Beady Left Overs! Meatloaf Monday

 As I mentioned in my previous post, my fab partner Jen Judd sent enough beads to make a few projects.  This one is really different from what I usually do, but I am very pleased by the way it turned out.
First there was this funky but beautiful amethyst colored crystal round flat  faceted piece. It reminded me of all the cool vintage rhinestone pins I used to collect. Next there was the clasp Jen sent. It was so delicate and natural that I had to feature it as part of the focus. Next there were all the pearls in shades of plum and violet. They were the perfect adornment.
I made this a few times and took it apart as many, until the simplicity of it just presented itself.
I used a "silver silk" knitted copper strand & doubled it for the chain.  Its about 18", light and sparkly.
I hope you enjoy this left over dish and have room for one more tomorrow.

The Soup is Ready!

Taa daaa! Soup is ready and just in time for breakfast . In other words its 2 AM on reveal day & I am finished.

I didn't think I was going to get done at all. It has been one of those days. But I pushed through like a beady super hero. 

I overcame the fact that my studio was disassembled this morning and is in random boxes all over my house. It's a long story involving a friend a table and a fire, but that's something I'll save for later. It was bad planning on my part, but things happen when they happen. 

So without further ado, here is the soup!

I had the most splendid ingredients from my partner Jen Judd, so fresh and sweet.

First I separated the ingredients into 3 parts. 

I saw 3 complete meals in this assortment.

The elegant and simple glass focal bead by Donna Millard just knocked my socks off. I was immediately excited by the possibilities. I picked the beads that best complimented it and began my plan.

Well, nothing ever goes as planned. Not for me anyway! I had hidden most of my beading wire and tools in one of the random boxes that was formally know as my studio.

While I panicked and started tearing through things  in boxes  I pulled out my recycled sari silk ribbon. Of course I had to stop and be distracted by its silky beauty  and it occurred to me that this sari silk was just what the soup needed. So, plan B was born.

I loved the way the silk grounded the entire design and the gold shimmer pulled together the purples and greens of the beads.  It's that organic feeling that I was looking for.   

But what to do with the left overs?

Jen sent me such a generous assortment of beads that I was inspired to make 2 more projects.

Stay tuned for the next chapter, it might bead   meatloaf monday or maybe bead  tuna casserole tuesday.

I have two more projects up my sleeve and will reveal them in the week ahead. 

So save room & don't fill up on sweets.

Please check put the other fabulous soups on these blogs  here.

bon appetit!

stuff in your soup

I am in a better mood so I will show you what my bead soup that Jen Judd sent me  really looks like.

Its funny how you think you know what you want but  you really don't always know whats good for you. The things that you want don't always stretch you or make you grow. Sometimes the stuff that lands in your head or in your soup looks weird but tastes delicious. (Really don't eat anything that has landed on your head, or in your soup. I can't be responsible.)  I have learned that a lot lately.

But this is about my bead soup. Which is sort of about what you want and what you don't want? I was literally overwhelmed by the goodies Jen  sent me. In particular the focal bead.  It is fabulous. How could I not be inspired? And some of the other fabulous beads  that went with it were like  JACKPOT!~! I was excited the moment I saw them. Some of the beads however made me stop and think What the hell was I going to do with them.  Half the beads were in my comfort zone, but half of them were not!  It's the same feeling you get when you get half way finished with the easy part of a jigsaw puzzle and the pieces that are left  sitting on the table just make your head spin.

But sometimes stepping back and looking away can do wonders.  The other half of the puzzle showed itself when I wasn't expecting it. It all came together in my head. And now I think I am more excited by the beads that were the extra puzzle pieces.  I can see how they fit. Now I just have to  put it together.

The bead soup reveal is coming!  Sept 17! oh crap, thats this Saturday. I better get busy!

letting go

Look at this.

I know you are not as impressed by this as I am myself.

But thats OK. I am used to people generally not being as impressed with me as I am myself.

But I want to point out something. It's important and momentous. Yes, both of those big words. I got rid of things. I was even completely sober at the time. 

There is, what is referred to in some homes and studios as,  "Empty space".  No shit. 

You may be asking yourself "Why?" You may not even care.  I am not fooling myself. I know that you are really not that in to me.  But I will tell what happened.  Its called "Letting go".

There comes a point in your life where you are weighed down with things you really don't need. Maybe you never really needed them, but you held on "just in case".  This goes for some relationships too. Sometimes you realize how much freer you are without all those things. 

Maybe you come to this conclusion on your own. Maybe you realize it after watching a hoarders  marathon. Or maybe people and relationships that you had suddenly turn upside down and you have to face the fact that you really don't need them after all and you will feel free and strong when you see them sitting by the curb waiting for the trash man to come.   You may even laugh when the pickers get there before the trash man and see what you have thrown out and they have a look on their face like WTF? Yep not even the pickers want it. They have no idea what it is and why you had it to begin with.

It turns out I will be sharing studio space with my husband again.  He used to do a lot of his work at the local college, but things change and it becomes time to let go of things  and situations that are dragging you down. Kick them to the curb.  We are both letting go of shit we don't need. It feels freeing. I am almost giddy.

.

Magic Beads

Andrew Thornton used my magic bead in his August Readers Challenge.  I really like how the word "magic" inspired the designs. 

I respect words and the power that they have and I embrace the idea that jewelry has  the ability to transform the psyche of the wearer like Wonder Woman and her bracelets ready to explode into action. 

While my beads don't actually blow people up with lasers, they inspire people to make wonderful things and that is just as cool.

Check it out!

Jessica Nelson

Leslie Todd

Holly Westfall

Alice Peterson

Christine Altmiller

Cilla Watkins

Sally Russick

Beth Emery

Patty Gasparino

Jeannie Dukic

Rebecca Anderson

Bead Soup & other Bizniz

This is my pretty soup, but you can't see it yet because I'm mean.

A week ago I came home from the Philly bead show tired and wearing my cranky pants. While I was away my bead soup arrived. It was waiting for me. It pulled my cranky pants right off. I admit a cold glass of pinot grigio had already unzipped my cranky pants- but opening this lovely box of beads made them drop right to the floor.

I should mention who my soup partner is, her name is Jen Judd Velasquez. If you don't know of her you should definitely check out her work. She is very talented, and she is also in the Air Force which makes her extra cool. I am very excited to start stirring my soup.

Speaking of the Philly bead show, I was overwhelmed by all the wonderful friendships that were enriched there and the new ones that were started up from scratch. There are few things that make me happier then beads and beadie friends.

News for August

I will be at the Bead Fest in Philly in a couple of weeks. Pleaser take note of the NEW LOCATION.

I promise I will be in a better mood then I was in Ann Arbor. I realize I have probably scared many potential customers away with my last post. I blame the heat. Seriously it was like "this is your brain on drugs" but the egg was sizzling from the heat, not from any drugs. I probably wouldn't have been so cross if I had been high.

I would be all "dude my brain is melting and I see pretty colors everywhere"

Also I have signed up for the fabulous Bead Soup Blog Party again. This is hosted by the super talented and kind Lori Anderson.

I have done it twice and had a wonderful experience both times. I can't wait to find out who my partner is this time around.

And I don't know if this is a secret or not- but I'll spill a little bit of the beans. The fabulous and handsome Andrew Thornton is going to be using my beads this month in a special thingie.

You will have to read his blog to find out more when he is ready to tell all.

Yes, it's my brain and yes, I know it's melting

Ok its been like 100 degrees here, and when I say like 100, I mean its like 100 with a heat index of hell.

It started out hot and miserable during my set up. It was so hot and miserable my misery made the news . Seriously.

I am trying to remember to smile. Its hot and I am past cranky. I have to explain the concept of "beads" to every other person who comes in to my booth.

Bead: –noun

1.

a small, usually round object of glass, wood, stone, or the like with a hole through it, often strung

with others of its kind in necklaces, rosaries, etc.

Yes, Yes, I make all this. They are beads.

People at art fairs often don't even know why they are there themselves, unlike bead shows where you can presume they are there because of a knowledge of and an interest in beads. Yes I actually did have to explain to a woman "how it worked", not once, but about a dozen times. Each time she held a bead in her hand it was like a mystery. "So, how would this one work?"

"Ummmm pretty much like the last 6 you asked about. Its has a hole, you put a string through it"

God is punishing me for being mean.

I am ready to shout "NOTHEYARENOTFUCKINGPAINTEDROCKS" but I refrain. It is too hot to shout. I croak it under my breath as they walk out of the booth.

I am almost thankful that the crowds are small, as my patience is growing smaller with every rise of the thermometer. Parts of my anatomy are surprising me with their sweating proficiency. Who knew?

My charming assistant.

I take comfort knowing that there is only 2 more days left. I may have to hurt someone if I stay in this heat any longer.

OMG time to make some art shit

This morning the realization hit me that the Ann Arbor Summer is just a week away.

I am still finishing up on my Bead and Button orders and I haven't really thought about making more work for Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair until NOW.

I have some pieces started that I can complete, but other then that I need new work.

I am slightly panicked tonight. OK a little more then slightly panicked. I can't find my wine opener thingie which has added fuel to the panic fire. (You didn't know I was fancy enough to drink wine with actual corks, did you?)

Deadlines are funny things. I hate them yet at the same time I wonder if I would ever finish anything without them. My creative urges move at their own pace, sort of like a lazy cat that might leap up and chase a dust fairy that only it can see at a moments notice.

Its times like these when I really a personal assistant to keep me on track by doing all the stupid things life requires like banking, organizing, cooking, cleaning, feeding the dogs, doing the laundry, etc. etc..... mmmm come to think of it I really need a wife. Would anyone like to marry me? I'm sure my husband wouldn't mind, and don't worry you don't have to participate in a three-some- or a two-some or even a one-some. You will be too tired for sex. I totally understand.

If you'd like to meet me before committing to marriage, you can come see me at the summer fair. I'll be in booth 194 on Main St, in front of Palios Restaurant

If you bring me an iced coffee I might even let you get to first base.

The Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair

July 20 - 23, 2011

Wednesday - Friday, 10 am - 9 pm

Saturday, 10 am - 6pm

I exist as I am, that is enough

I have been thinking a lot about Walt Whitman lately. It's my birthday this weekend,

and it's a "big" one, if one can be bigger then the next in more then just a numerical sense.

I suppose this has been as good a time as any to stop and ponder things, but besides this

let me back track a little here, besides my momentous birthday, this month has been filled with drama courtesy of my female siblings, so much drama in fact the only things missing were footlights, fake blood and straight guys in tights. (OK, I added straight guys in tights cause I'd like that, but you get the picture), and this was all on top of the Bead and Button Show which no matter how much fun I have it is a big energy suck preparing for, being at and coming down from it. So I have been pretty much feeling threadbare and fragmented or the last few weeks.

At this point in my life I have figured out a few things;

1: I am not going to please everyone. I am not motivated by other people opinions since I always seem to piss them off anyway You cannot be an artist by pleasing other people

2: At some point in your life you have to own your problems, fix them, move on and shut up.

3: Your friends will have your back

4: If you can't find beauty in dirt, then you will never see the real beauty in flowers. Anyway, back to Walt Whitman. Like I said I have been thinking about him and this bit from Leaves of Grass, in particular. I think it sums up everything beautifully.

I exist as I am, that is enough.

I exist as I am, that is enough

If no other world be aware I sit content

And if each and all be aware I sit content

One world is aware, and by far the largest to me,

And that is myself.

And whether I come to my own today or in ten thousand or ten million years

I can cheerfully take it now, or with equal cheerfulness,

I can wait

Walt Whitman

Leaves of Grass

happy birthday to me