decisions, decisions ...

It's a good thing I don't feel about my children the way I do about my work.  I usually think that the piece I've just finished is my best work ever and I don't see how I'm going to be able to part with it.  Sometimes that feeling forces me to go back and rework an older piece, like I did last night with the necklace I wrote about months ago on the post, shell beads ..

shell amulet necklace, quartz crystal, bone, shell, coyote tooth, citrine, pearls, moonstone

I added some more dangles, some vintage bone beads I "won" on E-Bay, a coyote tooth, and I used waxed linen cord instead of the hemp that wouldn't behave itself.  (What did I expect from hemp?  Now really.)

detail, shell amulet necklace

Much, much better.  I had to lose some of the more delicate mother-of-pearl beads that had holes too small to accomodate the waxed linen.  I think it looks more primitive now - more like something a shaman would wear.  It was a little too "bridal" in its previous incarnation.

The other way I cope with the "last is best" problem is to work in series.  Short series because of my short attention span issue.  Do two pieces qualify as a series?  I may be pushing that a little.

wearing of the green, equinox amulet necklace, prehnite, green garnet, amber

close-up, Wearing of the Green Equinox necklace

So here's my dilemma: I had an e-mail from the editor of Belle Armoire Jewelry about a month ago saying that she had been following my Etsy shop and inviting me to submit work for possible publication.  She suggested four pieces that are still listed.  Do I send off the latest stuff, taking it off the market for six months or so, but getting it great exposure if it's selected?  Do I send the older stuff that doesn't compare to the latest (and greatest)?

Good thing my kids don't read my blog.