Metamorphosis

Definition of METAMORPHOSIS

1a : change of physical form, structure, or substance especially by supernatural means
1b : a striking alteration in appearance, character, or circumstances
2: a typically marked and more or less abrupt developmental change in the form or structure of an animal (as a butterfly or a frog) occurring subsequent to birth or hatching

Sometimes I feel as though I exist in an endless state of metamorphosis, constantly withdrawing and reemerging, slightly altered. My head fills with ideas that I hesitate to execute for fear they will fail, so I close myself off. Once in a while I let something emerge which is lauded and applauded, so I stick my head out. Then insecurity strikes and back inside the cocoon I go, trying hard to reinvent the wheel. I can be my own worst enemy.




This state of constant reinvention can be a bit stressful. The endless closing and opening of the door tires the muscles, like a repetitive muscle injury. But the little company may have become a little stagnant and I think it needs to be freshened up. So it's time for a little metamorphosis. Of course, this entails a lot of thought and execution, much research and development, and some retooling -- all the things I thought I got away from when I left corporate USA. And don't confuse metamorphosis with growth - we're talking noticeable alteration versus gradual, progressive development. Believe me, constant growth is much simpler than metamorphosis any day!




There is a HUGE list of things to be done just to get the ball rolling. My poor website waits patiently for its remodel. My Twitter page has been totally neglected. My Etsy store is starved for attention. I need a fan page on Facebook. New patterns have been drafted but not marketed, much less stitched. Off the top of my head I've got three teaching proposals due by the end of the year that need samples completed, then instructions need to be typed (these are the ones that have been sent. I still have more to hunt). Housekeeping? To paraphrase my dear friend Cat, if you see a mess you clean it up. These are the times I wish for a replicator just to have a couple more of me to get everything done.




So it comes down to this: it is time to fully emerge and get something accomplished. I can't say for sure what it will be. After all, the journey is the thing, right? So, in another paraphrase:

Fasten your seat belts. It's going to be a bumpy ride.

Tweaking

No, no, not the illegal kind -- the obsessive compulsive perfectionist kind. I realize that the web site and the blog may appear to be finished, but no, they are not. There is still tweaking to be done, little things to be added. And then there are other places on which to place my brand (thanks, Margot!). But, alas and alack, today is Monday. Bleck, patooie, yuck. And it's foggy, damp and cold again after such a beautiful weekend. Yes, it's true -- rainy days and Mondays always get me down.

What should I be doing? Making a new page somewhere, adding new items somewhere. What do I want to be doing? Sleeping, reading, watching bad movies. What will I do? Hmmm . . . I hadn't really gotten that far. Last night was one of those nasty insomnia trips, so I'm a bit foggy today. I'm thinking I should get busy with some repurpose, revamp, renew, reuse earrings and necklaces that I want to remake and put up on Etsy. And that will occupy me for about an hour. *sigh* What am I avoiding with everything I've got? Organizing the studio and cleaning the house. Oh wait, I can't pull the wool over your eyes! Y'all know I don't clean house! *snort* Go back to yesterday's post about the end of the world! Hah! Me, clean house! It is to laugh!! Dust bunnies rule!

I need minions.

Ta-Da!!

Welcome to the newest installment of Bead-Mused. As you look around, please take note of the renovations. I apologize for the lack of before pictures, but hey, I can only do as much as the technology allows. We've painted, moved some furniture from here to there, added a few knick-knacks -- all for your reading pleasure.

First, you can listen to the music, make it softer, make it louder or turn it off. It is entirely your choice. And second, I've added new web site links and some new blogs to check out. And yes, I did post on a SUNDAY! Oh my stars, the world is NOT coming to an end, but it might be close.
It's a sunny 70 degree day here and it makes me long for April and bike rides with T-man. I'll be back tomorrow, beadlings!

Phew!

Okay beadlings, the web site is pretty much done. I've got one page that needs to be finished, but you can see the results here. Can I just state right here and right now that I really, really don't like Microsoft Front Page? Yuck. Why, back in the day when I first learned about making web pages, we had to type raw code with our little fingers! We didn't have no stinkin' shortcuts! You kids nowadays are spoiled rotten. Anyway . . .

For those of you who dream of supporting yourself solely with your art/jewelry/crafts, Margot Potter has some sage advice today. And wouldn't all you beaders love to have been this person?

I think I'll tackle this place next! Man, reinventing yourself is time consuming! Hah! But today, I've other things I must do. First off, I need a fire because it's freakishly cold outside. Then I've got orders and patterns to ship off. It's too gray to take photos today (as much as I would like to get that going). So, I'm off. Have a great weekend.

I Did Not Forget You . . . .

I haven't been home! This morning was spent getting lab work done. Then T-man asked me to go to lunch with him, which is something we rarely get to do. So, here I am, at 2:00, just getting around to today's blog. This is a short, short post. I need to get back to work on the web site (typing with the cat yesterday was not very productive) and make some more headway there. I've been looking for a script for a DHTML calendar, but so far I've not had much luck. I may have to design my own, because I have time for that (she said sarcastically). I'm off, and as soon as my hands get warm again, I'll get to work.

Here I Sit, With Cat In Lap

Do you have any idea how hard it is to type this way? From pictures I've seen, Carol Perrenoud beads with her cat in her lap. I'm not sure how that works, as Baby keeps putting her head in the crook of my arm and then rubbing. And apparently my lap is a most comfy spot for a bath! You would think I had been gone for a month instead of four days. You can't beat unconditional love, except maybe when you step on the foot of the adoring kitty. That's how closely she follows me. She's mad at me now, thinking I did it on purpose.

My Coral Reef bracelet is in the Etsy Treasury! Right now it's on the front page. I'm so excited! It's my first time! Woo hoo!!

I wear many hats. (How's that for a segue?) Today I am finishing up the new look of the web site. Right now it needs a lot of tweaking and editing, so don't go look until tomorrow. Then I'll revamp the blog. Then I'll take the new look over to the Etsy shop. And then N wants to set up a My Space page for me. I'm actually enjoying myself doing this. I just wish it went faster. Some days I just wish I could wiggle my nose and everything would be finished! Okay, maybe not everything, but lots of things would be done and I wouldn't have to worry about them anymore.

I leave you with this actual headline:

Court says monkeys, chimps can't sue
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tuesday, January 22, 2008

SAN ANTONIO — A Texas appeals court has affirmed a lower court decision that a group of chimpanzees and monkeys that were brought to the Primarily Primates sanctuary in 2006 does not have a legal right to sue.

I guess it sucks to be a monkey in San Antonio!

More On The Retreat

Here we are all. It's the last day of the retreat, hence the lack of beads and beadwork on the table and some empty tables in the background. The tables were all full for the weekend. Right to left is me, GG, Juls and Cat. Yuck. I hate pictures of myself. Moving on . .

There was the little bead war. Juls was working on a piece in blues and greens. I was working on a piece in reds. Juls would throw a reject bead, I would throw a reject bead. On Saturday night, everyone cuts loose, if you know what I mean. Well, Juls got up from the table and I sprinkled A PINCH of red beads in her pile. A while later, I got up to go to bed. When I came down the next morning, this is what I found:Do you see all the green and blue beads? I filled a little baggie with them. What started as a tiny skirmish quickly escalated to all out war!!

Speaking of little baggies, I was so tired Sunday morning. I did not sleep Saturday night. Cat and GG got back to room after 2:00 and I was still wide awake. Even after all the lights went out, I tossed and turned. The next morning, my half of the bed had no bottom sheet on it. There was a bunched up, knotted mess of what was my half of said bottom sheet. This was the reason I slept for 12 hours Sunday. I was so tired. I really thought the dark splotches under my eyes were make up that didn't get cleansed away. I was wrong:
I can't believe how the camera emphasized the bags under my eyes. Maybe I should start taking tea bags and cucumbers with me.

Today, I'm working on revamping the web site. I'm going to go ahead and put some dates in there for upcoming events. I will be doing the biennial show with the Austin Stichery Guild (ASG). Here's your first notice. I'll have some of my kits, and some kits from other wonderful designers, plus some bead packs in various palettes. I love doing that show. And in June, I'll be at the EGA South Central Region's seminar, with lots of goodies. This year they have a market day which is open to the public. I'll have many more new goodies then. But for now, I must type on something else for the rest of the day. My beady pal Jelcy sent this link, which she got from our pal Nancy. I seems that this Dutch department store was sold in June to a British investment firm. HEMA has stores all over Europe. This is the product page, but it's all in Dutch. You can't order anything, but just watch for a few minutes. Sound makes it better if you can have it. Later, beadlings!

Busy Bee

Addendum three hours later: OMG, I've bitten off way more than I can chew in one little day, so updates may not coalesce until next week. Baby steps may be the key here. I'm really planning a lot of changes, but didn't realize how many until I started making a list. And I've found LOTS of new places for you to browse. Busy, busy, busy . . .

Good morning, beadlings! Well, since Clara called me on my neglect of both web site and Etsy store, that's what I'll be doing today. Plus I've found a couple of things to add to the blog and I start putting my gear together for this weekend's retreat, so I will be a busy, busy bee today. Eeek!! I looked away for two minutes, and suddenly realized how much I have to do! I really need a replicator, or copier, or cloning machine or something!!

My little bee was designed for me by my brother, the graphic artist. Teal and turquoise, my empowering colors! He also designed my new logo. You can see some of his graphic designs here and some of his illustrations here, and his Cafe Press store here. I'm trying to get him to design a beading or stitching bear. Maybe you can help with that.

I did go by Pam's yesterday to pick up several prototypes of her new petal ring. I received many nice compliments on the one I wore. As soon as we see how they hold up, she'll start making more. I'll have an update on that next week.

I hope you had a good weekend. I know we did. I hope Monday isn't too rough on you and I will be back tomorrow, hopefully with updated places for you to visit! Keep on keepin' on!