A mermaid's braid

The other day Gwen Fisher from beAd Infinitum posted this on her page. Usually when I see the word "math", I run in the opposite direction. This time I watched the video and of course I had to try this.




First I loomed three strips in white lined AB beads, emerald green, teal and capri blue for an ocean look.

After reweaving the warp threads into the strips, I started braiding using the instructions from the video (thank you, James Tanton).

Ocean colors - I'm even reminded of waves here - request pearls. So I added one white button freshwater pearl on each of the crossings. That way they also keep the braid from slipping.
I'm really happy with the outcome, what do you think?

Mermaid's braid in my Zibbet shop

Interview with the artist - Adrienne from Dancing Rainbows

I wish I had some sun here today. Sun is what makes Adrienne's rainbows dance, but I will let her tell you all about that herself.

Tell us a little about who you are and where you come from.

Hi, I'm Adrienne.  I am the owner/operator and creator of "DANCING RAINBOWS" and have been a member of the Zibbet marketplace since 2009.   My shop is Dancing Rainbows. 

  

I was raised in the military.  For the first 17 years of my life, “Home” was my Dad’s next assignment. I was born in Birmingham, Alabama and, with my older sister, moved almost every three years. By the time my Dad retired from the Air Force, I had enrolled in nine different schools including three High Schools, graduating in Tucson, Arizona.  When my parents said they were purchasing a home, I thought they were just kidding me. I loved moving which meant a new adventure.  I have always considered myself very fortunate to have been stationed in England and Taiwan, S. Carolina, Massachusetts, Georgia and finally in Arizona.

What's your craft and how did you get to do it in the first place?

I create “sparkling” sun-catchers using primarily Swarovski crystals. Dancing Rainbows also offers jewelry...necklaces, earrings,  purse jewelry, zipper pulls and cell phone jewelry.  

Endless rainbow

I was always captivated by light refraction. When I was little, I remember loving to play with puddles in the road; it was even better if there was a little bit of oil in the puddle. The puddle would have the prettiest rainbows created by the oil.

My husband’s mother had the most exquisite almond shaped crystal hanging in their window.   Seeing the rainbows dancing around the room when the sun hit the crystal was mesmerizing.  Years later, that same crystal now hangs in our window and I fondly smile every time I see it.  Wanting to share the beauty I would see from the prisms, I opened Dancing Rainbows.

Sultry

My jewelry line started because I saw a necklace I really liked. I knew it was created with Swarovski crystals and I liked the basic design. Once I created my own version, I began receiving requests and decided to incorporate jewelry into my shop.

Peacock blue necklace

Tell us a fun thing about yourself.

I was in Community Theatre for a number of years. I'm pretty good at imitations, funny faces and animal sounds. I'm what you might term an "animated" person and frequently end up the entertainment at a gathering.

Do you do other crafts, if yes, what?

I don't mind trying just about anything. I sewed many of my own clothes when I was in my 20's . I also enjoy needle work such as crewel, counted cross-stitch and working with plastic canvas. I love painting with oils and watercolors and drawing with charcoal. It doesn't really matter, I love all crafts. One of my other passions is photography. I love capturing the nature's beauty.

Which one of your pieces is your absolute favorite? Which one was the hardest to make and why?

Now this is extremely hard. As far as the hardest, the circle ones are the hardest. I can't pick a favorite...they all are. I can't say I'm partial to one style or color. 

Sun flower

Your business name already tells us that you work with lots of colors. Do you have a favorite color?

Yes, all of them!!

Tie dye

Is there someone whom you admire and who inspires you?

Yes, my parents.

My Dad…the ultimate “nice” guy. When my friends would come over to the house, they would end up talking with him. He was always the diplomat. I lost him at the end of 2010, a month shy of his 90th birthday. Up until the very end, he had such optimism, courage and strength. He refused to give up. He taught me respect, tolerance, acceptance, that character matters and how to stay positive in the face of adversity.

My Mom. Independent, smart…tough. She was an English teacher. No matter where we were, she was the Brownie and Girl Scout leader. She taught the Vacation Bible School. She has taught me to appreciate the beauty of Nature and to take care of it. Whether it was the baby bird we spent hours trying to put back into the nest or the plant that needed extra TLC, she’s always made sure I understood how important Nature was. At 92 she still continues to teach and amaze me. From her I have learned grace, kindness, strength when everything is falling apart and to never compromise your principles.

If you had free choice of one supply you need for your work, no matter how expensive, what would it be?

I would definitely have to say Swarovski crystals...anything that sparkles!!

Ocean pastels

Do you sell online, if yes, where can we find you?

My shop is at Dancing Rainbows on Zibbet.

I also have a photography shop at Treasures from Nature on Zibbet and you can find me on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and Google Plus.

Famous last words ;-) Is there anything else you want to tell us?

I love custom orders and collaborating with a customer. The more a customer can share, the better. After all, it has to be “just right”. Nothing less will do. I'm just trying to decorate the world...one sun catcher at a time.

Thank you, Adrienne! Wait ... do I see the sun come out back there? Hand me one of those suncatchers!

Quote of the week

The story is really very simple. A young man meets a young woman while they are both on vacation. They fall in love and decide to marry as soon as possible.
When the young man, Johnny, comes to meet his young lady, Julia, at her house, though, to talk to her father, he finds out they are terribly rich and that he is expected to join the merry money making which doesn't go along at all with his own plans.
Then there are the two black sheep in the family, brother Ned ... and sister Linda.

Johnny doesn't want to make money. He wants a timeout and Julia to sail off with him and his good friends, Nick and Susan, but Julia won't give up her life in the money circles, so he finally decides to give in and give it a try for a few years.
When Nick and Susan come into their cabin on the boat, however, the door opens and Johnny comes in.

Johnny: Hey!
Nick and Susan: Johnny!
Nick: Oh my word!
Susan: Where's Julia?
Johnny: Julia? I left her sitting on her golden throne. Johnny is taking the big ride by himself.
Nick: No.
Johnny: Yes.
Nick: No! Boy, champagne, any amount of it, but hurry.
Porter: Oui, Monsieur Porter.
Nick: The name is Potter! Let's change our name to Porter, then perhaps they'll call us Potter.
Susan: Oh, what happened, Johnny?
Johnny: Susan, I've just wakened out of a nightmare. I think everything's gonna be alright. I know it is. Come on, children, come on.
He takes them out to the hallway to show them a backflip as as sign how good he is feeling when Linda comes around the corner.

Linda: Is this where the club meets?
Nick and Susan smile at each other and go into her cabin when Johnny who is still lying on the floor pulls Linda down towards him.
Johnny: Right here.


Holiday, USA, 1938

Arachnophilia

Guess what I found when I went into our little garden today! A bunch of very special spiders enjoying the spring sun, crawling around on flowers and bushes.

Ok, ok.
Although it would have been fun to discover a new species, I have to admit that these little crawlers are in fact my own creatures. Please imagine now how I throw my head back and break out into a mad scientist's laughter.
I had these tiny, just half an inch long carved face cabochons in my stash for more than two years. I took them out of their little bag, put them back, took them out, but I knew it wouldn't be easy to make a bezel for them without hiding any facial features.
This time I was game to try it in the wire knit technique and add some beads. When I had finished the first one, I suddenly had the idea to make a spider. After finishing the first spider then I couldn't stop myself anymore ... and now I want to make a whole army of spiders and take over the world, mwahahaaaaaa! ;-)

Zibbet finds of the week - Spring, oh spring!

Spring unfurls her ribbon blue,
makes it stream in vernal breezes;
sweet, familiar fragrance pleases
with a touch the land anew.
Violets, dream-bound,
will be soon appearing,
- Hark, from far a silver harping sound!
Spring, it must be you!
You I have been hearing.

Translated by Bertram Kottmann

In 1829 Eduard Mörike, a Swabian poet, wrote this poem, one of the most quoted spring poems. Spring does special things to people. Of course for me that special thing is usually spring fever. I have no problems to jump from hibernation to spring fever in a second.
In my area we didn't have a real winter this time, there was only a bit of snow once, but I know that others were almost buried in snow, so I'll dedicate this to you.
Now it's time to head over to Zibbet and look for spring things.

What would spring be without

... the first butterflies?

Blue beaded butterfly necklace by Enchanted Craft

... bees buzzing in our gardens?

Honey soap with a bee by Sky Rain Soap

... the first colorful flowers?

Spring Garden handbag by Beautiful Bags Etc.

... warm rays of sun?

Sun gourd bowl by AngelsGourden

... the first ice cream of the year?

Vanilla ice cream hairclip by Hair Ribbon Boutique

... fresh green leaves?

Mini photograph print with leaves by Amelia Kay Photography

Happy spring!

Quote of the week

What would you do if your plane crashed in the middle of the Sahara, without much hope to be found, limited water supplies and about 100 miles from the next oasis?
Easy. Let's hear what passenger Heinrich Dorfmann has to say about it to Captain Towns and Navigator Moran.

Dorfmann: Gentlemen! I've been examining this aeroplane. 
Towns: You have?
Dorfmann: Yes. We have everything here that we need to build a new one and fly it out. Now if you would like to have a look at my calculations. I don't know whether you can read my handwriting.
Towns: Are you trying to be funny?
Dorfmann: What did you say?
Towns: I said, are you trying to be funny?
The smile disappears from Dorfmann's face.
Dorfmann: That is precisely the reaction I would have expected from a man of your obvious limitations.

What do you think they will be doing? Really build a new plane?
I recommend you watch it yourself, the movie is worth it.

The Flight of the Phoenix, USA, 1965

Zibbet finds of the week - Easter dance

Remember Snoopy dancing with the bunnies? Today I'm going to try and make you dance when you see all the Easter related goodies I found on Zibbet.

Obviously there wouldn't Easter without THE Bunny. Bunnies can be sweet, they are fluffy, they can be human sized as in "Harvey", but have you ever seen one like Count Buncula? I bet not.

Gothic Easter bunny Count Buncula by twistedpixelstudio

Another Easter must are chicks. As much as I think it would be a bit of a shock to have a chick come out of your Easter breakfast egg, as much I love this little one coming out of its polka dot egg shell!

Hand cut Easter chick in egg card by Bethies Cards

This little quilted bowl is so perfect for Easter, not only because it shows little bunnies and eggs. Can you imagine colorful dyed eggs in there? Or a chocolate bunny and eggs? Maybe you could even cover a glass bowl with some spring flowers with it?

Quilted bowl Easter bunnies by Cedar Point Designs

Meet Lola. She is one of the cute bunnies I told you about before. Such a sweet smile!

Bunny Lola by MonkMama

Pysanky eggs are not only an old craft, they are also beautiful. It was hard to pick just one color from this shop!

Hand painted and scraped Easter egg - dark brown by My Auntie Eva

I just can't get away from the eggs. If you like soft pastel colors for spring, these ones would be perfect. Aren't they pretty? You get a set of three.

Easter crochet eggs decoration by Handmade with Love by Natka

So, are you ready for your Easter dance now? ;-)