Mind Shift & Marbleing Moment

In the past few weeks I have noticed a shift in my thinking. While I was working on the bag with the dragonfly  from the last post, I felt a euphoria and  was really enjoying my work. I've struggled a long time with my thoughts, thinking I should have a better reason for doing what I like to do. Maybe it was not important or a valid use of my time. I realized that I had been laboring under a false assumption.  I also had fears of how it will come out and that it needs to be perfect. Silly thought. It takes work to become good at something. I guess that is the sweat and tears part of things.   I was looking at things in a negative light .   I felt I needed to hang on to these false beliefs. It was weighing me down and putting a cloud over the whole process.  I felt like God was watching, and he gave me permission to go on and with his blessing.  I could look to him for help. It was a nice surprise. I had felt in the vast scheme of things, that my little world was just too insignificant to be important. As I learned these things, I have felt a shift in my whole way of thinking. I have been able to drop many of my fears and find joy and excitement in learning new things and have been able to be more accepting of myself.  I feel a excitement and flood of ideas coming to me.  This journey of discovery has been a great one. I have much to learn, so the prospect is brighter.
       I also had a nice bonus, My African violet bloomed. It was a start from one of my sister's plants.

Beautiful, don't you agree? Thanks Dawn! ( my sister). It's amazing that such a beautiful plant can come from one little leaf.  Just takes time. I too am just like that  little leaf. 
I just need to be patient with myself and enjoy the journey. 

      First I jumped into a trial of marbling  and learned it takes a lot more trial and error to learn how to do it.  I started out having trouble with the paint. When I dropped it onto the surface of the medium of thickened water, it would sink and leave only a small trace of paint.  So, as most of us would do,  I went and read from the book I had to see if it would give me some helpful tips. Well I discovered I was suppose to dilute the paint.  As a result, I wasted quite a bit of paint.  Here are some  pictures of my first attempts.

       I also made a bracelet with thread from an unfinished project. I even enjoyed taking the old project apart.  Weird is'nt it? I liked the results.In this project, I used vintage glass beads, ceramic cubes, some jasper, and  small glass beads. I think it has a nice, earthy look . 

     Then I went on to learn how to do some more tree of life pendants. The first one was made with amethyst chips. A nother one with jade or adventurine with some more little flowers and grass added with green wire and small seed beads. One was made with tiger-eye chips and I added a fringe on it. Another is made with what I think is  Blue Lapis Lauzi chips. This pendant has a shell moon added and the trunk is made with black wire. Another one with agate I added pears to this tree. At least, that is what these little glass beads look like to me. These are a work in progress, I still need to make the necklace part and cover the rings more.

     
 

Last of all, I made crystal Buckyball earrings. The crystal surrounds a cats eye bead, and is topped with a small blue flower bead.  Hope you enjoyed your visit this time. See you next time with another chapter in my little adventure.