Potentates Ball 2013. Des Moines, Iowa.

Ah, yes.  Another successful year of pin collecting at the, always amazing, Potentates Ball.  

I'd give you more details about the event but I'm having trouble recalling them.  Each hospitality room boasted a fancy, specialty shot.  The multitude of specialty shots hung out in my gut, had a party, and made this lady fairly intoxicated.  At least I was punished on Sunday with one of the worst hangovers I've had in years.  Thanks Grape Pucker!  I think I'm too old for you now!

A Need to Bead.

I'm familiar with my artistic patterns.  When I need a mental break from drawing or painting I'll generally do something compulsive and semi-mindless.  My logic? :  When I paint for five hours straight the payoff isn't gigantic...it takes multiple five hour sessions to complete a painting. Sometimes a gal needs immediate gratification.  If I sit down and focus I can bead an entire small skull (fox, raccoon, skunk) in roughly five hours. The whole process is very rewarding.  That fox skull is shiny as fuck and I love it as an object.  I love immediate gratification!

Why are compulsive activities so rewarding?  My guess...compulsive activities reward certain centers of the brain by relieving stress (duh).  Creating something that appears totally complicated but only requires focus has always centered me. So, expect more of these.

The Best Valentines Day Card from a Fabulous Girl.

Hey, Girl.  I hope your Valentines Day is super-duper sexy.

Part of a Larger Project.

1. A raccoon skull I found two years ago.  Bleached and boiled, ready for some gaudiness.

2.  The beads and glass crystals are lovingly (gaudily) applied one by one.

3.  Four hours later!