Do Your Creations Have A Story?

Most everything I have ever created comes about because of an event, or a series of events in my life.  Many times through dreams (hense the online name of DreamBeadr), but sometimes just because I saw something and it struck me in such a way that I felt compelled to "recreate" it.  Usually in beads. 

Sitting one day in my livingroom when the light started to filter through our back patio sliding door, it hit just right on this candle holder I have.

A week or so later, while sitting in the passenger seat of the truck returning home from a show, I started beading this bracelet....inspired by the candle holder.

I ended up naming it Julz after an online friend admired it.  I've also made it in other colorways.  It is a very popular kit for me.

Another recent creation is my Enchanted Necklace (which I am beyond thrilled will be included in Lark's 500 Beaded Jewelry Book due out later this year).  Part of the inspiration came from the Dragonfly button I beaded around where I had an idea in a dream that I wanted the button to look like it was nestled into a comfy pillow of beads.  The other part of the inspiration came from the ornamental plum trees outside my shop.  In the spring time they are full of gorgeous blossoms. 

And here is Enchanted

For my Ancient Seas necklace I was mostly inspired by the Ammonites.  I was trying to replicate the colors, while adding a touch of another brighter color that is often found in nature, Turquoise, but without having it be too distracting.  I had to dream about the design of Ancient Seas for several months before it came to life.  Because it is out of my normal "style" of design, I have needed to learn to love this necklace.  I certainly enjoyed the process while I was creating it, because so much of the design was new to me, which is always a fun place to be in my mind - exploring something new, but when it was completed I did not embrace it as quickly as everyone else around me seemed to.

I remain, however, very proud of this piece of jewelry.  Last year my first time teaching Ancient Seas at the Bead & Button show the class sold out within minutes of going live.  That was certainly a wonderful, and much needed ego boost for me.

And recently I've been playing around with Cubic Right Angle Weave (CRAW).  I've also been totally enraptured by the series of books by R.R. Martin and recent HBO series Game of Thrones.  Shawn and I have watched it twice now, and I am ready to watch it again!  And we've also listened to the second book, A Song of Ice & Fire on CD while we traveled to our show in Tucson.

As I played a bit with altering bead sizes and making the CRAW turn corners, this necklace began to emerge.  It reminded me a lot of Aria, one of the young female characters in the book who many times would much rather have been a boy.  She is beautiful and slight of build, depicting her feminity, but also rough and fierce showing her masculine side. 

So I named this necklace after her....Aria



So what inspires you when you create?  Nature, books, music, dreams, something sitting on the table in your livingroom?

Bead Soup Blog Party!

One of the greatest blessings I've gotten from the Internet has been the chance to connect with so many beaders on a personal level. 

Over 15 years ago now I was feeling a sense of burnout from my customers.  It seemed everybody wanted to be my "friend" because I owned a bead store.  I would get invites to weddings, birthdays, social gatherings, etc., from people who I had no clue who they were!  Every now and then they would let slip that they wanted to befriend me because I owned a bead store (and at the time one of the few in California!) and maybe they could get some "deals"!  Serious?  How hurtful that was.  You wanted to be my friend so you could get something?  Not because you liked me or thought I was cool?  Or maybe because I seemed like a nice person, or because I had something in common with you?  Not for any reason that would make me feel good....just because I had something you wanted?  Yuck!

I crept into a little shell and found myself being really guarded when people were nice to me.  That is so not my nature!  You can ask anybody who knows me personally to find out that I am really outgoing, open, trusting.  For me to recede into a shell was so uncomfortable.

But luckily for me right around the corner was the advent of the Internet and chat rooms, forums, email lists, newsgroups where like-minded people gathered.  Yeehaw!  So, I had this bright idea that I would join in the conversations but I wouldn't let on who I was.  (such a smart girl!)  What didn't dawn on me was that the spelling of my name is not common, (duh!...not so smart afterall are you, missy!) and within just a couple of weeks I was outed.  I felt kinda foolish.  And I felt bad that I was being deceptive.  But I was craving some personal interaction with people and afraid to put myself in the same position I was trying to run from. 

Luckily the group I bonded with the closest was a group on an AOL beaders forum. When I confessed my deception they totally understood and did not judge me for trying to be someone other than who I really was.  And what was even better they accepted me first as just another beader. Someone to visit with.  Rarely would I get the feeling that I was being "used".  Instead I was able to share what I knew about beads and beadwork with a group of peers who happily shared what they knew with me in exchange.  How freakin' awesome!

As years went by I have continued to develop online friendships.  Some of them priceless.  And one way of doing that I enjoy immensely is to join in to swaps, trades, events, causes that bring beaders closer together.  Sometimes in groups and sometimes one-on-one. 

I am hoping I get the luck of the draw on the upcoming Bead Soup Blog Party as I see this as yet another way to connect with even more beaders in a positive, fun, sharing environment.

Wish me luck!  The draw is just around the corner!

Copyright? Again?

I hate the phrase, “Beating a Dead Horse”.  It sounds horrid.  But it really is apropos for copyright issues.  For those of us who have been online for several years, and/or those of us who have needed to discuss or deal with issues pertaining to copyright and beadwork, it really feels like you are “Beating a Dead Horse”. You speak your mind time and time again, offer links, give examples…but it seems to fall on deaf ears all too often.

But….there are so many reasons why the topic needs to be discussed again and again. 

The main reason?  Because people continue to steal others artwork, designs, images, instructions, ideas and claim them as their own.  Or they will use another’s artwork and just not bother to credit them for it.  Why credit someone?  Well, aside from the common sense theory that mentioning someone when you’ve used something they have designed will then get their name out there…that maybe the viewer might think, “Hey!  I really like this persons designs, I think I’ll go purchase a pattern from them, too”.  There is also the notion that when you credit someone you are being considerate.  I know, I know….manners, what a bore!  They seem to be taking a swift exit stage left along with compassion, understanding, consideration and ethics.

Another reason to continually discuss the issue of copyright is that there are still people who question it.  They truly do not understand the concept.  Maybe they interpret the law in such a way that it becomes confusing for them.  Maybe they want it to lean in their favor and so they intentionally interpret it how it suits them best.  Or maybe they don’t give a rats a$$.  Here is where I would have included the link to the copyright office.  But since there is the excuse that the legalese makes no sense, why bother. 

It really is rather simple.  Did you design that pattern independent of seeing it elsewhere?  If not, it is not yours.  No matter how much of it you change, regardless of any percentage, color changes, bead size changes, focal point changes, etc., etc., etc. changes…it is NOT yours.  And if it is not yours you do not have the right to claim it as yours.  It is illegal under the copyright law for you to do so…but even more, it is ethically wrong for you to do this to a fellow beader. (PS...this blog post is not about coincidence, nor should coincidence be used as an excuse for you to be unethical.  That is a different topic.)

Did you buy the pattern from a designer?  See it in a magazine?  Find it online?  Purchase a kit?  If so, regardless of what you do to this item it belongs to the original designer.  You have both a legal and moral obligation to not claim it as your own. 

You could make those changes you want to make, but then you simply mention that this item was inspired by So-n-So’s, Fancy Beaded Widget.  There now…that didn’t hurt so badly, did it?  Actually, if you stop and let yourself feel inside you’ll see that it actually felt good.  You were a good person.  And you helped out a fellow artisan by giving them the credit they earned.  And you set an example for your kids, friends and associates by just making a really simple gesture.  Wow…you should be proud of yourself for being such an honest and caring human.

The last reason for continually discussing this issue?  Newbies.  They happen every day.  Thank goodness!  They are a wonderful group of people, fresh, excited, eager to learn.  Everything beady is amazing for them.  I get energized just being around a newbie.  Their excitement flows over in abundance and I get to feel some of it, too.  However, the newbie can also be clueless.  A simple mention that there are copyright issues involved with the patterns/designs they are learning from many times does not make a big enough impact on the newbie.  Their heads are in the clouds due to the level of excitement they are feeling about all those sparkly beads and their newfound joy in what they can create with them that you pretty much sound like a Charlie Brown teacher when you start blathering on about copyright issues.  But don’t back off.  Keep teaching them.  As with all things in life, there is more than one side.  The newbie must accept the fact that there are issues regarding copyright that they will also need to take the time to learn about.  And if you are the one dealing with that newbie, it is your obligation to help them learn it. 

So why am I beating this horse again?  Because I experience copyright infringement often, either in my store, or through email, or I see it online when I’m browsing.  Today I felt the need to bring it up again because I got an email from a newbie beader.  She was so excited about what she just finished beading.  She was also clueless that just because she was the one to put the beads on the thread she was not the original designer.  She was the beader.  The designer of the pattern was never mentioned.  I did my best to help her understand that she gets even more kudos from me (and others) when she takes just a moment to acknowledge the originator of the design when possible. Her original reply was simply, “Why?”  After a few more emails I am happy to say that she understands now.

Oh, by the way…the design she beaded was mine.  She didn’t notice the name from the magazine article. I'm thinking next time she'll look for the name.  =o)

Wild Horses of North Carolina

After we left Washington, DC we made our way towards the “Outer Banks” of North Carolina. Our goal was to get to Corolla, NC and the Currituck National Wildlife Refuge which is located on the north end of the Corolla Island. We were going to see the wild horses!


The history of these wild horses living here started about 500 years ago when the Spanish explorers arrived to this coast area. Because these coastal waters are very shallow the Spaniards would sometimes need to toss heavy items overboard to keep afloat. The ancestors of the horses that inhabit this area now are descendents of those who swam ashore.

The horses adapted to this coastal region and in the mid 1980's a paved road was built and some serious construction of homes began. Sadly, the horses would be hit by motorists, so a fence was put up that spans from the Atlantic across the stretch of land to the sound on the other side to contain them in an 1800 acre refuge. They are safe now.

The highway which runs up this area of the outer banks also extends on to the beach and similar traffic laws apply, with reduced speed, maintaining a minimum of 50 feet distance from the horses and obeying standard traffic laws. Of course, we saw every one of these laws broken during our tour. People can be really stooopid!

Here is a shot of the highway.

As our tour guide drove us down the beach we were lucky enough to see several horses enjoying the cooling breeze and ocean air. What an amazing sight this was!

A mama and her babe!

We were also driven inland to find more horses and we saw several, but the shots didn't come out so good. Except for this one. This is a horse they have named Cyclops...for an obvious reason. He only has one eye. He lost the other fighting to maintain his herd of females. You can tell by his attitude towards us, even enclosed in our vehicle that he means business. His females were just on the other side of a thicket. Our tour guide was very respectful of Cyclops and kept a good distance from him, well over the 50 feet mandated by law.

I was able to find my home out here! Isn't she beautiful?

There are 100's and 100's of these homes all built out in the sandy dunes of this refuge. I can only imagine the amount of money required to get the materials out here along with the labor. Most of the homes were built as vacation rental units. What a fun time that would be!

There are also many weddings held out in this area. We spotted these two. This one with the guests just arriving....in their fancy clothes...in the sand!

 

And this one where the happy couple have already taken their vows and are now having some stunning photos taken. What an amazingly beautiful location for such a special event.

 

Back onto the “highway” and headed down the beach to see more horses we also saw these amazing cypress tree stumps along the shoreline. Remnants of an old cypress forest that grew here peek up out of the ocean waves. I am so intrigued by the thought of just how old these stumps are and that they remain even with the constant motion of the water. 

And these sweet little birds that get to forage around these ancient stumps and shells washed up along the shore. This is truly a magical place on the planet.

 

After our amazing adventure, we had some of the best BBQ I have ever had a little place called the Duck Deli, in the town of Duck. If you get to this area make sure to stop here for a meal. Crazy good!

See you at the next stop!



Washington, DC

First let me say...the weather is crazy here! One minute the sun is out and literally 10 minutes later lightening, thunder, and torrential downpours. Then it stops after a few minutes and the sun peeks out again and the temps crank back up to the low 80's. So different from NorCal weather for sure.
It rained off and on most of the day we were in town, but it wasn't so bad that we didn't fully enjoy our time here. We took a trolley tour and learned a lot from the various drivers we had, plus they were all funny, too. If you're interested in a tour like this (on/off options, 3 different routes all for one price) I highly recommend the Olde Town Trolley company. They operate in several different cities.

We got to see several areas of town, including all the main DC sights. I have to admit, while I was intrigued with the thought of the amount of politics swirling around this area of the planet, what really got my attention was the architecture. I would love to return here and be able to slowly make my way through the various neighborhood viewing all these amazing buildings.

Sadly, we weren't able to do any of the museums, so I'll mark that down for what to do here next time as well.

Here are a few of the more than 170 images I took. Some through raindrop splattered windows, but I still think they came out okay. Oh...and the first one is of a flower at our campground just after a rain. So pretty!

This is the bottom of the flag pole out in front of the Union Station where we picked up the Trolley.

Every where I looked there was one ornate item after the next.  I loved it!

The is a corner on the front of the Union Station building.

My first glimpse of the capitol building with this beautiful statue.

I am amazed at the architecture of this building.  They began building it in 1793.

Love this sculpture.  I wonder if something like this could be created with beads.  I think a long, tightly woven strip of Peyote that is wound back around itself might work.

My house!  I figured there had to be at least one of them in the area!  =o)

The Jefferson memorial.

The Washington Monument.  Until recently you could ride up to the top and check out the town.  Sadly, the recent earthquake in the area damaged the top and it is closed until they can figure out how to repair it.

The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial.  They were preparing the area around it for its dedication on Sunday. 

Not the best shot of the White House but it seemed like every time I got a decent view of the building it was either raining or I was on the wrong side of the trolley!  Check out the secret service guy.  He's really in focus!  LOL

Some amazing buildings!

These next two images are of the ceiling the Union Station.  When it was built they used over 70 pounds of gold leaf.  At todays prices that hovers around 2 million dollars worth of gold on the ceiling!  It is stunningly beautiful!

The outer banks of North Carolina are next....stay tuned!