Welcoming the New Year

I love a new year.  Even though it's just another day, another week....something about it feels fresh.  It just feels new, and squeaky clean with endless possibilities.  

I like to do some level of cleaning out in my studio around this time of year.  After a year of creating, ending with the holiday craze of making gifts and filling galleries, the studio is always cluttered and trashed!

So, stay tuned for a Destash Event this week.  I have a lot of $20 grab bags- each filled with art beads and quality gemstones! I also have some jewelry to part with that was stashed in corners and trays as well as some new beads I finished and bronze pieces I found. 

A clean slate just feels good.  A new year, new schedule, new opportunities.  It may be hard to top last year, it was a wonderful year.  The business continues to grow, I got to spread my wings and play around with more then just jewelry and beads and make some art. 

 There were some ribbons from Bead Dreams, 

there were magazine publications.  

Bead Fest was a blast,

 teaching went well, and my love for it grew and grew.  I found out my son is a natural helper in the classroom and plan to use him more in the future. (just don't try to get a picture of him!)

 I found a growing love of making art in my children this year (warms my artist mama heart).  

I learned to say no.  

I learned to take chances. 

 I learned that I can accomplish more then I ever thought, and I learned that I have don't have to keep a pace that hurts me or the family. 

 I learned that saying good-bye is hard, and to hug my loved ones daily. 

 I learned to listen a little more to my heart and a lot less to other peoples expectations. 

 I cherish that I have wonderful friends and supporters in the art and beading community and feel truly blessed to have such beautiful people in my life.

I think that any year that teaches us, and that we walk away from enriched with lessons in our pockets and hearts is a good year.

My component customers have ROCKED my beads this year too.  I'd like to take a bit to show off some of their creations using my beads.  I love seeing how everyone interprets them.

I had planned to do a design team for 2015, but alas, it was beyond my organizational skill level!  LOL!  So instead I am just showing off what these guys made!!!

Live Wire Jewelry (by Sharon Borsavage)

https://www.etsy.com/shop/livewirejewelrysb

Judith Boyer always comes up with unique ways to use my beads!

I love what she did with my little lentil carved earring beads!

http://www.judithannboyer.com/

and this organic focal as well

Betony of Maiden Designs made these awesome pieces.

This one used a yellow sea urchin connector

https://www.zibbet.com/maiden-designs-studio

and this awesome piece used one of my New (2015) elephant focals.  She did an elephant inspired blog hop and she nailed it with this piece!

http://www.beadwenches.blogspot.com/2015/09/blog-reveal-for-18th-bnb-challenge.html

I love the earthy asthetic of Marlene Quigley 

https://www.etsy.com/shop/markaZo?ref=l2-shopheader-name

She combined this donut (one of my favorites) with her handmade chain

and these earring beads with some of her own metal charms

perfectly paired if you ask me

I love Cheryl Zink's creations that feature my components, and man- does she crank them out!  She is a jewelry making powerhouse.

https://www.facebook.com/Artisan-Jewelry-by-Cheryl-Zink-660022150760896/timeline

Tammy Adams of Paisley Lizard Design made some stunning pieces with my skull and eye focal beads!

https://www.etsy.com/shop/PaisleyLizardDesigns

I love this one sooo much!

Thank you to these guys, and to all the artists who use my components and beads.  It allows me to make more then I will ever use, and that keeps me busy, and happy!!

Moving forward.................

This year I would like to learn to make time for me.  Time to have quiet.  Time to stretch and move around more.

This year, I am doing away with more shows that haven't been great for me. 

This year I am going to apply to new shows and look for new opportunities.

This year I will devote more time to classes, and I am beginning work on some online classes with CraftArtedu.com.  I am very excited and will let you all know when my first class is available.

This year I will be teaching again at Beadfest Spring, as well as Beadfest August.  I will only be vending there in August though.

Here is the link to my Spring classes

https://www.eiseverywhere.com/ehome/145551/StaciSmith  

This year I implement all I have learned last year.  This year I will practice the art of going with the flow even more then last year.

This year, I plan to continue to take time to do more fun things with the kids.  Collin wants to do a train ride, and you know what, so do I.

This year will be exactly what it is meant to be, and I will happily go along for the ride.

To kick off the fun of the New Year- I am having a giveaway.  It is open to everyone, but international folks will have to pay for shipping.  Just comment about the best part of 2015 or what you look forward to most in 2016 and share this post for a chance to win.  One comment per person please.  Include your email in the comment- thank you!  Winner will be announced (picked by random generator) next Monday, the 11th.

Here is the necklace I am giving away!

Good luck and happy new year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Summertime Fun

This summer is flying by and Bead Fest is right around the corner.  I still have a TON of beads to make in order to have inventory for the show.  

However, it sure has been nice to have time with the family.  I will take last minute crazy preparations in order to have days like these 

(art by Rochelle Carr)

https://rochellecarr.wordpress.com/

Last week we spent a day at a water park with my Mom.  Justin had to work, but it was nice to have some quality time with my mom and the kids.

It was a long day, and it was a blast!

The next day the kids and I all went to Crystal Cave with both my parents.  That was really cool, and you can read more about it here if you want.

After two day trips, I was REALLY feeling behind in the studio- though my soul was refreshed for sure.

So then the hubs (aka Justin) says to me, lets do a day trip to the shore this weekend.

Ummmm.......ok.  

You see, its hard for us to plan vacations with him being self employed.  This is the busy time of year and he needs to work when the work is there.  So, we do a lot of last minute things.

So, yesterday we went to LBI (long beach island NJ) for the day.  We got up early and were on the road before 9.  

We hiked the rocks at the lighthouse, we at lunch by the bay, we had hours and hours of perfect ocean time, had a nice dinner, walked around bay village, got ice cream and came home.  The day was packed, but it was nothing short of perfect.

This is the end of the jetty at the lighthouse- right off Barnagat Inlet

Lunch by the bay

The ocean was gorgeous.  I even went in !!!  It was deep right off the beach and then got shallow further out, so I could literally swim, right off the beach, which was nice for me, cause I don't go out far.  This picture is zoomed, they are out pretty far in it

 Hubs and I in our happy place

 I scream you Scream- we LOVE Iceberg Ice Cream (in Brant Beach?)  BEST ice cream on the island- all homemade.  There is always a line, but it is sooo worth it.

So now, I am back to the grindstone.  

I have set some goals for myself this week.  I want to make at least three ovens full of polymer beads and get ONE bronze firing started if not finished.................................by Thursday.

IF I meet my goal, I will celebrate by marking down some newer and favorite jewelry and doing a summer destash event on Facebook.  I will also list some items in my shop and do a sale in there for those not on Facebook.  So fingers crossed.  I need to make beads or I will be selling HUGS at Bead Fest.

Like I said, there are worse reasons I could be behind.  I have had the best time with the kids and I am glad we had the chance for some REALLY fun day trips.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!wish me luck!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh the Memories of Times Gone by...............

The Grateful Dead are playing their last shows ever this weekend.  I think until the begining of this week I tried not to think of it too much, since we couldn't go to Chicago to see them.  

So, a bunch of our friends have decided to have a picnic, and pull together to be able to stream the show live, using a projector.  Our kids will all be able to go, there will be swimming and camping and plain old fun.  I mean, that is what its always been about anyway.  The friendship, the comradery, the parking lot, the party, the camping.  Meeting new people, dancing and having a TON of fun.   I am REALLY blessed that many of the friends we used to go to shows with from back then, are still my close friends to this very day.

We were children!  Scroll down to bottom for more pictures of my Dead Days!

I decided I needed to make something- of course at the last minute- to have and keep from this weekend.

So I grabbed my polymer and decided to make some Steal your Face beads.  Of course, they have my signature spin on them, but I had so much fun making them.

I wanted to make something sort of uni-sex and simple.  So I made the beads to slide onto a ball chain or leather cord.  Here they are before the final crackle coat went on.

And here they are all done!  I just love how they turned out.  I will have some beads available on my Facebook page later after they are sealed and dry.  They will be $10 a bead.  I wanted to keep it easy, and keep the cost low- because I just want everyone who wants one to have one! (no cord or chain included)

Today, I broke out my old scrap book and took some pictures of our fun days at the Dead Shows.  I am even more excited to hang out with my friends tomorrow night now.  Good times with grate people ;)

My brother took me to my first show, we had no tickets and tried to get a miracle.  We just hung out in the parking lot taking it all in.  He would also play guitar and quiz me on songs by a couple rifts so I would not embarrass him at a show!  LOL!

Here we are playing with bubbles and devil sticks at the first show we had tickets for.  (bottom right corner)

In our Nations Capitol, with the grocery store mascot from where I worked, giving away free advice (good advice was $1) from the back of a VW  

Fun times.....

At the campground, it rained that year and everything we owned got muddy and we slept in our cars!  this was before all that, and yes- I had long hair and was SKINNY!  ah, those were the days...

Dead show in NYC with my BFF (still my bff by the way)  YES PLEASE!  (and I hand embroidered my steal your face overalls too)

Typical parking lot scene (at RFK its a field though)

Well- I need to keep working, gotta seal these beads, and clean up and food shop for the weekend.  Enjoy your 4th of July, and if you are listening to the show or there, or watching it, may the music never stop!

Bead Dreams 2015 Polymer Finalist

Well, it is that time of year again.  I once again entered the Bead Dreams competition, and international contest that takes place at the Bead and Button show.

You can read a bit more about it here.  There are many categories that you can enter- seed beads, metal clay, ceramic beads, polymer clay, just to name a few.......... and this year I entered once again in the Polymer Clay Category. Well both of my pieces got chosen as finalists!  Such an honor to be chosen to send my work to be judged and displayed at the Bead and Button Show.

Now- this is a go big or go home sort of competition.  The pieces that get entered are enormous! So of course, I love that challenge, since I tend to work big anyhow.

These were my entries this year

Earning my Stripes consists of hand formed, sanded and painted polymer clay beads.  Don't let the picture fool you, this piece is HUGE!

 Here is a picture of it on me.  I am tall, and not a little girl, so you can see how huge this piece is!

I really wanted to enter something with my new carved beads too, so, after a lot of sketching I came up with this piece.  The patterns look so aboriginal, I ended up naming it

Ta Moko

Which is the Maori word for tattoo.  The cool thing is, that they actually carved their tattoo's into the skin, so it was perfect in so many ways!

Here is a picture of them on the displays.  These are 18" high and 10.5" wide.  So you can get an idea of the size better then the other photo's.

They are getting shipped off later today, and then judged in person to see if they place.  I was SUPER surprised last year (my first year entering) when my pieces took first and second place.  That is hard to top, and I am sure there is lots of new art entering, so we will see!  Here is to hoping!

:::wish me luck::::

Bead Fest Spring: Shopping Class and more.....

My mom and Julia accompanied me this weekend to Bead Fest.  We headed out Friday night and stayed at the Marriot Courtyard.   We had dinner, went swimming and enjoyed some girl time together.  

Saturday we ate breakfast and prepared to BEAD SHOP!  The show opened at 10 and I was due to demo at Parawire at 11.  So I made a quick stop at Holy and Pure Gems.....got a nice batch of beads there.  Then we went and said Hi to our vending friends.  

Demo'ing was a lot of fun.  I got to meet some people who follow online.  Its always nice to be able to meet people in person! 

I used parawire to make some of my donut pendants while sitting there- a fun in and out sort of weave that can be used lots of ways- and I made some clasps with it as well.  I found that the Vintage Bronze is my most favorite color.  Sort of like an old antique brass- so rich.  

Then I had an hour to shop before returning to ParaWire. I made sure to go and see my art bead friends again, and we traded for some goodies.  Heather of HMB and Michelle of Firefly Design Studio traded with me for some art beads.  I ended up chatting with them for my break and then back to Para Wire.  

My mom and Julia went to see a movie and then checked out an antique store nearby until I was done the demo's.  Then we shopped.  We made our way around the whole show.  

I got to see CB & Co and C-koop's booth.  Looked really nice, and I just love Kristi's jewelry.  It was even better in person.  I knew my mom would like it too, and she ended up buying a pair of earrings from her.  

 

CB& Co Booth

I made sure to hit Hands of the Hills for my unique goodies and beads- and I picked up an antique brass belt.  Its soooo amazing.  I also got some brass do-dads for the boys, and some other bone antiquities.  

Then, I just peeked in Intrinsic's booth, and ended up with a heavy bag of gemstones.  They also had nice $2 bags of metal beads and Aiden's big request from me was to get him some metal beads.  Julia hit their $1 section.  I told her she could get 3 and when I checked out there were 11 in my basket.  That's my little bead addict!  How could I say no?  

I came home with some REALLY good loot and can't wait to create now.

 left to right:  ammonite faceted beads, matte kyanite top drilled, faceted pyrite, LARGE labradorite beads, two strands of lovely turquoise, antique brass belt, goldish druzy beads and center drilled rutilated quartz

top to bottom- art beads from Firefly Studio, HMB Beads, bone beads, rough kyanite coins, charms from HOH, ammonite donut pairs, grey ammonite pendants, and DRUZIES

 Left to right- recycled glass beads, mamoth bone beads, fossil clam shells, kyanite rectangles, small drilled ammonite beads (for earrings), fossil coral slabs, excellent fire agate faceted nuggets

ceramic bee, headpins and fish by Firefly Designs

HMB Glass disc beads

After a long day of bead shopping I was looking forward to a relaxing girls night and early bedtime since I was due to teach Sunday morning.  But Julia got a stomach bug, and we spent our WHOLE night up in the bathroom.  POOR GIRL.  she felt so terrible.  Thankfully she is such a big girl that she let me sleep a couple hours......it was a REALLY tough night.

In the morning she was still not feeling well, so we checked out of the hotel very very early......my mom dropped me off at Beadfest to teach and ran Julia back home.  Then she turned around and came back to help me with class.  (isn't she great?  I would be lost without her)

Not only did she do that all for Julia and me, when she came back she went into the show and picked me up some of the druzy shell cabs that I was drooling over. 

 She really knows how to cheer me up.  

Despite no sleep, my class went well.  It was a small one, but I think we had fun.....lots of gabbing and creating.  Its a packed class, and in 4 hours we go from a pack of white polymer, wire and beads to a finished necklace.  The ladies were wonderful, and they all made amazing pieces of jewelry!

(really bad lighting in the classroom)

I love when the students put their own spin on the pieces!  Alison Lee made a whole new shape for her focal.  That is the magic of polymer clay, you can make it into whatever YOU want.  Make it just your style.

Though it was an exhausting weekend, I had a blast.  I really LOVE teaching.  I enjoy nothing more then watching those light bulbs go off when people learn something new, and then do it.  They all left with pieces to be proud of and techniques they can use a million different ways.  It is so rewarding!

Now to unpack and get back into the swing of things.  Julia is home today to recover, since she is JUST finally eating this morning.

(just a little mess to put away)

Thank you to all who stopped by and said hello or took my class.

Enjoy your week!