Fordite Falcon

I LOVE BEAD EMBROIDERY!!  I often say that it is the beading that I do for myself.  Not that I wear it often, but it is my "sanity" refresher when my business beading gets the best of me.  I use it to refresh my "muse".  Here is the latest piece I have created.

I used a piece of Fordite for the focal which I purchased from a distributor this summer.  Not familiar with Fordite, also known as Detroit Jasper? 
From Wikipedia:
Fordite, also known as Detroit agate, is old automobile paint which has hardened sufficiently to be cut and polished.^[1] It was formed from the build up of layers of enamel paint slag on tracks and skids on which cars were hand spray-painted (a now automated process), which have been baked numerous times.^[2] In recent times the material has been recycled as eco-friendly jewelry.

This picture was taken in process, when I was stuck.  Obviously, thanks to the gals in my Bead Embroidery Forever! group on Facebook, I became unstuck and was able to finish.  You can see by the orientation, that the layout shifted also.  I had planned on the layout here being a pendant, but things went a different direction.  That is what I love about bead embroidery.  I start it and it just "happens".  My style is more freeform.  I rarely have a finished idea in mind when I start.  I also love that it becomes almost a treasure hunt or hidden picture by adding in the bits and bobs as I go along.

Here are a few other pieces I have created:

Center piece from an Artbeads Blog Partner challenge

Bead Soup Blog Hop piece with partner Shirley Jones Moore

Beading Challenge from The Jade Dog

design using Chris's lampwork cabs and leather

Beading challenge with Pine Ridge Treasures

Swarovski Fancy stone with vintage cup chain

My very first project!  Only one that I knew what it would look like when I started.

My second piece, Frankly My Dear.  Jen Martin, made the polymer face.

Can you tell it is my favorite beading technique?!

Spiritual Journey

I am a person of great faith.  Faith has gotten me through more than one tough spot.  While I am a great believer and love the God I worship, I am rather discontented with organized religion.  For me, religion has lost God in the commercialism of what "faith & worship" are supposed to look like making it difficult to find God in any of it.  I am fascinated in other religions and beliefs, giving credence to things others scoff as "hokum".  Recently, I have found my way to learning more about Native American totems.  I purchased the book "The Spirit of Bead Embroidery" by Heidi Kummli.  It covers the topics of totems as part of Heidi's beading work.  I found too, that I am attracted to working with ravens in my bead work, and today I looked up the meaning of that.

Raven

Introspection, courage, self-knowledge, magic

Gosh, who knew!  I have always loved the idea of magic and magical places.  It took a HUGE amount of courage for me to take my first bead embroidery class with Sherry Serafini, whose first book was written with Heidi Kummli.  I find that bead embroider is the beadwork I do for ME.  It allows me to work outside my normal "box" and branch out, experimenting with stitches, techniques, and materials that invigorate my beading.

The photos shown here are some of by embroidery and raven designs.  Couldn't find the raven piece I wanted to show you, will have to hunt more for the picture.