Sand! Toes!
NowagainprettypleaseI'llbeagoodgirl!
Sweet Kitteh, happy kitteh
fat fat fat Kitteh.
I heart her.
~~
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Lampwork Spacers? Yes please.
I had a custom order a little while back for petite rondelle spacers, so while I was working on it I made 1 or 5 extra sets of each color. In all the ten+ years I've been making beads I never realized how versatile they are, but now that I know my personal bead box is well stocked.
I listed a couple of sets in a few of the colors over at StudioJuls, in case you were already in the know and are in need of some. (Buy 5 sets, get one FREE!)
I've got them in pretty much every color, so if you have a specific color or quantity need shoot me a note.
I listed a couple of sets in a few of the colors over at StudioJuls, in case you were already in the know and are in need of some. (Buy 5 sets, get one FREE!)
I've got them in pretty much every color, so if you have a specific color or quantity need shoot me a note.
~~
Streamlining my intake.
You know how when you sit down and open FB you tell yourself you'll spend a half hour and the next time you look at the clock it is 2 hours later? Me too.
I was struck the other morning by the routine I have somehow developed of waking up, turning on the laptop and grabbing my cell phone before immediately taking Chelsea outside. It was a beautiful morning, and I realized I couldn't remember the last time I'd noticed that.
Life on online, plugged in, keeping up....but missing out on the in person stuff. Nature. Quiet. Stillness.
I prefer the latter to the Nth degree. It was with that in mind that I cleaned up my friend's list on FB yesterday, deleting over 200 people that I don't interact with or really even know. I cleaned out all 3 email boxes, and deleted membership to several groups I don't have the time to participate in wholeheartedly.
Instead of igniting my electronics first thing, I've made a conscious choice to ignore them for at least an hour. To sit outside, to read my bible, to get a little exercse in or just hang with my Chels. When I finally do check in online my mind is clear, my day's tasks outlined clearly, and my FB feed streamlined for quick and easy perusal.
2 thumbs up.
I was struck the other morning by the routine I have somehow developed of waking up, turning on the laptop and grabbing my cell phone before immediately taking Chelsea outside. It was a beautiful morning, and I realized I couldn't remember the last time I'd noticed that.
Life on online, plugged in, keeping up....but missing out on the in person stuff. Nature. Quiet. Stillness.
I prefer the latter to the Nth degree. It was with that in mind that I cleaned up my friend's list on FB yesterday, deleting over 200 people that I don't interact with or really even know. I cleaned out all 3 email boxes, and deleted membership to several groups I don't have the time to participate in wholeheartedly.
Instead of igniting my electronics first thing, I've made a conscious choice to ignore them for at least an hour. To sit outside, to read my bible, to get a little exercse in or just hang with my Chels. When I finally do check in online my mind is clear, my day's tasks outlined clearly, and my FB feed streamlined for quick and easy perusal.
2 thumbs up.
~~
I have a couple of Bead Box Specials newly listed~ random groups of fun.
I have a couple of Bead Box Specials newly listed~ random groups of fun.
#1
#2
~~
You'll find them at
Monday, January 28, 2013
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Focusing on Life ~ Create Art
On Monday I did a horribly irresponsible thing and went Here. It was 50 shades of Awesome and much needed for relaxation before the next big project.
Last year I formed a relationship with and began creating beads for Rachel's Cure By Design. It has been and continues to be a joy to work with these folks, and if you didn't take time to check out their beautiful designs now is as good a time as any. The quality of jewelry is top notch, but it is the end goal of raising awareness and pursuing a cure that makes my heart smile with every production bead I make.
My Focusing on Life task this week involves glass...and lots of it. It arrived on Wednesday afternoon and because I got a late start Thursday in finding my rhythm, I pulled an all nighter. It is Friday afternoon now, and after having been at it a few hours today I thought I'd take stock and see where I am numbers wise.
240 beads in, with half that amount already cleaned and strung. Is it terribly egotistical to nominate, elect, and crown myself queen of beadassery? Because I just did. Because two hundred and forty beads in a day and a half is two hundred and forty beads in a day and a half.
These were designed for a very special collaborative project RCBD has been asked to participate in, but because I'm not sure if I am at liberty to divulge I'll leave it at that. Suffice to say that I am both honored and excited to play even a small role in the project.
Last year I formed a relationship with and began creating beads for Rachel's Cure By Design. It has been and continues to be a joy to work with these folks, and if you didn't take time to check out their beautiful designs now is as good a time as any. The quality of jewelry is top notch, but it is the end goal of raising awareness and pursuing a cure that makes my heart smile with every production bead I make.
My Focusing on Life task this week involves glass...and lots of it. It arrived on Wednesday afternoon and because I got a late start Thursday in finding my rhythm, I pulled an all nighter. It is Friday afternoon now, and after having been at it a few hours today I thought I'd take stock and see where I am numbers wise.
240 beads in, with half that amount already cleaned and strung. Is it terribly egotistical to nominate, elect, and crown myself queen of beadassery? Because I just did. Because two hundred and forty beads in a day and a half is two hundred and forty beads in a day and a half.
These were designed for a very special collaborative project RCBD has been asked to participate in, but because I'm not sure if I am at liberty to divulge I'll leave it at that. Suffice to say that I am both honored and excited to play even a small role in the project.
Art with Meaning, y'all. There's nothing better.
~~
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Because I'm a woman, that's why.
When I said last year that I was giving up Beadmaking, I meant it. I meant it with every ounce of every fiber of my being. I was done with production for mass consumption, or more accurately with struggling to not doubt myself because when the economy tanked it took my livelihood with it. I had stopped having fun, innovating, playing...and something I had once loved very much became drudgery.
Y'all know me well enough to know that if mama ain't happy...mama ain't happy, so mama moves on.
What I've discovered over the last few months is that I still love melting glass, of not knowing what's going to happen by trying this or that, of having the freedom to ask What if I? I wonder? Will this work? without the scared little voice inside worrying about what people want or will buy in order to pay this bill or that.
I'm back to a point of creating for the joy of it, back to being inspired, back to feeling like I'm on the right road artistically, back to listening to my calling. Back to the best version of me.
These are work on developing a technique for tye dye beads, and I dig 'em. I listed a few in my shop, so if you dig 'em too that's where you'll find 'em.
I'm focused on and busy with the wholesale side of things, and when I have free time to play glass I'll be doing just that. I'm out of the pimping for sales business, but I still hope that my beads will speak to others and inspire beautiful jewelry.
Y'all know me well enough to know that if mama ain't happy...mama ain't happy, so mama moves on.
What I've discovered over the last few months is that I still love melting glass, of not knowing what's going to happen by trying this or that, of having the freedom to ask What if I? I wonder? Will this work? without the scared little voice inside worrying about what people want or will buy in order to pay this bill or that.
I'm back to a point of creating for the joy of it, back to being inspired, back to feeling like I'm on the right road artistically, back to listening to my calling. Back to the best version of me.
These are work on developing a technique for tye dye beads, and I dig 'em. I listed a few in my shop, so if you dig 'em too that's where you'll find 'em.
I'm focused on and busy with the wholesale side of things, and when I have free time to play glass I'll be doing just that. I'm out of the pimping for sales business, but I still hope that my beads will speak to others and inspire beautiful jewelry.
Key word being inspire.
Because you inspire me.
~~
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Focusing on Life ~ Taking Time (the novel)
Over the years I've looked at my friends with children, a full time job, and extended familial responsibilities and often wondered how they could fit what should be a 30 hour day into 24. Convincing them to take any time for themselves is never an easy thing, but sometimes I manage.
I learned at a very young age that life is short. Being introduced to your mortality breeds a deeper understanding, an immense appreciation for the gift of being here at all. That keen of an awareness plays an important role in shaping a life, in dictating its priorities and setting its goals, in preventing it from becoming lackadaisical or indifferent, in teaching a body that some days it is completely acceptable to do no thing.
I have those days when I feel like it, when my body or mind or both whisper the need, but most days the personal time I take is spent doing something just because I want to and as y'all well know that frequently involves beads.
I'm a day late posting this week's Focusing on Life photo because I needed a little extra time to figure it out. It wasn't until I was photographing this pendant a little while ago that I really got it, the purpose of the inordinately large amount of time it took to create.
Turquoise and brown is my go to color combination for complete relaxation in flow of creative thought. It is a security blanket of beads, mom's hot chocolate after a day of snow sledding with my brothers. Comforting. Calm. A touchstone.
Except this one wasn't. I'm not much of a planner when it comes to beads. Introduce me to a pattern and I'll introduce you to my exploding brain. Beading is a refuge for me, the freedom to do whatever however my intuition guides me. And usually I don't look down a quarter of the way in and think "Yeah. No."
I did with this one. Several times. To the point where I set it down with the intention of ripping it out later. But when later came I added a few more beads instead, all the while not impressed but choosing to follow the curious drive to finish it anyway.
The turquoise rounds stand a bit tall among the seed beads adding what I had considered too much dimension, and I thought to balance that with the bronze crystals. I finished the edging with a straight line wrap in an attempt to retain what I originally thought to be a flower shape.
This morning while seeing the pendant through the camera lens I realized it isn't a flower but a shield, and I at once understood it completely. The busy-ness of the dimension, the seemingly chaotic color layout, the dividing line from turquoise to bronze....all neatly packaged in the clean finished lines.
It is life: The things we must do, the distractions to endure, the doubt to overcome, the business of it all wrapped up in the stitching of precious shielded time.
I worked on this over a few days, hours that I see now were spent with this week's assignment being turned over in the back of my mind. The separation of color is symbolic of fighting through the perception of being unsettled, of listening to the inner voice no matter how much the brain doth protest.
Even though you may not know why, even though you can't see the beauty of it, and even though the business of life demands your attention...taking time for yourself is on par with breathing.
You need both to be who you are.
I learned at a very young age that life is short. Being introduced to your mortality breeds a deeper understanding, an immense appreciation for the gift of being here at all. That keen of an awareness plays an important role in shaping a life, in dictating its priorities and setting its goals, in preventing it from becoming lackadaisical or indifferent, in teaching a body that some days it is completely acceptable to do no thing.
I have those days when I feel like it, when my body or mind or both whisper the need, but most days the personal time I take is spent doing something just because I want to and as y'all well know that frequently involves beads.
I'm a day late posting this week's Focusing on Life photo because I needed a little extra time to figure it out. It wasn't until I was photographing this pendant a little while ago that I really got it, the purpose of the inordinately large amount of time it took to create.
Turquoise and brown is my go to color combination for complete relaxation in flow of creative thought. It is a security blanket of beads, mom's hot chocolate after a day of snow sledding with my brothers. Comforting. Calm. A touchstone.
Except this one wasn't. I'm not much of a planner when it comes to beads. Introduce me to a pattern and I'll introduce you to my exploding brain. Beading is a refuge for me, the freedom to do whatever however my intuition guides me. And usually I don't look down a quarter of the way in and think "Yeah. No."
I did with this one. Several times. To the point where I set it down with the intention of ripping it out later. But when later came I added a few more beads instead, all the while not impressed but choosing to follow the curious drive to finish it anyway.
The turquoise rounds stand a bit tall among the seed beads adding what I had considered too much dimension, and I thought to balance that with the bronze crystals. I finished the edging with a straight line wrap in an attempt to retain what I originally thought to be a flower shape.
This morning while seeing the pendant through the camera lens I realized it isn't a flower but a shield, and I at once understood it completely. The busy-ness of the dimension, the seemingly chaotic color layout, the dividing line from turquoise to bronze....all neatly packaged in the clean finished lines.
It is life: The things we must do, the distractions to endure, the doubt to overcome, the business of it all wrapped up in the stitching of precious shielded time.
I worked on this over a few days, hours that I see now were spent with this week's assignment being turned over in the back of my mind. The separation of color is symbolic of fighting through the perception of being unsettled, of listening to the inner voice no matter how much the brain doth protest.
Even though you may not know why, even though you can't see the beauty of it, and even though the business of life demands your attention...taking time for yourself is on par with breathing.
You need both to be who you are.
~~
Monday, January 14, 2013
Spirit Dance
There were times along her journey when she stumbled and fell, not always sure she would again stand. It was during those times that she discovered the best parts of herself, hidden secrets so divinely inspired that they lifted her once more to solid footing and filled her heart with song.
Spirit Dance
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Focusing on Life : Self Portrait + WFTY
Me
January 12, 2012
I'm late to the Focusing on Life party, mainly because I haven't been very focused on my own lately. That is due in part to "Please sir, anything but that.", but also because in recent months I've been reminded that focusing my attention on doing for others makes my own life worth acknowledging.
This cancer scare with my mom brought so much perspective. I am a firm believer that every thing happens for a reason, and that whether I am in the middle of learning a lesson or reaping the benefit of a blessing what matters most to me in this world is being true to the truth in my soul. To love, to comfort, to support, to tend, to nurture, to heal that which I can.
Everything else is a stage prop in the playing out of this human journey.
It was with that in mind that I selected my Word For The Year.
This cancer scare with my mom brought so much perspective. I am a firm believer that every thing happens for a reason, and that whether I am in the middle of learning a lesson or reaping the benefit of a blessing what matters most to me in this world is being true to the truth in my soul. To love, to comfort, to support, to tend, to nurture, to heal that which I can.
Everything else is a stage prop in the playing out of this human journey.
It was with that in mind that I selected my Word For The Year.
God.
I have fallen short many times in my life of acknowledging Him first. Human nature is one of survival, of bared teeth when threatened with harm to ourselves or those we love, of strongholds on the things we treasure, of stumbling and falling. But it also one of standing back up. Of compassion and forgiveness. Of starting over. Of taking a chance because faith not only makes it okay, but because it insists we embrace the wholeness of both certainty and risk. Following a calling chances peril, but a life lived ignoring one guarantees it.
Everything that I am, have been, or will become is already known to God. In spite of that, He is still with me. Twenty thirteen will find me appreciating that more often and finding as many ways as I can to honor Him with my actions, my words, and my work.
~~
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
I don't even know what to title this. UPDATED.
While most of you are reading these words Wednesday I'll be with my mom at her appointment with a pulmonary specialist. Over the holidays we learned that she has several spots on both lungs. Selfishly I completely lost it when I heard the news. But mom? Her exact words to me were "Baby, I'm going to be healed, whether it is here on earth for everyone to see or in Heaven meeting the Lord."
You can't argue with that. Faith is an amazing thing.
She's pretty amazing, too.
~~
You can't argue with that. Faith is an amazing thing.
Please put Judy in your prayers today.
She's pretty amazing, too.
~~
UPDATE:
Best News I've had in several years?
Dr. L does not think mom has cancer. Not. Cancer.
Those are my 2 favorite words when used together, right after Praise God!
Now I think I'll go take a nap for a day or three.
Dr. L does not think mom has cancer. Not. Cancer.
Those are my 2 favorite words when used together, right after Praise God!
Now I think I'll go take a nap for a day or three.
~
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Harbinger
She is a secret keeper, her heart a mystical chamber in the garden of life. She is a confidant; the well from which understanding springs and wherein words are poured. She is an impenetrable vault of quiet truth. She is trust.
www.studiojuls.com
~~
Harmony
www.studiojuls.com
~~
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Record Keeping
The last creation of 2012~
Solstice~
The peaceful beating of your heart. The whisper of love that brushes your cheek. The calm you feel when pursuing your dream. The beautiful voice of reason that beckons you brave the storm.
and the first of 2013~
Del Sol~
It wasn't the water that lured her in or the squinch of sand between her toes. It wasn't the umbrellas, so purposefully lined over chairs that beckoned she sit for a while. It was the deep down calm in her soul, the love in her heart, and the voice that gently whispered "Every little thing is gonna be alright."
~~
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