Monday, October 27, 2008

These pictures are a tease for my October bead project. Since the Arkansas Ozarks are known for their beautiful fall foilage, I chose a leaf to bead for my project this month. I have auditioned my beads after making my base. This is also another sentimental journey for me. My Daddy has been gone now for 25 years, but when the leaves began turning we would get in the car and head for Hwy 7 (The Pig Trail) to see the fall foilage. He dearly loved the state of Arkansas and all it had to offer for him. His love made me love it also. In my previous post on the trip with my son's family, I tried to instill this love into another 2 generations. It is never too late to have fun with someone!!!

The base is a piece of canvas gessoed, and painted with Lumiere Metallic Gold paint. Then I cut the leaves from a fall napkin that I had been given. After decoupaging them the small ones changed color, but they are just a base for me to bead to and the beads will change their color. Looking and experimenting with different stabilizers to use, I added a quilt batt scrap to the back of the canvas. This is not recommended by me, because I have had problems of the batting coming through the bead holes. A little frustrating, but I have pressured on. The center leaf is 1/3 done, so you can see there is a LOT of work left for me to do. Alas, the October project will not be completed because I am going to Houston Quilt Show on Wednesday. My beading time was spent with doing my grandson and granddaughter's Halloween costumes. Well my priorties are straight, just my timing is off!!! My goal is to be caught up by the end of the Holidays, which means I get to do 3 by the end of the year. Will that work? It works for me - LOL


7 comments:

Jacquie said...

I think your piece is very original. The idea of using napkins as the base, very interesting. Nice color pallete and the story of your father passing on the love of your area very touching. Looking forward to seeing how you finish it up!

Robin said...

It's going to be a real beauty and a memory treasure! Yes, that problem with the batting being pulled through to the surface when stitching is called "bearding." Some batting is better than others, but all (in my experience) do it. I really bugs me when I do my dolls, so I've started using recycled nylon stocking cut into strips as stuffing. As you probably know, I use paper as a stabilizer for flat bead embroidery.

Hope you have a grand time at Houston! I'm a tad jealous...

Hugs, Robin

heidibeads said...

This is going to be really nice. I love the fall colors and the leaves are great - hum a napkin. Ingeneous.

Carol- Beads and Birds said...

I have tagged you. Please play the game. You tell 7 things about you and tag 7 others to do the same.

Timaree said...

Have a good time at the festival and I'll be back to see your fall leaves.

Sabine said...

First, I like your attitude expressed in your blog title. It really goes for everyone.

Second, I am sure you will come up with a lovely page.

Third, I have just tagged you on my blog and hope you will forgive me.

Best wishes,
Sabine

Sabine said...

Oh, I just see that you have been tagged already. So I wish you fun playing the game!

Sabine