Wonky Week, Bead Bloggers and the Bead in Time Winner

I apologize for not picking the book winner yesterday. My week took an unexpected turn when my 17 1/2yr old cat had a seizure on Thursday afternoon and had to be rushed to the emergency vet. We first went to the SPCA who turned us away because it was after 4pm. I couldn't believe what was happening when they said "sorry you'll have to go to Pets Unlimited". Unreal!   Pets Unlimited is our regular vet but is WAY across town and I didnt' know if my cat would die before we got there which is why we went to the SPCA!!! We've had to go there numerous times before with emergencies, and NEVER before 4pm.   I guess they changed their emergency hours after they built the new hospital.  So while standing there crying  I remembered there is another Vet hospital a few blocks away and we ran there. 

SFVS was wonderful, numerous staff members came out to tell us what was going on, and how sweet she was even while in distress. They a bunch of tests, so she spent the night there.  She is home now, and we are awaiting some more test results to determine what is going on with her. While she does appear to have kidney deterioration due to old age, they think the culprit may be lymphoma.  :-(    I'm praying that isn't the case, but am preparing myself for it just in case.


Now I need to focus on the things I need to get done for next weekend's SFIGF show. I'm tagging and pricing jewelry today. I don't have as much made as I would like but it is what it is.  I will still be making some stuff this week like bracelets and rings. Those usually don't sell well, but with the economy they may do better at this show because they are a lower price point then the jewelry.   I wanted to create some big beautiful necklace displays this fall too,  but that will have to be a project for this spring. Styling a booth isn't easy for me, and I'm always looking at other booths for inspiration. I also need to create a setup that is lightweight and portable. I'd like to do some shows across the country and need things to break down easily and not cost a fortune to ship but still look really good.

Now its time to pick the winner of the A Bead in Time book!!!! Using random.org to pick a number, the winner is --------- BAGLADY!!!!!  Congrats!!! Thank you to everyone for commenting and sharing your inspirations!

I still need to edit some pics for my People at CHA post. I am having fun, reading peoples blogs and FB posts and finding new pics via friends and people online. So while I get that all together for a future post, let me whet your crafty tastebuds with this weeks bead bloggers links!

A Bead A Day
Is it too early to "think spring" or will that make it get here faster? Lisa used her Soft Flex Trios in an attempt to hurry spring along.
About.com Jewelry Making
Are you ready to load up on some Valentine's jewelry tutorials? Are you even making jewelry for this holiday?
Art Bead Scene
Meet the pretty girl with lots of brains plus a whole lotta soul!
Carmi's Art/Life World
After a week at CHA Carmi chooses the sweater surgery necklace as her favorite event.
Cindy Gimbrone aka Lampwork Diva
Instead of biting her fingernails down to the nub, Cindy makes Grunge Beads!
Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
Melanie looks to the skies for the inspiration for some new cloud carvings
Jean Campbell
Jean met up with two very cool artists this week: Gorgeous wool designs (including wool beads!); wonderful women.
Jewelry & Beading
Cyndi is so happy that the third year of the Bead Journal Project has started. This year, she's making a bead embroidered bracelet for each month of the project.
Snap Out of It Jean! There's Beading to be Done!
book review by jean: here's a cool title, harking back to the 60s...Crunchy Granola Charm eBook by Yvette Doss !
Strands of Beads
Melissa creates a new necklace design using cute heart beads from Rings & Things.

Crafty thank you to Stefanie at Craftside!

Sending a big thank you to Stefanie for mentioning me in her blog today!! Visit Craftside for all kinds of wonderful crafty tidbits, how to's and more!

CHA Rewind Part 1 = A Crafty Wonderland!

photo credit Kecia Deveney

Simply put, CHA was amazing. It was a whirlwind of color, products, talking, networking and creating. I got to see, touch and try out so many new products and talk to so many people. As usual, I was too busy "being in the moment" to take anywhere near the amount of photos I had wanted to. Luckily I have  friends who were shutterbugs so I will be able to share some of theirs.  With so much going on, I'm to do 2 blogpots about it, one on the products and the other on the people.

 I saw lots of interesting products I want to buy now, as well as many that weren't my thing but cool nonetheless. The vast amount and variety of scrapbooking papers and products is unbelievable.  I'm not a scrapbooker but I saw a ton of papers I lusted after. I'm kinda glad I'm not into scrapbooking because we'd have to move someplace I could have a room or two devoted to all that gorgeous paper. I also love looking at how creative the booth displays were. Some of them were basic, some nice and some truly outstanding. Makes me feel extremely inadequate with my own little show display but these are certainly inspiring.

 Making Memories had this gorgeous butterfly panel floating above their booth that shimmered in the light. It was stunning in person. They also had a pink Vespa and helmet for people to use for photo ops - supercute!

Tim Holtz had his industrial touch spread across a few booths. This on focused on his product alone and was done up in a definately more masculine "swapmeet chic" style that I just loved. It wa a gorgeous booth with this giant vintage lugguage sculpture in the center of it. IF I had room for such a thing, I'd build one just like it!

Plaid had an absolutely gorgeous booth designed by Cathie and Steve with TONS of retro girlie eye candy. You can see more of this gorgeous shabby glam booth at the Mod Podge Rocks blog.

I Love To Create had a massive booth that didn't get any pics of, darn it. Trust me it was glittery and colorful!

and last but not least, Objects and Elements booth!!! I love the hand drawn banners as the background and display. Yes, you read that right HAND DRAWN!  There was quite a buzz about the products.   I spent a bit of time extolling the joys of ICE resin to the interested crowds that never seemed to diminish around the booth. I'm so excited for Susan, Linda and Jen because I know Objects and Elements is gonna be huge!

This is only a tiny micro fraction of what I saw. I wish I had taken more photos but am happy I remembered to at least take SOME rather than my usual none.

Tomorrows post is all about the people I got to see and meet!

A Bead in Time by Lisa Crone Book Review and giveaway

A Bead in Time: 35 Jewelry Projects Inspired by Slices of Life (Paperback) by Lisa Crone

Publisher: North Light Books (January 21, 2010)

Language: English
ISBN-10: 1600613101
ISBN-13: 978-1600613104
 
There a many wonderful jewelry books that teaching technique first and inspiration/creativity second. What happens after you've completed the projects and feel at a loss on how to make something with your own spin on it if you are unsure how?  That's when you need a book that shows you how to focus on your own creativity.  A Bead in Time flips it around so that the reader thinks in terms of inspiration first, technique second.. 
 
Author Lisa Crone asks "Where do you go to find inspiration?".   She helps you turn your favorite memories into gorgeous beaded jewelry that is personal to you.  For Lisa, a trip to Niagara Falls was her inspiration for creating a pair of earrings. Cascading with clear crystal drops, the earrings look like the water rushing down the falls and everytime she wears them, she is reminded of that trip. 
 
In this book are 35 step-by-step projects inspired by things such as the humble dandelion, yummy candy, and even the Golden Gate Bridge!  Lisa shows the reader how to use their own memories to create similiar yet unique creations of their own.  I think my favorite project in this book is the Dandelion Bracelet, with its bright sunny face. How many of us spent our childhood picking these and braiding them or "popping" their heads off?  These projects are all beginner-friendly but the seasoned designer will also find the book valuable in terms of design perspective. Click here and get yourself a copy of this inspirational book.
 
You can read more about Lisa and her daily bead inspirations at her blog A Bead A Day
 
Also, I'll be giving away a copy of this delightful book. Leave a comment below with a tidbit about your own inspiration and I'll pick the winnner on Jan 30. This contest is open to readers worldwide.

Blog reading on a lazy Sunday

"Time Flies" necklace

Well, I wish it were a lazy Sunday I could sit and enjoy a long afternoon in blog reading. But the time flies by and my work never stops. I spent the day going thru photo's, editing some, updating the website and working on stock. I need little elves to help me out with all this stuff so I can spend more time reading blogs. For now, I'll sneak in a few minutes here and there.

Today's Bead Bloggers:
A Bead A Day:  Unraveled star beads become springy coils in Lisa's wintery white dangly earring project.

About.com Jewelry Making:  Tammy has developed a quick link list to help you find the jewelry info you need.

Art Bead Scene:  January's Art Bead Scene Challenge is a snowy landscape with a solitary magpie painted by Monet.

Barbe Saint John - New Jewelry from Forgotten Artifacts:  Barbe will be tooting Jean's horn for her new book Steampunk Style at CHA.

 Carmi's Art/Life World:  Carmi has a special Paris post on photographing jewelry.

Cindy Gimbrone, the Lampwork Diva:  Rewind: Cindy's Art Noveau inspired Stile Floreal bronze clay pendants.

 Jean Campbell:  Oh, geez. Jean's tooting her horn again about her new book, Steampunk Style Jewelry...

Jewelry & Beading:   Cyndi wants to know, wanna be facebook friends?

Katie's Beading Blog:   See pix of Katie's workshop offerings for the Bead & Button Show in June. Registration opened this week and classes are already filling up!

Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio:  Lorelei tests the waters with some new bead elements from Pork Chop Show.

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!:   I really think Barb Switzer is a super person and editor! I was thrilled when she interviewed me last year for the online newsletter, Simply Beads!

Strands of Beads:   Melissa has a fun time exchanging bead stashes with a friend to create a new bracelet.

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton:  Inspired by a lampwork glass champagne-hued Basha Bead and a shibuichi mermaid pendant, Andrew creates a whimsical and sophisticated necklace.

CHA countdown - 1 week to go!

It will be here before I know it, CHA here I come!!!   I've got all my samples done and mailed off, my make and take supplies mostly gathered (darn forgot to get sandpaper today!) and my clothes pile started.  Now to make myself a fun piece of jewelry to wear and pin down the shoe situation.  Shoes are always the bane of my existance when going to a convention. I long for the non hurting feet of my twenties, that could take standing all day at work then dancing until 2am...Now its all about "what will hurt the least and allow me to be mobile for the longest amount of time?" and still look somewhat ok.  I'm also looking forward to meeting alot of people I've only known online as well as see friends I haven't seen in forever.

The tradeshow runs Sunday thru Tuesday.  I'll be working the Objects and Elements booth (#3708) with Susan, Linda, Jen and Kristen throughout the weekend. The Neo Victorian Steampunk make and take will be at the CPI/Rockport/Quarry booth #2144 on Tuesday from noon to 1pm, with supplies donated by AlphaStamps so come by and make a pretty for your hair!

Speaking of Objects and Elements, check out "A Charm A Day for CHA" on the Objects and Elements blog. For the next 5 days leading up to the CHA debut of  Objects and Elements new kits, you can see what the design team has done with our charms.   First up-Deryn who always does amazing stuff and today its me!  Here's a sneak peek.


I used the new brass charms along with some other Objects and Elements supplies and a few vintage turquoise beads and created a bracelet any Egyptian Queen would be happy to wear. The charms are  quality pieces that make your jewelry really stand out. I love this spike leaf one in particular.
If you can't make it to CHA, don't worry the individual charms are also at the Objects and Elements website right now although the kits won't be posted until after the show.

I've also been working on some jewelry for the SFIGF. I think I have plenty, then worry I don't have anything 'great'...so I just keep making. I have SO much to photograph, and so many photos to edit I can't even think about it.  I want to update the Saints and Sinners® website this weekend with a few of the new things. Never seems to be enough time in the day!

DeStashing

I'm a big believer that our enviroments affect our mental state but also show the state of our mental landscape. I'm far from a hoarder but sometimes I keep things longer than I should. There are always reasons - sentimental, financial, practical, but it really boils down to fear. Fear that if we get rid of something, we will be without. The truth is there are times you need to clear out to make things better. A tree needs to prune the branches so it will bear fruit, or in more graphic terms Doctors must cut off a gangrenous toe to save your leg, etc...  One of my New Years Resolutions is to let go of things I'm not using. It will not only clear physical space but also cleanup emotional landscape and allow things in I do want/need.

My plan for 2010 is to send off lots of RAK pkgs to people, loading up bags for Goodwill, listing on various sites, etc... and basically paring down.   I'm also going to be doing some giveaways on here. I have gathered up some beads and things for a Spring Time in Paris giveaway. I'll be posting that this week!

And if anyone is interested, I'm selling my E3 Etching Sytem, Pictured above. I have used it twice. It works great, but since I've used it twice in 4 months, I'm thinking its not a necessary staple in my very limited studio space. If you are interested, email me directly for the details.barbe (AT) barbesaintjohn.com

Stay tuned for my review of A Bead in Time book by fellow bead blogger Lisa Crone!

Count Down to CHA

2010 is here and off to a racing start. I hope everyone had an enjoyable time welcoming in the new year.We celebrated the coming of the new year with Mimosa's and watching fireworks thru the window. On Saturday we continued the celebrations by going to our friends Mike and Shoshana's housewarming party down in San Jose. We had a great time, and it was nice to see them and meet some new people.

Leisure time is over now, I have to put my little nose to the grindstone for the coming 6 weeks of work.  CHA will be upon me before I know it and after that is the SFIGF. I have tons of work to do, being sick for almost 7 weeks has really thrown a monkey wrench into the works.  
 
If you are coming to CHA, I'll be setting up a temporary Steampunk lab station at the Quarry/CPI/Quayside Publishing booth #2144 on Sunday and Tuesday.   We'll be turning found objects and findings into lovely neo Victorian Steampunk style bobbypins like the ones pictured above.  Please stop by and make one with me. AlphaStamps  is sponsoring my make and take's at CHA and I want to send a huge thank out to Leslie!!!  I'll post the exact times of the Make and Takes ASAP.


I'll also be working the Objects and Elements booth #3708 and telling everyone about the fabulousness. I will be there various times Sat thru Tuesday and will post that as I get it nailed down.