You have to be a beadist member to get these great emails from Kim! --jean

It's time to clean up my studio, and get ready for a fresh start in the New Year. This is good news for you! Starting today, I'm hosting a Progressive Bead Sale. That means almost everything in the BeadShop is 20% off today! Tomorrow I'll drop the prices to 30% off. And Friday I'll go to 40% off! You can take your chances and hope the beads you want most will wait for you, or grab them fast, at an already great discount. This is the perfect time to stock up for future gift giving, or to treat yourself. I'll also refund shipping charges on orders of $50 or more. Lots of beads are posted right now, and I'll keep adding new listings as we go along. Check back often, and I'll drop a quick email each time I reduce prices further. With your help, I'll have a clean studio by the time we welcome in 2012! Cheers to you, my Beadist Friends! Thanks you so much for being there! xo Kim

I thought this looked cool, and if I were in that area  that weekend, I would try to make sure I could attend!--jean

PS: I am in LOVE with those earrings in the photo!  So sensual and exotic. And organic, like fossils, as well.

jean's un resolutions for 2012

being an ornery person means you don't make New Year's resolutions.

Hello, it is jean. The person who never capitalizes her name. I do this for personal reasons and not because of e.e. cummings, whom I admire greatly. Nobody is ever going to learn why I do this because I DO have a modicum of privacy, even though I do share my life here with you often. Which I pronounce "offin", not OFT-en, just so you know.
Today I am home alone in the sense that Jim is not here. So I picked that image above, instead. It was either that or Edvard Munch's The Scream, which I do adore. Anyway. Nobody is reading this so it doesn't matter in the long run.

the cool thing I wonder is how many people have used these two images on the same post  in one entry over the years. It's so obvious  it's what we call a "gimmee".
But onward!
Therefore, while  I am busy taking care of the kids of course, I do have a bit of free time. So  I decided to make some 2012 un resolutions. First I looked up images for the word unresolution and got stopped in my tracks  by google for a while because google corrected me and asked me "do you mean un resolutions "?  So I said to myself, OK. I hit on images for un resolutions and  got mired  in a mass of United Nations Resolutions photos and a lot of politics, people signing papers, and political cartoons, none of which I identified with personally, although that was interesting. I don't discuss politics online.  I figure if I keep politics out of it, no will realize what a complete dolt I am about politics, even though my minor in college was political science. Plus I hate alienating people, and there is nothing more divisive that politics online. So I don't go there. Everyone knows I am Catholic but I do not care if YOU are, so that solves the religion problem and discussing that online. Everyone knows I am a vegetarian, but I don't care if YOU are, nor do I care that I am.

My big interests  are located elsewhere, so here we go with my un resolutions  for 2012.

1) I un resolve to stop not doing what I love. Have I got this right? Let me think a second. If I add that I have ODD (oppositional defiant disorder)  does that affect how this whole list will go? And what if I am just being difficult  about having ODD?  And maybe saying I have it, because I don't have it, or because I actually DO have it?  Boy, this is harder that I thought.

2) I un resolve to not stop obsessing over question number one. This could help, but what if I have OCD, and am just pretending to un resolve to stop obsessing, or not obsessing , over question number one??? And did that require three question marks??? And why do I always wave goodbye with my right hand, even when I have to swivel around and contort my body into massively awkward positions to accomplish this, and even though I am incredibly proud of being left handed?    ???

3) Is this microphone on?  I un resolve to not laugh. OK. good. THIS ONE I NAILED! I think.

4) I un resolve to not let go of my fascination with whether I am "fat", "thin" or "just right". I think the Goldilocks "just right" syndrome  has a bunch of people in its clutches and I need to get some perspective on that.

5) I un resolve to not let go of my trouble with my frizzy hair. Vanity, thy name is jean. Et tu,
e.e. cummings?

6) I un resolve to not get all caught up in thinking about that fantastically reviewed movie I want to see most, RIGHT NOW!!!,  and in wishing I looked like that girl in it, Rooney Mara: "The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo", and in trying to get another tattoo to slavishly emulate her in an obvious attempt to finally be a cool person for once in my life. And in considering going back on  my un resolution to not obsess about my hair, and change it completely, and to get a bunch more piercings.

now really, I ask you, in all seriousness, is she not ubercool? And she is a computer genius. I myself need spell check just to make sure I spell genius correctly.

well I have to go, as I must give a bawwwwwth to one of us here, and after that, prepare his ablutions.

Oh , final  un resolution for 2012:

7) I un resolve to stop my endless fascination with interesting and long words, and in trying to practice my Chaucerian accent on a daily basis, as  if  you think about it, no one really knows HOW they pronounced Middle English unless he or she has eaten a LOT of yogurt and lived a really really long time.

dear readers, thanks for not reading this. --jean

The Ruse Rebellion EP, above

posting this on my blog, flickr, <--where it began, and facebook

www.rusemusic.com/music/

My life according to "The Ruse", from jean
this game is a lot of fun!! so just play if you feel like you want it to. and just ignore if you've already been tagged..
Using only song names from ONE ARTIST, cleverly answer these questions. Pass it on. Try not to repeat a song title. It's a lot harder than you think!

Are you a male or female:
Devil in the Girl

Describe yourself:
Crazy Girl (Ne M'oubliez Pas)

How do you feel:
Impressed with the Mess


Describe where you currently live:
Down In A Hole

If you could go anywhere, where would you go:
Perfect World


Your favorite form of transportation:
Satellite

Your best friend is:
The Sweetness

You and your best friends are:
In Defense of the Rebellion

What's the weather like:
Wonderful

Favorite time of day:
Midnight In The City

If your life was a TV show, what would it be called:
I Can't Stop

What is life to you:
Glitter Not Gold

Your relationship:
Bumps in the Night

Your fear:
Beautiful is Gone

What is the best advice you have to give:
Don't Let It Fade Away

Thought for the Day:
Glow

how I would like to die:
Ten Thousand Years

My soul's present condition:
Light You Up

my motto :
Simple Grace

Comet Lovejoy (2011 W3) Reflections from Colin Legg on Vimeo.

Regina dreaming of Christmas day --a Moon Child custom by Moon Rouge.. Crown and angels by Moon Rouge

Beadbloggers!!!



Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi has a post about Natural Touch resin beads and making them your own.

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Jean discovered a wonderful way to boost your inspiration! It's called DOTS--and you must get some! :)


The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Embrace the holiday spirit of giving and bid on one of the fantastic "Artists Helping Artists" auctions going on to help Penny of SparrowSalvage!

About.com Jewelry Making
Don't get hung up on hang tags. Learn some easy options for creating earring cards and hang tags.

Art Bead Scene
On the 6th Day of Christmas, Gaea posted a fun beaded holiday card hanger project! Check out all 12 Days of Christmas projects on the Art Bead Scene blog!
Beading Arts
It can be a bit hard to find nice ornament cover patterns that are free, so Cyndi has rounded up a few goodies for you!

Giveaway winner announced!!!

CindySowers (see her website ) has won the Lark Miniature Art books giveaway!
If I had my way. every one of you who signed up would have won this, as I love these books so much!
I find them enchanting. During these dark days which are slowly getting lighter, curling up with a book is one of my favorite pastimes. It honestly clears my head of thoughts which  at times are too confusing because of all the festive seasonal things! It is like yoga for my brain. Yes, you heard it here first.
Yoga for my brain!
When I read something which I love, my collective forces unite  and I can then resume some of my more demanding physical and possibly stressful whatevers which I need to do around the holidays! You name it, whatever it is I do.

Congratulations CindySowers! Hope you are having a lovely Christmas! Hope your creative (I checked out your site) soul gets a kick out of these books and that you enjoy them as much as I do.
Please contact me at my email address jyatesnewyork@aol.com  and send me your address so I can send these right off to you, with love from Lark Publishing! and me too ! --jean

Sign ups are SOON! Mark your calendars -- sign ups will be held January 7-9, with the actual hop taking place March 3rd. Please tell your friends if you think they'd be interested! More information at this address: http://lorianderson-beadsoupblogparty.blogspot.com/     from jean--this is so fun--you HAVE to try and get into it! It expands your own perspectives about what you are able to accomplish in ways that you will not expect, and yet you will be amazed! At yourself,and at your new online friends you will meet! It is incredible to be a member of one of the lovely Lori's Bead Soup Blog Parties. I know, from experience!  :)

Oh, OOPS!... or OPPS!, as many people spell it.





Lucy, my doll  has some "splaining to do". she is my doll who most falls over unexpectedly, when I am trying my best to photo her. Here she is, doing just that.

OK. I think you get the idea. I am fallible too.


My math skills have never been the best. I apologize!  My giveaway winner will be announced this Friday, Dec. 23rd! Please read my entry from last week on Dec. 15th and leave a comment on that post and "follow me" if you already have not done that.  This is an adorable, fascinating and diverse giveaway of miniature books from Lark I really enjoy hosting!  Good luck, everyone!--jean

"Everyone should have something to smile at everyday.....

And a judibird DOT does just that!"--my friend Suzanne

so  exactly what is a DOT?
A DOT is a creation hand made by judibird, an artist I have met on Flickr. judibird DOTS
are also know as "Decorations, Ornaments, and Toys". You can use them in so many ways to enhance your photos of your creations I just had to point them out to you because you will never have seen such enchanting little creatures before, I guarantee. Here are some examples, in a Holiday theme, of how  judibird herself  and also a photographer contact, Mr. Mushroom,  use DOTS.

I chose these two to show you the energy that just comes right out of the photos and is absolutely charming!

"Moonstruck" by judibird -- I LOVE this!

"Merry Stinkmas!" by Mr. Mushroom. Sorry if you object to me publicizing your photo, M.M. I adore it. You can write me later and kill me if you gotta. I like your work. DOT by judibird, of course.

Suzanne also said to me, when I mentioned I was going to publicize judibird on my blog,  "I told her you just never know where it could lead her artistry..... and it truly is an art! I certainly could NEVER come up with the ideas, or could I create them!!!! AND HER PICTURES and SO COLORFUL AND CREATIVE AND AMAZING!!!!"
here are a couple of Suzanne's I really love:

(click the small ones to enlarge) This was taken in a very hot area of the USA  so the little devils informed their new pals they were quite comfortable! The cat looks like my friend Felix from my childhood. love the tinies, too!

This one by Suzanne is called Hi!  ( hahahaha!) DOT by judibird--this one just knocks me out!

I just get really cheery when I look at these photos and I think that many jewelry designers NEED inspiration from other types of artists when they are creating.  If you buy from judibird, you are going to ramp up your creativity as soon as you recieve your DOT or DOTS in the mail. I guarantee this. Nobody does it better, as the old James Bond song goes!

here is another photo from the wonderful judibird:

This is called Bunnypoints--how wonderful is this!  Is everyone happy now?  I know I am!
and one more I really am enamored of because I think of MOI:

Ahem..I have never told you this before, but I like to think of myself as "queenly". Jean, my name, comes from my grandmother Regina. Latin for Queen. If my parents had only named me Regina my nickname could have been my dream name, GINA, but that is a story for another day. It a rare Scottish Catholic girl like myself who sports a cool moniker like Gina, darn it. Oh jean, get over yourself! DOTS and photo by judibird.

OK, so I took the liberty of taking some of judibird's lovely photos from Flickr without her permission. Forgive me, judibird, I just love your creations so much and your sense of humor is irrepressible.

judibird, I love you. I want people to know about you. I hope it is OK to mention in the spirit of this holiday season that you have been a brave and strong lady going through a difficult time this past year. I know many people (possibly you) are private, but I would like to mention this to my readers because at this time of year some people help themselves by helping others.  It makes them get out of their own worries and makes them feel better, It is a universal form of therapy which is based on the amazing human ability to give love. Love is the most important thing in the world. Hope, laughter, and really caring are right up there, too. Artists are apt to understand this innately. So do many other kinds of people. YOU reading this, understand. I know it.

SO: If you are reading this, please think of judibird and think of me , because I always steer you straight. You cannot lose if you buy a judibird DOT! Or a bunch of them ! Please do and your love will come back to you tenfold. And you also will get a gazillion tons of fun! judibird is truly fun, and I am certain that that you already love her as much as i do!

Merry Stinkmas, Mr. Mushroom.  Thanks for your pic I stole!

Thank you too, everyone! You rock the house!--jean...uh...GINA  :)


how to contact the fabulous, wonderful, precious and funny
 judibird !---> see below


flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/38779218@N05/  this is where you can see what she has to offer "for adoption" --it is SO fun and SO amazing! you can flickrmail her too. add her as a contact to do that.
or:
email:  Fridabird@rocketmail.com
 ( also paypal addy)

http://www.etsy.com/shop/judibird --possible way to contact judibird although the store is not offering her DOTS at the moment

at top:  the infamous quads. one of these girls doesn't want to go to the holiday party. she just wants to hang out at home. which one is it?

following is the beautiful Sylvie, dressed up for Christmas in her best finery.

don't forget my giveaway for Lark! It is going on right now on my blog!

BEADBLOGGER SUNDAY!

Beading Arts
Every new year should bring a new challenge. How about getting inspired by the Ring A Day challenge...and maybe win a copy of the book?

Art Bead Scene
Jennifer decks the halls with a super colorful, Jangles styled bead garland, and her free tutorial will show you how to make one too!

Carmi's Art/Life World
This week I made a beautiful component even better!

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Jean has fun being a new designer blogger for Nina Designs! Come and see what she made!

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Andrew shares a couple of magazines that he was recently published in.

A Bead A Day
Share your holiday jewelry on A Bead A Day blog. Just leave a comment or send an email to get your work featured!

About.com Jewelry Making
No time to make beaded ornaments? This is so not true when you have this super fast and inexpensive tutorial to help you.

I am so proud to have been interviewed by Artbeads blog today! Here is the first picture they chose  from my jewelry selection -- one of my favorite bracelets I ever made!

There are other great pictures as well,  and thankfully none of ME! 

Here is where you go to read the fun interview by Marissa of Artbeads. She titled it:
"Jean Yates, The Dame of Dolls and Decadent Jewelry"! How fun is that?   I really enjoyed answering her questions!  I hope you enjoy it as much as I loved doing it.

 

Blog for Beaders

A creative place to share jewelry making information, ideas, and inspiration! Hosted by Artbeads.com

Thank you if you visit!  :)  jean!

  yes, I laid these books out on the table and took the picture. I am not a professional photographer, I just play one on TV! Or however that goes. Click on the photo to enlarge it. Then really see what is going on here--it is worth it!

These mini books are totally charming and the collection is so eclectic! I was fascinated by the choices and at first I was going to split them up for this giveaway, but I have decided to send them to ONE lucky person who leaves a comment on my blog . I will announce the winner next Friday, December 22, and we will send them out to you from here. So Happy (late) Solstice day, kind of!
I know that is a bit late for holiday festivities in the sense that these may not arrive by Dec. 25 if you celebrate Christmas,  but sometimes the best presents arrive after the BIG days--those days when everyone is running around in high spirits and having big "Cindy Lou Who" Feasts. If you are like me, you can get overwhelmed on holidays and actually be incapable of opening your presents  until around New Year's. It is annoying for my family, who all  love me and want me to appreciate and admire what I receive immediately, but I just tend to get a bit like Scarlett O'Hara and decide to think about it "tomorrow"!

I received a set of these books myself as a gift from Lark and dear Ray, head of the Lark team,   and I have to tell you that I adore them.  My husband Jim liked the earring book the best (no comments on that choice please--Jim is extremely drawn to manly stuff like chain saws and lawnmowers too...but he is an artist himself and has the best eye for beauty in the family). When you see the earrings up close on the cover, you can see that there are stunning butterflies encased within the clear and beautiful components. Jim loves butterflies and when he is outdoors he notices everything. Hopefully not when using his chainsaw.

I am fascinated by the Handmade Books mini book, as I have a friend from the Czech Republic, Rose (more on Rose tomorrow), whose mother was a trained bookbinder. Rose was supposed to follow in her mother's footsteps and actually does know exactly how to bind books properly, as she went though school learning this craft.  However, she is an artist too, like Jim, and that is not what she ended up doing as a career. Instead, after she left the Czech Republic, she was the assistant to a very famous fashion designer for years! Rose has "the eye" for beauty.

I also have a friend who makes art tiles, and she and her pal Bob made me a superfantastic tile of my hero, Abraham Lincoln. I treasure her (Cathy Lybarger of Aardvark Art Glass) and she is GREAT at all sorts of art, specializing in museum quality beads. She even made a "Jean" bead once, but someone bought it before I could! Its subtitle was "We are all in the same boat". I loved that! So true!
I have no idea how to make an art tile,  but I love that book because of my Abe Lincoln art tile from Cathy, whom I call Aard.

What an astounding and diverse collection of books! So colorful and so packed with energy! In such tiny yet compelling editions, they simply exude delight in designing and creating!

The gift collection we are keeping here at home fit perfectly onto a wall with a small ledge in our living room. Jim loved the books so much he spent all one morning drilling and gluing a wire across that section of wall and then put them in, alphabetically. They just light up our living room! It is a fabulous display.

If you sign up for this giveaway, you must be philosophical about when we will be able to ship them out to you (please, United States only) but we will do our best to ship them fast. You will receive all eight and you will fall in love all over again with why Lark is such a special publishing company.
How to sign up:
Please leave a comment on this entry. And if you don't follow my blog yet, I would greatly appreciate it if you sign up to do that!
The winner will need an email address so I can make contact and obtain the physical address which I can send the books to.
Thank you Lark Publishing, once again, for a fabulous fun opportunity to make people happy!

PS: If you go to Lark where I highlighted the link, you will see a great bundle of stunning books you can get on a giveaway they just began! Don't miss out!

--jean

Bead Giveaway from Beaded Lily! random.org. chose:

read on!


I cannot believe how fast this week is flying! I spent two days at the Department of Motor Vehicles in a town far far away!  I should have just spent the night sleeping on a bench in the 20 degree weather but seeing how much my family missed me when I returned each time made it worth it.
My advice: don't boggle up your car registrations and driver's license simultaneously, even if it isn't your fault and you have NO idea it is happening. Oh, and don't lose all your forms of identification.  That doesn't help either. Oh, and remain polite and don't burst into tears, no matter what. Oh, and when you need something faxed, go to the military enlistment center next door to the DMV and ask the kids (well soldiers)  who work there if they are willing to help you with their fax machine! But start with a joke. I was with my sister and she and I look exactly alike. She is 62, and I am 60.  We had tried to dress properly for the DMV and looks fairly spiffy, if rawwwther on the old crone side. I said to the guy in the camouflage outfit when he came up to us at the door of the military place, "We're here to ENLIST!" Needless to say, that insane absurdity broke the ice. Maybe you had to be there. My sister is a really classy New York City lady. and you pretty much know me. I try.

You can find out all sort of interesting things from people who are not necessarily jewelry designers, like the fact that their favorite movies might just be YOUR favorite movies. His fav was my fav. --He liked The Matrix. He must have been 3 when that movie was made. I found that interesting. You can have fun when you meet new people.

Now: on to the winner of this lovely lovely giveaway from the gorgeous and elegant Beaded Lily:

Cyndi L. !!!

Thank you Cyndi L for entering, and thanks to all of the rest of you who also entered! I am SO pleased that you took the time to enter this giveaway, because I found Beaded Lily to be a perfectly wonderful store! I love everything I have seen there--they don't just offer beads and jewelry--they offer components and classes and many amazing and fascinating things. I have a wishlist a mile long now from their website!
Some things are so clearly unique to them that  if  I ever had the chance to receive one or two of their pieces, either made into jewelry or just the beads, I would be totally thrilled. [hint, hint, Jim].

I hope Cyndi L. loves these beads as much as I do!

Thanks to you all so much. Please do visit my blog again   -- I have another giveaway coming up tomorrow.
Very best wishes and great thanks to Beaded Lily for sharing their beauty with my readers!
What a marvelous site!--jean

click on photo to enlarge--this is Sylvie in her Christmas finery--she begged me to modle ths early! I couldn't resist!

BEADBLOGGERS!

About.com Jewelry Making
Time and money are items many of us don't have much of right now, but not to worry. These simple projects are just what you need to inexpensively spread some holiday jewelry love.

Beads & Books
Michelle turns an inexpensive printer's tray from a craft store into a beautiful display for a jewelry show.

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi has a series of bezels filled with last year's Christmas cards to share this week.

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Jean hosts a very lovely giveaway from the sublime bead and jewelry store in Florence, Italy, Beaded Lily!

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Andrew creates a piece to be silently auctioned off to help a fellow artist out! Bid on his necklace to win and check out all the other fantastic auctions going on!

A Bead A Day
If you are looking for some fabulous giveaways by a wide variety of artists and crafters, Lisa is linking you up!  

Beading Arts
Don't miss the great giveaway at Cyndi's!

Please hit photos to enlarge--

jean: now a "Designer blogger" for Nina Designs!!! 

This is thrilling to me because I love everything about Nina Designs.

I was very happy to be selected!!!, however I have to tell the truth ... it was a real challenge as they sent me not only the components--which are actually BRONZE! but the leather, too! I do not think of myself as good with fibres and leathers.

However, I said to myself, "I think I can, I think I can..." and so on, like the little engine that could.

Then I got to work. The suede-like finish of the leather was amazingly soft and that really helped. Nina Designs is nothing if not consistently high quality. That is one of the major reasons why I have been loving this company for years, now.

So anyway...

I came up with a plaited bracelet with a knot on one side and a loop to close it. Phew! I was thrilled! I hope you like it!

One tip for neophytes like me. When you braid or plait, keep the tension consistent.  I did this by cutting three strands of suede and knotting them, just guessing  at how long I would need the suede to be to make a bracelet.  [Note: I had a generous amount from the bundle they sent left over to use for another day].

I then took a nail and gently insinuated it at the top of my soon-to-be braided bracelet, where the knot was, and used a board I had put the nail on to make my bracelet. At the end, I had extra sueded leather, so I fashioned a loop for the clasp from one of the pieces and knotted the tassel to include the loop.  Please kindly think I am keeping that technique a "designer secret".  At any rate, if you like the bracelet, give it a try.  So that is the story of jean and the suede! I am NO LONGER AFRAID  of  SUEDE ! I am down with getting it together with leather! And so on!

I went on to add the charms in the manner which you can see. I did not use some lovely closures and a toggle which were also sent to me.  However they were just as pretty as everything else. I just had to create my bracelet  and earring set a certain way, which I enjoyed doing. I was definitely not working--I was playing! My favorite way to create!

Now I would like to offer you a list of the items I received and their item numbers, to make it convenient for you if you wish to go to Nina Designs and make something like this!

The bronze components! They truly looked fabulous in every way to me!   I believe Nina will have a great hit with these, as many of the items are also offered in other metal colors as well as the bronze. But as for bronze, we all know that this wonderful metal provides a great way to be able to spend less and get the most for your money!

Here is what I received to work with:

VNA 851 Bronze Butterfly Wing Pendant
VNA 751 Bronze Bird on a Perch Charm

VNA 815 Bronze Leaf Charm
VNAC657 Bronze Tulip Hook & Eye Crimp Clasp

( a petite and completely lovely set I chose not to use--If I had made a necklace I might have used the suede in one piece, cut to necklace size, and it would have fit this clasp very nicely) VNTC68 Bronze Toggle Clasp ( another lovely set which I have used in other colors of metal from Nina Designs previously, but was fixating on my suede clasp!)

VNT2197 1 PR Bronze Hook Earring with Hammer Finish on Front : this amazing style has always been one of my favorites! Glad to see it in bronze--it is glorious!

Note: many of these items are available in other metals as I said. It is really worth your while to check out the site to see.

Additionally, when I got my package from the site, the sweet Juanita (who works for Nina Designs) wrote: "All of these components are SOLID BRONZE-Except the leather that is"!

I would not make the following observation if it were not true: I thought I was working with gold, plated over bronze. I had to double check the item numbers before I believed I got straight bronze! It totally shimmers!

That is how fine these pieces are. There are FAQS on how to care for your bronze on the site. This is great, as well. Very helpful.

The suede I received is item :UL720 and is actually Deer Hide Leather Cord, Caramel. Sold in 12 ft bundles, 2 mm wide, approximately 1 mm thick.  So it is no wonder I thought that is was so soft. It is what we are all familiar with in the beautiful moccasins some of us love to wear so much. It has a smooth side and a rough side.

I was SO happy to have the lovely butterfly wing for the bracelet as a fabulous centerpiece focal charm. It was also cool to be able to make earrings which go together in sensibility but which are not exactly "the same". A little bird charm, and a tiny leaf on pretty, pretty ear wires. Makes sense to me! It all goes together in a very earthy manner, but chic as well.

Above:
from a different angle:

I really like the butterfly wing, as you can tell it is a Monarch butterfly. Or so it appears, to me.

Also, I have a "thing about negative space".  All of these charms employ it so very well.

In my book, I quote my mother, who used to teach flower arranging. She always taught her students that when you arrange flowers, you should place your flowers in your arrangements leaving enough space so that "a butterfly could easily fly though", in and out.  Just as in nature. That is one very beautiful way to explain what negative space is, and how important it can be to making something pretty.--jean, with thanks to Nina Designs!

The materials above were provided as part of the Nina Designs blogging program. The author of this blog has not received any payment from above-mentioned company.

one angle--

full angle!

From two angles, above: the glorious giveaway from
the beautiful site, Beaded Lily!
Perfect for the Holidays straight into New Year's and beyond!
Here is the set of beads you can win if you decide to do the following:
1) leave a comment here on this entry, AND ALSO
2) "LIKE"  Beaded Lily on Facebook ( I already do!).

Note:
Here is the link for their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Beaded-Lily-Glass-Works-Creation-Center/49525418971

Following is a description of these beautiful beads, made in Italy:

Handmade Glass Lampwork Beads (Set of 6): Ruby w/ Gold Leaf

Glass colors: Rubino & Clear

Other components: Gold Leaf

These beads are to swoon over ! I find looking at the depths of the glass mesmerizing, with the swirls of gold leaf  against the sultry rubino. It is one if my favorite combinations and does have the sensibility of gold and rubies!

I hope you take advantage of this exciting giveaway. It truly is a unique one, coming all the way from the fabulous city of Florence! The winner will be announced on my blog next Wednesday, Dec. 14th!

Beaded Lily's website is here ! Their main location as I said is Florence, Italy. Once you visit their website, you will fall "en amore" with their skilled and gorgeous work. I know this, because I did! This is one giveaway I wish I could sign up for myself!!! The possibilities these rubino beads have, in their comfortable and chic shape, are limited only by your own imagination as a designer.
You will be wearing your New Year's Eve bracelet, if you do not receive these beads before, and dazzling everyone, in no time! What a delicious thought!

Beaded Lily, te amo!!! Thank you for this great opportunity for my readers!--jean

review of 13th Frame, a book by Marcin R. Szymczak

review by jean yates

I don't quite know how this happened.

However, because this author is so amazing and brilliant, and because this book is so incredible,  it just seemed to happen by kismet.  I got the incredible chance to review this extraordinary book after a brief email from Marcin, and now I am not the same.

If you love Lewis Carroll, Jack Finney( Time and Again) , "Monk" of television fame, Michael Crighton and time travel, quarks, neutrinos, humor, (always humor!), charm, magic, thinking outside of the box, doing the wrong thing and breaking the rules,discussions of photo equipment after swearing that photo equipment isn't the point, REAL passion, the author and neurologist Oliver Sacks, Alfred Einstein, the word parameters and sometimes making fun of the word parameters, cheap muses, alcohol, crossword puzzles, sudden revelations, flipping photos and seeing the flip side as a better photo (where is the light coming from? Is this the photo you took? ), the book The Fight Club with its dual and totally crazy characters, the book Flatland, imagination, creativity, the sudden moment, concepts of time ALWAYS, discussions of equipment from box cameras to analog to digital, lessons on shooting the wrong way, lessons on shooting the right way, BREAKING THE RULES(again I repeat that--it is essential to understanding this book) , the photographic greats like Cartier-Bresson, Adams and Weston,<-- of which this gentleman, Mr. Szymczak is absolutely, definitely one, and more than anything learning learning learning by laughing, I IMPLORE you to read this book and give it to everyone on your holiday list. It is not even expensive, although the photographs you will see are lovely and amazing.

Here is a little info from it:  I lifted this info from the page on the site.

Typical medium format camera can take 12 frames. Yet sometimes, something unusual happens and 13th frame appear. 
 [note from jean--you see? this had me at hello--down the rabbit hole I went, into this book which is pure magic]

Origins
This book is a set of texts created during near 5 years period – stories and essays usually focused on photography. It was first published in Poland, as a part of biggest polish blog on good photography, “Zawsze Kwadrat”. The work has been honored by the “Blog of the Year” prize under “Culture” category.
Now you can read first batch of texts gathered under title “13th Frame” and available on most popular e-readers platforms. Will there be a continuation? It depends entirely on you.
Where and How
First, don’t hesitate to download a sample in .mobi format (for Kindle devices and Kindle apps). You can find other samples on Smashwords page.
You can find here list of chapters, not very useful Author information and others, such as Preface explaining the book’s name.
The book consists of both exquisite text and high quality photos – you can see how does the sample page look like here.
Why should I buy?
One mentally unstable author from the middle of Central-Eastern Europe, over 19 various cameras (both digital and analogue), 29 dead bodies, 24 more or less beautiful women, 7 phenomena considered supernatural, 11 neurotic disorders – all these in 32 chapters arranged in a way to provide you some glee, comfort and long hours of great fun. See? You just have to buy it!
Let this book take you beyond boundaries of photography known to human kind!

jean: I cannot say enough to praise this book. I am a huge lover of photography. My 2011 resolution was to take better photographs. Possibly a more useful resolution would have been to read better photography books, like this one of a kind treasure,
13th Frame
by Marcin R. Szymczak.
 AVAILABLE AT AMAZON.com and SMASHWORDS as an Ebook.
Thank you from the heart, Marcin, you are now a bona fide hero of mine.

--jean

I got THIS fantastic email below from Ray at Lark Publishing (sorry Ray--I was trying to replicate your great graphic and messed it up!!! But I did really TRY!)--

what a great giveaway!!! and
what fabulous other news!  I could hardly wait to share it with all of you!!! Thank you so much from all of us!--jean

Dear friend:

To share with your online social-media community:
Lark Jewelry & Beading is having a superb 21-book giveaway for the beading
and crafting community, U.S. residents only, closes Dec. 7:
http://bit.ly/sitY8K

Also:

Holiday gift-giving wishlists from some of your favorite beady people,
including Diane Fitzgerald, Jean Campbell, Carol Dean Sharpe, Sabine
Lippert, Margie Deeb, Jennifer VanBenschoten, and Jill Wiseman:
http://bit.ly/vnACca ... with more lists to come!

Thanks so much for your support,
Ray

---

Find us: http://www.facebook.com/LarkJewelryBeading

Ray Hemachandra
Team Lead, Lark Jewelry & Beading
Sterling Publishing Co., Inc.

here is a photo of the desktop of my laptop, for the season-my girls and the snowglobe which enlarges at a click to an Advent calendar with a London theme which my dear friend Elizabeth gave me--

A Bead A Day
Looking for some easy and fun holiday jewelry making projects? Lisa is sharing a few new ones this week. Snowflake earrings, jingle bell rings and simple Swarovski crystal earrings!

About.com Jewelry Making
There is still time to make some awesome (and easy) beaded ornaments.

Art Bead Scene
Marie Cramp shares some beautiful examples of using the colors from art pendant focals to inspire a necklace design.

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi has a little post about working with hemp cord this week!

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Jean is so excited about the wonderful opportunity to win 150 dollars worth of Nina Designs components! For details, please see her blog!

Shop Now Design Ideas Classroom Trade Shows Discounts & Policies About Us Contact Us

Was $14.30, Now $9.30 Dear Jean Yates, December Special: This “be here now” word charm is 35% OFF, from $14.30 to $9.30. Wear word charms to celebrate life’s everyday moments, time spent with family, and just being there. Limited quantity  First come, first served. 40+ New Styles New silver links just arrived from Bali – great designs  for layering and wrapping with beads! Also just in – the first of our BRONZE CLASPS and BRONZE EARRING FINDINGS. Click here to view all new styles, or click on any image below for more details.     Join us on Twitter and Facebook to learn of new styles immediately. They can sell out fast! IF YOU LIKE US ON FACEBOOK YOU COULD WIN $150 On December 15th we will randomly select one person who “likes” us on Facebook  to win $150 Gift Certificate. We’ll announce the winner on our blog on Dec. 15th, 2011. Perfect for those last minute gifts! GIVING BACK To celebrate this season of giving, for every jewelry finding you review in December we will give Heifer International $2.00 Every product you review will help children and families around the world receive training and animal gifts that help them become self-reliant . To give an extra $1.00 to Heifer International, share your review on Facebook! To review products, go to www.ninadesigns.com: 1) Find the product you want to review. Use the “add a comment” link. 2) Rate the product using the star system. 3) Write what you like or dislike about the product. 4) Check the option to share your review on Facebook. EASY WAYS TO FINISH LEATHER CORDS  Each week we will share new techniques for finishing wide leather cord in our FREE classroom. This week learn to finish leather cords with S-Clasps. The lessons will start simple and become more sophisticated. Follow along each week and soon you’ll be a pro. FREE SHIPPING EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR Just select FREE SHIP with USPS 1st Class and your order ships for FREE! Some restrictions apply. Please see Shipping FAQs for details. HOLIDAY CLOSURE ANNOUNCEMENT: Our offices will be closed from Dec. 24 – Jan. 2.  We will reopen on Tues, Jan. 3, 2012. Happy Holidays! UPCOMING TRADESHOWS: Jan. 31 – Feb 5, 2012: Gem & Jewelry Exchange, Tucson, AZ. Booth #2309. Feb. 2 – Feb 10, 2012: Gem & Lapidary Wholesalers, GLW Holidome, Tucson, AZ. Booth 727 – 733. Warmly, Nina Cooper Nina Designs Ltd. 1-800-336-6462 nina@ninadesigns.com www.ninadesigns.com www.ninadesigns.com/blog