Friday, February 28, 2014

Asymmetrical Challenge Piece and Overcomng Fear

I've got quite a few jewelry design goals this year, and one of them is to participate in several challenges.  Never done that before, just committed and let the deadline slip away.  This is my first challenge piece, called Run to You after the awesome, heart rending song by  the incredibly gifted acapella group, Pentatonix.  I'm old enough to be their Mom, and I'm a Huge fan.  I'm trying to decide whether to send this piece to singer Kirsten Maldonado, or keep it for myself.  ( Or sell it?  Maybe.)  I don't work in dark colors so this was a stretch to be sure; I'm not sure I'd wear it.  But I'm very fond of the piece because of the inspiration and challenges it was made for.  Also, I used it for an asymmetrical design entry in the online class I'm taking from the talented Deryn Mentock, called The Alchemy of Objects.  So, this piece is being entered in two challenges and as a class project.  I love it, but I'm nervous!  I've never used a song, or anything other than my nutty brain, as inspiration.  It was fun, even though the piece took Way too long.  Wish me luck as I try to learn to design faster (that's what takes so long, not the construction), and work up the nerve to actually post this in the two challenges it was made for!  Those are the Challenge of Music hosted by Tesori Travati Jewelry, and the Jewelry Making Mojo Challenge hosted by Heather Powers of Humblebeads.  You should check out their sites; very talented designers and jewelry makers!  Sorry the photo is sideways.  Dan isn't home and I'm pretty clueless when it comes to technology.  (Wonder how bad it will be when I get old.  NOT thinking about that.)  The links to the two blogs are below my wonky photo.

This IS just my second or third blog post, so please bear with me as I learn.  ☺

 
 
 
I just realized I'm a week late for the Humblebeads blog post.  Oops!  Better do something with bead soup quickly!  Or not.  Another goal of mine for this year is to not place random, stressful, expectations on myself.  If I get a bead soup project done and posted before the week is out, Great!  But I doubt that will happen.  I plan on experimenting with flooded solder this weekend, which I've been Meaning to do since Christmas vacation.  We'll see what happens!
 
Last but not least, here is the link for Deryn Mentock's site Something Sublime.  That's a very accurate assessment of her work!  Maybe some day (days?) I'll get to meet these three inspiring artists.
 
 
 Have a great weekend!

Sunday, February 9, 2014

Bead Soup Blog Hop

I am so excited!  This is my first post to my blog, which I promised myself I'd get going this year.   Not a resolution; a promise.  There's a difference.  Also, I'm going to participate in the 8th Annual Bead Soup Blog Party sponsored and run with aplomb by the incomparable Lori Anderson.  See the fb page below and to the right.  This will be a fun way to meet other jewelry and jewelry supply makers, stretch my creativity, and become a little known (hopefully) in the handmade jewelry making world.  Now I need to transition my 90+ something draft etsy postings to live postings.  Most of them are earrings, and most of the necklaces and bracelets I have aren't even on photographed, for etsy or anything else.  So much to do, so little time.

I'm also excited because tonight Dan and I are going to see Sting and Paul Simon.  The tickets were part of my Christmas stash.  Dan is always Way too generous at Christmas time.  Oh darn.  ☺  I've seen both of the performers before, with Dan, whose not a huge fan of either but boy I AM.  I'd see the 60 but still hot Sting anytime at all (saw him in NY and for a few minutes even in Florence).  We saw Paul Simon over 30 years ago; I know because we weren't married and last September we celebrated 30 years!.  Wow

And I'm excited because I didn't both teaching Bible Fellowship at church today.  I think.  I shot an arrow prayer that God would speak through me rather than it be all me, during class.  So who knows what I said before that.  Its a good thing I'm not the regular teacher, thanks Cathy!  I'm better at facilitating, like the Monday night bible study I host.  Awesome group of women, some of my favorite in the world. 

Enough running on for a first post.  Thanks for reading and have a blessed week.  Be a blessing this week.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/BeadSoupCafe/

Bead Soup Blog Hop