A Time to Stitch 6 Reveal

The challenge Christine Altmiller and Therese Frank gave us for A Time To Stitch 6 was to follow a chart and use one of four stitches (peyote, square, RAW or brick) to create a three-dimensional design. As someone who is severely chart-challenged (this may rise to the level of a disability), I took the plunge nevertheless, because I’m always up for a beading adventure with Christine and Therese. And this challenge was just what I needed to finally try my hand at the techniques in Kate McKinnon’s Contemporary Geometric Beadwork.

Since I was already way out of my comfort zone, I settled on a Layered Rick Rack cuff and decided to stretch my color palette as well, choosing three hues from Pantone’s Spring 2015 color report that I would never put together myself: Glacier Gray, Custard and Aquamarine.

Next, I needed a graph. Despite the fact that Cath Thomas has generously done the work of estimating sizing and providing free peyote graphs, it took me an embarrassingly long time to transfer my simple color-blocking design from my brain to Cath’s coloring chart.

A trio of easy peyote triangles served as color swatches, and delicas decided upon, the real fun began. 

Peyote was the first stitch I learned and it’s still my favorite, but I can’t remember the last time I used it in a design. My Rick Rack bangle begins with a row of Modified RAW, and also makes use of a bit of square stitch, but it's mostly hours upon hours of peyote.

 So much fun, and it’s reversible! 

The model's sweater provided the perfect pop of color for my second layer. I think I will wear the bangle this way more often, with just a hint of raspberry along the bottom because the fit is perfectly snug with the second layer worn inside the wrist.

Thank you so much, Christine and Therese for always challenging us to take our beading to new levels. And now, on to the rest of today’s challenge participants:

1-Therese Frank  (Host)    

2-Christine Altmiller  (Host)

3-Cynthia Machata

4-Samantha Wescott

5-Karin Slaton (you are here)

6-Wendy

7-Dagi (Kokopelli)

8-Lola

9-Paula

10-Karin G.

11-Becky Pancake

12-Ana Cravidao

13-Alenka

14-Debbie (Kepi)

15-Nelly May

16-LiliKrist

17-Sally Russick

18-Maryanne

19-Kim

20-Amy

15 in '15

I love the promise of fresh opportunity that each January brings. Every year around this time, I grab a pencil and a stack of whatever paper is my current favorite, and I start plotting how I’m going to create those opportunities.

This year, I got an early start. Daughter, Dani, was home for the holidays and we sat down at the island in the kitchen on a crystal clear Christmas Eve afternoon and began answering the questions in Michael Hyatt’s 5 Days to Your Best Year Ever. We spent a fun couple of hours closing the chapter on 2014 (Q. What movie genre would best describe the past year of your life e.g., adventure, tragedy, romance, drama, comedy, etc.?) and looking ahead to the new year while Dan whipped up one of our favorites…homemade goat cheese and grape pizza on a perfectly crisp whole wheat crust. We felt cared for and indulged. Very indulged!

Dani boarded her flight the day after Christmas with her 2015 goals completed and tucked in her carry-on, but I still had more work to do! Dan planned our New Year’s feast while I polished off the rest of my goals over a morning Starbucks.

I decided to share in Elizabeth Gilbert’s tradition of taking an hour at the end of each year, sitting down with some magazines and scissors, and making a collage about what you’d like the next year to feel like. When you’re finished, you have a visual/emotional wish for the New Year.

It’s an exercise in colors and images and trusting the process. I used magazines on hand and just started cutting and gluing onto a couple of pages in my journal. I was really surprised to see so many pops of red, a color I rarely use in my designs. I think Elizabeth is on to a pretty awesome tradition!

Starting this January with a plan…a visual dream…and a focus. And wishing for everyone a creative New Year!