Artbeads contest

Artbeads is holding a contest for their artist bloggers on "What Inspires You". there are 2 categories: jewelry and non jewelry.


I entered the contest by Artbeads on design inspiration for jewelry and non jewelry items. The voting is open to the public. Click on 


http://wildfireapp.com/website/6/contests/61138/voteable_entries/11445293 to vote for my non jewelry item 


USA Duffel Bag Series I, II, and III




and http://wildfireapp.com/website/6/contests/55615/voteable_entries/11447171 to vote for my jewelry item. 


Finding Nemo Necklace


Joanne

Potomac Fiberarts Gallery Holiday Show

Notice: I am a member of the Potomac Fiberarts Guild in The Washington DC area. We have a coop gallery in the Torpedo Factory at 105 N. Union Street, Alexandria, VA. The gallery has a blog and I am the designated blogger for the month of November. To view my blogs this month please go to the Gallery blog. I have posted a discussion of peyote stitched beadwork and will begin one on brick stitch later this week. In December, I will return to blog here as I pass the gallery baton on to another blogger member. The Potomac Fiberarts Gallery has just installed their Holiday Treasures Show that will run through the end of the year. Please visit if you can. I also have work in the Somethings Looming Gallery in Reading, PA, The Hanover Area Art Guild, Hanover, PA (where I won a second place award for 3-D work for my Clubbing the Night Away-6 of clubs beadwork piece) as well as participation in two studio tours: The Carroll County Studio Tour Dec 4-5 and The Countryside Artisans' Studio Tour Dec 3-5 and 10-12. Thanks, Joanne

Fall Work by Joanne

Fall has been an exciting time. First, a 3 week tour of the Peruvian Amazon, the Sacred Valley and Machu Pichu, followed by Ecuador and the Galapagos. I am full of new ideas and photos. Second, a wonderful Sewing by the Sea retreat in Ocean City, MD. I am preparing for an exhibit of my machine embroideries to be shown at the Delaplaine Visual Arts Center, Frederick, MD in September 2011 in conjunction with a national quilt show. I was able to do 4 of these embroideries in the retreat setting-a good way into the dozen I will need by next fall.

Summer Activities

I have been away a good bit this summer. First taking some awesome photoshop courses at Maine Media College in Rockport ME with Sue Bloom and Jean Miele. I can't wait until my new Photoshop CS5 arrives. The first shipment was windows instead of MAC and I really had to jump through hoops to get it refunded and replaced.

Second was a Bast family reunion at Lake Kezar in western Maine. It was a lot of fun seeing all the cousins and their new families. It was to celebrate the 90th birthday year of my in-laws. My parents are both 92 this year, in fact my mother will turn 93 in November. She is 9 months older than my father. He says he was made for her.

My other summer project is my new puppy, another Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. He was born during the winter Olympics and is named Apolo. Note the little white "beard". He is "Langford Skate me to the Moon"- as an old Trekkie, I couldn't resist the Apollo Moon Mission reference.  I am hoping for another agility dog-but faster! Joanne

Chasing Butterflies

Off to see the Wizard.

Artbeads Discount Code

I have had a delightful short break on a Cruise to Key West and Nassau (was supposed to be Cozumel but the weather didn't cooperate). I returned home to find an offer by Artbeads for 10% off that I may share with all of you. So from now till July 31, 2010, enter the Savings Discount code SCF10P-ARTBEADS-0125 and save! Thank you Artbeads.  Keep cool! Joanne

Disclosure: I received this offer within the frames of Artbeads.com blogging program. The author of this blog has not received any payment from above-mentioned company. The post above represents only personal opinion of the blog author.

"Three Apples" Update plus Peacock Bracelet

"Three Apples" Update:

I am thrilled that my Machine Embroidery "Three Apples" won third place in the Adams County Arts Council Show and that it did so competing against "real" paintings. The exhibit continues till Sunday at Schmucker Gallery on Washington Street, part of the Gettysburg College campus.

Peacock Bracelet:

I was allowed to choose a summer pendant from Art beads and decided on the Russian Black Onyx Peacock. I thought that I  would feature the peacock in a bracelet and surrounded it with a band of peyote stitching in black seed and fringe beads with accents of orange, yellow, lime green and turquoise repeating the colors of the peacock feathers. I also stitched 2 feathers in brick stitch to dangle off of the focal bead. The closure is a vintage German glass button and bead loop. When I use loops as closures, I like to alternate medium and small beads. I feel this enhances the curvature of the loop. Enjoy! Joanne

Disclosure: The Peacock pendant was kindly provided free-of-charge by Artbeads.com, within the frames of Artbeads.com blogging program. The author of this blog has not received any payment from above-mentioned company. The post above represents only personal opinion of the blog author.

Machine Embroidery "Three Apples" in Exhibit

I am pleased that my machine embroidery "Three Apples" has been accepted into the Adams County Arts Council Seventh Annual Exhibit to be held at Schmucker Art Gallery of Gettysburg College, 300 N Washington Street, Gettysburg. PA 17325  717-337-6080

Gallery Hours 10AM-4PM June 18-27
Opening Reception Friday June 18, 5-7PM
Awards 6PM
Building is wheelchair accessible

Hope to meet any of you who are close by at the opening.

"Three Apples" was also shown in the Blackrock Tribute to Fiber Arts Exhibit earlier in the year in which I won an Honorable Mention Award. It is based on a photograph of a window in a beautifully quaint UNESCO Heritage site village in Portugal. Joanne

Beadwork Interlude

I am relaxing and refreshing my creative juices by adoring my new puppy, Apolo. He is still trying to get my old dogs, Ben and Jerry, to play with him to no avail and is fascinated by the cats, Culpepper and Keswick (named after horse show venues that my daughter shows at). He also sits and stares at the old retired horses in the front yard paddock. We have an equestrian center on adjacent property (Swan Lake Stables) and run horse shows ourselves. We visited our son and family in upstate NY over the holidays and Apolo got to dip his feet in Lake Owasco.

Boro Toggle Peyote Beadwork Necklace

When I first saw the boro glass toggles on the Artbeads website, I thought that they could be a design element in themselves. I have worked a basic beadwork necklace with short peyote tubes looped to strung bead sections with loop in loop hinges. The hinges provide flexibility as well as places to relieve stress without wearing thread. I have done the necklace in two portions with duplicate catches so that it can be worn as a short necklace and bracelet set or as a longer necklace. The boro toggles can be placed anywhere around the necklace and act as focal points within the necklace. I especially liked the toggles with an internal contrasting spiral. In this case, I used an aqua toggle which is the main color for the beads in the necklace. The toggle has a spiral of yellow which I also picked up in the beadwork as accent beads of yellow as well as orange for spice. And I did have a few pieces of yellow striped aqua furnace glass which I also included, placing the large holed furnace glass on short strips of seed beads so that they have some sliding movement. This was a fun piece to design as well as wear. Now I need to go play with my new puppy. Joanne

Disclosure: The boro glass toggles were kindly provided free-of-charge by Artbeads.com, within the frames of Artbeads.com blogging program. The author of this blog has not received any payment from above-mentioned company. The post above represents only personal opinion of the blog author.

Sleight of Hand fiber art deck of cards

The Sleight of Hand Exhibit of the fiberart pieces that were photographed to make the decks of cards is now closed. I am thrilled to hear that my "Clubbing the Night Away" 6 of clubs tied for the People's Choice award with Sandy Kephart's "Jack and the Beanstalk" Jack of Diamonds. The decks of cards have been immensely popular and are already into a second printing. They can still be purchased. For retail locations or to purchase online: http://www.fiberartinternational.org/sleight-of-hand  Joanne

Mini Show, Hanover, PA

I am pleased to announce a mini show of my work at the Hanover Area Art Guild, 32 Carlisle Street, Hanover, PA 17340, just a block off the square for the month of May. Not only will I have my beadwork creations, but also my photography, oil paintings and stitched and felted fiber work as well. It was great fun putting together such an eclectic exhibit and had the added benefit of clearing out my studio for the new puppy that I am getting next week. He was born during the Olympics and his name is Apolo. He is the black and tan Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy on the left. His brother, the ruby on the right (Shaun, of course) goes elsewhere. My existing pair, Ben and Jerry, both Blenheim (that is red and white-see if you can pick them out in the above artwork), can only adapt to one new brother at a time. Joanne

Seahorse Necklace #3

My Seahorse necklace is complete featuring the lovely resin and sterling pendant by Tania Hartman and boro glass toggle closure provided to me by Artbeads (www.Artbeads.com). The result is an asymmetric design of brick stitched starfish and strung beads in cool aquas and teals with flexible loop in loop hinges. A summer combo. The Seahorse necklace will follow my bluebird necklace into the Potomac Fiberarts Gallery, Studio 18, at the Torpedo Factory Arts Center, 105 N Union Street in Alexandria, VA. Joanne

Disclosure: The Tania Hartman Resin and sterling pendant as well as the boro glass toggle were kindly provided free-of-charge by Artbeads.com, within the frames of Artbeads.com blogging program. The author of this blog has not received any payment from above-mentioned company. The post above represents only personal opinion of the blog author.

Seahorse Necklace #2

I am continuing to work on the seahorse necklace featuring a seahorse resin on sterling pendant by Tania Hartman provided to me by Art beads (www.Artbeads.com). I have pictured a beadwork starfish in progress. I first establish a ring of five beads and then construct a bead ladder out from each bead one at a time, brick stitching back to the center along one side of the ladder to move on to the next arm. The starfish arms are tapered by varying the size of the beads used.

I also like to incorporate "hinges" in my necklaces. This gives a pivot point that does not stress the thread. Here I have connected separate modules (the starfish) with loop in loop hinges. For more information on this method, look up the back issue of Beadwork magazine: Beadwork.  "Stress Redux:  Send in the Reinforcements!"  by Joanne Strehle Bast, Summer 1998 issue. 

I am also using as a closure the boro glass toggles, also provided by Artbeads. I really like the use of a catch that does not add a distracting metal element into the beadwork. Joanne


Disclosure: The Tania Hartman Resin and sterling pendant and boro glass toggle were kindly provided free-of-charge by Artbeads.com, within the frames of Artbeads.com blogging program. The author of this blog has not received any payment from above-mentioned company. The post above represents only personal opinion of the blog author.

Beadwork Seahorse Necklace

I have begun the second beadwork necklace using one of the resin on sterling pendants by Tania Hartman provided at no charge to me by Artbeads (www.Artbeads.com). I had to think about this one for a while and decided to use brick stitch starfish to suspend the pendant. Here is the beginning. Joanne

Disclosure: The Tania Hartman Resin and sterling pendant was kindly provided free-of-charge by Artbeads.com, within the frames of Artbeads.com blogging program. The author of this blog has not received any payment from above-mentioned company. The post above represents only personal opinion of the blog author.

"Sleight of Hand" exhibit

 The "Sleight of Hand" deck of cards exhibit closes in Pittsburgh this Saturday May 8. I am going to Pittsburgh for the Saturday afternoon artist's talk and will bring my piece  "Clubbing the Night Away" 6 of clubs home when the exhibit closes at 5PM. I am excited to see all the pieces together and to hear others talk about their work. The exhibit is at the Borrelli-Edwards Gallery listed below. The deck of cards will continue to be on sale at least through he extent of Fiberart International.

Due to Popularity, Sleight of Hand decks are being reprinted and will continue to be available at:

BE Galleries

3583 Butler Street, Lawrenceville, PA 15201

412.687.2606 / begalleries@mac.com

TUE-FRI: 11am - 6pm / SAT: 11am - 5pm

Patricia Boutique

115 Center Avenue, Aspinwall, PA 15215

412.799.0819 / MON-SAT: 10am - 6pm

3g Gallery (Westin Hotel concourse)

1001 Liberty Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15222

412.288.4320 / M-F: 10am - 6pm

The Quilt Company

3940 Middle Road, Allison Park, PA 15101

412.487.9532 / www.thequiltcompany.com

M & TH: 9:30am - 9pm / TUE, W, F & SAT: 9:30am - 5pm

Also at the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts

and Society for Contemporary Craft

For retail locations or to purchase on-line:

www.fiberartinternational.org

Bluebird Necklace

Here are the product links for the elements in my bluebird necklace:

Tania Hartman pendants
Link: http://www.artbeads.com/silver-resin-pendants.html
HTML Link:
href="http://www.artbeads.com/silver-resin-pendants.html">Tania Hartman
pendants

Pressed Czech Glass Beads
Link: http://www.artbeads.com/glass-beads-czech-glass-beads.html
HTML Link:
href="http://www.artbeads.com/glass-beads-czech-glass-beads.html">Pressed
Czech Glass Beads


Sterling Clasp
Link: https://www.starsclasps.com


Disclosure: The Tania Hartman Resin and sterling pendant was kindly provided free-of-charge by Artbeads.com, within the frames of Artbeads.com blogging program. The author of this blog has not received any payment from above-mentioned company. The post above represents only personal opinion of the blog author.

Blue Bird Artbeads Resin Piece continued

I have continued working in right angle weave to complete a light, airy environment for Tania Hartman's lovely resin on silver bluebird. The beigy-yellow beads are the right angle weave base in which I periodically add selected pressed Czech glass leaves and flowers in blue. The pressed glass additions sometimes take the place of one of the right angle weave beads and sometimes are added on top of the right angle weave base. Every time I add a pressed glass element, I go through the element a second time with treads to stabilize it. I am using #10 fireline and a #12 needle. This makes it a little tight for some of the beads and I have learned just how hard I can pull the needle with a pliers to get it through a tight bead without breaking it. If I have to back out and go around a particular bead, I catch the thread next to the bead and continue on. If a hole appears, I cover it with a pressed glass piece. I always try to use the heaviest thread that a particular project will allow and if I were not adding the pressed glass pieces, I would have done the right angle weave with #8 fireline, but I feel that the heavier thread will support the projecting pieces better.

I usually try to avoid metal findings as I don't like the addition of metal in a clasp if it does not appear elsewhere in the piece. That is why I was so excited over the boro glass toggles that Artbeads offered. However, after seeing them, I felt that they were too big in scale for the delicacy of the bluebird and elected to go with a sterling clasp inset with a yellow citrine from Star's beads (www.starsbeads.com) instead. The bluebird does contain silver and the yellow citrine helps blend the clasp to the beads. Sometimes I will add silver (or gold, or brass) spacers or heishi beads in the beadwork itself if I know that I am going to use a metal clasp.

This is a very light piece due both to the lightness of the resin pendant and the openness of the right angle weave. I think it will complement a casual outfit as well as something dressy. I thank Artbeads for the opportunity to work with their selection of wares. I have not forgotten the boro toggles--they will be next on my to-do list. Joanne

Disclosure: The Tania Hartman Resin and sterling pendant was kindly provided free-of-charge by Artbeads.com, within the frames of Artbeads.com blogging program. The author of this blog has not received any payment from above-mentioned company. The post above represents only personal opinion of the blog author.

Blue Bird Artbeads resin piece

I can't wait till my son gets here for Easter to install a new internet connection. I have been having trouble for the past few weeks connecting. I have chosen to begin working in right angle weave with the Tania Hartman resin and sterling blue bird piece from Artbeads. I think that the right angle weave in beigy-yellows with blue flower and leaf accents will be delicate enough to support but not overwhelm the pretty bluebird. Joanne

Disclosure: The Tania Hartman Resin and sterling pendant was kindly provided free-of-charge by Artbeads.com, within the frames of Artbeads.com blogging program. The author of this blog has not received any payment from above-mentioned company. The post above represents only personal opinion of the blog author.

Sleight of Hand card decks

Just a note to let you know that the Sleight of Hand card decks have their own facebook page at





http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=373582627137

Artbeads-new beading projects

I have found a new bead supplier on line: www.artbeads.com  They have graciously allowed me to select a few choice elements at no charge to me to design with and post. I just love being stimulated by new items. In fact, I was a bit down and reluctant to tackle something new after completing the 6 of Clubs project. This is just what I need to jump start my creative juices again. I have chosen some sterling silver and resin pendants by Tania Hartman as well as hand made boro glass toggles. Now--back to work! Joanne

Disclosure: The Tania Hartman Resin and sterling pendants as well as the boro glass toggles were kindly provided free-of-charge by Artbeads.com, within the frames of Artbeads.com blogging program. The author of this blog has not received any payment from above-mentioned company. The post above represents only personal opinion of the blog author.

FGP#28 More Sleight of Hand info

6 ♣  Joanne Strehle Bast Clubbing the Night Away Prohibition birthed the nightclub when women had to go out at night for illegal alcohol. Men+women+alcohol+party atmosphere=dancing. My six of clubs depicts three eras of nightclub dancing.

Sleight of Hand exhibition

March 20 - May 8, 2010

Opening March 20, 6:30-9 pm

3583 Butler St., Lawrenceville, PA 15201

Tues.-Fri. 11-6   Sat. 11-5

www.begalleries.com  412-687-2606

 

Sleight of Hand card decks will be for sale at the Mad Hatter's Tea Party March 13, the Sleight of Hand opening March 20, and on the Pittsburgh Fiberarts Guild websitewww.fiberartspgh.org.

 

The Fiberarts Guild of Pittsburgh, Inc. is a non-profit, member supported organization that promotes appreciation of fiber art and fosters its development. The Sleight of Handproject is a fundraiser for Fiberart International, an acclaimed triennial juried exhibition of contemporary international fiber art sponsored by the Fiberarts Guild of Pittsburgh.Sleight of Hand is a fundraiser for Fiberart International, a triennial juried exhibition of contemporary international fiber art sponsored by the Fiberarts Guild of Pittsburgh. 

 

Fiberart International 2010 exhibition

April 16, 2010 - August 22, 2010
Pittsburgh Center for the Arts www.pittsburgharts.org

6300 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15232 and

Society for Contemporary Craft www.contemporarycraft.org

2100 Smallman Street, Pittsburgh PA 15222

Opening Reception April 16, 5:30-8:00 PM at both locations

www.fiberartinternational.org

FGP#27Sleight of Hand composite Deck

Here is a photo of all the cards in the Sleight of Hand Deck. Quite a project! Joanne

FGP #26 Sleight of Hand Exhibit information

MAD HATTER'S TEA PARTY AND FIBERART INTERNATIONAL FUNDRAISER MARCH 13TH

Date: Saturday, March 13th, 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Location: Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, Simmons Hall (corner of Shady and Fifth Ave)

Admission: $10, Children free

Join in the fun for an Alice in Wonderland card party brought to you by the Fiberarts Guild and PCA! This festive event will feature a special appearance by the Queen of Hearts herself! Attendees will participate in interactive card games, and are welcome to assemble a group to host their own game of choice as well. Children are welcome to attend and will be encouraged to design their own deck (materials provided). Be sure to stop by the Creative Card table for our Castle Challenge to build a tower of your own. Prizes awarded.  Attendees are encouraged to bring a tray of cookies or tea sandwiches to  share. Costumes/festive apparel encouraged, but not required.  The Sleight of Hand deck of playing cards was created as a fundraiser for  the Fiberarts  International 2010. Each of the 52 cards feature  reproductions of fiber works by guild members. Decks of cards will be available for purchase at the time of this event at PCA (attendees are welcome to bring any deck in lieu of the Sleight of Hand deck.) 

The Sleight of Hand show will be installed at Lawrenceville's BE (Borelli-Edwards) Galleries in March. The Show opens March 20, 6:30-9, and runs until May 8. The decks will premier at the opening, with both single and double decks for sale. They will also be available at the Fiberart International opening, the Forum, and other venues to be announced. Joanne

I will post more details as they become available. Fiberarts Guild of Pittsburgh is www.fiberartspgh.org   fiberartspgh@yahoo.com  and PO Box 5478, Pittsburgh, PA 15206     

FGP#25 "Clubbing the Night Away" final touches

It is always tricky thinking out the presentation of a beadwork piece. I was not satisfied with the way that the 6 of clubs piece hung. The wire joins at the top where I placed loops for hanging created small hinges which moved just enough to allow the piece to bend and not hang straight. I searched for heavier wire but would have to had used brown. The 14 gauge wire that I used was the heaviest black I could find, I really did not want to add a brown border by whip stitching another round of wire with a different join site. I had no luck at craft and/or hardware stores finding something that would do the trick. However, it was time to get my teeth cleaned, and I asked my dentist about wire. He sent me to an orthodontist friend who gave me a piece of thin but very stiff orthodontic wire. It did the trick. All I needed was to support the top line that contained the loops and joins of the original wire. I whip stitched the orthodontic wire to the back of the piece between the first 2 rows of beads. It is barely visible and improves the hang immensely. Joanne

Here are the final shots and details of each couple. I am still waiting to here when and where the deck of cards may be purchased and when and where (in Pittsburgh, PA) the exhibit of all the card pieces will be. I will post here when I know. 

FGP#24 Finished 6 of Clubs "Clubbing the Night Away"

Th dance floor is continued flipping and repeating shapes from the already finished side to the other side. Bead ladder first, then rows of brick stitch in varying sizes, shapes and values of gray, and last filling in spaces with right angle weave maintaining high contrast between the figure edges and the background.

I can't wait to see the whole deck where each card is interpreted by a different fiber artist. Joanne

FGP#23 Dance Floor continued

I am continuing to work the dance floor in brick stitch outlines with right angle weave filler. The brick stitching is sometimes tapered. It helps to have multiple sizes of the same or similar bead. Working down to the deadline now. The photography for the deck of cards is commencing. I will post here where the cards may be ordered and when the exhibit of all the deck pieces will be when I get the information. Joanne

FGP#22 Dance Floor Brick Stitch

The collaged dance floor is used as a pattern for brick stitched lines in large gray on gray beads. Cylinder, triangle, rectangle and other beads are used to emphasize the lines and squares. Right angle weave fills in the center opf the squares as well as the background surrounding the squares and lines.

By this time all 4 corner nails have been removed so that the holes could be filled in with beads. Side nails are placed to maintain the size spread and they are repositioned as needed to make room for the stitching. Joanne