Focus and Fair Sunday Lately

It's a rainy, mild Sunday. I made my way down to the basement studio, opened all the windows to let in the freshly washed air and the songs of the birds, relishing this mild weather.


I found my stack of partially finished projects just where I left them before the trip to Washington State for Artfest. Turning on all the lights, the overhead and the central lights to use for fine polishing work, I just took up the first thing I saw and started in on it, to break the ice and give my hands a chance to re-establish the rythmn.

The hands know what to do, they start in immediately, to use the tools right in reach, the buffer all set up to polish some beads that are on the brink of being finished, just lacking their final shine.


The oval bead and round bead have the image of the daffodil flowers that were still in bloom before I left, now they are also designs in blue on connector beads that look like enamel, with a shiny blue color and areas that look worn and antique.


The music playing in the background is upbeat and instrumental, mostly Irish bands with pipes and a brisk pace and rythmn, to increase my mental energy and keep my wandering thoughts entertained, while the hands do what they need to do.


I try not to leave the studio with all the projects completely finished, but to leave each session of creativity with something waiting that just needs one more thing to get it finished, to help me prime the pump the next time I'm in the space, to start the process and get back into the zone.


The buffer brings out the final natural sheen, after all the sanding and polishing is done; you can't see the bead in my hands in this picture but I was finishing the blue oval daffodil bead, before taking its photo for the Etsy site.


It's a new design, I hope someone will like it and use it, possibly with blue freshwater pearls or maybe turquoise beads, to make something they will look and enjoy often. Something playful and folk art inspired, or delicate and sweet, whatever it says to them.


I enjoy making them, and think a lot about where they will go, and what they will become. A small link between my hands and those of the person who makes the beads their own in their design.

A peaceful re-entry into the studio, into the cycle of creating, to the backdrop of the rain sounds and music.