Week #10 - I made it!!

This week, I stumbled upon something to new to me..... some really cool paints.  I can't paint, draw, paste, trace, sculpt or really do anything that involves hand/eye coordination (which is odd since I played violin for eons, but whatever)...so these paints have been all kinds of fun because they do all the work.  *perfection in a bottle*  SO - I present to you - my first pair of earrings - that I made....at least the danglely parts of....

I used light turquoise Swarovski crystals and orange czech shaped beads (like the fruit orange).  I'm in LOVE with the results of my new little obsession.  Can't wait to play with them and perfect my technique!

Build A Line Challenge - Blog #2 - Ever feel like you've been caught with your pants down?

Ever feel like *everything* you touch kinda turns to dust and then you realize that you need to turn that dust into SOMETHING because you committed to it? This is pretty much how I've felt every day in the last 30. I'd like to say that I just need some time to catch up, but the truth is, I feel completely overwhelmed. 

I DESPERATELY want to get my line going. In seeing the 35 notifications pop up everyday, the more I want to read, but the more I just run out of energy to read.   I feel like 50+ people is maybe waaaay too many for something like this, but that's just me. 

Beautiful pieces from B'Sues Boutique - didn't use filigree beads

So, knowing that today a blog post is due.... I set out to get to work on my pieces.  I started with the pieces I purchased from B'Sue.  The ADORABLE czech flower beads and antique copper wire....and some filigree beads.  When I ordered the beads, I should have realized that I'd need a whole lot more than 2 packages to do a necklace...BUT maybe it was ok because in trying a new medium (czech beads) I should PROBABLY start smaller.  So, the bracelet was born. =)  I LOVE how it turned out.  I ended up adding some 4mm crystal ab fire polished beads, as well, and just LOVE the end result.  I also kinda loved the 1 strand, which is something to consider - because there ARE people who would like something more dainty and sweet.  Hey - lesson learned

A dainty version

While I was working on my "line" last night, and thinking through the question "What my ARE my barriers to getting a line going?"

Here's what I came up with...because actually MAKING the line isn't a barrier for me.  Pricing, I have a decent idea of (not really for wholesale yet, but I have a good idea of how much I use in terms of beads and generally what they cost) retail pricing and what is a good price point for me to focus on.  Doing shows for 2+ years has given me some insights, at least for THIS area of the country.

So....my barriers include:

- Packaging

•  consistent packaging....for pieces that could go wholesale, for sending pieces and packaging at shows
• Where do I find said packaging?  How do I buy less than 500 or 1000 pieces at a time? 
• Coming up with a new logo and is it wise to do something with crochet fool or stick with my current branding and do something cherry-esque (I'm leaning towards a new brand as cherry is OOAK, so if I go with another brand, then I could do non-OOAK)

- Where to find clients that are wholesalers - I have no bloody idea
- How do I get my products in their hands?
- How do I set MY pieces apart as my own - which I think just the way that I approach these pieces is "maybe" enough?  Maybe not.

• Could I have a little charm that's added on to each piece that notes it's mine?  
• Maybe this is where packaging comes in.... including a story about their piece or even just signing the packaging with a personal thank you?

- I, also think, that my pieces would be great for brides and EASILY customizable to their colors or needs....but again - How do I break into that industry?  Where do I find those wholesalers.  As a side note: my first published piece....my brightly colored crocheted piece.....was a bridesmaid piece.
From where I'm sitting, these are MY biggest barriers.  What are your thoughts?

Hostess and Teacher: Brenda Sue Lansdowne, B'sue Boutiques
Jewelry Making Outside the Box


Linda Anderson
From the Bead Board (You are here)

Marcia Tuzzolino
Aurora Designs

Jann Tague
Clever Designs by Jann

Judy King
Apt to Wander Studio

Linzi Alford
Magpie in the Sky, Spoil Heap Tales

Cynthia Wainscott
Exotic Peru

Carole Carlson
Beadsophisticate

Lynn Stinten
Dragonzwench

Marica Zammit
Bead Lovelies

Catherine Shattuck
VRBrose

Michaele Collie
The Vintage Gem

Mary Craig
Jewelry Alchemy

Lee Koopman
Strega Jewelry

Erin Whitacre
Shattered Time Jewelry

Monica Casady
MJCasady Copper Works

Leila West
Leila Nicole Designs

Cindy Peterson
Howling Dog Jewelry

Leila Belcher
Leila Bee Designs

Gloria Allen
Wings and Beads

Pamela Anger
Novegatti Designs

Tammy Adams
Paisley Lizard

Lynda O'Mara
LOmara Creative

Elizabeth Hildreth
MadScientistsDesigns

Dana Hickey
Wind Dancer Studios

Janet Calardo
Jan Lea Designs

Maria Clark
Sweet Willow Designs

Lori Beekman
B. Accessorized

Jennifer Kroeger
Relic Charm

Amy Jorgensen
Hoarder's Corner

Robin Reed
Artistry: Handcrafted Bead Designs

Ingrid Anderson
Lilis Gems

Louise O'Shields
Desire Divine Jewels

Susan Killam
Killam Creative

Mary Katherine Deis
The Rose Sword: Artisan and Vintage Collectible Jewelry

Nike Bottalico
Nike Bottalico

Susan Bowerman
Woodside Wireworks

Kristy Le
Kristy Le Trendy Jewelry Designs

Jan Peters
Stylized Vintage

Mitzie Crider
Needful Luxuries Occasional Blog

Gina Hockett
Freestyle Elements

Alexandra Sefton
Imaginary Jewelry and Altered Art

Melida Boman
The Journey of Pens and Things

Teresa Shurter
TreeZ's Treasurs

Melissa Latimer
Smithed Up

Renee Hong
Fine and Dandy Jewelry and Art

Nadine Edris
Moondance Jewelry

Lori Meyer
Parisienne Girl

Jennifer Merrill Williams
Artists of All Stripes

Denise Lussier Poirier
Jewelry by Denise

Renee Allen
Small Stuff Design

Autumn Adams
Autumn Dawns

Elizabeth Owens
1996 Shabby Lane

Kat BarronMiller
Midnight Kat Productions Art Jewelry

Sandra Ballard
Mama San's Mojo

Coral Law
ab:coraldesign

Bead Peeps Swap N Hop IS COMING!!

Looking for the most AMAZING Blog Hop in town?! Look NO FURTHER than the Bead Peeps 1st Annual Swap N Hop! Here are plenty of details to wet your whistle..... come join our group to take part in the fun! MANY MORE details are posted in the group and you must be part of the jewelry world in order to join us. Looking forward to meeting you and seeing your INCREDIBLE designs soon!

Click to Enlarge

Click to Enlarge

Click to Enlarge

  

New Year - New Goals

Well here we are....2015.  Holy Canoli!  I will state for the record that the first check I wrote I used 2015...pretty impressed with myself. =)

Looking back at 2014, it was QUITE a year.  I experienced my lowest sales ever, I started a facebook group which has grown to over 1200+ after a group that I dearly loved closed down, I had a pair of earrings published, was paid for my designs for the first time, my alumni magazine published an article about me and my journey of illness which lead to jewelry, I discovered lampwork glass beads (my wallet is KILLING ME), built up a nice supply of Swarovski crystals, had a destash, had surgery to get my bionic belly battery changed, joined a company's design team, played some online games to win some FANTASTIC beads, played with some new techniques and expanded my knowledge of jewelry.  

I've got some new goals for this year - both personally and for my biz.  I'm looking forward to seeing how they will play out.  They're gonna take some work, some determination, some courage....but I'm hopeful I can do it.   Oh? You wanna know what they are?  HAHAH - No.  I'm not a big sharer of my goals.  Mostly because I hate not meeting them, then having to explain.  Ya know? 

So, for now - I'm just cranking some tunes...working on a HUGE project for my FB group - Bead Peeps.  (Right now, Fireball by Pitbull - Black Widow, Booty, Lips are Movin', Pompeii, Light 'Em Up, All About That Bass)  I'll be doing my first ever swap n hop.  THIS will be an adventure!  =)

Join me!  Come along for the ride!! 

Sparkling Rocks #fail

Hello Sparkling Rocks Fans!

Sadly, our organizer, Rita, was living in a house that was much like Humpty Dumpty - it had a great fall and her landlord wouldn't send in the horses or the men - so Rita.... moved.  Even more sadly, some of the Sparkling Rocks didn't make it outta the Humpty House without damage to the envelopes....so many of us haven't received them.

Please pray for Rita as I know this has been VERY difficult on her and her family but they ARE safe - just had to move with little warning.

So, while I don't have "the" sparkling rock....here's a different sparkling rock =)

https://www.etsy.com/listing/209667104/pink-passion-silvery-earrings-handmade

Weird

So, many of you know that from time to time, I write about personal stuffs here - this will be one of THOSE posts

I've realized in the last few weeks that I've been struggling, quite severely, with depression.   It hasn't taken the usual forms of feeling bad about myself (although that does happen from time to time), it's come more in the form of feeling sad, overwhelmed and like something inside just needs to come out....somehow.

I know that part of this is because some tough days are ahead....my mother's birthday would have been Saturday - she would be 70.  It's kinda strange to think that my mother would be 70.  I can't even begin to imagine her at that age.  I'm beginning to see many traits that she had, in myself - some good - some not so great.  I do wish that she were here, though.  I can hardly imagine what she'd say about my jewelry business.  It would be awesome to see her excitement and I'm sure she'd be my #1 sales woman. =)  She sold Home Interiors for MANY moons and was quite successful with it.  I wish I could ask her for wisdom with selling and ideas of marketing and all that jazz.  She could, truly, sell ice to eskimos.

I'm sad that I'm quickly approaching ANOTHER birthday, single.  My deepest desire is to find a wonderful, Godly man, get married and have a family.  My heart hurts that it just hasn't happened.  Much of that, I'm sure, is due to my weight - which because of severe health issues - is kinda outta my control right now.  It just hurts my heart that I'm single...still.  This was *not* my plan.  Yes, I know I could be married....and feel like I'm in a prison - which is no way to live, either.  My dad often encourages me with "There is no pain, like the pain of a lonely marriage" and I'm so thankful God has protected me from that....but desperate to find the man for me.  WHERE THE FREAK ARE YOU, WALDO?!!?

I'm also realizing, that my depression comes through in my lifestyle....specifically my bedroom.  When my head is a mess - so is my room.  Part of this, is due to my health (if I bend over - my body wants to vomit, nearly automatically) and part is just due to the fact that there is plenty of time, another day, to deal with it.  I'm pretty overwhelmed with it.

And finally, I'm sad that 2 years ago, I boarded a plane to come home for "2 months" to take a vacation and then go back to DC and move into a new place.  I have yet to get my things from DC.  I'm $800 short.  Why is it that some random dude can raise $50k for potato salad and I can't raise enough to get my things home from DC?  I have a good "story" - I'm chronically ill, I can't work, I live with my father, my medical style bed is in DC - and I'm DESPERATE to get it home.  My body is suffering even more without it.  I even offered my jewelry at a HUGE discount and I sold $30.  REALLY?!!?  What the....?!?!  As soon as I get a little extra, something else comes up that bites me in the rear and sets me right back to where I started.

These things are things that many people deal with......these things are things that aren't easy fixes.....but these are my things.  I'm prayerful that God has a reason why my junk is still there, I'm still single and I miss my mom....but it'd sure be nice to see some of those pieces fall in to place.  So, if you know a wonderful, single, Godly 'sugar daddy' - have him me a call =)

MMmmm...Soup!

 Whaddya get when you take 500 people, 1 organizer, and a whole LOTTA organization?!  BeadSoup!

I'm lucky enough to participate for the 2nd time in the wonder called BeadSoup.  1 woman offers to let 500 people sign up (in 24 hours mind you) to exchange beads with another artist, make something special with them (and some of your own) and then reveal them ALL on one day!  QUITE a task and so, VERY exciting!

What I loved about doing this challenge, is that it REALLY pushed me as an artist to make someone else's art bend into my own style.  I was pretty excited about last years piece, but this year.... HOLY CANNOLI!  Take a look at THIS soup!  (I cried it was so beautiful!)

Big thanks to Lisa from http://spudandmrsbutters.blogspot.com/

I'll leave you with an ok preview of the beads.... the great photos will come in May....until then....eat up!  Just be sure to chew your BeadSoup carefully. =)

 

"The Color of Dreams" Blog Hop!

TODAY IS THE DAY!

Several weeks ago, I signed up for a very EXCITING and CHALLENGING blog hop.  It's called "The Color of Dreams".  The organizer (Rita of Toltec Jewels) posted this on her blog: http://www.jewelschoolfriends.com/2014/03/the-color-of-dreams-participant-list.html and I responded!  I wanted to try to put my dreams into a piece of jewelry. 

Here was the challenge as stated by Rita: 

You may share a dream that has come true, one you are working on now, or one you hope for in the future. The one goal of the hop: we'll focus on our dreams as entirely possible, with the idea, "If we can dream it, we can achieve it." So, try creating "from the end" -- as if your dream has already come true -- using your jewelry design to do so.

My inspiration came from a BEAUTIFUL, handcrafted flower bead made by Color of Dreams Boutique.  It features the amazing pinks and purples that I just happen to LOVE!  =)

I tried to approach this challenge as a story of my jewelry career, for now...and what I dream will happen in the future.  The first bead, a long pink, glass piece symbolizes the very beginning of my jewelry making journey.  I started making pieces with these types of beads and they turned out pretty well.

From there, I moved on to learning other techniques including pearl knotting (which is my favorite thing to do, but doesn't seem to sell well so I don't do it often).  My mother loved pearls and passed that love on to me.  (It's all her fault! =) )

Next, I used a beautiful piece of crystal and brand called "Thunder Polish".  It was my first experience with crystal and I was hooked!  Until very recently, I used nearly exclusively, Thunder Polish.  I love their colors, their shapes, sizes and was the perfect price point for someone starting out and not really ready to invest in premium items.  

As I moved to the next section, I used some of my absolute favorite beads, mother of pearl shells.  I use them in so many ways, it's ridiculous!  I LOVE them!  They're INCREDIBLY versatile, unusual, come in a variety of shapes and sizes and lend themselves perfectly to nearly any application you can dream of!  I also used these beads in my 2nd piece of work that was published by BeadStyle magazine!  =)

So, next we have the pretty little lime green ball.... this piece also holds HUGE significance for me... it was a bead used in my FIRST published piece...also in BeadStyle.  When I made the necklace, I wasn't a huge fan of it.... but apparently it's pretty special because another editor asked for the same piece for her magazine. =)  Because it's already been published, I can't use it...but it REALLY changed my life.  It gave me industry validation that what I'm doing is....good.  I felt like a ROCKSTAR!

Which leads to the flower bead....it fits so perfectly with the way this last year has been.... a year of excitement, opening myself up to new opportunities, learning new things, building my business, meeting people and blooming into the person I believe God made me to be. 

The next bead is called a "Divine Rock", which fits perfectly in to my story.  I truly believe that God has given me this gift.  He has used the good and bad (notice the matte section which is somewhat fractured in the middle) in my life, including chronic illness, to turn my ashes into beauty for myself and others.  It symbolizes the fact that prior to 4 years ago - I had NO IDEA I had a lick of talent in designing jewelry.  I give ALL the credit to God for this.  I'm SOOOO excited to see where He's 

going to take this!

AND FINALLY - I used Swarovski pearls in blackberry and gold.  I went with Swarovski because one of my dreams is to become a Swarovski Ambassasdor.  I have NO IDEA how to go about this....but it's a dream!  I would just LOVE to be known as someone who is an expert and does fantastic work with their beauties!  I chose the purple (not just because of the flower) but also because it represents royalty, innovation and creativity.  The gold, because it represents opulence, success, generosity, wisdom and knowledge - all attributes of Swarovski Ambassadors =).   OH!  And if you're an Ambassador and could pass some info on...that'd be AMAZING! =)

I CANNOT WAIT to see what my future holds, but I know who holds it.... and I know I'm excited about the ride!

Check out my other friends here:

Honorary Guest and Featured Artist: Patricia Handschuh
Patricia's blog:              The Color of Dreams        
Patricias Etsy:               The Color of Dreams
Hostess: Toltec Jewels   Jewel School Friends

Kay Thomerson            KayzKreationz
Audrey Belanger           Toki No Hourousha

Alicia Marinache           All the Pretty Things
Terry Carter                 TappingFlamingo
Lori Schneider              Bead Addict
Jenny Kyrlach              Wonder and Whimsy
Asri Wahyuingsih          Asri's Beadwork
Dini Bruinsma               Angaza by Changes
Karla Morgan               Texas Pepper Jams
Debbie Rasmussen        A Little of This, A Little of That
Veralynne Malone          Designed by Vera
Kathy Stemke               Vintage Memories Jewelry Design
Mowse Doyle               Mowse Made This
Heather Richter             Desert Jewelry Designs
Lori Poppe                   Adventures in Creativity with LorilliJean

Jayne Capps                Mama's Got To Doodle

Andrea Glick                Zenith Jade Creations
Kathleen Breeding         99 Bottles of Beads on the Wall
Becky Pancake             Becky Pancake Bead Designs
Karin Martinez              Fairies Market
Miranda Ackerley          Mirandack

Penny Houghton           Smelly Nelly
Carolyn Lawson           Carolyn's Creations
Chris Eisenberg            Wanderware
Christie Murrow          Charis Designs Jewelry
Monique Urquhart        A Half-Baked Notion
Eve Shelby                  Raindrop Creations Jewelry by Evelyn
Cryss Thain                 Here Bead Dragons
Jasvanti Patel               Jewelry By Jasvanti
Nan Smith                   NanMade Handmade Jewelry
Sue Kennedy               SueBeads
Jean Yates                   Snap Out of It, Jean! There's Beading to be Done!
Debbie Rogers             Debbies Treasures
Marybeth Rich             A Few Words From Within the Pines
Shirley Moore              Beads and Bread
Shaia Williams             Shaiha's Ramblings
Kathy Lindemer           Bay Moon Design
Linda Anderson           From the Bead Board
Judy Turner               Silver Rains
Gloria Allen                Gloria Allen Designs
Regina Wood              Ginas-Design
Robin Reed                Artistry HCBD
Mary Goovars            MLH Jewelry Designs  (please visit after Wednesday, April 9)
Marlene Cupo             Amazing Designs
CJ Bauschka              4 His Glory Creations
Robin Showstack        The Crazy Bead Hoarder
Cynthia O'Toole          Sparkles and Sweets

Jael Thorp                 Jael's Art Jewels

Renetha Stanziano       Lamplight Crafts