Rejected

Ok, so I won't be doing the Handmade Holiday show in Richmond this year. I guess there were 50 applicants for 23 spots, and 28 of the 50 were from jewelry people. Jewelry is tough -- it's competitive, as a lot of people make jewelry, and it's hard to stand out in a crowd. I'm sure my pictures were not that great, either, so that didn't help. It's hard to represent yourself in only three photographs. I'm sad that my lampwork was considered but not desired, but maybe some other opportunity will open up. I still have the South of the James market until at least the beginning of December, so that's something. I also could put a lot more time into the Etsy shop, so I guess that's what I'll do.

At the torch the other night, I made some more Halloween goodies....some dotty earrings, some bones, a cauldron bubbling with potion...and I also made some leaf beads which I may turn into a necklace, or I may just sell individually as pendants. I can't decide.

Barring terrible weather, I will be at the market this upcoming Saturday, so look for me and all my fun stuff this weekend!

Monsters, oh my!

Yep, Halloween is coming. I have seen the candy and costume displays in the stores, and I have avoided buying any of it in the hopes of staving off my addiction to dark chocolate. And mass-produced cheap costumes. I'm trying to get my oldest daughter to tell me what she wants to be for Halloween so I can start making the costume, but she is undecided. My middle daughter will probably wear her older sister's Cinderella gown (with some hemming), and my son might get a teeny Viking (not the football team) costume or a knight's costume. I can already see Cinderella and her knight strapped into the wagon for trick or treating. If we go with a knight's costume, I might have to them outfit the wagon as Cinderella's coach, somehow. Would that be too over the top? Nope. Crazy, yes, but awesome, too. Heh.

I'll probably have to make some Cinderella beads for Wren to wear, and some scary spider necklace or bats or something for Kira. Noah will not get beads.

And now for some quick and dirty pix of my recent torch time. Sorry for the not so fab pictures, I haven't set up the photo studio yet for this week and didn't want to wait.

More monsters....


And FINALLY!! A successful button!


And a question for you all....what do you think of this bead? It's hollow, a transparent glass spiraled with my favorite red. Tell me how you like the color, the size, the shape...should I make more? In what color combinations?


All of these beads will be visiting the kiln later today. Hopefully, most of them will turn up as pendants on Saturday at the market and on Etsy!

Watch Me Create!

Hey there! I have been invited to participate in a great collaborative blog that is all about bead artists and the creative processes we go through to make our work. It's written by a bunch of different folks, myself now included, and it's been really interesting to hear from others about how glass gets turned into beads and jewelry in their workshops. Everyone has a different approach. The site is Watch Me Create, so go and check it out! You can subscribe to it for easier reading, too.

I also just wanted to let everyone know I have a bunch of new Halloween things for next week's market! Ghosts, bats, pumpkins, eyeballs, skulls, bones, and a monster. Earrings *and* pendants. They might get up on Etsy this weekend, and I'll be sure to let you all know when they do!

Scheduling and shows

Hi everyone....just wanted to post quickly and let everyone know I won't be at the South of the James market this Saturday, 9/20. I'm planning a "studio day" to get more jewelry and beads made, and also going to check out a couple of art and craft shows this weekend. On Saturday, at Rockwood Park in Chesterfield county there is the Rainbow of Arts Festival, which looks like it will be a lot of fun. Sunday, I'm thinking I'll go over the the Arts Around the Lake show at the University of Richmond. I've heard that's a really nice show, too, so I'm going to check it out. You should, too!

Speaking of checking things out....look at this bracelet! It's going up on Etsy this morning, and there is only ONE of them, so if you love it, hop over to my Etsy shop!

New things on Etsy!

I have added two new bead sets to my Etsy shop and also a pink rose pendant. Go on over there and check them out! Also, I made a really awesome (well, I think so anyway!) set of beads that I have a terrific jewelry idea in mind for....here's a sneak preview of the beads themselves...


You'll have to wait and see what I turn them into. I'll let you know when it is available on Etsy or at the market!

In a Treasury!

Whohoo! My Monster beads just got featured in a Treasury on Etsy!! Better check it out quick at this link!

They don't stay up long, so RUN! Go see!

Open on the Internet!!

I'd like to announce to everyone that my new Etsy shop is now open!! Visit it by clicking the big orange button at the left side of this page! I just got it started, but I'll be adding new things at least weekly.

Hooray!!

Holy Hurricane!

Well, it looks like we might get at least the remnants of a hurricane this weekend. I probably will not be making it out to the market on Saturday, given the forecast for extremely heavy rain. It's just not that fun to shop outside for jewelry and glass when it's pouring down rain. I will, however, be at the market the next weekend, Saturday the 13th, and I will have a bunch of new beads and jewelry ready then. On tap for the market on the 13th....

A candy corn charm bracelet
a monster charm bracelet
glow in the dark ghost pendants and earrings
hollow vessel pendants -- perfect for a bit of cologne or essential oil
plenty of Halloween pendants -- pumpkins, bats, witch hats, other fun stuff
copper wire bracelets

As always, let me know if there is anything you'd like to see me try to make. I do take limited custom commissions, and I'm always willing to talk with you about your ideas.

Have a safe weekend, don't get too wet, and I will see you all next Saturday!