It is a good thing.

In my last two posts I have talked about my new attitude in designing as well as my current bead buying ban.  Both of those posts although I was talking positively about it came from a sad place at the time.  I have since discovered or rediscovered my beads!  And what a joy it is!

Yes my tray is a disaster but I have been finishing up designs that were started and for whatever reasons put aside.  Some of those reasons are things like I ran out of the beads the pattern called for or I got frustrated with the design.

I have actually been excited about beading lately.  I have found new ways to get past the frustration as well as gone back to look at those beads I HAD to have but haven't touched because another HAD to have got in the way.

I was inspired by these little dragon scale beads and made a matching bracelet for the necklace with Lesley's rose heart.

I am revisiting the long magatama's I was gifted by a dear friend and looked at them in a new way.

I actually think I will be looking into my UFO box for more inspiration.

I offer a challenge to you all.  Before you hit the buy button (but if you have the means hit it already) check out your own stash and revisit past unfinished designs see if you are inspired.

Call me Stash Buster!

Hi my name is Kristen and the last bead purchase I made was December 31, 2014.

This picture is loaded with some awesomeness including the new Kheops, Czechmate triangles and bricks, Rullas and Chexx!  I got those in just under the wire.

And with that the request edict demand requirement challenge has been made for that to be the last bead purchase for 6 months.

I know I did that too!  So many new beads come out everyday whether they come from the Art Bead community or the manufacturers that make the cool accents beads us seed beaders love.  I may have fainted during the conversation because the goodies that I will have to wait for were spinning around in my head.
But really you do not need to feel that bad because this is my bead stash.

Now I know how organized it looks and for the most part it is because I do most of my beading at the couch during TV time.  And this is also what we see as soon as we walk in the basement door so that is why it is organized like that.  A little OCD too.  That may also be the reason my husband seems to think I have enough beads.  Humm we may have to re think this arrangement.

If you have been following this month we have all been on a stash busting kick.  I think it is a good way to start the year as well.  If you would like to join us please go here to see the rules and sign up.

So of course you want to see a sampling of what I intend to bust right?  This is part of my team stash.  I have pieces from almost every member to play with.

So has this happened to you?  Do you think you want to play along with us?  Do you think I will make it 6 months?

Freeform Friday: Skeletons in the (bead) closet...

 Now - we all love beads.
Seed beads. Czech glass. Gemstones. Artisan beads. Polymer, ceramic, lamp work... Metal, Bali, Hill tribe... bicones, super duos, magatamas... lentils, daggers, rondelles, briolettes... Sorry I got lost there for a sec. But I know you are with me.

These last 2 weeks have been a flurry of productive time for me - getting ready for Spring festivals and shows. And as such I have been in the clay cave (basement ceramics studio, you know) for much of the time. Once tiles and pendants are glazed I can create new wearable pieces in clay, gems and polymer.

What's your point, Jenny? Oh - well... I have nothing really unique and new to show you from the jewelry studio - yet. But I do have a few skeletons that I recently uncovered, and thought I would share.

Zoey guards the entrance to the Studio Closet of Doom

Ah! The Chaos! The treasure! The perils that await our intrepid explorer! 

Spiral rope in 2 pieces. That's NOT supposed to happen. St. Petersburg stitch? chain? (w/ blue teardrops) app 3".
Tubular/circular peyote. Yes, that is a taped together toilet roll. Ha. I wanted to make amulet bags. Still do, actually. 

Here we have unearthed evidence of my love-hate relationship with seed beads.  While I am currently loving seed beads, these false starts are at least 10 years old. And yes - I had them packaged with their ingredients, like space explorers in cryogenic chambers. Just chilling, waiting to be revived. 

 Egads! A relic from the past! The tins that used to arrive via post with a CD inside for AOL. Whoa. That places this artifact in the popular culture timeline. What's inside?!

Why its more seed beads! A blue and silver peyote soup in progress as a bracelet. Not very old - as it includes a stoneware cab made within the last 4 years. Was I planning on stitching a bezel onto the bracelet? We may never know. And on the right - I don't even know what stitch that was GOING to be! Its a lovely raku leaf pendant from a mother/daughter team based in Washington state. We carried their pieces at the Shepherdess ( San Diego, CA) when I worked there  - like 12 years ago! 

Speaking of the Shepherdess/San Diego years... this wasn't really hidden as I go to this tray often. When I worked at the Shepherdess I was the lowest bead girl on the totem pole. I spent many, many days tubing seed beads. After I punched in I would be handed a tray with half a dozen gram bags... of beads. To tube. Scoop, scoop, tap, scoop, lid, hammer. Repeat. The left overs were bagged and sold on the cheap. Yes, I personally felt compelled to adopt many, many bags of orphaned 11's, delicas, 8's... I do still use them in pieces today.

And now - a little bead confessional:

1. Vintage/antique crystals from necklaces I took apart to repurpose. I was in my teens. Still have these in my stash. 

2. Bells. While I wasn't hippy enough as a teen to wear bell anklets, I love these bells, man. 

3. Hand painted beads fro Peru. I think I was in high school when my older sister travelled to Chile and Peru. These aren't my style any more, but I still have them.... 

What skeletons are in your closet?

What projects are buried treasure waiting to be rediscovered and reworked? 

What tools or materials did you purchase with good intentions and lofty creative plans - that have  languished in solitude? 

I myself will definitely revisit the peyote in the round. Peyote stitch is the one stitch I feel comfortable doing... and I would love to make amulet bags with a wee ceramic icon or charm tucked inside. Maybe I will look at the St. Petersburg (?) again; I like the drops on the edges, and I have seed beads friends now! Thankfully Kristen has done a AJE tutorial on spiral rope so if THAT urge flares up I can tend to it... 

Please share your skeletons with me! I don't want to be lost and alone amidst the abandoned projects... 

Jenny 

www.jdaviesreazor.com