I Made Something!

It's kind of small and didn't take a terribly long time, but I succeeded in creating something.  What a breakthrough!  :)  The funny thing is, the only thing I used from the stash I bought the other day was the seed beads. lol.  This may not fall into the category of "powerful" or "empowering" by looking at it, but truly it was.  After reading Beth's post on her blog at Bellesanbeaus Crafts regarding her mother "keeping things for good", I was moved to use one of my treasured Painted Ladies that she made.  That to me was very empowering.  I took control of the fear of not doing the cab justice and not being good enough, and just let myself create something with it.  I decided I would not "keep my painted beauties for good".

This is a pin that measures 2 1/4" across and 2 1/2" down on the main oval part.  Side to side including the silver doodads it is 3 3/4" and the loopies on the bottom hang an additional inch.  I hope you can get an idea of the beautiful purples and the different shapes I used from the pics.  I outlined the face with two rows of seed beads in two different colors.  Then the next row I alternated between these luscious and yummy purple balls and fantastic varigated bugle beads.  I added some leaves that are deep purple with hints of blue and green and have a great sheen to them.  The silver doodads were kind of a fun little story.  I had discovered metallite on the Artbeads.com website.  I'm a poor beader and can't really afford true silver and gold so I thought the metallite would be a fun substitution.  (It is!)  Well, I ordered about 10 different shapes in silver and gold and these that you see here were a mistake.  They were off one product code number from the ones I actually ordered.  I called Artbeads about it right away because I didn't like these at all.  They were so big and clunky and I was positive I would never use them.  Well, they said they would mail the correct ones out right away and to just keep these because it wasn't worth the postage to send them back.  Ok, I thought maybe I would find a use for them someday.  And I think they worked perfectly in this project!  So, even if you think you don't like something, just remember that a project one day will scream for just those beads. 

Leaf Masquerade

Is this face not gorgeous, or what???!!!

Another photo color-adjusted slightly differently.

I put this one here so you can see the different dimensions of the beads around the face.

I wanted to say thank you to all of you who lent your support over my last couple of posts.  A lot of you are going through a rough patch as I am, and I want to thank you for your understanding but also know that I am sending hugs and warm thoughts your way, too.

Have a good week and HAPPY CREATING!!!

Purple Bracelet (because I can't think of a better name)

Here is my next cuff bracelet.  I just hate how the camera shows the, um, "quirks" so much.  But in person it looks rather nice.  I just need a little work on my peyote stitch.  I think the problem was that bottom row was 6/0's and the next rows were very skinny 11/0's, so the size difference made it difficult for me.  I'm just learning peyote, though, so be gentle with me.  Also, my picot stitch in person looks pretty good but the pic doesn't make it look very good.  :(

So what should I call this one?  Come on ladies...I know you're all creative!  Give me some good ideas!

I had a fun thing happen today.  I showed this and my mom's cuff to a couple people today.  One lady just flipped over my mom's bracelet and wanted to buy it from me right then!  I told her I couldn't sell it to her, though, because it was specifically for my mom.  So she ordered one!  yea for me!  My first cuff order!  She didn't give any specifications except to say that she wanted some gold beads in it.  Ok...I can do that.  Off shopping I go tomorrow!  woohoo!

Off topic from my beading.  I have to show you my two little ones.  It's the start of baseball season, so between their two teams we're at the field about 4 or 5 times a week.  Very tiring, busy nights!  But here they are, Matthew (10) and Sara (8).  I know I am a little biased, but I do believe I have beautiful babies! :)