Ramblings of an ADD Jewelry Designer

Univeristy of Kentucky Blue Ring!

2011-10-09T08:30:00.002-04:00

Just renewed this. UK fan? Do you bleed blue? This ring is for you!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/51509671/blue-bold-and-beautiful

August 2010 EBW Challenge

2010-08-10T08:22:00.005-04:00

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!

The Unspoken Truth

2010-08-08T13:25:00.003-04:00

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.

New happenings

2010-06-17T15:49:00.003-04:00

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

Friends are Fabulous

2010-04-23T08:16:00.004-04:00

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!

Thursday, April 22, 2010 at 09:21PM

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!

Oh well :(

2010-04-22T17:51:00.003-04:00

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.

New Listings

2010-03-25T10:53:00.005-04:00

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!

Bluegrass Etsy Street Team: Share our Success: Jama Watts

2010-03-22T07:57:00.001-04:00

Bluegrass Etsy Street Team: Share our Success: Jama Watts

Posted using ShareThis

Prepping for Market

2010-01-11T08:15:00.003-05:00

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.

New Year, New Jama

2010-01-02T08:23:00.003-05:00

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!

(Kind of) a Celebrity

2009-08-26T08:58:00.004-04:00

The title of this blog post was provided by my dad in response to an email I sent some friends & family about my news.

I was contacted by Fire Mountain Gems several months ago about being one of the featured artist "success stories" on their website. Jessica King with the company was a pleasure to work with. She was always upbeat, prompt and fun. She sent me some questions based on my work, blog and other info and we went from there. Thank you so much to Jessica and FMG for this opportunity. I'm flattered beyond belief!

A direct link to the article is here. You can also get there by following the right navigation bar on any page of the Fire Mountain Gems site to the Jewelry Artists link. They even took the time to cross-feature me in the Featured Artists and Beading Contests sections. They linked to all of my Gallery pieces, including the Bead-It-Forward beaded squares that I did with the fabulous Etsy Beadweavers.

Many thanks to the awesomeness of Libby with the Bluegrass Etsy Street Team, as well, for plugging this on our team blog so quickly after I tweeted this earlier in the week.

I'm still waiting to hear back from Bead&Button about the project that I submitted. I had an email from Lora stating that they had a meeting on the 21st, but I don't know when I'll hear back regarding that. Eep.

Happy Week - Friday

2009-08-21T14:38:00.002-04:00

One of my muses needs to be mentioned during Happy Week - music. I can remember back to the time when my parents had just moved from Paducah to Eminence, living in the house on Fairview Court. I remember my dad would leave the stereo on at night in the living room. I would sneak out of my room at the end of the hall and dance around the living room to the music. My favorite song at the time, that I remember, was Xanadu by Olivia Newton John from the movie of the same name. Oh yes, you have to believe we are magic :)

I grew up in a household where music reigned. None of us were particularly musically inclined, though my mom did sing in the church choir and once played the clarinet. However, the images of me curled up on the old, black leather sofa with my dad's gigantic headphones on make me smile. I remember dancing on my dad's feet or watching him play air guitar when he rocked out to Black Sabbath, Cream or Eric Claptop. My mom listened to Simon & Garfunkel, Conway Twitty and Alabama. I lapped it all up - my first 45 was Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust" and I vividly remember my Shaun Cassidy album and doll, as well as the giant pic of Barbara Mandrell I had. My taste was, and still is, quite eclectic.

Music has always been there for me. There was a period of time when I listened to classical music on public radio as I went to sleep, the dance offs I'd have with my friends at their houses, the endless school dances that I went to despite the fact that I never really fit into any real group, singing in chorus and the church choir and the obligatory singing at the top of my lungs when I'm alone in the car.

Music moves me. It can make me cry, it can make me bounce around the room, it can help me express myself when words fail me and I need to borrow song lyrics to do so.

Music has gotten me through some rather rough spots in my life. Hearing Pearl Jam's "Deep" and Tori Amos's "Me and a Gun" helped me face my darkest moments. Simon & Garfunkel's "Cecilia" never fails to make me cop around the room. Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here" makes me smile and weep at the same time. "Head Like a Hole" was an anthem during college, dealing with ignorance and apathy.

When I can't create, I turn to music. I can't paint in a quiet room. Give me a glass of wine, some music and I'll grab a canvas.

Happy Week - Thursday

2009-08-21T07:48:00.004-04:00

I know I'm actually running a day behind & this will mean two posts today, but honestly, I'm not sure I could have posted a happy week entry yesterday if I'd tried. It was a bad day, coupled with not getting my Zoloft refilled in a timely fashion which resulted in my being a slight wreck.

But, throughout the course of the day, I was reminded of something, or rather certain someones, who make me happy. My friends.

I'm not talking about fair weather friends, acquaintances or the like, not that they don't have their places in each of our lives, since I do, truly, believe that everything happens for a reason. I mean the friends who tell it like it is, know what you're going through, pick you up when you fall, dust you off and help you get back on your feet.

There's Dawn... wow, where to start. This girl, woman, crazy insane chick calls me her best friend and vice versa. I don't know what I'd do without her. Dawn and I met in 1998 when we both worked at Office Depot, Business Services Division (an office, not a sales floor, thankyouverymuch). I have never clicked with anyone like this before or since. I swear we've known each other in past lives. From 2000 miles away, she can call me and ask me what's going on - why am I upset? I'll call her and tell her to quit emoting because I'm feeling it across the country. She tells it like it is and doesn't sugar coat it and I do the same for her. I love her, seriously, in a "I will do anything for this woman" kind of way. I think the heavens for her. Our biggest problem is that we don't get to see each other enough, since I'm in Kentucky and she's in California.

My mom. Yes, she's my mom, but she's also one of the best friends a person can have. She's honest with me when I don't want to hear it, compassionate and there for hugs when I need them and there for a laugh when I need to be picked up. She's a beautiful soul who puts up with more crap than she should, but that's just the way she is.

Lega. He'll probably kill me for mentioning him, but he's a bright spot in my life. I can have intelligent conversations, meet him for a drink or just zone out. If he knows I'm having a craptastic day, he'll come over bearing Monty Python. He's good for giving me a hard way to go!

Paul. We might not be married anymore, but he remains one of my best friends. We can still crack jokes with each other, discuss our daughter's trials and accomplishments and call each other if we need something. I treasure his friendship.

Patty. I've known Patty since high school (um... 1992), through college and beyond, but it's really only in the last several years that she and I have truly connected on a "what in the world would I do without her?" level. We entertain each other in the mornings with emails, kvetch at lunch, offer advice and support on jewelry making techniques and understand raising a child as working moms. She's supportive, honest and I'm damn lucky to have her in my life.

Chris. He's always been up front with me, given me good advice and offered a smile when needed. We don't always see eye to eye and we've definitely pissed each other off, but that just happens to be the way that our friendship works.

Amber. My daughter, my life, my friend. I hope that she and I can continue to have the kind of relationship my mother and I have throughout the years.

There are others out there - Kassy, my coworkers at the library, the insane people at the radio station, fun people at the Chamber, etc.... people who have blessed my life in some way. They have shaped me and allowed me into their lives. I thank them for that.

Happy Week, Wednesday

2009-08-19T19:08:00.003-04:00

Thinking about things that make me happy has been an odd kind of homework assignment. We spend so much of our time focusing on what we "need" to fix or what's wrong that we forget about everything else.

There are times when I'm at peace, when I can allow myself to be calm and feel without going over the edge one way or the other. I might not be bouncing off the walls jubilant, but the world is right and life is good. This is happiness. How do I classify this? Is it one thing that does it? No, I know of several off the bat, but one stands out, especially with my upbringing and education.

Art.

Mark Rothko Red Orange Tan Purple

Be it creating, viewing or even just thinking about it, art makes me happy. I can be angry and focus that energy on a piece and be calmed. I can listen to music and put my feelings about the lyrics or music onto canvas. Letting my fingers sink into clay as I sculpt is pure bliss.

Edgar Degas, Little Dancer, Age 14 (La Petite Danseuse de Quatorze Ans)

I love walking around art museums and galleries. When I lived in Southern California, I would make frequent trips to the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena. Their collection of Impressionist art was quite large and I loved visiting Degas' Little Dancer, Age 14. There was something about her that spoke to me, as well as Degas' chalk pastels. I enjoyed seeing the strips of paper he would add on to the side because he wasn't happy with the composition and thought a piece needed to be larger this way or that.

I took trips to Chicago to see the Degas & Monet retrospectives, as well as to LA to see the Van Gogh exhibit. These artists were passionate. Their emotions were conveyed through the years to me through their brushstrokes on canvas, use of color or fingerprints in clay.

Judy Chicago, The Dinner Party

I'll never forget stepping into the Armand Hammer Museum in Los Angeles. I was working on a project for college, taking slides of works for my own catalog. There happened to be a Feminist art exhibit, featuring the Guerilla Girls, Miriam Shapiro and others. I was stunned. I was... I was happy. Seeing these women take on art as a social medium just blew my mind. What I didn't know was that a life-changing exhibit had been brought out of storage and was on display in the lower portion of the museum. There... there before me was Judy Chicago's The Dinner Party. I smiled, I cried, I rejoyced at what I saw before me.

I knew then and there what had been buried within me and who I was. I was, am and will always be an artist in some way, shape or form. That knowledge, plus seeing art from the masters, lesser knowns, those just starting, my friends and even my daughter, that makes me happy.

Happy Week - Tuesday

2009-08-18T19:09:00.004-04:00

Yesterday's happy post featuring Amber was easy to do. Trying to figure out today has been off & on my mind through working at the gallery & the library.

I suppose it should have hit me like a ton of bricks, or at the very least, a cascade of seed beads. Beads. They make me happy. I can't pass the vials of tiny seed beads without stopping to see if there's a color that catches my eye. I see beads or findings and think about how I can put them together. Most of the time I start a project not knowing where I'm going. I pick out colors that I like and see what comes along or buy a bead buy another artisan and see what I can do to enhance the beauty of that piece.

I started beading almost 7 years ago. It would have been September of 2002 when I got pregnant and it was shortly thereafter that I found out. One of the first things that happened was my OB/GYN kicking me out of my studio where I painted. I searched for an outlet and came across Bead&Button in a local store. I figured what the heck, bought it and some inexpensive beads.

What started as stringing and learning basic techniques has escalated into an obsession with beads of all kinds - gemstone, crystal, polymer, silver clay, lampwork, but mostly, my tiny little seed beads. I adore all of the vials of Delicas and boxes of Czech seed beads in various sizes that hang on the pegboard on my wall. I relish learning new techniques and seeing what pops into my head.

My favorite way to bead is just to let go and let it be. Freeform work used to frighten me, but asymmetrical pieces and those that just make themselves up as they go along now thrill me. There are exceptions to the "rule" (like my love of beaded beads), but for the most part, I just let the beads tell me where they want to go. It is said that Michelangelo spoke that his sculptures were inside the marble already. I'm not saying I'm Michelanglo by any means, but I feel that way about my beadwork much of the time. They move me where they want to go. Heaven help me if I try to make them do something they don't want to!

Monday of Happy Week!

2009-08-17T16:22:00.004-04:00

I almost forgot about Happy Week, as I've been dragging today, my body a little wilted from the Woodland Art over the weekend. I did well, not gangbusters, but I sold some of my favorite one of a kind pieces, including my crazy quilt bracelets.

What makes me happy? #1 is my daughter, Amber. I never really thought of myself as the "motherly" type and probably still wouldn't classify myself that way. Nothing in this world makes me as happy as this crazy kid. She extremely sharp, funny and talented. When she hugs me or wants to love on me, nothing else matters.

There are times when she reminds of me of myself, other times when I can see her dad in her. She cracks me up when I hear my grandmother's laugh come out. That belly laugh and cackle are like my Meemaw is here, smiling at me from somewhere beyond.

I'm sure as she gets older, we'll butt heads about boys, dating, curfews and the like, but until then, I'll take the arguments about school day bedtimes , sugar intake and how long she can play in the shower. If she takes after me even more, I'm sure she'll tell me how I'm wrong and verify everything with her teachers, just like I did to my mom.

I love her more than I ever thought I could possibly love anyone or anything.

Oh Happy Week

2009-08-13T08:45:00.003-04:00

The fab Tab at TabMade blogged about her involvement in Curious Girl's "Happy Week" next week and I knew it was something that I wanted to do. I've been rather stressed lately and a happy week is definitely in order!

So, next week, every day, I'll post a photo and some ramblings about something that make me happy. A jump start is the photo to the left of the best thing in my world - my daughter Amber. She's nutty, brilliant and has such a sharp wit that she makes me giggle constantly. Nothing better in the world than that little girl's belly laugh.

Today is the unveiling of the Spragens Memorial that our Arts & Humanities Council raised the money for. Gene & Nadine Spragens were great benefactors to the arts in Marion County, bringing in performing arts, giving away tickets to shows and establishing scholarships for music students. The sculpture is absolutely gorgeous - brushed aluminum music staffs with blackened music notes spiraling in a double helix. It stands in front of the new Performing Arts & Culture Center and will stand as a testament to their influence in this community. I'd like to someday be remembered as someone who helped promote the arts, especially the visual arts, within the community. There's something to be said for what the arts can do, be it in education, therapy, release or just plain enjoyment. I owe so much to the arts, visual and performing alike.

Tonight, we unveil the sculpture, revel in live music, relive history and peruse original works of art in our little ol' town of Lebanon. And it makes me really happy.

New Treasuries!

2009-08-07T09:12:00.004-04:00

After a bit of a dry spell, I woke up to my work in not one but two treasuries this morning!

The first, "Shades of Red", was curated by WhimsyBeading of the Bluegrass Etsy Street Team. It's gorgeous! Many thanks to her for including my Autumn Colors Crazy Quilt bracelet.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=74933

The second, "They Tried to Make Me Go to Rehab" is a hilarious homage to the Etsy Beadweavers' collective obsession with color, primarily purple and green with a little turquoise thrown in for good measure! Many thanks to LittleStoneDesign for including my What If I'm a Mermaid bracelet.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=74982

Mom's Outer Banks Necklace

2009-08-06T10:42:00.004-04:00

My mom came back from the Outer Banks, North Carolina last year with a hand full of shells and one request - for me to make a necklace for her. I really agonized over it for a while: Do I try to drill through the shells? Do I back & embroider them? Do I use bails and make some funky charm necklace type piece? In the end, I decided to make right angle weave bezels for them... all 18 of them. There are 16 shells on the necklace and two that I used for a pair of earrings.

The center shell posed a different problem with its shape. Mom had originally requested that I try to drill it, but I was terrified that I'd break the shell. Instead, I used a minimal amount of silver wire to wrap it.

The shells are an off-white and lilac to medium purple mix and I used gray Czech seed beads for the bezels. The shells are interspersed with stick mother of pearl beads. I'm really happy with the results, as is she!

In other news, I submitted my project to Bead & Button. I should know by September if they've accepted the project. First time for submitting a project!

I'm still waiting on news from the Use the Muse project and the FMG results.

B.E.S.T. Treasury

2009-07-31T09:11:00.003-04:00

WhimsyBeading created a treasury based on Bluegrass Etsy Street Team members and included my Green with Envy bracelet. The treasury, "It ain't easy being green (BEST)" is a plethora of shades of green.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=73626

I'm still waiting to hear about the FMG and Use the Muse results. I submitted some pieces to "Creative Jewelry" for publication but didn't get in. There's always next year, so I'll work on something for that. In the meantime, I'm working on a custom order for my mom with some shells that she picked up along the beach on the Outer Banks last year. I also need to order some Lapis for a custom necklace for a friend.

The last week hasn't been a fun one for me and I've made some decisions that I'm not quite ready to go public with yet. Let's just say one door closes and another opens.

Treasury

2009-07-20T08:33:00.003-04:00

Creativesque created a treasury based on FAM Team members and included my Redbud Earrings. The treasury is a beautiful riot of color.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=71562

I finished my Use the Muse entry and my friend Stephen helped me photograph it. I can't reveal it yet (per the rules) but I'm pretty happy with it.

I also made a piece on Friday that I'm really happy with. I'm going to plot this one out & submit it to B&B, I think. I can't remember seeing anything like it. I made it up as I went along, but it's not freeform, and it's not so elaborate that I wouldn't mind recreating it in order to write the instructions.

Featured!

2009-07-16T11:46:00.001-04:00

Many thanks to Kim Reis at Creative Eye Studio and the gang at the Bluegrass Etsy Street Team for featuring me and my appearance in the Fire Mountain Gems catalog in their blogs today! Please got check them out!

Voting & Treasury Time!

2009-07-09T10:30:00.005-04:00

The entries for the July challenge, "Here Comes the Bride" 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 begins today, Thursday, July 9th and ends midnight July 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 on the EBW Blog.) Again, the individual pieces are listed below the mosaic where you can visit each entry for more information by following the link.

My entry, "The Mermaid Bride" is #25 in the mosaic and on the right in the voting block!

Also, GrumpyTomsAttic put together a treasury of folks like me who took the time to vote in the CCCOE challenge. Thanks so much! The treasury features my Magnolia Derby Hat.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=69217

I Did It - Finally!

2009-07-06T07:50:00.004-04:00

After 4 years of rejection letters, I finally got into Kentucky Crafted! I was fully prepared to have to run to the grocery store for a consoling pint of Ben & Jerry's Chunky Monkey, but I actually made it. I have a mandatory meeting on the 21st of this month to attend regarding what's expected of me, attending Crafted at the Market, use of logos, etc., but I'm pretty excited. The program requires no rejurying in every year and can be helpful in getting into galleries or retail locations, which is exactly what I need. Things have been very slow lately and I'm having to contemplate taking a full-time job in order to make ends meet. I really don't want to let the gallery go, but I have to be realistic.

There's a fabulous treasury I'm in that expires in just a few hours. It features many of the entries for the July Etsy-Beadweavers Challenge - Here Comes the Bride, including my "The Mermaid Bride". Thanks to the lovely enchantedbeas for putting it together. Check out both of her shops!

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=59867

Please visit the EtsyBeadWeavers’ blog between the 9th and 15th of July to see all the beautiful entries in this challenge and vote for your favourite!!!! http://www.etsy-beadweavers.blogspot.com

I also listed quite a few new pieces the other day (and I have many more lucite pieces to photograph & list, but there's only so many hours in a day!):

Grandma's Crazy Quilt Bracelet:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=27321154
Pink Bud Earrings:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=27323742
Redbuds Earrings:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=27323444
The Mermaid Bride (again!):
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=27322566

Relisted:
Keep on Searching for a Heart of Gold:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=27324072
Warm Fuzzies:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=21798663

Treasury Time

2009-06-27T08:46:00.004-04:00

DaisiesAreOurSilver put together a Kentucky-themed treasury ("Kentucky loveliness") and was nice enough to feature one of my hats! Thanks so much!

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=67218

I started my entry for the EBW July challenge and am still working on my entry for the Use the Muse contest. My wrists have been giving me grief, but I'm happy with both pieces thus far!

Oh what to write...

2009-06-23T08:41:00.003-04:00

I've GOT to get better at blogging. My life has been a bit crazy lately, but I need to take some time to visit this place more often.

I got my beads in for the Use the Muse project. I've pulled some of my beads out to incorporate into the piece, but haven't really sat down & thought about where it'll go yet. Most of my pieces end up telling me where they want to go, anyway! I've drawn out a few pieces and they usually end up veering off from my original intent. They know where they want to go & they're not about to let me force them in any direction other than that one!

I started working on the July EBW challenge - Here Comes the Bride. I missed the June challenge of humor, but that's ok. I think I needed a month off! This piece is definitely leading me in a direction that I didn't think it was going to go!

I was in a treasury last week, but totally missed blogging about it. Boourns!

I got an email from Jessica King at Fire Mountain Gems last night with the copy for my Success Story. OMG! I'm so flattered. My jaw hit the floor and I grinned like an idiot after reading it. What a compliment! Once the story is up & posted, I'll link to it.

The earrings in the post are a pair that I did for my friend Jenn as a custom order. Very happy with the way they turned out!

Wordless Wednesday

2009-06-17T09:27:00.001-04:00

Check out the Bluegrass Etsy Street Team

2009-06-16T09:36:00.003-04:00

The fab Devin Prather featured me on the B.E.S.T. page on FaceBook and Libby has used it for the B.E.S.T. blog. I'm feeling pretty loved right now!

Also, I completely forgot to blog about our B.E.S.T. giveaway for this month, featuring a pair of my earrings!

Announcing our June Giveaway!

Ear Buds
These hand crafted earrings feature dangles of small lucite flowers in light pink, hot pink and baby blue with centers in various colors. Threaded on silver-plate headpins, each with a wrapped loop for extra security. Flowers dangle off sterling chain and hand-made sterling earwires. Full length of earrings is 1.75".
These earrings are valued at $20.

How Do I Enter?
In order to enter this drawing, please visit my store, These Precious Things, then go to the B.E.S.T. blog and post your comment. Tell the B.E.S.T. team what you like about my shop or tell us about your favorite item. If you post this giveaway on your blog, let us know that too, for an additional chance to win.

We'll draw a random winner on June 30.

Good luck to all!

Long time, No post!

2009-06-01T15:17:00.004-04:00

The last few weeks have been rather hectic around here, so I haven't gotten to post, even though I've been creating new listings in my etsy store. I really haven't had time to bead, so the items I've been listing are ones that I've had in the gallery for a while, but had neglected to post. Most of that is rectified now, I'm pleased to say. In the last few weeks, my daughter graduated from Kindergarten, turned 6, won a slew of awards and has made me just an all around proud mom.

The always lovely Ileana of enchantedbeads included my Chrysoprase Earrings in her treasury, Gotcha!

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=62056

New listings!
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25616956
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25623950
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25722913
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25661185
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25661557
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25723800

Also, a pair of my earrings is being given away over at the Bluegrass Etsy Street Team blog. Go check it out!

Featuring... Me!

2009-05-16T07:28:00.005-04:00

Just got word from the fab SpoolOfPlenty that she's included my "Tulle Anyone?" hat in her latest Bluegrass Etsy Street Team treasury, "Wedding Time in Kentucky."

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=58387

In other news, I had an email from Fire Mountain Gems in response to a submission I'd made about becoming one of their featured artists. Turns out, one of the ladies in marketing began following my blog and reading other features on me! They asked me to be one of their success stories on their Back Cover artists! I'm really honored to be asked to do that!

I've been really busy with web design lately and haven't been able to create a whole lot of jewelry. I've done some repair work on some older jewelry for some ladies in town, but haven't had time to play. That's ok, since I get paid for programming/design time! If you're interested in checking those sites out, I've been working on http://www.lebanonmarionchamber.com, http://www.visitlebanonky.com and http://www.teamtaylorcounty.com.

I've also started working 10 hours a week at the Marion County Public Library. Things have been so and I need the extra income, plus it's a great group to work with. I truly believe that we have the coolest librarians around, not to mention one of the greatest facilities, especially for a small town.

May 2009 EBW Challenge

2009-05-09T09:22:00.004-04:00

The entries for the May challenge, "Hollywood Red Carpet" 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 begins today, Saturday, May 9th and ends midnight May 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, "The Prince and the Showgirl" is #11 in the mosaic and on the right in the voting block! My blog entry about the necklace is here: http://jamawatts.blogspot.com/2009/05/prince-and-showgirl.html

EBW 2009 Beaded Quilt to help fight breast cancer

2009-05-06T14:34:00.002-04:00

The following was posted on the EBW Blog by Susan Clinkscales. I'm really honored to be part of this project:

Last year after reading about the Bead & Button Show and their auction to help fight breast cancer, I came across Jeanette Shanigan's website and her beaded quilts. Jeanette asks beaders around the world to donate individual beaded squares based on a theme. She then sews the squares together to make gorgeous quilts, mounts them in shadow boxes and donates them to be auctioned at the Bead & Button show. In 2008, these quilts raised nearly $4,400 for breast cancer research.

Being a member of the Etsy BeadWeaver's team (EBW), I knew we were sitting on a goldmine of talent. I asked the group if they would like to make squares to be included in Jeanette's quilts. I would collect all of the squares and submit them at one time in hopes that they would all be included in one quilt. Fifteen EBW members stepped up and created 35 squares to be included in a 2009 quilt. The theme for 2009 is "Bead artists have the heart to take on breast cancer" and I believe the EBW contributors did a magnificent job representing it.

Below is a mosaic I created of all of the EBW squares. This is not the actual quilt, only a digital version using photos I took of each square. Please visit the Bead & Button Show website to find out more information about the auctions, which will be held June 6, 2009. Below the mosaic is a list of contributors and links to their shops. Click on photo to see full size.

First row (l to r): Susan Clinkscales, Eddy Downing, Eddy Downing, JoJo Curley, Swanee Hielscher
2nd row: Swanee Hielscher, Swanee Hielscher, Swanee Hielscher, Linda Davis, Smadar Grossman
3rd row: Smadar Grossman, Smadar Grossman, Smadar Grossman, Lisa Savoy, Lisa Savoy
4th row: Lisa Savoy, Jama Watts, Jama Watts, Jama Watts, Kerrie Slade
5th row: Kerrie Slade, Kerrie Slade, Kerrie Slade, Victoria Thompson, Victoria Thompson
6th row: Victoria Thompson, Kim Shaver, Dawn Nelson, Melody Murray, Melody Murray
7th row: Ileana Munteanu, Ginny Bracht, Ginny Bracht, Ginny Bracht, Ginny Bracht

The Prince and the Showgirl

2009-05-04T13:15:00.004-04:00

I FINALLY finished my entry for the May EBW Challenge this morning - Hollywood Red Carpet. I really envisioned old Hollywood glam for this one, mainly one of my idols, Marilyn Monroe. It's the first time in a while that I've actually ordered beads for a specific challenge. I usually force myself to use what I've got in stock, making it even more of a challenge. This one, though, needed GLAM and some bang.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=24579502

Here's the description I wrote up for my entry. If you've never seen The Prince and the Showgirl, check it out sometime.

I'm a sucker for Marilyn Monroe movies. While my favorite is Some Like it Hot, this piece reminds me of something Sir Laurence Olivier's character would have bestowed upon Marilyn's character in The Prince and the Showgirl.

This piece features a large Baroque champagne Swarovski crystal, measuring 1.25" wide and 2" long. Necklace itself is woven in netting with silver-lined gold seed beads in 11/0 and 15/0 sizes, silver 4mm faceted Czech rounds and 140 4mm Swarovski bicones in pink, topaz, ruby, amethyst, montana blue and pale yellow.

Necklace ends in a beautiful swirling sterling silver hook & eye clasp and measures 18" long. Central weaving is 6" wide and 2.5" long.

This piece was created for the May 2009 Etsy-Beadweavers Challenge - Hollywood Red Carpet. From May 9-15th, stop by the EBW blog at http://etsy-beadweavers.blogspot.com and vote for your favorite piece. Search for other entries on etsy with the keyword "ebwc" or search for other ebw work by searching for "ebw" or "ebw team" any time you want to shop for beautiful beaded items!

I also listed a few other items today:
Matching earrings for entry: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=24580825
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=24575180
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=24575684
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=24576136
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=24576633
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=24577398
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=24577860

Run for the Roses!

2009-05-01T08:39:00.003-04:00

Today is Oaks Day here in the Bluegrass State (that would be the fillies' race, for you non-Kentuckians) and tomorrow is the Derby. This state goes nuts, Louisville in particular. I've never been to the Derby and would love to go. I heard a news spot this morning on the radio, talking about how there were still tickets available for both the Derby and Oaks, as well as hotel rooms. That's a true sign of the weak economy, when you generally can't get a room anywhere near Louisville during Derby weekend.

BUT, on a happy note, simpleelementsdesign has honored myself and some other folks with a treasury dedicated to the Derby.

Run for the Roses
http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=55372

I've been programming the last few days and haven't done much in the way of jewelry. I did get some chain maille done last night with some cool anodized aluminum, but have other projects to work on today. Repair, custom redesign of a belt into a necklace, and a custom order. Hopefully, I'll get my EBW challenge finished and be able to work on my B.E.S.T. challenge entry!

Treasury Time Again

2009-04-29T11:25:00.004-04:00

Paula at intothewoods1 has included one of my beaded ornaments in her treasury, "Surf's Up! Gnarly Hues, man." Thanks, Paula!

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=55204

I haven't had time to work on my entry for the EBW challenge. I'm supposed to be working on the Chamber's website and need to get in that frame of mind. I'd like to have a good portion of it done before starting work at the library next week.

I also need to get my things together for the jury process at Kentucky Crafted. Is the 5th time a charm? I hope so. I hate rejection.

Speaking of rejection, I didn't make it into Bead Dreams this year. I'm planning on doing a piece just for the show next year, like I did in 2008. In my copious amounts of spare time :)

Oh what a weekend!

2009-04-27T07:24:00.003-04:00

I had a pretty fabulous weekend. Friday night, my friend Kate and I took another friend, Anne, out for a night in Louisville. Anne had twin girls at 23 1/2 weeks and has been living in the Ronald McDonald House in Louisville for 8 weeks now. The girls are at Kosairs and are doing so well - just last week they were both extubated and have already been worked down to the lowest oxygen level! I've been kicking myself for not getting up there since the twinkies were born, but it was so good to drag Anne out for a night of conversation, dinner and good beer at BBC. We walked down to Borders afterward at 4th Street Live and then back to the RMH. I love Louisville and I love my girlfriends.

On Saturday, I got my kiddo and drove back to Louisville for a Bluegrass Etsy Street Team meet & greet at Tina Mackin's studio on Barret. What fun! It was so great to meet the ladies who came, put faces and voices to the names, as well as share ideas. After coming home, the fab Libby snagged a treasury (check out her soaps, one pictured to the right), including everyone who was there. My Blue and Orange Derby hat is one of the featured pieces.

Orange You Glad You're in Kentucky!?
http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=51820

Amber and I got back to Lebanon about 6 and stayed in. Sunday morning, we stayed in our jammies as long as possible before hitting her soccer party, the park and then back to her dad's. I got my butt kicked at disc golf by my friend Stephen and then had drinks at Los Mariachis. I love my driving disc in the pond, though. Drat!

I finished the chain maille bracelet I was working on for one customer, which allowed me to get some work done on my entry for the Etsy Beadweavers May Challenge. I have some other projects that I have to finish (paying projects!) today before I pick the needle back up on the challenge piece, but it's coming along rather nicely.

In other news, I got a part-time job! I'm so excited! I've been needing to do something that would guarantee income and I couldn't be more excited about the venue - our local library. I swear, we have the coolest librarians on the planet.

Pink Out - Oaks Hat Contest

2009-04-22T07:32:00.005-04:00

I didn't have a contest in mind when I made my Derby/Oaks hats, but a local tv station, Wave 3 in Louisville, is having an Oaks hat contest. From the Wave 3 site:

"This year Churchill Downs will donate $1 for every person that attends the Kentucky Oaks to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, guaranteeing a minimum donation of $100,000. They are asking everyone to show their support by turning the track into a "sea of pink"... to wear pink to the track on Oaks Day in support of finding a cure for breast cancer."

On a personal note, my grandmother had breast cancer resulting in a double mastectomy when I was in high school and overcame it before losing her battle with depression a decade later. I'd like to think of her wearing this hat, laughing that incredible laugh that I'm happy to say I inherited. Family gatherings sounded like a din of hyenas :)

Love you, Memaw.

So, please go to http://wave3nation.wave3.com/vmix_hosted_apps/p/media?id=3859606 and vote!

Run for the Roses

2009-04-18T12:14:00.005-04:00

I absolutely love the Kentucky Derby. It's one of those times that I just want to strut around & tell everyone I meet that I'm from this beautiful state.

My dad has been on me for years to do Derby hats. This year, I finally heeded his advice and created some hats. I was supposed to make it to a friend's wine tasting tonight to show these off, but my body has other plans, so I just spent the last hour & a half listing these beauties on Etsy. I had tons of fun making them, even if I ended up covered in glitter, hot glue and feathers for a while!

The pictured hat is already sold. I LOVE those feathers!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23845814
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23846787
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23847069
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23847372
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23847662
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23847854
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23848096
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23848307
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23848682
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23848907
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23849347
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23849101

In other news, I just got Mod Knots by Cathi Milligan in the mail. I've done some simple macrame in the past, but I'm itching to try these out! Because I'm too ADD to not try something new!

My beads came in for my latest EBW Challenge, Hollywood Red Carpet Creations. Can you say sparkly?

New Listings!

2009-04-15T15:15:00.003-04:00

I went nuts (like usual) the other day and glazed a bunch of glass tiles for jewelry. Today, I finally got around to adding 5 of the bracelets to my etsy store, along with a beadwoven necklace and bracelet.

Things have been a bit hectic with my schedule and I feel like I haven't gotten much done in the way of beading. I know it's not true because I've increased my stock in the gallery, but I just haven't gotten photos taken of everything for etsy. Sometimes, I just feel like my business gets in the way of my business! Of course, I'd sit and bead all day if given the chance, but I have to say, I've enjoyed hanging out with friends lately and working on my committee assignments. Yes, I am crazy, why do you ask?

Glass Bracelets:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23714548
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23717249
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23718635
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23719178
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23719608

Dutch Spiral Bracelet:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23722427

Bird's Nest Necklace:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23720308

Voting Still Open

2009-04-14T07:26:00.002-04:00

What a talented group of Etsians in the Etsy-Beadweavers team! I'm always blown away by their work anyway, but these challenges really are quite awesome.

The fab Ginny of Njema Creations has curated a Treasury featuring some of the entries in April's "Time Machine" challenge. Go check it out & don't forget to vote in the EBW challenge on the EBW blog. You have until tomorrow to cast your vote.

A Trip Through Time Treasury:
http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=50362

I have more pieces to photograph, but haven't been able to get to them. I'll try to rectify that!

In the meantime, I've relisted a few items:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=18784495
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=18737344

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=14698463
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=14693536

Glass, Glitter & Glaze

2009-04-11T08:23:00.004-04:00

Robin from facesarefunny is doing a bang up job of catching treasuries for the Bluegrass Etsy Street Team. The latest, The Old Bald Cheater and 11 more b&w greats from the Bluegrass Etsy Street Team, features one of my glass tile pendants. Thanks, Robin! Go give the treasury some love!

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=50046

Speaking of glass tiles, I spent much of yesterday glazing some decorative paper onto some new rounds for some bracelets, earrings and rings. I was covered in Diamond Glaze and glitter for a while, but it was worth it. Today's project entails a few more coats of Diamond Glaze and some sanding.

I also ordered some beads for the new EBW challenge for May, Hollywood Red Carpet Creations. It's been a while since I've ordered beads for a specific challenge. I've been trying to use up leftover beads from old projects, but I couldn't resist getting some Swarovski for this challenge. Ideas abound!

There's still time to vote for your favorite entry in the April EBW Team Challenge, Time Machine. Voting is open until the 15th of this month! Go! Vote!

Voting Begins!

2009-04-09T07:40:00.005-04:00

The entries for the April challenge, "Time Machine" 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 begins today, Thursday, April 9th and ends midnight April 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, "Time Standing Still" is #4 in the mosaic and on the right in the voting block! The link to my piece is currently incorrect, but my piece can be found here: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22899690.

New Treasury

2009-03-30T11:31:00.003-04:00

Binkaminka has included my Copper and Silver SteamPunk Pendant 1 in her treasury, Wild Solitudes.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=48895

I've also listed two new bracelets:

Oooooh, Shiny Object!
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22903302

The Spring Spiral
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22902740

Time Travel

2009-03-28T08:49:00.003-04:00

It's finished & listed on Etsy, so I can blog about it now :)

Like TheBeadedLily, my first thought was incorporating watch parts into my April EBW challenge piece. My necklace was inspired by my love of SteamPunk and it's merger of Victorian era and Industrial Revolution. One of my close friends is a pilot and she's enamored with this era, which inspired me even more to head this direction.

This piece incorporates metallic 8/0 seed beads in shades of copper and bronze, woven around watch gears and other parts encased in resin. I'd already created the resin pieces for bracelets, pendants and earrings that I've been creating as part of my SteamPunk line on etsy. Further accenting the piece are drops of copper chain and amethyst faceted beads capped in copper. A copper toggle fastens on the side, adding a modern, assymetrical touch to the piece.

Necklace measures 19" in length, 4.5" at its widest point and 3" at it's longest in the center.

As always please visit the Etsy Beadweavers blog http://www.etsy-beadweavers.blogspot.com to vote for this necklace or your other favorite between April 9-15. Meanwhile, search "EBWC" on Etsy for more stunning bead woven Time Travel creations!

New Treasury and Work

2009-03-26T13:43:00.004-04:00

The fab facesarefunny from the Bluegrass Etsy Street Team put together another great treasury, this time called Tangled Up in Blue (I love Bob Dylan!). She was nice enough to feature my Wrapped in Blue glass time bracelet! Go give it some love.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=48136

I've also been hot gluing away on my Kentucky Derby hats and have been enjoying it immensely. I've finished 6 and have another 9 coming in to work on. If anyone out there is interested, message me through here or Facebook about ordering a custom one. I'll be posting pics of the completed ones soon and am thinking about listing them on Etsy. I've got two private showings in April that I'll be traveling and taking the hats to (Girls Night Out in Louisville & Wine Tasting in Richmond), but they're on display here in the gallery, as well.

I've also finished up my Time Travel entry for the Etsy Beadweavers April challenge. I've got it photographed, but haven't had time to crop, etc. I'll have it up before the end of the week. In the meantime, here's a few pics of it in progress to wet your whistle!

The waiting continues

2009-03-19T11:32:00.004-04:00

I finished my application for the FMG contest today. I'm entering three pieces - one in the cabochon/turquoise category, one in the earrings/cabochon category and another in the seed & bugle beads category. I've had two finished for a while and am entering them on a whim, but designed the third just for the competition. More waiting.

In the meantime, I've put the flowers aside until I can get to Michaels in Elizabethrown this weekend to pick up some tulle and silk flowers. I'm considering doing some cloches as well as the typical sun/straw hat, if I can find something that fits with what I want to do. In the meantime, I'm going to bead a band of galloping horses for one of the hats. Have I mentioned that I love the Derby?

Oooooh, the suspense!

2009-03-18T13:57:00.004-04:00

I spent the better part of my morning cropping photos and readying them for my Bead Dreams application. I'm entering two pieces this year, For the White Witch of Narnia and Blue for Cleo. For the White Witch of Narnia was created last year for one of the Etsy Beadweavers challenges, but I have since reworked the necklace more to my liking, making it fuller and giving it more drape. Blue for Cleo was completed after I finished my entry & finalist piece, The Harvest, for the Bead Dreams show last year. It's 16 different blue agate cabochons configured into a collar. I'm really proud of both pieces, but know after not making it into Bead Dreams before that it's a tough competition. My fingers are crossed.

I thought I was finished with my Fire Mountain application, but I decided to redo it. That one should be done and then it's all wait & see for all of my entries. Until I decide to enter something else!

In other news, I've been working on flowers for Kentucky Derby hats. Oooooooo....

Featured!

2009-03-16T08:41:00.004-04:00

The awesome Kelly at Macaroni & Glue has featured me in her blog this week. Thank you so much, Kelly! Kelly does some really cute stationary in both her Macaroni & Glue store, as well as her stores, Freshly Crafted & Retro Crafted.

Temptation Treasury

2009-03-12T08:52:00.003-04:00

Voting is still going on at Etsy-Beadweavers for the March challenge. Please go vote! You have until the 15th of this month!

Tied to that is a new treasury put together by njema:

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=46481

I'm currently making flowers for Kentucky Derby hats, one seed bead at a time. Break out the Icy Hot!

Blog Giveaway at Chocolate & Steel

2009-03-11T07:11:00.003-04:00

Want to win something? Want to win something gorgeous & handmade??? To enter for a chance to win this beauty, go here: http://chocolateandsteel.blogspot.com/2009/03/giveaway.html

Go ahead now, check it out! You know you want to! But hurry, ‘cause the drawing is on Friday, March 13!!

And don't forget, voting is still going on at the Etsy-Beadweavers Blog for the March Challenge. Voting is open until the 15th!

March Voting is Open!

2009-03-09T07:02:00.003-04:00

The entries for the challenge 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 favourite.

You can click on the item in the text list below the mosaic on the blog which links to the Etsy Shop listing of each entrant where you will see more detail of each piece! (I'm # 21!) Be sure to visit the EBW team blog today through the 15th to vote!

Also, I finished my KY Crafted application for this year on Saturday. I delivery my pieces for jurying in May.

Treasuries Galore!

2009-03-08T22:14:00.000-04:00

I feel so blessed to be part of the Bluegrass Etsy Street Team when I see treasuries like the two that I was honored to be part of. What great artists and a great variety! Soaps, jewelry, hand-dyed & hand-spun yarn, paper crafts, fine art... it's all there and more!

The first treasury was put together by facesarefunny and is called ...hypnotized... by these Kentucky wonders.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=44522

The second treasury is called Am I Foxy? and was put together by WhimsybyMari.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=46006

FrontPage?

2009-03-05T16:35:00.004-05:00

So, apparently, according to Google Analytics, I made it to the Front Page yesterday on Etsy! There doesn't seem to be a screencap of it in the Flickr photostream, but that's pretty exciting. It's the first time I've been on there.

Also exciting was the visit I had from the folks with the Kentucky Entrepreneurial Coaches Institute. They were in town for a conference and our local coaches told them to come talk to me about my experience in business, etc. While they were here, one of the ladies bought my "Washed Onto Shore" necklace, which absolutely made my day even better.

In other news, I'm getting ready to place an order for some beads to make lots & lots of flowers.

New Listings!

2009-03-03T14:48:00.002-05:00

I don't update for a while and then WHAMMO! Here I am again!

I finally finished my entry for the Etsy Beadweavers March challenge - Temptation!

Chocolate Cherry Cordials:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=21799457

Please visit the Etsy Beadweavers blog http://www.etsy-beadweavers.blogspot.com to vote for your favorite piece between March 9-15. Meanwhile, search "EBWC" on Etsy for more stunning bead woven Temptation creations!

I also listed four other items:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=21798663
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=21797346
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=21796225
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=21795874

Thanks for the Ego Boost

2009-03-03T13:37:00.002-05:00

I just got my newsletter from Fire Mountain Gems with an update about the 2009 Design Competition. While I haven't gotten my entries in yet for this year (although the app is done), FMG has updated their website with the 2008 finalists. Over the last three years, I've had two pieces make finals each year, been included in their Comprehensive & Best Sellers catalogs & in an ad campaign (featured to the left). I needed this ego boost today as I've been thinking about reapplying for a guild here locally.

http://tinyurl.com/cbdzwc

New Treasury!

2009-03-03T08:32:00.003-05:00

The lovely & talented Smadar of SmadarsTreasure has featured my Black, White & Red All Over bracelet in her treasury, Red, White & Black. If you read Bead&Button, check out her work in the current issue!

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=45425

Another Treasury

2009-03-02T07:22:00.002-05:00

Wow. I'm blown away at the mentions in treasuries lately on Etsy. The latest mention comes from my Bluegrass Etsy Street Team cohort, facesarefunny.

Swirly!
http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=43212

Where have I been?

2009-02-28T10:08:00.003-05:00

This treasury has almost expired & I'm just finding myself in it! Oops! Thanks GardenJewels! The treasury is called "To Lie in a Meadow" and features my "For the Meadow Fae" necklace.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=42108

Treasury Time

2009-02-28T08:36:00.004-05:00

CrochetbyMommaJ included me in her fabulous treasury "Green With Envy." My bracelet, also titled "Green With Envy" is included. Apropos? I think so.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.ph p?room_id=42617

And, like I needed more beads (wait, I always need more beads!), I ordered some cute lucite flowers from GroovyChickSupplies on Etsy.

I need to take some better pix of my entry for the February Art Bead Scene Challenge for my Etsy store, but I'm waiting to do that setup when I have a few more things made. The Feb challenge revolved around Klimt's painting "The Kiss." I bought one of HumbleBeads' awesome 6-holed spacer beads designed around the piece and then designed a cuff around it in two-drop peyote.
I'm also working on a piece using some strawberry quarts rondelles that I've had for years. A sneak peak...

New Listings

2009-02-26T15:26:00.004-05:00

Now that I've finished my Rings & Things entry, I'm trying to play catch up on my Etsy shop, as well as getting my entries ready for the Fire Mountain Gems & Bead Dreams contests. Not sure that I'll get my entry for the March Etsy Beadweavers Challenge "Temptation," but who knows? I've got ideas, but I might have to take Dave's advice and spend a few days icing my wrists.

(I really don't want to... I'd rather bead!)

New Etsy Store listings!

Beadwoven Bracelets:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=21575274
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=21574977
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=21574271

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=21573868

Steampunk Earrings
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=21573558
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=21573283
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=21572956

Glass Tile Pendants
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=21572723
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=21572596
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=21572419

It's finished!

2009-02-25T17:18:00.005-05:00

I don't usually push myself this close to a deadline, but I did this time. Today, I finished putting the final fringe on my entry into this year's Rings & Things "Your Designs Rock!" contest. I was going to enter another piece (and may still enter it - I took new photos), but this one got under my skin and I HAD to finish & enter it.

As is my usual, I started off playing with new stitches. I previously blogged about getting The Art of Beaded Beads: Exploring Design, Color & Technique edited by Jean Campbell. I've had more fun making the confetti beads and variations of my own beads that I often forgot that my wrists were hurting! It wasn't until I started making a pom pom bead that I had to breakdown and buy some painkillers. But, I'm really happy with the results. So, after I hit "Post" here, I'm off to fill out the online application and get her in.

I present "Having a Ball" featuring approx 20mm wood beads beaded in RAW with size 10/0 & 11/0 seed beads, the center bead is done the same way with fringe, small beaded beads using 6/0 & 11/0 seed beads and fringe & chain up the size in 8/0, 6/0, 10/0 and 11/0 seed beads. I luff me some seed beads.

Found Myself!

2009-02-18T16:03:00.006-05:00

Not in the philosophical way, but in a "holy crap, that's my necklace!" kind of way. I was looking through the latest Rings & Things catalog, finding the bits & pieces for my entry into their "Your Designs Rock!" competition. Lo and behold, on page 133 of the 2009-2010 catalog, there's my "Queen's Green Collar!"

Guess that's just a little more incentive to get my entry in!

I'm currently trying to figure out which pieces I'm entering in which competitions. I pulled my "For the White Witch of Narnia" piece from Etsy, redoing some of the stitching to make it a little fuller and to lay more like I wanted it to. I've also pulled a few more, knowing that I'm entering them in something, but not sure. I've also got a piece that I finally finished, thinking about entering it in Bead Dreams, but I think it's going to go toward the FMG competition this year. Once I've got it figured out, I'll post more!

Also, I just bought Jean Campbell's "The Art of Beaded Beads." I'm loving this book! I've been making the confetti beads featured on the cover, planning on something huge and colorful. I also really like the anemone beads, so I'll probably try those out next. There aren't enough hours in the day for me to bead!

February Challenge Voting is NOW!

2009-02-09T16:51:00.004-05:00

Voting has officially begun for the February Challenge, "Tropical Holiday," today,February 9th and ends midnight February 15th. The best way to show your appreciation for the efforts of these amazing artists is by taking on the difficult task of voting for your favorite. (The ballot is on the side bar at right on the EBW Blog.) Again, the individual pieces are listed below the mosaic where you can visit each entry for more information by following the link. Be sure to visit the EBW Blog to vote NOW!

That's Clever Airs Today!

2009-01-30T07:57:00.003-05:00

I hate not having satellite or cable! My episode for "That's Clever!" should be airing in just a few minutes! HGTV has added my website link to their site, which is really exciting, too. Eep!

My EBW challenge entry was in a treasury last week, but didn't get to post the link. It's expired now, but I at least got a screen cap!

February Challenge Entry

2009-01-27T07:23:00.004-05:00

I finally finished & listed my Etsy-Beadweavers Challenge entry for February!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20223811

This freeform bracelet was created for the Etsy-Beadweavers February Challenge - Tropical Holiday. In thinking about the challenge, I went back in my memory to Waikiki - the crystal blue water that you could see through, that changed color under the magnificent sunsets. The entire island of Oahu seemed to stop every night to watch the sunset.

This cuff is made from 11/0 Japanese cylinder beads utilizing peyote, herringbone, brick and right angle weave stitches. Galvanized denim blue, sea foam green and iridescent purple undulate around the wrist, topped off with dyed freshwater pearls, etched glass reminiscent of sea glass, agate and a tiny glass fish. A large mother of pearl focal houses a peyote toggle clasp.

The bracelet measures 8" long and 2" wide at the widest point.

Visit the EBW blog to see other artists beautiful beadwork; or search EBWC to see more tropical holiday challenge pieces. Please visit the team blog between February 9th and 15th, when you'll be able to vote for your favorite entry.

The Chattanoogan

2009-01-22T09:02:00.005-05:00

A friend of mine tipped me off to an online article about Lebanon and Springfield which mentioned my gallery, These Precious Things.

http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_142355.asp

The portions mentioning my gallery are:

"The first thing a visitor should appreciate once he or she has arrived in the Heart of Kentucky is the small town feel that pervades the area. People greet each other on the street by first name, local coffee shop owners know what customers will order without the customers having to request it and everyone seems to move at a slightly slower pace than people who live in big cities. "

"However, just because the small town feeling pervades this area does not mean that the Heart of Kentucky is in any way a backwoods or "hick" area. I was pleasantly surprised at the menu and selection at the various restaurants that I ate at while in the area. The Oak Barrel, a restaurant that recently opened in Lebanon, offered a little bit of everything. Their crab cakes were filling and tasty. The next morning, stopping in at "These Precious Things," an art gallery and coffee shop, for a latte was just the way to start the morning."

Kate Wilson
kawilson830@gmail.com

HGTV!

2009-01-21T15:18:00.004-05:00

The airdate for my episode of HGTV's "That's Clever!" is fast approaching! The awesome Corinne Sullivan with the Bluegrass Etsy Street Team plugged the episode on the BEST blog today. Thanks, Corinne!

If you're in the Lebanon area, I'm having a viewing party (which will be a bunch of my friends making fun of me being a goober on national tv). The party will be at Blues on Tap (110 North Proctor Knott) at 8pm on January 30th. I'd love to see you there!

New Listings

2009-01-20T08:49:00.002-05:00

Mother Nature's Night Out

2009-01-19T11:37:00.005-05:00

I finished the ISGB Convergence project last week, but hadn't had a chance to photograph it & post until now. Last week wasn't such a good week for the stress level, so I'm trying to start this week off on the right foot!

The Convergence project encompasses the 4 elements. My collaborator and creator of the fabulous beads I got to use was Joyce Rooks. Joyce created 5 beads, called "Planetscapes," that swirled and moved the way one would imagine the jet stream or ocean currents move. I feel so blessed to design a piece around these beads.

In working on the necklace, I wanted to be literal in the representation of the elements, so there's fire, a flower for earth, wind and a drop of water. Each component was created in peyote, including the back copper band. The necklace includes Japanese cylinder beads, Czech glass seed beads (11/0 & 15/0), dyed freshwater pearls, and a sterling clasp. The centerpiece is a circle (for the earth itself) which has 4 tails, one of each of the elements. I'm really pleased with the results. I just need to get some more info from Joyce, but then our entry is off.

Giveaways and More

2009-01-14T08:40:00.005-05:00

I meant to post this earlier, but it completely slipped my mind! The Bluegrass Etsy Street team blog is currently having a contest to win a beautiful pair of Swarovksi earrings from Kim Ries of Creative Eye Studio. Just visit Kim's shop and leave a comment on the B.E.S.T. blog about which item you like best. The winner will be chosen at random from the comments left over the course of the month.

I didn't get to my remodeling over the weekend. I was all ready, but my mother begged me to wait until I had someone here helping me out. I think she forgets sometimes that I've been out at 10pm with power tools working on houses before. But, that's a mom for you! So, we've scheduled the 24th & 25th to tear into this place. I'm taking measurements this week and headed to Lowes for the supplies. I'm looking forward to having more space. Maybe I won't hear beads rolling around in my keyboard anymore after this! (And no, you're not getting before pictures! This place is a MESS!)

I've been busy working on my ISGB Convergence project. I'm pretty pleased with the way it's coming along. I've got the major peyote portion of the necklace done and getting ready to add some dyed pearl accents and, hopefully, I'll be done. It's due 2/1 and I want to make sure I get some faboo pics. Joyce Rooks just rocked these lampwork beads. Beautiful!

Treasury

2009-01-07T09:38:00.003-05:00

The wonderful WhimsbyMari put together a really nice Treasury on etsy, featuring members of our Bluegrass Etsy Street Team.

What's Red and Black......
http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=31257

Back to beading. I've got two quilt patches to finish for an order, two repair jobs and then meetings this afternoon. Work work work!

The Mark of Great Art Follow-Up, New Years

2009-01-06T08:51:00.005-05:00

By chance, I decided to check up on the Maker's Mark project this morning, to see if the company was looking to do another project. Nothing new posted of that sort, but they have started updating where the pieces have landed after the gallery openings. Mine's in the West Village (woot!) at a place called the Cowgirl HOF... that would be Hall of Fame. So, if you're in NYC, both of my pieces are there at 519 Hudson.

And my New Year's Resolutions (not including the obligatory "I'll get in shape, etc.")...

Cut down on the number of festivals I do, but make them quality festivals
List one item on Etsy per day
Enter more design competitions
Get my workspace organized (oh, that's a BIGGIE!)
Finish my painting series & promote it
Stick to a budget in order to pay off bills & save for my own place
Update my marketing plan

Looking at that list makes me a wee bit tired, but I'm working on it. I'm planning on fixing my workspace this weekend (power tools!) and getting ready to break out the camera right now & work on my etsy listings. Wish me luck!

Post-Christmas Sale

2008-12-26T07:58:00.004-05:00

I hope everyone had a great holiday and isn't too stuffed from the great food yesterday! I'm still hanging out at my mom's with my daughter and dog-sitting today & tomorrow morning, before heading back to the gallery to get a half day of sales in. I'm having a post-Christmas sale in both my brick & mortar gallery and my Etsy store, where my ornaments have been marked down from $15 to $10. That's quite a bargain on a one-of-a-kind piece. There's only a few left on the Etsy store, but more in the gallery that I never had time to list.

Treasury and Holiday Cheer

2008-12-24T13:21:00.004-05:00

The fabulous Melody included me in her treasury, Ancient Evenings & Artifacts!

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=28630

Happy Holidays everyone!

We have an Airdate!!!!

2008-12-22T16:39:00.005-05:00

http://www.hgtv.com/thats-clever/felted-cloche-hat-tin-photo-album-sticky-notes-purse-metal-garden-necklace/index.html

I don't know why they have me listed as being from Brandenburg. It's bad enough I had to say Louisville instead of Lebanon on the show, but yeesh! I've emailed their online customer service, asking to have it changed.

January 30 - 8am - HGTV! Anyone up for a viewing party? My segment will only be 6-8 minutes (after 6 hours of filming!) but it's airing! I may have to drink before I show it (I know I'm going to look like a giant goober), but there will be a party!!!

On top of that & the ad that Fire Mountain ran, my gallery was also mentioned in an article about our community on the KyPost.com website (there's a link to my gallery website at the bottom). It's been a pretty good day (even had some sales to boot)!

It'd be better if I didn't have to make the journey to Wal-Mart tonight, but duty calls. Boo, hiss.

Treasury!

2008-12-18T09:02:00.003-05:00

I got a note from Maunakeamoonlight that I was included in a treasury she put together. It's a really beautiful treasury and it's rather funny, because I'm familiar with Larry Watson's pottery through shows here in Kentucky. Fun!

I want to turn GREEN!!!! - http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=27519

I've started working on my piece for the ISGB/Bead&Button Convergence project. The beads that I got from Joyce Rooks are absolutely incredible, but I'm not showing photos til I get some work done :)

More Glass!

2008-12-16T18:35:00.004-05:00

Kiss my Glass!

2008-12-16T08:59:00.004-05:00

My foray into the world of glass decoupage began Sunday night. I'd bought some wonky rounds and squares with holes, along with some Diamond Glaze a few months ago from the fab Annie Howes. I hadn't had time to play with it, but decided to make time Sunday night. I sat down with my glass, glaze and a stack of decorative paper. I'm really happy with how they came out! The rounds are going to be bracelets and the squares pendants, but I'm doing them with sterling or copper handmade swirls instead of affixing bails. Partially because I wanted to do something different and partially because I'm too impatient to wait to order bails & have them come in!

Wrapped in Blue: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=18737344
Funky Punk Glass Bracelet: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=18736704

That's Clever! Update & Projects

2008-12-15T16:09:00.003-05:00

My Google Reader picked up a change in the "That's Clever!" website today. Series 400 will begin airing in January!!!! My episode is finally going to make it on the air! I was really beginning to give up hope, despite hearing from Weller-Grossman a few months ago. But there it is! http://www.hgtv.com/thats-clever/show/index.html

To the left is my FMG ad on the back of the January/February Step by Step Beads. It wasn't on the stands when I went to Barnes & Noble over the weekend, but it should be in the next few weeks. I have to pick up a few extra copies, including one for the lady who bought the piece several years ago.

Also included in the issue are two awesome ladies from my Etsy Beadweavers team - Lynn & Meri! Of course, they actually did all the hard work of prepping projects and submitting them! Kudos to you, ladies!

I spent much of last night & this morning working on some glass tile pendants. I'm pretty happy with the way they turned out, especially the ones I grouped on bracelets. Photos and etsy listings to come!

It's a good day!

2008-12-11T11:14:00.005-05:00

First off, new Treasury with some awesome Bluegrass Etsy Street Team members!

Little or no (color that is): http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=26026

I got my copy of Step by Step Beads (January/February 2009) today and sat down to look through it. I usually do a quick run through and then go back later. I finished and flipped the mag over - there I am!!!! Or rather, there's my piece in the Fire Mountain Gems ad! I knew they were going to use my piece in an ad campaign, but I had no idea when. They've used several in the catalogs over the last couple of years from my pieces that have made finals in their jewelry design competition, so I thought maybe that was it. But there it is!!!! I'm so annoyingly giddy right now!

And I'm almost done with my last custom ornament! Yay! The quilt patches are all done and I'm just adding the hanger to the beaded snowman. Yay for good news and productivity!

Don't forget to go vote for your favorite piece in the Etsy Beadweavers December Challenge!

Voting is Open!

2008-12-09T15:00:00.000-05:00

Voting has officially begun today, December 9th and ends midnight December 15th. The best way to show your appreciation for the efforts of these amazing artists is by taking on the difficult task of voting for your favorite. (The ballot is on the side bar at right on the EBW Blog.) Again, the individual pieces are listed below the mosaic where you can visit each entry for more information by following the link. Be sure to visit the EBW Blog to vote NOW!

EBW Team December Challenge

2008-12-08T08:52:00.004-05:00

Wow. Just wow. I am floored by the incredible entries for the Etsy Beadweavers December Challenge. Just look at these pretties! (My entry is #20.)

Voting begins on Tuesday, December 9th and ends midnight December 15th. The best way to show your appreciation for the efforts of these amazing artists is by taking on the difficult task of voting for your favorite. (The ballot will appear on the side bar at right on the EBW Blog on December 9th.) Again, the individual pieces are listed below the mosaic where you can visit each entry for more information by following the link.Be sure to visit the EBW Blog to vote between December 9th and 15th!

Treasuries!

2008-12-05T07:36:00.004-05:00

I've been featured in a Bluegrass Etsy Street Team Treasury!
The Best of Kentucky: http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=34752

I've been beading like mad, despite being busy with oodles of other things this week, including the Arts & Humanities Council and some personal issues. I got a few more ornaments made, including a custom one for a friend and another quilt patch. I've got orders for 5 patches and a custom snowman that I need to completely before next week. I have an open house with our community's Dickens Christmas event tonight and then I should be able to tackle the other ornaments. We'll see!

The White Witch

2008-12-01T13:01:00.003-05:00

I finally finished my Snow Queen entry for the Esty-Beadweavers December Challenge. I wasn't exactly sure where I was going when I started, but that's pretty normal for the way I start out projects. It's the first time I've beaded around rivolis, but I really enjoyed turning them into snowflakes. There's some right angle weave, lots of peyote, fringe and netting. I love it when I get to play with stitches!

Most of my inspiration from this piece came from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (The Chronicles of Narnia) It was one of my favorite books growing up and has become one of my favorite movies. The White Witch, or Queen of Narnia, doesn't wear anything around her neckline in the movie, but I'd like to think she'd wear this with its representations of snow & ice.

Please visit the EBW blog at http://etsy-beadweavers.blogspot.com between December 9th and 15th, to see all of the entries in our December challenge and vote for your favorite. Search EBW TEAM for more beautiful beadwoven creations and EBWC for monthly challenge entries.

An Award & Updates

2008-11-29T12:09:00.004-05:00

Corinne Sullivan at Daydream Art Studios has awarded me with the marie Antoinette blog award. It's the first award for my little ol' blog, so thanks, chickadee!

Official RULES:

1) Please add the Marie Antoinette award photo on your blog
2) Place a link to the person from whom you received the award
3) nominate 7 exceptional blogs to receive the award
4) put the links to those blogs on your blog
5) leave a message on their blogs to tell them they are the chosen ones

Nominees:

Annie Howes Keepsakes

Gem and Beaded Jewelry

TheBeadedLily's Sketchbook

Wilmoth Farms Handmade Soaps

The Bead Kitchen

Smadar's Treasure

Kerrie Slade

I've spent the holidays beading, when I haven't been shopping or stuffing my face. I'm getting close to being done with my EBW challenge entry for December, so I should have it done before the 5th deadline. We'll see!

Back and Raring to Go!

2008-11-24T07:32:00.003-05:00

After several days off, visiting my best friend in Vegas/Utah, I'm back and ready to go. This was, perhaps, the worst trip for traveling (flights to & from were delayed, added to migraines and lack of sleep), BUT I got to see Dawn, her family, her daughter graduate from her program and Dawn's friends from CA that I hadn't seen in a while. It was a super short trip, but any longer & I would have been fretting even more over the work that awaited me when I got back here!

While got, the fab Marilyn included me in a treasury. You won't find me in the treasury if you go look now, as I made my first Etsy sale!!! Hooray! That's a fantastic way to start off my week!

I started my entry for the Etsy Beadweavers December challenge yesterday. I'm not sure I'll get it finished in time, but I wanted to give it a go. Which means I need to finish my todo list I already had started and get my booty in gear!

The Holidays are Coming!

2008-11-19T14:07:00.005-05:00

I've been buried in webserver, ASP, HTML and CDONTS work for my mother for the last week and a half and I'm finally coming up for air. Unfortunately, I haven't gotten a lot of beading done during that time, but I have started on my mom's Christmas present, which includes netting bezels around seashells she brought back from the Outer Banks. It's the first time I've used right angle weave (RAW) to start a bezel, and then I'm cinching them up with peyote. I'm rather happy with the way it's coming, but I've only got three done out of the 18 or so that I have to net. Good thing I love my mother :)

Currently, my poor computer is bogged down while I try to upload photos to Etsy and print holiday greeting cards for one of the artists that I carry here in the gallery. My poor pc is moaning & groaning, but I can't help but multitask! Plus, I'll be out in Utah the next few days, so I'm trying to clear some things off my to-do list. I almost wrote "desk" but yeah... the desk will always look like a tornado hit it.

I've finished several of the beaded ornaments and finally got around to listing them on Etsy today. I was going to put them in a friend's shop here in town, and I still may, but for now, they're in my gallery and my Etsy store. They're rather Victorian, but not heavily beaded.

Ornaments!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=17541268
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=17541069
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=17540883
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=17540605
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=17540328
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=17540073
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=17539854
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=17539549

Back to Beading?

2008-11-14T14:16:00.003-05:00

I'm so close to being done with Mom's computer changes that I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Unfortunately, the sites I have left to move all have coding changes. I'm a nerd, but I'd rather be beading.

I think I need that on a bumper sticker.

My Google Alerts found this today: http://gem-beaded-jewelry.blogspot.com/2008/11/beaded-jewelry-by-jama-watts.html. I'm rather flattered at the nod, since Zoya featured me in her newsletter a few months ago. I didn't know she was going to post it in her blog later on. Fun. Thanks, Zoya!

The Alerts feature at Google has been helpful in catching items that might have gone unnoticed. The other day, it found a link to my blog regarding an update to my HGTV appearance. The internet can be a fabulous thing sometimes.

I promise to post pictures of the beaded ornaments next week. AFTER I get this website stuff done and off my desk.

Back in Black

2008-11-11T20:15:00.003-05:00

I just found my Onyx earrings in this beautiful treasury created by FleurDeIrk who happens to be another great Etsy Beadweaver! (Don't forget, you still have time to VOTE!)

BLACK and elegant

I've been working on web updates for my mom's business this week, which means I've been coding and doing computer geek stuff and not getting to bead. I thought I'd enjoy the break, but it's killing me! I have ideas for my Snow Queen project, as well as my mom's Christmas present and I still have 3 dozen ornaments I need to bead. Not to mention the fact that I really need to decorate the store for Christmas, despite the fact that I don't decorate my home until after Thanksgiving. All of that topped off with the cold from Hades that kept me from doing a show over the weekend and I'm just one big pile of nerves. Woo-hoo!

Ahem.

Pay no attention to the crazy lady drooling over her beads and waiting for her next shipment of sparklies to come in.

EBW Voting Time!

2008-11-09T19:57:00.002-05:00

I had a hard time voting myself! Please visit the EBW Blog and vote for your favorite!
Voting begins on Sunday, November 9th and ends midnight November 15th. The best way to show your appreciation for the efforts of these amazing artists by taking on the difficult task of voting for your favorite. (The ballot will appear on the side bar at right on November 9th.) The individual pieces are listed below the mosaic where you can visit each entry for more information by following the link. Thank you, enjoy and be sure to come back to vote between November 9th and 15th!

1. Catching A Dream Bracelet - myfairladyvt4

2. Florida Gators Orange and Blue Herringbone Bangle - njema

3. Beaded Ancestral Expressions Petroglyph Totem Cane - SalamanderHouse

4. hands against time cuff - thebeadedlily

5. Celtic North American Native - SilkenLariat

6. The Greek Key - BeadsAndI

7. Hungarian meets French - beaddiddy

8. DNA in Violet and Blue - Wide Beadwoven Peyote Cuff - time2cre8

9. ONE WORLD Bead Woven Embroidered Cuff Bracelet - caraway

10. Trail Mix - ThesePreciousThings

11. Roses and Pearls Necklace - SpringColors

12. Proud to be an American - dreambeadweaver

13. Let My People Go Collar - triz

14. The Hoshen - a Breastplate - beadshead

15. Plaid Pride Bracelet - FrancescasFancy

16. Patchwork Cuff - playnwithbeads

Feeling Thankful

2008-11-06T10:02:00.005-05:00

Found myself in a treasury dedicated to the Bluegrass Etsy Street Team today. I've met so many talented people from across the globe with my street teams. If you sell on Etsy and you don't belong to a team, I strongly suggest you look into it. I'm a member of B.E.S.T. (search teambluegrass), Fabulous Artistic Moms of Etsy (search fam team) and Etsy-Beadweavers (search ebw team).

Best of the BEST: http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=31585

Finding Myself

2008-11-06T08:04:00.004-05:00

I'm always floored and thankful when I find my work mentioned by other people. My Google Reader found the following:

Carrie's Place: My Inspiration

What a way to start out my morning. I only hope the warm fuzzies can carry over - I fear I'm coming down with a killer cold. I had a migraine for most of the day yesterday, ended up in bed around 7:30 and was out before 8. I was a big dizzy this morning getting ready, but once I came downstairs & opened the gallery, the nausea has hit me like a freight train. I have a festival in Somerset this weekend, but if I feel like this, there's no way I'll be able to drive back & forth to do it. I think Mom's got it, as well, and that's why co-worker in my booth on Saturday. What a pair we'd make!

I'm going to tough it out for a bit and work on some ornaments, but I've a feeling I'll be in bed within the next few hours. Booooooo.

Another Treasury and Other Notes of Interest

2008-11-05T07:49:00.004-05:00

The Jester is Flying High: http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=18987

I've been busy (which is nothing new), but trying to take care of my list of things to do. I've finished making about two dozen pendants for the gift shop at Maker's Mark, but I still need to deliver them. Now, I'm working on netted, Victorian-style ornaments for my friend Lee's open house this weekend. I just hope I can get him at least a dozen. He's an extremely talented interior designer and his retail store is FAB-U-LOUS. I may end up pulling an all-nighter tonight in order to get them and some earrings made. It's been a while since I've worked like that, but I've got a festival this weekend on top of Lee's open house. Unfortunately, my throat is starting to get a little scratchy. I hope I'm not coming down with something, as I need to get to Somerset for the festival. I've got rent to pay!

New listings up on Etsy! Forgot to post them the other day.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=16809096
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=16809301
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=16809468
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=16809641
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=16809851
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=16810041

FAM Treasury

2008-11-02T06:23:00.001-05:00

B L A C K: http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=31090

The Treasure Chest

2008-11-01T12:04:00.005-04:00

New EBW Team Treasuries!

For the Love of It: http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=18585
Family Ties: http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=18529

Ancestral Expressions

2008-11-01T07:48:00.004-04:00

I finished my piece for the Etsy Beadweavers November Challenge yesterday and I'm really happy with it. It's bright, free and is very much an expression of who I am.

The November theme is "Ancestral Expressions." When I first started thinking about projects for this challenge, everything that came to mind was very literal about my background. I've always embraced the Celtic/Pagan part of me, as I'm part Scottish, Irish & Welsh. I was sketching Celtic knots, the Celtic family tree, thinking of researching my family's different tartans, but it all seemed a bit trite and contrived. I knew I was leaving out more. I'm also English, Swedish, Cherokee & Sioux. So I thought about doing seven panels - each representing my different heritages. But then I knew I was probably leaving out some nationality that I don't know about.

The thought that came to me then is always my response to when people ask me what I am. I always say "Trail Mix." My mom has started researching our family tree, so I know certain ethnicities and a little about my family's past, but it's garbled and missing information here and there. So, trail mix seems to fit. When I thought about that, I decided to design something that represented the different pasts, their varied histories and holes in the information that I do have. What I came up with is my bracelet, lovingly titled "Trail Mix" - full of color, peyote, right angle weave, herringbone, ladder, picot fringe and some backstitch with the embellishment. The holes represent the holes in my history.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=16808573

Please visit the EBW blog at http://etsy-beadweavers.blogspot.com between November 9th and 15th, to see all of the entries in our November challenge and vote for your favorite. Search EBW TEAM for more beautiful beadwoven creations and EBWC for monthly challenge entries.

Treasury!

2008-10-27T16:21:00.003-04:00

Treasury features!

Green... with Envy! (features my Green Ruffle necklace)
http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=17644

Eyes so Blue You Could Drown (features my Peacock necklace)
http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=17488

Tis all for now!

Sing Praise!

2008-10-27T07:15:00.004-04:00

There is nothing quite like getting an email from a happy customer right after they've received an order. I got an email Saturday from the lady who asked me to wrap some Alaskan stones for her:

HI, JAMA,
JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I RECEIVED THE PENDANTS AND ABSOLUTELY LOVE THEM. I WORE ONE LAST NITE AND WILL WEAR ANOTHER ONE TODAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH AND HOPE TO SEE YOU SOMEWHERE ALONG THE "ART TRAIL".

THE ROCKLADY

I spent part of the weekend working on my entry for the Etsy-Beadweavers November Challenge, Ancestral Expressions. I'm still kicking myself for forgetting to upload my last image to Flickr and tag my item, but oh well. The winners from the last challenge were awesome. Heck, all of the entries were incredible! It's humbling to see yourself in the image matrix among such talented artists.

Back to my entry... my original thought was to incorporate something from each of the elasticities that make up this person named Jama. I started researching, but just wasn't happy with any of the ideas that came to mind. I'm pretty happy with the way it's turning out. I've got about a 1/2" left of stitching, then putting the clasp on and adding some embellishment. I hope to at least finish it tonight, since it's my night to get together with my fellow lady artists and chat for a few hours while creating.

Just Breathe

2008-10-25T09:32:00.011-04:00

The auction is over and I can breathe again for a bit. As always, I wish things would have sold for more and I wish the crowd would have been larger, but everything sold and people got some great deals on original pieces. My feet were killing me by the end of the evening after playing Vanna White in heels, but I survived, as did my mother, who happens to be the treasurer for our organization. Kate was a blessing, helping my mom out, as was my step-dad and my awesome friend Patty. Don't know what I'd do without them lately. Even Amber got into the groove, helping Mom bid on Patty's garnet set. And the appetizers! Michele Espinosa and the gang at the Oak Barrel are incredible. I really hope the restaurant is a huge success.

I say I can breathe, but I still have quite a bit to do.

~~Barktoberfest at the park today with Amber & Buddy~~
~~Amber soccer game tomorrow~~
~~Chamber lunch Wednesday~~
update inventory
~~Meeting with youth leadership member Wednesday~~
~~Finish Halloween costume~~
~~trick-or-treating with Amber 10/31~~
~~My grant application for marketing materials is due 11/1~~
I need to get ornaments ready for Lee's open house the second weekend of November
I have a show that same weekend in Somerset
~~repair work to finish for a customer~~
the Maker's Mark pendants to finish and get out to the gift shop
~~the Etsy-Beadweavers Challenge entry to finish~~
~~coffee beans to order for the gallery~~
~~catch up on my filing~~
scrub the gallery
~~Nude 2009 entry to think about (due 10/31)~~ - Nope, not entering this year
Painting series to finish (15 paintings)

Sometimes, to do lists give me an anxiety attack :)

Hop Hop Hop

2008-10-24T17:02:00.004-04:00

Tonight is the Marion County Arts & Humanities Counci l 4th annual art auction. I always freak out when it gets close, but this year has been especially bad, with all sorts of other things going on with the business and in my personal life. I literally didn't finish getting everything ready until a few hours ago. I can honestly say that, even though I'm a control freak, I'm looking forward to just being a board member next year instead of the president!

I've got two pieces in the auction this year - a painting and a jewelry set. This is our biggest fundraiser of the year, so I don't mind donating more than one piece. I tend to donate pieces that I've had for a while or that I'm tired of looking at :) Sounds horrible, doesn't it? BUT - they're pieces that I've received lots of compliments on and that people have expressed interest in. It's just time for them to rotate out of my hands & into someone else's.

The sun has finally come out after a nasty, drizzly day. It's now 5:08pm and I'll be here til 7 tonight, then off to the auction at the Oak Barrel at 7:30. I only hope that people have started to think about the value of art. The economy isn't all that great, but there are some incredible pieces in the auction. There always are. I just wish I could get people to realize what an investment it is in both their own futures and the future of the arts in our community.