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.......

What Goes Together ?

Both Sides of  Sandi's  Focal Pendant

Somethings just naturally seem to go together,like chocolate and peanut butter !
Other  things just  don't seem to be  likely combination's .
Chocolate and hot pepper for example.It may not sound very delicious.But ,in reality it tastes quite good...if you are a hot pepper fan that is!

Bead  combinations are like foods .Some  beads just naturally seem to mix and match,while others seem unlikely to work well together. But,the world of beads can hold some  BIG Surprises !!!

I received my Bead Soup Mix yesterday !!!!   I was sooooooo  excited to see that my focal bead was one of Sandi Volpe 's delightful soldered pendants! I can admit it now..I have been admiring them and was secretly hoping that one  would be in my mix!  What else did I get? A lovely sterling silver clasp, a beautiful strand of freshwater pearls,glistening little iolite chips and amazing "Bead for Life "paper beads from Uganda.!!!
Sandi wraped everything in a nice gift box tied with a wonderful ribbon. You just might see that ribbon show up in my design!!!
I really  like it!!!
But ,the "Bead for Life" beads gave me pause. The focal pendant is reversable .One side is a gorgeous iris water color print and the other a lovely muted landscape.
In a million years I would never have gone searching for bright African paper beads to go with this pendant!!!
I would never have imagined they could possibly work together . But, THEY DO!!! The swirls of color blends on the beads look Fabulous with both of the delicate water colors !!! Amazing !!!

The Bead Soup Party  is about thinking outside the box.
Sandi was already going beyond the obvious when she picked my soup mix!
What Awesome beads  I have to work with !!!
Thank You Sandi !!!

Now I just have to come up with a design  that will showcase this intriguing and unexpected combination !!!
Guess I'll  treat myself to a piece of Chili Chocolate and ponder design possibilities..........
this week  try out some unlikely combination's
and 
Bead  Happy ,
m.e.

My  Wonderful Bead Soup Mix!!!

http://lorianderson.blogspot.com/p/bead-soup-blog-party.html

http://sandivolpedesigns.com/

Time for Soup !

mixing the soup !

I think soup is the ultimate comfort food !

Add individual ingredients in just the right proportions.

Simmer together to make a delicious combination .

Soup can warm us body and soul . It just makes us feel good!!!

But, this week I've been working on a different type of soup ...

a sort of  Dis-comfort food !!!          Why ???

Because , I  joined Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Party!!!

http://lorianderson.blogspot.com/p/bead-soup-blog-party.html
The idea is each person will send their partner a mix of beadie ingredients much different from the types of things they most often use. We will all soon  be receiving a surprise package that does NOT contain the colors,materials or styles we feel comfortable with! We aren't supposed to include anything our partner is truly "allergic" too ..like maybe florescent orange or something of  that sort...something that  they just despise !!!
Also, no fair sending anything truly yucky...no bead veges from the back of the fridge!!!
We WILL be sending  components we think are out of our partners comfort zone. 
We will be creating with a mix to make a Dis-comfort zone Design!!!
We'll be stretching our creativity .We'll be learning by working with new ingredients and inspirations.
Best of all we'll be having FUN!!!

My partner is Sandi Volpe . Be sure to visit  her shop ! She makes lovely jewelry .Her soldered  pendants are just wonderful !!!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/sandivolpe
Sandi works most often with silver metal ,lampwork and pearls.
I will NOT be sending her any of those!!! LOL !!!

This week I have been experimenting  with Vintaj  brand components .I've been creating some beads that blend with antique brass color metals.
Maybe something like that will be in the soup mix I send Sandi..............maybe not !!!
It's a secret !!!

You'll have  to keep checking back to see what  soups we invent !!!

This week try adding a few different ingredients to your own soup mixes!

and 

Bead  Happy , 

m.e.

   

Flowers with antique bronze highlights

ABS January !

Time for a new ABS challenge !!!
This month's inspiration painting is Brown River by Wayne Thiebaud.
http://artbeadscene.blogspot.com/search/label/monthly%20challenge

I love it !!!  What  wonderful color and light !!!
I'll admit I like a bit of snow and frost during the holidays.
I suppose because it brings to mind my childhood Christmases . But, right now I am ready for SPRING !!!  This  painting  just spoke to me of Springtime . I could almost feel the warm sunshine and see bright flowers starting to bloom .Even the title "Brown River " brought to mind the muddy little rivulets the Spring rains create in my garden!

I'll take a moment here to admit I am a confessed bead hoarder .
I buy beads... because I like them....because I want them ...but, rarely because I really need them !!!
I don't usually sell my jewelry  creations  .Most of my designs I keep for myself or gift to friends and family.
True to my bead hoarding nature,on New Years Eve I purchased several strands of  the most lovey,sparkly Czech crystal beads.
The only thing I had in mind for the beads was to hold them,admire how they caught the light and finally store them away for some unknown future project.

Imagine my surprise when ABS  posted the inspiration painting ! My new beads were all the colors of the rows of foliage in the foreground  ! They looked to me just like those  little rows !   And they captured  Thiebaud's illusion of light perfectly !!!
I actually had bought something I could use right away!!!!!!!!
I was so  happy I  didn't want to add too much to detract from my new beads. I made some bright flowers and a very sunny heart. The shapes seemed to mimic the curves in the painting .Then all that seemed to be needed was a foliage inspired toggle and a wonderful antique brass bead in the same curve of the river .

It's freezing cold and snowy at my house this week.
Spring seems to be such a long way off.......
But, I  now  I have a nice dose of light and color to see me through these dreary days.
Thank you  Art Bead Scene!!!
Are you ready for some bright color this week?
Stay warm ...and
Bead Happy ,
m.e.

"Brown River"  collage

New Year Reflections

Sunrise January 1, 2011

What better inspiration for the New Year than a Gorgeous Sunrise!!! This one was right outside my front door !!!

2010 brought me my  share of joy and my share of sorrow .

But ,all  in all ,it was another  year of wonder. I try every day to appreciate each little gift I'm given.I try to "stop and smell the roses". There are so many wonders in life we miss  if we don't take time notice what's around us.

It's snowing at my house today .Outside my window the world is frosty white.But ,inside at my clay table ,my beads are the shades of  the Sunrise ! Winter is still be working it's frozen magic on the world of nature However,my world of beads has moved on to Springtime ! I suppose on many levels its good to live in the here and now. But,I do enjoy the opportunity to dwell a bit in the future. When you sell what you create ,you always  need to be  looking ahead .You must keep up with new trends ,seasonal colors and designs ! 

I LOVE it !!!. I can't see flowers outside my window today.

But, my work table is filled with cheerful blossoms!!!

As I sit here enjoying my field of  flower beads,I am reflecting a bit on the past year. What ideas will I   leave behind ,what ideas will I carry forward ?What inspired me last year ?How did I grow as an artist ?What changes did I make?What changes do I need to make?

The term  NEW year implies I can start fresh .I can change what needs changing and hold on to what is  worth keeping.I can evolve and grow .Both my beads and my business will have another new year to prosper and bring me joy!!!

As you reflect on 2010,

what new things might be in store for you ? 

Wonderful bead adventures I hope!!!

in 2011 may we all

Bead Happy !

 m.e.