Why is it?...

That I forget about how wonderful it feels to work on a project?  To get into the flow and loose myself in the stream of the creation?  I've been working on this year's Inagottadabeada and it looks so awesome!  


What is pictured here is the Inagottadabeada 2008.  I came up with the idea and found 11 like-minded beaders to join me.  Each was given a square to bead with a supply of pink beads and given only the direction that pink had to go in the area on the fabric that was shaded pink.  They were not told what the design was, although I know a few of them figured out.


Wasn't the result great?  

Inagottadabeada 2008

This piece was auctioned off at the 2008 Bead and Button Social for a very tidy sum.  This year's piece is just as cool.  It is more than the sum of it's parts.  

Well, I have been feeling the itch to stitch lately, but I thought that it was crochet that was calling my name.  (Probably still is.)  

Bead and Button begins a week from today - a time of year I love.  I know that I'm going to be inspired and over-stimulated which is a strange combination.  Add to that exhausted.  Pleasantly exhausted.

Maybe doing Morning Pages and a little Zen-doodling this time around will help me feel more centered.

Today's quote comes from Linda Naiman:  When we engage in what we are naturally suited to do, our work takes on the quality of play and it is play that stimulates creativity.

Bags

I don't know about you, but I love me a great bag. I have too many, many discarded because they were too heavy although I really love the bag. If it hurts, it's set aside. Donate? Not yet.


The search for a perfect bag can be a long and tedious one. Too heavy, wrong color, right style, wrong size, doesn't close at the top and the beat goes on...


I should make one. Make one that I'll use and love. I have an image of a messenger or hobo bag with a leather gusset and crocheted panels with a lining. Maybe a bead or two. I'll put that on my creative list.

By the way, what does the Queen of England carry in her purse? Mad money? An extra set of keys to the castle? A handkerchief?


Check this blog out - she talks about those black purses the Queen carries.


Today's quote comes from none other than Shakespeare himself: Our purses shall be proud, our garments poor: For 'tis the mind that makes the body rich; and as the sun breaks through the darkest clouds, so honor peereth in the meanest habit.

Hello, Magic! Where have you been?

It's been so long since I've posted that Blogger has changed their interface - again!

Sometimes life gets in the way of creating and somewhere along the way, my magic gets buried. I know it's there, waiting to come out. You know what it is - that thing that happens when things click - when everything comes together and - poof! - what you were creating is complete.


My sister was married Friday and I wanted to make something to wear. By the time I finished shopping for failed projects, I could have bought myself something really nice!

I remembered that I had some rivolis that I bought long ago from Glass Onion Bead Company in Appleton, WI. Found this green one and wanted to capture it in a bezel but wasn't quite sure how I wanted to accomplish it. Knew I wanted to incorporate pearls for a rich look. Tried one netting technique and this is actually the result of the second attempt (is it fair to call it an attempt when I succeeded?), I love the way it turned out.


I actually had made another strung necklace with kyanite sticks, but really wanted to wear this - at what other time would I be able to wear this? With my polo shirt work uniform? Well, maybe. :)


Sometimes I need a break from creativity and I guess my magic's reappeared, so I'll keep working. My other sister thinks that there are steps of creativity just like AA. First one is excitement, second one is hard work, third one is dislike and criticism and the fourth one is excitement when the piece is done!


This week I need to work on a group piece that will be auctioned off at the Bead and Button Social. I've misplaced my piece, but will be able to do it once I get more of the other pieces of the puzzle.


Today's quote comes from Antoine de Saint-Exupery: True happiness comes from the joy of deeds well done, the zest of creating things new.