Miss December - Fan Wheel Snowflakes

Fan Wheel Snowflakes by Maria Rypan
December 2011 - Toronto Bead Society Calendar

Hard to believe December is here and folks with 2011 TBS calendars are now viewing a flurry of my Fan Wheel Snowflakes! There are a lot of ways to make a few of your own: beadwork kit choices galore; get a pattern for your own creativity;

Snowflakes by Jo-Ann Woolverton, ON

Order a Ukrainian PDF with illustrated instructions;

Intro of Ukrainian PDF 

Get the Russian language Oct 2011 (#10) issue of "Модьній" Bead Fashion magazine, Kyiv. The Fan Wheel Snowflake project is on pgs. 39-41;

“Модньій” Bead Fashion, pg. 39

Follow the English directions on pgs. 90-91 of Kalmbach’s Beaded Ornament for the Holidays and Beyond from Bead & Button; BeadStyle Magazines.

Beaded Ornament for the Holidays, pg. 90 

In the spirit of the season, enjoy snowflakes big & small, beaded or real kind. What a wonder! No two are every alike... Happy Holidays!

T&T Road Trip

For my Summer project for ANPT, I was on a mission to visit T&T Trading, Inc. where I imagined I should find some really neat beads. 

We travelled to Detroit; then 100 more miles to Grand Ledge outside Lansing, the capital of MI. Sooooo how could we miss it??

BEADS trailer parked on grass

Proper signage in a rural setting

BEADS spelt on the roof. Driver stretching legs after a long haul

A quizzical call from down the road determined we needed to turn back to find these landmarks. Moral of the story: Peal open your eyes for BEADS signs in all shapes and sizes.

Found the treasures I came for.

Have you heard of French seed beads? How about millefiore mosaic and drawn chevrons?

 Beadwoven color placement experiment

More variations... Which will it be?

What's new at the Vernissage, Lviv

 Beaded pysanky eggs by Luba Frankevych

It's been a long while since I've shown beadwork, so it's appropriate to follow up the ANPT 'pysanky' article with new sources of beaded eggs. In my short visit to the Vernissage on Aug 26th, I found a lot of fresh new directions for gerdany beadwork. A few craftspeople had beaded pysanky.

I liked Luba Frankevych's display because she meticulously beadweaves intricately-patterned nets around wooden eggs. She's holding the largest egg whose detail can seen in the top left corner above. I purchased the next size down and one more for a keepsake.

Luba shows her largest pysanka

There were several new stands with beadwork. The new trend was three-dimensional florals or mosaic (Peyote) leaves formed into 'kalyna' bunches. The beaded flowers were added onto netted collars, bracelets or used for pendants and brooches. They came in all shapes and sizes with the poppy as the most favorite flower. I purchased the "Kalyna" creation in red on a matte black net in the center of the display board.

Display of Gerdany by Nadia Emelyanova 

Poppy brooches by Valentyna Konkolowskaya

"Gerdany Tour" & Snowflakes in Ivano Frankivsk

Ivano-Frankivsk Region embroidered by Lubov Drohomyretska, 2011

In between visits and further research about beadwork, I had the opportunity to show the "Tour of Gerdany Regions of Ukraine" at the Regional Educational Methodological Center (ОНМЦ) on Aug 30th.

Attentive audience listens to the Gerdany intro, ОНМЦ

This was followed by a Master Class on making my famous Fan Wheel Snowflakes. I translated the instructions into Ukrainian with an overview sheet and brought the necessary materials. 

Сніжинки – кришталеві віяла, автор дизайну Марія Рипан, м. Торонто, 2011

It was nice to to have young students and esteemed bead artists in the Master Class.

Maria threads SoftTouch .010 by Softflex on a fine needle

My cultural liaison, ethnomusicologist Oleksandra Turyanska, checks progress by professionals Oksana Belehaj and Maria M. Chulak 

Success! Going home with a finished Snowflake!

Lubov Drohomyrecka, Maria, Halyna Drohomyrecka of Liubava, Maria M. Chulak pleased with the afternoon's Gerdany presentation and class

"Tour of Gerdany Regions" started at UM-A, Ohio

These presentations premiered at the Ukrainian Museum-Archives in Cleveland on Aug 12th. Luckily for me, The Hnatiuk Collection was on exhibit in the Gallery where I was to hold my Gerdany Workshops on Saturday.

 The Hnatiuk Collection Exhibit with a gerdany workshop setup

 Kilims and 'Keptar' vests from The Hnatiuk Collection

I attended the opening of the Hnatiuk Museum in Livonia, MI in the late 1990s. So many artifacts and treasures crammed into a walkout home basement was an unforgettable sight! I was just getting into beadwork and fascinated by a showcase with shelves full of gerdany. These photos start off my Beadwork Photo Album.

'Sorochka', The Hnatiuk Collection

Kudos to UM-A Curator, Aniza Kraus, for the dramatic display of a selection of embroidered 'sorochky, keptari and kilims'. By focusing on the production of the fibers and materials, the exhibit was educational. The UM-A published a book using The Hnatiuk Collection as the basis for scholarly articles on textiles from the XIX & XXth centuries with 400 great photos for reference.

Friday night at the Rypan "Movies", UM-A

My PowerPoint presentation was held in the Museum main room on Friday night. The "Ethnographic Region Tour" was a hit for the North American viewer. It was a great intro to the "Gerdany Regions" of western Ukraine. Here the viewers saw an ethnographic region map introducing multiple slides of gerdany beading from different regions. They could get an appreciation for the various styles of beading, colors and motifs.

Learning different styles of gerdany-making at UM-A

There were two contemporary beadwork Gerdany Workshops on Saturday. 

Maria helps Jennie Bochar learn how to bead

Best treat for me was the collection of beadwork Jennie brought for Show & Tell. Among the gerdany, there were her Baba's pieces brought over when she was 16 years old. I never say such a tiny Lemko 'kryza'!

 100+ year old 'kryza', J. Bochar Collection

'Kryza' details, J. Bochar Collection

More Ukraine Travels

Trident ('Tryzyb') in lights, Kyiv, Independence Day 2011

I had an opportunity to visit Ukraine again immediately after Bead Fest in Philadelphia. Traveling through different time zones via Paris made it possible to arrive in Kyiv on Aug 24th, Independence Day. This was the 20th anniversary, an important milestone, but a strain was felt after a tumultuous day of celebrations.

20th Anniversary of Independence commemorative stamps

The timing of this trip was perfect because it gave me another opportunity to personally photograph new regions of Ukraine for my ongoing photo essays. While preparing a new "Tour of Gerdany Regions in Ukraine" PowerPoint, I thought it would be nice for viewers to tour all of the country to better appreciate the regional differences. "Ethnographic Regions of Ukraine" came together quickly using most of my own photos from various visits to half of Ukraine.

Premiered together with "Ethnographic Regions", Aug 2011

Here was my chance to add Crimea and the Black Sea, as well as the scenes along the drive back to Kyiv.

Beaded "Pysanky" Eggs

Article by Maria Rypan, Spring 2011

Hot off the press! In time for Easter! My article about "Beaded "Pysanky Eggs" has just been published in the Canadian needle arts magazine, A Needle Pulling Thread, Spring 2011, pgs. 90-93.

"Pysanky", batik-style Easter eggs, are inherently Ukrainian. Purists shudder at the beaded "pysanka's" very existence. Some artists refer to the traditional motifs and designs for inspiration, but use beads to decorate eggs so the patterns become stylized.

Personally, I think there is a place for beaded eggs in this day and age. They may not have the talismanic powers of the real "pysanky", but they are beautiful and bring joy to the recipients.

This article talks about the different ways of applying beads on eggs in a "pysanka" style. Photos illustrate various methods and give an appreciation of how each and every bead is applied or beadwoven. Since no two eggs are the same, the article gives plenty of guideline for beading your own.

Several artists beaded "pysanky" illustrate the different application (gluing or beeswax) or beadweaving methods. Many photos and tips come from Vira Pavlova Witkovska's work. Vira is holding her butterfly ostrich egg while I show off her trident ("tryzub") egg at my last visit to the Vernisage in Lviv. Ivano Frankivsk teacher Maria Golovan kindly provided me with the step by step beadweaving photos and basket full of "beadwoven" pysanky. There's even a bead embroidered and stuffed one in the basket! There's no end to creativity!

Spring 2011, ISSN 1715-4650

Thank you to editor Carla Comanico for suggesting this article after she receiving my metric carton of beaded "pysanky" card. Get your issue for the maximum appreciation of this art form and other needle art projects.

Beaded Icons & Gerdany Show

Marianna Savaryn, Oksana Ivanochko & Maria Rypan, St. Demetrius, Toronto

Hard to believe the Beaded Icon Show & Sale came and went on Feb 6th! Marianna, an icon painter from Hamilton, came to see the Oksana's beaded icons. Good thing KONTAKT-TV came at 9 am for an interview because there were many holes on the pegboard by 1 pm! The "Beaded Icons by Oksana Ivanochko" feature will be airing Feb 26th, 1 pm EST on Omni 1 in Toronto. You'll be able to view it on-line at your leisure because programs are archived.

Gerdany by Oksana Ivanochko

Besides icons, Oksana had several different styles of gerdany for sale. The contemporary ones were popular, especially the star-like beadwork necklaces like the one above. Loomwoven medallions also flew.

Best wishes for good health and eyesight. May God grant her many happy years.

Bohorodytsia "Znamennya", 2010, Lviv

Eugene & Maria Rypan Collection, 2011

Beaded Icons by Ivanochko

Poster for Display/Sale on Feb 6, 2011 in Toronto

Not everyday does one have the privilege of helping their first beading teacher put together an exhibit of their work! My call came mid December.

Oksana Ivanochko of Lviv, Ukraine, was in Toronto with 15 of her beaded icons. Could I help her find the venues to display her work? I've organized an exhibit of her work at my church, St. Demetrius the Great Martyr Ukrainian Catholic Church, on Sunday, Feb 6th, after Liturgies right after I get back from Tucson. KONTAKT-TV will be coming to cover the story.

The beaded icons are beautiful. Oksana has an artist write (paint) the face and hands, while she bead embroiders the garments, background and details. She's had several exhibits in Ukraine and Europe. This is the first of its kind in Canada.

Torontonians, here's a chance to see some very fine bead embroidery. There will also be some beadwork for sale. If you miss it, I can connect you with Oksana. The world is getting smaller all the time.

Oksana Ivanochko and Maria pose with her Christ icon, Jan 23, 2011

Maharaja Exhibit at AGO

Patiala Necklace by Cartier, 1928, Paris (photo of notecard)

Saw the "Maharaja: The Splendour of India's Royal Courts" exhibit at the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), Toronto, with Jo-Ann and Dolores. Through Indian paintings from 1700's onwards, we saw royal life in miniature, i.e. processions, events and stories. Such brilliance! The finest details in clothing patterns and jewelry seemed to be painted with a single hair. We marveled, "How did they do that?". There also was furniture, decorative arts, garments and jewelry. Lots of inspiration for beadwork... The Maharaja exhibit continues to April 3rd. Don't miss it!

Maharaja Poster outside AGO

Most of the opulent and lavish jewelry was worn by men, the Maharajas, not the Maharani women! Now that's a switch.

This was a great start to the Ukrainian New Year (Julian calendar).

Christmas on the Julian Calendar

Christmas tree at home, MI

Best wishes of a Blessed and Peaceful Christmas and a Happy, Healthy and Creative New Year.

"Embroidered" satin ornaments by Maria

I was on my hands and knees late Monday a week ago photographing my 9 easels for the International One of a Kind Exhibit at JOGS in Tucson. Once I finished the easels, the Christmas tree in the corner of the room caught my eye. It was unique and magical...

It dawned on me the tree decorations were mostly homemade. My mother Martha (1927-2001) made plastic canvas snowflakes with each of her 4 granddaughters and I made all the satin sequins ornaments. She decorated this artificial tree with every one of my "embroidered" balls, mixed in solid colored ones and added silver garland. Now Nina, my step-mother, makes an annual trip up the stairs with the tree all-decorated and puts it into the icon corner. Afterwards she takes it downstairs.

The designs on the satin balls were inspired by Ukrainian embroidery patterns. I had an artistic license and used sequins to render the designs in traditional or contemporary color motifs. The outer circumference of the balls were fairly thin and allowed sequins on tiny head pins to be easily pushed in one at a time. The same was true for the box of satin thread bell and rondelle-shaped ornaments. It was best to steer clear of the thicker plastic near the hanger or bottom. The ornaments were created during my late high school/early college days. Each one was then tied on a ribbed curly ribbon. I'm amazed at the quality of that ribbon! And the satin balls have held up so well 40 years later! May the tradition continue for many more.

"Embroidered" with sequins & pins

Веселих Свят та Щасливого Нового Року!

El Anatsui's ROM Installation

Fragment of "Straying Continents", 2010

Started off the New Year with a visit to the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM). Was blown away by Anatsui's art. First went to see the 4th floor exhibit "When I last Wrote to You about Africa". It was a retrospective of Africa's contemporary artist's forty years of painting, sculpture, woodwork and metal multi-element compositions. No photos allowed... that's okay.... I took mental snapshots.

I really liked the compositions of aluminum and copper wire. They started with a discarded bag of liquor bottle caps. It's amazing how many different ways a cap can be cut, folded, punched and twisted! This alone was a lesson in playing and trying out all kinds of ways to manipulate whatever your medium may be!

Close-up of metal liquor bottle caps

Lucky for me, the ROM commissioned a wall installation called "Straying Continents", 2010. It's installed on entry wall of the 3rd floor ROM Crystal. Thank goodness I had my iPhone to photograph sections of an incredible installation.

Fragment of "Straying Continents" by El Anatsui, ROM, 2010

I found Anatsui's work fresh and inspirational. He plays with color, patterns, textures, negative space, layering. Reminded me of beadwork on a large scale.

Fragment of "Straying Continents", 2010