Well I didn’t fib; in my post of the 26th November I showed some of the effects I had achieved using Linda Peterson’s Glisten and Shine technique, and a quick (and fuzzy) example of a tubular bead that I had made. I mentioned that I hoped to be able to show you more of these beads and now I can.  I call them “Tubeads”, and I can also tell you that I have little packs for sale of the equipment I use to make the beads, but I am getting ahead of myself; here are some of the pendants and things I have made so far (and there are loads still in the pipeline – no pun intended).

A small selection of the beads I have been making.  Some of these are simple unadulterated Friendly Plastic in the colours it comes in, but  most of them have been recoloured in some way.  I have used transfer foils, metal flake, Pigment Powders, Glisten And Shine (Linda’s technique), embossing powders, and glitter as well as pens and alcohol inks.  You can see two different sizes of bead with correspondingly different hole sizes, and there are some beads that gently curve (or could be straight if you wanted to make them so), some that curve sharply, some that make circles and some that form curlicues.  All possible because of the cord that you make the beads around (more later).

For those that know me, I am  useless at straight lines, give me curves any day!

I was a little slow bending this one, and it wrinkled a little, but I liked it anyway.

I like a little bit of glitter now and then

The top Tubead was scrap FP recoloured using cream transfer foil from the Earthtones Pack which I added extra colour to using a variety of methods including scratching, refoiling, and metal flakes.

A simple piece of Royal Blue FP with wire wrapping and some rubber donut beads.

This one is a mixture of plain Teal FP and some of my Glisten and Shine coloured FP.  If you look closely I had not perfected my seams, but now I have the equipment I can do them sooo much better than that.

Tubeads combined with fabric beads gives a lovely contrast in mat and gently shinty finishes.  Fancy headpins finish the look

A closer look at the earrings.

And the secret to these fun Tubeads is silicone cords which stretch.  FP is wrapped around the cord, shaped and cooled, then the cord is stretched and this action releases it from the bead which can be pulled off with ease.  Clever eh?   Now I can’t claim this basic technique as my own because Jana Ewy showed it to us all at The Starving Artists Playground in Colorado at Jen Lowe’s place.  Jana was using tubing, and I had never seen such stuff before in the UK.  On returning home I searched and searched, tried out a number of different materials and eventually settled on silicone cord which is stronger (lasts longer) and I could get different diameters more easily.  It is non stick, good and stretchy, robust, and tolerant of heat.

The second part of the process is in getting the rolling right, and my solution to this was to use some fine silicone sheet  (not the thick stuff you occasionally find in cook shops, nor the teflon sheet either).  It is beautifully silky smooth and rolls a perfect tubular bead. 

The other great thing about the silicone is that it will withstand heat from either the heat gun or hot water so if the FP is not soft enough then it is really simple to reheat it by whichever method you choose.

For the kit and full instructions including how to achieve a really good seam, visit my web site http://www.rarebird.ltd.uk/Kits_Packs.html  at only £3.50 it is a bargain!  (you can tell I am excited can’t you!)

Have you swamped your friends with endless crafty creations? Is your home being taken over by building stocks of all the things you’ve made? Are you running out of storage space? Ahh why not make this week’s Target Tuesday your day to investigate turning your hobby into a business and be a resolute success!

Supplies

Firstly, it is a good idea to get a grip on your supplies. Set up and keep up-to-date a record of all the supplies you have in stock, so you don’t overbuy. I’ve made a free download available from Woollywotnots  also keep a record of local stockists you like. It is worthwhile contacting larger companies who are more likely to offer bulk discounted supplies. Could you club together with a few crafters you know, to put in bulk orders and make savings? Search out the internet for materials. Think about how you will package your items. Research packaging suppliers. Also think about the cost of postage. It may be worthwhile purchasing a franking machine. At the very least, purchase your stamps cheaper by becoming a business customer with Royal Mail. They have lots of advice and promotions, so it is worth speaking to them.

Notebook

Keep a notebook for all your business ideas. The kind of pages you may set up could have the following headings: Supplies, Packaging, Postage, Products, Designs, Places to sell, Promotions and Competitions, Ideas. Have it with you all time time so that when anything pops into your head, worth noting – it won’t be forgotten!

Products

List all the things you make and the techniques you use – painting, sewing, card making, bead making, pottery, patchwork, crotchet etc. Have you made your own designs and patterns? Are your products unique in any way? Are you known for something in particular?

Social Networking

Make use of the breadth of social networking available to you. Make use of Flickr to share photos of your work, discuss your work on forums. Start a blog and you may wish to think about having a website too. Keep up-to-date by setting up RSS feeds, desktop news and alerts and make use of social bookmarking which will save you lots of time.

Sources of Advice and Funding

There is plenty of support and advice available to you. If you wish to apply for a business loan, then you will need a business plan and you will need to carry out a SWOT analysis. There are plenty of free downloads if you do a search online. Here’s a good place to start.  You could also apply for a grant with bodies, such as the Arts Council. Business Link are also an excellent source of advice and run free courses. There are plenty of things you can do to help your finances, read here.

Online Shops

Beat procrastination and instead start small by setting up a free online shop and at the same time do some exploring and thinking about the future. There are loads of shops available.Click here to find where to sell handmade online. Generally there’s a small charge for  listing items. This could be the start of a whole career change!  Keep adding suitable venues to your notebook. You could start small by having a garage sale or a carboot sale. You could sell at seasonal fairs or parish church fairs. Look at for events in your local newspaper. Are you a member of a club who would like the idea of you selling your items to raise funds and you take a percentage of the takings? You could contact local suppliers and craft shops. You could research having a stall at a national craft event. Do your research and check with event organsiers the expected turnout. See what promotion is being undertaken and where.

Contact your Local Newspaper to be featured.

This year’s theme for “Local Newspaper week” back in May was focused on building stronger communities. Could your craft work help in achieving this? With this in mind, read my 13 tips to getting an article in your local paper.

Do your own Promotion!

Armed with a digital camera and a colour printer, there’s nothing to stop you marketing yourself with personal invitations, mini posters and flyers etc. Display in local shops outlining what you sell. You can create letters, sales literature and brochures, plus attractive labelling and display material, business cards and signage. Advetise in your local newspaper to do commissions. You could produce items for birthday celebrations, wedddings or anniversaries. See here for handy sales tips.

Keep Inspired!

Find ways to keep inspired. Sources of inspiration are all around you and every Wednesday on Woollywotnots’ blog is some midweek inspiration! Target Tuesday can keep you disciplined to report back each week!   Start a brain storming group with some friends to keep determined and be prepared to put in some hard work. Consider family needs. Children love to be involved and help in your plans. Think about your work-life balance.

Club Together with Friends

If you feel it is too much to do alone, why don’t you join forces with friends. All club together to pay for a stall and share it with all your stockpiles. Read here for ideas on fundraising.

Keep developing your skills

Attend workshops and share ideas via Woollywotnots Craft bookclub which encourages you to explore new techniques and materials. Attending workshops and reading more is stimulating and might point you in a new direction. Take an occasional day out and visit an art gallery or museum. Spend a day walking in the country or in the library. Whatever you do and wherever you go, be armed with digital camera and sketch book!

Have you embarked on new beginnings or does this leave your brain whirling with possibilities? Share your thoughts and ideas in reply to this post. With careful step by step planning, any venture can be an enjoyable experience. Have fun!

If you’d like to join in with Target Tuesday – make a blog posting on the subject each Tuesday, linking back to this post and show a link in the comments. Every Tuesday, we’ll all make a posting that focuses on us moving one step closer to our vision of what December 2009 will be like. It could be simply a thought, or something you’ve made or an action you’ve taken.

Previous Target Tuesdays:

3 Goals

Career Questions

Create a perfect CV

Be a resolute success in 7 steps

Beat Procrastination

Work life balance

How many days can you afford to live, if you lose your job

Turn your hobby into a business

Calligraphy

Finances

Explore Locally

Will Writing

Time Management

The Great Outdoors

University

 Learning to fly

Exploring outdoors

Drive a supercar

Top 100. Have you?

Explore your city

Shoppers admiring the new products from Soft Flex

By Suzann Sladcik Wilson

Beadphoria loves stopping by all the booths in the Bead Marketplace at the Bead & Button Show in Milwaukee,WI.

Some items that caught Beaphoria’s eye while at the show are:

Euro Tool – Beadphoria loves to bring you tools that bring a smile to your face, and the Easy Ear Wire Maker does that! You can make a pair of ear wires in less than 2 minutes! Any color wire can be used to customize your designs.

Urban Beader – New Beader’s Backpacks help you carry your tools and beads in style! Integrated bead mat makes it easy to bead on the go.

Bickley Studios – Kim St. Jean grabbed Suzann Sladcik Wilson of Beadphoria while at another booth saying “you have to meet these people!” The passion of these glass artists comes through in gorgeous flowers, animals, and fantasy creatures they create.

Beadalon – The new WildFire beading line for bead weaving projects is a hit! It comes in a rainbow of colors to match any project.

Soft Flex – Extreme Wire is a beading wire that not only fantastic, but is good for the environment! With no heavy metals, your beading can go green and be beautiful.

What new things did you see at the Bead & Button Show? Please post and share with us!

If you have any questions about beading, or what happened at The Bead and Button Show, feel free to contact me directly at 224-305-3321 or Suzann@Beadphoria.com . Always happy to share the joy of beading with you, Suzann Sladcik Wilson of Beadphoria.com.

Beadphoria had a outstanding time at the Bead & Button Show in Milwaukee,WI! Thank you to everyone that stopped us at the show to say “hi”! Great to put a face with our fans!

Here are a few tips that Suzann Sladcik Wilson of Beadphoria gathered while at the show:

From Kim St. Jean – When making ear wires, use 20 gauge wire. This size will fit most ear holes. Also, when using liver of sulfur, store in a jar with a lid to reduce the amount of fumes.

From Lisa Niven Kelly – Need to darken the letters or stamps on metal in a pinch? Use a Sharpie marker! Realize that this is not a permanent solution and will eventually fade.

From Katie Hacker – Peyote stitch “links” can be a beautiful and colorful alternative when making a necklace with chain.

From Beverly Gilbert – Use those old catalogs and magazines to create a color inspiration journal to refer to when you get into a color rut.

Join us next time as we will delve into some of the discoveries from The Bead Marketplace!

What are some tips you learned from the Bead & Button Show? Please post and share with us!

If you have any questions about beading, or what happened at The Bead and Button Show, feel free to contact me directly at 224-305-3321 or Suzann@Beadphoria.com . Always happy to share the joy of beading with you, Suzann Sladcik Wilson of Beadphoria.com.

The center of the Bead Marketplace at the Bead and Button Show in Milwaukee, WI is generally for larger beading and jewelry making vendors and suppliers. A few of the booths that Beadphoria will definitely see are:

Swarovski Crystals – Booth 634 – A new shape of crystal! The classic bicone shape #5301 is being replaced with #5328. The shape will basically be the same, but with extra faceting for exceptional brilliance. Stop by to see it!

Beaducation – Booth 736 – Leading authority for jewelry wirework and metal stamping.

Euro Tool – Booth 430 – Precision hand tools, equipment, and supplies.

Dakota Stones – Booth 101,103,200,202 New booth locations! Collections of jasper and matte onyx.

Beadalon – Booth – 618 & 620 – New Silverose™ beading wire and many other new products make this booth a must!

Soft Flex – Booth 433,435,437,439,534, 536, 538, 540 – New beading wire Trios come in color combinations that will sure to expand your creativity!

Rio Grande-Foyer Area – Tools and supplies for creating, manufacturing, and displaying jewelry.

The Bead Market Place is open for private shopping Thursday, June 4 from 4-9 PM and to the general public Friday, June 5 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Saturday, June 6 10 a.m-6 p.m., & Sunday, June 7 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Expect an exciting announcement from Beadphoria soon!

If you have any questions about beading, or The Bead Market Place at The Bead and Button Show, feel free to contact me directly at 224-305-3321 or Suzann@Beadphoria.com . Always happy to share the joy of beading with you, Suzann Sladcik Wilson of Beadphoria.com.

Pendant from Earthenwood Studios

The Bead Marketplace at the Bead and Button show in Milwaukee, WI is a bead and jewelry maker’s nirvana with over 580 vendors from all over the world.

The outer rim of the Bead Marketplace is generally independent bead artisans. Some of Beadphoria’s favorite bead and jewelry making vendors are:

Earthenwood Studios – Booth 1227 Ceramic beads and pendants with natural and fantasy themes. Ask about her fabulous new Toolbox Treasures!
Zoa Art – Booth 8 – one of a kind beads glass and precious metal clay.
Thornberg Bead Studios – Booth 430 – Whimsical glass beads (including flying pigs!) and wire demonstrations.
Sher Berman – Booth 1210 – New “Tree of Life” beads are not to be missed.
Sharon Peters Silly Beads – Booth 1219 – They live up to their names!
Pam & Heather Wynn – Booth 1235 – Polymer clay beads in color combinations sure to inspire!

Next, we will look at some of the larger bead vendors in the center of the show.

The Bead Market Place is open only to those taking classes on Thursday, June 4 from 4-9 PM and then to the general public Friday, June 5 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Saturday, June 6 10 a.m-6 p.m., & Sunday, June 7 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

What independent bead artists are you looking forward to seeing?

If you have any questions about beading, or The Bead Market Place at The Bead and Button Show, feel free to contact me directly at 224-305-3321 or Suzann@Beadphoria.com . Always happy to share the joy of beading with you, Suzann Sladcik Wilson of Beadphoria.com.

By: Suzann Sladcik Wilson

Walking into the Bead Marketplace

Beadphoria is often asked – What do I need to bring to the Bead and Button Show in Milwaukee, WI May 31-June7, 2009?

Comfortable shoes – The Hyatt and Hilton hotels are connected to the Midwest Conference center, but it still is a distance to get to the beading and jewelry making classrooms and the Bead Marketplace.  The Bead Marketplace itself is so large you could easily wear out 2 pairs of shoes!

Sweater or sweatshirt – Some of the beading and jewelry making classrooms can be chilly!

Notebook & Pen – Great for taking notes during class, but also you have something handy to be able to sketch a bracelet or necklace when inspiration strikes.

Tools – Many of the beading and jewelry making instructors e-mail students supply lists, but as a rule Lindstrom jewelry making pliers are preferred.

Empty bag with wheels – When shopping the Bead Marketplace, you will need something to carry all of your sparkly new beading purchases in. Bags without wheels containing glass and gemstones tend to get heavy. Keeping your hands free to look at more beads is always an added bonus!

In our next post, we will be discussing how to navigate the Bead Marketplace.

Leave a comment sharing what you bring to the Bead & Button Show!

If you have any questions about beading, or what to bring to The Bead and Button Show, feel free to contact me directly at 224-305-3321 or Suzann@Beadphoria.com . Always happy to share the joy of beading with you, Suzann Sladcik Wilson of Beadphoria.com.

Instructor helping a student at the Bead and Button Show

By: Suzann Sladcik Wilson

The remarkable beading and jewelry making instructors are another reason Beadphoria will be taking classes at the Bead and Button Show from May 31 – June 7 2009. It seems the Who’s Who of the beading and jewelry making industry come to teach.

Beading author and Beads, Baubles, and Jewels TV contributor Katie Hacker will be there with classes sponsored by Beadalon and Swarovski Crystal. Diane Fitzgerald, renowned for her excellence with seed beads, will be teaching 5 classes, with some are already sold out!

Want to expand you mind with a new technique? Anne E. Mitchell, Teacher of the Year for 2009, has classes in fine silver fusing and chain mail jewelry making. Ceramic bead artist Jennifer Heynen of Jangles imparts her wisdom on kiln buying and how to make ceramic jewelry making beads.

Lisa Niven Kelly of Beaducation.com will expand your creativity by mixing jewelry making techniques by using metal and glass. Barb Switzer, editor of Simply Beads Online, brings her amazing talent of combining wire and beads to share.

Learning from them is like having a hands-on with a Master. Beadphoria’s experience is that the beading and jewelry making instructors are always open to questions and teach in a way that makes the most timid of beginners leave feeling like a pro.

To register for classes, go to www.BeadandButtonShow.com. I would love to hear what instructors you are looking forward to learning from.

If you have any questions about beading, or The Bead and Button Show, feel free to contact me directly at 224-305-3321 or Suzann@Beadphoria.com. Always happy to share the joy of beading with you, Suzann Sladcik Wilson of Beadphoria.com.

Today was my first day back in the studio since my surgery. It feels good to be back, but a little overwhelming. So much to do; not sure where to start.

I truly know so little about blogs, other than reading ones of interest to me, that I really don’t know all the possiblities before me, nor any of this blog lingo. This shall be a new adventure.

Well, you know last week my sister and I attended the first annual summer gathering for the members of the OCC (Ontario Crafts Council). It was held at the president’s farm on the Niagara Escarpment.  I learned how easy bead making looks when a professional glass bead maker does it.

Well, you know I learned more than that. The glass makers are in a bit of a down turn in their market. Those marvellous people who use a torch or a blast furnace and various kilns to make the gorgeous vases and glasses and such are losing their market.

Well, you know I am rewriting a rule of physics, ‘what goes down must go up again.’ Like a bouncing ball. Once the States elect a new president and he reassures his country that good things are coming, luxury goods will begin to climb again in popularity.

Well, for some reason, which I don’t know, while the glass making industry in general is flagging, the bead making industry is growing.  I don’t understand: these beads are made of glass. They don’t stand alone but in synergy they join other beads to make something better than the separate parts.

Well, you know I am sorry about the drop in sales in the hand made glass industry.  At the same time, I am very happy that the beading industry is still healthy.

That’s what I think.   …Helene

I briefly mentioned my new stint into jewelry making on my last entry with promises to tell more.

My friend Thayne introduced me to his wife Kellie several weeks ago.  Kellie is a superdynamic business owner who has been doing jewelry for several years now – both wholesale and retail beading, and she just opened shop at 186 E. Main Street Suite 102B in Sandy.  The phone # is 801-561-1168.  The store is tucked away in an industrial looking area, but is quite the homey little place once you are inside.  She has a big table in the center of the store where you can sit and make jewelry all day if you’d like.  You buy the beads on strands and then bead them yourself.  She does have some jewelry already made that she sells, but I gotta tell ya, it is much more fun and satisfying to make your own!  There’s nothing quite like designing and making your own stuff to feel real ownership for the art.  And it was actually quite shocking to me how very relaxing it was to do.

So if you have one of those artsy fartsy personalities that would totally get into this bead thing, I recommend you head on down as Kellie has an amazing variety of beads and stones and crystals and pearls and turquoise and silver and accessories and and and………….  She also gives you tips and helps you out when you mess up.  Which is always a good thing.  For those of us who are not so artsy fartsy.

The best part about this store.  It’s all shiny!  Everything is sparkly and glistens and glows and it feels like you have just walked into an underground crystal grotto or something.  You can browse for hours.  And you even get to touch!

Tell Kellie Chris sent ya.

Here are a few pics of the store.

Have I ever mentioned how busy my life is? How very ironic that it takes a public blog to highlight just how busy my life is. I try not to think about it, but whaddya do.

So let’s rewind a bit to cover the highlights.

August 1 I went to Phoenix for work and had the privilege of meeting up with some old friends, the fabulous Bob and Michele Olsen from Mesa. What a treat. It was only spending time with them for lunch that made up for the horrendous 110 degree temperatures in Phoenix.

A week later and I met Kellie Forbes who owns a fabulous bead store in Sandy. Kayla and I went down there and had the greatest, amateur jewelry-making times of our lives. I made this necklace. I did! All by myself, threading all of these strands of beads. Who knew.

Kayla made a very pretty, delicate blue necklace and bracelet. I will blog about Kellie’s store more when I get the pictures uploaded. Needless to say, we had tons of fun there.

On Aug 12th, I took a group of 28 up to first meadow on Tympooneke at 11:00 pm at night to look at the Perseids meteor shower. The sky was clear all day until about 9 o’clock at night and then the winds blew in some serious clouds which made the shower watching a little prohibitive. Nevertheless, we had lots of glowsticks and snacks and such, so we laid out under the sky until about 1:30 AM before heading home. I saw three meteors during that time. I love doing this every year. Even if you do not see showers its heckuva lot of fun just to be out there in the dark and cold with a bunch of people.

On August 15, Jeff and I celebrated our 21st wedding anniversary! 21 years imagine that. I am still alive and so is Jeff. Our marriage is a success! We celebrated by making fun of each other and then heading up to Midway with Kellie and Thayne for a weekend time of relaxation. We got back this afternoon. Last night I was looking at the gold course that our condo overlooks when a white-tailed fox slowly loped onto the golf trail and slowly made its way into the center area with some small brush. Unfortunately, I did not have my camera at the time so I missed it. But so cool! A fox in the wild.

Midway has a house we call the Hobbit house. It is so cute, with its thatched roof and delicate gardens. I finally got a picture of it today.

How cute is that?

We went to Memorial HIll after that. We’ve always been curious about this hill. It overlooks all of the hot spring holes (I prefer to call them spring geodes) that dot the area, especially around Zermatt. Memorial hill has the posted names of all of those people who died while in the service, it had all of the different wars and conflicts. The memorial is quite stunning. And the views from the top of the hill were super.

Tomorrow school starts. Life always gets busier when that happens. Did I mention my life was already busy?

Grace Lampwork Beads & Jewelry

- By Alison Schmidt (published on The Ruby from The Whole Bead Show) July, 2007

Grace Ma is a San Jose, CA-based beadmaker/designer who originally hails from Beijing, China. She and her husband moved to the United States in April 2001 when he took a new job, and as it turns out, Grace took a new job herself. While she had worked with computers in Beijing, she was thrilled to take a more artistic path in the US as a lampworker. Grace says, “Bead making is much more fun!”

Getting Started

Until five years ago, Grace had no knowledge of beads at all. In September of 2002 she went to visit her sister in San Diego. While there, she went to a gallery that featured items by local artisans and saw some beautiful lampwork beads that enthralled her. She wanted to take some home, but she was surprised at the price. She says, “These beads were so expensive! Eight dollars a piece!” She decided to buy them anyway, and soon she understood why a single bead could be so pricey.

Grace fell so much in love with the lampwork beads that when she got home she started searching out the materials necessary to make her own. It was difficult to get started because she knew next to nothing about the process, and certainly did not know the specific names and terms associated with it. Finally, she found a local supplier and purchased a simple torch, glass rods, books videos, and DVDs. Next, she took classes from distinguished lampworker Kim Osibin, and found herself on her way to a new career.

Her Work

Throughout the years, Grace has developed a beautiful product and a strong work ethic. She finds it important to continue trying out new designs, and does not want to limit herself to a particular style. “When you think about a famous name, the image of the beads will show up in your mind,” says Grace, but she aims to keep her beads varied. She has some contemporary designs and some classic designs. This allows her to explore different techniques, which is a lot of fun for her, and the variety also attracts more customers.

Grace started her business working by herself, but soon she realized that she needed to hire help so she could keep up with orders, shows, and new designs. Although Grace still designs every bead herself, she has very carefully trained ten people to recreate her beads. She finds that this allows her more time to work with the torch. In a very short time, Grace has gone from strictly making beads to being a beadmaker, designer, trainer, and overseer.

The addition of staff allows Grace to travel to bead shows, which are an important part of her business because besides her website and eBay, shows are the only venues she uses to sell. Her beads can be found in 50+ stores around the country, and most of these business relationships were started at shows. In July 2004, she signed up for her very first: The Whole Bead Show in San Francisco. It opened the door to a whole new world, and her line can now be found at over thirty shows a year.

Inspiration

Grace finds inspiration in everything she sees. She always keeps her eyes on current fashion trends, and looks at people’s clothing and handbags everywhere she goes. Colors and patterns particularly inspire her. She says “One of my customers in Seattle had her nails painted turquoise, and she had a little bit of gold leaf. I loved the color combination, so I put it in my beads.” She also studies the natural colors and textures of gemstones.

Of course, Grace’s favorite beads in the world are lampwork beads. “It’s true art. I love the unexpected results, and I love the details. I appreciate the artists’ hard work and skills,” she says. In particular, she loves Kim Osibin’s beads. Grace’s former teacher was one of the first lampworkers to create beads with floral forms on them. She developed most of the techniques that are still in use today, and she taught Grace much of what she knows about colors. “Kim once had some glass rods made for her in custom colors, and she really inspired me to mix colors and develop new looks,” she says. This inspiration recently led Grace to create a new color of green glass by mixing silver foil with blue frits(fused or partially fused materials used in making glass), which has become her favorite of her own beads.

Accomplishments

Grace is justifiably proud of her work. In just four years, she has built a successful business; however, it has been a tough road. Since she has a husband and a three-year-old daughter as well as ten employees, she has sacrificed much of her personal life in order to balance both her family and business lives. She works with her staff, makes beads, or goes to shows five days a week, and finds herself using any other spare time to complete little tasks like attaching price tags to strands.

“I am so happy with my beads. I always wanted beautiful, high-quality beads, and finally I have them. My designs are getting better and better compared to four years ago when I just started,” Grace says. The positive response she receives from customers adds to the confidence she has for herself and her business. She adds, “My parents wanted me to get an academic degree and find a stable job. Art is just a hobby in their minds” Although she has strayed quite far from her original career in computers, Grace still feels that she has found a stable, respectable job. The biggest difference is that she can use the creativity she has always had but never got to use before. “I believe that after we’ve grown up, we know what we want, and we have the choice to do whatever we want. I love lampworking, so I just do it.”

www.gracebeads.com

I admit, I’ve been obsessing over baseball all Spring while contemplating life and the big changes I’ll be making to mine very soon.  The good news is…  in addition to doing shows in NY this year, I’ll be going to a lot of Mets and Yankees games in the very near future!

…If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that you should never assume you know what life is going to throw at you next. You’re going to be up against the occasional curve ball, fast balls, and even when you’re playing the best game of your life, the pitcher can nail you with a wild pitch that will land you on the DL when you least expect it. Getting back into the game I need to keep my eye on the ball, and that pitcher, while not allowing myself to fear either or the possibility of allowing history to repeat itself.

The calendar page has turned to April yet the Northeast has experienced only subtle changes to prove that Spring has finally arrived. We’re stuck in a seasonal purgatory of mild cold and rain that leaves my boots muddy and my sandals stashed away in the closet still. Luckily my internal clock seems to have instituted it’s own dramatic change of season which I am infinitely thankful for. This morning it dawned on me that inspiration doesn’t necessarily disappear on us. As artists, the challenge we are perpetually presented with is allowing ourselves to be open enough to recognize what is right in front of us and put it to good use. Obviously when dealing with something as subjective as inspiration, I can only share my personal experience in hopes that it might light a fire in another add add something positive to their creative journey

At this moment in time my Creative Spirit seems to be in a state of absolute sensory bliss. The exhilarating effects of this awakening fuel my creativity and productivity with physical, mental, and creative energy. Not to mention it puts me in a great mood even on the most dreary of days. I am finding inspiration in things that are fleeting and barely noticeable, things that have always been in front of me, and even things I once knew that have reappeared. Ideas have come to me in dreams, through collaboration with other artists, and influenced by music, friends, old work, books, and of course my boys. As a result my work has shifted in new directions, doing things I never imagined I was capable of.

Breaking out of the box and monotony of production work has been exactly what this chickadee needed. It’s empowered me to grab the tiger by the throat and shake it senseless with one hand while I use the other to jot down ideas in my notebook. Going to sleep and waking with a smile and fresh artistic vision, certainly helps to push the clouds of winter and circumstance away.

Smile. Seize the day, the inspiration, and shake your personal tiger by the throat… if you know what I mean

Take a look at new work on the Thirteen Moons Website and in my brand new shop at Etsy.com!

Have you ever felt as if the calendar is plain old kicking your ass? I can’t be the only one experiencing such beatings this winter. To date, the squares of my 2008 calendar have been paved with the best of intentions… unfortunately, intent isn’t always enough when life is treating your “to do list” and your “schedule” like mere scrap paper. The annual blissful realization that the long hard winter is finally turning to spring, has all but escaped me this year. The ice and snow of winter thoroughly enchanted me but the cold rains of March leave me longing for more blankets! I admit that I have toyed with the idea of diving back into my cave for a couple more weeks of hibernation.

Alas… I have no control over the coming of spring or any of the inevitable joys it brings. Ready or not, the rains will come, crocuses will bloom, birds will migrate, the grass will grow, and all will be alive and renewed. The truly amazing phenomenon is the transformation the changing of these seasons brings to the human psyche. Many of us will experience a true rebirth of the Creative Spirit in the coming weeks. The rains will stir our memories, only to wash them clean and leave us open to new growth. As we watch the earth around us spring back to life, so will our hopes, ambitions, and creative energies.

As the eternal optimist, I will hold tightly to my intent and carry it purposefully through the March rains. When they are over, I intend to throw the doors to my studio open, play my music good and loud, and create with a smile of joyful abandon that comes so naturally in Spring.

Featured Auction on JustBeads.com

Ending March 18th

While spending the month of January feeling, feeding, and writing about the Creative Spirit, I was also keeping it hard at work at the torch. At times my Creative Spirit shifts into overdrive, creating great volumes of new work, just to have it sit awaiting the photography and sales assembly line. Now that I have a full list of new auctions up on JustBeads.com, I can go back to the torch to create more. With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, I’ll have plenty of Angel Heart pendants and dinosaur figures to share soon. Wishing you creative days!

Autumn Dusk Maple Tree
I created this bead as a tribute to my favorite tree and the joy it brings year round.

My work can always be seen on the Thirteen Moons website, and for auction at JustBeads.com. There’s treasures for lampworkers, jewelry designers, and jewelry lovers alike.

During the holiday season we find ourselves spending most of our time following schedules and rushing to meet deadlines. This rings especially true for artists and small business owners. I often find that my most brilliant ideas come to me when I can’t possibly spend even a moment making them a reality. Talk about creative frustration! We try to cram so much into one month of joyful chaos, that when it’s over, we’re spent and a little lost.

Each Winter, most of us need to restore our artistic senses to some degree. This quiet time of year is perfect to start anew and nurture your creative spirit. When the time comes to get back to work, there are a few scenarios that as artists, we know all too well. The ideas may pour out faster than one can actually create and at other times, a little prodding to rattle the imagination is necessary. In the worst case, nothing short of committing to guerrilla warfare will do.

Here are a few inspiration seeking tricks that may come in handy when fighting off the winter chill. I always carry a small notebook with a fat rubber band around it so I can write down my ideas and refer back to them later. Along with my doodles and lists, I stick in swatches, sticky notes, clippings, leaves, and anything else that grabs my attention. I also use my camera phone as a “notebook”. The other night I saw tissue boxes with great color combinations in the grocery store. Yes, tissue boxes! I snapped a couple pics to peek at before my next torch session.

Walks in the frozen woods, bundled in boots and down, armed with my camera, always seem to help. I challenge myself to find color in the sleeping landscape. This should explain my affinity for snow covered berry bushes. Taking a class to learn a new technique is a tried and true tactic. Trying out a new tool or glass, a subtle change in your studio, a new scent, or different music while you work can help jump start new ideas too. Recently I’ve also discovered the value of the “inspirational blog collective”. It’s like having an artistic work out partner to get you moving and creating. Check out Modern Savages and Creative Every Day 2008.

Sometimes completely walking away from my normal discipline is what becomes necessary. *refer back to the camera in the woods scenario* I’ve even been known to pull out my book binding materials when I’m really stumped. Meticulously cutting and folding paper is something I can “zen out” on. That leads me to Yoga. Yoga is my quick fix for everything. Especially an achy back. When I honestly stop thinking about it and just relax, is when the amazing stuff really happens. The best idea I’ve had in a long time came to me the other day while baking cookies and dancing around the kitchen to Maroon 5 with my 2 & 5 year old sons. We LOVE dancing in the kitchen! It’s just a matter of time before we get caught doing it.

Go forth artists! Take a walk. Take a class. Buy some glass. Do a dance. Take acoustic guitar lessons. Shake those winter blues and find the inspiration your creative spirit craves! Have an amazing, creative, and productive New Year!!!

Many times over the past twelve months I declared that next year will be amazing. An eternal optimist, I can never resist the urge to crack a joke, especially in the worst of situations. The line, “maybe next year”, turned into a running joke early on. This past year, life has taken me on the proverbial roller-coaster ride. At times it felt like a kiddie ride and other times, never ending and out of control.

In 2007, I sent my oldest son off to Kindergarten, started a new website, opened a shop and glass studio, began teaching again, and ventured into tool manufacturing. I took steps to remove myself from bad situations and dove head first into new ones. I followed my instincts even when they scared the hell out of me. I felt intense happiness, great inspiration, grew artistically, and emotionally. I let my heart get pounded like a volleyball, fought to hold on to things I thought were important, accomplished things I’ve dreamed about for years, and realized sometimes you need to just let go and leave things up to chance. I received excellent advice and often ignored it, hurdled obstacles, and dusted myself off when I didn’t quite clear them. I also took time to enjoy simple things, just breath, live in the moment, laugh until it hurt, hug my boys until they couldn’t take it anymore, take walks in the woods, enjoy the warm sun on my face, and a crisp breeze on my neck. The simplest joys are most important to me.

In the past year I learned a lot about myself. I need to surrender to the fact that I can’t control everything, can’t do everything, or be everything… I’m only human. I learned lessons about trust, ambition, following my heart, expectations, forgiveness, and that sometimes there are just no answers. I came to appreciate what a truly extraordinary group of friends I have. I’ve realized that one can never expect to achieve their goals or find true happiness if they’re not willing to take a chance and work at it. For that, I hold no regrets. Time is never wasted when you learn from your lessons, whether they bring you joy or pain. Most importantly I’ve realized how very strong I am and that I’m “capable” of just about anything I put my mind to.

With that in mind, I declare that 2008 may not go according to plan but it is going to be an amazing year! I hope yours is too! Salute!

Today unexpectedly turned out to be amazingly good for my soul. I found myself in the rare position of having the house and shop all to myself. The second snow storm of the week promised a peaceful and productive day. My plan for the day was to drastically shorten my “to do list” and clear my mind. I tinkered in the shop to the sweet sounds of Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan, then fired up my torch, and filled my kiln with holiday special orders. In the house I strung berry garlands, hung lights, and readied the Christmas tree for decorating this evening. I checked so many items off my list that I decided I deserved a relaxation reward.

I wandered off for a walk in the snow with my camera and a content heart. The world transforms under a blanket of new snow and seems full of whimsical possibility. It brings out the kid in me, presents the landscape in a fresh light, and infects me creatively. The peaceful quiet fills me up and stirs my thoughts. Walks in the beach side woods as a child, pond skating, the joy of making snow angels… memories of previous ambitions, the heat of a love past, a scent, a touch, a song, of lessons learned, and times in my life when I felt most alive, all crossed my mind. As I made my way back home across the fields, I thought optimistically of the coming new year and of all the amazing things I’ll be capable of accomplishing in it.

Feeling rejuvenated, yet chilled, I decided to sit and warm up with a glass of wine next to my newly lit Christmas tree before heading back to work. Normally I drink red wine but today I opened a bottle of a Long Island Rosé I had been saving for a “rainy day”. Thinking so much of the past and looking towards the future made me realize I should just enjoy it now. I’m not the type of person let a good thing like an extraordinary snowy day or a glass of Rosé under the Christmas tree pass me by.

Seize your joy and have a wonderful Holiday Season!

Over the past few weeks my life has been in hyper drive. I’ve written a million blog posts in my head but never actually sat down to type them. Keeping up with normal business and getting the shop ready for it’s grand opening this past weekend didn’t leave much room for slowing down. Now that the big event has come and gone things are finally slowing to the normal fast pace I’m used to.

It’s been fun going to work in my own place everyday. Each day at noon I open the door, turn on all of the display lights, light the candles, hook up the iPod, and then sit and admire my creation. After being a working studio for so long, it’s come a long way from the half empty pole barn it was just a few weeks ago. Over the course of the day my “To Do List” grows at breakneck speed. Laminate flooring and track lighting are at the top of the list, along with buying blue thumbtacks and a new stapler. I’ll tell you why they need to be blue some other time.

Currently there’s work on display from eight Pennsylvania based artisans with several more planning to come in between now and January. We have the most delicious soy candles from Lisa Colyer’s Teaberry Mountain Candles, stunning stained glass pieces by Edwin Jameson, cuddly and stylish knits from Bad Kitty Knits’ Sue Draus, unique hand painted stationary and cards by Kristy Rice of Momental Designs, dichroic fused glass Tree of Life pendants by Jenn Feldman, Blue Violet Designs jewelry by Nancy Lotz, one of a kind handbags by Nicole Cook, blown art glass by resident artist Jeremiah Jones, plus my own line of Thirteen Moons Designs hot glass and lampwork jewelry.

The greatest part of this venture is taking the opportunity to promote and support other artists along with my own work. My biggest challenge is going to be finding “normal” and balancing between creating my own work, teaching, and running the shop. I think my boss will go easy on me until I get the hang of it though.

If you’re in Northeast PA, please support our local artists and take a peek at the beautiful selection of unique, handcrafted gifts they have to offer here at Thirteen Moons.