Creative Candy

I've been so excited to dip into my new beads.  I think finally this week I will be able to have some uninterrupted creative time. Unloading my bags I see a lovely burst of summery colours.  Shimmery aqua blue, fresh mint, vintage green, opalescent blue, creamy pink and lemon yellow just to name a few.  My head is happily spinning with ideas.

 I love the unexpected colour combinations that I can already see as the beads roll around on my table.

Creative candy is so much better than real candy.  It gives me such an energy boost that's long lasting and calorie free. What more could I ask for?  I hope to have some new creations in my shop later this week.

My Creative Mess

My obsession with beads is a constant struggle.  I have quite a collection.  I also have bought more organizing containers than you would ever believe all in the hopes of having one of those super clean and organized houses (you know the kind you see in magazines).  One day I'll show you them in all their glory when I get closer to finishing my studio.  It is amazing when they are sorted and organized.  I love being able to go right to the box and find just what I'm looking for. I have a bit of a strange system some are sorted by colour, some by type and some by size but it works for me pretty well.

The thing is though I find I'm the most creative when I'm surrounded by inspiring things.   Lovely piles of little glass beads can literally make my heart skip a beat.  Colours everywhere.  Turquoise, green, pinks and shiny things can make me giddy.  Sometimes the best things happen when working this way.  An unexpected roll of a bead into another pile can stir the most interesting ideas.

I've decided I'm just going to roll with it.  I'm just going to live in my creativity and I guess so is my family. I'm still working on my studio space but I do like our dining room the best. It's bright here and I can have the window open and listen to the birds outside.  My computer is close by, the coffee pot is steps away and of course so are my beautiful beads.  So for now I guess I'm just going to let my beads have their own dinner party at my dining room table.

My new creations.

 

I found my new addiction!

My name is Nancy and I'm becoming a stamp addict.  I made this bird after lunch today and the flower and heart yesterday.  My mind is busy thinking of images, drawing and carving out these beautiful stamps.  Playing with the ink is equally as fun.  The best part though is lifting up the stamp and seeing what printed underneath.  It's like opening a present.  

A day with Geninne

This weekend I took a step out of my somewhat routine life and went to the most fabulous workshop.  In fact my sister and one of her daughters drove in from Montreal to attend as well and make it a weekend visit.   The workshop was led by Geninne a talented artist from Mexico.  When I 'discovered' Geninne's shop on Etsy I fell for her work immediately.  Gorgeous, vivid colours, birds and nature mixed with postcard images and lettering. A girl after my own heart.

It was held at Bookhou a bright and gorgeous shop on Dundas Street in Toronto filled with textile work by Arounna. It was lovely to be in the company of such creative women and artists.  For me it was a definite change of pace from jewellery making.  I haven't drawn (except for my constant doodling while on the phone) and I haven't picked up a brush for years except to paint my walls.  It definitely pushed me artistically. 

My handdrawn image is transfered onto a soft block and I'm beginning to carve out the flower.

Experimenting with different coloured inks.

Finished off with a mini lesson of watercolour painting.

A sample of the amazing stamps from the class.

I came away with a wonderful creative energy and my eyes open to new ideas.

Yesterday we picked up supplies so we can make more stamps today. (I think we've become slightly obsessed). With my sister here it feels like I'm on holiday so no worries about the household things - laundry and vacuuming can wait for another day.  Today we're going to pop some tunes on the ipod and sit down with our daughters to make more stamps.