Winter Blues? Artbeads Rescue

Okay so it has been a while and let me tell you why (whether you want to know or not)  I have had the hardest time focusing.  I know it's sounds like I am whining ( I actually am) but I also know that there are much worse things to deal with than the inability to focus (see previous post...still sending good thoughts to all my friends) I have been flitting in and out of Blogger, Facebook and The Hive trying to keep up with all of you and I still plan on trying a driveby to all of you!  I can so prove this by showing you my bead tray as of late.  While it may seem organized (to avoid lose of beads to curious imp) it shows that I have not been able to complete but 1 project in the last month!  Here is the tray

And this is what I was able to finish

I don't know if any of you remember when I took my first beading class and I had too tight tension and made this on to fit an imp well....I finally ripped it all apart (yes I did) and completed it!  Now Shelby won't take it off (not even for me to get a good picture).  This one had me in a bunch too!  Remember EVERY row on this is reinforced and I have been wound a little tight lately so my tension was still off.

So I think I told you all last week that I got my first Artbeads Challenge assignment.  Winter.  Well since we are in the middle of it...yeah I can do that.  So I chose my beads and sent my request to Duchess (who by the way is soo sweet) but as you will see I was in 2 totally different moods when I choose.  I also have 2 really different and beautiful (if i choose colors correctly) designs.  Here is what came in the mail today and boy did I need them!

Winter Storm

Vintage Valentine

I need to tell you right now (besides Seeds of course) my new favorites are firepolished rounds.  Especially the ones in the top picture and guess what here's the link to Artbeads firepolished selection.  They have a great variety and I am so glad they do.  Right now 3mm are my personal favs.

Now in the second picture you fill find the most gorgeous 6mm rounds.  I fell in love when I saw them on the site and let me tell you when I got them I was not disappointed!  The color and glow of them is stunning!  I had these rivolis and I think my theme might work perfectly AND I have yet to use rivoli's in any of my pairings.  Thank you so much Duchess and I hope I do not disappoint.

Hey you know what?  I have to tell you about the most awesome seed bead collection you can get from my sweet friend Lori Cook at her Out of the Flames Etsy shop here's a picture but let me tell you this collection of seeds is superb for anyone just starting out in seed beads.

Heaven for me!!!!!

Go check it out if you can.  It is a great deal. Oh and when you get there you have to check out her cabs!

Okay so now you get the idea of where I have been.  I will be starting my Artbeads designs this weekend so wish me luck on the focus thing.  I also know that the Margie and Me reveal is this weekend so do not forget to stop by at LaBella Joya to hook up with all the goodness our friends have created from this month's inspiration.

Hugs and Blessings

KK

I am a reviewer of products for Artbeads.com. I received the beads above free of charge. I have used and reviewed this product and my statements are an honest description. I receive no compensation from Artbeads.com for my endorsement as it pertains to the product above.

My New Pairing (I 'm still not sure about it though)

OK so here's the story. You know I took the lentil herringbone class (that is if you have been reading of course) So when I was at the shop I was planning to purchase lentils that looked very patriotic to me but....they were out! So I tried drops instead. Well....I of course didn't buy enough because I missed counted (stupid math) so I started the bracelet anyway and restarted the bracelet anyway. I was trotting along in the evenings(I obviously like this pattern) and this time paying close attention to the measurements (I still haven't ripped up the strawberry kiwi one because if I haven't mentioned before EVERY ROW IS REINFORCED!) I was half way through the second embellishment row when I realized I was using the wrong inner beads (ARGH!) Shelby said to leave it because it would look "COOL" that way and practically dared me to finish it. (Have I mentioned the OCD thing?) So I did and here it is! Please Please be brutally honest on this one as I am still considering restarting it!

PS I now have 15 followers and I am so surprised and grateful to all of you for visiting "I so Lucky!"

Always Believe
Kristen

What I planned to do and what didn't happen

Here was my plan yesterday.  I was going to take pictures of my finished class project (which is now a new pairing)

and what I bought at the bead shop ( aren't they pretty? )

and then maybe alittle about my weekend.  Here is what actually happened.  Saturday was great!  We all went shopping and out to lunch and then Michael (my sweet hubby) dropped Shelby and I off at the bead shop for the second part of my class and she really wanted to see what they had (she likes chainmail) (oh man I didn't get the picture of the bracelet she made me!) anyway, the class was good but I knew my first bracelet was going to be too small because I didn't verify measurements and just went with number of rows we talked about in class (I think I have mentioned before I have tension issues...with thread at the moment, not life ;) (that could change though :) ) It was so small that only Derek could wear it and even though that doesn't bother him because he thinks mommy's beading is cool, my husband would be mortified! Anyway (again) I brought it so I could learn how to zip it up and I had started another one so that I could at least finish something to wear. It is great taking classes and Susan was a great teacher so I do plan to take another class!  Shelby and I did some shopping and..... Ok I think I have mentioned before that ORANGE is my FAVORITE color (I will probably tell you again at another time) I have this shirt (this one I got at Tractor Supply and I love it and it is so durable and organic by the way, and is a little brighter in person (did I mention a photographer I am not))

Do you think I could find the right bead combo to make a pairing?  NO  I can't seem to make it work (I brought the shirt too)  I am looking for something fun and funky to pair it with but nothing is jumping out at me! (jumping out at me might be scary but you know what I mean)  Ok I do have a necklace plan (if Nicole will accept my nickles and dimes I am saving) Belinda did one of her kits that would match perfectly and it will be my first attempt at embroidery (I'll end up having enough by Christmas so maybe it will be a wish list item) but a bracelet not yet!
Between Saturday night and Sunday night I had baked cookies for Michael's monthly ucher tournament, chocolate banana brownies and banana bread ( obviously the banana were very ripe ) and tried to start a new bracelet and ended up starting it 3 times before I decided enough is enough ( I should have been finishing others but I blame crafting ADD again) It rained most of the day, we were all tired from the late night Michael was out til 2:30, and I stayed up to finish my 2nd class bracelet and Shelby and Derek just didn't sleep well and well...depression got the better of me (again)  You know, I really can't stand knowing that I have nothing to be depressed about and then my stupid body rebels against me without warning and I end up over thinking things, rethinking other things and getting mad over nothing!  OH I could just scream!  So..... I didn't take pictures til this morning (and it wouldn't have been good if I posted a pity party for myself yesterday) and if you have read this far you have seen them and probably think I have babbled enough.  Don't you?  :)

Always Believe (even when you can't remember why)
Kristen

My homework and Ode to Juls!

This is my beading tray right now.  I was going to post a pic of what it looked like when there were 4 projects on it at one time and ask for an intervention but.....IT SPILLED!  Oh it was my own fault having too many projects and all the beads on the tray at one time but as I have mentioned before I do have a pit of crafting ADD and that does conflict with the crafting OCD (having everything in its special place) So there I was trying to pick up all of the tiny little beads in the carpet and thinking ohwhatamoron and howcouldyoubethatbrainless (nice little words I have picked up from Juls @ Julesbeads who I am so lucky to have found and that she is following me Thank You Juls) and a thought occurred to me HUMMM why to they give you nice containers for beads if you just dump them on the tray and risk another bout of howcouldyoubethatbrainless?  So now the OCD is winning and I only put out a few beads at a time and things stay much more organized (and I don't sit on the carpet looking for 15's and thinking "you actually work with these for fun?" ) So that is my first rant and I am able to get this out due to the great teachings of Jules!

On to the tray, on the top is the Twisted Pink Nightmare (Shelby named it) which is a pattern from Rubys Beadwork with a literal twist.  An the bottom is my class piece that is almost complete.  I love this! It is designed by my teacher Susan and it is so much fun to make!  I have the last class this Saturday and will learn how to zip it up to make a bangle!  (and an excuse to buy more beads I hope :) )

Always Believe
Kristen

My First Beading Class

So I took my first beading class yesterday and I loved it!  I learned tubular herringbone with a twist, we incorporated lentils.  This is a fabulously fun bracelet and my teacher Susan was so good that I have nothing negative to say at all!  I even bought another kit so that I could do this again.  I now see why everyone recommends taking a class.  I will take pictures as soon as I can but I do have to finish my homework (and house cleaning, laundry, ironing and drive back and forth to preschool) I hope everyone had a nice weekend!

Always Believe