A Women's Weekend

waiting for the bus - with a party atmosphere

Saturday:  Womxns' March, Seattle

My weekend was a celebration of women.  On Saturday, Joe and I attended the incredible Womxns' March here in Seattle.  It seemed like the march was all anyone talked about in the week beforehand.  The local coffee shops were abuzz with who was going, who was meeting whom, who was knitting hats for whom.  I'd swear that in our neighborhood, it was more anticipated than Christmas.

The morning of, we headed down to El Diablo early, to find it almost empty.  We watched as one group of pink-hatted women after another dashed in, grabbed coffees, and dashed back out.  We also watched the metro buses gliding through the neighborhood packed with pink hats and signs.

the group behind us in line for the bus

We'd planned to meet friends at the coffee shop, then head over to the first stop on the 4 route about 10am.  We could see the corner, and the 40-50 people waiting there from our window seat, so we decided to head over way early.  As we waited, we watched the line grow, then shrink (then grow again) as people bailed to grab an Uber or other transport.  What was really neat was everyone worked to fill their vehicles to capacity, grabbing other people from the line. You'd hear the call, "we have one more space" and someone else would hop out of line and join them.

When we finally bailed, we did the same and brought a new friend from line with us, walking to another friends where her husband had arranged an adhoc carpool, piling ten of us into two vehicles (plus the 2 drivers).  Good thing too; the bus arrived as we were pulling out, and it was already so full that it didn't even stop where we'd been waiting.

the start of the march, before the skies cleared

On the drive to Judkins Park (the starting point of the route), every bus stop we passed was filled with pink-hatted, smiling women (and a fair number of pink-hatted men, too).  Truth is, we never actually made it to the park - by about eight blocks out it was obvious we'd have to go the rest of the way on foot.

Abandoning our drivers with many thanks, we walked another couple of blocks before the crowds simply got too thick to get any closer.  We ended up at 20th and Jackson.  Turns out none of our group had remembered to download a map of the route onto our phones.  So I asked one of the very nice policewomen for assistance and discovered that we'd accidentally found the actual starting line for the march - with a Native American group lined up right behind the police on bicycles.

inside the long river of people with blue skies overhead

YES!!!

Despite watching the start of the march, it took another 40 minutes before we made it out of the first intersection, and another 20 before we'd traversed another block.  There were so many people filtering in from so many intersections that it took forever to move more than 2-3 steps at a time.  But that was okay, because everyone was smiling, everyone was simply so happy to be there, to see the amazing turn out. And it was fun to read everyone's signs.

The signs ran the gamut of causes.  Many I believed in wholeheartedly, some were simply not my causes, and a few I didn't agree with at all.  But that's okay, because it was all about free speech and solidarity. Being able to speak one's truths and knowing you're not alone. That's why I was there.  After last year's brutal election cycle, many have been left fearful and hurting.  I wanted to be there simply because it seemed right to stand up and say 'I care, I'm paying attention, and you're not alone'.


One of my favorites was a hand-drawn sign carried by a little girl, maybe 5-6 years old riding on her dad's shoulders.  Her sign read 'Make America Kind Again'.  A goal I can definitely get behind.  It was fun walking with our little group of six women, three teenaged girls and two men.  Even when it was tricky keeping us all together in the crowds. Thank you Joe, for walking with me, and for sending the text last week, asking if I wanted to go on this particular 'date'.  Thanks Jen, for sending the text 'Come to our house now', and for organizing the impromptu carpool.  And thank you Spencer for playing chauffeur.

From Judkins Park to the Seattle Center, the full route was 3.6 miles long.  Based upon aerial photos I saw afterwards, we filled the entire route!  The first people were arriving at the Seattle Center before the last marchers had left Judkins Park.  Estimates this morning say there were as many as 175,000 people.  It was an incredible feeling to be part of such a crowd.  A peaceful, happy, smiling group of people from so many diverse backgrounds, coming together to participate as a community.

Thank you Seattle Bicycle Police!

Arriving at the Seattle Center felt a little anti-climatic.  My feet were sore, and I was ready to be off of them.  But at the same time, I was riding high on the energy of the event.  It was so powerfully positive.

Even the amazing bicycle police along the route were smiling, and wished us well along the way.  I want to sing out many praises for the women and men of the police force - thank you for being there, thank you for supporting the constitution, the 1st amendment, and your fellow citizens.

a few more signs I saw on the march

Seedbeaders!  (about half of the roomful)

Seedbeaders Sunday

And if the march wasn't enough to make me smile, Sunday was Seedbeaders.  This was the first time I'd managed to make it in about a year - I don't think I attended a single meeting in 2016.  Walking in the door, it was like old-home week, with so many friends I hadn't seen in ages.

Jennifer Porter talks about Random RAW

January's the month where everyone is asked to bring ideas for mini-workshops they're willing to teach at the monthly meetings through the year.  All of the meeting projects are free - members donating their talents to the rest of the membership.  I am so very impressed by the talent and generosity of everyone in this group.

This month, Jennifer Porter was teaching her version of embellished, random right angle weave.  One of my besties, Jennifer and I have a similar vibe (and tend to inspire each other) with our work as we're both drawn to freeform bead weaving.  (If you're wondering why her name sounds familiar, she is one of the featured artists in Explorations). 

Jennifer let me snap this picture of her talking about random right angle weave, and then a couple pictures of her work.  I'm including my best photo below (definitely not a studio setting - so the photos not as good as I'd like).

Cherry Trees in Fall by Jennifer Porter

A bright cherry on the Sunday goodness - it turns about a dozen of us from Seedbeaders had attended the march, and we all had different stories and highlights to tell.  I'll admit, I'm still buzzing from my wonderful, incredible women's weekend.

Good thing, too, because next up on my to do list today is State taxes for Skunk Hill Studio.  Yippee! 

NW Bead Society's 2015 Seedbeaders Meeting Schedule

 If you are a beader living anywhere around the Puget Sound, then you should definitely check out the Northwest Bead Society.  And if you're like me and love seed beads, then you definitely need to check out the Seedbeaders' group.  This includes anyone who might be visiting the area.  If your trip coincides with one of the meetings, consider dropping by;  guests are always welcome! 

To make it easier to visit, I'm including the schedule for upcoming Seedbeaders Programs through early February 16th.  Each meeting, one of our members agrees to host a mini-tutorial, sharing a project or technique.  Everyone's welcome to work on the project of the month, or bring your own project (or simply visit with everyone else).  We meet from 10:30-3:00 on the fourth Sunday of the month.  Supply lists are generally posted to the Yahoo group (search for 'seedbeaders') about a month before each tutorial. 

2015-2016 Schedule

May 24 2015  Jennifer Brown - Mosaic Bracelet
Note: This is Memorial Day Weekend - the meeting cannot be moved to May 17 due to the NWBS retreat.  This meeting may be moved to May 31.

June 28, 2015 Karen Williams - Flame Pendant or Earrings

July 26, 2015 Jennifer Brown - Tila Patchwork Bracelet

August 23, 2015 Vivian E. - Birds of a Feather 

September 27, 2015 Marla Baer-Peckham - Holiday Bell Earrings

October 25, 2015 Debby Zook - Twin Bead Snowflakes

January 24, 2016 Marla Baer-Peckham - Zig-Zag Peyote Earrings


February 28, 2016 Jennifer Brown - Super Duo Triangle Earrings (no photo available right now)


There's something powerful about beading in the company of friends.  Personally, I feel incredibly fortunate to be part of a group like the Seedbeader's.  Their camaraderie, inspiration and support is fantastic.  

One caveat regarding the schedule - since scheduled workshops may change due to all sorts of circumstances beyond anyone's control, it's a good idea to join the Yahoo groups if you are hoping/planning to attend.  That way you'll get the most up-to-date info.

2013 Seedbeaders' Schedule

I started working on this post back in December, but somehow it keeps getting lodged in my Drafts folder.  Likely because I'd hoped to get photos of -ALL- the project samples first.   Well, now we're a third of the way through the year, Seedbeader's was just this past Sunday and I think it's about time I shared what all is coming up over the next few months.  

As a reminder, we meet at the Maplewood Rock & Gem Club in Edmonds, WA and guests are always welcome. Learn a new skill, bring your own project(s) or even just come and hang out, the choice is yours.  So if you happen to be in the area on the fourth Sunday of the month....

my Kongo-gumi on the go

Kumihimo and Kongo-gumi

This month, Shelly Gillmann shared a spectacular lesson in Kumihimo.  Besides making up nearly fifty kits with cording, beads and Kumihimo discs, Shelly had so many wonderful samples (of which I just realized I didn't get any pictures), fantastic hands-on demos and lectures accompanied by detailed notes which included a link list, which she said I could share with y'all.  Thank you so much Shelly for putting this together!

This is a technique I've meant to check out for a while, so I was thrilled.  My disc has become my travel companion the past couple of days - I get some really fun looks when I work with it on the bus. 

Upcoming Meetings

Embellished Cuff by Marla Baer-Peckham

5/19/13 Embellished Peyote Cuff

Marla Baer-Peckham

[scheduled on 3rd Sunday to avoid conflict with following Memorial Weekend]

6/23/13 Zulu Square Tube (no photo available)

Ann Wilkinson

Jellyfish Pendant by Jennifer Porter

7/28/13 Jellyfish Pendant

Jennifer Porter

Square Stitch Bracelets by Donna Galstad

8/25/13 Square Stitch Bracelet

Donna Galstad

Slider Bead by Julie Dubois

9/22/13 Slider Bead

Julie Dubois

10/20/13    Flat Spiral (no photo available)

Shirley Pauls

[scheduled on 3rd Sunday to avoid conflict with following NWBS Retreat weekend]

12/8/13 Holiday/Planning (2nd weekend of December)

                        decide following year's programs, gift exchange, challenge reveal, bead swap game

1/26/14 Peyote & Crystal Row Bracelet (no photo available)

Ellen Lambright

Snowflake Pendant by Julie Dubois

2/23/14 Snowflake Pendant

Julie Dubois

Beaded Baubles by Debby Zook

3/23/14 Beaded Bauble

Debby Zook

4/27/14 Byzantine Chain

Theresa Cleary

Inspiration Central - the Seedbeaders' Holiday party

For the first time since summer, I managed to sneak away for the day on Sunday for the monthly NW Seed Beaders meeting.  They are such an incredible group and I was reminded of just how much I had missed them this past fall! 

The December meeting is always jam packed with activity and happenings with a gift exchange, a bead swap game and program planning for the next year or so.  Shelly, our fearless leader, had asked me to take photographs of the Show and Share, Challenge and Future program entries.  I'm going to hold off on sharing the Future program entries because they're still working on the schedule, but I will happily share photos of some of the rest.

Challenge Necklace by Shelly Gillmann

As we set up, Shelly asked if I could photograph her challenge necklace, which had taken third at the NW Bead Society's fall retreat.  She'd made the necklace for a family member, but wanted documentation before she sent it on it's way as it was the most complex piece she'd created to date.  I love all the little details and tried to get a number of closeups.  Hope she likes the pictures!

'Five Years of Challenges' freeform beaded necklace by Patricia Hardway

Patricia Hardway's gorgeous holiday necklace is the culmination of five separate years worth of challenges.  I love that she included a printed list of all the years' challenges and all the stitches she'd incorporated into the piece.  It looks like a party to me, with the little splashes of color reminding me of confetti. 

Jellyfish pendant by Jennifer Porter

I fell in love with Jennifer Porter's jellyfish pendant as soon as she walked in the door and I saw her wearing it.   Photographing it posed several challenges - I had to borrow a display rod from one of the other ladies who'd brought items for sale so that I could hang the pendant in my photo boot as it simply didn't look right laying flat against a surface.  And once I had the pendant in my hands, I really, really didn't want to give it back.  The fact that I did made me feel very, very virtuous. 

I photographed this one while it was on the Show and Share table, but it may also be a program topic in 2013.  I'll let you know if it is! 

Ann Wilkinson's Zulu Square Stitch Collar

I love the subtle richness of Ann's collar.  The interplay of warm and cool tones of the rich chestnuts with the cooler olivey-brown tones pairs beautifully with the slow spiral design.  This piece looks and feels substantial.  I'm also always fascinated by how other's end their spirals, so I tried to get closeups of her closure.  She used metal caps shaped like flowers and stitched her beadwork into them; the pictures of that didn't come out quite as clear as I'd hoped.

To cap off this post, here's Georgia McMillan's entry into this year's challenge.  All entrants were given a baggie of common household items and were told to recycle or upcycle them into something:

Georgia McMillan's Recycled Christmas collection

 

And once I have the 2013 Schedule, I'll post it along with whatever photos I have of the actual projects/techniques. 

Two and a Half Months - NW Seedbeaders

This past Sunday was the NW Seedbeader's Group; one of my absolute favorite days of the month.  Last month I taught my Corset Beads, and this month several people brought their finished beads back for me to see and share.  I just love seeing what other people do!

Ellen Lambright added an extra row of triangle beads to each edge

I find these little beauties hard to photograph because it always seems like the eye can see so much more of the whole than the camera can capture.  I tried to compensate with multiple camera angles and shots!

Constance Miteo-Johnson's reminds me of a 4th of July UFO

Connie's triple rows of drop beads created a fun, elliptical effect which reminded me of UFOs and pinwheels. 

Aren't Bonita Kroon's colors striking? 

Bonnie plans to combine her corset bead with the N'debele rope Deanna Raabe shared for this month's program into a larger piece.  She was playing with different ideas for adding splashes of the brighter orange and gold into her rope. 

N'debele rope by Tamera Mickelson with lamworked focal

Tamera Mickelson brought this necklace as another sample of N'debele rope, made with size 11 triangle beads.  One of the keys seems to be making sure you get the triangle beads with the sharp, rather than rounded, edges.

And since I didn't have time to do any photography last week, I invited people to bring back their completed amulet bags from June.

Vicki Nelson's amulet bag

Bonita Kroon's "Geek" bag

Bonnie called hers a "Geek" bag because she discovered it's perfectly sized to hold a thumb drive.  How cool it that?

So there you have it; three month's of Seedbeaders' meetings. 

A Bevy of Beaded Baskets

Huichol Baskets by Debby Zook

Back in March, Debby Zook shared her beaded Huichol Baskets with the Seed Beaders.  I missed that meeting, but got to admire a number of the finished baskets last Sunday at the April meeting. 

Debby brought a total of twenty baskets, because as she put it, 'it's hard to stop at just one'. 

She made most of her baskets using size 11 seed beads, but she had several miniature beauties, made from sizes 15, 16 and 18 seed beads.  And in case you're wondering - size 15 seed beads are the smallest beads currently manufactured today, the 16s and 18s are vintage.  And they are teensy tiny! 

 Debby's miniatures, made with sizes 15, 16 & 18 seed beads

This one says "Easter" to me, basket by Debbie Zook

 

One more basket by Debby Zook

These two lovelies were made by Jennifer Brown

An asymmetrical basket by Bonnie Kroon

Low-sided basket by Bonnie Kroon

One last basket, also by Bonnie Kroon

Aren't they lovely?   For perspective, the largest of these baskets easily fits in the palm of my hand.  Most are about the size of a hummingbird's nest. 

Going Bohemian

A few Bohemian Wrap bracelets by Kate Parsons

My favorite Sunday of the month is just past, and this time round the NW Seedbeaders Group took on Bohemian Wraps under Kate Parsons' excellent tutelage.  Starting with free instructions from the Fusion Beads website, Kate shared her own unique twists and experience with the technique, making this a surprisingly fast and fun beading project.

It's funny how the bracelet style burst onto the scene about six months ago.  I'm not used to noticing jewelry or beading trends, but this one definitely caught my attention.  Perhaps because they remind me of the twined friendship bracelets.  I used to make gobs of those to wear and share, back in high school and college.  With its twinned cord and knotted loop closure, these little darlings have that 'make and share' feel.  They're also a great way to show off your beads.

Closeup of a double wrap bracelet with hematite spheres and squares by Kate Parsons

These bracelets are rather difficult to photograph when looped into their bracelet shape if they're not actually on a wrist.  Speaking of wrists, I wish I'd gotten a good photo of the three-wrap bracelet Kate was wearing!  She'd used crystals ($30 worth!), shading from a brilliant turquoise to a rich chocolatey brown.  The result was both grounded and stunning, combining the flash and sparkle of the crystal with the more urban vibe of the cording to create a piece you could wear every day, also suitable for a night on the town. 

Kate Parson demonstrating the starting technique

Kate, using a clipboard to maintain tension

Shirley, going for extra credit

 

What did I make?  Just a wee little bracelet  with 4mm glass beads - enough to try out the technique and be sure I could finish it the same day.  Turns out, the smaller the beads you use for the center, the longer it takes, comparatively speaking (smack on the head - of course!)  I used waxed linen thread that I had from way long ago when I took a pine needle basketry course.  I chose to work with the lighter blue, but wonder what the same beads would look like with the darker navy cording.  Might just have to experiment and see. 

This would be a good technique to combine with tv watching.