Snow Day.

It just keeps snowing...

Finally, a snow plow!

We are having another snowstorm here in East Tennessee and I'm really starting to feel the weight of winter. I had hoped that moving South would mean less snow, less cold, more sunshine and less wintertime blah. Alas and alack, so far not so much. It's a freakish year for weather here and I'm wondering if the snow has plotted to follow me wherever I go. The good thing about that winter blah is that it forces me to focus on creative ideas. It starts with some little fragment of a concept that starts tapping at my brain and if I follow it amazing things happen. I don't always have the time, given the amount of projects I now need to create in a given week, to follow the threads of these bigger ideas and see where they lead. This weekend I followed and they led me to create a bib style necklace of crystal and wire butterflies in a wide array of colors constructed from over 1500 crystals. It took 1.5 days and I'm not finished. I still have to connect them all together as they are precariously placed on top of an old wooden crate in my living room. Will I use shaping wire or jump rings? Which will provide the best structure but still allow for movement? Will this be uncomfortable to wear? Stay tuned...after the shows there will be pics!

I can be surprisingly patient when I become obsessed with any idea.

I'm playing with French beaded flower techniques, but I don't want to just follow a pattern. In case you haven't noticed, that's simply not my style. I'm trying to take the techniques and adapt them. So far, so good. I've got a second Mid-Century modern inspired crystal and wire jewelry set to begin today and then I need another show stopper design for CHA and Tucson. These will eventually become tutorials for JTV, so hang in there. I'm hoping to get the Jewel School customers to explore some fresh creative directions and that requires a lot of trial and error on my part.

Sometimes I feel as if I'm running so fast to keep this blog and the social networking sites going, to make the deadlines for my new job and to stay relevant when the amount of content on jewelry making and crafting on the internet is becoming overwhelming. It's just so much work and the traffic numbers go up and down and I start to feel as if I can't really keep up, especially when I'm not even sure if it matters. At what point does it all just turn into white noise?

Is this thing on? Hello?

I'm diving back into my imagination today and hopefully that defiant creativity will help push back those winter blues. Hopefully this little blog serves a purpose and stands out in the fray, and even if it does not it brings me joy to share my creative journey with others.

Until next time...craft on with your bad selves! Madge has reached her allotment of 'I's' for this post. Sheesh.

xoxo
Madge

TastyLinks Saturday Live from the Smoky Mountains!

Sunrise on the Smokies Copyright Andrew Potter

Well I made it through my first week at the new job mostly unscathed! It's a quantum shift for me to work for someone else and have to balance between cubicle and studio. My straw pile is already overflowing. Quel suprise.

I'm still amazed at the views from our windows, the Smokies are constantly changing. We had hail this morning and it's sunny now. This is a pic Drew took from the window and you can see the fog on the mountains that really does look like smoke. The drive to work is a breeze and the drive home is a revelation. Seriously.

I'm coordinating with the social networking team at JTV on blogging efforts and if you stay tuned I do believe you're going to dig what we throw down.

Here's what the CraftyBloggers have for your perusal this week. Until next time...craft on with your bad selves!

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
See how to make a mini die cut leaf bracelet notebook inspired by Eco Books.

Mixed Media Artist
It turns out that rust and paint can be a great combination!

Margot Potter The Impatient Crafter
Madge shares an update from 'the busy zone.'

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
When the going gets tough; the tough get going. Have you thought of making a bit of extra money by crafting in your spare time? Read Eileen's advice to "worried mom" Gina.

Crafty Princess Diaries
If you have moved over to using e-readers, such as a Kindle, then you need something pretty and hand-crafted (of course) to protect it.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
This week at Craftside there is a chance to win a copy of Collage Lab with a tutorial on how to make a light up mixed-media mini house, a yarn necklace from the book Intertwined and step-by-step instructions for painting an olive.

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi uses paper scraps to quilt some paper!

Aileen's Musings
Check out Aileen's scrumptious fall cookie recipe with a cool printable recipe card you can print out and include with a plate of cookies to give to your friends and family!

About Family Crafts
Read through these creative Thanksgiving tradition ideas and then share your own.

An Update from The Busy Zone!

Cades Cove, TN

Cades Cove, TN

View from Our Front Porch

I'm sorry for being so elusive as of late. Moving, unpacking, starting a new job...it's all got me busier than a bee these days. Do forgive. Soon I hope to be back on the blog saddle with lots of fab new projects and ideas to share.

View from the Side Yard

The new neighborhood is divine. The views from our front porch, the "Zen" hot tub room and the huge windows that wrap around the front of our house are amazing. I just keep pinching myself as we drive around here, it's really that fabulous.

The Zen Hot Tub Room

I'm adjusting to moving from being my own boss and making my own rules to working for someone else. Let's face it, dahlings, it's not easy for a know it all smarty panties to follow rules.

I've built this career mostly by breaking them.

Tee hee.

A Pic Drew Snapped of the Stormy Smoky Mountains

Here are a few pics for you to enjoy while I'm adjusting to the new digs. Until next time, craft on with your bad selves.

xoxo
Madge