How does she have the Patience?

A bad case of carpel tunnel has kept me out of the studio for a while.  This is the worst I have had it in a long time - first the left hand outer fingers went numb, like they had taken a trip to the dentist.  Wore my carpel brace for a few days, but that did not help.  Dr said it was not originating in my wrist, but rather upper arm, elbow area.  I had to be fitted for a form brace that I  have to wear at night to keep my arm immobile.  What a pain, can not sleep comfortably no matter what position I am in.  Then, after I started wearing that, my RIGHT hand went numb also.  So now I have braces on both arms and am typing this two fingered. 

All this when I am trying to get ready for the Clayditeron Cruise (only a few weeks away .... WEEEEEE!!!!).  I may not get all the charms made and tagged like I wanted.  AND I have the BSBP to work on. I am afraid that I will be forced to keep my piece really simple for that.  I really wanted to do something elaborate, but that is just not in the cards right now.  I am bummed big time.

Instead of my work, today  I am going to showcase the seed bead art of my friend Donna. When we went to the bead shows in Tuscon last year, I blogged about the picture she had given her sister who lives there.  That was the second one she had done.  This one above is the first.  It was created with seed beads, each one glued in place individually. I couldn't do that - I am more of an immediate gratification girl.

  For her third piece, she is going even bigger.  Her canvas this time is a DOOR! -  yes, a door.  She has been working on it for two years now (mostly in the winter when there is no were to go anyway).  She allowed me to take some photos of the work in progress.

The specks in the clouds are clay birds.  

She starts of a piece by painting an underlying picture.  In this photo you can see the painted portion at the bottom.  The top clouds and trees have been beaded.    She figures she has at least 2-3 more years before she will be finished, and already has plans for her next.    

A closer up of the top portion.  It is going to be amazing when done.