Off Crutches and Creating Again

Good news from my Doctor... I can start walking without crutches so I am trying not to over-do it.  After almost three weeks sitting on the couch and feeling sorry for myself this was a welcome change.


 During my recovery I spent a good amount of time following blogs and reading bead books.  I was most inspired by Beverly Ash Gilbert's book Beaded Colorways.  So inspired that I spent a couple days making bead soup out of 8/0 seed beads that I had stashed.  If you haven't made a bead soup, I highly recommend it.  Being a lover of color but always staying safe with my color choices this has helped me to not be afraid to put colors together in a more daring way.  It is exciting to see how a wide range of accent colors really make a beaded composition pop.

Vintage brass button clasp or handmade lampwork?  In this case they both work and that is why I love the versatility of beadwork.  I tried netting and once I caught on to the sequence I really love the look of the red bracelet.  For the green bracelet I used three drop peyote - it continues to be my go-to stitch.

Creativity thrives when you are authentic

For the past few months I have been very much lacking creativity. Oh, I have made a bracelet or two but feel drained and off center. I call it needing to find my balance. A family matter this past year added to the emotional turmoil and now having to spend "time out" while waiting for my foot to heal brings feelings of frustration and anger. I question my creative talent, self doubt eats away then the tiny voice of fear asks if I'm really good enough to continue making jewelry.

Today I found Awakencreativity and it says: "Creativity thrives on you being totally you. When you sacrifice yourself (and your creativity) to be accepted, create sales, get press, or you don't know any other way to do it... You block your creativity from ever flourishing."


Wow! For some reason this hit me because I have been trying so hard to design a website, Facebook page and now this blog. Was it to be accepted and get lots of followers? Am I trying so hard to make myself look good that I am not being authentically me?


My creativity is not flourishing so maybe I need to break free from the "rules" that I need hundreds of blog followers, Facebook likes, and start doing it for me. I am here to express and share my creative gifts but more than anything I create because that is who I am and that is what makes me happy. I need to get back to that.

Please and Thank You

This is day eight after foot surgery and I have survived my husband's cooking! He has been terrific, honestly he couldn't be more helpful. I have noticed a big difference between him and myself and maybe this is a gender difference. I anticipate what needs to be done before it occurs and can multi-task. He can only finish one task at a time. I guess that is how the cave men were - they had to go hunt, kill and bring back food for their clan - don't ask them to stop for a bottle of milk! I must say that he is excellent about cleaning the kitchen/dishes and doing laundry. I would have to give him a nine out of ten overall. My perfectionist nature won't give a ten!!

When you have been married as long as we have - 37 years (wow!) it is easy to stop saying please and thank you. I have made a conscious effort every day to thank him every time he does something even if I haven't asked for it. Thank you Dear!

A month ago, I brought all my seed beads upstairs and organized them into color bins. I knew navigating the stairs would be impossible plus my dining room has wonderful daytime lighting. Good foresight on my part don't you think? I have been reading Beverley Ash Gilbert's book Beaded Colorways and am terribly inspired by her gorgeous bead soups. So I am off to see if I can come up with anything. I can only hope to have her eye for color!

Spring - Or just my imagination?

Since I started beadweaving I can hardly think about anything other than color.  Especially when the days are grey and dull outside.  I grabbed the middle bracelet for myself...sorry...but the other two are for sale Here.






My website is back up so now I am able to maintain it myself.  I will get all the new pictures on there very soon.  
My website

This will slow me down

Yesterday I had surgery on my right foot. A bunion has been causing more and more pain so after one cancellation, I figured there was no more time to put it off. I was awake for the whole procedure. The Doc put needles in about a dozen places in order to freeze the foot. That was definitely uncomfortable. They told me I was doing fine and I asked, "why... Do some folks not do okay with it?". The Doctor laughed and said some scream and one person passed right out so they had to cancel their surgery. I was somewhat shocked as while it did hurt - I couldn't see myself screaming. I have been told before that I have a high pain tolerance so now I believe it. I see the Doc in two days and then I hope he sends me home. I am having fun getting around on crutches as there is to be absolutely NO weight bearing on that foot for two weeks. This is going to slow me down for a while!