Custom Blues

Well, I guess as the old saying goes, "You win some, you lose some; and some get rained out". I was so excited at the end of the week because I had a convo on Etsy to make up a custom wreath, I sold my Truely Turquoise necklace and I had been commissioned outside of Etsy to make up a necklace and earrings for a lady in Texas. Yesterday, I finished up the necklace and earrings and purchased the greenery that I needed for the wreath. Today I spent close to 2 hours working to create the wreath and was pleased with my end result. We got a break in the clouds and I photographed both jewelry and floral and emailed pictures to the prospective buyers. Hallelujah, the jewelry was a hit, buyer was thrilled, seller is thrilled, happy ending. That's my win some. Unfortuneately, wreath buyer backed out. Wasn't what she wanted after all but I still listed it to Etsy because it's a good design and someone else may grab it up. I guess that's my "some get rained out". The Truely Turquoise necklace is still sitting here, all packaged up with no where to go. I have not heard boo from the buyer since I got the Etsy email informing me of the purchase Thursday night. So I'm not sure where to go from here. I guess if I don't have confirmation of payment by Tuesday, that will be over 4 days and I will figure out how to cancel the sale. That's my lose some.

Uplifting!

It's been a while since I've posted. Been busy with life, the good and the not so good. Have two loved ones right now with health issues and naturally, that is worrisome. One will have resolution soon but the other will not, primarily due to lack of health insurance. I will help what I can, but it will be a struggle to put together the money so treatment can be obtained. My job has been very stressful for a while now and I feel I'm burning out. What keeps me sane and keeping on is my family and my art. My grandson "graduated" from Early Headstart this week at the ripe old age of 3. We had a lovely evening in our little local park and zoo, eating pizza and cupcakes and watching the kids all get their pictures taken in a little cap and gown. Ashton was not too keen on wearing the cap or gown but he had a blast looking at the animals and running with the other children. His sister's favorite part was her cupcake. Emily's 10 months and managed to get more frosting on her face than in her mouth! Of course, Grandma got pictures.

Then there's my beads and my floral work. I finally got my September challenge piece done this past week and I am very proud of it. I feel it's one of the best pieces I've ever done. Evidently, others think so too, because I have received so many compliments from people who have seen it. In fact, this evening when I logged in to Etsy (after a Very long day at work) I found two convos waiting for me. Convos are always very exciting! The first was from someone inquiring if I would make a custom wreath. Evidently, they liked my Kansas Color wreath well enough to get in touch with me. Of course, I responded in the affirmative so we'll see where that leads. Hopefully, to a sale and a satisfied customer. The second convo was from a fellow EBW'er and even though it was not about a sale, it probably lifted my spirits as much or more than a sale. She convo'd me just to tell me how much she admired my Tears of Joy and was very lavish in her compliments. I've looked at the things in her shop and she has some pretty amazing things herself, so I considered this high praise, indeed. To receive the recognition of ones peers is something I think we all strive for as designers and artists. I'm going to try to follow her example and when I see something that really moves me, I'm going to make the extra effort to let that person know. I know I'm going to be riding high for a while because someone took the time to share with me. Thanks!

Productivity!!

Wow! Talk about getting things done. This has been a great weekend, creative wise. Thought I was going to be out of town for at least half the weekend but circumstances and a lot of rain kept me home. So I decided to make the best of it. I have a show coming up the latter part of September and really need to get busy building inventory. I must say, I exceeded my expectations for productivity. I've been having so much fun with the watch faces I recently purchased. I bought a lot of ten and so far have six of them made up. Three were this weekend's creations. The one I really, really love is the all silver one I did using spiral peyote weave. It incorporates silver plated 3 mm beads with silverlined seed beads to create a very elegant watch band. I almost have a red spiral weave bracelet done also. Should finish it this evening but probably too late to photograph and post.

My other creations this weekend were floral designs. I love doing what I call "Kansas" wreaths for my fall shows. We have a lot of whitetail deer, pheasants and wild turkeys here and the antlers and feathers look terrific with the fall leaf colors, the sunflowers, grasses and fall flowers. I designed and built four yesterday, but only managed to get two photgraphed before my camera battery died. I think I will also list these two on Etsy.

I Can't Believe I Beaded the Whole Thing!

Did you ever snip that last thread or wire or close the last jump ring on a piece, then hold it up to look at it and then think, "Wow, did I do that? There must have been some bead fairy that came in and took control of my fingers or something because I can't believe I did all that beautiful work." Well, that's the way I feel about my latest piece. It turned out so perfect, just the way I had envisioned it in my head when I started the first bead in the spiral. Which is strange, because it just sort of evolved (as do most of my best pieces). I found this art glass pendant at a bead store and fell in love with the colors. It reminded me of flowers and fall. I had to laugh when I got it home and looked at the description printed on the card and it called it a star fish. Still looks flowery to me. I delved into my stash of seed beads and Czech firepolish beads to find colors to go with and came up with olive, brown and root beer (don't you love the name!) seed beads and metallic apricot, light bronze, bronze and iris brown firepolish. I used the olive for the spine in the spiral because it's the background color in the pendant and worked the other colors around it. I didn't want any silver on it, which is what I usually use for fasteners, so I made a beaded ball and loop closure. Autumn Star Flower is what I chose to name it. I had also found two smaller "star flowers" that matched so there are also Autumn Star Flower earrings. Don't you just love it when stuff just all comes together!

Busy Beading Week

Seems like since joining Etsy and EBW, I've become more active with my jewelry making. Before, I would make a piece here and there but then a month or so before a show, I'd panic and start beading like crazy. Very stressful, but somehow I'd manage to have enough inventory by the time the show rolled around even though I do the same thing with my floral designs. Etsy and EBW constantly inspire me to be more creative. Just this last week, I've finished three watches, two necklaces and started on a third. This afternoon, alone, I've designed and built four floral arrangements. Wish I could do beadweaving as fast! My first show of the fall season is Sept. 19 and 20. Oh my gosh, that's not much more than 6 weeks away. Guess I've done it again, in spite of everything! Okay, panic mode engaged. Back to beading!