Bead Art by Deb McQueen

Stocking up for winter, beader style.

Shipwreck Beads had a great sale. This means I am almost ready for winter beading. I know I will buy more beads before our long Alaskan winter is over but, this is a good start.

The 64th Parallel Exhibition is this month. It is going to be juried by Jovencio de la Paz. I heard that there are over 200 entries this year. He must chose only 64 for the show! I have four entries this year, hope to find out that at least one has made it in sometime tomorrow. I will get pictures of my entries soon.

Day Tripping to Denali

What a great day for a drive! We drove the park road into the Savage River turn-around. Weather was pretty nice, partly cloudy, 70 degrees. Of course “Denali” was obscured by clouds.

Bull Moose, e was camera shy — Bull Moose, he was camera shy

quartz pts, malachite, copper nuggets, mammoth ivory, stuff for my beadwork!

August Exhibit & Artist Talk: Hannah Rose Berry & Seth Adams — FAIRBANKS ARTS ASSOCIATION

Hannah Rose Berry, “Body” & Seth Adams, “A Momentary Journey” Exhibits on view: August 5 – 27, 2016 in Fairbanks Arts Association’s Bear Gallery Gallery Hours: 12- 8 PM, Daily (Summer Hours) Artist Talk: Thursday, August 4th at 7 pm in the Blue Room First Friday Opening Reception: August 5th, 5-7 PM Hannah Rose Berry […]

via August Exhibit & Artist Talk: Hannah Rose Berry & Seth Adams — FAIRBANKS ARTS ASSOCIATION

Midnight Sun Fest

Great start to the Midnight Sun Fest. It is not all food and music but, those are my favorite things. We had a nice time today. The party goes til midnight!

13466158_10201695709070820_5206100241011898367_n it is only 1pm and the crowd is gathering

Long Days Short Nights

Just a few pictures that I took at midnight 6-16-16. One end of my road had the setting sun and the other end of the road had the nearly full moon. Love Alaska!

First Friday Show

I think I am ready. First Friday 05-06-16

I am honored to be the “Guest Artist” at Dianne Renee Shilling Studio and Gallery for May.

I have made several new pieces for this show.

Please stop by to view my Bead Art along with Dianne’s beautiful Paintings and Wood Carvings.

Dianne’s Studio is located inside Well Street Art. Co. 1304 Well Street Fairbanks, Ak.

First Friday Show

05-06-16

5 pm – 8 pm

Trumpeter Swans at Creamer’s Field

A sure sign of spring in Fairbanks is the arrival of the swans , geese and ducks. The field was plowed and seeded last week, just in time for the first visitors. They came in about 10 days early this year! I took lots of pictures, here are a few.

First Friday

What a great evening. We attended the Interior Artisans 30th Annual Juried Show at the Bear Gallery tonight. The guest juror was Don Decker, google him. He has a very impressive art style.

I had four pieces entered and accepted! Thrills, right? It got better. I had 2 pieces get Honorable Mention Awards. I was told that I was the only artist that had all of their entries accepted. There were 113 entries, 77 were accepted.

Now for the real thrill; a very dear friend attended the show and brought me a gift. She is a very talented young artist and I love her style. Thank you Jen .

after awards the crowd thinned out enough to take pics

artwork of Dianne Renee' Shilling — artwork of Dianne Renee’ Shilling

new bead artist, I met her tonight and I forgot her name... — new bead artist, I met her tonight and I forgot her name…

Salmon Box is finished

This was a fun project. I would like to thank the new owner for taking the time to find me and asking me to do this piece.

Continuing with the Salmon Box

base and sides sewn, the skin is very dry. I will soak the piece in cool water overnight

after a good soak it is ready to be dried on the form

the top edge needs trimmed before beads are added. I will need to soak the edge before I begin beading.

starting the top edge beading, I keep a wet paper towel on the edge as I work my way around, the skin is much easier t sew when wet — starting the top edge beading, I keep a wet paper towel on the edge as I work my way around, the skin is much easier to sew when wet

there is a plastic cup insert to keep the piece stiff as I add the beads

using size 15/0 and 18/0 3 cuts the rim bends while beading but it will straighten back out

I used silver and red aurora beads to represent the inside and outside of the salmon, the red beads will be on the inside of the rim after the final drying — I used silver/charcoal and red aurora beads to represent the inside and outside of the salmon, the red beads will be on the inside of the rim after the final drying

Salmon Box

This is a commissioned piece. I will be posting my progress on this. It is a salmon skin and moose hide trinket box. Measures approximately 2inches square. The salmon skin pieces remain soaking in cool water until needed. I like to work with wet skin, easier for me to sew. The box will also need repeated soakings as it dries out while I am working on it.

moose hide base, sinew, and beads I will be using

cured salmon skin it is very stiff, I will soak it in water overnight before cutting — cured salmon skin
it is very stiff, I will soak it in water overnight before cutting

sinew needs to be separated before using

stitching the first salmon skin side to the moose hide

last side being sewn, it is along process as the salmon must be kept soft, ie wet, until the final side is added — last side being sewn, it is a long process as the salmon must be kept soft, ie wet, until the final side is added

“OPAL”

I have finished the backing and edging! I have added some gold dangles to the neckline. In honor of her cute nose I will name her “OPAL” Thanks for following along.