Oh well :(

I entered Bead Dreams this year, but didn't make it in. I really thought that the piece I created for my mom (Outer Banks Necklace - to the left) would have a chance. Oh well, c'est la vie, right?

I've been working on beading around some polymer clay cabochons featuring horses in preparation for the Alltech World Equestrian Games. I'm super excited, not to mention nervous, about being part of the Spotlight Lexington event in Triangle Park during the Games.

I feel like I've lost a bit of my edge lately, floundering to be creative. I'm going to the Rings & Things trunk show in a few weeks with my good friend (and fellow beader) Patty, and I'm hoping something there grabs me. I hate feeling like I'm in a funk.

New Listings

Now that I've finished my Rings & Things entry, I'm trying to play catch up on my Etsy shop, as well as getting my entries ready for the Fire Mountain Gems & Bead Dreams contests. Not sure that I'll get my entry for the March Etsy Beadweavers Challenge "Temptation," but who knows? I've got ideas, but I might have to take Dave's advice and spend a few days icing my wrists.

(I really don't want to... I'd rather bead!)

New Etsy Store listings!

Beadwoven Bracelets:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=21575274
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=21574977
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=21574271

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=21573868

Steampunk Earrings
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=21573558
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=21573283
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=21572956

Glass Tile Pendants
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=21572723
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=21572596
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=21572419

It's finished!

I don't usually push myself this close to a deadline, but I did this time. Today, I finished putting the final fringe on my entry into this year's Rings & Things "Your Designs Rock!" contest. I was going to enter another piece (and may still enter it - I took new photos), but this one got under my skin and I HAD to finish & enter it.

As is my usual, I started off playing with new stitches. I previously blogged about getting The Art of Beaded Beads: Exploring Design, Color & Technique edited by Jean Campbell. I've had more fun making the confetti beads and variations of my own beads that I often forgot that my wrists were hurting! It wasn't until I started making a pom pom bead that I had to breakdown and buy some painkillers. But, I'm really happy with the results. So, after I hit "Post" here, I'm off to fill out the online application and get her in.

I present "Having a Ball" featuring approx 20mm wood beads beaded in RAW with size 10/0 & 11/0 seed beads, the center bead is done the same way with fringe, small beaded beads using 6/0 & 11/0 seed beads and fringe & chain up the size in 8/0, 6/0, 10/0 and 11/0 seed beads. I luff me some seed beads.

Found Myself!

Not in the philosophical way, but in a "holy crap, that's my necklace!" kind of way. I was looking through the latest Rings & Things catalog, finding the bits & pieces for my entry into their "Your Designs Rock!" competition. Lo and behold, on page 133 of the 2009-2010 catalog, there's my "Queen's Green Collar!"

Guess that's just a little more incentive to get my entry in!

I'm currently trying to figure out which pieces I'm entering in which competitions. I pulled my "For the White Witch of Narnia" piece from Etsy, redoing some of the stitching to make it a little fuller and to lay more like I wanted it to. I've also pulled a few more, knowing that I'm entering them in something, but not sure. I've also got a piece that I finally finished, thinking about entering it in Bead Dreams, but I think it's going to go toward the FMG competition this year. Once I've got it figured out, I'll post more!


Also, I just bought Jean Campbell's "The Art of Beaded Beads." I'm loving this book! I've been making the confetti beads featured on the cover, planning on something huge and colorful. I also really like the anemone beads, so I'll probably try those out next. There aren't enough hours in the day for me to bead!