A Few Thoughts Woven In With Visual Poetry

MacKeachan_from_Keach Visual Poetry

MacKeachanfromKeach

MacKeachanfromKeach
Location
Concord, New Hampshire,
Birthday
December 01
Title
Do I need one ?
Company
Bead One, Thread Too
Bio
I grew up with one parent, my mom. When I was about 11 years old my mom worked at the Orson Wells Film School in Cambridge, Massachusetts and I spent many hours either at the Film School part or at the theater part. I was there so often that I had a running tab at the candy counter. I must have seen "Forbidden Planet" over 27 times ! The years I was the most involved with film and acting was around 1972/73, when i played Vera Sapleton in a short story called, "The Open Window". Sometime around 1978 I had an opportunity to take an acting class at Emerson College in Boston. My home life was toxic, however, and I was not encouraged to pursue an acting career. I spent some time away from the toxicity that was "Hartless" Place in Woburn and learned black and white photography from my uncle, Jack Radcliffe, who taught at a College in Maryland. Although Prof. Radcliffe wrote a recommendation for me to continue my photographic study upon return to the Woburn School System I was told that I could not take photography because I was not a Senior (in High School). Since High School had become a waste of my time I quit school and after working full time for 3 months had enough money to purchase enough materials to build my own (blk & wht.) dark room in the bathroom annex. My photography had to share space with the laundry, but it worked okay for awhile ... until the next family crisis came along. To enter the military I earned my G.E.D. I endured Basic Training, but became homeless after graduation on Fort Dix in 1983. In 1988 I lost my mom and half sister in a house fire and started to appreciate and research my maternal genealogy (Keach and Rawson). In 1995 I graduated from Rivier College, Nashua, NH with a BFA in Graphic Design, but have not become employed in that field. I have traveled to England and Scotland and continue to maintain a valid US Passport. I have one son, who is unemployed. I have one half brother, who is deaf. I have one cat, who stays inside. I live in one house. I drive a Nissan. I create with Adobe Photoshop (mac version). I bead with Delica seed beads and semi precious stone beads. I own and manage one small business. I live with asthma.

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MAY 24, 2011 5:00AM

Tiny Tartans, Big Names; A Series Designed & Hand Woven

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My name is Monica MacKeachan and I am the Proprietress at Bead One, Thread Too. I am, also this years Bead Society of New Hampshire Vice President. However, my first major public recognition came because of my membership and product listing with New Hampshire Made. I was mentioned several times in an article written by Sarah Earle for The Concord Monitor. "The Itch to Create" can be found in the Thursday, May 5, 2011 issue of the Concord (N.H.) Monitor. That is the way I celebrated Cinco di Mayo ! I bought several copies of this local newspaper to save for prosperity and posterity. I am much more of an designer and artist than a marketer, but I learn fairly quickly what does not work and what does work. Sometimes I will give a second look after a first "failed" attempt, but only when the (promise) of benefits are needed and cannot be obtained elsewhere.

  Close Up Sewing Back Through Beads

 

What am I talking about ? Very small businesses usually cannot go to a regular bank for a loan to start their business. Many would be proprieters and proprietresses seek organizations to aid in (their) business development. The resources are different in different states. New Hampshire is one state that has recognized the small business owner as an important and intregal part of its economic structure. Unfortunately, though, not all N.H. business help oragnizations give the benefits they claim to give.  I was almost among the countless - uncounted - dis-counted well meaning, very creative with strong drive but financially deficient people who have wanted to start their own business, but gave up when faced with no hope of gaining capital to use in the beginnings of a small business.

 http://www.nhmade.com/nhstore/index.cfm/product/372/american-flag-crochet-bracelet-by-bead-one-thread-too.cfm

My business ? Art related. Jewlery related. Perhaps viewed as more of a "hobby" than a business, which I feel is a direct result from budget cuts in Art and Music classes in the public school system. Once dismissed as an "elective", an attitude develops and grows and the next thing one knows is that ouside of school, the arts are restricted to an elite class. The average creative person has to struggle to find a paying job that satisfies something artisitic inside themselves. I spent many years attempting to find employment in some creative field. After quite a few "career" changes I decided that - despite my disadvantages (being disabled and financially limited with Social Security Disability governmental "benefits") - I would be better off as my own employer. Perhaps, BECAUSE of my disadvantages ......

 

American Flag Piece

 

combined with knowledge gained while researching my family's Scottish heritage I decided to create a series called, "Tiny Tartans, Big Names." There are many Scots who have become famous (or infamous) and I have chosen to represent their accomplishments by including a sample of their family's Tartan, bead woven and framed -- to be displayed on the walls at The Works, a local (Concord, N.H.) bagel and coffee shop this July 2011.

 

The first woman Scot is important to me as well as being well known. Flora MacDonald helped "Bonnie Prince Charlie"; her clan tartan, shown here, resembles the clan Donald of Ranald (the clan I believe my ancestors belonged to).

 

Flora MacDonald Tartan

 

The MacLachlan Tartan, the Flora MacDonald Tartan and the Ferguson Tartan were woven on the same warp FireLine threads. Originally,  I chose Ferguson for Craig Ferguson. I hope he would not mind the change to honor the lady who started New Hampshire Made, Laurie Ferguson.

(http://www.facebook.com/LaurieFerg)

 

Ferguson Tartan

 

Princess Diana's Memorial Tartan was wefted with Nymo, size 00 white thread upon crystal white FireLine .... 53 warp threads to accomidate 52, size 11 Delica seed beads.

Princess Diana Memorial Tartan

 

I have also chosen to include Andrew Carnegie in this series. I love these bright colors !

Carnegie Bright Tartan

 

I am currently working on Sir Walter Scott, which has 21 different colors and is being woven with 52 Delica, size 11 seed beads across. Since I do this as a business, as well as something creative I enjoy, I will be framing and selling these Tiny (bead woven) Tartans in July. I will also have more of my Scottish Tartan Art displayed in July .... whichever pouches do not sell on Etsy or the first 3 Saturdays in June where I will be a vendor at The Concord Arts Market.

 

MacGill 39 on Belt

 

MacGill 39, bead woven pouch on average size belt, currently listed at Etsy website for purchase. Look for Bead One, Thread Too.

Author tags:

woman owned business, small business, bead society, n.h. made, famous scots, plaid, tartan, loom woven, beaded, bead, art, n.h., concord, july 2011, for+sale, fashion, family, design

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