Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Wishcasting Wednesday: What do you wish to learn?


Today Jamie Ridler Studios Wishcasting Wednesday question asks "What do you wish to learn?", which brings up so many more questions for me than answers.  I have always loved learning everything so this one is particularly difficult for me to pare down to a manageable post. 

Safe Landing by Diana Mains Welte 2012
The first thing that comes to mind is that I want to learn how to better use my new kiln. And how to improve upon my skills to make my jewelry better. That is an ongoing process with any work so that is an obvious answer.

Secondly, I really want to learn that food is to live and not to live for food.  I am getting better at that.

I would like to learn how to turn off the talk in my head at night so I can better sleep.  It is mostly creative chatter, very little worry anymore, but insomnia has become an unwelcome habit. 

Lastly, I would like to learn how to make that last little jump to believing that I am worthy of receiving all the blessings I am being given.  I always say 'thank you' so it's getting easier. I am almost there... I can sense it.  Just being able to see it, imagine it, is enough for now, as that was impossible not too long ago.

An odd little collection of wishes today... but there it is. :)  Blesssings to you all for your unending empathy and strong shoulders to whine upon. Thank you, Jamie and all... your kindness and patience is always appreciated.  :)

Saturday, August 11, 2012

Bead Soup Blog Party 6 - The Second Reveal!!!

How Lori McDaniel Anderson does it, I will never know... but she must be magic!  With 400 participants and three different dates spaced just a few weeks apart, The Bead Soup Blog Party (in its sixth incarnation) has made its second reveal - of which I am a part. 

From my blog partner, Collette Collins of Firefly Myst Artisan Jewelry, I received two of Collette's beautiful hand-crafted focal beads, a twisted wire toggle clasp, four spacers and three strands of beautiful stones.  What to make... what to make?



I am working on my wirework skills and love the look and feel of rosary chain so I began with the turquoise beads and used some of the black ones too.  Combining this with the silver clasp, the flower focal and some Precosia Ornela beads of my own created a three wrap bracelet that can double as a necklace. 

With the second focal, I made a necklace using the turquoise beads - again making links but from copper wire this time - added leather that just matched the color on the beautiful star bead.  I added another wire-wrapped 'star', a bead 'comet', a few yellow Precosia Ornelas, and entitled this one 'Summer Sky'.   


I believe this will keep me thinking of summer nights long after winter has settled in.

Thank you, Collette, for your lovely creations and for such beautiful Bead Soup!  Now I am off to see what she created with my sendings. You can see all of the Bead Soup Blog Party 6 participants and their offerings to date at http://lorianderson-beadsoupblogparty.blogspot.com/2012/06/participants-of-6th-bead-soup-blog.html . 

Don't forget the third and last reveal on August 25! 



Hostess, Lori Anderson, Pretty Things
Adlinah Kamsir, Dream Struck Designs
Adrienn Lukacs, Raszputyin Designs
Agata Grygiel, Cytherea Bijoux
Alenka Obid, Pepita Handmade
Amy Dickerson, Damyjo Designs
Amy Schmidt, Amy's Treasure
Amy Severino, Amy Beads
Andrea Trank, Heaven Lane Creations
Anke Humpert, Anart Island Studios
Ann Rishell, My Critical Eye
April Grinaway, Brooklyn Bead Goddess
Ashley Bunting, Miss Ashely Kate
Astrid Boyce, Astrid Boyce Beads

B.R. Kuhlman, Mixed Mayhem Studios
Barbe Saint John, Saints and Sinners
Beata Benkone Meggyesi, Beahobbi
Bryna Lumb, Bryna's Bead Box

Carmen Lau, Little Maketto
Cate van Alphen, Fulgorine
Cathie Carroll, Cathie Carroll's Studio
Cathy Khoury, Touch Jewelry
Christina Stofmeel, Feng Beads
Courtney Breul, Beads by Breul
Crystal Thain, Here Bead Dragons
Cynthia Abner, Created Treasures

Deana Hager, Just Deez'Art & Life
Debbie Phenes, Deb Joy Sing
Dhea Powers, Java Bead
Diana Welte, Lilyweeds
Dita Basu, alankarshilpa
Dorota Zeranska, gdymamczas
Dot Lewallwn, Speedie Beadie

Elisabeth Auld, Beads For Busy Gals
Ema Kilroy, Ema K Designs
Emma Todd, A Polymer Penchant
Eva Sherman, Eva Sherman Designs
Evie and Beth McCord, EB Bead and Metal Works

Francy Inman, Francy's Studio

Ginger Bishop, lilmummy likes...
Giorgia Rossini, Jo in Wonderland

Ine Vande Cappelle, Jewels by Ine
Iveth Caruso, Creative Atelier

JJ Jacobs, Coming Abstractions
Jackie Ryan, Kydo Jewellery
Jeannie Dukic, Jeannie's Blog
Jelveh Jaferian, Jelveh Designs
Jenna Tomalka, Twin Birch Studio
Jenni Connolly, Jenni's Beads
Jennifer Van Horn, Jennifers Jewels and Junk
Jo-Ann Woolverton, It's a Beadiful Creation
Johanna Rhodes-Nash, Fire Phoenix Creations
Joyce Blair, Bent Wire West Coast
JuLee Wolfe, The Polymer Penguin

Karen Vincent, Swallow Tail Jewellery
Karin Slaton, Backstory Beads
Kayla Potega, The Eclectic Element
Kim Dworak, CianciBlue
Kris Lanae Binsfeld, Cherish Designs by Kris Lanae
Kristen Latimer, MJM Jewelry Designs
Kumi Fisher, Malie Kai Designs
Kym Hunter, Kym Hunter Designs

Lennis Carrier, Windbent
Leslie Wayment, AA Beads & More
Linda Murphy, Bonita Bead
Lisa Johnson, Whimsey Wonders
Lisa Sittniewski, Love, Yesterdays
Lois Moon, Que Onda, Q'Town?
Lola Surwillo, Bead Lola Bead
Lorelei Eurto, Lorelei's Blog
Lori Bowring Michaud, Artfully Ornamental
Lori Finney, Using My Beads

Margareta Saari, Mags-koruja
Maria Horvath, Horimarika Beads
Marian Hertzog, M's Place
Mary Ellen Parker, BeeTree by m.e.
Mary K McGraw, MK's Creative Musings
MaryLou Holvenstot, time2cre8
Martha Aleo, Ornamento
Maybeline Tay, The Jewelry Larder
Megan Collins, Churchy & Her Sailor
Melissa Meman, Art. Life. Love.
Melissa Mesara, One-Eared Pig Beads

Paige Maxim, Paige Maxim Designs
Pam Farren, re-maker
Pam Hurst, Pam Hurst Designs
Patricia Handschuh, The Color of Dreams
Patty Miller, CabariBeads
Penney Klapoth, Faerie Acres
Regina Santerre, Regina's Writings
Rhea Freitag, starrgazer creates
Rochelle Brisson, A Creative Chelle

Sabine Dittrich, PerlenDschungel
Sandra McGriff, Creative Chaos
Sandra Neights, Petalo Azul
Sandra Young, It's a Bead Life!
Sara Oehler, SoftFlex Girl
Saturday Sequins, Saturday Sequins
Shanti Johnson, Sunshine Bliss
Shari Replogle, Plays With Paper
Sonya Stille, Dreamin' of Beads
Stefanie Teufel, Stefanies Sammelsurium

Tammie Everly, TTE Designs
Tania Spivey, Moobie Grace Designs
Therese Frank, Therese's Treasures
Tina Holden, Polymer Clay Bytes!
Toltec Jewels, Jewel School Friends
Tracey Nanstad, A Beadiful Mess
Tracy Choy, BumbleBeads Designs

Valerie Norton, Hot Art


Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Wishcasting Wednesday: What do you wish to create?

Wishcasting this week is easy peasey... I wish to create things of beauty.

After following Jamie Ridler's Wishcasting Wednesdays, doing my Julie Cameron morning pages and a lot of very good business soul searching from Tory Johnson, I've realized that I was born with the motto 'I am here to make things beautiful'.

Somehow, through circumstances (and an upbringing that impressed duty, duty, duty), that little voice in my head began to tell me 'you're here to make everyone else happy'.  Lots of  'it's your fault' and 'if only you would' followed.  They picked up their friends 'everyone else is more important than you' and 'this isn't a real job' and moved right on in. 

Interesting how one listens to all the wrong things and but won't fight for a personal truth.
So... no elaboration today... I was born to make things beautiful.  Going forward my art, my smile and my life will create that beauty.  Yay!  (Thanks, Jamie!)