Fabric of My Life with Shelley Graham Turner: August 2012

Friday, August 31, 2012

REVEAL DAY: Phantom of the Opera

It's another REVEAL DAY! This time its for the Phantom of the Opera Blog Hop, sponsored by Pam Sears of Crazy Creative Corner.

The musical, Phantom of the Opera, by Andrew Lloyd Webber, is based on the novel Le Fantôme de l'Opéra which was written by Gaston Leroux in 1910.

It is listed as a horror story but for some I am sure it is a romantic story - the typical boy rescues girl plot...but OH, it's SO MUCH MORE! Listen to the soundtrack from the Phantom of the Opera - then tell me what you feel...

The music is composed by Lloyd Webber, with lyrics by Charles Hart.

Here are the lyrics:

In sleep he sang to me in dreams he came
That voice which calls to me and speaks my name
And do I dream again? For now I find
The Phantom of the Opera is there inside my mind

Sing once again with me our strange duet
My power over you grows stronger yet
And though you turn from me to glance behind
The Phantom of the Opera is there inside your mind

Those who have seen your face draw back in fear
I am the mask you wear it's me they hear
My spirit and my voice in one combined
The Phantom of the Opera is there inside my mind

Beware the Phantom of the Opera
Is that the Phantom of the Opera?

Sing, my angel
Sing for me
Sing, my angel
Sing for me

[ From: http://www.elyrics.net/read/p/phantom-of-the-opera-lyrics/phantom-of-the-opera-lyrics.html ]

So, what feelings did it conjure up? For me it felt damp, cold, hauntingly dramatic and really, really ERRIE !

As a visual artist, this translated to dark colors, chains and a hint of metal. Here are the beginnings of my piece.

Add to this my focal piece, made from polymer clay ... the crystals represent the chandelier (you do know about the chandelier, right?!) and the bar on the black textured slab represents imprisonment (the Phantom's cold, secret liar!).

And this is what I ended up with....

Closeups of the beads and components ...

Sing my angel of music...sing for me!

Continue on to see how my friends were inspired....

Our Blog Hostess - The Crazier Sister
http://crazycreativecorner.blogspot.com/

Amanda - http://craft-o-licious.blogspot.com/
chicandfrog - http://chicandfrog.wordpress.com/
Andra – http://creezpentrutine.blogspot.com/
Dana Lang - http://tumblestonehandmakery.blogspot.com/
Shelley Graham Turner - http://shelleygrahamturner.blogspot.com/
SueBeads - www.suebeads.blogspot.com
Lp’S Jewelry - http://lpsjewelry.blogspot.com/
Sonya - http://dreaminofbeads.blogspot.com/
Kelli Jacobson - http://creativemoonjewelryandthings.com/
Therese Frank - http://www.theresestreasures59.blogspot.com/

BFF Beading Friend Friday: AMY TAYLOR FREELAND

This week’s featured artist is Amy Taylor Freeland of Copper Diem and GreenBead Designs.

VITALS:

Real Name? Amy Freeland

Location? Southern California

Marital Status or Relationship? Married

Children? Nope

Pets? Two well behaved houseplants

Other hobbies or interests? Reading, photography, travel, food

BFF: What do you do with beads? (weaving, stringing, lampworking, polymer, etc)

AMY: Hoarding and stringing

BFF: How would you describe your role in the beading world?

AMY: Tireless purchaser of beads large and small, exuberant blogger and bead stringer

BFF: How long have you been working with beads?

AMY: Six years

BFF: What is your style? And what attracts you to this style?

AMY: I love color and symmetry. I’ve tried to do asymmetrical designs, but my beady OCD just wants those beads to line up all symmetrical. So I’m going with that for now J

BFF: What are your favorite metals to use?

AMY: Copper, copper and more copper.

BFF: What is your favorite stringing medium to use?

AMY: Beading wire, sometimes waxed linen. I love leather cording but I bought cording that is too fat for most bead holes, so I gotta work on that (i.e. buy thinner cording or buy beads with bigger holes, basically I need to bead shop more)

BFF: What is your favorite color palette?

AMY: I would say orange and blue. My bead stash would say blue and green, because those are the drawers that are overflowing.

BFF: Your technique(s)?

AMY: ?

BFF: What else would you like to try your hand at?

AMY: Nothing. Not a thing. I’ve already tried polymer clay, torch and kiln enameling, cold connection metal work, wire wrapping, felting, resin, etc, etc. My poor wallet and storage space cannot handle another new thing.

BFF: Other artist/designer(s) you admire? Any special reason why?

AMY: Lorelei - I love her designs and her great personality. I love Kerry Bogert’s use of color and her blog (it was one of the first bead blogs I started reading)

BFF: Where do you want to be in 5 years from now?

AMY: Sitting in a bead room, surrounded by beads, makin’ stuff.

BFF: What’s your favorite quote or saying?

AMY: "Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life." Picasso.

BFF: Any advice you'd give to new artists who are just beginning in your medium?

AMY: Don’t get intimidated by people with more sales, more followers, more beads, “better” designs. Just do your stuff, try to do it consistently, and be yourself and things will fall into place.

BFF: What is your favorite blog that you like to follow?

AMY: That’s kinda like asking me which of my houseplants is my favorite – I’ll never tell!

BFF: What has been your favorite Blog Hop or Challenge?

Inspired by "This Is Just To Say" ~ William Carlos Williams

AMY: I really love Erin Prais-Hintz’s blog hops – she has such clever and creative hop prompts.

Quirky questions often give us a better understanding of the real person behind the artist, so here goes…

BFF: If you had all the money in the world, what would you buy?

AMY: Oh, I hadn’t really thought about it. I guess a beach house in Oregon right on the coast, with tons of gardens and a two story bead studio overlooking the ocean. (Okay, I have thought about it. A lot)

BFF: As a child what was your favorite cartoon or tv show?

AMY: The Frugal Gourmet, Facts of Life, Golden Girls…

BFF: Favorite subject in school? why?

AMY: English – love reading.

Okay, now it's my turn... did ya'all know that besides being a outstanding artist and jewelry designer, Ms. Amy is also a very caring and giving person? She has given close to $1500 in donations to wonderful organizations such as 7000 Bracelets, Ears to You, Garden of Innocence, local community organization and more? What a love she is... thank you Amy for sharing yourself with me and the BFF readers.

READ my post on Amy's COCKTAIL HOUR Blog Hop which I took part in too!

CONTACT INFO:

AMY TAYLOR FREELAND

Blog Address: http://copperdiem.blogspot.com/

Website: – GreenBead Designs / Facebook Page

E-mail address mailto:copperdiem@gmail.com

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

UPDATE: Holiday Bling Blog Hop!

Marlene Cupo of Amazing Designs and I have come up with a novel way to start off the busy holiday season with a Holiday Bling Blog Hop!

To recap –
The plan is for partners to contact each other and you'll decide between each other what you would like to exchange – could be handmade ornaments, jewelry, decor, whatever – just has to be Holiday themed. As our backgrounds are so diverse it can be any holiday you choose, but it should be a winter holiday. Examples are,Chanukah, Christmas, Kwanzaa , Ashura, Bodhi Day, or Boxing Day – to name just a few!

The official date for the Holiday Bling Blog Hop (HBBH) is October 6th. All items should be shipped out by September 15th at the latest, to allow for international deliveries.

As usual, I'm stumped right now and still looking for inspiration in my favorite place - the library...

Partners have been selected and you should all have received an e-mail from us with your partner’s e-mail address. Here are the participants and partners:

Dee Elgie

Lo/ Lynn Jobber

Michelle Fanucchi

Shelly Joyce

Monique Urquhart

Jo-Ann Woolverton

Therese Frank

Alicia Marinache

Heather Otto

Lori Bowring Michaud

Sonya Stille

Lennis Carrier

Linda Florian

Gina Hockett

Mary Shannon Hicks

Stephanie Stamper (Woods)

Dyanne Cantrell

Marla Gibson

Melinda Orr

Ginger Bishop

Linda Younkmann

Shirley Jones Moore

Tanya Boden

Shai Williams

Debbie Rasmussen

Leanne Loftus

Charlie Jacka

Lori Jean Poppe

Rita/Toltec Jewels

Shelley Graham Turner

Jeannie K Dukic

Michelle Black

Mary Howell Govaars

Marlene Cupo

Looking forward to seeing all of your creative bling!

Friday, August 24, 2012

BFF Beading Friend Friday: SHERRI STOKEY

This week's featured artist is Sherri Hartman Stokey, of KnotJust Macrame!

I love Sherri! She's such a sweetheart. But besides that, her work with micro macramé is outstanding and inspiring. Come - learn more about my friend, Sherri!

VITALS:

Real Name? Sherri Stokey. Sherri Lynn to familyJ Yes, a bit like Elsie May or Billy Bob or John Boy…

Location? North Platte, NE. Take a pin and stick it smack dab in the middle of the continental USA then scootch it just a teeny bit to the left – that’s me!

Marital Status or Relationship? Married to the same man for 26 years

Children? Two offspring. My son is just a week shy of 20 years old and my daughter is 16.

Pets? One big, lazy, loveable Black Lab; one retired police service dog (German Shepherd); one spoiled rotton mini-doxie; and a garage cat.

Other hobbies or interests? Everything! I’m an Aries – I like to try everything and I bore easilyJ Right now I’m obsessed with anything bead-related , but I’ve done ceramics, sewing, cross stitch, stained glass, cake decorating, scrapbooking and genealogy (I’m probably forgetting a bunch of stuff, but that should give you an idea). I love to cook and I really love to travel. I like fantasy and science fiction (not to worry, I haven’t attended a convention yet and don’t own any costumes LOL) and everything history related. Oh, and ancient Egypt – everything about that fascinates me.

These interviews are shared with my blog readers but are really for me, I love to know what is behind the art. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

BFF: What do you do with beads?

SHERRI: I do mostly macramé – and I prefer micro macrame with thin cords and tiny seed beads. But I’ve done some stringing, some bead embroidery, some weaving… I want to do everything (remember, I’m an Aries – that’s my new excuse for everything!).

BFF: How would you describe your role in the beading world?

SHERRI: I’m not sure I HAVE a role in the beading world. I’m just over here in my own world doing what I love to do and sharing it with anyone interested enough to watch.

BFF: How long have you been working with beads?

SHERRI: If you count the first time I did macramé back in the 70’s, for about 40 years LOL. But I did take a pretty big break in thereJ I’ve got interested again about 5 years ago.

BFF: What is your style? And what attracts you to this style?

SHERRI: I don’t think I have a style, unless “whatever I like at the moment” counts. Sometimes I like everything fussy and feminine, sometimes casual and grungy.

Statement Necklace

BFF: What are your favorite metals to use?

SHERRI: I use antiqued copper and brass mostly. And antiqued silver. I usually can’t afford sterling and gold just seems too formal for me.

BFF: What is your favorite stringing medium to use?

SHERRI: I don’t do enough stringing to have an opinionJ

BFF: What is your favorite color palette?

SHERRI: Teal, aqua, seashore colors, definitely. I do belong to a challenge group which helps me move outside my comfort zone and try different color combos, though, and I think that’s good for me.

BFF: Your technique(s)?

SHERRI: Does this count? I like to pull out all the beads and findings and cord that might work in my design so I can see them together and try different combinations. I have almost as much fun digging through my stash and playing with my beads as I do actually creating a piece. I like to photograph my “palette” and my finish pieces – sort of a “before” and “after”. It’s just fun seeing how a pile of beads and cord can be transformed into something beautiful.

BFF: What else would you like to try your hand at?

SHERRI: Enameling – I bought a torch fired enamel kit and tried it once and I melted the window blinds, but I’m pretty sure that was a fluke. Looming- I bought an inexpensive loom, but haven’t tried it yet. Kumihimo – I bought the stuff for it… Are you seeing the trend here? Come to think of it, I think my “technique” is collecting.

BFF: Other artist/designer(s) you admire? Any special reason why?

SHERRI: Many! There are several lampwork artists I admire and I’d hate to name any and forget some, so I’ll just leave it at that. That’s a medium I don’t think I’d attempt so I really admire those who can create such beautiful beads.

Erin Simonetti and her loom work. She is doing some absolutely amazing piece that change the way I think of loomed pieces. I can’t wait for her book to come out.

BFF: Where do you want to be in 5 years from now?

SHERRI: Retired from my “regular” job, spending winters somewhere warm and still making jewelry.

BFF: What’s your favorite quote or saying?

SHERRI: I can’t think of one right off…

BFF: Any advice you'd give to new artists who are just beginning in your medium?

SHERRI: Don’t be afraid to experiment – cord is cheap!

BFF: What is your favorite blog that you like to follow?

SHERRI: The Beading Gem’s Journal. Pearl Blay scours the world for new and interesting jewelry artists, techniques, tutorials, etc.

Sherri's BSBP entry!

BFF: What has been your favorite Blog Hop or Challenge?

SHERRI: I’ve only done a couple of Blog Hops – in fact, I’ve only had a blog for a couple of months now. One of the things that finally pushed me into starting one was so I could participate in some of the hops.

I’m in the first reveal of LoriAnderson’s Bead Soup Blog Party ® and I’m insanely excited about it (I know, what a geek, huh). I love, love, love looking at everyone’s blogs to see what they made.

Quirky questions often give us a better understanding of the real person behind the artist, so here goes…

BFF: If you had all the money in the world, what would you buy?

SHERRI: My own island with a beach. And a huge house with guests houses for friends and family - with a whole wing for beads. Like my own private bead store with EVERYTHING so no matter what I felt like making, I’d have the stuff on hand. And a margarita machine. I know, I know, I was supposed to say “world peace”…

BFF: As a child what was your favorite cartoon or tv show? why?

SHERRI: Land of the Lost on Saturday mornings – so full of cheesy, sci-fi goodness – with dinosaurs mixed in. What’s not to love?!

BFF: Favorite toy as a child? why?

SHERRI: Barbies. Malibu Barbie was the bomb. Or my Crissy doll – she had hair that “grew” (okay, you pulled it out of a hole in her head, but it DID get longer LOL) Oh, and my brother’s Legos. (Editor's Note: I had a Crissy doll too - LOVED her!)

BFF: Favorite subject in school? why?

SHERRI: Probably math. It always makes sense – not really any gray areas, nothing open to interpretation. All is right with the universe. (Editor’s Note: Amen, sister!)

BFF: What was your favorite YEAR of your life thus far? why?

SHERRI: Hmmm… I’m going to say 1998 because both of my children were born by then and my father-in-law and my grandparents were all still alive. All of my favorite people in the whole world were part of my world. I’d love to go back and have just one more of those days just to savor it a little more. I try to remember that and apply it now. Someday I will probably look back with longing on this time in my life. Funny how that works.

Sherri is in my Etsy circle and I have noticed how alike our “tastes” are, and I follow herfavorite links A LOT! I think we are really “soul sisters” because we have so much in common (like my name, it's Shelley Lynn). YES, we share common interests and talents - although I do NOT have the micro macramé gene! I do NOT have the patience or talent it takes to create such beautiful pieces. Thank goodness I can buy all I like from wonderful artists such as Sherri!