Beading Heart Art

Look what arrived in the mail over the weekend...


It's a desk set I won from the Beading for a Cure Auctions held every year to benefit the Colorectal Cancer Research Foundation in memory of Layne Shilling. And, OH, how I wanted to win this set!

That's because I followed its creation every day on the blog, Beading Heart Art, of my friend and of very talented bead artist, Lynn Batt. The auctions are put on a schedule so that only 5 or 6 pieces are auctioned off every week. I circled Lynn's week on my calendar and I waited...and waited...and then I pounced.

I am absolutely in love with Lynn's artistry on this desk set. And I absolutely love that it is functional art. The fact that the auction proceeds go to a good cause is icing on the cake!


I love the edges she chose for both the rope and the crossed design.

I love how she looped this flower coming out of the top of this bead.


I love the contrast of the black velvet with the sparkle and shine of the beads. And the fan shapes that she repeated on the frame and the note pad with bugle beads.


I love having a piece of inspiring art made by a friend sitting on my desk.


Thanks Lynn for making it...it's stunning and I promise I'll take good care of it.

All of the participants have a specific kit that they base their designs on every year -- you can see all of this year's entries here. (Check out the entry of my other talented beading friend, Dot Lewallen or Speedie Beadie!! It's this incredible hippo which makes me smile every time I look at it!)

Lynn lives near Niagara Falls and got her start when her local historical society was offering a bead embroidery class taught by a native American woman from the Tuscarora Nation. Just recently, she attended a lecture on Tuscarora beading and there were so many great pieces to share that she's holding Tuscarora Tuesday where she details all of the items and history that she learned at that lecture each week. It's great!

She's also got me interested in participating in the Haute Couture Inspired Wearable Art Contest! The idea is to pick a haute couture image from the list of options here and design a piece of jewelry using it's color, style, shape or technique. Mixed-media are allowed though the majority of the design must use seed beads.

The design isn't due until November 19, 2010 but Lynn is a whippersnapper and is already well underway on her entry and it's GORGEOUS! Here's the dress that inspired her...


And here's what she has worked up so far....


Isn't it GREAT!

I'm still struggling to pick my inspiration dress....It's either this one...


Which I love because of the layered swirls over the embroidered underskirt. Or this one...


Which I love for the color, the pleats, the layering...those SHOES!

But I have plenty of time to decide. You probably won't be seeing my finished project until November...that's the way I roll!

Have a Lynn-inspired day everyone!