I had this great post with lots of photos to show you tonight, but the technology gremlins are messing with my head! And after spending 45 min. trying to figure out why my photos are all importing sideways or upside down when they’re not showing that way in Paint Shop Pro, I give up.… Read More
Uncategorized
The Dog Bed
From June: Years ago, after Jill and I first discovered we could make jewelry, we tried selling our finished projects. It was all strung stuff. We used quality materials, .i.e., all sterling components. And we watched everyone admire our work, then walk on down to the booth that had the cheap imports and buy there.
… Read More
Slow motion
I had an amazing trip to Seattle to teach at Quiltworks and then spent an extra few days to hang out with friends. Honestly, it was the most fun trip I’ve had in quite a while. Slowing down to enjoy it made a huge difference for me.… Read More
Not as planned
Sunday evening we had my brother’s family over for dinner and little kid hijinks which culminated in a bath for the little ones in Mom’s oversized bathtub, playing with the inflatable boat we purchased for them on the cruise. Is there anything cuter than little naked kiddos running through the house with glee?… Read More
Remembering a friend
I woke today to some very sad news for those of us in the Texas region. One of our beloved beading sisters, Janie Warnick, passed away on Thursday after battling cancer. I met Janie about 7 or 8 years ago at the Shreveport Bead Retreat.… Read More
Cleaning up after myself
I am a strange mix of a fool for organization, order, and cleanliness, and a slovenly whirlwind of a pigsty. I love having a specified place for everything, but the truth is that I have many more things (beads) than places.… Read More
My own worst enemy
I am SO guilty of making things too hard. For instance – wanna know why I haven’t blogged in a really long time?
- Because I have too much to say and it’s going to take too long to say it all and then it’s going to be the world’s longest blog post and no one will read it anyway
- Because everyone else’s blogs always include a photo every post and I don’t and that means I suck so I might as well quit
- Because I don’t have time.
Full recovery
I’m back! Full force…watch out world…the beady spirits have found me once again. Thank goodness! For the first time in weeks I’m feeling compelled to sit and bead and design and pick colorways. I spent one full night cleaning the bead room – I made great headway, but there’s still a long way to go.… Read More
Guilty fingers
Mom asked me tonight if I was ever going to start beading again. I told her I hoped so.
Post Book Syndrome (PBS) is still holding me in it’s nasty little grasp. I had started beading something that I still believe will grow up into a fine national class project a few days ago, but I haven’t touched it now…well…since my last blog post about the darned Swarovski pearl organization.… Read More
Detours
Earlier tonight (and by tonight, I mean 3am, naturally) I was working on a new design that will end up being one of my national class offerings, and I decided I needed a couple of Swarovski pearls for it. I walked into the Bead Room and picked my way through the piles to the special Swarovski pearl spot.… Read More
Catching up and feeling human
The deed is done. Wait – my editor reads this blog and she’s totally going to bust me. So let me rephrase that – the deed is partially done. I mailed off the final set of beaded samples for Jill Wiseman Teaches the Ropes, and now the design portion of my first book is complete.… Read More
Great blog post re: inspiration vs. exploitation
I talk about the subject of design copy all the time…but Pat has put together a blog post I wish I had written, so let’s let her do the talking! Check it out at: The Crafty Retailer.
More truth in beading
To continue the lessons learned when writing your first book…
- There is nothing quite so difficult as naming (and then remembering) 25 projects at once. I am absurdly grateful that I started keeping a list of good adjectives that might come in handy years ago.
The good, the bad, and the ugly truth
I’m discovering that writing your first book is full of one learning experience after another. And by discovering, I mean the hard way! Just when I think I have it together…well, you can imagine. Here are some of the lessons I’ve learned:
- You make an outline at the start that has a visual description of each project that you have in your head.
Sparkle!
From June: I have now counted over 32,000 special color coat 2mm Swarovski crystals into individual baggies of 51, and I’ve updated the website. Yes, it was a lot of work, but only what you’d expect from Tapestry Bead’s Employee of the Month (for 2 straight months!).And the winner is….
Drum roll, please!
I used the online random number generator, and it picked number…
ONE!
So the first Natalie to comment (I’m sorry – it doesn’t show your email address) should email me and we’ll get you all set up with your free class!… Read More
I’m Baaaaack!
I feel like I’ve been on a world-wide odyssey, but it’s been less than that, of course. My three week trip to Shreveport, New Jersey, and Philadelphia was quite the trek, full of adventures like saving an ungrateful snapper turtle on the road, torrential rains, me sleeping through the Virginia earthquake, and lots and lots of fun beading moments.… Read More
Cost of doing business
Sometimes we will get one of two comments from a customer:
1. “Wow, the prices on your kits are so reasonable.”
2. “Why are your kit prices so high?”
(Filed under: You Can’t Win No Matter What You Do)
A lot of factors go into pricing a kit that have nothing to do with the cost of be raw materials.… Read More
My brief love affair with an iPad
Random things that make me happy
- Magazines without perfume ads – the strong scents make me sneeze if they’re in there! I used to pull out all the inserts from the mags and then would have to let them sit and “breathe” for a few days. But I finally got smart and emailed all the subscription customer service folks and ask for scent-free issues to be delivered to me.