A Knitting Interlude ...

So ... what has Lisa been up to?

No good?

Really, is that what you think?

I've been really good...

Really...

Well, sort of...

If you must ask and know...

Would you believe that I finished designing, beading and writing the FIFTH Beadwork Designer of the Year project, worked on two different state sales taxes for the first quarter of 2009, worked on federal taxes, ... etc. etc. since my last post here.

Uhmmm... (cough)

(coughing again)

Yes, I even shopped for yarns for my growing stash in between...

I know I had said I was going to write about my adventures and delicious meals from my Santa Fe trip and I will...

Soon.

So after all that hard work, what is a girl to do?

But KNIT. And knit she did.

A lot of people, especially friends, ask me when I find time to knit with all the things I get myself into.

When there is a will, *I* make the way.

Besides...

Did I ever say I did housework?

Ah ha!

There's my secret revealed.

But really... I find time to knit in between and before sleep. My hands are always busy working on something. I can not sit still.

After all the hard work, I needed to unwind so I cast on for a new project setting aside my Rambling Rows Blanket. With all the yarns I have been procuring I had no excuse but to KNIT! Besides my friend Teresa sent me this link to a CBS news story featuring how knitting and crocheting (which I haven't started teaching myself "yet") is actually very therapeutic and good for one's health. Hey! I'm knitting for my health. I shared the video with Nick to convince him before he walked into my walk in closet full of newly bought yarn.

Eeek (biting nails)

He was convinced, I think

And I am allowed to continue procuring yarns (within reason)!

THANKS Teresa!

So after spending some time catching up with older issues of Knitty, I found this wonderful project from the Winter 2008 issue I had to try. Besides I wanted to make something for my sister Sandy's birthday on April 15th! She is a tax baby!

I am graduating. I graduated from scarves to blankets and am now moving towards more complicated projects... working towards that eventual first sweater where I'd actually have to swatch and check gauge. Like I said in the last Knitting Interlude, I probably can jump into a more complicated project but I'm just enjoying the process. The yarn just feels good in my hands as each stitch is made and created. From simple materials, tools and my hands I made a wonderful gift for my sister.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah creating is so so wonderful.

I would like to share with you Maja. What a wonderful and actually very simple knit. Thank you Anniken Allis for sharing this pattern with us all through Knitty. I love Knitty.

Pattern: Maja from Knitty Winter 2008 (free)

Designer: Anniken Allis of Anni Designs UK

Yarns: Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool, Turquoise #28 (3.5 skeins)

and

Yarntopia Treasures, Handpainted Wool Silk, Dragonfly colorway (2 skeins)

Needles: US 9

Front View

Back View

Closeup of the "X" Stitches

Blocking the Shawl

As you can see it was a bit tricky to block since my blocking board was not large enough. I just extended my blocking to the carpet. Why not? It worked! I wet blocked the shawl after rinsing the shawl for 15 minutes in Eucalan (lavender scent!) which I just received from Webs.

So the shawl will be gifted to my sister Tuesday.

What?

Did you ask me something?

Uh.... yes, YOU KNOW ME. I can never only make one of anything. So I DID cast on for another Maja already. I do have to make one for myself you know. I will share the next version in a future Knitting Interlude post.

My Rambling Rows Blanket? I need to hunt down a few more skeins of the discontinued Noro Kureyon Colorway #157 to finish it. I am close, very close to finishing and then will decide on a border.

Pardon me as I go knit a few more rows ...before continuing to get ready for the Northern California Bead Society Bazaar on April 18th. Come see me there if you are visiting the show and are in NorCal. I am located in booth #206 on the first aisle, a new wonderful location!

Keep creating and knitting for your health!

Lisa

The Thursday Tease

Yummmmm....

Visually beautiful....

A balance of color... in presentation... simple yet complex.

And Oh So Deliciously Edible too...

Me like this photo as the Thursday Tease

Who said you couldn't mix your meal with your dessert??

Blues for the ocean, Greens for the bamboo cake border and chopsticks too ... intermixed with Salmon blossoms... only two mine you.

Not too much and not too little. Just enough to fill you up with color inspirations.

Food for your eyes and food for your tummy!

Anything mixed with sushi is just fine by me.

Enjoy creating!

Lisa

Photo borrowed from Whipped Bakeshop from Flickr.com

Your Opinion Counts ...

This morning I received the latest BeadingDaily.com newsletter. It was filled with ideas from Beadwork Editor, Melinda Barta, on how to take design elements from the April/May issue to create your own unique beadwork. I admit I also have never attempted any designs from all the bead magazines I subscribe to or follow instructions.... haha. I usually flip through my magazines to see color combos and what my fellow designer friends are designing these days. Bead magazines are great sources of inspiration but don't limit yourself as interior design, fashion, gardening, photography, fiber, knitting and other magazines are also great resources in planting ideas for your creativity.

I also received an email from a CT beader, Judy, this morning asking me where I get my ideas and how I get inspired for my designs. I wrote several articles for Softflex Company in 2007 - a three part series, that explains how I approach designing beadwork. Take a look and read here.

In the meantime, I was excited to read that our opinions count with Beadwork Magazine. It's great to see a magazine take reader's opinions and comments to the next level to implement them in their pages. I encourage everyone to participate in the Beadwork Reader Advisory Panel.

I'll be posting some Santa Fe stories and photos on the blog soon after I finish compiling the Oct/Nov Designer of the Year project. Back to writing instructions. Last minute designing helps challenge me and push my designing sensibilities up a notch or two. I hope you all have enjoyed the Designer of the Year projects from myself and my fellow DOY designers. And please keep the emails coming. I always enjoy hearing from you all and reading what beady projects you've made. Pictures are also gladly welcomed.

Bead Creatively,

Lisa

The Thursday Tease

I often reminiscence about my travels to Japan in my past life as an engineer. Although I was meant for this beady and glassy life that I lead now all along while I was "growing up", my time as an engineer gave me many opportunities to travel to places I would otherwise not have seen in this lifetime. So all is well and I'm making up for lost time in my beady and glassy world these days by working, working, and working. Designing beadwork is my way of telling my stories of my love for nature and history.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder so for this week's Thursday Tease, I tease you with Bento Art. Bento boxes are a staple in the Japanese life and culture. I remembered my hosts in Japan would escort me to the train station and treat me to a bento box meal. The Japanese are such hard working people, always on the go, that they would eat their meals on the train in between destinations and changing trains. The above photo showcases the art created by food arrangement. Food doesn't have to be boring and our inspiration for our art can also be taken from FOOD! The Japanese have a way with making something quite ordinary look balance and beautiful.

So let's eat up, drink up, and create something beautiful in our art inspired by our food.

It's okay to play with your FOOD, forget what your parents told you!!

Bead Creatively,

Lisa

photo borrowed from Sakurako Kitsa from Flickr.com

Projects from the Interweave Store

Hello everyone,

Yes it is I and I am back from Santa Fe with new bead adventures, photos and dining stories to share.

But..............

Yes I must be a responsible beader and writer.

I must work on an urgent project the next 7 days to meet a super duper important deadline. No need for sleep and I will complete my task.

So I will write more here sometime late next week.

In the meantime, many of you have been looking for select projects from past issues of Beadwork, Stringing, Step by Step Beads, etc. I'm happy to let you know that fourteen of my previous projects and Bead Romantique can be purchased from the Interweave Store. Here is a brief listing of what's available. For a photo of each project, please visit this link:

Pearly Mosaic Item #: EP0590 - A necklace composed of sea-toned circular peyote-stitched "tiles" Mosaic tile work inspired this necklace in colors chosen to mimic the sea. By utilizing both transparent and opaque Japanese seed beads in two sizes, the designer added subtle textural interest to... [more info...]
Availability: In Stock
Price: $4.00

Haiku Item #: EP0592 - Poetic 3-strand necklace To design this necklace, the designer drew from her travels to Japan and her appreciation of the Japanese poet's ability to capture the changing seasons in classical haiku. Summer berries are the... [more info...]
Availability: In Stock
Price: $4.00

Ice Princess Item #: EP0159 - Victorian lace necklace Inspired by Victorian lace, designer Lisa Kan created graceful peyote loops to adorn a herringbone necklace. Crystal quartz briolette beads cluster like frozen droplets. [more info...]
Availability: In Stock
Price: $4.00

Merlot Item #: EP0596 - Pretty Leaf Necklace Pay tribute to the season by incorporating leaves into your next jewelry creation. [more info...]
Availability: In Stock
Price: $4.00

Knotted Treasures Item #: EP0594 - A rich mesh-embellished lariat This rich lariat is meant to be worn wrapped twice around the neck with a tiered effect; the double strands create a more substantial lariat with added texture. This is a great design for using... [more info...]
Availability: In Stock
Price: $4.00

Spiced Tea Item #: EP0598 - Cool Autumn Eve Necklace The rich, warm tones of carnelian, smoky quartz, and gold vermeil in this necklace evoke the feeling of a cool autumn eve, in which the wearer is sipping a hot cup of spiced tea and soaking up the... [more info...]
Availability: In Stock
Price: $4.00

Autumn Bouquet Item #: EP0879 - Brick, herringbone, and peyote stitches unite in a stunning necklace of delicate flowers and leaves. Incorporating leaves she created in her glass studio, this intricate necklace is designed using a variety of beadweaving techniques (brick stitch, herringbone stitch, peyote stitch, spiral rope,... [more info...]
Availability: In Stock
Price: $4.00

Painted Desert Item #: EP0460 - Southwest inspired beaded necklace. For this necklace, the designer was inspired by the colors of the Southwest - turquoise, burnt orange, sienna, and tan. The interplay of color and variously shaped beads adds textural interest to... [more info...]
Availability: In Stock
Price: $4.00

River's Edge Item #: EP0597 - Five-strand necklace This five-strand necklace draws its inspiration from the designer's travels through the Pacific Northwest, where everywhere trees reached for the skies, and the sound of water was ever-present. [more info...]
Availability: In Stock
Price: $4.00

Marguerite Chandelier Earrings Item #: EP0595 - Circular netting is embellished with chain fringes and crystals for sparkling ear adornments Crystal marguerites (flowers) in these romantic accessories beautifully echo the floral earring posts, while the delicate chain dangles add movement. [more info...]
Availability: In Stock
Price: $4.00

Petit Fiore Trellis Bracelet Item #: EP0591 - Picot flowers on right-angle weave trellis This bracelet features a rainbow of picot-based flowers on a right-angle-weave trellis. The design encircles the wrist like a delicate corsage - a dainty and feminine piece that can be worn with... [more info...]
Availability: In Stock
Price: $4.00

Berrylicious Item #: EP0124 - Bracelet featuring berry colored beads Whether berries are eaten by themselves, baked into pies, or sprinkled atop vanilla ice cream, they are berrylicious! In the spirit of that, this bracelet has clusters of gemstones and pearls in... [more info...]
Availability: In Stock
Price: $4.00

Petit Fiore Earrings Item #: EP1127 - Simply stunning earring design Combining seed beads, crystal marguerites, fine chain, and a cubic zirconia drop and earring finding, this earring design is simply stunning. Its base is made with right-angle weave; the flower with... [more info...]
Availability: In Stock
Price: $4.00

Bead Romantique: Elegant Beadweaving Designs Item #: 08BD2 - Bead Romantique features seventeen step-by-step designs inspired by the Gothic, Renaissance, Victorian, and Art Nouveau eras reinterpreted in her distinctive contemporary style. Inspired by art history, artist Lisa Kan offers a truly unique jewelry collection with a romantic yet modern sensibility. Bead Romantique: Elegant Beadweaving Designs features seventeen step-by-step... [more info...]
Availability: In Stock
Price: $24.95

Turning Leaf Item #: EP1365 - Wire-wrapped-loop chain necklace This necklace incorporates the rich, warm colors of the autumn season. Create a custom chain with delicate pearl dangles to accent the lampworked ginkgo focal bead. [more info...]
Availability: In Stock
Price: $4.00

*****

Thank you for enjoying my work, in both glass and seeds

It was great to speak, meet and greet all

in Santa Fe, in emails, and in between

Now I've got to get BUSY or else,

To design, bead and write

The next Designer of the Year project

It is indeed always this hectic, why ask why?

When I switch hats from glass to tiny seeds

I tend to design last minute, a challenge to myself

How I love the mystery of what will result, the pressures

In the transformation of the intangible, my visions

Into reality of what is to be, will become

What I see is not always the obvious, as I live in daydreams

So I'll stop writing here in just a bit, to work hard

Or am I really hardly working, just having fun

I am driven by this great passion to share with anyone

My love of history, of cultures and of nature, stories to tell

To teach through beads, in colors and textures

So gather around everyone, to bead or not to bead

Let's explore together, our individual creativity

*****

Silly, silly

Ms. Lisa

The Thursday Tease

Because this week I am in Santa Fe exhibiting at Bead Fest... and RED is a favorite color of mine...

It symbolizes luck and fortune... as well as LOVE! So vibrant, strong and rich in hue.

Study the different shades of red in the drying chiles above, as the red color drifts into mahongy tones...

Uhmmmm....

This photo of chile ristras not only makes me think of some delicious dining possibilities in Santa Fe but also...

Beaded beads dangling as earring drops...

OR fringes in a necklace, bracelet anyone?

Hmmm... maybe briolettes wired onto chain... swinging and swaying ... this way, that way... here and there.

Felted pods also come to mind... who is gonna stop you from dreaming your dream creation?

So many possibilities...

Do you see a pattern with me? I love being inspired to create when viewing FOOD and its yummy ingredients!

Photo borrowed from Alasam from Flickr.com

Bead Fest Santa Fe: March 12-15, 2009

Location: (I am at the Convention Center, Booth 412)

Santa Fe Community Convention Center

201 W. Marcy St

Santa Fe, NM 87501

Santa Fe County

santafe.org

Location 2:

Hilton Santa Fe

100 Sandoval Street

Santa Fe, NM 87501

Santa Fe County

http://www.hiltonofsantafe.com/

Follow this link for Online event registration
Why wait in line? Get your Bead Fest Tickets now and avoid the lines! Admission Fees at the door: *Cash Only*

1 day - $10

2 day pass - $12

3 day pass - $14

4 day pass - $16

Registered Bead Fest Santa Fe Students get in FREE all weekend!

Download a $2 coupon to save on admission!

*Good at the door only, purchase tickets online to automatically save!

Bazaar Hours:

Thurs, March 12: 5 PM - 9 PM

Fri, March 13: 10 AM - 6 PM

Sat, March 14: 10 AM - 6 PM

Sun, March 15: 11 AM - 5 PM

*****

There will be fun prizes and a BINGO card game. Collect stamps from exhibitors listed and get a chance to win some fun prizes. Look for my name and come visit booth #412.

I will have select Bead Romantique samples on display and debuting my new show display. Come for a chat. Come early if you want a medium sized tool wrap. Thursday is the best day for the best selection.

See you all there!

Lisa