Why is that pendant so expensive?

This is borrowed from a fellow lampworker who posted on facebook in response to a question so many of us are asked every day. While most of my customers are wonderful and appreciative of the time, talent and cost of doing business for an artisan, there will always be those that ask the question, or THINK the question. This question really applies to any artist creating handmade art. The bead pictured is not the one in question. Just 1 that I'm particularly fond of. :) "Why is that pendant so expensive?" Well, let's see. I made it using an $800 torch, and then annealed it, so it will last as close to forever as possible, in an $800 kiln. I've been doing this for ten years, so that's hundreds of hours of practice and I've taken classes that cost hundreds of dollars. The tools I use cost money, and so does the glass, the gas, the oxygen and the clean-up. The pendant is set with sterling silver, which has gone up 500% since I started doing this. At $40, I promise you that pendant is a BARGAIN.

Cabs or Buttons?

Can I just say...I love my customers! Especially when they contact me with custom orders. Sometimes the orders are for remakes of existing designs, but sometimes they prove to stretch my horizons. I was contacted by a customer who asked if I could make some small buttons for her. When she said she needed them to be 1/2" diameter, I had my doubts, but I hate to say no without trying. I had made other buttons like these, with glass shanks (sorry for the crappy pic), but the shank would've been too bulky for such tiny buttons. So I wound up making teeny tiny cabs freehand. I'll then glue on clear plastic shanks. Learn something new every day! :) These are the button/cabs awaiting their shanks. Which style do you prefer?

On Fire For Handmade Featured Artisan: T.Rusk4u

Are you On Fire for Handmade? http://onfireforhandmade.com

This week's Featured Artisan is Teresa Anderson Rusk - T.Rusk4u. Teresa has some beautiful creations

that are a perfect addition to anyone's wardrobe! You can find T.Rusk4u on:

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Art Jewelry Elements: Book Review and Giveaway

Check out Art Jewelry Elements' new book review and giveaway. Enter for a chance to win Irina's Inspirations for Jewelry

Art Jewelry Elements: Book Review and Giveaway-Irina's Inspirations for Jewelry

Featured Artisan Share the Love.. Blogger's Unite

Are you On Fire for Handmade?
http://onfireforhandmade.com

This weeks' Featured Artisan is Georgia Groves... georgiamarbles. A taste of the past with her delicious aprons and darling dolls! You can find georgiamarbles on:

Etsy

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Pretty Things: ~~~ Win a Set of Impress Art Letter Stamps!! ~~~

Pretty Things: ~~~ Win a Set of Impress Art Letter Stamps!! ~~~

What a wonderful, generous giveaway on Lori Anderson's blog! Makes me want to check out all the other yummy alphabet stamps!

As  if that's not enough, she's also giving away this awesome stamping hammer especially for metal stamping

Finding Charm Featured Artisan

This week's Featured Artisan - Finding Charm! Beautiful Creations at Budget Friendly prices!

You can find Finding Charm on"

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On Fire Featured Artisan - Chicadee Tree

 Jessica Cauthon - The Chickadee Tree is This Week's Featured Artisan for Share the Love, Blogger's Unite.

Unique Creations made by a lovely Artisan! 

You can find The Chickadee Tree on:

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Bead Soup Blog Party Reveal.....Finally!!

Some of you know already about the past week....no laptop for over a week and the passing of my BFF's dear mother, may she rest in peace. I won't go into it again except as a means of explanation for why I haven't posted my Bead Soup Blog Party creation until now. I finally got my laptop back, uploaded my pics from my external HD...thank G-D that worked cause I don't know where I'd be without my photos!

My Bead Soup Blog partner was Kristie Roeder of Artisan Clay. She sent not one, but three focals to play with. I only had time to use 1 so far, but definitely plan to use the others at some point in the future. For this piece, I used her clay donut for the focal and some of the amazonite rounds she sent. I made a couple of lampwork glass lentils to match as well as some glass discs for the other side. I decided to go with a copper clasp I had in my collection to pick up some of the coppery highlights in the drops that you see on the left of the pendant. Hope you like it! Please go check out Lori Anderson's blog and visit the numerous super talented folks involved in this.

Delay in Bead Soup Blog Posting

I've had some major computer issues this past week and now have my laptop in for repair. Sadly, all my photos are on that laptop. On top of it all, my BFF's mom passed away last night. :( Needless to say, I have to be there for her in the week(s) ahead. I feel so badly about disappointing everyone, especially my wonderful partner, Kristie Roeder, but hope to be able to put up a late post later in the week. I apologize to all the wonderful Bead Soup Blog Party participants, but this was all unforeseen & unavoidable. I can't wait for some quiet time to be able to visit all of you.

Enamel E-Course Giveaway!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Fn2xN9RK3i8

Barbara Lewis is having a giveaway on her blog of her Torch Fire Enameling eCourses! This is something I've never done before and would love to learn. If you would too, then click here to enter!

Bead Trends Cover!!

Welp, I don't have my copy yet, but I've heard from others that have already received the March 2012 issue. That's my piece on the cover!! I couldn't tell a soul until the release date, but am doing a happy dance now!!! I've been published before, but never a cover...until now.

I submitted the design to Northridge Publishing many months ago. When they told me they wanted it for the cover, you could've knocked me over with a stick! I was super excited but had to keep it quiet till now. Of course it will be more real once I have the actual magazine in hand and my necklace back. Can't wait. In the meantime, please check it out.

Bead Board With Folder by Creative Options

 

Look what came in the mail this week! This lovely new bead board from Creative Options! Let me begin by saying that it's got great visual appeal. The lovely padded cover incorporates all my favorite colors; purple, turquoise and green. There's a bit of orange too, but barely noticeable. The company name is even embroidered on in the lower right hand corner. Did I mention the visual appeal?? I couldn't wait to open it up to see what the inside looked like!

On the left it has green elastic stretch webbing material to hold all your tools. On the right is a bead design board where you can lay out your design. It has a plastic cover which will hold your beads in place too. The bead board is held in place by elastic in the 4 corners, but is removable so you can set it up wherever you like while working. Also, on the lower left is a small zippered pouch which will hold any other small miscellaneous items you might have, such as needles, beading thread, tubes of beads, etc. A sturdy velcro tab holds it all closed for traveling. They've thought of everything and at a very reasonable price! I found it on Amazon for $17.94. You can also check your local craft shops, Michaels, AC Moore, Hobby Lobby, etc. If they have it, you can use your weekly coupons for even more savings. I absolutely love mine & can't think of a single thing I would change about it! If you go to their website, you'll see lots of other craft organization products that they carry.

Right-Angle Weave Stitch Workshop

 

I've been a subscriber of Bead & Button magazine for over 10 years, loving all the beautiful projects. However, right angle weave is probably one of my most challenging stitches. So I was looking forward to reviewing this book and trying out some of the patterns. I flipped through the pages and earmarked just about all of them to try. Shock, I know! lol! This book is chock full of beautiful projects from the beginner to the more advanced. I decided to try the Crystal Ribbon pattern. This is a photo of the one in the book.

 

I made a few changes to it to make it more personal. Here's my version, without the longer ovals.

All in all, I find this book to be a wonderful compilation of RAW (right-angle weave) projects for those wanting to tackle all sorts of projects. The only down side is that I personally would've liked to see more 2-needle RAW projects. I prefer it over 1-needle, but that's just me.

Featured Artisan: Allurynn - Creations by Moonlight

This week's Featured Artisan is Allurynn - Creations by Moonlight! Beautiful creations by a very 

talented artisan! You can find Creations by Moonlight on:

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Bead Soup is Here!

 
Lookie what came in the mail today....a lovely package from my Bead Soup Blog partner, Kristie Roeder. She makes lovely pendants out of artisan clay, hence her shop name. Ready to see what she sent?

When I opened the gift box, I found this baggie with all sorts of fun wood beads mixed in with beautiful seafoam glass beads. At least I think they're glass, not quite sure. They might be Amazonite. So, what's behind the 3 bright pink wrappers?

She sent not 1, but THREE focals for me to choose from and a darling silver clasp. Now to think of something special to make with these lovely beads so I do them justice.

And here's a pic I took of the beads I sent her way. I feel OK about sharing since I know she's received them already. I'm sorry for the crappy pic. I took this at night before quickly packing them up to send them on their way to her. Hopefully she took a better picture than I did. I sent her a lampwork glass focal and 4 matching rounds (made,by me :-) ) a strand of beautiful purple freshwater pearl drops, some copper beads and a matching Tierra Cast copper toggle clasp, 1 of my favorites. This being my 1st Bead Soup Blog Party, I hope I did OK and she likes what I've sent her.

Sneak Peak!

I'm so proud of myself! Proud and lucky too that the weather cooperated this week. Had a few warm days so had time to torch & make some pretties for my Bead Soup Blog Party partner, Kristie Roeder or Artisan Clay. I took a photo of the beads yesterday. Wanna see??

What's wrong? Can't see the beads?? You didn't really think I was going to post the REAL photo before I send the beads on their way, now did you?? lol!

Bead Soup Blog Party!

YAY me! I finally remembered to apply to participate in the Bead Soup Blog Party this time around run by Lori Anderson. It's a fun event where artisans are assigned random partners. Each person then selects a focal bead, a special clasp & a collection of other fun beads to send, from which each person will then create a fun necklace, bracelet or anything else their creative minds can come up with.

My bead soup partner is Kristie of Artisan Clay on Etsy. She's a potter & creates such fun designs! I love her work & can't wait to see what she sends. And, no, the beads in the bowl are not what I'm sending. That remains a secret until they're out the door. :-)

Perfect Timing!

My day just got brighter! I took in the mail, only to find this wonderful lap blanket from Amy Dutsch of Mama's Little Monkeys. I completely forgot that I had won it. It's in beautiful blues & greens, that I just happen to LOVE & has a nice warm fleece backing in lime green. Perfect timing! Off to snuggle under it with a warm glass of tea!

Check out her wonderful handmade sewn designs at Mama's Little Monkeys, such as this cute little pin cushion in another fun color combo! Isn't handmade so much better than mass produced??

Thanks so much Amy! I will think of you whenever I use it.

Curiosity's Piqued Featured Artisan

This week's Featured Artisan is Lori Guenter - Curiosity's Piqued. Unique crocheted goodies!

You can find Curiosity's Piqued on:

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