Out with the Old. In with the New!

My new highlighter pen.........this needs to be a bead shape! A New Year bead shape!

New Felt & Glass Button Brooch. Just a little more bead-dazzeling to do. Old idea. New twist using zippers!

Hope everyone has a great New Year's Eve and a wonderful New Year!

Ready for a New Year?

On the upside. I feel like I have a head start on the New Year. My traditional closet clean out is done and everything is organized in there, my studio is getting a sorting thru and I'm beginning to ponder what my word for the year will be........yes, I pick one word that is my focus for the year ahead. It really helps me to frame my thinking and allows me to keep with one focus. I do have attentional problems and often flit from one thing to the next. I select one work for my jewelry biz and another for my art teaching each year and it really helps.

I might be in a creative slump.  I have to admit, I feel a bit blah when it comes to navigating my direction for the year ahead with my jewelry. Last night over dinner I confessed to my husband that although I enjoy my bead/jewelry biz, things are beginning to feel a bit ho hum. There is nothing exciting me. Everybody seems to be doing such similar things that to me, the jewelry outlook seems a little lifeless. Yes, yes......color, everyone is doing it, bold.....yeap. lots out there doing that too. These were once hallmarks to my work and they now seem plain. overdone. common. ordinary. maybe even boring. Whats a girl to do??

So. Where do I go...what do I do with this ho hum feeling? My gut tells me to calm down and something is bound to stir my mojo....not to rush things. So, the big plan is- just KISS.......(keeping it simple stupid) for the time being. Not much I can do with my case of the blaahhs but just wait it out. I will be experimenting at the torch, hanging with other artist friends, painting, going to some favorite haunts and all that stuff. Looking to find something that lights my fire!

 There is one thing I'm planning for February but you'll just have to stay tuned for that one. I'm focused then on staying loose, experimenting and lots of play time at the torch!

Creative Challenge

The day before the holiday break I had students work on a creative challenge that took team work....They had to work in groups of 6....

and decorate one member to look like a Christmas tree! It was hilarious watching them work. It was interesting to see how some teams worked out the cooperation aspect of this task and how others didn't do so well at it....

First team to finish had to have members sit under the tree like presents. Lots of fun. Hope you all had a wonderful holiday too :)

Lost my Jingle

Recently my sister and I went to a local garden centers Holiday Open House. What a great time we had! We each made our own wreath, decorated it with ribbons and other accents and then brought them home to hang. There was food and just loads of good cheer. Next week we are going to the culinary center for a cookie exchange. Love these festive outings!

I'm looking forward to a new year and having some time to regroup and to enjoy some unstructured time to "play". Nothing is more deadly then having to do something rather than wanting to do something. At least for me. I have been in the "have to do it" mode and really have felt the drag of it. I'm looking for something fresh and invigorating!

I love making beads and jewelry but feel I have lost my "jingle" as of late. It's kind of a creative lull I guess. I see sooooo many jewelers out there with terrific things and I also see lots of the same.......ho, hum stuff too. I feel that I must go into a mini winter hibernation to hopefully immerge with new ways of seeing. Sounds gloomy right? Hope not.....its just a little creative bordem that has set in.

A little holiday shopping, getting my nails done and then maybe a little baking. I've been loving my Nook and have read plenty of great books with it so far. Tonight I'll wrap gifts and work on some knitting. I've been sick for the last few days and am resting lots in between those things I "have to" do.

A Little T & A

Not the best picture since it was taken with my phone but wanted to share anyways. When I first began making jewelry, I made these "goddess" bracelets. Kinda fun....big "T's" and a nice trunk too. I made them in the likeness of the Venus of Willendorf. Anyways, I've had a few people request goddess bracelets and goddess beads recently so I thought, why not. This one and another in earth tones goes to Sally.