Still keeping it simple

Here is the first of the three Beading by the Bay pendants I completed.



Only, as sometimes happens the button I originally chose was no longer available in quantity. I needed at least 36......so it was time to look for a suitable replacement. Well, not just merely suitable (suitable brings to mind, one that will do). I didn't want to compromise this design at all, with so many participants looking forward to this color way.

I sourced one I thought would work but it turned out the size was not right.

For the bezel to fit, it needed to be 1 1/4" so I knew it was going to be challenging. But I think I succeeded brilliantly with this custom painted button from Susan Clark Originals.



They have been a pleasure to do business with, going through potential options with me and finally coming up with this one. The bottom drop is a verde custom coated Swarovski drop and the pretty little closure bead is a Czech rivoli. Such a soft, romantic color palette.

sometimes simple

Sometimes simple is best.

The Aelia pendant is reversible with an encrusted medallion on one side



and a button on the other.



A bit of crystal swag supports a large Swarovski pendant in Crystal Silver Night.

The pendant is it's own jewel although I did want it to hang from a long necklace. Something simple that in no way competed with the main attraction. So I went back to a tried and true spiral rope. I like that it uses two of the pendant colors to compliment the piece, has some depth and texture, but provides a smooth backdrop.

The beaded bail is another study in complexity, and carries forward the metallic feel of this piece with metal beads from Tierra Cast in it's embellished center.



The pendant's medallion center is a large bali spacer also lending a touch of metal.



Since black and grey are my go to colors for apparel I expect to be wearing this one often!

Deadlines

What is it that makes the task expand to the time allowed? I probably could have finished all that needed doing to meet my first book deadline before the deadline arrived.....but I didn't, although the last book I did turn in a week early.

I suspect it has to do with the fact that prior to the REAL urgency setting in, we take more downtime, more leisurely strolls, or time outs, or days of less then optimum focus and then, the deadline looms and we take less downtime, get up earlier to walk, limit our time outs, and increase our focus.

That is where I'm at, the increased focus part.

I actually love the process of organization. For each project I have screen shotted (yeah, probably not a word), the visual supply list,


printed the illustrations, formatted a word file of text and three hole punched each copy into a notebook. The actual pieces hanging on a bulletin board.

My illustrator skills continue to improve and have gotten to the point where I don't start each new project in trepidation, which is a positive development.

This is one of the pieces I will be teaching at the Swarovski Create Your Style event next week in Tucson.



For now I will be heads down for the next couple of days!

Fresh perspective

As is so often the case, a fresh day brings a fresh perspective. Thanks to all yesterdays well wishers. I spent the afternoon doing some beading and finished up a focal for the new book, now how to work it into a wearable piece of jewelry.

Inspired by my friend Rachel I am walking, although not the 6 miles she completes every day, but I'm feeling good about the commitment to three miles per day. I do wish I had the beautiful West Cliff ocean to walk on. My San Diego ocean while beautiful is in the commute direction so an early morning walk there is difficult. I reserve that for weekends when Maya can come along to dog beach.

I took myself to bed early with an ibook, The Cookbook Collector, recommended by a friend. Since the story takes place in the 90's in both Silicon Valley and Boston, much of the setting is familiar to me and I am enjoying the read very much. I am however impatient for the ipad3 to be released, for it's lighter format. Holding the heavier iPad1 is a bit hard on my hands. I'd opt for a kindle but I want to keep my device inventory to a minimum and I use the iPad features for on the road blogging and when I finally get the 3 (I skipped the 2) I will use it to FaceTime with the grand baby.

I was presented with an unexpected challenge yesterday when I discovered the button I sourced for my Beading by the Bay project is just enough too large to not fit it's crystal bezel. So I will be adding a button search to my day's activities.

And more illustration.....

just a few more days and then off to Tucson where I will stay at the Westin La Paloma resort, teach at the Swarovski Create your Style event, meet with my fellow Swarovski Ambassadors, travel with my Beading by the Bay partner Susan, and shop for beads. That promises to be a good week! We leave Tuesday!

It's that kind of day

the self doubt kind....I know some of you may want to reassure me my designs are good, I've enjoyed success in the bead world, my first book continues to do well, and thank you, on a rational level I know all that. And still days come up when you question your abilities to produce a beautiful design. When you compare your work to others, and even then I know they do their work and I do mine. I'm sure I will banish the blues shortly, after all I don't generally share this part of my life. I know I am lucky to be doing what I love, living in a home that nurtures me, living with a partner who always stands in support of me. And yet...I am having one of 'those' days.

Do you have 'those' days? It's funny, I'm within hours of completion on a piece that I love, I have a bulletin board full of designs I'm happy with.....my illustrator skills continue to improve....some days are just like this. I think a cup of tea and a little rest are in order.

I'm leaving you with a happy image from a fabric produced by Tina Givens.



I want to bead this whimsical little house, go inside and take a nap.....

Keeping me company

My friend Pat sent this darling owl to join my growing owl collection. She pinked his hair to match mine and he just totally cracks me up every time I look at him. It's nice to be reminded to be cheerful since I have a busy week, with the first of the book deadlines arriving at the end of the week with simultaneous Tucson preparation, and some tax work thrown in for good measure.

The owl is keeping me company in front of my iMac and makes me smile multiple times a day.



The good part is that I am feeling pretty confident with illustrator now and can work out how to do most things that need doing. I still find it challenges like the best way to show tubular beadwork, or how many steps to break something into to make it simple enough but not too cryptic. It is getting easier with each new project though.

I had another small studio change, mounting three black bulletin boards above the bank of storage cabinets. I've pinned up all the completed book pieces and it's nice to see evidence of them growing in numbers.



I didn't intend for you to see the pieces, sorry.....just helping to picture the bulletin boards. I bought them years ago at Crate and Barrel. They are mesh and magnetic, so both push pins and magnets work, and their kind of stylish.


Weather Underground predicts 100% chance of rain today so I think I best get my walk over with early since it hasn't yet started. Then back to the computer.

I took yesterday off, had lunch at Balboa park and visited three museums. We're members at the Mingei and the Art Museum so short trips for special exhibits are easy. The Mingei currently has a polymer clay exhibit and the Art Museum an installation of modern Mexcian art. But the highlight was the Natural History museum which had 'All that Glitters' a gem and mineral exhibit with both examples of the raw stone and beautiful jewelry made from the stones. It was exquisite.

On a cold rainy night

Beef Stew seems like a fitting choice. I have a new aqua Le Creuset pot. I love the one pot method of cooking, and as Mark generally does clean up, so does he. As I have lamented before we never get snow in San Diego, but for those of you with snow this would be an excellent dinner on a snowy night.



1 tbs olive oil
1 large onion thinly sliced
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 pounds beef top round, trimmed and cut into 1 1/2 inch chunks
1 sweet potato, peeled and cut into 3/4 inch chunks
2 cups dry white wine
1 (14 1/2 ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes
2 tbs dijon mustard
1 tbs fresh thyme leaves
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 lb oyster, chanterelle, or white mushrooms

1. Heat oil in medium Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion and garlic; cook stirring, until onion is softened, about 5 minutes.
2. Add all remaining ingredients except mushrooms and thyme leaves. Bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer covered 1 hour.
3. Add mushrooms and thyme to pot and simmer, covered until meat is fork tender, about 1 hour longer.

Serve with a salad and crusty french bread and if you're so inclined a nice bottle of red wine. Enjoy!