not just your mama's paper beads?

Who says that paper beads are boring? Why can't we combine junk paper with modern elements? What if we just use recycled materials and then embellish the living daylights out of them? Why not make them into teeny, little art projects? Why do we even need to make jewellery out of them? Why can't we use them as decorative elements in our homes? If we make paper beads out of book text, does that make them part of an altered book? How about using them for toggle closures? What if we mixed our paper beads with other beads? How about combining a text bead with fabric? Does that make it a fabric book? Does painting a paper bead, make it a painting? Why not make them fun, funky, colourful, sophisticated and most of all, fabulous? Come join me at BeadFX on Sunday, April 6th, for my "From Junk to Beads-Making Paper Beads" class. Time: 12 PM to 3 PM. I promise that you won't regret it!

Hmm......looking at the top photo, I realize that I need to add a jolt of colour? Perhaps red, lime, or maybe even yellow? What do you think? My bowl has the start of two necklaces in it, but tell me, what would you make out of paper beads?

what do you do with a paper bead?

Well, make jewelery, of course! I have a tendancy to let my bead rest in a bowl, jar or box, but did need to make some samples for a class I'm going to be teaching at BeadFX, in Toronto. I'm not sure when it will appear on the schedule, but if you're interested, mark January 26th on your calendar (but call in December/January to reserve your space). I've been away from bead stringing for a while, but have been lusting after one or two necklaces that I've seen on the internet (and in the shops). The black/green necklace & bracelet are a study in simple elegance, while the green one with the chain and charms is my first attempt at a funky, mixed media necklace! And then there's the green bracelet. How did that come about? Could there be two sides of me? Shocking, I know, but that's the truth. How else could a creative type like myself work in finance for all those years? As intuitive as I am, that old self still nags me to be a little more organized. Sometimes I listen, and sometimes I don't! The black/green beads called out for the black Swarovski Pearls and silver accent beads (thanks Pam, for helping me with that decision). The chains were re-cycled from thrift or rummage sale finds and the large silver circles were plucked from the stash. The green necklace presented quite a problem. I was initially leaning towards a long string of beads, separated by tarnished brass rounds. I made it and hated it!! Way too much green! Then I had a brainwave and decided to make a charm necklace, using only a few of the beads. I included wire wrapped beads, a tarnished brass spiral, thrift store chain and a resin paper leaf. My wire wrapping is a little rusty, but you get the picture. Rustic and out there! Perhaps a little deranged, but I like it! Then I had another dilemma. The rest of the green beads were sitting on my worktable, giving me the stink eye! Gulp! What to do, what to do? A cuff!!! Of course a cuff was the solution. Luckily, I had just enough beads left. Ladder stitch with Fireline thread, embellished with size 11 seed beads on Nymo. I'm happy and the beads stopped giving me the evil eye!! Whew!!! Take that you greenies! Still a few black/green beads left, so perhaps I should make some earrings. Either that, or another charm necklace. No green beads, but I do have a nice set of denim coloured ones that are just waiting to be dipped in their final coating. Not this week, but perhaps next!

So, what do you think of my latest obsession? Of course, they're not the only things that I've been working on. I finished my latest BJP leaf and have temporarily solved the how to hang dilemma for my dominos. I say "temporarily" because there's definitely more than one way to hang those 'suckas' so keep tuned! Photography of beads on the black background, by Deborah Milton.

paper collage and paper beads

More paper fodder for your eyes. Yes, I'm still playing with paper, but confess that I'm really getting the urge to crank up the sewing machine again. The postcard almost tempted me off my paper path, but I expect that you'll be seeing a mix of paper, fibre and possibly even beads in the near future. I have some pretty wacky ideas running around in my head, so that bodes well for my creative side. The postcard is my contribution to The Great Big Stitched Postcard swap and I'm trading with Lien in Belgium. I mailed the piece to her naked (no, I wasn't naked, I sent it without an envelope, sillies!). Included in the collage are paper bits from previous swaps (thanks, Ines!), old pattern tissue, vintage lace and used Tetley teabags (the round ones). I used wallpaper paste to glue it all together and it stitches like a dream! Thread sketched 'weeds' were added as a focal point.

Now on to the paper beads! Two batches, both made with the same process. Scrap paper core (1"), topped with small pieces of Gelli printed backgrounds. The green ones seemed a little boring, so they were wrapped with bits of Gelli printed packing tape. I do like the effect and it's a great way to clean your plate (let it dry completely, add the tape and then pull it off)! The dark beads (a mix of black/grey/green/white)have been accented with a middle stripe of silvery Distress Glitter (in Pumice Stone)and then wrapped with Sulky, Sliver thread in dark green. Let me tell you, this mylar thread (? I think that's what it is) is a real pain to stick down, so I don't really recommend it!!!!

Of course you know what all this means, don't you? Now I'll be forced to make something out of all those beads. My work never ends! LOL!! Any ideas?