How is it November already?

No, really?  How is Thanksgiving next week?  I am so unprepared.

I have my last show on Saturday at North Penn High School.  It's a wonderful show full of high quality hand picked artisans.  If you are local, I hope you will stop by.  I have been working on my indoor display set up, and I am quite happy with it!

It feels like a little shop you can walk into.  

I finally got some "real" pipe and drape instead of an old taped and tied up tent frame!  I am really liking it.  Very easy to set up.

I will have my bags and my prints available.  I also changed a few things up.  I have these smaller pieces that I offer, and they usually hang on a T-bar display.  They so often get overlooked though.  I think my other pieces are so big that little things just can't compete.  though I still like to make them, and I know there are still people who would like something daintier.  So I packaged them in individual boxes, ready for gifts.  I love it and I think they will finally get some attention now.  You can really see the detail in each one.

I really like how this style I am holding turned out.  I bought these antique brass belts years ago- because I LOVED them.  And there they have sat.  I have tried a few times to work them into pieces and they just don't turn out.  Soooooo, finally, it came to me, and I made a few of these pendants.  So perfect to show off a great fossil like this fossil coral slab!

I also have some cool news I have been sitting on for a few months.

The winter issue of Belle Amoire Jewelry features me for their Designer Collection.  I was so honored to be asked to do it.  Rice Freeman-Zachery did the interview and wrote an article that made me tear up.  She really listened and captured me and my creative process.  It was a pretty amazing experience.  So if you get to Barnes and Nobles, or a local craft store, check it out.  They did 12 pages of my work!  I also have a 4 page article in that issue.  

(this is the issue- not my piece on the cover though)

Now I am going to try to stop staring at my pieces in print and finish getting ready for my show and the upcoming holidays!!!!

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I do plan on having a bead sale early next week, before thanksgiving (monday or tuesday).  It will be on my Facebook page for sales.

I will also be offering some gifty jewelry for sale, and some will be made to order (this is new for me- but I think it will be fun to customize some designs for you guys).  Others will be sale items.  I will also have prints and bags available for the holidays.  So if you know someone who would love a block print or bag, check out my sale, or contact me.  I may be able to do ONE custom batch for the Holidays are over!!!!

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!

What a Year! 2014 you were a good one!

Happy 2015!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I thought this was pretty fantastic!!!

As we move into the new year, I took some time to review this crazy hectic 2014......

What a year for Staci Louise Originals. It was REALLY really busy.  It’s no wonder I am beat now, and ready to take some time off to clean up the studio- it is trashed, and there is a lot of de-stashing that needs to be done.  I also hope to spend some winter time painting, and playing with my new encaustics (a christmas gift from last year that I haven't even touched)!

  

Looking back over this past year, I realize just how much I have to be thankful for.

I had quite a few firsts this year, which made it wonderful, and fun, and exciting!  

First, I got a magazine cover in the Spring, which was am awesome feeling to see my piece so big on the cover.

Won first and second place for Polymer in the Bead Dreams Competition- by Bead and Button (my first time ever entering, I am still reeling from that one!)

Sea Swept First Place Polymer Bead Dreams 2014

Zen Circles Second Place Bead Dreams Polymer 2014

I published my first tutorial on my own (not in a magazine)

https://www.etsy.com/listing/175876241/painting-polymer-tutorial-the-crackle?ref=shop_home_active_1

(I really enjoyed publishing a tutorial, and plan to do another one this year.  It's been a great experience.)

And I taught a class at Beadfest. Wow- did I love teaching!!  The preparation was pretty intense, but now that I have done it, planning will be a little easier, since I know what to expect a bit more.  

Student work from the class!

I will be teaching again at Spring Bead Fest and August Bead Fest in Philly.

(you can view the classes here by following the link and selecting Staci Smith in the instructor box)

https://www.eiseverywhere.com/ehome/105619/SpringWorkshopRegistration

Last but not least, I was an artist at Bethlehem House Gallery for their second show.  What an honor, this gallery is stunning, and the artists are top notch.  I was the first to have jewelry in there during a show- all I can say is wow.  To have my work among such wonderful artists was just an amazing experience.

This year has just been packed with new things and wonderful experiences.  In looking back, I see that I really let go of many of my fears, and self doubt in 2014.  I just went for it.  I finally, began to feel comfortable in my skin, in my art, in who I am as a designer and a person.  There was acceptance of me, by me, and I stopped thinking I should be doing things differently, or running things another way, and just embraced where I was at this moment.  It was a bit of a blur, but it felt good too.

On a personal note, there were some really tough times throughout 2014....yet, I think even they have allowed me to know myself better, and to grow, I hope they have anyhow.  I hope I always continue to learn, and improve on me...as a person.

I am so thankful for the progress, so thankful  for regular customers who make this possible……..for friends who are endless encouragement, support and advice…….and for my family, who I work so hard for and who support me in my odd hours and weekend shows.

I am not sure what lays in store next year for Staci Louise Originals.  I will definitely be teaching again, vending at Beadfest, and making more jewelry for shows through the year.  I have many new ideas floating around my brain, we will see what comes of them!

There is no Berks Bead Bazaar to prepare for this year, so I think some fellow bead artists are going to do an online show- working on details.  This free time (lol- I joke, what is that?) will also allow me to work on magazine submissions , tutorials and classes.

I wanted to say thank you to everyone who has come with me on this long journey.  May I have more great years and new directions in the future, and I hope you come with me as well.

Happy Holidays!  May you be blessed, may you find peace, and joy in all you do.

Today is the LAST day to use code holiday20 and save 20% in my online shop.  www.stacilouiseoriginals.com

If you are local, my work will be on display at Bethlehem House Gallery until the shows closing this Saturday, come on out Saturday 6-9pm for a last look before the gallery makes an entire transformation!  

I wish you all much love, happiness and kindness in 2015.  

Surprise Sale

DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER....I am having a sale! 

We have had snow, snow, more snow, and now ice.  I am feeling cooped up, and thought perhaps a sale would cheer things up around here!

 Use code snowday15 to save 15% in my https://www.etsy.com/shop/SLArtisanAccents shop! 

 Sale does not apply to the polymer tutorial. Please let me know if you want to purchase that during the sale, I will have to make you a special listing. thanks!

I am also running the sale in my jewelry shop www.stacilouise.etsy.com.  same code, same discount, AND I added new jewelry too!

Sale will run until this weekend- when we are supposed to get, you guessed it, MORE SNOW.  So, through Sunday night February 9th.

Lots of bright new hearts and such in stock similar to the one below!

How's the weather in your neck of the woods?

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

 

 



Painting the Beads

I have finally begun painting the beads.  It is taking forever.  I only have the first layer on.

 

As I am painting them, I keep thinking there is probably a quicker way to do this.  To sort them out ahead of time, and do groups in one color...but I can't.  I just cannot do it that way.  Each bead gets picked up, looked at, until I know what color it should be, then I paint it, and then I add complimentary colors.  And then I take some off, and put some more on and do that until I am satisfied.

 

Then it gets put aside to dry.  This is layer ONE.  These beads will get 2-4 more layers of paint and sealer until they are considered done in my book.

 

Yeah, I could pump these out and save time, but then they wouldn't have that had loved feel to them.  They each wouldn't be unique.

 

So this afternoon, back to painting.  I only got two trays done...I have a packed tray of earrings to do yet, a bowl of loose beads for sets, my stars for the kits Genea and I will be selling, and my doodle beads.  That's all. 

 

Oh yeah, and more metal clay.

 

So here is what I got done yesterday.  Hoping today is more productive.

 

Here are my Graffiti Beads.  Some get a layer of antiquing, others done, then sealed.

 

Here is a large spiral flower and a little Totem Owl

And these are the majority of my colorful beads- fish, hearts, owls and random donuts and connectors in some fun colors.  they get layers of antiquing, crackle, more antiquing and sealing yet.  Maybe I won't crackle them all, we will see!!!

If I get another kiln of bronze done tonight, I will post some pics of my new metal clay tomorrow.

 

In the meantime- since not all of you can make bead fest, I am giving 20% off in both my shops until next Wednesday!!!!  I will not be listing new items- and this wouldn't apply to special orders or requests (which I most likely don't have time to do right now anyway- sorry). 

 

So use code NOBEADFEST to save 20% in both shops! 

 

www.stacilouise.etsy.com

 

www.slartisanaccents.etsy.com

 

 

Surprise End of Year Sale

I have decided to have one last sale of the year! 

 

Now through January 1st- use code merryhappyblessed in my jewelry shop www.stacilouise.etsy.com and save 35%.  Use the same code in my component shop www.slartisanaccents.etsy.com and save 20%.

 

I hope your holiday was Merry, Happy and Blessed!

 

May the New Year Bring love and peace!

Thank You and Winners

Thanks so much to all who shopped my sale!  I really appreciate it!  Making money at the end of the year ensures I can pay for my shows come January, and you guys made that possible!   I can't thank you enough.

 

Sorry to take so long to blog the winners- they were contacted, and I facebooked it, but havn't properly announced it here........soooooo.......................

 

The winner of the blog drawing for the Turquoise crackle heart pendant is Jera Luna!  Congrats!  Please email me your address staci.louise@hotmail.com.

 

For the gift certificate drawings in my shop, I assigned a number to each item purchased in order, and then used random.org to choose the number. 

 

The winner of the $20 gift certificate in my bead shop was #2  Kari Asbury. 

 

The winner of the $20 gift certificate in my jewelry shop was #9 Carol Higgins Sleuth

 

Thanks again to everyone who participated. 

 

I will still be listing some new jewelry in the shop through the holidays, and some of it will be marked down, as I am making room for new inventory. I have some older sea glass pieces coming up...so if you have a sea glass lover on your list, stop by my shop next week!!!!

 

Check out my post on Love my Art Jewelry about making some fun and tacky handmade ornaments with my family, and what that has meant to me through the years!

 

 

Happy Holidays.

Cyber Monday SALE Last Day to Save

I am having a HUGE Holiday Sale ON NOW through Cyber Monday, in both my online shops.  

The shops are stocked with LOTS of new items. For the first time in....well, ever, I am happy with how my jewlery shop looks!!!! 

  In my jewelry shop, use code artjewelry20 to save 20% on your order.

and you will be finding lots of new jewelry for holiday parties or gift giving. Like earrings................

and in my bead shop use code artbeads15 to save 15%.

I will be adding new items here and there through the sale.  If you purchase more then once or from each shop, I will refund the extra shipping.

That is not all though. I am giving away a $20 gift certificate in each shop after the sale. Each item you purchase enters you one time. So the more items you buy, the more entries you get!!!

Names will be picked at the end of the sale by random.org.

To keep it interesting, I will also be adding random 1/2 price items to the shops throughout the sale. These items will be listed at 1/2 price, AND you can still use your discount on them. So stop by frequently and see what the deals are.  In my bead shop, much of the polymer hearts and swirl connectors have been marked down some up to 50%!

I am also doing a giveaway right here, for sharing my sale information. If you share this post, via facebook, twitter or blog, please leave a comment below (separate comments for each way you share) and be entered to win this..........

 

It's a lovely raku like polymer pendant, with a crackle finish.  If you are a jewelry lover and not a designer, I will add a bail and a ball chain with it.

I will not be reserving items for the duration of the sale. I just feel its more fair that way.

If you are shopping Cyber Monday- stop by Love my Art Jewelry to see all the shops participating in the cyber monday sale! Link can be found there.

 

Thanks for stopping by.  I hope some of my creations find their way into your holidays!