Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Its Been A While

As usual blogging takes a back seat to well just about everything else.  So here's what's happening.  The big push for the Bead & Button Show is about to begin. I got my selected Bead Dreams piece in the mail yesterday(its due at Kalmback offices on Friday.)  Its always a bit of a struggle to come up with a display.  I fell back on base with twisted wire.  I like the beads to be seen from all sides and not just set on the shelf. Twisted wire adds a little whimsy and I don't think it detracts from the beads too much.
So back to the big push.  Officially it begins May 1 when I will devote every waking second to making as much inventory as I possibly can and ends at the last possible moment before the show.  I can pack while the kiln is cooling, right?   I ALWAYS  have more on my list than I can possibly make.  In addition to my show inventory, I have teamed up with Kim Van Antwerp who has designed beaded kits to go with some of my beads.  She is teaching the "Party On" Robot Pendant class which was inspired by last year's Bead Dreams 1st place category winner "Robot Party."   Kim also designed and adorable ballerina kit using my face bead and Penny Michelle's sterling silver parts.  I love these little ballerinas. 
I will be assisting Kim at the Meet the Teachers reception on June 4 the night before the Bead Marketplace opens.  We will have robot and ballerina kits as well as whatever wonderful creations Kim brings.  I am very excited to be working with such a wonderful artist and I hope this will be a long long collaboration.  We live on different sides of the country so I will probably babble her ears off with ideas when I get to see her in person.........and don't forget to sign up for her Friday night Robot Class.  Visit my FB Page for a special offer to early registrants.  Its a good one, you'll want to check it out if you are going to B&B for classes.  
So I won't see much of the Florida sunshine, except through my studio windows for the next month but that's OK.  Big pushes like this usually lead to innovations on old ideas and some new ideas and that's where the fun is. Plus there is nothing like opening up a big kiln load of beads which inevitably looks like a little pile of beads because hey, they're beads; they're not big.  I have already developed a small obsession with a new matte gunmetal finish that I used on my eye/keyhole bead.  I did hearts and a smaller box version of the eye/keyhole but I am dying to do companion beads and strands in the finish that incorporate the screws and rivets from the robots.  Actually I think robots in this finish may be in order.  This is exactly how things spiral out of control for me.  This is only ONE series of beads and I could spend the entire month on it.  
So its off to the studio for me today.  I am into it but not pushing hard this last part of April but just want to put together a little head start on May production that I hope will motivate me.  I don't have any trouble WANTING to make beads but sometimes the physical aspect of sitting too long and using my hands too long takes its toll.  My other pre-"May push" task is to get my work area clean and my slips ready to roll.  Mixing ALL my colors and cleaning tip on slip bottles can be a two to three day chore so I tend to put it off as long as I can but work is so much sweeter when everything is newly prepped.  



Monday, October 28, 2013

Hoppy Halloween! Halloween Art Bead Blog Hop

Halloween is almost here and I've joined forces with some very talented bead and jewelry designers to celebrate.  There's enough eye candy for all so grab your little plastic pumpkin candy bucket and settle in.  As a special treat ( no tricks) log on to my website and enter coupon code 15BOO! for automatic 15% off Halloween jewelry.
A few of my Halloween goodies using my handmade porcelain beads.

For more Halloween fun please visit the following blogs











































And don't forget Kim Van Antwerp still has a few of our blog kits left.
Happy Halloween!



Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Dreaming of Beads

Big news!  I have had two submissions accepted to "Bead Dreams 2013"  in the handmade bead and button category.  Beads will be on display during the Bead & Button show.  Winners will be announce during the show.  This is my third Bead Dreams.  My "Mermaids and Sea Creatures" beads took first place category in 2007 and my "Bountiful Harvest" buttons were second place category in 2010.  Winning ribbons is nice but the real honor is sharing those awesome glass cases with such inspirational bead artists.  I will be exhibiting at the Bead Marketplace at Bead and Button Show , June 6-9, 2013 booth#1017.  I will again be sharing with Patti Cahill  .  Hope to see you in Milwaukee!
"Robot Party" 2013 Bead Dreams submission
"Dragonflies" 2013 Bead Dreams submission
"Mermaid and Sea Creatures" 1st Place category Bead Dreams 2007
"Bountiful Harvest" 2nd Place category Bead Dreams 2010

Wish me luck for this year!

Friday, April 5, 2013

First Friday Art Walk

At the urging of Marsha Neal , clay artist and marketer extraordinaire, I have joined the "1st Friday Art Walk"  Etsy team.  Just getting the hang of this so bear with.  To celebrate my first Art Walk I am offering a 15% discount in my Etsy Shop  during Art Walk( April 5-7) Use Coupon Code FFAWAPRIL13.  Enjoy all the treasures this team has to offer.  


Every month the AWETeam (Art Walk Etsy Team) hosts
First Friday Art Walk on Etsy.com

This is a blog hop type event where shops selling items on Etsy.com can show off their new work.
There are three hops on First Friday, all with their own blog post so you can cruise your interest in the order that you want. 

1.  AWEeam Memebers (You are here!)

This post focuses on the work of individual shop members from our Art Walk Etsy Team.
Click HERE to see our April 5-7, 2013 First Friday Art Walk thread where you can scroll and see lots of new work from our shops!

Monday, March 18, 2013

Not Much Time For Blogging Lately

As usual I have kind of dropped the ball on blogging.  Sorry Kimmie!  I had a successful trip back up North to PA to do the Berks Bead Bazaar where I also wear my promoter/floor manager hat.  Had a great time seeing family and friends and had a very profitable weekend.  Other than the 20 hour drive each way, can't beat that! If you'd like to know a little about the history of the BBB please visit "Love My Art Jewelry" and look for the March 16 post( I guest authored.)  I never did get to making jewelry with my Winter Kit and now that Spring is almost here I am totally uninspired to work with snowflakes and icicles even thought they're gorgeous. Oh well, I'll have it for next year. Beads don't go bad or in this case MELT.  I still have lots on my plate.  Entries for 1000 Bead Lark Book and Interweave's Beads 2013 issue are in. Wish me luck.  I have my Bead Dreams submission due March 26.  I know what beads I want to make I just have to buckle down and get them done for the deadline.  Planning on two sets but if I get one set done I will be happy.  Orders stacked up a bit while I was at shows( Berks was preceded by Ft. Myers Show and followed quickly by Tampa Show for Down the Street Bead Shows.) Among my orders is 70 face beads for Diane Fitzgerald's "Fingers in My Pocket Doll Pendant" class at Bead & Button. Class is sold out! Congrats Diane :)  My Etsy shop hasn't quite fallen by the wayside yet.  Still some new offerings including my new robot pendants and my re-visited bug pins(these were a favorite in my older jewelry line.)  Oh, and I crossed that line into seed beading at the Tampa show.  Jenny Shibona was my neighbor and she taught me to make the seed bead collars for my dolls.  I know super simple but now I look at bead weaving and I am tempted instead of running away screaming. I can't promise that I'll be a better blogger but I will promise that the excuses will be worthwhile. 

Saturday, November 17, 2012

It's Snowing! Winter Blog Kit is Here!

Winter Blog Kit is here!  This is my kind of snow.  Kimmie is the winter sports enthusiast but I am perfectly happy with this version of snow here in sunny Florida.   We really wanted to top the Halloween Kit and I wanted lots of little sparkly bits.  I guess whether we topped the Halloween kit is a matter of opinion but you can't deny we nailed it on "lots of little sparkly bits."  This is our second blog kit and this is how we are doing it so far.  We each contribute at least $75 worth of beads, charms, components, whatever so long as it can be used to make jewelry :)  We make 10 kits and keep one each for ourselves to work with.  The remaining 8 are offered for sale on a first come first serve basis.  Cost of kit is $100 + $3.50 S&H. That's $150+ worth of beads for $100.   If you would like a kit just comment on this blog and one of us will get back to you.

Each kit contains:     4 Hand formed soldered and hammered sterling silver snowflakes,
                               matching pair included.
                               10 micro Swarovski Crystals in pale blue
                               10 6mm  clear Swarovski roundelles
                               1 Raised slip porcelain snowflake lentil shaped focal bead
                               6 Porcelain icicle charms
                               12 Luster ice cube porcelain beads
                               15 Tiny porcelain luster stars

I have 4 of the kits here with me ready to ship.  If you are kit customer 5 through 8 please be patient.  Kim is in the middle of a move and as soon as we can coordinate we will ship those kits.

If we haven't enticed you by the sheer awesomeness of our kits,  our next job is to try them out ourselves and see what we can make with them.  Stay tuned for the finished product post.  We also love to see your results if you buy a kit.





Wednesday, October 31, 2012

I Won A Hooter Contest!

Winner of the Artisan Whimsy "Hooters Owl Challenge."  I'm so proud of my little guy.  I told him to look at folks with those big owl eyes and he'd win.  Thanks to all that voted and be sure to check out Artisan Whimsy if you haven't already.  Great source for bead and jewelry info and tutorials and just general merriment.