Buddha full of joy

I don't know how many of you have been long time readers, but SOME of you may remember the saga of the Joyful Buddha.  He was, and still is, one of my favorite pieces that I've ever done, and I will never get to make another - the plated pewter buddha head is just no longer to be found.  Anywhere.  I've been looking for a couple of YEARS.  Anyway.  There is so much meaning behind this piece.  The word "joy" on the band portion, the oriental scroll designs that blend in the with whole 'joyful buddha' feel.  Even the amethyst and rose quartz lend to the energies being created with this piece - as a whole.

I placed it for sale at Coyote, and soon got a call from a customer, who was interested in purchasing the piece - provided that I would REMOVE THE BUDDHA.   HORRORS!  I blogged about it at the time, and asked for opinions from my then readers as to whether or not it would ruin my credibility, or hurt my business to refuse to change the piece.  I got (and felt) a resounding NO, that I shouldn't change a thing - and so I declined.  Within days of doing so, my joyful guy found his forever home with a good friend of mine (only I didn't know that at the time).  A very close friend of hers bought it for her for a gift - not knowing that she and I knew each other, and had past history, in fact. 
But my friend knew as soon as she saw it, that this was a one of a kind, Cool Moon Creation.  It needed a bit of adjustment, she being such a tiny little thing - and he's been back a couple of times for link replacement.    Last weekend he returned AGAIN - she's worn it so often that the links just aren't holding together.  So I reworked the join spot where it counted - and behold
The Buddha is again JOYFUL.
So glad she enjoys him - and so glad that I didn't give in to compromising my work.  Many of my pieces have meanings, and stories and specific energies that are MEANT to be in the form they are in.  Changing them just wouldn't be right. 
Peaceful, joyful beading,
TTFN