Live to blog

I know I just posted about this subject not too long ago, so for all of you faithful readers, sorry for the digression.  But I feel that now, with Lori Anderson’s Bead Soup Blog Challenge getting underway, it’s a good time to touch on the subject again.  I’ve noticed quite a few ‘newbies’ that have stated that they don’t have a blog, and basically wanting to know:

I know I’ve already listed all the reasons I blog the last time I talked about it.  It’s the virtual on-line version of journaling.  It’s marketing strategy.  It’s information sharing, and if used properly and regularly, it can keep you visible – keeping your name (or at least your blog title ‘name’) on the top of the search engine heap.  
So this post has me thinking, and wondering about the history of the blog.  Who first started them, why and when.  I suppose I need to go GOOGLE that! 
Was it for personal gain?  Just ramblings about life, love and living in general?  Or was it as a precursor to a corporate website?  There are sooooo many bloggers out there today – with so many reasons to do it.  Fashion blogs.  Recipe blogs.  Mom blogs.  BEAD blogs. Some have thousands of followers, and even world renown.  Some have just a few followers, and keep the subject matter to a specific genre.   I have an entire favorites folder FULL (say that three times fast) of blogs that I enjoy visiting and reading on a regular basis – and finding more to add everyday thanks to the likes of both Facebook and Pinterest.  (If haven’t “Pinterest-ed” yet – time suck warning.  Just sayin.). 

All in all…

(ALL images courtesy of Google Images)

And I hope you do too.  If you haven’t started one yet – Blogger (which this blog is made of) is SIMPLE.  SIMPLE.  Trust me.  If it wasn’t I wouldn’t be here.  In fact – at one point I attempted to switch my blog to a website/blog that was supposed to be user friendly, and have shopping availability too.  NOT.  Needless to say – I am still counting on this very blog – and ETSY(for now) – to do it all for me.  Can’t say Blogger doesn’t have it’s issues – but it’s easy to use.  And if you’ve got Windows running on your PC – you’ve probably got LiveWriter – making it even easier to babble on about everything – and nothing – and put it out there for all the world to see!  LOL!
Looking forward to hitting all the bead soup blogs on the reveal dates.  Some of those usually end up on my Favorites list – will one of them be yours?
Peaceful beading-and blogging,
TTFN

The Thursday Girls

There’ve been songs and sitcoms, movies and books devoted to the friend.  Everyone has them.  And I dare anyone to say they aren’t grateful for at least one of the friends in their life.  In my case – I have about a dozen – give or take.  In the form of what I like to call ‘The Thursday Girls’.
I wish I had a group photo of them – but have never quite had the opportunity.  The original intent of the group was prosperity and positive thought – and all of the meditation, study and thought processes that went along with it.  I joined the group after it had been established for a bit – some of them I have known and admired for years – some I had never met.  There was even a man in the original group – making my name for them somewhat silly.  Some have gone their own way since (including that one and only man), and some new friends have joined. The original intent to meditate and concentrate on true prosperity has swayed a bit.   But there are those that have remained all the while; and remained true to the prosperous thought and happiness of everyone.  We share our joys, our grief, our sorrows with each other.  I even chose to leave the group behind for a bit late last year.  And realized not long afterward that I NEED them.  For encouragement, support and just plain girl talk.  So I’m back.  And this last week – I received from many of them just that – encouragement, support, love and a show of faith.  After the disappointing and financially devastating first few weeks I’ve had – I took a chance, and offered a tray or three of jewelry pieces to them at a special price.   I never expected so many to take me up on the offer. I expected 1 or 2 sales – maybe a pair of earrings or a bracelet – or two. So many wonderful pieces are now on the ears, wrists and necks of those that I am close to – or someone that they are close to. Either way – the energy of love and thankfulness accompanies each one. And that’s a good thing.
I’ve also got a custom order and a sale made for next week already.  So grateful.  I would never ask or expect them to make a regular habit of it – nor would they feel obligated to do so.  So here’s to friends

those true & blue.  I so love and respect each one of you…
Peaceful beading,

TTFN

WINNER! WINNER! Chicken DINNER!

 

Or in this case – lots of beads!

I MISSED the turn over sometime last night during our night out with friends.  My choice to wear heels was not wise, so between sore feet and knees and a late night, I didn’t get a chance to check until today.  And WOW.  We’re at 16,029!  So with that, I announce that the winner – OFF by a count of just 26 beads – is TIFFANY SMITH of Southern Gals Designs.  So TIffany, if you’re reading this, and you haven’t checked your blog comments or Bead Soup Café on Facebook – email me your info!
THANKS to all of you for participating.  The magic number was 1,321.  And YES, I counted every single one. 

I hope you all have hopped over to Lori Anderson’s blog and signed up for the Bead Soup Blog Party.  Tomorrow will be the LAST CHANCE to get in on THIS YEAR’S event.  You snooze….you STARVE!  LOL.  Here’s the link if for some reason you missed my previous ones….

www.beadsoupblogparty.com

Looking forward to a calendar with absolutely nothing on it this weekend.  Bead time.  Read time.  ME time. 
Peaceful beading,
TTFN

Gate Keeping

(courtesy of Google Images)

Two bunnies – two HOPS. And a spring teaser, of sorts…my latest project definitely has the look of not only spring, but full blown bring it on summer.  Not even Groundhog day yet, and I can’t wait for spring.  I’m COLD!  ME!  I’m never cold.  
So just finished this last night:   “The Garden’s Gate” necklace – which I’ll be wearing to a fancy schmancy party that my hubby and I are attending tonight:

I just started it on Monday, and can’t believe that I actually made all the flowers and ‘fiddly’ (as The Beader’s Floral book calls them) frills and got it all together before the big night.  Definitely need to make a statement with the wives…this oughta do it!  The key is an actual vintage (VERY vintage) skeleton key from my favorite antique market The Little Red Schoolhouse and the flowers are a mix of designs from Diane Fitzgerald’s The Beaded Garden and from The Beader’s Floral –a UK published book full of frilly fun flowers by Liz Thornton and Jill Devon.  I’m growing addicted to that antique brassy look – I’ve never been a gold wearing person, but this I like.

Time is winding down for the give away – hop down and add your guess, I should reach 16,000 THIS WEEKEND!

AND  -  speaking of HOPPING – this is the first of the three sign up days for Lori Anderson’s Bead Soup Blog Challenge.  This is the ONLY ONE this year!
I’ll be stickin’ my spoon in the soup as soon as the sign up sheet is ready!

www.beadsoupblogparty.com

I’m off to start getting ready to dress to impress….with my usual unique flair.  It’s an all day process – pressing, and polishing, and flattening, and plumping.  Why do we do it? Cuz it’s exhausting!
Peaceful beading,
TTFN

Only 108 to go!

We’re almost there, and I have a feeling we’ll get there well before the Feb. 1 date I’d hoped for!

(photo courtesy of Google Images)
Still can’t wait to see that magic 16,000 number roll over and I hope I don’t MISS IT!
I will try to post some fun and interesting things between now and then, to keep you coming back -  but can’t think of a thing to amuse you with at the moment.  The coffee cup is only 1/2 gone (is that half full or half empty?) and I haven’t done my daily crosswords puzzles yet.  Maybe later when I’m more alert I’ll come up with something witty…but until then - hop down to the FREE BEAD post and give it your best shot!  It’s cold.  It’s snowy.  Why not count beads? 

Peaceful beading,

TTFN

Are you ready to party?

Lori Anderson’s Bead Soup Blog Party sign ups are coming up fast!  www.beadsoupblogparty.com is the link.   I thought I was going to have to sit this one out – but now that half my winter plans have fallen through – I’ll have more than enough time to bead – so why not do it with Bead Soup?
Lori will probably put the announcement up first thing on the 25th – so be prepared to PARTY!  Sign ups start the 25th, and go til the 27th. 
Last years was the biggest one yet, and although my partner had to back out for personal reasons – I was still able to participate, and make some great stuff with what she sent me.  

Like ‘Stars of the Sea’.  Living in Michigan, I haven’t had much opportunity to wear this one – but can’t wait to head for the resort towns this year.  There were also two bracelets, and earrings to match the Stars of the Sea necklace.  AND I STILL had beads left over!   Can’t wait to see who I’m partnered with this year!  And I hope they’ll be able to create something cool with what I send them!
Be sure you’ve got a blog, and that you sign up for the Bead Soup Café on Facebook for the quickest way to get the announcement.
The hardest part about Lori Anderson’s Bead Soup Blog Party?   Waiting until we post all the blogs when we do our reveals!  It is torture, because soup has never been so YUMMY! 

Hop IN this year! 
Peaceful beading,
TTFN

Outside my window

This isn’t exactly what it looks like out there anymore, but it is still mostly white, icy and down right cold.  I really miss being able to sit out there and soak in the sun and sink my fingers into the earth, walk my garden path and feel the energy of new spring growth. 
It’s been a rough month for me.  It started out on a great note – riding high on the love I felt from the Shiawassee Art Center, all the opportunities that seemed to just flow in, one right after the other.  And then came the crash.  One right after the other.  Falling through.  Falling apart.  NOT the way I had thought it would be at all.  I actually have another blog post all ready to upload  that I think I’ll just skip at this point.  You don’t need to feel the depression that went along with it.  I’m slowly sliding out the other side, starting to bead a little again – although I have absolutely no plan or idea where it’s going to go.  I guess it doesn’t really matter.  When it comes right down to it…

I BEAD FOR ME.

There’s still a question when it comes to tax time, and whether or not to continue what I do as a business.  After much soul searching, and questioning, and talking to others about the choice – it comes down to the fact that I would very much like to. I still want to do a few shows this year (if I can come up with the table fees and transportation), as well as do some teaching, and try to stick my foot in the door of some more opportunities.  Like casino gift shops, summer vacation destination towns with gift boutiques, etc.  That’s a little more than a hobby in my book.  I’d also still like to find a way to be a bead shop again someday – when Michigan’s economy isn’t in the crapper.
As far as the Etsy shop – eh.  I think I am going to close it in a few weeks.  There is just way too much competition from other bead sellers, and other beaders, period.  My items are just not unique enough to be noticed on a consistent enough basis.  I have no desire to jump on the ‘tutorial’ wagon – which seems to be what sells right now. 
So outside my window, and inside my creative mind – it’s a bit cold and snowy right now.  I bit iced over.  Not really finding the creative spirit that was flowing so easily just a few short weeks ago.  But my conversation with a few of the prosperity group girls yesterday convinced me that it’s OK to just sit back and rest right now.  Play a little.  And just let the things that are going to happen – happen.
Sometimes it’s easier than others to go with that flow…
I hope the ice melts – inside and OUT – soon.
Peaceful beading,
TTFN
And P.S.  Don’t forget to hop down to the next post to enter the contest for the free beads!