How do you Organize the Madness

Firstly, I do not profess to be an expert on organization by any means.  Anything I have come up with is by sheer necessity.  

It is overwhelming and daunting to say the least, when you studio looks like this, and every single one of those beads each gets a special paint treatment and sealer in 5-8 layers.  Each layer needing to dry completely before the next is applied.

View of the studio before starting the varnishing of each bead...by hand....with a paint brush......

I literally have trays stacked everywhere.  And once I get to the varnish phase, they get divided into three categories depending on the finish I want for them.  Gloss, Satin, or Matte.  

And since each bead gets painted one side at a time, and each side gets three coats, there is just no way I can track it.

I use bead trays while I paint, because I can stack them in such a way, that they still dry. I take out the pads, so nothing sticks if it is tacky or drips.  

I wouldn't have enough surface area to lay these out flat otherwise.  It's actually kinda  a fun thought that if I laid all these beads out flat they would cover my studio.  WHAT FUN!

So I invented this system to keep track of what has gotten what.

(marvel at the genius of it....lol)

I just write little notes when I am done each one, to know what has been painted while it dries and I move on to the next varnish.

This process is tedious, but I won't cut back on how many coats of varnish I do.  I want your beads to last you a lifetime, so they get at least three coats of varnish every time.

I am almost done varnishing.  Now I need to move onto the metal!  Time for some liver of sulfur baths and polishing and sealing of them.

Do you make beads?  Do you have some sort of system that helps you remember where you where when you have to leave the studio or move onto another project?

For those of you interested: for sealing my polymer I personally prefer painting on my varnish.  (PYM II works very well too, but it is aerosol, and i just don't find it very convenient) I have tried many many many things, and I keep coming back to just a water based acrylic varnish like Liquitex, and Diamond Varathane- water based also.  These will not break down the clay over time and become tacky, and they seal extremely well.  I follow the instructions and do 3-4 thin coats, allowing the maximum drying time in between them for last durability. 

Remember if you are in PA, in the Reading area, to stop by next weekend for the Berks Bead Bazaar.  The best little bead show around- especially if you love Art Beads!!!  http://berksbeadbazaar.com/ 

Holiday Savings

I am having a sale in both my shops. 

 

Black Friday through Cyber Monday

 

you can use code THANKYOU in my www.slartisanaccents.etsy.com shop

 

 

 and code THANKYOU30 to save 30% in my www.stacilouise.etsy.com

jewelry shop

 

 



Blurry Week...Exciting Stuff.....

Well, this week has been a blur!  Halloween was snowy on the east coast for the first time in my lifetime!  So many power outages, trees down, absolutely crazy!

My Aiden was sick, just a cold, but opted not to trick or treat.  We share all the goods anyway.  Here were my little ones................

a snow princess and a viking.  Homemade snow princess outfit is an old flower girl dress that was given to us, white gloves and hat with a tiara from her princess collection, and the viking is sisters jean jacket turned inside out to reveal the fur, sisters ugg boots, pirate hand hook from previous years, and viking hat made from tin foil and masking tape.  I loved it.  So fun to make your own costumes.

That was Monday- on sunday and monday we had some house guests that were displaced due to the power outages (my mom and poppop).  It was very nice to have some time with Poppop, and he and the kids had a blast!

Then Tuesday I spent most of the day in the ER with Aiden....asthma out of control.  He's ok.  He just needs that extra strong neb now and again.  I just wish he didn't have to suffer with it.  But its all he's known, so he's a trooper about it.

Yesterday was Halloween withdrawl craziness in my house, with Aiden home and collin tired, it was chaos. 

I did begin the patina process on my new copper clay pieces, made copper leaves and Loop T Loops for the shop and took some pics.
Here are some of my new pendants I made from the Antique Bible molds I made (in copper clay).  Here are a couple (check my Artisan Accents shop this weekend for the listings...

dragon fly- each one has little hidden crosses in the artwork (since they are from an antiqued tooled leather Bible cover)

LOVE this one and heart key with a cross

dragonfly with multi-holes for dangles

drgonfly tri-connector

heart and cross bird pendant

and last but not least, this beautiful star of david pendant

Today I am kicking butt and catching up.

NOW, for the exciting news part.

Stop by here tomorrow to find out how you can be part of the biggest art bead swap, chain, giveaway thing EVER!  (ok, maybe not ever, but maybe)  Its awesome and fun and being held by Love My Art Jewelry.

Here is a sneak peek.......

You heard about the giveaway, now don't forget the SALE!

On October 26th through October 28th I will be having a sale in my etsy shops- both Artisan Accents and Staci Louise Originals.  15% off your entire purchase (use coupon code earlybird15) and each customer receives a surprise with their order!  Who doesn't love surprises?  Time to do some Holiday Shopping or just stock up on beads for the winter.............................

I will be adding MANY new components in the days before the show....so make sure to wait and check it out, the components shop is pretty bare right now.

But here's the best part, I am not the only one having a sale!!!!  Melinda's is hosting a big old sale to go with the giveaways~ along with easy links on her blog to all our shops. Below are the wonderful artists participating.  Click the pictures to go to their blogs out their sale and their giveaways!!!

You can comment on my post HERE to be entered in my giveaway (pictured below), and Melinda's huge metal working kit giveaway.  (comments on this post will not be counted)

Click the picture to go to Melinda's blog and enter the giveaway there too, AND you will have links to all the participants shops.

We have Kristie Bowman Designs................

And Marla's Mud

And Skye Jewels

And Starry Road Studio

And Sue Beads

And Marsha Neal Studio

Click each picture to go to their blogs and check out their sale and giveaway!!!