I'm a terrible blogger!

My days are so haphazard. I want to do A, B, C, but often it's A, oh crap, I forgot to do D yesterday! I want to blog, post to my Facebook page, post to LinkedIn, take photos of newest pieces, list said pieces and draw. It just never turns out the way I want it to. I would love to have an assistant, but since I can't support myself through my art at this point, I can hardly pay an assistant!

I am working on new pieces. I have completed a horizontal beadwoven bracelet in 24k gold and ivory and have just a closure to put on another filigree style cuff also in 24k gold and ivory. These are pieces that may be for my daughter's bridesmaids but I'm sure they'll sell quite well if they aren't used for the wedding.

I've also been drawing more. 

Someday, I hope to learn how to allot my time better and get more done in a day. Until then...I'm in progress...

Blooming Zentangle in progress

Zentangle ACEO in progress

24k gold and ivory jewelry in progress

Emotional Rollercoaster

On Saturday, August 3rd, we lost our sweet Sadie. She was just over 12 years old and she was our fur baby. She had suffered from skin allergies for most of her life. In the last several years she also suffered from awful arthritis in her back legs. She never complained though, she was always a happy pup. Yes, she could be stubborn, but that was as much a part of her as her very expressive eyebrows and her "Chewbacca" grumbling. 

She was by far the sweetest, most loving dog. She helped me keep my sanity after losing my mom. She would stay by my side and lay her head on my lap whenever the sadness overwhelmed me. She certainly knew who the soft touch was in our house (my husband) and would gaze at him longingly whenever he had food, not to mention, follow him anywhere. She also liked having conversations with several of our friends who knew how to speak "Sadie". She was definitely a people dog and believed everyone who came to the door was there to see her.

Our house is so quiet without her and there is a definite hole in our lives and hearts that will never be filled. I know someday we will get another dog, but there will never be another Sadie.
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I did have something positive happen today, I received acceptance into Kent's 20th Annual Art in the Park . It will be held on Saturday, September 7th and Sunday, September 8th at Kent's Fred Fuller Park. I'm really happy about it as I did very well at this event last year. I hope this year will be just as successful. I feel I have a lot more to offer and definitely new and unusual items, such as my beadwoven images. I also hope the weather is beautiful and the turnout is huge.

Frameable Pieces and Upcoming Events

This is my second frameable piece. This one is called "Into Chautauqua Lake".
It was created using over 20 different Delica colors and consists of almost 4,300 beads.
I created and sold a cuff which featured these trees as well,
though it was based on a different photo.

Here are both frameable pieces..."Into Chautauqua Lake" and "Serenity".

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show
Sunday, July 21st at the Terry Macklin Center in Solon, OH from noon until 5:30pm
(Proceeds will benefit the Cleveland Animal Protective League)
and
Saturday, October 19th and Sunday, October 20th
at the St George's Fellowship Center in Fairlawn, OH from 11am to 5pm both days
(Proceeds will benefit Jade's No Kill Rescue)

I will also be participating in the Oddmall "Chrishanukawazmadan"
on Saturday, November 2nd at the Clarion Inn & Conference Center in Hudson, OH
from 10am to 6pm

 After a lot of thought and consideration, I decided not to apply for Winterfair in Columbus this December. If, by some crazy chance I had been accepted, I would have to be prepared to spend three very long days on my own, as well as have enough pieces to last the entire event. An event of that length would require months and months of preparation and I have not had enough time this year with work and the shows I've already accepted. Next year I am going to plan out which events I would like to apply for and keep them to a minimum. I would also like to inquire about having my pieces in the Cleveland Natural History Museum gift shop or the Akron Art Museum and possibly at the Don Drumm Studio. It is still my goal to create art full time and I'm hoping the experience I've gained through these shows will be the catalyst to make that goal a reality.

Beadwoven Images

Though I have created many beadwoven photo cuffs, this is the first time I've created a piece suitable for framing. I am really happy with how it turned out and I am now working on the next piece! I've always had a love of water and it shows not only in my photography, but also in my beadwoven images. The next one is also a water scene!

"Serenity"
3"x 5" beadwoven image from original design

New Year: Not So New Anymore

Wow, February 1st...where did January go? Like many, we spent much of January sick with the flu, hopefully the rest of the year will be much, much better. 

I did get to set up my studio and it's coming along, although I am in desperate need of an area rug and some wall decor. My oldest did get me a lovely calendar that I will probably use the photos from to decorate. It's a Hubble Space Telescope calendar with gorgeous deep space photos. 

I've also gotten some beading done. The Bello Nebula piece is finished, but I have yet to take photos and the purple agate piece needs better photos, but you get the idea. I'm currently working on lovely little bracelets in sterling silver, white or cream for the upcoming bridal season. I'll be selling them at the Avant-Garde Art and Craft show in Rocky River, March 23-24. If you're in the area, come in to see my pieces!

Bello Nebula

purple agate

Listings

I've finally gotten around to listing many of the pieces I created for the Art in the Park show. I still have about 10 more to list, but the majority are up in the shop now! http://arosebyname.etsy.com

I've had great response from my latest pieces and have had some lovely email conversations with people I met at the show. I now have a lot of new ideas and I'm excited to get moving on them! If only there were more hours in a day!

It's likely I will be a part of a show on December 2nd and possibly a future show at the art museum. We'll just have to see how things pan out. I really feel like I have grown a lot in my art over the past year or so and I'm actually finding it easier to refer to myself as an artist. Believe me, this has been difficult! I have amazing support from my family and that makes it even better!

This weekend Baby Girl is moving out, so that will rearrange the upstairs and I may just have my "studio" finally! I'm very excited about that, but I'm not heartless, she is just as excited to have her own place, too!

Best get back to work on my latest order...

Finally An Update

Galaxy Cuff
24 beads across, 14 colors, single-drop

Goose Creek Cuff

24 beads across, 15 colors, single-drop

Lightning Strikes Cuff
26 beads across, 20 colors, single-drop

Paua Shell Cuff
28 beads across, 20 colors, single-drop

Rosette Torregrosa Cuff
22 beads across, 18 colors, single-drop

I'm thinking about how I will set up my shop and the display at Art in the Park next year. I think I will have sections...Deep Space...Of the Earth...In the Garden...At the Museum. I have obviously done pieces for the Deep Space and Of the Earth sections, but I've yet to get going on the floral patterns and patterns based on pieces found in museums. I think, too, I will list my finished pieces, even though I was trying to stockpile for the show next year.

Photos and Info

I know you're probably tired of all the flower photos, but I've been feeling "off" in regards to beading lately. I have started a new RAW cuff with the hope that it will turn out as I imagine for the BAO Challenge theme ("A Novel Idea"). And though it's going slowly, I am at least working on something! I have also decided to list the champagne cuff I originally made for myself. I will make another, somewhat smaller version for myself sometime later on.

On another note, after thinking it through then adding my favorite blogs to my Google Reader, I am going to drop Entrecard (pun intended!). It's been great for traffic, but I find that I don't have enough time for everything I normally do plus dropping from two different blogs. So, thank you to all my loyal droppers and I hope you'll stop by from time to time anyway or maybe even add me to your reader! I'm hoping with the little extra time I'll have, I'll be able to post more regularly!

Photos (top-bottom):
1: Sterling Silver Rose
2: Perfect White Rose
3: Deep Pink Verbena
4: Yellow Daisy
5: Euphoric Honey Bee on a Miniature Pink Petunia

Newest Stuff

The first one is "Golden Honey Bronze" and the second is "Pink is for the Tatas" and $20 from the purchase price will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation in the purchaser's name!

Check These Out!

Did you see the Bead Art Originals Items of the Week?? Gorgeous!

I also have two more new cuffs and working on another! I just have to get pictures taken!

Handmadeology

Tim from Timothy Adam Designs has started a new blog called Handmadeology. This blog will be a fountain of information and tips for selling your art online! I am really excited to see what ideas he'll be posting as he is a very successful artist. His sales are over well over 1,000 on Etsy alone. I know from reading his blog that he will have a lot of great ideas to share. I would like to be much more successful with my art and know that following the advice of someone who is already doing well can only make my shop better!

Art Fire

I have opened an Art Fire shop. I am hoping the additional exposure will get my beadwork more noticed. I only have a couple pieces in there so far, but I will be working on more new pieces to add over the next few days.

BAO-IOTW 01/05/09

Have you checked out the beautiful Items of the Week from the Bead Art Originals Team? Be sure to at our blog: http://beadartoriginals.blogspot.com. Be sure to click on all the artists on the team...talk about gorgeous art!

Bead Art Originals Open House - Come See!!

SALE SALE SALE -- BEAD ART ORIGINALS OPEN HOUSE!!!

From BLACK FRIDAY to CYBER MONDAY (November 28 through December 1) the Bead Art Originals are having an Open House!!!! Members are offering specials during the weekend (the list of participants is below). (When purchasing from one of these shops during the Open House weekend, be sure to include the code BAO OPEN HOUSE in the Notes to Seller.)

When you visit the blog, don't forget to sign up for the Twelve Days of BAO Holidays drawings. There's a new one every day, and there are some wonderful prizes!!

• Anna (ARoseByName): free shipping
• Heather (Humblebeads): free shipping on all orders and a free gift with purchases of $50 or more
• Carli (Juiceglass): free shipping
• Lisa (LisaP etersArt): free surprise gift (at least $5 value) with any purchase over $30 (note that this special is being offered through the end of the year)
• Mak (MAKUstudio): free shipping + 10% off purchases over $50 and 15% off purchases over $100
• Dee (Malodora): free shipping
• Swanee (MistyRidgeBeads): free shipping
• Janice (Naftali): free shipping
• Melody (SalamanderHouse): free shipping
• Smadar (SmadarsTreasure): free shipping + 10% off the second item purchased
• Sarah (thebeadedlily): free shipping
• Darcy (thejadedog): free shipping
• MaryLou (time2cre8): free shipping on entire order with the purchase of anything with the "bao team" tag
• Lisa (tqbdesigns): free shipping
• Triz (triz): free shipping

BAO Items of the Week

Here are the gorgeous Bead Art Originals Items of the Week for September 8th to 14th. To see them up close and personal, see the BAO Blog and click on all the links! You can also see what bonus, prize or discount each artist is giving on their item!

New Etsy Street Team

Just recently I was given the honor of being asked to join a new Etsy Street Team called Bead Art Originals. This is a select group of art bead creators and beadweaving artists and I still can't believe I was asked to be a part of this amazing group!

The BAO Blog has wonderful posts about the different artists involved in this group and it's really fun learning more about the artists I admire! You can also see some of the beautiful pieces created by this group and click on their Etsy shop links.

There is also a website which is still under construction, but does have some photos of BAO art and artists.

I'm really excited to be a part of this group and I'm already feeling inspired by the other members. I know this group will really push me to expand my knowledge and skills and ultimately make me a better artist.

Art/Craft Class

My blog friend, Sarah, is going to be teaching a class at Scrap Tales in Brighton, Michigan in less than two weeks (3/17). She's going to show you how to create your own, one-of-a-kind checkerboard out of "...unconventional crafting supplies found at Home Depot, glass baubles, and luscious scrapbook paper and fibers." If you live anywhere near there, sign up! I can only imagine how wonderful her class will be and I will be green with envy for those who will be able to attend!