06 June 2013

The Great Bead Mothership Has Landed

"I can’t stress this enough: Do what you love…in between work commitments, and family commitments, and commitments that tend to pop up and take immediate precedence over doing the thing you love. Because the bottom line is that life is short, and you owe it to yourself to spend the majority of it giving yourself wholly and completely to something you absolutely hate, and 20 minutes here and there doing what you feel you were put on this earth to do."

 from Find The Thing You're Most Passionate About, Then Do It On Nights and Weekends For The Rest of Your Life ~ The Onion

I am leaving tomorrow today for Milwaukee. I can't wait! I get to visit - however briefly - with my sister and her family, but more importantly I get to commune with people who get me like no one else does. The Great Bead Mothership has landed and I am ready to hop on board! It is always so exciting to get there and meet up with old friends and also to know that when I leave I will have some new friends. I hope that if you are reading this and you will be there, you will seek me out. I would love to meet you!

I get to hang out with Heather Powers at Humblebeads in booth #1212 and her Aunt Rosanne. The aisle that we are in is in the heart of the Art Bead side of the show. It is the place that I can't wait to visit as I am always blown away by the talent of so many.

My bead budget will be considerably smaller than in years past - mostly because I found the box with the beads that I bought last year and the vast majority of them are untouched - but more so because I have a new venture that I am focusing on that is causing me to branch out my creativity while helping causes that I care about. All of my available capitol right now is being funneled into setting all of this up. When I have a clearer picture of how this will work, I will be sure to share.

On Saturday night, the Art Bead Scene will be hosting a little meet and greet of art bead artists and enthusiasts. I look forward to kicking back with my bead peeps and swapping a few art beads. I am sure that my art bead museum can make room for a few more entries!

So since I have a veritable dragons' hoard of beads - including a museum full of art beads that I apparently buy and then allow to collect dust - I decided to whip up a few necklaces to show off some of the friends that I will be seeing at the Bead & Button with pieces that I scored from them in the last year...or so. Sort of my salute to Art Bead artists.





Home to Roost
 Featuring MoreSkyeJewels nest tile, polymer clay egg from Second Surf, peridot carved leaves, Vintaj brass branch, wood slices, Czech glass



Earth Laughs in F;owers
Featuring Humblebeads and my own Simple Truths along with brass and Czech glass

  
O, Happy Day
Featuring components from Michaels by Jangles and Czech glass



No Small Thing, Courage
Featuring glass from imakebeads, word bead from Diane Hawkey, one of my own enameled beads, copper leaf fringe chain, my own patinaed bead cap, Czech glass

 
Lasso Me A Lovely
Featuring a flower from Lisa Peters Art, an iron flower from The Lipstick Ranch, leather cord and a big hole pearl from TA Pearls


Outta Time
Faux lariat featuring a ceramic toggle from Earthenwood Studio, lampwork glass from Sea of Glass, chain and beads



And with that, I am officially Outta Time! I need to get myself down to Milwaukee before all the beads are taken and the Great Bead Mothership takes off without me! ;-)


See you next week!



15 comments:

Monique (A Half-Baked Notion) said...

Hope this is an event full of inspiration and renewal for you, Erin... happy travels!

Love all your wonderful storyteller designs, as always.

Ema Kilroy said...

LOL...I love it, The Great Bead Mothership...I wish I could be on it with all of you lovely ladies. I completely understand your reference to being with people who 'get me'. Enjoy your time!
~Ema

Ema Kilroy said...

I should say ALL your creations are gorgeous!
~Ema

Jennifer Jangles said...

So bummed I will miss seeing you and all of my bead friends. Next year for sure!

Love, love, love the necklace! And I totally agree, you have to do what you love.

Have a great time and I will be looking forward to a show and tell of all of the great beads you've bought at the show.

Jennifer

Mellisa said...

Gorgeous pieces as always Erin! Have the most wonderful time at B&B, pet all the pretty beads for me please :) Stop by and visit Chris at The Art of the Bead, #1248 if you have a chance, I'd love to hear what you think of the table...she's crammed a bunch of my pendants on there for me!

lunedreams said...

All absolutely fabulous, as usual! I especially love "Oh Happy Day", the focal section is so cool!!

Shai Williams said...

I am so envious. Oh well I know that someday I will be able to go back east and attend. Have loads of fun!

Dawn Doucette said...

Oh dear Erin, have such a wonderful time. I love how you started this post... do what you love for the rest of your life. I was just a guest on a radio show yesterday to discuss finding your passion and turning it into a viable business. It's a topic I feel so strongly about it makes my toes tingle!

Have an amazing time with all the wonderful art bead friends! Love your creations and can't wait to see what you do scoop up this year!

xo
Dawn

P.S. Here's a recording of my interview from yesterday. Live your passion baby!!

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/suzymanning/2013/06/05/suzy-manning-women-living-empowered-lives-at-midlife

Kathleen Lange Klik said...

Love the designs you created with the beads you purchased last year! What a fun idea to create pieces that refer to the artist friends you will see this year-they will be delighted!

I would love to attend Bead and Button...hopefully one of these years. It will have to be a vacation for me more than a business venture as I couldn't justify the travel costs. ;) Have a wonderful time, say hello to all the beads for me (rows and rows of beautiful beads)!

stacilouise said...

absolutely gorgeous pieces Erin! I especially love your names, the beautiful words you put with each, perfection.

Anonymous said...

This sounds like SUCH a good time for you! It must be wonderful to meet people you know through beading circles.
How I envy your stash of beads! You sure have some lovelies and what great pieces you have made!

Anonymous said...

Georgous - love every piece. Have a great day. Inge

Unknown said...

I am envious whenever someone brings up this topic and I pray that one day I will be able to feel that feeling of "living the dream". I absolutely love these designs especially Earth Laughs in Flowers and No Small Thing Courage. Now you can buy lots more beads since you used some of the ones you were hoarding...I bet these designs will sell in a second (if you're selling them).

Unknown said...

Oh Erin your work is always stunning! Such throws of loveliness! My when I see your work I feel small lol. I have a wonderful time with Heather..oxx!

Marie Cramp said...

I absolutely LOVE what you created with my nest pendant!! It is so beautiful!! I just can't wait to see what else you are making <3
Love you beady sister

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