Rowena Bead and Fiber

"Simply Purple", Fiber Necklace with Beads

Today I will be setting my up at the Chino Valley Art Show. Chino Valley's First Annual community Arts Festival will take place tomorrow. My Hand Spun Raggedy Ro will be featured at my booth.

"Simply Purple"  is one of the fiber necklaces I will be showing in Chino. The Treasure Tail used for this piece is Hand Spun Merino Yarn, Bamboo, and some Novelty Yarn.

The beads are lampwork and the buttons are vintage. A strong magnet closure is adorned with a unique glass button.

www.rowenaart.net/store

Chino Valley's First Annual Community Arts Festival

This weekend I will be a showing my hand spun Raggedy Ro and Beads at Chino Valley's First Annual community Arts Festival.

Saturday is the day to visit Chino Valley's Heritage Middle School. The Festival was organized by the school's Parent-Teacher-Student Organization and the High Desert Arts, Inc of Chino Valley.

The goal of this show is a successful and annually expanding event encouraging support of the arts in our schools and community.

Each year voters take a little bit more money from the schools art programs. Presenting the public with such venues can encourage each and everyone to support more emphases on this subject.

The High Desert Artists, Inc. of Chino Valley encouraged their artists to show their work and that is just what we are doing.

I will be demonstrating spinning on the Roberta Electronic Spinner at this show, as well as showing my hand spun and some finished jewelry created from my hand spun and beads.

The students have prepared the program for the show and they have been involved in the planning.  www.rowenaart.net/store

A Mouse Pad For Roberta - the Electronic Spinner

Showing is the body of the Roberta Electronic Spinner by Ertoel without the flyer and bobbins on the lazy kate.

I placed a computer mouse pad on the bed of the spinner with a photo of my Raggedy Ro Hand Spun inside the mouse pad. You could even enlarge your business card and display it in the mouse pad. It not only personalized your Robert, it actually protects the wood of the spinner. While working some fiber artists have scratched the surface of the beautiful spinner by dropping the flyer. That has never happened to me because removing the flyer is easy when you follow the Ertoel directions. If I ever have a dropsy day this will help to keep my Roberta as new as the day it arrived while showing the photo of my Hand Spun Yarn.

This mouse pad just makes spinning life easier. I remove it to clean after spinning Alpaca directly from the washing process to the spinner without combing the fiber. I love to spin novelty yarn and this creates flying fiber.

Note: Use the hard plastic Mouse Pad. The soft pads absorb the oil and after a while do not look great.

This is just one more tip from Rowena.

www.rowenaart.net/store

With each Roberta Electronic Spinner I offer two lubricants used to keep your spinner running like a dream.

Also, I offer free shipping within the Continental United States.

A Video - The Bead Movement by Wendy Simpson-Conner

A few years ago, Wendy Simpson Conner traveled all over the United States to interview bead lovers for her Documentary Film called "The Bead Movement".

Here is Cheryl Coburn-Brown with Wendy talking about beads.

Wendy describes this video, "The Story of Beads and the People Who Love Them".

"There is a great beauty in that which comes from the Earth. There is a permanence and a deep sense of strength that has fascinated Man since the beginning of time. He took these boulders and rocks, and cut and shaped them. He took shells, from the sea and adorned himself. An thus began a connection as old as the Earth itself", writes Wendy.

She continues, "The Bead Movement is a thought provoking documentary that chronicles Man's link with this oldest of artforms. Among other segments, see how beads are made; the designers who create with them; and the sense of permanence, connection and peace that beads bring".

Special Appearances by: Lindsay Wagner, Robert Shields, Benson Lanford, Robert Liu, Jamey Allen, Lois Dubin and of course, my friend Glenda Campbell and me. What a great experience that was.

www.rowenaart.net/store

 

Arts Prescott Cooperative Gallery and Prescott College Hosted the Reception for the Jewelry From Kenya Show

Last Friday during the 4th Friday Art Walk, Arts Prescott Cooperative Gallery and Prescott College hosted a reception for the show at Arts Prescott, "Jewelry From Kenya. The weather did not cooperate; it was cold and rainy. Many people came out for the reception regardless of cold shiver.

This show will run through March 14th, so drop by the gallery and check out the beads from Kenya. All of the money will go back to Kenya to support the village school.

The children love their school and they are proud to be able to attend classes each day. There is also a donation box at the gallery. A few dollars will go far in Kenya. 100% of all of the donations and sales will make life better for the children.

The colorful tribal jewelry is adornment for the villagers. The designs, along with the colors, tell their stories with the beads.

Arts Prescott presents a guest artist each month and we are happy to have the Jewelry From Kenya. Beaders from all over the world have their own way of expressing themselves with their beads and the gallery is proud to show all types of beads from every corner of the world. Today it is Kenya.

www.artsprescott.com

Timber Wolf Hand Spun Yarn - Crocheted Kitchen Curtains by Judy Miller-Minnesota

Judy Miller lives in the north woods of Minnesota. She describes her home as being among the towering pines, in the Land of Sky Blue Waters.

Judy used Timber Wolf for her hand spun yarn to create kitchen curtains. Spinning is such a heartful art. I love to see new spinners born each day. Judy has spun for years and she began spinning during the time she ran her trade marked business "Cloud spun Angoras", and "Pet-Passion Fashions". Judy writes, "I had tons of fun. All I ever wanted to do was to spin, sell yarn and make a little money. I had one of the highest producing herds of French Angora rabbits in the Country according to what I heard."

As time changes life Judy now raises Siberian Kittens. She enjoys her hobby of breeding these beautiful animals. Check out "Windrifter Siberians" www.windriftersiberians.com

Roberta Electronic Spinner - Advantages

I have been spinning a lot this week to get more Raggedy Ro Hand Spun for the upcoming show in Chino Valley on March 1st. Here you see the "Roberta" Combo Electronic Spinner. This one has Dual Power input (120 volt) and 12 volt so I can spin in the car during long trips.

The Pause Control pictured is one of the features I love about the Roberta. This small peddle makes spinning with the Electronic Spinner a breeze. I just step on it lightly if I need to pause to add another color into my Raggedy Ro.

Here are some of the big "Roberta"  Advantages.

1. The flyer tension can remain set for days of use, with no further adjustments being necessary. This tension device governs the rate of fiber pull-in, to the spinner during the drafting.  Because there is no friction drag in the steel orifice piece groove of the flyer, it never changes with its use. The loading from the tension spring is transferred through to the inside of the flyer bearing hole. This is where the flyer fits into the bearing, or support. Because this is always lubricated there, it always keeps the tension as was originally set.

2. There is little need for adjustments to the bobbin speed or tension settings regardless of how big the diameter of the bobbin grows in size. This is a big advantage over other brands of spinners.  Observe the size of the jumbo bobbin on the Roberta.  Little or no adjustment is needed as this grows to full size from the very small spindle center.

3. The electronic design ensures whatever performance is set on the controls; it will continue to stay that way regardless of how hard you hold back in drafting. The electronics also protects the motor from wear and tear. This is not the case for electric spinning wheels, were motors will burn out usually within 5 years of constant use.

4. More yarn control.  A.  A speed control on the driven bobbin, for the twist rate. B.  More or less tension applied to the free turning flyer, will regulate the draw-in rate. C. You can change the overall degree of hold back in the drafting against the pull, to create a different yarn.  The design on the top of the Roberta is the same system as used in modern mills today (the only difference is their design it is vertically constructed).

5. Good results are still possible, even with irregular drafting from the hands, because of the ability of free turning flyer to change its speed.  This makes it self regulating for the creating of an even spun yarn.  If you pause and hold in the drafting, the free turning flyer will increase in speed until it is the same speed as the bobbin.  In this situation, nothing will gather, or load on the center of the bobbin. The twist will continue, but the yarn will not break.  When you are ready to go again, you can do a long draw to take up the additional twist, and this will self regulate from your fingers through to the bobbin loading.

6. The long lasting motor is protected from any damage by the electronics design. Motor guarantee is for 10 years, even when being used for a constant commercial use.

7. The working bobbin is quick and easy to remove.  Lift off the drive band with one finger and then tilt the flyer and withdraw the bobbin off the free end of the flyer.

8. Reeling off after the plying is easy - just lift the drive band off with a finger, to roll off the finished yarn to a niddy noddy, or a skein winder.

  9. The Combo version has an advantage in plying.  The jumbo bobbin holds the volume of the two of the regular bobbins. The 2 regular bobbins when plied will fit onto a jumbo bobbin, without the usual stopping and joining.

10. High speed plying is possible without any hard treadling work.

11. No top equipment changes are necessary to create different types of yarns.  No need to worry about pulley or whorl ratios.  Makes thin lace yarn through to heavy rug yarn, easily.

12. The Roberta Spinner is built to a professional quality standard, and is suitable for production yarn making, as well as for the beginner. For the beginner there is no need to worry about foot and hand co-ordination. In production spinning, it has been known to be used every working day (all day use) for eight years before any servicing was necessary.  Even then after that amount of time, only the top parts were reconditioned.

13. Very practical sliding hook on the flyer arm.  Use it both ways - backwards and forwards.  Use thumb and forefinger for an easy quick change on the O ring to create a new bobbin loading position.  Very quick and easy to do, and it saves time.  You do not have to wonder which flyer hook you were on, as would occur on conventional flyers.

14. Handy threading hook holder is fitted to the side of the spinner, so it is always handy and is never lost.

15. Use the optional pause control to maintain both hands on the fiber. Stopping and starting is so comfortable.  No need to vary any speed set on the spinner when starting up again, because of the self regulating and free turning flyer.

16. Variable motor (or bobbin) speed is not necessary because of the automatically changing speed of the flyer when you hold back against the pull.  The motor speed determines only the twist rate, not the pull-in rate during drafting, as occurs on other brands of spinners.

17. For maximum portability, use the 12 volt dual power input with the auxiliary cable. This cable can go to a car cigarette lighter fitting, a rechargeable 12 volt power pack, or even a small solar panel.

18. Uses only the power of a household light bulb (40 to 60 watt).

19. The Roberta is light and portable. It is extremely versatile in its use.  It makes any type of yarn from any type of fiber. Use the specially made carry bag for easy moving around.

20. Nice wood finish to the Roberta Spinner, which complements its professional performance. The “Roll Royce” of spinners without the high price tag.

21. Originally designed for the disabled or for people who have leg troubles.  It has been so popular over the 34 years of its production (year 2007) that 95% of sales now go to ordinary people, who have discovered its advantages.

www.rowenaart.net/store

Prescott Offers a Winter Wonderland Today - Good Time for Beading

  This is what we woke up to this morning. To think that it will nearly all be gone by tomorrow is difficult to believe. For sure it will be clear for our "Jewelry From Kenya", Artist Reception tomorrow night at Arts Prescott Cooperative Gallery on Whiskey Row from 6PM to 8PM. See you there.

When the weather is like this it is a gift to be able to set down and bead up a storm.

The name of this piece is: "Kahlua, Of Course". This is created from the neck of a Kahlua bottle, a vintage German Button, drops created from Agate, Faceted Glass and Fresh Water Pearls. This piece is at Arts Prescott in my case.

www.rowenaart.net/store

"Simply Green" A Necklace of Fiber and Beads

A Necklace created from one of my Treasure Tails which includes Merino Wool, Silk, Soy Silk, Hand Spun Yarns and it is adorned with beads.

The fringe is created with the Fringe Twister and then beaded just as in my instructions for the Fiber Amulet Bag Fringe. The necklace is also completely beads and the closure is a magnet closure covered with a Vintage Button.

Treasure Tails, Fringe Twister and Fiber Amulet Bag Instructions can be found on my web store: www.rowenaart.net/store/

"Simply Green" can be found at the Arts Prescott Cooperative Gallery on Whiskey Row. Drop by this Friday for the Kenya Bead Show Reception from 6 to 8 PM and also don't forget that this Friday is also the 4th Friday Art Walk. Pick up an Art Walk Map at the gallery or check on line at: http://www.artthe4th.com/

The 4th Friday Art Walk web site has the Art Walk Map..print it out and do the Art Walk.

Weaving Guild Fundraiser - A Silent Auction and A Lot of Fun

The Mountain Spinners and Weavers Guild, over 90 members, joined in on a Fund-raiser Silent Auction on Saturday. After getting settled in our chairs the meeting began with a synopsis, by Joanne Maginelli, of the Yavapai Gallery Weaving and Spinning Show and then on to Show and Tell.

Show and Tell included much hand spun and fun projects such as vests created with mens silk ties by Shelly Liechter. I took my Creative Knitting Project which will soon be finished. Of course, right after show and tell came the coffee and goodies. Each month several members are in charge of hospitality.

Weaving and Spinning Guilds are always looking for great fun raising ideas. The silent auction among the members was a lot of fun and at the same time we now have money to make sure we have some great programs and workshops this year.

Guild member Tom Veatch, explains the rules of the game before the ladies are let loose in the Silent Auction Room.

All of the members cleaned out their stash and brought several things to auction off to benefit the Guild. 100% of the money goes directly to the guild.

I ended up with some great treasures. It was fun to see everyone peruse the fiber, books, tools, beads, and supplies.

Beads From Kenya, Africa - Bead Show in Prescott

Feb 15 — Mar 14, 2008 -Jewelry Artists of Kenya

Arts Prescott Cooperative Gallery, 134 S. Montezuma Street, Prescott - 928-776-7717

All sales will benefit the village. - 'Beads to Feed - the minds and bodies of their daughters'
The artwork and the story behind the Maasai Women Empowerment Center in Kenya, Africa

Sekeyian Vsyiaile, representing the Maasai Women's Empowerment Center in Kenya, Africa, will be bringing beadwork produced by women of her Maasai village. All Money raised by selling the beadwork will provide scholarships for Maasai girls to go to school, and for feeding them lunch while at school. Without the efforts of the Women's Empowerment Center, most young girls would never get the opportunity to go to school. Sekeyian is a graduate student at Prescott College and is the first Maasai woman to ever go to college.

Information about the Maasai Women and their Center will be available during the duration of the show. 100% of the proceeds generated from their work will go directly to the Maasai Women Empowerment Center in Kenya. You will be impressed with the beautiful colors and textures utilized in the beaded creations including wall hangings, Honor Sticks, necklaces, bracelets, earrings, belts, key chains and more.

In addition to the exceptional art being shown, during the 4th Dimension Art Walk, Arts Prescott will be hosting an artist reception with music being graciously provided by Jonathan Best. Jonathan spent two months in Maasailand Kenya recording the local music and chants of these incredible people. The results of his efforts culminated in the creation of a CD of this music which will be for sale. All profits will go to the village where it was recorded. He will be available to answer questions and perform in support of this fund-raising effort for the village.

 

During the Gallery Reception: Music by Jonathan Best.

Jonathan spent two months in CD will be for sale and profits will go to the village.

Maasailand, Kenya, recording the local music and chants of these incredible people.

The Gallery has a donation box -- Donations go directly to the villiage!

More Than Knitting at The Fiber Shop on Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day brought more than just knitting at The Fiber Shop in Prescott.

It was Sweater Day and Kristin Hansen was teaching the class. Nor Rain or Snow could stop the Singing Valentines from stopping by in the afternoon to deliver a singing Valentine to Kristen Hansen. 

The corner where the knitters meet to improve their skills each week was full of busy hands, yarn, Pink Valentine Cookies and a warm sense of belonging. Sharing the knowledge of fiber and learning new skills helps a group find that common thread.

After working a bit taking out 1/2 of each side of my sweater because of the mistakes I made at home; I was busy re-knitting both right and left side. It was reminiscent of the days in school ... I always would work ahead in my workbook and the big eraser would be brought out of my desk the next morning.

After a cookie or two in popped the Silver Edition belonging to the High Mountain Chordsmen who, in turn belong to the Barbershop Harmony Society --- a quartet of Prescott's finest. The group includes Dale Kanagy, Hap Lovejoy, Gene Van Der Voort, Lynn Grubb and of course pictured with the group is Kristen Hansen. Kristen does not sing in the group, but she was the intended recipient of the Singing Valentine. The photo was taken by Dale MacDonald, also a member of the Barbershop Harmony Society.

The group sang two of their Valentine favorites and it will be a Valentine's Day to remember.

For more information on the society you can go to: www.barbershop.org

The Days When The Bead Museum Was in Prescott on Historical Whiskey Row

Anyone who loves beads knows that The Bead Museum, founded by Gabriele Liese, was originally in Prescott, Arizona located on Historical Whiskey Row.

Even today, while at the gallery, which is a few doors up from where The Bead Museum was located, I am asked about the location. People from all over the world would visited The Bead Museum while it was here in Prescott. I now tell them that it is in Glendale and some are still surprised that Prescott is no longer the home of The Bead Museum. As far as I am concerned, Whiskey Row is not the same without it. It brought many people to Prescott.

These photos going back in time say that is good to remember how it was at that time. Liese had 2 store fronts on Whiskey Row. The main entrance was to the shop which supported the Museum as the Museum Bead Store in Glendale does today.

Supporting the Museum keeps it open for the public so if you aren't a member now is the time to become one. The Annual membership renewal is due and a membership drive is today on my blog.

The Bead Museum has several memberships:

Chevron: (Director's Circle) $2,500

Jade: (Supporting Patron) $1,000

Cloisonne (Patron) $500

Amber (Supporter) $250

Millefiori (Bead Society/Store) $200 -- Turquoise (Friend) $100 -- Coral (Family) $55

Cowrie Shell (individual) $40

Each and every member is important to The Bead Museum so please call 623-931-2737 or go to www.beadmuseumaz.org

Located at 5754 W. Glenn Drive, Glendale, Arizona

Contemporizing Traditional Etruscan Jewelry: Jewelry Workshop in Tuscany, Italy

Contemporizing Traditional
Etruscan Jewelry:
The Art, Technique, and Design
of Bead Stringing and Bead Weaving
www.landofodds.com/store/toscananarrativesynopsis.htm

Cortona, Italy    June 28-July 5, 2008

with Warren Feld, Director -- Center for Beadwork& Jewelry Arts www.landofodds.com/beadschool and Land of Odds, Nashville, Tennessee www.landofodds.com 

A workshop to stretch your thinking and learn alternative techniques to create exciting, innovative jewelry.

Picture Yourself... among the sights and sounds of beautiful and romantic Tuscany: olive groves, vineyards, centuries-old buildings, winding streets, texture and vibrant sunlight.

Feel Yourself... in the warm ambiance of Cortona, overlooking Lake Trasimeno and the Val di Chiana, originally fortified by the Umbrians, claimed by the Etruscans, touched by the Renaissance, almost unchanged for centuries, one of Tuscany's jewels.

Experience... the joy of learning jewelry techniques in a relaxed and inspiring atmosphere with the expert instruction of a nationally know artist and instructor and the camaraderie of a small group of learners.

Enjoy... great Italian food, delightful wines, new friends, breath-taking vistas, history and the hospitality of the people of Cortona.

CONTEMPORIZING TRADITIONAL ETRUSCAN JEWELRY
NARRATIVE SYNOPSIS
www.landofodds.com/store/toscananarrativesynopsis.htm
How do you keep beadwork and jewelry design essential and alive? Learning ideas and techniques towards this end is the crux of this week-long series of workshops.

These workshops are for both Beginner as well as Intermediate level beaders or jewelry makers alike.
We will be examining traditional Etruscan jewelry, and how we can understand it from the vantage point of good jewelry design principles. We will learn and practice some basic techniques of bead stringing and bead weaving. Then we will do some thinking, planning and experimenting with these and other bead stringing and bead weaving techniques in order to create contemporary interpretations of two or three Etruscan pieces of jewelry to see what we can achieve.

You will learn to look at jewelry with a different eye. Many people create jewelry all their lives, without understanding why certain pieces draw your attention, and others do not. In this class, we will begin to answer that question: Why?

You will learn the correct way to string beads on cable wire, and crimp the wire to secure it to the clasp. You will learn the optimum way to string beads on thread, including how to tie a special knot. You will learn a few simple bead weaving techniques and how best to hold your pieces while you work it, and how to manage thread tension while weaving beads.  You will learn to make simple, as well as coiled, loops on head and eye pins.

During the week, we will gradually develop an understanding of good jewelry design concepts. You will use these concepts to get a design-understanding of Etruscan jewelry. And you will use these concepts to begin to think about, plan and experiment with ideas for contemporizing Etruscan jewelry.

You will learn how to understand what “quality” means, when selecting and using glass, gemstone and metal beads and other jewelry clasps and findings. You will learn how to make choices among the many options of stringing materials. You will learn a little bit about buying tools. You will learn how color theories may be applied when using beads, rather than paints. You will learn to re-define a piece of jewelry in terms of its essential design elements – things you can manipulate within the piece. And finally, you will review 10 principles of jewelry design composition – that is, 10 rules for how to manipulate the elements within your piece.

We will be doing a lot of hands-on activity. Some of it will involve playing with and arranging beads on a bead board. And some of it will involve using bead stringing and bead weaving techniques to make bracelets or components which you can later finish off as bracelets or necklaces.

We will also be taking a day trip to Florence. In Florence, we will visit a local bead store, and glass bead-making studio. You will have the rest of the day to explore the city. I encourage you, sketch book in hand, to explore fashion jewelry on display in some of the fancy clothing and jewelry boutiques in town, and to visit one of the museums and view Etruscan and other Italian styles of jewelry.

Blending Fibers Workshop by Kathy Kelly

Marilyn Smith pictured on your left sent these photos taken during a day of blending fiber with Kathy Kelly. Kathy Kelly's Fiber Studio is a dream for any Fiber Artist.

Sandy Evans loves the Autumn colors and she shows that with her blends for the day. Sandy has several pieces in the Mountain Spinner and Weavers Show at Yavapai College with these fine colors.

Blending Fiber is an art in itself. You not only can create your own colors, but the textures change as well. Blending Merino and Mohair gives you the softness of Merino and the fuzzy luster of the mohair. It depends on the % of each fiber you blend what color or texture you end up with.

Each blend has its own story. Blending and spinning your yarn creates a your own texture and color. When you add silk to Merino the blend gives you the both the softness of the Merino and the shine of the silk. Silk is a strong fiber so this blend has that too.

Another blending day at Kathy Kelly's Studio is in the works. The members of the Mountain Spinners and Weavers Guild stay busy with their projects. Check them out yourself and go to:

http://www.mtnspinweave.org/

Northern Arizona Arts and Entertainment

Go by any coffee shop and pick up this months Monsoon Magazine. The Magazine features Arts an article on Arts Prescott Cooperative Gallery and the coming "Jewelry From Kenya".

Supporting the local newspapers and magazines who print events and information about galleries in our area is important. It is so convenient to have a guide of events and places to go with you on a fun trip through town or around Northern Arizona.

If you are unable to pick up your Monsoon go to:

http://www.sparrowpress.com/ and view the magazine. The article, Jewelry Artists of Kenya, can be found on page 41. 

Looking Back at a Yuma Bead Shop-Lampwork Demonstration

Bead Making is a fun process and many people love to watch beads being made on the torch. Lampwork..what a mircle.

Several years ago I traveled with my husband Juergen to do a Lampwork Demonstration for a Yuma Bead Shop.

The Dragonfly no longer is open and I am sure many beaders in Yuma are still very sad about that.

Juergen build a Lucite protection for demonstrating Lampwork. It worked well in Yuma and for other demonstrations around the state.

The gathering of bead lovers creates excitement for sure. When I go into an interesting bead shop the bead muse fly every direction.

After a long day of talking to many people and buying beads for myself I am happy to have help breaking down my bead table, torch, and tools.

Here is Michael Brockert and Juergen Tank taking away the last few boards of my table.

Now, a glass of wine and time to check through all of the new beads I acquired for my stash.

The Dragonfly Bead Shop always had such great seed bead classes along with finished bead projects. A find for the bead searcher. Linda Lane, the bead shop owner looks on as I create a bead. She is using the protective eye wear all lampworkers wear. My favorite eye glasses were recommended by Don McKinney. Don taught me my first Lampworking class. He teaches safety first. You can contact Don for your own glass bead making class at: http://www.glasspalette.com/

www.rowenaart.net/store

Beads For Kenya-Stefania Schollaert, Patricia Brockert and Rowena Tank Donates Bead Stash

During the next month Arts Prescott Cooperative Gallery will have a special Guest Artist Show: Jewelry From Kenya.

Stefania Schollaert, Patricia Brockert and I got together through phone and e-mail and put together a bead stash to send back to Kenya with the Prescott College student who will be putting the Kenya Show together. These beads will be used to teach beading and help to feed a village.

Stefania was one of the founding members of the High Desert Bead Society, here in Northern Arizona. She moved to South Carolina and she keeps her eye on what is going on in the Prescott Bead World.

Here is Stefania beading in her bead room. Stefania's husband William is a stained glass artist so, of course, the window is full of glass art. Artists with a heart!

Patricia Brockert and I put together another bead box full of Beads for Kenya. We have been beading together for years. Being sisters in beads and fiber, we keep busy for sure.

Feb 15 — Mar 14, 2008

Arts Prescott Cooperative Gallery, 134 S. Montezuma Street, Prescott - 928-776-7717

--Jewelry Artists of Kenya--All sales will benefit the village.--Reception: Feb 22 — 6pm to 8 pm

More photos will be posted after the show is up on Saturday. I will be sharing bead photos, show photos, reception photos and a little bit of history of the village itself. 

"I've Been Seen at Art Bead - Rowena's Bead Art

"Art Bead Scene is an interactive blog with the goal of uniting bead artists of all materials and the jewelry designers who use art beads in their work. We have a daily blog with several contributors posting about the latest events and ideas in the bead world. Watch for weekly interviews with bead artists and jewelry designers who use art beads in their work. We'll review new products, books and stores that carry art beads. We also have an exciting monthly design challenge open to all our readers as well as many other great features", writes The Art Bead Scene Crew.

Check out http://www.artbeadscene.com for many wonderful ideas and designs with beads created from all types of materials. 

Showing is one of my "Loves Kahlua, Loves Amber" necklaces, created from recycled Kahlua bottle glass in my lampwork studio.

The Bead and Fiber world unite in their efforts to attract more people to the art. Each Guild or Society in your area will help you get started learning more about their true love....Beads and Fiber

www.rowenaart.net/store

Electronic Spinning Wheel Called "Roberta"

Spinning has become one of my most favorite things to do. I love all of my spinning wheels and now I have the "Roberta" to help me keep up with my much needed Hand Spun Supply.

I plan on demonstrating "Roberta" at several shows this year. I will show you how to ply the two full bobbins onto the one jumbo bobbin. -- Between spinning and bead making I do fill my time, but both bring me a lot of joy.

The Roberta Combo Electronic Spinner, pictured above comes with 2 regular or standard Bobbins and one Jumbo Bobbin. Fill the two bobbins with your hand spun and ply onto the Jumbo Bobbin.

Top view of the Roberta Jumbo Electronic Spinner. This wheel comes with 3 Jumbo Bobbins. The difference is, of course, the bobbin size. You are unable to store your bobbins in a down position on the Roberta built in Lazy Kate. What a beautiful machine.

The Dual Power Roberta comes with this 12 Volt power input cord. Take your Roberta Electronic Spinner along with you on long car trips. What a concept....you have hand spun at the end of your trip. Of course, someone else is driving.

www.rowenaart.net/store/

 

Raggedy Ro, Electronic Spinner and I will Show at Community Arts Festival in Chino Valley and Tucson

This is Knit 3 and Purl 1on the back of my sweater in progress using Raggedy RO Hand Spun Yarn. You can find Raggedy RO on my web store www.rowenaart.net/store/ or come to the Chino Valley's First Annual Community Arts Festival

This Festival is organized by Heritage Middle School's Parent-Teacher-Student Organization and the High Desert Artists, Inc. of Chino Valley. The goal of this year is, "a successful and annually expanding event encouraging support for the arts in our schools and community. We want you to participate by exhibiting your talents". Also come to support this Festival so it will continue each year to meet its goals.

I will be demonstrating the Ertoel Electronic Spinner. This Electronic "Roberta" Spinner has been perfected over 34 years of production. Advantages includes: once set no further adjustments during spinning, electronic design ensures performance set on controls while protecting the motor from wear. More yarn control with speed control on driven bobbin for the twist rate. Ertoel guarantees the motor for 10 years even using it for commercial spinning. The working bobbin is quick and easy to remove. More information coming in the next few weeks.

If you miss this Festival please remember the

"Fibers Through Time" Show in Tucson 2008. "Connections With The Past", at Holiday Inn Palo Verde. April 3-6, 2008. For information on vendor hours or classes offered check with www.azfed.org/

Off Loom Bead Weaving and Recyled Wine Bottle Glass Can Also Hang As a Piece of Art

This piece was pictured in Bead and Button not long ago. It is one of my favorites. I love the color of the Natural Crystal. I started out with the raw edges. I covered the raw and bumpy back of the crystal with Model Magic by Crayola. After the Model Magic was dry I covered the crystal with size 11 seed beads using Flat Peyote Stitch.

After the crystal had its covering I began to do Freeform Off Loom Bead Weaving out of the sides of the piece. I added Merlot recycled wine bottle lampwork beads and one larger hollow bead created from Shiraz recycled wine bottle glass. I like to add stones and fresh water pearls when they fit into the freeform. I feel they give the piece warmth and personality. The closure is copper wire.

Larger pieces such as this one can be worn or placed on a frame as pure art. You can create a frame or go to your favorite frame shop tell them what you want and they will create it. Make sure the frame itself fits to the piece and then build in a half moon where the necklace will be placed. The size of the half moon depends on the size of the piece. The half moon should be covered with the same fabric as the background of the frame.   Happy Crafting  www.rowenaart.net/store 

Knitting Day at The Fiber Shop in Prescott-Hat With Sock Yarn by Kristin Hansen

Open Knitting at The Fiber Shop was fun yesterday. It is such a pleasure to see what everyone is knitting and what yarns they use for their project.

Here is a knitted cap by Kristin Hansen. Kristen used sock yarn. She said, "Sock Yarn is not only for Socks"! Kristen teaches knitting at the shop.

Walking through The Fiber Shop is like a little tour through the world of Fiber Art.

What makes the shop a place special is the finished work on display.

I worked on my sweater project and enjoyed the fiber talk all morning.

Kristin shows the Bear Kit by Harrisville. It comes in a house box. She explains that this kit is to teach your little one how to knit. You knit the cap for the bear and the scarf is the children's project." After you are finished you have a suitably dressed Teddy Bear. This would be building memories.

Fused Dichroic Glass Brooch - "Moon Over Prescott"

Dichroic Glass has enjoyed its popularity in Glass Beads and Jewelry for years, and no one can resist its charm.

Dichroic is actually a fused glass with thin layers of metallic oxides. This created two colors and the colors change when viewed from different angles. This glass was first created for the space industries. "The Dichroic glass itself is a total thickness of 3 to 5 millionths per inch and this gives it the optical properties which was used for satellite mirrors by NASA", explains Wikepedia.

This brooch is a fused glass cabochon and seed beads from my Arizona Bead Soup. "Moon Over Prescott" is 2 inches by 1 1/4th inch in size and is created on a Celtic Sterling Silver pin.

The Oval Dichroic Glass Cabochon is encased in Delica Black Seed beads and size 11 seed beads in greens sprinkled throughout the off loom bead weaving. A cluster of stone and glass beads on the side. "Simply Arizona"

Found in my web store:

www.rowenaart.net/store

National Liberty Museum Ninth Annual Glass Now Auction 2008 in Philadelphia, PA

"On October 4, 2008, the National Liberty Museum will hold its ninth annual "Glass Now" Auction. With the help of the generous glass artist community, the auction has raised over a million dollars to aid the National Liberty Museum in its mission to teach tolerance and to defuse violence, hate and bigotry", writes Arlene Silvers and Meegan Coll from the museum.

I donate a piece each year to this auction and you just need to check the artists throughout the world who sends in their work. In 2007 I sent a Red Adorned Fiber Amulet Bag. Here is the link to the page in the catalog with the bag pictured: http://www.libertymuseum.org/auction%202007/auction%20pages/Jewelry.html

"In addition, the auction has exposed hundreds of people to contemporary art glass. Most attendees came to support the National Liberty Museum. Now they have fallen in love with this beautiful art form. They have become collectors-buying works of artist they see at the auction in galleries across the country" continues the two from the Museum.

Monies raised also help pay for children from all over the United States travel to the Museum. The glass art education is priceless.

Check out the National Liberty Museum web site: http://www.libertymuseum.org/

Bhakti Zeik- Weaving Design Using Photoshop Lecture

The Arizona Desert Weavers and Spinners Guild and the Telarana Weavers and Spinners Guild invited members of all the guilds to the Bhakti Zeik Lecture on Weaving Design.

The lecture began at 10 AM and everyone gathered to find their places after admiring the Zeik Class Samples spread all over the table.

"Bhakti Ziek is an internationally recognized studio weaver/instructor. She is based in New Mexico, but she is currently teaching at ASU, Fiber Arts Department. Bhakti is an award-winning artist and her works have been exhibited extensively throughout the U.S. and abroad. She has been a keynote speaker for numerous conferences including HGA's Convergence 2004, Surface Design Conference, and Midwest Weavers Conference. As a textile scholar, she has juried and curated many textile exhibitions. Her essays on contemporary fiber have been published in exhibition catalogues and art journals, including American Craft, Fiberarts and Surface Design Journal", writes The Mother O All, newsletter editor, the Arizona Desert Weavers and Spinners Guild.

Bhaki Ziek began her presentation talking about her world travels and how she began with a trip through Mexico and Guatemala. The slides of the primitive peasant dresses and wraps influenced Bhaki Ziek to create more intricate weavings. She expressed her love of the peasant clothing.

Her many travels took her to Turkey for more research on textiles and culture and then on to Florance Italy.

Ms Ziek continued her studies at Cranbrook Campas.

The Woven Pixel: Designing for Jacquard and Dobby Looms Using Photoshop was written by Alice Schlein and Bhaki Ziek. This 362 page black and white, spiral binding book has everything you need to know about designing woven cloth using Photoshop. This book is intended for weavers, surface designers, graphic artists and others who wish to have their work produced as woven cloth, whether on hand looms or through industrial production.

The lecture was inspiring to say the least. We came away with ideas and motivation to make our fiber art the best it can be. "If I weave it, it is there forever... there is a space and time for everything... if you know something...share it", are just some of the great phases and ideas I brought home with me. These words spoken by Ziek were sprinkled amongst so much great information about fiber art and artist muse.

The weaving designs in bright wonderful colors are amazing to see, but the last weaving Ziek spoke about was the one she created with the image of her new home in Vermont.

Thank you Arizona Desert Weavers and Spinners Guild and the Telarana Weavers and Spinners Guild for inviting members of other guilds to enjoy this lecture today with you. What a pleasure it was!

The Beginning of a Symphoney Jacket - A Fiber Shop Class Taught by Kristin Hansen

One thing for sure, you can find any activity you wish for here in Prescott. I never find myself bored without something to tackle.

2008 is my Spinning and Knitting year. The year began with a bang learning Creative Knitting through a Mountain Spinners and Weavers Guild class and now I am learning how to read a knitting pattern. They look quit intimidating.

This is