Bead purge

Descriptive title, huh?


The wooden box I use for spare beads and beads made while trying out a new techniques is overflowing. Sure, eventually I might use them but I have SO many projects in the works and so many beads and I'm trying to get things under control and cleaned up. I've organized the beads into collections based on color and started posting them in the shop.

"The Inventions of God"

Two weekends ago my husband and I headed to the beach for a short get away. The Jersey shore in January isn't exactly a hub of activity which of course is part of the charm. No crowds. No hurry. The ocean's ebb and flow is comforting, like a heartbeat. The vast expanse of sea and sky, a reminder that the world is large and I am small...and so certainly are my problems.


The beach held many treasures, "inventions of God" according to John Muir.


We found these whelk egg cases and were both immediately struck at how much my flat, translucent polymer beads mimic them. Did I see one of these as a child, hide the image in my memory until one day when it found its way out on its own? I don't know. But I feel like there is some kind of creative connection that I intend to continue to explore further.


The boardwalk in Wildwood was eery and fantastic.


My husband took the photos for this post. You can find new work from him daily at his new art blog.

Home Sweet Home (ah but Maine sweet Maine!)

A long day of driving brought us home yesterday after two amazing weeks in Maine.


We sailed, we swam, we watched bald eagles fish. We visited the Farnsworth in Rockland, paying tribute to Andrew Wyeth. We played UNO and laughed hysterically and ate really fresh seafood.


But for the most part, we dedicated ourselves to taking it slow and keeping it simple, our only "splurge" was...time. I have found that for me, a constant stream of information and everything available 24 hours/day does not produce happiness, better children or creativity. In a way, its as though MORE (of everything and anything) stifles what is good and LESS allows it to surface. Ok...I think I'm onto something here.



My etsy shop will stay closed until August 12.

All photos in the post courtesy of my daughter Ema.