For the Love of Barns....

#10 Logging My Favorites

This is the tenth installment of a ongoing log of my favorite things. Once a month I will post a favorite. It might be a person, or a place, or even an event. Hopefully it will help you get to know me a little better. I'd love your comments and I hope to make some connections through our mutual enjoyment of these treasures.

 

I love old barns; if you've ever driven through a rural area, it's likely that you've seen barns standing watch over the landscape. Have you ever taken the time to take a closer look at the barns as you travel the country side, or stop and walk through one?  

When a family farmed to subsist and feed their livestock, understanding of the soil and awareness of nature were essential parts of rural life. This fertile lifestyle inspired barns and outbuildings of solid grace - - structures that reflect the regional character with original designs by innovative builders.

I didn’t grow up on a farm, but I did have access to the barns of family members in Indiana. I experienced many things in the barn. I watched animals being born, smelled the scent of fresh hay, milked the cows, shared secrets with my friends, and developed a love of nature. 

 Old barns were typically made of timber, and stone barns were built in certain areas where stone was a cheaper construction material. There are many different types of barns, namely horse barns, pole barns, carriage barns, etc. I find them all beautiful and each barn is unique. 

Why are most barns red?  There are several theories as to why barns are painted red, but in historically accurate terms, ready made paints were not available.  Farmers made their own red paint by adding ferrous oxide to the traditional mix of paint ingredients:  lime, linseed oil and milk to create their own version of long lasting red paint that acted as a quick drying wood preservative.

 Population explosion and the rise of agribusiness have caused the rapid disappearance of the small "family owned" farm. Unfortunately the need for these traditional structures has drawn to a close. What remains is an endangered species of splendid buildings that offer functional beauty and purity of design that once characterized the Farm way of life. 

Even though restoration of old houses is popular today, most barns of equal architectural merit and age have been ignored and seemed doomed. Yet people who take the time to befriend old barns will find that they hold many secrets, each one has its own charm and mystery.

 Adaptive use is the key to their preservation. For these proud structures to remain on any landscape their value must be recognized and adaptive new uses must be found. A small percentage of barns across the country have been lovingly restored and re-purposed to fit today’s needs.  The barn pictured above has been Turned into a lovely home.  I love old barns and I don’t want to see them disappear.

Next time you see an old barn off in the distance--close your eyes for a moment and imagine the laughter and tears echoing within.  Oh yes....I love old barns!

To see my Pinterest collection of fabulous photos - Barns Great and Small - click here.

Or cut and paste this address into your browser:
http://pinterest.com/lorisglassworks/barns-great-and-small/

Indian Summer in Saugatuck, Michigan

Take a peek at the Etsy Treasury I made to honor my fond memories of Saugatuck, Michigan.  Saugatuck is a lovely little lake side community that enjoys mild weather and stunning fall color. Saugatuck is also home to some very talented artisans. This weekend is the annual gallery stroll. At many of the galleries, artists work on-site, creating everything from wood and metal sculptures, original paintings, watercolors, carvings, art glass, garden sculptures, jewelry, pottery, leather crafts, and more.

So if you have a love of art stroll over to Saugatuck, noon—5 p.m. October 8 and 9.



Trying something new....Beadweaving.

While visiting the blogs of the Bead Soup Blog Party participants (see pervious blog post for my Reveal), I found that I was captivated by the designers who used bead weaving techniques to complete their projects. I was so taken with their designs that I did a little research today to learn more about bead weaving….

Great Book by Ann Benson

The art of weaving in general is a process that I’ve been exposed to for many years. My Grandmother spent hours weaving cloth (to use as farmhouse rugs) by means of a huge loom, so I have a basic knowledge of how to weave. However, my research illustrated that many different weaving techniques and stitches incorporating beads have been used throughout history. I have a lot of catching-up to do…

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

From my research I’ve found the term “beadwork” seems to be misunderstood (I wasn’t using it correctly). Many people do not realize there is a difference between "beadwork," and "work done with beads."

“Work done with beads” is typically a group of beads strung together, as with a necklace. The stringing is simple and straightforward, we focus on the beads. The beads by themselves are interesting, and the placement on the string ideally enhances the beads. My lampwork bracelet below is considered “Work done with beads”.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/67705564/lampwork-bead-bracelet-handmade-monets

“Beadwork”, it's just the opposite. The beads in beadwork (basically -- don't hold me to this rule in all instances) are plain and do not hold great interest by themselves. However, their placement pulls together the overall pattern; it’s viewed as one design, not individual beads. This technique demands precision, patience, consistency, and vision. Beadweaving is considered “beadwork”. Check out an example below....

http://www.etsy.com/listing/49667731/bead-weaving-cuff-bracelet-bubbles

I found that there are literally hundreds of stitches and variations of the different stitches allowing bead weavers to make jewelry, decorations, and even 3-D art with beads. Many free tutorials are available on the internet. The process seems time consuming, but in the end well worth the effort. Below are some examples of amazing beadwork I found on Etsy.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/73492056/reserved-nightingale-necklace
http://www.etsy.com/listing/76512144/bead-embroidered-necklace-summer-skies
http://www.etsy.com/listing/72614230/edoras-lord-of-the-rings-pectoral
http://www.etsy.com/listing/77689479/wrap-beaded-bracelet

So...I’m ready to give it a go! I’ve found lots of information about the tools needed to get started. I’m off to the local craft store to purchase needles and string. I already have some larger seed beads that I will use to practice. I read that starting with large beads makes learning the technique a lot easier. Wish me luck!



Take a peek at my Bead Soup package!

Look at what I received from Linda Landig, my partner for the fall 2011 Bead Soup Blog Party.  Linda has been designing jewelry for nearly 30 years! Her work is lovely; designs feature distinct and colorful semiprecious gemstones, art beads and vintage beads.  Based on her eclectic style and vast collection of materials, I was excited to see what she would send.  I was thrilled when I opened the package, so many wonderful beads to play with!  I’ve had them spread out on my bead bench for about a week so I can think about how I will use them in my Bead Soup design.

My beads came in a metal tin with a great hand written note embellished with a pretty handmade origami bird.  Just look at all my treasure!

 I removed the individual packing bags to reveal the materials I will be using for the Bead Soup challenge.  I will design a jewelry piece using the beads selected by my partner.  Linda's selection for me included fabulous textures and autumn colors:

 I just love the filigree clasp form Israel, here's a closer look...

Check back on September 17 when the finished design will be revealed.  Then, hop around to the other participating blogs and see what they have created using their Blog Soup Beads.  Cheers!

Lights, Cameras, Action...

I've finally taken the plunge and launched my own shop on Etsy!

I've always been creative and I've been asked many times if I would sell my designs. I struggled with that request for more years than I care to admit. My tendency is to be overly critical of my own designs and I tend to rework a piece until I feel it's perfect. This process could take an hour or a year depending how long I need to 'massage' an item to get it just right. I woke up one morning and thought "what's holding me back; get over yourself". I got out of bed, looked at other Etsy shops for inspiration, and began my Adventure in Etsy Land. Join me on my journey as I explore the possibility of quiting my day job!