Last month I signed up for a bead swap hosted by Lori Anderson. The basic idea is that you send a few beads to a random partner. You both make things with the beads and post photos. It's a way to get you out of a creative rut and meet new friends.
I was excited to get my package from Marcie Abney, who is a very talented beadweaver, as you can see from her Etsy shop. The pink/brown combination is just right for spring. (She actually sent more seed beads, but I didn't want to take them all out of the package. Those tiny beads take forever to pick up!)
The Bead Goes On . . .
It was fun picking out beads for to send to Marcie. (And challenging, since I used my stash and buying things that match is not my strong suit!) It's a bit subversive. You get to pick out pretty things, but you don't have to worry too much about how it will all come together in a design. I did the Beadwork challenges for two years and I have to say it was a nice change being on the other side of things.
Go Git 'Em, Pardner!
Marcie posted a photo on her blog of the package I sent to her. The color combination I chose was conservative with lots of black/cream/gray. I think I've been traumatized by having to work with green/orange, purple/yellow, orange/blue, and all
sorts of other color combinations not of my own choosing.
With the focal bead, I admit I had a hidden agenda.
I actually bought three of these black and white porcelain focals by Joan Miller a couple of years ago and they are
still in my bead stash. (Well, two of them still are.) I like them, but I'm stumped by them. I'm hoping that Marcie's design will inspire me. Go, Marcie, go!
Let the Games Begin
We will reveal our designs February 10. Come back and see what we made!