It has been quite some time since my last blog entry, for us life has just been moving along and we've been doing the life things. I'm sitting in my dining room on a Saturday morning, watching the snow fall outside, listening to the sounds of an empty house and my fingers tapping away on the keyboard, drinking a cup of coffee, alone in my thoughts.
Lately, I have been thinking a lot about the 2010/11 we had, now that we have come out on the other side (stronger in our relationships with one another) and settling into our 'new' life. I know I have alluded to our recent past as being horrible, but have never gone too much further with divulging information. We hit some pretty hard times in our lives, the economy through out some pretty harsh cards and we left the table with our hats in hand (and that was just about all we had was our hats). During that time, as challenging as it was, I am very proud & grateful for the strength we had as a family unit. We never waivered in our commitment to one another, the love we have for one another and the support we gave one another when some days you just felt like you couldn't go on. We are very fortunate to be together, lots of couples don't survive what we went through, even though in hindsight its small peanuts compared to other peoples stories.
I know your thinking what a 'Debbie Downer' post, but it’s not all like that (I promise). I think when you have a birthday coming up you become very nostalgic, reflect on your past and contemplate your future. Yes, this month I am having a birthday, a significant birthday, I'm turning 40 years old. I don't feel old, as I don't think any age is old, it’s what you make it to be. I don't feel sad about turning 40. I don't feel regret. I don't feel anger. I feel lucky & fortunate & blessed. I have been given the gift of turning 40. I have been given the gift of a beautiful family, an incredible husband, a son that is the light of my life. I've been given the gift of good health. I've been given the gift of food on the table, roof over my head and more 'things' in my life than I'll know what to do with.
Turning 40 years old to me means a new chapter in life, new lessons to be learned, new experiences to be had, new attempts to get things right. It means figuring out what's important and what's not. It now knowing what a mole hill is versus a mountain. It means being thankful for each day your given and dealing with life on a day to day basis. It means eliminating negatives from my life and filling it with positives, hope & happiness. It means watching the world through my son's eyes with sheer enjoyment and delight. It means good old fashion belly laughs. It means stopping to smell the roses. It means appreciating what you are given and knowing what and who are important. It means having more empathy & compassion for people. It means accepting myself. It means letting go. It means living life.
Life is short; it can be snuffed out at any time for any one of us. Go out and enjoy what you have, forget about what you don't have, listen more, talk less, laugh lots, accept yourself, give love, receive love AND just appreciate the life your given, it’s a gift.
Now, I'm off to the bead store, but I'm leaving you with a simple quote.
"Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending." ~ Maria Robinson
Saturday, 14 April 2012
Friday, 2 March 2012
Serving up a Bowl of Bead Soup - Reveal Day!
This is the big day, the day 200 participants of the 5th Bead Soup Party share what they made with random beads, focal and clasp they received from a random partner they were paired with by our lovely host, Lori Anderson. Lori is the woman who created Bead Soup Blog Party and organizes the chaos. The party has become so popular Lori receives hundreds upon hundreds of applicants to participate and then by random organizer 200 people are chosen. I was lucky to be chosen to participate and this is my very first blog hop.
I was paired with a lovely lady in Augusta, Georgia by the name of Sonya Stille. Sonya and I have communicated by email several times and have become good friends on Facebook. As this bead soup party has been moving along Sonya and I have been learning more about one another. We are quite similar, I believe. She is a wife and mother, like me and we both seem to have similar personalities. I think Sonya and I could sit down for a cup of coffee and chat for hours if given the opportunity. I have also been discovering little things here and there about her beading and am very excited to see what she has done with the bead soup mix I have sent her.
I received a lovely parcel in the post from Sonya and it was exactly my style of beads, focal and toggle! Even my husband looked at the mix and said, "Well, that certainly is you". He knows me so well. :)
Let me dive right into this with a picture of the soup mix I received from Sonya.
I was paired with a lovely lady in Augusta, Georgia by the name of Sonya Stille. Sonya and I have communicated by email several times and have become good friends on Facebook. As this bead soup party has been moving along Sonya and I have been learning more about one another. We are quite similar, I believe. She is a wife and mother, like me and we both seem to have similar personalities. I think Sonya and I could sit down for a cup of coffee and chat for hours if given the opportunity. I have also been discovering little things here and there about her beading and am very excited to see what she has done with the bead soup mix I have sent her.
I received a lovely parcel in the post from Sonya and it was exactly my style of beads, focal and toggle! Even my husband looked at the mix and said, "Well, that certainly is you". He knows me so well. :)
Let me dive right into this with a picture of the soup mix I received from Sonya.
Sonya sent me Snakeskin agates, brown freshwater pearls, copper flower shaped toggle and a pendant SHE made herself.
Here is a closer look at the pendant Sonya made.
So given this bead soup I knew immediately I was going to make a necklace and pair of earrings. Of course, with the copper toggle and focal it was going to be all copper as well. I poured through my bead boxes and found some beautiful Czech glass beads I recently purchased at my local bead store and I also recently purchased some decorative copper spacer beads that gave the timeless, antique feel I was aiming for this necklace. The necklace went together quite quickly and I incorporated the beads Sonya sent with my personal stash and am quite pleased with the end result. (I already had someone offer to buy the necklace!)
The necklace and earrings!
The earrings were something different for me. I knew what I wanted them to look like, but wasn't quite sure how to get there as I have not worked a lot with 26 gauge wire and itty bitty beads like the freshwater pearls Sonya sent me. I started with a couple of coppe hoops I had in my stash and I took a VERY LONG piece of 26 gauge wire and I started wrapping it around the hoop and stringing on pearls at intervals until I had this happy looking sun staring at me. I then made a couple of earwires from eyepins and VOILA! My earrings came together just like that. Again, I was tickled and now have found a new love of small beads and 26 gauge wire. Oh the new obsession this has created! LOL
Here are a few more pictures of my necklace and earrings. Please hold on after these pictures for the piece that came out of nowhere!
Another close-up of the beautiful focal made by Sonya and the sweet flower toggle she sent me.
The earrings using 26 guage wire and freshwater pearls, snakeskin agates dropping from them and my handmade earwires.
So, I finished these pieces over a week ago. The designs for these two pieces came very quickly to me, but the other day I was making rings and this idea came into my head for a ring and my bead soup. I quickly got to work and again, trying something new for me, I was pleased with how it turned out for my first try. I used 1 of the snakeskin agates and wire wrapped it with 20 gauge wire on my steel ring mandrel, then I used 26 gauge wire and string freshwater pearls around the agate giving it a very elegant feel/look. I didn't use copper on this piece like I did the first 2 pieces, I resorted back to my comfort zone, antique brass. Here are a few pictures of how my bead soup ring turned out.
All in all I'm pleased with my creations, I enjoyed making them, I enjoyed the anticipation of seeing what Bead Soup Mix I was going to receive from Sonya, I enjoyed meeting Sonya and so many other talented jewelry designers in the Bead Soup Cafe and I feel this helped me to step a little outside of my comfort zone and take a risk at something new/different. I would like to thank Lori Anderson (http://www.prettythingsblog.com/) for being such a wonderful hostess and again for organizing such a HUGE amount of people.
You can follow me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GettaGiftJewellery. You can visit my Etsy Shop at www.etsy.com/shop/gettagift.
Now! First, I am looking forward to hopping on over to my partners blog to see what she has created. We can all catch up with Sonya at http://dreaminofbeads.blogspot.com/. You can also follow Sonya on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/SAS-Jewelry-Designs/291318200921323.
Finally, there are 200 brilliant jewelry designers who participated in this Bead Soup Blog Party and below you can find a link to all their pages and see what creations they made with their soup mixes. I'm looking forward to sitting down with a Diet Coke and enjoying all the lovely sites! Thank you and Enjoy!
Tuesday, 14 February 2012
Valentine's Day with my boys....
For us Valentine's Day has always been low-key, nothing over the top. We have always thought of Valentine's Day as a day that we express a little more of our love to one another, but really why buy into all the chocolate hearts, blah, blah, blah, we know how much we love one another. This year we actually have started a new tradition and I'm looking forward to it next year and for many more years...
Now, I'm not saying we don't give each other cards or do something a little special for one another, but again, nothing over the top. We always try to give our son a little gift for the holidays, he truly is the center of our universe.
Valentine's Day lasted 2 days in our house this year, Monday & Tuesday. Our little guy had his party at pre-school on Monday, he handed out his CARS Valentine's complete with lollipops, he gave each teacher a handmade Valentine (he was so proud of them) and a pair of earrings made by yours truly. I also made some cookies for his party, Red & Pink M&M Monster Cookies. All in all he had a great day on Monday at pre-school.
Tuesday is a day off from pre-school and being that my little guy seems to have a cold we decided to make Valentine's Day a Pajama Day. We cuddled up on the sofa this morning and watched Lady & the Tramp (one of his Valentine's Day gifts from Mommy & Daddy).
When we make homemade pizzas its always such an enjoyable process. We all gather around the work station and make up our pizzas. We all chatter on about how our own pizza is going to be the best, but in the end we all agree our darling son's will taste the best. :) I highly recommend heart-shaped pizzas not just for Valentine's Day, but anytime. Its super fun and gives whimsy to a meal for your kiddo's.
Well, there it is our Valentine's Day wrapped up in Lady & the Tramp, Chocolate covered Strawberries and Heart-Shaped Pizza's. Yes, I think it was a fine Valentine's Day indeed.
Many blessings,
Traci
Now, I'm not saying we don't give each other cards or do something a little special for one another, but again, nothing over the top. We always try to give our son a little gift for the holidays, he truly is the center of our universe.
Valentine's Day lasted 2 days in our house this year, Monday & Tuesday. Our little guy had his party at pre-school on Monday, he handed out his CARS Valentine's complete with lollipops, he gave each teacher a handmade Valentine (he was so proud of them) and a pair of earrings made by yours truly. I also made some cookies for his party, Red & Pink M&M Monster Cookies. All in all he had a great day on Monday at pre-school.
Tuesday is a day off from pre-school and being that my little guy seems to have a cold we decided to make Valentine's Day a Pajama Day. We cuddled up on the sofa this morning and watched Lady & the Tramp (one of his Valentine's Day gifts from Mommy & Daddy).
As we were watching Lady & the Tramp I was thinking how fitting this movie was for Valentine's Day. It was very sweet and I think I enjoyed it more now as an adult than I did as a child. Perhaps watching it and seeing how much joy it brought to my little guy made it that much more special.
My Darling Husband texted me to see if he could bring home some Valentine's Day lunch for us....AND who turns that down?? So, we ended up with some yummy lunch and these fine fellows came along too...
They came for lunch, but they didn't make it out alive... Yum!
And finally our 'New Valentine's Day Tradition', we had personal size, handmade, heart-shaped pizzas for supper...
When we make homemade pizzas its always such an enjoyable process. We all gather around the work station and make up our pizzas. We all chatter on about how our own pizza is going to be the best, but in the end we all agree our darling son's will taste the best. :) I highly recommend heart-shaped pizzas not just for Valentine's Day, but anytime. Its super fun and gives whimsy to a meal for your kiddo's.
Well, there it is our Valentine's Day wrapped up in Lady & the Tramp, Chocolate covered Strawberries and Heart-Shaped Pizza's. Yes, I think it was a fine Valentine's Day indeed.
Many blessings,
Traci
Monday, 6 February 2012
Mmmm Mmmm Good....
That's what a bowl of Bead Soup is Mmmm Mmmm good!
I love living in an older neighborhood, aside from the fact my mail is delivered right to my door, I also get it by 10 a.m. everyday! So, as I went down the hall to the front door and opened it I was surprised with a BIG envelope from my Bead Soup partner, Sonya Stille. Let's just say this 39 year old skipped back down the hall into the livingroom, that's right, I skipped.
Let me back up a little so in case your just joining me you have an idea of what Bead Soup is... Our lovely Hostess, Lori Anderson (http://www.prettythingsblog.com/) has this wonderful event called Bead Soup Blog Party. She organizes this awesome event and allows 200 participants. You are drawn at random and then paired with another beader. You exchange information with your partner and then send a lovely arrangement of beads, a focal and a clasp to each other in the hopes of pushing each other outside of your comfort zone for creativity. Then during the reveal day all 200 participants post their creations on their blogs and we do a blog hop looking at all the lovely masterpieces.
This is my very first Bead Soup Blog Party and I am thrilled, so Thank You very much Lori for this experience and for putting so much effort into making this event a reality. You're truly amazing!
I was partnered with Sonya Stille from Augusta, Georgia. Sonya and I have exchanged a few emails and are starting to become good friends on Facebook. I have shared details of my beading experience with Sonya and I am starting to catch little glimpses of her work, let me say I'm impressed. Sonya is a wife and mother to 2 little ones. Sonya is currently working on opening her Etsy Shop and has started a Facebook page for her jewelry, visit her when you can & give her a 'like' (https://www.facebook.com/pages/SAS-Jewelry-Designs/291318200921323). Here is some Seed Beading Sonya has done, very pretty, something I haven't tried (yet).
I love living in an older neighborhood, aside from the fact my mail is delivered right to my door, I also get it by 10 a.m. everyday! So, as I went down the hall to the front door and opened it I was surprised with a BIG envelope from my Bead Soup partner, Sonya Stille. Let's just say this 39 year old skipped back down the hall into the livingroom, that's right, I skipped.
Let me back up a little so in case your just joining me you have an idea of what Bead Soup is... Our lovely Hostess, Lori Anderson (http://www.prettythingsblog.com/) has this wonderful event called Bead Soup Blog Party. She organizes this awesome event and allows 200 participants. You are drawn at random and then paired with another beader. You exchange information with your partner and then send a lovely arrangement of beads, a focal and a clasp to each other in the hopes of pushing each other outside of your comfort zone for creativity. Then during the reveal day all 200 participants post their creations on their blogs and we do a blog hop looking at all the lovely masterpieces.
This is my very first Bead Soup Blog Party and I am thrilled, so Thank You very much Lori for this experience and for putting so much effort into making this event a reality. You're truly amazing!
I was partnered with Sonya Stille from Augusta, Georgia. Sonya and I have exchanged a few emails and are starting to become good friends on Facebook. I have shared details of my beading experience with Sonya and I am starting to catch little glimpses of her work, let me say I'm impressed. Sonya is a wife and mother to 2 little ones. Sonya is currently working on opening her Etsy Shop and has started a Facebook page for her jewelry, visit her when you can & give her a 'like' (https://www.facebook.com/pages/SAS-Jewelry-Designs/291318200921323). Here is some Seed Beading Sonya has done, very pretty, something I haven't tried (yet).
Now on with the 'Soup'....after skipping back to the livingroom like a school girl, I tore open my envelope to find a lovely box. I have to apologize right now to Sonya, my packaging is not pretty. Please forgive me, this caught me in the middle of moving houses.
Didn't I say the box was lovely?
My Yummy Soup Mix. Thank you Sonya for the gorgeous selection just up my alley. My husband even said when he saw it "Well, that is definitely something you would design with."
Clockwise: Brown Freshwater Pearls, Snakeskin Agate, Copper Flower Toggle, Custom Copper pendant made by Sonya.
Here's a closer look at the focal. Sonya texturized, annealed, soldered a bezel and placed the cabochon. She also riveted the bail and patina'd the whole piece. Wow! Pictures don't do the piece justice, its a beauty. Thank you Sonya!
Well, there it is my Bead Soup and I already have ideas rolling around, now to get busy for the March 3rd reveal date/blog hop!
All the best until the next time,
Traci
Here is a list of the other participants, when you have time please visit their pages and give them a follow.
1. Adlinah Kamsir (Kingdom of Bahrain) and Hajer Waheed (Singapore)
2. Adrienn Lukacs (Hungary) and Agata Grygiel (Poland)
3. Agi Kiss (Hungary) and Carolien Muller-Genger (the Netherlands)
4. Agnes Asztalos (Hungary) and B.R. Kuhlman
5. Alesha Conklin and Becki Mendivil
6. Alice Peterson and Carol Dillman
7. Alicia Marinache (Canada) and Dita Basu
9. Amanda Tibbetts and Andrea Trank
10. Amy Freeland and Kay Mallery
11. Andra Weber and Christine Murrow
12. Ann Sherwood and Diane Welte
13. Barbara Bechtel and Kerry Bogert
14. Barbara Lewis and Cat Pruitt
15. Bonnie Coursolle (Canada) and Fay Wolfenden (Canada)
16. Carmel McGinley (Australia) and Tracy Stillman (Australia)
17. Cassie Donlen and Deryn Mentock
18. Cathie Carroll and Janel Dudley
19. Cece Cormier and Morwyn Mullins
20. Charlene Jacka and Christina Hickman
21. Cheryl Brown (Canada) and Diana Ptaszynski
22. Christina Stofmeel (the Netherlands) and Eva Kovacs (Hungary)
23. Christine Damm and Deb Brooks
24. Cilla Watkins (Canada) and Elaine Robitaille (Canada)
27. Cory Celaya and Rhea Freitieg
28. Courtney Breul and Dana Hickey
29. Cynthia Abner and Jennifer Boreck
30. Cynthia Tucker and Jean Peter
31. Debbie Goering and Heidi Post
32. Dee Elgie (UK) and Joanne Lockwood (UK)
33. Dian Hierschel (Germany) and Eniko Fabian (Austria)
34. Diane Cook and Lyn Foley
35. Donna Bohler and Lisa Lodge
36. Donna Millard and Kiersten Giles
37. Doris Stumpf (Germany) and Eszter Czibulyas (Hungary)
38. Elisabeth Auld and Eva Sherman
39. Elke Leonhardt-Rath (Germany) and Marjolein Trewavas (UK)
40. Ema Kilroy and Laurie Keefe-Cecere
41. Erika Nooteboom (the Netherlands) and Giorgia Rossini (Italy)
42. Erin Grant and Jean Wells
43. Evelyn Duberry and Gaea Cannaday
44. Genea Crivello-Knable and Heather Powers
45. Ginger Bishop (military, Okinawa) and Martina Nagele (Germany)
46. Heidi Kingman and Lori Greenberg
47. Helen Kemp and Lisa Wangeman
48. Helene Goldberg (Australia) and Karen Vincent
49. Jamie Hogsett and Jeannie Dukic
50. Jeanette Ryan and Jelveh Jaferian
51. Jennifer Cameron and Tania Spivey
52. Jennifer Justman and Kari Carrigan
53. Jennifer Tough and Lorelei Eurto
54. Joanna Matuszczyk (Poland) and Julianna Kis (Hungary)
55. Joanne Tinley (UK) and Michaela Pabeschitz (Austria)
56. Julie Anne Leggett and Kelley Fogle
57. Karen Hess and Linda Landig
58. Karyn Bonfiglio and Kathleen Lange Klik
59. Kashmira Patel and Kat White
60. Kat Barron Miller and Kelly Morgan
61. Kathy Lindemer and Rose Binoya
62. Krafty Max and Sandra Miller
63. Kristen Latimer and Pam Ferrari
64. Kristie Roeder and Lea Avroch
65. Kristina Johansson (Sweden) and Penny Neville (Canada)
66. Krisztina Erlaki-Toth (Hungary) and Nicole Keller (Germany)
67. Lara Lutrick and Lisa Suver
68. Laura DeMoya and Lisa Hanna
69. Libby Leuchtman and Melanie Brooks
70. Linda Koch and Rosemarie Cowit
71. Lisa Chapman and Menka Gupta
72. Lisa Liddy and Marion Simmons
73. Lori Anderson and Marcie Abney
74. Lori Bowring-Michaud and Mary Govaars
75. Lori Dorrington and Maria Rosa Sharrow
76. Lori Finney (Canada) and Marie-Noel Voyer-Cramp (Canada)
77. Lynn Bennett and Mandi Ainsworth
78. Marta Kaczerowska (Poland) and Milla Starchik (Canada)
79. Mary Harding and Shannon LeVart
80. Mary Jane Dodd and Stacey Curry
81. Melinda Orr and Molly Alexander
83. Michelle Jensen (Canada) and Sandra Young (Canada)
84. Nan Emmett and Nicole Valentine-Rimmer (Canada)
85. Nancy Boylan and Suzette Bentley
86. Natasha Lutes and Patti Vanderbloemen
87. Pam Hurst and Rebekah Payne
88. Patty Miller and Sara Rhoades
89. Rebecca Anderson (UK) and Lori Anderson
90. Rebecca Sirevaag and Sharon Driscoll
91. Rochelle Brisson and Shannon Chomanczuk
92. Rosa Maria Cuevas (Mexico) and Tejae Floyde
93. Sabine Dittrich (Germany) and Sally Russick
94. Sandi Volpe and Sarah/Saturday Sequins
95. Shanti Johnson and Tracy Mok (Canada)
96. Skylar Brez and Theresa Buchle
97. Sonya Stille and Traci Zeller (Canada)
98. Stefanie Teufel (Germany) and Tania Hagen (New Zealand)
99. Stephanie LaRosa and Vonna Maslanka
Thursday, 2 February 2012
Laryngitis leads to CREATIVITY....
I started feeling a bit sniffly on Sunday, thinking I was getting a sinus infection, as I have been prone to those for the last couple of years. However, by Tuesday evening I knew something else was up. I'm not one to go to the doctors (willingly) and with taking care of everyone else, who has time? So, my week has been pretty full (like all other weeks), took my son to school on Monday, ran a bunch of errands, Tuesday took the dog to the eye specialist to be relieved she doesn't have cancer, THEN Tuesday evening... my husband put our son to bed and when he came back downstairs I was sitting on the sofa with my feet up, just trying to relax. I looked at my DH and told him that I don't have a good feeling about waking up tomorrow, I could feel whatever it is grabbing hold of my throat (my voicebox). Well, sure enough, woke up Wednesday morning to a sweet little whisper. "They" say Silence is Golden, but somehow not so much when your trying to communicate with your 4 year old child. Let's just say there has been a lot of 'What did you say Mommy?" happening. So be it. I feel fine otherwise, I just think my voice needed a vacation (I wish it would have taken this body with it though, how unfair).
What I did not expect with the laryngitis was the little burst of creativity I have felt with it. My DH took our son to school yesterday (I didn't want to infect anyone) and then DS went for a sleepover at his Nan & PopPop's house last night, this left me with some time to sit down at the bead table. I was pleasantly surprised to see things come together quickly and with such ease (it shouldn't have been difficult considering all the wonderful goodies that I have been receiving in the post). Anyway, my thought around this laryngitis and burst of creativity is, MAYBE, just maybe Silence is Golden, you lose one thing and gain another....hmmmm, something to ponder.
Okay, out of my silence I created 2 pieces, a bracelet and a pair of earrings.
What I did not expect with the laryngitis was the little burst of creativity I have felt with it. My DH took our son to school yesterday (I didn't want to infect anyone) and then DS went for a sleepover at his Nan & PopPop's house last night, this left me with some time to sit down at the bead table. I was pleasantly surprised to see things come together quickly and with such ease (it shouldn't have been difficult considering all the wonderful goodies that I have been receiving in the post). Anyway, my thought around this laryngitis and burst of creativity is, MAYBE, just maybe Silence is Golden, you lose one thing and gain another....hmmmm, something to ponder.
Okay, out of my silence I created 2 pieces, a bracelet and a pair of earrings.
This bracelet is called Cristallo Tramonto (Italian for Crysal Sunset). It was created using a beautiful collection of SueBeads in lovely Sunset tones combined with Swarovski Crystals and Antique Brass.
Colorful, fun and fit for Valentine's Day these earrings are called Red Ruffle Romance. A couple of months back I requested from Bubby & McGurk ruffled lampwork disc in a variety of colors. Well, these beautiful red disc spoke to me last night and I combined them with Swarovski Crystals and Antique Brass. I was quite pleased with the results.
So, as I head into my day of no voice, let me wish you a day of full of wonderful moments and a little creativity.
Take care,
Traci
Saturday, 28 January 2012
Taking a chance, getting published...
When I started playing with beads in January 2011 I truly did not expect to take it too far. I bought some cheap-O beads from Walmart and played around with stringing while my DH was working late nights. It was something to do to kill time. I certainly never imagined I would sale any of my pieces, but as I started following more accomplished beaders on Facebook I was feeling more compelled to look deeper into this world of beading. I fell in love, bad.
I started ordering some fantastic artisan components. I soon became a regular customer at my local bead shop, picture the TV show Cheers, but only when I walk in they shout Traci!, yes sometimes you got to go where everyone knows your name. I have become a regular order on some of the etsy sites. Yes, my bead boxes have started to become embarrassing in quantity (NOT). When the mail comes I always look for parcel mail and feel quite disappointed when there isn't a beady goodness parcel addressed to me. My name is Traci and I am addicted to beads.
With all these grand beads and components, I was well on my way to figuring things out. I wanted to have more and more, learn more and more. I'm pretty sure I threw my folks for a loop when my birthday rolled around and I asked for a steel ring mandrel and hammer. I was determined to teach myself how to make rings and I did. I have been self-teaching myself and have learned how to wire wrap beads, string beads (properly) and try to be experimental with techniques, but I know it will forever be a learning process.
As 2011 progressed and I started reading Bead Trends magazine I felt an urge to try submitting my work for consideration, but I was still timid. All those swirling self-doubt questions we all have just kept me from proceeding. Finally, after receiving some great positive reinforcement from my DH and some beading friends I went for it. I sent in 3 pieces for consideration for the February 2012 issue of Bead Trends. I pressed the send button on each email submission and immediately felt like I needed a TUMS. It was going to be a long couple of weeks waiting to hear back from them, if I was going to hear back from them. Well, I did hear back from them and they wanted 2 of my 3 submissions! I remember feeling light-headed, excited and then the nerves kicked in again...OH NO! now A LOT of people are going to see my work. What have I done?? Well, with butterflies swirling in my stomach I mailed off my pieces to Bead Trends and have been waiting months to see my very first published pieces beautifully photographed by Northridge Publishing.
Check out my sale in my Etsy Shop for Valentine's Day. Enter coupon code SWEETHEART15 at checkout to receive 15% OFF your purchase. www.etsy.com/shop/gettagift
I started ordering some fantastic artisan components. I soon became a regular customer at my local bead shop, picture the TV show Cheers, but only when I walk in they shout Traci!, yes sometimes you got to go where everyone knows your name. I have become a regular order on some of the etsy sites. Yes, my bead boxes have started to become embarrassing in quantity (NOT). When the mail comes I always look for parcel mail and feel quite disappointed when there isn't a beady goodness parcel addressed to me. My name is Traci and I am addicted to beads.
With all these grand beads and components, I was well on my way to figuring things out. I wanted to have more and more, learn more and more. I'm pretty sure I threw my folks for a loop when my birthday rolled around and I asked for a steel ring mandrel and hammer. I was determined to teach myself how to make rings and I did. I have been self-teaching myself and have learned how to wire wrap beads, string beads (properly) and try to be experimental with techniques, but I know it will forever be a learning process.
As 2011 progressed and I started reading Bead Trends magazine I felt an urge to try submitting my work for consideration, but I was still timid. All those swirling self-doubt questions we all have just kept me from proceeding. Finally, after receiving some great positive reinforcement from my DH and some beading friends I went for it. I sent in 3 pieces for consideration for the February 2012 issue of Bead Trends. I pressed the send button on each email submission and immediately felt like I needed a TUMS. It was going to be a long couple of weeks waiting to hear back from them, if I was going to hear back from them. Well, I did hear back from them and they wanted 2 of my 3 submissions! I remember feeling light-headed, excited and then the nerves kicked in again...OH NO! now A LOT of people are going to see my work. What have I done?? Well, with butterflies swirling in my stomach I mailed off my pieces to Bead Trends and have been waiting months to see my very first published pieces beautifully photographed by Northridge Publishing.
This bracelet is called 'Wish'. It features an altered art 'Wish' charm by J-Lynn Jewels, Dragon's Egg Faceted Czech Glass Beads, Silk Ribbon, Antique Brass chain and a Antique Brass Filigree Toggle Clasp.
These earrings are called 'Medusa's Trance'. They feature Boro Lampwork Beads by SeaShore Glass, Glass Pearls, Glass Faceted Beads and lots of Antique Brass.
I feel very honored and blessed to be published in Bead Trends. I admire many of the designers who are featured in this magazine and am tickled to be included in and amongst them. Although I find great joy in submitting my creations for publication and even more joy in being accepted, I certainly do not take it for granted or feel it is a necessity for me to continue on as a jewelry designer. I will continue to design and submit pieces and feel very fortunate as I watch where this adventure takes me.
Check out my sale in my Etsy Shop for Valentine's Day. Enter coupon code SWEETHEART15 at checkout to receive 15% OFF your purchase. www.etsy.com/shop/gettagift
Monday, 23 January 2012
The Move, Kindergarten, Bead Soup and Life...
It feels like forever since I have logged onto a computer, its been a week. The move last week went well despite the very wintry weather we had the day of the move. Mother Nature decided it was time we had winter and she picked the day of our move to put us in a deep freeze. It was a balmy -30C (-22F) the day of the move, lucky for us we hired movers. We are not old by no means, but a little too old to be doing the moving on our own. This particular day the money for the movers was well worth it. Anyway, like I said the move went well for whatever you want to call a good move. We have started to settle right into our new home. Of course there has been lots of cleaning on my part, as I am a bit of a nut when it comes to sanitizing and cleaning. We have also been acclimating to our new neighborhood, its a little different than what I am used to, but in time it will become more familiar.
Kindergarten has snuck up on us. I can hardly believe my little guy is going to be 5 years old this year and will be starting Kindergarten in the fall. We went to his school today and registered him for school. He seems quite excited....Mommy is quite sad. :)
I recently registered for a Bead Soup Blog Hop and I was one of the lucky ones to get picked by random draw. I have to say that I am thrilled and have been wanting to participate in one of these since I started beading last year. I have been paired up with my partner, Sonya Stille, she lives in Augusta, Georgia. Sonya and I have emailed one another and I have sent off her parcel of Bead Soup Mix. I hope she likes the array of things I sent her. :)
Then there has been life happening on a daily basis while all these other things going on. Sometimes life gives you a good dose of reality and sometimes it doesn`t always seem fair. I got some troubling news the other day and quite honestly it brings me to tears at random times during the day. Unfortunately, its not an easy fix problem and will take some time, lots of faith, hope & praying to God to get through it. Please remember to tell the people in your life that you love them, appreciate them and let them know how important they are to you. Things change on a moments notice and we will miss our chance to let people know just how much we love them.
That`s all for now, take care and have a great day!
Traci
Kindergarten has snuck up on us. I can hardly believe my little guy is going to be 5 years old this year and will be starting Kindergarten in the fall. We went to his school today and registered him for school. He seems quite excited....Mommy is quite sad. :)
I recently registered for a Bead Soup Blog Hop and I was one of the lucky ones to get picked by random draw. I have to say that I am thrilled and have been wanting to participate in one of these since I started beading last year. I have been paired up with my partner, Sonya Stille, she lives in Augusta, Georgia. Sonya and I have emailed one another and I have sent off her parcel of Bead Soup Mix. I hope she likes the array of things I sent her. :)
Then there has been life happening on a daily basis while all these other things going on. Sometimes life gives you a good dose of reality and sometimes it doesn`t always seem fair. I got some troubling news the other day and quite honestly it brings me to tears at random times during the day. Unfortunately, its not an easy fix problem and will take some time, lots of faith, hope & praying to God to get through it. Please remember to tell the people in your life that you love them, appreciate them and let them know how important they are to you. Things change on a moments notice and we will miss our chance to let people know just how much we love them.
That`s all for now, take care and have a great day!
Traci
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