Beads

My studio is full of color with seed beads and crystals taking center stage, surrounded by czech glass and lampworked beads, finished jewelry and assorted bobbles.

It's a wonderful room to spend time in, which at the moment is good, since I am returning today to the work of a full time bead artist. I took a week off and it did me a world of good.

This is how I catalog my crystal colors.

And a sampling of the seed bead wall, size 11's, an equal collection is to the left with the 15's and 8's


First up today is to calenderize the to do list, something like a project plan, it lends reality to what is doable, and hopefully provides some relief to the anxiety of what needs to be accomplished. There's a lot, but it's all good work, after all beads are involved.




There are times it can get overwhelming, the number of things that seem to need doing all at once. A good plan helps keep the focus where it needs to be. I don't always follow it, I leave room for adjustments, like an afternoon tea with friends or a stroll on the Ocean with Mark. I use it for a guideline. I'm planning on adjusting my business priorities a bit this next year, more samples, more kit colors, along with my teaching engagements and plans for a new book, the year will be full.

Here is a reminder of how far I've come and how long I've been beading. A brick stitch freeform vessel done in a NanC Meinhardt class at Embellishment, circa 1996 (?)

It's a demure little vessel, perhaps 2 inches, and they are colors I am still drawn to, although I think my techniques have improved over time. It is still a happy little reminder of my bead beginnings.