New Year Ramblings

I've set some intentions for this new year (I don't make resolutions). I really need to find my niche and settle into it. I've got so many projects going now I don't seem to focus on any one thing long enough.

My daughter called the other day and was telling me about a book she'd just received called "Spiritual Marketing", by Joe Vitale. I'd read his original publication in 1999, and it really helped me for a time, but I failed to keep it in mind when I started slipping back into the old issues with self worth. I didn't realize it until three or four days later, but I went to the computer almost immediately and made this pattern for a pendant. I thought it was somehow significant that Janus, the deity of gates, doors, and hallways would creep into my mind at just that moment. Is this going to be a good selling pattern when I get it finished, or is it just to remind me to look ahead and be aware of the opportunities that arise? I don't know, but as soon as I get it beaded up, so I can see if the colors all work I guess I'll see.

One thing I know for sure, we must keep ourselves open to new possibilities, we must project what we want and let them happen. Sometimes we try so hard to make things happen that we block what could be.

Happy crafting throughout the year to all you crafters out there!

New Pattern

I've been playing around with African Netting which I learned as one of my first beading projects. The first time I made it, I used just one color, but a few weeks ago I looked at it and began to see designs in the netting. I sat down and made a pattern and as I worked that pattern, I saw another design, so I graphed that new design out on the finished pattern. It turned out so nice I decided to put the pattern up for sale. You can click on the title of this blog to see both designs.

Although I'm not generally a stringer, I was recently asked how to make an "Endless Necklace". It took me a while to figure out what they were talking about. I hope my article answered the question.