Beadworkers: Seven Deadly Sins - SIN #7

Linda L. Jones

Have you already visited Linda L. Jones's blog, Wild Wicked Beads? That is where you will find 6 articles which she grouped under the title BEADWORKERS: SEVEN DEADLY SINS. Linda's articles are priceless. Her humor and talent as a writer equalled her beading skills: amazing.
You may notice that Sin #7 is missing. It will always be missing.
Linda passed away in 2012 after a very brave fight against brain cancer. She is much missed by Planet Bead.

I don't remember when exactly this year, but I got so upset by people manoeuvering behind people's back - something which has hurt me so much in the past, that I wanted to write the 7th Beader's deadly sin. 

While writing, I understood why she never wrote this one (at least, it felt so):
if Slaunder and Innuendo are the 7th Deadly Sin, writing about it was like perpetrating it... particularly the 'Innuendo' part, the "I have the right to write this, because... because what? I am better? or would never do this to someone else?"
Frustration disappeared instantly when I realized that. Gone, it was, and the peace of letting destiny's wheel turn came instead.
 
Linda, I now understand why you never wrote the 7th, but still kept the title. May your class and beautiful insights light a little light in the heart of many more beaders and people. 

Love and gratitude.

I'm starting the New Year with a fresh, clean mind.

I wish you all a very Happy, Creative, Colorful New Year!

'T is the time of year...

I wanted to send a newsletter to you all, but it seems to be illegal to do that (spam) without asking your permission. So if you would like to receive the kind of information as contained in this post, sign up in the little form on the left of this page - the star is the field for the e-mail, the two other fields are for your first and last name.

First of all, I would like to inform you that I updated the pattern for the 3D shapes "Pepper, Fork and Yukka Flower". If you purchased it from me in the past, please convo me to let me know if you want the updated version for this. I will send it to you by e-mail.

next... lots of nice things to know!

'T is the time of year... to look back at 2013 and give thanks.

I opened my Etsy shop in March, the first day of Spring, and sold 200 patterns! Many thanks to all for your support!

Mandala Beaded Beads by Datz Katz

One of the patterns was a fundraiser for my friend Debra from DatzKatz, it is not available in my shop anymore, but in hers, you will find her lovely Mandala Beaded Bead, together with other very nice and beautiful things.

A few listings have expired and instead of relisting them, I am planning to make a little booklet, mainly the botanical designs. I would love to know what you think about this.

'T is the time of year to offer yourself a treat!

Today, I listed the Ishtar Collar Pattern, 34 pages plus cover and back, with extremely detailed illustrations and instructions, lots of hints and advice. Ishtar Collar is very pleasant to bead, you won't want to put the needle down. 

Ishtar Collar - Honey Topaz

Marca Smit from DiMarca-Online teamed up with me to make kits available at a reasonable price.

You can choose 3 color variations:
- Honey/Topaz
- Malachite Green/Gold
- Silver/Gray/Black

The kit comes in a fancy frosted plastic wallet and contains the most beautiful Delicas and Tilas, with yummie metallic or gold luster finishes, and of course lovely little dangling drops, thread, needles and ribbon, everything you need to make your own beautiful collar.

You can choose to buy the kit with electronic or in paper pattern, or without - in case you have already purchased the electronic pattern from me.

'T is the time of year to gather together.

Rick Rack graph for tall peaks

We can get together anytime, but the past month, cool Contemporary Geometric Beaders contributed to a survey about Rick Rack bangle Sizes.
Thanks to their generous contribution, I could finalize the Rick Rack Graphs, a 15-page 'bundle' with detailed information and graph paper for you to colour in.
I will let you know on Facebook when it will be available. I am also offering the flags and pennants patterns for free to the Contemporary Geometric Beadwork web blog for all the subscribers to use.

'T is the time of year to offer a little present to those who count, which you do.

Ayatee

As a Christmas gift I have written a short tutorial for a simple,  pretty bracelet using superduos (Twin beads) and Czechmates Lentil beads. It is called Ayatee and you may download the free pattern here. Let me know what you think of it, send me your pictures!

Don't miss the special sale in my Etsy Shop, 2 patterns for 1, which remains valid until 31 December 2013. You may also convo me to offer your complimentary pattern to a friend.

My very best wishes for a peaceful, joyful time of year.

I know how to swim, but not endlessly

My balcony in the summer

It might not seem so, but over the past months, I really didn't feel well. It all started with the return of the cold, end of August. I wanted to profit from my balcony a little bit more, because this year... well this year the heaters were on until the beginning of July and Summer lasted exactly 7 weeks. Unbelievable.

They did not put the heaters on very quickly, of course not... This resulted in cystitis (and a bad cold later on), and I needed to have antibiotics. When she delivered the antibiotics, the pharmacist said that I had to interrupt 2 medications, due to interactions. One of the two is for fibro and -I have to admit that now- mental stability. The pharmacist had already warned me in the past that it could affect the heartbeat, but I decided to rely on my doctors, who never said anything about that. But yes, my heartbeat had changed (I felt scary 'blobs'). During that one week of antibiotics without my other medics I felt ok, so I decided to not take them for a while.

In the meantime, my adorable physiotherapist said that I seemed to loose my inner light and that I should talk about it with my doctor.

Which I did, a tiny bit later than reasonable.

To make a long story short: I saw plenty of doctors and had to make plenty of phone calls and became really, really depressed. 

I love the view from my window.
Since yesterday there are ice flowers
on my favorite tree.

Someone suggested that it might be seasonal depression. Well, that for sure is not the problem. Not at all. I love Fall and Winter. I'd say that seasonal depression happens to me when it is still cold in June :) June should be nice, right?

According to the cardiologist everything is fine. I'm glad that I finally have that important medication back, since last Friday. I can feel the difference already. Hurray!

There is hope here. However, it was a shock to realize that beads and positive attitude weren't sufficient to remain balanced... I didn't even like beading anymore, and that felt so very wrong.

It is like swimming in the middle of the lake or sea. You've learned to swim but you cannot swim continuously. Plus, the water is cold.  The strength or power to keep on swimming and breathing weakens more and more... You need to have something to hold on to keep your head out of the water (or find a way to the shore). Happy to have the buoy back!

I am very very grateful for the wonderful support many of you have shown on Facebook when I wrote about this. Much gratitude and love to you all. You rock!

 

Now, I feel that I'm coming back. Suddenly I succeeded to finish the graphs for the Rick Racks for Contemporary Geometric Beadwork (in the process of being reviewed) as well as my patterns for  Ishtar Collar KITS. Yes, KITS!! This will be the subject of another blog post - suspense suspense!

For now, I want to celebrate with you that my heart is ok, and that I can take the much needed medication again. And with Christmas at our door, let's have a special

"Two patterns for one"

This is how it works: buy one pattern and write to me in the comments box which other pattern you wish to receive. I will send it to you via e-mail. Do not put the second pattern in your cart. 

You can choose a pattern of a lower or identic value as the one you purchase in my Etsy Shop.

This is valid until the end of December 31, 2013 on all patterns listed in my Etsy Shop.