More change

As a person that went to school for interior design, you would think I would appreciate change in my interior design more.  lol.  But it seems that in my old age, status quo is comfortable.  Change throws a monkey wrench into things.  So imagine my surprise that along with all the design ideas rattling around in my brain lately, came the idea of how I needed to change my studio space.  Which meant cleaning off and moving not one, but TWO, cases full of stuff.  I wish I had a before pic - in fact I thought I had one somewhere, so I didn't take one.  Can't find it though, I'm assuming it's lost somewhere in the 'tween of the old laptop to new laptop transfer.  But anyway....here is the after.  Ah.  Much better.  Doors that close to not only hide some of clutter (mostly display boards and trays), but also to protect some of the jewelry pieces from light, dust and dog hair. 

Basically, the blond cabinet with doors is what I added, and removed the open book shelf that was standing there. ( I switched spaces with them - the bookshelf now has it's home in the dark of the hallway. ) And you can't see it very well in this photo, but the matching shelving unit to the blond cabinet is on the far end of my desk, holding all the trays of seed beads ~ color coded, of course.  This feels better, and gives more room behind me - it was gettin' hard to roll around back there!  I would still like to add a shelf to the wall in front of the desk, but am happy with what I've done.  For now.  It all really started with the thought that, come November, when I participate in the Holidays in Holt craft show, that there could be literally 100's of people passing through my house - so I need as much under cover as possible, not just to make it look nicer, but for safety too.  I know, November is a loooooong way away, but with the show schedule quickly coming, and the HOPE of having much free veranda lounging time this summer, the sooner I get that one thing out of the way, the better.
Well, back to the bead table for my last day of beading freedom.  I've completed several pair of earrings, the black and white cab piece I posted on Facebook, and completed the layout on the design board of how the strap will look for that piece as well.  Consensus says I need to fringe it - so I'll be working on completing that task soon, too.  My schedule next week is pretty crazy (and MORNING crazy, too, silly me), so it may not get done as quickly as I hope!
Peaceful SUN-day beading (and it is a sunny day, too)
TTFN

Bead Table Wednesday - PLUS!

Here's what WAS on my bead table this morning - I've since finished the pair of earrings, and am ready to begin another. 
I also completed another pair of earrings in what is my "Metal-icious" series of jewelry - I've completed two pair of earrings, and a pendant.  I may do a chunky bracelet with all the metallics, just to complete the series - but honestly, the trends seem to have changed from bracelets to big earrings, and I have not sold a bracelet other than a special order in a good long while.  So I have TONS.  They are the quickest thing to make, and the also the quickest and most economical to TEACH.  No wonder I wear 3 or 4 on my wrist everyday - I would never get to some of them if I wore them one at a time!  lol!



These are the round ones.  See the photo below for the oval version...

Looking forward to a pretty much bead filled five days ahead.  I have several things I would love to go out and do, but alas, I have no gas, nor cash FOR gas, until Friday.  So what a great excuse to just sit and bead!
I did, however, take the time to do some blog hopping today.  And came across a thread on Beading Daily about how we beaders should blog to reach the right audience.  Apparently one of the thead posters finds fault with those of us that put NON-Bead issues on our blogs.  But you know what?  I think a nice mix of beads and real life issues makes for a more interesting blog.  Truthfully, I get bored with the daily, clockwork postings of  'what I created today' and nothing else.  I find myself checking BACK to the blogs of fellow bloggers that post PET issues, especially.  I also enjoy blogs about home remodeling projects, and how those things impact their beading lives.  I post what I did today every day only IF I am truly excited about a piece, but more often, I post every few days, with rants and 'babble' (hence the name of my blog), here and there as well.  At least I'm blogging!   I HATE going to a blog that belongs to a somewhat notable designer, someone who's name is in the bead news alot, only to discover that they haven't even updated their blog since AUGUST of LAST YEAR!  Now maybe they started a new blog, or have a legitimate reason for stopping, so sorry if I offend you with that remark.   I had even given it up myself for awhile last year, so I probably shouldn't be speaking ill of the blog challenged.  But I realized that I missed it.  I missed the outlet it gave me creatively.  AND I decided that NO blog equals NO news, and that anyone coming across MY NAME (and isn't that what internet networking is about?) deserves to have at least CURRENT babble. 
There.  I've been ranting on and on this year, and it's liable to get worse.  Just so ya know....and I know I'm at least getting visitors to the blog - the number on the counter grows every day!  You may not comment - but at least you are here!  yay!
So whether it be beading, reading, weaving, or creating in general - let it be peaceful....
TTFN



Gallery Days

Time to toot some horns!  Getting excited, and already planning my table layout for the Art Expo! at The East Lansing Public Art Gallery.  I'd planned to link you to a website for details about this wonderful facility, but can't find an exact link.  If you'd like, you can go to www.cityofeastlansing.com and look for arts and recreation info. 
Anyway - many of you may not know that I was featured for an entire month as an artist/exhibitor a few years back, and had a wonderful experience.  The facility is beautiful, and the director is, well, to put in mildly, very enthusiastic about 'her' artists.  She does a wonderful job of marketing, and makes sure each of us has ample media coverage.  This Art Expo! (just the exclamation point gives you a clue about her enthusiasm) is her brainchild, and is open to each of us that have exhibited there in the past, as well as any other art worthy individuals that we believe would fit into the mix.  I put one of my fellow artists in touch with her, and she'll be included that day too!  It's even more fun to do these types of shows when you know other vendors that are participating!
Here are a few of the photos from the exhibit I did in May of 2009 - The Beaded Garden.  The main focus of the entire exhibit was nature and flowers, my specialty:

If you've ever wondered how you could do an exhibit like this, where gallery patrons are constantly passing through to view the work, sometimes without gallery personnel, shadowboxes, the kind that open in the back, like a photo frame, are perfect.  I also had access to TWO beautiful boxed in display windows that could be viewed from two sides of the gallery. 
I'll post more info about the details of the event as time draws nearer.  Can't wait!
Off to start my busy day.  My 'book club' girls and I (there are 3 of us.  Does 3 constitute a club? lol) just finished "Water for Elephants", and decided to have a movie day this time - and watch the movie.  We've got a specialty popcorn store just down the road from our meeting space, so Sandy's bringing the movie, and I'm going to stop and get some special popcorn.  D'Onna is providing us with the office space/big screen TV.   Should be fun!  Roll 'em, Ferndock!
Peaceful beading,
TTFN

Another day, another rant

Seriously.  Wish I had more happy bead stuff to blog about, but life just hasn't been treating me to the warm fuzzies of the bead world lately.
Today's rant is twofold - and does somewhat involve jewelry.  But I digress.  Firstly - have parents STOPPED teaching their children how to be respectful and responsible when it comes to other people's time?  Honestly, today was the THIRD Monday that I am in the middle of turning off lights to close at 4 (which it clearly states on the front door), that the SAME young man, probably high school grad/college freshman, has come in to browse, and purchase stones.  If you've never been to Coyote or to their website, that's not something that is quick.  We have HUNDREDS of different kinds of semi precious stones, each having it's own little container with a little description card of properties and energies.  It's what we're known for.  So when he came in AGAIN, just a few minutes before 4, and just started browsing, and then decides at 4 oclock to ask "am I keeping you?" - I wanted to scream at him.  Every week he has done this for last three times I've worked on Monday.  And I've told him every time that we close at 4.  Oblivious.  I am always thoughtful and respectful of closing times for stores.  I've never expected anyone to stay open late for me.  If I do happen to be in a store that is getting ready to close for the night, I hurry, and choose my purchases so that they can continue with their lives. That's how I WAS RAISED.   But it just seems like in the last decade or so - no respect.  No responsibility in that regard.  They just don't care about anyone but themselves.  And it's sad.   Makes me want to slap their parents, actually......
And then their was my FIRST customer of the day.  She came in planning to purchase one of our large salt lamps that are on sale for 35% off.  Everything was great until she found out that even with the sale discount, the price was still over $150.00.  Yeah, lady, that's a big rock.  What did you expect?  FREE?  So I had to void the purchase and plug it back in.  I'm really glad it was too heavy for me to lift and was at least still on display.  THEN, after all that, she decided she would get one of my jewelry pieces.   Yeeee-ha.  Wait. Not so fast.  I had her try it on first, having just explained to her that it had been redesigned since the last time she saw it, with another customer in mind.  That other customer did not commit to purchase it after that, so I was putting it back on display in it's new incarnation.  She tried it on, and sure enough.....she wanted it back the way it was the FIRST time.  Sorry.  Not going to happen.  First of all,  freeform beading is just that.  I rarely know how I do things from one time to the next, let alone be able to change it back again exactly the same.  So she wasn't happy about that either.  Couldn't win with the customers today.
Hoping to do some beading tonight - maybe I can please someone else with what I create.
Peaceful beading, as time permits, 
TTFN

Competition

Decided to surf the Etsy listings this morning, just to see what is being put out there right now.  I'm still contemplating opening my shop again, and want to get a feel for the current competition.  And then I found this:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/87066056/bridesmaid-giftsbead-necklacebeaded?ref=sr_gallery_1&sref=&ga_search_submit=&ga_search_query=beaded+jewelry&ga_order=most_relevant&ga_ship_to=ZZ&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_page=2&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_facet=handmade&show_panel=true

THIS is why it is so hard to compete in the beaded jewelry world.  If I make this necklace, with the materials that this person lists (from China) and put the time into it that I believe is only right to be paid for, it is going to be significantly MORE than the $19.00 list price they have on it.  That's right.  $19.00.
I don't even think I could buy quality Turquoise for that amount.  Let alone wire or sew all the flowers together and create a NICE, QUALITY piece of jewelry.  And that is probably what it comes down to.  Although I can't state for a fact that this is shoddy work (can't tell what the back or closure looks like), my guess is it isn't first rate.  And we already know that items coming from China are made by laborers who are paid very little. 
Not sure there's anything I, or any of us can do but shake our heads, and continue to try and create what we KNOW is quality work, with the higher price tag - BECAUSE IT'S WORTH IT. 
Beaders unite!  Be confident in what you do, and price your work accordingly.  I'm stickin' to my guns.  I hope you do too.
Peaceful beading,
TTFN

Tough Decisions

I've been debating on whether I wanted to blog about this, but I really need to vent again, so here goes.  All this week, I have been serving on the jury of a criminal trial in court in downtown Lansing.  There were actually two related crimes involved - criminal sexual conduct 3rd and criminal sexual conduct 4th.  Basically a rape trial.  It really was very stressful to have to sit and listen to all the witnesses, see and hear all of the personal and way too intimate details, and watch the victim break down on the stand, and not be able to react. I am a very emotional being.  But I gotta tell ya -  DNA really does say it all.  If you would have asked me yesterday to find a verdict on this with all the other so called evidence, and didn't even HAVE DNA?   He would have walked.  He would have been free to think he got away with something.  But DNA had him.  In fact, it had him so completely and confidently that we wondered why we were there.  It seems like he would have changed his story (basically a he said/she said from almost FIVE years ago), knowing that it proved so convincingly that he did it.  Ultimately, it all came down to today's expert witness with her chart and her confidence.  It didn't take us long at all once we arrived in our room - most of us had our minds set on the verdicts of each count after the DNA testimony and the KILLER closing by the prosecutor.  He may be new, but he nailed it.  There were only THREE of the 12 that had to be convinced otherwise, and with the help of the copious notes taken by two of the jurors, as well as the presence of a scientist with a PHD in a related field ON our jury, it didn't take us long to come to a unanimous conclusion.  To add to my stress - they appointed ME foreperson.  The one who had to do the leading in the room, and the one that had to read the verdicts out loud in the courtroom.  One of each:  not guilty on the lesser charge, and sadly, but truthfully, guilty of the rape charge.  It was very hard and we talked about it a long time after we decided to be sure we were all REALLY sure.  They are both so young.  They were just barely 18 when they both made stupid decisions, and now he will have to pay for that decision for 15 to 20 years.  Of which he will probably serve about 1/3.  But her life has been forever changed by the unfortunate incident, too, and she deserves some peace, that I hope she will get, from the verdict.    I never experienced the college dorm thing, nor have very many of my family members.  We lived close enough to campus that my brothers commuted. I just did a semester at Lansing Community College.  I'm sure that being able to be out on your own for the first time and make your own decisions is exciting, so I just hope that I can appeal to any college students that may read this, or even their friends or family members, PARENTS - underage drinking and parties in the dorms are NOT a good idea.  It can lead to so many problems, and in this case, a choice that is going to change both of their lives forever.  So sad.  He's just 21.  She's in her early 20's too.  Babies.  He's going to prison.  Not just JAIL.  PRISON.   So sad.  It was hard to read that verdict, and even though we were led immediately back to our jury room afterward, we heard screaming and crying coming from the courtroom.  We could only guess that it was the release of stress and accusations between the two families, culminating after all this time.  The judge on the case came back to talk to us for awhile, and was very sad, too, that the decision (the right decision in his mind, too) had to be made.  A few of the jurors had teenagers themselves that are probably right this minute getting HUGE lectures from their parents about dorms, and drinking and decisions they make. 
So there's my vent.  My rant.  I just had to get this off my chest after, of course, needing to stay silent for the past week.  I hope I don't have to do that again.....EVER. 
Back to the bead table - which will take the stress away.....
TTFN

Bead Table Wednesday!

Finally!  I haven't been able to participate in Bead Table Wednesday for AGES!  Now I've got a new laptop, and a new year, and even a new month - so what better time to show you the next new project -Desert Treasures:

I don't work with earthtones very often - they usually tend to run purple-r and brighter, but this focal, I believe it's one of the million of kinds of Jasper, caught my eye the last time I was at Bead Haven in Frankenmuth - it's rough rather than polished, and is center drilled.  I added an eye pin with bone and jasper drop to the bottom already.  The plan is for another asymmetrical affect - I just can't seem to get away from those these days.  I have lots of 'treasures' to add to the piece, I'm hoping to continue working on it this afternoon.  The clasp still has me stumped - I may have to do a peyote tube and ring toggle.....
I finished this piece this morning as well: 

Break of Day, which is made up of lots of Labradorite and Swarovski crystal.  The focal is especially beautiful, purchased on the same shopping trip as the above Jasper focal.  I like this one a lot, so it may be a keeper (I'm surprised I have a big enough space to hold all of my "keepers"!)
I also have a few unique Valentine themed pieces to work on, though, as well as preparing "To the Trees" in it's newest formation to take back to the gallery tomorrow. 
What's on YOUR bead table this week?  If you aren't a member, go check it out!  There are over 250 members, and most of us post photos of our messy spaces and new projects or bead loot on a weekly basis.  Just another fun way to stay involved in the bead world....
www.flickr.com, and the name of the group is Bead Table Wednesday! 
Peaceful beading,
TTFN