Bead Soup

First let me apologize for my absence.  I've been visiting other blogs, and got carried away exploring.  I started looking for inspiration and along the way found motivation, compassion, dedication, resilience and so much more.  There are so many amazing people to learn from in this world and blogs are one way some are sharing their talents with the the rest of us.

Speaking of amazing blogs Lori Anderson of Pretty Things is one of the reason I've finally decided to join the world of blogging.  I ran across her Bead Soup Party over a year ago.  I thought the idea was so clever.  I registered for Lori's Bead Soup Party this time and then found out almost 400 like minded people wanted to be challenged by being matched with a partner to swap beads with.  With 200 people being chosen I had a 50/50 shot.  Honestly I was completely on the fence about which way I wanted it to go for me.  I'm a beginner & my hop scotching from one jewelry making method to another makes me a master of none.  But I jumped and, I'm a in!  When I got the email I was so excited and nervous I felt like my skin couldn't hold in all the emotions.

Martina Nagele's beadwork

 My partner, Martina Nagele, is absolutely fantastic.  She lives in Germany and is an awe-inspiring seed beader.  She's even teaching at the Bead & Button show this year.  Yep, I'm intimated, but totally star struck as well.  Check out more of her wonderful work here.  If you'll be in Milwaukee, WI the first week of June you might want to sign up here for one of her classes at the show.

To quote one of my dear friends, "I'm totally jazzed right now!"

"Out of darkness comes light"

 "Out of Darkness comes Light" is actually a quote derived from the ancient Myan civilization. The Myans are well known for their study of astronomy - much of their culture and rituals were established around the the sky, stars, moon, sun, and weather patterns... it was depicted that they used the analogy of "Out of Darkness Comes Light" to assimilate with the various cycles in life. The quote is interpreted as an encouraging fact of life - one we cannot deny.-so says wiki.answers.com

So it didn't happen before night came, but I am in much better spirits today. 

Here are a few new pretties I've made.

magnetic bracelet

amber necklace

Necklace or wrap bracelet-my new fav

Self Conscious

First I have to give credit to the amazing young woman 

who took the photo that summed up my day.   

Amy Geliebter takes some great photos. 

Self Conscious

 

1. Aware of oneself as an individual or of one's own being, actions, or thoughts. (this is a good thing)

2. Socially ill at ease     (these are where the trouble start)

3. Excessively conscious of one's appearance or manner     

4. Showing the effects of self-consciousness; stilted

We've all gone through a period where we haven't felt good enough.  

Some may never admit to it while others wear it all over them everyday.

Today I took up the robe of self consciousness unknowingly, and it slowly took hold of me.  It felt like that black mess that attacked Spider-man in the movies.  I thought I could control it and next thing you know it's controlling me. 

It's ok...tomorrow is a new day and I'll be just fine.


Who knows I might even take back control before this day is done.

Small World

This is a photo I took at a garden in Naha, (Okinawa) Japan.  These four amazing dragon columns were outside one of the buildings.  Funny thing is I saw an image very similar to this is my newest time waster Gardens of Time.  In chapter three there is a level called Suzhou Gardens and in the back there is a dragon very similar to this one.  The real Suzhou Garden is in China, but still not very far from here.  I know there are many outside influences that have effected the culture here in Okinawa.  It's just odd how small the world seems to me the more my mind is opened to outside influences.

Cards on a Ring

When I got married I was so thrilled to see Mr. & Mrs. on an envelope that I saved every Christmas card we received that year.  Next thing I know I've got four years of cards packed away in my Christmas decorations.  Here's what I used to make them special & keep them organized.  You should know way back then we had very little money.  Now I could make them with much finer material, but I enjoy the tradition.  Here's what we're making:

I've seen a few versions with two rings, 

I don't like putting holes in the cards to begin with so I use just one.

You'll need:

1. all your Christmas cards from one year
2. a frozen pizza box or other thin cardboard
3. glue (I use Elmer's glue stick or school glue)
4. scissors
5. favorite gift wrap scraps, scrapbook paper, child's art or whatever you want for a cover
6. hole punch
7. circle cutter or template or a juice glass
8. scrap of unlined paper

9. pen 

10. about 15 minutes or less if you've already gathered your supplies

 

First find your tallest and widest Christmas cards.  Trace around the cards on the cardboard twice to make your front and back covers. Cut out your covers.

 Glue gift wrap scrap to one side of your covers.  Leave an edge to fold over to the back which will become the inside of your cover.

 

Cut another two pieces of gift wrap about 1/4in smaller than your covers.  Glue to the inside of the covers.  Then cut a circle and write the year in it.  Try writing a few family highlights from that year around the edge of the circle. Glue the circle to the front cover.

Just wanted to point out a few sentimental details from this year's card covers.  A Santa from the reverse side of one gift wrap was added to the inside of the back cover to join his reindeer. Why not show off that reversible wrapping, right?  I even used a bit of wrapping with the sticker gift tag on it for the front.  That's why the circle is off set. Oh yeah, punch a hole in one corner of each cover.

 

Use the back cover to line each card up for hole punching so all the cards fit nicely when the holes are punched.  I tried just punching the corners without lining each and every one up and the cards didn't fit within the covers at the end.  Also after the front cover and about 3 cards are punched, open the ring and stand it like shown above.  This way as each card is punched it goes straight on the ring.  Saves the step of added them all to the ring later. 

Close the ring and you're done.  I usually hang them from command hooks around the door because it is now also a tradition for friends and holiday guests to take them down and look at them.  Since fewer and fewer people send Christmas cards anymore, it's even more special to enjoy the ones I have.