My Creative Space

My beading has been slow going over the past few weeks. Between feeling like I don't have enough time in the day, trying to get other things done and feeling too tired I haven't done as much beading as I would like.

Here is a piece I have been working on intermittently over the past few weeks.

The gorgeous ceramic flower heart pendant is from  Beth at Carpe Beadem. 

I was lucky enough to win the pendant through a blog giveaway. 

The necklace is a simple spiral weave rope.

I have since redone the peyote toggle ring and am now working on the toggle bar.

I have a few pieces I need to get done over the next few weeks including my Artbeads Design Partner winter themed piece as well as a challenge piece for the Australian Beading Forum I am a member of... but I am really itching to get started on making a cuff with one of the gorgeous Golem Studio pendants I recently bought.

Has anyone found a way to add a few more hours to the day yet?

♥

Sweating the small stuff instead of calories...

I really feel like I am slipping into a deep, dark hole at the moment.

At the start of the year, when Spencer commenced school, I returned to working 5 days a week.

I had been working four days a week for around the past 6 years.

I am struggling with this change.

I find my weekends are now filled with boring mundane tasks housework I would normally leave until my day off on Monday so that the weekends could be enjoyed as a family.

I miss spending my Mondays with Spencer, even if we didn't do a lot we were still able to spend the day together, just he and I.

I have been so busy at work too.
I now finish work at 3.30pm instead of 5.00pm which you think would be a great thing but I am finding that my days are so rushed now, knowing that I have to race out the door to pick up Spencer from school.

I get the train and then a bus and then Spencer and I walk home from school... with us walking in the door around 2 hours after I leave work!

It's a long day - even with finishing so early.

I thought working 5 days a week would make my workload easier but it seems to be harder. With leaving early it turns out I am only working an extra 2.5 hours a week!

I am now finding by the time I get home from work/school, get Spencer showered, unpack his lunch box, do a few things around the house I get around fifteen minutes to relax before I need to start thinking about what to cook for dinner.
By the time I eat dinner, wash up and get Spencer to bed it ends up being around 9.00pm and I am stuffed like a turkey at Thanksgiving.
We don't celebrate Thanksgiving in Australia but I hear that turkey is stuffed pretty damn fine!

I know it's the routine of every day life I am complaining about but at the moment I just feel there are not enough hours in the day or in the week for that matter to get everything done.

Don't even get me started on the fact I have done hardly any beading in the last 2 weeks.

I know I shouldn't be sweating the small stuff but sometimes it's good to sweat right?

And from what I hear  it's a great way to burn off those extra calories.

Ohhhh is that the wrong kind of sweating?

Ok... rant over!

I promise to post something bead related next time.

♥

Just a wee bit excited!

I have just ordered two books and cannot wait to get my hands on them.

The first is 

The Jeweler's Studio Handbook

and the second is

Soldering Made Simple

After my last post I decided that the craft I really want to do the most is metal/silversmithing.

This is something I have wanted to do for around 5 years now but I have always had a passion for silver and gemstones.

I remember my Geography teacher calling me a "gypsy" back when I was about 14 years old... because of all the silver rings I was wearing. 

I had a ring on nearly every finger, some fingers adorned two rings, and the stones included turquoise, amethyst, lapis, citrine and onyx.

I then developed a passion for gemstones not only for their beauty but their healing qualities.

I am looking forward to incorporating my own glass fused cabochons into the pieces to create unique, one of a kind pieces.

Today I started cleaning out our garage to make way for my work area. 

I already have a corner set up for my glass fusing so the metal/silver area will be a continuation of my existing space.

In the mean time I am keeping myself busy researching tools, checking out Ebay and comparing the prices of everything I need... not to mention admiring all of the beautiful gemstones available.

I am excited...to say the least!

♥

Patience is a virtue... or so they say...

There are so many techniques I have been itching to try for such a long time.

But sadly every new technique takes money to set up and time to learn and I just don't have enough hours in my day to be learning all these new techniques in addition to doing the things I should be doing like keeping my house clean and sleeping which is apparently a necessity!

Oh how I wish there were more hours in the day!

A few years ago I did an evening class in making lampwork beads.

It was so much fun, although I did find that flame a bit scary at times.

I still have the beads I made. I don't show them to many people.

As bad as they were I figure they were still made by me which has always inspired me to give it another go.

I treated myself to a PMC (Precious Metal Clay) Hot Pot a few years back.

Would you believe I am still yet to use it?

Why?

Because I am too scared to use the clay in fear that my piece will turn out a disaster and that I will waste the precious clay.

Silly I know... how is one to learn if they don't have a go?

I love the look of wire, particularly antique copper.

During the Bead Soup Party I saw so many incredibly beautiful pieces created with copper wire.

I love the look of wire and seed beads which is something I would love to start incorporating into my seed bead pieces.

Only one problem.

Wire and me don't get along!

I am so uncoordinated when it comes to working with wire and tools.

I just find the whole process very fiddly and messy but a process I would like to master and soon!

A friend just told me "don't be too timid...the wire knows".

I think she's right!!

I'd love to start making my own sterling silver rings incorporating my own glass fused cabochons.

I have been admiring the work of Belinda who has just started out in this type of art.

She has taken to it like a fish to water and I am hoping I do too!

~~~~

Are there any new techniques you are just busting at the seams to try but have to put on the back burner for just a wee bit longer, because of time or perhaps money?

They tell me patience is a virtue but I don't know about that!

♥

Me.........so..........tired

I am proud to say that I have visited every blog that took part in the Bead Soup Party.

Yep all 209 of them!

And I commented on every blog that had a soup reveal.

I am feeling a little overwhelmed now as that is a lot of blogs and a lot of comments!

I was off line until Tuesday morning having been away celebrating my husband's birthday from Friday to Monday afternoon.. and then my laptop died so I still only had internet access on my mobile phone...

...so I have visited 209 blogs in 6 days!

Well done to everyone who took part. 

Such an amazing array of work and so many beautiful, unique pieces.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to visit my blog and also for their lovely comments and feedback on my bead soup creation.

Thanks again Lori of Pretty Things for organising such an enormous party. 

I think it's only going to get bigger and better from here which I think is a scary thought for everyone, especially Lori!

♥

Sharing is Caring

I've discussed online shopping carts before... you know the deal... you see lots of lovely things you want so you put them in your shopping cart until you finally succumb to that need.

Well I have had a few pendants from Golem Studio sitting in my shopping cart for some time now.

If you haven't checked out Golem Studio, Vladislav Ivanov and Kremena Ivanova from Bulgaria make the most beautiful clay pieces I have seen in some time.

I first became aware of their pieces through Triz Designs as she uses a lot of the pieces in her stunning cuffs (thanks Triz!).

I love their designs, the vibrant rich colours, the impeccable workmanship... everything about them!

I decided it was time to empty my cart and send those pendants on a trip to Australia!

So I bought not one.. not two but 11 of these gorgeous clay creations!

I figure they are just like handbags...a girl can never have too many!

Check out what I now proudly own!

I am now in a very happy place surrounded by beautiful clay creations!

If you haven't checked out Golem Studio then pop on over and take a look.

I am not associated with them nor am I am being paid for this post... 

I just figure when you find an online company that offers great, friendly service in addition to beautiful handmade pieces then it's worth sharing with your crafty friends.

As my little man says

"Sharing is Caring"

Enjoy!

♥