The big bead show.

You are reading the blog of a very excited and worried lady this evening!!! I have just laid out the beads and jewellery that I am selling for "The Big Bead Show" and you can see it above. I have never done this before so I have no idea if there is enough stock here. It looks to little to me but I have no time now for making anything else! D Day is looming and time will tell, this is a learning curve as well. I should go off enjoy it and learn from it.
TTFNx

Beaders Showcase

One of the things I truly love about the internet is the way that information can be shared. Julie from "Lush Lampwork" left a post on Frit Happens saying that she was one of this weeks featured artists on beaders showcase (http://www.beadersshowcase.com/). so...I potter over to this site and have a look and sign up to it so I am now a member! Now..I had a bit of a quandry! Does this mean I am copying Julie, stalking her almost or is it just me taking an opportunity to showcase my work and get myself known a bit more!!! I did stop thinking about this quite quickly cos it is not copying or stalking or anything like that...when you have a community of people like we have on Frit Happens information like this gets shared around. This is how we find things out. It is healthy and normal to do this! I have some artists whom I particularly admire for various reasons and they volunteer information through the various forums and mediums that I interact with them. If it can help me as an artist then I would be foolish to pass up the opportunity to use that information!

As an artist I am developing my style I have no illusions that my style will be "finalised" in the near future cos I am learning! I don't have that much time on the torch compared to others! I think I have discussed this on another post! Dots feature heavily in my work at the moment but thats not to say they are my "signature" just a technique I have been practising and am getting comfortable with! But I do look around other peoples work and get ideas and inspiration! I NEVER blatantly copy work I always try to put my own spin on it! This is another debate that I am not going to get into here cos it is quite heated when it gets going!!! But dots are dots! Flowers are flowers etc! It is what you do with them that marks you as an individual and this is what I am developing.

Networking is so important and the internet is a most wonderful tool for this! As I develop my business I am surprised at how much time I spend on the net. My hubby is getting a bit hacked off I think!!! But it is my support system, my teacher, my idea bouncer around and most importantly the people I have "met" and spoken to are my friends! Getting into beads has been fantastic for me and I love it!
TTFNx

Art clay fingerprint necklace

This picture and the one below are 2 commissions that I have made this week. The pictures are not the best cos they were taken on my phone but you get the idea! Both of them are fingerprints embellished with some of my handmade glass beads. I am really enjoying making these! The look on peoples faces when they get something that personal. Despite it being an obvious design each one is completely unique. One off bead unique fingerprint etc. totally personal and individual. If you are interested in this as a gift or a present to yourself then please go to my website and contact me! Obviously I need to be able to visit you so you will need to be in Kent!!!

59 days till Christmas guys.....

TTFNx

Art clay fingerprint necklace

Tree decorations and Tagging

Here are my angels made up as tree decorations. Cute huh!

I have also been tagged!!! What is this I hear you call...well the rules are simple:

Here are the rules for tagging:

1. Link to your tagger and display these rules on your blog

2. Share 7 facts about yourself - some random, some WEIRD

3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by including links to their blogs

4. Let them know they've been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog

So...I need to think on this for a while! 7 facts mmmm.....

Thanks to Bumpy Beads for tagging me! Quite a nice way of getting links and getting yourself known! Blimey who do I tag!!! Do I know 7 blogs? Of course I do!

Going to think now! 7 facts.....

Right I am back; 7 facts:

1) I once followed Tom Robbins (Shawshank Redemption) around a museum in Canada

2) I have been on a wolf howl in Algonquin National Park in Canada

3) I was once deported from America (I am not a national threat though!!!)

4) I am about to do my first bead show

5) I used to play the piano and clarinet

6) I can rollerskate

7) I broke my leg skiing in 1986

my chosen taggee's are:

Sarah Downton (http://blog.sarahdownton.co.uk/index.php)

Crafted Gems (http://craftedgems.blogspot.com/)

Zeldazog (http://zeldazog.blogspot.com/)

ChatElaine (http://chatelainejewellery.blogspot.com/)

Keiara (http://bykeiara.co.uk/page9.htm)

Emma (http://littlebeadshop.blogspot.com/)

Sarah Hornik (http://blog.glassbysarah.com/)

TTFNx

One week to go...

So...this time next week my first bead show will be over! How will it have gone? Will I have fun? Am I sweating just thinking about it? I am looking forward to it, I have put loads of time into prepping it and actually managed to get 3 days off this week (normal day off Wednesday and 2 days annual leave on Thursday and Friday) to really prepare for it. I am going to set out my table on the dining room table at home and take picures of it so I can replicate it on the saturday and not get to bogged down just before the show starts.
My sister is coming with me so Tony gets childminding duty...not that he minds bless him, a day with the girls is cool for him. Got the final burn this week to get as much stock made as possible. I made more angels an snowmen last night and should try to make some more cos I think they may be popular!

I may be a bit more quiet than usual getting ready for the show but make sure to keep popping in and checking I will gopssip when I can.

One other thing before I go...the last couple of weeks have been quite surreal from a Facebook perspective. People I went to school with have found me and loads of pictures have made their way onto the net of my old school friends. Hello Rob, Andrea, Elle, Becky, Clare, Kevin, Gary, Jackie, Teresa, Jo and Matt, bizarre or what but so nice to hear from people I have not seen for some 20 years (except Jo and Teresa I see you guys loads!!!)

TTFNx

I am gonna take the plunge....

....having got my insurance sorted out and from my feedback from my one foray into teaching I have decided to go for it! I am going to offer people the chance to have a 2 hour session on my torch! This will include health and safety discussion, information about the glass available to use, how to make a basic round bead and a few other things! It is not a really long session but I think is appropriate for my level of experience on the torch! I have still got so much to learn and such a long way to go but I enjoy what I do and I would love to offer others the chance to "have a go". I know enough people to refer new starters onto if they want to pursue lampworking.
I will evaluate things over the next few months to see how it goes a bit of suck it and see!!!

The other thing I have decided to do it my fingerprint jewellery with the art clay and PMC. In the last week I have had 4 orders for fingerprints pendants and the people I sell them to love them. So on that basis I have decided to advertise locally, especially with Christmas coming. One of the local primary schools is having a craft fair at the end of November so I will see if I can get a table there and do some fingerprint pendants for people there!

All this on top of the show in just over 1 week. I have become a little obsessed with the Christmas theme as you can tell from recent posts! The angel beads I made have gone down really well despite their "deformed" wings, people tell me they add to the character of them! Anyway I have 3 orders for angel sets! I made them into tree decorations, must take some pictures and show you guys what they look like! They are quite cute!

All in all things are quite good at the mo especially considering how rough things have been for me lately. I am in quite a good place, fairly happy, not to moody and life is good! Long may it last!

TTFNx

Earrings!

So I have been busy making Christmas theme beads (in case you hadn't noticed!!!) Excuse the poor quality photos they are on my camera phone. Aren't they fab!!! I am totally lovin these! More to make to sell at the show!

Angels and snowmen

Angels and snowmen

I have made angels and snowmen. Getting into the christmas theme my angels wings are a bit stumpy but they are kinda cute. I like em!

Christmas trees

Me and tony

I have just set my phone up so I can blog on the go! how cool is that then! Anyway some of my pictures are a bit out of date and my daughter took this one of me and my hubby on her phone and it really touched me that she kept it. I got her to bluetooth it to me and here it is!

So now I have my phone set up for blogging I can get pictures wherever!!! he he he you guys are in for a treat!!!

Whilst I am here I guess I can fill you in very briefly (cos I am at work!). The beads are going very well and I am getting a nice lot together for the show in less thahn 2 weeks now! I am still bloody nervous but hopeful for a good day. Whatever happens I am going to meet some fab people who have been very supportive to me and I am going to have a brill day. My sister is coming with me, she is a walking advert for me so should be good fun all round.

TTFNx

Mmm...nice beads!

I love these bead sets! perhaps it is not good for the creator to feel so happy with their creations that they shout about them but you know me not one for standing on ceremony! I LOVE THESE BEADS. I am so happy with the way they look and feel! They are quite big for me 13mm hole to hole but the fab thing about working with a bigger canvas is that you can get more detail in! The trick is to know when to stop! I really wanted to enter these into the Beads and Beyond competion but I am so darned proud of them that I have decided to showcase them! Sometimes I think I may have a chance at making a bit of a living out of this beading malarkey. You know what would make it for me though...I so want to see someone make something out of my beads! I have sold a few beads now but no-one has ever emailed me pictures of their creations with my creations and I would love to see what people make of my work! Oh well...one day maybe!

Things are going well for the Big Bead Show! Clock is ticking not long now! I still need way more stock but I am getting there and production is good. I was gonna list on my website but I am gonna hold fire till after the big bead show! I need all the stock I can get! I think I will post em all on Flickr in case anyone has a burning desire for my beads! Who am I to refuse.....?

Yes...go look at Flickr I have posted em all on there!!!

TTFN x

I have had fun today

I have been making beads. I am still in dotty mayhem mode but I have gone large! (Big mac and fries with that!!!) I have made 2 sets that I am completely chuffed to bits with. One of them has been cleaned and temporarily strung already the other set is in the kiln I will have to see what the kiln fairies leave me in the morning! I think I may have my competition entry! But I am so chuffed with them that I wanna show em off! Mm...will have to see what I think in the morning! maybe play with the design a bit more and refine it before I submit it!

What I have realised is that I am not that brill with the presses. So...I sold them! I have just bought one that I am waiting to be delivered but this is one that I have been after for a while the others were impulse buys cos they seemed like a good idea!

I have 2 orders for the art clay fingerprint pendants and a third just waiting for the necklaces to be delivered so I am doing ok again at the moment! I hope this continues and that the bead show is successful as well. As much as I keep telling myself not to expect to much my hopes are high!!

Right I need food so I am off now. See you soon...Oh and a photo session is booked for tomorrow evening so stock will be going up on the website tomorrow or Thursday so don't forget to have a look!!!

TTFNx

It's gonna be a nice day!

I am up early today cos Tony was up at half 5 to watch the qualifying for the F1 and has now gone back to bed so it has fallen to me to get up with the girls! This is quite early for me for the weekend and especially since I have been back on the prozac cos that makes me sleep for England!

Anyway whats new?...I had a big clean out in my studio (shed!) last night and have decided to sell my stash of shop bought beads that I got when I started making jewellery. I don't make as much jewellery as I used to instead I am concentrating more on glass beads and my silver core beads and then added to that I am making my PMC and Art Clay designs. I have kept some stuff back so I can make jewellery if I get some major inspiration. What this does mean is that my studio is better laid out now for me to torch and as I now have insurance I can pursue the teaching thing! I did some teaching earlier this year and quite enjoyed it. This is a quote from what my student posted on the Frit Happens forum:

"Can I just say how much of fantastic tutor she has been? I have had so much fun today. Not only does she teach well. but she made me feel so much at ease from the minute I walked in the door. I was worried that when it came to making beads it wouldnt live up to my expectations, but it more than did. Sam is wonderful, she was really patient with me and encouraged me at all the right points. the best bit for me really was seeing all the techniques come together to make a pretty bead, and also when she let me have "play time" and let me just have a go at creating something (which hopefully will turn out ok).Can I also say that Sam's work is fantastic! She let me peek in her "fugly" box and I found some perfect beads and sets in there. She is amazing and doesn't realise how good she is!!"

I know that is only feedback from one person but it makes me feel good and maybe I wil pursue the teaching thing. I will only offer 2 hour taster sessions at the moment and only one to one cos I have no room for more in my studio and probably only 1 or 2 weekends a month but this is a strong possibility! Mmmm....something to think about I think!

I have got loads of beads made keep an eye out on here cos some of them are for the bead show and won't be on my website for sale but I will put some on my website. All of them will end up on Flickr as well so you can go there and have a look see...

Right best be off breakfast beckons
TTFNx

Hip hip hooray...

...I made some beads tonight!

TTFNx

Aargh!!! Tax returns...

...so now I am self employed I have the pleasure of the yearly tax return. I can do it by paper and send it in by the end of October or via the Internet by the end of January. I have decided to submit it now! After throwing up when I opened the return (cos I hate numbers!!!) I sought some advice. I have a friend who is an accountant and another friend who works for the IR. I spoke to the friend in IR and have got my head around the form. The completely funny thing is that I started trading at the beginning of March so only have something like 4 weeks trading to account for. My net profit (and takings!!) amounts to £11. Whoo Hoo!!! at least it is a profit ha ha ha! Seriously if I don't submit it I get a £100 fine but £11 I ask you! I think the friend who is an accountant will come in handy next year!

So...other news....well not a huge amount actually. Things are incredibly quiet selling wise. I think people are pulling spending in cos of this "credit crunch" I think things will get worse before they get better. Not that I am a politician or banker not by any stretch of the imagination but if the news is about rescue packages for UK banks then things must be a bit dodgy!

Still minimal beading but tomorrow night I am planning on getting some beading in. I have got 20 odd days till the show and need more beads...lots more beads!

Right I think it is time for bed now getting late an all that, catch ya soon

TTFNx

Art clay and beads.

Well I have finally got some new stock listed on my website! Not much cos I gotta keep some back for the show in less that a months time! I have listed my Art Clay Silver stuff though! I have really enjoyed making these over the last week and today I made a ring! Things started out well but whilst I was sanding it ready for firing it snapped in half!!! I managed to get it back together with lots of slip and speaking nicely to it! and fired it...et voila! I am wearing it as we speak! it fits my thumb although not the thumb I measured it up for! Apparently one of my thumbs is skinnier that the other! Anyway I am wearing it and I am chuffed to bits!

Not a lot else to say really I didn't manage to get any beads done tonight cos my head is fit to split! This is the problem when you go back onto Prozac! I got about another week to 10 days of these then hopefully they should settle! Hopefully they will settle my mood swings which are getting pretty dire and just generally even me out a bit! Hormones eh!!!!

Right I am off aforementioned headache is getting quite bad so I am off to bed! Let me know what you think of my ring and I will catch y'all laters

TTFNx

Conkers...

...We have just been down the park again...honest I think Savannah would live there given half a chance...anyway on our way home we found a conker lying on the floor, a quick scout around and we found quite a few of them. So we picked them up and bought them home! Now what do I do with them I mean I know you play conkers with them but in this health and safety and PC climate conkers is practically a banned sport!!! So what am I going to do with them? You know what will happen... they will be left lying around and someone will trip on them and they will fall to the bottom of a toybox and be found in 6 months time all shrivelled up!!!You know what though I don't care they are such an important childhood thing that they can hang around as long as they need to! How many of you can remember getting conkers off the trees and putting them in the airing cupboard to ripen up and then sticking them in the oven to harden them!!! I remember getting skewers to make holes and threading shoelace through it!!! I never won anything tho! For those of you interested I have found a useful site on the rules etc of conkers follow this link and enrich your day!!! http://www.bbc.co.uk/norfolk/kids/conkers_3.shtml
You know the other thing about conkers is that it means autumn is here, chilly days, frosty misty mornings, Christmas round the corner but first Halloween and bonfire night. Evenings spent indoors snuggled up on the sofa and a good book! I love summer but I love this time of year as well!

I am hoping to get into shed tonight and make some beads or failing that I will photograph some stock to get onto my website I really have to get motivated to get some beads made. Things are getting quite busy what with the bead show coming up in 5 weeks (or is it less...???). Must make some beads!

TTFNx

Oohhh...I like silver

I love Art Clay and PMC. I made these last night. Sorrythe picture is not that fab but you get the gist I hope! The little heart earrings are not for sale but the rest will be when I get them photographed by my hubby! I am seriously quite pleased with them. I spent an inordinate amount of time filing and making sure they were as good as possible before firing them. I am sure they are not perfect but is that not the thing with handmade jewellery. I mean they are handmade and not mass produced shop bought things. They will have little flaws, very little flaws maybe only I can see them or am aware of them but you buy one of these and there will be very few others and in many cases no one else wearing these cos I don't very often repeat a design.

As you can tell I am very much in love with PMC and I can incorporate my beads with it as well and it works! I wonder if anyone would be interested in buying them.....

TTFNx

OMG!!!

Just browsing the magazines at my local WHSmiths this afternoon and I find my name in print in the advert for "The Big Bead Show". OMG!!! I mean it is not much really I guess just my name amongst all the exhibitors but it is mine and it is there!!!! Enough exclamation marks !

That put a bit of a shine on my day! I guess those of you who check in regularly know I have been a bit flat of late! I visited my GP today who has decided (with me I guess) to restart me on my anti depressants. Not strictly for the antidepressant effect but more to control my ever spiralling mood swings and anger! Oh what it is to be a woman and be a slave to hormones! So...back on the meds! I just hope I can control the sleeping problems this time! Last time I was on them I could sleep for England, dose was a bit higher tho so hopefully it won't be as bad!

Onto lighter stuff - I got 51 beads out of my kiln this morning! A few sets and some fugleys that are good enough to sell at the show, things are looking up. I also got my Art clay order through this afternoon so I will be playing with that tonight. I have had such a fab response to my fingerprint pendant that people are asking me to do them to sell so hey who am I to refuse an offer like that! It will all be good pratice for using the clay and I will only be making small and simple pendants for the time being! But expansion is on the horizon. I will probabaly not be doing the instructors course for a while but I will definitely like to do some course in PMC or Art Clay soon. As I am not going to shell out for the instructors course yet then doing some more lampworking days with other teachers also looks likely so I get best of both worlds! Ha!

Right enough burble for today! I am off to clean beads and think about what to make with my clay! I wil post pictures!

TTFN x