Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Wow!!

Maybe I should have read some of these blogs and posts before I signed up!! Wow!! I'm in pretty exalted company.
I am going to approach this journal from a different angle than I have seen posted here so far.
Whoops! Maybe I had better introduce myself - I'm Karen McCleary and I live in Barrie, Ontario. That's in southern Ontario about an hour north of Toronto. Close enough to the city to have all of the perks but still far enough to feel like I'm not in the middle of the urban jungle....
I have played with beads on and off since high school - and we won't mention how long ago that was....I am mainly a quilter but have added beads and sparkly stuff to pieces whenever I could. Lately I have been experimenting with jewellery but my main focus with beads is in Crazy Quilting. I am replacing all of the threadwork and ribbon work with beadwork and have been experimenting with making beads emulate the various embroidery stitches. I call it Crazy Beaded Patchwork.
This will be the focus of my journal for the year - translating embroidery stitches into beadwork. I may also work some color theory in there.....but for now the main thrust is the playing of beads in embroidery stitch form. Since I will be stitching with the beads onto crazy patchwork I am planning on making the final size of each monthly piece about 81/2" x 11". This will include the 'fabric frame' around the crazy block.
Many of the stitches will be 'tried' out on Timtex first and then a final version will be stitched onto the crazy patch. I have hauled out a large 3 ring binder that I am hoping will house the final project - with a nicely beaded cover, of course....
I, too, work best to deadlines and thought that this monthly deadline would keep me focused and on track.....
BTW - my nickname is Kwiltin' Momma - and since we have more than one Karen - that's how I'll sign off.....

5 comments:

KrispiS said...

Greetings to a fellow quilter! I have been working with beads in my work and love it. It will be fun to see your work and what combinations you come up with to imitate traditional embroidery!

Aurora said...

Hi--Have you seen a book titled EMBEADERY by Margaret Ball? I suggest you check it out...

Denise said...

Hi Karen!
There's a fair representation from Canada here! I can't get over the international flavour this group has embodied!
I'm in Ottawa but visit Orllia once in awhile because my Mom lives there. Do you have any good bead shops in Barrie or do you travel to Toronto's spadina area for beads?
I'd love to see more of your work!
Cheers, Denise

Quilter Kathy said...

HI Karen
Another fellow Ontarian here...I am also a quilter who loves beading and I live near Guelph, Ontario. Looking forward to the BJP!

Diamond D said...

Hi everyone. I'm delighted to read that you are from Ontario. What a smaller world it is becoming. I live in Sarnia, On and love to do anything related to Embellishing and Crazy Quilting. I'm delighted to have the members of Bead Lust to encourage me in all my bad habits. I had decided on a theme but the more I get into this project the more ideas are coming my way. So glad we are all here for the fun. I am also known as diamonddeecee to my friends. Drop by often. And happy needles to us all