adage is correct, "It is better to be late, then never." Enjoy the eye candy.

Antiques Roadshow, Beaded Bags, and Rocks

http://www.northwestmuseum.org/northwestmuseum/sub.aspx?id=593
Pictures borrrowed from the Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture

While not being able to sleep last night, I needed something to watch on TV. All my favorite home improvement and cooking shows were repeats, so I turned on Antiques Roadshow. This is a show where people bring in their unusual collectables for an expert appraisal. This particular episode was from Spokane, Washington, USA. During the broadcast, there are out-takes from popular museums in the area. Last night the host visited the Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture in Spokane. The TV show was particularly interesting because the topic of discussion was the beaded bags pictured above.

These are ordinary bags that someone (probably an American Indian) created in the late 1800's or early 1900's. Value of the beaded bags range from $2,500 to $4,000. One point that stood out during the show was the order the design on the blue bag was created. The artist draws the what he/she wants to bead first. Then the picture is beaded next and finally, the background is filled in. I was taught to bead from the center out. Were you? Could our beaded rocks in the future be worth thousands? It is too early to tell.

Sue's Zebra Rock

Kristen's Easter Egg

Jo's Top of the Tide Pool Rock

Sue's Giraffe Rock