Your Muse and you...

(Image by http://www.sandrophoto.com/ )

There is a great post about what to do when you and your Muse just seem to have lost the desire to create, and what might be behind it. Read all about it at http://beadmavens.blogspot.com/ .

(Image by http://www.originalimpulse.com...seduce_your_muse.htm/ )

Right now, I am having the opposite problem; deciding which direction to go, figuring out how to get my Muse to realize that I DO need sleep, and finding some way to pick one of the many beady roads ahead of me.

( Image from http://howtowriteshop.loridevoti.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/SparkleHand.jpg )

I am talking about that Beading For a Cure Challenge and Kit. From the moment it arrived, my poor brain and my Muse have been in collusion to keep me focused on that, and only that. I dream in those colors, I look around as I drive, to see if anything that passes adds to the myriad of ideas in form or color; my DH is going to get sick of hearing me ask 'What do these colors remind YOU of?

(Image by http://sodahead.com.jpg

Don't get me wrong- this sort of being-on-fire is just what the doctor ordered to chase away any leftover Winter blues...but please, is it OK if I just get a little rest??
Not according to my Muse, it isn't.
I think I'll put her on the task of arranging for me to have some time to see how some of her ideas flesh out...now THAT will be useful!
Happy Creating, Everyone!

What to do...

when a friend wants to join in a beaded doll RR, but just finished surgery and doesn't know about keeping to a set schedule with many beaders?? Have a private round robin, that's what!

Stacie (Squirrely Ducks blog - http://squirrellyduck.blogspot.com/) and I are doing just that, and she sent me a form, so the round robin is a sort of sisters exchange.

Here is her doll, which I wanted to stand up. I tried some smaller beads, but the size of her face and the pattern of the material cried out for something larger. We settled on 12mm smokey quartz rounds, left on their original stringing material (which was tied into a tight, glued knot), and then attached with Stealth Spiderwire 10# braided thread at each thread juncture between the beads. Add some 4mm roseAB bicones to fill the gaps and a line of copper-lined 11s over the tops of the beads and she looks as if she has a fancy ruffled edge.

Plus, she stands proudly!

The fabric is so beautiful that I am going to use much of the pattern for beading inspiration....

Click on any photo to make it full-size. Feel free to right click and save, if you wish.

Happy Creating, everyone!

Off to The Races!

(Doncha just love it when blogger turns your photos sideways! LOL)

Our area held a community chest fund-raiser this past weekend, that centered on the Kentucky Derby. Cameras were not allowed, or I would have gotten some pics of the very interesting hats that almost all the women wore.

I loved that most everyone, men included, wished hats like these would come back in style. I see no reason for them to not!

Just wear them! It is fun to dress up and go out to dinner now and then....and I do love hats!

Here is mine, which began as a simple tulle spectator hat, with a bit of tulle flower and two small feathers.

Add some brown satin ribbon with a flourish and curl, a couple of embroidered butterflies and silk leaves, some trailing silk wisteria and a pin of two horses racing and VOILA`- instant fun!

To be in the hat contest, you had to go upstairs, and my companion for the event had health issues preventing her from joining, so I just accepted the complements that came my way for this gorgeous creation while sitting on the downstairs deck.

How about some hats for yourselves??

Happy Creating!

Fun at the Bead Retreat, Robbinsville, NC

Just a couple things finished; Ukraine-style netted necklace, pattern by Maria Rypan of Rypan Designs and a Beez to Butterflies chainmaille, done in parawire, taught by Genny Smith of New Bel-Gen.

Lots of fun, and a GREAT time was had by all!

Face Swap at Beaded_Art_Dolls!

These are the faces I received from the swappers- there are slips by

most of them, so you can see who made which face. Click on the photo

to make it full size! What fun....so much inspiration!

These are some extras from the hostess- Sherry G shared

some bits and bobs for dolls with me, and I passed the rest

onto Joetta, so Joetta gifted both Sherry and I!

Fun at the Wholesale Gem show!

Just a few goodies...about $20 worth.

Was good this year :-).