Tattoo Inspiration

Been kinda busy lately.  I've managed to finish a couple of pieces, one of which I'm pretty proud of.  This Koi fish has been a long time in the making.  Hope you enjoy :).

Catch up, kinda?

Lava Flow, just because I was in a red mood :).  Maybe next time it'll be in blue.  I got some beads in the mail yesterday, no, not blue--red once again (I ordered them in my red mood), and a couple of the Topaz variety.  Now, if my daughter would nap, I might *might* be able to design something new, maybe not so red, but who knows.  Just thought I'd share some of my minds ramblings and latest projects since I have been utterly and completely neglectful of this blog.  So, again, here's Lava Flow :-P

Slightly before Lava Flow (only by a day or two) came Liquid Graffiti.  I think these two could end my abstract phase for at least a week or two.  Enjoy :).

Thanks for looking and oh so sorry for being oh so neglectful!

Wandering Minds Meet Missing Inspiration Fairies

Ever had a time in your life when your brain just wont shut down?  Mine's been on overdrive for the past month, almost to the day.  I had a life changing event a month ago and have seen the rippling effects throughout every aspect of my life.  When it comes to my bead work, it is almost comical at the form those ripples manifest themselves in.

I am so scattered that I cannot seem to think thoroughly through anything, let alone finish something that was only half way ill-conceived to begin with.  I find myself in a Catch-22, jotting down ideas half developed, beginning work on the ideas half heartedly, only to find myself less than confident in their developing shapes.

The inspiration fairy has actually been quite good to me, ideas flash into my mind quicker than I can pluck them from the ether, and I'm left with a shell of what I envisioned.  Usually, this part of the creation process is the challenge I have grown to crave.  I love sculpting a finished product from a fleeting thought.  I have not had the energy as of late to fully apply myself to this feat and my work has suffered, namely from my lack of confidence in it.

I expressed this crisis of confidence on my Facebook page and was immediately responded to by an artist who I truly admire.  Carol Dean Sharpe, from Sand Fibers.  Carol offered her time and energy to critique HONESTLY some of the work I had lost confidence in.  Mostly, these were just bits and pieces of cuffs which I had put down for some reason or another. 

Seeing an opportunity which was the proverbial open window for a shut door, I jumped at the chance (albeit a little scared that I may very well be told--Yeah, you were right, you should definitely just give this beading thing a rest).  I emailed Carol my work and quickly got a response back.  She confirmed some of my opinions on pieces, yet encouraged me to pick up "Mercury" where I had left off, because she "adored it." 

That was all I needed to grab my beads, tell myself to just shut up and sit down and finally finish something.  So, thank you Carol for assissting me in this time of need, thank you for your honesty and thank you for your confidence.  The fruits of my labor, Mercury:

 

Pressure to Create

I love creating new patterns.  I find myself half way through creating one and thinking about what I'm going to do for my next.  Problem is, I find myself half way through the making of a cuff from said pattern and find myself thinking about which color combination's I want to use next.  This would not be a problem at all if only the day were extended to contain a few more hours (5 or 6 would suffice). 

Thus far, I have been able to quell my problems by ignoring my inclination to stitch the same pattern twice and just make new patterns to bead...  Well, I lost the battle this time.  I re-used a pattern, my Coral Wipeout Pattern to be exact and applied one of my all time favorite color schemes; Black, Red and Silver.  I may have to ignore my inner monster every so often now, because I'm kind of liking what came of it :). 

Thicker Than Water Peyote Cuff

Thanks for looking and Happy Beading!

I have just been through the absolute most difficult week of my life.  Every facet of my being has been tested and every ounce of courage I possess has been used.  I have made a decision to see myself and my life through these rough times and am holding fast to the idea that there is and will be amazing results in the end.

I have glimpsed bits and pieces of sheer and utter beauty painfully dispersed within terrible agony and despair.  I will survive and my family will too, I can only hope that we are stronger for our survival.  I have had a lyric from one of my all time favorite songs running through my head while I struggled with this turmoil.  It is reflected in my latest cuff:

Ain't No Sunshine:

Peace be with you and your family.  Hold your loved ones close and know that you can get through anything... together. 

Compliments

This has been a lovely week for Lovelies from Mihana, (I know it's cheesy, but I had to say it).  A very talented beader whom I truly admire purchased my Versailles pattern and within one day had posted a new blog post with her gorgeous rendition featured in it.

The golds and green are perfect for the pattern, although I should not be surprised by her ability to pull the most out of a piece, her shop is full of not just her own glorious finished products but tutorials for her beautiful pieces as well.  Thank you Sabine from "Try-to-be" for your wonderful finished product!

I also was contacted by another beader from Dicopebisuteria who graciously convo'd me to let me know that she had featured my Green Gradations Peyote Cuff in her Treasury!  This is my first Treasury appearance and I am so incredibly honored!  Once I become technically savvy enough to figure out how to get a picture of the treasury here on my blog, then maybe I'll be able to share a little more than just a link :-P.  With that said, this beader is very talented herself and has managed to translate her adorable logo into peyote stitch which she incorporates flawlessly within her work.   

Needless to say, I'm pretty excited about the happenings around here and am looking forward to a productive and fun November!  Happy Holiday Season to you all and more importantly, happy beading!

Fretwork, eh, Gingerbread

I have a weakness for Victorian architecture.  I don't know much about it, other than the fact that I really, really like it.  I love all the loops and swirls of vintage woodworking and the gingerbread like quality it gives a beautiful stately house flanked with swirls cut lovingly by a masters hand.

The regal shapes have shown their faces in numerous place--from gardens of hedgerows (Versailles Gardens has an astounding collection of such), to shelf supports sporting trinkets in the family home.  I decided that this design could not go a moment longer without being adapted to one of my favorite mediums; beads!  I was tasked with designing a cuff for a woman who likes bright colors and wears jeans most days.  It seemed to be the perfect opportunity to try out a new fretwork design.  I created Versailles Fretwork Peyote Cuff for her (It is to be a Christmas present purchased for her by her younger brother), so I will have to wait until December 26th to hear about its reception, but I can only hope it will be grand!

I will be beading up a dichromatic version of this cuff, but for now I jsut had too many blues to not try to use more than one :).  Thanks for looking!