Mary Ellen Beads | "Romancing the Soul" with beaded creationsMary Ellen Beads | "Romancing the Soul" with beaded creations

Visit the Attic at Amapola Gallery This Weekend

Posted on May 16, 2013 by Mary Ellen Merrigan

Amapola Gallery, occupies the second floor of the historic 1849 Romero house in Old Town Albuquerque. But it’s far from a stodgy ole place, especially this weekend.

Saturday/Sunday, May 18-19, 2013, Amapola opens its second floor patio, loosely termed the attic, to the public to house an attic sale.

Almost all of the 42 artists offer some inventory for sale. Imagine!

If you’ve been eyeing a special work of art, this could be your time. Reductions as high as 50% are offered on some sale items.

Pssssssssssst! Clip the website coupon for an unheard of 5% savings throughout the gallery!

Mary Ellen Merrigan curates her space at Amapola Gallery May 6, 2013

In preparation, we curated our space earlier this month. Sallyjane Bolle snapped my picture.

A rock artist, Sallyjane happens to be one of the reasons I’m at Amapola. Her friendly demeanor and willingness to answer my questions assured me I’d made a good choice.

Nearly six months later, I’m (still ‘over the moon,’ as this previous post notes) appreciative of the opportunity. It’s my first gallery experience.

Amapola Gallery is an art cooperative with 42 talented members, each passionate about their medium. As a coop, the Gallery is owned by and run by its members. Here’s a peek at a recent Board meeting. …note the friendly smiles and welcoming faces.

Amapola Gallery Board members meet over breakfast

You can expect to meet many of the Board members as well as the member artists at the attic sale.

I volunteer Saturday afternoon, so come by and introduce yourself. Some of my special “arm party offerings” and a special grouping of summer necklaces will be on attic display.

…There’s something about the synergy of a crowd that really amps up the fun factor, doesn’t it? Something about spending time with people who are excited about what they do and how it’s presented. It’s going to be a blast.

Check out the Amapola Attic: 10am – 5pm, Saturday and Sunday, May 18-19, 2013.

Will I see you there?

Posted in Blog, Events|Shows|Find ME | Tagged beads, show | Leave a comment

Successful Collaboration Generates Art and Friendship

Posted on May 10, 2013 by Mary Ellen Merrigan

CollaborRed Hearts – a three dimensional, red-themed multi-media collage featuring fiberwork, sculpture, beadwork and glasswork.

Six women artists created Collabor-Red_Hearts, an entry to the 2013 Fiber Arts Fiesta May 23-25, 2013 at Expo New Mexico in the Manual Lujan complex.

The project morphed from “the creativity salon,” a day set aside for women to create something together.

You never know where such an idea will go as guest writer Maria Berry details in this guest article.

By her own admission, Mary Ellen Merrigan is “always thinking.” Sometimes, those thoughts stray into the twilight zone. At least that’s the impression that five sister-artists had when they got Mary Ellen’s invitation to join her for the first “creative salon”.
The idea was to form a small group of artists, all working in different media, to collaborate in creating unique multi-media pieces.

They convened for the first time in November 2012, sat across the table from each other and stared politely, collectively wondering, “Say wha’?”

After lunch they moved to a round table in Mary Ellen’s studio – a setting and arrangement that proved more conducive to the easy flow of conversation and ideas. Each talked about her medium and her craft, and the meeting soon because a fascinating show and tell session.

Cindy Chavez of the Bead Society of New Mexico introduced her medium as “texture and her craft as “the marriage of textures” to form mixed media jewelry, wall art and purses.

Pat Moorman showed photos of her sculptures, all whimsical animals –buffalo, birds and a 6-foot pink flamingo with ruby red lips and rain boots – each sporting a playful smile much like her own.

Mary Rothman showed examples of her inspired burnished pencil art and talked of her graphic design business.

Mary Ellen, also of the Bead Society of New Mexico, enthusiastically talked beads, bead weaving and seed bead creations, passing around finished jewelry and other projects in progress.

Frances Starnes of the Machine Knitting Club modeled her wearable art and set out a variety of yarns for all to touch and see. She confessed to wanting to push traditional limits in her knitted and crocheted designs and asked for ideas and comments.

Maria Berry explained her two creative outlets of creative writing and crafting dichroic glass. She circulated examples of some unusual applications for her glass pieces, noting that “hair bling” was her current passion.

Carried by the flow of creative juice, six near-strangers began to relax and connect. Now, four months later, the group has a mission – to collaborate in creating unique, imaginative multi-media art pieces.

They have a name and a logo that speaks of what they do (collaborate), and how they do it (with heart) and who they are (artists). They are The Collabor-he-Artists. And they have a submission to the Fiber Arts Fiesta called Collabor-Red-Hearts – a red-themed multi-media triptych featuring six hearts that represent the driving force of their group and their new-found creative sisterhood.

Collabor-he-Artists meet once a month for a creative play date and lunch. They laugh, they confide and they conspire. What once seemed outrageous and undefined is now protocol. (“Just bring something red,” Mary Ellen directed. “Scraps, objects, anything red. We’ll see what develops…”)

Now, instead, they talk casually about “finding their inner animal” and depicting it on a totem for their next project entitled Collabor-Animals. There’s been a blending of the spirits, a meeting of the minds and a collective appreciation for the power of “always thinking.”

Disclosure: I’m founder of Collabor-heARTists, although the name itself was another collaboration. This article was first published in the Fiber Arts Newsletter, May 2013. Collabor-Red Hearts was juried into the exhibit which opens May 23, 2013.

Do you have a successful artistic collaboration?

Posted in Blog, Events|Shows|Find ME | Tagged creativity | 2 Comments

How to Repurpose Old Jewelry for Heartful Impact

Posted on April 30, 2013 by Mary Ellen Merrigan

©2013, Mary Ellen Merrigan, HeartFull Charms

My three sisters and I are scattered across four states. Each month we schedule a conference call to give us a tiny bit of together time.

We’ve coordinated four schedules for a couple of years. In 2013 we added a “question of the month.”

This month: “In what three ways are you most like your mother?”

As I puttered around the studio, I remembered answers:

Make the bed on rising (“It’s just as easy as leaving it.”)
Serve as the caretaker for the family(this means planning the next meal while at the table for the current one.)
Keep in touch with friends around the country (“Don’t send an empty card. If you’re going to spend the money on a stamp, write a note.”)
Clean the house (“What would people think?”)
Save (“for a rainy day”)
“Good” outfits (“Change your clothes so you look good when we go somewhere.”)

Nuances say “Mother.”

I found myself attaching hearts to a chain in part, because I was thinking with my heart and in part, because I wanted to make a fun gift for a friend recovering from surgery.

I used two split rings on each heart so the charms dangled nicely.

Some hearts were new. Others were gathered from projects now forgotten. They lived in my stash for this very moment.

A quick twist of color and brass onto a headpin plus a heart dangling from the end circle made matching earrings.

Mother would be proud. She doesn’t call it “upcycling,” but she’d be pleased to see a creation made from a once-loved piece of jewelry.

At 85 Mother doesn’t refer to re-purposing, either. But she does believe in re-use.

You can find dozens of repurposed, recycled and reused jewelry ideas with a quick search on Pinterest, but Mother doesn’t go there.

I’m pleased to think of my Mother as charmed with this necklace.

Mother and her puzzle

I told her about the blog post and encouraged her to ask my sisters about their answers to this month’s question.

Yes, a flirty little design prompted charming, heart-full thoughts for me.

How about you? In what three ways you’re most like your Mother?

Posted in Blog, Romancing the soul | Tagged found objects, soul of beading | Leave a comment

Knotting Techniques for Beading Add Contentment

Posted on April 21, 2013 by Mary Ellen Merrigan

Knotting beads never appealed to me. Until recently.

I discovered knots add a contemporary touch to a classic style.

©2013, Mary Ellen Merrigan, Knotted Pearls 51” necklace

These pearls, one example of my experiment, make a one-of-a-kind statement.

Knots space the pearls, allowing each one to shine and be admired. Gray silk thread complements a pink and burgundy pearl cast.

The finish is quality, expensive and yet, fun.

The pearls seem to float around the neck.

Most of the necklaces made with this technique are long. This necklace is 51” which allows the wearer to wrap it two or even three times.

In addition to a new look, bead knotting offers several benefits.

The rhythmic, repetitive movement allows me to switch off my mind and relax into the moment.

Any tension in the body melts away. I’m reminded of the basketweave stitch in needlepoint.

Like needlepoint, knotting can be meditative. Some refer to the mindfulness of repetitive practices such as this. I find knotting helps me ignore petty issues.

It also increases creativity.

An afternoon spent knotting increases exponentially the number of design ideas when I sit down with a sketch pad and pencil.

Knotting satisfies my love of texture and I fly through knotting projects of leather, and other fibers producing mixed media completions perfect for spring and summer and my new t-shirt collection.

The bottom line: what’s NOT to like about KNOTTING?

Posted in Blog, Romancing the soul | Tagged creativity, pearls | Leave a comment

How do You Put Energy Behind Your Choice?

Posted on April 16, 2013 by Mary Ellen Merrigan

Michaelangelo’s Angel

“I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.”

-Michelangelo Buonarroti

What happens with your art? Do you paint, or write, or bead with passion?

Our souls long to be inspired, coaxed into enthusiasm. Do you fan those flames, living in the moment of your own truth?

A pronouncement from my January 30, 2013 horoscope sticks with me:

“You can’t take a leap of faith and simultaneously stay in the same place. Put some energy behind your choice. If you just let go, you’ll fall. Your best chance comes when you run and jump.”

I clipped the forecast, pasted it in my journal and refer to it frequently.

“Put some energy behind your choice.”

Period.

The echo of my selection wafts like a sunbeam through the studio and, “Voila!”

Given energy, an otherwise symmetrical necklace takes an interesting turn.

“Whimsey,” contains animal elements and other beads personalized to the wearer.

©2013, Mary Ellen Merrigan, 44” knotted necklace, “Whimsey”

…At Amapola Gallery, where I’m one of 42 local artists, I energize myself as I dig for details.

Do you know the amazing stories behind the art on the walls, in the display cases, and around the historic old building? I’m proud to be a part of it all.

The pride and sense of belonging contribute energy to my endeavor.

Recently I visited with Annette from Las Cruces. “Year of the Rabbit” looked terrific on her!

©2012, Mary Ellen Merrigan, “Year of the Rabbit” Vintage African Trade Bead necklace

As I explained, each bead around the 18” neckline was specifically selected for color and shape, then placed to show to perfection, high around the neck. Vintage African Trade Beads, collected by my friends make one-of-a-kind a reality.

Annette asked questions and our conversation seemed mutually enjoyable…some would say, energized!

When she left with her purchase, Annette said,

“Thanks for the care you took with these beads.”

Upon reflection, I know the truth:

I put some energy behind my choice. (It shows!) In my art, bead energy romances my soul!

So, my question to you is this:

Whatever you choose to do, how do you put energy behind your choice?

Posted in Blog, Romancing the soul | Tagged beads, soul of beading | Leave a comment

Bead the Summer Blues

Posted on April 9, 2013 by Mary Ellen Merrigan

© Mary Ellen Merrigan, Summer Blues, 5-strand 17.5” beaded necklace

When the muse is on, we must create. When an idea explodes out of consciousness, or, when inspiration strikes, bead on!

Last week, the urge to redesign a choker took precedence over all other tasks and a new seasonal necklace developed.

Funny. I’ve worn it two or three times since then.

The original “before” necklace of small silver, emerald and garnet beads had 11 silver charms with a garnet embedded clasp. (Note to self: use your phone to take a “before” picture next time!)

An antiques vendor at The Santa Fe Flea Market sold me the piece. The whimsical charms and the authentic gemstones appealed to me at the time of purchase. Now, I felt the necklace needed more importance.

I cut it apart, separated the beads and picked out a three-strand silver clasp from my stash.

Before I began stringing, I randomly placed my 11 charms within my three primary strands.

© Mary Ellen Merrigan, Sterling charm, Summer Blues, 5-strand 17.5” beaded necklace

In keeping with my theme of blue and my blue Soft Flex wire, I selected some vintage sky blue African trade beads with the tiniest of white stripes and clear glass rounds.

My top and bottom strands contained those selections along with a few colorful red and yellow trade bead spacers. The “before” silver beads added weight and texture to the middle row.

I added two more strands of lapis for contrast, depth and fullness. “Summer Blues” hangs easily and looks particularly good with jeans, a favorite and essential wardrobe element for summer.

Will you bead the summer blues?

Posted in Blog, Romancing the soul | Leave a comment

Dragonfly Totem Makes Bead Soup Blog Party Reveal Special

Posted on March 30, 2013 by Mary Ellen Merrigan

©2013, Mary Ellen Merrigan, “Connection,” a beadweaving necklace creation for Bead Soup Blog Party 7

Count me connected! Count me excited about the first reveal for Bead Soup Blog Party 7.

My generous soup from partner Pam Chesbro of Tulsa, OK contained an inspirational dragonfly, a creature of the wind and water. One of the first connections for me involved researching the symbolism of dragonflies.

Rearranging my soup as I walked by helped the thought process somehow. As the beads connected with my fingers my mind began to feel the piece develop.

©2013, Mary Ellen Merrigan, Bead Soup mix

I embellished the dragonfly focal from Oklahoma artist Suzy Komar, (using Japanese beads and delicas) beading around it and then adding a sterling silver dragonfly charm to the top.

©2013, Mary Ellen Merrigan, Focal from Oklahoma artist Suzy Komar

Pam included a high-end multi-strand clasp in my soup. She said she loved it. I do too.

©2013, Mary Ellen Merrigan, 12-strand, 6-gram sterling silver clasp

My soup also included a wonderful face I wanted to use. Inspired by the connection between two women (Pam and me) beading in different cities, I decided to add a second face from my stash.

It didn’t appear to work. Could it be the shape, I wondered? After walking by the soup several times, I realized the problem was with the color.

In a charged moment, I painted colors onto my face. I felt electrified, creative. I could “see” the beadweavings connecting the focal to the two faces representing Pam and me, and then to rest of the necklace.

©2013, Mary Ellen Merrigan, two faces connect with focal and 12 strands

At no time did I know for sure how the project would turn out. This necklace made itself.

For instance, I planned to inter-weave all the bead strands, much like the work between the focal and the faces. That didn’t happen. It simply didn’t look or feel right for the project.

I experimented with wire, with different sizes of beads, and with different lengths of strands. In every instance, I decided the dragonflies were in charge, not me.

The success of my face paint project did lead me to consider painting the earring tubes from my bead soup. Another connection. Some of each of the seed beads live in those tubes. It made a perfect pairing for the necklace.

©2013, Mary Ellen Merrigan, Connection Earrings

BSBP Founder Lori McDaniel Anderson wrote about Bead Soup pairings and results they could create. Looking at the past 60 days, I realize these accomplishments:

Colors choices outside my usual boundaries
Techniques I might not otherwise have tried
Additional time spent in design discussion, sketching, changing
More blog posts and pictures
Creative enthusiasm fanned by the experience

My partner and I connected a number of times and I reached out to others in the BSBP7 event through social media.

In an amazing way, (thanks in part to Facebook and Pinterest) I feel a creativity connection with every Bead Soup Blog Party 7 participant. Congratulations to Lori for building community!

Please enjoy visiting other “First Reveal” BSBP7 participants and celebrate their accomplishments.

The amazing dragonfly, a symbol of transformation is the plus in all of this. My totem. My connection. How cool is that!

How did Bead Soup Blog Party 7 affect you?

Posted in Blog, Events|Shows|Find ME | Tagged Bead Soup Blog Party 7 | 41 Comments

Peek Behind the Bead Soup Blog Party 7 Scene

Posted on March 28, 2013 by Mary Ellen Merrigan

For months I’d dreamed about the butterfly.

Oh I know there’s no butterfly in the picture.

But it existed in my mind. From the time I found the vintage sterling concho I felt a butterfly could be birthed from the fabulous rubbed copper earrings with the concho in the center.

When I impulsively enrolled in Bead Soup Blog Party 7, I knew the butterfly (to-be) would go to my partner, whomever and wherever.

Catalyzed now, I affixed my butterfly, chose the delicas to surround it and began to pull strand possibilities for my soup. Emerald, the color of the year, captured my attention.

©2013, Mary Ellen Merrigan Ingredients for Bead Soup Blog Party 7 partner

I was travelling to the Tucson Bead Show the next day. I gathered my bead mat, packed my box, and began work on the cabochon as my husband drove.

The miles passed quickly. In a wild moment after lunch at Kranberry’s in Lovington, NM I affixed the leather backing to my piece so I could finish the cabochon before Tucson. Yes, right there in the restaurant.

©2013, Mary Ellen Merrigan, beaded cabochon with leather backing

Somehow, betwixt and between bead shows, bead classes, and fun in Tucson, I finished my bead effort and received the name of my partner – Pam Chesbro from Tulsa, OK.

As I looked over her blog, “A Fortunate Soul,” I felt enthusiasm for Bead Soup rising, even though I had no idea of what to expect. I felt truly fortunate to have Pam as my partner. Obviously, she was an accomplished beader.

At To Bead True Blue I found a butterfly clasp that seemed suited for my soup. It was more special somehow to make the selection with Pam in mind.

Pam and I exchanged emails and by the end of the week (before I left Tucson) this package was on its way to her.

Are you as excited as I am to see what she made?

Posted in Blog, Events|Shows|Find ME | Tagged Bead Soup Blog Party 7 | 2 Comments

Beaders, Rev Your Engines – Prepare to Reveal Bead Soup Results

Posted on March 27, 2013 by Mary Ellen Merrigan

Two days from now, as part of Bead Soup Blog Party 7’s first reveal, I post my completed project.

Partner Pam Chesbro of Tulsa generously gifted me with a number of choices…

©2013, Mary Ellen Merrigan, Bead Soup from Tulsa

Once I settled on my design idea, I confronted the worry of “not enough time” by taking the project with me.

Here, I bead during a lull in Amapola Gallery traffic.

©2013, Mary Ellen Merrigan beads cabochon at Amapola Gallery

As one of 42 local artists in this coop gallery, I share in both the ownership and the work, so I spend a couple of days every six weeks minding the store.

When I tired of beading, I put other ideas to work. Pam’s plentiful bead soup provided me with a slew of options. With some of the bead soup leftovers, I fashioned a macramé wrap bracelet for Spring.

©2013, Spring, 15”-16” double wrap macrame bracelet, with three charms

In addition to macramé, I resolved to try metal work. This, a studio “first”: me drilling on a metal heart that was included in my bead soup.

©2013, Drilling holes in bead soup metal heart cabochon

Once the holes were drilled, I started adding charms. (Are we having fun yet?)

Aaaaaaah! I could go on and on.

Instead, I’ll take pictures, complete my finishing touches and begin to summarize my Bead Soup Blog Party 7 experience.

Maybe I’ll even draft a post and schedule it for release just after midnight Friday morning. Be sure to check back.

How do you rev your beading engines for the deadline?

Posted in Blog, Events|Shows|Find ME | Tagged Bead Soup Blog Party 7 | Leave a comment

The Artful Life – an Interview with Lorri Scott

Posted on March 16, 2013 by Mary Ellen Merrigan

I first met Lorri Scott at The Whole Bead Show in Tucson during her “Rainbow of Ribbons” and “Nuno Felt Wrist Wrap,” classes.

We spent several hours together, immersed in a world of dye, fibers and fascinating embellishment possibilities for my beads.

In addition to easy-to-understand and follow instructions, Lorri encouraged experimentation and shared resources, plus tips and tricks. More than once she said:

“The art of dyed cloth is never exact. No two batches come out the same.”

Lorri Scott models a willingness to be vulnerable and yet show up.

“I think I’m out of my box but this is what I need to do. Explore my creativity and be among others who want to share an artful life.” –blog

In some ways, she is certain, almost dogmatic. Her definition of creativity, for instance:

“Creativity is taking something from your imagination and making it reality.”

Then, just as quickly, her artist sensitivity shows itself:

“When creating a body of work that you will be selling it’s always a crap shoot. You pay for the space, travel with your goods and props, set it all up and worry, ‘will they come?’ ‘Will my stuff sell?’ The same about classes. You spend so much time developing a class, writing it up and then sit back and hope enough people sign up.”

These were fascinating classes for me.

As is often the case, the real value was in elements not documented on paper: helpful hints as my co-participant and I prepared our projects, willing experimentation in a quest to match a color for me, (I dyed a silk cord to match a necklace I’d made.) generous sharing of product sources and considerations and celebration of our successes.

The classroom and showroom were one and the same. Lorri’s work – garment designs, wayward threads, and art – surrounded us.

She started making clothing at an early age: tie-dye in high school, western shirts with embroidery during fashion college, and then OOAK hand-woven clothing.

These days Lorri dyes all sorts of cloth and ribbon and creates original clothing and accessories.

She seems to look philosophically at her art:

“If you do work that you like and are happy with yourself, usually the world will see that too.

In the beginning there is a hesitation to present your work to the public because you don’t know what the perception will be. Once you are accepted then you become a bit more free and you gain confidence.”

©2013, Lorri Scott, L.A.S. Fibers

In Lorri Scott’s case, confidence never approaches arrogance.

She describes the impact she wants for art in this way:

“Since I make clothing on a limited basis (it’s just me – no minions, no factory), I am so honored when my peers purchase and wear my garments.”

I found myself filled with admiration for this fiber artist. Lorri sets an example of inspiration for artists and for others.

How are you living your artful life?

Posted in Blog, Romancing the soul | Tagged art, creativity | 7 Comments

Visit the Attic at Amapola Gallery This Weekend

Successful Collaboration Generates Art and Friendship

How to Repurpose Old Jewelry for Heartful Impact

Knotting Techniques for Beading Add Contentment

How do You Put Energy Behind Your Choice?

Bead the Summer Blues

Dragonfly Totem Makes Bead Soup Blog Party Reveal Special

Peek Behind the Bead Soup Blog Party 7 Scene

Beaders, Rev Your Engines – Prepare to Reveal Bead Soup Results

The Artful Life – an Interview with Lorri Scott

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