I know it has been a while since I stopped by, longer than I had realized. Funny how time flies like that, especially when I think about the "beady people" all the time. I'd like to send all of you a few wishes for 2006:
- May you all find so many hiding places for your beads that your family feels terrible and urges you to buy more beads.
-May you never find yourself _this_ short of stringing material, especially when you're working under a deadline (and when *aren't* you working under a deadline?)
- In the same vein - May you never find yourself short of the beads you absolutely require to finish your project.
- I wish that the projects you make always exceed your expectations, and are even lovlier than the pictures in your head.
- May you never have an audience yawn while you're describing a very special piece of bead artwork.
- If you sell your beads, I hope you always have plenty of customers, who all pay with cash (non-counterfeit), only want the items you have in stock, and never want anything sized.
- No matter how you distribute your beadwork, may you never get any broken pieces back for repair. Because repairing is terrible, especially when you think back on all the work you put into making the piece correctly the first time.
- I hope you all learn at least one new skill that will bring your art to new levels, and provide you incredible satisfaction.
- May you always have a private place to bead, complete with a comfortable chair, ample lighting and plenty of room to store your beads.
This next one is for me, although some of you might need it, too.
- Never, ever tell your mother about your bead work, especially since she's never one to give you compliments. I guarantee you will not get meaner criticism anywhere else on Earth. Learn to enjoy the good opinion of the masses - your original designs are worlds better than any item they might find in a mass-market establishment.
Most of all, look around at the people who are there for you, and feel grateful. Give hugs all around, and make each one something special that you made with them in mind.
I wish all of you a safe, intersting, and prosperous 2006.
Kathy N-V