BeadCrazed

Christmas is less than 2 weeks away!

2011-12-12T23:38:00.000-08:00

Bo.ttega... a fabulous Christmas Market! Music and Art in a beautiful venue!

I won't be attending any more shows this holiday season, but I will continue to sell my beads and jewellery from my online store on Etsy ....right up until Christmas!

If you live in the Kelowna area (and anywhere from Osoyoos to Vernon) I can probably arrange for delivery in time for Christmas for all purchases made on or before December 22nd.

I am now heading out to finish up my Christmas shopping, baking and decorating.

Happy Holidays!

Lisa

Counting the days until Christmas

2011-11-28T19:50:00.000-08:00

In a few days we'll all turn to the last page of our 2011 calendars. We'll count down the days of December, until Christmas arrives.... and it will, whether we're ready or not!

For me, the lead up to Christmas includes seemingly endless hours of shopping, baking, decorating and listening to my favorite Christmas tunes. It also means beadmaking into the wee hours of the morning, art shows and craft fairs! Recently I attended the 32nd Okanagan Artisans Guild Show and Sale in Vernon, BC. It was an impressive show; the talent of all present was truly amazing!

Following the show, I am thrilled to be a featured artist in Handmade Jewelry News, a fabulous site that "explores the unique world of one of a kind handmade jewelry". Check it out!

Happy Holidays!

Lisa

Summer at The Farmers' Market

2010-08-17T18:03:00.000-07:00

Ahhh....Summer. Days at the beach, backyard barbeques and late night star gazing. Most Saturday mornings during July and August, I can be found at the Kelowna Farmers' and Crafters Market (8am-1:00pm).

I have had a chance to meet some of my online customers in person at the market, and that has been really great! There is lots of farm fresh produce and a collection of talented artisans and crafters selling some amazing stuff. If you have a Farmers' Market near you, I suggest you check it out! Here is a peek at my booth.

Made in Canada

2010-03-28T20:19:00.000-07:00

I am thrilled to see my Minnie Me handmade lampwork glass and crystal earrings featured in a treasury celebrating Canadian Etsy shops. Created by Sarah and Rachelle of Hands on Keepsakes of Kelowna, BC, both are Moms of two, who know how quickly our children grow up. I sure know this to be true... my oldest of four is now 21! This led Sarah and Rachelle to a career which allows them to stay home, they make silver and bronze pieces that capture the priceless memories of babies, children, teenagers and adults.

I recommend you visit Hands on Keepsakes etsy shop or their website and take a peek at their designs that are sure to be treasured by their customers for a lifetime. This is my favorite!

It's Spring!

2010-03-28T10:20:00.000-07:00

Finally spring has arrived and the bees are back! I am looking forward to getting outside more, and spending some time in the garden. I just did my first show of the season, called Fabulous Finds. It took place at Summerhill Winery in Kelowna, a fabulous venue with a panoramic view of Okanagan Lake! The show was a huge success and was very well attended.

Here's a peek at my table...

Oh No Snow!

2010-02-24T10:14:00.000-08:00

I woke up to snow... and yes it does snow in February here in Canada..... but please! My tulips are showing already! The past few weeks have been so unseasonably warm, and I have been looking forward to Spring with great anticipation.

So I leave you with this:
Snow White Handmade Lampwork and Sterling Bracelet
as I head out to the Studio to make some Spring inspired beads!

Good Intentions

2010-02-20T08:02:00.000-08:00

We've heard it said... "The road to... somewhere? is paved with good intentions." Making the leap to online selling a year ago, from selling to friends and family, I had good intentions and no expectations. I jumped in with both feet and launched myself into the world of e-commerce. I have found it challenging to say the least, to keep up with family commitments and a full time job, and to find the time for my creative expression through art. I've had good intentions to keep my blog up to date.... no excuses, it just didn't happen.

With Spring on the horizon, I look ahead to the next year. I feel energized, and have so many new ideas for beads and jewelry. So stay tuned to see what comes next!

Tuesday Tip Jar: It's a Wrap

2009-10-27T17:21:00.000-07:00

When selling your handmade products online, take the time to ensure they are packaged nicely, and shipped with care. Great customer service like this gives your buyers another reason to shop with you again. Whether it's the least expensive item in your shop or your priciest piece, small details can make a big difference and set you apart from your competition. Let your customers know that you take great pride in your work, and in turn they will have confidence that you are a professional business owner.

You don't have to go to great expense, you just have to be creative. Make your own packaging by hand and save money, and add to the handmade feel of your product. Recycled paper of all sorts, and clean like-new used boxes can be painted and stamped, just as an example. Let your customers know if you use recycled packaging, most will appreciate that too.

Another option is to buy new packaging materials at dollar and discount stores and from craft store clearance bins. I recently picked up some cute Chinese take-out boxes at my local Michael's store.

Make it personal and connect with your customer. Include a small note of thanks, perhaps a business card and maybe a coupon for a discount on a future purchase. Ideally, your customers will come back time and time again, knowing to expect the very best.

Tuesday Tip Jar: Esty Helper Sites

2009-10-21T21:16:00.000-07:00

Tuesday tips on Wednesday, better late than never! I've been so busy at work these last few weeks I have't been blogging much. Tonight I came across this great list of Etsy "Helper" sites compiled by Patti of GetGlassy, from the Creative Glass Guild of Etsy. Definitely worth checking out these sites if you're an Esty seller, so thought I'd share!

Heartomatic
Etsy Fee Calculator
Etsy Poster Sketch
Etsy Treasury West
Craftopolis - Etsy Treasury Clock and Treasure Hunt
Statsy - check your views
Craftweasel - shop stats and tag finder
EtsyHacks - need to install greesemonkey but lots of helpful tools for Etsy
Cr8tivity - nice sideways scroll sidebar ad for your Esty store, plus stats and hearts
Flickr - a group that captures Etsy's front pages
EasyEtsy - a list of other Etsy tool sites and more

Creative Glass Guild of Etsy (CGGE)

2009-10-20T18:04:00.000-07:00

About CGGE
We are a non-juried glass group on Etsy, that is open to everyone who uses glass as their medium. We are a team with diverse backgrounds and wide-ranging levels of success & experience. We aim to welcome everybody who works with glass!

Our GOALS are:
•To foster an open, creative and supportive environment for all glass artists
•To learn and share glass techniques from each other
•To share information and knowledge gained from outside the group and contribute to the Etsy community
•To promote CGGE members' shops and glass-related activities
•To promote ETSY as a site for handmade items at our craft fairs and shows that we attend
•To have fun

Find us on Etsy by seaching "cgge"

Follow our Blog

Sign up for the Creative Glass Guild of Etsy official mailing list. You will be eligible for our monthly FREE glass prize drawings. At the end of the month we will randomly choose a winner from our mailing list!

Make 'n' Tell Challenge Day 23:

2009-09-23T16:02:00.000-07:00

Another set of handmade orange and red lampwork glass beads, these remind me of rose hips!

Tuesday Tip Jar # 3: Easy Editing for Great Photos

2009-09-22T21:34:00.000-07:00

There are many free photo editing programs available for download on the net, I like the simplicity of Picasa by Google. You don't have to purchase expensive software to get great photos.

Start by getting up close and personal. Although it's great to have at least one photo showing your subject in it's entirety, if you're selling online, your potential buyer will want to see details!

Here is my original photo of one simple bead.

And here is my original photo after I cropped it

And here is my final, sharpened copped photo, with added shadows and fill light. Not significantly different from the second photo, but enough to make it "just right".

Play around with it and have fun, you'll see how easy it is to have professional looking photos in no time!

Make 'n' Tell Challenge Day 22: Pandora Beads

2009-09-22T20:47:00.000-07:00

Three handmade lampwork big hole glass beads, they fit all European style add-a-bead charm bracelets and necklaces such as Pandora, Trollbead, Biagi and Chamilia. Designed to go over leather cord, ribbon or chain also.

Make 'n' Tell Challenge Day 21: Tiger's Eye Necklace

2009-09-21T20:11:00.000-07:00

Warm browns and cool blues, one of my favorite colour combinations.

Make 'n' Tell Challenge Day 20: Fall Leaves

2009-09-20T20:02:00.000-07:00

Handmade glass leaves, something I'm playing around with!

Make 'n' Tell Challenge Day 19: Fun With Beads and Wine

2009-09-19T21:09:00.000-07:00

Two of my favorite things come together for a Saturday night Make 'n' Tell. Beads and wine!

Crazy neon berry beads and metal tags with fun words and phrases, set of six wine glass charms!

Make 'n' Tell Challenge Day 18: Spooktacular Wine Stopper

2009-09-18T20:54:00.000-07:00

A functional work of art!

Will you be serving wine at your Halloween party? Why not cork it with this chrome plated wine stopper featuring my handmade glass beads! Flexible rubber rings in the center give a snug fit on your bottle.

Make 'n' Tell Challenge Day 17: Get Wired

2009-09-17T19:48:00.000-07:00

As I sit down to write today's post I realize that I've been making a lot of bracelets this week! I don't know if it's still a "no no" to wear white after Labour Day, but it still feels like summer to me, and I'm not ready to give it up. Besides, selling online it's always summer somewhere....right?

Taking a break from making beads and practicing my wire wrapping skills, today's Make 'n' Tell is a creamy white mother of pearl bracelet, wire wrapped and linked with sterling silver hammered circles. Finished with a heart shaped toggle clasp!

Make 'n' Tell Challenge Day 16: The Colour Purple

2009-09-16T20:44:00.000-07:00

Love'n the colour purple! I used my handmade lampwork glass beads and oxidized sterling silver in this Make 'n' Tell bracelet. I used ivory glass and fine silver foil to create the organic look of the larger focal beads.

Tuesday Tip Jar #2 Taking Great Photos

2009-09-15T22:26:00.000-07:00

Can't touch it, feel it, smell it. Share your love of what you do with eye-catching, well edited photos. Whether selling online, posting to a blog or an online photo sharing site, great photos speak volumes.

You don't need an expensive camera to take great photos. I use an older model Pentax Optio M10 6.0 megapixel "point and shoot". What you do need, is a macro setting. While you can use a digital camera at the standard settings, you can often see much more detail by using the macro setting on the camera. A macro setting changes the focus of the camera so it can focus on very close objects. The macro setting is for photographing objects within a few inches away.

You don't need an expensive, elaborate photo studio to take great photos. My best photos are taken outdoors, in natural light, on a cloudy day with no flash. This isn't always feasible, so an alternative is an inexpensive do-it-yourself set up such as this Macro Studio posted on Strobist.blogspot.com

Take many shots from several different angles, keep the background simple and uncluttered. I recommend purchasing a table top tripod, you'll get better focus and clearer images. I usually take 15-20 photos to get 1 or 2 I'm really happy with.

Next Tuesday I'll share my tips for photo editing, to make these great photos even better!

Make 'n' Tell Challenge Day 15: Charmed I'm Sure

2009-09-15T21:16:00.000-07:00

Before I started making my own glass beads, I collected beads with a frenzy! Stone beads, glass beads, wooden and clay beads, crystals, shell beads.... you get the idea. One of the things on my "to do" list, is to start destashing these bits and pieces.

Today's Make 'n' Tell is a delicate, delightfully feminine charm bracelet made up with some of my bits and pieces, of chain and silver, freshwater coin pearls, cherry quartz and Swarovski crystals.

Take a look at what the rest of the Make 'n' Tell Challenge group has been up to:

A Frayed Knot Knits
Laura is away on a holiday, I'm sooo jealous... lucky you! She has taken her knitting along and promises to have a really big post when she gets back.

Brainphreak
Sarah dreamed up and made a delicious looking dinner of Stuffed Winter Squash with Spanish Rice. Looks a lot better than the leftovers we had tonight :)

Design by Cassandra
Cassandra's Etsy purchase from Agnes of artfaerie.etsy.com arrived, she made a bunch of stuff using the beads from Agnes' package, and mixed in a couple of her own. You have to take a look... Cassandra is incredibly creative!

Designs by Victoria
Victoria has made a bracelet of black glass hearts with a blue/green glaze on one side, strung with sterling silver wire and chain and a toggle clasp. Very pretty!

Life Stiles
Struggling with her crocheting and looking for any tips. Sorry I can't help you out with that!

Mrs Gryphon
Tackled some of her mending pile that was taking over the sewing table...now that's definitely a challenge for me!

The Tote Trove
Tracy's Fruit Shower Tote is looking great! But should we be worried about how many Reeces Pieces she has to eat to complete her ongoing candy couture project? Sounds like a chocolate 911!!

Make 'n' Tell Challenge Day 14: Aubergine and Raku

2009-09-14T22:06:00.000-07:00

Our weather's been fantastic! And I have to admit, I've been feeling a little bit guilty about spending so much time on the computer... and not enough time outdoors! So today's Make 'n' Tell Challenge is short and sweet. I made the beads on the weekend and put the bracelet together tonight. The base colour of the beads reminds me of eggplant, and I think the raku surface decoration gives the beads an organic look. I used wood jasper stone beads and a couple of faceted amethyst rondelles. I wire wrapped the beads together with 22 gauge sterling silver wire and made a hand forged clasp. I like the way it turned out.

Make 'n' Tell Challenge Day 13: What's In a Name

2009-09-13T21:23:00.000-07:00

Shakespeare’s Juliet says to her Romeo, “What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Yet calling this set made with my lampwork beads from Day 9, "Necklace and Earrings Made With Copper and Glass", just doesn't cut it.

Danielle Fox, editor of Stringing, author of Simply Modern Jewelry, and co-author of Mixed Metals, gives tips on naming your jewelry projects at Beading Daily But even after reading this great article, I still can't decide what to name this set. Any suggestions? I'd love to hear your ideas!

Make 'n' Tell Challenge Day 12: Dirty Martini Earrings

2009-09-12T21:05:00.000-07:00

Day 12 of the Make 'n' Tell Challenge finds me in the studio early in the morning. The weather's too nice today to spend all day indoors! A simple offering....I've called them Dirty Martini earrings, named after the colour of CiM glass that they were made with. I love the floral detailing on the sterling silver ear wires!

Make 'n' Tell Challenge Day 11: Flower Power

2009-09-11T20:54:00.000-07:00

Day 11 of the Make 'n' Tell Challenge, still not sure what I'm going to do with my beads and copper yet. Today I've made a pair of earrings with my own handmade lampwork glass beads that are fun and funky.... retro florals in chocolate brown, and aqua blue, with orange and lime green highlights!

Make 'n' Tell Challenge Day 10: Cranberries

2009-09-10T17:20:00.000-07:00

For my next challenge, I decided to make some beads with my most challenging glass colour....the colour red. I don't make many red beads. I don't wear much red, but I do love red shoes and red lipstick! In the world of glass, red is one of the more difficult colours to work with. It is hard to see when layering with other colours in a hot flame as it appears black when cooling from molten orange back to solid. And it "burns" easily, that is, the red colour darkens with prolonged heating and can look dirty. I'm happy with how this set turned out, they're simple but remind me of cranberries! Now I have to decide what to do with them!

Make 'n' Tell Challenge Day 9: Copper and Glass

2009-09-09T22:07:00.000-07:00

Last fall I purchased some amazing copper findings (among other things) at the Fraser Valley Bead Show, in Langley, British Columbia. Despite good intentions, I haven't used them yet. From time to time I take them out... to admire, but quickly put them away. Incorporating copper into one of my designs has proven to be challenging.... I tend to gravitate towards all things silver!

So I thought, GREAT! for my first project I'll finally use those copper findings!

I have made 2 sets of lampwork glass beads, using light apple green and cosmic storm glass, and multicolour crushed glass (frit).

Today I picked out some coordinating Swarovski crystals and seed beads to use in my design. Let the fun begin!

Tuesday Tip Jar #1

2009-09-08T21:18:00.000-07:00

Stretch your creativity and stay motivated.

One way to do this is by getting involved in a challenge. There are many out there, formal and informal, organized by teams and groups, or by individuals on their blogs. You just have to look to find one that’s right for you. I came across the 30 Days Hath September Make 'n’ Tell Challenge initiated by Laura Yona of A Frayed Knot Knits. Laura invites anyone to join in, at anytime during the month of September. I am joining in today on Day 8 of the challenge. It’s essentially Show and Tell with a creative twist, if you like to blog, I invite you to join this challenge with me!

Complete rules are posted on the A Frayed Knot Knits website

Summary of the rules

1. The Make can be in any medium
2. The Tell must include at least one photo
3. The Tell must occur on the same day as the Make
4. The Make may be derivative but may not be wholly unoriginal
5. There should be a Make'n'Tell every day of the month
6. The Make should be either a complete work OR consist of at least 30 minutes of work on an ongoing project
7. The Make can be similar to a previously completed project
8. 30 Days Hath September Make'n'Tell will last for the 30 days of September

Bead of The Day

2009-09-06T07:18:00.000-07:00

I love the way this lampwork focal bead turned out, it just came out of the kiln. I think it will look good on a silver bail on a simple black leather cord necklace. What do you think?

Do You Have What it Takes?

2009-09-04T10:04:00.000-07:00

WARNING! Selling online is not for the light of heart!

I've learned so much from other artists much like myself, and am so thankful for their generosity of shared knowledge. Having knowledge allows us to move forward with great speed.

Launching BeadCrazed on Etsy in March 2009 and my second shop on ArtFire more recently, I've journeyed into the world of online selling and marketing. I've discovered that possessing the skill and artistry necessary to create your craft is only the beginning!

1. First and foremost, you are an Artist. Love what you do, and do it for that reason. If you decide to take the next step and sell online, be sure what you're selling is something people will buy. If it is, you're on your way!
2. You are a Photographer. Can't touch it, feel it, smell it. Share your love of what you do with eye-catching, well edited photos.
3. You are a Creative Writer. Clear, concise, and accurate descriptions are required.
4. You are a Marketer. How else do you spread the word, and share what you do!
5. You are a Public Relations expert. Communicate with your customers and potential buyers in a friendly, efficient manner.

and

6. Hopefully, you'll spend a lot of time in the mail room. Presentation is important, and packaging and addressing for safe arrival is necessary.

You'll find me on Facebook, here on Blogger and on Twitter . Networking with other sellers, reaching out to potential new customers and sharing my love of what I do and all things handmade.

Look for my new Tuesday blog feature "Tuesday's Tip" where I'll share what I learn along the way. Let's not re-invent the wheel!

BeadCrazed Now on ARTFIRE!

2009-08-05T18:57:00.001-07:00

I recently joined ArtFire and set up shop! You can now visit me in 2 locations, I'm still on Etsy too.

Looking to meet new friends and network with other sellers, I joined two groups (called Guilds on ArtFire). I am now a member of the CANADIAN ARTISANS & DESIGNERS GUILD and the ARTFIRE GLASS GUILD. I just had to share some of my favorite picks from each group.

CANADIAN ARTISANS & DESIGNERS GUILD

ARTFIRE GLASS GUILD

Local Talent...Artisans of the Okanagan

2009-06-03T18:15:00.001-07:00

Shop local in Kelowna BC with Etsy.com!
This is a newly formed group of people who are Etsy sellers that want to promote each other locally. Our first in person meeting was on Monday May 25th at the Bean Scene coffee shop in Kelowna. We had a wonderful turn out, lots of great ideas were shared. It's great to meet new friends with common interests!

Celebrating The Pearl

2009-05-31T17:23:00.000-07:00

This month we celebrate June's birthstone, the pearl. Pearls have been the world's favourite ocean jewel since they were hunted by divers in the 19th century. I'm thrilled that my necklace Urban Princess is featured today in the Etsy Gift Guide Hot List - Pearls in June! I love the look and iridescent lustre of pearls, I love creating jewelry with pearls. If you’re celebrating a June birthday, looking for a gift, or just looking for something special you might want to check out the Hot List, you'll find some amazing pearl creations made by some very talented Etsy artists and designers!

http://www.etsy.com/gift-guides/157?page=2

About Lampwork Beads

2009-05-06T19:44:00.000-07:00

For centuries glassmaking techniques were a carefully guarded secret. Fathers passed the craft of glassmaking to their sons, but rarely to anyone else. Before propane and oxygen torches, beads were made over small wick type lamps. That's where the term "lampwork" originated. The secretiveness of the past has given way to open sharing of ideas and new techniques. Traditional themes and styles have given way to unique new forms of expression and limitless experimentation. Lampworking is a skill that takes a great deal of practice and patience, the beads are as varied as the artists who create them. Glass rods about the thickness of a pencil are heated in the flame of a torch, the molten glass is wound around a steel rod called a mandrel. The space occupied by the mandrel becomes a hole through the bead. Each bead is created from the inside out. When the base bead has been formed, other colors of glass can be added to achieve different visual effects. The final step is a process called annealing; beads are placed in a high temperature digitally controlled kiln to cool slowly for many hours to ensure strength and longevity. Artist made lampwork beads are one of kind wearable works of art!