Good Day To-day

Beaded Silk / Velvet devoree with glass

Nice day to-day – not a high pressured creative day – but I spent the day assembling necklaces for the Beetroot Tree Christmas Show.

Silk / Velvet Devoree with Indian Glass Beads.

This is something that is rather time consuming – but gently enjoyable – I could actually listen to the radio while I was doing this – something I have not done in a while!

Silk / Velvet devoree with Labradorite

I make bangles and ear-rings to match the necklaces – the earrings I will do next week. As tomorrow I will be preparing for Day 2 of the “Machine Embroidery for Beginners” class which takes place on Wednesday.

I would like to reply to the comment about it being stressful teaching a course for beginners. Comments like this are always useful as it makes me stop and think about why.

Yes I find it stressful – and sometimes I would much prefer to stay in the studio and create rather than going out there and face the world. However there are several reasons for getting out there, here are just a few that apply to me.

The Bank Manager – the bottom line is that I find it difficult to support myself as a full time artist. If I am in my studio – I am creating pieces that might or might not sell at some point in the future.

Isolation – If I stayed in my studio creating – I believe I would not grow as an artist. In teaching I get the opportunity to re-visit techniques that I have not used in a while, and develop existing techniques. Students are interested and exciting – especially adult students as they are in your class because they REALLY want to be there.

Joy – it is a great joy when a student is totally excited by what she has produced in class – their joy and enthusiasm is infectious – if they continue with the work when class is over – then – Job done.

The amount of teaching that I do is minimal, however for me – it is worth the angst and stress.

PS The necklaces have not got their clasps on yet – and apologies for the quality of the pictures – we have had a very grey day here – and (again) I left the photography until to late in the day!

More Beads

c Karen Hall 2007

Yummy devoree silk- velvet beads that I finished today.
Which I think will make a fabulous necklace for the winter parties!

Where did the week go?

Machine embroidered beads

As you can see from the above image I have posted an old picture of machine embroidered beads. The reason is – that beads and machine embroidery are the two things that I have been working on this week.

In October – I am teaching class – “Machine Embroidery for Beginners” here in the village. It is good to teach class – because it has made me think about the free machine embroidery that I do – and I have had to go back to basics – and re-visit techniques that I have not done in a while – and look at them with fresh eyes in order to teach them to others.

I am hoping to do 4 sessions, once a week, in October. Although I have been very lax about publicising it anywhere – so I expect we shall be a very select little group!

I have also been making beads for a gallery show in November – so beads and machine embroidery have been filling my head this week – which – I have to say has flown by so quickly!

My thanks go out to Judy,
Who after visiting my blog – and being very inspired by the beads she saw – has credited me, and linked back to my blog – much appreciated.

Be sure to check out her beads and her lovely silk dying.

Beads

Hand made beads

Quite a busy time in the studio – although quite a lot of that time has been used up doing “administrative” stuff for the village craft fair this weekend. Making sure all my pictures have hangers on them. Sorting out my jewellery, and writing price tags etc.

I have also been working on my pages for “A travelling sketchbook”
This is two books that Linda and I exchange every couple of months. So we will both post about this soon …. Watch this space! To see Linda’s work click here.

I have also made quite a few beads to make up into necklaces and ear-rings.

And quite a cute necklace with the beads threaded onto ribbon

I want to make a few more of these before Saturday if possible. So a busy time sorting stuff really.

(The Dog – Merlin continues to improve – we were back at the Vets today – and he doesn’t want to see him again – but he has to wear his collar thing for a week!)