Thursday, July 31, 2008

The Deadline Approacheth


The September theme for the EBWC is Complementary Contradictions, brought to us by Smadar's Treasure. I've no clue what I'm going to do with that!
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When the new theme is announced it's a sure sign that the deadline for the current theme is expiring. But my excitement isn't for the Art Deco EBWC. I broke three, read it, 3, needles yesterday and now am left with this one sadly bent and sorry excuse for a needle as I try to rush through the last third of my project (humph!)

No what I'm talking about is the Tatting Is Not A Lost Art Challenge that TotusMel is running. Today is the deadline and the judging will commence soon.
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I was disappointed that she blogged a totally different subject today. Oh well.
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The Rose Distilled piece was my entry. I folded the medallion up and embellished it, beaded a Ndebele rope-- my first-- and embellished it too. Different for me, but nice. I look forward to seeing if it places. Even if not, when TotusMel runs her next challenge I'll probably participate. I love her work but I find it so much easier to spend money on supplies than on finished jewelry.
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Here are most of the other entries. There's some really unique jewelry!
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I'll post about the winning entries when it's all over!

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Poetry, Inspiration, Cats and God


Oh no, another cat pic!
Originally uploaded by Ramperto

Last week I spared you Smart in favor of Szymborska, but I'm ridiculously tired so Smart you get! Most of you have probably read it as it's frequently anthologized. I'm interested in your thoughts on it.

For myself, I love the rhythm and solemnity. I love how Jeoffry wreathes, fleas and camels as well as leaps, rolls, performs, looks, kicks up, works it, sharpens, washes, rubs and on and on and on. Jeoffry's constant motion and moods, his cleaning ritual and then his peaceful sleep are something all cat lovers have observed in their own furry friends.

I love Smart's idealization of Jeoffry's dallying with prey.

These lines:
For he keeps the Lord's watch in the night against the adversary.
For he counteracts the powers of darkness by his electrical skin and glaring eyes.
For he counteracts the Devil, who is death, by brisking about the life.
For in his morning orisons he loves the sun and the sun loves him.

are my favorite in the poem. But my favorite thing about it is how much Smart learned from his cat.

He admits:
For he is good to think on, if a man would express himself neatly.

and mentions things like duty, cleanliness, benevolence, patience, electricity and the blessing of God. Now certainly one can't agree with all of Smart's conclusions, but his appreciation and affection are touching.

It's something of a guilty pleasure for me because in my heart of hearts I feel that for poetry to be truly great I should be able to buy into it hook, line and sinker. I can't, but I think maybe he did which is close to, but not quite, good enough. Thus, while I love it, this poem misses perfection for me.

Some of this is prosaic, some of it just insane and some of it is brilliant and lyrical. Enjoy!

For I Will Consider My Cat Jeoffry (excerpt, Jubilate Agno)

For I will consider my Cat Jeoffry.
For he is the servant of the Living God duly and daily serving him.
For at the first glance of the glory of God in the East he worships in his way.
For this is done by wreathing his body seven times round with elegant quickness.
For then he leaps up to catch the musk, which is the blessing of God upon his prayer.
For he rolls upon prank to work it in.
For having done duty and received blessing he begins to consider himself.
For this he performs in ten degrees.
For first he looks upon his forepaws to see if they are clean.
For secondly he kicks up behind to clear away there.
For thirdly he works it upon stretch with the forepaws extended.
For fourthly he sharpens his paws by wood.
For fifthly he washes himself.
For sixthly he rolls upon wash.
For seventhly he fleas himself, that he may not be interrupted upon the beat.
For eighthly he rubs himself against a post.
For ninthly he looks up for his instructions.
For tenthly he goes in quest of food.
For having consider'd God and himself he will consider his neighbour.
For if he meets another cat he will kiss her in kindness.
For when he takes his prey he plays with it to give it a chance.
For one mouse in seven escapes by his dallying.
For when his day's work is done his business more properly begins.
For he keeps the Lord's watch in the night against the adversary.
For he counteracts the powers of darkness by his electrical skin and glaring eyes.
For he counteracts the Devil, who is death, by brisking about the life.
For in his morning orisons he loves the sun and the sun loves him.
For he is of the tribe of Tiger.
For the Cherub Cat is a term of the Angel Tiger.
For he has the subtlety and hissing of a serpent, which in goodness he suppresses.
For he will not do destruction, if he is well-fed, neither will he spit without provocation.
For he purrs in thankfulness, when God tells him he's a good Cat.
For he is an instrument for the children to learn benevolence upon.
For every house is incomplete without him and a blessing is lacking in the spirit.
For the Lord commanded Moses concerning the cats at the departure of the Children of Israel from Egypt.
For every family had one cat at least in the bag.
For the English Cats are the best in Europe.
For he is the cleanest in the use of his forepaws of any quadruped.
For the dexterity of his defence is an instance of the love of God to him exceedingly.
For he is the quickest to his mark of any creature.
For he is tenacious of his point.
For he is a mixture of gravity and waggery.
For he knows that God is his Saviour.
For there is nothing sweeter than his peace when at rest.
For there is nothing brisker than his life when in motion.
For he is of the Lord's poor and so indeed is he called by benevolence perpetually--Poor Jeoffry! poor Jeoffry! the rat has bit thy throat.
For I bless the name of the Lord Jesus that Jeoffry is better.
For the divine spirit comes about his body to sustain it in complete cat.
For his tongue is exceeding pure so that it has in purity what it wants in music.
For he is docile and can learn certain things.
For he can set up with gravity which is patience upon approbation.
For he can fetch and carry, which is patience in employment.
For he can jump over a stick which is patience upon proof positive.
For he can spraggle upon waggle at the word of command.
For he can jump from an eminence into his master's bosom.
For he can catch the cork and toss it again.
For he is hated by the hypocrite and miser.
For the former is afraid of detection.
For the latter refuses the charge.
For he camels his back to bear the first notion of business.
For he is good to think on, if a man would express himself neatly.
For he made a great figure in Egypt for his signal services.
For he killed the Ichneumon-rat very pernicious by land.
For his ears are so acute that they sting again.
For from this proceeds the passing quickness of his attention.
For by stroking of him I have found out electricity.
For I perceived God's light about him both wax and fire.
For the Electrical fire is the spiritual substance, which God sends from heaven to sustain the bodies both of man and beast.
For God has blessed him in the variety of his movements.
For, tho he cannot fly, he is an excellent clamberer.
For his motions upon the face of the earth are more than any other quadruped.
For he can tread to all the measures upon the music.
For he can swim for life.
For he can creep.

Christopher Smart

Do tell me what you think. Like it? Love it? Hate it? Why?

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Art Deco Project Update

I'm really pushing at this point to finish. It took so long for me to settle in technique wise. Things are going faster now at least.

I wish I had more beads in different styles/sizes/colors/finishes and a better idea of the finishing techniques too.

Anyway, I'm loving it so far and may end of keeping this one!

Monday, July 28, 2008

Fives

If you don't want to do all 5, pick one or two! I'll go first:)

What are your 5 favorite art works? Have you seen them in person? Do you have plans to?
And I mean art in a very broad sense here.

The pyramids-- seen them three times-- worth seeing
The Great Wall of China-- no plans to see it, but would like to
The Taj Mahal-- no plans to see it, but would like to
Anything by Van Gogh-- seen several, worth seeing
Dali's Persistence of Memory-- seen it, but wasn't much more impressed by it in person than I am by it in a picture

What are 5 crafts you couldn't live without? Have you done them? Any good?
Jewelry Making-- yes and yes
Carving-- yes and no and I have the scars to prove it.
Glasswork-- not really, though I've played with frits and enamels, and no
Metalwork-- coldforging and PMC only, decent at simple wirework
Sewing-- yes and not bad

What are 5 crafts you'd like to learn? Have you ever tried them? Will you?
Lampwork-- no, maybe
Mosaics-- no, maybe
Metalwork-- in a very limited fashion, but I'd like to do more, maybe someday
Stained glass-- no, probably not
Weaving-- I had a three minute 'lesson', probably not

What are 5 arts and crafts you've tried that weren't for you?
Needlework
Carving
Calligraphy
Painting
Music

What are 5 things you aim for with your art/craft?
Individuality
Humanity
Wearability
Harmony
Primitivity

Your turn! If you can't do all five just pick one or two!

Sunday, July 27, 2008

Clinkscales


Susan of ClinkscalesArts just posted her entry in the EBW Art Deco Challenge! Her beautiful earrings feature the clean lines she favors, but with the perfect hint of embellishment. So for the ever helpful, supportive and talented Susan . . .

To the prettiest pair of beadwoven earrings ever, I added a fabulous bead by SherryBellamy, a little bird by MNSCeramics, a gorgeous necklace by irregularexpressions, and a felted vessel by sugarplumoriginals, which sellers I found in Susans faves.

For beadwork, I chose the magic of a thejadedog Embroidered Purse and a Tigers Eye Necklace by CieloDesign.

If memory served me gabriel is a favorite of Susan and her Armor 21-bead/pendant was a perfect fit.

My own favorites offered reuler's alligator and bird bowl, beadsofpassion's scaley bead, Bellebeads' scintillating blue bead and LaPellaPottery's textured Nature Lover's Soap Dish.

Excitingly enough within hours two of the chosen beads sold so I traded them out. Then an alternate sold, so I traded it out too!
You can see the beauty up closer here.

Saturday, July 26, 2008

Focus On: Maggie Estrin


Maggie Estrin

Shop:

Blog:

Last fall I developed a yen for fingerless gloves. I settled without much ado on these Iceburg Mitts by littlegreycatdesigns on Etsy. I love them and get tons of compliments every time I wear them! So I'm thrilled that Maggie has agreed to visit my blog!

Tell us about yourself.
What makes you, you? Ooh, the hardest question right off the line! I think there are a few things that account for who I am today: a good education, easy-going parents, extensive travel for work as well as many very different jobs, and exposure to different walks of life. I grew up in Maryland and live north of San Diego now. I’ve got a husband and, yes, a little grey cat (her name is Clio, she’s 15, and enjoys long naps on the sofa). I’ve been a library assistant, a vet tech, a pharmacy tech, an interior designer, a marketing specialist, a daycare worker, and a camp counselor. I’m a vegetarian and eat vegan as often as possible. I love to read, but generally avoid non-fiction books (though I love National Geographic and the Smithsonian magazine). I can’t imagine how empty my life would be with the internet—that sounds lame, but I wouldn’t have my shop, I wouldn’t have met many of my fibery friends, I wouldn’t be able to keep in touch as easily with my cross-country family, and I wouldn’t have been able to teach myself how to knit and spin. I’m pretty darn grateful for the internet, actually!

Do you see yourself as an artist or craftsman or both?
I think both—probably leaning more towards craftsman because my items are functional, though I do think some of my work could possibly be called art. There’s an excellent three part series by PBS called “Craft in America” that talks to craftsmen of all sorts, and I think much of what they show could be called art as well—it’s exceedingly difficult to make a distinction!

What made you want to be a craftsman?
When I was in high school and my first round of college, I never thought of myself as creative. Then I started knitting again (I first learned as a child) as a way to keep myself occupied on a long marketing trip, and that seems to have led to a whole new side of me! I started Little Grey Cat Designs, got a BFA in interior design, and have added handspun yarns to the shop. I can’t imagine not being creative now! I think I love the freedom available to me when I create—that’s why I want to do it. Making things makes me smile.

Why yarn?
I love textiles—I don’t think I many people who can pass by a skein of yarn or bolt of fabric and not touch it! Humans have used textiles of one sort or another just about forever. I love the fact that my decidedly 21st century creations reflect skills our ancestors used on a daily basis. Really, it boggles my mind.

How do you see your style?
Colorful, certainly. Beyond that, it’s hard for me to say. Hmm, maybe free-spirited, uniquely traditional, and fun.

What's the most wonderful thing you've made? The oddest?
The most wonderful…while it’s not my favorite thing I’ve ever made, I’m pretty happy with my T-Shrug. I designed it as I knit and I think it came out pretty darn well and is fairly unique.
The oddest—well, it’s not even made of fiber, but the giant bottle of Viagra I made for a school project. We had to transform a regular sized object into a huge one, and when the teacher said it should be soft and not stiff…

What inspires you?
How colors interact with each other, sunlight, the amazing photographs on Flickr, chatting with other fiber artists (hurray for Ravelry!)

What scares you?
Nerve damage, presenting my work to local yarn shops, and moths (shudder)

Tell us about your creative process.
I think about spinning and knitting pretty much all the time. Sometimes I’ll see a photograph or image that inspires a concept for a particular yarn, sometimes I work from the colors in a roving or yarn, and sometimes I just cast on or begin spinning and see what happens!

How did you get on Etsy and where else do you sell?
A friend at design school told me about Etsy (from a shopping standpoint), and I immediately began thinking of a shop name. I don’t sell anywhere else online, but you can find me at local craft shows and I do wholesale my yarn to Susan Gibbs of http://mvfiberfarm.blogspot.com/. I also plan to approach my local yarn shops soon (wish me luck!).

Describe your shop.
A bit eclectic, leaning towards handspun yarns now more than knits, colorful, and soft—I don’t use any fiber I wouldn’t put next to my own skin!

Make a recommendation.
Fibery things: http://fatcatknits.etsy.com/ – Ginny is wonderful, and does GREAT work.
Non-fibery things: http://cserdan.etsy.com// – Charlene makes *beautiful* jewelry (wish I had more of it!)

Tell us the answer to a question that we didn't ask, but should have. If you can't think of anything, tell us something random.
My favorite color is leaf green (though turquoise seems to be sneaking in), I’m right-handed and I skipped first grade.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------'Don't forget to check out the EBW Team Sale.http://thebeadedlily.blogspot.com/2008/07/announcing-1st-ever-ebw-team-sale.html

Friday, July 25, 2008

15 Things Every Bead Artist Should Remember


I asked beaders what advice they'd offer to experienced bead artists.

This is what they said:

Rainy Lane says: What you have accomplished gives others inspiration to keep moving forward.

Adina Halpern says: Bead what you love. Develop a style you can be proud of. Always enjoy what you're making!

Enchanted Beads says: Get your inspiration from visiting museums, exhibits, art sites on the Internet. Try to take a break from time to time, visit with a friend, spend time with your family, see a good movie or just take a stroll in the favorite area of your city/town.

Lynn Davy says: No matter how good you think your work is, it can always be better -be your own severest and most honest critic, and always try to improve your techniques and learn something new with every piece you make.

TotallyTwisted says: Make sure your finishing and closures are up to par with your bead work. Invest in good, quality findings and take the time to make a sturdy closure for a necklace or bracelet. A closure that can easily be fastened by one person and something that will stay closed.

Silver Dragon says: Push your personal envelope!

Smadars Treasure says: Try creating free form, using as many techniques as you can in one piece. Also try to make your original designs rather than sticking to other's work.

ClaireCreations says: Don't be afraid to think outside the box. Try freeform. Try anything. Expand your horizons.

SalamanderHouse says: Move outside your comfort zone, take risks. Buy better lights.

SquirrelsTale says: Don't stray too far from your own unique style.

JPDesignWorks says: Don't just rest on your laurels. There is *always* something new to learn.
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tenstoreylovesong says: Always be open to learning new skills and passing them onto others.

Grandma Marilyn says: Remember that everyone starts from the bottom. Beginners have great respect for the more experienced beaders. Help them to grow so that they can be as good or better than you someday.

SantiamDesigns says: She who dies with the most beads wins!

My advice? Bore no one.
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'Don't forget to check out the EBW Team Sale.
http://thebeadedlily.blogspot.com/2008/07/announcing-1st-ever-ebw-team-sale.html

Thursday, July 24, 2008

So You Want to Bead?


I asked groups of artists-- beaders and non-beaders what suggestions they'd offer a beginning beader. They were a treasure trove of good tips!

What to buy:
CinderellasNemasis says: Buy either a beading mat or one of those plastic jewelry pads/holders so when you are working on a piece, you don't lose where you were at. If the dog hits the table the soon to be creation doesn't fall to the floor.

marynewton says: Buy good tools, take some classes.

bijoutery says: Buy good beads w/ a uniform size - cheap ones are often not uniform in size (often the cheap seed beads), and it will become frustrating real quick when trying to weave something and they don't fit together correctly.

customdiva says: Get every bead mag you can afford, and save all of them.

ArgentTadpole says: If you have friends around who are beaders, have a bead swap party once or twice a year. It's lots of fun and a great way to move out beads that you're not using any more in return for beads that are new and fresh to you.
I just bought a beading tray that has a cover that fits over the top of it. No more cat dancing in the beads incidents and it makes it super easy to take a project along with you.

JPDesignWorks says: Any "bargain" you get by buying "cheap" beads will quickly be lost to the aggravation of working with them. (inexpensive and cheap are not the same thing)


What to watch:
SquirrelsTale says: Be patient. Good beading techniques and skill do not just appear one day, they take time to build.

MikkiFerrugiaro says: Don't give up if the first technique doesn't work for you, there are a ton of different ways to make jewelry and you'll find one you love.

adinahalperndesigns says: Do not be intimidated! Embrace and enjoy each new stitch you learn. Take your time with each one and your skills will build on themselves before you know it!

AnnBurke says: Don't think it's a failure if you have to tear it up and start over a few times. Also, sometimes when you get a start on a project it looks really strange and when you finish it all comes together and looks totally magnificant.

Lynn Davy says: Don't be afraid to experiment - you will learn more by doing beadwork than by reading about it - even if all you learn at first is that you should have done it a different way! You can always recycle the beads into something better.

GrandmaMarilyn says: Don't let beading get you down. We are our own worst critic. Also, keep a pictoral record of everything that you do and date it. That way as you go up the ladder you can see your improvement.

ClaireCreations says: Don't get discouraged. Stick with it.


What to try:
AdornablesByLyn says: Use the internet to learn as much as you can.

TotallyTwisted says: Learn the basics, take some classes, buy instruction books and practice, practice.

tenstoreylovesong says: Always work in good light whether natural, or artificial and in a comfortable chair, your eyes and back will thank you.

EnchantedBeads says: Sign up for a group/team and stay connected!

SilverDragon says: Some learn from reading and studying illustrations. Others learn more effectively by studying with a teacher. In both cases, allow yourself to be inspired and don't just copy patterns.

Rainy Lane says: Allow your skills to develop at your own pace. I believe you will be naturally drawn to what feels best and right for you. Don't give up on yourself.

SmadarsTreasure says: Try not to decide whether you like a technique before you make at least 2 pieces using it. Collect knowledge about beading materials and learn how their characteristics influence the finished work.

adornedbyrobin says:
1) If you are going to wrap beads into dangles or links, practice with inexpensive wire before moving on to sterling silver or gold filled wire.
2) When clipping off extra sterling wire, save it. Those little leftovers can add up to a nice refund if you turn them in to a recycler.
3) Use the correct beading wire. Really strong beading wire is required for large heavy beads.
4) Don't be afraid to ask questions. Most of the employees at bead shops are beaders themselves. They are a great source of information and usually very helpful.

Stormslegacy says: Know your materials, and don't bother with the cheapest wire and findings because the poor quality will show no matter how good a beader you are!

SantiamDesigns says: Take your time, never settle for 'good enough'.

Angelicgems says: Remember to have fun above all else.


To sum up:
SalamanderHouse says: Try anything. Don't give up. Buy better lights.

Who's beading?!

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Bow of Burning Gold


Today I got another Etsy Treasury! This one goes out to Triz Tager. I was wondering which EBW member I should tribute in my next treasury and as I read Triz's blog today, I thought it should for sure be her. Due in part to unrest in Israel, she's hit a bit of a rough patch and some things are very uncertain for her right now, but she's trying to focus on good things-- here's something for her to focus on!

I looked through her beautiful works and was really torn about what to feature! I picked several possibilities and then went and looked at her favorite items and her blog. I wanted to feature some of the beauties of Israel and Jerusalem and I found Mystery Street 1 by javax. The burning lights asked to be paired with some of Triz's more neutral colored art and also suggested a title, which I took from William Blake's Jerusalem.

Everything else was built around that. I wanted more of the EBW Team and Natural Stones, Quartz Bead and Beadwoven Necklace by Smadar's Treasure was perfect. She also lives in Israel so it was apt thematically as well.

Triz belongs to the newly formed BAO Team as does thejadedog whose Face Pendant was in Triz's favorites. She has sooooo many shops hearted! I believe that's where I found eringarrisondesign and her Sunset Wishes and artisantmontana and her Oriental Beauty.

Searching 'gold' rendered jenniferdennispotter's shop of stunning shots like Gold and ericburris1215's magnificent split hoop earrings. A search for 'fire' offered iacua's rose palm ring.

The hints of mystery offered by dragonjools' Creature from the Ocean, threebluesnails' ammonite and stilettoheights' The Painted Veil came from my favorite shops.

Oddly Triz was this Treasury's first visitor. She found it before I finished!
You can see it closer here for the next few days.

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'Don't forget to check out the EBW Team Sale.
http://thebeadedlily.blogspot.com/2008/07/announcing-1st-ever-ebw-team-sale.html'

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Poetry, Inspiration, Cats and Death


When one has a daily blog and a peaceful life one sometimes feels that there's nothing to say for the day. Like the well has run dry.

That's part of what I like about the treasury, interview and project posts. Those are recurring things. They're in flux and ever fresh without a huge amount of emotional effort involved in writing about them. That is most of the effort involved has been expended before they're posted here. Not so my other posts.

When the well of inspiration runs dry I try to think of things that have inspired me that I could share. Poetry is one of those things. But not everyone is a fan of poetry. I prefer to think that it's because of a lack of proper exposure.

I've found that without fail, when someone says 'I don't like cats' and I say 'Have you ever had one?' they say 'No.' Well, then how do they know? Cats are all different. If you don't like one cat, you may adore another. And most cats aren't easy to know. They tend to be private animals choosing their objects of affection with care. So then I assume that you don't like cats because you've never known the right cat or the right cat has never know you.

Poetry is similar. When someone tells me they don't like poetry I assume that they've never known or been known by the right poem.

And I get the feeling that many of you who kindly come here to read my blog have little to say about poetry. Those posts get the fewest comments. Part of me wants to write about something else. The rest of me wants to find the right poem.

I started out with an exerpt of Smart's 'Jubilate Agno' called 'My Cat Jeoffry' but when I discovered just how well known that is I decided to do something else. If you've never read 'My Cat Jeoffry' never fear, I'll share it later.

Today I want to share another cat poem that I discovered a few years ago. I printed it out and tucked it away and just thought of it again today. It's called 'Cat in an Empty Apartment' by Wislawa Szymborska and this is translated from the Polish by Joanna Maria Trzeciak.


Die—you can't do that to a cat.
Since what can a cat do
in an empty apartment?
Climb the walls?
Rub up against the furniture?
Nothing seems different here,
but nothing is the same.
Nothing has been moved,
but there's more space.
And at nighttime no lamps are lit.

Footsteps on the staircase,
but they're new ones.
The hand that puts fish on the saucer
has changed, too.

Something doesn't start
at its usual time.
Something doesn't happen
as it should.
Someone was always, always here,
then suddenly disappeared
and stubbornly stays disappeared.

Every closet has been examined.
Every shelf has been explored.
Excavations under the carpet turned up nothing.
A commandment was even broken,
papers scattered everywhere.
What remains to be done.
Just sleep and wait.

Just wait till he turns up,
just let him show his face.
Will he ever get a lesson
on what not to do to a cat.
Sidle toward him
as if unwilling
and ever so slow
on visibly offended paws,
and no leaps or squeals at least to start.


There are so many things I love about that poem. I love the precision of the language, and it's simplicity, the way it never rises to an emotional pitch or overplays its hand but how you can sense what lies beneath.

I love how obvious it is that Szymborska knows cats.

I love the sense of disbelief that permeates it. The 'this can't be happening to me, I know this isn't happening to me' when of course all the evidence says it is happening to me.

I love that the poet acknowledges that grief can lead to acting out, breaking rules we normally wouldn't-- whether its because the rules seem less important now or whether we just need someone to see that we don't care anymore, especially since we do.

I love the bits of anger that are tossed in and the 'sleep and wait', because that's often how it is. I love the plaintiveness of 'nothing seems different here, but nothing is the same.' Like sticking your finger in water and pulling it out. No hole is left and the only disturbance is in the ripples in the surrounding water.

I love how I've had this poem for years, and just today, I find that this isn't about cats at all.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'Don't forget to check out the EBW Team Sale.

Monday, July 21, 2008

Bead Art Originals


Something incredible happened to me a few days ago. Even as I write this I can barely believe it. I was asked to join a new street team on Etsy. Bead Art Originals (BAO)

So what?!

The women in this team are a talented, original and successful bunch! These women are published, these women do juried shows, these are business women and artists, women who refuse to spend 5 hours on a piece and sell it for $20, women I look up to. These women are good. Does that mean I'm good?
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I entered a poetry contest once and downplayed the fact that I was a finalist by reasoning that the judges hadn't liked my poetry but they liked my accompanied statement. We all know that's ridiculous.
I feel the same way now. Like there's no way I deserve to be classed with this group.

I'm quite simply blown away to be included.
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So far we have blog and a website. Feel free to visit and get acquainted with more members of BAO. I'm sure you'll recognize some of them. Perhaps the founding trio, Carol Dean Sharpe, aka SandFibers, MaryLou Holvenstot, aka time2cre8 and Regina Jiron, aka BeadJewelryShopgirl.
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The BAO sites are beautifully put together and explain the purpose of the team.
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I quote:
"Bead Art Originals consists of a select group of independent artisans, including both creators of art beads and creators of beadwoven art. Our focus is on the business and artistic growth of our members. We will use this corner of the web to introduce you to the individual artists, keep you informed of our group activities, and perhaps educate you about our art forms a little."
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I have much to learn. I do so hope that the BAO Team is instrumental in the further growth and further success of each of its talented members.
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These Treasuries feature some BAO and EBW members and others. You'll also notice the lovely little BAO badge on my blog page:)

Sunday, July 20, 2008

ANNOUNCING: 1st Ever EBW Team Sale! Midsummer Madness! Beginning Tomorrow!




Etsy Beadweavers present the 1st ever EBW Team Midsummer Madness Sale! EBW Team members have gotten together to offer some special incentives for buying Handmade on Etsy.

The sale will run from the 21st to the 27th, so shop now!!
Check out the fabulous beadwoven art jewelry at:
http://adinahalperndesigns.etsy.com/ 20% Off Everything
http://adri33.etsy.com/ Select Items on Sale
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http://time2cre8.etsy.com/ Free Shipping + Gift on All Orders Over $25

Saturday, July 19, 2008

Focus On: Kerrie Slade

Profile: Kerrie Slade
Blog http://www.kerrieslade.blogspot.com/

Kerrie Slade is a published member of the EBW Team on Etsy.com. Her beautiful beaded blossoms have graced the cover of Bead&Button magazine.

Tell us about yourself. What makes you, you?
Hmmmmm, looking from the outside in I suppose I see a whimsical, nature loving, bead addicted Brit. with a quirky sense of humor and an eye for detail.

Do you see yourself as an artist or craftsman or both?
I've been called an artist and a technician (amongst other things lol!) and I never would have considered myself an artist, but I kind of like that idea. I'm still a little too self-controlled to really let myself go and be what I consider 'a proper artist' but I'm growing into my new skin gradually.

What made you want to be an artist?
It's still all relatively new to me and seems like the second stage in my life very far removed from the first stage. It was never planned, I just stumbled into it and am very grateful to whatever lead me here.

Why beads?
I can't answer that one, I think beads picked me rather than the other way around, but I have no complaints!

How do you see your style?
I like to see it as a kind of modern pared down style that uses age old techniques. Lots of floral pieces, generally a limited palette of colors, resulting in what I hope are very wearable pieces.

What's the most wonderful thing you've made? The oddest?
Wonderful - well I suppose so far I'm most proud of my Foxglove Trio necklace that appeared on the cover of the April issue of Bead & Button, I've had lots of great comments on that design. Oddest - a commission for a glow-in-the-dark floral belly bar!

What inspires you?
Nature - flowers, butterflies, trees, the sky - oh and the beads themselves ... just seeing a particular color or finish of beads can spark off an idea.

What scares you?
Freeform! I know lots of beadweavers just love the freedom of expression it gives them, but I feel a strong need to be precise and symmetrical!

Tell us about your creative process.
Generally, I see a flower in the garden I want to try and recreate in beads or an image of a finished piece flits into my mind. Then I either jot down some notes and add them to the list of things to try, or get working straight away. It's rare that a piece ever turns out how I imagined and there is always lots of trial and error, unpicking and remaking involved. I have partially made pieces, still with long threads attached, all over the place. If it does work, and it's a design that a magazine is interested in, then I remake it, writing and testing step-by-step instructions as I go.

How did you get on Etsy and where else do you sell?
I opened an Etsy shop just over three months ago, after hearing lots of other bead buddies in the UK talking about it. I haven't sold anything there yet, but it's been a lot of fun learning the ropes and 'meeting' new people. I generally sell my work via craft fairs, galleries, my website and word of mouth.

Describe your shop.
Eyecatching!

Make a recommendation.
Recommendation - of another Etsy shop you mean? It would have to be all of the EBW team members shops!

Tell us the answer to a question that we didn't ask, but should have. If you can't think of anything, tell us something random.
What is your favorite beadweaving stitch? Ndebele/Herringbone.

Friday, July 18, 2008

A Rose By Name

Fourth in my EBW Treasury Series on Etsy, A Rose By Name is for Anna Neff. Anna is the sweet and talented lady who first suggested that I join the EtsyBeadweavers.

Her shop, A Rose By Name, is named for her Grandmother, and indeed her precise weaving tends toward the classic and elegantly understated.

As I looked at all of Anna's lovely pieces her Harlequin Cuff Bracelet just jumped out at me because of the fantastic color combination.
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I checked her favorites out and found a brilliant hand-dyed green scarf by EBW Teammate DantesSpirit and some fantastic photos. I was drawn to a blushing rose macro by terrifictagsstudio. I already knew I wanted roses so I was off to a great start!

I was pleased to find that we share a love for the wild abandon of Bohemianwhimsey's colorful glass, silk and lace jewelry and In Full Bloom was perfect color-wise. Also in her favorites I found Michal S' incredible Rumba focal bead.
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She has quite a few beadweavers hearted of course! Sandfibers' elegant Gold and Turquoise Peyote Cuff jumped out at me. That made me think of time2cre8's new Evolutionary Cuff and I went to look at it again. Sure enough, the colors made it a go!
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Now I needed more roses, but there were way too many to look through, so I narrowed it down to blue roses which offered FancifulFlair's clean, crystal blue watercolor and an unusual bracelet by lovesilver888. The bracelet wouldn't usually draw me, but it seemed perfect in this context.
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Then it was straight for my own favorites. The Green Striped Lampwork Beads by TeaguesBeads set Anna's bracelet off perfectly and were a tad harlequin. To finish off that thought I nabbed a Kaleidoscope Castle print from Alison Whittington at paintandink. Alison does fantastic and original water colors. I have a set of logo designs that she did for me that I love.

For the last item I wanted something blush, feminine and rosy. Another EBW Team member, Nemeton, had the Marie Rose Collar that just sang in the final spot.

Does it work? It works! For Anna-- enjoy!
See it closer for a couple days here.

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Salamandar House

This is the 3rd in my series of Etsy Treasurys Dedicated to EBW Team members.

Recently I interviewed bead artist Melody Murray on my blog: Focus On: Melody Murray.

Finding out that she loves beadwork, critters, gardening and handmade art inspired this treasury featuring: SalamanderHouse, GretchenKramp, caraway, PotteryByAnn, WickedOakDesign, thebeadlounge, watermelonkidz, CINEWEENIE, myfairladyvt4, naturaldevelopments, AnnE

I knew I wanted to use Melody's fabulous beaded headband so the treasury would be basically green.

When I searched salamander I found an adorable orange guy and a great tile, but much else that really caught me. I widened the search as I knew that Melody had a thing for lizards of all kinds. I found a bunch of great lizards, but didn't want to only have lizards so I narrowed it down to three, a mug, another orange/brown tile and a great psychedelic iguana! He's actually a doctored photo. I had an iguana once. He was awesome.

Melody is playing with hot glass these days so I went searching for green beads in my favorites and found two (1,2) that screamed texture/garden/reptile.

Tons of EBW Team items were green, but I was looking for lizardy textures and found so many wonderful things! It was tough to narrow it down, but there's only so much space!

I really love AnnE's work. I know her personally. She does the kind of thing that many don't take as serious art, but if I painted it would be along those lines.

I found so much that couldn't cram it all in, but I love the result and I hope Melody did too!
Till tomorrow afternoon, you can see everything a bit closer here.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Roses in the Night Sky

The winner of the Etsybeadweaver's Midsummer Nights Dream Challenge has been announced! The honor of first place goes to Smadar of SmadarsTreasure for her Roses in the Night Sky Cuff Bracelet.

It's a beautiful, one-of-a-kind piece, highly textured and embellished with is done with grayish-blue and yellow; dark metallic blue; milky-white and pale yellow glass and beautiful pewter roses.

Congrats to Smadar and all of the other brave souls who entered this months challenge!

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Entrecard Brings On the Blog Comments

I haven't had a blog for long, but I got Entrecard immediately. It was pretty and I had a vague notion that it would bring traffic to my blog, which seemed like a Good Thing.

Someone old me that they weren't sure of the traffic's quality but that made no sense to me at first. Then I figured out that folks who read the blog were high quality and folks who spend .5 seconds on the blog to drop their entrecard were slightly lower quality traffic (can you hear the pc oozing from my pores?) and folks that read and comment once in awhile are the creme de la creme of the blogosphere! (My webspeak improves hourly.)

So then today I get this email that Entrecard has paired up with SezWho to get folks commenting. As I gather, it's a rating system to reward commenters with Entrecard points and thoughtful commenters with more Entrecard points.

Well, we'll see how it works.

We all love comments don't we? Anything to combat that blogging in a vacuum feeling? The only thing worse than a commentless blog is a spammed blog. It's just rude. And disheartening. And kind of icky in a mashed up smelly meat covered in slime and a tin can way.

But just as blogging is a learned behavior, commenting is a learned behavior. I look forward to learning how to do a better job of it myself!

One more thing. I'm having a time getting it installed though it seems like the easiest thing in the world. On the plus side the SezWho support team is quick and professional. Thank you SezWho.

And thank you, each one of you who read this and other posts and comment once in awhile!

Monday, July 14, 2008

Excuses, Excuses

The merest effort at a blogpost today, or anything else for that matter. I've felt pretty lousy for week now and I gave completely in today by sleeping late and then reading all day. Nothing useful and edifying mind. Just Mary Stewart's My Brother Michael and Rose Cottage.
I've read them before. They're not my favorites by any means. There's still something soothing about a day spent rereading tales you've enjoyed before. You know the geography of the author's worlds, there's a sure and happy ending to be had and in Stewart's case the very language is enchanting.

Sunday, July 13, 2008

A Year On Etsy

I've been beading for years and selling off and on through those years, mostly to friends and family. I did do some sales on EBay and a few craft shows. I had my work in a gallery at one point. I've done home parties and still do once in awhile.

I found Etsy in late '06 as I researched Paper Clay. I was fascinated by the jewelry there, especially some of the unique metalwork. When I needed a special card for my sister's wedding I came back to Etsy to shop.

After a bit, I thought of selling there as well. In June of '07 I opened thebeadedlily on Etsy. It took a month to sell my first pair of earrings on July 13th to Tina at RuthiesGirlDesigns.

Today, July 13th a year later, marks sale #150 to Anaya at YanaDesigns.
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751 hearts say a few more sales are coming. A feedback rating of 220 says I shop too much. 100% positive says I care about my product and my people. 102 items for sale says I'm not going anywhere anytime soon.

I learned how to use a digital camera, developed a couple of product lines as I sought to make something that I could make and remake to save valuable listing/photoshoot time, vastly improved my beadweaving skills thanks to the ladies of EBW Team, became a moderator, joined Flickr and deviantART, started blogging, made some friends, quit my job.

I've learned so much. I have so much to learn. I'm thankful to each and every customer, to each and every viewer who reached out with a kind word or a suggestion, to the sellers on the forums who offer what they're learned, to my teammates who are always encouraging, and to Etsy itself and all of its Admin team who've made this year possible.
May next year be even better.

Saturday, July 12, 2008

Focus On: Melody Murray

Profile: Melody Murray
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Melody is a fellow member of EBW Team on Etsy.com. As she shares her unique take on the world her work tends toward amazing intricacy and nature themes.

Tell us about yourself. What makes you, you?
I'm a felicitous combination of genetic accidents. Or so I keep telling myself. I'm in training to be a fierce, curmudgeonly old woman but so far have only achieved intermittent crankiness. I grew up in the armpit of the Midwest. When I first breathed the Oregon air, I knew that I was home, and I've lived out here for 14 glorious years. I read a lot, I garden some. I like to cook and draw and bead and write. I am the only female in my immediate environment and most days it feels like I live in a frat house, complete with live lizards, empty milk cartons, and towering piles of skateboarding shoes.

Do you see yourself as an artist or craftsman or both?
I think of myself an artist. I have brooded a fair bit on the division between craftsperson and artist, and it feels pretty arbitrary to me. I have drawn the conclusion, which works for me, that all artists are craftspersons but not all craftspersons are artists. What made you want to be an artist?I don't know that I ever wanted to be an artist, I've always felt like I was one. In much the same vein, I don't think I ever wanted to have brown hair, but here it is. In big staggering letters in my baby book, I wrote "writer and artist" on the Ambitions page. I think I was 4 or 5.
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Why beads?
I like the exquisitely small bursts of color, the mosaic-like possibilities. I also like making beads, and am having a lot of fun with lampworking. I hope to start listing handmade beads in my Etsy shop before too much longer! My flameworking studio is currently under construction in my garage. I like working with tiny pieces, and seed beads scratch that itch.

How do you see your style?
Chaotic, untrammeled, experimental and humorous.

What's the most wonderful thing you've made? The oddest?
I think Poseidon's Deep is pretty amazing now that it's been completed for a while. I can't usually tell what I think about a piece till well after it's finished. The oddest thing was a little olive oil pitcher which I covered in tangles of neon green and pink beads for a friend of mine.

What inspires you?
Mostly science, scientists and how everything changes and expands the further into it one delves. Quantum physics is fascinating to me, especially because all the rules change on the quantum level. I'm inspired by the submicroscopic and the super-macroscopic. Cosmology intrigues me, and everything biological. Oxidation, fluid dynamics, cell division. Spooky action at a distance. True love. Music and art and piles of baby lizards in the sun.

What scares you?
The breakdown of civilization. It feels to me lately to me like the spectre of famine riding the horse of social collapse is moving away from the just barely possible and edging toward the probable. Though it's exhilarating to think we might just be able to reinvent a better civilization, my innate cynicism says it'll only get worse. Artistically, nothing scares me.

Tell us about your creative process.
It differs from day to day, hour to hour. Sometimes I sketch out an idea, sometimes I make a pattern and try to stick to it, but mostly I start with a vague idea and a pile of beads and end up with something entirely different than the initial idea.

How did you get on Etsy and where else do you sell?
I read about it on the internet and was intrigued. I went to the site and fell in love with all the fabulous handmade beauty. I mostly sell by word of mouth, to friends and friends of friends.

Describe your shop.
A place to buy one of a kind creations that will make you smile.

Make a recommendation.
Read the Betsy-Tacy books by Maud Hart Lovelace. This series, ostensibly for kids, is so well-written and timeless it deserves a wider audience.
Also- buy handmade & homegrown whenever you can, of course.

Tell us the answer to a question that we didn't ask, but should have. If you can't think of anything, tell us something random.
I have 24 modules on my iGoogle homepage.

Friday, July 11, 2008

Art Deco Project Update

I wanted to focus on the Egyptian revivalism part of the Art Deco movement.

I planned a pretty delicate bracelet, but have put the idea off because of the expense of metal beads. So I decided to try a bead embroidered cuff.

I have this huge scarab from my Egyptian expedition and lots of turquoise and red beads! I sketched a few motifs on the stiff stuff as a kind of guide.

I'm a painfully slow bead embroiderer though. Here's how far I've gotten.

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Try Handmade-- You'll Love It

Well-- of course you will! I tell people that all the time. You may too.

One of the awesome things about the Internet is that it allows ever more people access to handmade and also encourages them to give it a try.

This afternoon I was featured on a shopping blog called Try Handmade. A big thank you for the mentions and the mission!

I try to give handmade, figuring if people try it they'll be hooked! It's also pretty obvious to my friends that I like to get handmade.

Etsy has been an awesome place for me personally to get my hands on fabulous handmade bath and body products, makeup, paper products, bags and best of all, beads!

I read recently about a gal that starts conversations about handmade in grocery store lines! What about you? Are you a handmade convert? How do you get the word out? Where do you buy handmade?

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

A Midsummer Night's Dream, Voting Up!

The EBW Team has been beading fingers to the bone to prepare an incredible selection of lovelies for your viewing pleasure! Please take a moment to pick your favorite! http://etsy-beadweavers.blogspot.com/

It is a really tough call this time! Lots a blues, greens and greys. Lots of magic and imagination woven out of thousands of bitty glass beads!

Voting will go one for one week! Stay tuned!

Also don't miss your chance at some awesome SandFibers beadwork!
Click here and leave a comment to win!












Tuesday, July 8, 2008

SandFibers Treasury

The other day I did my first in the a series of Etsy Treasurys that I plan to devote to fellow EBW Team members.

This one goes out to Carol Dean Sharpe of SandFibers.

Carol Dean loves triangles, circles, glass beads, and fiber.
I searched sand on Etsy and one of Shayla Maddox's beach sand paintings came up. They're so cool! They glow in the dark! This one has circular and triangular motifs!

Impurevessel's Concrete Geo Vase and coweja's Round Floor Cloth also showed up in the sand search. So now I had a color scheme.

Searching through my favorites revealed some yarn by Larime Loom, some fabulous gold and death free silkworm cocoons and a hat. I knew Carol loves Dreamwoven's magic hats. I found one that had gold triangles and circles on it!

A search for triangles revealed a subtle and stunning hammered bracelet by jewelscurnow and a nifty sculpture by marthacowden.

I had to include one of Carol's own fabulous cuffs and her signature Copper and Turquoise was a perfect fit!

A glance at my own favorites offered an angular crow by AnnE and Sagacious Sea Creatures by Mary Lou of Time2Cre8. MaryLou is a friend of Carol's so that was serendipitous!

Amieplante's Waterlily Ring came straight from Carol's own favorites list.

You can see the Treasury larger for a few days by clicking here.

Monday, July 7, 2008

Welcome To Georgia

I live near Savannah, which is a *huge* tourist destination. But this isn't a touristy post. This is a take a walk with me post.

One thing I love about my home is that it's *always* green. Not that each tree is. Many of them die off in the winter, but the pines and the live oaks are green year round. I can get homesick for pines and oaks.


This is a magnolia in a wooded area. Lot's of wooded areas and forests to wander through.


Visitors love the spanish moss that hangs from everything. Eh-- I'm not wild about it. It's pretty, but it eventually grows all over the tree and the sunlight can't reach the leaves. Not so great for the tree. Crape Myrtles. They're pretty and smell nice. And I used to climb all over them. I'd hang upside down from them and
do back flips and somersaults out of them. My mom hated it! But they were only thing around that was small enough to climb.
Mimosa trees are pretty and grow in a nearby ditch.

Pill bugs or rolypolys. I used to play with these all the time. Sandlions, caterpillers . . .


inchworms, lizards, toads, frogs, snakes . . .

but not spiders. Well, I was playing with one when it bit me and then I stopped playing with them. Except for daddylonglegs.
And we have a fig tree. Yum!

Sunday, July 6, 2008

Focus On: Amber Middleton

Profile: Amber Middleton
Amber is a fellow member of the EBW Team on Etsy.com. She has a colorful retro style. This is her avatar on Etsy, the Marveen Bracelet.

Tell us about yourself. What makes you, you?
Maybe my friends and family should answer that! :) Well, let’s see… I live in New Orleans and have for about 11 years. I have been beading for about 15 years, and I guess I got really serious about it last year. I started getting into a few galleries and then opened my Etsy store. Now I spend most of my free time sitting at my work table, trying to keep up! I need to get more exercise! I’m a big ole nerd, I talk too much, and I am actually really easily distracted. I would much rather just read or watch a movie about half the time, or hang out with my friends, but I keep pushing myself to make this jewelry business happen. I want to give up constantly and just sit back and take it easy. But, I keep pushing myself, for whatever reason – determination or insanity? I just want to be my own boss. Period. I have never played well with others and the older I get, the less patience I have for punching someone else’s time clock.

Do you see yourself as an artist or craftsman or both?
Definitely both. I think of myself as a bead artist. I think that the artist part is what drives the creativity, but pushing yourself to develop your craft is essential to becoming the best artist you can be. I try to keep both the creativity alive and push myself to make the best product that I can.

What made you want to be an artist/craftsman?
I have always been a very creative person. I have had several experiences that have shaped my pursuit of art. The first was in the third grade when I won 3rd place in a drawing contest. After that, whenever anyone would ask me what I wanted to be when I grew up, the answer was always “I want to be an artist”. I really wanted to be a fashion designer when I was in high school, and I planned to go to art school, but that didn’t work out. We won’t rehash that can of worms, though. I just love making things with my hands. I HAVE to make things. I can’t stop.

Why beads?
I went to a pow wow near where I am from in Georgia when I was in college. I was mesmerized by the Native American beadwork there. After I graduated, I had the opportunity to move to Tucson, Arizona and I spent almost 3 years out there while in my mid 20’s. I really got into beadwork while living there. I love the idea of taking these little dots of color and building something from them. I always wanted to be a painter, but I don’t paint very well. Beads give me the opportunity to paint with little tiny dots of color – and they don’t turn all grey or brown on me like oil paint does! Also, beadwork is one of the oldest forms of personal adornment. I get so mad when I see people act like beadwork is second rate to metal work.

How do you see your style?
Very retro. I like bold colors, simple lines, and geometric patterns. I see myself working in that area for a while. I am very drawn to color and pattern. And I like big, bold jewelry designs. I am a very small person, so I like to wear big jewelry. I wear my own work pretty much all the time, so I basically design what I like to wear.

What's the most wonderful thing you've made? The oddest?
I really don’t know what I would consider the most wonderful thing that I’ve made. Any time someone likes my work enough to buy it, I think it’s wonderful! The oddest think I have ever made would probably be a Christmas tree ornament shaped like a New Orleans shotgun house which I donated to the Louisiana Animal Shelter’s annual auction about 10 years ago. It was pretty ugly, but it sold.

What inspires you?
Oh, so much!!! I am inspired by weird things. I never really take in everything I see as a whole. I think I take in bits and pieces of things and then I reconstruct them to look the way I want them to. I very much live in my own little design space. About a year ago, I discovered the quilts of Gee’s Bend. I have more designs inspired by those quilts than I will ever have time to make. I am also very inspired by the works of Gustav Klimt, Piet Mondrian, and Frederick Hammersley, I also really like retro fashion, textile designs, and advertising prints, and of course, other beaders. The EBW Team is a great inspiration to me. Whenever I am feeling like I just can’t work – the muse is not talking to me – I just go onto Etsy and look at the Team’s work, and I always get inspired.

What scares you?
Never being able to fulfill my dream of being a full time, self supportive artist.

Tell us about your creative process.
Hmm… I don’t know if I really have one. I do have several sketch books which I keep on me or at my work table all the time. I don’t use patterns for my bracelets, and only for a few of my pendants. I really just work from a sketch or sometimes just an idea in my head. I work in the hallway of the tiny apartment I share with my companion, Joseph. My work bench is an antique writing desk. It’s a small space. I have a huge CD changer right next to it with the largest, oldest speakers on the planet. I will put on music – I HAVE to have my music when I bead. I like Big Mama Thornton, The Carolina Chocolate Drops, Gillian Welch, Loretta Lynn. That’s what I listen to when I bead. I usually just get my sketchbook out, find a design I like, choose my color scheme and start beading. Of course, when Joseph wants to get a snack from the kitchen, I have to stop and let him go by, so I guess I work fairly sporadically most of the time!

How did you get on Etsy and where else do you sell?
I found out about Etsy from a guy at work. It took my about year to get up my nerve to open a shop. I have my beadwoven work at High Gloss in Houston, the Ogden Museum of Southern Art in New Orleans and at Thomas Mann Gallery I/O in New Orleans. I also have 2 other lines that I make from gemstones and vintage components which are carried by Tomato and Ragin’ Daisy - both of which are in New Orleans.

Describe your shop.
In bad need of a banner! When I first started selling on Etsy, I was told by several people I knew who had shops on Etsy, to put the emphasis on my lower end, gemstone and vintage pieces. They told me my woven pieces were too high end and probably would not appeal to Etsy shoppers. Since opening up my shop in April of this year, I have all but discontinued the other two lines. No one looked at them. The woven pieces get the hits and the hearts. That makes me more than happy, because those are the pieces that I truly love making. I think that shows in my shop. I hope that when people visit my shop they can see that I love what I do. I feel that I need to add more work, on a more regular basis. But I think you definitely see my style in each and every piece I have there.

Make a recommendation.
Work hard. Follow your dreams. Try new things. Treat yourself to some handwoven beadwork!!

Tell us the answer to a question that we didn't ask, but should have. If you can't think of anything, tell us something random.
Most people ask me about my name. I am named after my late mother. My family is from Georgia but she was born on Honolulu during WWII because my grandfather was in the navy and was stationed there. My grandmother loved the name Leilani. She named my mother Carol Leilani . When I was born my mother named me Amber Leilani. I have red hair and pale skin. I am not Hawaiian. And it’s my middle name, not my last name. It confuses even people who know me pretty well.