Mail Call!

So, I finally returned home after being away for a few weeks and guess what I had waiting in my mailbox? Not one, not two, but THREE packages! I LOVE opening up that mailbox and finding packages!


The first package was from Marla Gibson, of Spice Box Designs. When I opened the outer package I found two boxes - here is the main one. Isn't her presentation beautiful?





And the best part, well besides what was wrapped inside of course, was that the material used to tie the boxes can be reused in one of my own future design - love the colors and textures in this soft cotton woven material.


After getting all excited at how it was wrapped, I opened it to find this gorgeous necklace...
Wish the photo could capture its real beauty (Look here for better pictures). Not only it is a ton of work, such intricate roping technique (sorry, probably not the correct term), but the colors are S-T-U-N-ning!

And then there is a bracelet/anklet to match! AND they both perfectly go with the earrings Marla gifted to me on a bead swap back a couple months ago! SO I am going to be all decked out! Jealous?





Oh, speaking of Marla, be sure to come back on Friday, June 29th when I will be posting my first in a NEW weekly series, called BFF or "Beading Friend Friday". Each Friday I will introduce  one of my beading friends to you. The first blog post will feature Marla Gibson! So be sure to follow me by e-mail so you never miss a BFF post!     


Now for the second package...inside this package was a set of beads which I purchased from Joan Waters of Glass by Joan....what else can I say, I'm in love with these beads. So beautiful. I thought I was buying them to use in a bracelet I was going to design and then sell, but I don't think I can part with them. This is becoming a trend with me. If I don't part with my jewelry, HOW oh HOW am I ever going to afford to buy more beads? Well I'll work on this issue another day. For now, I am probably going to hold onto these particular beads. Thanks Joan!



Package number three was from Michelle Mach of Michelle Mach of Beads & Books.  In May I took part in the Tiny Tin Challenge and Blog Hop which was sponsored by Michelle. A prize was awarded to a randomly selected challenge participant, and  I was the winner!




I love looking at an artist's packaging. Says so much about a person. Look at Michelle's - simple and elegant.




And here is my prize, it's one of the tins created by Michelle herself. Isn't it exquisite? Can you read the note she enclosed in the tin? It says, "You will bead today."   Perfect!

CREATIVITY - What's it all about, Alfie?

 

"When you walk let your heart lead the way
And you'll find love any day, Alfie, Alfie."

In my daily wondering ( mind wanderings?!) I ponder about what makes our creativity flow.

I came upon a very interesting article/blog post called 10 Reasons Creative Folks Make Us Crazy  from Liz Strauss of Successful and Outstanding Blog(gers), written back in 2006.  I know, I know,  it's sounds like one of Letterman's list that might have been written by a bunch of haters, but NO, it is really a great article.


In her writing she discusses the views of Dr. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi  who wrote the book, Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience. Specifically she talks about his 10 Dimensions of Complexity of the Highly Creative Personality and how, as she states it, "Each item is a paradox, a complexity, a contradiction that’s frustrating to others when they exist together at odds in one human being". 


The 10 Dimensions of Complexity of the Higher Creative Personality:

1. Creative individuals have great physical energy, but they become extremely quiet when they are at rest. This restful period can lead others to think that they are not feeling well or that they are unhappy, when the truth is they are fine.

2. Creative folks tend to be both highly intelligent and naive at the same time.

3. Creative people are disciplined and playful simultaneously. In some creative people, this can mean that they are responsible and irresponsible at the same time as well.

4. Creative minds move between a spectrum of fantasy and imagination and a firm grounding in reality. They understand the present and need to keep in touch with the past.

5. Creative individuals seem to be both introverted and extroverted, expressing both traits at once. An image to explain this might be that they are shy showoffs, if you can picture that.

6. Creative people are sincerely humble and extremely proud in a childlike way. It requires ego to have a risky, fresh idea. It takes self-doubt to hammer it out to a workable form.

7. Creative folks don’t feel as tied to gender roles. They feel distinctly individual. They don’t feel the barriers of authority or the rules of what they are “supposed to do.”

8. Creative individuals are thought to be rebellious. Yet, in order to be creative one has to understand and have internalized the traditional culture. Therefore creativity comes from deep roots in tradition. Creative people are traditional and cutting edge.

9. Creative people are deeply passionate about their work, yet can be extremely detached and objective when discussing it.

10. Creative people are highly open and sensitive, which exposes them to pain and suffering, but also allows them to feel higher values of joy and happiness.

You are Invited- "What's in a Name" Blog Hop

 Update (7/1): Thanks to all who RSVP'g for my Blog Hop/Birthday party! Unfortunately there is only enough cake and ice cream for a small group so I had to limit my guest list. But don't be sad, there is always my next party! Be sure to come peek in on us on July 17th!

Come join my very first Blog Hop!

As we visit our favorite bloggers and artist online we come across some really "creative"  names - ever wonder why they chose THAT name? And why that color scheme, background and logo?

I am naturally inquisitive (okay, I'm nosey as heck!), so I went ahead and asked a few of them and found there were some really interesting stories to be told! Some stories were funny, some heartwarming, but all the responses have helped me to learn so much more about the artist and what makes their creativity flow. I decided this might be a good opportunity for a Blog Hop.

I'm calling it the "What's in a Name" Blog Hop.

Here's what I'm looking for  - the story behind your business or blog name, why you chose your font, color palette and logo. How did it all evolve?  Schools out so there will be NO grading on your writing skills, just want to learn more about my online friends - and that's what you are to me, friends!



The Blog Hop will take place on July 17, which JUST happens to be MY birthday!  BUT, instead of me getting a present, I will be awarding a present* to one lucky and randomly chosen participant!                     

 So, please plan on coming to my party on July 17th!

  ~ Shelley

                                                                                                                          * worth $25.00

REVEAL DAY: Father's Day Toolbox Challenge & Hop!

In honor of Father's Day, Sandra McGriff of Skye of Creative Chaos is hosting the Toolbox Challenge and Hop.

It's a quick, fun little challenge, where we raid 'his world' for items to use in ours. All we had to do was create a piece of jewelry using something that we found in his toolbox or his fishing box or the hardware store. 

As I am away from home visiting my sweet sister, Jill, I actually ended up raiding my brother-in-law Pete's garage!

 First, I saw some cute fishing lure being sold at their garage sale so I grabbed all those.

The next day I went to his workbench looking for a washer or two and I HIT THE MOTHERLOAD!!!

 (I ended up taking a few more than I needed for this one challenge, but believe me he will never miss them - hehehe!)






Purchased a few extra things and threw it together in a blender (I'm kidding, just wanted to see if you were paying attention) - and viola, I got this delightful necklace. It's a lil quirky but I kinda like it! It was made with both store-bought and handmade chain, ribbon which was embellished with glass beads, bolts, washers, metal findings, a used fishing lure and a sinker! - Would you wear it???

 Don't think it's Pete's colors so I am forced to keep it for myself! Ah shucks!

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Check out all the creativity by visiting these blogs -

                              Our  Hostess -  Skye's Creative Chaos               

              

Marlene Cupo

Pookledo

Julie Anne

Shelley Graham Turner of TORI SOPHIA   >>> You are here!

Leslie Wayment

Sherri Stokey

ingetraud

Shaiha 

Dyanne Everett-Cantrell 

Keri Lee Sereika 

I'm One of the Chosen Ones!

Woo hoo! I have been chosen to participate in the  Jewelry Designs from Nature Challenge !!!

Here's how it works -  a fun challenge inspired by Heather Power's book Jewelry Designs from Nature.

It's a creative blog challenge. 10 winners will be sent a packet and have a few weeks to create a piece of jewelry inspired by their packets.  Each packet contains:

   * a few Humblebeads featured in the book
   * a nature-inspired poem
   * a photo for color and design inspiration

The packets will be themed and I could get a garden, woodlands or sea set!

Then on July 6th there will be a blog hop featuring the results.  There will also be voting for your favorite challenge piece during the blog hop and giveaway beads from the book!

So to say the least I am super excited. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Heather Power's work, she is super inspiring. In fact I was online reading her blog archives all day yesterday..still got lots more to read but I'm in 2010!

So make sure to stop back on July 6th to see what we come up with. Oh, and be sure to pick up Heather's book. In addition to being available at Amazon, it's also making its way into the big craft stores like Hobby Lobby and Michaels. (CONGRATS Heather!!)