Motivation as Inspiration

Today I spent the bulk of my day writing instructions to turn into the Bead&Button Show. I have a long way to go though, so I can't jump for joy yet. I have always wanted to teach at a bigger show like Bead&Button, or be published in a large magazine, and I'm finally getting the courage to start submitting my work. I'm terrified that I'll be turned down once and never try again, but I'm hoping for the best. Wish me luck!

Childhood Memories

I remember one Christmas when I was a child where the only thing that I wanted was a bubblegum machine. I woke up Christmas morning and rushed to the tree expecting to see a shiny red bubblegum machine. Needless to say, I was disappointed when I finally got to the little plastic gumball machine with the bright yellow bottom. I'm not saying that I didn't eat the gum, I'm just saying that it wasn't what I was expecting. Several months ago, my friend Michelle gave me some Cabochons that she made while experimenting with resin. I loved the one she gave me that looked sort of like a bubblegum machine that had a little 'flaw' in it where the resin didn't quite reach the bottom, which made it look as if the bubblegum was going to spill out. I loved it! During the Bead&Button Show, she brought me some smaller,round ones that she made me. I covet them, and look at them all the time. I want to make a double-sided 3D miniature bubblegum machine with them. I'll let you know if I figure out how to make this happen.

New Costuming

I'm back, and I'm pleasantly exhausted! There is no rest for the wicked, however, and tomorrow I have 2 girls from Nero coming over to go over one song, and to learn the beginning of another. I have a lot to get done for both our Nero 3-day event next month, and for a beading class I'm teaching August 1st, not to mention the Bead&Button Show projects that I have to get done by the end of July, and the dance class that I'm starting up August 13th. I simply pooped!

For Nero, I want to make an updated costume consisting of a Ghawazee Coat made of Purple Crushed Velvet, and a decorated bra made with blue satin and beads. We'll see how it progresses with all of the other stuff I have going on. What I sort of have in mind is like this coat and bra from Velvet Peacock Designs, but without the high price tag.

History

As I prepare to spend my weekend dressed up as a Gypsy, possibly being chased by a mummy and his minions in a medieval Roman-esque setting, I am inspired by History. It is fun to play a leader among my people, and dress in a fun way. I take great pride in playing an 'accurate' Gypsy, even for the Larp system I play in, and I sort of miss the feeling of having a 'history' in my family. Most of them could care less where we came from, or how our ancestors got there, and that saddens me.

So here's to the Romanticized Gypsy, the Saucy Harem Girl, and Women Who Wore Pants Way Before Their Time! May you always be there in our hearts.

P.S. I won't be posting tomorrow due to being in the mountains with no 'modern' amenities. I hope to be back on Sunday, later in the afternoon.

Nayna

By chance last night, I ended up online at the same time as my original Bellydance instructor Nayna. We IM'd back and forth for a while, and then eventually ended up on the phone each of us going back and forth with youtube videos and pictures of bad bellydance costumes. I haven't gotten to talk to her in a while, and it was nice to hear her voice. She's going through a transitional phase now that the studio she was teaching at has closed. She has plenty of places to teach though, so I wish her luck in her new enterprise. She was very encouraging about my new dance classes, and gave me endless amounts of good advice. I always feel better when I talk to her. So here's to Nayna who has inspired both my jewelry and my dance for 5 years now.

And exhaustion sets in....

Bead and Button is over, Shimmy for the Cure is done with, and Jonsey's Art Bazaar is a thing of the past. I'm finished now right? No more working up to the last minute, and then pouring yourself out of bed at ridiculous hours for Megan to put on your happy face and hope it goes well? The would be incorrect my friend!

Although I had today and yesterday off for the most part, I'm now preparing for two major things: 1) Applying to teach at Bead&Button next year, and 2) Preparing to teach my first 'real' Bellydance lessons in August! Yay! So what do I have to do? For B&B I have to write 3 or 4 sets of instructions for things I made more recently, have then edited, and ready to ship by the due date. When is the due date? No clue! They haven't posted it yet. Part of my says to wait until I know the deadline to panick, part of me says to panick now, and part of me says to put it off and watch television. (Damn procrastinating side!). For bellydance lessons, I have to create lesson plans, and promote (I know, I suck at promoting) myself in a dance world that doesn't know me. Hard you say? Why yes! At what point in time did Megan ever do it the 'easy' way?

What can you do to help? If you're in the Denver Metro Area, have always wanted to take bellydance lessons, and are ready to do so now, then sign up! If you're not in the Denver Area, please send any good energy you can muster my way to help me on my journey. Thanks in advance!

A strange day....

Today I woke up way too early for Magpies to be awake. I checked my email, and dawdled for a few, and went back to sleep. I was awakened several hours later to a sound akin to a pack of M80's going off in a metal trash bin. So I got up, sat down at my computer, checked my e-mail, and had 2 sales! While preparing said sales for departure, I check my mail again and have another sale! So today's inspiration is 'Hope'. Hope that I'll make it, hope that other people think I'm worth it, and hope that I can believe in myself. And the picture? Silver-plated Delicas....just shiny little rays of hope!

The Dance

Today, I'm inspired by other people's enthusiasm for Bellydance. I have been a dancer for many years now, and have recently decided to begin teaching classes for 'real' money. This afternoon I will have the opportunity to share my experience with a new dancer who is coming for a private lesson today. She is so excited, and terrified, and I remember that feeling exactly. So I will share with her some of my 'secrets' (no, picturing the people naked doesn't do it for me!), and this weekend we'll dance together to a short drum solo. So, best of luck to her (and me) as we stand upon the precipice of greatness (or at least mediocrity), and hopefully the men will clap and not just stand there with their mouths open ;)

First Muse

Delicate Glass bottles meant for perfumes. Not only were these little guys made in Egypt (an infinite source of inspiration and mystique), the two on the ends are made in one of my favorite color combinations: Blue and Gold. Right now I'm working on a bracelet called the 'Magic Carpet' bracelet. It's original incarnation was made in greys and muted blues like Labradorite, but the new one is in Egyptian Gold and Peacock Blue. A nice twist on an old favorite combination.

A prodding idea

My good friend Michelle writes to me (and several other people who shall remain nameless) a few days ago with the idea to start her own blog. The idea behind this blog is to post an idea a day to help her fine her creative voice in the hopes of cementing her ideas to eventually sell her creations. I thought, 'What a wonderful idea.' And then came 'You'll never post something every day'. Which is likely true, but I'm going to try to post as often as possible. So here it is, my very own blog that represents what inspires me. I hope you enjoy it!