Art Beads, Memory Wire & Rubber

I have been on an art bead high lately...that's what it's like when you go on an Etsy spree and start buying beads you don't need and then you get tons of little packages in the mail.  It's such a rush!

To help me deal with that addiction and actually give me some justification to do more "support of other artists" I finally sat down to make something.  Memory wire and rubber tubing are two of my favorite things right now.  I just love how easy it is to create something fun and dramatic so quickly.  I have two designs to share...

First, this is a springy piece in honor of the coming season.  I actually have a lot of purple and yellow beads and didn't really think about it until I started looking.  The lead bead in this batch is the etched rondelle from Cherie R. and then the others fell in line:  a disc from HMB Studios, a big rondelle from Libelula, and two shades of purple from SueBeads.  I threw in some bright yellow Swarovski crystal and some purple coils to keep things interesting.  The brown rubber tubing makes it look like leather, but then you get faked out because it just wraps around your wrist without a clasp and stays there!  

The second one has a different, more serious, vibe.  The chartreuse-based lampwork from Julsbeads gets mixed with a speckled enameled oval from GardanneBeads for the focal grouping on this one.  I used some cool heishi pearls from a recent trunk show over at Bead Haven along with black rubber tubing to fill in the blanks.  It's just the right balance of beads for a bangle.

I put these both for sale out on my Etsy site.  :)

The Soup's Pocketbook Effect

The Bead Soup Blog Party posted two Saturdays ago, but I'm still getting through all the blogs.  It's like being at a big fiesta with a lot of people that share common interests and obsessions, so it takes a while to get through reading about new people and making fun connections.

In the process, I keep finding cool new sources for beads and components.  Hence, the "Pocketbook Effect" of the Soup...through all these new blogs I've found a few new bead sources and gone back to some old friends.  I got a bunch of packages in the mail today which made my crazy workaday Monday so much better!

Here's some bead porn...enjoy!

These gorgeous organic diamondy bicones from Artwithheart came in the mail today.

I am absolutely in love.

I saw one of these beaded toggles on Maggie's Soup design, 
so I headed on over to MadMaggieDesigns and picked one up.

This great color combo had me at "hello" when I
skipped upon GlassBeadArt.

My 'Bama girl Juliana's Julsbeads shop had some chartreuse
going on that I couldn't resist

I was strangely attracted to these beads 
called "Strange Attractions" from AnnesGlassJewels.

 This Richard Ronsick pretty from RonsickOriginals came in the mail
today and it's cool from all angles.

Judy's Bead Soup

Judy's Bead Soup, originally uploaded by jenjuddrocks.

Here's a little shot of the soup that I sent to my partner, Judy. I'll let her explain everything that's in there, but you can see the color families I chose. I think they'll be great with her etched copper and funky wire and metal style.

Plus, I pulled out some glass beads from an old Bead Soup friend...okay, she's not old, but the party happened way back in 2010. Think Julianna Cannon...the girl with the shiny shack. That's one of the most fun things that happened for me because of these soup adventures. I got to visit Juls in person while I was living in Alabama and she actually let me near her torch! I melted my own glass for the first time! The ones I sent to Judy are actually Juls' work, not my sad attempts, though....so she's getting the good stuff. haaaaaaaaaaa

Love. Art. Jewelry. 'Nuf Said

Handmade.

It's one word that makes me happy, so here's a toast (and a link) to a new blog called Love My Art Jewelry.  There are some familiar faces and familiar pieces, so whether you're in the market for components to make your own or you want a totally unique handmade piece, this is a blog to check out.

Oh, and there's a giveaway involved, which is always a good thing.  haaaaaaaaaa

While I'm here, I want to send a shout out to Julianna Cannon, aka Juls, who is one of the artisans featured on the new site.  She made this stack of lovelies:

They're still here in the kitchen just 'cause they're sooooo pretty!

My sweetie's home for just a couple of days, so not much bead action for me...but that's a good thing!!!  haaaaaaaaaaa

Anticipation - Focus on the Positive

The way I see it, when you're waiting for something, in anticipation, you're in one of two mindsets...
 ...you're excited because something positive or good or fun or wonderful is most likely to happen
or
 ...you're worried or afraid that something bad or negative or scary or yucky will probably happen.


For the April Art Bead Scene Carnival post, it's my task to write on "anticipation."  Well, I want to delve into how important it is to look forward to something...and creating something for yourself to look forward to in a positive and exciting way, in particular.   I think we all tend towards viewing life in one way or the other...an intrinsic or extrinsic motivation.  What the h*ll am I talking about?  Well, I think you can either feel like you have some control over your own destiny, and see things as positive opportunities; or you can attribute things that happen to you to someone else--"they" or "them"--and see the negative consequences.  What I'm trying to say is that you can create opportunities for yourself to look forward to--that pleasurable feeling of anticipation--in small and big ways through art and creating and even growing a business.  (I'd say that family and career and relationship are all in here, too, but I've got to have some focus, right?  haaaaaaaaaa)


Now, I am not Miss Positive Energy all the time, believe me.  But, when it comes to my craftiness, that's where I really like to focus on the positive...here are few examples...


First, trying new things.  I wanted to try making glass beads.  What's the worst that could happen?  I could burn Juli's workshop down?  haaaaaaaa  A week or so ago, I shared a post about meeting Julianna Cannon and getting my first try at the torch.  I was sooo freaking excited to try it that I really didn't even think about the whole "what if I can't do this?" or "what if I hurt myself?" because even if I can't do it the first time, I know I can try again and even if I hurt myself it will be a funny story!  Not only did I have the anticipation and excitement about working with fire, but then, once I was done, I had to wait to see how my beads came out!  Juli annealed them and cleaned them for me, I had no idea how any of my random color efforts would come out.  Well, TA DA!!  They are some jacked up wonky beads but I love them!!!!!

Second, ordering new things.  Another one of the best parts about creating is buying tools, supplies, or other people's art on-line!  If you haven't experienced the sweet anticipation of packages on the way from your fave Etsy shops or on-line bead suppliers or tool shops, then you don't know what you're missing!  You can wear pajamas, drink coffee, talk to the cats and have snacks all at the same time (if you're a weird cat person who likes to wear pajamas a lot like me).  So, in the spirit of giving yourself something to look forward to, I picked a couple of Etsy shops out of my list of favorites to share...

Purple Tie-Dye Polymer Beads by ArtyBecca

Art Museum Letters for Mixed Media Applications from KathyOrf

Blood Orange Ceramic Beads from MAKU Studio

Third, meeting new people.  I enjoy being a part of this blogging community and getting to know the work of so many wonderful folks.  Looking at the latest posts, seeing the latest magazine issues, and sharing in the experiences of so many people who have the same passion that I have is something I look forward every day!  That's the definition of anticipation right there!  And, even more exciting to me is April's BeadFest Wire in Philly.  I get to meet other creative people and vendors from all over the place--some of you are going to be there, right?  One of the things I'm most looking forward to is taking a class from Kerry Bogert in person!  Her latest book has really lit a fire on my coiling so I can't wait!  Here's a peek at some of the "Totally Twisted" inspiration that has me going lately...

These are my version of bangles with TONS of great glass artbeads...SueBeads, HMB Studios, Lisa New, and even some by Kerry!

So, I hope that was enough positive energy sharing so you can go anticipate something great for yourself.  I actually get to go think about my car being in the shop with some sort of crack in the engine (I don't think that's good); on of my kitty boys, Brando, who had to stay overnight at the vet because he got a cut in his eye and they have to take it out tomorrow (yes, the whole eyeball); and the ever-inspiring physical fitness test that I have to take in the morning.  Awesome...I think I'll go make something!  haaaaaaaaaaaaa

 

I Got Lost on Boll Weevil Circle

There were lots of potential titles for this post:
- "I 'heart' Julianna Cannon"
- "Glass Really Does Melt In Your Hands"
- "It's Some Sort of Molecular Thing"
But, Boll Weevil Circle captures the spirit of my latest adventure...

On Friday, I was truly blessed to meet Julianna Cannon from Julsbeads fame down in her stomping grounds of southern Alabama.  :)  I drool over lampworked glass like there's no tomorrow.  So,when I noticed during the Bead Soup Party back in January that Juli was at "Location: Alabama" I figured I might as well invite myself over to her "shiny shack out back" and see her goods and meet her craziness in person!

I mean seriously...look at these...aren't they yummy?  Even a non-bead-pscyho person can appreciate them!  haaaaaaaaaa  If you feel like getting some for yourself, she's stocking up her etsy shop.

Well, as you might have guessed, or seen in Juli's post, we hit it off.  A little shared enthusiasm goes a long way in turning a beautiful sunny day into an even more beautiful adventure!  I know the value of shop time, so I'm still so amazed at how generous she was.  :)

So, let me get to the good stuff...I demanded, right away, to be taken to the shack and taught something!  haaaaaaaaa  Look at this?  She cleaned it up so this gorgeous rack of colorful, amazing glass was just waiting for us!  And, of course, she got her teachering skills on by explaining about all the different types and their melting points and such.  It's a molecular thing, you know.  haaaaaaaaa  As the good student that I am, I just nodded, didn't take any notes, and made her rush to get the fire on!  haaaaaaaaaaaaaaa  I wanted some action!! 

Juli worked through the basics for me and then she let me sit down in front of the torch.  Uh, how awesome is that!!!  I used a hot-ass fire to melt these luscious raw materials into a mess!  haaaaaaaaaaa  Actually, they weren't too bad of a mess.  Besides, when you're learning something new you're supposed to make a mess, right, so you can learn how to work the materials and fix mistakes.  That's what I told myself, anyway...haaaaaaaaa  She was lovingly patient, but then we were both starving.  Off for a lunch break.

After lunch it was my turn for teachy-teach.  Juli's a seed bead master...for instance, when I showed up she was wearing this gorgeous piece:

So in her mind, I actually had something to teach her--how intimidating!  I was wearing one of my new art bead bangles because I thought it would be a perfect way to showcase her glass, too!  She agreed and a bit of tutoring ensued.  If any of you have ever crafted with me, in any medium, you know I have a little trouble being patient and letting other people do the work.  Luckily, Juli picked up on that right away while she was working on coiling and sent me back out to the shack.  I got to do fire and glass for hours!  Playing with colors...trying to make dots that didn't string all over the place...all while hoping I didn't burn down the place.  When she finally came out to get me I was totally in the groove.  And exhausted!  It was soooo fun and I was concentrating so hard!! 

That takes us to the end of the day...you may be asking, "Where are those wonky beads you made?"  Well, they have to get annealed in the kiln so they don't breaky-break so Juli's firing them up for me and I'll have them to show off next week.  And, believe me, even if they're ugly messes, they're going into a piece of jewelry for me!!  haaaaaaaa

As for Boll Weevil Circle...I had a 90 or so mile drive home after this day of creating and joy and friendship.  With all that excitement and new ideas racing around in my head, I was ready for a good hour and half drivve home.  But, I was singing loudly and ignoring the directions to get home while enjoying my Route 44 Diet Cherry Limeade from Sonic.  :)  I didn't seem to be getting any farther away from Enterprise, Alabama (think Army Aviation if you're wondering about the scene down there) as I passed the same buildings over again.  Ahhhhh, It's Boll Weevil CIRCLE.  That means you have to turn off of it to actually go somewhere else!  With that mystery solved, I trolleyed north and made it home to my sweet boy kitties who smelled dog and excitement on me and then just begged for treats!  So, it was a day of treats for all of us!!!  Whoo hooooo!