Pulling It Together

A week before Bead Fest, end of the summer here in the US (which means for most of us, kids are heading back to school), and there are always lots of things going on in everyday life to juggle.

I don't know about you, but when stress like this settles in, and my brain has no more room for one ounce of though - I am thankful for little things in technology that actually help pull things together through "social media" instead of spreading things thin and making one feel like "I give up. I have no time for figuring this out".

So here are two things that I think will be helpful:

1. If you have a shop on Etsy and are selling your work in a booth there, you can add your information HERE on their Etsy Local page:

Screen shot of Etsy Local Page for Bead Fest Philadelphia August 2014

If you want to check your "local" area for Etsy sellers and events, click HERE.

You can always add an event that you are participating in or join an event if someone else has already created it. It's a great marketing tool!

2. For those of you going to Bead Fest Philly Summer 2014 and you want to know who else from our handmade jewelry beading online community is going to go and possibly meet up with them to say Hi:

Hope to see you at Bead Fest in just about a week!

Bead Show Prep: The Madness

by Staci Louise Smith

It is that time of year again, Bead Fest is right around the corner.  I know I am not alone in this preparation hurricane.  If you make your own beads and components, and you are getting ready to do a big show.....now matter how much you plan, or prep ahead of time, you are making beads for weeks straight.  It is just how it is.

I love it and hate it.  I love the intense bead making, I love the last minute creativity that floods my brain, but I hate that my body doesn't always co-operate.  Oh well, this is 40.  I must listen to my body when it says NO MORE BEADS....lol

I have been snapping pictures, meaning to post, and share updates on how things are coming along, but I have hardly posted any at all.  So here is a glimpse into my world right now. (in no particular order, just to try to capture the chaos that is my home)

 antiqued bronze just rinsed on top, in liver of sulfur below

 kits being put together for class

a tray of bronze waiting for liver of sulfur

 my helper working off some debt!!! lol

 carved beads

 more carved beads

 organic metal clay shapes

black carved beads

 metal clay components for class

 class table stuff

sanity

 naked beads

 piles of junk

 sari ribbon

 sea glass for sale- drill bits and sea glass, and just sea glass packets

 figuring out the layout

sugar skulls riveted- still need a liver of sulfur bath and sealing

 the "still need to be riveted pile"

 the sound of a tumbler running non stop in my studio while the metal clay was beind made.  This double barrel tumbler from Harbor Freight totally saved me though- its awesome, and can hold an entire kiln load of bronze and copper in one shot.

So there you have it.  I am on track, so, hopefully all goes well and I complete everything in time.

Next phase is painting the polymer.  After they are done, its pricing and packing.  

 just a few to paint

Now, add all this to "three kids and end of the summer stuff, like Bible school, youth camp, and pre-school preparation" throw in some dental appointments and some asthma and allergy appointments, and I am going to be pretty busy.  Wish me luck, I can't wait to be there!