injeanieous...

Fixed rocks.

2009-07-26T21:40:00.008-05:00

I have picked up a reputation for fixing things... This is a necklace made circa 1935. It is big heavy polished/washed stone with gold beads and maybe a copper or gold colored set of findings. Here's the deal: this necklace is priceless to the woman that owns it and when she brought it to me in a plastic bag on the verge of tears - I had to fix it. It was strung on thread and made who knows where - but it was her mother's and honestly, I was very humbled she would give it to me to fix...

I started out doing Gossamer Floss. Its a stretchy cord that I thought would be of great use to the owner. No more clasp and unclasp, no more fishing behind the back. Nope. I strung the necklace on the "supposed to stretch to 700% it's natural state" and flung beads all over my bedroom. I was showing it to my husband on how the cord stretched and ka-wham - beads went a flyin'. Since the necklace is important - me, the husband and one kid searched high and low and recovered all the beads. Gossamer Floss is awesome stuff, but not for this necklace.

I started to restring in some cord I bought on a whim - wonderful stuff. It was a size 8 and white. I doubled it and knotted it three time to sit in the bead cups. I had never worked with bead cups before - and they are awesome if you have to use string!!

I got the necklace done in about an hour. Actually, 2 hours if you count my first attempt and bead pick up... ha ha. I returned the necklace to a very happy owner. She started to tear up and was so very happy with it.... so I'm happy with it, too.

Sucker Days #2

2009-05-30T13:28:00.006-05:00

I did a show two Saturdays ago and really had a good day of sales. The booth fee was $45 and I was making profit by 10:00. It was not good weather, the economy stinks and the show wasn't highly publicized. I still had a great day! The rain was really bad in the morning. We did our best before the show opened to keep everything dry. Silver does not like to be rained on. We had jimmy-rigged sheets and an umbrella to keep the rain from blowing in. I know it looks bad in the pictures, but when the sun came out, I had a very pretty booth.

There are unwritten rules to these shows. Its actually just common manners but most people don't think about anyone else. I got there and someone had parked their truck on my booth space. I called out for the owner and he was all indignant that he had to move. I was not quiet about all vehicles should be off the street after being unloaded and it was rude of him to block my site... That's the rules. I was a hag about correcting his behavior but he knew I was right.

I got put next to the Republican Committee Booth... thank you, GOD! I was near the Democrats one year and what a bunch of hateful, spiteful people. They scared away my business. The RCB had games for kids and literature on the upcoming elections. The Democrats just spewed hate and they did again this year.... I'd rather the politics stay out or get their own area - like next to the trash cans! If you want to play nice, you can be my neighbor.

One neighbor of mine had a rough morning. The organizers booked two of the same at-home-sales companies right next to each other. Wow. It was ugly there for a minute... One salesman was established and the other was new. I will say the new lady had an awesome booth and made great contacts with people, smiled, passed out samples. The other booth sat in their chairs all day and was just not approachable. I have learned that if you have a booth, you should not sit - always be up ready to meet the people. The new saleslady asked me if she should leave because of the tension. I told her she paid her booth fee and brought all her stuff - she should stay like everyone else. The organizers separated the two to about 50 feet apart so I say problem solved. The new lady stood her ground and she had a great day, too.

My son helped me all day. It is a lot of work to do a show by yourself. He got to eat hot wings for lunch - and he considered that payment for all his hard work!! Thanks, Brownie.

Booth fees

2009-03-14T10:22:00.005-05:00

Booth fees. What a gouging that is. I don't get it. Some shows are so "wonderful" that there little strip of concrete is worth $75. The same little strip of concrete somewhere is else is $25. hmmm. No show is different aside from advertising, age and planning. I don't understand how they get their booth fee at such a high price. My bracelets are about $5 each and earrings are $2 to $3 each....so I base the booth fee on how quick it would take me to get into a profit margin.

If you have a ton of applicants for a booth, the price might weed out the less serious vendors. BUT, it also weeds out little people like me who won't pay that much. I would have to sell 20 pieces before I got into a profit margin with a $75 dollar entry fee. And that doesn't count gas, etc getting ready for a show.

If you have a cheap entry fee, you might have too much junk come in - and boy, have I seen some junk! Anyone can make a tin-can wind chime and sell it - too many junk vendors at a show lowers the class and the style and then you have nothing but a well organized flea market or garage sale - better yet, rummage sale. But its the cheap shows that make it so nice for me. I can sell 5 to 7 pieces and be in a profit margin.

I have found that a show with the right organizers makes for a wonderful atmosphere. Apple Butter Makin' Days in Mt. Vernon, MO is the only show I can not afford: $120 and juried with another fee. My first show is Nixa Sucker Days, Nixa = $45. Then Truman Days in Lamar = $25. Why the difference? Nixa has less people - about 4,000 and Lamar easily cranks out about 10,000. I can't find the difference.

The end of the means: I will pay the stinkin' booth fee, but not over $50. I can't afford it. Couldn't afford it before the recession, can't afford it now. I don't go back to shows that are trashy or have a lot of junk... Its about to start up.... I have my first show application in there to fill out. I have to start really cranking out the bracelets for the shows so I should have more blogging stuff... booth fees and all.

Website

2009-02-17T21:28:00.002-06:00

I know I haven't blogged in a while... I have been making some stuff and building a website.

Its not as bad as I thought it would be - makin' that website. I put a stat check to see how many visitors I have to said website. I get 2 a day. 1 is me and the other I think is me, too... logging on to see if I had any visitors. A watched pot never boils, Jeanie... jeez!!

http://injeanieous.webs.com/

The kids have been really busy in school so my bead time has slacked somewhat. I found out tonight my first show will be in May at Sucker Days in Nixa. Nasty fish, but a great craft show!!

Thanks for stopping by. I'll blog more later!

Necklace saved

2009-01-27T21:59:00.010-06:00

This was another fix-it project that took like 5 minutes. This jewelry is sold all over the place - in clothing stores, mall jewelry stores, Walmart, you name it. It is all very pretty and I look at them and think I could make them - but not at the cost they are purchased for in the stores. Mass quantity from China says a lot about how it is made and its quality.

One good tug from a 2 year old girl and the wires stripped right out of the crimp bead and crimp cover. These necklaces tend to hold up very well to stress like that due to the machinery used to make them.

I actually almost had this project done when I decided to slow down and take some pictures. The crimp bead was still in tact so I was able to pry it open with a thick thumbnail. The wire was a bit uneven for some reason so I clipped it and got fresh edges that slid perfectly into a 2mm crimp bead.

I gave it a shot of hypo-cement which is most excellent to use - quick drying and non-toxic - oh yeah, its cement!!!

With a single crushing blow, I can break pliers so I applied even pressure and closed the crimp. A quick fold of the crimp bead and wahhh-lahhh... a favorite necklace is ready for some more 2-year-old abuse.

Spring & taxes

2009-01-24T08:23:00.003-06:00

Spring is rapidly approaching and I have began search for shows or displays that I can go to. I have started to inventory my collection of pastel colored beads and crystals and I am pretty sure I can make it through the season.

This was the first year I ever treated this craft like a business. Now understand, I don't want to own a small business and if not handled correctly, this craft could consume every moment of my being and that burns me out. Anyway, I made some business cards, got some software and balanced my books all year. I did some promoting and some handshaking and an extra show here and there and I look back at it now: I love doing this!!! It is so much fun and I'd like to make just enough to cover my expenses and have a little bit left over for more beads.

I had some large expenses, but still made an income of moderate size. I am not sure how my accountant is going to look at it all.

There is a book in my Shelfari on the side bar by Viki Lareau. I have read this book from cover to cover and have followed her advice. It has helped me flurish and grow and be savvy about making this all work. I highly recommend it to anyone that is looking to develop.

2nd hand is a good idea...

2009-01-10T21:54:00.004-06:00

I went yesterday looking for goodies in flea markets and second hand stores. I love those places - especially if they are kept in orderly chaos. I like having to lift up or move stuff to hunt for other treasures. It really makes me feel like I found something! I do not like places that have a funky odor or just stacks of junk that looks like it will crush a small child if it fell over...

I went in one store and the lady was very nice. She had a BUNCH of costume jewelry squirreled up in a display case. It was very cool to just pour over the display... but what caught my eye... was a large, empty silverware box. The wood was cherry, the velvet was red and the silk was white and I got an idea...

I have been trying to figure out how to display these large hole beads. Its been driving me crazy. This silverware box had slots or dividers that in afterthought, lined up through the middle supports and would be perfect for a small dowel rod or a very colorful chop stick that could hold the large hole beads. Each bead would be beautiful side up - supported by a hidden chop stick - to catch your eye. It is going to take some work to get that chopstick out and slip the bead off but I would be able to do it quick-like for a buyer.... Being made to hold silverware, the box could hide the silver saving strips and protect my beads.

Knowing that I am a big goob most of the time - I did not buy the box and had this epiphany after leaving the store. I am going Monday afternoon to finish the sale from the very sweet second hand market owner.... I'll post pictures when its ready.

Package arrived

2009-01-04T22:33:00.004-06:00

I got my first set of beads in from China this week. Pretty pretty!!! I have bought some more through eBay and so far, have not paid more than $1 a bead. I must say I am new to this eBay sniping (aka last second bidding war) in order to win. I have figured out to be aware of what night of the week it is to have an auction close - I seem to do better on certain nights with less competition. That's my only eBay secret and I'm not ready to give it up yet... he he. I love good customer service. I get a full time salary providing customer service, mostly to people who don't want my help. It's a tough business but... these companies in China have done an outstanding job with customer service. I can work through the English/Chinese translation: I send them money, they send me beads! I was rather shocked at the packaging it came in. I paid $.87 for these 5 beads and that $.87 was enough to pay for the beads and shipping from Hong Kong. THIS makes me wonder about our own postal service who charges 1/2 that to send just up the street... hmph.

Thank you to the wonderful ladies in China - I love my beads.

Expensive the cheap way

2008-12-28T19:15:00.007-06:00

I have always wanted a Pandora bracelet, but simply - that is WAY too expensive and not realistic for my budget. My sister in law showed me one her mom was wanting for $2345. There is no decimal in there - that is two thousand three hundred and forty five dollars. I have looked for beads and never was able to find any at a cheap price. Then I got on eBay. I almost matched the $2000 Pandora bracelet to beads through eBay for a total price: $100.

Me likey!!! ha ha ha ha. I like them so much...I have started to buy one for myself. I get the beads direct from China. I though the shipping and time would make it not worth it. Not so. I have found cheaper prices with free shipping than I can buy in the states. My beads may not have the word "Pandora" stamped in them, but they are still very pretty.

I have mostly bought from two sellers - both very nice, very helpful and so far, have delivered what they showed. If you search large hole beads or silver filled, there is a large selection.

Grinches!!!

2008-12-09T19:07:00.004-06:00

Someone stole my post. They changed a few words and posted it like it was theirs. Cheaters. This is the stuff that makes me mad. I have not blogged for awhile because I'm not sure just how much of my stuff they are stealing.

This is not the first time I have been stolen from. I made some bracelets one time and someone bought a bunch. Then, they took them and resold them at a 500% mark up at a neighboring craft market. They didn't ask to resell them - they just took them and did it. I have a wholesale price but they didn't even ask!!!! I know they paid me for them, so what is my loss? Its my stuff they are passing off as their own. Stuff I put effort and pride into. I believe in a good product and good stock. Good customer service, too. I know that is the beast of business - but I sell my stuff at almost cost because I like to make it and still be able to buy more supplies. I sold them the bracelets and answered all the questions they had - so they could answer them too when they resold the bracelets!!! oooooo. Cheaters! Why do people do that? Any ideas why?

Here is the link to the cheater/liar: http://jewegold.com/Silpada-Jewelry/Cleaning-Silpada-Jewelry/
Here is my post: http://injeanieous.blogspot.com/2008/07/dangly-earrings.html

I got a few: people are lazy, they can't create their own stuff and be happy with it, they are greedy, they cheat at everything else in their lives, they have no respect for self or others, they worship the dollar. I tell you this: if you would just put the effort into the blog or product that it took you to steal mine, you would probably do better and have a more creative product.

Fine. I forgive you. I feel bad for you that you have to cheat to get something. I know how to make you stop: copy rights. Nothing on my blog is for use without explicit consent of me: Jeanie. Stop stealing.

Desks

2008-11-28T21:30:00.003-06:00

I still haven't sold my desk. There it sets - in my living room - calling my name - asking me to do something with it. The poor thing... I'm not sure what to do with it other than use it to store stuff on for the moment. I have had great success with Craig's List, but not so much this time.

I have to clean my new desk up. It also has become a dumping ground. With the new year starting, I have to get my tax records ready for January so I have the feeling it is going to be hit like a tornado with in the next few weeks!

Hobby - not business!

2008-11-22T01:08:00.003-06:00

I came to a realization this afternoon. I have been somewhat stressed out by my bead desk. I have a ton of stuff to do and just no desire to go back there and do it. Why? What is making me avoid this desk? I have blogged about this before....rather dissociated from it....but now I'm taking it head on.

This is a hobby. HOBBY. Not a job. Not a 60-hour a week business. I can make a website, but then it is no longer a hobby. I like to make this stuff. I don't care if I sell it. I have been distracted by finding bazaars or shows or fairs that I can set up at and then trying to hammer out 200 pieces to show at said festivals and fairs. Why? Now a most relaxing hobby is stressful and filled with grumpy customers and special orders and hauling stuff and finding baby sitters and blah blah blah! It's a hobby - nothing more - and I am wore out trying to make it into a business....

I love to blog. I love to go to concerts. I love to go to bead shows and stores. I love surfing the web. I love my bead desk and all my little beauties in tackle boxes. I love the feel of that wire in my fingers and finishing something - thinking I made that! I got invited to a business expo - the girl that invited me owns 5 of my pieces. Thank you for buying and for inviting - but this is officially a hobby now. I will set up craft booths and I will sell stuff as I make it - but if I get stressed out from this - it is no longer fun and enjoyable to me.

I fully plan on making things. I have a new idea for the silver metal clay and it will be awesome once I teach myself how to work with that stuff... (it will be pendants and that is the only hint I will give you) I fully plan on blogging about how I screw stuff up and how I fix it. I'm so much more relaxed now that I have my focus on my hobby - not making it into a business. The money would be great - but the relaxation is so more valuable for me.

Saving Silver....

2008-11-15T21:22:00.011-06:00

Sometimes I hate silver. I have several containers of silver beads and they seem to tarnish. ooooo....hate that. Here is an example of the tarnishing...the clasps on a friend's pink bracelet....

I bought a pair of very expensive Silpada earrings. In the container was a small slip of paper that kept the silver pretty.... How many earrings would I have to buy to get enough small slips of paper to fill my silver trays? About 35. I'm trying to always find the bargain, but this would have cost about $600 and I did not see that many earrings I liked!! Silpada is very pretty, but out of my league.

I got to digging around in Firemountain Gems' website and found this handy little item: Shine-On anti-tarnish strips. Mmm. Wish I had found this a long time ago! Thank you to Silpada for some beautiful earrings and for showing me how to save my silver tray.

2008-11-11T20:54:00.000-06:00

I love cat-eye or fiberoptic beads. They are just so pretty to me. I have a whole tackle box full of all colors, sizes, shapes and these two are my most recent additions.

I am late in getting around the pink and brown fad. I just could not find anything pretty about it...until now. I got some brown beads because it is fall and people are always looking for earthy tones. Then I found this rich pink. This picture just doesn't get the full color scheme of these together.

The small in the background is for a 2 to 3 year old girl. The foreground is made for an age 6+. I used some silver round beads, a silver puffy star and silver lobster claw clasps. The smaller bracelet just has 3mm rounds in silver as spacers.

I am all about pink and brown now...

a free gift

2008-11-10T19:51:00.005-06:00

There is another crafter that I seem to always run into. We live in the same town - so what are the odds. ha! She called me and asked if I had any displays for my jewelry. I explained I'm still behind the curve on displays and she offered to GIVE me bracelet trees. These things sell for about $20 each. She gave me 5 of them.... I also was given 3 hanging stands that are collapsable and a large box of folding gift boxes.

I was speechless... and it takes a lot to shut me up. Every bit of it was and is something I could use. She did not need it anymore and was either going to throw it away or sell it on Craig's List - then she thought of me... What a nice person. I can not say thank you enough. She is a very experienced crafter and has always seemed to help me find shows or things like this.

I really hope that once I get this craft thing figured out - that I can return that to someone who might need it or even return it to her. What a great day....

temporary delays

2008-10-31T13:12:00.002-05:00

I have a desk FULL of beads and no interest in them whatsoever. How sad is that? I really need to be in there getting some stuff made for December - but I'm just not motivated. Am I burnt out? Do I have too many other things to do?

I love my computer and have really taken to surfing the web. I like Stumble Upon and reading other blogs. I feel like I have abandoned beading and replaced it with something seriously not as relaxing or as positve to my income.

Hopefully, now that I recognize I've slipped - I can get back in there and make some jewelry!

For Sale

2008-10-17T21:08:00.003-05:00

I'm selling my old desk. I love my new one and I am not really sure I want to let the old one go.

The desk belonged to a co-worker's mother. She did puzzles on it and when I bought it, she had left her marks to know the height and width of the puzzle. This desk is old - maybe made in 1939 and has some 'little brother' carvings on it. Most of the scratchings are not readable, but you can tell someone wanted to leave a message.

I am not sure how long she owned it, but I wish this desk could talk. I'm not sure what it would say about me - maybe that I cussed when the beads came off the wire or because my budget was blown half way through a bead order.

I hope the new owner enjoys it. I have it listed on Craig's List for $40.

Beads

2008-10-15T22:58:00.002-05:00

I get beads everywhere I find them. I really like buttons - so I try to find those at sales or auctions. They are wonderful in a jar for decoration.

I buy quite a bit from Fire Mountain. They have a program that gives discount pricing for the amount of product ordered. I usually just make it to the first level of discount, but this time, I went all out. I got the 50+ piece discount and it saved me $90. NINETY DOLLARS. That is a lot of stinkin' beads... no buttons. I am waiting anxiously for them to arrive. Had I not sought the discount, I would have only got about 15 pieces... so I definitely got a bargain.

I love getting new beads - just to look at them and get them put in their appropriate box or storage container. I have a silver box, pearl box, and millefiore box, plus several others. I haven't found a person that can give me a better method so I just keep filling up the tackle boxes my husband gets me for presents.

ka-pow

2008-10-12T21:58:00.003-05:00

There I was...just crimping away and POW...something small and black flew past my head.

Crimping is when you take a crimp bead - a hollow silver tube type bead that finishes a wire together - and use crimping pliers to make an indent in the tube, then fold the tube, holding two pieces of wire together or secure around a closure. I did not think I was crimping that hard. I want to make sure the crimp is solid....but this time, I broke my pliers.

I've had these pliers for over two years. They were the cheap pair at the local Walmart when I started this hobby. I had to glue the blue handle covers on once and the other just falls off and I slide it back on. I have adjusted to this quality.... You get what you pay for, right?

I'm thankful I wear glasses. I weld and I shoot and my glasses have always been my eye protection when either habit called for something more. I am planning on corrective eye surgery soon - but along with new pliers, I'm going to get some really geeky looking eye protection! That little black thing that flew past my head could have been a blinding injury.

Knowing to do what we need to do

2008-10-06T20:40:00.003-05:00

Does this economy scare anyone? Have we ever really stopped to consider just how bad the Depression really was? What happened when it crashed? 25% or more of the population was out of work. My grandmother used to tell me stories about men she called the hoe-boys. The hoe-boys were men who get off the train to work the fields in Kansas. She, as a child, would give them her food and her mother would cook for them so they would not steal or even worse, rape them while Grandpa was out working in the fields. She grew up in a very rough time - the daughter of a dirt farmer who never really got past the Depression. These men actually became what is known as hobo's... Now you know where that word came from.

She made everything she owned. Every dress, pair of pants. She made my children pajamas. That was a big deal at Christmas - to get new pajamas. She made quilts from flour sacks. You had to buy the same bags of flour to get the same material to make it all match - but they are beautiful, warm quilts regardless.

I fear we are coming into a time where people will not know how to make for themselves. Grow a garden or make their clothes. You and I know it is cheaper to buy material and stitch it together for a child's shirt or a dress. How about a pillow case? I love making jewelry, but I think my hobby should also include some sewing and gardening. God promised he would never let us be naked or hungry and I never have been those things unless I chose to be...and naked isn't really an option for me anymore because I'm getting older. I know we are all given abilities - we just need to hone them down to great skills before we are worrying about hoe-boys taking our food.

Pumpkin Days success

2008-10-05T14:18:00.005-05:00

I had an awesome craft show yesterday in Republic. I was not expecting one with the economy, gas, housing - you know the status quo, but it was an amazing day! Wonderful customers – beautiful weather even with a little bit of rain in the morning – great sales.

I decided to only bring what I need and nothing for those 'just in case' moments - like my entire desk drawer. You never know when you will need a stapler, right? I have yet to need a stapler at a craft show - so I have learned this time to bring very little.

I traveled to my show with one storage container containing: 4 sheets, a blue table cloth, and boxes to carry jewelry and for display, a very small box of stickers, pens, notebook, tape, duct tape, a bag with my beads and tools and then also carried lawn chair, 2 tables, a canopy, and a carpet. What worked out so wonderfully - I unloaded and sat up in 20 minutes and tore down in about 15 minutes. When your helper is your 11 year old son, it needs to be simple.

My booth still does not look finished. It is primitive and amateur, but I sold over 60 pieces. I'm not complaining about how it looked – I just want to make it look more professional. I have figured out the tables to make one taller and work behind it. I am still trying to get a good display method, but laying everything out on a table seems to work pretty good right now.

I am going to work on table coverings and set up a little bit more. So, the next craft show should have much better pictures.

Handmade pledge

2008-09-27T08:42:00.002-05:00

I found this site this morning. Great idea for beautiful gifts. Some of the comments made me think about what would help each other - our neighbors - and buying from someone who handmade it - not a corporation - will help all of us. The salesmen in this area still need to remember price control and quality and from what I have seen on Etsy.com, there is no problem....

Photograph everything.

2008-09-25T22:15:00.002-05:00

I'm in a pickle. I made some Breast Cancer awareness earrings a few months ago and sold them at Farkleberry's. The lady that bought them, lost them and now wants a new pair. Problem is....I don't remember what they looked like. oops. I have been through all my photos and ideas books and can't find anything that even has a glimmer of how I made them.

My lesson learned today: I will photograph all my stuff to have in case I need to ever make it again. I think I can get close, but close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.

Craft shows

2008-09-16T18:09:00.002-05:00

I did a craft booth at a fundraiser for the local high school band. What I learned: If it is raining or looking like it is going to rain, prepare to get wet or prepare to fold up and go home.

I sat up my booth with my mom helping me. We sold several pieces with a small crowd. I was very happy. Then it sprinkled, then it dribbled, then it poured. The event planners had goings-on inside a brand new high school, but made no arrangments for the vendors. So when the rain came, everyone went in to play Bingo, eat a slice of pizza and look at the new building. Meanwhile, me and 6 other vendors stood out in the pouring rain looking at each other. All our foot traffic went inside....

Ouch. It was about a $50 day - which for me is pretty good. It was a $20 entry fee for a $20 profit. You did the math - that is a $10 count off... I had to give $10 to my children to play games and buy drinks. We had a blast, I just wish it had not rained.

Beauty in all things

2008-08-14T16:37:00.005-05:00

Sometimes people ask me for things that I think, "that would be so ugly. Why do you want that?" I have to be careful to not say that out loud, but its just as bad to think it. I know different people like different things so I have started to just make the stuff for the people.

This is one project in particular that I thought would be just UGLY. I was thinking it was going to be loud and obnoxious and just look weird. I mixed all the beads and thought this is going to be a mess to get undone and started coming up with ideas for the beads to be used in. As the beads started jumping on the wire it was an awesome pattern coming together and the colors were blending and it just kept getting better and better... I told the lady that ordered this that if she did not like it, I would wear it...and I would wear it proudly.

This is my favorite lanyard so far...

A Proper Workspace!

2008-08-09T19:52:00.011-05:00

I bought this black antique desk from a co-worker. The desk belonged to her mother and it had a LOT of character. It was used for sewing, puzzles, bill paying, etc. I loved it because her mother loved it. It was her area to work and have sanctuary and peace while she made things for her family or just put her mind to work on a puzzle.

I took the desk and used it as my work space for beads. I started at the kitchen with a portable container of beads and tools. When I got this desk, I moved onto it and as my bead habit and sales grew, I outgrew this desk. Shocking. Just look at this mess..... It is all over the place. I barely had a place to put my feet. This desk as you see, quickly became a dumping ground of stuff. I had to clean it off almost weekly to get anything done or made. The floor was a staging area and a nightmare in trying to keep clean. Ugh.

Then, one night...one dark rainy night, while playing on http://www.craigslist.com/ it all came to me. A new desk was needed. Three clicks later, I found it. As soon as I saw this desk, I knew it had to be mine. The owner wanted $50 and I did not have $50. I told them if I had the money on pay day, I would pay them for the desk. They said, "sure whatever." Apparently, this Craig's List business is somewhat fickle because people say they want something and then never show up or never pay. Shocking, yet again, I know...

Today, thanks to a wonderful neighbor, I have assumed ownership of this new desk that also has a lot of character...and WAY MORE work space. It is about 30" deep and is an antique. It is a double writer. Essentially, there is a drawer on the back side of this desk as well. It has bookshelves on each side where one would usually see drawers. This desk is sweet.

Always have a workspace you like and that has plenty of room. My next upgrade will be my own beading room. That will take the sale of our current home and the purchase of another and I keep telling myself, one day that will happen. Wouldn't that be great to have a room to yourself to do your crafts, wrap your presents and have your friends over to craft and scrapbook and do stuff...together?????? Sounds good to me!

Only do 'craft fairs'

2008-07-27T01:09:00.002-05:00

My sweet Melly took all my bracelets and lanyards to her booth at the Duck Races. The Duck Races are about 9 years old and well known in this area. This year and maybe the last couple of years, the organizers have allowed craft booths. Problem is.... it's VERY hot out and people have come to see duck races, not shop crafts.

Melly makes coutour collars for dogs and the SWEETEST flip flops for girls. They are so stinkin' cute... People walked by her booth over and over and commented how 'cute' everything was or 'what a great idea' it was, but none dumped any money. War Eagle in Arkansas is a craft fair, Apple Butter Days in Mt. Vernon, MO = craft fair. Duck Races = is a duck race. People come to that to buy a rubber duck, play in the water and watch said rubber duck float down the river for a chance to win about $5,000 cash. They want cold snacks, good food and a rubber duck...none of which we had to offer.

We have several actual craft fairs lined up. I have 3 coming up...one a month starting in September and I am looking for one more in December. NEVER EVER pay for a booth or set to sell anything at any function that is not known as a 'craft fair.' I hope Melly is not discouraged - this was her first attempt at a booth. Her stuff is very awesome...I just hope the next one is a good sale day!

Dangly earrings

2008-07-15T22:54:00.006-05:00

These are some earrings I repaired. The pearls were put into a cleaner which ate them to an ugly color and the earrings were not wearable. The one on the right is before and the left would be the after....
I am pretty happy with the outcome. I used 20 or 22 gauge wire - I'm not sure because the wire is at my desk and I'm in the living room blogging. I also had some 4 mm freshwater pearls...but they looked really gaudy. I dropped down to the 3 mm and they looked symmetrical.

I don't know anything about cleaning silver other than it could destroy any stones or pearls that is also in the jewelry.

I have found a few cleaning cloths that seem to work well. Silpada Jewelry sends small pieces of treated paper with each one of their items to maintain the silver and that little piece of paper works most excellent in my jewelry box for all my items.

wire & pliers

2008-07-14T22:37:00.004-05:00

I do not wear earrings, but people ask for them. I make them - about 10 pair in a sitting at my bead table. The wire work has been something else to learn. The only thing I have to suggest is to get pliers that fit your hand and are well made. Not the most expensive, just well made. I bought a blue handled pair sort of cheap - like $7. They have held up pretty good but the handles are not long enough for my hands. I'm still on the search for the right tools.

I have found that many people are simply allergic to everything. My skin is very sensitive so I can totally relate. What I have found is to use wires with no nickel or plated metal. Use silver and nothing "silver toned." I have no book to cite or point you to other than the trial and error I have come across buying ear wires and nuts. The plated stuff makes me break out or leaves marks on my skin.

Nothing like putting on some earrings then having your lobes swell up and turn red. Nothing says "pretty" like infection....

Broken Jewelry

2008-07-11T19:40:00.002-05:00

Every now and then I get requests to fix broken jewelry. Somethings I can fix. Somethings just need to be tossed in the trash.

Recently, I have had 2 lanyards break. At the bottom where the ID hangs, the wire is snapping. Need bigger wire - note to self. I have been using French wire on some of the lanyards but the eye glass hooks really wear that wire down. French wire is some what of a pain to use because it is so delicate and I don't want to crush it. Then, I get it on the wire and crush it. Makes sense, right? It does if it works...

trying my first sales

2008-07-05T23:01:00.004-05:00

I started trying to sell my stuff on a few sites. So far, I like the Google Store feature the best. I can tell how many people have searched or clicked my stuff. I haven't sold anything yet, but its only been 2 days.

I also started a web page on Weebly. It is very easy to use and I have not had any trouble getting stuff done on it. It also has a counter to show how often people look at it. I thought I was doing really well - then I realized most of the clicks was me checking to see if it looked the way I wanted it to. Dork.

Anyway - today I got my first lead customer from my Weebly site. I was so excited - the person wanted 4 lanyards somewhat personalized. I replied, thanked her for looking, explained my deal on the lanyards. She replied again, giving me her website to look at for a webshow. Umm... ok so I look at the website and it's by a 12 year old girl that is essentially a punk with a computer. I complimented her site - saying, "Very cute site!" which it was - she and another girl were trying to do an iCarly spin. She replied back that she didn't have the money for the lanyards and "don't call my site 'cute."

I bet your mother is so proud....

and it begins...

2008-06-30T00:07:00.002-05:00

I don't get to blog on this as much as I would like. I started a family blog and that takes up most of my time. I do this one when I want to relax or share what I have found.

No one could ever teach me a craft. I am left handed and that really rules out crocheting and knitting which both my mother and grandmother do. Both my grandmothers were quilters - always piecing blocks or stitching. I love the looms and the batting spread all over their huge living rooms. I usually just played with my toys underneath the quilt looms with all the ladies feet around the sewing circle. Word to the wise - them sewing circles are chatty chatty...I learned alot on that floor.

Beading for me started in 2005. My sister-in-law gave my daughter a bracelet and talked about the lady that made it. She talked about how she put on an outfit and made the jewelry to match that morning. WOW. Sounds like my kinda craft - quick, not much room, pretty... I saved my money and went to the local Michael's store and bought a box of beads and a few tools. I also found the most helpful book and I read it cover to cover and am still reading it now and then. I highly recommend it. I will post my favorite books later.

I started out at the kitchen table, just playing with the beads and the pliers and the crimps. It took some time to get the habit, but once I got, I really got it. I made my first few bracelets that night. I gave many of them away and then one night at my son's baseball game, someone asked what my daughter was wearing. I got to say for the first time in my life, "I made that." It felt good. I felt productive. Then I got offered money for one just like it. The rest is history...

I've done a few craft shows and have exploded into more than just bracelets. I love how it relaxes me and how I look forward to going back to my desk and work with the beads. Oh yeah...you don't stay at the kitchen table - it will evolve on you so just be ready.

More later :)