Surfin' the Web

(above - two page spread from one of Barb Berry's art journals)
Tonight I spent some time looking at artist's blogs and was quite inspired. what shall I do first? Make an art quilt, watercolor landscapes, work in my art journals? So many ideas are swimming in my brain at the moment. Too late tonight to start anything else although I did just finish a bracelet with my beads.
Here are a couple of places I suggest you go for some visual feasting and intros to creative people:
robninolsen.blogspot.com
Robin Olsen a Portland, Oregon fiber artist with an interesting blog and many great links
kaylacoo.blogspot.com
Kayla Coo is an artist who creates beautiful stitchery and drawings
One of my favorites from years ago:
teeshascircus.blogspot.com
Teesha Moore is just so creative and amazing, and oooooooo the colors!
Then there is me... and I am re-doing my website so please check it out at www.moosewinks.com

Moss and Violets Bracelet

I am happy to say that after months of working on this, I have finally finished it. I am still thinking of adding a piece to it so that it can be a bracelet and necklace, but that will take some time and some designing. I am thrilled with how it looks and feels. I told someone it was like an abstract panting which changes every time you look at it, and every way you look at it!

These freeform peyote stitch pieces are so rewarding to work on. They evolve from a tiny patch of beadwork into a full textured piece of wearable art.

Cold Today!

It was minus 10 this morning! Good thing I was staying home with a sick child. We didn't leave the house all day, and that's a good thing. Brrrrrr!
So , it's a good time to show off some recent (and not so recent) photographs that I'm proud of. Enjoy.

January in Maine

It hasn't been a very snowy winter so far. Yes there is white stuff on the ground, but it isn't covering roads and sidewalks, and like the kid in the grocery store said "It isn't getting me out of school!"

When I lived in Baltimore we had late openings, early dismissals and snow days quite often and for much less snow than this. So being a teacher in Maine in winter means a bit of excitement when flakes fly, but don't get your hopes up for time off... that rarely happens here.

I still enjoy winter here. It's very lovely, not super cold and fun to have soups for meals on chilly days and evenings. Long underwear solves lots of problems and hunkering down under blankets and comforters can be very pleasant.

And always, there are thoughts of spring just around the corner.

Flying Pig Stamp

Usually I sell jewelry in my etsy shop, but now I have increased the amount of rubber stamps that I sell. This one seems to be popular, so I thought I'd show you a picture of it. You can see more stamps if you go to my etsy shop. http://www.etsy.com/listing/64704904/big-flying-pig-stamp

Bark Blush Freeform Peyote Stitch Necklace

This is a new one that's for sale in my Etsy shop "Moosewinks". The pinks and browns together are really gentle. I had fun making it even if it did take forever!

Purple Bracelet

My favorite color, purple. Sometimes I am surprised that I don't create more in this color. When I look at what I have in my bead collection I also see lots of aqua so I better say my two favorite colors are purple and aqua. This is a fun one to wear. Very fringy and textural. I also have ankle bracelets in my etsy shop that are similar to this. Maybe this is strange, but I like to take the bracelet, curl it up in my hand and hold it. It feels good! OK, so I'm weird. It looks good around your wrist.

It is for sale for $22 in my Etsy shop. go to this link : purple bracelet

Aqua Necklace Completed

It always feels good to finish something you started awhile ago. And so it is with this summery beaded necklace I call Water Necklace. The colors are so June , July and August! Lots of seed beads combined with some others I've made out of polymer clay.

And with this finished it was a good chilly day to make hot cocoa and chex mix for my son and his friend when they came home from school. I cherish these times since they are so fleeting and before I know it he'll be driving and heading out to greener pastures.
A wonderful afternoon... hanging out with adolescents who still want to hang out with mom, and the good feeling of completion. I even put the necklace in my Etsy shop!
http://www.etsy.com/listing/63996990/aqua-multi-strand-beaded-water-necklace