Wednesday's Worktable

Today's worktable is being posted a little late, I realize. It's been rather busy day. A good day! Just also a busy day. 

As far as my worktable goes, I don't have much to show. This past week, I've had a bit of a creative crash. After finishing all of last week's projects, I've sort of hit a wall. Every time I go into my craft room, I just sit and stare at my beads. Or fall asleep.

I did start work on one thing, though...

...Yep. That's the beginning of a snake-themed tassel necklace. And it's going to be lovely--whenever I get the focus/energy/motivation to finish it!

Instead of forcing myself to be creative, though, I've decided to give myself a chance to recharge. And that means that today I went to the Aquarium again. Ahh--it's definitely nice to be an annual passholder!

The tank that welcomes you when you first enter the Aquarium.

I went with two of my friends, and we laughed and took our time and enjoyed ourselves. It was a lovely time. 

And, since I don't have many pictures of beady things to share right now, I figured I'd share some of the photos I took while out and about today.

This turtle was posing for the camera.

I was getting glared at by a Mugger Crocodile.

Incredibly up close and personal with an 800-pound, 14 foot long American Alligator.

Oh, look, it's sharks and a sea turtle.

Dramatically lit shark is dramatically lit.

Little hammerhead shark swimming above me in the shark tunnel.

...Oh, and we also went to a real brick-and-mortar bookstore:

...where I had a run-in with a Stormtrooper:

Yep, he definitely had me in his sights.
Luckily for me, Stormtroopers aren't known for their accuracy. ;)

...All in all, it was a very good day. Not a very bead-productive day, but a lovely time being out and about with friends. Now, hopefully, I can return to my craft table and get ready for Friday's Monthly Challenge reveal.

Happy Wednesday, everyone!

Wednesday's Worktable

There are many, many things on my worktable today.

...And, apparently, I'm rebelling from last month's saturation of Autumnal hues, because there isn't a brown or red or yellow to be seen. Pumpkin spice? Not today! (Although I would certainly go for a hot apple cider... That does sound quite yummy.)

First up! I'm working on a bracelet to match the necklace I made last week. (You can see the unfinished necklace in this post, near the end.) When the entire set is done, I'll be sure to post pictures. :)

Even the black thread matches the necklace!
...And that's quite serendipitous, considering it's currently the only thread color that I have.

And, because I always seem to be working on multiple things at once, here is another thing on my worktable: more paper beads!

 ...Two different color schemes, all destined to become something lovely!

Last week, when I was spending time with my best friend, we went to Michaels and I treated myself to these lovely papers. I mean, c'mon--they were only $0.25 a sheet! So, for $2, I got eight different designs... Five of them are shown here, and the other three are a surprise!

Making the first round of beads.

I also bought some coordinating beads to go with these papers, and I'm really excited to see how everything turns out. 

Another glamour shot of the beads.
Just because.

And! A special treat!

Two weeks ago, my Wednesday's Worktable featured all different shades of blue--shades that made me happy, but that I was unsure how to use. Well, after a few different variations, I'm pleased to show off what I came up with.

These components...

 Became this necklace-and-earring set!

Ta-da!

It looks positively rich when worn--and, honestly, makes me want to design a Renaissance Festival outfit around it. I think that would be quite lovely.

Let's see... In other news, my monthly challenge is coming along quite nicely. So far, I have made two sets inspired by Edward Gorey--three, if you include one that I made for the fun of it and then, after the fact, realized rather fits the theme. That reveal is coming up at the end of next week, and I can't wait!

Also! There have been quite a few other real-life, adultish things going on--not to me, necessarily, but to people I care about. While I don't really want to go into details here, any prayers/good vibes you want to send our way would definitely be appreciated!

So, there you go... my busy life is busy. Some of it is good, some of it is not-so-good... but it is definitely, definitely not boring! And I'm excited to see how the not-so-good turns around and becomes awesome. Because, honestly, I think it will. :)

Happy Wednesday, everyone!

This honestly has nothing to do with anything...

...but I made it a week ago, and it makes me happy.

So I thought I'd share.

You might recognize that pendant and those earring feathers from this entry.

I was actually working on something else, when I was suddenly taken with the inspiration--and incredible desire--to make this set. It's made with brass and antique gold and carnelian--and lots of little fiddly wire-wraps (made even more fiddly since those carnelian saucer beads are only 2-3mm thick).

It's also inspired by a certain character from L.S. Baird's Songbirds of Valnon... Yes, the very same book that I made a huge amount of jewelry for a couple years ago. I know she's writing the sequel... And it's always exciting to see stories, and characters, continue to grow.

And it's always fun making jewelry that connects with someone else's story.

...This set makes me happy.

Wednesday's Worktable

On today's worktable: my monthly order from Bargain Bead Box!

What's in the bags?

This is what was in the bags!

It's honestly like Christmas every month. I love the surprise and challenge of it--not knowing what I'm getting until it arrives, and then making something specifically with those components.

This package arrived just yesterday, and I've already started creating with it!

Love the combination of lime and turquoise!

...Although, to be honest, I'm not going to get much done today. 

One of my best friends is coming over in just a little bit, you see, and we're going to relax and watch educational documentaries and stuff ourselves silly with baked potatoes. Because that's what we do when we're together--along with laugh and talk and craft and just enjoy each other's company. It's simply wonderful.

Have a wonderful Wednesday, everyone!

Wednesday's Worktable

On my worktable today: blue!

...All manners of blue!

Well, blue--and also things for my October Challenge, which are well under way. But, I'm not showing those things off... Not yet!

My current fascination with blue actually started at the end of September, when I was busy making birthday presents for some of my friends. Two of the three people on my list consider blue their favorite color... and so, out came the blue beads!

One of the birthday sets that I made.
The recipient really likes the tassel necklaces I've been making--so I made her one!

Close-up of the same necklace.

After my flurry of present-making, I found that I still have quite a bit of blue leftover--in all shades, in all manner of materials. Shell, crystal, glass, gemstone... So many lovely things!

These are going to be combined into a necklace. I think.

Now, granted, I'm not really sure what I'm going to make with any of these lovelies. Vague ideas, but nothing really concrete. Which means that they are currently sitting on my worktable, tantalizing me. 

Oh, the possibilities!

So, there you go... That is what's currently on my worktable: tantalizing options and half-formed ideas, all in varying shades of blue.

Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope everyone has a wonderful Wednesday!

The Jenny Monthly Challenge - October Edition

I had so much fun with last month's challenge--making jewelry based on a visual artist--that I decided to do so again this month! 

...I'm sure that's a huge surprise.

I was trying to think of an artist that would be appropriate for this month. It is October, after all--the month of Halloween. My first instinct was Hieronymus Bosch--if for no other reason than the rather strange, surreal horror of the Garden of Earthly Delights--but I decided to go with something a bit different.

So, drumroll please... This month's artist is Edward Gorey!

Gorey is primarily known as an illustrator, although some of his work earned critical respect as surrealist art. His style is very distinct: pen-and-ink drawings set in Victorian and Edwardian settings, usually depicting vaguely unsettling narrative scenes. 

Not my picture!
This is the cover of a book, and the image is from Wikipedia

...Artist known for disquieting scenes? Check.

Still, while he is known mostly for his Gashlycrumb Tinies (cover seen above)--and the animated introduction to the PBS show Mystery--my favorite of his works are his illustrations for T.S. Eliot's poems about Cats.

...Yes, the very same poems that were later adapted into the musical Cats.

I was introduced to this particular book--and its illustrations--when I found it on my parents' bookshelf. I think I was in 4th grade. It caught my eye, nestled amongst all of these grown-up looking books--and when I looked through it, I was entranced.

How could I not be?

...Artist known for drawing black cats? Check.

It seems quite fitting, then, that my October challenge is going to be to make jewelry inspired by Edward Gorey--an artist known for disconcerting scenes and depictions of cats. My main focus is going to be on the cat illustrations... because they're my favorite, and it's my blog, and I can do that. 

Want to see what I make? Come back on Friday, October 30th (the day before Halloween) to find out!


---
Disclaimer and Links...

Please note that absolutely none of these illustrations are mine--my copy of this book is still in storage, and my scanner isn't working anyway. These particular illustrations were taken from this source, and are originally from the Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats. I definitely recommend this book! :)

For information on Gorey--from supporting his legacy to buying licensed merchandise--you can go to the website for the Gorey House. 

More Bargain Bead Box Goodies - September's Box

The last two months, I've shown off what I've made with items from my Bargain Bead Box... and, well, I figured why not keep the tradition going strong?

Here's what I received in September's Bargain Bead Box:

Not my picture!
Taken from the Bargain Bead Box Facebook page.

...And here are some of the things I made with those components!

You might recognize the leaf and agate necklace from this post... I am very happy to report that I was able to get more antique brass wire. Yay!

And that bird-on-a-branch necklace is my most recent foray into asymmetry... Little by little, I'm tackling that aesthetic.

...And for something completely different, but still using those components...

Green!

Last, but not least, here are some designs that incorporate components from the Bargain Bead Box--along with other pieces from my stash. 

Now, these pieces might also look familiar... That's because they're also featured in this post. Still, I couldn't help but take pictures of them outside in the Autumn gloom, and I figured I might as well share. ;)

So, there you go! Happy Autumn shinies.

I'm excited to see what I get in October's box!

Hello, October!

Truth be told, September was exhausting.

Absolutely exhausting.

I had to adapt to having ouchie knees (woo chondromalacia--but at least it's healing and they're getting better). 

I had to handle yet another round of house issues (yellow jacket hive nestled between our wall and water heater chimney).

Front of our house on September 28th.
No, that's not the chimney that was having yellow jacket problems...
I was actually trying to photograph a spectacular orb web, but it didn't quite show up. Ah well.

...And my husband and I had to make a huge life-impacting decision. 

It was a decision that's been looming over us for the last several months... I went into September thinking that we were going to move to California, and we ended the month having decided to stay where we are. 

View from the breakfast nook--also on September 28th.
Looking out on the backyard deck and the large tree next to our house.

So... what does that mean for October?

It means reopening my Etsy store (more details to come, once I've ironed them out).

It means nestling back into a routine and, like the animals and color-changing trees, preparing for the colder months ahead.

Picture taken this morning, on an overcast and chilly October 1st...
Virginia Creeper vine on our deck.

And it means falling in love with my house--and my life--all over again. 

I spent these last few months mentally preparing myself to say goodbye to everything--this house, this area, my craft room, our friends... And now I don't have to. I'm slowly allowing myself to put down roots again, the roots that I pulled up in anticipation of moving and change--exciting, thrilling change, but change nonetheless. 

My hope for October is that it's a month of coziness and contentment, becoming grounded again in my life. My task is to find the excitement in the here-and-now... After all, I don't have to move across the country for life to be thrilling and beautiful. 

And my hope is that this month is beautiful--beautiful in its overcast Autumn gloom, beautiful in its deepening relationships and connections, beautiful in its combination of familiarity and inevitable time-driven newness.

That is my hope.

...And so, I wish you all a Happy October. May it be beautiful.