De Stash Blog Hop!

It's the holiday season and I want to give you a gift. I'm having a de-stash giveaway here at the blog and you are invited.  Just post a comment here on the blog (any post, read away!) and on the the 14th I'll pick a winner. On the 15th I'll notify them and the rest of the beady world.

What's in my stash? Well, this photo is just the beginning. The REAL de-stash gift will include fibers from my personal Jars Of Ribbon (I'll post a picture one day this week), beads from my Way Over Stocked beady bins (again, I promise photos!), and maybe even an unpublished tutorial or project instruction for you to play with! It will all fit in a Priority Mail box and I'll mail it to you, free.

International address? No problem. I'll send you a gift, from me to you!
Are you local? Great, then I won't even have to seal up your box; you can come pick it up at the shop and I'll make you a cup of tea!


Doesn't this sound like a great idea? It is...it's so great the all the bloggers listed below are participating.  Go see them and comment on their posts, too.
Beverly Gilbert http://beverlygilbert.blogspot.com/
Val Hebert http://valsartstudio.blogspot.com/
Jeannette Cook http://beadyeyedwomen.blogspot.com/
Carol Dean Sharp http://sandfibers.blogspot.com/
Marcia DeCoster http://www.maddesignsbeads.blogspot.com
Cynthia Deis http://shinylittlethings.blogspot.com/
Lori Anderson http://www.prettythingsblog.com/

The rules:
Every blogger has her own rules.
On this blog, one post per day, please.
On this blog, hop around and comment on any post you want.

Flags by Sara Rabar

These amazing flags are the work of Iranian American artist Sara Rabar. Made of antique textiles with layer upon layer of stitches they are beautiful and, perhaps, controversial.

All I know is that I really wish my art budget was a bit higher this year. I'd love to have/hold/caress one of these. 
Read an article about Rabar in Guernica.
See more pictures of her flags at Boooooom!

Local Greetings...

 

I've been a bad card-mailer for the last bit. I used to just buy cards when I saw them and mail them to the recipient. 

Not their birthday? 

No problem, I sent the card anyway. 

I am not organized enough to buy a card in February and mail it in July. 

But for the last year or so I haven't really seen cards I liked. 

The funny, jokey cards all seemed like something I have seen about a thousand times already. The pat images of a lovely Rue in Paris left me a bit cold. I felt like I was wasting a stamp.

Recently I was lucky enough to see some locally-made cards that really got me excited. The collage of images above is from cards by Raleigh-based (and Virginia-born) Julie Williams Dixon. The images really inspired me to stick a stamp on the envelope and send them off to friends and family. I'm happy to look at our card spinner now, to see the fresh vision from friendly eyes.

That Santa-next-to-a-camper is going to hit at least a few mailboxes from my address book this year.

And, in the interest of full disclosure, I should tell you that Julie is a friend of mine for the last decade and a half. I knew she took pictures and had even admired them on her walls. Imagine my surprise when she said 'hey, I made some cards, will you look at them?' I was smitten.

So, she made some cards. Come look at them.

New Tutorial - Cozy Colorwash Necklace

click here to see how to make this Cozy Colorwash Necklace with our newest hand-painted fiber.
click here to see Elaine's newest bead color, Aztec.

P.S...I love this

 

I just saw this collage on P.S.-I made this and it reminds me of these items.

 

They are all on my studio table right now, awaiting a final home.

I think I want to combine this necklace idea with a tassel somehow...

Maybe right in the center, made of that green hand-painted cotton? Hmm...

anyhow, check out P.S.-I made this. She's makes amazing inspirational collages...