new ebw theme announced . . .

Strand
The winner of the last challenge, Karin of gypsyeyesjewelry has decided a the theme for March!



Temptation.



Immediately springing to my mind are art beads of course-- surely some of the smallest, and largest, of all temptations!!!!



I've also got a BAO challenge on the horizon at some point soon.



So I'll be busily beading, which is the way I like it!

family project #3, down and something extra!

Family project #3 was bil's shark tooth cuff. He really liked Barbary Coast but to me it looked a bit feminine on him-- though the cuff itself really isn't girlie. So I made him a leather backed version for his anniversary this year. He said it's the best anniversary gift I've ever given him-- not hard as this is only anniversary #2 and I didn't give him anything last year . . .
I also made this today. It was a custom job-- a gauged nosering Rajasthan style! I *love* this. Seriously. If I could wear it, I would have kept it and made Slang something else. Seriously-- yes I know that's the second time I said that.

Anyway, I may start making these.
I also made a pair of custom earrings today. Everything's packed up and ready to go and I have plans for a nath that I'd really love to work on!

dream a little dream

primitive series-- voila' vine

Yesterday was Shrink Day-- my very first visit to any sort of specialist on the human psyche-- though I've been under a doctor's care for my issues on and off for over 15 years.





Anyway-- I was just telling her about me . . . family history, education, and she asked about college. I explained that all that I've ever really wanted to do is art. I didn't go to school for it because I didn't see the point in going to school for something I couldn't make a living off of. I didn't go to school for anything else because I didn't see the point in going to school for something I didn't want to make a living off of-- which was anything and everything else.





Then I told her about my work history-- food service then retail and now-- I have my own business making art. Which is what I always wanted and never thought would be possible. It's true that I'm not exactly making a living, but it's also true that I'm doing something that I've always dreamed about doing. And it snuck up on me and I didn't realize it till yesterday. Weird, huh?

ocean of storms wardrobe

All in fun-- but who wouldn't feel great in this outfit?

ocean of storms cuff by thebeadedlily

Coming on strong - Sterling silver band with 3 spinners by silvercrush

distressed silver petit blade earrings by discomedusa

silk top stormy blue by BlueSeaBlue

Long black wrap skirt by laramieloom

Bella Caribe Lace-up Leather Sandals Black Deerskin

subscriptions

First let me share something that got a smile from me today:

The Crocodile


by Lewis Carroll

How doth the little crocodile
Improve his shining tail,
And pour the waters of the Nile
On every golden scale!


How cheerfully he seems to grin,
How neatly spreads his claws,
And welcomes little fishes in,
With gently smiling jaws!

If you don't subscribe to The Writer's Almanac, you really should! It's a nice mix of old favorites, new awesomeness, the occasional total waste of space and really cool factoids and stories.

I sent out my second newsletter last night-- my subscribers get a chance at a free pair of earrings! If you missed it and want to get in on some extra insanity next month subscribe! The link is at the top right of my blog.

Also of interest today was Seth Godin's definition of creativity.

For me, creativity is the stuff you do at the edges. But the edges are different for everyone, and the edges change over time . . . If you want to be creative, understand that you'll need to get to the edges, even if the edges have moved. Being creative means immediately going to the place the last person left off.

Not a bad definition! I subscribe to Seth's Blog too.

prettiness

Monday is pretty-pictures-from-Treasury-curators-day!

Amber Fire Shower Necklace by gypsyeyesjewelry

Gen-Bu bracelet by CieloDesign

Sunshine and Flowers Peyote Cuff

Enchantress - Bead Embroidery Pendant and Spiral Necklace

Starfish Notecards by abeachthing

Thanks too, to time4acure!

And Bead Art Originals find a nice deal on some wonderful art day!

odd little day

I woke up late this morning so I dashed out without even turning on my computer. That's unheard of for me!

Not turning on the computer means I didn't get to renew anything on Etsy-- which I do faithfully.

Then I went over to my cousin's place for a sushi lunch (polymer clay cousin) and stayed most of the day. No renewing, obviously.

So it was a pretty big surprise when I came home to three orders. Makes me wonder why I bother renewing all day long!

Anyway-- I made the orders up-- they were all from my Primitive Series-- and packed them up and they're ready to go tomorrow. Which is good because I plan to be gone tomorrow too. And Tuesday. And Wednesday (shrink day).

I'm not sure if this is nervous energy prior to therapy, if I'm trying to convince myself that nothing's really wrong with me by making a pass at a 'normal' life, or if I'm just trying to stay out of the way till the Houseguest is gone . . . . hmmm.

Oh well!

--

Several folks have asked to see Hawaii '09 modeled. Well here it is. You get all sorts of odd shots when you're trying to take non-blurry pictures of your neck while not chopping off the top of your head.

I felt kind of silly. (KIND OF?!)

CPSIA-- grace under fire

If you're reading this you probably already know about the whole CPSIA thing that has crafters up in arms. If you don't-- it's a regulation going into effect next month that states that anything primarily sold for the use of children has to undergo extensive and expensive safety testing.

Most small businesses simply can't afford the testing and so will be unable to sell their children's wares. Some have already shut their doors. There are a lot of angry and panicky people out there-- and many have already done their best to bring the issue to the attention of the powers that be.

Two crafters recently caught my attention for their tongue-in-cheek handling of what has to be a scary situation for them. I wanted to share their tactics here.

Safety Pants - CPSIA compliant-- by WholeMother

WholeMother says,

"These pants are CPSIA-compliant SAFETY PANTS. They are made of 100% cotton
flannel and cotton thread. No need to worry about the dangers of elastic,
buttons, polyester thread or color in these pants!

I don't know about you, but white is my preferred color for all children's clothing. Additionally, there is nothing like untying knots while potty training - gives those little bladders a good workout." Read the rest here!

CPSIA compliant toy - Just LOOK at the fun by thetangledwoods

thetangledwoods says,

"Let me introduce you to "ball of wool". He is made of 100% natural, unaltered
American milled wool, and tap water. Should changes not be made before the
legislation takes effect February 10th, this may be the only item I can sell
without fear of prosecution. But he's a fun little...err.. guy, right? You can
do lots of stuff with him... like... watch him sit. Or, watch him roll. Or...
watch him collect dust." Read the rest here!

Both listings have links if you want more information. But this is not a call to action. It's simply a call for admiration of the spirit of those who, like these two, seek to laugh instead of cry.

it could be love

Things mount up before you know it . . .

Bead Art Originals just ran a feature on my Barbary Coast cuff and why I love it so much!

Sue over at Art Ravings did a feature on my work-- clean and crisp-- it won't take a minute to peek at her faves and find out why she loves them!

And Miquette over at Strawberry Anarchy issued the Lemonade Award to me for blogs she loves.

Begging the question, what blogs am I loving these days?

Hmmmm . . .

lisa peters ART

The Rabbit Muse

Log Notes

SandFibers

Bead Art Originals

Art Ravings

Moods and Appetites

Wearable Art Blog

Wearable Art on 1000 Markets-- (which I'm co-authoring!)

Salamander House Studio

So take a second and poke around a bit! You might find something you love!

hawaii '09 complete

I finished it last night and shot and listed it this morning.

A walk on the beach, collecting bits as you go along-- shell fragments, water-tossed stones, sea glass, driftwood, fossilzed coral, bits of string and old metal, a message in a bottle, the occasional treasure from a faraway land, the odd bone . . .

This piece features four 2-drop peyote panels fringed with a selection of wampum, sea glass, stones, lapis, pearls, carnelian and other gems, Grecian copper-dipped clay, porcelain, copper rings, paper beads from fieldandsea, a tiny Horus from Egypt, fosslized coral, a deer antler, 3 cylindrical foclas from LisaPetersART, lutrick and dancingstarbeads focals, driftwood, bones and other treasure.

I connected the panels with sterling rings to copper rings. I edged the panels with oxidized chain and clasped it with a handmade sterling 's' hook. I also left threads hanging to complete the rustic look.

I'm so pleased with this one. I crammed all sorts of wonderful goodies in it-- so it's pricey. It's worth every single penny of course, but if this doesn't sell, I'm not worried. You can find me in Hawaii--I'm the girl walking down the beach in the major necklace.

Hawaii '09

sneak peek: hawaii 09

The EBW theme this months is Tropical Vacation.

I immediately considered and rejected a floral/jungle theme. I have plans to visit Hawaii this year so I challenged myself to create something that I could see myself wearing while walking a Hawaiian beach.

I've been working on it for a couple days.

hands of an artist: Gale Bez

I asked a select group of artists for their thoughts on their most important tools-- their own hands.
Gale Bez is part of the Wearable Art Market on 1000Markets. She makes romantic wearable art.
She says:

--

These hands once dreamed of a dancer’s life as they floated through the air with graceful young movement. These hands have soothed and nurtured the tenderness of children. These hands protect life. These hands have turned the earth, coaxing tiny green shoots into full blooming fruition.

These hands have guided the infirm, the blind and have firmly held shovel handles to bury the dead. These hands have led voices in shimmering crescendos of music and have cavorted happily on the keys of musical instruments. These hands have held the strength of horses while riding mountain trails and have avidly grasped steering wheels of vintage autos speeding across open plains. These hands become one with the sea and have felt the freedom of cresting winds.

These hands that create in visible form the echoes and fantasies of my mind have at times been muted, hindered, damaged by the turnings of my life. They bear the scars and marks of a determined pursuit of knowledge. Yet, they have brought me competently through a half century of life, well lived and well loved.

These hands are star crossed - they stretch upward, ever reaching for the moon and sun, ever attempting to fulfill the potential of their destiny. These hands cannot resist touching the wonder of the world.



Violetta Femme Fatale Fascinator

pretty pixels

Bead Art Originals Items of the Week are up for your perusal!

And take a look at these pretties I discovered in this weeks Curator's shops!

Lapiz on a brick by MacrameByMaja

Olive earrings by KerrieSlade

Express Yourself - Ride The Wave - Turquoise - Business Card Holder/Paperweight - Abstract - Stained Glass - Art by RAT

Classy Chandelier Magnet Set by kimiko611

Gridded Circles in Orange and Blue - Herringbone Cuff

latest additions to the wearable art market

Take a look at some of the fabulous work by the latest additions the the Wearable Art Market at 1000 Markets!

Door by JoJoBell

It Began With Ann's Expression by thejadedog

Bonny Blue by delightworthyn

After Monet by nunofelt

announcing . . .

I've got good news, I hope!
-
Shopping for gifts can be tons of fun-- until 1) you're shopping for that loved one that a) has everything or b) is just plain picky or 2) you've procrastinated too long an the time crunch is crushing the breath out of you!
-
Steps in-- Gift Certificates by thebeadedlily! They're available in a classy card and in the superfast email edition! They come in several convenient denominations-- and one insanely hopeful one-- $25, $50, $100, $250 and $500.
-
Aren't they pretty? I hope you find them useful!

$25 Gift Certificate

hands of an artist: Lisa Peters

My hands post seemed well received so I asked a select group of artists for their own thoughts.

Lisa Peters is part of Bead Art Originals. She makes incredible clay pieces.

She says:

--

At times there are an infinite number of ways to communicate what I feel as an artist, during others there is no way to communicate how I feel and it is within those moments of challenge & frustration that I feel peace.

the green project: a beading journal VI

1/9/09 I finally find the right place for those Russian Serpentine cubes. I was beginning to think they were a no go.

1/10/09 I spilled my beads four--- count them--- 1,2,3,4 times today! I don't really want to know how much time I've wasted picking up these blasted seed beads over the course of this project . . .

1/11/09 I was gone all day. Part of that time was at friends though, and yes, I took my beads.

1/12/09 Finally found a spot for Heather's (humblebeads) squirrel. I was beginning to think it was a no go. And sistermine is a squirrelly girlie.

1/13/09 I took the citrine and topaz that I've had forever and put them in a wirework frame. Bil brought them back from Brazil for sistermine. This was pre-engagement-- they were dating or 'just friends' I've forgotten. They asked me to do something with them-- and they're celebrating their 2nd wedding anniversary next month. Hey, no one said I was quick . . . .

1/14/09 Is there some law that says that the last three inches must take twice as long as they should to complete? The muddymuse button goes on and does it look great?! And also the little Horus that we got on our trip down the Nile-- I've had that for years!

1/15/09 It's done! She loves it and appreciates it as very, very few people could-- she'll also pull it off fabulously (as very, very few people could). She won't let me shoot it on her though. She's been very sick and isn't looking so great, still.

It's 18 inches long and 5 inches wide at it's widest point. Now for a Tropical Vacation . . .

PS-- I got everything on the list done with the exception of the newsletter . . . I don't think I can manage it tonight. Love me anyway, ok?

you're a big help, thank you (confessions of a bead addict)

I'm going to use you guys as a motivational factor.

-

I'm on the edge of finishing my green project. So close to the edge that that I'm absolutely ignoring all of the other things that I need to do.

-

I have pictures to take.

-

I have a convo to respond to.

-

I have things that need listed.

-

I have feedback to leave.

-

I need to write January's newsletter.

-

I need to take a shower. (Too much information?)

-

I hereby promise to you, that I will get all of that done tomorrow, even if that means that I do not complete the green project.

-

Thanks for listening ya'll:)

because of all the work

Seth Godin invited me to contemplate the relationship between expense and beauty this morning. Interesting, because I think I was raised to see that relationship.

Not that anyone taught me that things that cost more money are prettier than things that cost less. Quite the opposite actually. We shopped discount stores and sales. What I was taught-- and I don't know if my family set out to teach this, or if I absorbed it by osmosis-- was that if you invest enough time and energy in something, you make it beautiful.

Mothermine was never the type to feed us out of a box. I was raised in the land of homemade everything. TV dinners, Pop Tarts and Fruit Roll-ups were a fun occasional treat! Little Debbies and sugary cereals were never in our home.

Half of my wardrobe-- the favorite half, with ruffles and ribbons and lace and little cute buttons-- was handmade, as were our rugs, potholders, napkins and blankets.

At the time that kind of life was cost-efficient, but I know now that it took time and energy and love to make all of those things.

I picked up the sentiment and ran with it.  I'll pick up things and say, "This is soo beautiful. Look at all the work that went in to this." And really, what I'm saying is, "This is soo beautiful because of all the work that went into this."

Pirate Booty Necklace

pick these

Fabulous deals are in the offing at Bead Art Originals!

And take a peek at these pretties from this weeks Treasury curators!

Scorpion Fish by njema

The G. M. Wheeler Steampunk Vintage Button Necklace

Fairy Berries

Black Flower Necklace

Nuno Felt Brooch 9

 Caribbean Surf Collar

thinking green

I've been contemplating my blog-- mostly because it's been a little harder of late to come up with subjects. It's not that I don't enjoy blogging-- I do. It's more like I've dipped all the water off the top of the puddle and now I'm having to dig down deep to get anything at all. And doing that everyday is exhausting.

It shouldn't be. It should really be easy enough to figure out what I'm thinking about . . . but it's not, always. When I'm beadweaving, I get lost in my hands and the textures and colors and tension and embellishment. When I'm in the middle of a project, with another project on the horizon, when my hands aren't on the work my mind is.

hands of an artist: Carol Dean Sharpe

My hands post seemed well received so I asked a select group of artists for their own thoughts.

The triangle goddess Carol Dean Sharpe is part of Bead Art Originals.

Here is what she had to say:

--

I've always had to have something to do with my hands: knitting, cross stitching, crocheting, writing, beading, sewing, braiding, knotting, and (ashamedly for a very long time but no longer) smoking. I used to even read with a pen in hand to annotate whenever and however I wanted.

While these hands have never been beautiful or strong, they have been productive. I would be lost without them.

Youthful Spirit reminds me of the 60s and flower power and "don't trust anyone over 30" -- everything about youth.

The focal raku art bead was created by Lisa Peters of LisaPetersArt.com. Everything else was put together by me, Carol Dean Sharpe (aka Sand Fibers).

I am beyond thrilled with how this turned out.

hands of an artist: Sue Choppers-Wife

My hands post seemed well received so I asked a select group of artists for their own thoughts.

The multi-talented Sue Choppers-Wife is part of the Wearable Art Market on 1000 Markets.

Here is what she had to say

--

Hands are the greatest tool any artist has. They pinch, squeeze, twist, roll, tap, smear, smoosh and even sometimes act as a stand in model. The hand featured in this painting, titled 'The Third Dimension', is my own left hand (I'm a righty, so this guy needs to pull his own weight too lol). I'd always thought my hands were rather short and stumpy, but somewhere along the way I started calling them sturdy and capable.

They may not stretch a full octave on a piano but they do exactly what my hands were born to do...they hold brushes (sometimes 3 or 4 at the same time, with a couple tubes of paint thrown in), they somehow 'see' the pictures in my mind and take a blob of clay and make engaging little sculptures such as the 'Baby Steps' pendant shown here and they help me to create marvelous designs for Wearable Art, like necklace titled 'Blue Cascades' which is my interpretation of flowing water.

And yet that is only a tiny fraction of what these hands do; these hands have touched those I love, comforted those that need it, planted uncounted plants in garden plots and even twisted the throttle of my very own Harley. Sturdy and capable, indeed!

the green project: a beading journal V

I've been working on it *faithfully* and I've used every color that I purchased and I'm now repeating. It's big enough to wear as a bracelet but I promised a scarflette. Once every 10 years or so I get ambitious.

curation, my way

I had a piece in a Treasury that made the front page again! Yay! Callooh Callay made the 10 Mile Hike Treasury and she did a beautiful job.

I've had two Treasuries make the front page and it's very cool to hear back from featured artists about the exposure they've gotten.

I love creating color themed Treasuries myself, but I can get pulled into themes like bugs, masquerades or things I think someone specific would like.

Treasuries are about visual impact. Each photo needs punch or it will take away from the entire thing.
Really fabulous Treasuries are created from really fabulous photos. It's in the details! The striking. The unusual. Or the pretty. I'll pick an average item with a spectacular picture over a spectacular item with an average picture. I prefer really tight shots, as a rule, with minimal background space-- something soft and unnoticeable, or something very artistic, or something bright-- anything so long as the whole shot is gorgeous. But there are always exceptions for backgrounds!

All white or all black backgrounds can be harder to work with, but they're not impossible. A really discernible watermark or words overlayed on the picture aren't usually attractive in Treasuries. Pictures with borders are tough. If it's got white space to make it squared, I just won't use it. And there are no exceptions for blurriness!
Each Treasury I make features things that I personally like. If I've got a question about if it's handmade or not, it's out, even if I like it. I don't feature supplies or vintage, because I want to share the art itself. If it doesn't look well made, it's out. If it's priced insanely low, I question whether I want to feature that artist.

I'm always hearting things for treasuries-- from searches, from other treasuries, the forums-- wherever I come across them. So I mostly mine my faves and I pick a lot of items from the Bead Art Originals and Etsy Beadweavers Teams because we put emphasis on promoting the teams via treasuries. To fill out I'll search by color combination (or theme) and arrange by price-- most expensive stuff up top. I get lots of great shots of luxe jewelry and fine art like that.

I try to be very texturally conscious and include on or two "wowza!" pieces-- even picking out an item or two and building the rest of the Treasury around it.

I try not to do all bead, or all painting treasuries but add a bit of this and that.

Treasuries can be a great way to get views and once in a great while a sale. It's a fun way to express yourself. It's a cool way to get some recognition. But at the end of the day it's just a short-lived collection of pixels and I don't get obsessive about them!

writing, of course

When I was a kid I wrote a ton of letters. Then in my teens I wanted to be a writer-- fiction actually. And off and on I've done what most of us have done. I've written poetry.




I dug this one up because in it, I reference my beady pursuits!



Dichroic Frit
by S. Kelley



If you were a bead, I’d string
you on a necklace of planets
clasped with quicksilver, flaunt
your cerulean and grass swirls
between Venusian bisque and Martian rust.
No one would watch your clouds spark prisms
or see your semi-molten core.

Shimmer

picturesque

The BAO Items of the week are up on the BAO blog! Stop by and check them out! I'm offering a 15$ gift certificate with my Hands Against Time cuff!

thebeadedlily was featured in 12 Treasuries this week, so sit back and enjoy a sampling from the talented curator's shops!

Frosty Leaves by JudiFitzPatrick 

icequeen by andeesigns

Queen of Hearts Royal Choker by lookingglasshouse

Aqua Radiance by MiscBeads

White Shotgun House Raku and Pearl Necklace by adornbyamysingley

cookies 'n cream peyote cuff by randomcreative

Zigzag Ndebele Cuff Bracelet by SmadarsTreasure

Corn Silk Snake Bracelet by gypsyeyesjewelry

Lava Swirl Shibori Top by dyedianadye

Dragon and St George - Papercut Shadowbox Art by FogAndThistle

Victoriana Scarflette by TickledPinkKnits

Crocheted Violet Flowers Wool Yarn Plastic Pearlized Vase by crochetbouquet

Have a greatg week!

blue in art

Aedh Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven

by William Butler Yeats

Had I the heavens' embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half light,
I would spread the cloths under your feet:
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.

ocean of storms cuff

the green project: a beading journal IV

12/30
Adding more colors is my favorite part!

12/31
Sistermine has taken to admiring it periodically. She likes the little polymer clay swirl that I made.

1/3
I'm playing way too much Tetris to get this done, but somehow, it keeps getting longer! I'm looking forward to the embellishment stage.

small town USPS blues

Cruelly enough I think banks and post offices should stay open all of the time. Now, it wasn't *so* awful when they closed for Christmas. *Everyone* closes for Christmas . . . or they should, because no one goes anywhere anyway.

It wasn't that bad when they closed for New Years. There was a nice big sign on the Post Office door for weeks that said "Closed for New Years". Ok. Wednesday and Thursday I just told everyone that their packages would go out Friday.

Soooooo-- I went to the Post Office today to find *another* sign plastered on the door. "Today we're closing at noon." Ok, then. Um, that info would have been useful, last week, Monday, or even Wednesday! But today? After you're closed?

So I tried the Post Office down the road. No sign, no clerk. Huh?

Finally, farther into town and in a different county, a larger Post Office was open, but the clerk there made me fill out customs forms that I shouldn't have had to fill out. *sulk*

Oh well. It's good that some things are worth the hassle!

hands of an artist

I woke up today and just spent a few minutes looking at my hands. Twisting them, turning them and watching the light come through or bounce over. Admiring the way the sun gleamed through my nail tips. Hands are amazing things.

Then as I was reading my blog role today, Nina at Ornamental caught my attention with two shots of her hands. She talks of shadow puppetry, which put me in mind of the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, (I always associated strophe 11 with Pepe le Pew) strophe 46.

For in and out, above, about, below,
'Tis nothing but a Magic Shadow-show,
Play'd in a Box whose Candle is the Sun,
round which we Phantom Figures come and go.

That always makes me think of the Bard, of course.

On 1000 Markets I was thinking of changing my picture from a piece of jewelry to me. I don't know that I will. I've post pictures of me on this blog and on Flickr, but they're just snapshots-- nothing the least bit artistic or even very interesting. And if you're using your picture to advertise your art I think interesting is very important.

I did learn to operate the self-timer on my camera though, so I could shoot both of my hands instead of just the left one that is frequently seen modeling my work!

Not shockingly, I was at a loss about what to do with them . . . .