What makes you happy?

Five days ago I started a project called 100 happy days.
It's about sharing happy moments for 100 days in a row...it's interesting how statistics say the 71% of partecipants failed to finish it, mainly for lack of time.
I am using Instagram since I don't want to clutter Facebook and I like this to be separated. I never used Instagram before anyway, so new medium for a new project!

Running again!!!

It might seem stupid. My roommate told me she doesn't understand it, she is always happy. Actually she is a happy and positive person 24/7...for me, things are different.
I find it easy to be in a good mood here, where I am living as a student again, making new friendship, learning something new every day in a wonderful city...but sometimes it is good to actually realize that you are happy. To feel it in your bones, to enjoy that feeling fully.

Pure bliss

I am finally able to communicate a little in this new language and that's the most exciting experience ever. New friendships from all over the world. It is so amazing how many more things you can learn from people...how much your mind opens to different cultures and habits. It is fascinating.

I am happy.

The 8th Bead Soup knocked on my door

A little bit later than it should have been, my amazing Bead Soup partner Rosantia and I finally sent each other our soups.
Mine arrived this morning in only a couple of days!

I think images will speak louder than words here. Better to just look at the beads, or I will write an endless list of adjectives that wouldn't convey how I feel anyway.

My super sweet partner Rosantia is at her first Party, yet she can put up a terrific soup like this:

What we have here is an arrangement of cool ceramic beads, that I love so much, so SO much. The shade of green is perfect and also look at those complementing lampwork beads.

Two words: POLKA DOTS. Love them.

Then yellow quartz  and green chrysocolla12 mm beads.

Something funny: I love to find healing properties of crystals online. It said chrysocolla crystal has "an energy that helps to calm the nervous person who has difficulty in keeping silent"...seriously??! That's perfect for me!

Some beautiful copper chains and bead caps, as well as coordinated cords that I so much needed, having left my stash in Milan.

Then look at those crazy beads. Covered in washi paper, handmade by her, just gorgeous. Can you feel my Japan-radar activating?!

A beautiful Greek casting antiqued copper toggle clasp, with a cool patina treatment, the right compromise between the copper elements and the aqua-green beads, right?!
Then let's have some drum roll before I introduce the gorgeous focal I received.
Here it is

A ceramic birdie from Shaterra. Need I say more?!
I am so overwhelmed right now that I can only keep looking at this soup and hope to make some order in my mind to decide what to use first.

A huge thank you to Rosantia and hope your soup comes fast!

In the meanwhile head to the BSBP board to see what everybody else has received from their partners!

Are you blue?

This is not definitely the time to be blue with this amazing spring weather, but what we mean here is, of course, the colour blue.
Yes, march challenge arrived and the Etsy Beadweavers members did their best to honor the theme

Looks like blue is everybody's favorite! 46 entries which will put you in a very difficult situation when the time to choose will come!
Head to our team blog to vote for your favorite blue creation, you have time until the 16th!

8th Bead Soup Party Partner

Hello everybody!
I am finally writing again about beads, and bead parties.
That time of the year has come and I have a new partner for the amazing Bead Soup Blog Party, which reached the 8th edition and has as usual hundreds of partecipants.

Without further ado let me introduce my Bulgarian Partner, Rosantia Petkova.
She is a 360° crafter and likes to experiment with every kind of material and shape. And I am not talking only about beads.

Let me show you some of her works:

Textile necklace, how clever is that?!!

Crocheted earrings

Gorgeous color choices here!

It is always inspiring to have partners who like to play with new materials and love challenges, I am so curious of how things will develop!

We are both still "stirring" our soups and adding the final touches, so stay tuned for more news about the soup!

In the meanwhile jump to the official Bead Soup blog to see who the other partecipants are and what they're up to!

Beads for baby

Beads are so contagious, they can also affect babies. Or their mothers...
Today I helped my cousin making beaded pacifier-holders with wooden beads.

They might not be size 15/0 Delicas, but it was so funny anyway. I guess I was missing all this kind of crafty things!
The messy table...

...and the lovely result!

Warmth

This month has been so cold and full of weather alerts all around the world, so the Etsy Beadweavers Team decided to warm you up with its latest challenge:

"As the wind blows the snow around outside, and ice covers the world, humans retreat into warm places by their fires, under blankets made of wool, while animals outside use fallen leaves as blankets. Some hibernate in groups, their breathing slowing down huddled together in a furry pile, and as for us humans, we grab a cup of tea or hot chocolate with marshmallows, put on wool socks or sheepskin slippers, comfy sweaters and blankets, and enjoy the feeling of warmth, coziness, that is the sweetest when you know there is bone chilling cold outside.
Think flames, ember and ashes, think wool, fleece and fur, warm things for the tummy and warm things for the soul.
Think of whatever it is that makes you feel warm on a long February night, and turn it into a cozy warm beaded piece."

As usual there is time until the 16th to vote for your favorite on our team's blog!

The 8th Bead Soup Blog Party is coming...

Seems like yesterday, but a whole year has already passed...and the Bead Soup Blog Party is coming back!

Next sunday will be the only day for sign ups, so be sure to head to Lori's BSBP blog!

This year we're also going to have only one reveal date, so plenty of time to create and visit every blog.

• Why should you partecipate?

Because it is a unique occasion to meet new people, with a different culture and habits and also beading techniques. You exchange ideas and preferences and sometimes friendship.

You get to swap beads and you might receive something that you would never be able to find in your own country, or even handmade by your partner!

• Why should you do your best to visit every blog?

Visiting blogs is an amazing source of inspiration.

You see what other people came up with their soup and most times the reaction is: "I would have never thought about doing so!" Or, you just get an idea of how YOU would have done that.

You see people experiencing things for the first time (new materials, new techniques, new colors!) and that makes you realize you also can do that. It gives you the confidence you were missing.

So if you are still not convinced on partecipating, check the past editions on Lori's blog or on last year's Pinterest board!

New tattoo!

Only a couple of friends know about this little tattooI just had yesterday.
It all happened in 2 days, but I've been having this idea in my mind for about 5 years.
Last time I was taking Japanese classes in Milan, (before moving to Padua and then back to Milan...) I discovered the haikus of Issa. I kind of fell in love with them.

A haiku is a sort of short poetry of 3 verses, usually has seasonal and nature references in it.
I find this "condensed" poetic art extremely beautiful. Little, significant moments frozen in only a few words.

I fell in love with this one, which is some kind of proverb, and on my birthday I finally found a drawing I loved to put together.
So here it is.
Meet my new friend.

The snail is about 5 cm so all those details you see, are the tiniest thing ever.
This little creature is on my left shoulder, and I hope I won't wait this long to give her company on the other side.

I really needed something to keep reminding myself that this long climbing will actually bring me somewhere beautiful and that both journey and arrival can be amazing, if I keep believing it.

Inspirational bracelet tutorial

I am often asked how I started beading.
As most people, my first approch to beads was a handmade loom, made by my mom with a shoe box.
When I grew a little older, I learnt with a 70's book how to do flat and round peyote stitch.

For about 15 years and more I haven't been doing anything else. I wasn't aware of the huge beading community existing online. I guess faster internet and websites like Flickr and Pinterest have made it all so much easier.

I have lernt so many techniques and stitches, but in the end I always come back to peyote stitch for one reason or another: I need to make a beaded toggle, or some tubular beaded beads to cover something, or I just need to relax and "switch off" my brain doing something simple.

Lately I have been making these cute bracelets

they are so versatile and easy but give great satisfaction.
So I made a tutorial.
Because many people ask me how I started to understand if they are still on time to start, so I just want to tell you: sure! There is always plenty of time to start!

People who don't know about beadweaving also don't know that some of the most talented beadweavers are not exactly young girls (they surely are at heart) and just started a few years ago.
Excellence is a habit!

You can find my tutorial here.

Last day cleaning?

This morning I received 2 unexpected mails while cooking for tonight.
One was from Preciosa Ornela...amazing neon seed beads!

The other one was, well, one thing I didn't thought I would receive.
Remember my necklace beeh chosen by Nina Design as one of the Bead Soup winners?
Seems like after so many months my little price arrived...

So much generosity from our amazing hostess Lori Anderson, who provided basically everything except the silver Nina Design pendant. Thank you!
The post label says it was sent on april 1st...seriously! Do post office make last day of the year cleaning???! If so, I would love to have my necklace back!

In the meanwhile, here are some better shots of the necklace been published on Jewelry Affaire.
I am so proud!

First shot of the article!

The before shots

I guess we can close this year properly now.
I wish a sparkling new year to everybody!