DaxDesigns Bead Art

Here is an amazing talent with beads, Dax Design's Bead Art. Located in Australia, this bead artist brings bead work up to fine art. Her name is Glenda. She creates original handcrafted bead art jewelry and keepsakes.

The following is from Glenda's bio:

" Glenda's beadart is inspired by shapes, patterns, colors and meanings of cultural and natural worlds near and far. Many of her designs use traditional beadweaving techniques that women have used in diverse cultures over time to create beadwork of great beauty and significance to their daily lives. Some of this beadwork carries hidden messages, some forms their dowry and much of it contains their wealth in a wearable form. All of it intrigues, enchants and inspires me to use beads to create wearable bead art that celebrates this tradition and brings diversity to what we see and wear and in daily lives."

I feel that my life is enriched just by looking at Glenda's work. Please visit her Etsy shop for looking at her many beautiful creations!  Here are some links for DaxDesign:

First, Glenda's Etsy shop: 

http://www.etsy.com/shop/daxdesigns

Her destash shop on Etsy, DaxDestash:

http://www.daxdestash.etsy.com

Glenda's Blog, DaxDesigns:

daxdesigns.blogspot.com

Web Site:
http://www.daxdesigns.com.au/

Facebook Fan Page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Drysdale-Australia/Dax-Designs-Bead-Art/136491076654 

Red Fairy

Okay, so I told you I was having some inspiration, but having some trouble with painting. I am getting frustrated with the acrylics. They are drying out too fast as I use them and they don't flow and mix the colors. Soooo, I am dreaming of oil paints. Not just dreaming, but I am starting to use them!!!!

I really love watercolor, too,  but there is nothing like the workability of oils. So here is The Red Fairy that I painted with acrylics. It took me way longer to paint than it "should" have.

What Have We Here?

Here is some new work of mine for your pleasure. These works are in my Etsy  shop. Link:

http://www.auntjanecan.etsy.com/ 

Art Fire!

I am getting disgruntled with Etsy and have a new shop on Art Fire. Here are some listings. My studio is bluejane.

Made It Myself

There is a new handmade site called Made It Myself.

http://www.madeitmyself.com/

There are a lot of really neat artisians over there. The site is still in beta testing stage.

I have some of my fairy images on Made It Myself. Just enter the search term- fairy- and they will come up.

Feature: Darlene Martin of Bijouxbead

Darlene Martin is very talented and disciplined and it shows in her work, which is both unique and stunning. The necklace on the left here is titled, "Myrrh".


Darlene’s jewelry features materials such as handmade lampwork glass, handmade fine silver clasps, or semi precious stones. She gets a lot of press, including a full half hour feature on a television series about entrepreneurs. She was awarded a full scholarship at the Queen's University Executive Business School, and she was recently nominated for an Entrepreneur of the Year award in Canada.


Here is a link to Darlene’s Etsy store, Bijouxbead: http://www.bijouxbead.etsy.com/



















"National Treasury Collection- Ontario"

I interviewed Darlene:

Aunt Jane: What inspirations do you have for your jewelry?

Darlene: My muse is Canada; its nature, its people, its inimitability, and the horizontal links between them. My work has a distinct aesthetic that draws from several different mediums -be it glass, metal or stone. To feel the warmth that transfers from your body to these natural elements is what first inspired me to urge people to "feel what you wear, wear what you feel". As my handmade collection of necklaces, bracelets and earrings develops, so too does my passion for incorporating Canadian-ness into my work.

Aunt Jane: Do you listen to music while you are creating, and if so what music?

Darlene: I prefer complete silence when I am working. That way, I can focus 100% on it. The tactile and visual stimulation is what brings about the titles of each piece; three hours with nothing but the piece on my mind and in my hands is what helps me come up with these titles and very good reasons for them. It reminds me of defending a thesis; I love it when customers ask me to elaborate.

Aunt Jane: What materials do you like to work with?

Darlene: I work exclusively with glass, metal and stone. I have always purchased my materials in person; and all of my suppliers are Canadian.

I asked Darlene to elaborate some more:

"Being a Canadian triple gold figure skating medalist, skating has always been big part of my life. It was a big change for me to hang up my skates after 34 years of identifying myself that way. I feel Bijouxbead has allowed me to keep the discipline and artistry pieces of my skating identity and move them forward in a new and challenging direction.

My Etsy shoppe was born of the necessity to have some kind of on line presence, although I have no expectations to sell a lot of my work there. I do enjoy the Etsy community, and have gained a wealth of knowledge from them in a very short period of time. But my work is tactile, and no matter how well I present it online, it just isn't the same as touching it. When Bijouxbead is spoken about in the media, the web activity skyrockets; and then the sales spike at the galleries, in that order. I don't think that will ever change."


















"Window To My Heart"


"Have My Eyes On You"

To learn more visit Darlene’s main website: http://www.bijouxbead.com/

Next television appearance: The Slice Network, November 3, 2008 2:00pm ET.

Darlene's next exhibition will be running from November 13 through November 27 at a high end gallery in Toronto.

Handmade

Next time you need a card for something, why not make one yourself? It's so much more personal. Or buy a handmade card from someone who made it. That is personal, too. And you are supporting someone who is making something with thier own little hands. Bypass the corporate mindset that says we have to get everything store bought. Why not?

There are a lot of great cards over at Etsy or Dawanda. This card pictured here is made by yours truly. It is from my original painting, "Time Space Geometry". I printed it myself and mounted it upon recycled paper. I think it looks a bit handsome.

Get Well

A fresh egg from a local farmer is so much more nutritious and healthy than a factory corporate egg. Of course, you have heard this many times and you know. This is just one example. How about we also try avoiding buying things from overseas as much as possible. Let's not encourage corporations to think that we support this and we protect our health at the same time. I ain't eatin no Chinese egg!
What's on your mind? Click the comment button below and tell me all about it.

Create

Now that the higher prices of everything has put the squeeze on us it's spawning some creativity. Some people are planting vegetable gardens in their yards. Some people are buying food more locally than having it shipped from across the world. I read a good book called "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" by Barbara Kingsolver. Great read!
Jeepers, if I could have a horse or a burro I would pack it to the store and back instead of driving a vehicle. I know that I am creating more cuisine at home instead of going to restaurants. I am sewing more of my own clothing. It would be so nice to have a couple of chickens. But noooooooo, zoning laws in residential neighborhoods prevents that. I need to move to the country. How about you?
And what's bothering you, my Dear? Do you have any ways that you are getting creative lately? HMmmmm? Click on the comment button below and just tell me all about it.