Something new...

I made something new this weekend, and used a new (to me) technique. Who knew how fun coiling and hammering wire could be? I'm still learning my way around so please excuse the wonky, uneven spirals.

Oh, and the lovely ceramic charms are by Mary Welsh Hubbard of White Clover Kiln. Aren't they beautiful? They're an intriguing mix of green, blue and brown...and possibly some other colours I don't have a name for. 

Stocking up

I was asked by a fellow jewellery-making colleague if I wanted to share a booth at a craft fair this December. I'm naturally shy - though you may not know it if you met me since I talk a lot - and have always preferred the anonymity of selling on the Internet to hawking my work at markets and shows. In the end, after considering the following: 1) I wouldn't be alone at the fair  2) the booth is free; people ballot for booths and pay a deposit which gets refunded  3) it's only 5 hours,  I convinced myself that it would be a great experience. It would be a good opportunity to get feedback on my designs and talk to people about what kind of jewellery they like.


So in the hopes that we'll snag a booth for the Dec fair, we've both been making new items we can display and sell. Neither of us are particularly productive so it's been a good laugh trying to stock up our 'inventory'. This weekend was better than most for me. See?

Where on earth are those lovelies from?

Remember my earlier 'Covetous' post? It just dawned on me that I forgot to mention where those beads/findings are from. Doh! 


So to make things right, moving clockwise from the top left photo, those little pretties are from:
1. Suzannes Art Glass
2. Mountain Shadow Designs
3. HMB Studios
4. ddfromscratch
5. Mermaid Glass
6. Nadin Art Glass


All on Etsy! So go check their shops out if you've a spare hour. Or ten!

Gaea's Giveaway

Good news for all fans of Gaea Ceramic Bead and Art Studio! Gaea's bead bundles are now available from Lima Beads, and to celebrate this wonderful news, she's having a giveaway of those ceramic lovelies you see here. Just head over to her blog and leave a comment by Oct 16 if you'd like to a chance to win. 

Covetous

Is what I've been feeling lately. I've spent waaayyy too much on beads in the last 2 months, and there are still more beads that are calling my name. Here's a peek of just six of the many, many, many (ad infinitum) lovelies I've been coveting.

Are they calling your name too?

Creating....

....is hard work. I mentioned in my earlier post that I have a long-standing relationship with inadequacy. I love reading beading and jewellery magazines and surfing the blogs. It de-stresses me and I spend many a happy hour oohing and aahing over the creations. But it also paralyses me, since I very easily fall into the trap of comparing myself to to others and thinking my ideas and work just aren't up to par. I'm working on just focusing on challenging myself and improving and expanding my skills, but it's a two steps forward, one step back kind of process. I keep reminding myself it's all relative - to my non-beady friends, I'm a certified beading genius! Of course, to others, I'm a wet-behind-the-ears noob. Oh well. I'll just keep on keeping on, I guess. 


And in the spirit of pressing on, I'm presenting these:

I'm trying not to be so afraid of colour. Am I succeeding? I'm not sure. But little steps, people, little steps.


Edited to add: the darling ceramic acorn bead is by Earthenwood Studios and the pair of gorgeous enamel leaf charms are from Suebeads. Love, love, love artisan beads! 

BSBP

For those not in the know, BSBP is short for Bead Soup Blog Party - a one-of-a-kind online party where beaders from all the world swap beads with assigned partners and challenge themselves to think out of the box to create often spectacular and always pretty jewellery. The organiser of this amazing party is multi-tasker extraordinaire, Lori Anderson of Pretty Things. This year, the BSBP had over 300 participants who revealed their masterpieces on their blogs on Sept 17. Lori, in all her efficiency, has already started on preparations for the 5th BSBP. If you're interested to find out more about the party and the rules, you can go here.


I didn't participate in this year's party. I contemplated it. But in the end I chickened out. I have a long-standing relationship with feelings of inadequacy and they got the better of me unfortunately. I'm looking to beat those feelings into submission in time for the sign up for the next BSBP which will be in January 2012. There'll be a cap of 200 participants though so I'll have to trust to luck that I get a chance to play.