Conversations about my favorite beads and lampwork bead makers, jewelry artists, indie and documentary films, gardening, food, Isaac Newton, Pinterest, and The Desire Map, all part of my continuing journey to become a better bead artist and super human being.
Showing posts with label making glass beads. Show all posts
Showing posts with label making glass beads. Show all posts
It's been a bit since I've had a blog entry. Part of my moving forward is a commitment to blog more often, but if it isn't a measurable goal is it really a commitment? That's teacher speak for "how often will you be posting?" I'd like to get to every day, but I don't know if that's reasonable. I think I'll see what my benchmark will be now that there is a commitment to being committed!
Speaking of being a teacher, I STILL have to finish my research in order to receive my MA. I had arranged with the school for January, but that didn't happen so I need to get into action about setting it up again with the school. So why haven't I done that? When I think about being a full time teacher, same class same students every day, I am disheartened. I like substitute teaching because it is a change of scenery every time. Thinking about teaching the same class day in and out is not something pleasant, and feels like stepping willingly into a rut from the gate. It doesn't fulfill my passion to be an advocate. Why am I not moving forward toward my passion? Why do I have so many passions?
Among my passions these days is making jewelry... well it's not REALLY a passion but I am enjoying it. I'd rather be making lampwork beads but feel I have so many of them I need to get rid of. I've decided not to make more beads until I get rid of what I have, so I'm taking the inventory and purposing it into jewelry, and TRYING to sell the jewelry.
I'm trying a new live auction format at TopHatter.com, but only very low ticket items seem to do well there ($20 or under). My jewelry is eclectic, unique, artistic, and priced around $100. Each piece is made with an artistic passion and creativity. Why am I so attached to my work? Why can't I let it go "cheap"? Why do I feel the need to restrict myself from my passion with these conditions?
As part of my efforts to sell jewelry I'm doing a lot of marketing study. I want to learn ore about tracking and growing my brand. I'm trying to expand my social engagement. I'm doing well with friends, but thinking about a business Face Book page.
I'm distracted by Pinterest a lot, and have had some great success with followers but no way to measure how successful it is. I've added a follow me on Pinterest button above on the right. Check out my visual bulletin board. If you need an invite, post a comment below and make sure I can contact you. But I feel guilty for having "fun" and feeling like I'm not doing the hard work, not having a career, not having a job, being a disappointment. Why do I feel so unsuccessful? Why do I judge myself so harshly? Why do I feel that to be right and do right I can't be happy doing "it", whatever that is? Why do I feel like everything I am doing is the wrong thing?
Part of my plan to become more physically fit and transform with Dr. Oz's Nation is to create a video blog. Well, I did several videos, and have not posted them because I feel they need to be edited. Because I haven't edited them, I haven't posted them. Because I feel I have failed in my commitment and accountability, I've stopped making them (but not thinking about making them). Why don't I just post them, unedited? Why don't I think it can be that easy? Why do I complicate things so? Why can't I ever "just do it"? Why am I afraid of such inconsequential risk?
I've signed up for a geocaching site. I've invited others to go with me, once, but have no takers. Why don't I just do it? Why am I afraid? Why don't I know that there is nothing to be afraid of, nothing I can't anticipate and plan for?
Why do I live in fear when I know that fear only makes me live as if what I fear has already happened? Why don't I take my own advice? Why didn't that relationship work out? Why don't I have a career? Why did my car die? Why can't I figure this out? Why can't I have the confidence in myself that others have in me? Why do I always want? Why Why Why!?
Wishy washy ... that's me, that's my mind. Take out the "why" and what do you get? Either "is" "as" or "Wish" "Wash" ... I wish to wash away the why which is not wishful thinking, to be is as I am!
Who's there? The Universe, that's who! I can't be the only person who's noticing a shift in things in their world. Some special friends had biopsies and the results will be coming back on the same day, though they live in different towns and do not know each other. And their friends are going through similar situations. There are a lot of mental health issues being dealt with by myself, my friends, friends of friends, both near and far. There's a tendency for me to be self-destructive (translate party girl), but I get over it fast and get on with the business of being there for others. That is something the Universe seems to be saying LOUD...I am a greater support for others and less in need than I think...I must have faith in the Universe, for time and time again it proves itself to be there for me.
"It's time to step out on faith, I gotta show my face, it's been elusive for so long...look what I have found...strength, courage, and wisdom, it's been inside of me all along..."
I can't believe it has only been a week since my last post...No, it has to be longer than that! See, I told you I can't believe it (LOL)! I think I will just spit out all the grain I've been storing in my cheek without care of the order in which I give it (boy, grammatically that was from another time...been writing like that a lot lately!)
Sales, sales, sales. Is it the season? Is it the economy? Is it both? I've been noticing a lot of great sales and here are a few I've held onto to share with you.
"Save 15% on all chain and stringing material during the String-a-Palooza! This is a great time to get basic elements for your designs. Everything from jewelry wire and silk cord to sterling silver and base metal chain is on sale. Enter ZZ-PALOOZA15 at checkout to save before this sale ends on Wednesday, April 20, 2011." at Artbeads
Wednesday, April 13, thru Sunday, April 17, 2011: Don't get strung out choosing the right jewelry cord — stock up now on quality stringing supplies at great sale prices! Get 10-20% off volume pricing for WireLace®, velvet ribbon, Rattail™ satin-like cord, SoftFlex® beading wire and SoftTouch™ stringing cable. 5 days only! at Rings & Things
At Heartsy you get "Daily deals on fabulous hand made items", at least 50% off from selected ETSY artists in all categories. I hope I'll be chosen some day.
And of course for my blog subscribers, at Mona Rae Beads when you make a purchase over $20, you get 15% off when you comment "subscribe15"! Did you see the rosary I made? It is a jewelry piece but includes all the parts of a 5 decade rosary. Perfect for spring!
I received an order for 6 beads that will be used as buttons on a hand crocheted coat. I can't wait to see what Sharon at Chubby Cheek Sweaters does with these!
Julie Smith, one of my loyal fans, just purchased these from me. I hope she sends me pics of what she makes with them! If you send me pics of your creations with my beads I will give you an immediate refund and shout out in my blog!
Well, I've said a lot today, yet there's so much more I can share with you! I have new listings and price reductions in my shop, so I thank you in advance for looking at them. In the meantime, I want to share a charming story about being tenacious, making others happy, and this bead that I sold to Deborah (The Jeweled Bird). It will bring you back full circle, as the Universe always does!
2/28 MONA: When I was packing your bead to mail today, I noticed the small surface encasing crack had turned into many cracks. I must have grabbed an incompatible rod of clear. I can make you a new one or refund your money.
DEB: I really REALLY fell in love with that one!
MONA: I love this bead too, and it was fun to make, and it was so vibrant and my first successful attempt at baleen pleats.
MONA: I made another one yesterday and used a fresh rod of the clear. The same thing happened with the encasement, but this time it cracked in a way that told me it was incompatible with the gold metal in the pink...So, I just made another one, this time with a less expensive (no silver metal in it) clear, which unfortunately is not as crystal. It is in the kiln now... If you don't like it then I'll try it without the clear encasing. I guess another option would be to either use another color other than pink...As long as power stays on, I'll be trying again tomorrow
DEB: No problem, thank you!
MONA: I did try another. I used a light gray clear and the rubino I used didn't turn out as pink. It is a deep rich purple...Still want to try again for another
DEB: No problem, thank you, thank you!
MONA: I had a couple ideas, one of which I am sure will work. I'm going to re'anneal the two I made that cracked to see if they can be "healed". The other idea I had is... lightly encase the bead with 104 moretti clear frit then encase with the Aether it will keep the two metals (Aether silver & Rubino gold) from "stressing eachother out."
DEB: First thanks for the update, second, I truly thank you for the tenacity that you have shown for this one focal...
If you decide that 'enough is enough, I will understand, as you have devoted so much time to ME and this one bead.
MONA: I appreciate your patience and the opportunity to work it out so it can't happen again. I hope we are successful so that you can have the beautiful bead you want and I'll have a solution to share with others.
DEB: Well, I will remain optimistic, then:):):)...it is so hard when you really fall for a bead...and you have been so kind to try to make it work... i will keep my fingers crossed!
MONA: The last option might be to take the bead as it is. The cracks do not go all the way through, so the bead would not break. However, how you use the bead will make a difference in what will happen (will the cracks get bigger, will the clear encasing break off?)...
MONA: Well, they came out of the kiln and looked healed with the exception of one tiny crack, but as soon as I dropped them into the water to soak (and I dropped them on purpose) the encasement on "the one" cracked. I also made a test bead using the clear frit encasement and it also had two long cracks in it. However, I found one rod of diamond clear (which is not double helix) and I will try that this weekend.
DEB: Dear Mona, your efforts are so , SO appreciated...I think, perhaps, you love this pretty bead as much as I do.
MONA: Yes, I really do like this one as much as you do. I'm very frustrated that I haven't been able to duplicate it, which makes it even more special! I'm disappointed in the performance of the diamond clear. If you want it cracked, you can have it cracked. If you don't want it cracked, then I'll wear it! Other options at this point are to make it without clear or make it without rubino. Do you want me to try that?
DEB: Hello Mona....Oh you poor dear...you have tried harder than anyone I know! I will PROUDLY wear the cracked bead...as a testament to your perseverance and as a beautiful object with a mind of it's own. I cannot explain WHY it is so special..it just is! I give you my grateful thanks for trying to repair this beauty...or remake her. I thanks you so much...
I look forward to wearing the 'special' bead, and I look forward to telling it's impressive story...about a glass woman who tried so hard hard to make me happy (and did:):):) (4/13)
