Delicacy

I have been a busy little beaver lately. I am exploring some new jewelry design ideas that have been swirling around in my head. I have a veritable mountain of beads and a need to USE them! The necklace pictured with this post is my version of a bib-style necklace. It is feminine and modern, with a delicate sensibility. I love it! The colors just speak to me. The subtle floral theme is flirty. I am quite satisfied. Please feel free to browse in my Artfire shop for more equally satisfying selections.

I have also been hard at the torch recently. I have a number of custom orders to fill. For some reason, though, I am just a bundle of nerves. Maybe I need to cut back on the coffee. I sure thought that earlier today when I spilled a full cuppa joe all over my desk, including my laptop. I'm glad no one was there to witness it. It wasn't pretty. Thankfully, I didn't ruin anything (though my PC smells vaguely of Starbucks and the keys sound a tad sticky). No wonder I'm kinda jumpy!

"Coffee is the best thing to douse the sunrise with." (not your laptop) - Drew Sirtors

"A morning without coffee is like sleep."- Unknown

Merchant

There was a time in the not-too-distant past when I enjoyed shopping, especially bargain shopping. I would keep up with sales, clip coupons and carefully plan shopping excursions around those exhaustively researched sales dates and organized clippings. I would frequent all of the discount stores and thrill at each amazing deal I found. But now, I am so over that. I still love to find incredible bargains; but I no longer painstakingly hunt for them. I let them come to me, serendipity fashion, i.e., entice me. Entice me, either with irresistible products, unbeatable pricing or, preferably, both. There are so many shops out there. I have a multitude of choices. In fact, my choices are staggeringly overwhelming. So when I do find a place where I enjoy my shopping experience, I will go there repeatedly. There are a number of reasons for this: 1) I love the merchandise on offer and the products are of high quality. This is a must. 2) The pricing is acceptable to me. It doesn't have to be the least expensive, just reasonably priced. 3) The shop is orderly. I love a tidy shop. Disorder will turn me right around and out the door. 4) The shop is attractive. If I like the window dressing, I tend to linger. All of these factors play a role in persuading me to become a regular customer.

In my own business, I strive to remember what I enjoy and expect as a customer and apply these points to my own shops. Naturally, I want the beads and jewelry that I offer to appeal to customers. But I also want my customers to feel like they have been treated fairly, that they are purchasing quality, that the pricing is reasonable- in short, that they have been duly pampered as my customers.

Running a business on the Internet is incredibly time-consuming. I just completed a two shop overhaul: new banner, new photos, new products, clear organization, etc. I am not a photographer, though digital cameras do raise my competence level. Still, it takes a lot of practice to make your photos clear and detailed. It is not so easy to take a photo of a bead or bracelet and make it interesting. You have to consider the lighting and the background color. Then there is the time spent editing those photos- sizing them, making minor adjustments to them, labeling them- making certain that, in the end, the pictures are a fair representation of the offered product.

I think often of the phrase "starving artist". I'm not literally starving, but I see how challenging it is for an artist to support himself by selling his work. An artist needs to be somewhat business-savvy to achieve a measure of success. Speaking for myself, I am much more drawn to the creative side of art rather than the business side. That is a "no-brainer", as they say. The result is, I have to discipline myself to promote my business regularly. I'm still working on this. Though I now put new products in my bead store on Etsy every day and I put new jewelry in my Artfire store every couple of days. My goal is to stock new products every day, once or twice a day, at least.

I take very seriously how necessary it is for an Internet vendor to be very clear and prompt in communicating with customers, to be lightning-quick in shipping packages, to be eager to work out any problem that may arise in such a way as to make the customer feel true satisfaction. Mistakes will be made at times. This is part of the learning process. Occasionally we may encounter a challenging customer, particularly if we do custom work. But overall, if a vendor keeps her cool and treats others kindly, thoughtfully and compassionately (as she herself would want to be treated), a strong customer base can be built up. People will want to shop in that type of store. Suddenly, I want to visit my virtual mall and see what's out there. The beauty of Internet shopping is: NO LINES. Happy shopping!

"The quickest way to know a woman is to go shopping with her."- Marcelene Cox

"We always hold hands. If I let go, she shops."- Henny Youngman

(Necklace featured in this post is for sale in my Artfire shop.)

Available

Just putting everyone on notice: my stores are open again after a brief break. The storefronts have been re-decorated and I am working on re-stocking a bit at a time. Shipping costs have been lowered. Please feel free to browse!

Also, to those who may be interested, I do custom work on jewelry and beads. Please contact me thru either one of my shops if you have a request. Happy browsing!

Fresh

I have been absent. My absence was supposed to be due to a much-needed vacation. That was the original plan. But life has a way of making it's own plans and we have no choice but to follow. The day before I was to leave on my planned, plotted, course-laid-in journey, my back decided to spaz out in a big way ( a recurring problem). Bottom line: I had to stay home while others in the family went on vacation anyway. Well, I didn't want everyone to miss out while I stayed home. How very noble of me. Truth is, I felt as if I had been forcibly imprisoned. So I did what all good prisoners do. I fought valiantly against my bonds and, after accepting the utter futility of my circumstances, I finally resigned myself to it and made the best of an unpleasant situation. Tears and frustration only accomplish so much, after all. It was time to turn things around.

I decided to use my time to make gobs of jewelry and beads. I could only work in short, frequent bursts. But I got a lot done and feel rather satisfied in the end. I closed my online stores in order to take my trip. Since I did not go, I revamped my stores and will soon be opening them once again, stocked with some fresh goodies. I'll give notice of the re-opening. Please come for a visit!

(Beads pictured in this post will soon be available for purchase.)

"Life isn't fair. It's just fairer than death, that's all."- 'The Princess Bride'

"Reality continues to ruin my life."- Calvin and Hobbes

Exuberance

Here is a little something I whipped up for myself. Yup, for me. I rarely make things for myself. These colors were crying out to me, as was this design. I think the result is adorable. They are lightweight and swingy- quite eye-catching. It's so hard to be a guinea pig.

I will be cranking out more earrings with this design for you, if you desire. You know you do. Stay tuned.

Passion

Swishing skirts, clacking castanets, vigorous guitar, stomping heels- the flamenco dance is quite a passionate display of emotion and movement. I love to watch the unabashed expressions on the dancers' faces as they are caught up in the fever of the dance. Latin dance appeals to so many people and for good reason. It is powerful, expressive and bold- nothing shy or retiring about it. When it comes to dancing, I am a bit reluctant to 'cut loose' on the dance floor. I am working on that. Part of my therapy includes watching dancers throw their hearts into the dance.

One of my favorite foreign films is "Shall We Dance?" (not to be confused with the Richard Gere/ Jennifer Lopez film). The version I favor came out before the more recent Gere/ Lopez version. It is a Japanese film and is utterly charming. To me, it truly captures the great reluctance some feel on the dance floor, which the later film did not repeat. I highly recommend it as a general education in overcoming shyness. Watch it, if you can!

Speaking of passion, the asymmetrical necklace featured in this post is a project I have been working on for a while. Recently, I included this piece in a post about procrastination. Well, I finally quit procrastinating! The intense magenta, pinks and reddish oranges always thrill my senses. This piece also has a vintage touch- the floral components, reminiscent of those ruffled flamenco skirts, are enameled metal components from the sixties. I wired them up to create individual posies and strung them with freshwater pearls, pink crazylace agate, Czech glass, sterling silver and one of my own lampwork focal beads. Makes me want to clack castanets, stomp my feet and toss my curly, dark mane!

"We're fools whether we dance or not, so we might as well dance."- Japanese proverb

"Remember, Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did, but backwards and in high heels."- Faith Whittlesey

Inscrutable

It is a mystery to me how to accomplish all I want to do. My studio is a muddle of beads and wire. My mind is whirling with design ideas. At the same time, I have dinner to cook and laundry to attend to, shirts to iron and sinks to clean. I am pulled in many directions. A common problem for most women. The good part? I get to make art a lot! Not as much as I'd like, but that's OK. I think the biggest challenge is getting the goodies in the shop once I make them. I have to photograph them, Photoshop the photos (size them, adjust lighting, etc.), post pics in my gallery, list the items in one of my shops and then post a tweet and/or a blog post to notify folks of the new listings. Whew!

Right now I am scrambling to get a number of new items into my shops, so keep your eyes peeled for coming attractions! (I wonder about the origin of the phrase 'keep your eyes peeled'. Not a very appetizing picture.)

"I would rather live in a world where my life is surrounded by mystery than live in a world so small that my mind could comprehend it."- Harry Emerson Fosdick

The beads pictured in this post are now available in my Etsy shop.

Moniker

Sunset Boulevard. Rodeo Drive. Broadway. Bourbon Street. Champs Elysees- famous street names, all. When we hear these names, our imaginations conjure up pictures of these places, perhaps a personal experience or thoughts of a dream vacation. Whenever I hear these street names, or perhaps other, more ordinary ones here at home, I wonder about the person whose job it is to name streets. Ironically, I have no idea what the name of this occupation could be. (Enlighten me, if you can!) What I do know is that this is a job that appeals to me. It takes imagination and innovation to come up with interesting names. Of course, not all streets have thought-provoking names. Some are quite unimaginative, merely informative (Airport Way) or functional (2nd Street). Even then, they serve a purpose, as all names do. Names trigger recognition, act as an identity or function as a way to categorize. Names pigeonhole people, places and things- making it easier to pinpoint someone, somewhere or something.

Humans have always possessed a strong compulsion to bestow names. I, too, enjoy this pastime in connection with my bead and jewelry business. I adore naming my art! I give each name a tremendous amount of thought before I officially christen a piece. The names are inspired by patterns that emerge from the glass, striking color combinations, or thematic elements applied to my designs. Sometimes I garner names from word association or word play. The bead featured in this post is named "Dutch Baby". Now, why in the world did I name it that way? In actuality, a Dutch Baby is a type of German pancake, sprinkled with powdered sugar. Obviously, this bead bears no resemblance to a pancake of any sort. What it does remind me of is a bulb, which makes me think of flower bulbs, which leads me to tulips, which are Dutch in origin... well, you get the idea. Thus, "Dutch Baby" was born!

So, have fun naming your works of art, writings, children and pets. Names are important and can be deal-breakers if not thoughtfully bestowed. But if a name is catchy, it will linger in the memory, a desirable end.

(Bead featured in this post is available in my Artfire shop.)

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose/ By any other name would smell as sweet."- Shakespeare

"Words have meaning and names have power."- Anonymous

"The Eskimos had fifty-two names for snow because it was important to them: there ought to be as many for love."- Margaret Atwood

Stimulus

I have been quite preoccupied lately, constantly distracted by so many things. I am having a very hard time focusing on my art. I have so many projects waiting in the wings. Usually, I have no trouble in simply just beginning a new project. But for the first time in ages, I find myself grasping for inspiration. All the things that usually inspire me are not working this time. I find myself procrastinating. I suppose this means I need to find a new muse.

One of the things clamoring for my attention lately is the fact that I am needing to adjust my schedule to allow for more time in the kitchen. Recently we learned that various family members are having some health challenges that require dietary adjustments. Seeing as I am the designated cook, this means that I am now having some kitchen challenges that require time adjustments. Not to mention that I am now scouring the bookstores and Internet to find cookbooks and recipes to fit the new regime. Last night I spent no less than 2.5 hours cooking dinner, which was then consumed within 20 minutes. Clean-up afterwards took another 45 minutes (heavy sigh). Somehow, the whole experience was oddly unsatisfying. The positive note in all of this is that the food was yummy and well received. Well, it definitely will not be a bad thing to be more conscious of the quality of food eaten in the home. I just wish it could be more convenient to prepare!

Struggling to carve out creative time could be good for me. I have always been pretty fortunate to have time for artistic pursuits readily available to me. Perhaps this is where my inspiration can begin, in my struggles to find the time for art. Meanwhile, I sit and stare at my pending projects laid out on my worktable, willing them into some semblance of beauty. Wait for it...

(Photo shows two beading projects just on the cusp of birth. Maybe today...)

"If we did the things we were capable of, we would literally astound ourselves."- Thomas Edison

"Concentrate all your thoughts on the task at hand. The sun's rays do not burn until brought to a focus."- Alexander Graham Bell

"Without a sense of urgency, desire loses its value."- Jim Rohn

Dulcet

Usually I associate the word "sweet" with something wonderfully delicious, like chocolate chip cookies or Godiva Chocolate Cheesecake at Cheesecake Factory or... but I digress. Much less damaging to your girlish figure are the sounds of sweet music. I love so many types of music I hardly know where to begin in selecting a favorite genre or musical artist. I believe that what I most favor in music depends on my mood at the time, or perhaps on the mood I wish to create. In years past, I studied music and played a musical instrument at school (the clarinet). While I never became the next Benny Goodman, I did learn to deeply understand music. I still long to play music in an ensemble because there is nothing like sitting with fellow musicians and making beautiful music. It is a singular experience. The closest I get to that feeling now is to crank up the tune of my choice and immerse myself in the mood of the music. I like to dissect a melody and learn to listen to each layer of it. Lately I've been particularly drawn to classical music, specifically, the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. I love the structure and organization of his music, combined with a lilting beauty and some sorrow. It always touches me deeply and somehow perfectly expresses my own joys and sorrows.

I especially love to listen to music when I am creating art. Unfortunately, it is difficult to listen to music as I make glass beads at the torch. My torch, while dependable and hard-working, is annoyingly loud. The only way I can effectively listen to anything is via earplugs, which I hate to wear. (I foresee a new torch purchase in my near future.) Despite the noise factor of my equipment, I still find that listening to tunes while I work is amazingly inspiring. Listening to classical music helps me to produce refined pieces. Listening to rock inspires pieces with an edgier look, and so on. Music can influence you in ways you don't expect. I do believe it is important to be selective in the type of music I listen to. If I am in a particularly bad mood, angry music will not improve my mood but, rather, increase my irritation. So I try to keep that in mind and select tunes that will edify me and my feelings.

I also like to try new sounds on for size from time to time. It always amazes my younger friends when I am familiar with a current band. I like to keep people a little off-balance that way! Keeps things interesting and keeps me fresh.

"A painter paints pictures on canvas. But musicians paint their pictures on silence."- Leopold Stokowski

"Music's the medicine of the mind."- John A. Logan

(Bead featured in this post is available in my Etsy shop.)

Sprezzatura

I have finally become my mother. I have developed a powerful addiction that proves it without question. My mother loves dishes. She is not picky in her affections, no particular style affinity. Just dishes. I am a bit more style-specific. I have amassed a huge collection of Italian pottery- dishes, bowls, platters, mugs, pitchers, olive boats and other odd pieces. I have no need for them. Before I started my collection, I already had a couple of sets of perfectly serviceable standard china dishes. But I simply cannot resist the patterns, the colors, the textures, the chunky solidity embodied in handmade Italian pottery. The imperfect perfection of these pottery pieces thrills me more than the finest French porcelain. I love the quirky, crooked lines and the shade variations of the hand-applied glazes. They happily remind me of the idiosyncrasy of lampworked glass beads. Riotous color and unpredictable shapes combined into a zesty amalgam. I've been inspired by my Italian pottery to create beads with the same sprezzatura. What is "sprezzatura"? Sprezzatura is an old Italian term which describes the art of making something difficult seem easy, spontaneous, with a nonchalance that belies the difficulty. I am still experimenting with various interpretations of this inspiration (see a few of my experiments at bottom right of the accompanying photo- click on photo to see details). My efforts will hopefully capture the general flavor of my wonderful pottery- piquant, simple yet complex, unique, slightly primitive with a child-like innocence. Irresistible. Bravo!

Suddenly, I have a craving for pasta...

"Those who forget the pasta are condemned to reheat it."- Anonymous

Unfurl

Winter-nude branches, frosted with buds./ Shy spring peeks around the door./ Can she come out now?

The party guests have only just begun to arrive. All dressed up in soft greens, lavendars, pinks, creamy yellows- frilly, lacy, feminine frocks. A light-hearted feeling of anticipation is in the air; yet, overlaid like a fragile cobweb is a bit of reserve, a skosh of frigidity- leftovers of a more formal winter season. Spring is brimming with artistic inspiraton. Picture a grassy lawn after a heavy spring rain, a twittering bird-crowd happily splashing in cool puddles, pecking greedily for bird-worthy treats. Aesthetic spring design for the lampwork artist might include floral motifs (naturally), the use of pale and delicate opalino colors, wispy greens and lots of clear encasing. For the beaded jewelry artist, a leaning towards lightly structured feminine design with small, intricate beads, soft pearls, pastel colors, floral accents, sparkly crystal (reminiscent of dewdrops) and airy chainwork might be in order. Begin this spring anew with fresh, shy, tender and joyful art. Spring has sprung!

"Spring is nature's way of saying, 'Let's party!'"- Robin Williams

"An optimist is the human personification of spring."- Susan J. Bissonette

(Necklace featured in this post available in my Artfire shop.)

Innocuous

They look harmless- a pile of inanimate, wee beads- so colorful, so engrossing. Like a steamy cup of Starbucks on an onerous morning, they beckon you, flirt with you, demand your undivided attention. No matter how stalwart your vow to absolutely NOT spend one more penny on beads, you cannot walk away. You cannot hide. You cannot prevent what happens next. At least, that's what I tell myself. It is my one consolation.