Shoulda, Coulda, Woulda, Resolved!

Ever have one of those "coulda, shoulda, woulda" moments?  You know, a minor, nagging regret over something you might have done but, for one reason or another, it just didn't happen?

For a long time, I've thought I'd love to add a printer's tray to my display.   Used to be that I'd see them all the time when I went to antique places, but I couldn't figure out how to fit them into my display style, especially the big trays I was seeing.  When I finally figured out a way to make them work in my display setup, for the life of me I couldn't find any.  Despite haunting the antique malls where I'd seen them in the past, there just weren't any for sale.

Coulda bought them when I found them - they weren't outrageously expensive when I saw them.  Shoulda bought them, because, hey, there they were, begging to go home with me.  Woulda bought them if I'd just trusted that the inspiration for how to use them would come to me.

My dilemma was resolved this past weekend.  Look what came home with me!

It's 10 1/2" x 17".  My vision is that rings will go in the smallest spaces, and pendants or pins will go it the others.

But first, I have to get it cleaned up a little bit (any suggestions other than Endust and lots of dust rags?  Maybe Murphy's Oil Soap?) and get some hooks put in....

The hunt may continue for more trays, but at least I've bagged my first one!

February Art Bead Challenge

To celebrate the three day weekend (thanks, George and Abe, for having birthdays close enough to warrant a Federal holiday for you and the other presidents!), I've been spending lots of time today at the bead table, working hard on my first entry for the Art Bead Challenge.


These challenges have been so intriguing and inspiring, but this month I finally had enough time and an appropriate art bead, so yippee skippy, I'm finally giving it a shot.


The inspiration this month is The Conference of the Birds by Habiballah, from a manuscript of the Mantiq al-Tayr (The Language of the Birds) of Farid al-Din 'Attar, c. 1600.  Isn't it spectacular?  You can read more about the artwork, and the challenge, here.


My eye was immediately drawn to the peacock and to the lovely lavender shades in the stream.


I started with this porcelain focal by Forever Young, which I topped with a carved cinnabar bead with a phoenix (sadly, you can't see the phoenix in this photo, nor can I get the photo to display upright.  Crap.)

Then I added a couple of carved bone beads, lavender jade, a carved agate barrel, a dyed agate lentil, copper wire, and fiber.  I don't often use fiber in this way in my work, so this was a little added degree of personal difficulty for me.

The reveal date for all the challenge entries is February 29 (Leap Day).  With such gorgeous art for inspiration, I can't wait to see what everyone has created!

Valentine Hugs

Big, beady Valentine's hugs to each of you!

Y'all brighten my life, and I hope you've found a smile or two here.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Challenge of Music

When Erin of Tesoro Trovati announced a challenge involving music, how could I pass it up?

Seriously. My business name is Beadsong Jewelry.  If I didn't try to play along, I should just take myself out back, give myself a good talking to and perhaps apply a swift kick to my own derriere.

And no one wants to see that. 

So this weekend I'll be playing at the work table, trying to create something that embodies my reaction to a favorite song or piece of music.

I've got so many ideas, and so many directions this can go, I suspect that the greatest challenge of this challenge will be weeding through all the possibilities and honing in on one.

Not a bad way to spend the weekend, eh?

Have a great weekend yourself - I hope it involves lots of fun and creativity for you!

You Are Invited To Join Me In A Happy Dance (and You Won't Worry My Neighbors)

Some really great news came in the mail over the weekend, and I've been bursting to share it with you.

This piece, named "Aphrodite, Born of the Sea," was accepted to be part of a juried exhibition called "About Face" at the Kentucky Artisans Center in Berea, Kentucky (ok, that was a little obvious - as though the Kentucky Artisans Center would be in Tennessee or Arizona).

When I opened the envelope, there was a happy dance outbreak on my front porch.  Yes, once again, I worried the neighbors.  Bless their hearts, I'm really sorry they live so close to a crazy woman.

Y'all watched this piece grow from its status as a UFO hidden at the back of my beading table, and you encouraged me to finish it.  So thanks for keeping me honest on getting it done.

And thanks for letting me happy dance with you!

We Have A Winner! (Okay, We Have Four!)

Y'all are just the best.  Seriously.  I had a blast celebrating my 100th blog post with you, and appreciated all the fun comments.

I've got some really exciting news to share with you, but I'll wait until tomorrow to do that, because today is all about THE GIVEAWAY!

Random.org generated the winning numbers.  Based on the order the names came up, I checked to see if that friend had expressed a preference among the beads.  If so, and if an earlier draw hadn't already claimed it, that person's name went on the bead.  I'm happy (and vaguely amazed) that there were no conflicting requests!

(Drumroll, please) Here are the results:

Karen Williams gets the green swirlies from Thornburg Bead Studio

  

Kristen gets the red lampwork earring pair from Fire Goddess

Michelle Bowman gets the daytime owl from Forever Young Creations 

(again, I swear the bead is upright, even if I can't get the photo to show that way to save my life!)

Christine Altmiller gets the night owl from Forever Young Creations

Ladies, please email me your address so that I can get these beauties off to you.  And thanks for hanging out with me!

Are You Ready for Some Giveaways (Oh, Yeah, and Some Football)?

Both kids are home from school this weekend, so just a note to remind everyone about the giveaway of the beautiful artisan beads above in connection with my 100th post.  I'll draw names on Monday, February 6, so if you want to put your name in the hat (or get another entry), be sure that you've gone here to leave a comment or to let me know that you've shared the news with others on your blog or facebook.

Have a great weekend!  I'm off to wrangle laundry and feed hungry young adults!