new ebw challenge theme

Last month's winner Mariya of BeadCatcher says,

"I guess everybody once in a while has had that thought "What if?" Yes, what if
you were given a once in a life time chance to travel through time and space; to
travel into past or future; to travel into a real or imagined world? Where would
you go? What would you see there? Just think about it. Take the trip and share
it with us in the form of beading art with its unlimited possibilities!"

Her theme? Time Travel

Wowza! My immediate thought is steampunk-- but we'll see.

I'm still hard at work on my Temptation project!

my corner

There are some awesome things happening in my corner of the bead world.

Carol Dean Sharpe of SandFibers is celebrating her 3rd Etsyversary with a 20% discount on her marvelous pieces! Go check it out!

Fellow EtsyBeadweavers Kerrie Slade and Smadar Grossman had lovely projects in the latest issue of Bead&Button! Congrats to them!

Nancy Schindler of Round Rabbit is closing on 900 sales in her Etsy shop! Go Nancy! She's offering a little gift to her blog readers up through tonight (Saturday).

And lots of folks are off on Heather Power's Bead Cruise *le sigh*

And me-- just a little envious of all the activity. I've had so much activity this month-- and I'm so *tired*. And yet, and yet . . .

On another front my green beads came in today so I can resume work on my temptation project!

advice, anyone?

I don't know if anyone's noticed yet but I've radically changed my listing descriptions in my shops.


The goal was two-fold. Primarily I wanted all the information to be easily assemilated by an on-line browser.


Secondly, I was hoping to streamline the listing process a bit while ensuring that I didn't forget to include important information-- like measurements.


So here for your review-- meaning I hope you'll tell me which you like better and why-- two listings:

uluwatu waters necklace

Beautiful and rustic, watery teal recycled Indonesian glass defines this turquoise necklace.

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turquiose-- great shapeAfrican white metal-- love these things!

Indonsian recycled glass

glass seed beads

professional quality beading cable

sterling silver wire

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The easy to use, secure and lovely 's' clasp is handformed (by me) sterling silver wire.

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18 1/4 inches (46.5cm)

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Sent Priority Mail.

OR

it's a savage world necklace

It's a savage world-- make the most of it with this wild red necklace of horn, wood, raku, clay, fish, red agate, crystal and glass beads.

Asymmetrical and surprisingly lightweight, this one-of-a-kind piece will add a little primitivity to the reds or browns in your wardrobe.

This asymmetrical design is finished with one of the thebeadedlily's signature handformed sterling hook clasps.

18 inches (46cm), strung on professional quality beading cable.

Sent Priority Mail.

Matching earrings:http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=16122976

--

OK. Please tell me anything your inclined to say-- even if it's just a tiny little thing-- or big, great, huge thing that you think may be a sensitive spot.

I'm mainly concerned with the listing verbiage and layout-- please share your thoughts there and be as specific as you can . . .

I appreciate all you help, advice and support as you read my blog. Thank you!!!

art for the body

Thought I'd share a new blog to keep an eye on.

Rachael of DreamWoven has started a new blog she calls "Art For the Body". It's new-- only three posts old-- but she's filling a niche for those of us who aren't just art fanatics-- we're wearable art fanatics!

Check it out!

Also loving the more established Wearable Art Blog.

crash pretty

I still don't feel like I've re-entered my life. From the trip.

Yesterday I was gone allllll day. I went to the doctor, got the 120,000 mile service done on my car and got new glasses. I don't think I like them quite as much as the old ones. The glasses I mean.

Today I made and listed several pieces-- no bracelets. I really have to make some bracelets.

I'm up to 163 items in my Etsy stor e-- 17 bracelets. It's time.

I plan to make a schedule soon, in hopes that it will enable me to get more accomplished. Actually I planned to make it while I was away, and I've planned to make it every day since I got back . . . hmmmm . . . Will tomorrow do?

pictures of pretty

Bead Art Originals Items of the Week!

Take a look!
Here's some fabulous beadwoven beauty by TotallyTwisted!

Eternity - Pendant and Spiral Rope Necklace

Enchantress - Bead Embroidery Pendant and Spiral Necklace


And from 1000Markets, here's a selection from the new EarthBorn Jewelry Market, featuring "Jewelry that reflects an organic, ancient and essential connection to the earth."

so . . .

Who noticed that I forgot to blog yesterday?

I was having way too much fun with the new beads!

I was working on my Temptation project, but then I ran out of a color I needed. No matter how many beads you have, you can never have enough. True fact.

Anyway-- I ordered more of those and set to work on the Tucson stash!

sneak peek of the temptation project

shortest of the shorts

I read all day and this evening started my new EBW Temptation cuff.

It's green so I've got plenty of beads ala' the green project.

Now I'm going to sleep to the sound of rain falling.

But first, because I know you love pictures:

It was love at first sight and now it's mine!!!! But Mak has some other killer work you can beat me to! If you're fast!

i want to believe

by winonacookie

I must have been 12 or so and I was reading a school book. It must have been Science.

the text was illustrating how we learn not just from personal experience and personal observation, but from others.

Something like, "Have you ever seen Australia? Then how do you know it exists?"

This I do remember-- and clearly. It was earth-shattering for me. I realized how much of my universe I just took on faith.

As sure as I believe that I'm alive, I believe in Australia. I believe in Antarctica, though I've never seen it or talked to anyone who has. I believe in things that I can't see-- my mind, electromagnetism, molecular structures. God.

Then there are things I believe, but feel that I can't be all together certain of. I believe in the Loch Ness Monster, in global warming, that the media is more than halfway responsible for the failing economy, that healthcare is more ridiculously ineffective than it has to be.

There are other things that I accept as fact, but I'm less certain about them. Has man really walked on the moon? How private are our movements? Is the President of the US really elected by the people? How close are the history books to reality?

I believe that we pick and choose our beliefs. We may think it's a fact-- but everything is accepted on evidence. How strong is the evidence? How reliable? What we believe so often depends on who we believe.

A fragile reality.

To complicate things, what we want to believe so often affects our beliefs and actions. It can be a temptation to ignore common sense in favor what we want our realities to be. I give you the beliefs-- pot isn't harmful, the Holocaust never happened, my country is better than yours and all dogs go to heaven.

Remember Fox Mulder's poster?

mondays picture on tuesday

Bead Art Originals Items of the Week with a few associated deals and discounts! Check them out here! 

And the fabulous finds from Treasury curators of the week!

totallytwisted's Solstice 

 Rainbow Ribbons and Dots Polymer Clay Button by njema

vintage red wood block print your own textiles by opendoorstudio

Circles of Green Necklace by njema 

Autumn jasper and copper bracelet by CoonAndCole 

And thanks to daringasaperson and Evelyn81 for their support as well!

road trip: day 11, all the way home and announcing

We did indeed make it home-- all beads intact!
Tomorrow I have orders to send, orders to make and, my personal unfavorite, an insurance claim procedure to begin with the USPS . . .
Busy day!
I will post the BAO Items of the Week and Treasury Curator's Picks tomorrow. I know today is usually my day for that but I'm too tired.
Instead--- announcing this month's Etsy Beadweaver's Tropical Holiday Challenge Winner:
Mariya of BeadCatcher and her Tropical Treasures.

Congrats to Mariya for her eyecatching entry!

My Special Mentions this month goes to Karin at gypsyeyesjewelry for her amazing Pink Flamingo Fantasy Necklace.

What a grand theme it was! I'm looking forward to seeing what every-- including me-- comes up with for the new Temptation theme!

road trip: day 10-- of mice and milkshakes

Tonight we're just outside of Little Rock Arkansas. Long day tomorrow as Savannah is 700 someodd miles away. I'm still doing all the driving. Mothermine's back wouldn't allow her to drive at the beginning-- now that it will, I tell her that she'll ruin my story if I let her drive.
My story is that I drove *all the way to Arizona* and *all the way back*.

This morning we heard mice in the walls of our hotel room. They were squeaking at each other. It made me instantly long for mice. They sounded so cute. We already have cats though, and a resident rodent so the mice will have to wait.

I hope no one reports the ones we heard this morning . . . I'd like to think of them living out happy little mice lives in Tucumcari!

A diet tip for you! If you're on a diet and get a yen for ice cream, go to Braum's. Get a milkshake. The only catch is-- you can only have what you can suck through the straw within 15 minutes . . . Wondering why I suggest that? Imagine trying to eat a Blizzard through a straw . . .

The rest of what I could say about my day is a rant about rude drivers and road rage. I'll keep it simple. There is a reason the road has two lanes. One for me and one for you. Breathe already.

road trip- day 11, Tucumcari

Started back to Georgia today-- and we didn't get too far.

We're spending the night in Tucumcari for the following silly reasons:

We really love the name.

Judging from the amount of billboards to be seen, they spend a lot of money trying to snag drivers on I-40 and I like to reward a good effort-- even if that means an extra two hours on the road tomorrow.

We really like New Mexico so we're prolonging our time here and and pouring a few bucks into the New Mexican economy.

New Mexico doesn't allow smoking in restaurants.

Texas cuts my speed to 65mph after dark.

They have a dinosaur park. I won't see it, but I know it's nearby.

We kind of hoped the cost of the room would be less in Tucumcari than the much larger Amarillo.

Now you know even more about my odd ways!

road trip day 10-- as promised (finally)

Tomorrow we start back. I slept really late today as I haven't been getting too much rest. Not that I'm complaining. It's been awesome-- but I felt the need to refresh a bit in light of the coming trip home . . .

Grand Canyon . . . If you've never seen it, just imagine how big you think it is and quadruple that. It's *amazing*. I think that it shouldn't be called a canyon, seriously, they should coin a word for it.

It's a different world.

I wouldn't mind seeing it again, maybe a different part, sans ice. I slipped and nearly killed myself-- no harm done. They have burro tours and all sorts of cool things, but I need warmer weather for that!

Here are the shots of my new bead stash! I easily doubled what I currently have-- maybe more. I feel like I should open a bead store!

Now I get to pack it all up again for the trip home! Yay, me!

I have some shots on Flickr of Oak Creek Canyon and Sedona which are nice too!

roadtrip-- day 9-- sorry!

I wanted to stay in all day an rest, but it was not to be.
So I'm cheating again and posting a meme.
Trip pictures tomorrow-- I'll make it a priority!

You copy the list, mark what you've done and post it for fun.


1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii-- December for me!
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disney World
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France

20. Slept on an overnight train

21. Had a pillow fight

22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort

25. Held a lamb

26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset

31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors-- or one branch anyway
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight

46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud

54. Gone to a drive-in theater

55. Been in a movie

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt

73. Stood in Times Square

74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person

80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous

92. Joined a book club

93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

road trip: day 8-- a small break for me

We saw the Grand Canyon today! I'll post pictures tomorrow.
In the meantime, voting is up on the EBW blog for the Tropical Holiday challenge! My entry, hawaii '09, has a couple of votes. There are a couple of strong leaders already. Go pick a favorite!

road trip: day 7-- have I really been gone that long?

1st a few shots from Tucson. I think I was just too excited to remember the camera-- plus being laden with shopping bags!

This is a design example mannequinn for Paula Radke's beads. I loved it! And the sweet lady herself let me snap her picture knowing what I was going to do with it!

Mega pearls-- I was just overwhelmed by this one corner of the market!

This was fun! It's hard to tell from the shot but we were comparing the depth of carving in handcarved vs. laser carved stone. It's easy to see close up.

Red rock country-- Sedona AZ-- and yes- I took this one!

And then when it snows I guess it becomes white rock country?

Red here, but muted, not like at sunset.

Mothermine plays with the local wildlife!

I thought this was a nice shot- just pretty!

My car-- mind, I parked it after most of the snow had already fallen!

Couldn't resist a mini-snowcreature. Or snowballs aimed at mothermine-- I'm a lousy shot.

First thing this morning I peeked out my window to see:

Pictures of loot to follow tomorrow!