A Day Off to Bead Fest Santa Fe

Eden's Delight Prayer Vessel

by Julia L. Hecht

Funny how things work out for the best... if we just wait for the big picture to come into focus. Last year I applied to teach my prayer vessel necklace at Bead Fest Santa Fe. I thought since they'd been popular sale items on etsy and at shows, and since they appear in Lark Books 500 Judaica, and since I've had experience teaching classes at 2 different bead stores, I had a chance to be selected. Well, as it turns out, not only wasn't I selected, but I never even got a rejection notice. For months, I waited to hear, and when I saw that the classes were already posted for registration, I realized the "NO" I'd never received.

After that rejection I applied for the Rio Grande Arts and Crafts Fair, which is happening in Albuquerque this weekend. I got rejected for that too. Just when I thought my "art" career was taking off. Jeez, it's tough out there!

As it turns out, these rejections were blessings in disguise! Since the applications for Rio Grande and Bead Fest, I purchased the store. I am up to my ears with work. I am really GLAD that I don't have these other commitments to worry about. In fact, the rejections helped me understand the challenge of making a living as an artist. I was so glad that I had the store when I found out I wasn't accepted to Rio Grande.

Today, I am taking a day off from making labels for my 12,000 tubes of beads. My mom, who is visiting from NY, and I are headed to Santa Fe this morning to scope out the bazaar at the Bead Fest. I am going to look for some great findings for Poppyfield. I couldn't make it to Tuscon this year, so this is my mini Tuscon -- there are a lot of suppliers there and I will make some connections for future inventory.

During the pain of rejections it is hard to see how everything is happening right. Some days, it feels like "it's all good" is just another annoying sound bite. But, today I have the good fortune to feel the good in all of it.