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

2008 Bead Cuff Challenge

Final Poll Favorites

Congratulations to Christina, Penny, and Kristen on being voted favorites by the group in the cuff poll. I am truly amazed at the wonderful work turned out by our members. There is so much talent in such a little group. Thank you to everyone for taking on this challenge. Lynn

Christina

Penny

Kristen

Kumihimo

Aryd'ell has inspired the Bead Dreamz Group members to try kumihimo, a Japanese weave or braid. She has coined a new term, kumibeado, because as a bead group, one has to add beads to the kumihimo fibers. Traditionally one uses a marudai which is like a wooden stool with a hole in the middle, but Aryd'ell found a foam marudai that one can hold in one's hand. It makes for a fast and effortless way to braid and add beads. Jackie went as far as to take a class in the traditional method and also taught her grandson how to weave. The picture on the left shows the result. The three of us encourage all of the other members to try kumibeado. Please watch for other pictures as more members become involved.