Is it patience or perfectionism?

The jewelry set that I made for my Grandmother and shipped to her this past weekend.  She received them today and fell in love, and that is the best compliment I could ever get.  I love to beautify!

I am often told that I must have a lot of patience to work with seed beads, and I suppose that I never put too much thought into that until this past Sunday at the bridal show when someone was admiring my netted tube bear bracelet.  It was at that moment that I saw the bracelet how someone who doesn't bead sees it, and it does look really complicated, and I guess it seemed complicated to me before I learned to do the magical stitch that creates the netted tube.

Yet, when I look at the beautiful things that other people make, I think what they do looks complicated too.  For example, I won a pendant a few weeks ago and blogged about that earlier, but the metalwork on the pendant looks intricate and complicated to me.  I tried to follow the wire with my eyes around all the twists and turns, wondering, "where did she even start?"

I think that is just one of the perks of selling online, I get to see all the other beautiful, intricate things that people made with loving hands.  People who take the time to master their craft and create wonderful things for others.  Many times I see things that are sold far under what would equal minimum wage, and yes, I have done it too.  Yet, I would rather see the jewelry and accessories that I make go  to a loving home than to see it sit here on a shelf.

I take pride in what I make, and often I do have to take out rows of beads on the piece I am working on to fix one bead, but if I  hadn't, the piece wouldn't shine as it is supposed to.  When something is off, I can tell, and even if others may never notice, I do, and that's what is important  to me.  I had to redo the piece that I am working on today three times to get it exactly right.  Nobody paid me to do that, nobody probably would have noticed the one bead that was off, but I did.  Ok, ok, I am a perfectionist.  I admit it.  But how many of you crafters out there can't  say the same?

So, is it patience or is it perfectionism?

Snowman Necklace, Stone Beads, Sterling Silver : TSBeading - ArtFire Jewelry

Snowman Necklace, Stone Beads, Sterling Silver : TSBeading - ArtFire Jewelry

Native American Beaded Abalone Shell Necklace : TSBeading - ArtFire Jewelry

Native American Beaded Abalone Shell Necklace : TSBeading - ArtFire Jewelry

This necklace was inspired by the Abalone Shell pendant itself. The beautiful colors of the abalone shell are amazing and seem to sparkle with small amounts of light. I really wanted to bring the color of the shell out and so I kept the rest of the necklace simple, but not boring.

Purple Web Necklace

Purple Web Necklace

This is the custom made necklace for my grandmother.  See earlier post for the matching earrings that I gave her after she fell in love with them.  She then requested a necklace to match and two more sets of earrings/necklaces, so here is the first necklace to match the earrings that she already has.  

I do wish that the color and sparkly would show how it does in real life, but no matter what angle I take the photos, I end up with about the same.  So, I chose this photo because it shows the full necklace.

The chain measures 30" and will fit easily over her head.

Love a Thunderbird by ohclaudia on Etsy

Love a Thunderbird by ohclaudia on Etsy

My Thunderbird necklace was featured in this beautiful treasury collection of thunderbirds, both the car and the bird.

Check it out and leave a comment; we always look forward to comments.

Native American Beaded Thunderbird Pendant

This stunning Native American Beaded Thunderbird necklace was created using #11 Miyuki seed beads, Beadalon's Wildfire thermally bonded bead weaver's thread in a 10 lb. break point, and bugle beads. It is one of a kind (OOAK) and was created using my own design using the brick stitch throughout the pendant and chain, which means that it was done one bead at a time.

The Thunderbird pendant measures 2" x 2", and the necklace measures 26" on the inside diameter (will fit over a head that is 26" or less), and measures 16" from the top of the necklace chain to the bottom of the fringe.

Background: When I was young, I was taught that the Thunderbird was a spirit-bird that was larger than an eagle and lived above, and hid behind, the clouds. I was also taught that it is the Thunderbird who creates the sound of thunder with the flapping of his great wings.  You can do a search to find out more information about the Thunderbird and what it means to various cultures, including within the various Native Nations.

The meaning of this necklace to me in a nutshell: The Thunderbird himself is done in fiery tones to show the turbulent energy of a thunder storm, and since thunderbird's hide behind, or are camouflaged by, the clouds I've created a turbulent, fiery cloud beneath him. <> The sound of thunder is shown by the << and >> pattern on each side of the cloud. In the chain part of the necklace I've placed lightening, and above that I've placed more fire colors to show the turbulent, moving winds and the sounds that the wind and thunder create. Beneath the pendant, the fringe shows more turbulent weather, and at the bottom of the fringes are rain drops.