Freeform Friday: travel beading

Seed beads. Bead embroidery.
Needles and thread.
Focals and fabric.
delicas, 15's and 11's...
glass and gemstones.
rounds, drops, daggers, lentils... 

This month I am going on a real vacation. The kind that is longer than 3 days and requires a passport. We are going on a cruise. Not the aptly named Bead Cruise, since I know that's what you were thinking. But I plan to make my cruise a bead cruise on my own.



I have a hard time sitting still doing nothing. (What others call relaxing, LOL) I think I will adore poolside lounging, in the shade, reading. But there will be times we are hanging out with family, and I need to have something to do with my hands. Enter bead embroidery. Formerly my snow day guilty pleasure - now my at-sea serenity.



So I google "travel bead mat". Because I am thinking there must be cool products out there.

I started with the Beading Pal by Ezel Findings. I had seen it recommended on Facebook by Moggie Moyer of Bead my Love. Oh its a beauty! But it is $100 and that was definitely beyond my budget at this time. And since seed bead aren't my main thing medium I can't justify the splurge.

I liked this one from Unkamen Supplies on Etsy.  The price was right, the four flaps open out and the work surface inside is black velvet. It seemed a little too big for my needs though. 

The BYOBeads box is a brilliant thing! It is the creation of Leslie Rogalski of The Sleepless Beader. Our paths had crossed many times and I was pleased to finally meet her at Berks Bead Bazaar this past weekend. This tin kit includes bead mat, travel scissors, and a magnet for needles. Its deep enough to hold your tubes of beads...  And a great deal at $20.  (um. When I went to buy one they were sold out...)

So I am trying to pack and organize seed beads and projects... I have the BEADSMITH sticky mat that I will try, and one small box of thread and needles. I love the antique butter pat dish as a beading dish. And while I know it may seem silly to travel with china... it was like $2.50 at the local antique store, and it makes me happy. I have been planning (simple) projects and selecting beads...

The essentials, and a few planned pieces...

Planned pieces and packing options: Fox Kitsune pouch by Meredith Dillman. Triple spiral pouch is one I felted and embroidered. 

While I love the bead travel accessories on the market - I may be relying on my selection of pouches. That and the ever handy dandy ziploc bags... I was considering repurposing the wooden cigar box, but I am on the fence about that one. Then as I was starting to take pictures for this post I pulled ALL these cabs that I wanted to take and do something with... Oh boy! The cruise isn't THAT long. 

Polymer, stoneware and earthenware cabs by... moi! 

So - off I go in to the wild blue yonder. Armed with seed beads and needles, to relax like it was my job. <chuckle> I will update you on my progress later - how much or how little I actually accomplished!

For now - do you ever travel with jewelry projects? Whats your favorite travel gadget or organizer? 

Jenny

www.jdaviesreazor.com

Treasure trove. Creative storage?

Freeform Friday - Bonus edition. 

Treasure trove - creative storage... 

Antique paper bead box. Have you been good? 

Last week I posted pictures of some treasures I unearthed while cleaning and packing at my parent's house. As we were chatting on Facebook - Jennifer wondered where I put all this stuff, and how I knew what I had... where things were... I am planning a follow up post showing some of my creations using the featured treasures - but I need a bit more time for that so I decided to illustrate the storage. The storage of treasures. 

My studio my mixed media and jewelry studio ( as opposed to the ceramics studio) is in a spare bedroom, Its a normal sized room I suppose, feels small to me as its chocked full of treasure. This is where I work with beads, metal, enamel, polymer, collage, shrines, bookbinding, journaling, watercolor... I try to have it feel comfortable, be organized, inspire, and not be a total chaotic mess. 

Printers racks - storage and display all in one. 

I will admit - there is no real system. I just sort of know where things are... Whether its my Virgo status, or a trace of OCD, it works for me. So much of my artwork involves containers, revealing and concealing in shrines, etc that its not a surprise that I love containers of all sorts. This one if the main repository of found object treasures: 

The find of the decade - and it was cheap! 

My Dad and I found it at an auction. I cant figure what it was originally used for - any thoughts? 

Now - for the first time - I will allow a peak inside a few drawers! 

Ivory miniatures, antique bone game pieces, MahJong tiles, optometrist lenses. 

Stuff. More stuff. 

The organic drawer - shells, bark, pods, and antique pottery shards.  (Because there was room. )

Rusty scraps of metal, found bits. antique glass lenses, test tubes. 

Sadly - the treasures I pictured last week are still homeless. They will get put away soon, in a caffeine fueled frenzy of organization, no doubt. I feel like I have revealed deep dark secrets! My name is Jenny and I am a packrat...

My Grandmother's make-up case/luggage. Current resting place for treasures until they are put away... 

Stay tuned - I will show you a few of last weeks treasures put to use!

Jenny

www.jdaviesreazor.com