Happy Mother's Day!

I sent this to my mother:

Make sure you've called your mother and reminded her how wonderful she is.

Use the Muse IV

The big reveal over at The Beader's Muse happened this week.
Everyone's work is really impressive and so different.  Each time I'm amazed by the different designs everyone comes up with, but this time I think the neutral colors of the kit really lent themselves to pushing people in very different directions.  You can see the gallery of all the participants, including me, here.

My piece for Use the Muse IV:

"Harbingers of Spring"

Vase Again!

I went up to Maine to visit family this past weekend and snapped a picture of a  vase I made in its natural habitat:

Use the Muse IV Sneak Peak

It's taken me until the last minute, but I've just completed by submission for Use the Muse IV which is sponsored by Art Beads.   I really liked the Muse this time around and decided to continue to play with asymmetrical design.  Although it uses many elements of designs that I've done in the past, it is by far the most different thing I've done and I'm pleased with how it has turned out.  The mostly neutral colored kit was fun to branch out from although I kept in a lot of the neutral browns because I could use something in those colors. Several components from the kit are things I'd like to use in the future.

A What Not To Do

Today I learned why it is perhaps not a good idea to use your teeth to pull a needle through a tough seed bead.  In addition to the occasional broken seed bead, you can also break the needle. Having that little tip in your mouth is most assuredly not a good idea.

I'll stick to using pliers from now on.

New Items on Etsy

I put up two finished pieces in the Etsy store.  Go take a look and encourage your friends to take a look!

Vases!

I've been experimenting with some more beaded netting on glass vases.  I have a bunch of ideas to expand on this basic and someday when I have time again it will happen.  I like the simplicity of this one and I think the neutral colors would make it work well with a lot of decor.  I might add some to my Etsy store as I think they would make good hostess gifts.