Long Time no Beads

by Staci Louise Smith

I know this blog has been vacant for sometime now.  Life gets in the way like that at times.  However, it has been calling me back. I miss blogging about my creative life.  I miss that interaction with everyone, because you know what?  We inspire each other!  

I am prepping for Bead Fest Philly again, and have been hitting the polymer clay after a bit of a hiatus.  I am both intimidated and excited.  This year I have some new work that mixes polymer clay with two part epoxy resin and crystals- I must say, I am loving these so much!  

Dragon Eye bead / polymer clay, epoxy resin, crystals, paint, other mixed media stuff

Due to life's complexities, I know I am not going to have the amount of beads I like to at Bead Fest this year.  I do know I will have enough.  I used to freak out and work 16 hours days prepping for this show making everything I know how to.  This year, I am focusing on making what my heart is telling me to, rather than what I think others would want to buy.  I am listening to my intuition.  I will have a table full of unique items for sale in addition to my beads, like I have in the past.  I will have my jewelry, ceramic offering bowls and other things.   

You can find all that event info here on my Facebook page.  Please follow it if you have not in the past.  It is the best place to keep up with where I will be and what is going on in my creative world.

I also recently finished converting y Gold Rush class I did for Craft Art EDU into a PDF file you can purchase in my shop.  I was so very sad to see Craft Art EDU disband, but I am thankful they gave us our classes.  The tutorial is an entire class in one!  You learn to form the polymer clay beads, do the faux gold, cure and paint them with a crackle to make them look like stone, and then it even gives complete instructions to make two different necklaces.  You can purchase that here if you are interested in learning some techniques.  The best part is that this class is so full of different techniques and tips, you can use them many different ways.  I really believe this class can take you on a creative journey to new places! 

Well guys, it feels good to be back!  I am hoping to also do some posts to highlight some of the wonderful tutorials we have on this blog.  Click the tutorial link above to see a list of all the wonderful tips and designs posted by various artists over the years.  

The Elusive Blog Post

I feel like I never get to blog on here, my personal blog.  I blog at Love my Art Jewelry regularly.  I Facebook all the time.  I even have an Instagram (it's brand spankin new and I am still learning how to use it).  But I never seem to blog anymore.

If you would like to follow me on Instagram, I am under stacilouiseo

Well, I am taking some time today to blog.  It's that time of year, when I start to hunker down in the studio and work on odds and ends.  Right now, its mostly been a class that will be on CraftArtEDU.  I am really excited about it, so stay tuned.  It's on my Gold Crackle Technique

I have also been working on more of the crackle beads to sell.  I am hoping to have a big shop update / sale in the near future.  I also have some items that have come home from a gallery to list.  I will post on Facebook when that will be.  I even have a few of my elephant ornaments to list!!!!

Also, we are going to have a blog hop at Love my Art Jewelry.  It's going to be a fun one.  We are honoring David Bowie, by asking that you create a piece of jewelry, inspired by either him, a photo of him, a lyric or an entire song.  Whatever you chose, blog about it, and on March 10th, you can add your blog link to our site.  Hop to all the blogs and see what everyone came up with!

You can read about the hop here

http://www.lovemyartjewelry.blogspot.com/2016/02/stardust-david-bowie-blog-hop.html

I hope that a bunch of you will join in.  I think its a great opportunity to really make some fun wild jewelry!

I feel like I have a ton of cleaning and organizing to do yet.  Every time I make some progress in the studio, it gets all piled up again.  It's endless.  

Coming this spring, I will be teaching two classes at Bead Fest.  They are really fun classes and packed with techniques.

The show is in Oaks PA near Philly.  For more info. on Beadfest click here

http://www.beadfest.com/

 

On Sunday April 10th I will be teaching a 3 hour class on how to make these fun wire work charm necklaces using a heavier gauge wire.

8:30 - 11:30am

We use long pieces of wire, and learn to create the entire choker, as well as add the charms.  You get a mix of charms and gemstones to chose from in each kit!

Also on Sunday the 10th I will be teaching a Carving Polymer Class.  The class is 3 hours and runs from 1 - 4pm

You will learn to form, color and carve your beads, as well as finish them into a simple necklaces to show them off!

If you do polymer clay, this technique is really really fun to learn!  I promise, you will learn to love it.  For me, its very Zen and relaxing.  Even my mom tried it and said the same thing.  Not to mention, there are a endless ways you can use this in your polymer work!

To sign up for these classes click here

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

I think that's it for now!  Check my facebook page to see what is new and to look for the upcoming sale!

https://www.facebook.com/stacilouiseoriginals/

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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

New Work and a Holiday Sale

I try to do a sale each year........I don't do them often.  However, its a way for me to thank everyone for their support.  So this year, I am giving 25% off your total order from my shop, by using code "thankful" at checkout.  Sale runs from Thanksgiving day until December 2nd.  

I will be filling the shop with LOTS of new goodies tomorrow.  It will hopefully be the most full my online shop has ever been!!! Earrings, bracelets, beads and necklaces.  I even made some new styles.  They are a tad simpler, and in a lower price range.  Great for gifts.  

I know I certainly have friends and relatives who love my style of jewelry but are intimidated by the larger pieces- these are perfect for them!  They are more average sized, yet still have flair, cool stones and fossil and are unique.  They will make great gifts.

I also got these Zen Beads strung into some simple necklaces on leather.  I wanted those intricately carved beads to be the stars of the show!

 Now, even though I am listing tomorrow, I cannot hold items until the sale starts.  It is first come first serve.  Early orders will not get the sale price refunded.  Coupon code goes active midnight on Wednesday.

In other news, I have also been messing around with some other "art".  I made some polymer mixed media pieces that have been running around my mind for some time now.  It felt REALLY good.  

This is the direction I plan to explore next, and take a bit further, these organic fossil like pieces.

I LOVED how these turned out, though I had not even sketched them. They just happened spontaneously

Tree of Life

(these all sold already, but I plan to make more)

My full moon and swirling sky piece's were the first I sketched.  I have one hanging in my home already.  These were my favorites!

Art has always been my passion, and though I get to be very creative making jewelry, I always long to be painting or sculpting or doing something else as well.  I was really happy with how these turned out and plan to make more.  They are for sale, but not in the shop, nor are they part of the 25% off sale.  You can see which are still available on my facebook page here

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.907680209302220.1073741875.214196618650586&type=3

and if you are interested in one, you can message me.

So that is all.  I hope you can stop by the sale- and enjoy your Thanksgiving.  May it contain laughter and love and good food!