Remember always...

Remember always that you are just a visitor here, a traveler passing through. Your stay is but short and the moment of your departure unknown. None can live without toil and a craft that provides your needs is a blessing indeed. But if you toil without rest, fatigue and wearness will overtake you, and you will denied the joy that comes from labour's end.

Speak quietly and kindly and be not forward with either opinions or advice. If you talk much, this will make you deaf to what others say, and you should know that there are few so wise that they cannot learn from others.Be near when help is needed, but far when praise and thanks are being offered.Take small account of might, wealth and fame, for they soon pass and are forgotten. Instead, nurture love within you and and strive to be a friend to all. Truly, compassion is a balm for many wounds.Treasure silence when you find it, and while being mindful of your duties, set time aside, to be alone with yourself.

Cast off pretense and self-deception and see yourself as you really are.

Despite all appearances, no one is really evil. They are led astray by ignorance. If you ponder this truth always you will offer more light, rather than blame and condemnation.

You, no less than all beings have Buddha Nature within. Your essential Mind is pure. Therefore, when defilements cause you to stumble and fall, let not remose nor dark foreboding cast you down. Be of good cheer and with this understanding, summon strength and walk on.

Faith is like a lamp and wisdom makes the flame burn bright. Carry this lamp always and in good time the darkness will yield and you will abide in the Light.

- Dhammavadaka -

Today I finally found some time to finish this buddha necklace. Yay!

The pendant and a matching bead is from epoxy clay. The clasp is bone and rock crystal, embellished with the words "secure the peace". Another word on a button says "voyage".

Namaste,

my friends.

Finally!

I love, love, love the raku work of Dorcas from wondrousstrange, but it's really hard for me to use her pieces in my jewelry - because I can't let them go.

Yesterday, finally, I made this necklace with the adorable scarab (and a sea urchin spine) as a pendant.

Sorry for the quality of the pictures - I will try to take some better pictures tomorrow. I just couldn't wait to show this piece to you, because I am really thrilled with it!

To see many, many more wondrous raku beauties, visit Dorcas' shop!

Innocent

"When my daughter was about seven years old, she asked me one day what I did at work. I told her I worked at the college - that my job was to teach people how to draw. She stared at me, incredulous, and said, "You mean they forget?"" - Howard Ikemoto - I love this quote. There lies so much truth in it. It came into my mind when I thought about what innocence is to me.

Yesterday I played a little around with some pieces from my stash without really thinking. Just playing. This pendant was one of the things I created.

I had screwed a beautiful white glass flower and a brass bead cap onto a black metal scrap disc, a piece of lace that I had cut into a round shape and a brass metal disc I had hammered for texture.

I really like it! It's a bit like people I love: there's something dark around the center and it's a bit scratched, but in a way still innocent.

So I decided to create a simple necklace for it. Handmade copper chain, a few czech glass beads, hammered copper washers, handmade copper bead caps and a simple handmade copper clasp (with brass) were all I added.

Hello sunshine!

I am still a bit overwhelmed by the great bead soup blog hop. So much creativity and inspiration out there!!!

I have found some really interesting blogs, got new followers (hello to you all!!) and found a friend: my bead soup partner Nicki from Nicki's Reef.

Nicki, you rock!!

A huge THANK YOU goes to all the lovely people who stopped by and left a comment!

And of course, though I have said that quite often now, to Lori, the host of the whole incredible thing. Thank you so much, Lori!!

It's a beautiful sunny spring day here, so I was in the mood to take some pictures of the necklace and bracelet I had made for my daughter's 12th birthday in february.

Unfortunately the quality of the pictures is not the best, but I thought I'd send you some sunshine...!

Okay, this is shadow. But, friends... shadow!!! I haven't seen shadows for a long time!!!

Shadow again. But at least the necklace and bracelet say SUMMER, don't they.




Sunshine! Yay!

The resin pendant I have made especially for my daughter is from a painting/collage made by me (inspired by the towers and turrets workshop of Sharon Tomlinson and Deryn Mentock) and says "Glück", which means fortune - and also bliss, happiness, serendipity...!

Serendipity, by the way, is one of my favourite English words!

And here is a simple bracelet I have made for myself while I chose the beads for Nicki's bead soup. It's so simple, but I LOVE it especially for its simplicity!

Oh, and have you already signed up for our first German Bead Babes Challenge???

You can read everything about it in the post below! It's open to everyone, worldwide, wether you have a blog or not!

Here is the necklace I have made with my new babies. I'll keep it for myself.
The tiny ceramic heart is from the incredibly talented Mary Harding. Go visit her blog: http://maryhardingjewelrybeadblog.blogspot.com/
Now I'm off to make more of these little beauties...!

For my friend Kerstin

The day after tomorrow will be my friend's birthday. I know she loves the dragonfly buttons I sometimes use in my necklaces - especially the blue ones.
So I have made a necklace with a blue butterfly button, another Czech glass button (with swarovski crystal in the center) and some bright blue faceted glass beads for her birthday.
I think she'll like it.