Yesterday I realized that I had missed the one-year anniversary of Bead Table Wednesday.  Thanks to Heather Powers of Humblebeads for creating a fun way for the beading community to share the messes and delights found on everyone's beading table. (If you're feeling nostalgic, read her first post about Bead Table Wednesday from January 5, 2011.)

Ever since my last magazine submission, I've been diligently working on cleaning up my studio space. To finish that jewelry project, I finally brought my beading tray upstairs to work at the kitchen table.  My studio was too messy and distracting. 

(This was not the first sign that my workspace needed some serious attention. In December I managed to lose a huge piece of fine steel wool.  I can understand losing a few seed beads or jump rings, but something that's about the size of a sandwich?)

This little mint tin contains the wire-wrapped dangles and links that I created in the last month or two that never made it into a finished project. These were strewn all around the table. I fear they might be multiplying when I turn out the lights.

These once-cherished treasures all have been consigned to this tiny metal prison for various minor infractions: the recycled glass links that turned out to be too heavy for earrings, the maddeningly dark blue glass rounds that never photographed properly, the cute dog charm that dangled on a metal bookmark for a year but never sold.

I never know what to do with these almost-but-not-quite-jewelry pieces.  Sometimes I put them back with their unwired sisters and brothers in the bead drawer, but other times, like today, that feels like too much effort. So for now I've stashed them away: out of sight, out of mind. I feel a little UFO (UnFinished Object) guilt, but at the same time, my table is a little closer to being clean and usable again. Every artist knows there are sacrifices to make in following the artist's path.  These beaded dangles are a few little ones of mine.

When you live somewhere for a long time it's easy to forget some of the magical things that make the place special.

I was standing in line at the post office last week when I noticed a decorated box with an open slot at the top. Oh, yes: It's time for the annual Loveland, Colorado remailing program. 

Here's how it works: you send in your cards in a larger envelope, which is then removed.  Volunteers hand-stamp your enclosed, stamped and addressed cards with a special Loveland postmark and send them on their way to your recipients.  If you're in Colorado, you can drop off your addressed and stamped cards at your local King Soopers or City Market stores (or at one of the specially decorated boxes at the post office). 

I especially like the verse that will be stamped on this year's cards:

Valentine greetings
From a city with heart,
Loveland, Colorado
Home of fabulous art!

(It is pretty fabulous.  If you're a crafter, you might recognize Loveland as the home of the publisher that publishes craft books and magazines, including Beadwork, Stringing, Cloth Paper Scissors, and Interweave Crochet.)

Outside the U.S., you  need to get your cards in to Loveland by February 4th.  In the U.S., the deadline is February 9th.  Coloradoans have until the 11th.

This event began in 1946 and attracts more than 160,000 participants from around the world. You can read more about the program at the Loveland Chamber of Commerce.

I enjoyed reading about Jean Campbell's experience as a technical editor for Beadwork.  You may remember that I wrote about my own experience with Stringing tech editing awhile back.  Few people seem to realize that "nuts-and-bolts" technical editors work in other fields besides computers or engineering, so it's always refreshing to be reminded. 

I've just finished edits on the summer issue of Stringing and I'm thinking about writing a post or two about common mistakes.  I've been debating for awhile whether or not to write it.  Some people are so terrified of any type of writing that they might see a post like that as another roadblock to magazine submissions.  That's not my intention.  Instead, I'm thinking about those designers who have been submitting to magazines for awhile and would like to improve their instructions before tackling a book or creating their own tutorials to sell.

Here's one easy tip:  Avoid having two numbers next to one another.  Instead of: "5 5mm silver daisy spacers" try: "5 silver 5mm daisy spacers."  Isn't the second one easier to read?  Your mind likes to put numbers together, so it would be easy to misread the first example as "55mm . . ." (a huge bead) or "55" (a large number of beads).  What a big difference that would make in your finished project!

Enjoy Jean's post and the rest of this week's links:

Jean Campbell
What exactly does a beadwork tech-editor do? Read on!

About.com Jewelry Making
Are you struggling with the cost of metal right now? Tammy gives you a tip for getting the look of metal beads without the cost.

Art Bead Scene
Gaea shares some of her current favorite beading and craft related tools

Beading Arts
Interested in publishing this year? How about starting out with a magazine?

Beads and Books
Join the spring challenge and makeover a ready-made wintry bracelet into a piece of springtime jewelry!

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Everyday Gemstones from the publishers of BeadStyle magazine is beautiful, easy, and is a special Winter 2012 issue --and Jean thrilled to be in it!

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Want to help a small business out? It's so easy! With a few clicks you can help Allegory Gallery get some free advertising dollars!

Update: The kits are sold out as of Friday morning.  However, if you still want to play, email me by the end of Sunday, January 29. I will check and see if I can order any more of these bracelets. I added 5 kits to the shop on February 3.  There's still time to play!

If you want to buy your challenge kit right now before reading about it, go for it!

The Challenge Inspiration

Inspiration #1: Ready Made Jewelry

Every time I see a piece of inexpensive jewelry in a store, I think about how I would improve it.  So, naturally, when I saw a pile of these pretty blue bracelets at a bead show last fall, I immediately started thinking about how I might take them apart and make something completely different with those same beads.

Inspiration #2: New Beaders

I also wanted to offer a challenge that would be easy enough for beginners, but challenging for more seasoned designers.  Beginning with a finished piece of jewelry is a great first challenge.  You don't have to start completely from scratch.  Instead, you could start thinking about adding a few additional beads to alter the look of this one-strand bracelet.  More advanced beaders might want to completely dismantle the bracelet to create necklaces, earrings, rings, and more sophisticated bracelet designs.

Inspiration # 3: Color

Yes, It's Blue Again . . .

I didn't mean to have two blue kits in a row, but this kit was an impulse purchase that I bought before I developed the snowflake kit.  Plus, I'll confess—aquamarine is my birthstone, so I seem to be unnaturally attracted to that shade of blue!

. . . But Not for Long!

Your challenge is to turn this bracelet into a piece of spring jewelry.  You might add flowers, leaves, birds, or other springtime symbols.  You also might think about color.   What colors could you add to move it from an icy, winter bracelet to a springtime piece? 

Kits

There are 20 kits available. The cost for the kit and U.S. First Class shipping combined is $8.75.  For most international locations, it will be $10.75 for the kit and shipping.  (I only have a few international locations listed; let me know if I need to add yours.) I always mail the kits quickly, so you have the maximum time to work. Buy the kit now.

Please, only one kit per person.

Challenge Rules

• Blog Hop Reveal Date: The reveal will be March 13, 2012.  This is after the Bead Soup Party on March 3rd, so I'm hoping it will be a quiet time to post.  Feel free to blog about the challenge before then, but don't reveal your finished piece until that date.
  
  
• Your Own Blog: I strongly recommend that you have your own blog, but it's not an absolute requirement.  The idea behind a blog hop is that everyone share the links to everyone else's designs and we hop around, visit, and comment on all the participating blogs on the designated date.  It's always fascinating to see the different ways other people used the same beads!
  
  
• Spring Theme: Your jewelry or accessories design should represent spring.  I'd especially love to see earrings, bracelets, necklaces, rings, hair jewelry, or anything wearable.  Of course, if your muse demands that you make a beaded home decor item, you're still allowed to participate.  It's best not to cross the muse!
  
  
• Number of Projects: Make one or more projects with your beads.
  
  
• Materials: Add any additional beads or subtract any beads you don't want to use.  The finished piece is yours to keep, as usual.
  

I hope some of you will want to play in this new challenge!  I have never done a challenge exactly like this one and I'm eager to see how it goes.  As always, feel free to contact me if you have questions.

Have you started thinking about Valentine's Day jewelry yet?  Here are two of my recent designs:

At right: I love the heart-shaped sterling silver ear posts from Nina Designs in these Heart Earrings.  They're beautiful, feminine, and a bit of a splurge. 

Bottom left: The second Valentine's Day design is my miniature Vintaj brass Book of Love.  It's a bit weathered, which I like because it's more representative of long-lasting love than something bright and shiny. 

This has the potential to be a very romantic gift—imagine the blank pages filled up with a few words of love, maybe some date night souvenirs, or some tiny, one-inch photos.  You could hang the book on a chain and wear it as a necklace or simply keep the book on your desk or nightstand.

Need more inspiration for Valentine's Day—or just a lazy afternoon?  Check out these blogs:

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Valentine's Day is one of the most delightful days on Jean's calendar! Why? Because she gets to think about love, and jewelry such as the astounding pendants at NanoStyle! Tell your beloved "I love you" in a most incredible way! 

A Bead A Day
Interested in using plastic to create special Valentine's Day Jewelry? Here are a couple of pieces for inspiration.

About.com Jewelry Making
What is better than some beaded embroidery how-to for a buck? Errr..nothing!

Art Bead Scene
Heather offers a beautiful free project inspired from high in the treetops!

Beading Arts
Cyndi has been trying to encourage everyone to get out there and take a class this year!

Beads & Books
See the 30+ beautiful winter jewelry designs in the Secret Snowflake Challenge. Participants used techniques such as bead embroidery, resin, stringing, wirework, etching, and more!

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi has a link to a kumihimo give-a-way to share!

Charlene Sevier Jewelry
Sometimes jewelry acts up a little before it comes together. Charlene shares one of those times

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
Melanie looks back at an older post where a favorite song inspired a series of wing themed pendants.