Personal Archaeology

Going thru ones belongings, deciding what you REALLY need to keep and what you don't isn't something I really find fun to do. It's a form of doing your own persona larchaeological dig.   Some people LOVE purging and god love them, but I'm not one of them.  I do like to get rid of stuff and feel freer, but I also like having stuff too. I'll never be one of those minimulists, with the gorgeous airy homes, mine will always be filled with stuff.  I find it easy to get rid of some things and hard to let go of others.  For example: books...I have hundreds of books.  Books are heavy and hard to move, but I can't let go of alot of them. Books have special meaning to me, they were my escape and sanctuary from an unhappy childhood.  I have been reading since I was about 4 yrs old, anything and everything I could lay my hands on.   I was a voracious reader as a child, reading 7+ books a week on top of doing school work.

As I go thru my books now, they are mostly reference books in art, science, spirituality, jewelry and vintage.  I like being able to go thru and research something immediately or browse thru for inspiration. I need to whittle my load down, but it hasn't been easy. Somehow I managed to get rid of 1/2 my vintage purses I thought I'd never give up, but the books are harder. I always say "its just stuff, and stuff can be replaced" but books feel more of a necessity to me.  Still, I'm deciding which I really NEED to keep and which I can replace later on or just get from the library if needed.

I also made a few new necklaces (some in the pic above) to take to a local boutique today.  She didn't take any of these, but did buy a few other things which was great.  I love when a shop owner just LOVES my work. She told me "You're work is so different than everyone else's, I just love it and so do my customers." Makes me feel good!

Since I've been in a creative funk, I've been spending a little time enjoying looking at other peoples creativity on various blogs.   My O&E design team sister Kristen has a great video on adding texture to resin . She is also doing an online class called "Ethereal Bangles" starting Monday that looks phenomenal.  The Objects and Elements blog has lot of great instructional and inspirational posts, so be sure to follow it if you don't already. I have a recent post up talking a little about the method of my jewelry making madness.

Also Margot Potter has gotten a new job with Jewel School - CONGRATS Margot!!!!!  She has been posting a few gorgeous projects using Jewel School supplies like this Melange demi parue. Detailed instructions will be coming soon, so keep checking her blog.

I guess its time to put my work hat on and get back to sorting thru more books!

Clearing House Sale

While going thru jewelry inventory, I realized I had let that chore REALLY slide since July. I had a lot of things sold that I never took off the website as well as alot more things made that never got ON the website. Since I'm in a clean sweep phase, I decided to have a sale on the website and try to clean out as much old stock before I put any more up. All Jewelry is now 40% off, buy yourself an early Christmas gift!

I don't know where the week went, but its time for Sunday Bead Bloggers-Enjoy!

A Bead A Day Need help embracing seasonal change? Lisa uses a bit of swarovski sparkle to make the leap!
About.com Jewelry Making Tammy has a collection of crafting Halloween project ideas as well as an adorable monster pin for you.

Art Bead Scene A free jewelry project by ABS Editor, Cindy Gimbrone.

Barbe Saint John Barbe 's finally a Cover Girl!

Beading Arts Are you interested in adding found objects to your bead embroidery? Cyndi has just released the fourth chapter of her e-book, which shows you how to go wild!

Carmi's Art/Life World Carmi whips up a new necklace with a "Day of the Dead" theme.

Cindy Gimbrone, The Lampwork Diva It's time to get educated and Cindy provides some stats along with rainbows.
Earthenwood Studio Chronicles Check out the goodies Melanie found at an antique mall...What would you craft with these items that are full of history?

Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio Lorelei is teaming up with designer Erin Siegel, to write their first beading book! Come on over and learn how you can sign up to submit work for the book!

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done! Jean has contributed a one of a kind jewelry piece which she made to help raise funds for Andrew Thornton's medical bills. She is delighted to help, on behalf of her family. Please come and see the piece and consider bidding. Thanks so much!

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton Three of Andrew's necklaces are amongst the gorgeous finalists in Soft Flex Company's "Flex Your Creativity Beading Contest". Check out all of the Steampunk-inspired designs and VOTE today!

Sunday of sorting, seperating, Jewelry Affaire and Bead Bloggers

Sorting thru your life and possessions of nearly 13 yrs with someone isn't easy. Even if you both still love each other and will remain friends, the seperation process is very difficult. I've been going thru all my possessions deciding what I want and what can go. I'll have to go thru the want pile again and whittle it down again to what I have to have and what can go. I wish this process were over, but I am trying to stay positive and do the work that's needed to be done. Id certainly rather spend this time creating or doing other things, but it is what it is for now.

On a happier note, I got the latest issue of Jewelry Affaire and see one of my pieces was accepted!

 "The Numbers Game" necklace is in the issue along with my fellow O&E Design team sisters Jane, Jen, Kristen and Deryn.

 There's so many wonderful pieces in this issue, its always so inspiring!

And without Further ado - this Sundays Bead Bloggers

A Bead A Day
Are you inspired by food? Lisa would love to hear about your jewelry projects that were inspired by your favorite foods!
About.com Jewelry Making
Tammy finally "did" something with one of the Katiedids she received.
Art Bead Scene
For the October Monthly Challenge, Art Bead Scene editor, Cindy Gimbrone chooses a piece of "jewelry" hanging on the front of New York City's Radio City Music Hall.
Beading Arts
Sparkling rivoli's work up quickly into this beadwoven pendant!
Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi takes a companies ribbon sampler and turns it into wearable art!
Cindy Gimbrone, The Lampwork Diva
Cindy needs some help in this week's Wednesday Wire, come take her poll to help her make a decision.
Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
Melanie mixes new textures in ceramics and glass like resin to make new window inspired pendants.
Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio
Lorelei is teaming up with designer Marie of Skye Jewels, on a collaboration project.
Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Jean is thrilled to host a book giveaway! The book is 30 Minute Necklaces, by the brilliant designer Marthe Le Van. There are 60 projects in this lovingly photgraphed book published by Lark to incite your creativity. Come see how you might be the lucky winner and get your copy!
Strands of Beads
Melissa shows off her piece "Words of Love" that was juried into the finals of the 2010 British Bead Awards
The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Inspired by the Fall 2010 Pantone Color Report, Andrew creates a necklace for Artbeads.com's Colors of Fall designer gallery.

I'm a Cover Girl!

The new Cloth Paper Scissors GIFTS issue is out and I'm proud to say I am lucky enough to be on the cover! Its a fantastic issue with tons of wonderful gift projects in it. I got this issue and looked at 3 or 4 times before I even REALIZED my bobby pins were on the cover. That shows you how much my brain is mush right now.

My Steam Punk Bobby Pins project is inside along with a bunch of other wonderful projects to make for others, or yourself! My good friend Belinda Spiwak is also on the cover with her Santa ATC.. My soul sister Jen Cushman has a wonderful project on how to make wrapping the gifts a gift in itself! I am hoping I'll be able to find some time to make a bunch of the fabulous items in this issue.

Rings and Things Halloween Bead Winner

I'm also remiss in announcing the winner of the Everyday is Halloween Bead giveaway with a some of the beads pictured above (from Rings and Things)

That winner is ----- Abracadabra Designs!!! Email me and let me your your address so I can get some Halloween Goodness on its way to you!

Bead Chic Winner and Bead Bloggers

This is what my life is like right now, I'm all tangled up with stress, chaos and decisions. I had a really nice time in Ohio visiting with my family and getting to spend quality time with my BFF. But the thought of "what happens next in my life" was always in the back of my mind.... .I'm hoping this is just a really bad but really brief period of time. I don't like life at all right now. I've spent the last 3 days going thru stuff. Its amazing what you find that you didn't know you had, or what you have you really could care less about. Also how much stuff you really really WANT to keep, sigh.... I don't know where I'm going or what I'm doing so I have no idea what I can keep right now. I guess I'll worry about that closer to move out date.

Also, I'm sorry about not posting the winner of Bead Chic last week. I have many excuses for that, but it doesn't really matter. The winner is - Christine of Sweet Girl Design!!! Please email me your address, so I can mail this off fantastic book off to you!

Now on to this weeks Bead Bloggers!

A Bead A Day Interested in 3 free online issues of Bead Trends Magazine? Lisa shares the details here and all it takes is a little facebook time.

About.com Jewelry Making Tammy has three new jewelry tutorials that incorporate fall jewelry colors.

Art Bead Scene Always looking to inspire, Art Bead Scene offers up another fabulous finding to use in your handmade artist bead designs!

Beading Arts Are you an animal lover? Cyndi designs a piece to remind her about the importance of slowing down and making time for the small ones in our life!

Carmi's Art/Life World Carmi fashions a new choker out of felt and a spectacular yard of ribbon.

Cindy Gimbrone, The Lampwork Diva Sewing is the hottest trend in crafting. Cindy shows how she incorporates sewing into her jewelry designs in this week's Wednesday Wire.

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles Melanie picks up some treasures during an antique shopping weekend, some of which will be useful for craftiness!

Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio Lorelei is hosting a beading challenge using some cool beads from Michaels, read the post to and learn how to participate! The More the Merrier!

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done! What inspires you? That is a question very near to Jean's heart. Therefore the latest competition from Artbeads is very exciting to Jean and will be to YOU, too! Furthermore, you could win five hundred dollars in beads! Check it out on Jean's blog!

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton Andrew hosts another great Thursday Giveaway! This week, you could win five, seasonally-inspired, fine silver charms from Melissa J. Lee!