What I am doing

What I am doing and what I should be doing are two different things....I should be doing, well nevermind, if I told some of you might worry that I won't be ready for what I should be doing, but I always am, at least so far in my bead life.

So instead of what I should be doing, I'm making these



Cute little stitch markers for my February Lady Sweater (coming along, thanks for asking, pictures as soon as there is something to see) I've been told by those that go before me that I need a lot of stitch markers and these are so cute, and yes I did make some others, but then I got the Swarovski briolettes and I love the sparkle and I know it will make me incredibly happy as I am knitting interminably long lengths of lace to have these little beauties swinging from the needles.

and then I'm getting ready to make these



well at least they combine the yarn and the beads. Something which seems to make good sense since I am selling my beads in a yarn store! They are Rani from the latest knitty.com I'm using Blue Sky Alpaca silk mohair and I'm loving the softness.

And later today I will be writing directions for an upcoming project.

I really will, just as soon as I complete my sweet little stitch markers.

Supply list

3 inches of beadalon .015 stringing wire silver
2 crimps
1 3 mm olivine ab crystal
1 flower cupped sequin
1 faceted swarovski briolette crystal ab
1 4 mm olivine ab crystal

The creative process

Since I've talked about the anxiety of the creative process previously on this blog, I found this video to be hugely helpful. Especially as I prepare for my book to be out in the world for all to experience.

I'm going to point you to my friend Val's blog to have a look at this 'TED' from the author of Eat, Pray, Love.

Named!

Thanks to everyone for all the name suggestions, there were many great ones. But since I asked Mark first, and he came up with a good one, and I think he may have some name pride going on...It's going to be called Descending Nights.

Out of Synch

My schedule is off, but I'm giving myself a bit of a pass....keeping busy is good, but I am choosing what I keep busy at, only the fun stuff for the moment and the necessary stuff.

I have a great plan in place for Mom which requires a trip to Boston later in the month. Mom was from Boston and never lost her accent. My name was still Maasha according to my Mom. I also have a dear friend in Boston who I will be able to see while I'm there.

In the meantime, I moved into the Grove, well I mean the beads moved in. Handling all those pretty seed beads and crystals was quite soothing.



No photos of the beads at the moment, so I direct you to Susan's blogpost.

And keeping the excitement going, a minor shipment of the books arrived on my doorstep today.



These are my personal copies destined for the many who helped me by testing each of the projects in the book. We've sorted out a packaging arrangement, mail merged an address label program, and will prepare to begin shipping just as soon as the rest of the books arrive. I'm hoping to begin shipping batches mid next week and I'll be shipping as many as I can per day in order of your pre-order date. Trust me I love all of my bead and knitting books and realize the anxiety of the waiting so I will accomplish the shipments as quickly as possible. I do warn of a three day interrupt however while grandaughters Samantha and Ollie come to play next week.

On a Personal Note

Last night my dear Mom passed away. You may remember her breaking a hip in May and recovering enough to attend my daughter's wedding, have a party with many of her closest friends and look forward to a move to San Diego. She had a great time these last few months at what she loved best, being social. She counted many many of her neighbors as close friends and was thought of kindly by all.

She loved to come read this blog when she was well and looked forward to it again. But her body was no longer willing and she passed peacefully and quickly knowing that she was loved and cared about by many.

Love you dear sweet Mom, miss you, but happily sending you on your way.

What's in a name?

Yesterday I finished this!




This? yes, this, because so far it is unamed and has no other reference.



There are those who's naming is brilliant. Jean Campbell just named her piece 'Lilium' (same retreat by the way, more soon)



and Rachel's names are always intriguing, Ootheca, H. Liliripes.....

This needs a fitting name. I sometimes invite my husband into the the name game. He named Terracita, La Boquita and most recently Ripplestiltsken so perhaps I should ask him his thoughts on this.



A word or two more about the retreat. Next March 12 - 14 San Francisco, Beading by the Bay! Artists, Marcia DeCoster, Jean Campbell, Maggie Meister. Brought to you by the promoter of Hooked on Wire, Susan Kazarian. Website, project and registration details coming soon.

The redo

Given that I sell kits from my designs, I often contemplate how to give those who buy my kits the best product I can. I changed my packaging to present your beads to you in a Tiffany like gift box.



I changed my directions to give you a pdf on a cd with a pretty label so you can always find a second set if you're first is lost or damaged. And I made a pretty label for the front of this Tiffany like gift box.

Occassionally I am confronted with my past, as in this case where my photography skills were clearly lacking. So today I took the time to redo this photograph of Rings of Saturn from this


to this

I think my photography skills have improved! And for the truly observant, I also changed up the bottom embellishment, I like this version better.

Since a big part of blogging is pretty pictures, it was really hard not to edit this post to take out the bad picture.....