Bead Previews 12/30/2011 - 1/4/2012

I'm trying something new to kick off 2012. It's a way to save you all a little bit of money. I hope you all like it.
Here's how it works. I will take a group shot of the beads I plan to list a few days in advance and post the prices. If you see something you'd like, comment or email me and it's all yours for 15% off!

How am I able to make such an amazing offer? Every time I list a bead on Ebay or Etsy it costs me a listing fee and a percentage of the sale. It also takes me a lot of time and effort to take multiple pictures of the bead, write a description and title and so forth.

I'm passing the savings on to my friends, family, fans, likers, followers and so forth. All you need to do is let me know you want a bead before I list it. So without further ado, here are my previews for this week.

 These beads will be listed on December 30 2011

If you see something you like in this picture and jump on it before I list it, I will give you an additional 15% off. First person to post a comment here can buy the item with the 15% off, but it must be BEFORE I list it. I send invoices with paypal and charge 2.25 flat rate for shipping for fans, likers, friends, family and so forth. Thanks so much :)


10 pink rose sea glass discs with silvered ivory - Retail value $35 to be listed for $31.50
2 lilac pink purple rounds with raised black scrolls - $12
6 raku tiger stripe donut shaped beads (middle bead is bigger) - $24
12 lilac pink purple rounds with raised black scrolls - retail value $72 to be listed for $64.80
1 yellow gold irridecent scales big holed bead for European Charm bracelet copper lined - $9.99
1 large black scrolls over encased raku with copper bead caps and lining - $20 

These beads will be listed on December 31 2011

If you see something you like in this picture and jump on it before I list it, I will give you an additional 15% off. First person to post a comment here can buy the item with the 15% off, but it must be BEFORE I list it. I send invoices with paypal and charge 2.25 flat rate for shipping for fans, likers, friends, family and so forth. Thanks so much :)


12 topaz orange sea glass discs with silvered ivory - retail value $42 to be listed for $37.80
13 tropical pink pixie dust discs - retail value $32.50 to be listed for $29.25
6 pearl pixie dust over black discs - 15$
2 dark topaz orange sea glass discs with silvered ivory - $8
2 pink pixie dust with metallic scrolls - $13
2 big holed beads for European charm bracelets lined with copper - $9.99 

Everything in this picture will be listed on January 1st 2012

If you see something you like in this picture and jump on it before I list it, I will give you an additional 15% off. First person to post a comment here can buy the item with the 15% off, but it must be BEFORE I list it. I send invoices with paypal and charge 2.25 flat rate for shipping for fans, likers, friends, family and so forth. Thanks so much :)

18 pale emerald sea glass with silvered ivory discs - retail value $63 to be listed for $56.70

14 Blue pixie dust discs - retail value $35 to be listed for 31.50

2 medium blue sea glass with silvered ivory discs - to be listed for 7.99

2 bright yellow sea glass with silvered ivory discs - to be listed for 7.99

2 purple blue swirly big holed beads for European charm bracelets lined with copper - to be listed for 9.99 each

 

 

Everything in this picture will be listed on January 2 2012

If you see something you like in this picture and jump on it before I list it, I will give you an additional 15% off. First person to post a comment here can buy the item with the 15% off, but it must be BEFORE I list it. I send invoices with paypal and charge 2.25 flat rate for shipping for fans, likers, friends, family and so forth. Thanks so much :)


8 Raku tiger stripe discs - $40
1 large blue green metallic stripes with ivory encased lentil - $20
1 big holed bead for European charm bracelets or necklaces in metallic blue green and copper lined - $18
1 purple bicone with metallic scrolls and lines left raised - $22
2 ivory rounds with metallic raised scrollwork - $12
10 earthy raku tiger stripes with metallic lining on black rounds - $60
1 big holed bead for European charm bracelets in dark purple with blue swirls lined with copper - $9.99

 

Everything in this picture will be listed January 3 2012

If you see something you like in this picture and jump on it before I list it, I will give you an additional 15% off. First person to post a comment here can buy the item with the 15% off, but it must be BEFORE I list it. I send invoices with paypal and charge 2.25 flat rate for shipping for fans, likers, friends, family and so forth. Thanks so much :)


4 Chalcedony blue discs with metallic lines - $16
2 Pixie Dust pale emerald green rounds with metallic scrolls -
1 Iridescent gold green pressed focal with aqua blue swirls and jeweling - $15
1 pink purple bicone with white blossoms and a purple butterfly - clear is a little hazy, so it has been further discounted - $12
12 pixie dust pale emerald green rounds with metallic scrolls - Retail value $78 to be listed for $70.20
1 large raku disc big holed bead for European Charm bracelets lined with copper - $20
1 small pale pink with metallic bumps big holed bead for European Charm Bracelet lined with sterling silver - $14.99

 

These will be listed on January 4 2012

If you see something you like in this picture and jump on it before I list it, I will give you an additional 15% off. First person to post a comment here can buy the item with the 15% off, but it must be BEFORE I list it. I send invoices with paypal and charge 2.25 flat rate for shipping for fans, likers, friends, family and so forth. Thanks so much :)


16 medium blue sea glass discs with silvered ivory - retail value $56 to be listed for $50.40
2 topaz orange sea glass discs with silvered ivory - $8
2 amethyst purple sea glass discs with silvered ivory - $8
8 Jade green discs with metallic lines - $32
1 green blue amber swirls big holed bead for European Charm bracelet - $9.99
1 Purple blue swirls big holed bead for European Charm bracelet - 9.99

Some new Beads On the Bay

Just wanted to show off some of my latest bead sets up on Ebay.

Starting with my some of my last Christmasy beads. I have a big set of sparkling pixie dust discs. These ones have a base of clear with sparkling pearl glitter on them. They will go with anything, so I guess they aren't TOO christmasy.

Some classic black and white scroll beads. This one is a huge set of twelve beads.

 Lastly, I have another chunky bicone. I've been making a lot of these since I got my giant brass marver. This one is pretty big

That's about it for now. Hoping everyone is having a good holiday season and not getting too overwhelmed with shopping and planning.

Play Time!

In November I bought quite a bit of tools and tutorials, but I was so swamped with custom orders that everything just collected dust for a few weeks. I'm really not complaining about the custom orders or anything, but I'm finally getting a chance to "play" more than "work." As I say that, I have two gladware containers of beads to photograph and list. Eeeek! Let's just ignore those for now and play :)

I went to a free demonstration by Trey Cornette, and it was awesome! I always love watching others work, but it's really neat to be able to watch someone who specializes in stringerwork. Did you know that I like stringerwork?

While it was neat to see the stringer being applied, I really feel like I got the most out of the way he shapes his beads. Bicones are one of those shapes that I've always struggled with. I've gotten better over the years, but when I haven't made them in a while, I feel like a newbie.

This video is pretty helpful too

So after seeing him make a long bicone bead with this benchtop marver, I had to buy one :) I still struggle a little bit, but the brass marver is very helpful. It's huge too! Comparing the size of the benchtop to my handheld graphite marver is kinda funny almost.

 

Oh, and you can buy them here

Here's a little bit of eyecandy of beads that I shaped with this marver.

Life is Pretty Exciting

So life is getting exciting right now

( I wanted to add a picture to this post, so it wouldn't seem as boring and I want to buy this pin)

It's not that it ever wasn't exciting, but it gets quite predictable.

I currently have a full time job that pays the bills, has good benefits and job security. It's not a bad job, but I don't find it fulfilling at all. I make pizza, serve slices, fill orders, make all the ingredients, manage others, take care of food safety and everything else involved with running a pizza kitchen. I suppose it's not a bad living.

Growing up, you always get the question "what do you want to be when you grow up?" I don't remember what I wanted as a kid, but it wasn't making pizza and I never envisioned the management politics and rude people that we deal with every day in a traditional full time job. But, we all need a paycheck and that's part of what we all need to deal with to get paid. I never realized how much it takes out of your soul though. Maybe it's different with a more fulfilling job, but mine makes me feel empty inside.

This is turning into a depressing post, so it's time to announce the good news.

Starting at the beginning of 2012 I will be switching to part time pizza maker and full time bead maker! It's scary and exciting. Don't worry everyone, I have been tracking the financial part of my small bead making business for a long time and I've been planning this for quite some time. I'm not just making an impulse decision because I don't like my job.

I'm getting my show schedule set for next year now that I have my soon to be part time job figured out. I expect this to be a bumpy road with ups and downs, but I'm looking forward to the future.

Some Big Christmas Bead Sets

Boy do I have a ton of new beads to share! Ok so a lot of these are sets that I've put together from my show inventory, but that doesn't make them any less awesome! I put together a couple of big sets that I put together with Christmas in mind. This first set has rich velvety red with raised metallic scrolls. I've even added some gold metallic pixie dust disc beads. You could make a whole set of jewelry with these beauties. If you do happen to run out, I'm happy to remake whatever you need.

 

Next up is another big set up on Ebay. This one is made of icy crystal clear with sparkling pixie dust. Each of the rounds are covered in raised metallic scrollwork and I've included some pixiedust discs that go with everything.

 

These ones are probably a little more appropriate for Fall. I have some black rounds with raised metallic scrollwork.

 

And lastly, some creamy ivory lentils with metallic scrollwork. I love the reaction of the silver scrolls against the ivory. It has a slight shadow which sets off the silver designs even more.

And that is what I've been working on for the week. What have you got :)

Still Playing Catch Up

So, I was supposed to finish organizing my leftover show inventory before I did anything else.

Um, yeah. So, I got a little bit behind with that. I ran out of the wire I use to string my sets and then I got bombarded by made to orders. I'm not complaining at all. I'm actually very happy about that. :)

I'm organizing everything into little piles until I'm able to go buy some wire tomorrow. Right after the show my desk was so trashed I just put everything in a gladware container and put it aside.
I still have a bit ahead of me. I'll probably still make beads before I get everything listed though. Bad girl!

Time to Relax

I Survived my first bead show! Yay! I'm happy to report that my first one was a success :)

Anyways, I had a great time and it was a profitable business venture. I also have tons of experience under my belt that will help me lots with my next bead show. I met a lot of wonderful bead folks and learned a bunch.

I haven't set up my schedule for next year, but I will most definitely be doing the Innovative Beads Expo in Rochester again. I will most likely do Syracuse in the Spring and Fall as well. There's a couple other ones I'm tossing around the idea of attending, but I'm not sure yet. There's a 3 day one in NYC that I'm toying with the idea of going, but I think it might be a little too expensive to stay there for 4 days. I'll be thinking about it though.

It's this weekend! Woohoo!

So, I've been frantically trying to get ready for this bead show at the end of October. I can finally say that if I had to go set up right now and start selling in a few hours, I would probably be ok. I still have a lot I want to do this week to get ready. I'm bursting with new ideas that I want to bring to the show, but there's only so much time in a day.

I'll be bringing lots of sparkle scroll beads. I love making these! They're icy and sparkly with metallic bling. They'd be great for a cool winter piece, but I've also got some warmer pinks and purples for Spring.


I've got my big focal display which is just about full. I have a few beads waiting to be flat lapped. This display is actually kinda tall, so you'll probably see me from across the room :)
I know this is a bead show, but I've got a couple simple pendants on sterling silver chains to show what you can do with faceted beads. I don't expect them to sell, but I like to help customers visualize what a finished piece might look like.
Lastly, here's an overhead shot.



So, I've still got a few trays to fill up, some lapidary work to do, a little bit of pricing left, pictures to print, and packing materials to ready. I think that might be it though.

Table Update for October 8th

I took these pictures on October 8th on my kitchen table. I added them to facebook, but I completely forgot to go into some detail here.


Tada! It was kind of a pain to move everything from the floor of my spare bedroom to the kitchen table while avoiding underfoot kitties, but it was very uplifting to see what everything looks like. Before doing this, I was getting a little bummed out and overwhelmed. This was a great pick me up.

I absolutely love the design on my table runner. I was originally trying to get the same design in red, but for some reason the pattern was discontinued. I bought the little red scrap you can see in the picture because I misread the measurements. I thought it was 1.5 yards, but it was actually 1.5 feet. Doh!

It's ok thought, I found the black and white that is not discontinued and I bought plenty of it. I'll use the red to line my guest book or something for a splash of color.

I'm very happy with the lighting I purchased from walmart. The lamps are knockoff Ott lamps, but they were 21 dollars. I couldn't stomach 90 dollars for an Ott lamp even if they're amazing. The lamps give off a nice white light and have a modern look to them that goes with my table.


I've also since received my banner. Yay! It turned out really nice even thought it's still a little stuck in the rolled shape. I want to hang it up in my house when I'm done with the show :)

Testing from my new smartphone

Just plugging away at labeling sets and getting them ready for display.

Table Update Again!

Just a quickie post because I need to get to the torch and start crackin'

I've moved some of the trays around. I'm starting to fill up a section for pixie dust discs. I've got my new full spectrum lights for a more accurate viewing of colors. On the right side I have one bowl for orphans and wonkies that will probably be priced a dollar each. I also have an empty bowl that will be filled with delicious candies. Who doesn't love candy?

What you can't see is the risers I purchased which will raise the table by about 8 inches. I also am awaiting shipment of my two white tablecloths and a pretty piece of red and black scroll fabric in this pattern.
I love this pattern and I'm kinda bummed that it's a discontinued pattern. I could only get a yard and a half of it, but it's just enough to add a splash of color and design to my table without outshining my beads.

Tomorrow I'm hoping to have time to order my banner and more business cards.

Eeeek....one month left. I still have a lot of beads to be making.

Organizing your Inventory

In a previous post from long long ago, I talked about doing a major overhaul of my inventory organization. I was new to organizing for my stores and didn't have as many items as I do now.

It's been a few years, so I thought I'd show you what I'm currently doing.
After I've made the beads, taken them off the mandrel and cleaned them, they go in the "beads to be photographed" bright yellow bin.
After they get photographed and edited, each one gets placed in a little Ziploc baggie with its inventory number written on it. On my computer, each bead gets a few pictures of each one labeled with that inventory number that goes in its own file folder.

Oh yes, my desk is a disaster area at this moment. Nothing in this picture is actually listed yet though. As my beads get listed in whichever venue they get filed away in this old beat up filing cabinet.
Tada!

Sometimes I feel guilty filing away beautiful beads in a dinghy old file cabinet, but you've seen my desk and seen why I need to keep them hidden.

Also, this little monster likes to steal them.

Table Update

I hesitate to call it a table since it's just a taped off section of the floor for now, but here it is as of today

I still have quite a bit to do, but it's coming along nicely. The focal display is just about done. It just needs some paint in some spots. I still need to order my risers and lights from walmart and I need to find some sort of table covering that reaches the floor and covers all sides. Since I don't sew, I'm finding the table covering to be a bit of a challenge.

I can melt glass, but I can't figure out how to work a sewing machine. Silliness.

Not the best picture, but here's my backlit focal display. There aren't any on here yet, but it looks so nice with my lapidary beads. I'll be taking more pictures of this later when it's covered in more transparent beads.

Some scroll beads

And some etched disc beads. I love picking up handfuls of these beads cause they're so soft from the etching process.

And now that I'm seeing all the empty spaces, I'd better get to work!

Humble Beginings of my Bead Table

So here's the start of my bead table. So, it's not actually a table because I don't exactly have space in my house for an 8 foot table. So instead we just taped off a section of the floor in the spare bedroom. Clearly it has a lot of progress to make, but I'm working on getting it full. I'm hoping to post a picture once a week until the end of October when my show is. You've all seen how good I am at updating though :)

I have plans in my head to add a display or two for focals, a clearance bowl (because I have so many beads that need to go), a mailing list signup, and I don't know what else. Suggestions are welcomed from anyone with more bead show experience.

My First Bead Show is Coming up

I've always been nervous and indecisive about doing a show. I'm a very shy person by nature, so the thought of doing a show has been a bit nerve wracking. But, I finally took the plunge and I am signed up for the Innovative Bead Expo in Rochester. It will be held in the Henrietta Double Tree Hotel on October 29th and 30th. If you're local I'd love to see you there. Click the link above for a dollar off admission.

Getting ready for the show is going to be my excuse for not updating in more than a month. :)

Marbles!

So since my last post, I've been trying to make a little time for myself to just play at the torch. It's a bit challenging sometimes because the mentality of "time is money" creeps up on me. Anyways, I've been practicing my marbles!

Here's my first one

Not too shabby. I didn't really understand the concept of "punty." So when it came time to separate my marble from the glass rod, I kinda just melted it off and left a little hat on my marble. I did my best to melt it in, but it definitely has a bit of a cone head end. You just can't tell from this picture very well. I also didn't completely melt in my stringer, but it's my first one, so I'll forgive myself.



Here's my second one. Looks a little rounder and everything is melted in better to add to the roundness. I looked up how to punty and actually did it right. You can see by that punty mark on the right side glaring a you. When I was making the marble, I had forgotten that the silver from the scrolls would fume the ivory. The punty mark was covered by the ivory rod, so it didn't get any fuming. I didn't really bother to melt it all the way, but I learned a lot with this marble.

Third attempt shattered. Boo!


And here's my fourth and best one so far. It's quite round, the design flows nicely and you can't see the punty mark. Hooray!

Freshly listed goodies

I hope everyone has been enjoying their summer and the holiday weekend. I've got a couple new scrollwork beads to show off before I head downstairs to the torch.

I have a silver lined bead for european charm bracelets. This one has sparkling pixiedust encased in transparent blue. I added scrollwork in silver metallic left raised on the surface.
I've been thinking icy thoughts lately in the summer heat. These handmade lampwork glass beads have a base of pale emerald green glass covered in shimmering pearl pixiedust. Each one has been embellished with raised metallic scrolls.

This handmade lampwork glass bead has a base of ivory glass covered in raised metallic scrolls. I have also added a jewel of opal looking luster glass circled with the same metallic glass.

Just thought I'd share quick. Hope you all enjoy the summer!

Split Personality

So today I received my copy of Kim Neely's color archive. It is a beautiful book with fantastic pictures and detailed descriptions of the colors and manufacturers used. It's a little pricey, but if it's in your budget I highly recommend it. There are some working tips which I know will come in handy for me, but it's mostly about color ideas and combinations.

Within the working tips, Kim wrote a little bit about inspiration and how as an artist you should really take some time to just play even if you have to set aside a little bit of time each week away from your regular production. This half a page section really made me think. Lately I've been doing a lot of made to order items. I don't mind production work, sometimes I even enjoy it because I have a to do list. When I'm finished with my list, I'm supposed to play and experiment, but lately that just hasn't been happening.

Sometimes it's just because it's late in the evening and I want to stop and make dinner or go to bed. A lot of times it's just the mentality of time is money. I dislike that saying, but it's something that is hard to ignore. I want to spend time making something amazing that is a piece of art, but a lot of times I think, "who's going to pay for that much of my time?" It makes me feel so money grubbing to think of that, but I should be paid a fair wage for my time, materials and equipment.

It's almost like there are two sides, the artist and the artisan. The artisan half of me wants to make lots of made to order items for my shop because it's decent money and I know how to do it well. The artisan half makes what is popular and sticks to comfort zones and bread and butter work. This is not a bad thing. Please don't think I'm knocking it. Without production work I would not be able to buy new tools and exciting fancy glass. Without production work I wouldn't be close to minimizing my hours at my day job and taking a step towards being a full time glassworker.

The artist part of me wants to create what I want when I want. The artist wants to experiment and completely ignore the clock. If I want to spend two hours on a bead then who cares! If it looks like a turd covered in scrolls coming out of the kiln then that's ok. The artist part of me can be a bit pretentious sometimes, but that's fine. I wish I could be the artist more often, but unfortunately I don't have a big name in the glass industry so I won't be getting people buying sets of my beads for thousands of dollars.

I suppose it's all about finding balance. As I'm approaching the next big step in my glass journey, this will be my next challenge.

Beads from June

I've been a bit scarce lately. I keep thinking of things to write about and I procrastinate them. I am the master procrastinator some days. Anyways, here's a sampling of what I've been up to lately in the bead world

Pile of Beads and a Mischievous Kitty

Just a public service announcement.

Don't leave a strand of beads on your desk when there is a rambunctious kitty running around.


I had a very nice set of beads on my desk partially strung. I needed one more bead to complete the set. I left it half strung on my desk and went downstairs to the torch.

A few hours later, coming up the stairs I found a spool of stringing wire unraveled. I few more steps and I found some pliers, a few more steps and I found a pile of tiny spacer beads scattered. Ugh!

So far I've found all but one of the beads from this set. It kinda sucks, but lesson learned I guess.

New Stuff for Spring

In my last post I told you how I made a point to torch for ten hours. Now I have a TON of new beads listed in my Etsy and Artfire stores. I even put a few auctions up on Ebay just for fun. Here's a couple of them.








I had a bit of fun with some brass mesh bubbles and some metallic scrolls.

I have a ton more new stuff that's been listed as well, but I try to keep the shameless advertising to a minimum