Inspiration...Hellooo...

My goodness.  I layed out some beads and lace on one of my bead design trays and then set it aside.  I have seen this tray several times over many months and still it sits neglected on a shelf.  No inspiration comes from this.  Never has and probably never will.  I think it is time to put each of these components away and use the board for another layout.  I have much better inspiration in my head with different beads and components.  I think today is the day to clean up this mess and start something new. 
I never like to force an idea.  Actually I have not been making any jewelry for quite some time now.  I really miss playing and producing with my beautiful beads.  This may just be the right time to organize my stash and see what designs come to mind. 
How do you store your beads?  By color? By type? By sizes?  In trays or baggies or drawers?  I have been re-thinking my bead organization.  I would love any suggestions you have to offer. 
This just may be the inspiration I have been searching for.  Thank you.
Awesome October and Happy Haunting...

Zentangled Stencil...

This is from my little pocket journal. I used my stencils and filled my journal with some blank forms.
This camera looked like a fun item to tangle.
Because I am still learning how to tangle this is done very simply. I am hoping with practice that I can become much better. For now I am happy with the designs that appear here.
Zentangle is a rather calming activity. Once you begin to draw, your mind really does get in a calm zone. However at the same time this is an activity that is easily dropped and then picked up again when interruptions happen. That is why my little pocket journal is a great option to carry in my bag for those times when waiting is a must. My journal also holds the requisite micron pen. This is quiet and simple to do.
Have you tried Zentangle? If you quilt then you already tangle. If you doodle then you tangle.
I really enjoy seeing the fabulous designs others are doing with this artform.
Happy week to all...

Personal Goal...

I have finally achieved a personal goal and it feels very exciting and inspiring and wonderful. Several years ago I made it my goal to have something I make with my own design and hands to be published in a magazine I admire and get inspiration from. I spent lots of time and money and frustration submitting to a major multi publication magazine and was consistently rejected. My items got returned in less than stellar condition after extremely lengthy waiting periods. I became dissapointed after several years of attempts. I never received any feedback or explanation of why my items were being rejected. After so many attempts I just stopped and felt sad.
One day at a major book store I found the most beautiful magazine I had ever seen for jewelry focus. I found it to be very expensive however you always get what you pay for...quality! I immediately subscribed so I won't miss an issue.

I have posted before about Bead Trends and here I am again. This is such an amazing publication and the people who work there are super nice as I came to find out.

This past February I decided to submit one of my necklaces. They do it so nicely that the entire process is easy and affordable.

I submitted "Mint Julep" and it was accepted for the July 2010 printing. Here is a photo of the two page spread it received. Just imagine how thrilled and over the moon I am with this beautiful photography and layout Bead Trends has done with my necklace.

This is the entire necklace as I submitted my photo to them.

I made this with Chalk Green Turquiose, Swarovski crystals and black lace. I do believe I have a very unique design and a lovely necklace. In person the colors are striking and beautiful.

Having set my goals and working hard to achieve them I find I am inspired to continue working hard and see where I go from here.

It is my true honor to be published in such a wonderful magazine.

The amount of confidence I have gained through this experience is priceless!
Thank you so very much.
Happy creating...

Beading basics...

This is a very basic beaded necklace I made for one of my granddaughters who just happens to like dolphins. I am showing this not for my photographic skills but for the beading basics.

This is a simple single strand necklace. It is a longer length around 20 inches.

There are Standard Jewelry Lengths which are as follows:

Bracelet = 6-7 inches

Anklet = 8-9 inches

Choker = 15-16 inches

Princess = 18-20 inches

Matinee = 23-27 inches

Lariat = 42 inches or more

These are merely suggested lengths and the beauty of making your own jewelry is that you can lengthen or shorten as you wish. For instance bracelets are mostly comfortable at 7 1/2 inches for most people however some prefer a much shorter or longer fitting.

If you use a beading board to lay out your beads it will be helpful as it also has inches marked so you can easily determine the length you are working with.

I am currently making some bracelets for 2010 Christmas gifts for family members. I will be carefully measuring them without the recipient knowing. Hmmm...that will be a trick. LOL

I like to be prepared for gifting long before the time comes. I used to keep a cupboard just for gifts however I ran out of space. Now I dedicate an antique dresser to the task of storing gifts through the year. I buy or make when something strikes my fancy for a specific person. Then I have birthdays and holidays covered when the occasion is here.

I hope you try your beading techniques and share them with us.

I have a new item on the design board that I would love to share soon.

Designs on hold...

As it is Monday morning and already the beginning of the last week of January 2010 I was hoping to finish up these designs and get them listed in my etsy shop. Alas, I have another excuse for not being able to finish them. And beleive me I don't need any additional excuses.

I realized last week that I was missing a key element and so I placed my order online with www.FireMountainGems.com which is a great source of beading supplies. I got confirmation that my order shipped the very next day and I was so happy.

Then Fed Ex didn't deliver on time. Hmmm... Then another day delay and Fed Ex used the inclement weather excuse. Then another day and no delivery. I find this difficult to understand as our weather has been rainy and snow flurries but our road is completely snowplowed and our driveway which is usually horrible has been cleared every day by my wonderful DH. Now Fed Ex is predicting delivery tomorrow. What about today?!!

UPS has delivered here in worse conditions than this. They have even walked up our steep snow covered driveway and smiled while doing so just to deliver packages to us. Fed Ex take a cue from UPS...what can you do for us?

Alas, I shall get these completed and list them in February at worse case. I certainly have lots more projects to work on in the mean time. I decided today I would at least try to write up the descriptions for each of these. That always is a slow process for me.

I am thinking of naming the first one with the blue and white "Moonlight Snow". The other one with all of it's turquoise and coral will be "Santa Fe Trail". What do you think?

Thanks for listening to me. If we could just have some sunshine I know I could smile.

Keep creating...