On to the Now.

My words are being spent in other ways at the moment.  Collected and corralled in what is, for the time being, a jumbled mess.  I proceed anyway, trusting the voice that connects me to the tapestry, the thread that sometimes lingers in a gentle breeze and at others clings tenuously to that which it is not yet time to let go.

As with any beginning, we welcome another year with big hopes and dreams.  With certainty, with expectation, with the promise of something more, something better, that something we as people continually feel: the need to really live, to love, and to laugh...to dream, to create, to breathe, to be.

This is me wishing you enough of those things to let you soar.  May your soul fly free in the clouds while your feet stay firmly planted.  Much love, my friends.  Much love.

~~

There's a sale on at Studiojuls.

30% off all listings, including recent additions.

Coupon Code:  EOY2012

Thanks for supporting my art for another year.

You rock my world.

~~

Play Day.

I made a few fun sets on Friday.

If you love them, you'll find them at Studiojuls.

~~

Lately~

Next up?

~~

I finally ordered some Moo Minis,

and now I wish they were here yesterday already.

(front and back)

Putting my money where my mouth is.

If you haven't read Yesterday's Post but you'd like this post to make sense, take a peek.  If instead you just want a Christmas deal on 2 days of my life you can skip it and keep reading.

(There are still 5 days left to pledge whatever amount you can...and every little bit helps!)

I spent Saturday and Sunday making beads for Darcy.  Well, not actually FOR Darcy, but to sell toward pledging my support for her project.   (Update: 1 sold, 1 to go, 4 days left!)

I've listed 2 collections of beads in bright happy colors.  Most of the sets are encased and layered with beautiful detail, and each collection includes a One of a Kind Focal.

The retail on each set (the price at which I sell them, which is actually already less than retail) is over $200.  They are priced on my site today at $110, and when both have sold I will pledge $175 toward Darcy's project. The difference is to cover my material cost and a little bit of my own self employed time.

Together we can make an artist's dream come true this Christmas.  Let's do that, k?

You'll find them at StudioJuls.

~~

Let's make a difference, k?

Christmas.

There are 2 ways I'm going to remember the holidays this year.  The first is with love for the children and heroes whose lights were extinguished too soon.  My heart breaks for those this tragedy has left behind, yet I know there is nothing I can say to assuage their pain.  There is nothing anyone can say.  I lift them to God and beg the comfort that only He can give, that the light of His love will break through the darkness in which they must find themselves.

I've been searching for a way to feel empowered in spite of my sadness, to do something that will have a positive impact in at least one life.  I found something special while surfing facebook, and I want to share it with y'all.

If you've been around the beading arts world for any length of time, you are likely already familiar with The Jade Dog.  Darcy is a prolific artist creating beautifully intricate and unique beaded designs.  In spite of the fact that her designs can vary greatly in end results, she has an identifiable style in the feeling of her body of work.

She has set an incredible goal for herself, to bead a full body mannequin, and she needs our help to achieve this dream.

Kickstarter is a funding program for creatives, a place to put your idea out there so that the public can learn about you and offer financial backing for your project.  A project must be fully backed before anyone is charged for a pledge, no matter the amount.

Darcy has put together a wonderful presentation about her project, and with 6 days left she is sitting at $1630 toward her needed amount of $3000.

There are 362 followers of this blog.  If 270 of us donate just $5, Darcy will be fully funded to move forward in pursuit of one of her dreams.

It's a small thing to do that will impact a true artisan's life, but in the end will also result in beauty being added to a world that needs it.

Please check out her presentation, and if it is where you can donate any amount, please follow THIS LINK.

This Christmas help me give Darcy the gift of faith, of believing in and supporting her creative journey.

Together we CAN make a difference.

~~

~~

I hope this season finds you wrapped in joy with the ones you love.

~~

ORFUNZ! Take 2. And 3. And 4.

I've put together a few more ORFUNZ! collections from my bead bowl and listed them in my shop~ for way less than $1 per bead ~ because I'm crazy.  And it's Christmas.

ORFUNZ #2

ORFUNZ #3

ORFUNZ #4

You'll find them at Studiojuls.

~~

ORFUNZ!

128 Beads

PLUS Bonus Collection!

Bonus collection:

A total of 141 Beads
$110
(approximately .70 per bead!)

You'll find the listing HERE.

(SOLD)

~~

Hoo Hoo Hoo!

Remember THIS with these guys?

I ran across those photos while I was cleaning out some folders a while back and was inspired.  My flat backed chatons are still winning at hide and seek, but I did rediscover some vintage Japanese cabs.  I had intended to keep the color scheme classic, but you know what they say about intentions.

CooCoo explained that he needed bracelet accompaniments~
(there was much eye rolling involved)

And of course earrings, too.

I decided maybe CooCoo is just a little too bossy for his owl britches, so I made him a twin thinking he'd be a little less demanding.

No such luck.  He wants all the extras as well, but I don't really mind because there are shows next year and I've already way decided that one of these babies will be staying around this girl's neck..

~~

Conversational excerpt:

J)  "I think we define "tortured artist" differently."

L)  "How so?"

J)  "You say it like it's a bad thing."

~~

White Noise ~

~~

And Love.

A new design I'm playing around with~ 

To be worn as a pendant or as a brooch/pin.

Because Boots.

And Scarves.

~~

Melty Glass ~ Because apparently I am simply unable to stop completely.

A couple of weeks ago I might have mentioned that I had an order for 500 same colored spacers.  That sound you are hearing right now is the sound a beadmaker's head makes when it explodes.  Because 500 same colored spacers, that's why.

I checked in with my client last week just as I always do to make sure she was pleased only to discover that the 500 same colored spacers had not arrived.  After doing some checking and searching and pleading on my knees wondering why the Post Office hates me, the package was still MIA so I'll give you 3 guesses what I've spent the last couple of days doing and if you guess anything other than remaking 500 same colored spacers you may not pass go or collect 500 same colored spacers.

Mama needed a break, y'all.  So mama broke out some pretty colors to play with in the middle of remaking that thing which I can no longer name.  I'm just gonna go ahead and say Mama did a damn fine job distracting herself with the shiny, because this:

Renaissance

and this:

Tropicana

I listed them

 at Studiojuls.

~~