July 4th

Today there is an abundance of sun and warmth as the fourth opens here in a blast of summertime glory. A light breeze blows across the yard, birds are singing and the lavender plants are wafting their delicate scent past the plastic lawn chairs sitting on the side deck. I have been up since 5:30 working away in the studio, making inventory for the shop; heart pendants, crystal earrings and inexpensive dangly charms. I have always referred to this work as " regular ". It is not the exploration and play of materials I am doing when I do my favorite studio work. I am not really being creative as this is all work I have done in the past and continue to do on a regular basis. Don't get me wrong, it is all original work, my work, my designs, my creativity but it is the production part of me and not nearly as rewarding as making something from scratch.

I am on the verge of something in my life and I can not quite figure out what it is. Maybe a change is coming, a journey could be on the horizon, maybe I need romance and mystery and to reinstate in myself a lust for life!

I am meandering this morning and I need to get on with the day not to mention my morning walk so I will leave you with some pictures of jewelry I took in Utah with the beautiful desert rocks as a back drop. Happy - boom boom - fourth!!

Easiest to Post

This is what I called the Judy Jetson flower. Space age-y modern.

This blue violet color was gorgeous!

Pinks make me happy and calm me.

It is easy to post when the house is empty and still. I either have to wait until everyone is asleep or company is gone or I am alone with myself. My mind can then compose, talk, wander and center on writing. Finally, I am going to post a few pictures from my Utah trip. What I enjoyed the most were the flowers. I did not take nearly enough photos but the ones I did take, I imagine will show up in my work for awhile. I was refreshed when I had time to work on my projects and happy when family just loved me for who I am. More to come later!

Utah!

Okay, I am trying this again. I don't usually travel with my laptop and since this is an actual, honest to goodness vacation, I had promised myself not to use a computer for 7 days. Obviously, that thought has flown out the window!

Anyhow, I am in Orem, Utah visiting family and doing things that I do not normally do. Like riding the ski lift up 1000 feet at Sundance. I once read that you should do one thing that scares you everyday and yesterday, on that ski lift I was scared enough that it should cover a month's worth of doing a daily scary thing!

Ah, but the view of the snow capped mountains, the rushing streams and the singing birds was exquisite. It was about 64 degrees with a soft wafting wind and beads were the furthest thing from my mind until... high in th trees, just below my dangiling feet, were strings of mardi gras beads draped in the aspen branches. The sun caught their sparkle and you could not miss them! I had to laugh and smile to myself with the thought that the universe always confirms to me to " trust the beads "! What a joy!

More pictures to follow including photos of the grandkids ( how can I be this old? )

Utah

B&B Exhibition !

Here is some of the work that was on display at the B&B show in Milwaukee. These flowers, all handmade silks are covered with Swarovski crystals. The work exhibited at the show was inspiring and awesome both in its' technical abilities and original designs. The originality was overwhelming. I am always a bit astounded and humbled how people, creative, unique people take the same techniques but expand upon it in such original ways that it is never once thought of as like another. 

 Although this picture is not at the top of my photographic skills, these are all individual bead worked circles, kind of like an old fashioned yo yo quilt, that were joined on this mannequin that became part of the beaded sculpture.

This beaded, embellished doll took my breath away! It was like she was draped in crystal ice and glass. She was beaded and worked on every surface and just encrusted with seed beads, crystals and a bit of silver. Plus wings!! 

I think this piece was from the Ukraine and features cabachons, seed beads, itty bitty gem stones and shaped glass beads. What a piece to wear! The drape was so elegant and the palette of blues, grays and ivory was very inviting to the eye.

More pieces that astounded and inspired me. What a great collection of stitch work!

This piece was so layered in a leaf like shape that it was airy, delicate and tremendously textured. From a tube of glass beads comes such artistry! Are you inspired yet? More pictures to come tomorrow and then I will have to show more of my found and purchased treasures.

Don't let anyone intimidate your artistic vision. Create, play, wonder, enjoy!

Tantalizing & Tempting

Our Bead & Button booth just after set up.

Everything all neat and tidy and the first customer.

Down the aisle nearest us. 

The giant importer display kitty corner in front of us. 

Hurrah! Shoppers!

More heaps of imported beads.

Here are a few shots of our booth and the show itself at B&B. I spent most of my picture taking time shooting the exhibits of finished work which this year was exceptional. I will post those pics tomorrow. Why I did not take more photos of friends and fellow exhibitors, I will never know! I guess it is the beads that get me most and my camera just seems to navigate to them. Like the old James Bond movie, For My Eyes Only -BEADS!

HOME!

We are home from the Bead & Button show in Milwaukee! It feels so good to be on the water and smell the heavy laden salted air. My lungs feel free again and the moisture from the ferry boat spray feels refreshing and rejuvenating on my skin.
The show was great fun, seeing old friends, making new friends and selling my work to rave reviews.  My new charms and designs were so well received that I came home with very little of them. Thanks to all who stopped by the booth and confirmed that the direction I am heading in is a good one. The doors of creativity have sprung wide open and I am heading through them with tons of new ideas!

I bought some lampwork beads and have new thoughts on how to combine them with silver to make interesting charms and focal pieces. I feel so incredibly inspired by all that I saw and by the day I spent at the art museum. Believe me, I took plenty of pictures ( 149 ! ) and will be posting some of them in the coming days.

My special treat while in Milwaukee? deep fried macaroni and cheese. Never heard of it so of course I had to give it a try. Pretty tasty stuff but you could feel the old arteries clogging as you ate it! What a memory - a FOOD memory! HaHa!

I have missed being in my shop so I am heading into town now for the afternoon. Come by and see me! Until later, Lois