This is positive thinking.

Hi,
I heard a song on the radio a few moments ago.
Little boy practicing baseball.
I'm the greatest baseball player of all time. Throws the ball in the air and swings as hard as he can. The ball falls to the ground. Picks up the ball and says again I'm the greatest baseball player of all time. Throws the ball in the air, swings with all his might and again the ball falls to the ground. Picks the ball up takes his stance closes his eyes and hears the crowd roar. This is for the game. Throws the ball up high swings the bat and in the dead silence hears the ball hit the ground. Strike three.
Off in the distance he hears his mother call him for dinner. Picks up his bat and ball and as he heads home says to himself I'm the best baseball player of all time, but even I didn't know I could pitch that good.
Well I laughed out loud and just wanted to share. I don't know the name of the song but I think it might have been Kenny Rogers.
Enjoy,
Rose

I love Pearls

Several years ago we took the vacation of a life time. A cruise down the Pacific coast on the Asian side. It's an experience I will never forget. I am reminded of it everyday when I walk into my studio and look and all the beautiful beads I bought. Thank goodness, because my senior moments are merging.

Consider this post a travel log and beading expedition. Highlights of the countries and the wonderful treasures I stumbled upon. I guess stumbled up is a lie. There was never any doubt to where I would end up before the day was over. A market to find beads. Going to local markets has always been part of our itinerary when visiting a country. We enjoy wondering through looking at various foods and sundry items. If you look through our photos (you'd need a least 6 months) you would think we were working for the FDA. So as hubby snaps pictures of fish and veggies, I hunt for beads, shells any other interesting tidbits.

For the purpose of this post we will be in Japan. First Tokyo then Kagoshima.
We did visit other cities in Japan, but this is the cheap travel log. So we only cover what I want to write about.

Tokyo, the population density is 13,500 people for every square kilometer (less than a square mile).Talk about crowded. Living in such crowded conditions has resulted in some strange customs and rules. For instance you can't buy a car if you live in Tokyo until you provide proof that you have your own parking spot for that car.

First we went on a bus tour of the countryside, Imperial Palace the palace is only open 2 days a year to the public. You guessed it this was not one of those days. We also visited the famous Senso-JiTemple a lovely temple with beautiful shrines, where I lit incense and made a wish (help me find pearls).



After lunch we were dropped off at the area known as the Ginsa. Tokyo's version of Manhattan's Fifth Ave. Well until recently we were from NY, so I was not impressed.

What I was impressed with were the women dressed in Kimonos, just beautiful. While walking we passed a shop that sold kimonos and I thought wouldn't it be fun to get the girls (our granddaughters) kimonos. Well do you know how much kimonos cost? Just the obi is several hundred dollars. We discarded that plan. I did learn that dressing in a kimono is a ritual. There is a school teaching the various steps and their order. Also the entire process requires help, one person can not get dressed on her own. I guess that's why you don't see very many women wearing them.

As we continue window shopping I saw them. Mykimoto Pearls, a whole shop with various necklaces, bracelets, earrings. In other words heaven. I love Pearls, always have always will. This was a jewelers not a shop to buy just strands of pearls.
I found the necklace of my dreams (my hubbys nightmare). Three strands of perfectly matched 8mm lustrous milk white pearls with diamond accents in a rope style. Absolutely drop dead beautiful. I must have these pearls. Well $300,000. hmmm, maybe not.

So now I am heartbroken, no kimono for the girls, no pearls for me, why did we come to this place? With a heavy heart and my head hung low we go back to the bus to return to the ship. Empty handed.

This will never happen again. Next stop I will have addresses. I have a purpose. Make my own necklace. Well ok maybe not the diamond parts, but I like crystals.

Kagoshima here I come.

The next day I was ready, hubby went to the Peace Museum for Kamikaze Pilots and a Samurai hous and gardens. I went shopping.

I took a taxi with a fellow passenger to a mall. With map in hand I left my companion at the mall and went in search of the bead shop. After walking several blocks and twisting my map around with each turn I must have looked confused. A young man who was standing with some friends ask if I needed help. I showed him my map and where I was trying to go. He promptly told me he would show me the way. I'm from NY, I didn't just fall off the bus, who's he kidding. After realizing I was probably not the type they were looking for (senior citizen) for the white slave trade. I followed, not only him but the whole group followed. It was another 3 blocks and there I was at the bead store. I thank them profusely but I didn't bow.

There I was two floors of crafting materials. Lots and lots of seed beads and very glittery crystals. Alas no inexpensive Mykimoto pearls. But I did find hanks of petite fresh water pearls. Back to meet my companion and off to the ship to design my version of a $300,000 necklace.

Perfect Match

Other than bringing an idea to reality, the second best thing about my craft is shopping. Imagine a woman who loves to shop. Well not just any shopping, but shopping and finding things that will one day be transformed into something “to die for”.

My husband and I are very lucky, we have been able to travel quite a bit. This has enabled me to collect treasures from around the world. Not only bought but found along sea shores.

I don’t shop with a specific piece in mind. I’ve never been able to follow directions. I don’t bake because you must follow the recipe exactly. That’s not me. I buy what I love with no idea what I will do with it. This definitely has it’s draw backs. More than once I did not have enough beads to finish a piece or add a much needed pair of earrings. So now I buy a little extra. This also has it’s draw backs. The airlines have decided to limit the weight of my luggage. I am sure my husband and all the other husbands had a hand in this.

While visiting Istanbul, on our way to the bazaar I found a bead store. It was located outside the bazaar. What that means is no English and no bargaining. We had a tour guide so English was not a big problem and she did managed to get a quantity discount. But when I paid with a credit card the discount got wiped out. Even with the set backs that was a high spot of the day. I walked away with some of the most beautiful beads I’ve seen.

When I get home and start organizing my booty I’m always thrilled when I find something I just brought home matches perfectly with something I already have. As if they were made for each other. The perfect match. Putting combinations together is so exciting. I truly believe looking at the beads, shells glass etc. brings out the creativity in me. They inspire me to find a design to showcase their beauty.

While walking along the sea shore I can collect enough stash to carry me though to the next year. Be it sea glass, coral or shells I see beauty and potential in it all. I’ve spent hours just watching what the waves bring in.

There are some things that need no accompaniment, I call them stand alone pieces. Other than finding and showcasing them I take no credit. But bringing two or more elements together to create a one of a kind beauty is where the pride comes into play.

I hope you enjoyed this part of my journey. Stay posted there’s more to come.

How it all began

While reading the forums today there wa a topic "What did you blog today". Well nothing, I don't have a blog. Well why not?

Lets see: Totally disorganized, don't even have time to list my new items.
I am a total computer dummy. If I did post a blog I probably would never be able to find it again.
What would I write about? My craft, my life, building a new house, our move from NY to SC. Who cares?
Who would read it?

I guess I could try it. Well it is a blog on Craftisart, so I'll try writing about making my jewelry.

A little background might be a good place to start. While having diner with a friend I noticed her bracelet and commented on it. She said she had purchased it from a woman who makes them, would I like her to get me one. "Let me see It". Very pretty, teeny,tiny little beads put together like a bangle. After several seconds I announced "No I can do that".

Off to Michaels, looked at a couple books, looked at beads. Bought teeny tiny ones, big bold ones (why stop at a bracelet) beading cord, books and anything else that looked interesting and took my treasure trove home.

Several days later I had made an assortment of necklaces but no bangle bracelet. Met with friend again and another friend and decided it was knitted. OK, I can knit.

Did some research and found out you needed 000 size needles. Well you don't get those needles at Michaels. Off to a knitting store. Smallest they had was 0 (what now) , woman suggested trying tooth picks, you know the long ones. Tooth picks are you kidding me? Off to the Gourmet Kitchen shop, for long tooth picks to knit a bracelet. Why didn't I just buy the bracelet ( my husband would tell you why).

OK, long tooth picks in hand, thread, beads I'm all set. Later that day, I have my bracelet, only it doesn't look anything like the bracelet I admired. It's nice but not what I wanted.

Got an e-mail from 2nd friend, it's not knitted it's crocheted( I don't crochet). Here is the web site with instructions.
Well it took over a year and a bazillion dollars in supplies before I finally finished to bangle bracelet.

That is the way my jewelry making career started.

Stay posted to see how it took over my life.
Good thing I didn't know what to say.