Do Not Do As I Do

While on vacation this week, it seemed like a good time to catch up on some earring photography.

So you've heard that the best way to shoot jewelry outdoors is on an overcast day?  Well, y'all, the sky went from a lovely overcast to a threatening rumble.  Quickly.

You can't imagine the speed at which I was pulling out earrings, shooting them, and going to the next pair.  I had found a good spot to set up, and by golly, I wasn't going to let a little thunder dissuade me.

Okay, until the lightning started striking.  I had no idea I could still move that fast....

The pictures turned out well, but I wouldn't recommend setting yourself up as a lightning rod to pursue your photographic ideas!

What I Did On My Summer Mini-Vacation

A long weekend gave me a chance to spend time with family, reconnect with old friends, and play a little bit with some beads.

 I had packed a selection of seeds, drops, and daggers, intending to figure out how to make some flowers inspired by some I'd seen on Malin de Koning's blog.  Due to an unfortunate problem (namely, the fact that my brain decided to take a holiday and leave me unable to interpret printed instructions - aaarghhhhh!!!), my flowers are not Malin's pattern, but my own mashup creation.  

This will be a pendant, perhaps on a lovely length of cobalt blue sari silk

These made the cutest earrings, which I wore to a party Saturday

They were such fun, I found myself drawn to the local bead store like a moth to a flame, like a mosquito to my bare legs, like my son to the aroma of bacon.  So I came home from my mini vacation with a new pattern, some fun little flowers (more were made that didn't get photographed), and lots and lots of new daggers and drops to play with.  Now that's a good vacation!

I'm so in love with the gorgeous transparent green in the smaller flowers.

The Beading Equivalent of A Juicy Beach Read

I had a few days of vacation over the Fourth.

In addition to hanging out with friends and family, relaxing, eating WAY more than I should have, and nearly having my car shot up by a dozen cannons, I did a little bit of beading.

I concentrated on smaller projects that could travel easily. Low stress, easy on the brain (like a cheesy romance novel), quick to complete yet strangely satisfying (like a great whodunnit or thriller).

Things that could be put down and picked back up at a moment's notice.

Because frankly, you never know when an ice cream cone will call your name, so you need to be able to drop what you're doing and answer the summons of the praline pecan.

So I did some embroidered components that will become bracelets or pendants. Or perhaps the turquoise and floral vintage cabs will become cute little earrings.

And while I finish them off, I promise I'll jog in place to burn off the scoops of praline pecan that lured me during vacation. (Sadly, my friends, that promise is probably as fictional as any cheesy romance novel you may read this summer. But I will show you the final pieces when I finish up the cabs!)

Escaping to Sanity

Pretty soon, I'll get to go spend time in my favorite place in the world. The photo above is from nearby.

Seriously, I can't keep the smile off my face. It irritates my coworkers.

I won't lie to you -- I'm pretty darned excited.

Many photos will be taken. Many naps will be taken. Many friends will be hugged. Great food, good wine, old stories, and older jokes will be shared. I'll even have some beads with me, because the surroundings never fail to inspire.

I plan to be annoyingly, stinkingly, alarmingly happy the entire time.

Do you have a place like that? A place that never fails to erase the stresses of your life? A place you can escape and completely recharge your mind and spirit? I'd love to hear about it!