Bead Therapy: Mindfulness Practices

2015 has been non-stop with events and amazing opportunities. I've been traveling, teaching, finished one book and will soon to start on my third book! My life is a stack of deadlines and to-do lists.

Some days my head feels like it's going to pop. I love being busy, traveling and teaching. And I am ever so thankful for such an awesome, creative life.

But I have one fatal flaw - when I'm stressed, I like to eat sweets. And not just an innocent cookie - if only! Which has caused all sorts of problems that I fight against daily. I know I'm not alone in this. Oh how comforting a Cadbury egg can be when I am barreling through a crazy day!

I thought I would share a few mindfulness techniques that I've learned over the years to help me combat stress and avoid a binge when I'm stressing. I use my beads and creative process as stress-battling skills!

Mindfulness

Practicing mindfulness is just getting really zen and not thinking about anything other than what is in front on you.

• If a wayward stressful thought tries to make it's way in, acknowledge the thought and refocus on what is in front on you. 

• Use all your senses and focus on one thing during your mindfulness practice. 

• Mindfulness is the opposite of multi-tasking and if you are feeling stressed out from too much on your plate, give it try for 20-30 minutes at a time.

Engage the Senses

I may decide to calm down by sorting beads mindfully.

I'm going to look at the beads, touch the beads, notice the noise they make when they clink together. I look carefully at the beads, notice any patterns or imperfections that make a bead interesting. Notice the difference in colors or textures as I sort through them.

Sorting them, I let the world fall away as I focus on the tray or bowl in front of me. The goal isn't to get a lot done during this session, but to enjoy the process.
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Working Effectively

There are tasks you do as a jewelry-maker that are repetitive and could lend themselves toward mindfulness.

Maybe it's grabbing a bowl of Czech glass flowers and creating wrapped dangles with fancy ball headpins. Or it might be stringing seed beads onto wire, focus only on the task and let all other thoughts fall aside.

Do these simple tasks with no other distractions, focusing on working quickly and effectively.

One Task

The creative process can be a mindful practice, especially if you are doing it instead of a negative behavior like scarfing down a pan of Nutella brownies. (What?)

• Create a space without distractions: turn off the TV if it's in the background, put your phone out of reach and turn off the ringer. 

• Pull out your materials for one project only, gather everything you need. 

• Listen to calming music while you work. 

• Don't be critical or judgemental of your process. 

• If something isn't working, think of it objectively. "How can I improve the balance of this design?" or "What feels off?" instead of thoughts like "This sucks."

• Set a timer if you need to get back to reality after a certain time. 

• While you are creating, really take notice of what you are touching, seeing, hearing. 

Be there, don't let your mind wander to stressful thoughts. Again, if one creeps in, acknowledge the thought and let it go. (How? Just say, yep that's reality but right now I'm working on this necklace. Or yep, I'm so angry about that but right now it's just me and these beads.)

Level Up

The next mindfulness idea is to engross your mind in a very challenging project. Focus only on the task at hand working on mastering the new skill. This should be something that needs 100% of your attention.

Stress Buster

If it helps, have a piece of paper next to your work. If you have a thought nagging you, jot a note down about it and tell yourself you will get to it as soon as you are done with this time.

Treat your mindfulness time as sacred, schedule it in and give it a try. Let's those beads be a tool to bring some calm into your day!

So instead of grabbing a Snickers, go grab those beads and de-stress! Give one of these mindfulness exercises a try this week and let me know how it goes.

Join me for my Inspired by Nature Retreat

(Photo credit: adapted from Andrew R. Whalley via the Creative Commons on Flickr.)

What is a retreat but an invitation to walk with the instructor on a creative journey?  To open your eyes to the possibilities around you, to learn to trust in your artistic instincts with the encouragement of your fellow travelers.  The instructor offers new insights into both the minute and vast beauty in nature, leading you to come up with new ways to translate that experience into something tangible.

And whether you feel like an artist or not, you are given the skills to express your vision into an object. By the time you leave the retreat you are renewed and energized, ready to return home with a deeper understanding of yourself and your creative process.

(Photo credit: Christina Harrison via Flickr)

I was talking to someone yesterday about my retreat and realized that creativity without any kind of boundaries or safety net can be scary for some.  I'm a "let's-dive-in-there-and-see-what-we-can-come-up-with"  kind of girl myself so I hadn't thought of that before.  The classes and structured lessons make the process less intimidating.  You don't have to be an artist to enjoy my retreat, but hopefully you'll feel like one by the time you leave.

Creativity is the willingness to take risks.  Artists realize there are no mistakes, only learning opportunities.  It's part of the process. 

So I invite you to go on a creative journey with me for 3 days.  It will be a safe place to try new things.  We will play with resin, seed beads and wire, we'll study color, texture, and the design lessons in nature.  We'll have fun making jewelry together. We'll walk on sandy beaches, explore the delights of the garden and visit the still quiet of the forest. 

Visit the site to learn more about my Inspired by Nature Retreat and celebrate the release of my book with me!

Let Nature Recharge Your Creative Batteries

If the sight of the blue skies fills you with joy, if a blade of grass springing up in the fields has power to move you, if the simple things of nature have a message that you understand, rejoice, for your soul is alive. ~Eleonora Duse

Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. ~Lao Tzu

I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order. ~John Burroughs

In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks. ~John Muir

Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul. ~John Muir

Those who dwell among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life. ~Rachel Carson

The woods were made for the hunters of dreams,

The brooks for the fishers of song;

~Sam Walter Foss

Yesterday I spent the morning at the local botanical garden, sketching and taking photos, visiting with other artists.  It was a good reminder that not everything in my life has be about business, I can take a break.  I didn't realize how burned out I was feeling until I spent an afternoon not worrying about things. 

Reminders to myself:

Take care of yourself - spend time in nature - walk - sleep well - eat good - laugh - spend time with loved ones - let go of a few worries - trust in bigger things - breath.

Bead of the Month Club Update

I thought I would share with you the beads that I have created so far for the Bead of the Month Club.  It is so much fun to give myself a day to play in the studio and make something special.  It's a nice change from my production work and often spurs on several other ideas while I test out prototypes.

The Cherry Blossom Tree pendants will be available at the beginning of May with 50% of the sales going to the Red Cross for aid to Japan.

I created this necklace with one of the Cherry Blossom Tree Pendants, as I made several extras last month.  I paired them with dyed buri nuts, resin beads and brass.

The Bead of the Month Club was sold out, but I have decided to offer 5 more.  You can purchase the year long subscription here.  You'll first package will include the 3 beads above and April's bead.  They will go quickly as two have already sold this morning.  Don't wait this will be your last chance. 

Do you schedule days to play and explore new creative ideas?  I highly recommend pencilling in a date! 

Sleep & Creativity

As a recovering workaholic the best thing I can do for my business is get a good night's sleep. 

Did you know that Harvard did a study and found that you boost your creativity by 33% when you get a good night's sleep?

Getting less than 6 hours of sleep a night can cause premature death, it also increases your chances of developing heart disease and diabetes.

So living longer, being more productive and creative - is that worth a few extras hours a day to you?

I never get more done than after a good night's sleep.  But how many times have I started to work again at 10pm after my kids are in bed and work until 1 or 2am only to get up again at 7am.  Is this you?  I can tell you, it's not worth it. 

Some small business gurus will spout you have to sacrifice to become successful, working 60-70 a week.  But I'm here to say if you don't take care of yourself, you are not going to be healthy or happy enough to enjoy that success.  Is success, money in the bank only?  Is it worth it no matter how exhausted and non-present you are during the day?  Let's face it, if you are running on empty because you were up all night working - how enjoyable are you to your family the next day? 

So let's talk about those sacrifices:

1. Your health should not be laid on the alter of your business.  Take care of you, sleep, eat well, walk, get out of the studio.  Working 24/7 will not lead to success, it will lead to burnout.

2. Cut out TV or limit it to the weekends when you deserve some down time.

3. Sacrifice being the perfect mother/wife - other people in your family can do dishes, wash clothes, help cook dinner.  A few dust bunnies will not kill anyone.  Let go of standards of perfection and focus on the things that make you happy.

4. Sacrifice your freedom for a schedule - set up work hours and stick to them - do not go online, do not answer the phone, do not do the dishes or run errands.  If you have 8 hours a week to work - then work them, don't waste that time doing anything else.

5. And finally - how much time are you spending online, really?  How many blogs, tweets and Facebook status are you tending to?  Keep track for a week, I mean minute by minute.  There is a limit to what we can do and social media is rockin' for promoting your business.  But I venture to say if you are spending more than 2 hours online a day, you have found the place where you can trade in some time for those zzzz's. 

50 Ways to Increase Productivity from LifeHack

Increase Productivity with a Better Night's Sleep

Listen to this podcast with a top Etsy seller who downsized to find balance and happiness.

Finding Time to Create

Are you finding that you don't have the time to create or just feel like your inspiration has run dry?  I go through those times too and thought I'd share a few tips with you.

1. Schedule time to play - I know this may seem strange - schedule time for creativity.  You can't force inspiration to strike but if find the time to show up, you might find that inspiration is soon to follow.  Pick a day this month or once a week and say these four hours (or however many you can spare) are mine to have fun and play.  That's what I did with the Bead of Month Club - I gave myself one day a month to experiment and explore.  And the result was not only the BOM bead but a whole new line of spring-inspired creations.

2. Unplug - This is hard for me, but necessary if I am feeling really stressed and want to tap into my inner muse.  Go ahead - turn off the computer and Ipod, don't check your email for a day. I promise the world will not fall apart.  Sit down at your table, turn on your favorite music and let your hands go to work.  If you have a creative block, pull out an art or beading book or go for a walk.  But then go back to your work table. Or work on a mindless task for a for minutes until you feel warmed up - for me that is mixing colors.

3. Sleep - Seriously you feel more creative if you are rested.  I'm so guilty of not getting enough sleep.  But when I do, my mind is creatively solving problems and feeling all fired up to work on new designs. 

4. Chill out - Are you in a constant state of panic, putting out one fire after another or feeling overrun by your to-do list?  Ha - I just describe myself.  On these days there is not a creative bone in my body.  The cure?  Relax for crying out loud.  We don't have to be constantly stressed or under the gun of a deadline to produce amazing things.  Make a daily habit of meditating, going for a nature walk or praying.  All good for the soul and for feeding your creative muse.

Other suggestions for finding more time:

• Skip watching TV.
• Schedule a creative play day with a friend.
• Delegate household chores.
• Work with your spouse and set up a Daddy's Day Out with the munchkins. Use that time to play and for nothing else!
• Consolidate your errands - bunch up your errands so that you aren't constantly running around.

Do you have any tips for finding more time in your day?  I'd love to hear them!

Creativity Booster

Be sure to sign up to have my weekly updates sent directly to your inbox. 

Yesterday I sent out a Creativity Boosters edition to my mailing list and challenged readers to find a color palette from a home magazine.  So that's exactly what I did.

Being addicted to my Ipod, I immediately pulled out an app to do the job. I snapped a photo from the magazine and used Color Stream to create a color palette.  Okay, here is the cool thing about that app - they have a program that searches flickr for photos based on your color palette.  And that's how I found the lovely butterfly image that will help inspire some new spring creations. 

I've been seeing these colors in magazines for both home and fashion. I've pulled some beads from my stash in these colors and will work on something with them soon. 

How are you challenging yourself this week?

Butterfly photo from cdw9.

The beads are available in my etsy shop this week.

Stop by tomorrow for Bead Table Wednesday.

Creative Jump Starts

1. Go through your bead box and pick something out you brought years ago, use it this week.

2. Find an usual photo and use a color palette generator to pick colors for you.  Create a bracelet using these colors.

3. Create a heart pendant to use in a design. Try one of these:

Try polymer clay with texture sheets and alcohol inks.

Fill a heart bezel with an image and resin.

Cut one out of copper and hammer a texture on it.

Try your hand at wire-wrapping a heart.

Have fun this week! Maybe I'll see some of these inspirations on your bead table on Wednesday.

Time to Play

“You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. ” Plato

One of my goals for 2011 is to spend more time in my studio playing.  One of the pitfalls of being a production beadmaker is monotony.  I don't mind making the same beads over and over, it's rather zen.  What I don't like is not having time to try new ideas and explore.  That makes me a cranky pants.  So to make sure that doesn't happen I have penciled in some special creative sessions.

One of my play dates will be the Bead of the Month Club. 

I've decided to challenge myself to a monthly beadmaking session to explore and have fun.  I'm offering (selling) 15 memberships to have these treasures sent to you each month.  Some of the beads will be club exclusives and not for sale to the public, others may find their way into my regular line or my Etsy shop.

Let your work be your play time, have fun, explore, remember the joy of creation! Set aside your worries and fears for a day and fall in love with color. Take chances, get silly, throw some beads in a bowl and pull out a random selection.  Don't worry if something will sell.  Make something you would love and don't want to sell! Learn from mistakes, they are stepping stones not roadblocks.

PLAY, play with those beads like you're at summer camp!

Need a Challenge?

Okay, I'm so totally jealous that I didn't get a chance to participate in the Bead Soup Party.  But not to worry, there is an abundance of beady challenges/blog hops happening right now and here is a round up of my top picks.

Vintaj Design Challenge: Lover's Bouqet, deadline is this Friday, 2/12 by noon!

Elements and Objects: Ice Resin Blog Hop - Posts need to be up by 2/12.

Art Bead Scene Monthly Challenge: Luna Park, deadline 2/28

Treasures Found: Inspired By Challenge: The Solar System, deadline 2/28

Beads of Clay: Complimentary Color Challenge, deadline 3/5

(pictured above - art beads: bird pendant and nest bead, green girl studios. ceramic leaf, every heart crafts, ceramic houses, jubilee. ceramic round beads, elaine ray. egg, humblebeads.)

I have been working on a surprise Art Bead Scene challenge that will be revealed on Friday - you heard it here first!

Creativity Parking Lot

I was listening to one of the Craftcast interviews and they were talking about writing down the projects that you want to work on but can't get to at that exact moment, to park them until you can devote the time they need. Well lucky you, my blog today is going to be my "parking lot" where I dump all the projects I will be working on soon, but have to wait until I get a big deadline out of the way.

So in no particular order:

Needle felted project for Ornament Thursday

Entries for Bead Star Competition (I have 2 in mind)

Carve gingko and other flower stamps

Collaboration Exploration projects

Quilt for my bed and a few decorative pillows

Thanks to Lisa, now I want to make skirts for my girls

New beads (expanding my humblebeads line for the summer)

Etched metal pendants inspired by Semiprecious Salvage.

Grow flowers from seeds for my lackluster yard

2 new classes/samples for the Bead Cruise

Okay, I feel much better writing those down. Now I don't have the cloud of unfilled projects looming over my head.

It's going to be a busy week. I have new beads, a sale for those who subscribe to my mailing list and a new free project. Stop back later this week for a visit.

Time Out!

One of the draw backs of owning your own business is taking time off. When you are in charge of design, production, marketing and accounting it's hard to let yourself take a day off. I haven't had a day off since I came home from the Bead Cruise. Even while fighting a nasty infection a few weeks ago, I plugged along working 1/2 days.

With only a few weeks left of summer, I have decided to take a radical step and take a week off. I'm going to enjoy spending time with my girls, cleaning up and organizing the studio and exploring a few projects for myself that I keep putting aside. I need time to reflect and recharge.

I'm going to turn off this computer for the week. It may kill me, but I'm determined to take a much needed break.

It's also my birthday next week, so now is a good time to take a step back and decide where I want to go and how to best spend my time getting there.

Feeling burnt out too? Here are a few resources to help you get back on track.

*Declare an Artist Retreat Day at home.

*How to survive creative burnout.

*Download the artist's survival kit from Keri Smith.

*Inspire me Thrusday, for a quick creative kick in the pants.

Bracelets

I haven't had time to make anything new, other than filling orders.

So here are a few bracelets from the files that are a variation on a theme. Read Robin Atkins blog entry about working in a series. Good food for thought. Can't wait to start working on new beads, new jewelry...where is that 25th hour?

Spring Beads

Okay, so I guess wishes are beads because my table is now full. Rings & Things shows are always filled with tons of semi-precious stones. So that's what I stocked up on and findings, but you didn't want to see pictures of headpins, did you? Oh, I did get all sorts of copper and blackened brass findings. Here is the new bead stash burning a whole into my table, just waiting for me to come bead.

Stones, pearls, wood and copper beads.

A HUGE carved jade pendant, 3 inches wide.

Various stone pendants


Yes I did find some birds, at the local stamp/paper arts store. They were bright brass and I blackened them with Silver/Black Patina. They are so tiny. Won't they look cute with these?


Here are some beads with the branches theme that I made last week.
So that's my bead table. Show me what's on your table awaiting some of your creative flair. Post about it on your blog and put a link in my comments section.

Advice for Artists

Here is a sneak peek at the samples I made for an upcoming event. Gee, what could that be? But no color for you - I have to save some surprises for my Bead Cruise folks.

Bead-arts.com has featured me on their blog today:

BA: What is your best piece of advice for those who would like to rise in their level of artistry?

HP: I would say discover your own visual language. Find what images and symbols inspire you and let that be the starting point of your own creative process. Never copy, learn from others and translate basic techniques into something new. Also experiment, try new techniques or other mediums, you’ll grow as an artist. Always be willing to take risks and follow your own path.

Read the rest of the interview here.

Trivia: Why is my business named Humblebeads? A free bead for the first person that posts the answer in my comments section!