Bad Plans Pt.2

So, in the last post I started something, got sidelined and ended up heading in a cool direction with some beads I bought accidentally - a happy accident. Well the next time I sat down to finish the piece I started, I wandered a bit but this is what I ended up with:

Totally in love with this piece - the unusual color, the sparkle, the rubber O rings.... happiness.

Sometimes Plans Are Bad

I try to live an organized, scheduled life. I'm busy - the business, 4 kids (6 if you count the marrieds), the jewelry, home, animals - you know... stuff. I'm not good at staying focused because I have ADH-OOooohSparkly! So I'm easily distracted. Case in point... I stop by Shenandoah Moon on my way home to pick up some new scarves, a five minute stop (really?), and 45 minutes later -

I have these amazing beads (no they aren't scarves) - I rush home thinking what cute earrings I'm going to make with these cool little flower shapes as soon as I make dinner, cycle some laundry, work on my tax records.... the next time I notice the time its midnight.........
No scarves          No dinner          No laundry          No taxes          No earrings

BUT isn't this going to be the coolest bracelet ever??

Sometimes you just have to let life happen at its own pace cause otherwise you  might miss the cool stuff.

The First from Chestnut Ridge

I want every bead from this set to be something special. I started with the cone, added a few tidbits from the workbench and ~ viola! ~ The other components to this piece came from MyElements (etsy.com) and the hook clasp was made by yours truly. I can't wait to make others using the rest of this set!

The Delights of New Beads!!

It was a long hard day at work, I was late leaving the store, the traffic was slow and I knew how much work I had sitting at home waiting for me. So, imagine my thrill when I found a package when I got home. A package that I wasn't expecting for another couple days.

Squeal of delight when I opened it and found...

 Aren't they amazing?? These little beauties came from Laura Critchfield of Chestnut Ridge Designs (www.chestnutridgedesigns.com) Laura is absolutely one of my very favorite bead artists. Every time I get  a set of beads from her it brightens my day and I simply can't wait to get to the workbench to make something bright, colorful, fun! Keep an eye on this space - I'll post pictures when I begin to use these beads.

Jump Rings in Fabulous Colors!!!

I spent  a year trying to solve the problem of wanting to have colored jumprings, toggles and clasps for my jewelry. I love color. I don't want to pick the perfect raspberry colored lampwork beads to go with the amazing lime green beads which matched with the bright yellows and then have to settle for a silver or gold jumpring to attach them together - epic fail!

So, thank heaven for Parawire! They make this incredible wire in tons of beautiful colors and gauges that can be bent and wrapped and shaped - so nice! ....and so affordable!!

Things couldn't get any better, right? Wrong! They did get better! Santa brought me a really cool new toy!! A jumpring making system! The Pepe coiling machine which lets me make coils in over 20 sizes AND a Flex Shaft to cut the coils into perfect little jumprings!!

Wanna see more? www.rigglettes.com

Think About It Talk About It Make It Happen

Think local - talk local, buy local ~

The odds are you know someone who owns a small business in  your town... bookstore owner, hairdresser, pet groomer, antique dealer, clothing store.... check 'em out. They need your support!

Make Your Art Your Business

Took the day off last Friday to try to grow my brain a little. One of those things that I think is important to do occasionally. It doesn't always work out but, I'm happy to say that this time I hit it out of the park (not my brain)

I attended a day long workshop at Blue Ridge College in Weyers Cave, VA that was co-sponsored by Shenandoah Valley Small Business Development. It was called, Make Your Art Your Business. I had a great day... got too meet tons of local and regional artists, listened to some experts who have been making a living with their art for as much as 30 years and got to share ideas with a roomful of people who are passionate about what they do.

One of the most important things I took away from the day was that too many artists don't take themselves seriously as a business. Being an artist isn't like any other job - there is a lot of emotion attached to what you do, sharing a piece of yourself is serious stuff. It's important to decide whether you're a hobbiest or an artist trying to make a living. Neither one is right or wrong, its a personal choice. But if you're an artist trying to make a living then you better have some decent business sense.

You need to know what a Business Plan is - you should have an Artists Statement - you need to know about marketing, taxes, credit card sales, shows, expenses and the worst part of all..... PRICING YOUR WORK!!!

If you don't know some of this stuff.... be smart, contact your local small business development center (there are over 10,000 offices in the US) and make an appointment!! I'm so glad that I did this. I feel so much more confidant about my work, my goals and myself.

Get smart - its good for you.