Tuesday, August 10, 2010

August 2010 EBW Challenge

The entries for the August challenge, "Silver and Gold" are in! They are as always simply beautiful, creative and amazing! Etsy Beadweavers took the time and have the talent to create these inspiring challenge pieces! Tiny little beads and a needle and thread along with incredible patience bring these selections to you to vote and choose your favorite. I am so honored to be included with such a talented group of beaders!

You can click on the item in the text list below the mosaic on the EBW blog which links to the Etsy Shop listing of each entrant where you will see more detail of each piece!

Voting began yesterday, Monday, August 9th and ends midnight August 15th. Show your appreciation for the efforts of these amazing artists and take on the difficult task of voting for your favorite. (The ballot is on the side bar at right.) Again, the individual pieces are listed below the mosaic where you can visit each entry for more information by following the link.

My entry, "Rapper's Delight" is #38 in the mosaic and on the right in the voting block!

Sunday, August 8, 2010

The Unspoken Truth

Tuesday, this show comes down and I never got a chance to see it. It's the first time I've ventured out and entered a show on a subject that is so important to me. I finished the painting just in time to get it to the show, so I can't post pictures until I get the painting back on Tuesday. The show will still be up at the Huff Gallery at Spalding University today and tomorrow, if anyone is in Louisville.

http://www.whas11.com/community/Unspoken-Truth-exhibit-aims-to-support-survivors-of-abuse-97801974.html

The original dates were July 15-18 but the show garnered so much interest and support that it ended up running until this coming Tuesday, August 10.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

New happenings

As always, it's been a while since my last post. I've been busy with the library, beading, being a mom and web work. But I have still been beading, indeed! I also did two small shows, one at the Louisville Watertower sponsored by the LVAA and another sponsored by our lovely Marion County Public Library. The LVAA show garnered no sales while I was there, but a wonderful lady contacted me afterward. She took a business card and perused my art site, purchasing two of my sculptures. Makes me want to sculpt again!

I've also been working on promoting myself. I recently was accepted as a new artist at Swanson Reed Gallery on Bardstown Road in Louisville. It's exciting to me, as it's my first representation in Louisville. I was in the Kentucky Museum of Art & Craft for a while, but it was a very limited selection of my work, only a few pieces. Swanson is carrying a selection of earrings, bracelets and cameo necklaces. I'll also have a trunk show there later this year, which makes me ecstatic beyond belief!

One of the requests that the buyer at Swanson Reed had was cocktail rings in the style of my beaded cabochons. To the left are my first few attempts. I'm pretty happy with them. I'll make a trip to the gallery first and then list some in the etsy shop.

I also listed some of my pieces that I've been making in preparation for Spotlight Lexington during the World Equestrian Games.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/46837471/cobalt-and-aqua-horse-cabochon-necklace
http://www.etsy.com/listing/46838165/green-gold-and-silver-horse-cabochon
http://www.etsy.com/listing/46838957/copper-and-gold-horse-cabochon-necklace
http://www.etsy.com/listing/46839577/silver-and-black-horse-cabochon-necklace
http://www.etsy.com/listing/46836655/purple-horse-cabochon-necklace
http://www.etsy.com/listing/46835696/aqua-horse-cabochon-necklace
http://www.etsy.com/listing/46841476/the-princesss-copper-horse-choker
http://www.etsy.com/listing/46840763/black-horse-cabochon-earrings
http://www.etsy.com/listing/46840137/gold-horse-cabochon-earrings

Friday, April 23, 2010

Friends are Fabulous

After my post fed through to Facebook yesterday, some fabulous friends commented and then I came across this in my News Feed. Thanks, guys!

http://talkmarioncounty247.squarespace.com/a-photo-a-day/2010/4/22/our-artist-chick.html

Our Artist Chick!

Here is Marion County's ARTIST CHICK at the counter of her gallery in downtown Lebanon. Sadly, her gallery here has closed, but I will never be surprised where she turns up next. She is a powerhouse of talent. There was lots of excitement in our community when we learned she had sold a couple of jewelry pieces to...Courtney Love...!

Our Artist Chick has made her mark at a young age and we'll be watching her, with interest, from now on!

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Oh well :(

I entered Bead Dreams this year, but didn't make it in. I really thought that the piece I created for my mom (Outer Banks Necklace - to the left) would have a chance. Oh well, c'est la vie, right?

I've been working on beading around some polymer clay cabochons featuring horses in preparation for the Alltech World Equestrian Games. I'm super excited, not to mention nervous, about being part of the Spotlight Lexington event in Triangle Park during the Games.

I feel like I've lost a bit of my edge lately, floundering to be creative. I'm going to the Rings & Things trunk show in a few weeks with my good friend (and fellow beader) Patty, and I'm hoping something there grabs me. I hate feeling like I'm in a funk.

Thursday, March 25, 2010

New Listings

Finally got around to posting some new listings on Etsy!

Bright Argyle Earrings: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=43460871

Fun Fan Earrings: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=43461948

Beaded Ball - Purple: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=43462845

I've also sent in my entries for Bead Dreams this year. I'm still working on one that I'd hoped to enter this year, but may enter it next year. I just don't want to push myself and not be happy with what the end product is.

Kentucky Crafted was fabulous. I was picked up by the Kentucky Artisan Center in Berea and made some good contacts.

Also, the fabulous Cyndi Lavin of Beading Arts sent me an updated link to my article on her site and I'm working on some updates for her. Thanks for all you do for the beaders, Cyndi!

Monday, January 11, 2010

Prepping for Market

I spent most of yesterday, on the couch, beading and watching tv. I've been working on pieces for my wholesale catalog and Ky Crafted at the Market in March. It's my first year at the Market and I'm rather nervous. Two days are wholesale and only open to those who can do wholesale purchasing. The last two days are open to the public for retail. The wholesale, of course, will be items that are ordered for me to fill later, but I need to work on the actual printed items to pass out to those buyers. I also need to make sure that I have enough inventory for the retail days. Eep.

I've put together some new earring designs that I can put in the catalog, as well as some new necklace and earring pieces that qualify. Since I'm juried in as a beadweaver, the primary make-up of my pieces for the Market must be beadwoven. It's actually a good study for me in creating new designs and experimenting with color.

Saturday, January 2, 2010

New Year, New Jama

Wow. I haven't posted since August. A lot has happened since then:

1) I closed my brick & mortar shop. It was a difficult decision to make, but one that had to be done. I truly believe that the shop would have been successful in a larger town, but it just wasn't viable here. I had so many people tell me that my place belonged on Bardstown Road or Frankfort Avenue in Louisville, somewhere in Lexington or (my favorite) "Why aren't you in NYC?" But this is my home. I want to raise my daughter here in Lebanon, which means rethinking what I'm doing in how to make a living.

2) I moved into a larger apartment. Huzzah! My old place was literally one room with a bathroom, no kitchen. I'm now in a two bedroom apartment with a large kitchen, place for crafting and a large storage room. Amber has her own room, I have an actual bed with new mattresses (instead of the bunk bed I was sleeping in) and a backyard when it's warmer and Amber wants to play. I'm still not settled in completely (there are still things in my ex's house and in storage), but I'm getting there.

3) I had several shows over the fall, including the Woodland Arts Festival, Ky Bourbon Festival, Marion County Country Ham Days, St. James Court Art Show, Sheltowee Art Show and Heart of Ky Holiday Festival. None of the shows were gangbusters, but they helped me pay my bills and I made some good contacts through St. James and Woodland again.

4) I started dating one of my best friends. He's been there for me through my divorce, helping me move and just when I needed him. We've been friends for years, so he's used to all of my quirks and vice versa.

But, that leads me to my resolutions.

1) You know, get in shape. Isn't that just a given? But this year, I'm not focusing on a weight loss goal. I just want to get healthy. That includes losing a lot of weight (I'm tired of watching my Mii on my Wii Fit swell up), but it also includes working out, eating healthier and getting my asthma back in check.

2) Get my wholesale catalog prepared and begin taking orders. I got into Ky Crafted last year and am doing the Market in March. I'm excited and scared all at the same time. I've started working on some new designs and mocking them up.

3) Start saving up for a new vehicle. I just took over the web hosting from my mom, so I have steady income. That should actually be enough to cover my monthly bills, with my library and jewelry income being extra. My truck started dying this fall and I need to replace her. She's been a good truck, but I just replaced the starter and battery, but the air compressor went, the brakes don't sound so hot and I noticed a speaker going out. I'm an audiophile, so that's kind of a biggie :)

4) Get organized. I've started working on it already, but I need to finish it, get the rest of my filing in order and get my back storage room completed. That'll allow me to get rid of my storage building and get everything out of my ex's house.

5) Keep my etsy store up to date with at least one item a week. (I did add some new things a while back - http://thesepreciousthings.etsy.com)

6) Blog once a week.

Karate's in just a bit. Gotta get the yellow belt ready to punch!