Oh well :(

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

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

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

New Listings

Finally got around to posting some new listings on Etsy!

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

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

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

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

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

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

Treasury Time Again

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 :)

Oooooh, the suspense!

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....

New Listings

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

Found Myself!

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!

Treasuries and Catching Up!

Things have been kind of crazy, wrapping up after Bourbon Fest and helping our local arts council prep for our setup this weekend. BUT:

I'm currently featured in two treasuries on Etsy:
B.E.S.T. of Fall! http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=26795

Here is what we do in Kentucky! http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=10656

I guess you can tell that the Bluegrass Etsy Street Team is getting out & active. I'm thrilled to be a part of such great teams with them & the Etsy-Beadweavers.

Back to Bourbon Fest - it was good, but like every other festival I've done this year, sales were down. It's to be expected with the economy, so I'm not letting it get me down. I did sell three of the items in my Etsy store, so I had to delete those, but I was happy to do it!

I'm prepping for the rosary-making class that I'm teaching tonight and for Ham Days this weekend. The gallery will be open all weekend and I'll be among the walking dead come Monday :) Then I get to do it all over again the following weekend!

I've started another cellini spriral, this time in black & white. I've also started working on another showpiece. I can't decide if it will be for the Fire Mountain contest or Bead Dreams for next year. I suppose it depends on the final piece and if I come up with something else I think will work for BD.

sniffle sniffle

I've been absent with a stuffy head and playing catch up at the gallery after missing work for 2 days, but I'm back! I'm also a member of Etsy-Beadweavers now, meaning that I'll be participating in their monthly challenges, which is a great kick in the pants. I need a little extra boost to get my brain moving in new directions. It also means that I have to post the piece on Etsy, which means more listings and more work for sale. Huzzah! The challenge for September is "Complimentary Contradictions" and is due by the 5th, so I must get cracking.

Yesterday, I received my advance copy of Bead&Button's October 2008 mag. In the center of this edition are the 2008 Bead Dreams finalists featuring moi! I am so incredibly thrilled to have my piece pictured alongside Sherry Serafini's work and in the same category as Heidi Kummli. These women are two of my design heroines. Do yourself a favor and get their book, "The Art of Bead Embroidery." It's eye-candy and inspiration.

I also stuck my neck out and contacted the Objects of Desire Gallery in Louisville. Everything they carry is wearable art and I need to get my stuff into galleries in larger towns. I love Lebanon, but many of my pieces don't exactly speak to my clientèle here. Besides, I'm supposed to be working on promoting myself, right?