Christmas Festivals

Christmas festivals are typically filled with toxic stink so I normally don't even attempt to attend one. However, this year I found out the local bead shop has one every year for their artist customers and I just happened to be in the store at the right time. I was excited! Beads are one of the few non-toxic art supplies and very popular with chemically sensitive creatives.  Lately I've been using beads for the mosaics I'm making. I was looking forward to a whole festival of bead-themed art project for ideas. I love seeing what people do for fun. Unfortunately when I asked more questions I was told the event is not just for beadwork, but any homemade project. Hmmm...I think most people would be more excited but the thought gave me pause.

There were a few booths located on the lower level. I'm sure they were run-over due to overbooking as the space was a bit of an after-thought, a messy storeroom area haphazardly organized to accommodate this handful of artisans. There were tables of baked goods, ceramics, hemp sculptures, and cards. Nice, non-smelly. I stopped and chatted with the artists and let them tell me all about their processes. I regret the baked goods were not gluten free. Darn. I perceived this as a preview and it gave me hope.

As I made my way to the upstairs location, a very small sign at the top caught my eye. It was a copy of an email but printed in big bold letters at the top was the heading, "ATTENTION: READ THIS".

OK. Ever the complaint one, I hesitated and thought, It's probably something not so important as it is implying, but at that point my curiosity got the best of me. The email was addressed to artists with booths and said something to the effect (paraphrasing):

Please remember to be fragrance-free as many of our employees are chemical sensitive and would appreciate it! Thanks!

Whoa!! Outstanding! I was so hopeful for this event. I cheerfully walked through the door and was hit by an avalanche of toxic stink. It took me about thirty seconds before I stopped stubbornly fighting the desire to continue, turned around, and high-tailed it out of there. So disappointing.

I wrote to the store and requested next year they put the non-smelly booths downstairs, perhaps those focused on beads since that is what their store sells, and leave the toxic, poisonous stink upstairs so everyone can enjoy. Am I asking too much? I told them if it's extra work, I'd be happy to volunteer to help.

Their response was...no. LOL. Hey, it never hurts to try. In fact, I don't know if they knew about that sign. Perhaps a rogue chemically sensitive employee hung it? I hope I didn't get anyone in trouble....

The Pantry Shrine

Taking a photo of my dehydrator next to the opening to my pantry reminded me to show the beaded curtain I finally finished!

 After working on making even more beads to add to my collection from last winter, I finally had enough, but barely. That door frame is very tall! It could still stand to be another foot longer, but I'm too tired of beading. Such a long process demanding much patience which I am lacking. My beaded partition is good enough for now. I'll take a break and perhaps at another time I'll attempt to make another hundred beads.

Love the turquoise beads. Actually, I love all the colors. There are three different purples, four different pinks, two blues, two greens, only one, lovely turquoise color, and about ten white beads thrown in to match the white trim of the room plus the off-white bamboo tube beads that match the off-white trim of the kitchen. Close ups:

The pantry is still being used as a shrine. I have no desire to get it dirty or scratch it up. I've made art for it, in matching colors. HA! This is The Bunnysattva of Binkies:

A "binky" is what they call it when a rabbit jumps straight up in the air and twists. It's how they play when they are happy. A "half binky" is when they shake their head like a mini-twist and sometimes they will raise up a little, but they are sitting or standing still. Peter does that all the time. It means he's happy to see me, but he's too fat to jump. He didn't start doing it until I had him about six months. At first I thought something was wrong with him, like ear mites or an ear infection. I got online and discovered the world of bunny binkies. Such a happy thing. I wanted something happy in my pantry shrine.

...And something needed to hang from those pegs, but because I have such an aversion to putting anything in this room that isn't part of the color scheme and design, I decided to custom create it. I used a piece of scrap wood for the base because I didn't have any small canvases. I have lots of these little scrap wood pieces. The dimensions are 5 1/2 x 5 1/2 x 1 so it has a three-dimensional quality which prompted me to give the sides some design.

 

It's different, but the cool thing is it can stand up on a shelf or counter. This inspires me.

I think I just found my new winter project!

Winter Project...Done and Over!

Well, I downsized the winter project just to stay sane. Making thousands of beads could drive a person crazy. This is one bowl. I had about four bowls worth of beads.

 

Instead of making a door archway bead partition, I made a "where-the-dishwasher-would-go-if-I-had-one" curtain. It's always been kind of ugly and unfinished looking. Eventually I had planned to remodel the whole kitchen so I waited. But I hate dishwashers. Besides the toxic detergents one must use with them, I prefer the relaxation of my hands in warm water sudsy with Planet Dishwashing Liquid the Miracle Soap. I keep my garbage can and the plastic bag receptacle in the space. If I put the house up for sale, I need to camouflage the ugliness. Isn't it odd I didn't finish painting this until I was ready to get rid of the house? You'd think I would want to beautify it for ME!

So rather than bead enough beads to cover an archway which would take me until the next millennium to complete, I made a bead wall to cover the dishwasher space. I painted the inner walls so they are prettier and currently have a raging headache from the fumes. It reminds me why I wanted a non-toxic winter project this year!

Now I want to buy a new, brightly-colored rug to match. My old one looks faded and worn when next to these shiny, bright beads.

Now the fun begins. I get to clean up and put the house back in order....



 

 

The Bead Production Center formally known as "the Desk". What you can't see is the dried glue all over those white desk protectors. Icky. "The Desk" reborn:




 

 

The Varnishing Center

 

 

 

 

I love having winter projects to keep me busy, but they are always so messy. By the end of it I am so glad it's over. With the varnishing table gone, I have my aquariums ready to plant my indoor starts for the garden. (See the archway to the right in the photo below? Yes, it would have taken me years to finish enough beads to cover it. I tried.)

 

 



The Stringing Center



 

Stringing sounds very easy. Maybe it is for a patient person. I had to re-string nearly every one of these strands because I kept making them the wrong lengths. In addition, one must make very good knots in the fishing line so the beads stay put. 

 

 

I used 50 lb. fishing line for this. The heavier weight line helps the beads hang almost straight although the end of the strand wants to curve from the weight and the elasticity. Damn fish tails. Why can't they just hang straight like a $20 beaded partition? I tried thinner line, but they hung very crooked with the weight of every bead bending the line. 

The dining table is back to normal.

 

 



 

 

After four months of production, it's so nice to have the house back to normal! Now with indoor gardening starts, I'll mess it all up again and feel very relieved when the plants are finally transplanted outside in June. I'll enjoy the clean and wait a few days before messing it up again.



Winter Project Woes: Update

THESE BEADS ARE NEVER-ENDING!

 

I have made thousands of beads. It's going much slower than anticipated. After two months and hundreds of beads I thought I'd take a break and start stringing them. All that time and after making all those beads, it came to...six strands. Since I need about fifty strands to complete one room partition, this was very discouraging.

 

Still, I trudged onward. Bead after bead after bead.

 

Then I started running out of construction paper! It's hard to imagine I used a whole box of old construction paper to make beads. When I first looked at my supply I didn't think I would need all of it nor get through it all.

It's very difficult to find packages of single colors to match my selected color scheme. I searched art stores, novelty shops, online supply warehouses and even requested colors on Freecycle in hopes someone such as myself had a box of colored paper not being used. "Hey, I'll trade my putrid brown, dirty-looking tan, and gaudy gold for your blue!?" No takers.

PURPLE BEADS!

I did find one office supply store that sold a package of blue and white sheets together. For some reason the company's marketing department thought blue and white should go together in the same package. But what about the other colors? Even if I purchased a pack of 100 sheets of multiple colors I might only get one or two sheets of the color I need. If I could even find separate packages of colors, it was going to get very expensive.

FUSCHIA BEADS!

 

So I got creative. I just bought a whole lot of white construction paper knowing I wouldn't need all of it for the beads. I figured I could always use it for some kind of art. Why not paint it the colors I need? Of course, that defeats the purpose of a toxic-free winter project, but it's either stick to my principles or finish the project. I'd rather finish the project. The great thing about painted construction paper is the color doesn't come off on your hands like it does with the dyed construction paper.

 

TURQUOISE BEADS!

 

In attempt to match the colors to the beads already made, I now have a healthy supply of fuchsia, light blue, light green, purple and pink, with turquoise beads just for fun in case I decide to change my wall colors later. (I think I'd really like turquoise walls!)

Now I'm running out of black and red. Damn. And I might end up running out of those bamboo beads, too, and I have no idea where to get a supply of those. A case of poor planning, I think, but onward I trudge, bead after bead after bead...  I've gone through five bottles of Elmer's Glue!

Bamboo Beads That Are Quickly Running Out

I WILL get this done!

Winter Project: Meatballs

The second recipe for making paper beads involves using mushed up newspaper. After nearly slicing my thumb off with the exacto knife while cutting the paper strips for the paper beads, I was hoping this recipe might be less dangerous and as non-toxic as the paper beads.

Directions:

First, take some sheets of old newspapers, not glossing advertising pages, but regular newsprint newspaper. The glossy pages have an added coating that makes the fibers hard to break down.

 

 

Tear the sheets into small pieces or if you have a paper shredder, use that. If you do it by hand, wear some latex or vinyl gloves. As you can see above, the ink gets all over your skin which is fairly gross and somewhat toxic.

Place the pieces in a crock pot and add enough boiling water to cover. Let sit for at least an hour stirring occasionally which helps break down the fibers. When the fibers are completely broken down, it will look mushy without defined pieces.

This is much messier than the other paper recipe. Also, the ink on the paper makes it a little more toxic as the hot water will make it smell.

 

Once the paper is mush, drain and squeeze out the excess water. Again, wear gloves or the ink will get all over your hands. You can see the ring of ink in the above photo.

Add some Elmer's glue so the paper will stick together. If you've ever done papier mache this is the same concept. Traditional papier mache recipes call for flour as the adhesive, but since we'll be making beads (balls) using this mixture thickly, I'd be afraid the flour would rot before it dried completely.

Then start rolling...and rolling...and rolling. As you begin each bead, determine how big you want it, squeeze out excess water, press together, then roll in the palms of your hands for an even spherical shape. Try to smooth out any rough edges which will save you sanding time later. Again, if you don't wear gloves, the ink will end up all over your hands.

 

Set on a non-stick surface to dry. I used plates. Make sure the bead-balls don't touch.

Over the next few days as they dry, reposition each ball so it dries evenly and not just on the top or bottom.

It takes about four days for the beads to dry, but give it a few extra days so you are certain the centers are also dry and not just the surface. They turn almost white when completely dry. Little white meatballs.

Once they are dry, if there are any rough edges, sand them down for a smooth surface. This is a hassle. I'm not sure how one is to hold a tiny little meatball and keep it still while sanding.

Then using a small drill bit, drill a hole into each bead. This is also a hassle. Not sure how one holds a tiny very hard little meatball while trying to drill a hole in it. I nearly drilled a hole through my hand a few times.

 

Paint each bead. I thought painting them bright colors would make them look less like meatballs, but I was wrong. They look like meatballs that have been painted. They are, however, very lightweight which might be advantageous for something. This process might be fun for a three-dimensional sculpture project of some kind.

The photos I've seen online of these beads painted in earthy colors and varnished are beautiful, but I realized I don't have the patience for this project. Besides the rolling, sanding, and drilling, with the ink smell, paint and varnish it's not  non-toxic at all which was the point.

I still like the paper beads better. I just need to be more watchful when using an exacto knife! I've been making about twenty paper beads a night. They are adding up!

Winter Project: Beads (Paper Recipe)

Living in the middle of no where is a challenge after spending most of my life in cities. Lots to do in a city. Not so much in the country. During the summer months, I garden, do house repairs, and lots of outdoor activities to stay busy and engaged. Then winter sets in making even the most active person want to hibernate. My first few winters in the country I thought I would go insane with boredom, so now I plan indoor projects in advance to keep me busy during the cold months. Previous years I have painted walls, furniture, and canvases, and built furniture. This year I wanted to something less toxic, less paint and less construction-oriented.



I'm making beads!! Long ago I decided I needed some room partitions for archways. The previous owner of my house used plastic slider doors that were in pretty bad shape...and UGLY. Gross. I removed them and instead envisioned colorful beaded partitions, like hippie chicks used to hang. I love the textures and patterns of beads and thought this would be a fun, playful, artsy look for rooms.

I have three, maybe four, archways that might benefit from a curtain of colorful beads. Two are off my kitchen between the kitchen and the pantry and the kitchen and the office so they will need to be blue, red, yellow, green, and white. Another is off the laundry room which is yellow, blue, purple, and green. The fourth is between two bedrooms so pink, blue, purple and white. I'll also make some black beads and maybe use them as accents and I have some white tubular beads that I think are made from bamboo that I can add in. I'll need at least a 1,000 beads for each, maybe more. We'll see how many beads I can make before I get tired of the process.

I found several bead recipes online using recycled paper. Paper is lightweight and durable. I wanted a material that wouldn't break every time someone would walk through the bead curtain. The first recipe was making beads from magazine covers, but the paper seemed too thin and the beads too tiny. I liked the idea, but it wasn't my vision. I have a whole box of unused construction paper in a closet that I've had for years and rarely gets used for anything so I experimented. I love the colors! Here's how to make paper beads whether you use magazine covers or construction paper:

 

First, cut the paper in triangular shapes. The longer the piece the thicker the bead. I use an Exacto knife and don't measure, but the measurements are about 1/4th inch on one end and 1 inch on the other.

 

Run a bead of Elmer's glue (or any glue that dries clear) along one side. Elmer's glue has a bit of smell, but it doesn't seem to bother me. Also, because it's so very non-toxic, getting it on my hands doesn't affect my skin either.

 

Roll the paper, glue side out, on a toothpick starting at the thick end. I'm using a bag of kabob sticks I bought at a yard sale for this very purpose. As you roll, try to keep the paper centered, but this is really difficult. If it's off center, you'll get a variation of shapes and as you can see, mine are all off centered! I don't care. I think it makes the beads look interesting. Do try to keep the paper tight so it's not loopy.

 

 

Position the sticks with the wet beads so they aren't touching. Let the glue dry.

Because I don't want the colors to fade in the sunlight, I've chosen to varnish each bead. This IS toxic, but I'm doing it in a separate room while wearing a mask, gloves, and opening a window. I've used this varnish on furniture and find it relatively non-toxic. It also dries fast leaving no smell. It makes the beads shiny, pretty and a little stronger than they would be without.

 

I place like colors on one stick and varnish them all at once. Before they are allowed to dry I make sure the beads aren't touching. After they dry, I'm storing them in egg cartons.

 

I plan to hang them using fishing wire from a piece of wood.

It's going to take a lot of beads, but I have all winter!

In another post, I'll show how to make beads from newspapers which is a much different process.

Entertainment, Part Seven: Arts & Crafts

Arts and crafts can be very problematic for anyone who is chemically sensitive. The book Artist Beware, by Michael McCann, is 591 pages of nearly every art material and process and their associated toxicities, listing chemicals, health hazards, and suggesting safety precautions. Warning: After reading about your favorite art activity, you may never want to do it again!

Dye-Stamped Fabric

Years ago, I used to design and print fabric using professional dyes requiring proper ventilation and body protection. I was constantly warned about the health hazards of these materials and the ramifications of not taking proper precautions. Did I listen? No. And I couldn't afford the fancy ventilation systems or respirators. Did this contribute to my fall into MCS hell? Probably.

One summer I signed on to  demonstrate and sell hand-stamped fabrics at a medieval faire. In the Middle Ages dyers didn't use respirators, electric fans or plastic gloves, and many of them didn't live long either. To work at this faire, I was required to be historically authentic so no safety precautions were allowed. I can do that! Funny how we always think we are immortal and impervious to danger. It didn't take too long before I would work with dyes for three hours, and be sick unable to get out of bed for three days. Needless to say, my career as a medieval dyer didn't last long.  

Acrylic-Stamped Fabric
(background dyed with rose water)

Eventually I did go back to printing fabric, but unable to use dyes I replaced them with acrylic paint. Unfortunately, acrylic paint doesn't feel like dyed fabric as the texture is stiff making it somewhat unsuitable for clothing. And acrylic paint, although washable, is not as permanent. However, it still afforded me the luxury of doing what I loved without the poisoning. For a while, anyway.

For many, art calls to us, serves as a form of expression, and even gives meaning to life.  People always ask me, "Should you really be doing that? Isn't that as bad as perfume or any other toxic chemical?" Well, yeah, sometimes it is, but it's perfume wearers who are usually asking the question and believe it or not, perfume is more toxic to me than any art supply. Even so, giving up our artistic drive isn't always an easy option, so we need to find ways to practice what we love to do without killing ourselves. 

I tend to judge the toxicity of art supplies and processes based on smell because for me smell is a clear indication of chemical offgassing. My burning nostrils and constricting throat don't lie. However, I understand many chemicals don't smell.  Then I ask, is it making me sick? Nausea? Headaches? Dizziness? Joint Pain? Fatigue?

Here are my choices for relatively safe creative expression media:

Pencil

Drawing  Materials used for drawing such as graphite, pencils, charcoal, Conté crayons, wax crayons, pastels, and ink are often less toxic than other art media due to lack of fumes. However, many of them are made with toxic chemicals such as lead chromate, cadmium, and manganese. Felt-tip markers and some inks often contain toluene and xylene, both cancer-causing agents. Toluene is found in all perfumes. Even relatively non-toxic drawing materials still may produce lung-irritating dust.  Graphite and pencils are the least problematic.

Rose Bead Bracelets

Beading  Beads may be made with nearly any type of material so non-toxic options are plentiful. Glass, wood, and ceramic beads have been around for centuries and are relatively non-toxic. I used to make rose beads from mashed up rose petals. Rose beads have a long tradition and a fascinating symbolic and religious history. They have been found in 4,000 year old Egyptian tombs (still smelling like roses!) and are associated with religions from all over the world. Catholic rosaries were once made from rose beads as roses and the rosary were thought to represent the Virgin Mary. Today, many rosaries are still made with carved rosewood beads. I've made rose beads from dried rose hips as well. These beads stink to high heaven, but I don't have any issues with them probably because they aren't made with chemicals. I'd be concerned with beads made from plastic or made in China.

Fiber Arts  Get some nice sheep, maybe a friendly angora goat or extra hairy rabbit and make your own yarns and threads for weaving, knitting, and crocheting. Use natural dyes for colors if desire. This is an art form I've always wanted to learn and think it might be a suitable substitute for fabric design printing. Some day. Another substitute for dyed fabric design is quilting. All you need is a sewing kit, a sewing machine, and massive amounts of organic fabric! With fiber arts, there are many creative options.

Painting  I'm not going to exclude painting although it's fairly toxic. I do it anyway...bad, bad, me!  Too much information so it gets its own post!

What art alternatives have you found to be suitable?