Carrying on

This has sorta been the summer of SUCK for our 'family';  funky weather,family issues, health, loss.  You name it.  The least of my worries have been my weekly art fair events - I have been lucky to have wonderful weather arrive in time for all but one so far, but unfortunately - still dismal turnouts.  I'm making a little bit at each one, but not nearly what I would have hoped compared to last year.   4 more til end of September - then on to the HOLIDAY shows.  

I really thought this piece would be gone right away:

And expected this one to be around for my upcoming psychic fair/art festival.  She, however, went home with a lovely lady who came to Meridian Market yesterday:

I'm having a hard time determining what my buyers will like this summer; last summer was the summer of bracelets.  Lots and lots of denim bracelets.  This year, just a few, and the bulk of those all to one person who loves them so much, she keeps returning for more!  

Here are a few that DID go home with their people so far this year:

Along with few earrings, and some surprising big statement pieces too - I can't complain.

 Looking forward to the next few show.  In three weeks - my first BIG out of town art fair - an overnighter with my two best fellow art fair vendors.  Slumber party art fair!  LOL.

Hope you are all having a happy, healthy BEADY good summer,

Peaceful beading,
TTFN

Living with loss

This isn't my ordinary bubbly, babble-y and mostly annoying post.  This is a post about losing one of my own.  One of my babies.  One of my DOGS.  

We lost our Zeus on Tuesday.  He just turned 13 a few weeks ago, and up until just a week or so before, he was running, healthy (with a touch of arthritis that didn't keep him down) and happy.
A bout of something nasty after a dog park visit took him down, and he never recovered from it.
A tumor was discovered during the exams to find the problem - he stopped eating and lost 20 pounds in a short period of time.
It was time.  So we let him go.

 He had an 'inner dinner bell' and this was his 'feed me' face.  Priceless.  And I miss it.

Thank goodness for my princess girl, Bella.  She's loving, and happy and way more healthy than she probably should be because she's spoiled.

Now that hubby doesn't have his park and woods buddy, I think Bella is going to get a taste of the outdoor life a little more than she would like.  She does, however, enjoy the dog park POND.

She's made it easier to survive the week.  Easier to survive coming in the back door and not having our guard dog Zeus face on duty.  
She's still not quite sure about playing by herself - she loved to steal Zeus' ball and play keep away with it.  I think she's feeling a little bit of the loss herself.

But we will all survive.  

He was a great dog.  Hubby's best friend, and our faithful companion.  Zeus.  2002 - 2015

I've been able to create a little.... you'll see what I've done if you visit my Cool Moon Creations & Beads FB page...

Peaceful beading - even through the pain of loss,
TTFN

Spark time!

It's time again for another BEAUTIFUL issue of Creative Spark!  You'll find the new issue and link (just click on the cover photo) over on the sidebar.  I just checked it out myself - wow.  We all outdid ourselves with some of the most creative SPARKS of inspiration this time!  

Thanks ZNetShows for sending us more fun and COLORFUL sea glass beads to work with.  

These were the beads that I chose to work with this time around.

THESE are the EXTRAS that they threw in JUST FOR FUN!  WHEEEE!

My mission for this issue - and I chose to accept it ;)  - was to create something using upcycled/recycled pieces and parts.  Hello?  Do they know me?  PERFECT use of denim and beads.  I also had recently received some vintage jewelry (circa 1940's), and also had some great garage sale finds to play with too.

Be sure to read the summer issue of Creative Spark for all the details and REVEAL of my summer cool pieces.

BUT WAIT!  THIS is the FUN PART!  Because I had SOOOOO many ZNet Shows sea glass to play with, I created MORE than just what was submitted to the EMag.  So here's where you get a chance to WIN the lovely extra piece "3355 Blossom St."

For this piece, I used a few antique store finds - an old door hasp/keyhole plate, and a dog license, complete with the perfect "house number" for the piece.  I used ZNet Shows blue cones and teardrops (sorry I don't have the numbers handy - refer to the page seaglass bead  and look under the color blue), added a few of my own acrylic leaves, flowers and crystals, and bling. On a pretty purple ribbon  - "3355 Blossom St" is cute and summer 'cool'.
If you'd like to try to WIN this unique piece - COMMENT here on the blog OR under the link on the FB post with your favorite piece from the current issue of Creative Spark.  Doesn't have to be mine!  I almost always like one of the other girls pieces better than mine!  LOL.
Contest OPEN TIL FRIDAY AUGUST 14th.  I'll randomly pick ONE of you - and I will announce the winner and POST IT HERE AND ON FACEBOOK by Monday August 17th.

As always,
Peaceful beading,
TTFN

Happy camper

Well,  at least doing MY kind of camping - under a 10x10 canopy at another wonderful art fair.

Williamston ArtFest by the River was Saturday.  HUGE lots of people.  Pretty great sales.  I was a little under what I did last year - people seem to be staying quite conservative in their spending, and I didn't win a prestigious award this year (I came in 3rd for favorite last year, as you may recall) - but all in all - no rain, but again with that pesky WIND!  This is one of my favorite shows to do - and I wasn't at all disappointed in the day.

  Just one of the pieces SOLD during my "HOLY CRAP!" sales afternoon in Williamston.
Pretty happy with the 'flow' and curve of this set up.  Gonna try to duplicate it in Grand Ledge - but since I'm facing the opposite direction, with people coming from two sides - it may not be as easy.  I'm not as happy about my shower curtain/rain/wind curtain set up - still got a tweak it just a bit - but they do blend with my color scheme....
It got a little gloomy first thing in the day - but cleared up and stayed that way the rest of the day.

(There's a river flowing behind those flowers at the back edge).  Beautiful setting.  Love that park.

I sold so many earrings this weekend, that I was able to consolidate to one less rack for my next show in Grand Ledge this coming Saturday.  YAY!  

Then I rounded out my weekend with 'camping out' at another 4th Sunday Market.
Can I fit an entire 10X10 tents worth of items onto an 8 ft. picnic table?  YES.I.CAN.  :) (with a little help from a 3 tier stand or two).....



The day was nothing like last months - which was one of our best ever.  I thought I was going to get skunked Market -1, Sheryl -0, but at last - a happy customer who treated herself to this:

Better luck next month.  But hey - a sale is a SALE!

Stay tuned for Creative Spark, and other cool stuff from Cool Moon's wild and crazy busy summer!

Peaceful beading,
TTFN

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