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!

 

 

 



BEADS beads and More Beads

by Staci L. Smith

I am still up to my elbows in beads, but at least, they are all done now!  I am finally ready for the bead show.  It's really a lot of prep to re-stock inventory at the beginning of the year.  Once I have a full inventory for Berks, the rest of the year I can just do small batches as needed, but this, well, this was a HUGE undertaking.

 

Each metal clay bead is hand formed, or molded, or stamped and cut out, dried, sanded, fired, cleaned, tumbled, patinated, sealed, waxed, and has the holes re-cleaned.

 

Each polymer bead is hand formed, fired, painted, painted, painted painted, (yes, some have up to 5 layers to get the effects I like) and sealed.  The painting is very labor intensive!!!!

 

The last of the prep is pricing, and I will be finishing that up this morning.  It is my least favorite part.

 

I always do a mock up of what my table will look like as I prep, so I know where I need to fill in as I make beads.  Here she is, all ready to get packed up.  I leave tomorrow for the show.

 

You can compare where it was a week ago, to where it is today.  Here is last weeks post http://www.lovemyartjewelry.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-bead-show.html

 

Here is the whole display, complete with jewerly samples and all.

 

Here are some close up shots of the trays of beads I will be offering.  After the show there will be a massive etsy update! 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for letting me share my progress.  I promise to post about something other then making beads next post.

 

I think I actually feel ready for this show.  Which is odd for me, there is usually a whole list of things I feel I need to do that never get completed. 

 

Do you ever feel completely ready before a show?