A pendant for the angels...

Every once in awhile, I will get a custom request.  I wish I would get them more - but somehow the ones I DO get seem to be quite special - for a wedding, or something specific.  This one is no exception.  This one came about with the request for an amulet type necklace that could be worn during ceremonies and rituals by one of the wonderful ladies of Coyote Wisdom.  She works with angel energy, so wanted to be able to bring that to her ceremony work.  She requested blue lace agate, selenite (which cannot be found in bead form), and clear quartz.  Because I was unable to find the selenite, I substituted with moonstone, which gives the piece the same energy and affect.  The above photo is the pendant portion, before it was completed with a simple strand of blue lace, quartz and more moonstone along each side.  The clasp ended up being a simple lobster, because she was afraid of losing it - but the lobster is "held" by two beautiful angels to compliment those in the necklace.  It has named itself  "Angels on High".   

Truly magical. 
Peaceful beading,
TTFN

The hassles of growing older

Or at least one of them - renewing my drivers license.  I've been able to do so by mail for the last 3 or so years, and THAT is a convenience that I enjoy.  But I've got to do it in person this time - need a new photo and to update the vision portion of the license.  AKA I've gotten lots older and blinder since my last license!  I'm hoping that by going to the branch in Mason, a much smaller town, in the middle of the afternoon, I can get in, get it over with, and get out FAST. 
So as you may have guessed, that also means my birthday is approaching.  In about two weeks.  I used to enjoy having birthdays - fall is my favorite time of year, and the color is always peaking and making the day beautiful.  BUT - now that I'm PAST the 5-0 point, well - they just seem to come and go.  Hubby doesn't make a big deal (he probably wouldn't even if I wanted him to), and my mom's in Florida, so really, no cause for celebration.  This year though - I think we're going to take a color tour.  I was told that I would make some new contacts and find some new possibilities for my business by going on a trip by one of the newer psychics at the bookstore a few weeks ago, and she seems to be pretty spot on accurate much of the time.  I also want to check out a bead store I heard about in Gaylord - which is a few hours north - the perfect place for leaf peeping.  There's also a nice sporting goods store on the way (something for the hubby to do), and a Michigan micro-brewery restaurant that is quite popular.  I think it's going to be a fun trip - as long as the weather cooperates.

Back on the bead and jewelry topic:  I totally re-did my booth at The Grand-dale Shoppe yesterday.  I added a new link photo on the right, but here's another one - should have used flash, but we did realize yesterday that even though the purple is perfect for me, it is a bit dark.  So here's hoping sales are good enough to move to a larger, whiter booth in the future!

Peaceful beading everyone,
TTFN
 

Bead Table Wednesday

Here are the photos I posted for the Flickr group "Bead Table Wednesday".  If you haven't checked it out - it's just a fun way for beaders to see what other beaders are up to at the same point in time each week.  Some post completed pieces, some post (and I think this was the original premise) exactly what their bead table looks like on that Wednesday.  Here's mine:

'Alaskan Moonlight' is making progress.  Still got a ways to go....

This is just a portion of the stash from Bead Haven last week.  I was on a blue and green kick (peacocks, anyone?)

Who knows what will be on my table next week.  I'll have a bit more free time after the once again harried weekend, because Mom and Dad leave on Saturday to return to their sunny Florida home.  Don't want them to go, but go they must.  Wednesdays have not only been Bead Table Wednesdays for me, but also Mom Wednesdays - we would almost always go to lunch and then either shop or run errands together, just spending mother/daughter time.  Not sure she'll have the time today, with packing and prepping their Michigan home for the winter.  So I just may have to wait until JUNE! 
If you're still lucky enough to still have a Mom, give her some appreciation today - in person or by email or phone!
Peaceful beading,
TTFN

Parties....and posts

Or should I say posts and parties, since my first babble begins with - why in the world all of a sudden it's become difficult, if not darn near impossible to post comments on Blogger and Wordpress blogs lately.  I mean, part of the fun of blogging is getting feedback and comments from followers and readers and browsers of the web.  I just tried to comment on MY OWN BLOG and had to try it three times!  Come on, geeks - figure it out!
Ok.  That being ranted - on with the parties!  Thank you to Lorelei Eurto for helping me make the decision about having another open house for my jewelry this year.  I'd been considering it now that I no longer have my shop, but after reading her blog today I think I'm gonna do it.  The biggest chore - getting my house in OPEN HOUSE order.  It's a little (ok, a lot) cluttered at the moment, and has way too much furniture in the room that I would want to use for the bulk of the display.  The unique thing about my open house is that I will also include the rest of the left over BEADS from the shop that I haven't sold yet, besides, of course, my jewelry.  Haven't run it past the hubby yet - I may wait a few weeks yet.  I'm looking at the weekend before the firearm deer season opener in November, so a lot of the ladies will have some free time on their hands!  I'm sure I'll be doing a lot of updates and venting in the next few weeks about this new adventure - so stop back soon!  And check back tomorrow too - for my Bead Table Wednesday post.  I've made some headway on the 'Alaskan Moonlight' cuff, but still have more to go.  Hopeful that it, too, will be a Lansing Art Gallery Holiday Art Market offering....
Peaceful beading,
TTFN

Now what?

The last of the shows I had scheduled for this year are done.  It was another so-so show, at that.  So really, I'm not sure that doing shows is worth the hassle for me.  Loading a vehicle, driving usually about 20 minutes one way to the show site, unloading and set up just about wear me out.  Then comes the fun of reeling in the customers, and I'll tell ya - I am NOT the kind of person that can sell ice to an eskimo.  I am a soft sell person - I greet, I tell them to feel free to browse, try on, and show them where the mirror is.  Usually telling them just that much sends them running for cover.  How do I get them to stay at the table?  I refuse to hover - don't like it when people do it to me.  I try to keep the table bright (sunny yellow table covers are about as bright as it gets), with flowers on the table, and a seasonal theme.  And it's not like I haven't done this before.  I KNOW how to design and layout a sales table.  Apparently what I don't know how to do is SELL what's ON the table.  I get compliments like "pretty things"  "gorgeous work", etc, and I thank each and every one - but, and I know I sound like a broken record on this subject - compliments don't pay the bills!
I need to find another avenue, venue, WAY to sell my work and be acknowledged and compensated for it.  I was given the idea of submitting a portfolio and formal letter to museum gift shops NATIONALLY, and I wil probably give it a shot, but from what I understand, many of them are going to want to buy wholesale.  And really, I can't make a profit that way either.  I've got to be able to sell what I know is GOOD, quality, detailed work somewhere, somehow, someway.  Tried Etsy.  Tried shows.  Have things on consignment in THREE area shops (which sell sporadically), and at some point, I WILL have them for sale on my website.  Guess it's a good thing that I myself like most of the items that I've made - because when worse comes to worse - I could be stuck WEARIN' em all!  
Wish I knew the answer - but until then I'll just have to keep tryin' and BEADIN'.  Not sure I'd know what to do with myself if I couldn't do that.  I like to read books, and I still do go through about a book a week, and I love to do crossword puzzles, about a book of them a month, but nothing gives me same satisfaction, the same calmness, the same oneness with spirit that beading does.  And so it goes....
Peaceful beading, everyone,
TTFN

And one to go....

Today's Meridian Towship Heritage Festival show was, well, let's just say it was not a bust, but it wasn't really profitable either.  I would have liked to have done better, but it was an absolutely gorgeous day, and sharing the booth space with two other crafty friends was really fun.  Here's a peek at my side of the booth - the entire album of photos from the festival is posted on Facebook:

The set up was just a bit different for me - I did it so they could walk down either side of the table;  I kinda liked it.  Tomorrow it's back to the big, bulky picnic table set up again.  Not as pretty, but I'll have way more space.

And now an update for you "Bella watchers":  we finally had her spayed last week.  All went well, she's doing fine - in fact, the nurses at the clinic loved her so much, they let her be office dog for a day! (Instead of caging her to monitor her, they let her have the run of the place).   She's so spoiled.   She's not at all happy about the accessory situation, however - the first night she cried, and cried and cried.  Maybe if I add some sparklies and beads to it - then she'll want to show it off!

Peaceful beading,
TTFN

New stash!

That's just a teaser - cuz I don't have time to photograph all the newbies right now!  But - I was a blue and green kick, which will ultimately make wonderful peacock jewels!  Didn't have that in mind when I was running my fingers through the wonderful rainbows of beads while choosing them, but my mind was spinning this morning!  If you EVER have the opportunity to visit Bead Haven, AND the surrounding town of Frankenmuth (home of Bronner's - world's largest Christmas store) - you are in for a treat.  And SOO many new little shops in the River Place section!  It took us ALL afternoon to visit them all.  So, sorry, Gretchen - Purple Sage will have to wait until another time!    We had a wonderful afternoon, the moms love spending time together, topped it off with yummy purchases from the fudge shoppe, and very little traffic issues for a change.   Even the brief but crazy thundershower that trapped us in the pet accessories store didn't spoil our day.  It came. It went.  We had a great time!
Off to The Grand-dale Shoppe this morning.  Dawn invited me to bring a project to work on between customers (sometimes the weekday morning shifts are a bit slow), so it should at least be productive!
Busy weekend coming up - TWO shows - Saturday and Sunday - both in the same park, but Saturday I am in an outdoor booth - so let's pray there's no rain, and the Meridian Township police officers have better things to do than ticket people for parking an inch or two in the wrong direction!  Don't get me started -
Peaceful beading, enjoy the day,
TTFN