I'm a broken record

My past week has been getting ready for the shows, so I know I sound like a broken record here. Also, Rob and I both got food poisoning on Wed or Thurs and are still recovering from it...Really NOT what I needed with all I need to do ,but better to have it this past week than next week! Still much to do but I hope to do a better and more colorful blogpost tomorrow!

This weeks bead bloggers:

A Bead A Day If you enjoy recycling, Lisa shared a bracelet idea using an "old" canvas belt.

About.com Jewelry Making Tammy catches you up on some of her latest free jewelry tutorials.

Art Bead Scene It's the Art Bead Scene Monthly Carnival Blog. This month's theme is "Commitment."

Beading Arts You won't believe the goodies that Mama's Minerals in giving away on Beading Arts this week!

Carmi's Art/Life World Carmi has completed the necklace featuring her "found again" bezel!

Cindy Gimbrone aka The Lampwork Diva Mad for Monday features Cindy's new Step by Step Wire Jewelry Double Dip Adjustable Ring Project.

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles A shopping spree at an antique mall grants Melanie with some new old treasures! What will she make with these little bits of history?

Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio Lorelei's blog ended up on the Wikio.com Craft category, check out the others!

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done! Jean made some summer fun earrings for Artbeads and they are soooo pretty! Go see!

Strands of Beads Melissa has finally hung out her shingle and opened a modest store-front on her website.

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton Up for grabs in this week's Thursday Giveaway is an organic, lampwork glass bead by Susan Jones Designs.

Sunday Bead Bloggers!!!

Hope you all had a great weekend! Mine went to fast! Yesterday Rob took Bettie to the SF Chihuahua meetup while I stayed home to work on some resin and look for lights for my booth. Its hard to find lights!!! I need some kind of clip/clamp on lights that will work for a pipe and drape set up. Also if its not 100 bucks per light, that would be a plus!

Now its time to sit with a pot of tea and do a little blog reading.

About.com Jewelry Making Who says jewelry tools are mainly for metalsmiths? There are plenty of cool tools and gadgets for beaders too!
Barbe Saint John - New Jewelry from Forgotten Artifacts As she gathers inventory for her show, Barbe wonders why no one buys bracelets these days
Carmi's Art/Life World Carmi makes a new necklace featuring the funniest artwork images!Beading Arts Cyndi has a copy of "Beading In No Time" to give away! Pop on over and sign up to win!
Earthenwood Studio Chronicles Summertime is the inspiration for a new necklace using glass flowers from Artbeads.com and Earthenwood Studio birdie and lumber themed components.
Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio Lorelei gives a sneak peek to the new Craft blog ratings from Wikio.com
Cindy Gimbrone aka The Lampwork Diva The schedule has been crazy and the studio is in disarray. Cindy is going to take back her workspace by....brace yourself.....cleaning!
Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done! Jean is thrilled that Margot Potter's latest oeuvre, Bead Chic, is already available at Amazon! This is a super concept for a jewelry design book, and Jean will explain why!
The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton Andrew creates a necklace called, "The Keeper of Memory" around one of Anne Choi's sterling silver beads.Art Bead Scene It's July and the Art Bead Scene has a new monthly challenge. Wondering what the prizes are for this month? Come check them out!

Inspiration or Intentional Copy

"Chasing the Pearl" Assemblage 2004  ©Barbe Saint John/Saints and Sinners

In Chinese art you will often see a large ornate dragon chasing a flaming pearl.  The dragon is a wise and benevolent creature and the pearl he is chasing  is the Pearl of Potentiality or Wisdom.  By chasing the pearl, the dragon is continually in the pursuit of wisdom.

My post yesterday about how to deal with people who want your artwork and ideas for free, sparked a lot of conversation. I have gotten a number of comments and emails regarding it. Many people are worried that their art is being blatantly copied. Even more people were worried about crossing the line between being inspired and copying someone else. No one wants to be called a copy cat.

First off, fear not we are all inspired by everything we see, do, touch, smell, or read in some way. It may be tiny and subconscious or it may be a EUREKA moment. Either way, the way you are inspired is unique to you and your experience.  Like I said yesterday there is only one YOU so how you see and experience everything is just as unique.  It's how you take all those inspirations and combine them with your own creativity that make a piece of art your own.  There's a quote "good artists copy, great artists steal". I take that to mean, the great artist takes the inspiration and transforms it so much that it becomes bigger, better and completely their OWN style.

Direct copying (a less negative term than stealing) is a different story. That is when someone sees something and deliberately intends to make the same item and claim it as your own. Last year, a number of beadmakers were horrified to realize their work had been copycatted by a large craft supplier. While the copycat beads were less then stellar in quality, they still sold because they were less expensive then the originals.  That took money out of each and every one of those beadmakers pockets, which aren't large to begin with.   The big corporation has its own staff of  product designers and could have created unique beads that year as they have done in the past. But they didn't, they chose to steal someone elses ideas, product and ultimately $$$ from artists. That is just wrong.
 

Yesterday's post referred to an actual item produced and about people taking a class then calling it their own.  In that case, the intention was to copy, not be inspired by and in my book that is wrong.    I believe in sharing my crafty know-how with others because I want everyone to realize their own creative potential and have faith in it.    Art making is learned by sharing AND copying techniques and concepts. Eventually though you will (or should!) have the confidence to combine your skills with your inspirations and create in your own style. So don't worry about looking at magazines, blogs and websites of other artists for fear of being called a copy cat.    Actually, I encourage you to do more of that, Go read, look and see whats out there,  get inspired by your peers, share ideas and techniques!!! Art is energy and needs to flow in a positive way.

Opening your eyes to giving and getting ripped off.

Photo and Designs ©2010 Barbe Saint John/Saints and Sinners

As an artist, one is often asked to give away your product to charity events, fundraisers, etc.... Or you're asked to do a free demo, make and take or workshop (usually for free) and are told 'its good exposure". Exposure is good, when it leads to sales but often that isn't the case.

A couple of weeks ago, Luann Udell has an article on "How to Give without being Taken". It talks about how to deal with all those people who want you donate or give them items in exchange for "exposure" and how that can hurt you rather than help. I recommend anyone selling professionally to go over right now and read it. She also talks about how to deal with the "trade" issue. That is a sticky one that I've been subject to myself. She has some wonderful ways of dealing with it, and again I think you should all go over and read it.

It's a weird coincidence that that article came into my inbox when it did, but as always the universe has good timing. Over the past week I've come across two incidences of people who took or saw a freebie workshop I did and are now marketing it as their own.

This distresses me on many levels, first because its outright stealing of my intellectual content and something I did to inspire creativity in others. Second, (and this is the big one) because I didn't have enough faith in my own creativity. So while it totally sucks, it was also good for me. I know you are thinking "WHAT!!! how could this be a GOOD thing?" Well, its good because it made me realize a couple of things and put alot into perspective.

I often think that what I do, create and come up with are "average", that "anyone could do this so its nothing THAT special." Obviously I am very wrong about this, because more than one person thinks its better than THEIR creativity and are copying me. I need to value my creativity as much as others do. Also, I need to learn to not give so much away and to protect what I do give whether free or for sale. Just because you take a class, read a magazine project or see something on someones blog doesn't mean the project and idea is free to use as your own. Don't steal it for your own, use it as a jumping board to make your own project.

My goal in life is to create and help/inspire others to bring up their own creativity. In all of existance there is only one YOU, no one else has your experience, your vision, your creativity or your gifts. No one else can be or make anything like YOU can. Be the best YOU you can be, make the world better as only YOU can.

I'm a Barbe Girl, in a Barbieless World

Yesterday we had to run errands. I needed to get a birthday gift for my 5yr old niece, and she LOVES Barbie. Do you know how hard it is to find a Barbie Doll for sale in this city?? There are virtually no toy stores in SF!!! There are kids but no toystores, go figure.... On a side note, I also would love to get some used ones for my Art Unraveled class, but you can't buy them in thrift stores anymore. California passed some really overzealous law about lead in kids toys and now no thrift stores sell used kid stuff. That has got to really suck for parents and people who like to collect or use dolls, stuffed animals and toy cars...

Anyway, since we got the car we ran down to Target. OMG I forgot how Target on a Saturday is the land of Zombies...people pushing carts slowly, not looking where they are going and runnign into you. No one apologizes, just dead stares.. shudder.... I got to the Barbie aisle and took my sweet time looking at all of them and finally deciding on which was to be the birthday gift. I use to collect and customize Barbies 10 yrs ago when we had space. Looking at the Cyndi Lauper one and the 1965 Astronaut ones made want to collect again! But I fought off the urge, got the gift one and got out of there as quick as I could.

When I got home, I felt like I needed a break from jewelrymaking. I decided to try and sew a dress. So many of my vintage dresses are falling apart, the fabric is disintegrating. Trying to buy them in my size now is really difficult, so I thought I'd give making one a try. I use to love to sew but as I got older and changed proportions patterns started looking terrible. The outfit would fit across the bust but be baggy in the shoulders and back.

A few yrs ago, I took a fitting class and learned that you need to buy patterns based on your upper bust size then adjust them rather than on your full bust measurement. Commercial patterns are graded for a size B cup and I'm a DDD I had been lucky with patterns when my bust was smaller but now it was a trainwreck. Also my patterns are vintage and most of them aren't my size, so I need to grade up then adjust for bust, as well as height and swayback..... And people wonder why I don't sew more often LOL. I recently got Fit for Real People book, and was ready to tackle pattern adjustment again. I just got the pulled out my cardboard cutting board and realized a cat had used it for pee target practice UGH!!! So I went online and ordered another, this time it will go up on a shelf. I still had the urge to do something, so I decided to try and do one without making a new pattern. Not the best of ideas, but the dress didn't have darts just some pleats in the bodice so I thought it would be ok. It turned out 'ok', I don't like the blousyness of the top but its good enough for bopping around the house and going to the store. I finished it completely buttonholes, buttons and hems an can wear it, that;s the most important thing! I was on a roll, and didn't want to wait for the cutting board so I cut out another one without altering it. I did add some length to the front bodice and thats it. I'll use it as a muslin to see how much I need to alter the pattern. Hopefully not too much!

Tomorrow its back to jewelry work. I have a bunch of resin bezels to do and some earring designs I want to make for the show. I also want to clean up my table. Its a good 3 inches deep and the piles are growing!! Its just too much of a mess to work in.

Now to get a pot of tea and do some Bead Blog Reading!

A Bead A Day If you are a fan of turning flea market finds into shabby chic treasures, stop by A Bead A Day to help Lisa with ideas for using a bead reminiscent of an antique treasure.

About.com Jewelry Making Tammy has been thinking about Christmas in July this week, starting with beaded ornament covers.

Art Bead Scene Art Bead Scene offers up a unique inspiration piece for July. Stop by and take the ABS Challenge!

Beading Arts Cyndi wants to know: what does your work say about YOU?

Carmi's Art/Life World A Napoleon themed medallion is this week's resin project with Carmi! Cindy Gimbrone aka Lampwork Diva This week's Wednesday Wire is in the mood - in the mood to make something special so she turns to a fabulous tutorial.

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles Melanie reviews some of the Song Lore pieces she has finished in the first half year of the project.

Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio Lorelei was a participant in the first Designer Challenge at the Art Bead Scene. Come over and see what she made with her Humblebeads!

Snap Out of It, Jean! There's Beading to be Done! This book review by Jean discusses making fabulous earrings in 30 minutes flat! How cool is that?

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton Honoring a friend who passed away, Andrew hosts a necklace auction on his blog to raise money for a good cause.

Only a few weeks away

Steampunk Goddess  ©2010 Barbe Saint John/Saints and Sinners®

Art Unraveled is right around the corner. I am really excited, this is my first time attending it.  I can't wait to see friends and meet people I've only known online!!!  I have some spaces left in my Steampunk Art Dolls class on Monday  Aug 9th. We're going to have fun creating some ancient futurist relics.  Since most people are taking other classes, my supply list is small. You can bring pliers, wire cutters, paint/brushes and other collage tools with you if have them. If not, no worries I'll have things for you to use. Also, if you have a full apron, its a good idea to bring it. Paint splatters and I have way too many "art shirts and pants" myself from not wearing an apron.  If you are registered in the class and have questions about supplies, feel free to email me.

I will also be selling art, jewelry and some mixed media goodies at the vendor fair on Sat.   I'm looking for one or 2 people who would want to help me for a couple hours or so during the event, especially at opening.  I had a helper but now she can't attend the event,   I'll return the favor with something fun.   If you are interested please email me directly.

No Rest For The Wicked

And boy, I must be awfully wicked - look at how tired I look. The fleamarket is done and over. We did ok, not great but ok. We had tons of lookie Lou's but very few shoppers. I sold/gaveaway all the big lamps I took and THAT alone was worth it. It's much more fun to shop then sell, and thats what I plan on doing in Sept.

I'm working on more jewelry and some displays this week (I know I sound like a broken record!). I've been concentrating on necklaces and some earrings because that is what sold the last show I did.   While I love making bracelets, they don't sell very well for me. 

Neither do rings sadly.  Which makes me sad because I really like making rings. Perhaps I need to make a lot more of them?  I don't know what the right answer is.  I've made a couple new bracelets for teh shows but no new rings.

I've also been working on my monthly Objects and Elements design team samples. I've made some fun things that I can't tell you about yet, but heres a sneak peek at one of them.

And on that happy note, its back to work! Have a wonderfully creative and productive day!