Pretty Things

The 5th Bead Soup Party Map

2012-02-29T07:53:00.000-05:00

The 4th Bead Soup Blog Party had over 350 participants. This year, I decided to keep the number to 200. The summer hop, however, all will be accepted, and the hop will be staggered over time so people can get to all the blogs.

However -- 200 people still makes for an impressive map! Click on it to see it enlarged.

There are 16 countries (including some new ones, like Bahrain) and 41 states represented. The participants are from all types of beading styles -- metal, lampwork, stringing, beadweaving, etc. -- and I think only one package may have been waylaid (which is a record).

Please join us on Saturday to see what these talented people made with the beads they received!

Don't forget the Cup of Bead Soup lottery! Click here.

Lori Anderson creates jewelry for her web site, Lori Anderson Designs, and wrote the blog An Artist's Year Off. She is the creator of the Bead Soup Blog Party.

The Winners of the Seed Beads and Bead Soup are....

2012-02-29T07:50:00.000-05:00

The seed beads go to Jean A. Wells

and the red pressed glass goes to Pine Ridge Treasures.

Congratulations,

and never fear,

there are going to be more giveaways soon!

Lori Anderson creates jewelry for her web site, Lori Anderson Designs, and wrote the blog An Artist's Year Off. She is the creator of the Bead Soup Blog Party.

The Bead Soup is Cooking!

2012-02-28T09:21:00.000-05:00

We've finally reached the week of the 5th Bead Soup Blog Party! This year the group was limited to 200 people (next time, everyone will be accepted and the hop will be staggered over several weeks) -- but still, that's a lot of burners on the stove blasting at high!

I'm always amazed at the number of people who sign up. Last night I expressed my fear to my husband of the day when the blog hop was no longer interesting. He said he didn't think that would happen. I sincerely hope he's right.

To that end, would you comment about why you like the party? What draws you to it? And what have you learned from it, if anything?

See you on Saturday at the Party!

Don't forget the giveaway -- click here.

Don't forget the Cup of Bead Soup lottery -- click here

Lori Anderson creates jewelry for her web site, Lori Anderson Designs, and wrote the blog An Artist's Year Off. She is the creator of the Bead Soup Blog Party.

Announcing the NEW Cup of Bead Soup -- it's interactive!

2012-02-26T01:10:00.002-05:00

This has been in the planning for MONTHS

and I'm excited to finally start!

If you've been a follower of my blog, you're familiar with my Cup of Bead Soup project. For the past year, I've purchased beads, sight unseen, from various bead makers and tasked myself with creating things with components I didn't choose myself. It's been a fantastic way to push my design skills and break out of making the same old/same old. In essence, it's a one-woman-production of the Bead Soup Blog Party.

Now it's your turn to join me!

Three lucky people will be chosen at random,
and these three designers will receive the same kit I do.

The four of us will then create a piece of jewelry and have a mini-blog hop to show what four people can do with the exact same beads. After the blog hop, the bead artist will have a limited number of kits for sale.

So let's start!!!

The photos you're looking at are for the March Cup of Bead Soup. Barbara Bechtel of Second Surf and Floridity is well known for her amazing handmade polymer clay beads, charms, and pendants. I really love her work (the heart pendant in my blog header is made by her as well!).

This kit will contain:

* one teal rustic key focal bead

* one double-sided pair of leaf charms

* four carved nugget beads

* one limited edition 5x7 Bead Soup print!

Cost is $20.

(Sixteen limited edition kits will be available after the hop for $35).

To throw your name in the hat, leave a comment

and a way to contact you if you don't have your email in your profile.

Comments will close on Monday, March 5th.

Mini-hop will be April 7th.

More Cups of Bead Soup will occur monthly!

(Cut and paste this button into your blog if you like!)

Lori Anderson creates jewelry for her web site, Lori Anderson Designs, and wrote the blog An Artist's Year Off. She is the creator of the Bead Soup Blog Party.

7000 Bracelets of Hope Blog Hop -- and a giveaway!

2012-02-25T00:05:00.001-05:00

This is my second year participating in the 7000 Bracelets of Hope through the Global Genes project. The purpose is to create a blue bracelet to send to a family who has a child suffering from a rare disease, disorder, or condition. Why blue? Genes, jeans, get it?

I love dangles on bracelets, so I gathered some large oval links and started adding lots of blue beads in Czech glass from Preciosa Ornela (and stay tuned because I'm giving away a ton of their beads at the bottom of this post!)

Since I don't know the wrist size of the person the bracelet will end up with, I used a decorative lobster claw clasp with a chain extender. Love my toggles, but having a cool lobster claw works, too!/

If you would like to send a bracelet, click here for the information!

The other blog hop participants:

Elysian Studios and One Kiss Creations

The Studio Sublime

Crafty Hope

The Gossiping Goddess

SilverRose Designs

Firefly Visions

Pink Chapeau Vintage Jewelry

Michelle Mach

Pine Ridge Treasures

Backstory Beads

Adventures in Creativity with Lorillijean

Carefree Jewelry by Lisa

Sue Beads

MiShel Designs

Created Treasures

Taralinda Muses

My Life Under The Bus

Elizabeth Creates

SilverNikNats

Erin Siegel Jewelry

Carolyn’s Creations

My Life…one bead at a time

Fresh Baked Designs

Songbeads

Sunshine Bliss

Rainy Days Designs

Pat Barden Jewelry

Tell Your Girlfriends

Therese's Treasures

Windrock Studio

Bead Lola Bead

Spice Box Designs

Antiquity Travelers

Vitamin C...A Daily Dose of Creativity

Beads and Bread

Sharyl's Jewelry and Reflections

Ahtee's Blog

Thoughtful-Notions

Beads for Brains:365

Wild Sally Road

All The Pretty Things

Skye's Creative Chaos

My Addictions...Handcrafted Jewelry by Patti

Lindy's Designs

Falling Into The Sky

Star Hitched Wagon

Mama's Got to Doodle

10KDgroup

And now to the giveaway!

A while back, the Czechoslovakian company Preciosa Ornela contacted me to see if I'd like to review their beads. I LOVE Czech glass! The company sent me a hugely generous package of beads -- two "bead soup" packages of pressed glass and glass pearls and a LOT of seed beads, including their unique two-hole seed beads called PRECIOSA Twin.

The beads have a gorgeous luster, whether they're matte, opaque, or translucent. I'll have a design made with some of the Preciosa Twin beads soon!

You can find Preciosa Orenela at Facebook, Twitter, or their web site. They have LOTS of tutorials for you, too!

Here's what I'm giving away (and yes, international commenters are welcome!)

To one person, a huge portion of red Preciosa pressed glass beads.

To another person, a large assortment of various sizes of seed beads.

The giveaway sign ups are now over -- thanks for playing and stay tuned for more giveaways!

Lori Anderson creates jewelry for her web site, Lori Anderson Designs, and wrote the blog An Artist's Year Off. She is the creator of the Bead Soup Blog Party.

The Winners for "You Supply the Caption"

2012-02-24T18:09:00.000-05:00

Before I announce the winners, here's the story behind this car.

When Zack was four, we went on a nature hike in the Tuckahoe State Park. La dee dah dee dah, here we go walking through the woods, when I look to my left. What the what? Over the side of the path, in a shallow ravine, lay this car.

I was flummoxed. We were on a NATURE TRAIL. No road in sight. It's like it dropped down from the sky.

We were with a school group, and wouldn't you know it, I didn't have my camera. When we got the kids back to the bus, I asked the driver to PLEASE wait so I could take a picture. I ran, huffed, and puffed as fast as I could back to the ravine and shot a few quick shots. It's one of my favorite things in my "Abandoned" Flickr set.

And now for the winners -- yes, multiple! I asked Zack to help me pick the best and we just couldn't stop laughing. So here are the winners and what they captioned this photo with:

Stacie Louise

"when do you think insurance is gonna pay the claim for this?"

WindDancer Studios

"Your Mileage May Vary"

and my very favorite:

Bead-Mused

"On Craig's List: Great car, low mileage, unique paint treatment, gently used.

OOAK, cash only, GPS coordinates for viewing upon request. "

Thanks for playing! I think I'll be doing this sort of post more often!

Lori Anderson creates jewelry for her web site, Lori Anderson Designs, and wrote the blog An Artist's Year Off. She is the creator of the Bead Soup Blog Party.

Barbara Lewis' Give Away -- Enamel eCourse

2012-02-23T16:54:00.000-05:00

Barbara Lewis is giving away one of her Torch Fire Enameling eCourses! If you've always wanted to try torch-fire enameling but were afraid to try, let me tell you, it's not that hard. Unless you're like me, and tend to pick up beads that have fallen off your mandrel and you know good and DARNED well they're hot as Hades but no, you touch them anyway because perhaps the laws of physics and chemistry don't apply to you.

ANYWAY! Click here to enter now!

And don't forget to visit my "you supply the caption" contest for a mystery prize. I'll announce winners on Friday afternoon.

Thanks!

Lori Anderson creates jewelry for her web site, Lori Anderson Designs, and wrote the blog An Artist's Year Off. She is the creator of the Bead Soup Blog Party.

Wordless Wednesday -- you supply the caption!

2012-02-22T16:11:00.001-05:00

photo take by me

Leave your caption in the comments section!

(Mystery prize for the best comment!)

Books: Three Book Reviews

Lori Anderson creates jewelry for her web site, Lori Anderson Designs, and wrote the blog An Artist's Year Off. She is the creator of the Bead Soup Blog Party.

Pain Versus Creativity

2012-02-18T15:45:00.010-05:00

Pin It

(Photo taken by me on the way to my Dad's house. I've always called these

"God Lights" because when I see them, I think it's God's way of saying, "I'm here".)

As you've probably noticed, I share a lot of personal stuff on my blog. (No, really?) Some people like these sorts of posts, and some prefer the ones sharing pretty things I've found online, while some enjoy the jewelry photos, whenever I remember to put those online. I've got an eclectic blog, which suits me perfectly.

One reason I write as I do is because words have always been a safe haven for me; first by escaping into books, and then by putting words to paper, and now, the computer screen.

The difference between paper and screen is huge -- it's inviting someone to read my diary instead of hiding it under the mattress and giving up complete control over who sees it and reads it. I decided a long time ago I was OK with that because if any of my posts are meaningful to even just one person, it's worth it. It also makes my heart feel better shooting words out into space, freeing my spirit a bit.

Pin It

(Zack's cars, which he often carefully lines up to fill an entire room.)

For the past three years, I've felt like I'm getting nowhere fast. Can't get into gear. Have a hitch in my get-along. I've been sapped of creativity and drained of energy. And all of this has made me angry, sad, frustrated, depressed, back to sad, more angry, and now -- accepting.

I've written a number of times about feeling inferior to others, etc, etc, ad nauseum, but I finally think I've figured out the root of all those feelings. It's normal to find and know your place in the hierarchy of things -- I mean, not everyone can be an Einstein or a Mozart or a Dickens. I've been grousing for a long time about feelings of inadequacy, but was still getting nowhere fast in overcoming or even understanding those feelings. But now I think I know what's been going on with my battle against perceived shortcomings.

I think the heart of the matter is physical pain.

Pin It

(Photo taken by me. It looks soothing, but at the same time, it strangely translates how I feel about pain ... the never-ending stream of it, and trying to turn it from a fierce flow of anger to a soothing stream of soul-clearing peace.)

All my life I've battled migraines. I remember having my first one at six years old, going to the nurse's office in Kindergarten to be helped onto a cot in a dark room. But they really hit me with a vengeance about three years ago, and a double diagnosis of psuedotumor cerebri (presenting as bad headaches in the eyes) and atypical migraines, neither of which was affected by pain medication, rendered me useless. I felt like crap, to put it plainly, yet no one who saw me would know I was in debilitating pain because it was invisible. Invisible pain made me feel like an invisible person -- hiding out in a dark room, being deprived of all the things I love to do.

This past month, my migraines disappeared but irony of ironies, my stomach started hurting. I now know it's a faulty gall bladder valve, but the pain is at times excruciating and I still have to fight the Battle of Insurance Company Regulations, taking this test and then that test before they'll let a doctor just take the darned thing out.

(At least I have insurance, however faulty it may be. I do recognize this, having lived without it before.)

Yesterday, after getting a shot of Lidocaine between my ribs to stop muscle spasms caused by my body tensing up in the sight of pain, I had the sudden realization that my angst of the past few years has really been my anger and frustration at being sick, being in pain, and feeling helpless about doing anything about it. It isn't necessarily that I lack creativity -- how can someone be creative when they can hardly see or sit up straight? And it isn't so much about a lot of the things I've blamed as my road blocks.

It's been about trying to cope with pain.

Pin It

(A tree choked by ivy near my house. Beauty in the midst of slow destruction.)

I feel like this tree now. My physical body may often be wracked by pain that no one sees, but as with virtually everything, there's beauty to be found everywhere. Instead of allowing my quality of life to head south, I'm going to do my best to find happiness in the smallest of accomplishments.

I'm going to find solace in knowing that I AM doing the best I can, and in order for things to get better, I really do have to be gentler on myself.

So. Sounds easy, but it's not, and this post serves as a reminder to me that rarely is an entire lifetime perfect, but moments certainly can be. It may be a long time between moments, to be sure, but that will have to be OK. I will have to make peace with the pain in order to find peace in my total life.

Pin It

("Peace" bead by Diane Hawkey in a necklace I made.)

All of this brings me back to why I write about such personal things. I do talk to friends and my husband about my feelings, but I also know there are people out there battling much worse things than I am who might want to know how someone else feels about similar things. Like I said, if this post means anything or helps just one person, that's awesome. I love it when people email me with links to inspiring blog posts, or share with me their similar situations. The huge world of the Internet becomes so small when it can shift to a one-on-one email conversation.

Know you're not alone. Don't be afraid to share your story. Don't be afraid to hide your story. Either way, the point is to make your soul more peaceful in whatever way you feel comfortable, and to be gentle with yourself. Don't turn your anger and frustration at your pain on yourself.

"Instead of complaining the rose bush has thorns,

instead be happy the thorn bush has roses." ~~ Proverb

Time to pick some roses.

Lori Anderson creates jewelry for her web site, Lori Anderson Designs, and wrote the blog An Artist's Year Off. She is the creator of the Bead Soup Blog Party.

Valentine's Day with Zack

2012-02-14T09:17:00.000-05:00

Everyone here seems to love Zack stories, so rather than show you the amazing candy my husband bought me that I SO. DO. NOT. NEED. (but thank you, honey), I'll show you one of the things I gave Zack.

I actually gave this to him yesterday because once it arrived in the mail, I couldn't wait. I'm very bad that way about presents -- I can't wait for The Day. I ordered a punch box from Leafcutter Designs, and wrote out notes. Then they took my notes, wrote them up, and put them in the box.

These little boxes are so cool. If you look closely, you can see the folded notes under the vellum. Once you punch through the hole (which goes through to the back) the little folded message comes out.

This was Zack's first message yesterday:

This, of course, thrilled him.

I was expecting a card or board game, which is what we normally play, but no -- he wanted me to play a video game with him. We haven't done that in ages, it seems, when we would play video racing games together and all I could do was run off the road or hit walls, which was surprisingly amazing fun.

We played a video game called Rayman Origins, which I made him get (yep, MADE him get) because the box looked hilarious. It's essentially like Mario Brothers but with funnier characters and really cool adventures. However, I'm no better at that kind of game than driving games. I only had to worry about three buttons, but of course I completely forgot which was which and just started hitting buttons indiscriminately, head-butting walls instead of enemy flowers, falling down instead of jumping up, and slapping Zack's character instead of the bad balloons. We laughed so much I hurt. And today, after he opened his other presents, he said playing the game together was his favorite.

Love that child with all my heart.

Lori Anderson creates jewelry for her web site, Lori Anderson Designs, and wrote the blog An Artist's Year Off. She is the creator of the Bead Soup Blog Party.

Let's Go Shopping -- Etsy Finds

2012-02-12T12:58:00.000-05:00

When I don't feel so swell, or am tired, or just creatively tapped out, I go shopping. For a while it's been sheerly window shopping, and I wanted to share some of what I've found that I love from afar.

First comes the ultimate dollhouse.

You MUST click here to see inside.

The interior photos look exactly like a real house.

by Artistique

It's hard to narrow down why I love this so much, since there's so much to love! One is the pink exterior. The second is because my dad built my sister and I a dollhouse way back when, and I still have it. Apparently, he was working on that thing all through Christmas Eve, and it was a total surprise to us. Right now I have no room for it in the house -- it's HUGE -- but I refuse to give it up. One day, I'll convert a room into a combination miniature railroad/dollhouse room. One day!

Next, an amazing bead.

This is made by Flowertown Beads, and she has lots to look at -- not just large-hole beads but sets as well.

Now, an amazing bowl.

This is made by Xanadu 2 You. Not only does she make these gorgeous bowls, but jewelry, too!

The owl trend continues

with this cute stamp.

Stampadoodle has a lot of cool metal stamps, most of which I've never seen before. She also has stamping blanks, so if you've never stamped metal, give it a whirl!

And of course, I'm sure you know how much I love books.

So this print should be no surprise.

Photographer Elle Moss really captured everything about books in this one. There's a used book store near my town and I spend HOURS in there. In fact, I'll be opening a vintage store sometime this year with some of the amazing finds I've collected.

And finally, another bead set,

since of course, one can never have enough beads!

These clever triangle beads are made by Mitosis Glass. I love the shape and the color is very summery.

I hope you enjoyed your shopping trip with me!

Lori Anderson creates jewelry for her web site, Lori Anderson Designs, and wrote the blog An Artist's Year Off. She is the creator of the Bead Soup Blog Party.

My Bead Soup!

2012-02-11T11:22:00.001-05:00

Finally, I'm posting my bead soup! I had tried to put them in collages, but decided each photo really deserved it's own individual shot, so there's lots of pictures in this post!

I have two partners, Marcie Abney and Rebecca Anderson, because par for the course, I messed up and paired two people who had already been pairs in a previous Bead Soup Blog Party. And their soups couldn't be more different!

Marcie sent me two soups. One included two handmade seed-beaded focals, two shades of charoite, and some tiny Czech beads. The toggle is a terrific geometric piece.

A close up of the frame focals, which are one-of-a-kind made for me by Marcie (lucky me!)

I have absolutely no idea how she does these things with little bitty beads. I've already made a necklace, a bracelet, and earrings, but that last rectangular frame has me a little stumped. I like that, though, because it's making me dig into recesses of my bead cabinet that haven't been explored in a long time.

She also sent me an earthy mix -- and this throws me off because I'm not an earthy girl at all. Again -- this is a good thing. The entire point of the Bead Soup Blog Party is to be pushed creatively.

Isn't that jasper focal to die for? There's also some very cool copper rings I've never seen before, Elaine Ray diagonal cubes, and Czech glass beads and leaves. I love that copper toggle, too, because I've not seen it before (love new things!).

(A note about the props. The horse picture was a drawing I found loose, like a bookmark, in the middle of an old book, and the vase is from a friend who visited Turkey and brought it back to us.)

Next comes the soup from Rebecca. Rebecca also sent me a couple of gifts. She knows I devour books like candy, and this particular book is her favorite. She also sent me a fun pair of button earrings.

Rebecca described her soup as a soup stock she kept adding to. I love that, because it's how I mix a lot of my Bead Soups. She included a clever letter with drawings of the beads and descriptions and sources -- very handy!

This is the majority of the soup. As I mentioned before, I am not an earthy girl, and green falls into that category. So again -- work cut out for me -- and I relish that. The silk cord scares me. I stink at cord and fiber. But I'm going to give it my best!

How about a closer look? She said she tried to use all overseas sources, so click their links to buy your own!

Potential clasps -- a leaf hook, a copper toggle, and a ceramic button.

OMG, the birds. Love the birds.

Some may have to fly over to Marcie's earthy mix.

I know you can get these from Ornamentea in various metals.

A lovely handmade glass focal by SowZere Beads.

And can I just say how much I love Moogin Mindy's bead pair?

I recently got some beads from her and I'm hoarding them.

In the back is a square lampwork bead that is SO COOL by Helen Jewellery.

And then the awesome copper leaves.

A better shot of the square lampwork bead,

handmade painted fabric beads,

polymer clay flowers, and a pair of organic lampwork beads.

OK. Does it surprise anyone that Zack stole these?

I have to hunt them down now.

They're adorable baby shoes, aren't they?

And lastly, the beads that didn't fit in the first photo.

Lots of Czech glass and other pretties.

Did these ladies spoil me?

Heck to the yes.

But they also threw out the challenge, and I hope I can make them proud.

The Bead Soup Party reveal is March 3rd!!!!

Quote of the Day: Judging
Book Reviews: Lots!!!!

Lori Anderson creates jewelry for her web site, Lori Anderson Designs, and wrote the blog An Artist's Year Off. She is the creator of the Bead Soup Blog Party.

A Post Script to Yesterday's Post

2012-02-10T07:43:00.003-05:00

About yesterday's post -- I've been asked, "Who was that about?"

It was about me. Not anyone in particular.

If I offended anyone, that was not the intention whatsoever. I hope you'll stay a reader. I hope you'll forgive my need to vent because here is where I'm me.

I've had that post written in my queue for a long, long time. After I picked my word for the year as "metamorphosis", I decided I needed to free a lot of things, like a butterfly frees itself from a chrysalis.

It's about being a kid and not being smart enough to know you're the butt of jokes. It's about being in the Air Force and not being taken seriously because of this or that, but a lot because "you're a girl". It's about family abandonment. It's about my holding hurt and thinking it's always, always, my fault. It's about expectations not being met. It's about learning who your friends are, and that they aren't always next door.

It's about thinking that not a lot has changed, but needs to.

But this wasn't a not-so-silent letter to anyone -- believe me, I am capable, and have, written things to people in the past. Some I've believed staunchly in. Some I've come around to realize I was wrong. Saying out here, on my blog, that I've harbored anger and jealousy, by the way, was hard. But necessary.

For me. For making changes.

Lori Anderson creates jewelry for her web site, Lori Anderson Designs, and wrote the blog An Artist's Year Off. She is the creator of the Bead Soup Blog Party.

Honesty

2012-02-09T17:41:00.001-05:00

Hi guys -- thanks for hanging in there while I deal with health things. It should be over soon.

Now for some things I've been thinking about lately. I've had a lot of time to think and write down thoughts because I have insomnia (I've had bouts of it for something like twenty-odd years) and I realized it would make me feel better to just ... put it out there. Some of you may wonder "where did this come from???", and some of you may feel "YES! I feel this way, too!" Some of you may hate me for it. But it's been on my mind for months, even years.

Honesty.

Is it really so darned hard to be honest?

If you don't want to do something, be honest as to why. If you are disappointed in something, it's OK to say so. If you call yourself a friend, by default, honesty is expected. I don't do false friends anymore. I've given way too much of myself to be taken advantage of, taken for granted, or lied to. Why do that to anyone? Just be honest. And if you're going to write the write, then walk the walk. Be honest in your writing. Be honest in your speech. Be honest in your life.

And yes, this goes hand in hand,

and it IS a fine line.

However, some people don't think there IS a line so they do one of two things -- don't say anything for fear of hurting feelings, which can result in holding a grudge and never knowing the truth, or saying really hurtful things that can't be taken back. The worst? When someone is so wrapped up in their own self ... righteousness? that they can't stop for two seconds and think, "OH. That might not have come across right. I might have been wrong in doing this."

Honesty should come hand in hand with respect. Give a person the respect to not be one way to their face and another to their back. It ALWAYS comes back. Always. I've had people be nice to my face, say such kind words, and then not realize I'm right behind them when they say something awful. So if you meet someone, have conversations with them online -- don't say things just to gain a step on a ladder, or to get something you want. That's hideously unfair and unkind. I refuse to do it. One should never, ever, use someone as a stepping stone while singing their praises falsely. Be proud of your accomplishments because they're YOURS, not because you walked on the backs of "friends".

This is absolutely true of me.

I am so far from perfect I'm not even in the same zip code.

But when I apologize, I MEAN IT.

And I want to KNOW if I hurt you,

because I may not know I did,

but I DO want to try to make it right.

Sometimes, things just can't be made right and people part ways. And fake apologies can be smelled a mile away because they're usually followed by that person burning the other to whomever will listen. Wrong, wrong, and nasty. If you mean your words, own them. If you didn't, apologize. We tell our kids not to lie. So why do we do it so easily, to people we profess to care about or respect?

I've had conversations recently with people who have learned, to their peril, who their friends really are. It's always shocking to find out someone is speaking smack about you, yet all of us at some point have done it. It's human nature. But once you catch yourself doing it, and it starts taking over parts of your life -- think about WHY you're doing it. Are you lifting yourself up by putting someone else down?

I've made some amends with some people recently because lately, it's been a time of introspection for me as I spend hours and hours lying in bed. Maybe that's why I've been so sick -- so I would have that quiet time to own up to my anger, frustrations, jealousies, and fears.

That quote may sound harsh, or an oxymoron, but doesn't it make sense? You don't have to like everybody you meet. That's unrealistic. You can be civil to someone you don't care for without being fake. You can avoid interactions with people you don't care for. And you don't even have to have a REASON for why you don't care for them. But don't kiss up on one side of your mouth and trash them out of the other once you got what you wanted out of that person. That -- is wrong.

I wrote this not because I'm a perfect Pollyanna. I've made so. very. many. mistakes in my 42 years. I'm going to make more. I've apologized for mistakes, but I've also pouted and fumed and ranted. Eventually, I've calmed down and thought. Instead of harboring anger and jealousy, I've learned to avoid those that hurt or irritate me. Or at least, I've tried, and am still trying.

It's time to graduate from junior high.

I'm the sort of person that wears my heart on my sleeve, so I'm also very easy to hurt. My skin is very thin. I know that. I know not everyone likes me, and that is OK. I'd rather, though, that if you don't like me, you don't smile to my face, feed me a ration of falseness, and then feign ignorance. I think the world in general doesn't like that and catches on pretty darned quickly. Honesty can sting, but if it comes from a place of real love and respect, I can take that sting.

How do you want to live your life? Facing the struggles I've had to face these past couple of weeks with my health, I've come to realize who is true, and who isn't -- what I want, and what I don't. I don't have to have met you for you to have been a true friend. And I don't have to have met you for you to hate my guts. I get that. But do I want to waste what time I have in this life worrying about the people who flat out don't care, are rude, insensitive, or against the principles that are important to me?

This post -- I mean, wow. I try to be cheerful when I can but sometimes, I have these long conversations with myself in the middle of the night and reality hits me harder and deeper than it ever does during the day when I'm distracted by everything that happens in a normal day. I hope .... well, I hope you get what I'm trying to say. LIFE IS TOO SHORT. It really is. I want to know that those who stand with me are there for ME -- flaws and all. Don't we all want that?

I truly, truly hope I've learned from the things I've been through, experienced, taken part in, and watched. I'm not proud of all I've done. This, though, is the first step to becoming a better person.

Me. A work in progress.

Lori Anderson creates jewelry for her web site, Lori Anderson Designs, and wrote the blog An Artist's Year Off. She is the creator of the Bead Soup Blog Party.

Oldies but Goodies

2012-02-07T07:42:00.000-05:00

While Lori is away, take a look at two of her favorite posts from October 2011.

25 Things You Didn't Know About Me

What I Want

Thank You

2012-02-06T08:35:00.001-05:00

Just a short note

to let you know

how very much I appreciate

all the emails and Facebook notes.

I'm still struggling,

but thankfully my migraines are not bothering me.

I don't know what's wrong yet...

liver? pancreas? gall bladder?

Who knows, and really, who cares?

I'm not going to let whatever it is stop me. (As if!)

I'm surrounded by love

and as long as my son and husband are well,

I'm happy. Very, very happy.

Thank you again for all you've done for me.

Lori Anderson creates jewelry for her web site, Lori Anderson Designs, and wrote the blog An Artist's Year Off. She is the creator of the Bead Soup Blog Party.

Winner of the Photo Journaling Album

2012-02-02T12:31:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone,

Jeannie Dukic here. I'm filling in for Lori today. She is not feeling well and is taking a break getting some much needed rest. At least I hope she is.

So without further delay, the winner is..

List Randomizer

Sharyl

Congratulations Sharyl! Please contact me by email with your address through my blog or website.

http://www.jkdjewelry.com

http://site.jkdjewelry.com/blog

I just want to thank everyone for all your kind comments and Lori for her kindness and generosity.

jeannie

Taking a Little Break....

2012-01-31T19:57:00.002-05:00

Been very sick. And very tired. I am going to be back maybe next week but I am here.

Thank you.

Announcing the Cover of my Book and the Participants!

2012-01-29T15:03:00.002-05:00

It seems like forever since I announced I was writing a book! December 6th I sent a huge box to Kalmbach Publishing full of jewelry and beads. This week, I got the cover copy, and I want to finally introduce you to those who contributed tutorials and beads. This book is as much theirs as it is mine -- I couldn't have done this without them.

First, the folks who generously donated beads: Melanie Brooks, Barbara Bechtel, Stephanie Sersich, Christine Damm, Joanna Matuszczyk, Rebecca Anderson, ArtBeads.com, Golem Studio, Urban Maille, and Ad/Adornments. I also used beads I had in my stash from Summers Studio and Diane Hawkey.

The contributors were paired up, just like a regular Bead Soup Blog Party. Cindy Wimmer took all the "beads in a bowl" photos. I cannot WAIT to see how the entire book looks. I'm not quite sure when the book will be ready for pre-order on Amazon or Barnes & Noble, but I will definitely be selling autographed copies on my web site (and they'll include a free extra tutorial).

And now the tutorial participants:

Zachary Anderson

Kerry Bogert

Jennifer Cameron
Diane Cook
Malin de Koning
Cassie Donlen
Jeannie Dukic
Nan Emmett
Lyn Foley
Brandi Hussey
Libby Leuchtman
Shannon LeVart
Barbara Lewis

Melissa Meman
Sharon Palac
Heather Powers
Erin Prais-Hintz
Stefanie Teufel
Cindy Wimmer

And yes, you're right -- Zack participated! He picked out the beads, helped me design, and did a lot of headpin stringing. I'm really, really proud of him.

And I'm really, really proud of EVERYONE who helped bring this book to fruition, not the least of whom is Karin Buckingham, a marvelous editor who believed in this book before I even had it figured out. I'm also very thankful for all the people who have joined the Bead Soup Blog Party, now and in the past, because without you guys, this book would not exist.

Quote of the Day: Friends and Enemies

Book Review: "Eyewitness Auschwitz"

Lori Anderson creates jewelry for her web site, Lori Anderson Designs, and wrote the blog An Artist's Year Off. She is the creator of the Bead Soup Blog Party.

New Jewelry Marketing Strategy -- An Earring Lunch

2012-01-28T16:58:00.000-05:00

Not long ago Rena of Home Jewelry Business Success Tips asked me to write about a unique way to bring in business. I suggested an Earring Lunch, which involves a quick trip to a business or doctor's office during their lunch time and bringing baskets of earrings for the ladies to peruse. It's a quick way to get your most affordable jewelry in front of customers. It takes a minimum of set up and time, and is a great way to get your web site and blog information to a captive audience.

I created this postcard and had it printed via VistaPrint.

I think it's important to show a variety of earrings in different styles and price ranges. The earrings on my postcard range from $10 to $38, and are made with everything from handmade polymer clay, lampwork glass, and simple Czech glass and vintage Lucite. I also carry a small tool kit so I can change out ear wires to lever backs, posts, or clips right there at the office.

The back of the postcard delivers the story and gives the contact information:

Be sure to include your web site and a return address. Give them a way to contact you and consider framing your information in bold face, as I did above. And of course, leave plenty of room for you to write an address down!

I've developed similar cards for people over time and if you would like me to create a postcard for you to upload to VistaPrint for $25, feel free to contact me!

I hope this has given some of you a new idea on how to promote yourself! Go get 'em!

Don't forget to comment and win a handmade photo journaling album!

Click here to enter!

Lori Anderson creates jewelry for her web site, Lori Anderson Designs, and wrote the blog An Artist's Year Off. She is the creator of the Bead Soup Blog Party.

Win a Handmade Photo Journaling Album!

2012-01-27T07:47:00.008-05:00

The lovely Jeannie Dukic is offering a free album to one lucky person!

Do you have photos lying all about and want to get them organized?

Jeannie has made some AMAZING photo journaling albums

Jeannie Dukic is giving away an album to one lucky winner.

Winner can choose whichever album they want.

I have a few of these albums and can say first hand

that they are AMAZING --

completely handmade with a lot of love and attention to detail.

She is also having a

20% off sale on all Photo Journaling Albums, today only.

Just leave a comment on MY blog to win.

An extra point if you go to Jeannie's shop

and tell me which album you love the most!

I will pick a random winner on January 31st.

Visit her blog http://site.jkdjewelry.com/blog
and website http://www.jkdjewelry.com

Lori Anderson creates jewelry for her web site, Lori Anderson Designs, and wrote the blog An Artist's Year Off. She is the creator of the Bead Soup Blog Party.

Eye Candy Day

2012-01-24T16:23:00.001-05:00

I haven't shown jewelry in what feels like ages. To be quite frank, I haven't had the gumption to pick up a single tool or bead since before Christmas. My husband says it's just that time of year when people are in a funk (is that true?). But today it's actually lovely outside and I've been able to take some pictures.

I've had these beads from Dawn White for a long time. I knew I had to have them, but didn't know quite what to do with them! I love the "stick" beads for the texture, and the black and white designs are just wonderfully done.

Then I realized I had a strand of center-drilled matte onyx in my drawer and pulled that out, and along with some White Opal Swarovski crystals, I was able to continue the basic pattern. Really, this is an incredibly simple stringing design, but I thought it best to wait for JUST the right accent beads to pull this together. And I like it!

These are very simple, too. It's all about the beads! The raku ceramic was made by Beads of Clay, and I didn't want to muck around with over-designing it. Brass bees were all the extra adornment these earrings needed.

I think a lot of jewelry designers worry about finding that awesome-cool-fantabulous design, but sometimes, just let the beads do the work. Choosing pretty beads is just as important a skill as knowing what and how much to do to them.

These beads were also made by Dawn White, and they're in my favorite colors! When I bought them, I knew I was going to make a cha-cha bracelet with them. It just came down to picking the right beads.

With lampwork beads like these, you have to keep in mind the shades of color and work to not have a color clash. I had at least ten different bags of pink beads on my table trying to not only match up shades, but to decide how much color, how deep a color, and how many shapes I should use. I like how it turned out.

This bracelet is an example of what to do to change a design from simple to one-of-a-kind cool. The square ceramic nuggets are lovely and colorful on their own, but they needed something -- some OOMPH. I added the gray polymer clay owl by Barbara Bechtel and a polymer clay imprinted charm by Swoon Dimples. For a little more, I added a hibiscus flower charm at the back of the pink charm. Because the bracelet incorporates a lot of colors and visual impact, I chose a simple toggle clasp.

Knowing when to STOP designing is sometimes hard!

These earrings are made with lampwork head pins from SueBeads and sweet matte silver lily blossoms. I've struggled with using lampwork head pins in a unique way, and one day they just ended up sitting next to the lily blossoms. PING, on went the light bulb. They fit inside perfectly, and I'm showing front and back.

The lesson here is sometimes a messy work space can bring the right beads together!

This is a long necklace (and I have yet to figure out how to take good "on the model" shots, darn it!). I used lampwork beads by JulsBeads, a "PEACE" ceramic bead by Diane Hawkey, and chain from Ad/Adornments. LOVE that there are Swarovski crystal pearls to match -- bonus! I added bleached wood and large pewter ovals, and found a very cool decorative lobster claw clasp at Hobby Lobby.

This is an example of my collecting random beads and holding onto them for just the right thing. I always have a big tray of "need to use" beads handy, and this design began with Jul's beads, then the pearls, and finally the ceramic bead.

This is, of course, from a big bowl of Bead Soup. I threw together colors, stirred, and then tried not to over-think it.

And finally, a clasp I made. I've been trying to work more with heavy-gauge wire, and this clasp is a result of that practice. I hammered it and oxidized it and there you go! I have to admit, I'm not quite sure how I made the Thai bead portion, but that's part of the magic of wire -- experimentation can bring good things!

I hope you enjoyed the eye candy -- I'll try not to make it such a long time between showings!

Lori Anderson creates jewelry for her web site, Lori Anderson Designs, and wrote the blog An Artist's Year Off. She is the creator of the Bead Soup Blog Party.

It's a Day for Quotes

2012-01-23T18:04:00.000-05:00

(All found via Pinterest)

Book Review: "Lord John and the Scottish Prisoner"

Loving you .. Anonymously.

2012-01-22T15:40:00.001-05:00

Wreath in my House. Photo taken by me.

I had no idea what to expect when I asked people to post anonymously on my blog.

No idea at all.

One of those anonymous posts is mine. And when I typed it out and hit the "post" button, it actually changed my thinking a bit. Just putting out there, anonymously, something I'm afraid to say to anyone, was cathartic. Didn't solve my problem, but was a little soul-cleansing.

I hope it was that way for you, too.

Some of your posts frightened me. Most I could completely understand. All made me want to bring you home for a cup of something delicious and a plate of something yummy, and let you know you aren't alone. Make you laugh at least once. Cry with you, too. But mostly, most importantly, let you know you are loved, even though online, here, on this blog, I may seem like just words on a screen to you.

One of the things I love about the internet IS the ability to make friends you never see. Just because you don't live down the road from me doesn't mean we can't be friends.

First and foremost, to the person who said they were afraid they'd kill themselves if things didn't get better -- ~~please email me~~, (she emailed me), call someone, or share this fear with a therapist, because I know from experience how the feeling is crippling. But I also know that while things look dire, hopeless, and impossible, if you keep pushing forward, things can change. I write that having gone through two years of intense therapy, the right medications, and hanging on by the skin of my teeth. When I was 30, you were me. I'm 42 now. Please, hold on. And seeing a professional does NOT mean you've failed, are labeled, or anything like that.

via Pinterest

Don't be afraid of opening that door.

Most of the anonymous posts dealt with fear of failure, fear of not having enough time, and guilt about pursuing their art. If any of you go back and read through the comments, you'll see -- you're not alone. Many of us, I'm sure, have harbored thoughts of never "making it", or being afraid to take the last step to LET you "make it" in your art. It's about opening a door to the unknown and not knowing what you'll find -- that's more than a little scary, isn't it? I share these feeling as well. And I think the guilt associated with finding time is universal.

I've often wondered if I have enough time to finish the long list of things I feel driven to do. And I say "driven" because I've always been a person who wanted to finish what she started, and a couple of my supervisors in my "real life working days" have used that word to describe me. I used to be called the Engergizer Bunny, but now I feel both boredom and a desire to push forward in my artistic endeavors.

I think that's ok. What isn't ok is quitting everything. Everyone needs something that truly makes them happy, and it doesn't have to be a huge accomplishment. Sometimes the deepest pleasures can come from taking a book to bed and staying there all day, luxuriating in peace and quiet and escape. Sometimes it's a drive down the road, singing loudly out of tune to your favorite songs. Sometimes it can be as simple as splurging $5 for that decadent bar of chocolate we always pass by in the grocery store.

The person who said they were surrounded but alone -- I've been there, too. I know that feeling, and I'm sure many readers have felt it, too. I've also felt the agonizing misery of being quite literally totally alone. Either way, if you look through those comments, you aren't alone in your feelings. It's hard to know what to do about it, because the fear of reaching out and facing rejection is terrifying. But we have to try. Sometimes it's as simple as smiling at strangers -- it's amazing the joy you can give someone (and yourself) when you smile. I wish it were always that easy, and it takes practice. But practice, we must.

I've lived a lot of life -- experienced a lot of things -- but I don't think there's a deadline for achieving anything. Sometimes I'm not even sure what I WANT to achieve, so those are the times I try really, really hard to find peace in something else. I've started and stopped several huge things. I could have been an Air Force careerist. I could have been a doctor. I could have lived my life totally alone, but traveling the world. I've started all three, and chosen to stop all three. Interestingly, I'm at peace with it, because the fear that I dealt with in between stopping and starting something new was erased when I FOUND that something new. I keep that thought close to my heart -- the journey can be hard, but the destination can be wonderful.

This post has taken me so long to write because I'm afraid of saying the wrong thing. I'm absolutely in empathy with all of you, but I speak only from my personal experience -- I'm not a certified professional by any means. I've struggled with the right things to say that will help or encourage, and struggled with guilt for even writing yesterday's post -- did I make things worse? I desperately hope posting anonymously helped someone.

It's ok not to finish what you start, to be afraid of the unknown, to be scared, because every road has a fork in it at some point -- every tree has many branches.

Trees near my home. Photo by me.

You are loved, anonymously by me.

Lori Anderson creates jewelry for her web site, Lori Anderson Designs, and wrote the blog An Artist's Year Off. She is the creator of the Bead Soup Blog Party.

Post ... Anonymously.

2012-01-21T11:07:00.000-05:00

The lovely blogger Dancing Bran Flakes had an original idea that I'm borrowing -- post anonymously, and ask what you want, state what you want. As she said, "it's anonymous, so why not?"

(And please visit her beautiful blog -- it's one of the ones I just discovered and adore.)

So go for it -- tell me what you're thinking today, hopes and dreams, even anger issues. Like Post Secret, you can unload if you like, share a secret, post a thought burning brightly in your brain.

(If you're reading this on Facebook, you need to be on www.PrettyThingsBlog.com to leave an anonymous comment.)

(As always, my comments are moderated, but I vow to let them ALL be published).

Lori Anderson creates jewelry for her web site, Lori Anderson Designs, and wrote the blog An Artist's Year Off. She is the creator of the Bead Soup Blog Party.