New Weave Designs

I am engrossed with my imagination as I weave new pendants on my homemade loom with many designs in the making. My focus has been to feature fibers with vibrant color and texture in the pendants. I'm on a roll with over 30 new pieces made and no two alike and several of which have been sold.

At the same time, I've been researching the best options for my new website. With the expertise of my son Austin and research I've been doing, I plan on a Grand Opening this spring 2010 when I am able to begin shipping from the US. Also, at the same time, I will open an ETSY shop. So if you like what you've seen, stay in touch right here to find out how easy it will be to shop and by jewelry from the DUCHESSE collection.

Surrounded by vibrant pieces of art in this Mexican Casa

Inside the Mexican home of Billie and Ricardo Andrade was where our Tuesday beading session took place. Billie and Ricardo own the business called Olas Vallarta offering surf tours and lessons in the bay area and beyond.

From the moment we arrived we were greeted by colorful arrays of artistic creations from the door front to every corner of Billie and Ricardo's casa.

The walls were splattered with hand painted art work from ceiling to floor.

The floors were adorned with "rugs" made with picturesque tiles.

Some walls had the theme of Christianity which is so prevalent here.

The Virgin of Guadalupe who is being celebrated from December 1 - 12 here in old town Puerto Vallarta is seen in many homes and businesses.

About 8 of us sat in several tables outside in the court yard right next to this beautiful display.

Billie is showing us just one of her many artistic pieces.

We all went home with a match box decorated by Billie using the Mexican Bingo theme.

Mexican Bingo Cards look like this:

Here's a mirror Billie made using bottle caps and the Mexican bingo theme.

Linda decided to make this frame using the Mexican Bingo theme instead of beading today.

Jean does tedious beautiful weaving with small seed beads and finished her bracelet.

Sue wore her recently finished red and black woven necklace which is made of hundreds of tiny little seed beads - ELEGANT!!

Tis the season for a little ho ho, so some made little Santa earrings from a pattern that Anne discovered.

Truly it's exhilarating to surround ourselves with each others creative passions as we dive into our zone of adult play time!

Birthday gift for a child next door

Macy, our neighbor, just turned 7 the other day. For her birthday I told my daughter, Randi, our gift would be to help Macy pick her own beads and help her create a "child" like necklace. So that's what we did. Macy spent a morning picking out her beads with my guidance. We picked some of her favorite colors and decided to coordinate with her outfit. And well, I think she's quite happy with her creation! :)

Beads at the Huichol Store

Anne, one of my new beading friends here in Puerto Vallarta, invited me and Hortenzio, a Huichol Indian boy, to go shopping down town at the Huichol Bead store. I wanted to meet Hortenzio and also explore the bead store. Anne's mission was to pick up Hortenzio at the arts and crafts show and take him to the bead store where they sell the little tiny beads his mom uses to make her jewelry.

Anne helped Hortenzio pick out a bunch of colorful seed beads to give to his mom and she also had previously bought several pieces of her work do resell giving her a helping hand to move inventory. Now that's what I call the spirit of giving.

Beading at the Puerto Vallarta Yacht Club

Two of my favorite things all packed up in one terrific day - jewelry making and cruising. Well, I didn't quite get to go cruising. However, the beading group that I hang out with on Tuesdays once in a while meets with the beading group at the Puerto Vallarta Yacht Club. So I was surrounded by beautiful people from all over the globe and talented ones creating fine works of art! I really felt at "home" with my surroundings. Perfect sensation when you are on a mission to create little pieces of art.

Here you can see a mix of ladies all working on various projects at the club.

Some cruisers bring their beads to sell by the "bead". So you buy just what you need with out committing to a whole strand. It's a wonderful way to try new items and not break the bank doing so. Here's a spread of the beads.

One of the cruisers makes her own glass beads using a beautiful array of colors

Terrific day with wonderful people sharing, teaching, designing and relaxing.

My newest additions to the DUCHESSE collection I designed to feature more of the colorful textures of the fibers. Here's just a couple in an array of colors.

All are light to wear, some easily adjustable in length and fit right over your head and others have a handmade toggle clasp.

One of my latest creations

This woven pendant I created on the loom Randall designed and made for me while visiting friends in Montana this past summer. My cruising friend Virgina who now lives in Tucson taught me how to use a loom and create square pendants with beads and fiber while in the Caribbean cruising and again this past summer at her home.

I decided to play around with the weaving and try some of my own designs hoping to feature more of the fibers and less of the beads in the actual pendant itself. Here's just one of my new creations.

Completely adjustable, the necklace measures about 16 inches in the closed position.

Completely open, the necklace measures about 25 inches.

Weaving details close up...

Just pull to open it. Throw it over your head and pull to close to the right length for your outfit. The brown waxed nylon fiber makes it easily adjustable.

Denim blues mixed with a coppery like color is the theme made with African turquoise, glass and bone.
Perfect piece to add class to your favorite jean outfit. Wear it with denim blues, copper, browns or white.

If I know you and you know me and because I'm across the border, I can try and ship this home with one of my friends here to anyone in the states before Christmas. Just contact me privately to work out the details.

Price: $55 plus shipping

Would love to know what you think? Leave a comment! :)

Beading group in Puerto Vallarta

One of the wonderful things about traveling is the new connections you can make with people with diverse backgrounds and dynamic personalities. I was lucky to be connected by a former cruising friend to this wonderful group of women who have a passion for beading. Meeting weekly, sharing idea's, creating unique pieces of art to wear, laughing and sharing information on what's going on in Puerto Vallarta in terms of movies, art walks, fashion and such is what they do. I'm now happy to be a part of the weekly gathering. Next week we hit the yacht club! And yes some of these lady's are cruisers or former cruisers like myself.

This weeks meeting was hosted by Maureen who's son ironically instructed my daughter with some guitar lessons last spring. It truly seems like a small world sometimes!

Everyone brings a project to work on. I've been on a weaving kick the last couple of weeks so decided to bring my loom that Randall made while we were in Montana this past summer. Here you can see the loom strung with a pendant in the making.

Maureen, our hostess, tempted us with scrumptious chicken salad sandwiches and the richest tasting gooey fudge brownies I think I have ever had, yum! Our napkins read as follows:

I'm hoping by next week the 14 woven necklaces I've been weaving in a vibrant array of colors will be completed with photographs for me to post here. So, stay connected. They are coming shortly!

Back to Beads and Fibers...

Well I was thinking I'd be able to have more design and creation time while in Montana this summer but, I was wrong. The climate is right however, the allure of the outdoors has been compelling. Yesterday, I finally said "no more" and declined on the camping trip to an island on Flathead Lake and took the quiet time alone to get quiet a bit of things done. Here's one example using the concept of a pouch like the Huichol Indians from Mexico:

Yesterday I was able to complete this one, that I had started weeks ago, along with 7 others in several different shapes and sizes. Some are made to adjust in length. Others have a home made clasp. Some fit right over your head. This one in particular is my favorite in shape because it stashes a credit card, drivers license, and some cash just perfect!

Now to name them. I was thinking Neck Purse-onalities or neck purses? Hum, not quite sure. Idea's are welcome!

My discoveries in Puerto Vallarta Mexico

I've been on a mission. I discovered these absolutely adorable little "neckpurses" while shopping in town one day.

What's a "neckpurse"? Well that's my name for it. They actually have a front and a back with beading on both sides forming a little pouch. Well what could you put in them? A couple of coins, a $100 bill, pills, a key or your shopping list. Dress it up or dress it down, either way it will be the conversation piece!

Huichol Indians who are descendants of the Aztecs that thrive up in the Sierra Madre Mountains make these stunning pieces. Everywhere I go I inquire about the Huichol made tiny little "neck purses" seeking the best quality and color variety's. They are all quite different. Now I have found 2 Huichol street vendors and a store that feature the best! What do you think? Like them? They can be worn long or tied to shorten. The length is around 20 inches plus the purse or pendant is about 3 to 4 inches long.

Let me know what you think. Place a comment below. I'm taking orders via email. So if you are on my jewelry group email list or on facebook, you'll receive the opportunity to buy one from me. The price is perfect. So affordable. Perfect conversation piece! Be on the look out for the email!

Can't wait to make a Cindy Neckpurse! I have so many idea's. Need the cooler weather preferably. So it won't happen until we get to Montana I'm afraid. I think I can handle sketching my thoughts for now.

Huichol Native Indians beading...

I haven't forgotten.  There just aren't enough hours in my day nor days in my week!  To find out what I've been up to the last several months, you can check out our family blog: www.beyondourborder.blogspot.com  Now you'll see why.

During our recent travels to Mexico by car, I have come up with several design ideas which have been brewing in my mind.  I'm truly looking forward to the moments of beading again soon.  I will explore more with the raw silks from Argentina along with some wax threads from Venezuela.  Randall and I may take a trip(Guadalajara) looking for some new fibers and beads from Mexico.  My thoughts are to do my own hand weaving and knotting incorporating various beads, turquoise, glass to create a unique pendant - one that you may put a little something in like some money or a  credit card...  So many idea's and so many possibilities are all just in storage for now!

While in Mexico I have witnessed the Huichol native Indians  creating such tedious sculptures of art.  It is amazing how much time and patience it must take to work with these tiny little seed beads of vibrant colors placed so strategically. Creating all kinds of pieces from jewelry to clothing, these natives who speak no English and very little Spanish are quite intriguing to watch.  

To learn more about the Huichol check out this link.