Beading--the Creative Spirit

I'd worked with the Rev. Wendy Ellsworth's beautiful beadwork and the words that went along with it for a long time before I'd actually met her. When I did finally meet her in person (I think it was in about 2002 at a bead conference?), I discovered what a truly special person she is. She just emanates calm and joy.


Wendy's special demeanor comes shining through in her brand-new book, Beading--the Creative Spirit. In it, Wendy puts into words what most beaders know already: that beading is a meditative, healing activity that can be wholly transformative. It feeds us creatively and brings beauty to our sometimes not-so-beautiful lives. She writes, very clearly, about how to hone in on those spiritual qualities even more keenly, through working with personal and archetypal symbols, using color in a purposeful way, envisioning the core power of a design, and 'singing your own song' through your craft.

Wendy gives helpful, specific advice on how to make easy access of the Creative Spirit through beadwork. One of my favorite sections is called "10 Tools of Creative Expression." One of the tools she lists is Wildness. Wendy writes, "All creative people need to have a little wildness inside them. The Wild Woman is our creative fire and what drives us to make art; we cannot live without her....Invite her to come and dance with you while you bead; throw back your head and howl with her to really get her creative energy moving through you. Reconnecting with your wildness can set you free to be your innate creative self. Your beading will never be the same again!" Now ain't that the truth?

If you're considering purchasing this book, you should be forewarned that it's a little different than most beaders are used to. There are only a few color photos, for one thing. There are 14 very nice projects, but they really aren't the stars of the book. The best part is the way Wendy takes your hand and leads you through the creative process with completely new eyes. This is a beading book, yes, but it really could be a manual for anyone looking for a deeper connection with the Divine.

http://cmp.ly/2