Saturday, May 14, 2011

The Studio of Cindy Gimbrone: Friends and Allies

Welcome to Studio Saturday! Each week one of our contributors gives you a sneak peek into their studio, creative process or inspirations. We ask a related question of our readers and hope you'll leave comments! As an incentive we offer a free prize each week to bribe you to use that keyboard. The following week we choose a random winner.



The winner this week is Cynthia - Congratulations, you have won one of Lynn's lovely flower baskets. Email Lynn with your address, and she will send those out to you.

Welcome to the studio of Cindy Gimbrone!


If you read Studio Saturday regularly, you'll remember I had a big home office/jewelry studio clean out a month or so ago that got my creative wheels turning. I work in a couple of different mediums creating beads because each medium allows me to do something different.

One of the things I wanted to do but couldn't achieve very well in glass is using printed words.  I love the idea of walking around with jewelry that shows the world what you think and who you are in printed words. There are lots of talented bead/jewelry artists out there putting words on pendants and beads. But since we're all individuals, I didn't see any of the words or phrases that expressed how I felt. So that sent me to the bead table to create beads with my own phrases.

One word resonating with me lately is, ally. By impressing parts of the definition of ally, I hit at the heart of the meaning for me....




...an ally supports and loves you. An ally is a friend, a partner, a spouse, a family member, those who love and support you. Unconditionally. We all need someone like that in our lives, don't we?

I kept humming this classic song from the Beatles, "A Little Help from My Friends"  when I was making this new series of Word Beads...


Who is your friend and ally? Share with me and you'll be entered to win one of my new Ally Beads!

16 comments:

Mary K. McGraw said...

I have to say my husband is my closest friend and ally. He is very supportive of all I do and is there when I need him,

Unknown said...

Wow Cindy a peek into your studio is awesome! I love those new beads and you are so right about ally's. I have so many now since entering this bloggy world but my best one is my sweet daughter. Without her in my corner I would have never tried some of the things I have or made it through some of the things I have.

gailwhitehead55 said...

My best friend and ally is my mom.She is a constant support,she has 2 huge jewelry boxes(the floor to chest kind)filled with jewelry from 1920-2011!Seldom does she give a piece away,but I can borrow and look anytime.She gives great advice,and incouragement.

Ann said...

I would have to say my husband is my biggest ally and closest friend. He helps me be a better and happier person by supporting my continued education. He also made me see that I had to extricate myself out of a terrible job which freed me up to get a much better career.

Ann
mycriticaleye.com

Erin S said...

My husband always has my back.
Erin S

Regina said...

I got a girl friend at work, she is my ally, great sense of humor, great listerner, gives great advice, great friend and all round wonderful person.

Cindy Gimbrone said...

Hi Mary, Kristen, Gail and Sabine!

Thanks for commenting! Glad to hear that your family is your greatest ally. A couple years ago, I encouraged my husband to leave a job that was killing his soul. He's much happier now and glad he did.

Thanks for sharing! Looking forward to more comments :-)

Alice said...

My best ally is my mom. She's become my best friend and a great supporter. But really my best ally as far as my biz has to be my husband. He does all the computer stuff that I don't like, lugs the heavy tables etc to my shows, and sits through them all so I don't have to do it alone, eventhough I know he'd much rather be anywhere else.

I love your word beads!

Clamworks said...

I love how organized your space is! And the beads are gorgeous...what a great message.

Elizabeth said...

I have 2 great allies: Susan and Jim, looooooooooong time friends who have my back and I have theirs. We all have wicked, irreverent senses of humor and support each others successes and follies.

Your word beads are amazing.

Unknown said...

I feel really blessed my parents always have loved and supported me through thick and thin, I also have some phenomenal friends who are my allies!!! Great beads Cindy.

patodat said...

Cindy, my sister Linda is my greatest ally. She was gifted with wonderful taste... She can go to a thrift store and in a few minutes have a designer outfit put together. Knowing this, I supply her with some wild and crazy beads and she transforms them into fabulous jewelry. She says I inspire her, but I guess, we are a team. We are head to the Bead and Button Show soon so we can soak up knowledge and amke new friends.

patodat said...

Cindy: my best ally is my Sister, Linda, she is one of those people who is blessed with great taste. She can enter a thrift shop and exit a half hour later with a designer outfit with classic but kooky touches. I send her my modest beads and she creates fabulous jewelry with them. She says that I inspire her, but I think it is a mutual admiration society. I will be happy to leave my tornado ravaged neighborhood and have a bead blast at the B& B show in June. Linda is meeting mne there...look out Milwaukee.

Cindy Gimbrone said...

Hi Erin S, Regina, Alice, Elizabeth, Penny, Patodat, Clay Chick,

Thanks for commenting and sharing who your allies are in your lives. Thank you for the compliments on my workspace - right now it's full of the ally beads in various stages of completion.

If you're going to bead and button like patodat - enjoy!

Beadfully yours,
Cindy

Cynthia said...

It's a toss up between my Mom and my husband. My Mom is my best friend, and will always take my side.
My husband is my other best friend, and will always defend me to others. Both of them are very supportive, and I would do anything for either of them.
Your new beads are fabulous! Thanks for the chance to win one!

Cindi said...

Without a doubt, my husband. We will be married 37 years June 13. People in our neighborhood we moved into 11 years ago thought we were a second marriage because they said we acted like newly weds. He is the only constant in my life. He is attentive, loving, affectionate, sensitive, caring, giving...and he is all those things consistently. It is who he is.