Yesterday I realized that I had missed the one-year anniversary of Bead Table Wednesday. Thanks to Heather Powers of Humblebeads for creating a fun way for the beading community to share the messes and delights found on everyone's beading table. (If you're feeling nostalgic, read her first post about Bead Table Wednesday from January 5, 2011.)
Ever since my last magazine submission, I've been diligently working on cleaning up my studio space. To finish that jewelry project, I finally brought my beading tray upstairs to work at the kitchen table. My studio was too messy and distracting.
(This was not the first sign that my workspace needed some serious attention. In December I managed to lose a huge piece of fine steel wool. I can understand losing a few seed beads or jump rings, but something that's about the size of a sandwich?)
This little mint tin contains the wire-wrapped dangles and links that I created in the last month or two that never made it into a finished project. These were strewn all around the table. I fear they might be multiplying when I turn out the lights.
These once-cherished treasures all have been consigned to this tiny metal prison for various minor infractions: the recycled glass links that turned out to be too heavy for earrings, the maddeningly dark blue glass rounds that never photographed properly, the cute dog charm that dangled on a metal bookmark for a year but never sold.
I never know what to do with these almost-but-not-quite-jewelry pieces. Sometimes I put them back with their unwired sisters and brothers in the bead drawer, but other times, like today, that feels like too much effort. So for now I've stashed them away: out of sight, out of mind. I feel a little UFO (UnFinished Object) guilt, but at the same time, my table is a little closer to being clean and usable again. Every artist knows there are sacrifices to make in following the artist's path. These beaded dangles are a few little ones of mine.