My February ABS Challenge Piece

I have been following the Art Bead Scene Blog for over a year now and decided that this year I would do my best to enter each monthly challenge.  So here is February: John Singer Sargent's beautiful painting "Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose" was not difficult to be inspired by.  I love all those colors and just let my mind take me on a little creative journey which ended up becoming this beautiful bib necklace. 

Thanks to Heather Powers of Humblebeads and all her great advice 

I was able to create this collage on Picnik. They have free aps and it is very easy and fun to use.  

As you can see my colors are a slightly brighter hue but none-the-less in the neighborhood.  

The bib background is quilted batik fabric 

with two layers of medium weight stabilizer and wool batting

necessary to support my handmade, delicate polymer clay White Stargazer Lily art bead.  

It was a left over from a polymer clay wedding purse custom order. 

I had fun free-motion stitching leaf shapes with metallic thread. 

I then beaded it with all those beautiful glass and lucite flower beads, 

faceted glass and ceramic leaf beads. 

I found some really wonderful teardrop shaped miyuki glass seed beads 

which look like drops of clear water (dew) and sprinkled them about. 

 The lavender fringe represents the little girls lovely dresses 

which seem to be white but have a lavender cast 

due to the artists amazing sense of color and lighting. 

In the necklace portion I used white shell chips and peach colored coral pieces 

to imitate the glowing lanterns in the painting, more flower and leaf beads for continuity 

I love everything about this painting and really enjoyed making this piece. 

Come back Saturday for the Bead Soup Party!!! 

It's My Birthday I can SMIILE if I want to and I want to!!

I am basically a teenager inside a slightly pruning body.

I haven't changed much have I?Maybe I need to shave more, what hormones?

I am anxiously awaiting my bead soup ingredients from my partner!! 
Keep waiting for the doorbell to ring and the package of goodies to arrive.
Stay posted for some great soup, Bead Soup that is.  
Here is a little beady goodness.
I made the deadline for the Jan ABS Challenge!

This is the inspiration from the Art Bead Scene Challenge for January.

Click on the link above to see the February Challenge.

Maybe you want to give it a try. 

One of my goals this year is to  do every challenge. 

I used polymer clay for the art beads; hearts, 

free-motion stitched and then painted muslin

and real suede as the lining for the Cuff. 

Silk ribbon suspends the heart bead in the necklace.  

I know these are not the usual Valentine colors but 

that's what I am about- something unique and interesting.

Also with Polymer Clay I created a winged creature for the PCAGOE Challenge.

This doubles as an entry for my Art Quilt Group Challenge-"Shelter" for Feb too!

"My Angel Shrine"

for more about this go to my polymer clay page.

Life is good, 

yes it is 

and I feel happy deep down inside 

where all the negativity in the world outside can't penetrate.  

That is the best birthday gift ever! 

Life is simple when you have that peaceful feeling, 

love and acceptance for yourself and others. 

This could last for days or maybe just a few more moments 

but I am grateful to feel it right now. 

I have had good and bad years, experiences, relationships....

but I have learned from all of it that the good is never really good 

unless you have a little bad thrown in there to remind you how good it is. 

I am learning to focus my mind on the good 
and use that to get through what seems to be bad 

but actually is motivating and pushing me forward to: 

"NO FEAR" my mantra.   

So, I am now eligible for some of the senior discounts out there, 

not sure what they are as I really don't consider myself senior yet. 

When I am dancing my heart out in my Zumba class I feel like I am 20 again without the need for make-up, pimple cream, birth control or a sweaty muscly man.
Here is one of my Zumba teachers in action.I missed class this day so you won't see me. 

Who could ask for more!  
You really should try out a class-
 An hour of Aerobic exercise has never been this fun and gone by so fast!

Of course a few hours later my feet, spine and compressed neck 

let me know if I over did it but I keep dancing.  

I figure as long as I keep moving those years can't catch up to me. 

Move On Everyone with joy- NO FEAR !!