Too Many Forks In The Road

A lot of things have been happening lately and I find myself faced with too many forks in the road!  As I stand at the crossroads I wonder which is the correct road to take at this time? Recently my Mother fell and broke her right humorous (upper arm), because she has a pinched nerve that takes out her left hip, it will cause her to fall if she doesn't have her walker. We were waiting to take her to the Spine Surgeon, to here the results of her MRI, that she had done recently. Well Mom is recovering slowly and bravely trying to deal with the limitations she is having to endure. When you are right handed and you break or injure your right arm or hand, a whole host of humorous scenarios can arrive at your doorstep, when trying to overcome your handicap. Simple things like completing your personal toiletries become challenging but do-able when peppered with a sense of humor. With assistance from my brother,sister,husband,nephew, and myself, life is somehow returning to a semi normal state!

While dealing with all the above, our nephew is here, for what we are calling "a do-over". A chance for him to study to get his GED and his permit and license.  We are also trying to encourage him to further his education. He is 24 and has had a difficult time, but he is bright, likeable, intelligent,polite, and can be obstinate about what he thinks should be done. So with patience and gentle persuasion we are slowly working with him to obtain some of his goals. It is very nice getting to know this young man and yet reminds me of my sons and the stubbornness I encountered with them. We have butted heads a few times, but have turned it around to a positive attitude with explanations as to why or what we might not approve of, and what would be a better way to approach the situation at hand. It is working, slowly, and I keep my fingers crossed, and pray we are reaching this remarkable young man.

Finally,finally finished a bead embroidered piece that has taken me about 3 1/2 months to complete! Now for most of you, you could have completed this project a lot quicker, but I was dealing with the above for about the last 2-3 weeks, as well as a pinched nerve in my back that started last November and didn't stop pinching the nerve till the middle of April! There were very few days that I could actually do bead work and I wanted to enter it in the Fire Mountain Gems Seed Bead Contest. I happy danced all over my house on May 6th, my husband took the pictures, I filled out the entry and supply list and off went the entry via email!  Now comes the long,long,long wait.  I am not sure how many more of their contests I'm going to enter, I enjoy the challenges and they seem to like my work, so this is one to play by ear!

For kicks and grins, I emailed Beadwork Magazine W.O.R.D. after seeing Jill Wiseman's post on facebook. They like one of the necklaces, I sent them the jewelry to be photographed and I have already received my jewelry back!  I do so enjoy quick and efficient work as they did.  My necklace will appear in the 2012 Oct/Nov issue of Beadwork Magazine.  I am pleased and accomplished something good for myself.

Now there are a couple more forks in my road I am facing, what are my plans for the future?  I have been winding down my beading a lot, do to health (back and wrist issues).  I don't know if I wish to take a temporary hiatus or move in another direction completely?  While I am pondering this, my creative muse, the one with the millions of designs still to create, has come up missing!  I think she took off down one of those forks in the road, that I haven't been down yet.  So for now, I am coping, health is doing okay, my muse is missing, my husband is a love, my Mom is well and healing, my humor is intact and working fine, my nephew is working hard to accomplish his goals, and things look like they are going to be okay!

To those of you who were able to enter The Battle of the Beads, go..go...go... I envy you all, just wasn't the right time for me, but I am so excited to see this contest, the artists are phenominal and the work superb, this will be quite interesting. Maybe next year I might actually be able to consider this if I am invited to enter. Who knows!!!  Good luck to all of you!

Deborah

Moving into the lazy hazy days of summer

Well it's been a while since I have blogged. Updates, pinched nerve has faded away at last! Now I am trying to catch up and finish all my projects that were put on hold.  One piece will be done this week, entering it in the FMG seed bead contest, so I can't show a picture yet. This piece has taken me 3 months to complete, my first attempt at a collar, I think there is definitely room for improvement, but don't think I will tackle one again, not for a long time anyway, they are a lot of work and I've decided there are such great artists already out there!

So onward to new things. I have a tutorial almost completed (another project that was on hold) I am looking forward to completing it and then finishing a second tutorial on a pair of soutache earrings I had started!  As with most artists, I have at least three new projects lined up and waiting to be made. Just sent off a necklace to Beadwork magazine, it will appear in the Oct/Nov 2012 issue, if I am not mistaken, in W.O.R.D.

Things have slowed down greatly for me, having lots of problems with my right hand, so I wonder how much longer I will be beading. Being an artist allows me to switch gears, I'm gathering materials and supplies for silk painting, thought I'd create some designs on silk scarves with paint and bring in some beaded elements for extra pizzazz! This is a future project, so will keep you informed as to how it goes.  The China painting bug has also been reminding me that I have projects I could do as well. There are also at least a dozen oil paintings I'd like to do as well, so if beading is slowing down, all my other artistic abilities are motivated and ready to go!

My Mom just recently fell and injured herself quite badly, so I will be spending more time with her during her recovery, as well as I have a nephew who is coming from Massachusetts to Oregon to stay with my husband and I. He is getting a chance for a "do over" and we are hoping to help him get his GED as well as send him to some kind of technical school. So for now my plate is quite full, many changes and adjustments, but all is returning to some kind of normalcy!

Efforts in Confusion

Well, I am moving at a snails pace lately and leaving a trail of spilled beads! Trying to get back to beading while patiently waiting for a pinched nerve to go pinch someone else! Though the process has been slow I am anxious to get on with all my projects, though the older I get the longer they seem to take. I turned 56 this year and have had to do a lot of re-evaluating about my life, dealing with disabilities that don't get better but challenge me as to how I can still do the things I love to do.
I have had to give up gardening which I adore, but my loving husband is going to make some permanent beds (4'wx8'lx24"h) with cinder blocks, so that I can sit and not have to bend so much (spinal surgeries). We both miss the fresh and organic veggies I used to grow and find the grocery stores veggies pale in comparison to garden grown. I look forward to planting herbs in the open holes on the tops of the cinder blocks! Because I tend to go crazy with gardening, we will start with only two beds, so its been a challenge to decide on what to grow!
Beading right now is slow and I am awkwardly attempting to write up a tutorial. The illustrations are giving me the toughest time, so I am using a combination of pictures and hopefully illustrations. I can draw the illustrations on paper, but to do it on the computer and even my new drawing pad is causing me to get stress headaches. So I am now approaching it slowly, my husband is a great help, he's my camera man,computer man,critic, and in general a blessing.
So now it's time to say goodbye, have to get back to this tutorial and a bead embroidered collar that I have been working on for two months (and it will take about that long to finish!).  I hope all of you are looking forward to spring and wonderful weather, happy beading!

Moving ahead with Spring Cleaning!

Well the last time I posted I mentioned the new direction I am going to move in. Well guess what, I'm still working out the details! Have I actually written anything: NO! Other than posts that I am closing my website!  I also have a piece I am trying to finish, but the past 45 days I have had to deal with a pinched nerve in my neck. It affects my right arm and hand, so beading has been pretty much been gathering dust. Writing has been difficult and the hunt and peck system of typing wears me out! Great news though the pinching in my neck is finally receeding and I made it through my birthday weekend of sleep!  I got a new prescription for non narcotic medicine to help with the pain and to help me sleep. Well it knocked me out for the entire weekend, didn't get to do anything as I couldn't keep my eyes open. If that wasn't disappointing enough, I had an allergic reaction to the medication and couldn't stop itching!  I am allergic to all narcotic pain meds and now it seems even the non narcotic meds as well! Oh well, I got through it and I am happy to be on the mend! Now if I ever complete this collar I started! As my disabilities progress in the downward fashion, I become slower and slower, I have had to tell people that I can't tell them how long something takes me to make, some days are good, some not-so-good!
I have decided to close my website, it hasn't been successful for sales, and has more or less become a bulletin board for the events I've entered pieces in, I've decided this blog can handle that aspect of my website, and my etsy shop can cover the selling part.  Once I have completed this swap out and change over I will actually have time to write!
Speaking of writing, Bead Design Studio Magazine April 2012 issue comes out March 13th, I have an article in this.  I am very anxious to write up instructions for the bracelet that just won a Bronze medal in the 2011 Fire Mountain Gems Gemstone contest, this is such a versatile method and there are so many options for constructing this piece, I think it will be a great piece to start with, just thinking of making another version in different color, to show the options are only limited by individuals creativity!

Check out the 40% off sale at my website, http://www.deborahaweaver.  Hope to be announcing the completion of the "collar that has taken forever " and that I am at least starting some tutorials!

Keep creating!

New Year Challenges

Right now I have a pinched nerve that is taking out the use of my right hand. This is happening more frequently, bummer, it may mean I have another disk that needs repair,fusing, etc. I don't want any more surgeries, I still haven't adjusted to my limited capabilities yet, still fighting with myself about being disabled.  So I decided to think about what is important to me and what I would like to accomplish this year.

First I had to make a difficult choice with regards to my involvement with the Etsy Beadweavers Team, this made me sad, as given my current health situation I didn't feel I could actively participate and this is a great and very active team. Though their requirements are not as pressing as others I felt I needed to take time off. I will miss so many of the members on this team, but hope to continue to keep up with them through the use of their blogs and Facebook. 

Next difficult decision I have made, at some time in the near future I will close my Etsy shop, 1 sale in over a year does not justify the time and money put into this venue.  Not sure when I will do this, it tugs at my heart, but I can't keep hoping sales will pick up, not for finished jewelry anyway.  I am hoping I can master pattern/tutorial writing, this seems to be the successful avenue to take, people can afford a pattern and making it themselves brings a source of enjoyment and fulfillment.  So I am headed this way. I will still retain my website so I won't be completely out of the picture.

The third decision/challenge I have set for myself is to get back to painting, my paint brushes have been calling me and I don't want my oil paints to dry up!  I have gathered all kinds of inspiration from Pinterest and I am excited about painting again, I feel confident I will be able to, I haven't painted since my wrist surgery, nor my neck or back surgery so it will be a challenge!

The last challenge for the new year is to submit a few designs to beading publications, they take so long to get back to you that it gives you time to perfect things and I can always turn them into tutorials for sale, if they are rejected! This won't take precedence on my list, but I would like to keep it in my future. Of course there are the Fire Mountain Gems contests, they will be with me for a while longer as well.

So you will still here from me and I am comfortable with the challenges I have set for myself.  Keep beading, designing and doing what artistically makes you happy.

Where does the time go?

As I sit having a cup of tea this morning, I realize I haven't posted in my blog, nor have I kept up with the blogs I follow.  When I pull up my account I realize how much has happened and how much I have missed. It is not my intention to be so slack in my artistic endeavors, but it is happening more and more.

I am having to face some very difficult choices, the biggest being how much longer am I going to be able to bead.

I have had surgeries to my neck (fusion/metal plate), my lower back (disks fused, titanium rods), reconstruction of my right wrist (limited use of this hand, pushing the limits results in severe pain, as well as loss of use of my right hand, and I am a righty!), as well as dealing with diabetes.  I am considered disabled, something I don't like and foolishly try to prove to myself that I'm not.

I have struggled to continue a "normal" lifestyle since the neck and back surgeries, I have been to specialists with hopes that the Dr.'s may have a miracle cure for my wrist. This is as good as it gets. I have to accept my limitations and will be slowly, ( I will drag my feet on this too) getting out of beading.  I don't want to but I am having more and more difficulties physically and this saddens me greatly. I have so many designs still running through my head.

There is still areas in my art I will still be able to do, painting, I have been getting all kinds of subject matter to paint, I prefer oils.  Then there is China painting, this will be a challenge and a limited outlet as I cannot use my hands that long.  I will still do an occasional bead project, as I said I have a lot of designs still in my head that I have to do. Funny I am working on a piece right now, that in the back of my mind I kept thinking "make this a spectacular piece, a grand finale" and I kept telling myself to stop this kind of thinking. Sad fact is, that it takes me longer and longer to accomplish the beadwork and the result of pushing myself is pain.

So while you may see less of my work, and I won't be doing many more challenges, I will still do the occasional piece and post for you to see.  Physically and financially it is time to slow way down. I have several pieces in the works and pieces in contests I haven't shown yet, so there will be more coming from me.  I am not completely done yet, just have to make some wise choices concerning my disabilities.

Keep beading, I will for as long as I can.  Posts will be limited as well, typing is another area that I have to limit, but you will hear from me soon!

Moving on in the New Year

Well this year has started out with a bang, and I am wondering what new and exciting adventures will be ahead of me.  I have decided to concentrate on writing tutorials on my beaded projects, a way of sharing what knowledge I have gathered over the years and sharing truimphs as well as failures.

The world of art is fascinating, a never ending world of exploring and learning, there is no lack of subject matter and our eyes are open to all possibilities. This is where I am, in my artistic life.  It is a happy place that brings comfort, joy, and solace, to name just a few of the emotions it brings to me.

I have decided to concentrate on what makes me happiest, designing!  There is no greater joy than to sit down with piles of beads in all colors and hues of the rainbow, and create something that is pleasant to the eye, creative in the use of color and composition, and to see a concept or idea come to fruition. For an artist, this is the moment of joy, what others think of your work is secondary, it is how you feel about the piece that matters most.

There can be wonderful learning experiences in your association with artists groups, but there is much conflict as well.  Every artist dreams of being admired, successful, and even famous, but are these really what is important? To some it is the only thing that matters and achieving these goals can be treacherous and some revert to unkind means of obtaining this. Be careful that you don't lose site of the real reason you create, for the joy and happiness it brings you.

I hope to bring new and exciting creations in the new year. It is my hope to inspire and promote an art form that is dear to my heart, not me personally, the art of making jewelry.

Here's to a year filled with color and creative thoughts.