Moment of Zen

Who would have thought curtains gently billowing in the wind could provide a moment of zen. 

Yesterday morning, I was sitting on my computer table typing away, my apartment was filled with the glow of the morning sun. I had opened the balcony sliding door to let the fresh morning breeze in. A family of larks has taken residence in a nest right above my balcony and they were chirping away. We've been experiencing strong gusty winds these past two days but this morning things have calmed down and only a gentle breeze was playing with the curtains which I had just installed last Friday.

I stopped typing, sat back and watched the breeze play with the curtains, took in the sunshine, listened to the birds chirp away. It was a good Saturday morning.

This mosaic is my project for the month of January 2021. Also inspired by a moment of zen. I feel peaceful when I look at it.

Beadweaving Calistenics

While I'm mostly a peyote stitch gal, it's nice to get into gear with other bead stitches. There's a whole encyclopedia of bead stitches, techniques, what have you, that one could spend a lifetime just exploring and learning them. Project #5 for my 2013 beading journey is this black herringbone necklace with onyx stones woven in at regular intervals.

The other stitch I exercised with is right angle weave (RAW). It's been years since I've done anything in RAW.  So I turned to RAW guru Shelley Pleines who does gorgeous pieces using metal beads. Her Baby, You're So Square bracelet pattern gave me the inspiration to create this cuff last December, as a gift for a friend of mine who celebrated her son's Barmitzvah. I had given her the bracelet but had forgotten to take some photos and she loaned me the bracelet so I could take this shot.

Hope you bead lovers out there are beading to your heart's content!

Beads and the Ladies of Downton Abbey

I've gotten into the habit of beading while I watch Instant Video on my iPad. You'll find an eclectic mix of movies and TV shows in my Amazon Watchlist. Among them is Downton Abbey.  Yes, I've caught the bug and have watched the Crawley family and their household staff going through the trials and tribulations of their very prim and not so proper English lives.

My 4th project of the year was done while re-visiting some of the past episodes in preparation for the start of the new season. It reminds me of the long thin necklaces that the Crawley sisters would wear to dinner - a beaded version, of course, but same long and thin design silhouette. I thought I might call it Lady Sybil since it's red and could represent her "radical" views. She's the youngest so I can clearly identify with that, being the youngest of 4 siblings myself.

So here's Project #4 for my 2013 projects journal. Hope you like it!

Busy Beading!!!

I'm glad to report that I continue with my projects for the year. Here's Project #2 and #3, titled "Pillars" and "Diagonals Stacks" respectively.  I've been playing with simple repetitive designs, re-familiarizing myself again with the rhythm of beading and finding satisfaction in completing projects.

I'm glad to be spending more time at my bead table, getting more and more into the habit of creating. My mind's been hopping from one design concept to the next! Just have to make a record of everything that goes through my head!

At any rate, I've started another project and this is a WIP photo. I'm going with the flow on this one, too. Not entirely sure where this one will take me. Exciting!

1 Down, 51 More Projects To Go!

I'm not one to make New Year's resolutions but this year I'm making a commitment - I'm committing to create 52 projects this 2013. It doesn't sound like much but considering I've not created more than a handful of beaded jewelry these past few years, 52 projects is quite a big step up for me.

I'm not like most beaders who are able to devote their 9-5 day to their craft (lucky buggers!). I've got a day job that, fortunately, I love but it does leave me mentally exhausted at the end of the day. My evenings are left to gym time, dinner and family time which I'm also committed to keep. But I'm thinking if I can plan to squeeze in some beading time at night, even if it's half an hour sitting at my beading table, working on something new, my 52 projects should be doable. What do you think? Have you done your own 2013 resolution? I invite you all to enter your comments down below so you can share. Sometimes, shouting it out loud helps to keep you on course.

So my first completed project for the year is Strada Del Merlot - a free form beadwoven bracelet which I finished today, this first day of the new year. This piece will be on sale soon on my etsy store after I clean up the photos and work on the description for the listing.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

50 Shades of Merlot

Last Wednesday, I laid out these beads on my beadmat to start another beaded project. This time shades of merlot with touches of purple, green and amber gold.  All I can say at this point is it's going to be another bracelet - at least that's my intention but there have been times I'd do a complete 180 on myself, un-assemble a project in the middle of it and start all over again on something new. One thing I've learned about the creative process, it can take unexpected turns. You're never sure what you end up with! Happy Beading!

author's alternations (AA)

One of the dreaded phrases Account Managers, Copy Writers or Art Directors in the advertising world have to hear -- AAs -- especially if they happen more than once (Yep, I was an Ad Exec in a past life). What it basically means is, you are in the final stages of say getting approval on a print ad proof from your client, and Mr. BrainFreeze thinks the headline is "Just not right." and this after he's approved and seen the print ad from the early stages of conceptualization to now when you are just a day away from the magazine print deadline. "Let's go with the other headline instead. That shouldn't be a problem, right." concludes Mr. BrainFreeze -- and everyone in the room just feels like tearing their hair out.

Segue now to my life as a jewelry artist and I'm Mr. BrainFreeze doing the author alterations I so keenly abhorred my clients doing. I have this bead pattern which I just kept changing and changing, over and over again. I have 3 "final" versions of the pattern. And this is only because I remembered to save versions of the "final" pattern.

I kept "tweaking" and "tweaking" (where did this word originate from?) till I forced myself to stop - ENOUGH! I even did one more "tweak" even AFTER I started working on the bracelet.

I have named this pattern KAOS!

Here's the finished bracelet which I will be listing in my Etsy store as a Made To Order Item:
And here are the 3 variations:

#1 - I didn't like the blue here.

#2 - I think the change from blue to beige made the design pop more. Then I hated there being too much orange in the lower part of the design.#3 - so I changed the lower part as you can see!

BeadJewelryShopgirl SALE

This is the first time I'm holding a sale since I first opened shop. I've been uploading pieces since yesterday into my etsy shop so please have a peek. A lot of these pieces have never been posted online. I've sold mainly through live craft shows as they've sold more quickly that way. BUT as my life and work schedule and pressure has intensified, I have not scheduled any shows but would still like to get my inventory moving. No sense in hoarding them, right? I need to share the love! So I hope you take advantage of my sale especially with the coming holidays. There's bound to be something special for someone special! Cheers!

Go to my etsy store (or click on the image above) to view items for sale under the category SALE SALE SALE. Have fun!

DC CRAFT MAFIA HOLIDAY HEIST

My DC Craft Mafia peeps and I spent a hardworking afternoon a few weeks ago going through applications for our annual holiday show, HOLIDAY HEIST. We have a smaller show this year due to our choice in venue and we could only take in about 30 artists. We would accepted more is we could but maybe next year.

Here's a peek at the array of talent we have for the show:

• A.W.E. Design
• Artmonger
• Bead Jewelry by Shopgirl (me!)
  
• Bee's Knees Studio
• beth pohlman jewelry
• Bette's Bags
• Block Party Press
• Creativ*Bee Designs
• Curls Studio
• DesignsbyErdenesuren
• EHL Creations
• Elisa Shere Jewelry
• Erica Burns Designs
  
• Fisticuffs
• Great Sock
• Herban Lifestyle
• Holland Cox
• Jaime Zollars
• Jerseymaids
• Jill Popwich Designs
• Lalas Pequenos
• Lana Kole
• Lollibomb Beauty
• Moonlight Bindery
• My UglyKitty
• Ninnycat Crochet
• Novelty Kitten
• Palace of Varied Industries
• Pear & Peacock
• Phil Barbato
• Polly Scoots
• River Rats Designs
• See Katie Sew
• SHN Handmade
• Space Moderne
• This Little Piggy
• Wild Hare Fiber Studio LLC
• Yinibini
• Yummy & Company

It promises to be an exciting show! So save the date: November 21, The Soundry.

My Babies Have Found New Homes!

I spent yesterday with my DC Craft Mafia peeps, Erica Burns (Erica Burns Designs) and Mary Kearns (Herban LifeStyle) at the Handmade Mart in Downtown Silver Spring. The day started out with rain but the sun didn't let us down and it shone the rest of the day (I have the sun burn to prove it!). Everyone was out and about and buying tons of stuff! There was live music and lots of things to eat and a whole street of handmade goodies. The whole event was a success in my opinion. Silver Spring is such a diverse and lively community.
My collegemate, Clarisse, who I haven't seen in ages, even dropped by! Thanks, Cla, for your support! A couple of her officemates are planning to launch their own jewelry business specializing in pearls and I was glad to give them some advise.

I also got to stock up on my favorite sugar scrub supplied by Herban Lifestyle. Mary worked on a new formula which I tried this morning and it's just luxurious! And the scent is so energizing - my favorite is Lemon Souffle. I highly recommend it!

Lastly, it's always greatly satisfying to see people pick up my jewelry and wear them. Below are some of the pieces that I said goodbye to yesterday. It was interesting that a lot of my blue and green pieces sold. Looks like those were the colors of the day. Also most of everyone were buying earrings. So blue, green and earrings were the favorites of the day. Enjoy them ladies!

All in a Day's Work!

I had a busy and rewarding day yesterday. I got to make 4 necklaces and 2 earrings. I had a bit of a slow start with a new design - did 3 false starts before I finally got the hang of it - then did a quick trip to the local bead store for some emergency supplies and back to beading again. This is a short post cause I need to get back to work! Hope you are all having a lovely weekend!

Oh Happy Days!

Sun is out finally out, it's a three day weekend and I'm beading like mad again! I have a show to prepare for and trying to remember all the thousand details to get ready for one. Number one on checklist is make more jewelry! So as I prepare for the beading marathon, let me show you some lovelies that I already do have on hand.

The pendant shown on the left will definitely be hard to part with. I hope no one will want it!

We move on from the art deco look to modern and minimalist with these beaded triangle earrings on long kidney ear hooks! What fun!

Finally, I hope to run into purple-lovers who I'm hoping won't be able to resist this bracelet and earrings set!

I almost forgot! I'll be at the Handmade Mart on May 31st, Sunday in Downtown Silver Spring. See ya!