Back to that mask!  This round has a little story...

Since I've been posting my progress to share with all the forums, Aryd'ell from the Yahoo Groups (Beaded Art Dolls and Beadin Path Challenge) found it interesting how i had taken some pliers to my needles to bend them for working on this mask.  She mailed me properly curved needles to give a try:

At first the curved needle was terrible to work with.  Where I had simply bent up the very end of a straight needle into a little crescent moon curve, this needle is in a complete half-moon.  The half-moon acts like a nice, action-packed spring so I've made some strategic harpoon shots into my thumb while using it.  One thing about these needles - they seem to stay INCREDIBLY SHARP.  After a few holes here and there, but mostly on my fingers, I realized I simply had to change the way I held the needle and used it - basically start from square one on teaching myself how to sew without having to go to the emergency room for a tetanus shot.  It took a day and a few band-aids (I prefer those with cartoon characters) and I think I've figured out this little needle -- and Aryd'ell is right.  It makes a much more precise stitch and works very well in tight places.  (Once past the whole harpooning stage.) 

SO!  I've added another color to brighten up my mask and am back to finishing up that whole right cheek.  Bruno thinks the lips have a sort of Mona Lisa effect - a slight smile or smirk however you look at it.  I was nervous they wouldn't turn out while I was working on them, but they seem to be pretty good.  It's coming along!!