Adorn: December 2015

It's never too early!

>> December 24, 2015 – holidays

End of the Year Round-Up, all that's new...

>> December 16, 2015 – beads, collections, color, colorways, new items, shopping

Just a quick recap of what we have NEW here at the studio...

New Bead Collections inspired by 4 great artists. 9 large vials come in a gift box and are only $27 for all. CLICK HERE

New Small Bead Collection inspired by Pantone Color(s) of the Year 2016. CLICK HERE

Best storage for your own seed beads! CLICK HERE

I am very proud to share with you...

>> December 15, 2015 – art, artists process, friends, orna willis, thoughts, ultrasuede

Some months ago Liz Kalloch contacted me and asked if I would participate in a project she was working on. In her words:

I'm working on a year-long story/painting project called Tools & Talismans—a series of vignette paintings I'm creating based on photos of tools and talismans from 100 different women that relate to how each of them expresses herself.

We hear a lot these days about the importance of story—from story telling slams to marketers and media specialists creating full blown brands based around a story. Story is how we learn, it's how we connect to each other and to the larger world, and story is not limited to words alone.

I'm contacting creators and healers, thinkers and makers, wordsmiths and visionaries—women whose expression and voice in the world is passionate, strong and brave—asking them to participate. I've already gathered some amazing submissions, the project has momentum and the people who've participated have told me that it’s been an amazing experience for them.

Your needlepoint work is aMAZing, and I love how you've taken a craft that many might consider "old-fashioned" and made it relevant again. I'd love to include your "story" through a gathering of tools and talismans that you use to do your work and tell your stories.

I was intrigued and interested in being a part of Liz's project. Tools, Liz explained are ones that I use nearly everyday in my work or personal life. Talismans, she explained, refers to anything that is potent or magical or filled with goodness—for me.

I spent some time thinking about what I would like to present that was both useful and meaningful to me. The photo below is what I sent to Liz.

This is what I wrote:
I am: A Taster of Color
I believe that “presentation” sets the tone of our aesthetic journey. I love to make things look beautiful, the more mundane the objects, the more I search for just the right way to make them hopelessly appealing. Hence my addiction with glass vials, with perfect boxes, with a custom hanging system for all my fibers, (and fibers, and fibers). A little notebook for jotting down lists, an array of lip-glosses for lips that need a little perking up, and my mini business cards that introduce me visually, these are always with me. Sumptuous fibers to drool over, along with my gold plated needles that are, to me, the epitome of indulgence and Ultrasuede, one of man’s great contributions to our world; these are what I make my art with. Tools make me happy, and with my little hammer I form a sheet of metal into an object, what wonder! And then there is the gold bracelet that my grandmother gave me when I was born, with my name beautifully engraved in Hebrew letters. This is where I came from; all the others are where I’m going. When you don’t know where you came from, the journey forward will be very poorly lit.

Liz has entered my story in her Journal. You can see the painting and the story on her site. Take a look CLICK.

Cool, eh?

Cool storage for you too!

>> December 14, 2015 – discount, new items, organization, shopping, tools

You all know me by now, know my addiction to presentation. That includes, of course, how I store my supplies here at the studio and how I send orders out to you. Storing beads can be tricky, especially if you like looking at them and marveling at their beauty.

I'm now offering the same glass vials and matching acrylic boxes I use for your please, so you too can store your seed beads. These are 5/8 drams each, which is about 4 - 4.5 oz of seed beads, (this varies depending on the weight of the seed beads). 9 vials fit in the acrylic box perfectly! You can order multiples of 9, with a big discount. Check it all our HERE!!

Store them in groupings of size or color, they are very attractive!

Color of the Year 2000-1014 in beads!!

>> December 11, 2015 – collections, color, color ideas, colorways, threads

Pantone has announced their color of the year for 2016, and for the first time it is two colors combined. It's quite an interesting choice for two reasons; the two colors chosen are meant to be together, or more accurately sort of blend into each other. The second reason is that the two colors chosen are not what you would typically expect for such a combination. It's not blue and green, or pink and red, nope, the two colors are called Rose Quartz and Serenity. In case you've not heard of these colors, here they are...

Here is Pantone's description of their pairing:

Rose Quartz is a persuasive yet gentle tone that conveys compassion and a sense of composure. Serenity is weightless and airy, like the expanse of the blue sky above us, bringing feelings of respite and relaxation even in turbulent times.

I find myself becoming more and more intrigued and attracted to this combination. That lead me to begin preparing a bead collection inspired by the Pantone pairing, this should be ready for you next week. But before that I decided to present you with a bead collection for Pantone color of year 2000-2014! These beautiful colors are represented by some scrumptious beads stored in our glass vials all put into a lovely acrylic box. There are 14 vials and 3 extra large drops for one of the years. You can see these fun beads below and also find the collection on our website HERE. There are a few new Bead Collections in addition to the fun Pantone one, with names such as Prom Dresses, Fairy Godmother's, Peacock Feathers and Tempting Teals.

I'm just going to sit and stare at them for awhile... Ahhhhhh

Candles and beads!

>> December 6, 2015 – collections, colorways, holidays, new items, shopping

Tonight is the first night of Hanukkah, the holiday I love so much! On the first night of Hanukkah, however, my father passed away, 8 years ago, and he is in my thoughts all day. Reid will make his specialty Latkes, (he has a fantastic recipe he loves to follow every year), and I will complain about the smell of frying in the house. It's a tradition. Whether you light candles or not, I wish you and yours to be hugged by the warmth of love and time spent together.

Now, have you heard about my new collections? BEADS! I'm going to have you pop over to see them on my site HERE where you can find details and descriptions. Here I'll just entice you with a few photos ;) In addition to the beads you receive a 15 page Instruction Guide on how to use beading in your needlepoint.

Orna

A few photos from the Guide...

and a sampling of the Bead Collections...

Quick deal!

>> December 1, 2015 – color, discount, silk thread, threads

The last of the October Fiber Collections are being offered at a lovely discount! $10 off each of the remaining bundles, making it $55 for 12 gorgeous silk skeins/spools. That's CRAZY! In most cases there is only one bundle left, so don't let them slip away!
ENJOY!
xo
Orna