Beads-of-Clay Bead Swap and Share

Over at the Beads-of-Clay yahoo group and blog we are finishing up a Bead Swap and Share. 

I was partnered up with Pamela Cresswell.  Pam's Etsy shop is http://www.etsy.com/shop/IndianCreekStudios.  Pamela lives in Kansas City, and don't you know, I used to live in the Kansas City, Missouri area.   I lived in a tiny dot of town called Holt.  I worked in a bigger town called Liberty.  And I studied sculpture with a Paper Pulp Artist in Kansas City.  I learned a lot.  Then I missed the part of the country I love and the people I know and I left.  So that's me and Kansas City :-)   I have family out there so I return from time to time.

OK OK Kristie!  The Beads!  I just loved the glaze and shape of the blue bead set that Pamela sent me! So that's what I focused on; the beautiful blue and teal and tan glazed bead set.  She called the beads she sent me "rustics".  I loved that!  I love making what I like to call "primitive" beads and I thought our styles really worked well together.    I pulled them out. I pulled out some of my beads.  I pulled out more of my beads and a three loop connector. 

I really liked how Pamela packaged her beads with twine.  I thought it really complimented her "rustics"  So I went with it!  If you read my blog, you may have noticed that I have been having a busy - crazy time of things.  I took this project and rebelled.  I wanted everything free and easy and natural. I needed time to be creative and work my brain the way it loves to be worked.  Funny how relaxing a project can be :-)    I don't don't know what says free, natural and rebellious more than a good old fashioned hemp creation!

So here we have it!  Perfect for summer, and I kind-of like how it makes me feel young to put it on.  I really wanted to find a funky batik bandanna and a sun dress and maybe listen to some reggae and channel my hippie self.....  Perhaps I will do just that as the summer unfolds.