beading fool

I stayed up so late the past two nights making beads, my head feels like I've flown through six times zones and back again.

This is a small representation of some of the new beads. The smaller ones on the left (see below- I cannot get my pictures to work right on this) are not sanded and still covered with corn starch from pressing flat but the eventual intended purpose is to use them in creating prayer bead strands. I've been so inspired by Heather Powers' (Humblebeads) beautiful prayer bead strands and her review of the new book Bead One, Pray Too, that I made these green and 23 kt gold mokume gane lentil beads to use with some beautiful faceted Russian Amazonite, for starters. The rest of the prayer bead strands I am still conceptualizing but I'm excited by them.

The beads on the right (below) are inspired by my favorite fossil, the trilobite (I know, I'm a total geek..) as well as some experiments such as the double link circle to symbolize unity and then just some interesting abstracts in various combinations. I've sanded all the larger beads and pendants but still have to buff them. Unfortunately I never seem to have either time, inclination or inspiration to start working on jewelry or beads until evening, so my bedtime is pushed way past the point of restful sleep. Last night, engrossed in bead making and listening to an excellent CD compilation of Dire Straits, Sting, Johnny Cash and the Cranberries, I completely forgot the time and ended up hitting the pillow around 4 a.m. Michael was similarly engrossed in painting so we both crept through today like zombies. Then Mango got me up at 7 a.m. wanting his morning salmon. Good thing I love the little fat bugger...

Tonight I've promised myself to go to bed before midnight so the beads will have to wait until tomorrow to finish up and photograph properly.