Conversations about my favorite beads and lampwork bead makers, jewelry artists, indie and documentary films, gardening, food, Isaac Newton, Pinterest, and The Desire Map, all part of my continuing journey to become a better bead artist and super human being.
Pansy Skies is one of my favorite beads. I love how perfectly balanced the amount of colors and the placement of dots turned out. I have an issue with color...more is better I say, but not necessarily better looking. Often my work looks like (at least to me) I just didn't know when to stop.
There is so much inspiration, but never enough time or money to create all the things I would like. I think that is what I love about websites like Pinterest and Polyvore. They let me plan to create. Here I planned to create a necklace with Pansy Skies using complimentary beads by Lori Bergmann. I had a lot of fun designing an entire ensemble around my imaginary necklace, including a FABULOUS pair of shoes I can only think about wearing!
If you ever want to see how I would design jewelry with my, or even your beads, subscribe here to my blog, follow me on Polyvore, or just send a request.
Even better, create your own designs with my beads and share them with me on my Facebook page; I'll give you a coupon for 15% off if you do! And if you "Like" my Facebook page I'll give you ANOTHER coupon to combine for a total of 30% off!
I've made a necklace and a bracelet this last week or so, and will finish another bangle by Monday. I need to take pictures of the new stuff; in the mean time, below is some of the old stuff. I hesitate to list anything because I feel too many can't afford to pay for such frivolosity (ooh, great word... is it real?!); I have too much pride to undersell the investment of my time and materials, and most of all my heart.
I want clothes and a husband like Melinda Gordon. Sounds so superficial doesn't it?! But it's the closest thing I can give you to relate more precisely with what I want.
Jim is patient, over and over again. He never feels like he is not a priority. He loves every moment with his wife, his best friend, a true confidant. He is happy to rescue her and be "Holms" to her "Sherlock", "Robin" to her "Batman", and that blonde cop to her "Ponch". He protects her. She is always, ALWAYS, honest with Jim and he with her, never afraid to be, or feel a need to be, anyone other than who she is, and he wouldn't have it any other way. He is "ready to go anywhere as long as its with" her. I guess I don't really want Jim, I really want to feel what Melinda feels. I want someone who wants that for me too; I want someone who wants to be the reason I feel that love.
I want to dress like Melinda.
I want to stop buying clothes,
unless they are vintage
at Walmart prices
(do you like yard sales?!)
I want
an adjustable dressmaker's mannequin.
I have issues with my body,
who doesn't?!
Even Melinda has issues,
but she dresses with full appreciation for her very round hips
and disproportionately small waist and shoulders.
Where she has her flat tummy
I have my "reminder" of 200 pounds forever gone.
Where I have my 36E she has 34C,
so that evens things out on the who's luckier scale!
I envision
empire waistlines
that swing
in flowing,
silky texture,
with pleats not gathers,
of sumptuous textures
and visual
artistically unique pattern,
and long long long legs,
and classy,
completing
coats and cardigans,
and Bridget Bardot
meets Hepburn
hair and makeup.
I want to feel good.
I want to feel beautiful.
I want to feel loved.
That's what
it all
comes down to.
I was recently told I write a lot about love in my blog. I don't think I noticed a pattern until I heard that. I think I made a New Year's resolution without intending to; I have opened myself up to love.
Now that my son is 15, growing into a young man, growing into a soul, a solitary charm, I see him worry that his mom may not be as happy as she could be. I think he knew before I did that I need a partner in love. I used to take advantage of the fact that my priority was my son to protect myself from love, or the failure of it. I swore I would not have a relationship until he was 18 and was convinced that was the way it should be.
I think it is time to think about how long it takes to find that kind of love, that kind of Jim and Melinda relationship. It will probably take a few years, and by that time, I will have kept my vow... unless God has other plans for me.
I'm feeling in limbo these days, I loved my job, but lost it in November. So much has happened since then, and now that life has calmed I must remind myself that I have not been complacent in life just un-occupied with the search for "traditional" work.
My friend who had a stroke is a miracle, and after only 2 months is independent again. Christmas has come and gone, but I didn't roast the turkey until yesterday and the tree is still up; I like the lights... the last time it was up it stayed there for 2 years! Winter, though late, is finally here. I need to take my last class in school; instead I only think about what I need to do, and what I'm not seeing to be my intended path. In the mean time, I try to create.
I think I sound melancholy ... am I? Or am I simply doing the potty-dance of life, waiting for the door to open and reveal the relief on the other side? Wow, what a metaphor! That reminds me of something Doug used to say about life being a line; if you have one foot on one side and the other on the opposite side of the line, all you can do is pee on the line... on life. Okay, this is getting too out there, too raw, I might scare you away; no fear... just live life.
I've been teaching and finishing research. My sale went fairly well, and I really appreciate all my loyal fans! You've all been a big help and encouragement to me.
I just listed 3 new items in my shop so go check them out. And as always, if my subscribers make a purchase of $20 or more, please comment "blog15" to receive a 15% refund!
My research will be done by the end of the month and then I'll get back to making more beads. In the mean time, I have more inventory to list until I return to the flame!
My last entry talked about changes in the universe, as it applies to people and events near to my life. My friends are healing (Benign!) and so am I. I wrote a letter to the Universe on my other blog (Beads of Thought) and it seems to have been received, because solutions have been trickling in. I asked my son's dad (who has a knack for connecting astrology to life) to explain what in the Universe is going on, and he said to look for Mercury to be out of retrograde, and changes to occur on April 23. Well, today I awakened more refreshed than I have been in a while and full of energy. I even told my friend on the phone, "Something is wrong with me! I'm excited and relaxed at the same time. Nothing is getting to me and all possibilities exist; I'm so flexible. I'm not me, am I? I'm manic? Am I annoying?"
Even though I don't talk with you as often as I like, I want you to know I think of you constantly. Every day there is something new I want to share with you. I've been saving up our conversations, so I'll just start them up again with Michael Schwade. Who? Michael.
Michael (MSchwade on ETSY) has 45 years in jewelry designing and bench crafting. The Universe sent him to my bead store and he bought my Panatone bead.
He made this stunning pendant of torch welded bronze. This Cirque du Soliel trapeze artist is balancing my bead above her head.
I feel like I'm a trapeze artist sometimes, and I'm sure you do to! I hope I'm as graceful as Michael's piece, even when I feel more like Atlas! Michael, there are a lot of people would love an interchangeable bead holder like your Cirque du Soliel; you should consider making them for people who love artisan beads.
I'm giving Michael 25% off anything in my shop because he sent me a picture of what he made with my bead. If you are making things with my work, I'd love to show them off and appreciate you too! Send me a picture!
Another gift from the Universe is Sharon from Periwinkle Tangerine and Chubby Cheek Sweaters. I finished a set of beads for her that she will be using on several sweaters she's made. I can't wait to show the finished product to you, so here are the beads she's using.
I had a really productive lampworking week last week! I listed a lot and I made new beads. Below is just a little gallery. Most of them have not been listed, so as I often promise, here are your first looks at new beads! I love you all, all my stars in my universe, you are blessings to me!
Who's there? The Universe, that's who! I can't be the only person who's noticing a shift in things in their world. Some special friends had biopsies and the results will be coming back on the same day, though they live in different towns and do not know each other. And their friends are going through similar situations. There are a lot of mental health issues being dealt with by myself, my friends, friends of friends, both near and far. There's a tendency for me to be self-destructive (translate party girl), but I get over it fast and get on with the business of being there for others. That is something the Universe seems to be saying LOUD...I am a greater support for others and less in need than I think...I must have faith in the Universe, for time and time again it proves itself to be there for me.
"It's time to step out on faith, I gotta show my face, it's been elusive for so long...look what I have found...strength, courage, and wisdom, it's been inside of me all along..."
I can't believe it has only been a week since my last post...No, it has to be longer than that! See, I told you I can't believe it (LOL)! I think I will just spit out all the grain I've been storing in my cheek without care of the order in which I give it (boy, grammatically that was from another time...been writing like that a lot lately!)
Sales, sales, sales. Is it the season? Is it the economy? Is it both? I've been noticing a lot of great sales and here are a few I've held onto to share with you.
"Save 15% on all chain and stringing material during the String-a-Palooza! This is a great time to get basic elements for your designs. Everything from jewelry wire and silk cord to sterling silver and base metal chain is on sale. Enter ZZ-PALOOZA15 at checkout to save before this sale ends on Wednesday, April 20, 2011." at Artbeads
Wednesday, April 13, thru Sunday, April 17, 2011: Don't get strung out choosing the right jewelry cord — stock up now on quality stringing supplies at great sale prices! Get 10-20% off volume pricing for WireLace®, velvet ribbon, Rattail™ satin-like cord, SoftFlex® beading wire and SoftTouch™ stringing cable. 5 days only! at Rings & Things
At Heartsy you get "Daily deals on fabulous hand made items", at least 50% off from selected ETSY artists in all categories. I hope I'll be chosen some day.
And of course for my blog subscribers, at Mona Rae Beads when you make a purchase over $20, you get 15% off when you comment "subscribe15"! Did you see the rosary I made? It is a jewelry piece but includes all the parts of a 5 decade rosary. Perfect for spring!
I received an order for 6 beads that will be used as buttons on a hand crocheted coat. I can't wait to see what Sharon at Chubby Cheek Sweaters does with these!
Julie Smith, one of my loyal fans, just purchased these from me. I hope she sends me pics of what she makes with them! If you send me pics of your creations with my beads I will give you an immediate refund and shout out in my blog!
Well, I've said a lot today, yet there's so much more I can share with you! I have new listings and price reductions in my shop, so I thank you in advance for looking at them. In the meantime, I want to share a charming story about being tenacious, making others happy, and this bead that I sold to Deborah (The Jeweled Bird). It will bring you back full circle, as the Universe always does!
2/28 MONA: When I was packing your bead to mail today, I noticed the small surface encasing crack had turned into many cracks. I must have grabbed an incompatible rod of clear. I can make you a new one or refund your money.
DEB: I really REALLY fell in love with that one!
MONA: I love this bead too, and it was fun to make, and it was so vibrant and my first successful attempt at baleen pleats.
MONA: I made another one yesterday and used a fresh rod of the clear. The same thing happened with the encasement, but this time it cracked in a way that told me it was incompatible with the gold metal in the pink...So, I just made another one, this time with a less expensive (no silver metal in it) clear, which unfortunately is not as crystal. It is in the kiln now... If you don't like it then I'll try it without the clear encasing. I guess another option would be to either use another color other than pink...As long as power stays on, I'll be trying again tomorrow
DEB: No problem, thank you!
MONA: I did try another. I used a light gray clear and the rubino I used didn't turn out as pink. It is a deep rich purple...Still want to try again for another
DEB: No problem, thank you, thank you!
MONA: I had a couple ideas, one of which I am sure will work. I'm going to re'anneal the two I made that cracked to see if they can be "healed". The other idea I had is... lightly encase the bead with 104 moretti clear frit then encase with the Aether it will keep the two metals (Aether silver & Rubino gold) from "stressing eachother out."
DEB: First thanks for the update, second, I truly thank you for the tenacity that you have shown for this one focal...
If you decide that 'enough is enough, I will understand, as you have devoted so much time to ME and this one bead.
MONA: I appreciate your patience and the opportunity to work it out so it can't happen again. I hope we are successful so that you can have the beautiful bead you want and I'll have a solution to share with others.
DEB: Well, I will remain optimistic, then:):):)...it is so hard when you really fall for a bead...and you have been so kind to try to make it work... i will keep my fingers crossed!
MONA: The last option might be to take the bead as it is. The cracks do not go all the way through, so the bead would not break. However, how you use the bead will make a difference in what will happen (will the cracks get bigger, will the clear encasing break off?)...
MONA: Well, they came out of the kiln and looked healed with the exception of one tiny crack, but as soon as I dropped them into the water to soak (and I dropped them on purpose) the encasement on "the one" cracked. I also made a test bead using the clear frit encasement and it also had two long cracks in it. However, I found one rod of diamond clear (which is not double helix) and I will try that this weekend.
DEB: Dear Mona, your efforts are so , SO appreciated...I think, perhaps, you love this pretty bead as much as I do.
MONA: Yes, I really do like this one as much as you do. I'm very frustrated that I haven't been able to duplicate it, which makes it even more special! I'm disappointed in the performance of the diamond clear. If you want it cracked, you can have it cracked. If you don't want it cracked, then I'll wear it! Other options at this point are to make it without clear or make it without rubino. Do you want me to try that?
DEB: Hello Mona....Oh you poor dear...you have tried harder than anyone I know! I will PROUDLY wear the cracked bead...as a testament to your perseverance and as a beautiful object with a mind of it's own. I cannot explain WHY it is so special..it just is! I give you my grateful thanks for trying to repair this beauty...or remake her. I thanks you so much...
I look forward to wearing the 'special' bead, and I look forward to telling it's impressive story...about a glass woman who tried so hard hard to make me happy (and did:):):) (4/13)
I have lots to say, but no time to say a lot! I wanted to share with you a few sales I've noticed, and some personal growth stuff, but for now, I'll just leave you with the fulfillment of a promise of brevity. I made a rosary!
I started listing jewelry in my store!
I listed new inventory and reduced prices on last month's new beads!
My son says, "No. It will snow again in a week if you believe it really is spring!" But my mood says it is, says I want it to be. Look at this new necklace I made yesterday; what is more spring than this little flower child?!
I'm not totally happy with it. I think it could look more polished and the balance could be better and it would be nice if I had copper chain. I worry about how busy it is.
This necklace was inspired by a favorite necklace at Great Barbarian's Shop on ETSY. I saw that the front could be the clasp in an ornate way.
I've been meaning to share another ETSY shop with you. I am constantly amazed how people are able to dig deeper than they knew their pockets went when others are in need. So much need is happening in the world right now. And global need gets global attention, but what about the little need, or rather big needs of people who must seek out attention. I often see "excuses" about why people are selling things and I think to myself, "Are they really in need or is it just to elicit sympathy and a sale?" Well, these thoughts were brought to mind when I found this ETSY shop.
Aid for Abby is a shop that sells art made by a girl who is Autistic. Mom's, Bonnie Blair's, profile tells the story about the shop and her daughter and her life with her kids and the lessons she has learned about life through her loving daughter. She is so endearing, sincere, and factual, that I know it is not an "excuse".
I just listed TEN new items in my shop. I wanted to share with you that any time I add new listings to my shop, I also move some items to the clearance section and reduce prices. Please check out my shop, and if you are interested in making a purchase, anyone who is a subscriber to this blog, or my other blog BEADS of Thought, will receive 20% off any purchase over $20 (comment Subscriber20 will be verified and receive immediate refund of discount).
Well, enjoy the sunshine while it lasts! Maybe this week, maybe a couple months....if it is in your heart, it will last forever!
Everywhere I look, around me I see all the procrastination. Why do I do it? I feel guilty and overwhelmed for not doing what I need to do, and overwhelmed by the feelings of inadequacy to do those things to begin with. On the other hand I tell myself that I'm not really putting things off, but processing them through thought in the back ground. Where is the BS? I'm not sure, but thinking about it all just ruins this otherwise perfectly gloomy, rainy day.
Regardless, I am blessed. I have a loving mom and son, great friends, and social networks that support me. I was featured on three ETSY treasuries yesterday! Skaan's Spring Has Sprung, JewelryByTamar's Can I Please Have Honey Mustard Salad Dressing, and RenataAndJonathan's Having Friends Is Cool. I've heard that the more comments and clicks a treasury receives, the more likely that treasury will appear on the ETSY home, or "front", page.
Thinking of treasuries reminded me of a web site I once knew about that would look up your name and report any treasuries you were in. A little search for the web site landed me in a place called Craftopolis. I'm going to check it out. Supposedly they use google analytics to report a lot of different aspects of activity on your ETSY site; but then again, ETSY has a lot of new features that do that for you already.
Speaking of activity on ETSY, I have a circle of artist friends that is growing and growing. I have decided to create a treasury featuring my faves from my new friends. Go visit and comment and click: Rings n' Things, Bobbles n' Bling, Jewelry in all Things
