Come and Bead-A-Long with me!
What better way to begin National Craft month then with a Bead-A-Long that celebrates the Carrier bead craze with these wonderful Czech glass beads! Sponsored by The BeadSmith.… Read More
Join my Carrier Bead-A-Long!
Tucson 2018 round-up
Once again I’m reminded that this bead world of ours is a wonderful and exciting place.
Coming to the Gem Shows this year has been a much needed boost. There’s nothing like being amongst your people – the ones who inspire you, and challenge you, and with whom you can plan new collaborations and adventures.… Read More
Introducing Carol Dean Sharpe…
We’re delighted to launch a wonderful range of brand new limited edition kits and patterns to the Jill Wiseman Designs Shop, designed by the very talented Carol Dean Sharpe of Sand Fibers. Perfect for lovers of Delicas, our beloved Size 11 Triangle beads and peyote stitch, Carol’s abstract and intricate designs really explore the possibilities for cylinder beads.… Read More
So many beads!
I honestly thought my days of blogging were over, but I guess I was wrong! Because here I am! While my use of Facebook really took over all of my time and attention the last few years, sometimes there was info that just didn’t quite fit on a Facebook post.… Read More
It’s coming – our biggest ever Garage Sale!
What’s a Bead Garage Sale you might ask? Well, it’s lots and lots of beads at super bargain prices! Sometimes Jill makes ordering mistakes and orders WAY too much of a particular bead. Or maybe it’s some products we’re discontinuing so we can move fresh beads in.… Read More
Reunited (and it feels so good)
Operation Refresh was a complete success! What a relief to get a break for a few days and see some people I adore, meet new people to adore, and acquire far too much fabulous yarn! I left home without a single bead project and while it seemed scary, it was the right decision.… Read More
Arguing with the beads
I feel like I’ve spent the last 10 days arguing (and losing the argument) with my beads. It happens. You’re going along perfectly happy in your relationship, and suddenly you hit a snag, and for a while you can’t stand to be around each other.… Read More
Is there still a place for blogging?
I miss blogging. There. I said it. I’ve thought about it for quite a while – usually when I have a good story to tell, or some cool news to impart. Sure I can do that on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest – but for a story, nothing beats the format of a blog post.… Read More
Super Bowl Sunday – at home
I have a lot of new readers and new beaders coming to my blog now thanks to the traffic on my YouTube channel. So Hi there! That also means I need to explain to the newbies what Tucson is. Yes, a city!… Read More
Challenges bring opportunities
You guys know me – I don’t sugar coat things. I try hard to be realistic about what it’s like being a designer and business owner and human being. I tell the good, the bad, and the ugly. And honestly, 2013 has been the embodiment of the Charles Dickens quote, “it was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”… Read More
First YouTube Project Releasing!
Hi Beaders!
I have never been as excited about my job as I have been the last two months. Between being able to roll out a whole new website design with a spiffy new shopping cart system that makes my life and your shopping experience about a bazillion times better, I’ve also been conj
uring up this whole new YouTube Channel for beaders!… Read More
Cha-cha-changes!
There’s always room for improvement in any business, and this one is no exception. I’m addicted to lovely, beautiful organization, but ironically haven’t ever really had the time to implement it. Things happen so fast around here that Mom and I are always throwing together a system that works in the moment, but might not be the best for the long term.… Read More
Crankies
Mom mentioned today that I’ve been cranky for a while now. Dang. I was hoping I’d been hiding it better than I obviously have been. Even so, I do think a little cranky is way better than the deep depression I am usually overwhelmed with in December/January.… Read More
Can I put a crystal on that?
I’ve been bit by the bug. We all know that I’m a crystal slut. After all, one of Poppy’s middle names is AB2X. Need I say more? But my newest fun is gluing flat back Swarovski stones on things. Basically anything that doesn’t move away fast enough is at risk.… Read More
Procrastination perfected
Things I found to do instead of writing the two sets of instructions due by morning:
- Ate the leftover baked cauliflower from dinner
- Caught up on my blog reader – which had 272 posts
- Discovered I enjoy Baazar magazine now as long as I don’t think I’ll be able to purchase anything in there
- Checked Facebook 33 times
- Played Solitaire until I win at least one game.
Details make a difference
I have been doing a LOT of beading in the last week. As in, nonstop during the waking hours. I’m thisclose to catching up on my deadlines for various projects and I am so excited about it! But as I’ve been working away, I have a lot of mental free time and I’ve been trying to pay attention to some of the little things I do as I work that can make a big difference in the quality of the beadwork I create.… Read More
Woosh!
I can’t quite wrap my head around the fact that 2012 is almost over. This past year has flashed by at warp speeds, and I’m left shaking my head and laughing. Ironically, I still feel like I’m planning for stuff that’s going to happen in 2012!… Read More
How Often Do You Bead?
From June:
As I sit here and read through all my Facebook posts and read the blogs I subscribe to, I feel like a failure. Why? Because everyone seems to spend a lot of time beading. As a designer, I feel like I should be beading ever day.… Read More
The Story Behind: Butterfly Kisses
I was actually awake on Monday! During the day! And it may have been the power of suggestion, but I was more clearheaded and got more work accomplished than I have in weeks. Of course I’m already goofing up and it’s now 2:30 am and am I in bed like I should be?… Read More
Can you hold on one more day?
This weekend did not go as planned by me. Mainly because I am SO tired lately! In an effort to switch things up and try to sleep on a more regular schedule I’m working on trying to go to bed between midnight and 1am, and then sleeping until 9-10am.… Read More