Do what you want, you're a rebel...

Do you remember when Pee Wee said, "I'm a loner, Dottie, a rebel"...well, it's really funny because like Pee Wee, that's the last thing you would think of when you look at me. But in my own way I am rebellious, if that means doing things in a way that isn't usually considered normal or traditional. Now I can rock a button down collar with the best of the professional women, and I can still stay upright in a nice pair of 3" heels, but for me it's just more natural to sew beads and handmade buttons on that shirt and to paint the shoes gold.

Which brings me to this. I was momentarily feeling a bit boring and dull and just didn't know what to post today. I had made several things this week, which is surprising when you let your work space look like this...

I made a trinket for a friend, but can't show that because it's already been packaged for delivery, then I remembered that I made this using one of the canes that I built this week. ..

I like the combination of purple and gold. I have lots of purple beads in my stash and after several false starts, I decide to make links from my good gold wire. I placed an aurora borealis faceted bead between two fairly large, textured tear drop glass beads. The links looked really good and I finished off with links of just the aurora borealis beads.

After picking out the purple shirt that I'm wearing out today, I realized that it was wrinkled. So instead of getting out the iron and board, I tossed the blouse in the dryer with a dampened hand towel. While waiting for the dryer to do it's magic, I sat down to tighten one of the links on the necklace. That, of course, led to more. I decided I just wasn't completely happy with the necklace so then I got out the trusty 18K gold leafing pen and added some highlights to the polymer clay focal piece. Still missing something. So I did what you don't usually do. I still had the gold leafing pen in my hand and before I knew it, I painted onto those really nice glass beads. I am sure someone is gasping out there, but they just needed something and after all it's my necklace and I can do what I want, because...you guessed it, "I'm a rebel, Dottie".

So here is a closer view of the beads. I like them much better. The gold leaf paint toned down the glassiness of the beads which goes better with the matte finish on the focal bead.


So, take the plunge. Be a rebel. Dot some paint onto a pre-made bead. There's really no law against it and you have put even more of yourself into the design of the piece you are working on.

We usually have no fear about adding paint to found objects and broken jewelry, but don't limit yourself. You just might have a strand of beads that would look really special with a splatter of paint on them, or a pair of shoes that you haven't worn for years, but you don't know why. Come on, go for it. Paint them. They just might end up looking really cool and no one else will be wearing anything exactly like them. All I'm saying is take the plunge, the shoes aren't doing you any good in the closet, anyway... find a way to be just a bit of a rebel. Even if no one else knows, you will.

Well, that's it for today. I will be cleaning up that table because I must finish the dragon that I'm making for a birthday present. I can't have any distractions on the table. I have to complete this project. Birthday is first week of July and it needs to ship to the West Coast. Wish me luck. I'll post some pictures of the dragon soon.

Take care, and have a great weekend.

p.s. remember you can always click on my pictures for a larger view.