Archive for January, 2010

Make jewelry, support Haiti

Friday, January 29th, 2010

Want to raise disaster-relief funds for Haiti? How about cause-ribbon jewelry…

Two color schemes are in common use for “Haiti relief” awareness ribbons:

  1. Haiti_509px-Coat_of_arms_of_Haiti.svgRed, yellow and blue tri-color (after the coat of arms on Haiti’s flag; used in the celebrity telethon last week)
  2. Haiti_222px-Black_Ribbon.svgBlack (used by a big group in Facebook)

You can make jewelry in the shape of a ribbon, or otherwise using these colors.  (Think of beads, crystals, cording and more.)  Your talents can help in the drive to rebuild Haiti after this month’s terrible earthquake!

For other causes, see R&T’s awareness colors page.

Notice anything new?

Tuesday, January 26th, 2010
I won't even put a picture into this post...

Notice anything new
at Rings & Things' home page:) 

Kudos to our website design team!

Get your jewelry seen

Sunday, January 24th, 2010

…Join a collective!

RiverSpeak, an arts collective

RiverSpeak, an arts collective

Like RiverSpeak here in Spokane, WA.

Keep in mind the possibilities that open up to you when you join forces with other artists — not just jewelers!

That’s the quick tip for today :)

Why create?

Saturday, January 23rd, 2010

By guest blogger, Lisa Crone (A Bead A Day)…

Why Create?

Creativity can't be pictured!

Creativity can't be pictured!

I’ve been thinking about the creative process lately, and during those random thoughts, sort of wondered why we create…  Or, maybe this is more about why “I” create.

In relation to jewelry making, there are a number of reasons for me to create:

  1. Fun/entertainment/relaxation
  2. Creating on demand (for book, magazine or blogs)
  3. Gift giving
  4. To create a memory

While all of these reasons to create make me happy in their own way, I have to admit I am more likely to push myself out of my comfort zone when creating on demand or to create a memory.

This is especially true if someone else picks out the beads or materials that will be incorporated into the project.  There is a bit of excitement about having a deadline and wanting to create something unique.

If you allow yourself to keep an open mind, I think it is possible for the creativity to take over and that is always a rewarding experience. When you get to the end of the project and you look back and wonder how you figured it all out in amazement, wow!

I wonder if that is similar to getting in the “zone” while running? Is more serotonin released during this process? I wouldn’t be surprised.

Just another reason (not excuse) to bring out the beads and create!

It would be interesting to find out from other beaders whether they have experienced creating in “the zone”! Are they surprised to find they have created something special and inspired? Could you call this “bead meditation”?

– Lisa Crone,
www.abeadaday.blogspot.com
A Bead in Time” book, out in January 2010