What's a weekend?

I've gone and done it!  EVERY WEEKEND filled from now to end of September.  My poor hubby. Who has to help me put up my 10X10, and stick stuff in the ground, hang stuff up.  He's being very patient - and probably doesn't realize that I DO appreciate him for not complaining about it - ONCE.

  

I am going to declare this day hug a hubby day.  And I will.  As soon as he gets home from work.  At midnight.  

So glad that Mother Nature has deemed to give us what looks to be a perfect weekend.   Last Sunday's July In Bloom Art Fair went fairly well - when the wind wasn't blowing things down.
Not a bad day - and I've gotten TONS of new LIKES on Facebook!  Yippee!  Don't forget - that 200th LIKER on my Cool Moon Creations & Beads Facebook page gets FREE STUFF!  I think we're at around 180 - so we're getting very CLOSE!  Could it be YOU?  

  
   
Blue skies.  Blue tent.  But never a BLUE moment...

Next blog I HOPE to have ZNET Shows next Creative Spark issue to reveal for you.

Be sure to check out the events page for my GROWING list of events - just added another one in August - and looking forward to adding into DECEMBER....and then pop over to the COOL Creations jewelry page - lots to see and BUY!  PayPal purchasing is easy - just use my email address!

Peaceful beading,
TTFN

Best laid plans

This is a good example of why I rarely take the time to write down or illustrate my ideas - whether they come to me in the middle of day - or night.

My original thought was very geometric - which is very unlike me.  Even so, I got up, and immediately set about cutting and shaping and designing.

The plan quickly evolved, which then excluded the center triangle section, and replaced it with a marquis shaped Swarovski pendant that I had been meaning to embroider with for MONTHS.  

(It was originally planned to be a part of the still in my head but never implemented "Welcome to the Jungle" statement piece.).

I played, and beaded, and played some more.  A friend of mine calls it 'encrusting'.  I call it covering up what didn't turn out the way I planned.
LOL.
Either way - I think we're on to something

Pretty soon - I had a totally different plan in mind.  Well, rather SHE did.  It had become apparent that this was not going to be anywhere near the geometric idea that first formed in my brain - and on paper, then into fabric.

I love how the pendant became such a rich focal piece, with all the beads bringing out ALL the colors in the vitrail crystal.  This crystal is very cool, as it changes color depending on what it is worn with.  

VERY COOL.

 So without further ado - this is

SHEHEREZADE.

The rivolis were a part of the bead stash that was gifted to me by my nieces last summer - that had belonged to their grandmother.  Wonderful match with the marquis crystal.

The back was a bit of a struggle - but well worth the THREE rip outs to come up with this final result:

I'm sure I'll find a use and a plan for those geometric shapes at some point.  Just add them to the denim pile!

Off for another day of
Peaceful beading,
TTFN

Battle Round 2 TKO

To quote a favorite Looney Tunes line....  "that's all, folks!".   I've been voted off the island.  I'm down for the count.  And I have to say I am relieved it's OVER for me.   So here are the photos that my wonderfully talented photographer friend Jaime J. Grant took of "Petoskey Shores" that had yet to be submitted.  I will definitely be wearing this piece at either DeWitt Garden Walk Art Fair next Sunday, OR to Williamston ArtFest on the River on the 25th.  Haven't decided....

 I took this one on the new bust I found at a yard sale.  Gives you a better idea of dimension...

There are lots of other photos too that I will probably throw in now and then.

Hope to see you at one of my art shows this summer - next Sunday, the 19th begins my crazy, psycho 7 weeks IN A ROW of shows - some are BOTH Saturday AND Sunday!  WHAAAAAAAH!

Why do I do this to myself?   But seriously - I gotta spread the COOL Cool Moon word - especially the denim.  Everybody loves them some Enlightened Denim!

Peaceful beading,
TTFN

Warning - morning rant

I admit that I'm not really brave enough to post this directly on Facebook.  So I'll rant here, and then link it.  As it is, I'm probably committing career suicide to some extent by ranting about this - but it is truly making me a little upset right now - so here goes.....

(and yes, for the most part - I'm talking about Battle of the Beadsmith.  NEVER going to compete again, so I'm ranting away......)

STOP STOP STOP STOP putting so much damned importance on my jewelry PHOTOS!  I am just a ONE WOMAN (make that GODDESS) show trying to sell and show my pieces the best way I can. And you know what- I look at them.  I don't think they're that bad.  I use my photo editing program to do as much to them as I can to make them as good as I can for online viewing. (Here's the BOTB part of the rant -) So they aren't GIANT in your face BIG.  They still show the size, the quality and IF YOU'D LOOK beyond the first dang photo you see - CLOSE UP detail. I did submit more than one, you know.   But NO.   In this case, at the beginning - they were NOT PROFESSIONALLY done.  Who do you think I am?  A millionaire? So glad that so many of you (mostly from the UK) can afford to simply ship your piece off to the best photographer in your land and come back with photos of stunning models all made up wearing your piece.  That model then becomes the focus.  In my opinion - THIS is not a true showing of how that piece might look on the person that is going to wear it.   If anyone.  Truthfully - I.  ME.  I am the one that's going to be wearing my piece - and I am NOT A MODEL.

And despite your protests about my measly little photos, I DID make it past Round 1, and was honored, and LUCKY to finally have a professional photographer FRIEND available to take some photos for future rounds.  But I can only submit those ONE AT A TIME.   It just burns me when I hear people say (or in this case read their comments) that "it would be a great piece; too bad the photo is so bad".  IT IS A GREAT PIECE!  ALL OF MY PIECES are great.

I realize that this contest IS done by photo submission.  That all people have to judge by IS the photo. But seriously.  We can't all hire professional models.  And in fact - if you don't know the rules - it IS NOT REQUIRED.  I used the largest format my camera would allow.  So I guess if that means I don't make it past Round 2 - then yay.  I can finally wear it.

Note to Dot - I know you warned me.  But it doesn't mean it still doesn't piss me off.

Generally speaking - I have had other negative comments about my photos in the past. So I tried to improve them.  Had a light box for awhile.  Have a digital camera.  Use different backgrounds. Bottom line is -  I do what I can with what I have.  And since MANY of the PHOTOS that I have posted of jewelry pieces on Facebook have resulted in sales - obviously there are SOME people who don't think my photos suck.  Cha. Ching.

As always - PEACEFUL beading,
TTFN

Battle time!

Here's the link for ROUND TWO of the voting in Battle of the Beadsmith.  This is for group D, which is the group I am in (I'm battle #11); groups C, B, & A will follow this week.  Remember - you must vote in ALL FOUR groups for your vote to qualify - and I reallly reallllly want your vote to qualify!   I think it's rather interesting that the piece I'm up against is once again - PINK.  I think I can beat pink!   But it's getting scary girls - because there are sooooo many beautiful pieces in these battles - that eventually I'm going to come up against one that totally blows 'Petoskey Shores' away - like the shoes..... holey moley.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1a1B0jbNKx9zSkXzcGlDnjbsZ6j6aWpmDBgcsJ33Egoc/viewform

(You may need to copy/paste the address in your search box)

Almost time for the new Creative Spark too - and with all the creating for BOTB and the EMag - my brain has been in high gear!   I've created several new denim pieces, and am now working on another NON denim PETOSKEY STONE piece.  "Sunrise Tide" is a soft blend of the brown of the stone, along with peach tones, and aqua.  Should have that completed tomorrow some time - and of course, photos will follow.

Hope you're having a beadiful day where you are.  It's another rainy one here - so of course - what to do but bead?

Peaceful beading,
TTFN

AND DON'T FORGET TO GO VOTE!   :)

And we wait

I am HORRIBLE at waiting.  Still no word from Steven at Beadsmith about ROUND 2 voting forms!
Gotta find something to do to stay busy - good thing there's lots to bead!  LOL.

I've just completed another new cuff (I can't STOP!) and have placed it in the jewelry listings section. There are a few other new pieces as well if you want to quick take a peek.

Hope the rain stays away from where you are today - unless of course - you need it.  You can have ours.  I much prefer sunshine - and so do my flowers!

Peaceful beading,
TTFN

Sparks, Battles and Etsy, oh my

Just a few updates on what's what with ME!

The ETSY shop is now closed.  With summer show season upon me (and it's going SWELL! thanks), and the fact that NO ONE is shopping due to Etsy's disrespect of the indie handmade artists - I give up.  I have more important things to spend my time on.

Don't forget to visit the Battle of the Beadsmith Facebook page for updates and the NEXT ROUND of voting!  I MADE IT to Round 2!  Not sure I'll ever choose to compete in this thing again - because the waiting between rounds and voting and results is EXCRUCIATING!   AAAAAAH!

Steven says I can post the photos of my work that have been revealed so far:

This is a close up or the upper section of the focal of 'Petoskey Shores".  I can't wait til this thing is over and I can WEAR IT!  I hope to my art fair in Williamston - or maybe Grand Ledge.  Wish me luck with Round 3!

 
It's also almost time for the next issue of the E Mag Creative Spark.  I participated this time, so you'll find my 3 contributions, as well as what I'm sure will be great stuff from the rest of the girls too. Should have the new link up by mid July!

As I mentioned above - show season is off to a ROUSING success!   LOOK what I SOLD yesterday!

Fit like I made it just for her.   :)

And last but not least, a toot of my own horn, and a feather to add to my cap:   I've been nominated as the SECRETARY on the board of the Holt Holiday Craft Show!   This is an event that I was apprehensive about the first year, excited about the second year, exhausted but happy with for the 3rd year - and now I'm ALL IN for the 4th year in a row!    I hope to have access to the Facebook page so that I can keep everyone apprised of updates and build the excitement for this years show.  Stay tuned for more info!

Peaceful beading,
TTFN