Carnival !

It's almost time for Carnival celebrations !
New Orleans will once again throw the Ultimate PARTY !

What is the only required party attire ?
BEADS ... of course !!!
Beads and more beads ! Beautiful beads!!!

Part of my personal yearly celebration is to make a few Mardi Gras clown pendants.
I love making these happy, dancing little guys !
How could I not be inspired by a festival that makes beads one of the star attractions?

This year I have a special reason to be excited.
In February, Art Bead Scene will be beginning it's own Carnival !
http://artbeadscene.blogspot.com/
A blog carnival !!!
Sixteen bloggers, divided into two teams ,will be coordinating their individual blogs once each month .
Each team will write about the same subject .But, each person will be putting their own spin on the topic !
I 'm soooooooooo thrilled to be participating !
A blog party of Bead ideas and inspiration !!!
Just when the winter blahs really seem to set in..... it's Carnival time !!!
Grab your beads and let the PARTY begin !!!!
Bead Happy !!!
:D m.e.

Visit from Ms. Muse

Funny how my muse works ...
When I first saw the Art Bead Scene inspiration painting ,I was thinking shades of grays,blue grays and whites. These are the colors I perceive as snow colors.
My muse was having none of that idea !!!
I had set aside all manner of pearls and silvery stuff. But, she said in no uncertain terms " CHOOSE THE CHIPS !"
So I did .
If you don't listen to your muse you could be in BIG Trouble.
I believe forced designs and lack of inspiration will show in your final product.
My semi- precious gem chips lost their tags . Maybe somebody out there can tell me what they are ???
I do think they fit the textures in the painting perfectly . I added some of my own floral beads to "match " because....well... I am addicted to making flowers...lol!
My design need a "magpie "
I found a wonderful pewter bead at Green Girl studios . I think it made the perfect pendant !
I am really enjoying my new necklace ! Just right with my warm woolly winter wear !
Thank you for the inspiration,
http://artbeadscene.blogspot.com/2010/01/january-monthly-challenge.html
http://www.greengirlstudios.com/
and
Ms. Muse !!!

I hope you and your muse are keeping busy!
Bead Happy, m.e. :)

Snowy and cold today....

One of my goals for the New Year is to enter the ArtBead Scene monthly challenge as often a possible.
Be sure to check out their wonderful blog at http://artbeadscene.blogspot.com/

The painting chosen for this month's inspiration is "The Magpie" by Monet

Perfect !!! Almost like the view out my window !
We're having a VERY Cold Snowy winter thus far.
Inside ,I'm managing to say cozy.Got Coffee,got Clay and I'm feeling Creative !
Hope you are feeling warm and worry free too !

I was thinking of organizing my bead stash this year.......
But, instead I'm riffling through my beads and findings trying to come up with an idea for my Art Bead Scene entry.

My creative process goes something like this :
fix cup of coffee
print inspiration picture and put on my bed
dump all beads and findings onto my bed
sort out anything that seems to "go with "the painting
stuff all other items back into storage boxes
sit on bed and stare at items that "match" til my muse sends me a design idea

I am currently at the sit and stare stage
I did take a break to go outside and snap a photo of my Ice Queen Fairy pendant.
I was trying for a Monet inspired shot ! Maybe I should cut back on the coffee... lol !
For now , back to staring at beads and waiting for my muse to arrive...
Stay warm and
Bead Happy ! :) m.e.

Butterflies in Winter ?

I am thinking Spring and so are the members of PCAGOE
Our monthly challenge theme is Butterflies !
Members have created all manner of wonderful butterfly creations!
New rules this month ! you can vote for your 3 favorite entries !!!
We have an amazing grab bag of poly- prizes ! You are eligible for the prize drawing just by casting a vote! Hurry on over and pick your favorites !
http://pcagoe.com/

My entry is a tiny Butterfly Fairy . I love this Fairy clan .
This particular one is responsible for those little flutters of the heart we feel from time to time .
Cupid gets all the press when it comes to falling in love. But, he's the one who shoots us with arrows ! Ouch ..love can hurt!
I prefer the romantic feelings the Butterfly Fairies spread.
Those little flutters and the way your heart skips a beat when you think of someone special. Butterfly Fairies are busy year round . But, they become more active as Spring draws near .
I think they are much nicer for Valentines day festivities than Cupid and his arrows !!!
I hope they will fill your heart with love this year !
Bead Happy , m.e. :)

Cyber Links

I grew up well before cable TV ,cell phones and cyber connections. I wonder at our new world of instant communications.
My children gave me my first internet lessons. As computers became more and more a part of my every day life, I wondered if in the future face to face meetings might become rarer and rarer. At some point would people just sit in front of a screen with very little real human contact ?
Technically that may be happening . I no longer drag my art to craft shows ,I sell on ETSY instead. I did not even venture into a mall during the holidays. I did all my shopping on line . I think I found better gifts ,better prices and no mall madness.
Since my oldest daughter and I have busy lives and far different schedules , we e-mail much more frequently than we are able to meet . I am only able to see my grandchildren several times yearly.However,I get frequent updates, complete with almost instant photos of every thing going on in their lives.
I can do research and learn about anything I please, right in my own living room !
I have discussions with people all over the world! I can share my interests with friends I will never actually meet in person . I often share the in and outs of daily life with these cyber friends .
Events from weather to war are all happening where I have a cyber friend or acquaintance.
I can relate World news to an artist ,beader or jewelry maker I "know".

Instead of the world becoming more impersonal ,it seems far smaller and well known to me .
Computer technology does cause me to spend time alone at the key board.
But, it somehow makes me feel more linked to humanity than ever before !
This holiday season ,I am grateful for all the wonderful people on the other side of my monitor.
Grateful for all the human links that bring so much to my life each day .
"God bless us, every one!"
Bead Happy ,
m.e. :)

Thinking outside the Season

Most people can sit back and savor the season they are in. But, jewelry designers need to think ahead . I enjoy making beads for designers ,so I have to stay one step ahead of them !
Others may be thinking of deep winter colors ,warm wool,icy snow etc.
But ,I've moved on to pastels and warm sunshine !

Lately I've been enjoying making some jewelry for myself using Art Bead Scenes monthly inspiration paintings. A nice way to relax and refresh my clay creativity!
I LOVE the colors in this months pick"untitled "by Krasnr
But, what should I make???

something graphic , primitive ...even some how Wintry you say?
Did you forget? My brain has fast forwarded to spring !

This the fall I planted some spring bulbs in rich reds and many shades of blue.
I've been gazing out my kitchen window looking at brown shades of my garden mulch .
I've been dreaming about how the garden will look when the my new flowers burst into bloom.
Last week we had a light snow and my brown garden was laced with white.

Of COURSE !!!
The picture is the perfect inspiration for a necklace design I'll call
"Think Spring"
No matter what season you're in ...ENJOY !
and
Bead Happy , m.e. :)

What Time is it ?

Counting down to 2010 !
I'm soooooooooooooo busy with holiday preparations !
I LOVE the holidays ! But, they can be exhausting.
This years biggest challenge is to keep our new kitten from redecorating our tree !!!

I'm doing ALL my shopping on line this year .Saves money ,time and my tired old feet!!!
I am able to find some really unique gifts! And the coffee is much cheaper at my house than at St*rbucks ..LOL!!!

If you are home getting ready for your holiday ...
take a moment to check out PCAGOE's monthly challenge .
The theme is "seasonal'' Some really great entries this month .
Vote for your favorite and you could win some special gifts
http://www.pcagoechallenge.blogspot.com/
and then go check out The PCAGOE AMAZING Stocking Giveaway
http://pcagoe.com/
shop for fabulous gifts AND be eligble to win one of those stockings ! WOW!!!!

better go get yourself another cup of coffee and start shopping !
Bead Happy , m.e. :)