The holidays are busy and lots of my creative juice flows into decorating our home. While I do glean deep satisfaction from this nesting instinct, I find I MUST take my creative urges further, even as time grows short and to-do lists grow ever longer. If I am to stay centered at all, I must 'create' something with my hands.
My studio is a mess; full of presents and wrapping papers, wayward items dropped off with the intention of a trip to the third floor, not a spare inch available for paint or paper creations. BUT.....there is always the floor and my basket of ancient beads close at hand. A scant few moments of rummaging and sorting brings me to a calm and meditative state. A moment or two more and the beads have found their mates as if by magic. They were just waiting for my hands to do the work, making antique artifacts into new necklaces. New art pieces carrying the history and stories of old to a new generation, a new group of seekers ready and eager to honor the old traditions, the old rituals, the old ways. It is where we all came from whatever the land of our ancestors.
Sometimes I think it is the 'creating' that brings me to peace and balance. Other times I know it is the wisdom of the beads I hold in my hands. The old and dusty prayers repeated and repeated as human fingers long gone, held fast to the promise of an eternal life.
I bet the feel of all those ancient beads is incredible...maybe you can almost sense the history in them? I'm sure you will create the most amazing pieces, as you always do...xo
Posted by: Jennifer White | January 03, 2010 at 12:41 PM
Your beads and jewelry are so gorgeous! It is interesting to wonder how many were "worry beads" or whatever the culture calls them.
Posted by: Marilyn | January 03, 2010 at 01:24 PM
Marilyn, In this photo, the red beads with the hunk of coral and the buddha, the green beads with the turquoise and coral inlaid and the gold leafed buddha heads are all prayer beads from Tibet and Nepal. The red ones are also inlaid with coral, turquoise and gold. The gold and the green are yak bone. I hesitate to cut 'prayer beads' apart and have many in my collection that I will never use in jewelry design but I also like the idea of keeping the 'prayer line' circulating in modern times. Thanks for your interest!
Posted by: Kathleen Botsford | January 03, 2010 at 01:52 PM
I felt tingles up my spine as I read your words "The old and dusty prayers repeated and repeated as human fingers long gone, held fast to the promise of an eternal life."...bead work, any creative task can transport us into a meditative state...but how much more so when the beads themselves have come from distant times and lands.
I haven't had a chance to dress up and go out and wear the necklace you made for me yet...but now I feel inspired to just hold it and gently slide the beads between my fingers as I meditate tomorrow morning!
Posted by: Laura Hegfield | January 04, 2010 at 10:20 PM
Wow, what a fabulous collection of beads! I am inspired by just looking at them and thinking of all the possibilities they represent!
Posted by: Karen | January 07, 2010 at 07:44 AM
As soon as I saw this picture I felt the beads' presence. Then to read what you wrote, took the experience so much deeper! Oh how I wish we lived closer so that we could play! Somehow I just know we would have SO much fun....
Hope you are having a beautiful birthday today!!! I tho't of you this morning & wondered what 1/11/11 will be like for you ;)) Your birth is a beautiful & sacred gift to the world.....
HUGE hugs~~~
Cyndee
Posted by: Cyndee Greene | January 11, 2010 at 05:04 PM
Just want to wish you a happy and healthy 2010! What an amazing grouping of beads.
Posted by: Seth | January 11, 2010 at 08:31 PM
Dear heart, I LOVED this post so much! So heartfelt and beautiful. Something about your words touched my soul.
Happy, happy birthday, dear one. Your ability to convey the sensitivity of your spirit through your words and your creations brings tears to my eyes. You are a gift to your family, to your friends and to me. Thank you.
Much love always,
Deb
Posted by: Debbie | January 12, 2010 at 11:31 PM
What beautiful words, the "wisdom of the beads." Very powerful post, I especially love the last paragraph, and had to read it several times... happy wednesday to you, roxanne
Posted by: rivergardenstudio | January 13, 2010 at 08:10 PM
What a sumptuous array of beads - ripe with story - just gorgeous. Wishing you an equally rich 54th year full of creative adventures, new stories, and rich connections to all you cherish.
Catherine
Posted by: Catherine | January 21, 2010 at 10:46 PM
I would love to feel these ancient beads in my hands. Love your web design. And what a gorgeous family you have! Great smiles.
Posted by: Suki | January 23, 2010 at 06:35 AM
These beads talk to me! Creating is the quickest most wonderful way to find peace and balance in my life.
Kathleen, thanks for the recent email. My email to you returned Mail Failure again. Gremlins!
Posted by: robyn | February 02, 2010 at 09:00 PM