You know how you learn something new, play with it, work with it, spend time thinking about it, and then all of it comes together and starts making its own sense within your own creative energy?

I’ve been making jewelry for 2 years.  I started mostly with stringing beads.  In the beginning that would mean mostly stringing the same beads.  Then I

started playing with adding metal and crystal and different bead sizes.  I learned to make lampwork beads so that the whole creation was my own.  I learned beadworking and found I liked working asymmetrically – added that to stringing beads.  Lately, along came steampunk with its rivets and metal and found objects and cutting and punching holes in sheets of metal.

Here’s the first fun thing:  This week it all came together in these two new necklaces and I am delighted. 

What this “coming together” means for all of us:  if we persist, things begin to happen as if by magic – but magic it is not.  It is the energy which comes from focus, showing up, and being open to what comes.  That is the promise of intention – the kind of magic that is yours to create whenever and wherever you please!  The really cool thing is that intention works creatively in all aspects of life because, in the end, isn’t your life your own masterpiece?!

To make a great week into awesome, it just so happens that it is time again to explore what Artbeads.com has to offer for the summer months.  Artbeads gives me an allowance of beads to work with if I blog about them (I can blog truthfully – no promises are  made to be nice).  As mentioned in previous posts (here and here) , I was using Artbeads.com beads for my beadwork (LOVE their bugles and seed beads – best selection anywhere!) long before they contacted me to blog for them, so I am always happy when the time roles around to do that.

Here is what I put together with beads that arrived just yesterday.  This bracelet is really easy to make.  (the second fun thing)

I used 18mm Swarovski De-Art pendant crystals in Crystal and Montana Sapphire along with sterling silver charms of a crab, sperm whale, sea turtle and sea horse (Hill Tribe).  They’re mounted on a sterling silver chain with lobster clasp and 3mm swarovski accents.  I added sterling silver jump rings to the pendants and the sea horse.  The other charms came with their own jump rings.  I am in love with the sea creatures and the chain is so light you barely know it’s there – great for hot summer days when heaviness of any kind can get annoying.

Here’s the third fun thing:  A special for readers from Artbeads.com:  10% off orders of $50 or more with coupon code: ZZP10P-4C5L-0410 (expires 5/14/2010) and free shipping in the U.S.!

Wylde Women’s Wisdom:

The creative process is a process of surrender, not control.  Julia Cameron