Thank YOU...

I just found out that two of my designs were in the Top Ten in Soft Flex Company's Steampunk-themed 2010 Flex Your Creativity Contest! I feel really honored! There were some really beautiful designs up against my own. A big THANK YOU to everyone who voted.

As a way to express my gratitude and share the love, as soon as I get my prizes, I'm going to put the loot up in a giveaway.

Here are the prize-winning designs:

"The Finder" and "Keystone"

Thursday Giveaway...

This week, one lucky winner will claim the prize of THREE collections of assorted lucite from the fine folks at the Oklahoma-based bead store, The Hole Bead Shoppe. Lucite is a wonderful material. It's lightweight, wallet-friendly, and vibrantly colored. It's ideal for earrings or for big statement pieces. You can go BIG without breaking your neck or breaking your budget! Lucite is also great, because it goes well with other materials and can easily be incorporated into your designs. I particularly like to use lucite with blingy Swarovski crystals or with matte-finish, tumbled beach glass. CLICK HERE to check out the vast array of lucite available from The Hole Bead Shoppe!

The winner of this Thursday Giveaway will take home these three selections:

To win these luscious lucite goodies from The Hole Bead Shoppe, all you have to do is leave a comment on this blog post. Couldn't be easier! One lucky winner will be randomly selected from the comment section of this post on Tuesday (December 21st) at midnight EST. (Happy Winter Solstice!) Please leave your name and contact information if it doesn't already appear next to your comment. This giveaway is open to all participants, including international readers!

Bonus Points: Do you really want this awesome selection of candy-colored components? If so, you can earn additional entries by blogging, updating your Facebook page, and/or Twittering about this Thursday Giveaway. Don't forget to add your act of social media kindness as a SEPARATE comment to this blog post for your extra shot at these pretties.

Extra Bonus Points: If you want another way to enter to win, head over to The Hole Bead Shoppe's blog, Blah, Blog, Blah some more, find the Follow widget on the right sidebar and become a follower! After you've successfully added yourself as a follower of The Hole Bead Shoppe's blog, leave a comment on this blog post saying so. CLICK HERE to visit The Hole Bead Shoppe's blog.

Winter...

I saw this deer wading through the snow from the window in my studio. I watched it trudge its way through the drifts, bounding gracefully. The deer usually keep their distance, but winter draws them closer. I could spend hours watching them. Admittedly, I spend more time watching them than I really should.

It's a busy time of year. I wish I was one of those energetic people who plows through lists of things to do mechanically and methodically. I'm not one of those people... especially not in winter. Even with copious amounts of caffeine, I am much slower to cross things off my list. My brain is wired in a way that meanders and wanders. It does not help that it gets darker earlier. I feel the overwhelming urge to build a fort out of blankets and pillows and climb in with my two furry cats and hibernate. This, of course, is not possible. Too much to do and not enough time to do it in. I'll soon be leaving for Tucson and nothing is ready yet.

I suppose I should just buckle down, draw the curtains and get to work. I imagine that if I keep chipping away at all the things I've slated for myself to do... eventually... little bits will start getting done.

Thursday Giveaway Winner...

The winner for this past week's Thursday Giveaway featuring goodies from Cindy Gimbrone is Kym Hunter of Creatively Kym. Congrats! Send me your address and I'll pop it in the post! Be on the look on Thursday for another chance to win!

Snowbound...

When it snows outside, I do not leave the house unless I absolutely must. As beautiful as it is in its cold way, I prefer to be warm and dry. I enjoy looking out at the snow more than I like to be in it.

From the window, I saw a family of deer pass through. I caught the stragglers in the picture above, but there were many more. The property we're on doesn't allow hunting, which makes it one of the few refuges in the area.

While I was looking out the window, I noticed an intricate, lace-like pattern of frost on the windowpane – tiny, little, crystalline shapes branching out along the corners. I couldn't help but shiver when I saw these wintry things!

Snow...

Yesterday, the snow was almost completely gone. It had all melted save for a few patches where the snow had accumulated the most. I was delighted with the prospects of not having wet shoes or soggy hems.

But then, in the night it started snowing and snowing and snowing – the kind of snow that likes to pile up. The driveway is completely obscured by snow. I can hardly make out where it is. It's almost as if the world outside has been swallowed up in winter white.

Looking out the window, I wonder... was my day of dry shoes and pant legs a dream?

Beaded Links...

A Bead A Day

Jewelry Stringing vs. Stitching... Have a passion for one or the other? Stop by and express an opinion or encourage someone to try a new approach!

About.com Jewelry Making

Are you feeling blue? Good, because that is the perfect color for beaded jewelry.

Art Bead Scene

This month's challenge artwork is by John Anster Fitzgerald - who is that you may ask? Come over to ABS and find out!

Beading Arts

Mama's Minerals returns with another fabulous giveaway for Cyndi's readers!

Beads & Books

Michelle turns a ceramic pendant into a Christmas ornament.

Carmi's Art/Life World

Carmi creates a very special wooden brooch for her "no knit" scarf.

Cindy Gimbrone, The Lampwork Diva

Cindy's been stamping metal and has some thoughtful things to say about Lisa Niven Kelly's book, "Stamped Metal Jewelry."

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles

Melanie shows that inspiration can come from anywhere, including the bathroom sink!

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!

Jean has a new book giveaway! 500 Enameled Objects--a celebration of color on metal--what a divine, mesmerizing book to own and cherish! Please come and sign up for this very special giveaway!

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton

This week's Thursday Giveaway is brought to you by Cindy Gimbrone, the Lampwork Diva! Enter to win an assortment of inspiring jewelry components!

Working...

I was talking with my father the other day. I asked him what he had been up to and he responded back with the typical answer: Working. He asked me what I had been up to and I told him that I had been working too. For some reason, I became frustrated and I didn't know why.

When I was growing up, I used to hate it when my dad said that he didn't have time for us. Too many times did we hear the words, "I'm too busy. I have to work." Now that I'm older, I can understand better the concepts of obligation and responsibility. I also think that work was a way for him to escape from us, his brood of children who didn't look very much like him and had wildly independent hearts and minds, children who escaped themselves into worlds of fantasy and make-believe.

I vowed then to be different. To make time for those in my life who were important to me. I realized though that despite my best efforts, I was more like my father than I wanted to admit. I'm just as much of a workaholic as he is. It's true that my work is also my passion and that I am my most happiest when I'm making things, but there are times when I get swept up in what I'm doing and everything else falls away.

It's my hope that when my work/life balance becomes unbalanced, that it'll do more than just be the means of survival and making a living, but will bring joy and beauty in other's lives. I hope that the sacrifices I make today, will enrich the lives of others and will ripple outward. This is my hope when I find myself entrenched in work.

Future Moments...

The days are busy with plans for the future. It's really thrilling. Kind of like standing on the edge of a cliff, with the bluest of blues stretching out infinitely before you and the warm light of dawn bathing your face, feeling connected and rooted to the magic of place and time. How exhilarating!

Haven't experienced that? Well, you could. You too could be standing there.

Plans are beginning to take shape for our future adventures: the Outer Banks in summer and Hawaii in fall and Tucson again in winter. I cannot begin to tell you how excited I am. There is so much to see and experience... so many future moments to capture.

Terri Windling Print Sale...

You might know Terri Windling as the accomplished author of The Wood Wife and editor of several mythic works of fiction. She is also a talented artist. Her artwork, much like her writing, is full of enchantment and is strikingly poetic. Right now, signed prints like "Brother and Sister" (shown to the left) are available at a discounted price! CLICK HERE to check out the selection.

Thursday Giveaway...

This week, one lucky winner will score this treasure trove of components courtesy of the Lampwork Diva herself, Cindy Gimbrone! Up for grabs are two transparent green glass spirals, one Bling Link in silver and ivory, one Surreal Rhythms focal bead, one bronze Art Nouveau Stile Floreal Sunflower Connector, and one fine silver Victorian buckle connector. What a wonderful prize!

Just think of all the possibilities! The glass spirals could easily be transformed into a pair of Christmas Tree holiday earrings. Attach two lengths of chain and a closure to the Bling Link and dangle bits of chain and some charms from the glass link focal for an elegant and modern necklace. Use the fine silver Victorian buckle component in a wire-wrapped ring or in a cute charm bracelet. What about attaching the bronze connector to a leather cuff for an edgy, yet feminine piece of jewelry? The Surreal Rhythms focal inspired by Surrealist art and Beatnik poet would look great strung up on a simple chain or at the end of a seed beaded spiral rope lariat. Really... the possibilities are endless!

What I love about Cindy's underlining design principle is that she's not afraid to explore new materials and is constantly investigating new ways of doing things. Her work is vibrant with this ingenuity and one never knows what they'll come away with when they drop by her online shop.

I think Cindy does a great job promoting the idea that inspiration can be found anywhere. Whether it's directly from art or from creative challenges, or various educational pursuits. Inspiration is everywhere. Discover a great degree at online accountants. One would be surprised by how art can be derived from an unlikely places.

To win this lovely assortment of goodies from Cindy Gimbrone, all you have to do is leave a comment on this blog post. Couldn't be easier! One lucky winner will be randomly selected from the comment section of this post on Tuesday (December 14th) at midnight EST. Please leave your name and contact information if it doesn't already appear next to your comment. This giveaway is open to all participants, including international readers!

Bonus Points: Do you really want this treasure trove of diverse offerings? If so, you can earn additional entries by blogging, updating your Facebook page, and/or Twittering about this Thursday Giveaway. Don't forget to add your act of social media kindness as a SEPARATE comment to this blog post for your extra shot at these pretties.

Extra Bonus Points: Serious about winning? Why not earn an extra entry? Swing by the Cindy's website and take a look around. Report back here afterwards and leave a separate comment letting us know what catches your fancy and why! CLICK HERE to visit Cindy's website.

EXTRA Extra Bonus Points: If you want another way to throw your hat in the ring for this assortment of artisan-made goods, head over to Cindy's blog, Lampwork Diva, find the Follow widget on the right sidebar and become a follower! After you've successfully added yourself as a follower of Cindy's blog, leave a comment on this blog post saying so. CLICK HERE to visit Cindy's blog.

Dinner...

I was in the mood for something warm and filling for dinner tonight. It's so cold and chilly out. So I cooked up some pasta, browned some ground beef with onions and garlic, and added it to a hearty tomato sauce. I made the tomato sauce this past summer with tomatoes from the garden. I froze some, knowing that I would want the tastes and flavors of summer when the garden was done for the year. I served it with a sprinkling of shredded prosciutto and parmesan cheese, with a side of toasted garlic bread. It hit the spot perfectly!

Cutest Ever...

A friend of mine from Thailand sent me an early holiday present. What a wonderful surprise! I almost didn't want to open it, because the packaging was just so dang cute! Reminds me of my nephew Max.

Flex Your Creativity Beading Contest...

Time is winding down for your chance to vote in Soft Flex Company's Flex Your Creativity Beading Contest. This year's theme was Steampunk-inspired and the entries are truly out of this world! Voting ends December 15th! So hurry up and vote if you haven't voted already! (I've got three pieces up that could use some voting love if you're so inclined!) CLICK HERE to vote!

MetalClay Supply Giveaway...

MetalClay Supply is an invaluable resource for the artist working with metal clay. Whether you fancy PMC, Art Clay, fine silver, BronzClay, or CopprClay... they've got it! They've also got the tools to help you get started or to facilitate upgrading your current studio (maybe a new kiln or tumbler?); plus they offer awide selection of jewelry-making related items and paraphernalia.

If that isn't reason enough to LIKE MetalClay Supply, they're giving you another reason! They're holding a HUGE giveaway. From December 6th through December 16th, they are giving away daily prizes. You have a chance to win BIG with MetalClay Supply! The more people participate, the bigger the grand prize will be.

It's as easy as logging into Facebook, dropping by their Fan Page and clicking LIKE! You'll be instantly entered to win one of their prizes. It's that easy!

How do I know it's that easy? Because I entered and WON! You could win too!

To find out more, CLICK HERE. To enter to win, CLICK HERE. (Don't forget to sign in!)

Thursday Giveaway Winner...

The winner for this past week's Thursday Giveaway featuring an assortment of Soft Flex's NEW Craft Wire is Jayne Capps (aka Boot-C) of Mama's Got to Doodle. Congratulations! Be on the look on Thursday for another chance to win!

Twenty Questions...

Before I dive in the studio for who knows how long, check out a fun little game of Twenty Questions I played with Sue Hodgkinson of the Hello Gorgeous blog. CLICK HERE to take a look!

Coming Together...

The studio is in that impossible transitional stage right now. Everything is poured out and in small piles. It's hard to step anywhere without tiptoeing. It would be easy to lose faith at this point – to see all the mountains of things and just give up, sweeping everything in boxes to be sorted "later". I know though that if I were to do that, "later" would never come. Treasures would sit with trash, waiting for some an unnamed day. So, today I throw myself into this impossible task and hopefully will finish. When I sit still, moving pieces around in my mind, like a puzzle... discarding the extra and simplifying the mass... I can see it coming together. I'm going to turn my phone off. I'm going to unplug the computer. I'm going to turn on some music and brew some tar-black coffee. Because today I'm going to do more than just visualize it coming together and actually get it done!

Handcrafted Jewelry Studio eMag Giveaway...

Win your very own copy of the BRAND NEW Handcrafted Jewelry Studio eMag from Interweave Press! All you have to do to be entered to win is head over to Ask Sara's SoftFlexGirl blog and leave a comment on the post with what your favorite beading magazine is. It's that easy! CLICK HERE to visit her blog.

Before you jump into the new issue, I suggest you watch this short tutorial on YouTube. Danielle walks you through everything you need to know to take the most advantage of the new digital magazine. CLICK HERE to check out the short video.

To purchase your very own copy of the new Handcrafted Jewelry Studio eMag, CLICK HERE for PC and CLICK HERE for Mac.

Beaded Links...

A Bead A Day
Looking for some great holiday giveaways? "Where Women Create" will be posting 3 new items to give away every day through December 12th!

About.com Jewelry Making
Have you started your list of DIY gifts to make for this season? Here's a slew of jewelry and other crafty ideas for you.

Art Bead Scene
Wondering if you should pick up that new magazine? ABS reviews 101 bracelets, necklaces and earrings.

Beading Arts
What can you do with a handful of circuit breakers?

Bead Soup Party- Jewelry Swap Challenge
Come see the small swaps that go on in the Bead Soup Blog Party Yahoo Group!

Beading & Books
Michelle begins a weekly challenge for herself, using books as inspiration for jewelry designs.

Carmi's Art/Life World

This week Carmi has a very simple Santa that she made with a free digital download.

Cindy Gimbrone aka Lampwork Diva

Cindy doles out some "flakey" business advice in her "Take It Tuesday" post.

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!

Jean is so happy to have a recent design appear in an upcoming GORGEOUS book! Come see!

Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton

Celebrate the holidays with Vintaj! Check out one of their limited edition kits or one of their beautiful pieces of finished jewelry!

Orbit Necklace...

The delightful Elizabeth Freeman of Turquoise Sky has extended the deadline on her Orbit Necklace that she's auctioning off to help relieve my medical bills. To find out more about the necklace and how to bid, CLICK HERE.

Whirling...

It's been a get-it-done sort of past few days. This pleases me to no end. I've finished projects and made some major headway on others. Hallelujah! The trade off is that I haven't been sleeping very much. (Ergo the above picture taken in the pre-dawn hours.) Normally I would be running out of steam and feeling awfully cranky at this point, but the excitement of actually crossing things off my list is powerfully and strangely energizing! I've been whirling around like a top wound tightly and released. Spinning from one station to the next.

The studio to the outsider would look like absolute chaos at this point. But for me, who has been working on it pretty consistently for the past few weeks, there is a method to the madness and the vision of organization is materializing.

The studio has really gotten the priority seat on my to-do list. I had some deadlines last week and needed to make a bunch of things. When it took four times as long, because I was looking for everything... I knew that I needed to get everything straightened out pronto!

One of the other projects that I've been working on are the handouts for the workshops this winter in Tucson. This coincides well with the organization of my studio, because I've been taking notes for months now and they are beginning to resurface. This is delightful, as I won't have to reformulate just what I meant again. I can just compile the ragtag pile of scribbles and diagrams and smooth out the edges.

I'm really looking forward to the workshops. We're having two sessions that sandwich the Gem Shows and I think they're pretty revolutionary. I love the idea of immersion workshops, where the goal is to have the most fulfilling and enriching experience possible. The magic of them is that it's a once in a lifetime event. It's true that the future holds a seemingly infinite number of workshops, that there will be countless more Gem Shows in the future, and Tucson will be Tucson... but what are the chances that the stars will be in the same position, or that the breeze blows the same way or that your fellow travelers will be the same? What are the chances of the you being the person you are at this moment again? Because that is exactly what we're going to do! Our mission is to live and breathe in these fleeting seconds, minutes, hours, days... to hold out our hands and run our fingers through the silk of time and catch hold, to examine the warp and weft and then fling it into the desert winds.

Magic Magnetism...

A friend of mine from college named Francesca Strada recently started a blog called, Magic Magnetism. Her paintings are the main focus and the blog acts as an archive of her imagery. Immersed in murky shadows with flares of bright colors, her work depicts borderline abstract, psychological landscapes. The viewer is moved through dark, half-remembered vistas and forlorn cityscapes. As in her paintings, "Where we used to roam" (shown above and to the right) and "Tunnel Proposal", vibrant colors mark sparks of life and form the most solid shapes. These are her visual touchstones, admitting entrance to her quiet places.

CLICK HERE to visit her blog and experience her paintings.

Bead Trends...

The December issue of Bead Trends has hit the stands. A piece I created called, "Winter Solstice" is featured in its pages. The design features a dichroic glass bead. The magazine is full of beautiful jewelry photos and some fun projects with easy to follow instructions. Definitely check it out!

Gina Chalfant Studio Sale...

My friend Gina Chalfant of White Swan Illuminations is participating in the Gray House Art Guild Artist Studio Sale next weekend. If you're in the Pittsburgh area, you should definitely stop by for some holiday shopping. Gina makes incredible, one-of-a-kind, hand-painted ceramics that are inspired by decorative motifs and historical artwork. Her work is simply sublime!

Handcrafted Jewelry Studio...

I was lucky enough to participate in the NEW Handcrafted Jewelry Studio eMag (and as a result got an advanced sneak peek). The eMag is a companion to the popular print magazine, Handcrafted Jewelry from Interweave Press. It's a revolutionary approach to deep tissue jewelry-making content and I LOVE IT! I LOVE IT! I really wish that this resource was available years ago when I first started making jewelry. It's loaded with helpful videos, projects, and product resources.

Check out the bracelet that I made for the eMag's reader section:

It's called Gazing Stones. I used vintage watch crystals, watch cogs and gears, gold-leaf, ICE resin, and Vintaj natural brass filigree. The filigree is nice because not only does it look nice, but it adds extra reinforcement and provides additional structure to protect the delicate watch crystals. Be sure to click on the image for a larger view.

One of the things that I love about the new edition of Handcrafted Jewelry Studio is that the videos and tutorials are taught by some of my favorite people on the planet. They are the pioneers of their mediums and really know what they're talking about. Lisa Niven Kelly gives a tour of her workbench (take notice to the prints of my sister's paintings in the background), Susan Lenart Kazmer talks about resin and found objects, Sherri Haab demonstrates ITS photo image transfer, Jess Italia Lincoln shares about hole-punching tools, Kristal Wick of Beading Daily dishes on fabulous fabric beads... it's packed with lots of useful information.

I learn from watching and doing. I'll be honest, technical manuals can sometimes become too abstract for me. They make me wish that I could just jump inside the pages of a magazine and sit down with the author and have them show me one on one. The eMag is like that.

I thought that I could just flip through it and be finished quickly. Boy was I wrong! I was totally engaged, clicking on all of the links and the videos presented in a gorgeous layout and following the Handcrafted Jewelry Studio rabbit-hole. It's quite extensive!

Don't be put off by the download time. High-speed internet makes it relatively quick and is akin to downloading an album off of iTunes. You won't be disappointed. I have ridiculously slow satellite internet and thought it was well-worth the wait.

The eMag launches on Monday, December 6th. CLICK HERE to pre-order your copy. You won't be sorry! I highly recommend this. (Did I mention that I LOVE it? Like smitten-kitten style.)

New Anne Choi Beads...

Anne Choi just debuted four new sterling silver designs! She's added a sea bream fish and a running horse to her Lucky series and two ee Cummings quote beads. One of the quote beads reads: May my mind stroll about hungry and fearless and thirsty and supple. The other reads: Be of love (a little) more careful than of everything. To find out when she adds new beads to her catalogue, CLICK HERE to be added to her mailing list.

Vintaj Benefit...

The beautiful people at Vintaj are celebrating this holiday season by helping me eradicate my recent medical bills! I beat the cancer and now I've just got the medical bills to defeat. Aren't they sweet for helping out! Not only are they some of the nicest people in the beading community, but they also make some of the finest natural brass filigree available. Jess has generously designed three limited edition kits and two finished jewelry lines to help. CLICK HERE to visit the Daily Dialogue... with Jess to find out more.

Above are pictures of the three kits: (From left to right) Filigree Wreath Necklace Kit, Holly Leaves Bracelet Kit, and the Traditional Christmas Earrings Kit.

Above are the two lines of finished jewelry available through Vintaj Earth: Crimson Wings Necklace and Chandelier Drop Earrings.

So consider helping me get rid of my medical bills by treating yourself to a lovely gift or a gift for someone you love! They'll surely appreciate one of these gorgeous options. (Be nice and not naughty; please pass the word along about these lovely kits and finished pieces of jewelry!)

Thursday Giveaway...

This week, one lucky winner will take home SIX spools of the NEW Soft Flex Craft Wire! This awesome prize comes courtesy of the fine folks at Soft Flex Company. Coated with in a special enameling process, this colorful Craft Wire is scratch and peel resistant. I love colored wire, but am often times hesitant to use it as I'm heavy-handed with my pliers; my end results usually look like someone has chewed on it. But the new Soft Flex Craft Wire provides striking, saturated colors that will withstand even the toughest abuse. The wire is also clear-coated (with the exception of the bare copper) to prevent tarnishing. Your choice of over 20 bright colors will stay bright. And if you're interested in creating rich patinas, the bare copper wire can easily patinated. (Or you could try the vintage bronze, which comes already in a nice oxidized color.)

Another perk of this wire, which is made in the United States is that it is lead and nickel free! This is particularly nice if you're sensitive to metal allergies. They only use copper and fine silver in the production of this wire.

The winner this week will take home spools in silver-plated gold, green, gunmetal, blue, non-tarnish silver and magenta! All of the spools are 20 gauge. The silver and gold come in 25 foot spools; the other colors come in spools of 10 yards.

To win these lovely spools of Soft Flex Craft Wire, all you have to do is leave a comment on this blog post. It's that easy! One lucky winner will be randomly selected from the comment section of this post on Tuesday (December 7th) at midnight EST. Please leave your name and contact information if it doesn't already appear next to your comment. This vibrantly colored giveaway is open to all participants, including international readers!

Bonus Points: Do you really want these spools of wire? If so, you can earn additional entries by blogging, updating your Facebook page, and/or Twittering about this Thursday Giveaway. Don't forget to add your act of social media kindness as a SEPARATE comment to this blog post for your extra shot at these spools of Craft Wire.

Extra Bonus Points: Serious about winning? Why not earn an extra entry? Swing by the Soft Flex Company website and take a look around. Report back here afterwards and leave a separate comment letting us know what catches your fancy and why! There's more than just wire. (Right now I'm digging the rose gold, smokey quartz and vintage bronze Craft Wire.) CLICK HERE to visit the Soft Flex Company website.

Cold December...

As if on cue, it snowed all last night and the temperature dropped. It has been dark and dreary most of the day. The image below was a brief moment when the sun decided to make an appearance.

I cannot believe that it's already December. It seems like November disappeared in a blink. In just over a month, I'll be heading out to Tucson. I have so much to do before then, including teaching a class in Pittsburgh and... oh, yeah... the holidays. This will definitely be one busy month! I was fortunate enough to cross a lot of the things off my list yesterday, but I feel a little rough today. I can't pull all-nighters like I used to.

It's easy to get caught up in the day to day affairs, to be swept up in the rush of life and obligation... but it's also important to take a moment to remember that we are apart of a bigger picture. Today is World AIDS Day. The spread of HIV/AIDS is still spreading at epidemic proportions. So take today to remember someone you've lost or call someone who has lost someone to this pandemic virus. With the recent numbers, chances are you know someone. Take a moment to learn a little more, get tested, or find out what you can do to help stop the spread of this disease and shed light on prevention and awareness.