The Jade Dog

The month in review

2008-07-23T11:50:00.003-04:00

Disappointing. Wow. In my supply shop I did a 20% of normal sales. Finished works shop...can you hear the crickets?

I am really surprised after such a great June. I guess you just gotta use the time to plan and create and work.

Anyway, I'm now a member of the Bead Art Originals, a new Etsy street Team. After checking out the website, I'm honestly not sure what the heck I'm doing amid the fantastic artists. But do take a peak. You will be stunned.

I think I'm going to be killed...

2008-07-18T13:38:00.002-04:00

...for my job.

It's been done a million times. In murder mysteries. I know three detective shows with this premise.

The food critic for a newspaper is killed. Somebody wants that cushy gig.

I know I have a pretty sweet gig of my own. I'm the buyer at a bead store. I teach classes occasionally, but the majority of the time I'm assisting customers on the sales floor.

I am the food critic in the retail world. I know this.

But also know this: I ain't stupid, sister.

Captured Inverted Round Chainmail Weave

2008-07-16T15:40:00.003-04:00

I am working on a new weave, captured inverted round. (If you are interested in learning weaves, I really like CGMaille. Great tutorials!) Dave made me some rings yesterday on his jump ring maker (I'm still thinking about buying my own!) so I could get this worked out by the weekend. It looks awesome! I'm thinking it will make a great purse handle. I've got so many ideas floating around my brain now that I've taken up chainmail. More on that later.

Here's a pic of my work table as I'm putting the weave together, and a shot of my *new* Lindstrom pliers. They are sweet! I got mine at Jatayu. This is just a shout out to Connie Fox for a great website and great turnaround time on getting my order processed and out to me. I'm very happy.

I think I'll make a supply seller's day on Etsy...
Let's see what I can make with a bunch of black rubber o-rings.

Helms weave and formed pendant

2008-07-09T14:18:00.004-04:00

So this is the prototype for a new series of beaded pieces incorporating my new found passion for chain work. I'm loving it!

Nothing says your old...

2008-07-08T23:28:00.003-04:00

like a herniated disc. Yup. My doctor suspects that my lower back pain stems from a herniated disc. I'm on a muscle relaxant and oxycodone. Hooboy.

So, I have decided to get a jump ring maker and all the accoutrements...and why is it when I make the decision to buy the big ticket items, I make no sales??? And no Mom, do not go shopping in my Etsy bead shop!!! It's just one of those universal truths, I guess. I will post a picture tomorrow of a really cool piece I created with Helm weave.

Subtle Genius

2008-07-04T16:44:00.003-04:00

This Dough Boy diorama works on so many levels. Pure genius.

(We have had some rain in Iowa recently. You may have heard a little something about it.)

A Wee Bit Annoying

2008-06-29T13:53:00.003-04:00

So, I'm cruising around my Google Analytics page and see that I'm getting many hits from a referral site:

http://businka-lisa.livejournal.com/44488.html

At the bottom of this particular page, the blogger has given a tutorial on fringe beads, and then has pictures of FOURTEEN of my fringe beads, taken off my Etsy sold items pages. I do not make my fringe beads as the tutorial suggests. And the blogger does give me credit for the pieces and links to my website...

Just the same, I feel weird. Someone just comes along, grabs pics of my work to associate with a tutorial. It may be legally okay, but ethically????

Inspiration- Gaudi Mosaics

2008-06-15T18:13:00.005-04:00

Cruise over to Flickr and amateur_photo_bore's photostream or Mosaic Art Source Blog to see some Gaudi mosaics that are incredible. The bottom pic is a work in prgress; a new pin/pendant. I'd like to think that my bead embroidery mimics the look of mosaic, without all the messy grout :)

As some of you know, I've been having troubles getting back into beading. I had a few shows that were not that great, and sales have been really slow. This happened right after I made some really great works...at least they were to my aesthetic, and to not have sold any of those pieces has made me very upset. Perhaps, I've been thinking and debating within myself, beading isn't where I should be. And to have what has become pretty much your whole world fall flat has made me despondent and depressed. It simply can not be so. So this is what I made today. Something cheery. (I'll put the back on and finish the sides tomorrow. I think I might make another one similar with blue turquoise instead of the purple glass this evening.)

Motivation

2008-06-14T14:17:00.002-04:00

I just can't seem to get it.

I've tried looking through magazines, cruising my favorite bead sites, taking walks, browsing bookstores, doing some metal and wireworking. This past Spring was such a creative time for me. What the heck happened?

The front door to my studio has swollen shut from all the rain and subsequent humidity. The toilet has a leak, and the sink...it was clogged so I used some Drain-o. It ate through the elbow-shaped pipe! (And don't ask about the frogs and the spiders.)

I think I'll flip through Isabel Artigas' "Antoni Gaudi: Complete Works" and see if I don't get some inspiration.

Hot and Humid

2008-06-07T13:31:00.004-04:00

It's super humid in Iowa (already!) and it's making me grumpy. And rather lethargic. But today is the day to clean up my work table and make it atleast look like I'm organized. I've taken a before pic of my work table, and also a pic of the plants me mum sent me for my grand opening. I repotted them and they are doing splendidly :)

Glum

2008-05-28T23:27:00.003-04:00

So I've been toying with the idea of beading two more bra and belt sets...one in black and grey and the other in greens. With matching masks.

Will it be another act of futility? Like everything else in my life feels right now.

Bah.

Nightmares

2008-05-20T01:00:00.000-04:00

*Put your hands up and step away from the beads.*

Postponed Show!

2008-05-11T17:33:00.003-04:00

The Garden Art Fair is postponed until next Saturday. It was supposed to rain all day. I think it started in the afternoon. I think it would have been ok, but maybe next Saturday will be a beautiful sunny day.

The Nebraska AIDS Project event was alright. Not many sales, but I'd definitely do it again. What a great group of people! I had fun. The very large, very tasty Hurricane probably helped my mood immensely :)

Anyway, today is Button Sunday. I've listed "new" vintage buttons on Jade Dog Beads, so if you are in the market, now's the time! I've made some fun rings out of the larger buttons. They are fabulous.

Great show!

2008-05-04T13:11:00.003-04:00

The Rockbrook show was a success. A vendor didn't show, and unloading vendors were parked in my original space, so I was able to snag THE supreme spot at the fair. It doesn't hurt none that my work is awesome :) My back is killing me. So today is a day of rest.

I sold some fringe rings and fringe beads, a few PMC necklaces...a little bit of everything, but none of my newer works, except for the PMC pinecone pictured a few posts ago.

Jinx!

2008-05-01T23:34:00.002-04:00

I hope I'm not jinxing the upcoming craft show at Rockbrook, but I am looking forward to it. Everything has just come together for it, that it feels like SOMETHING is going to happen. Like the feeling you get before a big storm, except you don't know it's a storm until it's rushing right past you, whipping your hair around your face like when you are standing feet away from the railroad tracks and a train passes you and almost knocks you off your feet. That kind of feeling.

It could be the Funky llama talkin', but I have a good feeling about the next couple of weeks. Stay tuned to see if I've got the mojo :)

New Plan

2008-04-30T13:50:00.003-04:00

I'm in the craft show at Rockbrook on Saturday. I kinda called in a favor, and there you go. I've done this one before...not terrific sales, but I feel like I need to do a little "dry run," so to speak. I washed and dried tablecloths and the mannequin's outfits :) today, and still need to spray paint an earring display and clean my tent weights. I don't think I'll have time to finish the freeforms I wanted to have done, but we'll see.

PMC

2008-04-26T13:10:00.003-04:00

I finally finished several PMC nature pieces and strung them with some semi-precious and glass and wood beads. I'm not putting any of my new work up on Etsy until after the shows the weekend of the 10th. I have plans for 3 freeforms and 3 more necklace using the raku beads I have purchased from Jon Almeda.

Vintage Lucite Up on JadeDogBeads

2008-04-23T15:49:00.003-04:00

I just listed several strands of awesome lucite beads, mostly leaves. I love lucite. It has a great feel, almost velvety.

WOW

2008-04-11T00:49:00.002-04:00

What a day! I sold two freeform bracelets, two fringe beads, and few beads and charms. AND to top it all off, Hy-Vee has restocked my favorite frozen pizza, Palermo's Margherite. Can life really get any better? Oh, yeah, and I was mistaken for 23 by two customers. :)

Kits

2008-04-06T15:41:00.002-04:00

I am making kits available for the Fringe Beaded Rings and Fringe Beaded Beads. Everything I have made up is now listed on Etsy. I may have kits available for freeform peyote stitch bracelets, depending on how class goes tomorrow and if all the kits I have made up get snatched up.

Yesterday's class was "Fat and Thin, A peyote tube." Class went very smooth, and I started one in greens and black that is looking very good. Check out the pic!

New Old Work

2008-03-26T12:43:00.003-04:00

The Garden Art Fair is May 10th. It is fast approaching, so I picked up my consignment works at the Joslyn and many pieces from the Dundee Gallery. Those are back up on Etsy for the time being. I'm doing inventory and pricing work today, and deciding on what needs to be made for the show, what to take apart and remake. What a giant pain in the tush. Anyhoo, there are few soldered collage pendants or polymer clay pendants on hand, so I may get to work on those this weekend. I really enjoy making beaded beads, and have been incorporating those into some interesting pieces. I may wait until after the Fair to debut them on Etsy.

Better Day

2008-03-15T20:40:00.000-05:00

I taught a class this afternoon in RO to my regular Shenandoah students. I'm really glad they came out to me, and they are happy to come out for the remaining class series. Another piece of good news; two students from SWCC heard the radio spot and are really jazzed about taking classes in RO, and brought a friend in today to check out the class examples.

Well, the word is out and there is quite a buzz about the classroom facility, although most people think it's a shop. I don't want people thinking of it as that, and I'm not sure what to do about halting the gossip.

I HAVE OPENED A CLASSROOM AND OPEN STUDIO.

There.

Saturday

2008-03-15T12:15:00.004-05:00

I'm getting ready to teach a peyote basics class in Red Oak at 1pm. That will be a nice break. I have been beading like crazy for the Garden Art Fair. Mostly quick projects, like the beaded beads and fringe rings. I have a new freeform in mind; might start that this afternoon after class. I perused a copy of the latest Beadwork Magazine at the Bead Market. Lots of cute, easy projects. The kind to get you out of a rut, if you are in one.

What the hell?

2008-03-10T21:07:00.003-05:00

Three days since my last supply shop sale. No sales at the classroom facility ALL WEEKEND. I haven't sold a finished piece of art-to-wear since the 15th of February. No sales of kits or patterns...

What the hell is going on???? Are people really getting freaked about the economy? The presidential election? Gas prices? What gives?

As always, I will ride it out. Use this time to get some good stuff made. What else can a bead girl do?

Super Sequin Sunday!

2008-03-09T10:39:00.004-05:00

***Super Sequin Sunday- All day and into the night, save 20% on vintage sequin strands! When paying with PayPal, I will refund the difference.***

I opened my classroom space this weekend. I had run adverts on the local radio and had a very low turnout, but did get a class scheduled for next Saturday, Peyote Basics. I'm going to make a flyer today to take around to the surrounding towns, try and get some business that way.

Kits for my Tumbling Blocks Peyote Pattern in primary colors and in pastels are available on Etsy, and I'm considering making some new graphs...we'll see. The Garden Art Fair is close at hand, May 10th, so I have A LOT of work to do between now and then. I'll be fixing up my website today, so the class info will be updated by tonight. I'm also revamping the site, using my Etsy banners to add some bright color to the pages.

I'm enjoying a good cup of coffee and delicious pancakes. Cheers!