Bead Weaving is BACK Baby!

Well Show season is pretty much done for me, so like always at this time of the year, I start reflecting on what's next artistically.  

I also clean out my photo files -- and since this year I've been absolutely rotten on posting to my blog, I have a bunch of pics to catch up on.

I actually started my jewelry journey by seed bead weaving over 25 years ago, on a loom.  Then on to off loom techniques like brick stitch and peyote.

A couple of years later, I started to string, then I started to do metal working... etc.  Now my main line is recycled materials. 

During all the years I worked on weaving, and on occasion since, I've bought seed beads in multitudes of shapes and sizes.  

Nothing beats seeds beads for adding pops of color.  I miss weaving, and I seriously have 1400 + different seed beads just begging to be played with in the studio.

  

Sometime in 2013 (? ) a new wave of seed beads came out, or rather 2-hole shaped glass beads made to be used with seed beads.  

Sometime in late 2019 I had to buy a few to play with - even if I've not really done anything with weaving in over 10 years.  

I know that seems a long time to "discover" something that's been out for years, but at this point I rarely bought beads, as I only use them here and there with my Mechanical Romance line.  Once in a while I would string up some bracelets or earrings just for fun, but like seed beads, I have THOUSANDS of them in the studio.  Buying beads, when I rarely use them, is wasteful.  

 I'd stopped buying bead magazines, and when i ordered supplies it was mostly findings.  It's hard for me to resist buying beads, so I made it a point not to hit regional shows or bead stores much.  When I did, I would buy some, enjoy looking at them, maybe pop out a quick pair of earrings and then store them away. 

 In the past few years I've actually concentrated on destashing my beads, cause it's crazy even for bead-hording me to have so much "stuff" without actually using them!

So anyway, for Christmas in 2019 I bought a few Ginkos', Tila's, crescents, Super-duo's, etc to experiment with.

There are over 100 different types of these specialty beads now, btw.  Check out this link to see some pictures of the different beads available.

I adore playing with these beads!! and I have an excuse to play around with seeds again.    All the pics in the posts are pieces I've made in the last 10 or so months.  It's truly a joy to get back to where I started, but with a new twist.

 I have to hold myself back and not go too nuts on buying them, since there are seriously thousands of different 2-hole shaped beads out there, between the type, colors and finishes.  This is still a business after all.  For items I sell, I'm sticking to quick to make.  And these beads are expensive.  But I'm having sooo much fun with them, and it's such a pleasure and life is too short not to do what makes you happy.

I have had such a good year with sales this year, you can bet I'll be buying more beads to play with in the near future.  And you will see the end results in my booth!

 

 

The Picker Knows ! See me in Life-saver row case 215!

All of these are currently at Pickers!

 

So Last week I rented a case at a local antique mall, The Picker Knows .  I"m going to use 1/2 of the case to sell jewelry during the winter months when I'm show-less, and the rest to sell antiques and odds bits.  At least that's the plan.

I've been signed up on a couple of different store's waiting list, and one became open and I had a very narrow window to get it set up (read less than 24 hrs).  

it's a start.... 

Life is beyond busy and complicated right now, so I had about 2 hours to pull stuff together just to get it started... I've got more stuff rounded up and I'm taking it in tomorrow.  

 

Ready to go for the next adventure to Pickers! 

I am hoping that every couple of weeks - if not weekly! I'll visit my little store in a store and keep working on improving the display and rotating items for sale.

I'm making it a goal to keep you all posted in blog-land and Facebook.  Even if you are not looking for jewelry, jewelry jars or the "odd bits" I'll present,  you should stop by Pickers and have a look-see.  Its a very well run mall, and Jerry and I always find interesting stuff there.  

If you want to stop by and see my jewelry... I"m really easy to find! 

Turn left as you enter the building, look up, and you will see an orange Life preserver hanging from the ceiling.  That's my row ! Turn right at that orangy circle and I'm the 2nd to the last case to the right.  My case # is 215.

The big orange donut to guide your way! 

Actually this Friday would be a fine time to check it out... they are having their Annual Lamplight event 7-10pm 

they turn off the main lights, and you get to shop via lamps! How kewl is that! Some of the vendors come out in costume and candy is handed out to the kids.  Extra discounts can be had at some booths/ cases.  Jerry and I work til 6 so I doubt I will do much more than maybe a fun hat, but still.... I'm looking forward to it!   

 

time to paint

experimenting with alcohol inks on tiles.

We try to have family night once a week, currently it's usually Wednesday.  Sometimes it's gaming, or puzzles or just watching TV.  Sometimes we get creative as a family.  We've tried pottery, which is great, and playing around other crafty bits, but the family favorite is acrylics.  I blame my sister.  In a good way! 

a dragon hanging out on a rock -by me

We like it enough that we now have a small stash of paint, sketch books, artsy brushes and canvases stockpiled, so when ever the mood strikes we can just lay down a tarp and go to town.

this is my sisters, she's way good!

Jerry's, not sure if it's a spaceship, or.......

 

this is Jesscera's, it's part of a story she's writing 

Another of girls, also story related.

So I hurt my back......

I don't know what I did, but I did something.  I've had back issues before, but never like this.  There are times when I can hardly walk across the room without my back seizing and spasming.  It feels like everything can trigger my back - sitting, walking, just breathing sometimes. It's "soft tissue injury" per the Doc which makes it sound like it shouldn't be anything right?  Wrong.  I am now on a couple of drugs and on a weight limit -and no driving.  

This has been going on for almost 2 weeks now, and today, finally, I think i see light at the end of the tunnel.  I think it's getting better-- it's hard to tell really.  But today I've actually ventured into the studio and made a few pieces.  Not sure what that will do to my back, but boy, it's food for the soul! 

Anyway, here are some newer pieces I'm pretty pleased with.  

This piece is using recycled jewelry bits, vintage watch parts and vintage crystals.  The mirror made me think of a little walled off pond, so the dragonfly is hovering over flowers growing in the water. At least that is what I saw when`I made it.

 

I love playing with vintage pocket watch parts! I love using partial plates as my background.  In this case, I added crystals --- 

and this time I added an eyeball and salvaged the matching chain from broken jewelry!

I need to blog........

hi Guys! I'm trying to get into good blogging habits, so here are a few pics.  Top pic, are "no use crying over spilt beer" earrings.  I've had this handmade glass mug beads for ever, and since i'm not much for beer, I wasn't sure why i even bought them, other than they are soooo cute.  Jerry says I should say rootbeer earrings! 

Anyway, dangle factor is high and these are so much fun, a party for anyone's ears! 

These I added cup chain  (crystal chain) to the tracks of a zipper, kind of cute, right? 

These are aluminum cuffs, with prints on them.  Just cute and fun. 

I don't have pics yet, but for this weeks Farmer's Market I've been busy making rings.  I'll try to get pics up tomorrow.... 
 

Some recent stuff

This necklace is all vintage buttons, from 1880's to 1960's.  Most are glass, and some of them are wicked pretty all by themselves.  

I'm trying to get back to regular posting, so here are some recent pics -- I'll be at Mayhem Comics This Saturday 10:30 to 6pm so come out and see them in person!  

Earrings made from parts of 2 different pieces of costume jewelry with a few crystals added.  Lovely movement on them.

More recycled costume jewelry bits turned into pendants .  The Dragon pendent on top of the Mother of Pearl is a new component.   

 

Covid, Art shows, and the new reality

Soooooo - Covid really started for me on March 18th 2020, when my regular work decided to start sending people home to help prevent spread.  I'm a high risk person, so I was the first person sent home from our group.   

Of course I couldn't do art shows either.

Now, over a year later, I have both my shots and I'm "street legal" again.  I still will want to take care, but I can now at least THINK about doing shows again.  Thankfully Farmer's Market is opening up to arts and crafts late May.   I will hopefully be able to announce which dates I have in 2 weeks. 

I also will be doing Art Mart at Mayhem June 5th.  

Doing shows again will be strange, but good.  

I think.

Those of you who know me, know I have severe health issues,  which seem to get worse every year.  This past year of no shows ( and very few sales) gave me plenty of time to mull my reality over.

Yes, I like making money.  I can always find a use for money.  

More importantly, making art fulfills me in a way nothing else seems to do.  If i can't sell it, I end up with great heaping piles of it around the house.  If there are great heaping piles around the house, it takes some of the fun away because I have less of an excuse to make it.  Storage really isn't a problem, but part of making art for me is sharing it with the world.

Shows can't be my only avenue.  I've reached a point health-wise that doing 2-days shows is probably no longer physically possible, and after a 1 day show I'm exhausted (happy exhausted! ) to the point I can't move.  I won't even get into the possible asthma problems I might have if I got close to smoking or other triggers.

It's very real that I'll have to stop doing even Farmer's Markets at some point.  Thankfully I'm not there yet.  One of the reasons I love Farmer's Market it's quick, over  and home by 1pm.  If I need to take a 3 hour nap to recover, I can and still have time left to do stuff on the weekend.  

In an effort to maintain, if not improve, my health,  I have to get my stress levels down.  Parts of running a home business is very stressful.  Not making jewelry is more.  I really need to find a new balance between the two that I can live with.

More thoughts to come.

  

 

 

taxes.... ugh

 I'm doing my own income/ business income taxes this year.  All I can say is ugh.

Kya says I need to take a break and work on them again tomorrow.  Smart Kitty.  I've been working on them since 630pm to now, 1130ish.  

I have them mostly done, but I don't think I've done the Healthcare cafeteria plan right, and I'm boggled on the home deduction.

The online program I'm using is TaxSlayer, so tomorrow i'll log in again and get help (i hit these sections after they are off for the night).

I just want to point out I did the Kids' taxes in 15 minutes online, give or take a few minutes.  Oh for things to be that simple again ! 

 

well ARGGGH !

 OK, here I was at my day job, working overtime, when I hear my Etsy make the cash register sound.  I have 2 sites, one for jewelry  (which has been sadly neglected) and one for destash.

When I finally finish work, I checked and I was amazed to see I sold on my jewelry Etsy!! wooo hoo! 

4 necklaces, 3 with my very own glass cabs in them. 

So I go check it out, and imagine my surprise to find out I paid $7.50 in advertising fees.  Apparently at one time off site advertising was free, and you were automatically opted in.  Or maybe I choose it, honestly I don't have a clue.  The free has stopped, and guess what? Now I sell something so they take an extra 15% fee.  If they notified us the freebie was stopping I didn't see it.  It stopped in May of 2020!!

I guess I'm glad I sold something, and I guess if it was in ads great, but boy howdy that was a bite I wasn't expecting.

Really hitting the old and vintage costume jewelry lately, I guess I'm a sparkle phase again.  These earrings made from 2 different pieces of jewelry and new crystals. 

I'm feeling pretty Leary of on-line selling right now, but since shows are so problematic right now, I guess it's the only game in town.  I really need to invest some time in to it... get more stuff up, do better pictures, actually check it everyday and maybe do some advertising that I know about up front and won't have sticker shock from. 

I started a amazon handmade shop before Christmas, but I haven't had time to do much with it.  

I have 1 item of jewelry on ebay, to test the waters.  So far no nibbles.

I have a whole studio filled with beads, so sometimes I just like to relax and do stringing.  

I really need to pick one on-line marketplace, and really give it my all -- get 50-60 or more listings up with good pics and descriptions, and seriously work at it.  

I'm going to get my destash up and running again first, then tackle the jewelry.

Business Plans for the Year....

 Honestly, I don't have any firm plans.  COVID is still a raging concern, and despite the vaccinations, I suspect we will be socially distancing most of 2021.  I hope I'm wrong.  We won't know yet until may or later what the rest of the year will look like.  Booking shows is mostly done by then.   

So trying to plan for 2021 isn't really a straight forward. 

Crappy photo, hard to capture the drape of t    his flat instead of worn.  Anyway, on the left is part of a pocket watch, with added vintage flower and a regular hanging down.  on the other side is  vintage watch face and parts.  The chains drape gracefully between them - when it's fitted properly.  I had it rather long, but it's easy to adjust.  Pretty copper flower clasp - since this is all about flowers.

I'm finding that, without setting up a business plan, I don't have well defined business goals.  (go figure!) If I don't have well defined goals, it's hard to get motivated.  

Don't get me wrong, I still love to make jewelry, but without focus, I tend to start and never finish it.  I enjoy every minute of my time in the studio, but it's aimless.  Also without planning for specific shows in mind, it's hard to give myself permission to spend the time needed in the studio to really create.  I never have enough time to get everything done, so if i'm not doing show, my brain thinks I don't deserve creative time.  Yeah, I know that part is twisted, and I'm working on it, but I can't pretend it's not there.

Back

Front    

Maybe It's because I don't get the validation of selling face to face.  Selling jewelry, seeing people really like my jewelry, and it connects to them.  It becomes a shared experience that I really miss.

Just knowing I can make someone else's day is a high.

Even when/if COVID isn't an issue, I'm not sure how much longer I can sell direct to the public.  

I have health issues. Let's discuss just one of them: Asthma.  It's triggered by smoke, hairspray, perfume, flowers, deodorant,  lotions,  HAND SANITIZERS, exercise, laundry detergent and stuff that's green and grows.  

It's been increasingly hard to function at art shows and farmer's markets.  I never know when I'm going to get too close to someone and get triggered.  My biggest fear is sometime soon I'll get triggered by something someone is wearing, and my emergency inhaler won't help and I'll end up in a hospital emergency room.

Just imagine it... set up at Downtown Farmer's Market, bushwhacked by hairspray, rushed to the hospital cause I can't breathe, Hubby probably going with me insane with worry... my booth left abandoned -- or Jerry trying to take it apart by himself during the market, rushing and crazy with worry while the streets are crowded with 5000 people trying to get packed up so he can get to me.... 

I can spin multiple nightmare scenarios.

It hasn't happened yet, but I really feel it's a possibility.   

One thing COVID and basically never leaving the house has taught me-  my asthma really is a trigger situation.  If I avoid my triggers, I avoid episodes.  I have the occasional "bad breath day" but overall, it's situational.

For example, take this week.  I've used my inhaler three times -- all while cleaning the house.  The chemicals and dust made me start having a coughing fit, I got away from it ( my wonderful large house i can actually do this) I used my inhaler and sat down and calmed down and all was fine.

I hadn't used my inhaler for 2 weeks before this.

When I'm working at the office, or at a art show, I'm using my inhaler daily.  That's not healthy, or safe long term.  At work and at art shows where I'm tied to a location, where I can't do evasive maneuvers very well, I'm as higher risk of the big attack.   Asthma is painful and scary.  It hurts putting Jerry my husband through it.  I know he worries about it almost as much as I do.  

I tell you this not to enlist sympathy  -- merely to explain  why the more I think about it, the more I'm not sure how much longer I can do art shows.

Now add my other health issues --- one of them as serious if not more than my asthma ---  it's a lot to think about.

Random Thoughts 2021

 Let's start with a quote: War and Peace: “We are asleep until we fall in love.”

That's just.... lovely.  It makes me think of Les Miserables -- to love another person is to see the face of God! 

I'm not really religious,  but i love that line.  I get it.. the wonder, the absolute conviction of things beyond yourself.  That is love to me.  I could go on and on, but why when the statement kind-of says it all.

So we are in 2021 now.  Yeah?   I am very excited that 45 will soon be gone.  America will spend decades fixing all the damage he's cause.  

Today is the day I sit down and work on sale taxes for the states I collect for.  Since I had no shows in 2020, and sort of gave up on online sales mid-way through the year, at least it's gonna be quick to do this year.

I think I will even do my own income taxes this year.  I have more time and it would save me money I don't have.  What's a small glass of frustration in the last year of floods ???  

Wouldn't it be nice to fly away from it all? 

I bought 1 month of HBO/CIN so we could watch Wonder Woman 84.  It was ok.  Not as good as the first one, but entertaining and watchable.  Since I have this channel for the month I'm taking advantage of watching other stuff before my subcription runs out. This includes watching a few episodes of the original Linda Carter TV show.

Wow.  I had good memories of this show, and so far, considering the time it was filmed, it's not so terrible.  I've watched the 4 first episodes and that's probably I'll watch.

I'm currently hooked on FALLING SKYS.  Can't say it's ground breaking TV but it's really entertaining and some of the characters are really engaging.   

Also watching Lovecraft county a few episodes at a time with my Hubby.  Now it's a great, and strange and thought provoking show.  If you have a chance you should watch this.  If nothing else you will learn some history.  Jerry and I have had discussions based on some of the episodes.  It's also twisted and kind of gory, so not something I can binge watch.

I love my baby! Ain't she cute??? 

It's been a full year since I've watched Walking Dead, but I'm thinking about starting up again.  It's hard... I stop after the Whisperers killed some of my fav's.  

The snow outside is pretty.  Working from home improves my enjoyment of watching it.  We get quite a few deer tromping through our yard, and have multiple foot trails to prove it.  Occasionally we see them but the minute you pull out a camera to snap a pic they run off.  Sneaky quick varmints.   

I've collected another major health issue in 2020, go figure.  Still trying to wrap my brain around it.  I seriously need to make changes in my life, if I want to have a long one.

I really like this set.  the MOP is recycled from costume jewelry, the bass silver plated gals are new, as well as the sterling earwires.  Plated chain.

 

I haven't made jewelry in the last few weeks really.  I'm finally in the mood and of course I'm having problems with my heater in the studio.  GRRRRR 

 

ignore just need for the kid

 

Painting Party

picture from my kitchen window to the sliding doors of the studio.  check out my blinkly sign! makes me happy to see it on when i'm washing dishes instead of creating!

First, Happy Birthday to my Baby Girl!! Not such a baby to anyone but me now.  She turned 24 today.  It seems impossible! 

Since this is the age of Covid, we are having a family painting party ... got pottery from Five Monkeys to paint at home, then Dina will fire it at the shop for us.  She's accepting limited parties at the shop now, but with my whole host of health issues, taking it home to paint made more sense.  Actually painting from the comforts of our own home is fantastic!  

 I can do it in my pj's, just like i do work, and everything else in the last 5 months.  Except doctor appointments.  I dread the doctor, if for no other reason i have to wear my bra. 

OK in the studio, since i'm not selling basically this year, I'm working on reorganizing...... 

But I still find time to work on projects.  This is made with vintage / older pearls.  They are plastic but unused old stock, so in great shape and OK to use.  The pearl pendant is from a necklace that I salvaged for parts.  I've been playing with vintage jewelry bits lately.  I find sorting / digging in my piles very soothing, and then recycling them into new pieces.. always fun

This is my favorite new shirt.  Yes, it's a bunch of cats in blues, pinkish-purples on cobalt.  Who couldn't like it??? 

Well it looks like my pottery is dried enough for another layer.  Merry unbirthday to all, and Happy Birthday to my own Boo Boo! 
 

so how is it going for you?

I filed sales taxes for the quarter.  I had online sales of $158, and owed no sales tax in the state of Iowa.  Let me tell you, for a business that runs primarily May to Oct, with June usually one of my best months.... this is not normal.

Honestly I haven't been pushing online so much anyway.  Jerry and I have talked the last few years about basically taking a year off, and Covid sort of made this year a natural. 

Not to say if you want some custom work I would say no.  I would take your commission in a heart beat!  I haven't been making much this year, and I do miss it.  I'm starting to get back to the studio more, but other parts of my life are a priority this year.

recent project... it's parts from vintage jewelry from the 1950's and 1980's and a clock gear.  what do you think? 

Big one is health.  More and More this is a concern, and again Covid really makes it stand out in stark relief.  I am on the "high risk" list about 4 times.  A family member has developed new and alarming health problems that are HEREDITARY.   The chances of me getting this in 10-15 years are high, and I kind-of feel i have enough chronic diseases for one person now.

Best way to avoid is to finally change our life style.  Jerry is on board all the way ( he's got health issues as well)

We have tried this before, it lasts 6 mos to a year, and then slowly goes away.

But I have a secret weapon this time.  I have a fully functional kitchen.

Me! stylin' in a homemade mask made by my sister.  She makes several different designs!  check it out!

the changes we are making are gradual and mostly involve me cooking more and more meals.  Substituting better foods than we eat now. 

I'm also working on portion control.   Best thing I've done for this? I bought smaller plates.  They are out of print Nightmare 8 inch plates and I adore them.  They are colorful and cheerful and fun to eat off.  And since they are smaller you can't fit as much food on them.

I'm going to buy another set so we have 8 settings -- you know so in 2025 when we can all be face to face again I can through a diner party!

This weekend I'm planning on making a large roast, a turkey breast, something with chicken, spaghetti casserole with hamburger and butternut squash, and some vaguely pastry like sausage things that I'm just sort of making up.

Some of this is because we just changed fridges and some stuff got defrosted , so they need to be used now.

But any left overs are getting frozen as individual servings.  That way when Jerry or I need a quick lunch or don't feel like cooking supper, we can just defrost something. 

That is the biggest barrier to healthy eating.  It takes more effort... and time.  After a 10 hour work day, even at home, I just don't feel up to any effort but nuking on some days.

Eventually we will have a decent pile of these "tv diners" all the time in the freezer. 

I'm also working on a carb friendly pizza crust.  There are several recipes out there, but i'm trying to find one that has a level of effort that won't kill me and yet all 3 of us like the taste of.  Once I hit that gold standard, I'll make them in bulk and freeze them at will.  Then we can make pizzas anytime we want to, and as long as you are using healthy toppings, pizza can be good for you.

so far the recipes are either time consuming and annoying to make, or quick and easy but the taste and texture isn't quite there.

I have a recipe that I think will be the eventual winner, but I'm tweaking it.  It's eggie in taste, and I want a crispier crust.  Instead of a dough, it's a batter, and you cook them like pancakes. 

"pancake" version.  about 6 inches, the perfect serving size for a personal pizza.  now if I can get it to taste more crust like than an omelet. ...

It's a work in progress, like just about everything I've described above.


That's sort of our family motto right now.  It's a work in progress.