Wednesday's Worktable

My beading table has been pretty bare these last few months. I've been making things, but not nearly as many as I usually do.

...Which is okay. 

Instead of beading, I have been getting back into the rhythm of life. The last few months have been busy with travel--I have visited Baltimore and New York and Western Maryland. They have been full of organizing and paring down--I recently donated five bags to a local charity. 

And these months have been full of grieving. 

My mother-in-law passing has been very very hard, on my husband and on me. I find a lot of my creating is trying to tackle that loss. She and I both love Autumn... I keep finding myself drawn to Autumn designs, thinking of her. The above beads, for example. Eventually, I made two necklaces with them... One to give to my best friend, and one to sell. 

I don't think I can keep one for me. Not right now.

...And, I realize that I never showed these. These are the memorial keychains that I made for my husband and his brothers using the funeral flower beads that I made:

And here is the necklace that I made for their sister:

Patty was an amazing musician, so it seemed so fitting to use guitar-pick shapes for these pieces. They just feel like her.

I don't know what it says about me--when I am grieving, I make things for other people. I give gifts and delight in using my talents to bring them beauty. I guess it's just part of who I am. Helping others in turn helps me. Their delight is a balm to my heart.

So, that is what I have been working on recently--taking steps to grieve and process feelings through creating. Hopefully my work will soon start taking a turn for the more cheerful... in the meantime, thank you for being there while I heal.

Have a lovely day, everyone. And for you in places with the four seasons--may you all have a beautiful Autumn.