I Wanna See You Sweat....

I did it! I went up into my attic space where I solder stuff. It was hot. 'Nam in the jungle hot. I think I sweat off 5 pounds and all the smoke from the solder probably wasn't super healthy, but I did it. I have about 8 handmade bezels ready for my collaging and butterflies waiting to be mounted. I had every intention of getting right back on the horse today but when I took the little white poodle out for her morning walk I was greeted by a steamy, swamp-like swelter at 7 am. If I can't get no satisfaction from the heat at 7am, it ain't gonna happen!

On a "stuff on my list that didn't get done" note, I didn't book my hotel for CL or finish the bird's nest. In my defense I was dehydrated and my husband offered to take me to dinner, soooooo.....! It's totally fine, I'll sleep in my rented mini van. I kid, it's on for today, after yoga. Ommmmmmmm......

Destination Procrastination...All Aboard!!!

With Country Living Ohio fast approaching I have left myself all of August to stock up for the Fair. Sounds like a lot of time...in theory. You see I am not one of those organized, tidy, go get em kind of girls. You'll find no "lists of things to do" tacked to my almost empty inspiration board, no clearly defined schedule to my days. I know a lot of very successful women business owners wake up at a certain time, get dressed, brush their teeth and get to work on specific projects for the day. I am more of the wake up, have coffee, throw on my yoga clothes (for an actual yoga class, although the chances they get changed before bed are slim) skim facebook and various blogs, take the dog for a walk and then get down to the business of making jewelry. I am just having a hard time getting inspired. It's almost August, it's hot as all get out here in Virginia and I feel as if I have ALL the time in the world to prepare for Country Living! (I have read a scandalous number of books) In reality, I'll keep on making jewelry every day at a snail's pace, realize CL is a week away and go into crazy, stressed out mode and make jewelry for 24 hours straight. That's  my jam! That's how I roll! So for today I am going to book my hotel, read my new Jewelry Affaire for inspiration and finished a bunch of bird's nest necklaces, solder and set butterfly collage necklaces. Maybe if I write it out, I'll actually do it. Stay tuned tomorrow for my progress report! What do you do to get organized? Any advice will help and I promise to at least try it.

Don't Be an A-hole at Art Shows (Bless Your Heart!)

The first art show I participated in was held in a small school gym. After crafting pieces of jewelry until my fingers cramped I put out a basic folding table display and was petrified that no one would like my stuff and hoped that at least they wouldn't point and make fun of me. I was lucky. I sold enough to encourage me to keep on making jewelry and no one stood by my table and loudly ridiculed my offerings to their friends.

There are tons of art fairs and festivals going on this summer and all year round. Chances are you will find yourself at one, either because you are interested in buying handmade and local or perhaps it's a festival in your small town where you are going to see and be seen. Whatever the case may be, not all the goods are going to be your little red wagon. Maybe you are not into aprons festooned with kittens and balls of yarn or prefer to buy your pottery mass produced at a chain home goods store. (Lord knows I love me some Restoration Hardware!)  All I ask is that you behave with an ounce of kindness, class and decency and show some respect for the hard work and courage it takes for each and every artist to participate in a show .  Keep your snotty comments quiet or to yourself, and for the love of everything that's good and holy, if you feel like you can make it yourself go home and do it. No need to announce it out loud in front of the person that already has.

Thanks for reading and have a great day!

A Few Little Pieces....

I will be the first to admit that after our whirlwind of traveling this spring I am a little slow to get back into the swing of jewelry making things. I haven't been a complete slacker. Inspired by some "Gypsy Cowboy-esque" photos on Pinterest (research...it's RESEARCH!!!!)  and the possibility of some fabulous new Old Gringo boots that I may get myself for my September birthday I wanted to do an over the top turquoise necklace. The day I finished it one of my favorite blogs Couture Over Coffee published this post about turquoise! Great minds think alike! Here is the first draft of my turquoise necklace:

Pretty, but maybe a bit sparse? After seeing the picture I decided that if alot of turquoise is good...perhaps more would be better? I went back in to add big, fat turquoise teardrops:

I feel like the turquoise drops add more depth to the piece and it's a little more funky and trust fund hippie which was kinda what I was going for. 

(my wrist, actual bangles and the lovely watch my husband bought me!)

Like everyone else I have been loving stacked bangles lately and I have been making "Bangle Bundles". I am making them with vintage rhinestones, velvet, vintage buttons, beads and a random skull bead or two. I will have sets of them available at Irvington Farmer's Market this Saturday and on Etsy after that. Back to the jewelry making!

Johnny Dollar (or Happy Father's Day)

Years and years ago when I was a struggling flight attendant living paycheck to paycheck in my hometown of Wyandotte, MI I decided I wanted to be a jewelry designer. This was about 12 years ago before you could hop on the Internet and easily purchase whatever bead, spool of wire or vintage bauble your little heart desired and have it miraculously appear on your doorstep 2 days later. This was before Etsy! Gasp! I would plunder the local thrift and antique stores for old rosary beads and broken pearl necklaces to use for my designs. I would go over to my Dad's house and ask if he would, "Like to invest in my future business?" Even though I had a job, even though I had NO idea how I would ever make money on my "little hobby" my Dad would fork over $100.00 and I would be able to continue teaching myself the art of jewelry design. He always made a crack about seeing a return on his investment!

Dad, I am probably not going to be sending you a fat check anytime soon (you were just joking right?) but I want you to know how grateful I am that you believed in me and helped me achieve this dream and every dream I have ever decided to go for (web design school, at least I have something to fall back on!)! I hope the return on your investment is knowing that your daughter gets to wake up everyday and not only do something that she loves but make a living at it and that couldn't have happened if I didn't have a father that believed in me! I love you and Happy Father's Day!

"Research" Day!

Well I can't exactly call it "Slacker Stalking Pinterest Day"!( although that is what I am doing) Country Living Magazine shows are just around the corner and if you have ever been you KNOW I have to bring  my "A" game display-wise. Pinterest is a wealth of generous, creative people sharing their ideas and I have been pinning my little heart out with really cool ideas. Here are a few that I am loving:

http://artbeadscene.blogspot.com/2011/02/studio-saturday-with-shannon-levart.html

http://www.ohhellofriendblog.com/2011/05/craft-show-my-favorites.html

Just a few that I am loving. Please feel free to put links to your favorite displays in the comments section. I am also looking for a really cool way to display a sign with my logo so if anyone knows anything about that I would SO appreciate it!!! Now...back to my research!

Busy Little Bee....

Since I am about due for another,"Why hasn't your blog been updated?" email from my Dad I'll beat him to it!!! The last couple of weeks have been all about  making as much jewelry as possible before I go on our family's annual vacation to Duck, NC. Last weekend I woke up at the crack of 5am to drive to Irvington for the Farmer's Market. It's always hard to wake up that early on a Saturday but once I get there and see all my friends and the amazing support of all my returning and new customers it makes the early wake up worth it! It was a gorgeous day and a great show. If you happen to be enjoying the mountains anywhere near Little Switzerland, NC stop by The Trillium gallery and check out their collection of KShonk. I am getting together bunch of pretties including lots of one of a kind pieces with vintage rhinestones, leather cuff bracelets and butterfly necklaces! Now it's back to the salt mines...er......studio table.....have a great day!