Sketch or Forget

If you stopped by here yesterday, you saw my photo for the prompt "Words." I spent a portion of the previous day considering what my subject would be before settling on the canvas I made Pat.

Before making my decision, one of the main subjects that kept coming back to me was my sketchbook.

There are A LOT of words in there. I've found that it's imperative that I have some writing materials near me at all times because ideas will just pop into my brain no matter where I am. And if don't get these ideas written down (play epic disaster music with lots of drums now,) they just FALL OUT OF MY HEAD! It doesn't matter how enthusiastic I am about these ideas/designs or how much I swear I won't forget them, if I don't write it down it's gone. Sigh.

Now don't get me wrong, my book is not just full of jewelry ideas, but marketing ideas, blog topic suggestions (this was one of them), color combinations, craft experiments, poetry, doodles, straight-up journaling, links or websites to remember, lists of supplies, and so much more.

If I don't have my exact sketchbook with me, I'll just draw something out on anything. The other day I was in my car in the bank drive through when an idea came to me. Fortunately, there was a slip of notebook paper in the seat next to me to get the stroke of inspiration written down.

Since I know that I have a horrible memory, I write down just about everything I can. However, sometimes the ideas and memory-jogs that go into the book don't translate as well later. I've got quite a few design ideas that I just can't seem to decipher. It's a shame really because I'm sure I was really excited about those ideas when they came to me.

Right now I'm trying to keep up the momentum of getting all my ideas in the book, no matter how tiny they are or how out of this world. So it's filling up faster than usual. I like that. As well, I'm in the process of going through my sketchbook and attempting to actually make the ideas and designs come to life. I've had some successes as well as some failures.

Many of the successes (or what I consider a success) end up in the shop.

Bubbles Ascending Necklace

Many of the bad ideas never get made, but some have to be tried in order for me to discover what a bad idea it was, like this necklace.

I was going for a waterfall effect, but it just keeps tangling.

As I work through my sketchbook and ideas, I may be sharing some of them with you here. For now, though I'm just going to keep plodding through it.


Today I'm working on one of those inspirations that just HIT. You've probably seen them before, my Shabby Beads. My painted fingers were the perfect subject for today's February Photo A Day Challenge prompt.

Day 3: Hands

Also, there's a few GIVEAWAYS going on that I thought I'd share:

• Pips is offering up some of her Petal and Flower Capped Beads for just leaving a comment. So easy!!
• Over at Second Surf, there's a massive leather giveaway going on with several ways to enter. Get to it! 

What do you do when inspiration strikes? Do you have a sketch/idea book too or do you have other methods? I'd love to know.

Feel Good Friday (or not, whatever)

While today may be "Feel Good Friday" - I don't feel so well.All week, I've been dizzy with some nausea and a headache. Basically, I've felt hungover. . . ALL WEEK! Yesterday, I broke down and went to the doctor. Apparently, I have a sinus infection - my first ever! Yay for firsts - not so much.
Of course, before running any tests, the doctor asked (about three times), "Could you be pregnant?" I told her that would be awesome, but unfortunately not probable because of when my cycle ended. She just hung that bait out there like that, and me (being named HOPE and thus an obsessive optimist) waited with bated breath to hear my test results. She did break the lack of fetus to me gently before proclaiming the sinus infection.
I did crack up though as she was examining me and pressed on my forehead asking, "Do you feel any pressure here?" I thought - "Sure, I feel you pressing on my forehead." I kept that to myself though - didn't want her to mess up my drugs.

Anywho - Check out the following links to make you feel better about humanity and the videos to just make you feel better:

• A little girl saved her mother's life. There is a video on the site you can watch. It says the same thing as the article, but you get to see the little girl in action and watch her do her therapy.
  
• A Crafty Girl found a way to give back while still a student. Wow, she's accomplished so much. It's just inspiring.
• I love Sesame Street! In this video, you get to see some of the celebrities that have graced the awesome show. Funny huh?
• Lastly, this has been going around the internet today and I thought I would share. Kittens always make me feel warm and fuzzy.

Have a great, healthy weekend.

Valentine's Getaway

I'm so excited...Not only is it Friday, but LOML* and I are taking a little Valentine-President's Day-Need a Vacation-Vacation this weekend down at the Gulf. photo from FreeDigitalPhotos.net

We got a condo through Meyer Realty. As an added plus, Meyer has a special this month - pay for 2 nights, get a 3rd night free. Somehow, we lucked out. It must have been fate or destiny or good karma or whatever. Unfortunately, since I've been feeling so crappy, we haven't packed yet. At least it's only like a 45 minute drive or so from the house. I was planning on leaving work around lunchtime to get packed. Yet, we've had another kink in the works. My Valentine flowers LOML* ordered for me have yet to arrive at the office. Yes, it is Friday - he ordered them Tuesday, through FTD, with a 4:30pm Thursday deadline. NOW, I have to stay at the office until my gift of love arrives. What kind of crap is that?

So, I'm keeping my spirits up by reminding myself that the threat of rain for Saturday has been removed, and it's supposed to be 70 degrees. What luck! Of course, rain is still forecasted for Sunday. That just means we can snuggle, drink some adult beverages, and watch the waves. Nice, huh?

On a crafty note - the hardest part of packing this afternoon will be trying to figure out what craft supplies to take with me to the beach. I've got two craft bags packed now for general craft-on-the-go use. But, this is a long weekend, not a half hour open window. Sooooo, too many choices. I plan on doing a post soon about crafts-to-go/ craft bags. Check back!

*LOML=Love of My Life