Monet's Garden Beads, these are for a class I developed this week and sent out as part of a teaching proposal. It's the first one I've ever sent out, I'll let you know more when I hear back from them. Fingers crossed. These are handpainted beads with liquid polymer clay and oil paint. I'd like to teach more and travel all over the country. I'm going to teach a beading class at the Texas Bead Retreat in January. I need to work on a game plan for getting teaching engagements. Well, my mondo beyondo dream is to be the bread winner and have Jess be Mr. Mom, working on art work at home while taking care of the house and kids. Maybe he could even go back to school for his masters. I wish life wasn't so far from what we dreamed when we started out together.
Speaking of retreats, I thought I'd share this with you. Tomorrow I'm taking a self-proclaimed artist's retreat. Read all about it and sign up, if you need one too. I've been enjoying Linda's Dessau's Roadblocks to Creativity e-workshop. She sends along emails with the topic, you answer a few questions and she emails you back suggestions. I've been in such a whirlwind of craziness lately, it's been so refreshing to step back and look at my life, where it's going and what I can do to change the parts that are driving me crazy. In particular, my horrid procrastination. I have a million projects I want to do and focus on nothing.
For the artist retreat I'm going to work on creating beads for the Dallas Bead Market. My first real bead show, and I'm scrambling to build up my bead inventory. You'd laugh if you say how far I have to go before next Friday. But I can do it, the challenge is to enjoy the process and love what I'm doing. Totally in the moment, is not something I'm very good at. There is always "what's next" going through my brain. Deep breaths, stop thinking about things I can't control and just create!
To get ready for tomorrow I picked up a whole big batch of clay, on sale at Hobby Lobby. I also bought a little scrapbook to use as a journal for the day. I'll post some of it over the weekend. I'm working on straightening up my studio, which is quite a mess. And finally, filling my room with shells, some of my favorite photos put up by my bead table, even a few candles. I'm going to play music while I work, turn off the phone, I won't be checking my email and the girls will be spending the afternoon at a friends. Creativity...bring it on...
If you decide to make the day an artist's retreat, post a comment and we'll support each other tomorrow with well wishes and cheers!
Oooh Heather, they are so so so beautiful! I have fallen in love with Monet when I was a teenager and your beads are stunningly beautiful. I am falling in love again...
Love all your plans, so exciting, I am senidng lots of sparkles your way ( the edible kind, hahaha).
~tine.
Posted by: tine | August 04, 2005 at 07:10 PM
These are GORGEOUS. I have always been a fan of Monet and your bead definitely evokes the same mood his work does.
Your dream will come to pass because your actively pursuing it. Go get em girl!
Posted by: roz | August 05, 2005 at 06:50 AM