Words of Wisdom

Words of Wisdom

I had so much fun making the word beads for my ABS design last week,I couldn't stop !

Adding a word to a design gives it an immediate scene of focus .
I think most jewelry sets a mood. You probably wouldn't select the same piece for a night out with the girls as you would for an important job interview .
We all have jewelry we wear that makes us feel happy and cheerful.
And we have pieces that make us feel more clam and serene. 
Do you only pick jewelry to match your outfit?
Or do you pick pieces that fit  how you are feeling?
There are designs for every mood
Bright ,Bold ...feelin' Bitchy
Dark,Moody ...feelin' Dramatic
Sleek, Sophisticate ...feelin' so Smart 

you know what I mean ...the list goes on and on !
maybe the mood is your secret ...

But, when you add an actual word ,your focus is apparent to all .
Today I dare to DREAM
I will not loose HOPE
My life is about the JOURNEY

It seems to me that when you boldly wear an affirmation ,people around you  "kinda" hop  on board
When your jewelry says this is what I need to focus on , maybe others think " I can help with that " Or maybe people  identify and  think "I need that too "
A word  included on a gift of jewelry is certainly a perfect way state your intention.
My wish for you is the gift of HOPE
Never stop BELIEVING
I wish you JOY
this week make a  design with special Word
for yourself or a friend
and
Bead Happy,

m.e.

ABS June Challenge

Vacation

Its Time for the June ABS challenge !
http://artbeadscene.blogspot.com/2013/06/june-monthly-challenge.html

It's always interesting to find out what part of the ABS  inspiration will grab me . This month it was the subject itself ,a lovely village by the sea in  a restful muted palette.
I've been very busy lately . I really could use a vacation.
When I saw the painting, all I could think of was how I would love to be relaxing in that little seaside town . I imagined leisurely strolls along the rocky shore. Maybe stopping to collect a pretty pebble or a bit of sea glass......
Ah ha ... my design inspiration !
I drilled holes in a nice piece of sea glass  I found in Nassau .I think found objects made great art beads . However,my seaside treasure hunts have all been along sandy beaches.No pebbles to be found in my stash. But , creating faux polymer clay rocks is easy and fun .
I made up an instant collection of pebble beads in the colors of the painting. While making the beads, another idea came to me
ABS Sunday has been discussing "Word Beads" I have always loved the  idea of  an inspiration word you can wear .But ,I have made very few beads with words . I decided to try some faux beach pottery shards with words. What words to pick? How about where I wanted to be and what I wanted to be doing ?
I added a little sea weed green gauze ribbon for a pop of color . My entry was complete.
The surprise outcome.... I felt relaxed and refreshed.
I don't have time for a real vacation right now. But, spending time concentrating on my seaside escape design ,was just the  break I needed.
Sometimes beads and bead work can be almost like mediation .... a mini retreat from everyday stress
this week
relax on your own Design Stay-cation
and
Bead Happy ,
m.e.

Playing with Pods

Pine Cone & Polymer Pods

I am loving all the rustic beads and elements that are showing up in Jewelry Designs.
I am especially enamored by "pod "shapes.
This week I decided to just play with that shape .
I didn't want to Borrow realist forms  from Mother Nature.
I just wanted take the idea of a seed pod and see were it took me.

There are weeks went my life needs a bit of structure .
At times like that, I think I benefit from organizing my brain to make realist flowers.
But,this week was particularly busy at the vet clinic where I  work.
We had a lot of fur-baby emergencies coming in our doors.
That's always very stressful  for everyone involved.
After a week of trying to multitask and keep organized in the midst of chaos ,I needed to free my head up a bit.
I find it very relaxing to let the clay take over. I picked some pleasing colors and just let the forms take shape on their own .
My beads are organic forms with micro glass beadie "seeds"
But , they aren't from any  real world garden.
They are fantasy  seed pods from the garden of imagination.
It's  a lovely garden to relax in . You never know what will grow there.
This week enjoy some time in the Imagination Garden
and
Bead Happy ,  

m.e.

A Second Shop

A first for me ... NO polymer clay appears in my blog  this week !
Instead this is about a new venture .
Several months ago I stated selling earrings at the veterinary hospital were I work.
I decided to donate all the money from sales to a local no kill animal rescue.
Since I have a ginormous stash of beads, I thought this would be a good way for me to support a cause I strongly believe in.
The Good News ... my earrings were a big hit and I was able to donate a significant amount of money right from the start.
I did manage to use some beads from my stash .
However, I kept finding really ,really great animal themed components to buy.
I have soooo much  fun searching for neat new  beads and charms !
Every week clients and co-workers look forward to seeing the new earring designs.
The Bad News... I  realized I needed  a way to pay for my supplies !
I did get a foot in the door of a brick and mortar store ,which has helped a lot
But, I like doing my own merchandizing . So I decided to take a chance and open a second ESTY  shop.
 ETSY  is a jungle of jewelry designers . It's easy to get lost and be swallowed up by lions ,tigers and bears ...oh my!
The completion is tough .There is some amazing jewelry for sale on ETSY!
I am  not making any Paris Runway ,OOAK or Glam designs .
I'm making fun stuff  people can wear everyday.
My earrings are not about making a fashion statement.
They are about making people smile.
I figure I can list 100 pairs for an investment of $20 .That seems worth a gamble .The only down side...my hand is falling off after posting 24 listings!!!

So many lost and lonely dogs and cats need medical care and forever homes.
I hope my new venture will help support my "pairs for paws " fund
this week stop by and check out my new shop
http://www.etsy.com/shop/Hyacinthsbyme
and
Bead Happy !

m.e.

WiFi & Flowers

Bead Bouquet

Absence makes the heart grow fonder
Nothing makes that quote more clear to me than the absence of my internet !
You don't know what you have until you lose it .
Besides my ETSY shop ,Pinterest and all things Beadie
My computer is my bookkeeper ,banker and link to  friends and family.
With internet access I have the world at my finger tips
Without it, I'm cut off from the sources that help run my world .
And I'm without many things that make me smile .
This week  my internet provider was down for almost 24 hours!
I was not happy !!! OK...I was in major melt down !
But the good news is, I used  my  unwelcome free time to make some extra beads .
I liked the flower style I created for the May ABS challenge so much ,
I decided to try it in a few more colors .
Before I knew it ,I had a bouquet full of flowers! Thanks for the inspiration ABS.

These are big focal type beads . I like them as simple pendants as well as components in more complicated designs.
I think a statement piece with a huge bunch of these flowers might be fun too.
But,that will have to wait....
I have lots of blogs and e-mails to catch up with !
This week enjoy your favorite cyber connections
and don't forget to
Bead Happy ,

 m.e.

Something Old is New

My New Floral Cabochons

I love making polymer clay flowers. I have been making flower beads for a long,long time!I have also started making simple earrings to sell at the Animal Hospital were I work . I donate all of the profits to a local Animal Rescue .

It's been years since I made earrings to sell . Flower brooches and earrings were the creations that got me started on this journey.
Recently I sat making little floral cabochons to glue onto earring backs. Suddenly my muse slapped me up side da head !
Why not add some cabochons to my shop she said.

The market is  full of easy  to  use findings with nice little round plates for gluing.Just add a  tiny flower and voila instant accessory ! Perfect way to add some inexpensive items to a shop or craft show line up . Or invest a bit more time and add a small flower or two to mixed media pieces. Polymer clay is very light weight .You can you can create ginormous designs that remain wearer friendly .
I love combos of unexpected elements all nicely arranged  into wonderful wearable  ART .
I haunt ETSY  and yard sales for bits and pieces of  weird and worn stuff I can use in my jewelry.
Often the very best finds are broken,missing parts etc.
Who wants one earring and a lock with no key ?
I do ! Broken + Bargain  can = Beautiful Beadie collage !
Do you ever use found items in your designs?

Making flowers is Old news for me .
But ,  using them as cabochons is a New twist .
This week
turn something Old into something New
and
Bead Happy

m.e. .

May ABS Challenge

Recollect

Time for the May ABS challenge
http://artbeadscene.blogspot.com/2013/05/may-monthly-challenge.html 

If I had the time,I might spend hour after hour picking flowers from this painting.
I could gaze at this for hours and still find a new element to delight me .
And so many wonderful rich colors to choose from.
Is there such a thing as inspiration overload ?
I love making flowers .This month I almost wanted to make the entire vase full!
But, it is rather unpractical to spend 24/7 playing with clay and beads.
At least this is what my family tells me... LOL

Therefore, I decided to select just a few of my favorite elements and begin
I picked some shells and seed pods that were almost perfect matches.
And I found a large dragonfly that seemed just right.
Then I tried to duplicate my favorite flower,the striped one in the corner.
But, how would I pull it all together?
The elements made me think  of a collection of treasures saved as a reminder of a special life event.
Perhaps these could be mementos of a Summer love  ......
I decide to add a vintage escutcheon . 
For me peering though a key hole is a bit like peering into one's heart
A secret place that holds special memories......

A simple necklace with it's own untold story
Perhaps I will make up  a tale to go along with this piece
It may begin :
She agreed to meet him at the garden .The hidden one that grew so near the beach...........

This week imagine a memory
capture it in a piece of jewelry  
and
Bead Happy !

m.e.