a walk in the woods - with Julie of Uglibeads!

I was reading an old blog post of mine yesterday, about a series of beads inspired by the wilderness. And I got to thinking about inspiration and evolution, and how all the twists and turns in our lives ultimately lead us to something much greater than we could ever have imagined.

Follow Your Path bracelet bar by Erin Prais-Hintz

It's a bit like walking deep in the forest. You put one foot in front of the other, maybe watching out for fallen branches or holes so you don't twist your ankle. But until you reach a clearing, or a beautiful vantage point, you're not really sure where it is you're going.

Fall leaf pendant by Michelle McCarthy

I'm in a bit of a wistful mood these days. The end of 2015 and the beginning of 2016 brought me to some deep reflective places about my work, my goals, and where I want to focus my energy this coming year. I find myself struggling to keep up with all that goes into making a living as an art bead maker. You know - loving what I do, appreciating what I do, feeling grateful for what I do - while knowing that things could be better. Smoother. More peaceful. 

It's funny - when things get busy, the actual making of things is the first to go. Especially the new, exciting, experimental, untested, really creative things. Maybe if I'd had this guy in my pocket I'd have done a bit better - he looks like he has some magic to spare ;)

Fantastic Mr. Fox bead by Heather Powers

One of the things I've learned in life is that it's ok to pick things up, find beauty and meaning in them, hold on for a while, and ultimately let go. Objects, experiences, places, and people all weave themselves into our lives in complicated ways.

Beachcomber pendant by Mary Harding

There are times when you look down and find your hands full. Holding onto things. A lot of things. And you begin to feel the need to let go, to release, to make room for something new. I'm there, in that place. I need to put some things down before I can pick anything else up. And there are things within reach; new ideas, new directions I'm aching to explore, new skills to learn.

It's not easy to protect your creative time, but we all know that sometimes you have to make tough choices. Like letting go of good things (or great things!) to make way for unknown things. 

Scary, right?

Scored Sgraffito Focal Rice beads by Claire Lockwood

I try to be a very go-with-the-flow person. So when I get to a place in life that forces me to sit for a spell and think more seriously about what I'm doing and where I'm going, it's not comfortable. But I read the following quote (from astrology writer Rob Brezny) yesterday -

"As long as I live, I vow to die and be reborn, die and be reborn, over and over again, forever reinventing myself."

And I thought... YES. Because that's just the thing about creativity, isn't it? We create things, but in doing so, we also create ourselves.

I spent much of last year trying (sometimes not all that gracefully) to keep up with the wild branches growing every which way out of my creative practice. Cutting leaves off here and there. Tying the spindly shoots that were drooping to some makeshift support. But that approach is not sustainable, of course. Nor is it beautiful. It lacks vision and purpose.

So here we go - are you with me? 

This year it's deep work, pruning some BIG branches, in order to make space for all that's yet to come.

Branch Button by Tari Sasser

I'm ready. I'm excited. I'm wide open to freedom. Joy. Open to seeing the teeniest tiniest spots of color and wonder, wherever they are. And they are everywhere!

Crimson Picasso handwoven beads by Rebecca Anderson

In the spirit of making space for new experiences, this will be my last post as part of the ABS editorial team. The women who've created this blog have built something special here. It's a meeting place; a point of connection for people who love all things art beads. A celebration of creative community. So of course, deciding to move on wasn't easy - but it does help to know that I can still be an avid fan and reader, continuing to soak up all the beautiful inspiration. And I promise I'll try to remember to leave a comment more often - I know how good it feels to be appreciated and encouraged!!

As for what's next... once the pruning process calms down, I'll be feeling excited about all the possibilities! Sitting at my jeweler's bench practicing my new metalsmithing skills... making lots of new beads to keep my Uglipeeps happy, writing and sharing stuff in my Uglibeads Facebook group.. and following that path through the woods, wherever it leads. One step at a time.

I'll keep my eyes open, my feet moving, my heart happy and my spirit loving... And I have no doubt that the rest will fall into place, as it's meant to happen, when it's meant to happen.

 great love charm by Heather Millican

Henry David Thoreau said, "I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than the trees." And reflecting back on the time I've spent being inspired by the amazingly talented people who make this corner of the art bead world what it is... I think I know what he means.

Vivid Wilderness beads by Julie Wong Sontag

So as I sign off, may I offer an enormous thank you to the Art Bead Scene team - Heather P., Rebecca, Claire, Erin, Mary, Tari, Heather M. and Michelle. And to you, the lovely ABS readers. It's been a real pleasure.

I hope our paths continue to cross.

xo

Julie

<<  >> --- << >>

Julie is a glass beadmaker with a passion for building community and inspiring conversation around her writing. Her best work comes from that magical place where nature meets creative flow. She is fascinated by all things weird and wonderful. You will find her hanging out most days in her Uglibeads Facebook group or on Instagram, and you're invited to join in the adventure by signing up for her weekly email newsletter.

5 tips for successful production making - with Julie of Uglibeads!

For the last two months, my creative time has been dedicated to working on a project that’s a little outside my comfort zone - making a large number of the same bead design. I’ll be the first to say that for me, the best kind of creativity happens in the times when inspiration is flowing, and I can’t wait to bounce out of bed to work on new ideas. If you’re the kind of person who loves to do really unique, one-of-a-kind things, you may be wondering why ANYONE would choose to do ‘production work’, making multiples of a certain design as part of their art practice. And believe me, I felt the very same way - until I tried it.

After making many, many of the same bead over the course of a few months, I have to say - there is a lot of potential benefit in repeating certain designs, if it’s something that you’re able to do in your particular style or medium.

Even if each of your pieces is unique, there may be repeating elements or tasks you can complete in larger batches - ear wires, jump rings, self-made components, cutting lengths of cord or wire, oxidizing or finishing. Chances are good that the more of the same thing you can tackle in one go, the more you can streamline your process. Materials and tools are costly, but the most significant investment you make in your work is your time. Saving time means improving your bottom line, which means…… more money for beads! And that could never be a bad thing.

One way to approach it is to offer variations on a popular design that preserve a unique look. Our own Rebecca Anderson of Songbead fame is a master at tweaking certain elements of a design, once she’s nailed down a ‘blueprint’ that she can build on. She wrote about her approach here along with some brilliant illustrations of that idea.

The ability to create multiples is key if you’d like to create a ‘line’ of work that you can wholesale to shops - or perhaps if you require a large inventory to participate in a show. Click here to see the amazingly wonderful Heather Powers' (Humblebeads) approach. Her new book, Beautiful Elements, may also be just what you need to get inspired to create unique components that could be made in larger quantities and used as repeating elements in your designs.

So this is my second go-round with a fairly large batch of orders. In May of last year I did the first - and completed over 90 sets of my ‘weenie beads’ (teeny tiny spacer bead pairs). 

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the process of making the same object over and over again. In many ways, the repetition and predictability of a production session feels very soothing and meditative. Not only was it *really* rewarding to get to the end of that process and send all those beads out to happy new homes, but I learned some really useful things about my technique and workflow while making them.

Here are my top 5 lessons learned from deep-in-the-trenches adventures with production making:

1. Set a limit and stay within it.

If you think you might have more demand than you can supply, set a limit that feels comfortable and doable - you can always open more spaces for orders once you’ve completed the initial run. Decide on a shipping date that gives you enough space to handle unexpected detours along the way, such as supply issues, family events or illness. Also - and this is very important - build in enough breathing room that you can still take time to experiment and play. Somehow, as soon as I don’t have a lot of time to work on new ideas, they start overflowing so quickly I can’t keep up! Keep your sketchbook nearby to capture all the new inspiration that pops up as you restrict yourself to making the same thing for a little while.

Blocking the flow of creativity and inspiration can lead to feeling unbalanced, and for many of us, really quite miserable. For that reason, my first rule of production work is that during every session, I take the time to experiment with at least one new idea at the beginning or end of the day. Even if it’s only one bead, it helps to feel like I’m staying open to new possibilities that I can explore later.

2. Keep it simple.

Consider how many options you plan to make available (ie. different colors, sizes, finish, customization, etc.). In my experience, the fewer the variables, the easier it is to keep track of everything and stay in my happy place. The first time I held a made-to-order event, I had dozens of different color choices in two different finishes and it was a logistical nightmare to keep it all organized. Do yourself a favor and keep it as simple as possible.

3. Organization is your friend.

Especially as you near your shipping date, the more organized you’ve been at every step along the way, the easier it will be to stay on top of things. It can be helpful to make sure your orders are clearly mapped out by printing out order slips or invoices and making notes about your progress as you go along. Spreadsheets and charts are great. Keep the supplies or tools or recipes or resources you need close at hand so you don’t have to go looking for things every day.

4. Make yourself comfortable.

Experiment with your working environment. Once you’re at the point where you can make this component or piece of jewelry your sleep, you’ll be in a good position to tweak little things that can make creating easier now and in the future. Consider your chair height, your lighting, your hand positions, the tools you have and the way you use them. I found that there were a surprising number of tiny adjustments that could be made when I was on creative autopilot and had time to think about it more mindfully.

Make your creative space a peaceful and inspiring place to spend time - whether it’s meditating before you begin working each day, aromatherapy, decorating your space with meaningful objects, burning incense to start with clear energy… whatever feels good to you. 

Repetitive work is a great opportunity to find out what kind of ambient noise helps you get in the ‘zone’. You may work best with music you really love. Some people swear by audiobooks, podcasts, or complete silence. My productivity skyrocketed once I started listening to music that’s designed to be minimally distracting (think: instrumental, spa-like music, sounds of water, etc…). I use an app for that called focus@will, and it would not be an exaggeration to say that it’s completely revolutionized my creative practice. After a free trial there is a monthly subscription fee but after all my basic beadmaking equipment, it’s probably the most important tool in my studio. If you struggle with concentration, it may be just what you're looking for.

5. Pace yourself.

Whether it’s 15 minutes every hour or two, an entire day to relax and regroup, or a weekend to think about something else, breaks are important. Take care of yourself - you're the most precious tool you have. Be kind to your body and your mind. Have a bubble bath, get some extra sleep, find some good chocolate, drink tea… whatever helps you stay balanced and healthy. If you reach the stage where you start to wonder what on earth you were thinking… remind yourself that it is part of the process. Any challenge worth doing feels uncomfortable at some point. Be open to lessons that can be taken forward into your future work. Production work has taught me to be much more efficient, improved my ability to stay focused while working, and given that all-important dedication muscle a regular workout - things that are valuable to me no matter what I’m doing.

Even if you decide that production work is NOT for you, limiting yourself temporarily can be a wakeup call; a reminder that creative freedom is a beautiful thing. I firmly believe that gratitude and inspiration go hand in hand. A deeper appreciation for what you do may ultimately lead to better and more inspired work.

If you’ve experimented with making multiples of the same piece, or changing up a detail here and there to get some extra mileage out of a successful design, I’d love to hear about it! What did you learn that might be helpful to other art bead and jewelry makers thinking about giving it a try?

Until next time...

xo

Julie

<<  >> --- << >>

Julie is a glass beadmaker with a passion for building community and inspiring conversation around her writing. Her best work comes from that magical place where nature meets creative flow. She is fascinated by all things weird and wonderful. You will find her hanging out most days in her Uglibeads Facebook group or on Instagram, and you're invited to join in the adventure by signing up for her weekly email newsletter.

7th Day of Christmas : Ode to Joy!

Welcome to the 7th day of Christmas! I've been so enjoying all the lovely projects that have been shared over the last couple of weeks as part of this 12 Days of Christmas series! It's a great idea to get those creative wheels turning in time for handmade holiday gifts - the best kind of gift there is!

My project is very basic, but it's a great way to show off a treasured art bead. Sometimes you don't need much! For anyone with any kind of skill in working with metal, this project will be child's play - but for those like me who are just starting to learn some basic skills, it's a great way to take them for a spin!

In my beginners' silversmithing class, the first thing we tackled was sawing simple shapes out of metal. I'm working on a pair of earrings in my class, but I like the idea of practicing what I'm learning at home too - as much as I can with the tools I have acquired so far.

I do have all the necessities to complete a simple sawing project, so I had the idea to make some copper and brass snowflake ornaments for my family for Christmas. Snowflake patterns - like the ones you make by folding and cutting paper - are perfect for sawing and piercing, because the design elements are all connected.

I've been using free snowflake pattern templates that can be readily found all over the internet (a Pinterest search for 'free paper snowflake patterns' turns up lots of good stuff!) and enlarging/reducing them on our printer to get just the right size for each design.

I have a pile of ornaments in various stages of completion - most of them cut out, waiting for filing and sanding and some beautiful accents to bring them to life! I have big ideas, of course, and can't wait to find the perfect finishing touches for each one:

As for finishing touches, there are so many possibilities! This is a great time of year to pick up beautiful trimmings in the shops - I found some lovely red velvet ribbon, and a big ball of sparkly string (for Canadians - at Winners) the other day:

My husband and I frequent the thrift shops around the city at this time of year, adding some new finds to our collection of vintage Christmas decorations and lights, but I always swing by the jewelry section to see if I can dig up any bead treasures.

These vintage lucite beads are going to be amazing dangling from the bottom of some of the snowflakes!

And of course, I have a pretty wide selection of art beads that I've been hoarding for just such an occasion - including these really funky beaded beads by Debra Schwartz of DatzKatz Designs that are almost like snowflakes themselves (more awesome vintage finds there too!):

In the middle of the snowflake-a-thon, I realized that a very close friend of mine has a birthday coming up next week, and I wanted to design a special ornament for her, putting all that snowflake sawing practice to good use.

She loves Christmas, and her middle name is 'Joy' (perfect, right?) so I designed a cutout to showcase an art bead I bought a few weeks ago with this project in mind - representing Karen's favorite animal (stay tuned...)

To make an ornament like this, you'll need some very, very basic metalsmithing equipment:

- a jeweler's saw frame and blades (I used 3/0)

- a table and bench pin

- small drill bit and drill / rotary tool

- protective eyewear

- pencil and eraser

- adhesive labels (or plain paper and a glue stick)

- sheet metal - I've been using 18 ga copper and brass

- small files

- abrasive paper or cloth

- decorative elements - art beads, vintage beads, chain, jump rings, string, ribbon

STEP 1: draw your design and affix it to the metal sheet

To begin, decide on your design, draw it out with nice, clearly defined lines, and transfer to adhesive paper. You can also use plain paper and a glue stick to adhere it to the metal. Place it where you want it, on your sheet:

STEP 2: saw the outside of the design

I won't get into technical details of sawing and piercing metal - I'm certainly no expert! Plus, it's much better explained in a video format. If you've never used a jeweler's saw before, there are tons of great videos available on YouTube that start with the VERY basics. I liked this one a lot (by Kate Richbourg for Beaducation.com): Sawing Metal.

It took me a bit of doing in the beginning, but once you get the hang of it, it's fun, easy, and relaxing. I could happily saw away for hours and hours, listening to some good Christmas music!

STEP 3: pierce (drill) holes and cut out the interior elements of the design

When you've got the outside of your shape cut out, if there is negative space in your design you'll want to drill a hole in each of those shapes. You'll thread your saw blade through those to get at the interior shapes you want to cut out.

I used my electric Dremel tool for this - the same one I use to clean the holes in my glass beads (and a 1 mm drill bit). If you have a big block of wood that you can place under the metal as you're drilling, or you don't mind drilling into your bench pin, that's a good idea - I couldn't do that, so I managed with a couple of scraps of wood and a plastic cutting board. And use two hands, obviously! My other hand was holding the camera.

Don't forget your protective eyewear!

Once the holes are drilled, you can thread your saw blade through and continue sawing out the pieces of metal that you want to get rid of:

STEP 4: file and sand the edges and flat surfaces

Now that you've cut your piece out, the next step is cleaning up the edges. The better your sawing technique, the easier it will be, of course! I used a set of small needle files to file the edges of the design, followed by smoothing with 220 grit abrasive paper. Then, I sanded the flat surfaces, front and back.

In this case, I only used the coarsest emery paper I had (220 grit), since I actually quite like the satiny, scratchy finish it leaves. But if you prefer a smoother, more reflective surface, you can finish the edges and the flat surfaces with progressively finer grits of paper / cloth (ie. 400, 600, 1200), like the smaller squares you see in this photo:

STEP 5: finish and embellish - the fun part!

The possibilities are endless! Use that ribbon and twine, dig through your bead stash, go hunting for vintage treasures... Drill holes for hanging, do some stringing and knotting, wire wrapping, add some jump rings or chain... 

This is a great chance to use up bits and bobs. Since it's not a wearable piece, it's also fun to use beads you really love, that may not fit your usual 'style' of jewelry making. When it comes to holiday ornaments, all bets are off. Do you make tribal, or rustic, or primitive jewelry? Here's your chance to go for the glitter and google-y eyes. The cuter and sparklier the better!

On my copper 'Joy' ornament, I added some chain for hanging (attached with jump rings I threaded through holes drilled at the top of the j and the y), some of that beautiful red velvet ribbon for a bow up top, and as the perfect finishing touch....

An art bead, of course!

My friend has a beloved pet bunny named Wendell, so when I saw this absolutely adorable polymer clay bunny charm by Leah Curtis of Beady Eyed Bunny, that was the ONE!

I love the idea of creating something special as a gift that fits the recipient in a way that only handmade can. And what a perfect showcase for an equally special bead.

Now I just have 8 snowflake ornaments to file and sand and accessorize in the next 7 days. 

No problem ;)

I hope your holiday season has been magical so far - and wishing you all good things as we approach the New Year.

Until next time...

xo

<<  >> --- << >>

Julie is a glass beadmaker with a passion for building community and inspiring conversation around her writing. Her best work comes from that magical place where nature meets creative flow. She is fascinated by all things weird and wonderful. You will find her hanging out most days in her Uglibeads Facebook group or on Instagram, and you're invited to join in the adventure by signing up for her weekly email newsletter.

inside the studio - with Julie of Uglibeads!

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 prize each week to encourage you to use that keyboard and tell us what you think. The following week a winner is chosen at random from all eligible entries. And here are the results from last week!

Congratulations to Ann Schroeder!

You've won a package of surprise beads from Mary Harding.

Please email Mary to claim your prize!

fresh from the kiln last night!

festive Ugliweenie beads (my teeeeeeeny tiny little spacer beads) 

and some special Christmas beads destined for Beads of Courage - 

a wonderful arts-in-medicine program for children with serious illness

---

Happy Friday!! And welcome to the first Inside the Studio post for this exciting month of December!

It's been a busy busy busy (good busy), but really busy time since my last Inside the Studio post. I'm feeling grateful, and blessed, and excited about all the cool Uglibeads things happening, but I'm totally pooped out, and I'm SO glad it's Friday! You too? Ok, good. It's not just me.

Understandably, I was feeling a little antsy about sitting down to write about my latest work and inspirations and ideas while feeling maxed out. It takes a lot of energy to go there. That's deep down stuff that requires a lot of thought. And I wasn't sure I had it in me this time.

As makers, it's totally natural to want to do the best we can, all the time. We take pride in the things we make, and want them to be as beautiful as possible. We train ourselves to constantly be on the lookout for ways to improve. We seek out flaws, so we can fix them, remove them, or make sure they never happen again. Always asking, how can we make the next one even better than the last? That's part of being good at anything where the motivation comes from within, as it does with our art.

So it's hard to take it down a notch.

We all have things that we're unwilling or unable to let go of. That's not necessarily a bad thing. If we didn't stick to our guns when it comes to the things that are really, really important to us, where would we be? It's just that if you're willing to go to the ends of the earth for something, it's good to be mindful about why it feels so important. 

If you're convinced that something is a non-negotiable part of your creative practice, you may be right. But take another look from time to time to see if maybe... just maybe... there's more wiggle room in there than you thought.

So let's wiggle. I'll go first. 

(you don't have to shake your booty in your chair to do this wiggle, but it's more fun if you do..)

Do I love to write epic posts and newsletters and Etsy descriptions? Yes. 

Do I need to do that all the time? No. 

Heck no.

So here's where I wiggle my way out of that all-nighter I was tempted to pull - by leaving you with some photos. Just photos. Beautiful places I've been, and things I've made these last few months....

The story is up to you.

1 - temple - Tamil Nadu, India

2 - beach - Pender Island, Canada

3 - woods - Sylvan Lake, Canada

Wiggle room is tricky, I know. If something is non-negotiable, it's just the way it sounds. It's not a negotiation. There's no inner 'should I or shouldn't I' dialogue, and you feel confident and rooted in certainty. But discovering room to move can come with an uneasy feeling. Is this the right thing? Is this going to work? Am I going to disappoint someone if I choose to do this differently?

Like a lot of things in life, there's only one way to find out.

I wiggled, and I survived. Maybe I even liked it a little.

Now it's your turn, and here's where the BIG GIVEAWAY comes in: my question for you is, what are you holding on to (creatively or otherwise) that might free up some wiggle room if you chose to let it go?

Let me know in the comments below, and you'll be entered to win a holiday surprise package from me. That's all I'm going to say, but I promise it will be good! The winner will be announced right here, next Friday.

Thanks so much for joining me - until next time!

Julie

---

Julie is a glass beadmaker with a passion for building community and inspiring conversation around her writing. Her best work comes from that magical place where nature meets creative flow. You will find her hanging out most days in her Uglibeads Facebook group or on Instagram, and you're invited to join in the adventure by signing up for her weekly email newsletter.

Inside the Studio - with Julie of Uglibeads!

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 prize each week to encourage you to use that keyboard and tell us what you think. The following week a winner is chosen at random from all eligible entries. And here are the results from last week!

Congratulations to Alice Peterson!

You've won a $20.00 gift certificate to Mary Harding's Etsy shop. 

Please email Mary to claim your prize!

---

Hi, it's me, Julie! Happy Friday, and nice to see you again for Inside the Studio! 

There have been lots of exciting things going on lately in the world of Uglibeads! Last week there was an auction, this week a new blog post, the weekly email newsletter came out yesterday (click here to sign up to receive those in future), and of course - big Etsy update happening tomorrow (9 AM MDT, Saturday October 10) - some new smoky ivory, marsala-y, cranberry-ish beads! And whatever else I have time to photograph before then ;)

And... just... stuff! Lots of good stuff happening lately. I'm always curious to know what's behind it whenever I go through a really creatively productive time. As if there was some magic I could bottle up and put away for the next time the muse goes on vacation. Knowing my muse, she probably hasn't unpacked her bags since she got home from the last one...

Unfortunately, there is no 'muse magic'. But there is yoga. And that's kind of the same thing.

Now.... when I say 'yoga', I really mean, 'that thing I do for myself because it makes me feel joyful, and connected, and powerful, and peaceful, and grounded, and balanced, and AWESOME.' It's a shorthand. When I say 'yoga', replace it with whatever it is that does the same for you. Your joyful, connected, happy, awesome thing.

So I love yoga. A lot. It's become a vital part of my creative practice. If you asked me what the most important tool is in my studio, I might say my yoga mat. It calms me, it helps me focus so I can sit for longer and have a more productive day at the torch, it helps decrease shoulder and back pain from sitting hunched over, it helps me to keep my mind clear when I'm working on new ideas... It's a no-brainer. But even so, sometimes I really struggle to set aside even 10 minutes a day. Every morning, I think, 'Yikes... I have so much to do today... I just don't have time." If I happen to look over at my desk and see the 'to-do-list' staring at me, that's it. No yoga.

But recently, I had a revelation during - of course - an online yoga class. In the middle of some long, drawn-out pose, the teacher (Felicia Tomasko, yogaglo) was chatting about the ever-present 'to-do-list', that (frustratingly) never really gets shorter, no matter how hard you work away at it. As soon as you cross something off, you remember something else that needs doing, and it gets added to the list.

So, as she so wisely said (loosely paraphrased by me - I was too busy breathing to take notes),

the real victory is not in crossing things off your to-do list,

it is in *setting aside the to-do list*

to make time for the things that are really important to you.

Lying flat on my back on my yoga mat, taking that all in, a lot of things suddenly made a LOT of sense. Things that bring you joy, things that bring you closer to the people you love or closer to yourself... those are MUST do's. Not to-do's.

BIG difference.

Just for fun, I experimented this week, keeping a running list on a pad of yellow legal paper. All the things I needed to get to during the week to keep Uglibeads running smoothly. Usually I just sort of keep it 'up here' in my head, or on about 83 post-it-notes stuck all over my desk. But I must say, I felt a little calmer having it all in one place. I'm about 95% less likely to forget something, and there's comfort in that.

And here's how it went: even though I worked harder than usual to clear my plate this week, the list is now longer than it was when I started. Yes, longer. I'm making anti-progress! 

Do you know that feeling? It goes something like this:

Aggghhhhggrrrghhhgggghhhhgrrrgghhaaaahhhggggrrghhhh!!!!!!!!!

It's ok. Scream into a pillow if you have to. You can borrow mine.

So that's where my head has been at the last few weeks. I've been keeping a very watchful eye on 'the list', but more and more often I set it aside. Without guilt. For yoga, and for all the other things that keep me in good physical, mental and creative shape. Because when I do that, it's so much easier to be the best version of me there is - in all aspects of my life. 

In light of that... I painted a butterfly...

I went to my beginners' metalsmithing class and sawed out little triangles and circles for hours and hours like a zen master...

I started to experiment with a new series of beads called the 'earth angel' series (full of colors and watery-sky-cloud-star inspiration that I can't wait to dive into!!) and made a new amulet necklace with the first pendant in the series...

I sat and drank this amazing latte in a coffee shop right around the corner from my house...



I picked up some beautiful new inspiration...

And... I managed to cross a few more things off the list in between. Balance.

So - no, my life is not all painting butterflies and doing yoga and drinking coffee and collecting rocks and leaves. And neither is yours. Nor should it be. It's not always realistic to take time away from the to-do's. There are a lot of things in life that need to get crossed off the list by somebody, or our world would be in a state of total chaos.

But sometimes you can take a moment. And when you do, it goes something like this: 

Yaaaayyyyyaayayaaaaayyyyyaaayyyyyyyyyyaaayyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!

So, here's where the BIG GIVEAWAY comes in! And my question for you: what is the first thing you would do if you could 'set the list aside' for a few minutes, or a few hours, or... longer? Let me know in the comments below, and you'll be entered to win a special mini-pendant, made just for you, from my new 'earth angel' series (similar to the one shown in the necklace above). The winner will be announced in next Friday's ITS post.

Thanks so much for joining me - until next time!

xo

Julie

---

Julie is a glass beadmaker with a passion for building community and inspiring conversation around her writing. Her best work comes from that magical place where nature meets creative flow. You will find her hanging out most days in her Uglibeads Facebook group or on Instagram, and you're invited to join in the adventure by signing up for her weekly email newsletter.