Updates ahoy!

There are plenty of times that I sit here and think, "What could I possibly blog about? What could I say that anyone would want to read?" I find that this is a common question among bloggers, one that a person asks themselves at least once in their blogging "career". As for me? I think I've found the point where I'm just going to blog.

I have a lot of places that I write. A journal for my band musings, a journal for my life... and a journal for my creative endeavors. This journal has been neglected many, many times and I hope that said neglect does NOT continue.

Photo taken from Megan's shop listings

Today? Today I talk about the amazingness that is a dear friend of mine. Megan owns The Peacock Shop out here in Colorado and also is the owner of an amazing etsy shop.

Megan is down to earth, creative and has this wonderful and amazing fascination for shiny things. Swarovski crystals can be found in almost every single item she makes or sells. Her color choices have the ability to make customers drool. She is an incredibly helpful woman when it comes to teaching as well. I can't tell you how many times I've gone to her, asking for help and teaching. She always smiles and offers her help without batting an eyelash.

She makes some amazing bindis, for the bellydancer in all of us.

I suggest you check her out!

Her Jewelry on Etsy
Supplies on Etsy
The Peacock Shop (in Denver)

Days and Days

The torching is coming along. I think I'm back in the hang of it. As for jewelry making, it can be hard to sit there and stare at so many things and know exactly what you're doing. I call this over exposure. Often times I have to hide things from my sight so I'm not overwhelmed. It isn't easy I have to admit.
In that same vein, I find so many things that I can no longer use. Jewelry supplies that just don't fit into my theme any longer. What do I do with those you ask? Why I add them to my etsy destash shop. I'll be adding more over the next few days, so if you're in the market for new beads and supplies keep your eyes peeled!

Diversify - Blog It!

"What are the different ways you diversify your business? Most of us sell online, but what other ways do you contribute to your bottom line? Blog it!" -Flaming Hot.

This is an interesting question for me. I started in the jewelry side of things, making jewelry for over 4 years. I started using lampwork in my pieces and then eventually began making the glass beads instead of buying them. That is the beginning of my diversity.

When it comes to bead making, I'm still learning. I'm still trying to accomplish a perfectly formed bead each time. My focus is more on color and shape than design and so my beads aren't terribly unique.

My sales venues change yearly. My online venues are always the same. My website and Etsy. Every year I try to do at least 5 shows in person. From home shows to art and craft shows. I find that selling face to face is the easiest because buyers like to touch the piece and see the colors in person.

Announcing......

LEST is having a sale starting on April 1st. Members will have items in their shops on sale for 10-20% through April 7th.

Shop the LEST sale now!

(Or just search for "lestsale" on Etsy.)

LEST

I'd like to announce the new Street Team that I'm a part of on Etsy. The Lampwork Etc. Street Team! It's full of lampworkers of all shapes and sizes that make beads, pendants and hot glass things of all shapes and sizes! We have a Flickr Group, and you can find us on Etsy by searching "Lest". Amazing work, go look for yourself.

With the beginning of the new year comes the resolutions... Unless you're me. I try not to do resolutions, I don't want to have to guilt trip myself to do something.
This year I've decided that I'm going to destash like crazy. I have a ton of beads and findings that still need new homes. You know what that means! Etsy! I've started adding even more stuff to my destash shop.
I encourage you all to go take a gander. :)

Back in the... saddle?

What I'm meaning to say is that I'm back in the swing of things. I officially have all of my current pieces photographed and re-sized (insert a giant YAY here!) and I'm working on the rest of the odds and ends today. The goal is to have the site fully updated for the 23rd. I can't wait!!!
On the creative front, I made a few pairs of earrings and a new cell phone charm the other day. Can I just tell you all, it felt so darn good! I missed all of that in my rut. I think that my muse took a trip to Venus or something. She just would not cooperate with me! Talk about stressful times!
I'm still destashing like crazy though. I have so many unloved beads that really need to find new homes! With the Holidays coming up I'm hoping that destashing and listing items in my site and etsy are going to be a really big help.

Speaking of Etsy, this Friday- the 23rd EtsyBEAD is having a Thanksgiving Sale! Over 50 shops are participating. Look here for a list of participants!

Been Busy

I admit, I've been slacking. Fall is just not a very good time for me I guess. I apologize for "abandoning" you all, my readers.
I bring wonderful news though! For many months I have been dreaming of kilns and torches and many many lampwork beads. This weekend the first stage will be done. I am getting a kiln. I know that it should go studio, torch, kiln. I have to tell you all though, this is a deal and I just can not pass it up. Hopefully with a kiln of my own I will quickly get my torch within the month. Then I turn to studio space. The plan is the garage. That means we have to clean it out and re-do everything. I'm a bit worried about that- as I want to start right away. I suppose I should practice patience more often. It's terribly hard though!
I have been uploading more supplies on etsy, to try and finance my new addiction. I've also added two new pieces to my main etsy shop. After that, I start on my website again. I just uploaded these earrings into the mix:
I hope you are all having amazing days. Enjoy the fall!

Loving lampwork

For the longest time, all I used in my creations was silver and gemstones. Recently I've started using artisan glass, or lampwork as some call it. (I do too!) I have to say that not only am I in love with making beads I'm also in love with using them. I've found some amazing hot glass artisans that make me drool over their beads without trying, and I love using their work in my pieces.

The first I have to talk about is Melissa at Inner Realm Creations. Melissa is an amazing woman with an eye for design and color that makes me green with envy. You can find her designs on Ebay as well as Etsy. She's incredibly creative and uses a ton of color in her pieces. One of my most favorite one of her sets is to the left. She uses a lot of sterling mesh and wire too.


Secondly, Gail of Beadles.de. Gail really has an outlook on beads that I can only call "neat" because there isn't another word to describe it. Her designs are very different, she often uses the stars in the sky to inspire her. She can be found on her website as well as Ebay.



My third artist that I have to sing the praises of tonight is Steve Rhoades of Bokamo Designs. I had the pleasure of meeting Steve and his wife at the past Bead Renaissance show in Denver and he was amazing to talk with. Steve uses Boro (or Borosilicate) glass to create amazing beads. You can find his designs on the Bokamo Designs website.

Talk Like A Pirate Day!

Ahoy, me maties!
It be talk like a pirate day, and ye better be talkin' like a pirate! Savvy?
As fer yer Captain of the shiny, I be cooking up some terrible plans. Me crew is on shore leave, which allows me the quiet to plot. I suggest ye keep a weather eye on the horizon, as I've plundered much booty from ships that cross me path.

Arrrr.

(Brought to you by Talk Like A Pirate Day)

In The Process

I reciently started separating my jewelry from the beads and findings that I'm selling. The task is going to be a tedious one, but I'm up for the challenge. I've started shifting everything from my main account to my supply account. I'm still having my two dollar or less sale as well. In the next week I'll be adding more supplies to the shop, hopefully others can find inspiration in things that I had hoped to one day use!

I'd also like to announce that as well as being part of EtsyBEAD I'm now a part of EarthPath Artisans (or EAST). Summersea says it nicely, so I'll quote her: "We are a team of people who walk similar alternative spiritual paths, focusing our beliefs in the world of Nature. Our team membership encompasses different Goddess-based traditions, as well as Taoism, Buddhism and similar paths. Our shops are as diverse as our membership. We are not limited to selling only items representing our spiritual path, but also create to make your everyday world a better and more interesting place."

I look forward to creating unique items with the inspiration that I receive from both etsy street teams.

Lost my mind

If any of you have read my blog before, you know I have a shop on Etsy that I sell my surplus supplies on. I will admit, I lack patience. That and I'm tired of seeing all of these lonely beads! So I've started re-pricing them all for two dollars or under. Yes, you read right. I'm letting things go at a STEAL because I want to see someone else use them since I can't.
I have 78 different items or sets of items at $2, on Etsy!

Shocked

You never realize how many things you collect as an artist and designer until you being to go through your "stash". I've been doing such reciently and let me tell you, it's scary! I've found so many beads that I'd forgotten about even. So I decided, I plan on working with newer materials soon, and I don't want these to go to waste as I'm sure they will if I don't use them right away. What that means? Why, de-stash them on etsy! So that's what I've started doing. Looking back, I should have started a shop only for de-stashing but I suppose that hindsight is always 20/20. Perhaps I'll do that after I sell everything that is currently in the shop. If you're interested, here is my etsy shop. Lots and lots of beads and findings for sale!

I've also banned myself from the studio until I get all of the photos I've taken edited and resized so I can update both etsy and my website. It's a pain, because my light box is home made and we reciently found out that it is not white, it's off white and has a yellow tint! It's very frustrating to me because we found this out after I took photos of all of my inventory. I do mean all. Oh well, photoshop takes care of the problem. It just takes a bit longer, a bit of color correction and the exposure tool. I sometimes wonder if I should swear by the exposure tool! It brightens the whole photo, so if you lack enough light it definitely helps create good photos.

(I edited the photo to the upper right with exposure in photoshop. Items pictured can be found on my website)

Rut

I'm kind of in a rut today. I know that I *want* to bead. I sit here and look at my beads.... and I just stare. I continue to sit and nothing comes to mind. For any of you that have experienced this, you know how frustrating it is and can be.
I have my music going, all of my pretties are out and calling to me- am I still inspired even though I can't seem to do anything? That is always the question that plagues me. I should push through it, force myself to make something, anything. I never do.
So I decided to take a few photos of pieces that I've made, and I think that I'll try to force myself to edit them so I can put them on the site. Ah yes, the most boring part of making jewelry!

I leave you with some of my etsy favorites:

Etsy Buy Handmade silverfaeriedesigns

Enjoy!

First Post

Here I am on Blogger. What a wonderful thing it is. I've busied myself tonight with creating a blog and three new pieces, never mind that I haven't updated the over 200 pieces that need to go onto my website. The newest pieces include amethyst, lampwork beads by the lovely SueBeads . I love the beads that I got from her to use and have used 5 tonight. I'm very tempted to keep the bracelet for myself, it has lampwork paired with Swarovski crystal and onyx beads. So scrumptious!
I'm also still in the middle of selling off my surplus of supplies and beads that I no longer have use for. You can find them over at my etsy shop. I hate to part with them, but I'd rather see them go to someone that will use them as opposed to hoarding them for my possible future use. Your gain! So if you're looking for some more beads, head on over there and take a look!