Use the Muse II Beading Contest!

Scarlett has launched her SECOND "Use the Muse" beading contest and I'm delighted to say that I've signed up for this experience again. I hope, as always, to do the bead-kit justice, and I know if nothing else that I'll grow personally from the challenge of working with a palette of beads AND some unusual items that I would not put together myself.

Although I participated in the first Use the Muse contest, I did not manage to earn any of the lovely prizes. The talent exhibited was tremendous and I still stand in awe of much of the work submitted. You can still see those entries on Scarlett's website! However, even now, I am very proud of the piece I made and am happy enough to have met the challenge and given it my best shot at that time. I hope to do the same this time around. The prizes for this contest are just amazing and I'm SO looking forward to seeing -- once again -- how everyone handles their bead-kit.

It is just amazing how so many people can receive the very same set of beads etc. and yet turn out such diverse projects! This is half the fun. I know that once again the "Muse" piece is something I've never used in previous projects and I've not yet incorporated ribbon either in any of my work to date. I'm BOUND to have fun with this one!

I grew in confidence and in ability in taking on the first Muse contest and so would most certainly encourage anyone even thinking about taking this on, to just jump in and DO it! There's still plenty of time to enter! Surprise yourself!!

Too Many thoughts and not enough time!

I've been working away this week on finishing a few more beaded cameos and just love doing these! The most recent ones are very 'formal' and I just love combining 3mm pearls with the seed beads. At some point in the future I'll make the tutorial available.

My current challenge is to actually complete a necklace that appeared on the front page of the recent issue of Beadwork Magazine! This was designed by Marcia DeCoster and I've chosen to do this for a couple of reasons. First of all the design truly appealed to me, and I'm making it in burgundy and raspberry tones, as I DO plan to wear this necklace! Secondly the fact that it is constructed using Right Angle Weave means that it was going to be a challenge for me, as I feel very comfortable with many other stitches, but just 'competent' with RAW! At this point I can honestly say I've learned a lot more about the stitch and DO love the flexibility and soft draping of the work. I am truly looking forward to finishing this and adding my own touches -- I can 'see' it all in my mind's eye. This is very time-consuming but I'm getting there!

I also have a few other projects on my plate and am looking forward to getting most if not all of these completed by the end of next week.

Meanwhile my inner designer has been working overtime and I have committed some of these thoughts to paper for the future! I made good use of my recent visit to the newly-opened Aunties Beads in Southlake, Texas by purchasing some wonderful delicas that were 50% off! Too many designs in my head and on paper, and simply NOT enough hours in each day to do it all!

Home again and busy with the beads and future plans!

Well it took a little while for me to get back to my poor neglected blog! I was happy to be able to bead away on the various flights to and from Ireland and felt my time was well spent. Many of the flight attendants on one flight came by to admire the work and ask questions and I enjoyed the conversations. I completed a herringbone rope and bead-embroidered pendant to match, and worked on a longer than usual spiral rope. I also completed a small RAW bracelet base, and will embelish that in time.

While in Dublin I managed to visit The Yellow Brick Road beadstore (as a beadaddict I think we develop our inbuilt radar!!) and was just thrilled to be able to purchase a beautiful clasp for a bracelet almost completed for my son-in-law. This is just SO neat and I hope to be able to find something similar here in the future. The young ladies at the Yellow Brick Road stay very busy and obviously love what they do!

The ball is rolling with regard to my teaching classes and I am SO excited about this. I have everything worked out for the first two classes and will look forward to starting in July. Having taught crafts of various forms in Ireland for many years, and sharing my love of knitting and canvas-work here in Texas over the years, I'm enjoying the thoughts of getting back to teaching again!

Today I'm thoroughly enjoying the company of our precious grandson, and am feeling truly blessed.