Finally...some June Bead Journal progress!

I am probably the furtherest behind out of the entire group. =o(
My Summer schedule is just so nutty! And it will carry over into the Fall as well.
But...I haven't given up hope yet! LOL


Here is an image of the progress I've made so far on my June BJP.


The colors are off a bit as I scanned it, rather than photographed it as I'm in a hurry this morning.

I chose shades of Pearls & Creams accented with Golds because Pearls are one of the stones for the month of June.

This quote, by Georgia O'Keeffe, has always been one of great meaning to me as it was first quoted to me by my high school art teacher. It was during a time when I was really struggling with my own identity, as do most kids around that age...and I was hesitant to express myself with my artwork in his class. He bribed, he threatened, he taunted and he begged me, but I just kept sinking deeper into myself.Then one day he came up behind me in class while I was continuing to be "safe" with my art project and loudly, so that the entire class turned to look, he said...."To bad you don't have the courage to be as talented as you truly are!" At fifteen, I thought I was going to die from not only the comment, but the attention of the entire class directed at me!

The next day he handed me a little slip of paper with the above quote scribbled on it. I understood his message to me fully at that point.

I hope all who are reading this will take those words to heart as well. You do have the courage, you just need to recognize that you do!

Happy Beading All!
Beki

Beading For A Cure ~ Fini!

YAY! I did it! I am just waiting for some finials I ordered to arrive, then Shawn will create the holder to attach the finials to and then it's ready to be sent off to AJ!

I will admit that I struggled with a few things...like the fact that it doesn't have even edges. I had to remind myself that it is all completely hand-sewn, and that the beading also added to adjusting and moving the fabric. I also had to remind myself that I've been super up-close and personal with it, seeing every fiber of the fabric as I stitched on all the beads. Standing back and looking at it as a whole, some of those things calm down a bit....but just a bit. I need to learn how to curb my desire to have everything "just so".

Each person I have shown it to hasn't once commented on the uneven-ness, but rather that the movement of the fabric almost makes it look as if you are looking thru water. Ok then...that works! LOL Shall I reply that that was my intent all along? Hehehe!

I just hope someone, somewhere loves it enough that they will bid well on it when it's turn comes up on auction.

Now...I get to start my Bead Journal Page!! While June has come and gone, I did manage to get my page layout arranged, picked out my beads and decided upon a quote from Georgia O'Keeffe, which will be a signal for my Bead Journal...."To create one's own world in any of the arts takes courage!"

I have one day off this month....this coming Wednesday, July 4th and I'll spend the majority of that day getting my June Bead Journal page as close to done as I possibly can. I have vowed that I will catch up with this process so it's important to me to at least start my July page in the month of July! There are just a few work days and a bead show in my way, but I know how to shove! LOL

BFAC Progress!

Wow...it's been one crazy week, lemme tell ya!

Whenever we leave for a show, returning home is always a bit nuts. Heck, not showing up to work for a few hours creates an abundance of work that needs to be caught up on....so leaving for several days in a row creates mayhem!

Plus I think I got a touch of food poisoning on the last day of the show....it didn't knock me down, but it certainly kept rearing it's ugly head during this past week.

Shawn and Sara drove tandem on the way home from Milwaukee and managed to make it home Wednesday evening. That would be 2300 miles in 3 days! Freaks! You know that big white blur on the freeway? That was them! ;o)

I took some images this year of the Bead Dreams exhibits and some of the vendors. Here's a link: B&B Photos

I also managed to work on my BFAC project a bit on the plane to and from Milwaukee and then for a few minutes here and there in the evenings this past week. I guess the way this works is if you click on the image a new window will open with the enlarged version of it so you can actually see the beads I added. I cut some of the waves out of a piece of the fabric and using WonderUnder (thanks, Dot!) I ironed them onto the surface. My added bead for BFAC is a size 15 Matte Silverlined Straw Gold. So far I've used it to accent the waves, which also helps to quilt the fabric into place. The only bead from the kit I've used so far is the White Pearl 11....but today we are going down to Sunnyvale (about a 2 hour drive from here) for my nephews 40th b'day (OMG!) and Father's day, so I'll have some car time to work on it more.


I'm really struggling hard to get it done before the end of the month so that I can at least start my Bead Journal page for June in the month of June!!

I am experiencing the beaders worst nightmare times ten right now....no where near enough time to bead!

Last little bit of news....my classes for the Big Apple Art Glass & Bead Festival have been posted! I'll be teaching an Intro to PMC, and two sets of classes each in Clasps & Tags and PMC Beads! If you're in the area or are planning to attend, I'd sure love to see you there!

Now I should go shower before the party, eh? Which basically just means even more time away from my beading!

Finally On Our Way to Bead & Button!

Phew! This show is crazy to prepare for. I think it's a combination of lots of things...time of the year for our stock to be getting low enough that we need to place major orders, just enough shows already under our belt for the year that we are already tired, it's a big show, so we need to bring lots of stock, and backstock. Plus I am sure there are other forces in play as well...but whatever they all are they are certainly exhausting!

Almost 2 full months of preparation. A full week of 16+ hour days. A few fights, several dirty looks, late meals prepared by whatever local restaurant we can manage to handle eating at yet again. Burning shoulders, aching backs, swollen wrists and cramping hands....

All that to go sell beads! LOL Who woulda thunk it!

In any event, Shawn and Sara are finally on the road! YAY!

I've mowed the front lawn, watered the roses, cleaned part of the house, with a few rooms left to go, and I am determined all these chores will be done and over by dinner time. Then I will sit down to a nice meal, maybe a glass of wine, some good music, or a Giants game if I'm lucky and then......

I GET TO START BEADING!!

Here is a scan of the fabric I'll be using for my Beaded Art Quilt for my BFAC project.

I had another fabric all picked out, but Thom stopped by on his way up to a Retreat with this same fabric, but with a Cobalt Blue background and I fell in love. I had to go find some! He inspires me in more ways than either of us will ever know, I am sure!

I'll get this all stitched together and start the beading and will take it with me when I fly out Tuesday for the Bead & Button show to have something to work on while flying.

Then when I get home, I'll get to start on my Bead Journal for June!

Bead Journal Dreams

I got my screen name Dreambeadr because I use my dreams a lot in life. Both for my art and for how I make life/business decisions. I don't always wake up with a vivid memory of my dream, but I'll often wake up just *knowing* in my heart and mind how I'll do something, or what I need to say to someone, or how my day will unfold or progress.

I also dream up ideas all the time. Color schemes, how to assemble something that's been giving me fits in my awake state, a new recipe idea, a project to turn into a kit...whatever.

So, I have been waiting for my subconscious to help me figure out what to do with my BJP pages. Last night I finally got a little inkling. I still don't know what size to do...my time is limited so I need to be realistic about that, but I don't want to just do something dinky either...I need these pages to make a statement to me....for me.

Anywho, my dream saw a cloudy colorful central area with some great well meaning quote, and around the quote is beadwork. Kinda vague...but that's all I got! LOL

I'll hopefully dream about it more and bring it more into focus.

Meanwhile, I need to finish getting Shawn ready to leave for B&B! He's got to hit the road by Saturday morning at the latest! I've still got product showing up today! And he's outside right now tearing the gas tank out of the truck because some stupid car designer at Ford thought it would be a good idea to put the fuel filter in the gas tank! AND....it requires two sizes of some special tool to remove it! Argh!

Late Nights, Early Mornings!

I think I am getting too old! Well, my body is anyway. My mind still thinks I can stay up until the wee hours of the morning pricing beads, spooling chain, making new signs, ordering bags at the last minute....just trying to get ready for the Bead & Button Show!

Then I had to be up by 6am for an International phone call. Trying to check on an overseas shipment that was suppose to arrive last Friday. All ended up being fine, it was just held up in customs because the shipper forgot to put our contact phone number on the documents. =o/
It will be delivered today! Yay! More goodies I purchased just for this upcoming show. (people better buy them! LOL)

I spent a little time making a links list for this blog. I'll add more to it as time allows.

After cutting out the fabric, basting it down, and almost finishing stitching the edges, I've changed my mind about which fabric I'll be using for my BFAC project!! D'oh! Why do I do this all the time? I do it with my beads too. I spend hours on end selecting colors, buying more new colors, switching them around, looking at them under indoor light, outdoor light, Ott light, asking other people, who could give a flying pig, what they think of the colors, sitting down to begin the project and then changing my mind again! I really need to figure out why I have such a hard time settling on something.

I don't do this with other aspects of my life. If I've chosen a meal for dinner...that is what we are having...period! If I need to make a decision at work...done! Let's move onto the next issue. I even picked out my new car this way. I researched for what I wanted/needed. Drove down to the dealership, made my deal and drove out with my new car in a matter of hours! A new car for crying out loud!! But a beadwork project...it could take me weeks, months before I've settled on the right color scheme.

I think I have an issue! LOL

Now I need to go take a shower, run up to Kinko's to pick up business cards, stop by the office supply store for card stock to print kit instruction pamplets on, swing by Avenue and pick up a skirt I want but was waiting for my email coupon from them first, and get my behind into work! Such a slouch! LOL

I totally forgot about the other two projects I am working on and have deadlines for....well, technically it's more than two...it's two ideas, making several projects! LOL

I am participating again this year in the Bead Artist Trading Card Swap that I started back in 2004! I've really got to get that site updated and get the cards from 2006 added! OK...three projects....
My good friend, Wendy, agreed to be the swap mistress for this year. Thank heavens! It's a great swap, but I just didn't have the time or energy to deal with the actual swapping this year.

And I am also in two swaps with Bead Unique Magazine. I've received all the swap beads already, but I've only started one project using beads from several different particpants from Swap 1. So, dependant upon time, I will make at least this project, and hopefully a few more.
We're to have everything completed by the Sonoma Art Glass & Bead Festival where we will join Pam Hawkins for a champagne brunch and show off our creations from the swap! What fun!

Here is the Summer/Fall schedule I am trying to work around...
~ June ~
Bead & Button Show - Milwaukee, WI
Fly out of SF June 5th
Fly home June 11th

The following week I am flying Shawn out to Santa Fe, to spend a few days with his uncle and relax! Part of his b'day present.

~ July ~
Puget Sound Bead Festival, Tacoma, WA
Not sure who's driving or who's flying yet....cuz you know it's always more cost effective and less stressful to wait until the last minute! ::::major eye roll::::

~ August ~

1st - 6th Mini vacation for me!
I'll be attending this Bead Retreat with my bestest friend Betcey who'll be flying out from Colorado for it. I cannot freakin' wait!

Sonoma Wine Country Art Glass & Bead Festival

9th - 12th
Out On A Whim is sponsoring a bunch of the food for the Taste of Sonoma event on Friday night. Out On A Whim is donating Precious Metal Clay for a free Make-it~Take it demo on Saturday.
We'll have a private exhibitor room to ourselves for the show.
And I am teaching two classes:
Friday An Introduction to PMC
Sunday Razzleberry Necklace

19th -26th

I'll be attending the Metal Clay World Conference in Las Vegas. 4 full days of classes, several additional hands on workshops and lectures. It'll be a blast, but it's also to further my education in this medium.

(apparently the month of August I will playing Wonder Woman!)

~ September ~

Tentative Gem Faire in Ontario, CA (personally? I'd rather not!)

~ October ~

New York! I'll be teaching 3 classes at The Big Apple Art Glass & Bead Festival
Flight dates are not set. But I should fly in the 16th, so that I can teach well by the 18th. The show is the weekend of the 19th - 21st. I believe I am teaching the 18th, 19th and 20th.
I'll teach An Intro to PMC, Metal Clay Beads and Metal Clay Clasps and Tags.

We'll not be exhibiting at this show, but Shawn is suppose to come out with me.

(My siblings are planning to meet me in NY around the 21st and we will then do a road trip down to FL and then through the southern states and back home again to CA! Wow!...more on this later as news develops!)

~ November ~
Bay Area Bead Extravaganza! (BABE!)
Our second best show of the year.
Show dates are the 10th & 11th
I am teaching two classes...I believe on the 9th & 10th.
And Intro to PMC and the Metal Clay Beads class again.

I will then return home, fall into my bed and not get up again until next year!

Well, I guess I should get started some time posting to this blog.

I've really started it to help me keep track of all of my ideas, projects, creations and the bits of regular life that get in the way of those things!

The list of "to-do" projects on my plate right now is pretty out of hand.I am in the midst of creating a Beaded Art Quilt (ala Thom Atkins http://www.thomatkins.com/) for my Beading For A Cure project. (http://www.beadingforacure.org/) I'll take some images soon....

I just finished 3 projects, with at least two of them on their way to being submitted for magazine articles.
This little PMC Leaf Goddess was designed around the Swarovski Rivoli. Since you cannot fire Swarovski products in place (they can't withstand the heat required to sinter the Fine Silver) and I can't seem to create much without using Swarovski...I needed to improvise. Her hands were designed to "set" the Swarovski Rivoli into, and then I glued flatbacks onto her for some added embellishment.
I think it took me about 4 or 5 tries before I had the size and shape of the design just right to hold the stone in place.

So now I have some instructions to write up...and a bunch more images to take. As soon as I can get the hubby to help me, I'll share the other two projects I just recently completed.

I have also joined Robin Atkin's Bead Journal Project! http://robinatkins.com/new.html I'm super excited about this! While my schedule is stupid busy....I need to remember to make time in my life for ME.

As a business owner, a Mom of 4, and a wife, I tend to let myself get spread pretty thin. But I've witnessed how much more I can accomplish in my day to day life if I just set aside a short amount of time for me....for my soul...for my creative muse....whatever it is, just so long as it makes me happy.

OK...speaking of that...I need to get to work! The Bead & Button show is just around the corner and we are still tubing, pricing, bagging, tagging like maniacs!