Latest walnut

These are my latest beads.  I strung one necklace and hope for a bit of feedback on it today if I manage to meet up with Siri.  These are ready for playing about with to see how best to string.
I am going to try to get one on a wire choker now.... I think that will be a lovely way to show them off.
What do you think of beading along one edge too... but it mustn't get too itchy scratchy on the wearer so maybe not.
On a business note... each beads take 45 mins each to manufacture... So a necklace at 5 hours work is already an expensive item... not to mention the findings... which, if I want sterling silver or good quality at least, cost a pretty penny.  What is the Canadian equivalent of "pretty penny"? .... sweet cent, perhaps??

Taking Part - Putting together a walnut/peach stone.

How exciting, Contextural is having a show and sale for Xmas.... in mid. Nov.   Oh dear... I must get a move on if I want to show anything.  So whilst watching the last Flames match (which they shamefully lost 7-0) I sketched out a few ideas.  Today I made some 'platelets' that I thought would be layered up to become brooches.
By school pick up time I was getting a bit despondent as the assembling phase was not going well.  But after the break of a drive to and from school and then kitchen-time... which included mashed celeriac&potatoes.... I did what I do best - played - and found I had fashioned what I thought at first was a peach stone, but soon realised it is a walnut for Xmas of course...
I had decided to work in Orange... to facilitate a discussion of the samples with a group of unsuspecting folks on Wed.  Since 2 of them are Dutch I though the orange-ness might appeal to them subliminally!

Here is a walnut.
Perhaps it just looks like a tangled piece of cord... but that isn't what it is at all.... I think when there are more it will be more obvious how it is made and it will show the various ripple shapes... adjacent to each other.... ( to be shown in my next blog entry I hope).

I am going to make 5 of them, minimum, per necklace...and string them onto a  wire... maybe using those pinched beads to hold them in place... and the clasp????  Maybe take a trip to Michaels for jewellery inspiration tomorrow.
First sample will have beads of all one size but as I become more confident working the designs I intend to throw in some variations in size and, of course, colour.  And I want to go back to my inspiration... the worms for colour combination ideas.
Ooh this is going to be fun... as long as I crack the findings....

The Flyer is finished.

I made this flyer to place at the exhibitions and in coffee shops and in the Outpost newsletter.  Now I need to find a cheap way of producing them in high quality format. I have one set of students taking part and have a second class starting in Nov.  It is a beginning.

Oops no title

Oh my goodness, I have got to make a brooch out of this subject.  Thanks Gary. Could it be that my machine work, my shibori and my insanity will all come together.... Let me make this a goal!
Mathematics here I come.
And if you don't understand that comment, do ask.

John's Photos

Some folks who received invitations to the show but cannot make it since they live on a different continent! asked to see more photos... So here are some that John took bless him, his patience, support and his Nikon.

And a view of the exhibition, although not all of it - as several artsits' work cannot be seen in this shot, scroll down to see more.

More images from the exhibition

All credit to Lana of Eleven Eleven and Resolution Gallery who has proved an excellent host for this exhibition.  She certainly runs a business with heart and soul.  I wish her and her colleagues much success.  This business deserves its succeess so here is a photo of the owner and the place, I hope you will visit the gallery and also the boutique that she runs on the main floor.

The Gallery at 233 - 10 St NW Calgary (Kensington District)

Now back to some more photos.... Although there is much more to see, read and understand than is shown here....First a detail of the beautiful hand dyed and printed fabric from Anne

 Anne Fetterly

 Sample table and documentation by Lyn Pflueger (sorry Lyn about my Omani bag confusing the story - so unprofessional)

And detail of her hanging shibori piece above.

 Dana Roman

 Melinda Topilko

 Charis Birchall

 Tara Griffiths

Thanks especially to Anne who curated the show and all the other members who helped organise and support the group.

Contextural Show - Documentation opens today

Oops I pressed publish post before I had finished... sorry... to be cont'd....

I know these shots are really bad... I hope to pay the exhibition another visit and get some better ones... but these are from yesterday when I put the works up and the cents were ticking on the pay parking in Kensington... yes, we have a Kensington in Calgary too.

The exhibition is delightful and I am honoured to be participating with such a wonderful group of artists.  Here are some better photos of their work!  In no particular order.

Julie Baratta

Siri McCormick

Anne Fetterly

Arlee Barr