Wrapping up the Bead Show

by Staci Louise Smith

After endless bead making, and posting about bead making- the Berks Bead Bazzar is here and gone.  It was a fabulous time, as always!

I was happy with how my booth turned out, I ended up with a lot more beads then fit on the 6' table!  So I had to stack and be creative.  I used my folding book shelves on part of the table, and then used a shelf the hubs made me- but I altered it to be higher.  I added a crate on the other side as well.  I made the shelf higher and removed the slats from the back of the crate to allow me to see my customers better.  Everything is so high once you use table risers!

Since my beads are unusual, I like to have lots of jewelry samples so people can envision them in actual jewelry.  

Diana of Suburban Girl Studio was my neighbor.  Her booth looked sharp, I love her magazine display!!!  

Jenny Davis-Reazor was next to her - her booth is always full of magical fun.  I like that she labels things...so organized!

Next to her were Patti Cahill and Joan Miller

So it was nice, we had a great section of Artisans all together- (but there were many many more!!)

Even my lovely daughter had a little table, thanks to Joan Miller for thinking of her!

I was certainly a proud mama!  I even walked away a couple times and found her explaining my beads to my customers for me!  What a great little helper! (and she is only 9)

I came home with some great goodies- as always.

(show and tell time)

i got a nice tray of art beads- including an order from Marsha Neal Studio that takes up most of the tray!  Top right corner is some great Suburban Girl studio beads, top middle is Joan Miller, Top right is Jenny Davis-Reazor (she made the fox!!!) 

I also couldn't resist Grep Graup's bin of odd cabs.  You know odd and unusual is where i live in my designs!

(the grey druzies in the bottom left corner were from Mamania)

I had another tray full for the boys, who don't get to come with me.  They LOVE the cool rocks I find them in Greg's stash!

I also found a GREAT deal on pearls at Mamania's.  As well as some other gemstone strands.

I think that about wraps it up.  I am totally inspired now and cannot wait to catch up on things so I can make jewelry with my new beads.  Now its time to start getting ready for jewelry show season.

If you are interested, I am will be posting trays of beads up for sale on my facebook page later today, and listing in etsy early next week.  I have lots left to offer to all of you who couldn't make it to the show.

Diana is also listing some beads today or tomorrow in her etsy shop, so check in for new art beads.

Thanks for letting me go on and on about the show!  It was certainly consuming all my time and brain power.  I am slowing switching gears- back to jewelry and other art!

Back from Bead Fest

by Staci L. Smith

Since I did post after post about Genea and I doing Bead Fest, I thought I owed you a follow up.

 

There was so much work involved in making it happen.........but it all came together, and it was amazing.  We are now thoroughly exhausted.

 

Meeting and spending the weekend with Genea was awesome.  It got a blog all its own.  You can read about that here.

 It took us about 3 hours to go from empty spot to final set up.

 

 

We were still in awe of the fact that we were here, doing Bead Fest together when we took this pic.

 

 

 

 Here is Genea and Ricky at her booth

 

 

Here I am at mine

 

 

I am truly a people person, and so, being able to meet friends in person, customers, blog readers, and complete strangers, and talk beads and jewelry making, it was amazing. 

 

picture from the bead swap Diana P. does every August

 

 

It also got my juices flowing about teaching again.  I pulled out wire more then once to show people how to do things, I just love it.  Thinking of submitting to teach next year.

 

And I sold beads.  It felt so good, to sell my art, to be able to do what I love. 

picture by Diana P of Suburban Girl Studio

 

Speaking of beads, there was lots of trading that went on.  You can read about the stash I came home with here.

 

If you want the whole summary of the journey- beginning to end, with lots of pictures, click here.

 

Yes, there was so much to process, it took me three posts, and 4 days to get through it all.  I am still processing.

 

Thanks to everyone who has encouraged us through this process.  It was wonderful and Genea and I plan to do this again next year for sure!

 

 

 



Beadfest Burnout

by Staci L. Smith

Well, here I am, still frantically getting ready for Bead Fest Philly.  It wouldn't be so bad if I hadn't waited to make beads until 3 weeks before the show.  

 

I am feeling burnt out.  I get the feeling I am not alone, from the posts I am seeing from others making endless amounts of beads for your fondling and buying pleasure!

 

I do feel I am over the hump though, and plan to sleep a little more, after all, I want to enjoy the show, enjoy my friends, and enjoy meeting new customers and friends.

 

Remember all those white unpainted polymer beads?????

Well, they are painted, sealed and the steel wire is waxed.  They are ready to be priced.  That is a huge relief.   

 

 

Bronze needs some finishing yet, but it is in process, and that is good.

 

I also want to make some more jewelry samples, because I think its important to show how my beads can be used.  Jewelry always seems to draw me into a booth. 

 

I didn't just want to have pieces by me, so I asked our own Carol Dean Sharpe of Sandfibers if she'd do me the honor of seed beading one of my donuts, because I know she shares my love of donuts (and her work is amazing!). 

 

She sent me these pictures, and I am over the moon excited about it! 

 

 

 

 

 

She used 8/o Japanese seed beads in matte grey and bronze and permanent finish galvanized pewter to work her magic!  I cannot wait to hold it.  I bet it feels amazing.

 

So that is all I have folks.  I am surrounded by half finished beads, a messy house and lots to do yet. 

 

 

 

 



Beads and Bead Show Stuff and Beads and ....um....beads

by Staci Louise Smith

Summer life is crazy.  The days are longer, but seem to fly by all too quickly.  With three kids at home and Bead Fest Philly to get ready for, mine are zooming by.

 

I am still making the beads for the show, and I haven't even begun to work out all the little details- like cards and bags and all the little stuff I should have with me. 

 

However, Genea and I will have necklace kits for sale that we are pretty excited about.  I just have to paint the stars for them.

 

Here is what she sent me

 

 

I will be adding stars similar to this

 

 

Each set is totally different, and will have instructions for a finished piece and all the materials required to make it.  I can't wait until they are all done!

 

 

I am wishing we had done more kits in another style too, but time didn't allow this year. 

 

This is the first time Genea and I will be selling at Bead Fest, so if our posts are all bead show focused, I apologize, but its all we are doing right now!  Our minds are in production mode! 

(shameless plug) We are booth #371 and you can find a coupon on my blog that you can print and get in for only $5 at the door, instead of the full $15 price. (back to the beads)
 

So, this is the progress I have made......................

 

 

painting the polymer- this is all merely first layer of paint, no antiquing or crackle yet.  They are much brighter then they will end up.

 

 

 

These still need to be painted. 

 

 

 

Metal clay is coming along, but I have a lot of metal work to do yet before the show.  If I get a lot done in the next few days, I will feel much better about where I am at. 

 

I made some new- HUGE bronze pieces. 

 

I even came up with some new designs in bronze along the way. 

 

I know it will come together, but right now it is bead chaos.  I have a million beads around me and none are quite finished!

 

I have taken over the family room too, so I can see how my display will work out. 

 

 

 

 I am taking lots of jewelry as examples of ways to use my beads, though I hope they invoke inspiration in each and every person who buys them!

 

 For those of you who can't make it to Bead Fest, or if you just can't wait to get started, I have 20% off both my etsy shops until next Wednesday, the 14th.  Use code NOBEADFEST to save at checkout.

jewelry:  www.stacilouise.etsy.com

beads:  www.slartisanaccents.etsy.com

Is there anyone who has never been to a big bead show before?  If so, do you think you will take the plunge and try one out?

I am kinda sad I won't be shopping and hanging out this time around and have to work!  Once I finally went to a big bead show, I was hooked.  I won't miss one now!

 

 

 



Playing with Polymer

by Staci Louise Smith

Now that my last jewelry show of the summer is done- it is all about bead making around here!  With only a little over 4 weeks until Bead Fest Philly- I am VERY behind.

 

It felt REALLY good to play a bit over the last couple days.  I have been wanting to try some caning again, since I hadn't done that since college!!!! 

 

Here are some pics........

 

step one

 

 

step two 

 

step three

 

 

Not sure yet if I plan to embellish them further or not, but I have lots of cane to play with now! 

 

I also made some Graffiti Beads.

 

 

These were made using little handmade stamps- love them.  Much more versatile.

 

The creative juices are flowing, I just hope I can get through my LONG list of beads to make before August. 

 

If you come to the show, make sure to stop by and say Hi to Genea and I, we will be sharing a booth there #371!

 

So, anyone planning on coming???

 



Working my Wire Out

by Staci L. Smith

 

Are you working on your piece for the Wire Work Out Blog hop?  Because its MONDAY!

 

You don't have to make some fabulouso wire wrapped cabochon or anything- just show us how you use wire, and let us know if you pursued anything new with it and how it went.

 

I started thinking about my wire work.  I wouldn't consider myself a wire artist by any means, but I sure go through wire!  I use it in every piece of jewelry I make. 

 

Here is a great example.

 

I made this piece using a gorgeous focal from Joan Miller Porcelain, a bronze scroll bead from me, and a stone effect glass bead from Genea Beads, along with a rustic garnet donut and turquoise disc.

 

 

 

 

As I began to lay it out, I thought about wire more, where I use it, how I use it.

 

I made a frame for Joan's large lentil, because I wanted to use it in a way that the holes did not lend.  I just used thick wire, and wrapped it around a few times, and then held it together by wrapping a smaller gauge wire here and there.

 

 

I also used wire to secure the leather and make the clasp.

 

 

This is something new I tried, I have to see how it actually wears- if it continues to lay right and all, but I just wired this turquoise disc onto the leather.

 

 

So there you have it, wire doesn't have to be fun or fancy, it can be very practical too. 

 

I did create a piece that is mostly wire for the blog hop though.  So I hope you will join us back here  Monday for that.  Just blog about your piece on YOUR blog, and on Monday, come to our blog and add your link at the bottom.  That's it.  Then hop around and meet some other wire workers.  Its a great way to meet new people, and find new blogs.  Not to mention, WE love to see what you guys are doing.  You inspire us too ya know!

 

I haven't taken this off yet, because I am testing it.  Yep, that's why.  That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.

 

Hope to see you all Monday.



The Bead Show

by Staci L. Smith

If you follow me at all on facebook or my personal blog you will know I am prepping for a bead show.  So, either you are loving all the process pics and beady sneak peeks, or getting tired of hearing about it.  (I hope you are loving all the pics)  Anyhow, I'd like to tell you a little bit about Berks Bead Bazaar.

 

It was the first bead show I ever attended and I was immediately in love.  It's not too big, but has everything you could want and then some.  It is run by bead artists Joan Miller and Louise Mehaffey.  I think having a show run by artists brings an extra level of creativity to the show.   They pick unique bead artist, as well as wonderful vendors for gemstones, findings, ect.....

 

Last year was my first year vending as a bead artist there, I guess  Berks is a place for firsts for me.  I fell in love with it- the customers were wonderful and fun, my fellow artists and neighbors were wonderful.....great time was had by all.

 

I hope if you are local, or within travel distance, you will try to come out and visit the show.  If you do, please make sure to let me know you who you are so I can meet you in person!

 

My display will look roughly like this (minus the wall and pictures hanging in the background)...............

 

 

My daughter Julia is helping me at the show (she is 8), and has a tray of her own beads available to sell as well.  She is saving up to buy her own beads (below) at the show! (gotta start them young)

 

 

And here are some of the goodies I will have for sale.  I need to finish up another tray or two this weekend, and then pricing begins.

 

 

Prepping to vend a bead show is crazy, but I have to say, I love being up to my elbows in beads.

 

Anyone here who doesn't like being surrounded by beads?  Yeah, that's what I thought.  Who doesn't love beads?

 

Here is the link to the show again www.berksbeadbazaar.com and there is a coupon for $1 off your admission!

 

 

Collaboration Comes to Fruition

I think I have mentioned that Genea of Genea beads and I have been working on some collaborations.  Genea makes wonderful and whimsical glass beads that I adore!  We met long ago through Lori Andersons Bead Soup blog Party, and have been fans of each others work ever since.

 

This is a picture of the bead soup that had me drooling!!!!

 

 

 

So, Genea and I did a trade for beads at the beginning of the year, and she was so inspired by the colors in my polymer beads, that she made special sets of wing dings to match.

 

 

 

She came up with the idea to make limited edition sets with her wing dings and my polymer in these colors.  I thought, why not, sounds fun!  And guess what, it was!

 

 

 

 

It was a lot of work, and we had to work out many kinks along the way, but finally, last week, we launched our limited edition one of a kind sets, and we couldn't be more excited!!!!  Each set is completely unique, and comes in its own packaging that Genea created specially for these sets (she is the detail person in our collab!!!  Thank goodness for that!)

 

 

 

All in all, its been a great experience, and it reminds me that only good comes from exploring new possibilities with other artists.  I can't wait to work on another collab with Genea, as well as other artists.  There is a whole world of like minded people out there- who are still different enough to get together and create amazing things!

 

 

If you'd like to see how the sets turned out, or purchase one, you can find them in Genea's shop. 

 

 

http://www.etsy.com/listing/110029697/harvest-heart-2-handmade-lampwork-glass?

 

 

http://www.etsy.com/listing/110032396/sea-limes-batik-donuts-handmade-lampwork

 

Or you can read more about our Collaboration here on our new blog We Social Artists, Collaboration and Inspiration.  We plan to feature wonderful artists who have collaborated to create unique and one of a kind art together!!!