Sunday, August 17, 2008

Even the first few stitches...




Even the first few stitches are a relief after being glued to the computer setting up the Etsy shop...writing descriptions, grinding the last available adjective out of my weary brain...

I actually wrote, "red and yellow are the new black." Please go ahead and laugh - or groan.

And all this time, while the laundry piled and the dust bunnies became prehistoric in size and mold began to form on the dishes I'd abandoned in the sink, and I had to take care of it, all I could think was - I WANT TO WORK. After a while, that thought was followed by, You know, you might never have another creative thought as long as you live. That's what happens when it starts to be about business, money and hours at the computer.

So ever humble though it may be, the cuff I've started (above) has brought me enormous relief.
I'd intended to do something symmetrical, lovely (I hoped) but formal & not free-form. And when I got the bezel around that extraordinary tiger's eye cabochon (there are actually teal blues in there), suddenly I was falling into the pictures in the stone and...well...hell...free-form. Flying by the seat of my pants again with a few scribbled lines I may or may not follow. And I'm trying Lone Beader's layering finally and I'm just ridiculously excited about it (thanks LB). Most of all though, I'm not caring if it sells - I just want it to take me on its journey.

August 21st Update: Ha! Want to make God laugh? Tell her your plans. Five Hours into the cuff I realize it's heading for a ditch and that THIS is the reason I don't use focal cabs a lot for embroidery. I cut the backing away and save the cab and bezel - and it will be the focal on a RAW stitch piece - where it can do it's stand-alone thing in peace. I may be the Queen of False Starts. Unless anyone else wants to compete for the title!

Aug 23rd - My fingers are cramping. This is a stiff one. But...underway. Only 6 or 7 more hours to go, I figure.

9 comments:

The Lone Beader® said...

I'm so happy to hear that I've inspired you to try something new! I'm excited to see the result! :D

LJ said...

Thanks D...I'm excited too. That happens just before and after the what-was-i-thinking stage of the work. The layering is really interesting and fun to do. I know you often use it for shading - but as yet I'm just playing with texture and it's really great. Appreciate the inspiration!

Anonymous said...

Hi Linda, I disdovered your blog today, where..., I don't know...Your work is wonderful, inspiring me too!! I wish you so much fun every day with beads! Go on!!
Greetings from Germany to Kanada
from Gunhild
www.perlenwahn.de

LJ said...

Hi Gunhild! Welcome and thank you!

herhimnbryn said...

Hey, I see you've had some etsy sales. Congratulations.

LJ said...

Hi H! Yep. And to my very favorite seller...sparkflight:
check this out!
http://ny-image3.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.34206307.jpg
We've been writing each other, and I'm pleased she bought such a good piece. I imagine that my prices will deter a lot of buyers, but then I don't have time to churn out thousands of things, so that's ok.
But yes, I was pleased to have a few sales, for sure!!

Rach said...

That cab is beautiful! I can't wait to see the finished product.

LJ said...

Getting there, rachel! It's near done and I've had to pin it around a form for days to get it to bend properly. It's so stuffed with thread (extra for stones and pearls with their sharp edges)that it refused to assume a cuff shape. It's the nastiest job I've ever done...but it's lovely! Pictures soon.

Deborah March said...

What a lovely cabachon. Your artistry has brought it to life.