busy

Since when did the shortest month of the year mean the most projects are due?

I am working seemingly non-stop on something in my studio just about every day (or rather every night. Late, late into the night!). If it weren’t for the sticky notes on my computer screen I might not know what to do next!

{My organizational flow chart}

 Unfortunately, some of the stick seems to be going in these cute little skeleton key notes (thank you Michaels dollar spot!) and they frequently fall under my keyboard or I find that they have attached themselves to my elbow which when I find them promptly puts me in a tizzy because I may have forgotten to do them in the right order and on time!

Here is just a quick rundown of just some of the sticky notes have kept me busy this month (or at least the ones that didn’t get lost!)…

…I created two new jewelry designs for the “That’s Amore” juried art show at the Central Wisconsin Cultural Center including the necklace “Nothing Like the Sun” featuring my new Story Beads (below) with lines of Shakespeare’s Sonnet 130 on it so that you can read the poem as you travel through the necklace.
{Sticky note to self: make more Story Beads!}

{Story Beads with Shakespeare’s Sonnet 130 – what lines would your Story Bead say?}

…I cranked out 65 sea-inspired pendants (below) that will be cruising the high seas with Heather Powers and the Bead Cruise as my sponsorship package. {Sticky note to self: summer is coming! Make more sea-themed charms!}

{Some of the 65 sea-inspired ‘simple truths’ pendants ready for the Bead Cruise}

…And as long as I was creating 65 charms, I thought, “Why not make 7 more?” (below). So I hopped into the Ornamentea Lucky Charm swap (deadline is February 29th, there is still time to play!). {Sticky note to self: can’t wait to see all the great charms that I will get in the swap… but what to do with them?}

{“Beauty” – new Chinese Chop charms coming soon!}

…I issued my next quarterly challenge. The Challenge of Music inspires my readers to make an accessory of their choosing using their favorite music as inspiration. There are 46 marvelous hoppers from around the world and I can’t wait to hear the world beat that we will be jammin’ to with this challenge! I would love to say that I am done with mine, but it seems that I could be late to my own party. I can tell you that I have narrowed my inspiration down to a favorite artist and even three of her songs, but no real progress on that. The good news is that I still have a few days to get it all done and magic can most certainly happen in the 11th hour! {Sticky Start planning the next quarterly Challenge… for May 2012}

{Join us on February 29th for a Leap Day Rockin’ party!}

…I am working on a super special secret project right now. Shhhhh! You will have to wait a few months to see what this is. I know! I am such a tease! {Stick note to self: get some pretty on these naked pendants quick!}
 

{Pendants baked and ready for some painterly love. but you can’t see them yet! By the way… I love Pixlr.com so much more than I ever loved Picnik!)

 …And finally, just in the nick of time, I completed my pieces for the 2nd Annual Verse & Vision art exhibition at the Gallery Q where I exhibit my work. This highly respected show pairs original verses from Wisconsin poets with an artist at Gallery Q where we interpret the inspiration of their words with our chosen art medium. When we pick the poems it is completely blind, we have no idea until the reading at the event who the poets are. The level of creativity runs very high with this show and there is talk of it being a traveling exhibit across the state! Of course, for my chosen art medium I created necklaces. And what amazing sculptural pieces they have turned out to be! I love these neck sculptures because I have collaborated with some incredible bead artisans. Below are just little snippets of each of the three pieces showing some of the art beads I used. Sorry that I am teasing you with just a glimpse, but until the show is live in mid May I cannot reveal the whole thing. But I promise that I will reveal them all, along with the poems that inspired them in May when the exhibit goes live! {Sticky note to self: get these to the photographer by Tuesday for their close up for the book! And find out who the poets are in May so that I can get permission to share their poems with the world!}

{detail from “in the heron’s wings” inspired by the poem of the same name featuring a custom enameled heron from Beth & Evie McCord of EBBeadandMetalWorks}

{detail from ‘For Those Who Endure Midwest Winters’ inspired by the poem of the same name featuring a ceramic birdie from LeAnn Weih of Summers Studio Etc and fold formed and patina-ed leaves from Mary Jane Dodd of  Speaking Your Truth}

{detail of “Old Love” inspired by the poem of the same name featuring a silver charm from Beth Hemmila of Hint Jewelry trapped in a handmade copper bezel}

As if that weren’t enough things (and truly there are many more things I didn’t mention!), next week I will be pulling together the Art Bead Scene monthly Blog Tour for the wonderful inspiration painting. Hmmm…. I wonder if I can squeeze in an entry for that? I might not have time, but there is still time for you to do it! Hope to see you then! {Sticky note to self: try not to drool too much over the lovely baubles created by the awesome ABS-ers!}
 
Whew! I think that I need a break. Too bad I don’t have the Bead Cruise to look forward to. I sure could use a vacation after this month! {Sticky note to self: schedule a massage and pedicure to treat yourself for getting this all done in the shortest amount of time and keeping all your balls from spinning out of control!}
 
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This week I am giving away one of my ‘simple truths’ rings, found in my Etsy shop. Winner’s choice (doesn’t have to be the little owlet, but ain’t he sweet?). Share a comment below answering this question…
 
You see my awesome organization with the sticky notes on the ‘puter (above). I like being able to see them at a glance to know what is coming up, and also being able to move them around. But I hate it when the sticky loses it’s stick and they fall off on and float under the keyboard causing me to drop one of the balls I am juggling. I sure could use some help.
 
Share your best organizational tip for keeping up all your balls in the air and you could win a mighty fine ‘simple truths’ ring of your very own!