Celebrate...

Thanks to those of you who sent me bolstering words after reading my post yesterday. I am trying to focus on all the good in my life today, and the days to come (and there is much!) rather than fretting about things I have no control over at this point.  I struggled with this post for some reason and in typical stubborn Melissa style, I procrastinated.  Eventually, it dawned on me that this post had to be some sort of a internal celebration of  my creative journey over the past year. 

Last November, I made a decision to move my blog from typepad and came back to blogspot...  Thanks for finding me here!  Early on, I worried about not having any followers, but you started to trickle in and as of today there are 74 of you!

In January, I participated in my 1st Bead Soup Party, hosted by Lori Anderson. This past May, I participated in my 2nd one - these swap opportunities really opened my mind to different designing possibilities

In March, I learned torch-fired enameling from Barbara Lewis...and met a few new friends...Christine, Lori, Cindy, Jeanette, Sue...and of course Barbara!  I believe if I had to choose one thing that I did this year that changed my art, this class would be it.

Then, in September, I went to ArtBliss where I had an opportunity to taked classes with Melissa Manley and Deryn Mentock (need to take pictures of my Musical Note earrings!)

and I met some more wonderful people...Shelby, Carol, Leslie, Laura to name a few, and learned some more things that would totally change my creative thought process...in a good way! 

I have had 2 pieces featured on ArtBeadScene's Monthly Challenge...

And just last month, won a contest over at Jelveh Designs for a piece I created with one of her beads...which has now winged it's way to a new home with a very special person :)

There are more things that I could mention if I were writing a book, but it's just a blogpost!  I trust that the coming year will bring with it more celebrations of new learning opportunities and creative possibilities...I would love to celebrate being published in some way, and would love to meet more of you. 

Thanks for coming along on my creative journey and  I hope you are celebrating something everyday!

I am committed...

1st and foremost...to my family.

To him...we just celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary on the 20th.

To him...he'll be 9 in August...

and to him...sadly, we are having to prepare ourselves for his passing in the very near future (more on that later)

This is my 1st Art Bead Scene Blog Carnival post. This month's theme? Commitment! A deep subject...if you ask someone what they are truly committed to, they may have a hard time putting it in words...I know I am :) 

Besides the usual family, friends, and financial commitments most people have, artists can often make commitments to themselves....learn a new technique, sell a specific number of pieces, get published, etc.  These are all commitments/pacts that I have made with myself this year as a jewelry artist.  The sales and publicity hasn't happened yet, but I am working on venues.  Learning a new technique, well, that is a whole other animal.  I am anxiously awaiting the ArtBliss classes I signed up for!  Other commitments I have made have been accepting custom work that maybe a bit daunting, and participating in the Bead Soup Party Swaps.  Another commitment I made this year was to blog more consistently...in looking for ways to motivate this, I committed myself to the ABS Blog Carnival. Blogging more consistently also means commenting on other blogs more consistently...who knows what great, cool things that can get you!  Just by commenting on other artist blogs lately I have been the lucky recipient of some very cool giveaways!

1st I won a bead from Jelveh Designs!  I used it in my May ABS Challenge piece. 

Next, I won some lovely lucite pieces from the sweet Andrew Thornton...be on the lookout for some cool stuff I am making with them.  Then, I won a cute bird house pendant from Jennifer Jangles...haven't decided what to do with that one yet. 

Most recently, I won a beautiful etched copper and beaded necklace from Sharon at Livewire Jewelry.  Check out the pretty card and wrapping it came in!

Where am I going with this?  I am getting ready to make more comittments!  Within the first few weeks of July, I will be hosting my own giveaway to pass on my tremendous good luck to my readers. Stay tuned! 

So, what is commitment to you?