Ceiba Pictures

I know I only blogged yesterday - and TWICE!! - but I thought I really should put up some pictures of the Ceiba species in real life. See my first blog entry yesterday for my designs inspired by this beautiful species.






As usual, I have just pinched these from the web; so if it's yours and you'd like me to take it down, just say! I have used your pic because I like it!

Exciting News!

After posting my Ceiba entry, I realised I haven't shared some exciting news with you! I was placed third in the Crystals category in the British Bead Awards! Unfortunately I had a wedding (work!) that weekend that I couldn't get out of so I couldn't make it down to the Big Bead Show but I had an email from one of the organisers a few days ago. Needless to say, I'm chuffed to bits!!

Ceiba Completion!

I have finished my Ceiba commission! I sewed my last stitch just after midnight on Friday night which is about 3 1/2 weeks since I received the commission. I really hope my lovely Edinburgh folk who it is for like it! I am very pleased with it - it has pushed me in a direction that I would not have gone in otherwise. With my (admittedly limited so far!) bead embroidery, I have never been tempted to create anything pictorial - I usually go freeform - and I haven't done much combining of bead embroidery and bead weaving as yet. So this project has been just great for pushing my personal boundaries! Unfortunately I haven't sent it as yet; when I went to the post office on Saturday morning, I was told that (due to our postal strikes) Special Delivery could not be guaranteed. So I will try again tomorrow morning. Fingers crossed! Here are some pics for you to see the spoils of my labour...

exciting commission!

When I was in Edinburgh last week,I received an exciting commission thanks to gil and the little bead shop! I have been asked to design and make a cuff and necklace based on the beautiful ceiba trees,specifically of south America. They are stunning,majestic creatures and some species have the most beautiful vivid red flowers. This is such a great opportunity for me,I usually work almost entirely free form so it is good for me to work in a more disciplined manner. The bad news is I said I could complete it in around three weeks! I'm not sure what I was thinking, perhaps I was drunk on beads?! So I have cracked on with the cuff but am now awaiting wrist measurements before I can preceed too much further. Eek! I am going try and post some photos from my camera although I fear I may not be able to achieve this...