Beading Babes Reveal Day

So this is what I've done this time. This is the Ruffled Chain Bracelet design by Laina Goodman found in the Feb./Mar. Issue of Beadwork on page 68.

I used a real shell for the toggle bar.  I'm kinda proud of that, and the fact that I made this piece entirely from things already in my stash.  Feel free to tell me what you think.  Thanks for stopping by to check out my latest piece.

Messy, Messy Girl

This is where I work. It's a fold out table I bought for yard sales when we lived in the States.  

Here in my tiny apartment in Japan I set it up in front of the balcony door in my bedroom. In the beginning I spent all my time unpacking and repacking the beading box (below) every time I wanted to create. Then there were 2 boxes.  Next came 5 perfect bead boxes then it was no longer portable.  The boxes are above on the right of the table...yep there's 11 now.

Lord only knows what's in here now.  I just rake things into it when my bed table is still full after I tidy it.  I see scraps of paper "I might need," boxes that "might come in handy," and a bead I'm so in love with I take out it's package, gawk at and put right back in it's package. As I write this my subconscious is screaming "What is WRONG with you women!" while my alter-ego snickers "Who cares?" Next is a project tray, most of the time the table is so full I just take my project tray elsewhere.

 

I must note the basket inside a basket method for storing tools does not work yet I keep piling them back in there. On the other hand that picture frame with the looped edge is great for holding earrings. So what's under that tray?

Yep, you guessed it.  It's another tray!  At least this project is finished.  Come back on the 29th to see my next Beading Babes reveal. We should be nearing the bottom of the pile so I move the tray and discover...

a catalog from one of those home businesses with a pendant doodle.  I wake up or can't fall asleep and have to doodle my idea out, but why did I toss the whole book on the table?  Because my idea binder that I should put the single page in is not accessible.

Yeah, see that big green binder (top center)?  What an avalanche I would cause to pull it out to store my doodle. Oh my!  I can see laundry in this shot.  My word, I didn't realize it was this bad.  I must draw your attention to the fake nail storage boxes (bottom center).  They are great for 2-3mm crystals/pearls and up to about 50 4mm bicones.  These came from the 100 yen store which is Japan's version of a Dollar Tree.

 Back to the center of the table LOOK we finally found table!  I spy pendant trays, a crystal beaded bead below a dried Queen Anne's lace, a bag of natural jade, a dog tag, sea glass...ok that's enough of the hidden object game.

I can't even identify most of this stuff.  The jar with the cupcake cards on it is brown sea glass.  The Jif jar is blue, green & white sea glass.  The brown box hold my son's polymer clay that I keep considering playing with. On top of it is a glimpse of my beading babes bracelet. And of course there is a giant glass of ice tea.  I may have to go get a glass now just looking at it.  My husband is from Alabama.  He makes excellent sweet tea. Ok few more pictures, and then you'll be done with me so you can have your own cup of tea.

This is what is under my table.  The giant tub on the bottom is what little sewing supplies I have here.  My sewing machine is down here behind all this mess.  Beading box #2 has my metal stamp stuff that I got for Christmas.  I have only used it once because I'm afraid I'm going to bring my fold out table down on my lap.  Rolls of great washi paper.  I'm stocking up since we wont live here forever or at least that's what I tell my husband.  The priority box has sea urchins in it.  I find spines all over the beaches here, but I bought these for Christmas tree ornaments.  If you can bear with me for one more photo I'll show you a urchin tree in progress.

There it is!  A cute little white tree that didn't make the cut last year, but should find a tree to hang on this year. Oh and what's that on the calendar?  Yes, my birthday was yesterday.  I'm officially another year older and wiser.  Woo Hoo I'm 32!


**At the start of this year my workspace was clean. Click here to see it before the disaster that is my creative process.
*I cleaned after these photos were taken, but here's what it looks like as this is posted:

This is the longest post I've ever done, but I just read that we should tell you
about ourselves & our work. Crap!

I don't sell my work. Though I may have to start because I have quite a collection of resin pendants.

 Most of the time I give my jewelry away to people I care about.  My husband laughed when
 we went to dinner with friends, and I got back in the car "missing" a piece of jewelry. 

My tribute piece will be the first piece I've ever received money for from someone
I've never actually met. I've already donated twice that amount to a charity though.  

I just made some pieces for my friends I'm proud of if you want to check them out
or come back on the 29th to see my next beading reveal.

Other than that, I am a gardener,

bedroom balcony

 and loved by the two greatest guys in the world.

Who could ask for anything more?

Now it's time to go see someone else's mess.

MESSY WORKSHOP BLOG PARTICIPANTS

Brenda Sue Lansdowne-our lovely hostess

http://www.bsueboutiques.typepad.com/

Thank you for this opportunity.  I should probably go clean up now.

1. Robin Delargy:   http://looloosbox.blogspot.com/

2. Kim at Cianci Blue   http://cianciblue.blogspot.com/

3. Jennifer Jazwick-Smith   http://hudathoughts-jennifer.blogspot.com/

4. Mary Shannon Hicks   http://www.uptwnsh-fallingintothesky.blogspot.com/

5. Tracy Swartz   http://tracyswartz.com/category/blog

6. Jacqueline Marchant   http://jaacquelinesjewels.blogspot.com/

7. Lynnea Perry Bennett   http://designsbylynnea.blogspot.com/

8. Terry Matusyk   http://pinkchapeau.wordpress.com/

9. Laurel Steven   http://laurelsteven.blogspot.com/

10. Dr. Brassy Steamington   http://drbrassysteampunk.blogspot.com/

11. Pamela Takeshige   http://www.crittersandthings.blogspot.com/

12. Kris Lanae Binsfeld   http://www.cherishdesigns.wordpress.com/

13. Outre Art   http://theartistspaintbox.wordpress.com/

14. Linzi Alford   http://www.magpieintheskyspoilheaptales.blogspot.com/

15. Deb Davis   http://naturaltreasuresbydeb.blogspot.com/

16. Tamara Jones   http://irrysistablejewels.wordpress.com/

17. Harry Wood   http://www.oscarcrow.blogspot.com

18. Gerry Nickerson   http://gersgems1.blogspot.com/

19. Elizabeth Owens-Dwy   http://www.thepolymergeek.blogspot.com/

20. Georgene Lockwood   http://sylvanavintagedesigns.wordpress.com/

21. Charisa Sloper   http://www.blog.obsidiansoda.com/

22. Jennifer Justman   http://soulsfiredesigns.blogspot.com/

23. Beanzie   http://the-vintage-heart.blogspot.com/

24. Mary Deis   http://mdeis.blogspot.com/

25. Cheri Reed   http://creativedesignsbycheri.blogspot.com/

26. Sondra Kolner   http://scrappybydesign.weebly.com/index.html

27. Sonya Ingersoll-Stille   http://www.dreaminofbeads.blogspot.com/

28. Lori Anderson   http://www.prettythingsblog.com/

29. Sandra McGriff   http://skyescreativechaos.blogspot.ca/

30. Shelly Joyce   http://www.aujourlejour-shelly.blogspot.com/

31. Joan Williams   http://www.lilrubyjewelry.wordpress.com/

32. Kashmira Patel   http://sadafulee.blogspot.com/

33. Deb Beechy   http://beetique56.blogspot.com/

34. Ginger Bishop   http://lilmummylikes.blogspot.com/ <-------  YOU ARE HERE

35. Kelli Jacobson   http://creativemoonjewelryandthings.com/

36. Natalie McKenna   http://www.grubbi.co.uk/

37. Andrew Thornton   http://andrew-thornton.blogspot.com/

38. Mary Govaars   http://mlhjewelrydesigns.com/

39. Kate Mulligan   http://mulliganstewjewelry.blogspot.com/

40. Lisa Lodge   http://pineridgetreasures.blogspot.com/

41. Tami Luchini   http://ssprocketsmetal.blogspot.com/

42. Monique Lula   http://www.moniquelula.com/blog/

43. Lee Koopman   http://stregajewellry.wordpress.com/

44. Jayne Capps   http://mamasgottodoodle.blogspot.com/

45. Susan Lloyd   http://designsbysusan-dbs.blogspot.com/

46. Cynthia Wainscott   http://www.exoticperujewelry.blogspot.com/

47. Stephanie Amanti   http://www.stephaniesjewelrybox.blogspot.com/

48. Alicia Marinache   http://www.allprettythings.ca/

49. Sam Hamp   http://hampgirl59.blogspot.com/

50. Lennis Carrier   http://www.windbent.net/

Fun for friends

This weekend I taught myself 3 new things to overcome the, "I wish I had..." problem.  First let me tell you why I found myself at my table.  This Friday I realized I had 2 party invites for Saturday night.  Mind you I'm a stay-at-home mom and the definition of a homebody so this is a blue moon situation for me.  I unfortunately was on meds that made me super dizzy and had to stay home, but I wanted to make something for my friends.

First was the birthday party of a friend and neighbor who happens to be a photographer.  My original idea could not be accomplished with the supplies I had or could get locally so what I ended up with is above.  I had never used my dapping block before and had never used my stamps on anything but an aluminum can and some washers.  My husband walked in and was surprised.  He thought I bought it.  I'm still deciding if he was a little too surprised.  I do have a hard time sitting down at that table unless I am truly inspired.  Pam's work is inspiring.  Check out her gallery if you get time.

 

 Second was my neighbor and walking buddy's graduation party.  She is finishing up her masters while being a wife, mother and one who has already succeeded in her chosen career.   She's always learning something it seems.  In the year and a half I've known her, she's learned Japanese, cake decorating, Scuba diving and a few more things while finishing her degree.  I'm so happy for her and proud of her dedication.  Since typical graduation gifts are for someone who's life is yet to begin I was at a loss.  I've made her at least one piece before and for the life of me couldn't even remember what it looked like. So what so I do.  Well, I had an idea, and in theory I had everything I needed, but it wasn't working. So here's what we ended up with.  It's my first polymer clay bead.  She loves it which is all that counts in the end.

Live the life you imagined. -Thoreau

I actually used Martina's flowers as bead caps this time.

 What did you do this weekend?