Time well spent

I have spent many hours trying to learn my new "smart phone" and many hours trying to sync my computer, add contacts to my other email accounts and trying to learn more about Face book. So I am learning things slowly. I think that once I can do some of these things, I can better organize my day. Hopeful thinking.

Better still, is the many hours I have put into beading this collar. I want to finish it by the end of August for a show I am doing. This is the first collar I have attempted and like my freeform peyote, I don't want to stop, to call it finished. But I will, when it is ready.

Jewelry Ideas Spinning in my Head

The Williamsburg show was a success and alot of fun. There seemed to be many more jewelry vendors there, both beaded, metal and wireworked. I am finding this to be true at all shows I go to. I am glad I do this for a creative outlet and not for a living. It is getting harder to compete with other artists as well as all the retail jewelry made overseas.
Saturday night, Bead Haven was a vendor at the Art and Soul Retreat in Hampton. It was a fun experience and I really enjoyed meeting all the artists attending the retreat. The artwork created there is really cool. I took a class , Uncommon Objects in Tassels & Fringe, from Susan Lenart Kazmer. What a great instructor she is! It brought me close to my roots when I used found objects to create jewelry. I had really lost touch with that until now. In my senior year of high school, I won first place in the schools art show. I made a necklace that was made from wire from Dad's garage, shells from the beach, wooden beads and peacock feathers found nearby. I wonder what happened to that necklace.... My head is spinning with ideas. I can't wait to get into my studio!

Rainy Days

It has been a rainy Sunday. A very nice day for beading, watching movies and taking care of business at home. I have been beading embroidered cuffs for the Art in The Square show in Williamsburg on April 29. This will be a new design for me this year. It is so much fun to do. I bead a random, freeform pattern with lots of color. Now that I have made a few though, I am anxious to begin a freeform peyote necklace, my first beading love. I will try to attach a picture of one of the necklaces I have kept for myself. Yes, I must go start a new necklace!