October's Reader Challenge REVEAL!

I like to say yes to people. I like to keep busy. I like to participate in group activities and be social. I also like to nap. Which is a good thing, since saying yes, keeping busy and having a really active social life can be really tiring. Hence my love of naps.

Unfortunately all this whooping it up and napping can lead to overcommitment with my free time slipping by too fast.

Right about now I'll bet you are wondering what ANY of this has to do with Andrew Thornton's October Reader's Challenge and can I just post the picture already? 'Cause you have, like, 17 more blogs to visit and only so many hours in a day.

Right. So let me get to it.

I bit off more than I could chew with this project. These busy few weeks have not allowed much extra time. Not only that, the time crunch made me awash in indecision about my design. Those two factors combined to thwart the timeliness of my finished piece.

This is what I have so far.

The beads are all stitched to the piece of metallic leather (because I have had leather on my mind lately). That is a river pebble underneath the stitching and a key pendant because I like keys. It's about 2"x 2" or so.

This is where you all come in. I need a push in the right direction. My goal is to finish this piece by next Thursday, November 10. Your job (should you accept it) is to leave a comment and tell me if you think this piece should evolve into a pendant/necklace, bracelet or a brooch.

I will tally up this Sunday night, November 6 and complete the piece in the style that gets the most votes.

I'll reveal the results on Friday November 11.

Thanks for your help! Don't forget to visit the other fine folks participating in this challenge.  Check out the list:

Shay Williams http://shaihasramblings.blogspot.com/

Michelle Hardy http://fireflyvisions.blogspot.com/

Rosemarie Cowit http://www.gemrosedesigns.blogspot.com/

Cilla Watkins  http://www.tellyourgirlfriends.com/

Christina Porter http://www.QueenBeeDesignsNY.com/

Collette Collins http://fireflymyst.blogspot.com/ 

Mary Govaars http://www.mlhjewelrydesigns.com/

Cindy Cima Edwards http://www.cindycima.com/

Jessica Nelson  http://stilettospirituality.blogspot.com/

Tara Linda http://taralinda.wordpress.com/

Alice Peterson http://alice-dreaming.blogspot.com/

Lisa Lodge http://pineridgetreasures.blogspot.com/

Cece Cormier http://www.thebeadingyogini.com/

Karin Slaton http://backstorybeads.blogspot.com/

Sandi Volpe http://www.sandivolpe.com/

Kate Richbourg http://katerichbourg.blogspot.com/ (that's me!)

Sue Kennedy http://suebeads.blogspot.com/

Michelle Mach http://www.michellemach.com/blog/

Andrew Thornton http://andrew-thornton.blogspot.com/

Driving Ambition.

I love a road trip: the gas station coffee, reading unfamiliar road signs, the fruitless search for NPR in the vast air wave wasteland that is California's Interstate 5.

No, seriously. When I was little, I remember being snuggled up in the back seat of my grandparents Dodge Monaco with my stuffed animal friends watching the world go by.

Now I am in the driver's seat, but viewing the world through a windshield is still one of my favorite experiences.

So what does this rambling post have to do with Wednesday, November 2, you ask? Well, it's Weekend with the Wiremasters travel day and that means ROADTRIP!

My classes start tomorrow, so I am up bright and early to pack the car, gas her up, pick up my dear traveling companion, and set out for parts unknown. (Actually the parts are pretty known to you NorCal peeps. US 101 to 152 and then on to the interminable I5. YEEK!)

Tomorrow I start a 4-day class extravaganza. If you haven't read about the event, check it out here. I am teaching 4 fabulous metalworking classes including my über-creative, throw-caution-to-the-wind Rolled and Wrapped beads. I rarely teach this class and it is one of my favorites.

Okay gang. Enough for this morning. I'll let you know how it's going. But I suspect it will go pretty well. After all, it's gonna be rough hanging out here for the next few days...

...but I will do my best.

On the road again...

Last night I had to make a choice. It was one of those life choices that most women have to grapple with at one time or another. It was tough, but sometimes you just have to grit your teeth and make the hard decisions.

Look, I loved each of them. Each one was unique and filled a special place in my heart. They made me feel pretty and in my own way I needed each one.

But my suitcase was full.

Five pairs of shoes for a five-day trip just wasn't going to happen.

I am leaving next week to teach for "Weekend with the Wiremasters." Yes, I have kits and tools and jewelry to pack. I have to wrangle soldering set-ups in my car. I have to find that class sample that I decided to wear and then tuck away in a safe place so I could find it later.

But come ON. The real problem that I grapple with before I go out on a teaching gig is "What am I going to wear and how many shoe changes can I fit in my suitcase?"

Look, its a precarious balance between comfort and style. I gotta be mobile in class. I have pre class set up, the actual class itself and the immediate after party (usually held with chilled glasses and savory snacks) so this shoe choice needs to last all day. Comfort and cute don't always go hand-in-hand.

You'd think I could just find a nice neutral shoe. One that would go with everything. I could just slip it into a single shoe bag and tuck it in and go.  Nope. I like color. I love red shoes and blue shoes and shoes with flowers and shoes that have straps and shoes that tie.

So last night I lined 'em up and culled the heard. It was hard. I may have wept a silent tear, but I did it and I am proud. Three pairs are making the trip and one of those pairs are going on my feet, so I just need room for two.

(Okay, humor me. I know three pairs of shoes may STILL be a little excessive for a five-day trip, but let me have my moment.)

If you don't have plans for November 3-6 and want to have a super fun filled metals and wire weekend, Wiremasters is still accepting signups. Check out my classes here, and details about the whole event here.

Samples from my Crystal Frame Ring class.

The weather promises to be beautiful and they have a lovely pool. 

Whoops. Make that four pairs. I need flip-flops for the dash to the hot tub.

Now that the tough decisions are over, I can get to assembling kits and printing handouts. In my slippers.