Bridget's Mantle

For February I chose to represent Bridget's Mantle.  I wasn't going to use this Goddess, since She featured in last year's February project, but here She is anyway!  Since Her mantle is an important part of both Her Christian and Pagan mythology I chose to just render it.  I used some of the batik fabrics left over from last year's projects.  I even left the inner lining fabric out on Imbolc Eve to be blessed by Her!  The beads I used are almost all glass, except for the peridot chips on the front, and the metal knot bead that is used for the clasp.  I used some branched fringe (one of my first attempts!) on the front  and I was happy with the way it looked.  The design on the back depicts a manzanita (Arctostaphylos spp.) branch with flowers.  Many manzanitas bloom at this time of year and I associate their honey-scented white to pink blossoms with Bridget.  This one probably won't work as a pendant, but it might work on an altar!

2011 Bookmark Challenge

From March 17 - April 28, you can join in the Needle & Thread: Stitching for Literacy challenge and stitch a bookmark that will be donated to a library or school during Children's Book Week. Read the details here to find out where to submit your bookmarks.

I thought this was pretty cool! I have bunches of patterns for stitched bookmarks. I'm going to dig some out this weekend and stitch a couple. I haven't done any cross stitch for so long I'm afraid I might have forgotten how!

Woden in Winter

This year I've decided to create smallish (probably no more than about 3"x3") little beaded things that can be made into pendants if I so desire.  That's kind of vague, I know, but I think I'll really enjoy this kind of loose format.  The theme of these objects will be to represent a goddess or god from some belief system (probably mostly Celtic and Germanic Pagan, but certainly not limited to such!)  Sometimes the representations will be more literal than others (an actual figure) but sometimes not.  I'll just have to see where the shiny beads inspire me to go!

So, for January I've chosen to represent Woden (called Odin in Scandinavia) I used a small (about 2 1/2" long) piece of an ash tree (Fraxinus latifolia) as a base for my image. I was inspired by the rather rough unhewn types of images the Northern European tribes were supposed to have used to represent their gods. Woden's shamanic aspects are emphasized here with his fringed cloak and ornaments. I also made a sort of hood on the upper part of the figure. The cloak is peyote stitched from size 11 seed beads and the stones I used are black onyx, larvikite, and labradorite.

Caging the Wild Cabochon

That's the title of the class Jill and I took today! It was a fun class and we learned (one of us somewhat faster than the other) how to wire-wrap a cabochon. I'd like to say the copper wrapped one is mine but Jill did that one. I thought we both did pretty good though! The top shows the back and the bottom the front (although it may not matter...).

I Forgot!

I took a class in December on making a beaded wire Christmas tree and meant to post the pictures a few weeks ago but forgot. Anyway here they are finally! The first picture are the three that I made. After the class, I showed Jill how to make them. The second picture is her tree. As you can see we both need to practice making spirals but we'll get there!

November and December leaves

I didn't get as much finished on these two as I had intended, but they're mostly done.  November is the Dia de los Muertos piece.  My leaf for this one is Cheiranthodendron pentadactylon - Monkey Hand tree - a truly unique and wondrous tree with a long spiritual tradition in its native MesoAmerica.  The leaf is small, in the lower right corner, but just to the right of that I beaded a seed pod from the tree.  The rest of the beadwork is pretty much just following the design of the fabric - I meant to add more, but didn't!  December brings out the Madrone (Arbutus menziesii) berries.   The madrone is beautiful at anytime of year but stands out on the hillsides at this time when covered in bright red berries!  December 18 marks the feast of la Virgen de la Soledad de Oaxaca.  I depicted her with a madrone leaf on her skirt!  She's still missing her crown and I wanted add some madrone berry clusters and attempt some bead depiction of the bark - that what's missing there.  So now I'm on to next year!

Beaded Tree

I went to a bead class yesterday to learn to make a beaded Christmas tree. As you can tell I haven't finished yet. Aside from wishing I'd started with smaller beads at the top I'm pretty happy with the way it's turning out. I don't know why I put such large beads at the top. I think I was just getting caught up in the colors! 

The second picture shows two of the trees the instructor made. Admittedly they look somewhat better! But I'll keep practicing and pretty soon mine will improve. I have to practice making wire curls - it's kind of difficult and painful on your fingers! I'm going to finish this tree and Thursday when my daughter comes to visit I'll show her how to make one and I'll do a second one for me. I think I want to do a blue and silver tree next but I'm going to use just small beads for it!