Featured Friday

FEATURED FRIDAY

Cool handmade stuff from artists I admire

Maybeads

My friend Maybeads makes the most adorable critters!  Every one of them makes me smile :) They sell out quick though, so if you see one you like don't hesitate!!

Metamorphosi

                                                                

I love this piece by Metamorphosi!  Partly because it's glass of course ~ but it's also up cycled and beautiful and just looking at it makes me really, really want to hear how it sounds in a gentle breeze!

Thanks for taking a peak ~ and check back next Friday for more great handmade finds!

What's Up Wednesday

Another regular feature on my blog?  YES!  What's up Wednesday is where you will find upcoming events, news, and interesting tidbits. 

So what's up this Wednesday?   I'm attempting to make a major overhaul in the way I manage my time.  Until last week I managed my time by making a daily to-do list.  Totally sounds like a great idea.  It's not. My list included everything, everyday, and I do mean EVERYTHING! 

Here's a sample:
Make beads,
clean and photograph yesterday's beads,
deliver beads to Sun Dog,
list on Etsy,
Flikr update,
blog,
fan page update,
tweet,
post office and/or bank,
make jewelry
(plus housework, dinner, laundry, grocery shopping, dishes, etc., etc., etc.)

See what I mean?  Basically, I always felt like I was behind, then overwhelmed, and then in need of a nap. Not to mention the guilt over whatever didn't get done.

So my new program is to make a list of everything that needs to get done in a week and assign tasks to specific days.  Many of these things could be done once a week. I don't have to clean and photograph beads everyday; if I do it once a week I only drag out all the supplies for those jobs once (saves time and since it's not on the list every day I don't feel like it's overwhelming me).

Many of you are probably thinking "well, duh!".  But believe me, it's huge for me to tell myself it's ok to put something on the list for Tuesday, and then only worry about that thing on Tuesday.

This is my first week, so I'm still tweaking my schedule - but I see this working really well for me.  The goal is to eventually get everything done, AND be less stressed, and (slightly) less neurotic ~ Wish me Luck!

Motivation Monday

YAY it's Monday!  Ok, that was probably overly enthusiastic for a Monday, but hey, it can't hurt to start the week off with a positive attitude! :)  Motivation Monday will now become a regular feature on my blog. Here you'll find the things that inspire me, color combinations I love, the music that rocks my studio and anything else that makes me want to jump up and make a bead! 

Like many (many) people, I have become addicted to pinterest.  I've found it's a great place to find color, shape and pattern inspiration for beads.  This week I've found cakes particularly inspiring ~ somehow they all look like beads to me!  Here's a few to show you what I mean:

This one is from Project Wedding

and here's one from Party Inspirations facebook fan page:

For some reason cakes really speak to me as beads. Perhaps because the color palettes are similar, or because the process of applying frosting is similar to applying layers of glass.  Either way, there is a wealth of inspiration out there in the cake world!

And lately Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers have been rocking my studio!



 
See you all next Monday ~ and until then Stay Motivated!

Featured Friday

I decided my blog needed a little more structure. Or maybe I need a little more structure so I quit neglecting my blog!  So on Friday's I will be sharing cool handmade products from great artists that I've found. I hope you find things you'll love too!

First ~ A little something from my friend Rachel of Inferno Glass Beads  I love her big hole lampwork charm beads!  Doesn't this one just glow? Check out her Etsy page for more great lampwork!

I also love the metal work from Christopher Crooks Metal Art  I have one of his geckos and it's beautiful!  Actually, I intended to hang it out on my deck but it's so great I hung it in my living room so I could enjoy it year round. Take a peek at his Etsy shop and I'm sure you'll find something you love too! Here's one of my current favorites ~

Check back next Friday for more great handmade finds!

Inspiration

INSPIRATION

Sometimes you wonder where a person gets the inspiration for their art.  Sometimes you think "wow, that's beautiful, I wonder what inspired it?"  And sometimes you think "what the heck gave them that idea?"

So, in case you're wondering, I thought I would share.

                        A couple of days ago the sunrise at my house was particularly beautiful.


                                            Inspiring me to make these beads:

Okay, they're nothing like each other.  I did say "inspired" right?  :)

Then I saw these cupcakes:

                                                        And I made this bead:

I try to remind myself to find new inspiration every day.  If you are open to it, inspiration can come from anywhere!



The Great Studio Clean Up

WARNING:  This post will be image heavy, and mildly alarming ~ small children and those with OCD should look away!  :)

I'm so embarrassed I can't believe I'm sharing this!  My studio is in a convenient location to be the dumping ground for everyone in the house.  If you don't know where it goes, just put it in the studio "Mom will deal with it".  Okay, that might work if Mom actually dealt with it.  But I don't.  Usually, I'm in a hurry so I just push the stuff into piles to get it out of my way, then dig through it to find stuff that I "know" is in there. You know the drill, I can't possibly be alone in this!

Anyway, here are the before pictures.  I should have taken a picture of the floor, the game trails were a nice touch!

 

 

SEVERAL hours later..... The studio looked like this:

 

 

Sooooo worth it!  I can find stuff again (well, except for the stuff I'm currently packing all over creation!)

There is one small remaining problem.....

I didn't touch the glass storage.  To be honest, the task is so overwhelming I'm afraid to start. 

                                                                                  Under the torch:

Torch Table:

                                                                        

                                                     

And the all important "oh, there's an empty spot" method of actually storing the glass.

I want labels, I want organized by color, I want to know what I need BEFORE I place an order.  I don't see that happening anytime soon.

Anyone want to come help? There might be some glass in it for you!

Long Distance Running

No, I'm not running a marathon (no suprise to those of you who know me!), but it certainly feels like it these days.  Right now I'm running my life, my home and my business long distance while I help my Grandfather with harvest.  I'm scattered all over "Hell's half acre" (as Grandpa puts it) and it's a bit of a challenge.  Hubby and the kids are at home ~ thank goodness for text messaging and facebook! And I must say, Dusty makes a much better housewife than I do!

But the business stuff all has to travel back and forth between here and home when we're not picking. Unfortunately, that sometimes means that no matter where I am, something I need is in another location.

This is the temporary torch set up at my in-law's house:





I have an 8X10 studio at home that is absolutely packed ~ so when my husband saw this he said "really, is that all you need?"  Um, no.  I need all that stuff, this is just the very bare essentials.

And my temporary jewelry, Etsy, mailing station at my friend's house:



But it's totally worth it when I get to spend all day outside; fresh air, the sun on my face, and haning out with my Grandpa!  This amazing man has so much knowledge to share and so many interesting stories to tell. I learn something new every time he talks to me.  It is an incredible experience to go to work every day with a man who truly loves what he does and I continue to learn so much from his passion for life. 

I wouldn't miss this opportunity for anything!

Here's my Farmville post from last year, and every word of it holds true.
http://vedasbeads.blogspot.com/2010/10/life-lessons-from-farmville.html

Plus ~ I get to play fun games like "Can you spot the fruit in this tree?"  Hint: It's a pear.



And just look at the view from my "office"!



So, while my life may be crazy, busy, scattered ~ I wouldn't have it any other way!

Today's experiences are tomorrow's memories, and I treasure every one.