I love the Internet and Facebook - follow me there

I love the Internet and Facebook. Much controversy about it, but I love it. Being a photophobic girl who simply can't have activities outside (sun). No restaurants, dancing or cinema (spot light, etc.) or hobby or sport (neon light everywhere). So Facebook somewho is my playground, my club, my meeting room.

It is nearly the only place where I actually CAN meet with people. Of course I sometimes see a smiling face at the clinic or in a Doctor's waiting room... Real contact is priceless.

The beading friends I've met there might not be persons I've met in person, they nevertheless are real persons, and they really are friends. They are really special, they share their feelings, they respect each other and they love one another. I think that it is KINDNESS. Yes kindness.

Buying clothes, and sometimes other items, online is a salvation. Before I understood that it was the light that made me feel so bad, I always went completely mad when trying things on in tiny changing rooms with light bulbs all around the mirror. Hurray. I don't need to do that anymore.

SamohtaC on Facebook

I am thankful for genius Tim Berners-Lee and the CERN. Tim and CERN still stuck to the idea that free sharing of technology for the good
of humankind is normal, they want the Internet to remain free for all. My husband contributed to it with his discovery of what he calls "phantom lines in telephone connections". That was the time things were still done without bothering who got the credits. The time Swissair was a big company of 40'000 employees around the world all working with one intranet... No patent on the Internet, it is already everybody's. And it must remain so.

Follow me on my Samohtac FB Page where I post news about my latest creations and patterns. 

I also share free patterns there. 

And you, do you share?

Jump and Joy start with the same letter.

So much awe... I have the feeling that the Universe pushes me. To do it. Just do it. So I did it. I went for it. Let's look back:

One kilo of Czech Glass beads

Last month -February- I received the amazing gift of ONE KILO of 'Beads for Blogpost' from the fabulous glass beads manufacturer Preciosa Ornella and I jumped of joy. The colors are beautiful and the beads simply lovely. I have worked with their beads since I started beading and I am working on lovely new designs.

Fire Mountain Gems - one of my favorite suppliers in the USA, every week showcases the "Favorite Design of the Week" on their Facebook page and my little Amulet Pendant was the most liked design of the 3rd week of the month. I am very thankful!

Onye's beautiful earrings and doodles

I have decided to participate in the Battle of the Beadsmith 2013 to be part of the fun... I don't really know what I will bead but I will battle joyfully!

 I've also won a pair of earrings made by the adorable Onye Obama-Ndika because I happened to be the 200th person to 'like' her page on Facebook. I love them, tanzanite is one of my favorite colors and it likes me too! She also added two hand-made Doodle sticker, which I like very much too.

March is even more incredible! I don't know what to start with first!

CGB Vol. II

Kate McKinnon's delightful book Contemporary Geometric Beadwork, to which I have contributed with my Jalisco Bangle and as a member of the 'Edit Team', has safely arrived at her home and she has shipped them immediately. My book is on it's way to me and it is delightful to be looking forward to having my hands on this treasure! Those who have received the book are reportedly glad with it and this also makes me happy.

Did you know that a second volume is coming? And that a fantabulous calendar with lovely people modelling marvellous beadwork is also available? What, you haven't ordered CGB vol. I??? You don't know what you are missing!

My Esmeralda's Boho Bag has received a wave of positive comments, and one of the greatest beaders in the world, whom I admire beyond limits, has featured it in her "Artisan Colorway" Series 2013. I'm talking about the extraordinary Eva Maria Keiser. She is extremely talented, and she is most generous: not only does she showcase the work of other beaders, she also offers marvellous patterns for free!

Back from the
Fragrance Garden

Fire Mountain Gems (again! wow!) featured my little earrings on their Facebook page last Monday and, well, wow, there were so many other beaders liking it and sharing it, I was very overwhelmed. This pair was made to match the necklace "Back from the Fragrance Garden" which won a bronze medal in their 2007 Contest.

And the awe goes crescendo:
My wonderful physiotherapist who takes care of me since a few years asked me to do a specific exercice in the swimming pool last week and - hurray!! -  this un-blocked my back naturally. I could cry of happiness. I jumped of happiness (in the water of course). I have my balance back on my left foot! I can sit upright normally - not as if I had a necklace of a ton around my neck anymore. Beading seems to have become more easy (even though I still have Fibromyalgia and light allergy complicating things).

All this is so... well so magical!!!

I've hesitated a long time. The encouragements and the supportive comments from many fellow beaders really made me feel strong and confident, and so

I opened my Etsy Store yesterday! First day of Spring! A new adventure has started!

Spring means 'Jump' in Dutch. I don't want to stop this. I might jump carefully in the swimming pool (where the water bears my weight), but most of all, I'll let my heart jump of joy in my chest when I'll sell a pattern from my shop!

There are already 4 patterns available. And to celebrate the opening, the tutorial "Mokuren" is available for only 15 US$ (instead of 25 US$).

I am working hard on new patterns, and will post more very soon! I also hope to have the automatic download feature soon!

♪♫(¯`´♥(¯`´♥.¸________ღ☆ღ_________ ¸.♥´´¯)♥´´¯)♪♫
♪♫☆ ☆♥☆♥♪♫ jump  jump  jump  jump  jump ♪♫ ♥ ☆ ♥☆ ☆♪♫
♪♫(_¸.♥(_¸.♥´´ ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ღ☆ღ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ `´♥.¸_)♥.¸_)♫♪ 

Esmeralda's Bag - 3. Finished piece

Contests are the best boosters of creativity and, even if you don't win a prize, you win. Because you will make something you really will cherish for a long time, if not a life-time. And one learns so much by trying to pass beyond one's own limits. I learned a lot from this bag. And I love it. It is my own reward in itself.

Esmeralda’s bag

Description:

  

The painting "Crystal door", which makes me think of a constellation of planets, is the basis for Esmeralda’s bag. She is a main character of "Notre Dame de Paris" by Victor Hugo, gipsy, probably the daughter of a fortuneteller, and to me she evokes colors, rebelliousness, mystery, travel, prediction of the future... On the bag are cathedral roses , the sun, the spiral of life, the Om symbol, lucky ladybug and a dragonfly, a symbol of strength, luck, transformation, etc ...

Esmeralda’s bag top, bottom, details

Material used:

Fabric – custom order based on the painting "Crystal Door" courtesy of the painter Patrick Duval.

Rivolis, hearts, big belly beads and bicones Swarovski crystal

Faceted glass and green chatons Czech glass

Czech seed beads, silk cut and buggle beads 11 ° 9 ° and 6 °

Miyuki Delicas 8 ° and 11 °

Miyuki Tila Beads

Japanese Seed Beads 8 °, 11 ° and 15 °

Mini drops Miyuki

Chinese crystal drops

Howlite dyed points

Freshwater pearls

Silver-plated charms

Nymo thread

Fireline

Needles 10, 12 and 15.

Techniques

Sewing - machine and hand

Peyote for the bezels

3D peyote for the flowers and for the bag closure (Jalisco type),

RAW and peyote for the rings

Russian spiral for the cord

Bead embroidery

Lacing

Fringing

Just one last picture to show size:

Me and my Boho bag : )

 Thank you for reading me

Esmeralda's Bag - 2. Making of

Below a few pictures of the making of of Esmeralda's bag. Click on the pictures to see bigger images.

I was very excited when the fabric arrived. The result really exceeded my expectations. My little IKEA sewing machine also did a good job!

Fabric

From the day I made my Jalisco Bangle, I wanted to make an opening-system for a bag. The size of the bag and the opening fitted miraculously.

Jalisco Opening

Bottom of the bag.

I tried a few Yukka flowers before adding them to the tips.

Yukka Flower Tips with Howlite Spikes.

 

This are the ringlets for the top of the bag, so the rope could pass through 2x. 

Ringlets with RAW Band!

Pre-study of the embellishments. It might seem easy but I didn't want to spoil the beautiful details of the Mandala. I only knew I wanted to add the rivoli... the rest followed step by step.

First embellishments

First embellishments

Fringe on the side, Lace on the side with 8mm Swarovksi Bicones.
There are 6 Vulcano rivolis on the bag. It still wanted more beads :-)

Russian Spiral to hold and close the bag, with huge Swarovski Belly button beads and green glass chatons to make two stoppers in the shape of poppy pods.

I added beads to the bottom, but only strong 8/0 and Miyuki drops

I also added more beads to embellish the beautiful curves, tiny symbolic charms. If it wasn't for the weight, I could have added more beads, endlessly. In the meantime I have even added a little moon.

Next post is just a few pictures of the finished bag.

Thank you for reading!

Esmeralda's Bag - 1. Inspiration

I quit the administration of the Facebook Group "Créer un Bijou est un Art" about 6 months ago, not long after the first contest had come to its end. I had been confronted with the loss of my dearest friend, Isabelle. She was one year younger than me, and died of a sudden and violent stroke... I still mourn this loss, because my love for her is nestled deep inside of me and will always be. She was an example for me... A huge loss.

Image Courtesy Patrick Duval

I came along the image of a mind-blowing Mandala called Crystal Door, painted on wood by artist Patrick Duval (aka Mandalaman) - visit his website and his blog and Facebook page to see his work.

His work is so beautiful, I can look at it endlessly. My creative juices wanted me to make the 'Esmeralda's bag' or Fortuneteller bag with this image printed on fabric. So I asked Patrick Duval if I could use the image for a beaded creation, to participate in the 3rd CBA contest. All 3 contests were theme-based, and for the 3rd theme Heroes from comics, television, film or litterature were accepted... I chose Esmeralda, the beautiful Gipsy girl from Victor Hugo's Roman "Notre Dame de Paris". Next blog post is about how I made it.

I wish to thank Patrick Duval for allowing me to use his picture and have fabric printed with his artwork. FYI: this artwork has been rebaptized "Mandalaman Complexe".

I wish to thank and honour Isabelle, for the beauty she has brought in my life. May she have crossed the Crystal Door, crossed all the skies and walk in the Loving Light of the Source of All...