Beginning anew

Whew.  What a day I had yesterday.  In a good way.  LOTS of productivity and success - on a MONDAY!   And before I forget the reason for the title of the post - beginning today, May 1, I will be listing BEADS on my Etsy site.  Just a strand or two a day, along with a piece of jewelry or two.  Don't want to sit here all day - I've got projects in progress, a class to put kits and instructions together for, a second bead rack to fill - I've just plain got stuff to DO!  But the most exciting thing about yesterday is the new contact that I think I have made.  It all began with Sundays little local community paper, which we sometimes only open to see whether or not it includes a crossword puzzle.  It didn't.  But this one also included information about an upcoming election for our district, so I found myself actually looking through it.   Imagine my surprise at finding an article - not just an ad, but an ARTICLE - about a NEW consignment and jewelry boutique that just opened right here in Holt!  Just a mile or so away!  Right on the main drag!  We just never have to drive that particular section, so I hadn't seen the sign.  I emailed her first thing in the morning, with a request for 'meet' time, and attached a photo collage of my work.  I heard back from her later last night, and we're getting together on Wednesday.  I don't plan to actually tell too many people about this, so those of you reading it here are the lucky ones to know.  I have only driven past it,  have no idea whether I will even 'fit', or what her stipulations are.  We shall see.   Trying not to get my hopes up, but staying positive at the same time.  Tricky.
Here is a photo of the bracelet I just posted on Etsy:  Alaskan Moonlight.  I'm sure you've seen it here before, but I love how the photos turned out this time.  My professional photographer sister in law gave me a few hints on lighting and backdrop - and it worked perfectly.  This one's listed for $100.  Pricey, but when you factor in the semi precious stones, and the WORK involved - probably not so much. 

Guess I better get going  -  today is my only 'free' day this week.  I'd love to have time to work on my new peacock cuff bracelet (wait til you see the CLASP) but other things like bathrooms and dishes beckon me too.
Peaceful beading, everyone,
TTFN

Coyote 'digs'

Finally finished rearranging my little bead and jewelry space at Coyote Wisdom, at least for now.  Retagging all of the beads is going to be a long drawn out process, but I kind of like what I have done so far.  I like my new 'rack' so much, (in reality, it's a wire mesh desk organizer standing on end), that I may return to TJ Maxx to see if they have another one exactly the same size.  It worked realllly well.  I tried to add a little brightness to the cubbies, too - but that's a little harder without spending $$ on more lighting.  So anyway, here's the penny tour:

Cool Beads at Coyote

The wire mesh 'rack'

Still have a few things to add.  I realized I never returned the pieces I pulled to take to the Expo a few weeks ago.  So I did leave a little bit of room.  Need to create some new simple stringing bracelet kits too - between sales and last weeks class - they're pretty picked over!
Hope you enjoyed the little tour. 
Peaceful beading,
TTFN

Ups and downs

Today was the ending of a rather bittersweet week.  Yesterday, I pulled my jewelry out of the Gallery Shop at The Lansing Art Gallery after showing and selling things there (semi successfully) for about two years.  It was MY choice, which just so happened to coincide with another ending - the closing of The Grand-dale Shoppe, the quaint little gift and consignment shop in the heart of the village of Dimondale, just down the way.  I began renting a small space from them last July, and looking back on my sales reports, did rather well there.  Alas, they decided to actually RETIRE RETIRE.  They both had already retired from their respective day jobs a few years ago, and this was something fun to keep them busy.  Ultimately, their cabin on the lake, and their camper for the beach won out.  So I am down two sellings sites in one week.  I should probably feel a bit sad, and should probably even be a bit scared that I'm not.  I will still sell my things at Coyote Wisdom as long as the owner will let me, and I do have my Etsy site, which I hope, starting May 1, to make a daily update, in your face kind of thing.  Then again - having a summer of rest and relaxation, with a few shows to sustain me and pay for more beads in between, may suit me just fine.  More than a few shows actually - two in June, two in July, one in August, two in September, one in October and a three day show in mid-November here in my home, which will be a part of a township wide house to house holiday market that is open to the public.  The summer will also be spent making my house worthy of the traffic.....

I also want to give myself some extra special garden time this year.  I am already chomping at the bit to actually PLANT, and do have a few surprises to look forward to with every visit down the path.  This little guy popped up a day or two ago - a Black Magic Pansy.  Hope he survives tonights frost and tomorrows frigid SNOWY forecast.  Poor baby.   Terry took advantage of the warmth of the sun today and took the dogs to the park.  Bella needed a hosing down - but she sure does looooove to swim in that slimy pond.  I will be accompanying them one day soon, camera in tow - but it was still a bit chilly for me today.

And last but never least, the countdown is on for the arrival of my snowbird parents, an entire month early from Florida.  They'll be here NEXT WEEKEND.  They, getting on in age and ailments, will also probably take up a bit of extra time this summer.  I am glad to have time to provide.  You only have parents ONCE.  And I am lucky at this stage in my life to still have BOTH of mine. 

Have a beautiful weekend one and all.  Photos will come early in the week of changes made to my bookstore space.  I hope it works better for all....
Peaceful beading,
TTFN

Hump Day Happiness

I'm FREE!  I'm FREE!  I have an entire whole, gloriously FREE day to do whatever I want.  And it's going to be a nice one.  So I'm thinking a whole lot of NOTHING.  Maybe some basking in the sun, probably a bit of beading (but who wants to stay indoors?), definitely some reading since my library book (yep - took a Nook book break) is due back tomorrow.  Which is when the madness starts all over again - tomorrow.  Library.  Art Gallery.  Book club.  Custom order delivery.  Pillow pick up.  Run, run, run....so it's nice to have a day to breathe beforehand. 
I will probably post photos of the pillow when I have it done, but basically, I have a friend and her mom who collaborate on creating cute little throw pillows with embroidered quotes and messages, and I then add bead embroidery to it.  I've had one specially made for a wedding we having coming up, with the phrase "Always Kiss Me Goodnight" on it.  Something very unique that they definitely won't get doubles of!
I hesitated to do a pillow for this particular couple (my cousin and his bride), because I did a similar one (larger, different phrase) for his brother and his wife about 3 years ago.  But since I think I remember Z (short for Zakiah) saying she loved it - I'm thinking it will be a good gift.  ;0)
So I guess if I'm going to truly enjoy my day of FREEdom - I better go get the drudgery of dishes and countertops out of the way.
And by the way - probably no Bead Table Wednesday post today - table's bare at the moment!  Miracle!
Peaceful beading,
TTFN

Hello, Mojo!

Busy day on the beading front!  Finally!  I actually completed TWO - count them TWO - projects today.  First - "Roaring 20's".  The pink and antique goldish one I talked about a few blogs ago.  I started it while at the Art Expo show last week.  It's always fun to be working on a project for people to watch and comment on.  Today - it was finally done:

I really love the vintage look, and even made a cute little beaded bead for the closure in the back.  One thing about this piece is that it WILL need to be worn with care.  I maintained the natural curve of my sterling round wire when stringing on the crystal drops, but it could be kinda easy to yank it out of shape.  So moms with babies - this one would not be for you.   Sorry.
My next piece was purely and simply for ME.  I found all these components when JoAnn was having a 50% off sale a week or two ago.  I decided to create something with them today:

I still have just enough of everything left to make a funky bracelet to match.  But probably not today.  Now it's time for sunning on the porch, and catching up on my reading and my daily vice - The Young and the Restless.
Thanks to all of my followers for stopping by:  I've reached the 9,000 reader mark!  Yahoo!  I hope to keep you entertained (or bored enough that you can't look away) for another 9,000 more!
Peaceful beading,
TTFN

Blogger shock!

Whoa!  What has happened to Blogger?  Granted, it's been a few days since I posted - but wow.  Might take a bit of getting used to....
Anyway - I digress.  My original intent for babbling today is to wonder - what is supposed to happen when a call for submissions is made? Does anyone know?  I have answered Bead Trends call for work TWICE now - and I get no response at all.  Is this the norm?  Shouldn't they at least have a canned automated reply saying we got your submission and will consider it by such and such a date?  Or just consider it?  Because that would be CONSIDERATE.  Instead, I sit here wondering if it went, or if it's still flyin' around out there somewhere in cyber space.  And then there's the other side of the submission coin.  Why do most of the big mags even bother to ASK for submissions anymore when the only submissions being accepted seem to be from the big, well known designers that they already have on contract?  I have applied to do the challenge in Beadwork THREE times now - and all three times I've been thrown over for someone 'in the biz'.  Just one more part of beading that's frustrating me right now.  Etsy is another.  I wanted, WILLED, it to be more successful this time.  And I've had very few views right from the start.  Again, I believe Etsy to be all about who buys from who, and the little groups and cliques.   I will probably add a few new pieces next week, but again - with all the locally based shows I have coming up later this summer, I hate to tie up a designer piece languishing on Etsy that could be seen - and possibly bought - locally.  IF I could get local people to buy my statement pieces AT ALL.  HELLO?  Another frustration.  Honestly - I am thinking about hanging up my needles.  I have so many pieces that I am proud of.  I KNOW they are of quality work, and I put much effort and LOVE into every one of them.  And here they sit.  In a box.  In a bag.  Waiting for the next show date - which just happens to not be until JUNE 9th.  That's 9 weeks away! 
I am also considering pulling out of the art gallery for a little while.  The last thing I sold was 3 months ago, and before that - during the Holiday Market.  I didn't enjoy volunteering there as much as I thought - I expected it to be a learning experience, rather than a stand around and watch the paintings dry experience.  I will sleep on it a few more nights (hopefully without obsessing at 3am again) but I think that's where I'm headed.  I may also be headed that way with bead sales at the bookstore too - but I will TRY retagging a portion of the stock first, with some new displays, and see how it goes.  Much to think on in that regard too.  I really love Connie, and my life is enriched by everyone associated with that store, but things are changing that may make me need to change too.
No wonder I can't sleep at night.
All I know is I need some new inspiration.  I need a new door, a new avenue - a NEW PLAN.  Any ideas?
Peaceful beading (or in my case at the moment - Scrabble playing),
TTFN

Best laid plans

I think I was overthinking things.  Making them too complicated.  The tag problem at the bookstore is simply going to be my square stickers that I already use - one on each side of a piece of cardstock.  The hardest part will be cutting them up - and I may splurge on a paper cutter, and attaching them. Then they can just peel off one, and leave the customer with one.  I found some cool stuff at TJ Maxx that will be modified and turned into strand displays.   I hope that everyone appreciates and agrees to comply with - my efforts by retaining the tag for both Connie, and then my, records.  Time will tell.....
Had a wonderful day out and about.  Usually when I leave the house before 9:30 am and don't arrive home until almost 6 - I'm exhausted.  But I feel pretty good.  Must be that Reiki treatment I got in the midst of it all today... the 10am meeting was attended by ALL of us (7 in all) for a change, and we each brought an idea or thought to the 'table'.  I followed that meeting by sitting in on the usual Thursday morning group that I used to belong to, and getting filled with wonderful Reiki energy.  Very few regulars today though, but it was nice to have time to catch up with those that were there.  We even had a bit of a celebrity in the house - our own Liz brought her son Jon, who is on the U of M basketball team, soon to become captain, followed by PRO ball after graduation.  When you mention the name Jon Horford to anyone in the community - they all seem to know who he is.  A nice young man (boy, does that make me sound old), with a good head on his shoulders.  Liz is a proud and good mom.  Followed THAT with a bit of shopping, a nice lunch, and finally finishing our book that we started at CHRISTMAS time in book club!  In other words - we don't do much READING in BOOK club.   LOL!
I am so hoping that tomorrow, after the payday Friday errands are done, that my day will consist of beads, beads and more beads.  I need them. 
So happy that it's finally spring - the birds chirping, the new plants sprouting about here and there....yay SPRING!
Peaceful beading,
TTFN