Cat bead!

Whoohoo!
My husband upgraded my old iPhone to one with a decent camera. Now I can take photos and update my blog straight from my phone. Easy peasy.
Here is a pic of the present I made for my cat-loving mother-in-law. His eyes are a bit wonky, but I still think he's cute! Thank you to Anja Nussbaumer for her super easy to follow tutorial in the Soda Lime Times. (Don't spoil the surprise!)
Happy Holidays.
Kelley

I'm so inspired!

This past weekend I gave myself a treat: a beadmaking class with Kristen Frantzen Orr. She is awesome!

This two-day class filled me with new techniques and ideas. I have a whole spring line dancing through my head. And I haven't even posted my fall/winter beads on Etsy yet! I love these times when my imagination exceeds my capacity to produce. So thank you, Kristen! And Thank you, Marilynne of Studio 34 for bringing her to Rochester.

Even though the days are shorter and "fall back" gives darkness galore, I'm now happily melting away in my studio.

Keep checking Etsy for new listings and have a happy Thanksgiving.

Kelley

New Tween Beading Class

Mark the date: Saturday, September 29th, 2012.

That's the next FREE Tween Beading Class brought to you by the Friends of the Brighton Memorial Library!

Heart Necklaces

Class is for ages 9-12 and there are three levels of difficulty: simple stringing, twisted strands or Daisy Chain. Whichever you choose to learn, everyone gets a one-of-a-kind lampworked heart pendant created by me.
Class runs from 11AM-12:30PM and pre-registration is required. To register, call the Brighton Memorial Library at (585) 784-5300.

Want an adult class? Want to take a class at your local library? Call your library and request me!

Competing with China

My favorite: Fat Ass Pear Bead
Borosilicate 2011

We're all talking about how to market our handmade (or artisan made) products in this day of disposable items. Everywhere I look, cheap lampwork beads from China are selling for pennies. No one seems to care that they are probably not annealed and may explode at any moment. I've even had someone pay me a compliment, "if you can make flowers like that, you could work for Troll beads." What???

I've tried to fight back with education, but that always falls flat. Most people just don't care.

Last night I hired my neighbor to help me set up at a local show. She cleared everything up for me: "You have to make things that are different." She pointed to one of my beads, "I can get that at Walmart." Ouch.

Apparently, the style of bead matters. Spacer beads are done to death. Dicro is everywhere. Small and cute has been done. I need to re-stock my supply of organic shard focal beads, and work on creating beads that can't be reproduced in China. Yet.

Now you know.