Janet Kay’s Musings

I'm one of those people who needs constant stimulation in order to create. One thing I love are Art Books-reading some and looking at color photos
in others.

When I began to bead in ernest there were not many books on the market, so I took every class on every technique I could find. That is still the best way to learn, but to enhance your learning base, buy the books.

I love hanging out in book stores and I buy a lot of books online. I buy some used books--if you haven't checked out Stand Books in New York, google it.
Also, I buy from Abe Books.

My favorites today are:
"Creative Bead Weaving" and "The Art and Elegance of Beadweaving" both by Carol Wilcox Wells. These should be in every bead artist's library. They are great books on basic techniques and the color plates are lovely

"Getting Started with Seed Beads" by Dustin Wedekind is another "must have" for beginners and advanced.

"One Bead at a Time" & "Beaded Treasures" both written by Robin Atkins
are great. I am a big fan of her work.

"The Beader's Gide to Color" by Margie
Deeb is a beautiful book and I hear she has a new book coming out on the same subject the summer of 2008. Can't wait.

"The Art and Elegance of Bead Embroidery" by Heidi Kummli and Sherry Serifini is my absolute favorite since I favor the technique. Their web sites are something I visit often for a jolt of inspiration.

"Micro-Macrame Jewelry" by Joan Babcock
is fabulous. She makes an old craft form look modern and elegant.

"Crystal Jewelry with Swarovski" by Laura McCabe makes me want to drop all projects and make something in the book.
Great projects.

"500 Beaded Objects" & "1000 Rings" both from Lark books are filled with inspiration.

These last 3 books are not books about beading, but very wonderful and stimulating.

"Living the Creative Life" by Rice Freeman-Zachery. It features several artists in different mediums and they talk about how they work. I especially love Susan Shie as I had the opportunity to study with her. What a kick in the pants!

"Kaleidoscope" by Suzanne Simanaitis.
Yummy pictures!

This last book is tough to find but worth the time.
"Sacred Arts of Vodou" by Donald J. Cosentino.
This is my favorite kind of art--the "outsider art" and there are other books on the subject.

I'm sure I will get up in the morning and think of any number of books I have forgotten. I will save that list for another day.

In the near future, I will make a list of favorite movies and bead stores and suppliers.
I never met a bead I didn't like.

Happy spring to you all--my friends and loved ones.

This is the time of year I love most.
The cooler weather gives me energy and I always want to make things, read, study and go places.
This week has been busy making jewelry for my new gallery (meaning I just met the owner and am putting things there),
making things for the house for Halloween/Day of the Dead and cleaning
house or as my friend Ruth calls it, getting the nest ready for new eggs (ideas). I love that!!
Day of the Dead in Mexico has given us a rich and full holiday that we all can borrow from with skeletons, sugar skulls
and the unusual objects of art in our homes.
Alison and I took a whole day to work with Magic Model by Crayola, my new favorite clay. I made cats, bats (my new best friends), pumpkin head people, devils (my obsession) and demented bunnies. There are paints all over the studio with which to finish off these pieces. It is close to instant gratification.
I will make a shrine in the living room to honor my Dear Denny and Beautiful Patrick--how I miss them both.
There will parties with friends and I might even do some silly costume this year. This is my favorite holiday, after all---yes, better even than Christmas.
I realized that the reason I haven't written much on my Blog is that I thought it needed to have perfect spelling and grammer. Well, let's forget that--if I make a mistake, I don't give a damn, Scarlet!
Now that I'm free to goof up, I will do it more often. And enjoy it.
To all my friends and family--celebrate something!!
Love to you, Janet Kay

I wrote this blog while on vacation with my beautiful granddaughter, Jordan. She is one of the great creative souls in the Universe. We slept in a small but lovely yurt, visited the Sand Dunes and the alligator farm and had an especially sweet time. We kept away from cities and towns and stayed at a hot springs spa in the San Luis Valley.

Unlike any other time away from home, I did not take one piece of jewelry with me nor did I take bead projects to work on during our time away. I took only a couple of my favorite magazines--Cloth, Paper, Scissors is a good rag--and my sketch pad.

My goal was to not design, think, or scheme any beadwork ideas--only to relax and enjoy the time in the quiet (as quiet as it can get with an 11 year old). Before I left home that week, I felt stilted and tight and wanted to have more fun with my beads and my life in general.

There was an idea that slipped in quietly as she lay sleeping on our last night--an idea that is not new, but brings a new clarity to my work. It is, that alone I am capable of designing, creating and completing any number of projects. But the "a ha" moments arrive when I share the ideas with other creative souls that are such an important part of my life. These incredibly talented people who also deal with their creative spirit in many ways, every single day. People like Alison, Jennifer, Susie, Dustin, Mary, Jim, Roger and my new old friend, Li. Every facet of our lives can be an Art Form from having a cup of tea, finding healthy ways to keep ants out of the cat's dish to making a piece of jewelry that someone will wear with joy and pride.

So there we have it--my moment in the quiet of my heart-the quiet of my surroundings, that the people I choose to be with--spend my energy on--are the most important part of my world. These are the people who show love and respect and receive the same. They study, read and discuss higher things and ideas, but do not waste their precious moments on gossip and dischord. Their voices sooth and send me on to greater things.

I am, once again, open at the top.
Thank you, Father, Mother, God.

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