| Catherine Vondenhuevel AKA Skuddle | |
"I started beading a little over a year ago when I was forced to be on the couch for a while.
It has held me in good stead this year with all the surgery and stuff.
I got started in beads in a really round about way. I started talking on line with other artists, as I was majoring in Fine Arts at the time.
Through that chat room met a man who has become my mentor in arts and graphics, Gerry Crist. On one of my visits to his family he asked me to help him
with some necklace clasps and a bead junkie was born.
Beading allows me to combine my loves of color, texture, computers into one great big love affair.
I have been working on different stitches and gotten lots of help through the work of people like Sandy Forrington, (I love doing tatted lace
work), Carol Wells through her book and when I stop up at her shop. Also from the lists and the chats. Everyone is so very very generous with their
knowledge. Right now I am working on a bracelet in Mary Winters-Meyers book.
I have a list of 103 projects I want to do, I don't keep a lot of UFOs around, I am too obsessive. But, I can't bead fast enough to get them down
as quickly as I think of them. So I keep a list of ideas in case I ever get beaders block. So far, I have not had that problem, idea diarrhea maybe,
but not block. However, some days I am less inclined to take on intricate tasks, so those days are saved for more repetitive things. I always carry a
couple of projects in those little pencil cases from the discount stores, So, I can work on something while waiting for all these doctors.
I love swaps, I am a swap junkie I think, Right now I am in the falling waters/falling leaves swap, the blue swap, the iris swap, and 2 winter
swaps. Why? Because they keep me beading, and i use these projects to test for my book i am working on.
I am thoroughly enjoying the new list, Pollyannabeaders2. Pollyanna always looked on the bright side of everything, even grouchy old men. I think
we need to keep that outlook with each other, as we all have really testy days. And we need the other people to love us just a little bit more. But,
Pollyannabeaders2 is more than just a sunshine club. Our current project/theme is UFO, what is keeping us from finishing a particular piece and using
the awesome pool of talent we have on the list for ideas and suggestions for getting the piece out of the UFO category and into the DONE part.
My first exposure to beads came when my girls were young teens and pre teen. I worked as a white water rafting guide, one of the guide's
girlfriends (Lisa) made beaded earrings, and the girls enjoyed spending time with Lisa while I was on the river. SO, they bugged me for beads. Then as
happens with 12-14 year old kids, they packed the beads away and that was the end of them until I was laid up on the couch and bored so, I started
beading.
Once I learn a technique, I usually then take off on my own patterns. And all I have to do is hear, "I can't do this or that stitch because it
is so hard" and it is like waving a red flag at a bull, I HAVE to see if I can do it. So, now, I can do the peyote, brick, loom, square, RAW, DS,
chevron, Ndebele, netting, the ONLY one I have not mastered is crocheted beading. Its driving me nuts.
What are my current projects? Well, all the swap things, working on my Serena patterns for publication, and the book. Plus getting things in shape
for BEAD RALLY 2001. Like the RAW magnolia, it will incorporate 3D sculpture and a variety of stitches.
I live alone with my dog, and have 3 grown children. Anyone coming to Knoxville, Johnson City, Asheville area, give me a ring, better make that an
e-mail, as I am usually online!!"
And don't forget the wonderful pattern Catherine has provided. A gorgeous little
Violet in Peyote. Perfect for an Amulet bag or a little patch! Hints from
Catherine: Make a starter row of Peyote with different colored beads. You can then take them out after the piece is finished. Also, a piece of 22
gauge wire through the first row of beads in Peyote will help separate the first two rows. This is my favorite method, too!
