My idea on how to be magnificent...
I am a pretty severe bead hoarder. I have hundreds of thousands of the sparkly colorful little buggers. While my stash is mostly organized in neat little compartments I also have 3 rather large bins of was has come to be known in the bead world as bead soup. You know what I mean the last couple of beads and findings that are on your table until you can no longer take it and you just swipe them all in the bin. Before you know it there is an entire bin full! Well when I look at it and think of sorting all I can think is ARGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH but when I look at it without those darn organizing eyes all I can think is OHhhhh ahhhhh. The colors! The textures! The shapes. Yummy. So I started making these bracelets. Created with all of the orphans and forgotten treasures, giving new life to the bead soup! Being a color addict not only do I love making them I love wearing them! I am hoping to go around the country this year to teach everyone to look at their disorganized beads in a new light. Hopefully a couple of people will even get inspired to create right now! That would make me happy. Hey if you create an orphan bead piece of jewelry put a link in the comments! I would love to see it. Happy Beading!
I love words. To me just writing a word the right way is art. Sometimes when I doodle before bed (I know most people read but not me) I get fixated on a word. I will write it 100 times in different handwriting, cursive, printing, block or bubble letters. When I find the right feel for that word I work on how to bump it up even more giving the word the feeling I want it to give. When I get THE word down I come up with a little ditty that has the word in it and do the same with all of those words. Add some doodles (in this case of noodles) a little color and walla you have a little word art. I am hoping to teach this creative word class in a venue or two this year. Actually am even thinking of doing a little retreat right here in Manitowoc in spring. If that sounds fun to you let me know what other classes and what teachers you would like to see in a Midwest affordable retreat! Now go get some paper and doodle your words away!
I am so excited that I will be part of the faculty at the first ever East Coast Art Retreat on the West Coast! I am going to be in the company of so many talented artists and it will be my first major retreat gig and I am giddy. Registration opened today so get on over to the ARt Is ... You site and do just that! I will be teaching 3 workshops at this fun art getaway...Padoodling, Leather belt jewelry and a basic stamped metal pendant. I would love to get away with you for a weekend of fun and art and laughs and new and old friends. ♥