Bead me up, Scotty

Are you anything like me?

I mean, I seriously hope you do not have that misfortune but in order to set this one up I need to ask.

Sort of like a single-question survey.

See, I am what you call high-strung. That label was slapped on me when I was in third grade (this was before ADD and ADHD and BVD and all the rest).

(There was no medication for the sufferer. To cope, I think my parents just smoked and drank more.)

As fate would have it, or perhaps because it is so deadly accurate, the description stuck to me like fangirls to Johnny Depp.

So, frequently people around me wish I would take it down a notch or ten. As in, I rile easily and then I become animated to the point of obnoxia. 

I made that last word up but I like it so it stays. You get my drift. Especially if you have ever met or talked to me, ha ha ha.

For example when I am in my manic phase, trust me, you want to be in another county if not on another continent.

Be that as it may, I have some cherished friends and I am happy to report that they are all saner than me.

Occasionally one of said chums does something that opens for me a new avenue of creative endeavor.

Don't you love it when that happens.

I've told you about this before but I'll tell you again: A few years back I won a blog giveaway from Cottage Days & Journeys, hosted impeccably and inimitably by my dear buddy, the ridiculously multi-talented Donna M.

She gave me a book and a map and some homemade pocket tissue covers and a few handmade cards and two bookmarks consisting of waxed linen with beads knotted at either end.

I loved them so much, I started making them. Most of you reading this have some of these (and similar) items in your possession, made by and courtesy of moi. You're insanely welcome.

Anyway it didn't take long for TG to notice that when I got my bead box out and put my energies into making a bunch of those, right off the bat I calmed way down. How could he tell? Because I was so quiet.

So when I'd complete a piece and hold it up for him to admire, he'd say: That's nice baby. Now go ahead and make another one. I do believe he would have patted me on the head if he hadn't been on other side of the room.

But I did score a sweet smile.

So anyway to cut to the chase as it were, the crafty activity that had such a delightfully sedating effect on me eventually led to the birth of an idea that involves constructing supersized beaded dangly things.

As in, go big or go home, y'all.

The result is that I now design and create what I like to think of as Beadtime Stories: as-long-as-you-want-them glass-beaded and metal-charmed dangling art pieces that hang in your window. 

Where they serve absolutely no purpose except to catch sunbeams in an exceptionally charming manner and throw spangly rainbowy sparkles all over your room, promoting euphoria.

You must supply your own unicorn but I promise he will like what you've done to the place.

And if you are high-strung like me, sitting and gazing at one of these things (close enough to reach out and make it sway ever so slightly from time to time) will bring your blood pressure down and set creative juices flowing.

Or maybe it will put you to sleep. But you'll have dazzling dreams.

I sent one of these to my blogging buddy Sue at Nostalgic Nana, because she sent me a 3D pirate puzzle and some fruitcake. I think she likes it. The beaded thing I sent her, I mean. She hung it in the window of their secondary Oregonian domicile where it reflects clouds and mountains all day.

My mother and two of my girls each have one and they describe them as mesmerizing. Oh and they (the beaded things, not my mom and daughters) can be suspended anywhere; a window is not strictly required. They'll hang out anyplace you need a thing of beauty to be a joy forever.

Soon I'll be revamping my blog (actually I have already started doing that but you can't see it yet) to include several separate pages, one of which will be devoted to the promotion and sale of random bibelots under the umbrella of Beadtime Stories. 

I know I've threatened to do that before but this time I mean it. It was not my intention to string you along; it's just that I am easily distracted highly strung.

Meanwhile should you need a custom-made one-of-a-kind completely original piece of window art for yourself or for a friend, shoot me an email. These make great gifts. Nobody you give it to will already have anything like it.

I can make them in any length (the longest so far has been sixty-three inches) and any color scheme and any quantity, and I will gladly include charms of your specification for extra personalizing. Name your theme and we'll make it happen.

Each piece is sturdily constructed onto a steel ring that offers endless versatility for installation (which takes anywhere from five seconds to five minutes, depending on how fancy you want to get).

We can even add words and phrases. There really are no rules. Prices are reasonable (these will set you back anywhere from twenty-five to fifty dollars depending on how large and elaborate you care to go). Shipping is free.

That is all.

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Happy Monday

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Comments

[Mari]

High Strung? Animated? Never would have guessed it!
You know I love you and I love your bead work too. I use my bookmark all the time and the beads I have on my keychain make me smile almost daily.
I can't wait to see your revamped site and check out your beadtime stories. (Love the name, by the way)

[irene]

What a great adventure you are on... best of luck. My lovely beads hang in my kitchen over my china cabinet, and yes they pick up the sunlight and remind me of your brilliance.

[Donna M.]

Little did I know that I would set you off on a bead craze! LOL, they are fun to string, I grant you that. And I think you've caught on to why TG will never tell you not to buy any more beads. Ha! Thank you for the plug and sweet compliments. Oh, I need to bead some more sometime, but my eyesight is getting terrible for such endeavors. I love the little bauble you sent me last year with my name. Just a tender thing to do.

I hope you get some sales! They sure are pretty!

[Debbie]

I'm completely the opposite of you then, No ADHD or whatever here. I'm quite, low-key, keep things to myself, not animated. Some days I think I will explode though. Keeping it in is not good, I know that, but ... I am what I am I suppose.

The beads are beautiful. As you know I am partial to the little angel wings.

[Audrey]

They calm crying babies too!!

[irene]

I forgot to say, I love your title. When my boys were little, the odd time they would watch Star trek with their dad, they always wondered by Captain Kirk wanted Scotty to beat him up. So your adventure is by far less violent and prettier.

[Jennifer]

@ Mari ... O NOES you had my number all along. I love you too and thanks as always for your kind words.

@Irene ... haha, I've heard people say it that way. Beat me up, Scotty. That was always our favorite part of Star Trek and no, we never missed an episode. It was my sister's favorite show. Thanks for your sweet compliment.

@Donna M. ... yeah girl, you started something. You are an idea generator.

@Debbie ... I knew you were laid-back! I just knew it. BTW I do not suffer from ADD or ADHD, hope you don't think I was saying that. I am just a wee bit intense.

@Audrey ... Well that's a pretty nice bonus.

[Sue the Hobbit]

Love, not like! Now I just need to spend more time out there so that I can gaze peacefully at the view behind the beads.

[Donna (Texas)]

You ladies amaze me...Fantastic photographers AND beaders! Crys and I STILL are amazed by their beauty!
I wonder if your skills could include those chains that you can hang your glasses on...I've had several but they were always ugly!Hahaa...You can't find pretty ones...
(((HUG)))

[Jennifer]

@Sue the Hobbit ... I like that word "love." I love my 3D Pirates of the Caribbean puzzle too.

@Donna ... I'll get right on that. Great idea. Coming soon to a store near you!