New Ventures

Lots have happened in the past few months that have taken my attention away from beading and making jewelry (just a little) that I would love to share with you. I'm seriously considering retirement from my full-time job--you know, that pesky thing that pays for my hobbies and bad habits--but am hesitant to do so especially in this economic environment without the security of a steady replacement income. Sooooo...what's a girl to do?

For me that spelled examining the world of direct sales. Oh lordy, did I open up a can of something!

My first venture was a product that I really love...+Thirty-One...love, love, love me some Thirty-one. I'm always on a quest to organize my life and my other hobbies so this was a logical choice for me. Since starting my business in April 2014, I'm just shy of becoming a Senior Consultant...and I can't wait. Check out my Thirty-One website and check out all our amazing products--you'll see what I mean.



My next venture was +Mary Kay Cosmetics. Lord help me. I wear very little makeup, so I'm going to have to spruce up my education there, but have
nothing but positive results with the skin care and fragrances. I guess--all things considered--this is an opportunity to play with the "big" girls and learn all about applying make-up.
 



Sample of my cooking...pre-Pampered Chef

Pampered Chef. If you've been following me and the pictures I post, you will know that I absolutely love to cook. +Pampered Chef will keep me in the kitchen...lord I gotta go organize my cabinets now to store all my goodies.

What else can I get into? Stay tuned and you'll see!

 

Da Beads! Da Beads!

Awesome weekend!  I had been working such long hours at my "paying" job that time for touching my the beads and creating were sorely limited...really to 1 night per week...(and most of y'all know,I play with my beads in some shape or form every day)...can you say FRUSTRATED!!!!

So I took a couple of much needed days off and let me tell you it was da bomb...besides sleeping, I revelled in bead time.  I was due to participate in Hilltop Marketplace in Georgetown, TX so I was on a mad rush to create Ceramic tile coasters to add to my inventory then the show got canceled due to weather...oh well...so over the course of Wednesday through Friday, I made two (2) pairs of earrings, four (4) bracelets (2 unfinished--I ran out of the beads).  On Saturday, the Jolly Jems met up at +Lapis Lane Beads for four plus hours of beading.  Of course, many members of the +Jolly Jems are members of the +Austin Bead Society board of directors so we had an impromptu meeting with this year's Bazaar Coordinator, +Maryanne Walker .  As a result, we decided to crash the Austin Bead Market on Sunday and distribute fliers in order to promote our upcoming Bead Bazaar.

Linda, Caron, Connie and Sally



My haul from Legendary Beads!

On Sunday, with my best beading girlfriends, (+Connie White , +Linda Burkett , +Betsy Glen), we took a little trip and visited +Legendary Beads and helped celebrate the shop's birthday and the Austin Bead Market. By the way, as part of the birthday celebration, I drew a 20% off coupon....

Stash from Bead Market and Legendary Beads

I was looking for a particular bead in order to finish my bracelets--nothing more--yeah, RIGHT!!! We all know how that goes!  Thank goodness all bills had been paid otherwise, I'd be eating some "Wish Soup" and camping out on someone's door step...LOL!  I visited my favorite vendors--+BeadStuff , +Queenly Global Trading  +Stick Lizard Designs plus some other new ones +Sandy Shores and +Bead Market.  Now mind you, our intent --at least my intent--was to hand out fliers and network for vendors for our bazaar...I did manage to do that as well...Overall, not a wasted trip.

We ended our day with dinner at +Texas Land and Cattle where we did a show and tell of all of our goodies!  Love hanging with my beady friends!  See y'all tonight at the Austin Bead Society's general meeting--did I forget to mention that I was teaching the Chenille Stitch tonight?  Yup!  looking forward to it!

Happy beading!
 

Beading Frenzy!

Whew!  Heading out of town tomorrow for a wee bit of a break (yeah, right)!  As you may (or may not) know, I'm a proud member of the illustrious Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated and we have a workshop going on this week--my 1st truth to tell.  Because it will be business like meetings, what better to wear than pearls to compliment my chosen outfit.

So right now, I'm on a mad dash to make some incredible pearl jewelry--not only for myself, but also for my sister...call me crazy for waiting until the last minute.

Happy Beading!

San Antonio Bead Bazaar

Today's blog is going to mainly be a pictorial. Yesterday, the Jolly Jems (majority of whom are also members of the Austin Bead Society), took a road trip to the Schertz Civic Center to support the San Antonio Bead Society's  Annual Bazaar...truth be told, be just wanted the opportunity to see the shinies and in some cases increase our personal inventory.

 

 Not including the two members of ABS who were vendors there were at least nine members who made the trip to San Antonio.  Out little crew consisted of  +Suzanne Ortiz +Linda Burkette, +Betsy Glen and +Connie white +Lapis Lane Beads.  We arrived at opening time (11:00am) and left about 4:00pm.  This is us at the end of the day...still smiling...dontcha know! 


Betsy, applauding her stuck snack of choice

Despite the shopping we had to grab something to eat.  Unfortunately, we had to be satisfied with the Vending machines.  Betsy got into it with the vending machine and as you can see, IT won!



Linda and Connie digging through the mounds
and mounds of beads



Lauri Gist of +Mica Beads

There were lots of shiny baubles and beads and boy did we ever dig into each and every bundle.  Some  more successful that others at finding lost treasures.



Suzy, shuffling through all the pearls...
Lots to be had at even greater prices



Connie, our designated driver of the day, always mindful
and thoughful, picking up special pieces
for the missing Jem, Jane-Michael.

The trick is to walk the complete space
upon arrival, scouting out who has what
and at the better price

I don't know how she does it, but she finds
the most amazing things in the humungous piles
of beads

 

Linda

Suzy

Betsy

Connie

Me

 Happy Beading!

Working on improving my skills

As you know two of my weakest siklls on my jewelry making quest are wire work and resin (to date)..both of which I would love to improve upon.  So tonight I set out to work on them. 

 

I worked on both of them so tell me what you think.  I used 21g copper square and 1/2 round wire for the pendant piece.   I took a class last month and couldn't find the tutorial so pretty much did it from memory. I must say,I was pretty happy with it. There are some "mistakes" but for the most part I'm really excited about it.  I think the wire work complimented the stone and accentuated the "Wisdom".

 

 

 

As for the resin work, I'll elaborate a little more in my Resination post.  But, I'm trying to get ready for the +AustinBeadSociety's President's Challenge for the April meeting which was to design our own name tag.  I of course had this brilliant idea to incorporate several mediums...one of which was using resin.  So I did a first pour before leaving for work and this is what I came home to at the end of the day.  So far so good...saying a prayer.

 

Follow my progress in my resination post to see the finished product.

 

 

Happy Beading!

What's on my mat?

Because I work a day job and have to get up very early in the morning, I tend to try to avoid beadwork during the week.  This of couse leads to major bead withdrawal...(Yes, my name is Caron and I'm an addict!) Last night, I just couldn't fight it any longer and had to pull out something to work on...something quick and fairly "mindless" that should I happen to doze off, it would not result in endless ripping out the next day.

I have an unfinished Cellini Spiral on one of my other project boards, plus some other things but as you know, a Cellini Spiral requires some concentration and thought.  Instead, I settled for a simple Ndebele (Herringbone stitch) bracelet.  Pardon the bad picture!  I should be able to finish this piece tonight!

Happy Beading!

Getting my bead on

What a day!  Main objective today was to get my taxes done...well, it's almost 9pm and haven't even started...but let me show you what I did accomplish today.  I'm gearing up for a craft show on April 19th so I'm making some quick pick things...earrings and pendants and quick necklaces to add to the more detailed pieces.  I've also been making earring cards that can also serve as packaging. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But the most awesome thing that I finished today was a cubic Right Angle Weave...aka CRAW...pendant.

 

 

So now that I've written this quick blog,  it's really time to get my taxes done

 

 

Happy Beading!

Snow day activities

Here in Austin, we had bad weather resulting in snow and black ice so just about everything shut down...(check out Maxie exploring the snow)...of course it was my day off, so I didn't really gain anything...anyway, even though I didn't get to meet up with my beady friends I had a productive day.

First thing I did was to finish a project I started during the Jems meeting...an Ndebele stitch bracelet sun Rullas beads...of course I like sets so I had to make some earrings to match...

Next I finished  a 3 in 1 piece...the focal being a 7 1/4" Russian Spiral piece.  This piece is connected with magnetic clasps so you can wear it as 1 long necklace, a shorter necklace,  bracelet or a double wrapped bracelet (just thought of that one)...what do you think? 

Then I got a little creative and made these cute little drop earrings...

After these I felt like working with Tila beads...grabbing my book "Great Designs for Shaped Beads" and came up with this piece...love the color and feel of the piece...and of course, I have to have matching earrings...

Thus ended my beading day!  Can't wait to see what y'all think...

 

Happy Beading!

OMG!!! No size 15's?

Picture this...You are surfing through the library of beading tutorials and come across the one that you are going to devote the next couple of hours to.  You've cleaned off your beading space (Mise en place); you read the tutorial and know you can do it and now you check the materials list against your inventory and wait...OMG...you have no 4mm crystal bicones in the color scheme...you've expended your bead budget, plus the Local Bead Shops (LBSs) are closed...Holy Cow!  Now what do I do?

Well you know I just have to finish that project, so pull out my trusty Google and I searched bead substitutions and this is what I came up with...(thanks to the folks from Beading Daily)...While using the materials specified in the tutorial is ideal, there are substitutions that can enhance the original design and even make it look like a totally new piece.  Trick is to stay in the same "general" shape and size required in the original pattern and there sky's the limit...

Have Fun and Happy Beading!

New Partnership with EtsyATX

I'm so focused on marketing my business and finding other local artists that have travelled this path that I'm on has been instrumental in my growth.

I was referred to this group on etsy (www.etsy.com) which consisted of other local Artisans who shared tips and tricks...not just about Etsy, but also about handmade Austin. With this group, I found a community willing to share knowledge, experiences and darned near everything else if they had the answer.  Through them, I learned about building treasuries on etsy, about how to advertise events that your shop will be participating in plus other things.

Most recently, less than two months ago, an idea was thrown out...interested in doing a craft show?...and from the kernel of an idea sprouts Etsy ATX Holiday Market.  Come join a group of Austin artists on December 15, 2013 from 10:00am-5:00pm at the Holiday Inn Midtown.

 

Bezel vs Embroidery

How I love my beadalicious friends on Facebook in my many various groups!  I'm not an expert by any means in this craft that I have chosen and I turn to them for lots of guidance and advice...so thanks up front to the Beadiful one of my Auntie's Bead Chat group.

In another group that I'm in on Facebook, "Seed Beads and More", the monthly challenge project is to create a bead embroidered piece.  For those that know me, know that although I admire all the wonderfully creative embroidered pieces, this form of beadwork is generally not for me.  Why?  It's free form and my brain just doesn't work that way (I'm working on that though). 

What caused my confusion you may ask?  Well, in a tutorial and a book I have about bezeling cabachons, they both recommend (not in all cases) adhereing the cabochon to a product called "Lacy Stiff Stuff" and the encircling the cab with beads using a 2-bead backstitch.  Well now, this is the same stitch used in bead embroidery so I didn't understand what made one thing bezeling and the other bead embroidery.

I couldn't tell the difference between bead embroidery and bezeling as in my humble opinion seemed to be the same so I start doing a little research.
 

Bead embroidery courtesy of Google Images

 Per Wikipedia, Bead embroidery is a type of beadwork that uses a needle and thread to stitch beads to a surface of fabric, suede, or leather.

Bead embroidery is an embellishment that does not form an essential part of a textile's structure.





Beaded Cabochon Bezel courtesy of Google Images

No such luck with a definition of beaded bezeling on Wikipedia, the closest I come is.."a general term for a setting holding the stone in place using a raised surrounding for the stone with a lip encircling and overlapping the edges of the stone, thus holding it in place"


After posing the question to my Chat friends, +Katarina Walker Ray, said it best..."Embroidery is decorative stitching, usually done on on fabric or leather. Bezeling is creating a setting that cradles a stone or other focal component. Bead embroidery can be used to create a bezel. Bead stitching, without an underlying fabric, can also be used to create a bezel."


Thanks guys!  Now I have a better understanding...

Happy Beading!

Recall

Well...my play time is over!  Some federal employees have been called back to work and I'm blessed to say, that I am one of them...although the devil on my left shoulder isn't as happy about that.  You see, she wanted more time to stay at home and play with the beads.  Be that as it may, we used our time in a most advantageous manner.  I finished so many pieces, learned new stitches to incorporate in my creative process, and did some administrative stuff, like getting prepared to file my quarterly TX Sales and Use Tax, create business forms that I can use during craft shows (i.e. credit card authorization form, Resale Certificate form) and actually "pricing and labeling" by pieces and entering them into the square card library application.  I also met a photographer who will take photos of my pieces for posting to my various sites.

So while the government has been shut down, Sweets Signatures has not!  Now that I'm back to work, I'll have to schedule my time wisely as the need to bead is ever present!

Happy Beading!

Those things you must do!

While I love playing with my beads, as a "small business" owner, there are other administrative things that must be done..to avoid having issues with the government...such as filing and paying the sales and use tax. I file quarterly so I don't have go through the tedious exercise every month so that's a good thing.  This quarter though, I didn't log any of my receipts on a weekly basis as I generally do, so I just spend the last hour entering them in my database in preparation for doing my report.  To my artistic mind, that's a waste of precious beading time..:(, but such a necessary evil. 

I used to store my receipts (more like stuff them) in little gallon size storage bags until I discovered the tabbed Pendaflex folios. Now I store them by month of purchase so it's easier for me when it comes time to enter them into the database.

The other administrative thing that I need to do is update my website and my Etsy shop inventory...golly gracious...with all these administrative things to do when will I bead...don't you worry now, find the time I do...

Happy Beading!

Government Shut Down Beading Frenzy

As a Federal Government employee, I am a "victim" of the Government Shut Down (GSD). Am I upset about that...yes, but at this point in the game, there's not much that I can do about it.  So...what's a Bead Babe to do with the lemons?  Why, make lemonade of course...I've been a busy bee. 

In a bead group that I'm a part of, the monthly Challenge for October is to learn the Cubic Right Angle Weave (CRAW) stitch.  So using my trusty pal Google...I set out to find tutorials on how to do the CRAW. I found this tutorial and it was really good and simple to follow.  Tell me what you think...

I did a very basic rope using this tutorial, now to figure out how to embellish and make it unique.  Here's my finished product...

New Techniques - Beaded Wire Crochet and Making Paper Beads

***Delayed posting...This was actually August 2013***


What a busy week this week...and it's not over yet...starting with the +Austin Bead Society meeting on Monday, 26 August 2013.

A little messy, but...still learning

Not a really good shot, but random beads

Much better photo

During the meeting, one of our members provided us instruction on how to make beaded wire crochet jewelry.  Of course, I was running around like a chicken without its head and didn't get to participate in the instruction, but really wanted to learn...so off I went on a YouTube search and found what I needed to be able to make a piece that I was happy with. Knowledge of crocheting helped me and having worked bead crochet with cord I was familiar with the steps.  What I lacked was knowledge of how to finish the piece.  Tell me what you think? 

Later that week, the Jems and I had a Meetup where the project of the evening was learning to make paper beads.  After pouring over YouTube videos and Google searches...we set about to the business of making paper beads...we didn't do so bad...

Who could imagine that with paper, toothpicks, glue and Mod Podge, you could create some awesome things...+Suzy and I both decided to use scrapbook paper to make as our bead source and here's some of the finished beads.