An Early 2026

As the year end approaches, who isn't noticing how fast 2025 has flown by? In the blink of an eye, I find myself looking ahead and planning my life for 2026.  I am already focusing on New Year's resolutions. My three priorities are to narrow down my focus of creative production, to slow down a bit (I am still defining that), and to embrace the creative skills that make me happiest. "Squirrel!" Every piece of jewelry in this post contains shades of brown. What does that mean?

AT LAST

After all the exciting activities of the past few months I have slowed down to just 2 - 3 projects in progress. One of them includes hiring a website expert who is working his magic as we speak.   I have yielded to a fabulous web designer and I am very excited for the upcoming results!  I am preparing to make shopping Tina's Sedona a total turnaround experience. It is long overdue and I appreciate everyone who has hung in there waiting for me to reach this point and surrender to an expert.  It is getting close to a launch date.

DOES THE WORD "CULL" APPLY?

I am "itching" to trim my online inventory by removing pieces that no longer represent MY definition of artistic beadwork.  This is going to provide some GREAT SALES for those who want to benefit from a gleaning of unique, attractive, wearable beadwork.  And yes, it is still artistic beadwork, just not as much to me. Do you have similar objects in your life to "cull"?

THE ARTIST'S WAY?

I want to get back to more imagination in my creations like when I first began beading and every piece was an experiment.  When I ask AI "Why Do Artists Get Bored With What They Are Making?" One of the seven answers given was "Desire for originality: A strong drive for originality means that working on similar projects repeatedly can feel uninspired or unfulfilling." Yes, and so does making the same objects as other artists. What do you enjoy experimenting with? Did you know that I sometimes do commissioned work?

INNOVATION?
My French Beaded (FB) floral projects have stalled due to distractions by non-beading "adventures".  That said, I've let my hands explore some smaller FB projects with size 15/0 beads to create a finer weave of beaded earrings - the bottom pair.  Let me know what you think of them? My goal is to provide a Bohemian style (top pair made with larger beads of size 11/0) and a smaller one that gives a more dressy look (Note: The larger the size number, the smaller the bead) Click photo for a larger view.

FOR YOU
Winter is coming and those of you who hibernate to some extent might be considering a new creative experience.  You already have your own list to choose from. I hope it includes considering French beading. You can join and learn for free from Facebook Group Learn How To Make French Beaded Flowers. The month long project videos are so cool to watch even if you decide it's not for you. You will get a better appreciation for the techniques that go into the pieces that I weave. My Anthurium project below...

FOR ME
Once again, with summer heat gone, Nathan and I are walking regularly and cycling a bit in our community.  I am determined to keep walking year round as we do have a gym in our community. Our bodies took a hit from the past summer's hibernation habits.  Being retired after years of 5:30 a.m. alarms is something I still SO treasure and enjoy.  What do you do to get yourself up and out early in the morning to exercise? 

Happy Thanksgiving in advance... Would love to read your comments!

Be Grateful!

Tina

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The Rewards of Tenacity

At last the summer heat has subsided and fall temperatures, even though sometimes in the 80's, are a welcome change. Another welcome change is that Tina's Sedona has rebirthed a shopping cart after a break of several years. I trust you will feel welcomed to shop our full line of beaded artistry from earrings to necklaces to bracelets. When you visit you will find a special offer on any piece that you admire!

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NEW PRODUCTS @ Tina's Sedona

Springing Forward 2024

My Shameless Promotion

My presentation to Members of the Tucson Handweavers & Spinners Guild on February 27th was an utter success. After delivering a twenty-minute PowerPoint tour of my artistic phases, I landed on my latest obsession with French Beading. My final "ta-dah moment" in beads was amplified by lots of applause and several gasps at the sight of my finished Black Aeonium piece designed by the very talented Lauren Harpster @beadandblossomstudio. The experience presenting to a large group was empowering for me and the audience's reaction and applause was so encouraging that I literally jumped up and down with delight. (Yup, I was actually overpowered by joy...) LOL

A Buggy New Project

I am hoping to submit my concept of a French beaded sculpture in early April for an
upcoming juried show at Tohono Chul that will run May 16 - August 5, 2024. The Exhibit's theme this time is "The Exotic Sublime | treading softly". At the current moment I am prototyping bugs! I'm going out on a limb here by telling you my plan because I don't believe in jinxes. My hope is to append "something that crawls" to a French Beaded piece I constructed many months ago... Here is one of my bugs and the Asiatic Lily (another fabulous design by Lauren Harpster) from which it will spring forth and "tread softly"... The bugs are my design! Keep your fingers crossed that I meet the deadline...

We are Off, Again

Next month we head back to Northern Arizona and this time visit Monument Valley and Moab, just to name a few stops along a 1400 mile route that we will drive in nine days. One of our stops will be to Bryce Canyon which we've driven through but never hiked. Barring any major snow hazards we hope to get down into the hoodoos! If you haven't yet visited the Southwest, we highly recommend early spring if you want to avoid the crowds. Even during other times of the year, research the views in less travelled areas. If you do enough research you can ride down roads and capture what many others will never see. Here's one vision from a drive we took in Hurricane, Utah, about three years ago where we stumbled onto a perch from which I caught a glimpse of Zion National Park in the far distance. A priceless, unrushed, silent experience with no crowds. We are doing lots more car touring than hiking these days which presents many photography opps are unexpected, thrilling, and striking!


I enjoy keeping in touch with you! My wish for you this Marchy Month is that Spring -- in whatever form it takes for your part of the country -- opens you up for new adventures, especially before the heat of summer comes your way.

Tina

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Don't miss out on the vibrant world of bead artistry at Tina's Sedona!
Subscribe TODAY for exciting marketing updates, sneak peeks at new bead artistry, and a Coupon Code delivered straight to your inbox!

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December already?

Winter coming to the Southwest

Living in the Southwest has advantages with fairly stable weather in spring and early fall. It is piping hot in the summer! Yet winter can be a whole other story. Cooler winds are now migrating through the Tucson desert and snow is already hitting Northern Arizona and heading into Utah. If you have ever experienced Utah's famed Zion National Park, then you already know the beauty and the wonder of its sandstone panorama. But if you have never

River rock pendant finally finished

My last post in August ended with intentions to complete a river rock pendant with an Idea I had just formulated. Well, that idea waxed and waned until October when I could finally get back to it. The result is something unique (for sure) but also comical. Every time I look at it I see a slug wearing suspenders! At three inches long, it will be a real topic of discussion for anyone who wears it. My next step is to suspend it from either leather or a chain. Even a thick cord or an elegant ribbon might work. How might you finish it?

Your Input Requested

The creative process usually leads to more creativity. The "opulent slug" at left has lead me to consider selling some of my pendants as separate items and, if desired, letting the customer decide how they want to display it, if they want it hung and, if so, on what material and with what type of closure. As a result, some of my beaded tube necklaces would no longer be enhanced with a pendant but would just drape one's neck with unadorned beauty. Since you are a prospective customer, I sure would like to know if this change would better encourage your purchase of a wire wrapped pendant necklace should you see one that you really like and have options to customize the final piece. I am pretty sure I would like to experiment with this idea. Your thoughts?

La Verkin Desert in September

Thanks to our valued customers for being so patient with the lack of correspondence. We took the month of October off to settle into our nest in La Verkin, Utah and explore nearby neighborhoods. The high desert is all around us and it took just 12 minutes to get to this spot on the outskirts of town. I hope you enjoy our "Adventure in Yellow" which inspired me to make this unusual necklace & earring set from yellow opals and tiger eye crystals which I bought at the Tucson Gem Show in January.

Tina Levy, Blogging Artist @tinassedona

Back on track for Tina's Sedona

Well the Levy's have left St. George and landed for at least nine months, this time in La Verkin, Utah. We're hoping this might be the place to settle down for a year or more. Having no furniture, we have scoured local consignment shops and Facebook marketplace to furnish our compact, yet lovely, two story abode. High up on a hill, overlooking a valley of neighbors, we can see nearby mountain ranges and crisp night stars on a regular basis. The sunsets are also heavenly...

La Verkin, Utah, at sundown...

Viking Knit for future wearable art jewelry projects

My new studio, while still coming together, is getting back into action and I'm chomping at the bit to make artistic jewelry one of a kind for upcoming holiday shopping. That said, and as many jewelry artists can attest, there is no toggle switch on one's creative flow. When that flow gets disrupted by life--especially involving a move of one's work space-- it's not always easy to flip the switch "on". I tend to be one of those artists so I've started busying myself by knitting wire for future wearable art jewelry projects, working my hands--and eventually my creativity-- towards "the zone". That night sky is definitely working on me... and here is my studio--still in transformation--along with a view that will continue to inspire. So much fresh air too!

Tina's Sedona studio in transition

View from my second story studio

In the midst of our move, I stumbled into a lovely gallery--Gallery 873-- in Ivins, Utah, that prides itself on selling eclectic art in Utah. They have taken about a quarter of my collection on consignment. I feel very fortunate to have found a proprietor who sees me as a unique jewelry artist and is willing to price my earth tone organic jewelry accordingly. Two pieces have already sold! I have been envisioning a gallery setting for the past few years. At last, a setting that promotes artistic-crafted and southwestern-inspired jewelry like mine! Amen.

Gallery 873 in Ivans, Utah

So if Tina's Sedona online jewelry looks a bit "light" right now, it is because, in addition to the consignment arrangement, today (9/30/19) I am attending a gallery event and selling additional pieces taken from the website. After that the unsold pieces will re-appear. Poof!

I hope you are enjoying my jewelry store blog. Thank you!

Tina Levy,

Blogging Jewelry Artist @ www.tinassedona.com