Native Stripes - Design & Colors

The Native Stripes String-Along has started off with the usual agonizing over colors. I specified a bead soup mix for the background, never thinking that it would cause that much thinking and swatching to get something pleasing. However, the results so far have been, "why didn't I think of that?"

I'm working on the third section and not having a peaceful time of it. So far I've discarded three patterns for various reasons. I'd better settle on something right quick as the participants are going to want their new section by Sunday. The fish are the latest, "nope won't work", pattern, so back to the drawing board one more time.

Sandi is using a mix like my Czech mix, but went for the more uniform Japanese seed beads.

Toni came up with a bead soup in only 2 colors that I really like. I think the final piece will have quite an elegant Folk Art look to it.

Terri has completed the first two sections. Here is another bead soup solution I wish I'd thought of. Take a whole tube of a background color and add just a cap full of each of the other colors. It reminds me of some of the nice old tweed fabrics with their flecks of color here and there.

Now I need to get back to the drawing board and settle on the third section so I can get it strung and crocheted before the weekend.

Urban Stripes ~ More Finished Work

Here are some more finished Urban Stripes necklaces. Some people needed a bit more time to complete their projects. I'm still amazed at all of the different looks coming from the exact same pattern sets.

If you want to try giving Urban Stripes your own vision, the pattern set was issued as an eBook on http://www.bead-patterns.com/ .

You can find it here.



Liz finished her rope off with a beautiful Basha bead as a focal. It compliments the rope nicely.






Vivianne wasn't satisfied with doing a rope in only one size. She had to do one in 11's as well as 8's. The blue version has a nice deep glow to it.

Buy her a cup of coffee

You need to check out Beaded Laughter. Sylvie has done a "Hey Girl" series that has had me in stitches. Each one has been better than the last one. She did my heart throb and beading passion and I love it. Magic happened, yes it did. If you get a chuckle out of her humor, look at her sidebar and go buy the woman a cup of coffee. She needs it to keep her going and get ready for the Best Bead Show in Tucson.

P.S. Sylvie also makes some awesome beads.... I have one of her treasures.
Sylvie Beads

New Year's Drive

We have been in the habit of taking a Sunday-type drive on New Year's Day. We got off on a back street in the border town of Naco, AZ and discovered Camp Naco. As many times as I have been in Naco, I had no idea that these adobe remains were there.

This military compound was constructed between 1919 and 1923 as part of the War Department’s Mexican Border Defense construction project. It was a plan to build a 1200- mile “fence” along the southern U.S. border. American soldiers were the primary component of this “fence,” and the construction project was to establish or to upgrade border military posts to protect the soldiers against the elements and to protect U.S. citizens and economic interests.

The plan for the camp in Naco, part of the Tenth Cavalry Patrol District, was to construct 35 adobe buildings. It's the only site of the nine western camps to be constructed of adobe and the only site in Arizona largely intact today. There are plans "in the works" to preserve and use the old facility for community purposes.

Now, this is today's border fence - an actual fence. Click on the photo to enlarge it and you can see the line of the fence marching across the valley floor. It's that dark line in the mid-ground.

It was a beautiful sunny, 70 degree day with little wind . . . a perfect day to be out 'n about enjoying the scenery.