The Lone Beader

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Things go better with Coke.
2007-12-23 07:33:00
Andy Warhol once asked, "Isn't life just a series of images that change as they repeat themselves?"(click to enlarge)Don't quote me on this, but I think he was right;)
More About: Things , Coke

Devil Girl
2007-12-21 19:14:00
(click to enlarge)I'm really an angel in disquise;)
More About: Girl , Devil

Beaders Anonymous
2007-12-20 07:25:00
Thank you for all of your comments on my last post! You really made me feel a lot better:) All I know is, right now, it's late at night and I'm busy beading my self-portrait, the Maxell Girl. I'm also blogging, drinking beer, and listening to rock music at the same time. That must mean I'm back to normal... right?Now that I think about it, sometimes it's hard for me to do beadwork without the beer and the music... And, sometimes, it's hard for me to listen to music without doing beadwork, blogging, and drinking beer! And, I do all of this alone! Of course, now that I wrote that, some might think that perhaps I have a drinking problem, but it could be a blogging or beading problem! So many problems... What's a bead artist to do?? ;)I was thinking about this today, so I asked myself the following questions to see if I actually have a beading addiction or not:Have you ever decided to stop beading for a week or so, but only lasted for a couple of days? Yes, but in my case, it is...
More About: Anonymous , Anon

Wordless Wednesday: Acetaminophen
2007-12-18 21:12:00
Welcome to the first Not-So-Wordless Tuesday & Wednesday edition of The Lone Beader.(click to enlarge)I wanted to get more beadwork done, but today, I have possibly the world's worst headache. It is a head cold that has persisted since Sunday. My head is throbbing so bad right now, it feels like a Mack truck hit me! You'd think I would have gone to the doctor for some painkillers, but I simply have no faith in medicine... :/The White Stripes ...Check out the new Wordless Wednesday HQ!!View More Wordless Wednesday Participants.

Beading History
2007-12-17 07:43:00
Yes, it's time for another exciting round of the Saatchi Gallery Showdown!If you're a new reader, the Saatchi Gallery is a gallery for contemporary art. It was opened by Charles Saatchi in 1985 to show his collection to the public. When it first opened, it ran a series of exhibitions of many American artists, including Andy Warhol. The gallery has been a major influence on art in Britain since its opening. Many artists shown at the gallery are unknown to the general public, and showing at the gallery has provided a springboard to launch their careers. The Saatchi Showdown is a great opportunity for artists to spotlight their works to a very wide audience.This week, I have entered my latest piece, History Repeated, which features a beaded replica of the Banksy pink car. Finalists go head-to-head for a chance to have one of their pieces displayed at the new Saatchi Gallery in London when it opens next year. Voting opens today at 9am Greenwich Mean Time, and it runs all week. Who kno...
More About: Beading

Nor'easter
2007-12-16 16:19:00
This is what it looked like in Boston this morning. Lots of snow, again! Not a good day to be wearing a mini-skirt either. Good thing I have tall boots on... :0Anyways, aside from the weather, I have one major concern today. While I was beading my self portrait, The Maxell Girl, I realized that I will probably run out of the Toho 1/2 bugle beads that I'm using. I'm more than halfway through the beads, and I have a little more than half of Le Corbusier chair to finish. You can see where I'm at HERE. I only have one tube of the matte black, and none of my local bead shops carry these. I was thinking of ripping some of the beads out, and throwing some of my twisted bugle beads into the mix, but that seems like a lot of work. So, I think I'll just keep going with what I have, and see where I end up. I was planning on layering the beads on the chair anyways, so I should be able to make it work... Wish me luck... :0Now, time to clean off the car again... after I finish listening to Bl...
More About: Aster

Pump Up the Volume
2007-12-15 16:23:00
(click to enlarge)'Dance Floor'Digital painting by Vijay Bhai, Hyderabad, India.An original mixed media advertisement for Bang & Olufsen loudspeakers by The Lone Beader:)
More About: Volume , Pump Up The Volume , Pump

Buick LeSabre
2007-12-14 13:47:00
I just woke up and looked out the window. As you can see, there's a lot of snow out there! It snowed in Boston all day yesterday, and well into the night! I don't particularly like the snow, and sometimes I get worried about my 21-year old Buick when the weather gets bad. But, last night, when my car was buried under 2 feet of snow, she still started right up! That reminded me of a song by my friend Tim's band, Black Helicopter. Tim wrote this song about his old Buick Electra, and every time I hear it, it reminds me of my Buick. My Buick LeSabre is definitely the best car that was ever built. :) (click to enlarge)Anyways, back to my beaded self-portrait, The Maxell Girl. Above, you can see that I added more beaded hair. I layered Delicas on top of the first layer of bead embroidery. The ends are also beaded fringe. I really like it. I think I'll use these 3 colours for hair in all of my future self portraits:)Now, time to move the car for the plow...

She's a Punk Rocker
2007-12-13 08:07:00
(click to enlarge)I think my blonde streaked beaded hair says it all:)The Ramones - Shee...
More About: Punk , Rocker

Wordless Wednesday - Attn: Holiday Shoppers!
2007-12-12 06:01:00
'Tis the Season for hoodies! There's something for everyone at The Lone Beader's Boutique:)Check out the new Wordless Wednesday HQ!!View More Wordless Wednesday Participants.
More About: Holiday , Shoppers

Naughty or Nice?
2007-12-10 23:10:00
Nothing gives me more pleasure than satisfying the boys.So, Rockdog, Corky, and Jay, this post is for you.(click to enlarge)Whenever I wear a leather mini-skirt and high heels, I feel like a bad girl. But being bad can also be a good thing...right?? ;)
More About: Nice

Beading in Mono
2007-12-09 16:32:00
I'm sure the image below just looks like a beaded rectangle to some, but it's actually a bead- embroidered vintage Bang & Olufsen stereo. This is just a small part of what will eventually be my first beaded pop art self-portrait. Also, you may notice that I used different beads than the ones shown in my last post -size 8 matte black seed beads, and some iridescent twisted bugle beads. I want my stereo system to look different than the chair in my drawing.And, I say stereo, but today I'm listening in mono. Chuck Berry's 'Run Run Rudolph' is just a little example that proves the best recordings sound great coming out of any speaker.I bet my little piece of beadwork looks like a stereo now... :)
More About: Mono , Beading

Les Delicas
2007-12-08 14:30:00
Here are a few more felt shapes I've cut out for my beaded pop art self-portrait. To the far left, you'll see the felt foundation for what will be a beaded Bang & Olufsen stereo. And, on the right, you see the Maxell Girl (me) sitting in what will be my beaded version of a Le Corbusier club chair with a lamp next to her. After I cut out all of these felt shapes, I used small amounts of Elmer's glue to stick them together. Next, I've gathered together the supplies I need to get started on my beadwork, including: Beading needlesNymo threadThread HeavenEmbroidery scissorsThimbleYou'll also see a copper ring that I wear on occasion. It makes clipping thread very convenient, because you don't have to reach for the scissors. Plus, it's great from traveling. And, here are some beads I picked up at Beaucoup Beads the other day:The off-whites will be used for the lampshade, the shell-coloured seed beads will be used for my skin, and the black 1/2 bugle beads will be used for the c...
More About: Icas

Bubblegum
2007-12-07 06:57:00
Thanks for all of your comments on my self portrait sketch the other day! I will say that I laughed at those who thought I was watching a TV, though... You should know me by now. I don't watch television because I'm too busy listening to music! Television can have its moments, but I like to refer to it as 'bubblegum for the mind'... :)My sketch is based on Hitachi Maxell's vintage 1980's ad campaign. The commercial featured a man sitting in a chair being blown away by the sound coming through the speaker in front of him. Since I'm always listening to rather loud rock music all the time, it only made sense that this should be the basis for my self portrait. My drawing does look pretty cool, doesn't it? I can only hope to replicate the vision I have for this piece using seed beads... :0If you're a new reader, please have patience. You'll see that I document the progress of each of my bead-paintings as I work on them. Today I worked on the first step of my beaded self-portrai...

Skeleton Racer
2007-12-06 07:41:00
Today, I introduce the latest design available at my CafePress shop, the Skeleton Racer . It's my pink beaded Triumph of Death & skull driver, taken from my latest bead-painting, History Repeated. This design is available on t-shirts, hoodies, postcards, and more. However, it does come with a warning. Don't get caught speeding in your hot rod. Remember, speed kills... or does it??Please visit The Lone Beader's Boutique. There, you'll find unique holiday gifts for everyone on your list=:) Also, I'd like to let everyone know that now you find me on StumbleUpon. It is a place where you can meet new people who share your interests. You can also share your favourite websites, photos, and videos with them as you surf the web. If you're a Stumbler, please review my site, check out my page, and add me as your friend=:)

Wordless Wednesday: Maxell Girl
2007-12-05 06:01:00
Sketch of what will be my first beaded pop art self-portrait:) Check out the new Wordless Wednesday HQ!!View More Wordless Wednesday Participants.
More About: Girl

She
2007-12-04 07:33:00
I looked in the mirrorAnd said to myselfWill ya look at her...In those high heeled bootsAnd a very short skirt.I said to myselfShe'd never wear thatJust around the houseOr maybe I would...Wanna find out? ;)

It's Magic
2007-12-03 07:20:00
Today, I'm interrupting my regularly scheduled blog to show you a new Russian beading website, Magic Beads. I believe it is one of the best beading websites in all of Russia, and it was designed by my blogger friend, Tatiana. Not too long ago, Tatiana asked me to do an interview for her site. I was flattered because she also asked two of my favourite bead artists, Robin Atkins & Sherry Serafini. Click the above image to read the article... Enjoy=:)

Steel Town
2007-12-02 06:48:00
Before I show you plans for my next piece, I'd like to take a moment to show you a beaded treasure. It is an antique beaded handbag that I inherited from my grandmother a few years ago. I was surprised to find it amongst her belongings. It was hidden somewhere in the back of a dark closet in an old box, and it had probably been there for decades. When I picked it up, it felt old and dirty, but it was still beautiful. I imagined what it must have looked like when it was new, which was probably in the 1920's or 30's, or maybe even earlier...This handbag measures 7" x 6" wide, and it has a 3" netted fringe on the bottom. When you look at the photos below, you'll see that the entire bag is made from antique metal seed beads. Most of them are French steel cuts, which means they are faceted and very sparkly. These steel beads are also quite heavy, so I'm not surprised that the bag came apart at the frame. I can't imagine adding even more weight to it by carrying lipstick, makeup, co...
More About: Town , Steel

Scary Skull
2007-12-01 04:10:00
Let me tell you, it is hard work being an artist! Since I finished my latest piece, History Repeated, I've been busy promoting it. First, I added it to my portfolio and other webpages. Next, I sent out EBSQ ecards to all of my friends, and I announced it on the Bead & Button forum. Then, I created a new slideshow for my Myspace page. (Please check it out, and tell me what you think.) You'll also notice that I changed my profile pic to the beaded skull image. I know some of you will miss Rudy, but I needed a change. If you like the skull, you can add it to your website. Just copy & paste the following HTML:Also today, at the last minute, I decided to enter this piece into a juried art show. I won't say which one, because I don't want to jinx it. I didn't think I'd be finished with this piece in time to enter, but since I was, I had to quickly get some materials ready, and send them via Express Mail. We'll see if anything comes out of that...When I got home from the pos...
More About: Scary , Skull

Bullet the Blue Sky
2007-11-29 06:04:00
Today, I spent all day finishing my beaded painting. First, I added a little more to the collaged words. Some of the words are written in Bengali; you can take a closer look at them HERE. You'll also see a sign which points in the direction of the London Underground. It directs viewers to the nearest air raid shelter because there are fighter planes overhead. These collaged planes are paper shapes which I glued to the stretched canvas and painted over with clear acrylic gloss. I also painted the cloud of smoke which pours out of a burning building. After the canvas dried, I then stitched each piece of beadwork in place. You can see my stitches HERE.For those of you who are just passing by, this piece was inspired by a graffitied Triumph GT6 I saw near Brick Lane in London, England. You can learn more about this car HERE. Or, take a long hard look at my beaded replica and remember...Outside it's America...'History Repeated'glass seed beads, mixed media24 x 30"(click images to enl...
More About: Blue , Blue Sky , Bullet

Wordless Wednesday: Writing on the Wall
2007-11-28 06:03:00
(click to enlarge) Check out the new Wordless Wednesday HQ!!View More Wordless Wednesday Participants.
More About: Writing , Wall , The wall

On the Edge
2007-11-26 17:22:00
Thanks so much for all of your comments on my last post! I hope everyone had a great holiday weekend. I missed all of you, but I did have a wonderful time visiting my family & friends in Erie. I also had a little time on Thanksgiving to work on my beaded Banksy pink car. So, I stitched felt all the way around the edges of all three pieces of beadwork. Here's a look at what I accomplished: Can you tell the difference?? And, how do you think it looks??Now, I'm dangerously close to finishing this piece. Next, I'm going to work on the background a bit more, and when I'm done, I can finally stitch the pieces to the stretched canvas. I hope I can figure out the best way to do that. I'll have to see if I have a very long needle to stitch through the many layers of felt. Wish me luck... And, I know. It's probably hard for you to imagine that this piece is almost finished. Can you believe I've been beading this for almost 4 months? :0
More About: The Edge , Edge

Thanks
2007-11-19 20:52:00
This morning, my alarm woke me up at the crack of dawn. I wanted to get up early because I had to complete some contracts for next year's Bead International 2008 exhibition. I also completed an educational form about myself, which I believe will be used to provide information to the visitors who attend the show.One of the most difficult things an artist can do is write about themselves. I feel that one must be very in tune with their inspirations and visions to be able to do this, and even still, it is not easy. I thought about the answers to the following questions for quite some time, but it wasn't until my flight back from England when I really began to write them down. Here's a sneak peek at what I wrote:(click to enlarge)Then, I went out and bought a large portfolio/ tote. I needed something to carry my unfinished bead embroidery in when I travel. Tomorrow, I'm driving to Erie, PA, to visit family and friends for Thanksgiving, and I'll be there for the rest of the week. I...
More About: Hank

London on Fire
2007-11-17 23:09:00
Today, I found an image of a burning building that had been hit in an air raid during the London Blitz in 194o. In the original image, firefighters were outside the building trying to fight the flames, but to me, it looked like there was very little hope for those who may have been inside. I printed out quite a few of these buildings, and cut them to the shape I liked. Then, I created the above collage, although these paper buildings are not glued down just yet. I want to find a few more images, first...
More About: Fire

Clear Blue Sky
2007-11-17 02:26:00
Yesterday, I went out and got a 24" x 30" canvas for my beaded Banksy pink car project. And, I never finished stitching the beadwork together. Instead, I decided that when the time comes I'll just stitch the 3 pieces of bead embroidery onto the stretched canvas one at a time. I think it will be easier to handle this way. Also, Mary asked how I'm planning to finish the edges of the beadwork. I believe that I will just stitch felt around the edges like I did for the underside of the pink car. I'll probably bead the edges of the brick building, as well. This evening, I painted the entire canvas with acrylics. I'm hoping to incorporate some collage images into the rest of this piece, so this is just the first stage... and it's not even dry yet! Remember, I am not a painter by any means, but I won't let that stop me... I'll just see what happens... :0
More About: Blue , Blue Sky , Clear

Twenty Layers
2007-11-15 14:11:00
If you've been following my work for awhile, you know that I've reached the most difficult part of the construction process of my piece. In the past, I have been known to use a structure made from acid free matte board to add dimension to my beadwork. But, after thinking about this one for quite awhile, I decided to use felt because I think I want to stitch the entire piece to a stretched canvas. So, last night, I cut out quite a few pieces of felt to add more dimension to my beaded Banksy pink car and graffitied wall.Now, at the thickest part of the graffitied wall, which is the right side, there are 20 layers of felt. They measure approx. 2.5" deep when stacked upon each other. I want the right side of the wall to stand out farther than the left, so there are only 12 layers beneath that side of the wall. If you look at the photo (with the car) above, you can see how I play with the lengths of felt to achieve that.I am still in the middle of stitching these pieces together. When ...
More About: Twenty , Went

Art of the Day
2007-11-14 12:03:00
Today, my freeform peyote beaded necklace, 'Let Freedom Reign', has been chosen to be EBSQ's Art of the Day! Click the photo to learn more about this piece. Those pieces chosen for Art of the Day are featured on EBSQ's home page. This week's theme is 'A Chance to Vote'. Please vote for beads, and don't forget to stop by today's Wordless Wednesday post. Enjoy=:)

Wordless Wednesday: Death & Glory
2007-11-14 06:53:00
Ever D*Face a car before?? (click to enlarge)Ely's Yard. Beaded Brick Lane, East London.Check out the new Wordless Wednesday HQ!!View More Wordless Wednesday Participants.
More About: Death , Glory

Brick Lane Street Art
2007-11-13 16:16:00
This morning, I had the chance to upload my photos from last week's trip to London, England. You can view them HERE. As you know, one of the reasons I went there was to do a little more research for my beaded Banksy pink car project. So, last Tuesday, I went to Brick Lane in East London to take a closer look.This neighborhood is very intriguing to me because it is full of culture and graffiti. But, as I walked down Brick Lane, I felt the presence of darkness. Yes, it is true that it is difficult for the sunlight to reach the street, but it is dark for many more reasons than that. It is primarily a Bangladeshi community (also referred to as Banglatown) now, but I also learned that it was once the heart of the city's Jewish community. So, turns out that it is very appropriate that I have included collage images of the imprisoned Jews in my bead-embroidered piece.In the past, this neighborhood was not one that many would linger in. Perhaps it was because the East End became home to m...
More About: Street , Street Art