Life Gets In The Way

This isn't the prettiest of posts, and I apologize, but I need to get this out. It has taken me over a week to type this, as I keep revising while I'm writing... I have not used this venue to vent, yet. I'm finding it difficult to do so, not wanting to "burden" you, my readers. At the same time, I want you to know that things are happening in this life that are causing me great duress. I have not been "working" with my beads or my posts, for a number of reasons.

I can tell jokes that make people laugh in the middle of the most macabre, or sad times. I can "breathe pink" and speak in "silver linings" in the darkest of spaces... I am having the damndest time putting my beads on posts and wires and strings, due to circumstances beyond my control, lately. I want so very much to be able to create the beauty that I see in my bead box... I want so much to be able to share it with others... And then there is the "impasse". I am seemingly stuck.

It seems every time that I make plans to sit down with my beads these days, life gets in the way. I really need to learn how to create through chaos. If you know how to do this please contact me... I have been battling my own personal demons for a while now, and cannot seem to find a way to make my pretty beads and baubles; and this bothers me greatly. I have pearls, I have Swarovski crystals, I have wire, I have findings and charms. I seem to be missing the "something" that puts them together.

So, in an attempt to "shake it up", I went to the Rings & Things Bead Tour Show.


I found some pretties to string. Not that you can tell from this picture, but there are some gorgeous "blue goldstone" beads along with some white pearls that are begging to be put into a Holiday Theme. I also found several terrific "silver dipped" pendant leaves to be used as focals.



I've put them on my stringing board, with the intent of entering Rings & Things contest "Your Designs Rock". I've gotten excited about getting in on the Early Bird and New Entrant raffles... in addition to the Grand Prize of $750 credit at Rings & Things!!

So, perhaps I've been "shaken up" a little... Things aren't improving as fast as I'd like in my "bead-i-verse"... But I'm working on it. Now I'll just go and get to work.

As always, check out my ArtFire.com Studio, there's new things gonna happen there, too!

Handmade Holidays - Everyone Should Have One!

AlsoMrsB



Unique Gifts

I'm not sure what I'm doing between now and then... perhaps "just some beading"! Hahahaha. This year no one that I know is getting a "purchased" gift. I have scads of stuff that I can use to create all my gifts and tags. And all of my wrapping papers are at least vintage, if not antique! LOL!

It seems ages since I've posted here... and I look... and yes, it's been a month, now. Wow. It is Autumn already. I am smelling the change in the air, too . This is my all time favorite season. It is my personal preparation time for "the Holidays".

I used to go out to the malls and hit the stores looking for the perfect things. These days, I don't like the rush, or the crowds, or the lingering feel "those people" leave in their wakes. I've had enough of bullying my way to a decimated display to find the last of an item that has been opened and abused!

This year... all handmade. For everyone, including myself! Santa has these terrific little elf friends, and they LOVE to craft and design with the best of us... I have found several of my own "elf friends" on ArtFire.com!! Check out these ArtFire Artisans for some fabulous finds to have your own Handmade Holiday!!


For the BEST in handmade soaps, lotions and facial products, shop with Heathens Hearth. Their soaps are decadent but won't break your bank! Amy and Misty are truly queens of Customer Service!


For some of the prettiest choker style necklaces that I have seen, check out Archeress Arts!


Here's a GEM of a Studio! For nature inspired copper and polymer clay jewelry, check out Emily Claire Creations.


My ALL TIME favorite for hats, and knitting patterns for hats, is Pixiebell She has a VAST selection of styles as well as all the "happening" colors for the seasons! You won't be disappointed with these chapots!



I'm still "doing my thing" in my ArtFire Studio.

Check out the newest search-able features on ArtFire.com.

Finally Finshed - The Pendant Project

Here IT Is! The photo that I've submitted to the SoftFlex Company's "Flex Your Creativity" Beading Contest... IT is The Pendant Project that I have been promising for weeks for , from their Swarovski Pendants collection. I have had so much fun putting this piece together, and am totally grateful to Artbeads for asking me to join their blogging team!!

There are some more detailed pics, but this is the first of five that I have submitted to SoftFlex for the contest. Several of the others pics will be listed at the bottom of this post!

One of the rules for the contest was that the picture could not be "on a person"... so that "blew" the first photo I took (and LOVED)! Though, I am overall, very happy with this piece; there were a few "little tweaks" that I would liked to have made. I could NOT do so because completing this was making my nerves, as well as my fingers, raw! And the excitement of finishing the piece was so overwhelming, that it became hard to tie the knots for the "floating" aspect on the three strands of wire.

I used the SoftFlex wire Trio in "Extreme" as I thought it fit the piece beautifully. I certainly hope that I have captured "Volcanic" and "elegant" with this one! Do let me know what you think, in the comments section, below!

Here are some detailed photos... not ones that were allowed for submission, (as the piece is on a person.) Please note, the bail that I have used is NOT from Artbeads, they were out of stock; I found this one at Rings & Things (Thanks, guys, for having it in stock and getting it to me so quickly!!)


































I hope you have enjoyed the anticipation, and now the end result, of these weeks of creativity. I know that there is no other way I would have liked to spend this time.

Thanks for reading, and remember; you can find me online at ArtFire.com and Etsy.com. Look for this piece, (and many others, including the "matching" earrings) to be listed in my ArtFire studio in the coming days...

ArtFire where listing and selling are always FREE!

The NEXT Big Thing

So hubby's birthday is next week... and he doesn't "do" jewelry. How hard is that?! Well, let me tell you, I figured out how to give him a jewelry piece that I know he'll love! Thanks go to Artbeads.com for having a steel pendant I know he'll "wear" that I have used to create something "totally different"!

If you can't tell, it's a money clip. But I can totally see doing this with other "non-jewelry" types of products, too! I can envision a lot. But I do think the non-jewelry will have to be "Custom" or "by request" only... visit either of my websites to make those requests; AlsoMrsB's Art Fire Studio or AlsoMrsB's Etsy Shop.

I love to work with all sorts of things and people, these days. The Pendant Project, (for Artbeads.com,) that has yet to be posted, will now additionally be incorporating the SoftFlex Company's Wire Trio in "Extreme" for their Flex Your Creativity Beading Contest.

I knew the minute that I saw the "Extreme" wires that they were PERFECT for the Pendant I was in the middle of! Okay, so I have to "re-string" the pendant and a few components... but it is so close to done, that you will finally see it (as early as Tuesday) when the contest is over. I will post to this blog, the submitted entry photo! I also hope to be able to let you know that I am a "winner" of one of their fabulous prizes! (I'm crossing my fingers, but not my wires! LOL!)

'Til then, friends, I bid you good beading and blogging!

Oh, HAPPY Day!!

YEAH! Hubby fixed the camera!

Now, I can happily take pictures of the COOL stuff I got from Artbeads out of their Swarovski crystal beads section.

I want to show you some earrings that I am creating to "go with" the fabulous necklace that I am creating in conjunction with my Artbeads Blog Partnership! As they are also from the Swarovski crystal beads section. I have themed this soon-to-be-set "Volcanic", as it is hot and explosive!

I am pairing the sultry "Jet" color beads with the HOT new color "Red Magma" beads and stringing them with gold components for a look that reminds me of a volcano. There may be another addition of "smoke"; I haven't quite decided, yet. And, as I forgot to place a pendant bail in my order of pieces and parts for this particular pendant, it seems that I have a small measure of time to "play with my beads” to get the look just right!! In the meantime, here are three pairs of earrings you might like to let your imagination take off with; they will all look splendid with the upcoming necklace!



You will be able to find these and other unique gifts at my ArtFire.com studio, or at Artfire’s Gift Hub page.