30 Day Bead Challenge - Day 5

"Incorporate chain into a jewelry design"

When I saw this challenge I was so thrilled!  I bought a huge bag of findings and things from Fire Mountain and had found a chain tassel in there!  So this afternoon, after spending some time working on some other projects I had to get completed, I pulled out some pink crystals and some silver-lined seed beads and got to creating.  I really love the way this turned out.

"Pale Sparkle Pendant"

30 Day Bead Challenge - Day 4

Organize your bead area.

After receiving the massive order of supplies from Fire Mountain last week and subsequently getting sicker than I have been in a very long time, I had not had the time to properly sort and put away everything I had received.   The package was 49 POUNDS of everything from faceted gemstones to findings, from glass beads to Swarovski crystals.  I was like a kid in a candy store when the package arrived.

So today's challenge really kicked me into high gear.   I am one of those people who really can't function unless my beading desk is spotless, and it's still not where I want it to be at all, but I know that I can get it finished tomorrow.  I just have to go get a few more containers and I'll be done.  Worst part, the bookshelves that hold my sorted and organized beads are FULL!  Yes, completely full, so now I am going to have to come up with a new place to put the stuff I still haven't gotten sorted.

Anyway, here's what I got done today!

30 Day Bead Challenge - Day 3

Learn a new beading technique.

Day 3's challenge for the 30 Day Bead Challenge was "Learn a new beading technique."   So I went rifling through Fusionbeads.com's blog to see what I could find that would be fun to learn.  I settled on the "simple wire wrapped ring."  I've always wanted to learn how to make wire rings, because they are so cool looking to me, so I drug out my 20 gauge wire and a beautiful aquamarine colored swarovski crystal element I had gotten at Beadiful before Christmas and got to work.  It took a couple of tries, and it's still not perfect, but it's the first time I have ever tried this kind of thing, so I'm proud.

Aquamarine Dream.  Swarovski Crystal and Wire Ring.

30 Day Bead Challenge - Day 2

Create something with leftover beads.

That was the challenge for Day 2 of the 30 Day Bead Challenge with Fusionbeads.com.  I honestly have been so sick the last few days that I haven't been able to bead much at all, so today (Sunday) I got caught up on all my challenge projects.  :)

I have had some cobalt pressed glass, and some pale green fire polished Czech glass beads sitting on a tiny bead mat on my desk for about 2 months now.  They just sat there and mocked me.   They were leftovers from a couple of pieces I created a while back, and so I figured I would try to make them into something that would be whimsical and fun.

So, I got out a large jump ring, some chain, some headpins and a few seed beads and created "Ocean Waves."  It is a pendant.

30 Day Bead Challenge - Day 1

After feeling like the bottom of a shoe for the last few days, I finally got upstairs and got back to work putting the insane amounts of beads I just received away.

But I did take a little time to look at Facebook, and when I did, I saw that Fusionbeads.com is doing a "30 Day Bead Challenge" this month because March is National Craft Month.   I thought that this was an incredible idea, and I am really excited to participate!!

Today's challenge is:  Make a Pair of Earrings!  

I went through my magnesite and found these gorgeous 10mm beads and found four 4 mm howlite beads that matched them almost perfectly.  Then I threaded them with beadcaps and these incredible looking "daisy" findings.  I think they turned out very unique and interesting!!

Thank you to the folks at Fusionbeads for this challenge, I love the concept!!

Back At It

The holidays just about did me in.  

That is not a lament.  It is a praise.  They literally just about did me in.  I was so busy!  Between jewelry and Christmas ornament orders, craft shows, and time with family and friends, I barely had a moment to stop and think!

But now things are settling down into a routine finally where I am designing more and finally starting to build up my inventory again.  I am so blessed to have gained some wonderful customers over the holidays as well.

Most of the drama that had been clogging up my creative express has also resolved itself, thank the Lord!

I finally was able to place the order I've had with Fire Mountain for the last two years.  Finally placed it yesterday.  Now I have so much inspiration heading my way that I can scarce contain my excitement!

I hope to start posting photos of my work here, but that's going to have to come after I get SpunSugarBeadworks.com updated and back to proper working order and get Spun Sugar's Facebook page updated completely.

I have so much to get done, but I am loving this time!!

Loving it!  God bless!

Creative Block

I used to scoff at people who said that they had "writer's block" or that couldn't come up with an inspiration in their heads for a painting, or a photograph idea.

I used to scoff at those people, until I started seriously designing jewelry for Spun Sugar.  I have found so many things that hamper my creativity.

A disorganized workspace
New beads that haven't been put into a proper container
Unfiled supply receipts
Unsorted bead mixes

But the thing that I have found that most seriously stands in the way of my ability to create is other people's drama.  Whether it's family issues (of which there are too many to list here, it could encompass days upon days upon days of writing) or an argument with a friend, or whatever, until that is settled at least enough where I feel like I can breathe, then I can kiss being able to create new designs goodbye.

However, recently, I've started turning on the radio and going to my office (which is upstairs in our house, a nice little "nook" where I can think) and starting to create.  I've finally started to see my office as my sanctuary from the world.  I usually use that time as well to talk to either my mom (who is without a doubt my very very very best friend in the world) or my best friend, Tonya (who is many times my lifeline). 

So now Spun Sugar's become not only my creative outlet, but my own personal brand of "therapy," for a lack of a better way to put it.

I love what I do.  I love creating beautiful jewelry.  I enjoy every second of this process, and I look forward to many more years of beautiful designs.

I think after a while, I had to stop letting everyone else affect my life so much.  Only those who bring joy to my life are worth having in it.

I hope you all have a blessed day!