The Best Little Bead Box's Visit to New Jersey

Well, its been here...

and now its on its way to the next lucky participant in the group for Round 2.

What a week.....
And at the end of it all, was the joy and happiness that beads can bring to a beader - let alone a child coping with a serious illness. Perspective was found....


Read about the Best Little Bead Box's visit to New Jersey & the adventures of Courage Tiger.
He had a very important role this week !

The Best Little Bead Box Blog


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The BEST Little Bead Box !

The Best Little Bead Box has arrived in New Jersey !!!!!!

Its fresh from the doorstep.
While I wasn't home to tackle the post lady when it was delivered, I was super excited to grab a glass of wine & tear into the box of treasures.
Careful selection must be made....
I am a real sucker for some of the pieces contained inside.

I encourage everyone to read about this project.
Not only is it a tremendously FUN way to share with fellow beaders, the end result is an amazing benefit for Beads of Courage.

Please share with me as we follow the box across the US !!



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Can NEW BEADS snap you out of the winter blues? OF COURSE they can !!

This region of the country is certainly getting our share of *ick* weather this year.
It would be one thing if we received a happy amount of snow dumping on us, let us sit inside for a couple of days, then move on with it.
Unfortunately, Mother Nature does as she pleases, and we've been receiving adequately pain in the touchie amounts of snow over the last several weeks.

BUT!
There's always a bright side - right?
Nothing better to cheer you out of your cold snowy weather slump than........ NEW BEADS !!!!!
YIPPEE

Bead & Glass Boutique just received a great shipment of some new colors for your shopping pleasure:

Delica beads (11/0) in the new Duracoat finishes, and we even ordered the silver plated babies - we want to see them SHINE in your work.

Delica beads (8/0) in lots of new colors - and stay tuned a new class is coming using these beauties!

LOTS and lots of LONG MAGATAMA beads are in - you saw the bracelet on the cover of Beadwork, right?! The Dragon Bangle is a must have (see pg 74). We have lots and lots of colors to choose from - BUT - Hurry in - because I've heard from a reliable supply source that these are now so popular that he expects to sell out of the best selling colors here shortly. (*gasp*)

Keeping that issue of Beadwork in mind, page 44 has the "Brilliant Buckle Bracelet" featured. By request, we now have the colors in stock to make this exact piece. Hurry, supplies are limited on this one.


I also want to THANK all of the newest followers to the blog. Not only is it fun to share an update now & again, you'll be able to read about new projects that we're working on & mixing up for you.

Thanks readers !!


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An Interview with the sensational beader Sherry Serafini!

Lark Books Publishing posted an interview with Sherry Serafini, the beading "rockstar", known for her beautiful bead embroidery pieces.

Sherry's new book, "Sensational Bead Embroidery" is set to be released in April 2011.

Check out her interview, see a preview of some of the projects in the new book, and learn more about this rockstar!

Contact Bead & Glass Boutique to pre-order this publication - SURE TO SELL OUT!

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An advantage to having a cold?

Well, the last 6 days have posed a challenge for me. I've been forced home, taking time out of the office, and not stepping foot in the Boutique. (a big THANK YOU to my wonderful staff for holding down the fort)

I managed to catch a wicked cold during the Christmas holiday & became quite ill after the festivities settled down. I spent 3 days between sleeping in bed & sleeping on the couch. Countless fevers breaking, only to escalate again.

Then on New Years Eve, I managed to start to feel better !! Needless to say, not one to push it, I decided to saty home and forego the annual partying we always engage in. GB and I had a nice dinner together (although nothing tasted quite right), and we were home, him sleeping through the New Year's ball dropping. That was really quite OK with me. I didn't need the potential hangover after being sick.

So Saturday - I woke feeling pretty good, and I spent most of the day at the torch !! My creativity spurs all the time, I just usually don't have the time on my side to be able to dive in. This time, I felt OK, so I decided to work at the torch. Lots of little glass treasures were made - and I enjoyed every minute!

There will even be something special in the kit for our next Beader's Challenge announced this month at the Boutique!

Sunday came along, and I managed to pull out the seed beads and work on three - YES - THREE - class samples that I have been terribly behind schedule in making for January's classes at the Boutique.

Then it hit me...by Sunday night - sick again !! This time, worse than the first time around. Bah!

And today was no different - spent most of the day alternating between sleeping and coughing.

But, even through all of that, given the nature of bead embroidery (and most seed beading for that matter), you can pick up and put down whenever necessary. I managed to pick up a piece that I had been working on several weeks ago, with the Lisa Peters Art focal piece. The surface is now finished the beading, and it has been glued to its base.

If I manage to wake tomorrow feeling the same sicky-ness - I just might find myself finishing up the piece.

Over this week, I treated myself to some of the generosity of Carol Dean Sharpe of Sand Fibers. She had a generous sale for the new year on her beading patterns. I picked up four of the favorites I've been keeping my eye on for a while. Maybe I'll get some time to work on them as well.

So - forced time off to allow the body to rest...

Is there an advantage to this? I've been more creative and completed more projects in the last six days than I have in the last month or two combined !!

Somebody's trying to tell me something, eh?

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The Best Little Bead Box, Round 2

I am not only thrilled to be included in such a wonderful project, but humbled at the thought that something I contribute to will be able to provide children with valuable resources.

Please visit The Best Little Bead Box to see what all of the excitement is about!

Here's a great way to see how it all started:

And so it begins !

Proceeds from each round will be donated to Beads of Courage, a terrific organization dedicated to strengthening the protective resources in children coping with serious illness.

Sending a BIG thank you to Carol Dean Sharpe & Jennifer Van Benschoten for their creative minds working for a common wonderful cause.

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Seeing the Forest through the Trees

Well...Holiday earrings are now completely restocked at the Boutique !!

I ordered plenty of materials several weeks ago to complete the Holiday Earring task. These earrings are usually our most requested item.

Between work, teaching, and the Boutique being just busy in general, there sat the supply materials to make the earrings. As Thanksgiving came along, I started to get nervous that I still had not had time to make up the earrings.

Yesterday was my day and I called in reinforcements. Four of us sat at one of our classroom tables in the Boutique. Two to assemble the Swarovski Crystal beads onto the headpins, I did all the wire wrapping, and last but not least, one to put the earring on the earwire. Once assembly was done, those assembling were then put in charge of placing the earrings on the earring stands, preparing them for sale. It was a great little assembly line!

150 pair of Swarovski Holiday earrings are now on sparkling display - yes, that's 300 perfect little wire wraps. A variety of color options are available as well as style.

We have Christmas trees in 5 color choices, Pearl Snowmen, and Snowflake earrings.

So....with that many Christmas tree earrings produced yesterday, my vision was spent. I could hardly see the forest through the trees! But in the end - the BIG picture is Sparkling Gorgeous!

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My neglected blog......

Ah - my neglected blog

Here you sit, waiting for me, patiently.

As I always beg of my good friends - thank you for your patience, my life is a whirlwind - hence the name "Fast and Furious."

And like a good friend, here you are, waiting for my return. Thank you dear blog.

So - before the giveaway and winning announcement, I had a moment of frustration from AC Moore. That was an obvious soap box moment, and rightfully so, but also the fury in which I presented it was clearly during a time where other things going on escalated my frustration. I am not a typical public soap box ranter. Verbally, I might spout here & there, but never in BIG public - like a blog and FB - for everyone to see.

Happy to report that although life has not stopped throwing me curve balls, at least the curve balls being thrown my way are pretty good, and all opportunistic.

Several unfavorable items have been cleared up, so that's always good!

In a short reflection - I've discovered the following (and I beg you all to comment on this, I want to know if I'm just goofy - or if this is common):

When life is hitting you hard, do you feel that all of your creative energy disappears?

I've had a lot of things going on in my personal and business lives. I'd venture to say its been happening since October of last year.

Not one to spill laundry, clean or dirty, in public - let's just say, its been rather stressful & certainly busy busy.

During this period of time, I have not felt like making much of anything.

There isn't much time in my life for creativity, and when I actually feel like being creative, my furious schedule doesn't allow me to indulge as I'd like to.

Today it hit me...

I often have to go "shopping" for new material for the Boutique. Beaders (my customers) like to see NEW stuff all the time. This is what keeps them coming back. So in my recent week of restocking & searching for the newest materials, something sparked in me!

This morning, as I emerged from a sleepy state of mind, I was immediately hit with the creative bug!

Visions of big gemstone pendants, cabs, and of all things - bead embroidery filled my morning.

So, since this blog was originally designed to jot down ideas as they happen - here goes:

• Next in store beader's challenge will likely begin in January with a Valentine's Day theme.
• I have a vision of another bead embroidered cuff using a Lisa Peters button, already selected, and a variety of neutrals in: dark brown, bronze, light topaz, sage green, and a coppery green.
• Embellishing a simple right angle weave bangle with more heavy metal seed beads (thank you for the inspiration, Shelley Nybakke!)
• and perhaps next time I have a day off, instead of worrying about how clean my floor is, I will venture back to the worktable and cut up some of that copper, aluminum, and nickel silver sheet I ordered 2 months ago.
• last but not least - my torch is calling !!!! It misses me. I need to return to my glass.

So there you have it - the reason the blog started, and now a REAL post for creativeness.

Of course, my business life just called and it wants its 20 minutes back....

But too bad. These were for ME

:)

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WINNER WINNER!! I couldn't believe it.

So....
The most recent blog post I made was regarding Carol Dean Sharpe's give away on her Blog.

Well, lo and behold - I won the grand prize.
And I can't tell you how thrilled I am - you really made my day !

So - Thank you CD for being so generous !!
While I still can't decide on bead colors, you certainly have given me something to think about - to destress & keep my mind off other current happenings in life.

Your bead gift will mean more than you know!

Please take a moment to visit Carol Dean Sharpe's blog, and of course her Etsy shop where you can find all kinds of original beaded items & tutorials to make great pieces !!


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AC Moore Boycott - Warning, RANT, Straight Ahead

Its not often I jump on a soapbox for all to hear about my distaste about something.
And if you know me well enough, you know I lost the filter that's supposed to cover my mouth from opinions exiting it a LONG time ago!
BUT - trying to keep on the positive side of life, I keep most things nominally public, just verbally venting & then forgetting.

However, tonight's episode set me off.

Let's clear things up from the get go.
I own a bead store.
Therefore, as far as I am concerned, there is only one place on earth for people to buy beads. (hee hee)
From Bead & Glass Boutique, Pitman, NJ.
Also note: I do not buy beads from AC Moore. Yet, I do not judge those that do.
Clear? OK - let's move on!

Step 1:
I recently dove head first into metal forging. (Thank you Lisa Niven Kelly & Lisa Peters Art - its all your fault for too much inspiration to keep me contained.)
In the last two weeks I've managed to obtain the following tools:
2 full sets of letter/number stamps, dapping block set, disc cutters, fat max cutters, 1 lb brass hammer, 2 lb brass hammer, 9-in-1 texturing hammer, several sheets of raw metal, a package of fine steel wool, lots of other new tools I can't recall, and countless nights with an ice pack for my over-used wrists.
I've also acquired probably 2 dozen pieces of LPA in the past month to use in this new foray.
Last but not least, I've purchased half a dozen books to learn the "how-to's" of metal; from cold connections, forging, forming, heating, annealing, and riveting.
I do nothing lightly, but this time I feel like I've skid in sideways, 90 MPH and picked up a TON of knowledge in a very short period of time.

ONE thing I did not find in any of my tool purchases....but the "book" told me I needed to have:
An eyelet setter (commonly found in the scrap-booking section of craft stores)
Oh yeah - and the eyelets to go with said eyelet setter....

Step 2:
AC Moore - what we here on the east coast refer to as a semi-big-box craft store.
AC Moore is celebrating their 25th Anniversary this week (my goodness, I don't know how they made it to the 25th!?).
AC Moore published a 50% off one item coupon for this week only.
(hey - we all love a discount)
Now, I wouldn't be caught red handed buying beads from AC Moore, that's just not cool to be seen doing that as a bead shop owner in the area.
Therefore, I planned on using my 50% off trusty coupon for that "eyelet setter" that can commonly be found in the scrap-booking section of local craft stores.

Step 3:
Have a nice dinner with fiancee.
Head to AC Moore to save money on eyelet setter with 50% off coupon.
Arrive 30 minutes prior to close of store. (plenty of time)
First (and only planned stop): Scrapbook section - all 4 1/2 aisles of it.
With little effort - found several eyelet setter options...Pick one.
With a LOT of effort, can't find eyelets.
With a LOT of effort, finally find store associate for assistance...(here's where it gets boycotted...pay attention)

ME: Hello, I'm sorry to bother you, but I have one quick question regarding an item in your scrap-booking section
(I thought I'd make it easy & narrow it down)
ASSociate: *audible sigh* Yes?
ME: I've managed to locate this eyelet setter, however I can't seem to find the eyelet packages that might accompany this product
ASSociate: (wait for it.......) *second audible sigh*
ME (apologetic): I understand you're nearing a close, but I've been searching for about 10 minutes without any luck.
ASSociate: If we have them, they're in the scrap-booking section.
ME: thinking to self....(hmmm...no shit)
ME: Well, you've been most helpful - have a great night.

INSERT SIDE NOTE: If I ever overheard any of my staff treating a customer as such, they'd be fired on the spot.

Grabbed a package of RIT dye for my bead embroidery projects because dammit - I'm going to save 50% off something!
With full plans to abandon eyelet setter purchase at checkout...
V-Lined for checkout...

ME: Hi - I have a quick question. I have this nice eyelet setter from your scrap-booking section. However, I can't seem to find the eyelets to go with it (giving 2nd chance)
2nd Associate: Hmmm...I don't know much about scrap-booking, not sure what an eyelet is. But let me get "Lennie," she knows everything.
ME: OK !! Thanks
............
Lennie arrives, staring blankly @ me.
ME: Hi Lennie, (repeat question)
Lennie: Oh yes. We stopped carrying the eyelets about 3 months ago.
ME: Hmmm. Lennie, so you're telling me that you sell eyelet setters (four types to be exact), but no eyelets?
Lennie: Yes.
ME: Lennie, can you tell me how many eyelet setters you've sold in the last three months? (here comes the logical me making a quiet scene).
Lennie: I'm really not sure.
ME: I'm going to bet none. And you know, I'm not going to buy this one either.
(poor Lennie, so not her fault...)

PURCHASE ABANDONED.

Original Planned purchase: $39.99 x 50% off = about $20 + full priced eyelets in several sizes - BUT THEY DON'T HAVE THEM

ACTUAL PURCHASE: $2.50
Rit dye = $4.99 x 50% off


Reason for boycott:
This is the 2nd time I've had a similar customer service experience at AC Moore, Deptford, NJ.

Besides, there's only one place to find beads anyway - Bead & Glass Boutique, Pitman, NJ.
Guess I'm going to start carrying ALL that other stuff myself !

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Recover & Recap

Let us recap, shall we?
Last we left off, I was headed to BeadFest Philly to do some browsing, a little shopping, network with instructors, and just have an all out "me" time for beads - three full days planned !

Well - don't forget, I have a "more than full time career" (not beading) that typically gets in the way and this time, it did not disappoint.
I was notified just a few days before BeadFest began that I would be audited the following week. Not IRS audit (my gosh!) but an annual inspection. Its not a BIG deal, as everything is usually in good order, but the last year has been a .... um ..... (thinking nice ways to put this) - "Topsy-Turvy, Tired of Moving Things Around" Life.
So when inspection is announced, its time to put things in their correct places.

*sigh*
Yes, that meant my three day, overnight with friends, beading & shopping weekend was now cut back to a day and a half.

That did two things - it forced me to rush around with an attempt at efficiency (which I'm used to) and it probably saved me a lot of money - HA!

I ended up with a BIG order from a BIG supplier that I had shipped back to the Boutique.
- Lots of Crystals - can we have enough? Lemme answer that - NO!
- A 2 lb brass hammer with a few random blanks (for me!)
- A small assortment of this season's gemstones - we don't need another gemstone, I have boxes waiting to be sold off. Before it was seed beads, it was a gemstone addiction

But more importantly - I kept my promise to myself!
I did my best attempt to network with some of the "celebrity beaders" and speak to them about potentially teaching in NJ at Bead & Glass Boutique !

I met lots of really nice, genuinely happy to be speaking with me people.
There are BIG possibilities for next year - and heck, if we can get them here this year - well - YAY !!!

And....Just for me - I bought lots of kits ! I'm at that stage of beading that I just don't want to say to people, "I can figure that out." I really have declared, "Just show me." Ah! That's liberating - and SO much easier!
I have kits from Jill Wiseman, Shelly Nybakke, Lisa Niven Kelly, and Glenda P., and AWESOME instructions from Leslie Rogalski.
I can't wait to get something fun finished - just for me.


We also just received our shipment of Miyuki's new TILA beads !
OH EM GEE !!! The possibilities with these little beauties are endless !
If you enjoy working with seed beads - these are an absolute MUST have. In all 30 colors of course :)

Here's a photo of an "in progress" Tila Bead project:



This is a modification from a graphic only pattern supplied by the Miyuki company themselves.
I plan on making the wheel a centerpiece for a bracelet.
More to follow!


Oh - and that pesky audit ?
The best, most clean audit the examiner/auditor has ever done. Not a single item out of place.

Babies were all tucked into the nest! (really, would you expect anything less?)

+ 1 for Amy


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A fellow artist in need

My goodness. The photo is devastating. Such a tragic event, I'm sure.

Kimberly Wilcox recently lost her studio to an electrical fire.
I learned of this from Lori Anderson's Blog today.

The good news is that the artist community is reaching out to help Kimberly!

First and foremost - go donate anything you can. Yes, even $1 will help, I'm sure.

Then visit Lori's blog and Fire Phoenix Creations for giveaways associated with the donation process.

You can read the original story on the Daily Art Muse.


Photo of the studio


Share this with your friends: on your own blog, on Facebook, by email.
Pull together to help a fellow artist rebuild her livelihood.

Reflections Due to a Shopping List

I've been a Bead-Addict since December of 2003.
Not ashamed, in fact, I'd wear that shirt if I had one.

By the middle of 2004, I had opened an online store and started sharing my quantity finds with the rest of the world.
eBay was my stomping ground & I have met and made a ton of great friends and connections.
When the time was right, I opened a retail brick & mortar bead store, Bead & Glass Boutique.
The space was rented in November 2007 & we actually opened the doors to the eager public in February 2008.

The time between finishing the interior renovations and the actual opening of the Boutique was a Bead-Addict's DREAM.
"Permissible bulk bead buying"

I digress......
Prior to having a brick & mortar space, I was a trade show hunter.
Armed with my bottles of water, energy bar, sneakers (regardless of outfit), hair in a ponytail, a cool backpack with wheels, my top-spiral bound pad of paper, pen, calculator, an unsuspecting credit card that didn't know it was about to get slammed, and my resale certificate.
- I'd drive to every show in the area. Most of the hunted treasures were geared for resale.
- I worked closely with the vendors, negotiating real wholesale pricing, not just the pricing you get when you show a tax certificate.
- Other shoppers would look at me as if I were absolutely insane. Why would one person need hundreds of strands of gemstones? Full bowls of sterling silver toggles? and have the full attention of the booth owner?
- I'd keep what I wanted to play with & the rest would soon hit the eBay virtual shelves.
- I'd take a class, maybe two. One year, I took 6 classes. (I must have felt rich that year)
- I got to know my vendors well. Spending time in their booth shopping, chatting with their other customers, even booth-sitting while they needed a break.

Once I'd returned home, prior to allowing myself to play in the treasure pile, my business hat went on.
Everything was sorted, counted, and priced out based on cost.
The next couple of days was a massive amount of hovering over a tripod taking photos (oh my back ached!), editing photos, and making the listing for eBay.
Countless hours were spent on shamless promotion in eBay groups - sharing the newest treasures with others in the hopes they'd have to have it too !!
And they did !
They clicked and they bought ..... a lot.
Nights became longer as the packing & shipping was time consuming.
Lost sleep was just something I got used to - and for a LONG time, didn't mind one bit!
My venture was successful.

Bear in mind I also have a full time professional career, one that carries a tremendous amount of responsibility, accountability, and integrity.
Hence, the marketing, promotion, packing, shipping, etc was all done between the hours of 8pm and 1am.
OMG you say? Yes...OMG - I was a bit out of my mind.
But...
They clicked, they bought, I packed, I shipped, I power-shopped again.

Three years into this cycle, I tired out. The long nights were wearing at me.
It was time to wind it down. Then my fiancee offered to help.
With both of us being entrepreneurial in spirit, we had discussions about expanding this venture & actually making this a real place to shop.
Found a location, did our homework, rented space and almost 3 years later, here we are...


How time and perspective changes everything.......

Let's fast forward to present day.
There is a retail trade show coming to the Greater Philadelphia area (King of Prussia) this week.
This show starts today & runs through Sunday!
It is a retail bead shopper's heaven.
(It is NOT a true wholesale show.)

The difference a few years makes as my bead days have evolved:
- I still attend this show every year.
- I don't buy from vendors there like I used to, as I've now established wholesale accounts with BIG suppliers.
- I don't usually take classes there, although there are some I'd like to sit in on. There's a time factor involved.
- When I find something new that I'd like to carry, I still have negotiations to work out with the booth owner.
- I still wear sneakers, bring the wheeled backpack, lots of water.
- I now also wear an IPod in my ears to avoid having to deal with the massive crowds that for some reason are no longer appealing.
- And from time to time, when it hits me, I power-shop.

So as I prepare my visit to the epic event in this area for bead-addicts alike, I too, still make a shopping list & highlight the vendors I need to see.

This year, I also would like to establish IRL connections with some of the celebrity beaders I've gotten to know a little on Facebook in recent months.
I would like nothing more than to bring them into the Boutique for lessons with our customers !
So I'll put it out there to Jill Wiseman, Shelley Pleines Nybakke, Leslie Rogalski, and Lorelei Eurto -I hope to see you, even if to just say HI. Of course, if conversation turns business, I'm always up for new opportunities!

This year's visit includes restocking some elements that I will only pick out by hand.
I'm also going to stop by some of the metal specialist vendors and pick up where I left off with my personal journey into metals.
And last but not least, a visit to ABR for some fun new glass supplies !!

So...time tells the truth of changing habits.
Onward & upward

BeadFest - here we come!

Now you know why I titled this the Fast & Furious Beader.... Is anything ever done in a normal pace?
:)


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More fun flower beads

This is a quick & dirty shot while they were patiently waiting to be cleaned...

There is another one from this batch - but he/she must have been hiding in the soaking tub. Perfect Autumn colors (pumpkin orange, light topaz, medium topaz, burnt red sienna) - so pretty!

One was broken (top center), and I won't go into HOW...but let's just say some people need to keep their hands off of things that don't belong to them!

The lower right, pink & lime green was "spoken for" until she changed her mind, three times.

So now these will all be in the Boutique for public viewing! :)
Along with their little friends that coordinate for your jewelry making designs.

(Unless I get to them first & make necklaces and earrings, etc...)

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The Art of Zentangle, Opening up Creativity

I'm a believer living in the house of "everything happens for a reason." Be it good or not so good - its happening because its supposed to.

A couple of weeks ago, I stumbled across a random happenstance.
I don't even remember how I found them, but I'm sure it was an internet "down the rabbit hole" trick.

Here's my discovery:
Zentangle is a form of doodling with random repeating patterns (if its even possible to be random yet repeating).
Its really neat !
At first, I wanted to dive in & buy all the fun pens and paper that make your doodles everlasting.
Noooo...Reel it in.
I used plain paper & the stinkiest marker I could find.
(now I know why they recommend those good pens - I'm sure those fancy pens won't give you a headache!)

So - I drew my first few over the last couple of days.
A partially completed page shown below...

Am I feeling more ZEN? No.
Am I good at it...haa haaa - NO.
But I learned that it will take your mind off of any stressful moment you're having!
And to get a good pen that doesn't have stinky ink & won't bleed through your plain paper.

I did realize that if you're having any kind of creativity block - this might be the way to bust out of that slump.
NO rules, just draw !!

(and for all of you OCD fans, caution....)

Doodle away!





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New Beads & Back to Fabric !

Sneak peek at some of the cutie pie beads I made over the weekend


Now just need to get some daylight hours where I'm not glued to a desk to go get some bright pics !
Want to guess which one I'm keeping for myself? hmmmm???







With a full work schedule & a busy schedule in the Boutique, I really only get decent time to torch on declared days off from the shop. So this last batch of beads might be it for a few weeks.

So....

Now I'm back to the fabric for embroidery!
Remember those pieces I said I still had to cut apart & sew them together after I fused the interfacing to them?
Well, an energy drink super charge kept me up late last night, so I did come cutting & sewing!
Today I started actually stitching beads to the fabric.
I'm really excited to see how it turns out. The little flowers are so stinkin' cute !
Will get "photo journal" of pics as I go - will share soon!

OK - kitty snoozing, fiancee already went to bed. Time for beading !!
But just a little - no more late night energy drink buzzes! (oy!)


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Week "Off" Condensed Version

My so-called self-declared week off turned out to be a little bit of week off, and a little bit of the things you're not supposed to be doing when you are "Off."

Rule #1 - do not answer the office phone, or check voicmail, email, etc. (Fail)
Rule #2 - do not book client appointment (Fail)
Rule #3 - keep your compulsive self out of your office, the paperwork will wait (Fail...really failed)
Rule #4 - do not go to the Boutique and expect not to work (Semi-Fail, after all, I do not consider the Boutique as actual work most days)

All in all, though, I have to say, I think I did pretty - OK - for not leaving the country. (the only way to really get away)

I took a class in the Boutique with one of our guest instructors. She taught a beautiful Scalloped Pearl bracelet that uses 4mm Swarovski Pearls & 11/0 Delica or Treasure beads. Since it has a magnetic clasp (gasp!) - Voila! Now its reversible. I LOVE LOVE this bracelet!

Spent three sessions at the torch - two good long ones, and one abbreviated one. The shortened session had a lot to do with the frustration of copper foil & glass. Grrrr. Then I remembered the "trick" that John Winter taught in a class I sat in several years ago. I just needed patience, and apparently enamel, of which I had neither that day. HA!
Results coming soon - they've been cleaned, just need pics. Some are just really too cute!

Spent one day sweating like crazy while I moved boxes and boxes of things out of our old house. We're finally nearing having it rented out, so its time to get all of our remaining treasures out of there! While moving isn't my thing, there is something about purging old things that makes you feel good. No remorse - I haven't seen or used some of the leftover things that are in that house for year. Lots of it went straight into the trash or to the good will pile. Time to lighten up in life :)

Had a great lunch out with two girlfriends, laughing, chatting, and dumping life stories on each other - that's what friends are for!! Thanks ladies !!

Had a nice night out with GB and friends at a the Auburn Road Winery. It was a really beautiful night outside & the atmosphere is just so quaint. Nice place & they have a few good wines to sample too! Noted, however, next time - bring dinner with you - #1, its allowed & encouraged, #2 - they don't offer much on Saturday nights. Cheese & a baguette just wasn't enough to soak up the good wine.

Hence, the day after was spent lounging and watching movies.

So, all in all, a decent "week off."

Now I just want a real week off to truly recharge, relax, and get a tan (ok, burn) but try to get a tan.


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ETSY and Etching

So I decided now that I actually have something handcrafted to share, I'd repopulate my Etsy shop !!
You can see it here:
Amy's ETSY

I've started to slowly get some of my lampwork beads listed for sale there. So go check it out!

In my most recent torch session, I remembered I also LOVE to etch some of my glass beads.
(How on earth could I have forgotten that? I dunno - but I did!! )
In my box of supplies for lampwork bead making, I found my bottle of Etch All.
It was like a 3 year old at Christmas!

Ran upstairs to where the most recent batch of baked beads was soaking in a soapy water bowl, rinsed them all off, dried well...and inspected.
Carefully selected only the ones that I know need to be etched.
Funny how none of them screamed to be etched until I became aware that I still had a bottle (and folks, not just a bottle - a BIG bottle) of Etch-All. The kind that will likely last me for the next 5 years of beadmaking (if I don't take any more hiatuses.)
Then they were practically jumping out of the bowl to be etched.

15 minutes later - yes, I set the timer on the stove - they were lightly surfaced etched & gave them just enough velvety feel that it was time to pour nasty brown liquid gold back into its BIG bottle & seal up for next time.
All were rinsed, patted, and permitted to dry until they were inspected again.

Bead Velvet Heaven!

Now to turn them into sets....

Get over to ETSY & see what the velvet fuss is all about!


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Into the Swing of Things?

Today at 12pm begins my first self-declared week OFF from my full time career job in over 4 years. Not sick time, not scheduled moving time - actual "ok - I'm not answering the phone now"-OFF
YAY me!
I'm self employed, on many levels, and really don't get a day OFF from anything unless there is a real dire reason. I work 7 days a week, long hours.
Therefore, at 12pm, I have decided to turn my office phone to vaca mode.

I then plan on heading to the Boutique to sit in on a class that I'd love to take from one of my guest instructors.
However, then I'm hanging out as tonight is one of Pitman's Fourth Friday events.

But a day filled with Beads - I'll take it !!

So - onto the stuff I've been doing (ok, well, thinking about)...

Statement: I really do not like ironing.
I would rather scrub all the toilets in my house than iron one stinkin' piece of clothing. Which leads to a real problem when you read my post about Joann Fabrics and fusible interfacing. It means I have to actually bust out said iron & use it to fuse the fusible interfacing to the totally awesome quarter of fabric I bought. (bah !)

So yesterday, my lovely fiancee, in his morning rush, asks me to iron his shirt for the workday ahead. Um......I guess so...
Then I remembered that in order to start actually working on the intended project for this great fabric & that fusible interfacing, I have to start by actually fusing it together - which needs an IRON.
NOW - that's incentive! Finish dress shirt & then get to experiment with the new stuff I have !

Looked it up online, then read the instructions that came wrapped up with the fusible interfacing. Followed instructions (I think).
Lo and behold - great fabric is fused to backing !!!!!!
AWESOME!
Now to cut apart components & start re-stitching them together with - well....BEADS !


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You Know You're a Beader When....

The start of this blog was because I wanted a place to jot down quick ideas (or full blog snippets) that I was afraid I'd lose in my fast lane called life. I will always do my best to keep these pages upbeat & fun.

However...I must share what's been up the last few days.

There was a horrible tragic car accident 1/3 mile from where I live. The impact was so strong that I heard it & knew something was terribly wrong, without knowing it was even a car accident. I can't describe it here, other than the sound would numb you. Seeing the aftermath from a distance & knowing more about the young woman involved, it has completely zapped me of any potential creativity I might have had flowing.
I feel just terrible for her family, she was so young.
If you are a friend of mine on Facebook, and want to read more, I have a couple of articles posted.

SO - since I won't be beading tonight - I am trying to cheer myself into a positive rest of my week.
Mama needs her spunk back!
Let's do something fun!
Inspired by a newsletter feature in my local bead society -

Share with me, if you will, your stories of "You Know You're a Beader When....."

GO!


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