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Bite Sized Projects

buckeye moth leather barrette

My studio time was very limited this summer. My husband suffered a serious injury with a long and painful recovery time. Thankfully, he’s okay now. But my plate was very full while he was healing, and I just didn’t have time or energy for big projects. So I opted to finish up some of the UFO’s (AKA “Unfinished Objects”) down in my studio. 

This little buckeye moth barrette is one example. I abandoned it several years back because I couldn’t find just the right stone. Then I found this lovely jasper in my current stash.

It was so satisfying to complete these older works! I worked on these bite sized projects in short bursts as time allowed. It cleared out my studio and my head, even when I wasn’t able to work much.

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Slow Art

beaded gemstone layering necklaces

Someone recently asked me if I still do beadwork. The question surprised me a bit, because I feel like I have *always* done beadwork! (FWIW, I started beading in the 1980’s). 

But a look at my social media made me realize that I haven’t shared any intricate beadwork for a while. Most of the jewelry that I made during the pandemic was either leather jewelry or simpler strung gemstone jewelry (like the layering necklaces shown here).

While I do enjoy making and wearing the simpler stuff, it made me realize how much I miss the slow, meditative process of bead weaving and bead embroidery. My studio time will be limited for the next few months … so perhaps I will use what little creative time I do have to circle back on my beadwork for a bit!