The Big Bead Show and some interesting observations!

Saturday is fast approaching and I am on the final countdown to getting ready for the Big Bead Show. I am really looking forward to it not least cos I will be catching up with old friends and hopefully meeting lots of new ones. I have also had a chance to reflect a little on the past year as it was The Big Bead show last year where I basically debuted myself!!!

What have I achieved this year, well I can now encase beads, my dot placement has come on in leaps and bounds I have got my head around using presses. I have fallen in love with silvered ivory stringer and use it in practically every darn bead ATM ;o)

I have established a business that I continue to promote and since the summer I have been doing this as my full time job. I am having a ball. I feel like my beads have definitely started to grow up a bit and finally I don't feel like a complete newbie. I know I have been torching since July 2007 but I only got some 6 - 8 hours a week if I was lucky. This week so far I have done some 12 hours and it is only Wednesday. I still have so much to learn and some many more skills to master but you know what there is no rush! Yes my beads are simple but you know what I am finally comfortable with that. Many other lampwork artists strive to make complex and beautiful beads with infinite detail and don't get me wrong I want that but people still need simple beads for their pieces of jewellery and right now these people are my market!

My aim for the next 12 months; firstly to get my Art clay / PMC certification and secondly I really want to go on some glass courses to help me to develop these skills more!

Enough of that I have a few beads to show you. The first picture is a sample of the goodies I will be taking with me to the show on saturday. The second picture needs a little more explaination but I will let you look first.

The large pink and white bead is my first attempt at a focal bead with stripes! Much refining needed but a style I like! The 2 dotty beads are an example of what happens when you use incompatible glasses. The base is Bullseye violet striker with clear encasing and then what I thought was Bullseye white dotted around but when I took them out the kiln and cleaned them I realised the glass was cracking around the dots and therefore I had probabaly picked up some Effeter white and not Bullseye! I am normally very good about keeping my different glasses separated but obviously failed here but an interesting thing for you all to see.
The 2 bottom beads are Bullseye French Vanilla with Silvered French Vanilla round them. They were both on the same mandrel and were made with the same rod of French Vanilla and the same stringer so what happened to get 2 very different beads I am unsure! Any suggestions gratefully received.

Right enough blabbering I have beads to price up and earrings to make so must dash! Don't forget to come and say hi to me if you are at Sandown on Saturday I would love to meet you.

Oh and one final thing...the first 10 people to spend over £30 with me you will get a handmade (by me!) mini tote bag with a pair of earrings and a scrummy chocolate in free!! Here is a little preview!

TTFN xx

Mmmm.....options

Well unfortunately I did not get the job I applied for. I say unfortunately but I am not sure that is accurate. All the platitudes in the world did not help me yesterday it was not fate, there is nothing just around the bloody corner I was incredibly angry.

Today I have perspective. I am a fatalist, what will be will be, whether there is a "higher being" that influences what happens to us or whether our future is pre ordained etc who knows but bottom line I did not get the job, get over it and move on!!!

My totally awesome husband (who is materialistically driven and incredibly stressed by the potential money problems I am about to cause) is being so completely supportive and unselfish I completely adore him! we spent ages last night talking about options some of which I had already discussed with my extremely sensible and pragmatic sister and I have some options open to me, some less savoury than others but all have to be considered. I refuse to make a knee jerk reaction to my blinkered perception of what may be a crap situation and see it for what it is still an opportunity to grasp my life with both hands and enjoy it! Yes money is an issue but so is quality of life and I will make the right decision at the right time.

I have put things in place over the last 24 hours...contingency plans if you like. I have emailed the CAB and am awaiting their advice on potential benefits I may be able to claim, not holding out much hope as this is a self inflicted situation! But you never know! I am going to a meeting next Tuesday with my local Business Link to develop and plan to boost my sales and identify potential sources of money to help me move my business forward. Making beads and jewellery full time or a lot more hours than I currently do is definitely an option and my gorgeous husband keeps talking about giving me his huuugeee shed to convert it to my workspace and set up a second station so I can offer tuition on a more permenant basis!

I have been to the bank manager and I MAY (MAY) be able to claim on my payment protection plan for my loan to help us out a bit. I say may but it is unlikely as I have had depression before and I should have 2 clear years before making a claim and you know what banks are like if there is a loophole they will exploit it!!! But again there is something I can explore to make our life a little easier for the moment!

I MAY be able to take a mortgage break or swap to interest only for a while again to help out. All things that are good to have in my armoury.

Options, options, options!!! All need careful consideration!

Right best go photograph my beads and bags whilst there is some sun and update my Etsy and website very soon and Imogen is off school today as it is student review day and I have an appointment for noon to see how her first year at senior school has gone!!!

TTFN xxx

Well I tried my best.....

I had my interview today for the job I hope to be successful in getting. I find it really hard to assess how well things like this go. I think (hope) it went well. Just gotta wait now and see and fingers crossed it will go my way!

I have managed to get a few beadies made this week and I have been quite secretive in showing them off to you. They will be uploaded to my website tomorrow and I am hoping to get a couple of bags and / or business card holders up for sale as well in my Etsy shop.

Right best be off things to do and children to sort out!!!
TTFN xx

Proud to announce....

...my new idea!

I am making bags as well as glass beads and jewellery! The picture above is my first bag that is good enough to be sold! It is a bit skewiff! The handles are not in line BUT....it is finished well and looks totally lush, very summery and holiday like I think and to top it all off a matching bracelet.
This set is available to purchase in my Etsy shop and I hope it will be followed very quickly with other goodies!

Been quiet on the beading front due to my new obsession with sewing and also that it is quite warm during the day and we have had a couple of storms and some nights where storms threaten and I don't like putting the kiln on when it is thundering. still hoping to get a full day torching tomorrow (provided the sewing machine does not kidnap me on my way past ;o) )

The auction I ran on Just Beads flopped abysmally. I am not sure why to be honest. I think the website is new and just getting going again many of the lampwork auctions had no bids against them so I don't think it was me or my beads. I think I will give it a few months and have another look then!

Right best be off! Thanks for dropping by.
TTFN x

Bags and beads and job interview!

I have made a bag!! Actually I have made loads but this is the final finished version! I am quite chuffed with it and think that over the next few days / weeks I will be making these to sell!!! I have not had much beading time these last few days so when I have finished writing this I am off up the studio, the kiln is warming up as we speak and a few ideas are bubbling! Don't think it is going to be a spectacular day but it will be nice to sit up there and make beads.

I have challenged Tony to come up with a system for me to hold 2 mandrels together so I can make glass buttons for my bags. There is a system available but only in the US so I thought I could challenge him to rig me something up! Watch this space!

One final piece of news totally unrelated to beads or bags! I have an interview for a new job on 30th June. Got to do a 10 minute presentation so got loads of stuff about that floating around my head as well now!!!

Right best be off kiln time is a wasting...... and I gotta make more goodies for you guys to drool over and buy ;o) (please!)

Have a lovely day
TTFN x

Tonights offering!

I have got the sewing machine out again tonight and made this! It is a business card holder from an Amy Butler pattern free on the Internet. I think I may have a new hobby. Again there are a few errors but I personally think it is 100% better than the bag last night I felt so much more confident and using the pattern really helped me not to make stoopid novice mistakes! I should stop being so hard on myself I am a sewing novice so mistakes are to be expected!!!

Other news...My GP has signed me off for another 2 weeks. Generally I don't feel to bad except when I am with people! I have withdrawn completely and am very happy at home making beads and sewing and generally being my own company. I am getting out and about like Tesco's shopping but not really seen or spoken to anyone for 2 weeks except on here. I am on the Frit Happens forum a little bit still but quieter than usual. Bizarrely the anxiety is becoming an issue but hopefuly over the next 2 - 4 weeks things should settle down as the new meds kick in!

Tony has friends coming down from London this weekend so very little sewing or beads will be made, it is someone I have met before so it will be good for me to come out of my shell a bit and see how being in company affects me! Be Monday before I get to the machine or the torch again!

Anyway best be off, thank you for sticking with me and for listening to me it is appreciated
TTFN xxx

You are not allowed to laugh.....

Ta Dah!!! My new venture. I have not sewn anything other than curtains since I was at secondary school!!! So I have been having some really vivid dreams sinces my medication has been changed and one of these was about making my own bags! What you can see in the photos above and below is my first attempt! I have made some very stupid and basic errors but I worked without a pattern and have learnt loads! I am going to make bags to sell my beads in as well as handbags and tote bags! (Once I have had significant amounts of practice!!!)

My eldest daughter (bless her) loves this bag and has snaffled it for herself. I love my daughter!

I am relaunching my Belita beads soon and am making little pouches for them and I will offer standard wrapping for my beads and jewellery at no extra cost but for that something a little special I will offer my little bags for a small cost!

Watch this space.. I hope your sides are ok after all that laughing!!!

TTFNxx