Posts from — August 2009

Sunday, September 6: 2-3:30

“Embellished Focal Bead Pendants” Learn to turn large stone, lampwork glass, or polymer clay beads into one-of-a-kind embellished pendants using wire, seed beads, charms, pearls or small stone beads. In this class you will also learn how to create your own coiled ends and S clasps for use with leather, silk, ribbon or silky “rat-tail” cord—the perfect way to finish your unique new pendant creations. Included in the cost for this class will be one lampwork glass heart bead, one polymer clay focal bead, two 18” lengths of black rat-tail cord, and the wire to complete two embellished focal bead pendants. $45

Class attendees also receive a 10% discount coupon from Beads to Beauty.

Location: Beads to Beauty
2500 Sudderth #3
Ruidoso, NM 88345
Contact Heather Kingsmore
575-257-9903 or h.kingsmore@gmail.com

This week, my EART team members are discussing why we joined Etsy. When I started making jewelry in 2007, I looked into selling my new creations on eBay, but after a little bit of research I decided against eBay. It seemed to me that the really nice handcrafted items were either underpriced or lost in the sheer enormity of all that is eBay. Then I readabout Etsy in one of my jewelry magazines, possibly Step by Step Wire Jewelry. I checked Etsy out, and I was impressed by the professional look of the site and the overall quality of the handcrafted merchandise, and I decided to set up a Kell’s Creations storefront on Etsy. My jewelry still sells best at shows and in galleries and jewelry stores, because people can touch it and try it on, but Etsy is a nice addition to my sales efforts. Plus, it’s a great way for prospective wholesalers and customers to look at my work without the added pressure of having me look on, so it also serves as an online portfolio and good advertisement. Jewelry is still not the easiest item to sell on Etsy, because of the sheer volume of jewelry available and the speed with which new items are added and ”old” items are “lost in the stack,” but overall I’ve been happy with my Etsy experience.

If you’re interested in knowing why other EART team members joined Etsy, the next stop in the loop is Michelle’s Charm World!

After weeks of waiting, the “Big Reveal” in the Use the Muse II contest has finally happened! There were some truly breathtaking pieces in this contest, and while my entry didn’t place, I honestly don’t know how Scarlett chose the winners, because there were some amazing entries. I was inspired by so many, and I would have been hard pressed to choose a favorite. Be sure to check out all the details on the muse, the winners, and the gallery of entrants in the Use the Muse II contest at Scarlett Lanson’s blog. My entry, “Dragonfly Moon,” is in the N-Z gallery.

The ethereal blend of colors in this kit played into my daydreams, and the Lillypilly muse served as the perfect full moon. For the background I created a watercolor painting reminiscent of batik fabric. I transferred the painting to polymer clay, mounted the muse, then embellished it with a polymer dragonfly, a faceted amethyst, and a bouquet of beads and sterling silver ivy leaves. The curving framework is sterling silver wire woven with beads from the kit, along with kyanite ovals to bring the silk ribbon and the focal piece together.

Some members of my Etsy team decided to get together and have weekly themes for our blog posts and create a little loop with them. This week the theme is organization! I don’t know about you, but I’m constantly fighting with the mountains of stuff that seems to pile up.

There are special organizers made specifically for beads, but I discovered that buying one of those tower organizers with clear plastic drawers from Lowe’s or Home Depot was much more practical and inexpensive–at least for me. This way I can label the drawers with what’s in the drawer, but I can also see what’s in the drawers. And if I want to work away from my work table, I can grab my little lap desk and take a drawer or two with me to the living room and work on my wire and bead jewelry while watching a movie.

Another organizational tool I love for my jewelry making is a fishing tackle box with plastic bins and drawers. I’ve found that fishing tackle boxes are great for organizing beads, chain, wire, tools, etc., and from what I’ve found, they’re less expensive than the portable storage units made especially for crafters and jewelry makers.

When it comes to storing my paper art supplies, this oak flat file is my pride and joy. For years I stashed my large art papers sandwiched between cardboard and shoved behind the filing cabinets, or behind the desk, or behind . . . something. The paper didn’t get bent out of shape that way, but the problem was it was so complicated to get out and cut to size that I ended up avoiding my drawing and painting all together! I wanted a flat file, but there was no way I could afford one. So finally my husband built me one. Not only that, but he customized it with some file drawers for me! Now this is a splurge for any artist, so I feel very fortunate to have it. I feel even more fortunate to have such a talented husband!

I was reading a book by a fantasy artist I admire, John Howe, who uses lots of pictures from magazines and other places as inspiration for ideas, and he had a labeled bin system to organize his ideas. I thought that was a fantastic idea, but it wasn’t practical for my workspace, so I adapted an idea filing system. Now, when I see a picture in a magazine or on the internet that inspires me in some way, I can rip it out or print it and file it under the proper category, like this:

A lot of people I know like to use notebooks or three-ring binders for organizing things like this, but I’ve found that this loose filing system works better for me. I can take the papers out when I need them and easily drop them back in their files when I’m finished. No more procrastinating with the hole punch or hunting through notebooks to try to put papers back where they belong. It works for me!

Of course I’m still looking for common-sense ideas and learning what other people do that I can adapt to my working style, so I know I will enjoy looking at what my fellow EART team members blog about on this subject. If you’d like to know too, the next stop on this little loopy journey is the A.W.E. Shop! Have fun!