Eggstra Special Week !

The Birth Experience !

I'm late !!! I usually post on Saturdays .
But, I was busy yesterday meeting my new Grandson!!!
Grandchild #3 arrived Friday night !
He is sooooooooo  precious ! I'm very  happy he is here at last !
I was busy all week conferring with my daughter..is this really labor starting?  yes...maybe ...not yet ... etc.. etc.
If  you are a Mom you know how it goes !!

The photo above  is of a favorite older piece of mine .
My inspiration ...giving birth !!! Little hen ...BIG egg  !!! LOL!!!
I had intended to make some Butterfly Fairies this week.
However, my Fairies got  put on hold .
Instead, I decided I  needed  to  make egg shaped beads .
I made  myself an egg bead bracelet , an egg necklace and a set of eggs  to sell !!! The egg is  such  a perfect yet simple shape .
It's lovely for Spring  designs and new Grammy jewelry !
Besides, my muse was saying make eggs, and I never argue with the muse!

There are many weeks I have the intention to make one thing and the muse points me in a different direction . I always follow.
I believe the beauty of handmade pieces comes from the heart of the maker .If your heart is not in a project  it seems to show .
But, if you are truly inspired to create something that shows as well !
No matter what you might have planned to create this week ...
try following your heart
and
Bead Happy ,

m.e.  / Grammy

Egg Beads & Nest Pendant

Island Inspiration

Tahiti  Breeze

it's  time for my March ABS entry
http://artbeadscene.blogspot.com/2011/03/march-monthly-challenge.html
When I saw this month's inspiration painting
"Sacred Spring,Sweet Dreams " by Paul Gauguin
I thought I knew exactly what I'd make !
Lots of Big,Bright flowers...of course !!!
The vibrant colors of that painting are irresistible !
Perfect for some large Hibiscus shaped  floral beads!
What else to add ???

I had some luscious  sari silk ribbon in just the right shades of mango and papaya .
I remembered some great carved wooden beads hidden in my stash .They had a warm, natural tropical look.
Shannon Levart http://www.etsy.com/shop/missficklemedia   
had the PERFECT copper chain with a  patina of  lovely greens !!!

I started by making some tropical leaves to coordinate with that Beautiful length of chain.
I've never been to Tahiti. But,I frequently visit the Florida Keys.
While creating my leaves I dreamed of  the lush green foliage , warm  golden sunshine , soft cool breezes, graceful swaying  palms.........prehaps a cool drink ......
enough daydreaming !
I laid out my components to decide how many flowers I would need....
but ..........
wait........................
The leaves and sari silk seemed to flutter in the breeze .
The  design was by captured  by trade winds in my imagine.
My necklace was already finished !!!!!
Forget the flowers!
Who is  in charge here ???
Do I create my  designs  or do they create themselves!
Sometimes I wonder !!!
this week take a break from plans,sketches ,diagrams
be free to let a design grow in whatever direction it pleases
and
Bead Happy  ,

m.e.

Nave  Nave Moe

Dessert Design

What's a dessert design ???
No,I'm not referring to those adorable little cake and pie replicas.
I 'm talking about designs we make just for fun!
We all have our meat and potato designs,
the old standbys that everyone wants and needs.
The ones that are good for us...and for our shop profits !!!
Certainly nothing wrong with creating those great  design entrees. 
But,sometimes you just want dessert !!! Something  fun and fanciful.A creation whipped up light and lovely,sinfully rich or oh so sweet!
A dessert design is something to make when  you want to treat yourself !!! It's a bit of high calorie creativity !

If  you  follow the Bead Table Wednesday  group on flickr , you already know  that this week I  was inspired  by marshmallow Peeps! http://www.flickr.com/groups/1601463@N21/
Really !!! I bought some Peeps  and set about creating flowers in Spring candy  colors!!!  Peep Pink might not be a hot color for the fashion world .But,it makes me feel HAPPY !!!
I had soooo much fun !!!
this week splurge a little...forget calories !
treat yourself to a Dessert Design Creation
and 
 Bead Happy !!!
m.e.

Soup...now Salad!

All week I've been enjoying the Delicious variety of Bead Soups being served on Lori Anderson's Bead Soup blog hop !!!!
YUM !!!  Wonderful  Gourmet Creations !!!
Now I 'm ready for the next course...and what goes with soup ?
Salad !!!! Salad tastes good and it's a good source of vitamins, minerals and Bead  Inspiration !!!
Don't believe me? Just take a look at the produce section next time you go grocery shopping .
See those exquisite blends of greens !Those pre- bagged salad mixes are feast for the jewelry designers  pallet!
If you like bright, check out the pepper section !!!
Prefer neutrals ? Look at all those soft  and serene mushroom shades !
And while you're picking up color inspiration,don't forget to check out the wonderful variety of  shapes, textures  and finishes.
Shiny smooth eggplants ,velvety  surfaced turnips ,wonderful wavy cabbage leaves...the list goes on and on !!!
 We all know we should try to eat more veges. Doctors say the more varieties we choose the better for us. And the more you buy, the more bead inspiration you'll have on hand !!!
I  hesitate to say this ...but, maybe Mom was wrong...maybe
it IS good to play with your food !!!
I've been playing with purple cabbage all week and I'm glad I did !!!
Maybe your Muse could  use some fresh vegetables on her designing  dish!  
this week fix yourself a Big  Salad
enjoy a healthy  helping of Inspiration
and
Bead Happy ,

m.e.

Spring Thaw

The Promise of  Spring

Sometimes I wish I was a  big old  bear !
I love the idea of spending the warm months of the year eating as much as possible,happily growing fat all summer.Then when the weather turns cold ,being free to just curl up in a cozy spot for a nice long nap. I am very inclined to hibernate !

I do work on my beads and my bead  shop all winter long .
I do spend time thinking of new things I want to try.
When the days are cold and gray my dreams do take shape. However, they don't always seem to develop as they should.
Many of my  ideas seem to remain on a sort of a "winter wish list ".

This week the days have finally started  to warm up !!!
Daytime temperatures have been in  the 40's even up in the 60's!!!
At last the ice and snow is  melting ! Stepping outside to photograph the beautiful sunrise pictured above,
I could just feel  the Promise of Spring in the air !

Suddenly  I feel more productive. New color combination's and design inspirations are are filling my head .
Ideas and ambitions are staring to unfurl !
I am even more determined  to  enter every ABS challenge this year !http://artbeadscene.blogspot.com/2011/02/february-monthly-challenge.html
My Bead Soup project is almost complete . I love this idea ! I'm  already looking  forward to the next one! http://lorianderson.blogspot.com/p/bead-soup-blog-party.html
I've discovered  a new place to make purchases, Lima Beads.
I'm  having so much fun with their Big Green Bead Machine !!!  Some great deals there and sometimes free beads!!!
I plan to post some of my designs in their Design Gallery very soon!http://www.limabeads.com/
This spring I'll be hunting for more show and tell  type venues.
I really enjoy sharing  bead inspiration!

I am so thrilled to be working with my friend Linda Moseley  on her TERRIFIC blog give away for next month !!!   Don't forget to check  her site frequently for a chance to win one of her GORGEOUS  creations !  http://www.scdiva.blogspot.com/

I am finally waking up from the long cold Winter .
Time for my  Spring thaw !!!
I'm hungry for new ideas and growling about finding more time for beads !!!
I have an un-bear-able urge to bead!!!
This week thaw out some of your winter wishes
Let your design ideas Spring forth
and
Bead Happy,
m.e.

Sweet  Peach Flowers

            I'm  Sowing Sewing the Seeds of my  Bead Soup inspiration! 

                                    Big Reveal is next Saturday 2/26 !!!!

Just For Fun !!!

"Whimsy "

I love searching the internet for new beads ,beading materials and bead inspiration!
I collect beads from artists I admire,beads from different cultures and beads that I  like...just because !!!

I have a big stash of  beads and beadie  things waiting for the right project to come along.
For quite awhile I have been intrigued with " Woven Wire Ribbon"
a wonderful  tube of fish net like wire that can be filled,stretched,knotted etc.  Imagine the possibilities !
I longed to try some. But, I was trying not to add even more to my stash of "waiting to be used things" !
Then ABS posted the  inspiration painting for February. Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose by John Singer Sargent
http://artbeadscene.blogspot.com/2011/02/february-monthly-challenge.html

As soon as I saw it, I noticed the wonderful ruffled collars on the girl's dresses! Wire ribbon can be stretched into ruffles !!!! Perfect!!! I went straight to my key board and hit "buy now".
My wire ribbon was on its way!
What else would I  add to to capture what this painting said to me?
It's a garden of gorgeous flowers ....of course I HAD to make a flower !!! You know I can't stop making flowers ..LOL!!!

But ,what other elements to include ? The whole time I waited for my wire ribbon to arrive I thought  about my design.
I'll admit ,I even daydreamed about it at work ...I hope my boss doesn't read this blog !!!
I do love the "things "that are in the painting . But, what I seemed to love the most was the magical feeling  it captured for me .
The painting took me back to the innocence of childhood, a time when we are not afraid to let our imaginations soar ! I decided to let my inner child loose and just have fun with my design !
My necklace became a flight of fancy .... A bit of WHIMSY !
Thank you ABS for the wonderful inspiration!
This week let your inner child speak
Design something just for FUN!
and

Bead Happy ,

m.e.

 
PS: Can you guess the mystery metal component for my Soup ???

Stayin' Warm in Winter !!!

Winter Moon Rise

This week more snow and ice  at my house!!!! 

I've been making  beads to mix /match antiqued  gold and  brass metal shades .I love the look of these  popular metals.

Up until now I've been  matching the brass colors.

But,I just ordered some  findings to coordinate with gun metal  and  Vintaj "Arte Metal "  shades.

That should keep me busy til Spring!!!

The groundhog predicted Spring will be early . I hope he's right !!! I'm getting very weary of ice and snow!

It's sooooooo cold and gloomy outside .

My hands are freezing. But , my heart is warm !!!  Why ???

Because I've  been working on a Secret project!!!

I've discussed several times the Wonderful friendships our beads bring us. We make amazing beadie connections with people all over the world  just sitting at our computer !!! 

One of my  most treasured bead connected  friendships is with Lynda Moseley .

She is THE MOST talented polymer clay artist and jewelry designer!!!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/SCDiva
Lynda is The Queen of polymer clay transfer beads!
Her work is GORGEOUS!!!
Her latest creations include AMAZING  Vintaj wrapped beads !!!
Rarely am I at a loss for words! But ,her work defies adequate description .Check out her Flickr pics to see for yourself
http://www.flickr.com/photos/25473906@N02/

Why am I feeling so Warm  and Happy  in my heart ?
Because Lynda is using some of my flower beads in her next project!!!!! I am so Honored !!!!
She is having AMAZING monthly giveaways on her blog.
Next month the prize will  be one of Lynda's Fabulous necklaces  !!!

Yes , you heard me right  !!! You could win one of her necklaces !!!!

My  flower beads will be a part of the design ! I made  the  flowers especially to match the Beautiful Pendant she created for this  months drawing !!! I don't want to give away the surprise ...keep watching  her blog
you will NOT want to miss a chance to win !!!
http://www.scdiva.blogspot.com/
This week warm your heart ...
Take time to visit  with your beadie friends
and
Bead Happy

m..e.

Vintaj inspired flowers

PS . I'm waiting  for a mystery component I ordered for my Bead Soup Project ...can you guess what it could be?  something metal.......