Art Expo! display

This is just a general idea of how I think I'll set up my table.  This is a full foot shorter than those they'll provide, as well as probably narrower too.  But this will help give me an idea.  I've already nixed the shelving unit I spent hours digging out and off of my studio table.  Oh well.  I may still use that over the summer.  I also nixed one of the units I just bought.  TOO tall.  I opted for the screened display rack for earrings instead, which I'll be decorating with ivy, and maybe some fun stencils.  The little metal garden table will get moved over a foot to the end of the table, so that will also give me space between.  The squares of scrapbook paper will also be more strategically and nicely placed.  I just needed to get an idea of how much space I had for actual display pieces, so that they don't take away from the jewelry. 
The somewhat comical thing that happened, is that I left it set up just like this, overnight.  In the dark.  My husband doesn't get home from work until 11:30 in the evening.  He didn't know I had this set up.  He informed me this morning that the bust and the black necklace display 'freaked him out' when he came in last night!   BONUS!   Sorry hunny, but it IS rather funny....
Peaceful beading,
TTFN

A flashy, splashy Bead Table Wednesday

Here's the 'little bit of mojo' that struck me recently:

 I turned a simple, gold plated cross hatched wing dragonfly into THIS:

"A Splash of Flash".  Those cross hatched wings just screamed BEAD ME!, so I DID!  I have two more of those little lovelies - I'm thinking maybe earrings, but probably not in time for the Art Expo!

My not so busy week turned into a busy one - so off to enjoy another day of crazy.
Peaceful beading,
TTFN

Art Expo!

I knew I should have waited one more day.  But my 'worries' got the best of me.  I'm talking about the Art Expo! coming up.  There is a beautiful flyer that Yvette sent to us all last night - that we'll all distribute in our areas, as well as being advertised widely beginning this week.  See, I knew she'd come through. 
This is the wording on the poster.  I'm not computer savvy when it comes to uploading/downloading this sort of thing (PDF), but here's the text:
The East Lansing Public Art Gallery

In collaboration with the City of East Lansing &

The East Lansing Arts Commission

Presents

Art Expo!
Featuring Fabulous Local & Neighboring Artists

April 14th, 2012 ~ 10:00 am to 5:00 pm

April 15th, 2012, ~ 12:00pm to 5:00 pm

At the East Lansing Hannah Community Center

819 Abbot Road, East Lansing, MI

(1st Floor ~ Banquet Hall Room)

Paintings, Photography, Fiber Art, Crayon Art, Indian Art, Jewelry Artists, Polymer Clay Creations, Pottery and Much More!

The PERFECT way…

To select an ARTISTIC gift…

For your SPECIAL someone!

FREE PUBLIC EVENT

I think it's going to be a fairly small event - there were only 20 or so of us on the list.  But, just as with the summer Art Market - QUALITY versus QUANTITY.  Sometimes the big, BIG shows can get overwhelming to the visitors.  And those vendors 'stuck' at the back or end of the line are often out of luck because the visitors have spent their money on the way down through the show, or just plain tucker out before they finish, not realizing they're missing out on the best of the show!  I think 20 will be just fine.  It's quite an impressive bunch, too.  I know some, know OF some, and have seen some of the work.  We're going to have a GREAT weekend!
Now for the prep.  I went to Hobby Lobby yesterday and got these:

I think I'm going to leave them purple. 

 This photo is the scrapbook paper I got that will accent the yellow velour and light beige cloths I'm going to be using.  That center section?  Yep - that's scrapbook paper that looks like pearls.  Excellent!

 Then when I was at Grand-dale last week, I divested them of this display rack, which I am covering in vintage looking paper.  It will stand on the table (since I only have 6 ft to work with, I'm goin' UP!).

 I've also been collecting various display items over the course of the last year or two.  I've used the metal pieces extensively in my displays already, and may add a second of the rack behind the bust, which is, actually  - a toilet paper roll holder.  HA!  Holds bracelets, and strands of beads beautifully.

 Last but not least, also a Grand-dale display find - these are actually meant to hang on the wall.  Not sure yet if I'll leave them this color, or distress them slightly, or just paint them all together. 

I will have limited time to set up the day of the show, though, so I have an almost 6 ft. table in the basement, and I'm going to set up my display here at home beforehand, and then photograph it - so that I have an idea of what I want to do when I get there.  At least - that's the PLAN. 
My beading mojo is also slightly returning.  I found a vintage dragonfly in my stash yesterday, that had cross hatched wings.  I am bead 'cross stitching' them, and attaching them to Stiff Stuff, so that I can embroider around the wings, too.  All metallics, for the Metal-icious line.  I've sold quite a few of those pieces at Coyote - so I may be on a crash course of  creating new pieces.  I would like to have a nice display of them to show off. 
Peaceful beading everyone,
TTFN

Not feelin' the love

The bead love, that is.  Somehow, seemingly overnight - my mojo seems to have gone on spring break with the rest of the world.  I'm sure it will be back - probably as soon as my fun box of goodies comes from FMG this week.  But until then - I may not be feeling so beady - or bloggy.  I'm also getting a little nervous about the show coming up on the 14th and 15th, for a couple of reasons.  One - I haven't heard hide nor hair from the director since she confirmed my corner table back in 2011.  Haven't seen any marketing, any announcements, any 'what's happenings' in the local papers; I emailed her this morning.  I hope to get confirmation, and hopefully a download or two of some marketing materials to share with MY peeps.  Two - in trying to assume that this thing is still on,  I'm just plain nervous about sales.  I try so hard not to be - just go with the flow, what ever will be, will be (isn't that a song?)  But this has the potential for drawing big crowds, and big money.  I'm afraid I'm going to be at a disadvantage by not being able to offer credit card sales.  But do people really expect to be able to use a credit card at a venue such as this?  So many unknowns, as there usually are in this case.  And then there's THREE:  I need to finalize some shows that I THINK I applied to, through someone else.  Haven't really known her very well for very long, so I'm again, assuming I can count on her to follow through. 
See?  WAAAAAY too many things to worry about on a Monday morning!
One thing I DON'T have to worry about this Monday morning - my local shop sales.  I've got checks coming from both Coyote AND Grand-dale!  I had great BEAD sales at Coyote this weekend, and I'm glad, because I would really like to keep the bead inventory going there a bit longer.  More changes coming to the space I rent there - since I'm in a 'window', it's time for the air conditioner.  So I've got to move some things, and make up for the loss of space somehow.  The hamster in my brain is also spinning the wheels about that one. 
And oh, yeah - I should hear today, maybe tomorrow, about whether or not my article was accepted to Bead Design Studio.  Cross fingers.  Wish on eyelashes.  Find a spotted ladybug. 

WISH ME LUCK.
Peaceful beading,
TTFN  

It wasn't me

Alas, another super huge lottery jackpot goes to someone else.   Ain't that always the way?  lol.  Seriously, I've never been a huge gambler.  I'd buy a scratch off occasionally, and the only time we even go to the casino (about an hour away) is when there is a concert in the showroom.  Last time we did though, on my 49th birthday - I won $250.00.   Doesn't make me want to head right back up there and try it again, though.  My husband is the lottery ticket buyer.  And he KEEPS every ticket stub.  Winner or not.  He says if he had a dollar for every stub he'd be rich again.  But he keeps trying....and it's not that I wouldn't love to have a little bit (ok, a lot bit) more cash to play with, but I don't put huge effort into it either.  I feel lucky in other ways.  I'm fairly healthy, nothing major - just the aches and pains of growing older, my husband is my BFF (and as HE claimed just the other day, I am HIS), my dogs are happy and loving, and my family all seem to be happy and fairly healthy too.  Although my parents are aging, they have no other health issues besides the eye sight and the hearing that comes along with being over 70, and in my Dad's case - over 80.  I am grateful that I have quality friends.  I don't have a huge QUANTITY of pals, and don't really have a girlfriend that I chat with, hang with, shop with, and tell my every secret to.  Not since high school really.  It's just me, my hubby, my dogs, and my beads.  Everything else - is just icing on the cake.  :0)
As far as bead project news - I'm afraid my mojo has taken a bit of a rest, or a vacation.  I'm sure it's just temporary, and with the prep for the big show coming up, it's probably just as well, so that I don't have to leave a big detailed piece in the middle. 
I hope to have some press release and marketing details soon from the director of the gallery where the event is taking place.  Can't believe I haven't heard from her yet, actually.  I sure hope she's got everything ready to hit the major papers this week.  I've been trying not to obsess about the fact that I haven't heard from her, after all, she's been doing this a long time, and knows what she's doing.  But if it were ME, I would have started advertising a WEEK ago.  AND let my vendors know I did it.  Patience, Sheryl, patience......
Peaceful beading,
TTFN

Tucson Treasures...and a surprise!

Finally had a chance to catch up with the owner of Coyote Wisdom yesterday. She's been back from Tucson for almost a month, but between her hours and my illness and other commitments - it's been awhile since we've had a chance to talk. Not only did we talk, but she finally had time to offer me some of the great items she got in Tucson - she picked these out just for me! Naturally I loved them all!  Above, some beautiful Malachite, which, coincidentally, is exactly what my next project is being created with.  The two above will probably both get combined into the same glorious piece.  The creative wheels are already spinnin' up there!
These two below are simply agates.  But they are absolutely gorgeous, and there is nothing SIMPLE about them.  The blue one reminds me of a starry night sky, so you can bet that's the direction that one will take - probably sooner rather than later.  Not sure about the pink one yet.  But I loved it, so home it came.

Here is my current project, a big chunk of Malachite being caged and embellished for an embroidery piece.  The unique bone piece in the center is also something that Connie brought back from Tucson for me.  It will become a part of this embroidered piece as well.  COOL, huh?  Not sure what this will be yet - probably a pendant, but the strap has not been imagined as of yet....nor the name.

AND NOW FOR THE SURPRISE!
You may have read a few days ago about the piece I started during my not so fun evening on Monday. I wasn't even sure I wanted to finish it. I sat down and looked at it on Tuesday afternoon, and decided to just keep going - and see where it would take me.
THIS is where it went. THIS is 'Color Tour':

I decided to make it a brooch.  And I LOVE how it turned out. 

All in all, it's been a pretty creative week.  Today is my hubby's birthday, so I've also 'created'

Red Velvet double chocolate (white and dark) chip cupcakes with cream cheese frosting,  I 'created' pancakes and sausage for his birthday breakfast,  and I'm 'creating' one of his favorite casseroles for lunch - Chicken Noodle.  (sort of like Tuna - but better). He didn't want to take the day off work though - so the celebration - and the feasting - will only last until about 2.
Anyway.  Have a wonderful day.
Peaceful beading,

TTFN
P.S.  I hope to have pre and post show display photos for you SOON!

Happy Bead Table Wedneday - again!

Here's what's going on with my bead table this week - more re-design.  I had been thinking of using one of the little shelf units that was holding much of my table mess as part of my table display for shows this year.  So when the tube of glue leaked all over it, and left a gunky hard crusty mess, it was time to yank that puppy out of there.  It can be salvaged, in fact, it gives me the incentive to cover the flat shelf portions with some pretty paper before the show.  So thanks, glue tube.  I owe ya!  lol!
I want to show you a before photo - of what it looked like when I moved everything around just 4 months ago or so, but alas, cannot find the photo file anywhere.  So here's what it looks like now.  I basically took the blond cabinet that was standing, and laid it on it's side - and removed the purple shelf unit.  (More about that later).

Each tray is mostly seed beads, and is labeled with the color.  There are TWO trays for the purples!  Also, there are two 5 drawer rolling carts out of camera range where I keep the other beads - all the czech glass, crystal, and other goodies.   Because I removed 3 shelves, though - I'm still not quite sure I have everything accessible to me as I work, so I'll have to live with this for a few days and see.  I haven't had time to actually sit and BEAD here since I changed it.  But when I do, THIS is what I will be working on:

It is going to be a brooch.  Still un named.  The top portion will be full, a sort of oblong shape - the bottom will remain JUST the oval portion.  I THINK.
And I still haven't had the inspiration to start this one:

It's kind of got an air of romance (name?) about it, very vintage-y with the rose and the bronze/gold.  I have a general idea of what I think I want, but not sure of the stitch yet - spiral, RAW....hmmm.  Maybe by the time I'm done with the brooch, I'll have a plan.  But by then, I'll have to stop beading, and start getting things around for my big event coming up in a few weeks.  Picked up a few new display pieces yesterday.  I'm thinking of only using a tad of the purple, and going mostly pale yellow, and a very vintage beige/tea stained effect.  And probably some black.
Off to an afternoon at Coyote today.  Finally.  I haven't actually WORKED a shift in a MONTH, and will make up for that by working TWO this week.  I sort of got used to my every Monday routine while the owner was away, and really miss the place and the people that were becoming my regular customers.  I'm still having a pretty good month, though - even if I haven't been around!  I'm going to have to beef up my Metal-icious line, cuz they are flyin' out the door!  Another item flying almost faster than I can make them:  little 'pocket power' charms that have a lobster claw on one end, and the changing color beads in them here and there.   They can go in a pocket, on a purse, a zipper.  They've been pretty popular!
Wow.  That's enough babble for one day, I guess.  Thanks for reading.  I can't believe I'm at over 8,400 readers! And growing!!!!!
Peaceful beading,
TTFN