WARRIOR WOMEN

  I love technology. In fact I'm a bit of a geek. I love facebook, my websites, my iphone, ipad, imini, and using my computer. That being said, my daughter loves technology too, but not because she has had to embrace it, but because she hasn't known a universe without it. Remember I was the generation that took the green land line phone with the curly cord and extended around the staircase so I could sit on the basement staircase in what I considered relative privacy. My parents had the latest 8 tracks in the car, and I had a groovy selection of records. I remember when we got ATARI, Lord at least that was in some color.

But love it or hate it, technology and the fast pace world that it exposes us to is here to stay. I'd like to share with you some of my favorite websites, apps, and software that I use for my creative cycle.

Iphone/Ipad Apps:

audio memo - to record song bits in a pinch

Facebook - indespensible tool to keep in touch with your circle of friends, and to find out what is going on.

Google - Can't live without it.

Music - Of course

Virtuoso - Piano app. Can't rehearse without it, especially in harmony

Real Piano - Also a piano app but I can transpose this one

Pitch Changer -  Change the pitch of back tracks into a different key

Gig Baby - a four track recording app that saves my life, great for songwriting ideas, and to check if harmony really does work

Metronome- everyone needs one

Drop Box - a great sharing document tool for sheet music, business plans, gig lists, song lyrics

Warm me up - a vocal warmup toolkit

WEBSITES:

www.facebook.com

www.google.com (especially google docs) a document sharing tool

www.youtube.com

 

SOFTWARE:

Sound forge Audio

itunes

music note player

Check out these technology ideas and let me know what works for you!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

     I am involved in arts and culture in a number of different ways. I am involved in singing, designing, beading, drumming, directing, and teaching. In addition I also have a hobby farm, oilfield business with my significant other, house to keep and two teenagers. When I turn out a piece of beading the first question I get asked is “how long did that take?” If it is a large piece of beading like a guitar strap it can take a whole summer, and the beaded cuffs I make take about 10 hours. The second question is “where do you find the time?”

     I don’t find time, I make time. I schedule in the things that need to be done, and then I fill in the things I want to be done. Sometimes I don’t have time for beading and my projects have to wait. That’s when I stash my ideas into my inspiration folder for later. Sometimes my housekeeping waits (shhh) I’m not a crazy multi tasker either; although if I watch TV I am usually beading at the same time. I keep my beading mobile, that way if we are heading off on a trip and my husband is driving, that gives me time to bead. I also don’t get distracted. If I have set time aside for a task I try to maintain that even if I get an unexpected phone call or visitor. I came across a saying I love: “The important things get done” I guess at the end of the day if I have a beautiful piece of beading I feel more accomplished than an immaculate house. That is my where I choose to spend my time.

 

  

     I am going to show the beaded cuffs I am making right from the beginning. I’ll explain every step along the process. The first step I start with is a focal bead. Right now the focal bead I am using isn’t even a bead. I purchased it at Pier 1 Imports and it is a glass frog. “Ferdinand” the frog is my inspiration and I developed a bead palette of medium beads based on his color.

He has spots so I dug in my stash and used glass beads with the same viscosity with some funky dots that are similar. I also had 2 big blue beads, one that fit perfectly under his chin, and one that I will use as a clasp. I bought some vintage earrings in a jar and a couple of pair will work perfectly. I cut the backs off and have a layout that I am pleased with. This doesn’t mean I will sew the beads on exactly as I have laid them out. First of all, the beads look and lay differently once they are sewn on. Also this layout is a little more aligned than I normally go for.

 

I always use the same pattern and cut away part from the edge as I go along. My pattern is just an oval from cardboard.

 

I make sure I have all the materials I need.

Material list:

• Needles – I usually need 2-3 per project
• Bead thread, I use Nymo AA, I am going to use green thread.
• Goop glue, because my focal  bead isn’t a bead I want to make sure it is adhered (I’ll also sew it down)
• Focal bead, medium beads, seed beads
• Leather for backing
• Stiff felt for beading on
• Fluff for the middle

 

I start by gluing the focal bead down and sewing it on. I have lost items from cuffs that I haven’t also sewn on. My advice do not rely on glue to keep your beads on. Always, always sew them on too. I like to frame my focal bead with seed beads. So that is where I venture to next.

Then sew on the medium beads and start framing them with seed beads as well. I use a variety of stitches depending on the look that I want.

I usually start cutting away the felt that I don’t need.  I have a good idea by this time

Fill the gaps with seed beads. I sew them on using a variety of stitches

 I'm almost done, except the edging and backing. I'll keep you posted!

     

 

Getting Started

1. Inspiration

2. Project

3. Materials

4. Time

5. Skills

6. Forgiveness

7. Archiving