• On 31 Dec 2014

New Year Resolutions

The New Year for many of us brings the opportunity to reset goals and start fresh.  Resolutions are worth nothing if we don’t take the necessary actions and what I have learned this past year is that being able to keep a record of actions also keeps me moving forward.

My goal in 2014 was to ‘finish’——sewing projects, craft projects and of course beading projects.  I’ve kept a little notebook and listed the projects as I finished them.  This tool has kept me focused but also successful……I recorded 148 projects finished this year.  It is the first time I have ever followed through with one of my New Year resolutions.  So for 2015, I am going to focus on a one word goal and then keep track of my actions. Think I’ll start at the back of my little book to keep that record!

What success did you have this year with your resolutions?  And, what are your goals for 2015?

• On 8 Jul 2014

An update on finishing!

In my January blog, I wrote about my one and only New Year’s resolution: finishing projects of all kinds.  I have been diligent over the past six months in keeping this focus…with of course lots of other things going on in my life.  As of yesterday, I have completed 77, yes, 77 projects—sewing projects, beaded projects, items needing repair, gifts and samples for the Bead Bush. (Note: I keep track in a little notebook)  Some of these projects I started years ago, and some two weeks ago…but finish them I have…

So you’d think my sewing room, and my work area in the Bead Bush would be clean, neat,  really quite empty…wrong!  I admit, the pile has lessened and I am a little more organized, but I have a long ways to go.  It probably won’t ever happen, but it is better.

One of the things I think about is why I don’t finish…….lot’s of reasons…run out of time, isn’t working out right, stuck on what to do next, poor color choices, doesn’t fit, poor choice of material and technique, grow disinterested and just plain boring.  I’m gradually pushing myself to dispose (could mean throw away, give away, take apart, or put in box with other experimentations) of those things that hang around, that will never be finished or used…..whether they be beaded items or sewing items. Hard to do, but getting easier.

I find I like things a little more organized, labeled, and less messy… wow….that is amazing.  Now I have just have to keep it up.   That will be the challenge!

What have you done this year, that inspires you to finish what you have started?

• On 25 Jan 2014

The Starting and Finishing Struggle

As creative creators, starting and finishing something is an interesting cycle.  We all function differently when it comes down to it.   It is a continuous topic with beaders.  We have a very few beaders who create one project at a time and finish one project at a time.  These folks never have an unfinished project.  And then there are some who never finish anything and then all the folks in-between (this is me)…who starts many projects, but do finish sooner or later. ( just don’t have time for all the ideas of things I’d like to do.)

Now it really does not bother me to have loads of unfinished projects, but I would like to have a few less.  So, one of my new year resolutions, (oh, let’s face it…it is my only resolution) was to start a finishing journal for the year.  In that journal I would write down all the projects (of any kind) that I complete.  I’m feeling very satisfied…..as of today, I have 6 items in my finishing journal.  If I can keep up that schedule for the year, I will have an empty sewing room and all my beads will be in perfect order!  Since that will never happen, I’m just going to enjoy the present process and swirl of finishing!

For me, there has been something very focused and satisfying in completing projects, writing down the completion and moving onto the next project.  I know that I will get side tracked, but I have a sense that I will be more focused, productive and satisfied with my creations in 2014 than in previous years.

What to you do to bring to conclusion your projects?

• On 29 Dec 2013

New Hours for the BeadBush

One of the things that happens as we mark the passing years is frequently making adjustments for the aging process.   It becomes very personal and happens to all of us whether we like it or not.

I love being in the Bead Bush, partly because of the beads, but mostly because of all of you.  I have met and gotten to know and appreciate so many of you…..your excitement about beads, your developing skills and creative expressions and a sharing of life’s challenges.

Since I am not getting any younger, and I seem to move slower, I have decided to close the BBS on Wednesdays to give me more time for and with some of the other things that make my life meaningful….. my children and grandchildren, sewing and spending time with valued friends.

But there is a tradeoff…..  We offer many classes on Sunday afternoons and so any Sunday afternoon that there is a class in the building, the store will be open.  BUT please call first as sometimes the class does not have enough people in it to run and then the building is not open.

When I know ahead, I will list the open Sunday afternoon schedule in the newsletter and/or on the calendar.

I’m  hoping this new schedule will not be an inconvenience to you.  I know many of you will welcome the Sunday afternoon opening since that is when your schedule allows you to visit the store.

So transition and change, here we come.  The Bead Bush Studio will be open Thursday-Saturday, 10-5pm beginning 1/2/14.

A Happy New Year to each of you.

• On 24 Oct 2013

Really? Holidays are here…!

I met some friends today for good companionship and conversation.  And of course had to do some errands, too.  And what did I find…..Holiday decorations,….Christmas and Halloween, all nestled in together!  It made me want to back right out of the store.  Now it is not like I don’t care for Christmas and all of its traditions, but really….do we have to be bombarded with it in October and sometimes even September.  I realize the economic impact of holidays, but it seems we are in a “not very good place” when our economy, our activities and focus all have to do with “shopping”.  Really what is this all about?  It seems as if what we buy or what we wear or where we buy it, is a reflection of our worth.  I know that I am worth more than that, and I hope you feel the same about yourself.

We each have to decide for ourselves, but I am going to create most of my gifts and if there is any buying, I will do it with focus and a careful plan.  It is all about how much I care for the person I am giving the gift to, not how much I spent or where I got it!  I know what I am going to do about this distorted perspective!  What about you?

• On 18 Sep 2013

Life in a Small Town

I love living in a very special small town and have been doing so since 1970!  This week, Deerfield is bustling to get ready for our County Fair.  Every activity is focused on being ready for the crowds that the fair attracts.  Our roads will be packed with mile after mile of cars…while thousands and thousands of folks visit town during the four days of the fair.  Those of us who live in Deerfield travel on all the back roads and know that any planned activities in town are ‘after the fair’!    Life changes for residents while Deerfield opens it doors, its highways and expends all of its energy into the activities at the Deerfield Fair.

What does this all have to do with the Bead Bush Studio.  Because of the fair and the traffic, if you wanted to come to the studio, you couldn’t even get here!!!!!  So…the Bead Bush Studio will be closed all week, Sept 25-28.  What are you going to be doing?….I hope you keep beading and do make it to the Deerfield Fair…it a special family event!  There are lots of cows, horses, pigs, handiwork, tools, tractors, oxen pulling contests, food, rides and much more…everything you want in a fair!  I hope to see you there…you know where I will be.

And then everything starts again October…in Deerfield and in the Bead Bush Studio.

• On 4 Sep 2013

Transitions

Change is in the air….you can feel it!   And whether you like it or not, the change will come.  Our lives are filled with change….births, deaths, going off to school, marriage, new babies, weather, new jobs or no job, retirement, new friends, lifestyle changes and so it goes.

I happen to be one of those people who loves and embraces change and the time of transitions.  That is not to say, I don’t find them frustrating and challenging at times, but for me, they are a time of growth.  One of the things we know about transitions and change is that there are definitely three stages….Ending…losing…letting go, the Neutral Zone and the New Beginning.

It seems that the Neutral Zone may be the most challenging and hardest.  I like to call the Neutral Zone, “Muddling”…neither here nor there, uncertain, lost, unsure, lack of focus.  The Neutral Zone is where the work of our transition has to take place…not easy, but if you do the work, find the focus, develop clear personal direction, you’ll come out on the other side with a much more successful New Beginning.

Our success or lack of success through the transitional changes of our lives is our attitude and our actions that follow.   If you think you can’t, you can’t.  If you think you can, you can.

So what does this have to do with beading?  Our beading should always be in transition too…learning new skills and techniques, learning new work habits, making new beading friends, new experiences which help us grow in skill and pleasure of creating.  Sure, learning can sometimes be a challenge, but if you think you can, you can!

(If you want to find out more about Transitions, check out the work of William Bridges, PhD.)

• On 11 Jul 2013

Finishing

Finishing!

Don’t deny it…most of us beaders have at least a few unfinished projects.  I have lots of unfinished items….I want to do too much and I usually just run out of time.  They sometimes weigh me down…..

One of the beading practices I’ve been trying to do attentively is finish at least one UFO every week.  I either, take the UFO apart and put the beads back in my drawers, put the item in my “it might be something else someday” box, or take the time to just finish the UFO.  The interesting thing is….that once I put my mind to finishing, the project begins to flow and before I know it, it is completed.  And….. took a lot less time than I thought it would.

This finishing process has freed me up in thinking about what I want to do next….where I want to put my energies, my time and my beads.   Sometimes finishing up the unfinished sets a foundation for getting started again.   Finishing can clear the work area, the mind and provides an opening for a creative new beginning.

We each have our own way of dealing with finishing…take a look at your way…does it support your creative process or bog you down?

• On 27 Jun 2013

Doing Nothing!

The value of doing nothing!  I don’t know about you, but I keep busy all the time and sometimes go nowhere.  I’m pretty good at finding a balance in my life, but sometimes even that is work.  Yesterday I spent 5 hours sitting by a peaceful lake with my beads in my lap just doing nothing but talking with a special friend and beading very little.

When I woke up this morning, I felt grounded, rested and calm inside.  It hit me…that doing nothing the day before had been just what I needed to put everything back in perspective.  We forget sometimes that slowing down, taking a deep breath and just doing nothing is what fills us up and firms up the foundation so we can move ahead knowing that all is well and we can check off items on the list!

So this summer, find time to just be…the rewards are great…..

• On 29 Apr 2013

Where is Your Creative Spirit?

Well, our new website has been up and running for a week now and we are still on a learning curve.  We’ll get it down to perfection soon.  Please be patient!

I’ve been thinking about creativity recently.  It is an interesting phenomenon (my dictionary says phenomenon can mean ‘extraordinary thing’).  Is creativity/creative a noun or a verb?  I suppose it can be either, but I like to think of it as a verb or as an approach to an activity or action.   You must know someone who is a gardener who weeds and seems to have that flare to creating fun and exciting gardens and another gardener who weeds.  One has a creative flare to gardening and the other doesn’t.

This can apply to almost any activity, including beading and beaders.  Some beaders, just bead.  Others seem to approach it with that creative flare or spirit and always ends up with something original and fun!  Nothing wrong with either approach, but the results will always be different.

What is it that makes the difference?  Many would say that one is creative and one is not.  I believe that each of us, no matter what we do has that creative ‘gene’ within us.  Part of it has to do with trusting ourselves enough to let it happen and know that even if it doesn’t turn out it is okay….it is the effort or the process of creating that is more important than the product.

Another difference is that creative folks work at being creative.  It is not for the faint at heart or the lazy.  It might mean trying over and over till you get it right, struggling for just the right look, trying different approaches, all along trusting yourself enough to know that you will get there.  And also knowing the reward of creating something that is yours!

Where is your creative spirit?  Hiding or do you use it everyday and reap the rewards