I just realized that the back of the bear was also interesting. Since it is so hard to move the photos around in this blogging device, I have just made a new entry. I photographed the bear on an abalone shell in case I decide to post it as an Etsy item on my Bead Beach.
After I finished this last night I could not decide what to start next. I sat for almost an hour fingering this and that hoping something would inspire me enough to thread the needle and get going. I was so surprised when an idea crossed my mind and instantly I was on fire to work on it. Stayed up until 1 a.m. trying out various methods of making a limpet. They do not scan well so we will have to wait for more sun for a photo. By then I should have even more variations on a theme.

Got the bear done yesterday just in time to catch the last rays of sunlight on him for a photograph. Had a few spots to fill in around the one leg, but positioned the bear so they didn't show and filled them in later in the evening.

Originally I had an oval of abalone shell bezeled on the forehead and it just did not look right. Perhaps the white 15s around it were the problem. I ripped it all out and started seeing what fit into the hole. To my surprise it was this 'jewel' I had ordered on line and when it arrived I stared at it wondering what I was on when I ordered THAT! Happily around the bezeled shell I had put a circle of green beads and they snuggled right up to the crystal so I got the change made without having to sew in anything. While I often had my doubts about doing this bear while working on it, now that it is done I am glad I did it. If the Etsy Beadweavers would let me enter two pieces in the April challenge of "Seed Beads" (they won't) I would enter this. The five crystals and underneath teddy bear would have been, I think, within the parameters of the contest. Maybe I will find some other place to show him off. Sorry B, I have no modesty, as you know!

The work on the teddy bear goes on. Last night when a fellow artist heard on the phonewhat I was working there was a very long meaningful pause. I gave up trying to fit ceramic arms and legs to the body and now I am happy with the way the beads go on to the arms. They are so much easier to bead than the body because there is spare air all round it to wrangle the needle in and out. I have broken more needles than I care to admit.
Here I am working on the back. I want to establish 'pants' and need to do that before I can start the legs. I also found it easier to go back and forth across the back rather than up and down as I did the front - which explains the 'collar' that is as big as it is.
Vicki has already offered me a Beanie Baby she had received as a gift. I hear they are softer and much more flexible. That will either be harder or easier to do than this was. Vicki reminded me it was an email from Suzanne in our bead group with a web connection about another woman embroidering an animal. I quake to think there are two of us doing this!

Somewhere I got the idea of embroidering on old stuffed animals. I had this bear sitting among my tin box collection so I began on it. I cut the arms and legs off thinking it would be easy to manipulate around each piece and then sew the beast back together. Now that I am on the body, I am beginning to think of using dolly arms and legs (less beading!) and much more interesting! I doubt I will make a science of this project as getting the needle in and out of tight places is not easy! Often I have to go out a place not in my plan and then go back into the spot from another angle. Still this is keeping me off the street corners and gives me something to show to you.

I am probably cruisin' for a bruisin' but I sent off this project to the Kalmbach publishers of Bead & Button. After spending all that time making these two new stars and then photographing them on two different days (I am still not satisfied with my photos) I sent them off to see if they are interested in publishing this idea. They do have a marvelous method of submitting online which saves time and trouble and hopefully that will decrease the nervous investment. I was surprised how many beading magazines they publish. However I do subscribe to Bead & Button and feel most at home with their articles.

Have been making more of the puffed stars and thinking of offering the project to a bead magazine. Am waiting on a sunny day to photograph the samples I have made. Maybe tomorrow?
At the bead meeting Rhoda asked me for a pair of earrings using black cubic zirconium crystals and blue roses. The only blue roses I had were pale white light blue which did not look right. While looking through my crystal stash (never as big as I wish it was) I did find some fire-polished black rounds with a blue flash of finish. I see even the scanner caught some blue lights in the teardrop. These are my payment to Rhoda for taking me to bead meetings, carrying in my stuff, making sure I am secure and comfortable. Thanks Rhoda!

In reading the fine print of the Etsy April Challenge I found one cannot re-post an item already up for sale in the challenge, so I cannot use the stars. Thus I am using this panel idea of some years ago. I had almost forgotten what a joy these are to make - so peaceful! No findings to fiddle with, no wires to tame - just smooth beading with the changes programed in from the beginning.

I wish the pink was a bit more calm but I lose the bounce of the other colors when I try to tame it. Now want to do more, but need to get more Delicas. Think I have some in my coming Fire Mountain order that I will pick up tomorrow at the bead meeting.