What kind of puzzle are you?

My friend Jeanne had this on her blog...it is way fun, so try it!

You Are a Jigsaw Puzzle

You are a complex person, although at first glance you seem quite simple. Your personality is comprised of many interesting and distinct pieces. You are captivating and often visually interesting. You can be seen from many angles.

http://www.blogthings.com/whatkindofpuzzleareyouquiz/">What Kind of Puzzle Are You?

'tis nice to be back!

After losing my motherboard on my overworked and underappreciated Dell tower, I now have a lovely HP Pavillion notebook, and are back online!

And it was just when I was uploading pics to a new post that everything died, so here is a bit of catch-up.

I travelled with friends to Cindy's Crafts, over in Tennessee, and picked up some lovely pink beads for the pink turtle project. It doesn't do the hank of 15 AB gold lustre charlottes, but they are most gorgeous in person! The Swars speak for themselves, with their special sparkle. And we got to go to lunch with Cindy, at her fav place, so that was a treat in itself!!! I am already looking forward to returning.

And the Mask. What can I say about that Mask? Well, it has taught me plenty about deadlines, its own direction as an Art piece, and my own ability to either listen to my body and sleep, or suffer!

It began as a bit of Beauty, then morphed into the idea of representing the emotions one would find on the face. That wasn't good enough for the Mask, however, and it balked at getting any felt stuck down to it, probably in silent protest of that idea.

So, after much communing, It 'told' me that it loved the puzzle dolls currently being polled at BAD (beaded_art_dolls group at yahoo-see link at bottom side of my blog), and so I spent many hours cutting out puzzle dolls that would fit onto the Mask's face, in colors of wool felt that I found at Wool Felt Central online.

Now, you would again think that this was good enough for the Mask, but no, it wasn't. It had to have a name, and gave it to me in no uncertain terms "She's a Puzzle to Me", and it was to represent my youngest daughter and how certain qualities that make her who she is, puzzle me. Just like Life itself, some of these are pleasant, and some not so much so.

The different puzzle dolls began almost to bead themselves, though I was, and am, eternally grateful for the John James #10 curved beading needles! They made beading around the eyes and nose a reality.

Each 'doll' gets a word that represents her quality, and colors that I feel enhance the idea of that quality, as well as beadwork that supports the quality.

Here are a few examples; Angst/Drive/Sensitive/Flirt/Balance.

I am beading like crazy, in between the busy Summer hours at the store, and are looking forward to finishing the Mask next week, during vacation, in time to send it to join the others for the Gallery Show at The Beadin' Path, June 27!

Wish me luck!

Another PIF!!!

These are getting to be really fun...and here is my PIF from Ralonda.

Isn't she a beautiful form?! I see a Summer Faery happening, and Ralonda included tubes of beads, as well as little dragonflies, an enameled leaf AND an enameled butterfly to go with her. I want to make this one a stand, to show off her wings!

And lest you think you were forgotten, oh my recipients of PIF Past and Present, you have not. We are having a bead retreat this weekend, that has been in the planning for many moons now, and I have been waiting to learn a new technique before sending on your goodies. I will give you a clue.. 'Harry', Sharon Solly, is involved. Now, for those of you who know of Harry, and her magic with polymer clay, that should be enough to whet your appetites! And for those of you who don't, google her name, and see what you come up with, AND remember to check out the Polymer Clay Cafe magazine coming out in May, with her article on using fibers to make faux dichroic cabs and beads. And yes, they can fool even glassmakers, until they pick them up and realize how light they are!

So, on with the third PIF of this year: the rules, for those of you who don't know them. Sign up here on my blog. I will take the first three comers. You can use the 'profile' button on my blog to access my email, to send me yours if I don't have it. Then, after receiving your PIF gifty, post the same on your blog and continue to PIF!!!! That's Pay It Forward, for those new to this!

Oh, I can just imagine the looks when they see their goodies!

Aryd'ell

Finished necklace, maybe

I am not happy with the seed beads. I tried to let them say what they wanted to do, but I have no skill at spirals at all....so I may take it out and try something else. I do like how the polyclay beads came out looking like raku, even if it did mean my wonky oven tried to burn them!

The MASK

Just an update...and I love where it is going. The puzzle 'people' are now clearly delineated, and they have their faces. Each has developed a personality, to match the differences in my youngest, and will be beaded accordingly.

This mask is almost doing itself...now, if it would only bead itself-NOT!

You got Parcel!

Nope, it ain't email, and it ain't any old mail, but a lovely parcel of bright color triangle and square beads! Lynn M from Australia shared her treasures with me, and I plan to use them as the base for the upcoming freeform peyote challenge at BDZ ( beaddreamz group- see link at right of my blog).

Thanks for thinking of me, Friend!

Aryd'ell

waiting on the snow they promised!