Where did Spring go?

Just remembering last week (seems oh so long ago) when we were playing outside, and saw some beautiful crocuses. Now covered in snow - again. sigh. They are still there somewhere....





Crocus Earrings
by emfly

Winter again

It is winter here in Ontario again. And while fresh snow is always beautiful, I am not very happy about seeing it falling fresh on our newly cleared lawn! All the same - it is an opportunity to think about warmth, and lovely cuddly, cosy things, like scarfs, and mitts, and hats. And fleece. oh so cozy!

In the middle of March I was still in the middle of a winter frame of mind, and made some nice scarfs for my facebooks friends who responded to a note. When I sent them out I felt badly that they wouldn't get any use out of them. I suppose that they will get some use out of them after all.

Reversible cape and little red riding hood with fleece and shiny fabric.

Long, thin, artsy scarf made for my cousin (and facebook friend) Cristina.

Fun, funky neck scarf made for another facebook friend Angie.

Grey Crocheted Neck Scarf

SPRING?

I love spring. The colours, the snow melting, the rain.... ? Ah yes the rain. It is raining today, and the last of the snow is melting. The colours may not be in evidence yet - but I know they will be here soon, and I am dreaming of a colourful spring.

Spring is In the Air 3 Strand Necklace

Along with my love of trade beads, a newer love is of natural stone beads. I love the ones that are chips of the stone, and natural and uniquely individual. I love the ones that are tumbled and smooth and their own natural colour. The tumbled ones can be any shape, round, square, cubed, oval. They are usually the most wonderful to feel.

Cubes of Spring Earrings

This time of year I dream in colour. After a beautiful clear, crisp winter of whites and blues I can not get enough of pinks,yellows, greens, purples, reds or really any colour. I can not wait for the first glimpse of a flower peaking through the ground, but until then I will continue to dream, and play with my beautiful rock beads.

Rock Into Spring Necklace

Rock into Spring Bracelet

Trade Beads

Beads, beads, beads. I have to admit that I love beads. I always have. I think perhaps the Metis blood in me has given me this love. When I was in high school I did the typical necklaces: one string with multi colours. I loved them. I gave them to my friends, and hope that they loved them too. Now I have discovered nicer beads, older beads, stone beads and silver beads.

Trade beads have got to be some of my favorite though. They are older beads, and often they are beads that have a history of being traded with the natives of North America and the fur traders or stores. My favorite of these are the Hudson bay beads which were traded by The Hudson Bay company for furs, or other necessities. I know that the history of the settlers and European companies that dealt with the natives is not a happy, or kind story, but I like to see the history and the way these beads were used. They were a currency, a way of payment. It may seem cruel to us, to mis-use a people this way - but are beads as a currency any less usefull than our paper or coin money now? Or our electronic money?

I have made several necklaces using these trade beads. At times I have used a combination of old and new beads, and I love the result. I tend not to polish the older beads because the history and the age is part of what I love about them.

Rare Old White Heart Trade Bead Necklace
White Trade Bead Necklace with Red Hearts

Padre White Heart Bead Necklace