Teaching.......I think I like it

by Staci Louise Smith

So, I taught my first "real" class at Beadfest this year.  I was beyond nervous.  Now, I wasn't nervous cause I didn't know what I doing, and I wasn't nervous cause I thought I wouldn't be able to convey it in words (if you know me, you know I have no problem talking for hours on end)......I was nervous, because we were making these in 4 hours.

Painted Polymer Fossil Talisman

 The class was designed so my students would learn to organically form the polymer, learn to paint it, using my crackle technique (I have a tutorial on the painting alone you can purchase here).....and then, they learned to make the whole thing in to a necklace.  

I really hoped they would walk away with some new polymer skills they could play with and incorporate into whatever art they do, and that they would get to have some fun using wire and mixing art beads to create an asymmetrical necklace.  

All in 4 hours.

My panic came from knowing I am not naturally organized.  And what I found from my practice class I held, was that this was going to have to be timed.......with a schedule, and I would have to stick to it in order to finish.

My friend Jenny Davis-Reazor was also teaching for the first time this year, and she came out to stay with me, and help out, and be moral support on Wednesday night.  I was so thankful for that!!!!  We also found out that another friend, Linda Landig came in early for the show, and she volunteered to help me with my class!  

Here we are having dinner and drinks

 meet the teacher

 this is where they could pick their kits....they got to pick colors and beads to truely make it unique

just waiting for the students to arrive

I don't think we would have finished the project if I had not had Linda's help in the classroom.  Jenny helped out in the morning, but then she had to run to pick up a friend at the airport (have I mentioned what a whirlwind Beadfest is???)  

Anyhow, the class rolled in one at a time, which allowed me to introduce myself and get them all started picking out their colors for their kits...........and then we were off.

I was thankful that Linda is not only a teacher herself, but she works with new teachers (student teachers) so she was wonderful at giving me prompts and tips so I took time to explain things here and there that needed more.  I learned a lot!  

(she also took picture of the class for me, since I was busy.....i never realized I look so much like an opera singer when I talk....lol)

and I make funny faces.....I think Linda caught them all too!

Class rolled along and I stuck to my schedule, which had time frames, and what had to be done within them, all mapped out.  It worked wonderfully!

I think my students enjoyed their time and learned a lot as well.  They seemed happy, and everyone got to go home with a piece of jewelry they made.  I think that is important in a class.  Not just to learn a technique, but to go home and be able to wear something you made!  

Student work

  I was very proud of my students, because we had to really hustle to get it all done, and they dug right in and did it!  I think many of them were pushed out of their comfort zone and they just went with it!  We had mistakes, which were great opportunities to show that you can work them with mistakes, and sometimes fix them, and sometimes go with them.  

For me, I enjoyed seeing them each put their own spin on their pieces.  The variety of sizes, and textures and shapes was great.  Although they are all similar necklaces, when you look close, no two are alike.  

So overall I loved it.  I thoroughly enjoyed teaching.  (did you know I actually majored in secondary education for a time in college??)  I plan to teach more in the future, and may even do this same class again in the spring at Beadfest, as well as adding another.  So if you didn't get to come, you may have another chance to do so!

Thanks for the ladies who came out and created with me, and thanks to the women who supported and helped me with my class!

FABULOUS FINDS

                                                        by Kelli Pope

Fall is coming soon! My favorite time of the year.  It makes me think of cool evenings, falling leaves and rich, deep, rustic colors. And copper. My favorite medium.

I was perusing handmade copper jewelry on ETSY and came across some FABULOUS artists.

so simple, yet so rustically wonderful

MetalLuxe

cool bangle!

MadiJAXmetals

incredible jewelry box!

JamieSpinello

Tree Bling. Oh my goodness! It's tree bling!!

monicaspottery

 

copper & aquamarine!!!

This ain't your Gramma's birthstone ring!

from our own Karen McGovern 

www.beadkeepers.com

:o)

(Karen, I love it!!!)

As always, thank you for supporting handmade!

Social Life, Networking and Beadfest

by Staci Louise Smith

I know you have seen me frantically prepping for Bead Fest.  Prepping for this show, is always more challenging then my jewelry shows for some reason.  Perhaps it is just because it is so many small little pieces with small little details to complete.  

It is worth it though.  Here is the booth, all set up and ready!

 set up at the show with Genea and Ricky in the background

 beads

 samples

 sugar skulls

 more samples

I know I have shared this before, but Beadfest is two fold for me.  It's a show, to sell my wares, perhaps gain some new exposure, and network.....and it is a wonderful and fun social time for me as well. The BEST part, is that the fun social part, often leads to networking.  

This year I shared a booth again with Genea Beads, and we shared a corner with Starry Road Studio and Wooly Wire.  So our booths were back to back. 

 our corner

genea and I

 Don running the Starry Road Studio Booth

Starry Road Studio booth

(I did not get as many pictures as I would have liked.....tooo busy selling and socializing)

I love being in a group with other handmade artists whose art I really respect.  Plus, they are friends, and we have a great time together.  It is safe to say we rocked our corner.

Barb B. of Second Surf and fellow LMAJ blogger came out and was my roomie and show helper this year!  It was so awesome to hang out with her, since I had only met her briefly a couple years ago, and talked on the phone with her and had online chats.  She is so fun, and was the best booth helper I could have asked for.  It was really nice to have breaks and know she had things under control.

Barb totally running the booth for me

I think we cannot run a business without the social aspect.  Beadfest is always a good reminder of that.  To just sell online, and never meet your customers gives you a distinct disadvantage.  When you meet them, you get to know them.  It inspires you, it gives you a boost, to keep creating new things.  I never tire of seeing what they do with my beads and components.  To see my beads used in such a variety of styles is always fun for me.  On the other side of it, I think customers like to get to know who they are buying from.  I know for me, when I buy art, I love to know the person who made it.  It helps me to connect to the art....after all, it is a little piece of them.  

very serious shopper / friend Kathleen makes beautiful jewelry with all kinds of gemstones and art beads

Each year Melinda Orr of Creative Bead Chat and Bandana Girl Jewelry / Orrtec hosts a get together for online friends to meet in person.  I cannot tell you how many friends I have made there.  There is just something so magical about meeting people in person.....and really experiencing them, their personalities (learning how to pronounce their names....lol) and just getting to know them in person.  It has given me lots of laughs, as well as encouragement and business opportunities.  
(plus we drink wine and do bead giveaways and laugh and laugh and laugh!!!)

Karen Totten and Linda Landig

Barb with the youngest bead lover!!!!

So, whether you are selling beads, or making jewelry or selling jewelry, I encourage you to get into an online community of like minded people, as well as getting out into the world and meeting some, whether a bead show, vending at a show, or joining a guild or group of some sort.

It's magical.

Finding Your Creative Muse

Carol Dekle-Foss

How do you deal with your creative muse? Can you summon it instantaneously and just begin working on your art? Or is it elusive and fleeting and require moments of solace and peace to show its face? I believe everyone has creative ability, and that some have no idea how talented they actually are. I think it's just a matter of slowing down, unplugging from all the chatter and listening to your inner muse.

We all have our own ways of invoking our creative force as well, be it lighting candles, playing music that lifts our spirits, or even well placed crystals or natural elements collected from a cherished family outing. What helps you to be creative?

My creative muse and I, well we have issues. Sometimes I have self-doubt about myself and my ability, and also, at times the need for perfection overrides my passion to explore and create. But...when I do create something that makes my heart sing, or if I get a compliment while wearing one of my pieces, well those moments make me feel validated as an artist, and give me that extra nudge to create even more.

If you are just starting out designing jewelry or you are trying to create and are in a rut, I invite you to look past your fears and self doubts. Don't worry about perfectionism, and start being open to what your muse is saying to you. Also, just enjoy the creative process. Grab a pencil and paper, and start drawing to see what happens!

I recently discovered or I should say rediscovered what makes my creative muse come out and play. I read that it's a good idea to draw out your jewelry designs. I never fully grasped this concept until I saw this image. I'm grateful to Erin Prais-Hintz for posting this drawing of her necklace and showing one of her creative processes. This picture made me have an aha! moment and helped me realize how to rekindle my inner muse. Thank you again Erin!

I take a journal everywhere now. I have one in my car, in my purse and also by my nightstand. You just never know when creativity will strike. Sometimes I will be driving down the road, working out, or just daydreaming and my mind will drift to a design I am working on. I immediately grab my journal or whatever I can find and start to draw.

For example, I was recently giving my chickens some treats and noticed my roosters tail feathers flopping in the wind. They were long and wispy, so I tried to capture them here in these earrings.

 He is a damn fine rooster isn't he? Such a sweet thing too, not aggressive at all. Although at times I would like to ring his neck for being so loud and annoying!

Here is another example of how drawing out designs was helpful. I have this mound of leather samples from my previous job and wanted to make bracelets from them. The problem is they are only 2.5" by 4" in size. TIP: If you are looking for leather, you can try furniture stores to see if they have any discontinued pieces.

So, while enjoying a cup of coffee this morning, I drew out this design. Drawing it out really helped to see what it would look like and also helped with the actual size because of the graph paper.

Here are a couple more designs showing how drawing helped with the overall creative process. 

The dragonfly necklace was at first supposed to be a ring and then by drawing it out I realized I should make a necklace instead.

I have no idea why the heck I keep creating with swirls and flourishes!

Etched nickel bracelet.

Necklace made with a raku bead from Star Spirit Studio.

 These earrings were originally going to be round! I didn't like how they looked on paper and changed the shape.

This Pleiades necklace took me about 4 drawings before I came to this design.

I would like to share this special box. It was a project in our last metal smith class. I etched the hand drawn image on copper, then fire-kissed it with a light torch flame. The location, Ruth's Pond, is special to my family, particularly to my mom. She passed away in 2004, and it was her favorite spot to go and have fun. I made the box as a tribute to her. She would have loved where my creativity has taken me and sometimes I even think she is here helping me along. I also engraved the inside with her actual handwriting. Hopefully my family will appreciate the box and cherish it as a family heirloom.

I hope this post will help you find and embrace your creative muse!

Some of the above designs are not listed on my website because I have been prepping like a madwoman for the American River Music Festival, my biggest event of the year.

 Over the last couple of months, I have been more focused on creating than marketing. My website has suffered. After the festival, I plan to find new ways to drive traffic to my site, and will share any that work. Stay tuned!