Bead Art by Deb McQueen

The Cabin

I am still working on the cabin. I am anxious to get the flat sections finished and get started on the layered areas. The bushes, flowers and tree branches will be a second layer and the tree leaves will be added on last. Lots to do.

Once I get finished with the green ares I will begin working on the mountains. Some of these will be snow covered, so i will be getting out the numerous shades of white and playing with those. It takes me awhile to decide what snow really looks like, I have heard that there are 100’s of Native Alaskan words for different types of snow… maybe that is why it is so hard for me?

Bead update: We have a Garden!

I have managed to fill-in most of the lower grassy area and added a cute little garden. Will be working on the sky behind the lower level trees next. Then I will be able to add branches and leaves to the trees and bushes.

Progress on my new bead work

Made a little progress on the Cabin piece. Getting the right mix of greens was fun, I am happy with how it is going. I think I will add a small garden to the lower right corner. I am using the black felt to give height to the raised beds, will be doing a modified Raised Beading technique on the mounding. I also added a few gemstone pieces for fun.

Summer Days in Alaska

It has been 10 days since my last post. Our summers are short, but oh so busy in Alaska! Gardening, yard work, fishing, ball games…. so much to do. With all the fun things I get to do I have not been spending as much time on my beading.

I got the water area completed, added a nice bunch of rhubarb to the corner of the cabin and started to fill in the pathway.

Tomorrow I am sitting in my screen tent and beading. It is supposed to be 77 degrees ! Enjoy these summer days.

Cabin in the Wilderness

Since we now have nearly 23 hours of daylight I will start a bead art piece using tons of tiny beads! This piece is approximately 9 inches by 12 inches. I spent one day getting the foundation together and drawing the basic outlines. I am using size 11/0, 13/0, 15/0, and the smallest so far are the size 22/0 vintage Italian “greasy” beads used on the birch trees Follow my progress, ask questions, leave remarks… it’s going to take awhile to complete this one. I plan to spend as many days outside enjoying our short summer as I can. I can bead on rainy days.

Thank You Fairbanks Arts Assoc.!

Cabin #13 Artists Cabin #13 is open from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day Hours: Noon-8pm, Daily Fairbanks Arts Association offers a unique opportunity for artists of all types to promote their art in Cabin #13 at Pioneer Park during the summer. Cabin artists share the space with other artists to display and sell their […]

via Cabin #13 Artists in 2017 — FAIRBANKS ARTS ASSOCIATION

Ndebele Chain

I love the feel of Ndebele chain. I won’t be doing it for a while after making 26 inches of it with size 11/0 seed beads… in white. She is kinda cute tho. She needs a name, ideas welcomed.

“Owls on the Tundra”

My latest bead art piece. This measures approximately 4.5 inches in diameter. I am having fun with this smaller size and all of the new Alaska animals I have gathered to play with.

New Bead Art

Getting ready for summer. I will be one of the Artists in Cabin 13 again this summer. This is a small cabin in Pioneer Park, a lovely tourist stop in Fairbanks. The cabin is sponsored by Fairbanks Arts Association, artists bring in their work and man the cabin one day a week. It is a fun way to show/sell your art and meet new people. I will be there on Mondays all this summer, stop in and say “Hello.”