What's New? Va-Va-VOOM!

I seem to be "bogged down" right now...but maybe that's not the right phrase? Since I started working at the Bead Store, I've become more aware of the different styles of beading and jewelry-making for the crafting artisan. There's wire-working which intrigues me. There's seed bead work that is intricate. There's chainmaille that amazes me... Just to name a few. My dilemma, if that's really what I'm feeling, is which direction to branch out in and incorporate in my simple stringing? Simple stringing is fast, easy, with immediate results. The other specialties require time, patience, and practice to learn a new skill. I've already tried a little wire-work and it does enhance my designs but to make my stringing really stand out, I need something to give it some va-va-voooom! Anyone can pick up beads and string them on a wire but not everyone can become skilled in the areas I've mentioned. So I'm spinning my wheels and trying to decide what to try next. Guess I just need to take a few classes at the store and see if anything really sparks my creative drive!

Here's a pretty patriotic bracelet and earring set I made in honor of the upcoming July 4th holiday. I made it with real Venetian beads, not the fake imitation kind. And the sterling silver tubes lighten up the overall look and weight. I just love Swarovski Crystals so I made the focal bead in the front a 12mm crystal helix. The magnetic clasp makes it so easy to put on and take off. Plus I added a safety chain so it couldn't accidently fall off. I think it looks pretty good but it needs that little something extra to say va-va-voom!!! I just need to figure out what that could be...

I'm A Working Girl.......again.

It's funny how your life can be going along at a certain speed, like s-l-o-w gear, and then all of a sudden it changes. Last Wednesday when Brandon left in his Big Blue Bus, that's just what happened to me...
I was feeling a little bit sad and melancholy so after I waved good-bye & shed a few tears, I decided to check my e-mails and see if I could cheer myself up with some good news or something... And there it was... A nudge... A possibility for change... A message from my local beadstore with the latest class schedule. I know what you're thinking. How could that be of significance? I saw a class for "Wire-Wrapping Pendants" coming up on Mother's Day. Brandon recently gave me a beautiful Labradorite stone and it had been laying on the kitchen windowsill for about a month. I looked at the stone and knew that I had to take that class so I could wire-wrap his gift to me. Since we had no big plans for that day and none of my kids would be in town, I decided to sign up for the class. Well, I called to see if there were any spots left in the class and sure enough there were. BUT instead of signing up over the phone, I decided to run over to the shop to sign up so that I could buy my supplies. When I got there I browsed around for a while and talked to the Shop-Owner about beading ideas and other bead related topics. And then out of the clear blue sky she said she was looking for part-time help and would I be interested!?! WOW! Did that ever take me by surprise! I was flabbergasted and didn't know what to say... So we talked about the dates and times she needed help... And all the while I'm thinking, do I really want to do this? How will this impact my "stay at home, retired lifestyle" that I had grown accustomed to? I bought my supplies and told the shop-owner that I would think about her offer and call her back the next day. Afterall, I did have ALOT to consider! Did I want to take on a commitment like this? I thought about it all the way home and realized that sometimes you just have to jump into new ideas with both feet, regardless... Afterall, I could learn more about the beading business, get dressed up for work-days, and show off what I had made! It might be the best idea EVER! It couldn't hurt! So I called her after I got home and made my commitment! Now I'm a working girl, again.... Wish me luck! As sad as it was, I guess there was a silver lining to Brandon's departure... It was the push I needed to get my life in F-A-S-T gear!