Use the Muse II observations

A nice doorknob, photo by Jim using his cell phone: an illustration of my mind working after I got my Use the Muse mail delivery

I received my Use the Muse II collection of jewelry surprises from http://www.artbeads.com/ and Scarlett Lanson, young beading wizard who writes regularly for Beadwork Magazine. As Steve from Artbeads had said to me before, "To learn more and check out what happened in the first Use the Muse II contest, visit Scarlett’s blog here:http://www.thebeadersmuse.com/use-the-muse-contest2/ ". I went back and reread what Scarlett said after receiving my package and it put my mind at ease about what sort of competition, or challenge, this is. "The Beader's Muse", her blog, is very interesting anyway, and I recommend it. I now have a link to it on my sidebar.

Last night, after Jim brought the mail home, it was around 8:30. By the time I opened the package it was late and dark in our room, but I was interested enough so that I asked him for a flashlight and then I sat there in our bed in the dark, looking at the tiny treasures in the box glinting back at me. I loved the way it was packaged and am reluctant to undo it, but I don't think the idea of this challenge is to present the box intact and untouched when the deadline rolls around.

I began to have ideas of what I would do...I even went back to Artbeads and looked up a few items I thought I might add if I went in one particular direction with my Muse collection. Then I thought of other ideas...and more. Idea upon idea. My realization is this: this is meant to inspire ideas in a fun, non-threatening way. And it already has, in my case!

As I usually follow a whole different progression when I create, having my ideas come from my own sources, this threw a new light upon ways a person can begin a design. Use other choices of materials (lovely materials, by the way!) from other people, but ultimately allow your own style to shine through.

We shall see what happens. I have well over two weeks to create this project. I hope I can make something which flows. That is my great interest, when I see these components. Working with the main featured component tells me to "try for that".