On my plate today.....

Pancakes, errands, and of course, beads.  I did manage to get all of the birthstone bracelets finished, and a sample 'family' bracelet (similar to a Mother's bracelet but also with parents' birthstones) for The Grand-dale Shoppe.  I just have to write up the blurb for custom ordering, as well as one for my in-person custom design party on December 3rd.  And as I was working on those, I decided why not give them the option of EARRINGS?  So those are on my agenda for today.  But first....
Pancakes.  And then.....errands.  Video store.  Library. Post Office.  All those little stops that have you getting in and out of the car for a minute, that can be kind of wearing after about 4 times.   Ugh.
And then for dessert - when all is said and done - my book club meeting.  And I THINK we are meeting at a restaurant for Sandy's birthday tonight.  Not sure where yet - probably should get busy messaging them to coordinate the time and place.
So what's on your plate for today?
Peaceful beading,
TTFN

Creative juices overflowing

Is there such a thing as being TOO creative?  I've got sooooooo many ideas for designs, and classes, and make and take projects in my head that some of them I fear will be lost in the shuffle.  I guess those of you that have 'picked a niche' and stuck with it probably have it much easier!  I've got 3 different shops where I sell my jewelry, as well beads at two of those-keeping it fresh and keeping track is a big chore.  Two of those will also be the sites of BIG classes in the next few months, neither of which I am ready for.  I have a tray FULL of beads and findings all matched and coordinated for projects that I've had in mind - some of them for months!  And NOW - after my shift at Grand-dale yesterday, I have an idea for a custom order/make it-take it sort of thing that I want to have IN the shoppe, along with the marketing blurb, by the end of the week. Dawn (the owner of the shoppe) also gave me a cute unique idea for something new and completely different, which will have me checking the craft stores for pricing and availability of all the items I need in the very near future.  Then I work at the new exhibit opening for the Lansing Art Gallery on Friday evening, and the book store ALL DAY Saturday.  So book club & store, Mom time, hubby time, gallery time, and then TWO more shows before the end of the month.  Do you see ME time OR BREATHE time anywhere in there?  Me neither.
On top of all that, we just returned from meeting and greeting our new financial adviser guy, and having to take the time to go over accounts and dollars and numbers, oh my.  Never fun - but usually necessary.   I am hoping to have the afternoon to work on the Grand-dale project, and finish a few repairs.  HOPING being the operative word.
Here's HOPING you all have peaceful beading,
TTFN

Countdown

No beads in the blog today, unless you count the lament that once my mom leaves - in less than a month - to return to her home in Florida, who is gonna purchase my jewelry on a regular enough basis to keep me in gas and Biggby lattes?   Sometimes she'll special order something that I'll mail down, and she'll send a check in return, but that's nothing compared to the frequent visits and seeing the items in person, that result in loving - and buying - the most recent thing I made!  I could starve!  I could - gulp, even worse - go Biggby-less!  I need to find a surrogate 'mom' for those 6 months that loves and buys my stuff as much as she does!
And - because they'll be leaving soon - my parents decided to treat my husband and I to a nice dinner out today - RED LOBSTER.  And even in a town several miles away, so that we'd have more time to chat in the car on the way there and back.  Not that my mom and I don't do that on a regular basis anyway, but I don't think either of them have seen Terry for more than an hour total all summer long.  They are always here when he's either working - or fishing. And as we were eating and enjoying each other's company, we decided that tomorrow we'll be getting together, too - just the 4 of us, for a little Labor Day picnic that will consist of helping them clean out their fridge.  So a sort of leftovers picnic.   I will, of course, take my requisite deviled eggs, and maybe something else as well.

So the countdown has begun until the snowbirds fly away home.  I still haven't quite figured out how and IF I will make the journey down there this year.  I want to - the area where they live is quite nice, and as I've blogged before, have plenty of opportunities for me to sell my things, and maybe TEACH.  But I have to get there first.  Without flying.  Nose wiggling ala Bewitched?  That would be nice.....
And as far as no beads in the blog - I changed my mind.  I DO have a completed piece - and the next project piece - to show you:

This one is 'Trefoil'.  Much more simple and understated than I originally planned.  But I just liked how it looked at this stage, so I called it done. 



And this one is a ring - a work in progress that consists of a cool filigree cupped flower.  I'll be doing my usual fringey flowery stuff around the middle - photo when done!
TTFN




 

Left brained - or RIGHT brained?

I was given the inkling of an idea tonight, and one I would like some input on from any LEFT HANDED beaders out there reading:  I am considering putting together tips, tricks, projects and patterns in a beading book SPECIFICALLY for LEFT HANDED beaders.  I've discovered a few things that need to be done differently along my beading journey, some adjustments that needed to be made, some frustrations that I have yet to overcome - and a wonderful friend thought I might 'have something there'.  So any input from other lefties out there would be greatly appreciated - name credit will be given for tips and tricks!   Not sure how long it will take to put together, and then I need to go about finding an actual publisher.  My last two books were self published, which was fun, but not a viable option for a book that I want to have seen by the public, or to have show up in stores.  Don't have the first clue actually, so I'll be researching that option as well.  If you have an input on the publishing end, that part would be welcomed as well....
This is still in the thinkin' stage - left brained or right, only time will tell....
Peaceful beading, both lefties and righties...
TTFN

Next thing you know....snow

I can't believe it's September.  That's only WEEKS away from snow in this neck of the woods.  And I feel I've been cheated out of half the summer by the heat and onslaught of mosquitos that our ONE good weekend of rain brought.  We went practically the entire month of July with NO rain, and triple digits temps - which meant indoors and air conditioning.  Then the rain and the mosquitos came, and it's been more indoor activities still.  Thank goodness for the beads.  I've read a lot of books this summer, too.  Some ebooks, some actual real books.  But I've missed my usual daily deck visits - normally I can go sit with my fountain, and my flowers, and the hummingbird in the early morning, while the traffic out front is still at a minimum.  Unfortunately,  mosquitos have no sense of time, and are therefore invading my space 24/7.  We DID buy a propane repellant device, and it does work once it's warmed up, but only if you sit still within about 2 yards of the thing.  I can't wander the path.  I can't hug my walnut tree.  I want my summer back, dang it!
Another sad bit of news - I heard through a fellow Michigan Facebook friend of TWO more bead store closings - one an actual brick and mortar to the south of me a bit, and one an online venue.  It IS a demanding job, and I suppose only the strong (and the big box) will survive.  I have hopes of being a part of a shop again someday, but it is going to have to be truly unique, and probably with a partner that I trust implicitly - so that I don't have to be on site everyday.  Because you burn out.  No matter how much you love it.  Trust me.
Busy day today.  Mom and I are off to Coyote, and lunch, and then inevitably, unfortunately - Walmart.  Another big box I try to avoid - but admittedly DO find good deals at occassionally.  We're counting down the days now before she returns to Florida for the winter - she and my Dad leave on Oct. 1.  And since we'll be skipping our usual mother/daughter day next week due to my soon to be crazy schedule, we're going to have to start making it quality time. 
TTFN dear readers - I appreciate you all so much!  Give me a shout and tell me what you'd like to see more of in my blogs - beads, dogs, or just plain LIFE!

Bead Table Wednesday

Here's what's on my bead table today:  completing earrings to go with "Inspired" - more pieces to add to the peacock theme. 

Mad about beads

My great niece Madison (aka Madi, Mads, and Mad) spent the day with me - BEADING.  I promised her at the beginning of the summer that we'd have a craft day.  Little did I know that she's been plotting and planning about it all summer long!  She has decided that she and 11 of her friends are going to have a sale (along with lemonade) down on the street corner, selling jewelry and raising money for hungry children in Africa.  So funny!  So she designed, and strung, and ended up with 2 necklaces (one she strung, one on chain that she designed and I put together) and 4 bracelets - mostly memory wire.  She also went back home to Holland with about 1/2 dozen pieces of already made items that I'd had around awhile.  She sure is a good little marketing person.  She managed to talk me into contributing to her 'cause'.  Keep in mind - she's NINE.
I hope she's able to actually raise the money (she is serious about this - her mom (my niece) has the details on a fund to send the $$ to).  But if not, she's got enough jewelry for birthday gifts, Christmas gifts, and teachers gifts for a couple of years!    We had fun together - just Mads and I - and topped it off with a trip to McDonalds - which was a big deal for her without all her siblings (there are 4 more-all younger). 
She really, really wants to learn the seed bead weaving, but I'm not sure she's quite ready for those little beads and a needle and thread yet.  She was so intent on stringing her necklace with size 11's in a particular 4 color pattern, that when she finished, she proclaimed she was never doing THAT again!  I have a feeling she'll forget she said that the next time she sees one of my seed bead woven pieces.
See you back here again tomorrow for Bead Table Wednesday - I managed to work on my own project a bit while she was stringing - so I've got a new project just waiting for it's BTW debut!
Peaceful beading,
TTFN