Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Art Bead Scene - January Challenge


Textile Design for Cretonne, 1928? 
by Lois Mailou Jones

Tempera on Paper


About the Art
Lois Mailou Jones would return summer after summer to paint on the Vineyard. In Boston, Lois Jones’ mother was a beautician and had a beauty shop with a friend. One of her private customers, Mrs. Gibson, lived in Vineyard Haven. She wrote, “Mrs. Gibson discovered that I was talented and she said I must come and paint in her garden. She had a wonderful set of Japanese books of handpainted flowers. That is very important in my career because she said, “Let Lois come over and paint in my garden and then she can borrow these books.”
“I used those flowers for my cretonne designs and those cretonne designs were printed and sold all over the country, as far as California. It was all going back to Mrs. Gibson who lived in Vineyard Haven.” These early textile designs are a testament to Jones’ exceptional versatility as an artist. Interestingly enough it was these textile designs that eventually launched her into a fine art career.

About the Artist

Lois Mailou Jones (November 3, 1905 – June 9, 1998) was a prize winning artist who lived into her nineties and who painted and influenced others during the Harlem Renaissance and beyond during her long teaching career. She was born in Boston, Massachusetts and is buried on her beloved Martha’s Vineyard in the Oak Bluffs Cemetery.


When I saw this photo I was so drawn to the colors. I knew I wanted to something in beadweaving as I am trying to become better with it as I move forward in my jewelry career.

While looking though the art bead designers I came across Three Wing Studios..she had some new handmade clay art beads that really fit the bill.... The colors matched perfectly along with the seed bead I had on hand.

The results - a bracelet with a metal flower pendant clasp.













For more great eye candy and instructions..head over to the Art Bead Scene blog.

Thanks for looking.



Saturday, January 25, 2014

Grow Your Blog 2014

For some reason...my computer is not wanting to cooperate so I am not sure if my blog will be working.  But here goes.

My name is Veralynne and I am a 50+ mom and grandma. Both roles that I love.  I am semi retired to take care of a disabled husband.  I am currently working part time at our local Jackson Hewitt. More to just be able to get out and interact with people.

My loves are jewelry, crochet, sewing, crafting, reading and just enjoying life.  This blogging thing is new to me so I know my blog isn't that creative or full YET. But if you look back through my post here you can see a little of what I do. I also have a blog...www.thesongsofmyheart1@blogspot.com where I put poems and such that I write. And when I get a chance I take photos for what we call Macro Monday and that site is www.verasmacromondays.blogspot.com/

But I am learning and growing and that is what it is about.


This is the most current picture of me. It is taken with my daughter, Sydny.  I do need to get in and get something done with my hair....

I have two other sons...Larry who is married to Shelly and given me two beautiful granddaughters




And my other son, Nicholas who lives at home at the moment and is going to college.

(his workspace......)

And then my daughter, Sydny, who works and her boyfriend:


And lasts by NOT least...my wonderful husband who puts up with me....


But to fill you in a bit.... I do have an Etsy store. The name is Dont Forget The Memory. I have vintage jewelry, jewelry I made myself, and other crafts and items.  I post on Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook. (though who doesn't). 

I am loving life right now and while last year my word was grow and I did, this year the word is "continue" and I am continuing to grow and blossom.  So if you come back next year....you will see a whole different person.

Please check out the rest of the bloggers and please like/follow me. I can guarantee, you will see "continued Growth!

Later!
Veralynne


Saturday, January 11, 2014

Into The Forest - For Real! Blog Hop

Hi all and welcome to my Into The Forest Blog Hop.  Our challenge hostess, Lisa Lodge of  Pine Ridge Treasure, sent us beads back in the fall of last  year for the blog hop today...gave us PLENTY of time to think of a theme...I can't tell you how many times I have changed my theme...but...I did finally come up with one.

In my stash of beads I had green czech glass, seed beads and yellow turquoise large nuggets.


I had almost forgot to take pictures of the beads. So here is what I received.

I had so many ideas but I settled on a kind of autumn in the forest theme.  I added some orange, brownish/tan, brown, and white beads. I decided on a three stand necklace with a bracelet and earrings. 

 The design I got from Mixed Media Jewelry Techniques book by Lana May & Her Friends.

The pattern is called The Harmony of Three by Albina Manning and Geri Cook. Geri Cook is the one that actually did the necklace pattern. In the pattern though they just did a pass through of the focal, but I want to "add" because that is the way I am, so I "added" some leaves and branches with "flowers" at the end of the focal. It took me a while to get the spiral going...but I love it. I can see so many different ways to use it. and it was fast to do once you got the hang of it.

The bracelet is just one on memory wire and the earrings are the swirl pattern with leaves at the bottom.  

The closure is a simple three prong end piece on each side built for three stands and a lobster claw closure on one end. 

I had a blast doing this and the metamorphosis my ideas and designs went through. Below is the links to the other participants. Please do hop over and check them out.  We have such talented people!

AND...coming up in the spring we will have another challenge/blog by Lisa...so stay tuned!  

Your hostess:  Lisa Lodge, A Grateful Artist
Melissa Trudinger, Bead Recipes
Kathy Zeigler Lindemer, Bay Moon Design
Eleanor Burian Moore, The Charmed Life
Jo-Ann Woolverton, It's a Beadiful Creation
Chris Eisenberg, Wanderware
Christine Stonefield, Sweet Girl Design
Carolyn Lawson, Carolyn's Creations
Janine Lucas, Esfera Travel Blog
Jasvanti Patel, Jewelry by Jasvanti
Shaiha Williams,   Shaiha's Ramblings
Kay Thomerson, Kayz Kreationz
Karla Morgan, Texas Pepper Jams
Veralynne Malone, Designed by Vera
Toltec  Jewels, Jewel School Friends
Christie Searle Murrow, Charis Designs Jewelry
Molly Alexander, Beautifully Broken Me
Monique Urquhart, A Half-Baked Notion
Janet Bocciardi, Honey from the Bee
Dini Bruinsma, Angaza by Changes
Heather Richter, Desert Jewelry Designs
Christina Miles, Wings n Scales
Elizabeth Engriser, Bead Contagion
Alice Peterson, Alice Dreaming
Alicia Marinache, All the Pretty Things
Catherine Yvonne King, Catherine's Musings
Alice Craddick, Alice's Beads and Baubles
Ema Kilroy, Ema K Designs







Monday, January 6, 2014

100 Earrings in 100 days

Sponsored by Amy Freeland at Copper Diem....she threw down the gauntlet again this year...make 100 earrings in 100 days...gonna try again....have a new job starting but we will see...check her out on face book and see what it is all about...

Anyway here are my first 7 sets...soon to be on Etsy. $5, free shipping...








More info is on Pinterest under 100 Earrings...


Into The Forest preview part 1

I can't stand it....my piece(s) are finished....I want to post SOOOOOOOOOOOOO bad.....but I will just post a peak....



can you see??????  LOL!

Ohhhh come on Sat!

Sunday, January 5, 2014

Into the Forest Blog Hop


I can't believe it is almost here....seems like such a long time ago I signed up....

But since that time....when I took pictures...my computer has crashed and I lost the pictures, BUT I do have some of the beads I haven't used yet and the focal...so here is the "mix" that Lisa Lodge sent to me for this challenge...


I have had a blast with these beads and have changed my mind a hundred times...but I decided upon a design and can't wait to show it on the 11th...so stay tuned!!!!!