for today...

Some signs and symptoms of inner peace:

* A tendency to think and act spontaneously rather than on fears based on past experiences.
* An unmistakable ability to enjoy each moment.
* A loss of interest in judging other people.
* A loss of interest in judging self.
* A loss of interest in interpreting the actions of others.
* A loss of interest in conflict.
* A loss of the ability to worry. (This is a very serious symptom.)
* Frequent, overwhelming episodes of appreciation.
* Contented feelings of connectedness with others and nature.
* Frequent attacks of smiling.
* An increasing tendency to let things happen rather than make them happen.
* An increased susceptibility to the love extended by others as well as the uncontrollable urge to extend it.
WARNING:
If you have some or all of the above symptoms, please be advised that your condition of inner peace may be so far advanced as to not be curable.  If you are exposed to anyone exhibiting any of these symptoms, remain exposed only at your own risk.

~Saskia Davis

My Very First Bead Soup Blog Party.....

And I am late, late, late like the Rabbit in Alice in Wonderland!  Oh no!  It's already 10 am on Saturday morning!

Let me begin by thanking again my incredible and very talented partner Jean Peter of the Eclectic Avenue.  Jean has been wonderful and the soup she sent....Well!  Heaven knows it was arranged by the angel that she must be, for it was indeed A Challenge!  The beads were so abundant and in colors that I've never really used before.....and then there was the sheer quantity!  Thank you Jean!  So here is a recap of the bead soup:

Bead Soup for a dinner of 8!

I took inspiration for my bead necklace from Jean herself, who does lovely cord wrapped bead designs.  I've never knoted anything except my shoes before this, and do confess right up front that my husband, the weekend sailor did help me a bit by teaching me the tie off knots.  I actually worked this three times, as I quickly learned that to balance the cords and knots, the two sides must be done in a mirror fashion!  The third time I got an acceptable finish and feel that there is enough symmetry to not entangle the eye away from the incredible focal.

So, I aquired some brown leather in a .5 mm size for the first design and went to town.  My first pick was the copper focal and clasp Jean made herself which are just stunning.  I chose some of the cream howlite and carnelian beads and added a couple of textured washers to tie off and then added a bit of copper chain and her lovely clasp.  So, without further ado....

 Now, Jean had sent me no less than 4 focal pieces so I decided to keep going and see what else I might endeavor, this time with anything BUT knots!  I decided to use her other very special hand decorated howlite teardrop.  Adorned with wire wrapping that I can only dream of, again, it seemed to cry out for all the attention, so I kept the design pretty symmetrical and made another necklace.

I used a textured copper washer and tried my own wire wrapping to use as a lead in....not sure if I like it at all.  She sent the other blue howlite beads and crystals, so I wrapped and stacked and wrapped some more.  I added a length of textured copper chain and an offset clasp of my own in order to repeat the focal shape, albeit, upside down.  The hook design is totally inspired by metal artist Melinda Orr so that I could add another howlite bead to add a finished feeling. 

I have so many other beads to work with, and in fact will continue creating designs that I had an opportunity to draw up, but not enough time to execute and in some cases, a.k.a. Rivets!

A Very Special Thank You to Lori Anderson, the Bead Soup hostess for pairing me with such a generous and creative partner.  To see all of the Second Reveal date team, click here.

Namaste~