It's a Bead-iful World !

Fall Wire-Wrapped Choker

2011-09-26T14:56:00.003-04:00

I just finished this gold hammered wire-wrapped choker and earring set that is really pretty for fall. It has a Ruby Zoisite focal bead and is mixed with an assortment of green, brown and gold beads.

Beautiful day for a craft show :-)

2011-09-24T18:59:00.003-04:00

We've been having a lot of rain the past few days, so I was expecting to have rain again today for an outdoor craft show. It was very overcast initially which kept the temperature down early on, and the sun finally came out around noon. Just as we were starting to pack up, I heard the pitter patter of drizzling raindrops on the tent roof. God has perfect timing ! It was a glorious day.

Copper Crazy !

2011-09-22T10:29:00.008-04:00

I love hammered copper. I love the feel of it, the look of it, the texture of it, the shine of it. Making it, however, is NOT my favorite thing to do. I really have to be in the mood to make hammered copper. The tedious steps required to make it can be exhausting, plus I usually drill through a fingernail or something stupid like that. This week I finally pulled out a sheet of copper and made a few pairs of earrings. Hope you enjoy.

Sheffield School Article

2011-09-20T11:43:00.001-04:00

A couple months ago I completed the Sheffield School course in Jewelry Design: Beading & Wire Working, which makes me a Certified Jewelry Designer. I was the first student enrolled in this course to complete, and took them by surprise with my progress so they don't even have the certificates printed yet.

I'm so excited to say that, being the first student to complete the course, the school wrote an article about me in their blog! Here's a link to the article. :D
http://blog.sheffield.edu/designer-monthly/2011/9/20/jewelry-design-student-postcard-debbie-bruce.html

Fall Herb Faire

2011-09-19T20:26:00.002-04:00

One of my very favorite craft shows is coming up this weekend! It's the Fall Herb Faire, held in the backyard of a wonderful plantation house named "Pascalina". There's only about 25 booths, so there's not a ton of duplication (thank goodness and how refreshing for a change). It's right on Highway 78 with signs on the highway and you can see the tents in the back yard. The hours are 9-2. Be there !

I've been Certified !!!

2011-08-28T14:44:00.000-04:00

As I noted back in March, I realized that to really be taken serious in the competitive jewelry industry, it would wise to take a course to become a Certified Jewelry Designer. I've been designing jewelry for several years but I was mostly self-taught, and it never hurts to learn new techniques and also look at your business from another perspective. So during the fall of 2010 I signed up for the Sheffield School course in Jewelry Design: Beading & Wire Working, and in July 2011 I turned in my final project (whew !!)

When I received my completed project with my grade (A, yay!), I was wondering why there was no certificate included. I later got a letter from the director of the school stating that I was the first person to complete this course, and that my "commendable progress took them by surprise" so they didn't even have the certificates printed yet (big grin :D)

My advisor asked me if she could write an article about me in the Sheffield School blog. I've been checking every day to see if it's up yet and Will keep you posted on that. But the important thing is I can now officially say I am a Certified Jewelry Designer!

Fire in the Sky

2011-05-21T14:31:00.004-04:00

I have some beautiful Fire Agate beads which have a variety of colors in them, from bright orange to subtle light amethyst. I mixed these beads with Swarovski Crystals in Fire Opal and Light Amethyst, along with some copper beads, all combined together with handmade copper wire links. The necklace is joined in the center by a hand-forged copper pendant connector to create a long Y-necklace.

I hope you enjoy this piece as much as I had making it.

To see the listing on etsy, here's a link: http://www.etsy.com/listing/74443606/fire-in-the-sky-y-necklace

Sand and Sea

2011-04-20T15:20:00.010-04:00

I've got a really long weekend ahead of me with hopes of creating several new pieces for my next show, coming up May 7th. I had some beautiful Blue Opal nuggets that were screaming they were perfect for this year's spring color palette. The beautiful blue, yellow and green opaque and semi-transparent beads have a light and airy quality. I decided not to mix them with any other beads, they are beautiful standing alone. I only mixed the chunky nuggets with hand-made silver links. I made a variety of pieces - 6 pairs of earrings, 2 bracelets, and a wonderful statement piece, a three-strand choker length necklace (above).

New Logo, New Look !

2011-04-02T13:52:00.003-04:00

How do you like my new banner? Isn't it AWESOME! I just received my new logo, designed by Marilee Jacobi-Popovich of POPovichDESIGN. She's incredible with graphic design, branding, etc. If you need any graphic design work, I strongly encourage you to see what she can do for you. She can be contacted at marilee@popovichdesign.com.

Jewelry Design to the MAX !!!

2011-03-23T17:30:00.026-04:00

A few months ago, I realized that to really be taken serious in the extremely competitive jewelry market, it would be a great idea to take a course to become a "Certified Jewelry Designer". I've been designing jewelry for several years, but it never hurts to learn new techniques and also look at your business from another perspective. What an adventure this has been so far! I'm almost finished. One of the last tasks required is to create an entire collection (about 18 pieces) of jewelry. This means each piece should have the same overall style, using similar design elements, etc. I created a "story board" to use as inspiration. This included some pictures I came across from Africa, and they were just beautiful.

My inspiration involved the colors found in Africa, and it included many of the techniques learned in the course.

One of the techniques from the course was to make a forged, heart-shaped connector. Combining the heart connectors with the colors of Africa, the name of my new collection is "Heart of the Serengeti". Here are a couple of photos of some of the first pieces in the collection:

I'm also having my logo completely redesigned by Marilee Jacobi Popovich of POPovichDESIGN, and it's going to be incredible!! I can't wait to get my new cards ordered.

Ready for Spring !!!

2011-02-05T16:35:00.006-05:00

With this cold, rainy weekend, I felt inspired to create something more spring-like. I pulled out my Pantone Color Forecast Guide for Spring/Summer 2011 and started plundering. I came across a necklace I made a couple of years ago that had the right colors for this spring. I really liked the necklace when I first made it, but it was always getting tangled so I decided it needed to be cut apart and re-designed.

The beads are strung and knotted on lilac-colored C-Lon thread. The beads on the necklace are spaced apart to make the necklace light-weight. It has four strands, each at a different length.

The bracelet is strung with the beads right next to each other, except for a knot in between each bead to make it extremely flexible. I put a really big silver-tone toggle on it to keep the chunky look. It's about 15-1/2" long to go around the wrist twice.

The earrings are also very light-weight, even though they are pretty long.

Danish Cluster Copper Earrings

2011-02-04T17:12:00.006-05:00

Earrings I recently made using a technique called "Danish Clusters". Copper, gold and turquoise beads on copper wire with copper kidney earwires. They are very light-weight and delicate.

These are going to get listed on etsy TONIGHT !

Where did the last year go ????

2011-02-04T16:25:00.006-05:00

Wow, I had absolutely no idea it had been so long since I blogged. Just after my last post, our daughter got engaged, so I apparently spent the next year planning a wedding.

It was a beautiful wedding!

Just about the time the wedding ended, my church choir began rehearsing for our annual "Living Christmas Tree" performance (which meant rehearsals from August to the first of December).

So I've been very negligent in blogging, creating jewelry, and everything else under the sun. The Christmas performance is now two months behind me, Christmas holidays are over, and now I can hopefully start being creative again. (I do have to manage to find time to do my taxes soon, however - UGH!)

Moving On

2009-09-30T20:59:00.004-04:00

This past weekend was the last of my craft shows for the year (WHEW !). I love them, but they absolutely wear me out. I came home and slept for over 14 hours, which in my world is absolutely unheard of ! So, now I have a huge mess to sort through and re-organize and get listed on etsy. Also, at one of the shows I was approached by a woman opening a new gallery in Dublin, Georgia, so in my spare time (LOL) I need to start making items for when she opens her gallery December 1st.

I tried out for another community theater production. I've never been in a musical before, so I was thrilled to be cast in the chorus. We'll be performing "It's a Wonderful Life-The Musical", opening the day after Thanksgiving. I'm so excited about doing this play! We started rehearsals a couple weeks ago and the music is amazing. So, here it is the end of September and I'm singing Christmas carols all day long.

Craft Shows !!

2009-09-09T18:47:00.002-04:00

Now is the time of year that I really look forward to. Let the craft shows begin !!! Due to the economic situation in the country, this year I have cut out all out-of-town craft shows, so that doesn't leave much. However, in this wonderful city that I live in (Aiken, South Carolina), we have a fantastic show that's going on 33 years. The show has 180+ vendors and about 30,000 visitors. I love being a part of this show. This year it is held on Friday, September 11th from 9am to 6pm, and Saturday, September 12th from 9am to 5pm. I'll post my booth location tomorrow when I get my registration packet. Please stop by my booth, even if it's just to say hello !

Custom Orders - LOVE 'EM !!

2009-05-25T10:56:00.007-04:00

One of my favorite things when designing jewelry is to create a piece for a particular outfit. My voice teacher has a beautiful skirt that she hasn't been able to find jewelry to match, and it occurred to her that I could probably make something to match perfectly. She specifically requested that I primarily focus on the oranges with a little bit of green. I used Fire Agate, Apple Coral, Czech glass, Pearls and Mother of Pearl.

Here's her beautiful skirt, and the finished product:

Chaos !

2009-04-06T14:17:00.000-04:00

I have signs on my car to advertise my jewelry business, so a couple that recently started attending our church saw the signs and asked if I would be interested in possibly buying her bead inventory. All I've ever seen her wear is a single strand of simple pearls, so I wasn't at all sure what she would have, so not knowing what to expect, my husband and I went over to their house, and my jaw about dropped. This woman had been making jewelry for about the past 30 years. She had contracts with dress shops, had employees working for her, you name it. She's not in good health now and has lost interest in jewelry. They've moved a couple of times, each time toting all these boxes of beads and findings. She decided it was time to part with all this, especially since she found a "good home" for it to go to. I briefly popped open box after box, just to get a general idea of what was inside, and then we agreed on a price. I loaded up my Honda Pilot (every square inch was filled !) and home we went. I am now going through all these boxes, and every time I open a new box I wonder what I will discover ! My studio used to be neat, but now my inventory has probably more than doubled. There are boxes of beads everywhere. I'm slowly trying to consolidate and find space, but right now it is absolute CHAOS, but it's also a lot of fun !!!

Featured in etsyBEAD "Totally Turquoise" Treasury

2009-03-22T17:24:00.002-04:00

Rita from BaublesAndPearls grabbed a treasury to promote the etsyBEAD "Totally Turquoise" theme sale, and I've got one item featured in the treasury. YAY, thanks Rita !!

Economic Stimulus Sale !!!!

2009-02-27T15:53:00.001-05:00

I have so much Fall jewelry that I need to sell to make room for Spring inventory, so throughout the month of March my etsy shop will be having a HUGE Fall Clearance Sale.

Bookmark this page and check back on Sunday, March 1st when the sale starts !
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5507576§ion_id=5963124

I'll be adding new items frequently throughout the month, so check back often.

Photos from "Inherit the Wind" Play

2009-01-30T16:46:00.016-05:00

I recently had the incredible opportunity to participate in a local community production of "Inherit the Wind". It's an amazing story and really makes you think, which is the whole premise of the story. It discusses evolution versus creation. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I'd do something like this, but the opportunity came along and I grabbed it!! It has been a wild and thrilling ride. We began rehearsals before Thanksgiving, and the show didn't open until January 16th. It's been a long process, but definitely worth the trouble to be fully prepared. I've always thought I'd have stage fright, but on opening night I was surprisingly calm, which probably can be attributed to the numerous rehearsals. This has been an opportunity to meet so many gifted people and make some wonderful new friendships. Our community, though not large, is so blessed to have some incredibly talented people, and I feel honored to have had the opportunity to work with them. I also had the pleasure of working with one of my fellow co-workers, Lisa Fountain, and although we were already pretty close friends, doing this play together has brought us much closer.

Portrait photo from the playbill.

Keep in mind the era was supposed to be 1925, which accounts for the drab apparel. I actually made my dress because the costume selection was very limited.

"Mrs. Loomis" (me) telling Mr. Dunlap that "the minute Brady gets here, people are gonna pour in. Town's gonna fill up like a.....a rain barrel in a flood !"

Me consoling my "daughter" after she was scared by the Reverend talking about Henry Drummond being the "devil".

An amazing actor and dear friend, Patrick Williams, as "E.K. Hornbeck", a newspaper man from the Baltimore Herald.

Another wonderful actor and good friend, John Fowler (right) as Tom Davenport, the local Circuit District Attorney, interviewing prospective juror Jesse H. Dunlap (left), played by Dave Engleman.

Courtroom scene where I'm a spectator sitting behind the defendant, Chris Bowman as Bert Cates (right) and his attorney, Henry Drummond (left), played by Russ Snow, another truly gifted actor.

Lisa with her stage husband, Matthew Harrison Brady, played by a brilliant actor, Rich Herzog. In this scene, he's having a breakdown and she's consoling him. She sings to him a little bit of the hymn "It is Well With My Soul", and to put it in the words of the director, she sings "like an angel".

Backstage "waiting in the wings" with Lisa, one of my dearest friends, co-workers, and now also a fellow thespian.

Featured in etsyBEAD "Tropical Dreams" Treasury

2008-12-27T08:53:00.003-05:00

Here's a beautiful treasury with some of my fellow etsyBEAD members created by Kelly of Beadliotheque. This colorful Treasury will really get you out of the winter-time blues ! Thanks, Kelly !

Community Theater Update

2008-11-29T15:30:00.002-05:00

Well, thank goodness, my role is going to be a woman after all !! I'll be quite frank, I was NOT looking forward to making my acting debut dressed as a man. Rehearsals start picking up on December 3rd for our January 16th opening. I'll be really busy during the Christmas season, that's for sure!

Community Theater - HERE I COME !

2008-11-11T12:36:00.003-05:00

A good friend of mine has been wanting to try out in our local community theater, so she convinced me to go along so she wouldn't be alone. Well, low and behold, I got a role ! I've never been on a stage in my life and I'm mortified, and the worst part is - I'M PLAYING A MAN !!! Good Lord, I'm definitely NOT built like a man. I think somebody has got a really weird sense of humor. The play is a pretty well-known one, "INHERIT THE WIND". I'll find out more tonight when the cast meets for the first time. Maybe, just maybe they decided to change some of the male roles into females (I can only hope !).

TeamSC Holiday Stocking Hunt Challenge !!!!!

2008-11-05T20:32:00.001-05:00

Mark your calendars for NOVEMBER 6TH ...and join in the fun!!!

Our South Carolina Etsy Street Team (TeamSC) is preparing for a fabulous holiday game for all etsians.

Everyone who completes the hunt will win a shopping spree just in time for the holiday season.
The grand prize winner receives this gorgeous handmade stocking made by Ashley from Rocknrollmcmama. The stocking is stuffed full of items donated by South Carolina Artisans (see mosaic of some of the items in the stocking)!

The following TEAMSC members have donated a handmade item to the Holiday Stocking.

Ainsley Barrett
All About The Buttons
Banner Celebrations
Bead Dazzled
Beadiful World
Bitty Books
CurlyfrySC
Custom Candy Creations
Iryna
Its All About You
Its All About You Too
Lady Pippie
LullaBuy Bows Boutique
MaryMarsh
Minnie Maes
Nascar Nana
Roagom
RockNRoll McMama
Shasha Jewelry
Strange Little Girl
Sweet Tea Designs
The Sheila Room

These TEAMSC member shops are taking part in the shopping spree for all players who correctly complete the Holiday Stocking Hunt....
Ainsley Barrett (20% off all items)
All About the Buttons (15% off all items)
Beach Cottage Studio (free set of paper butterflies with every order)
Beadiful World (20% off all items)
CurlyfrySC (20% off and free shipping on jewelry ONLY)
Custom Candy Creations (20% off all items)
Dottie Stripe Layne (20% off all items)
Estate Planet (25% off all items)
Everydaysies (20% off all items)
Fiazco (20% off total purchase)
Jack and Jane (Free shipping on all sized domestic international orders)
KWinkelerPhotos (10% off all items)
Lady Pippie (20% off all items)
Lullabuy bows boutique (15% off all items)
Meeting Street Designs (Free shipping)
Morgan Alexa Designs (20% off all CHRISTMAS banners)
Nascarnana (50% off shipping)
Naturally Vintage (20% off and free shipping on any one item)
Pink Ink Creations (20% off all items)
Pretty Purses (15% off all items)
Rasmussen Gems and Jewelry (25% off all items)
Roagom (20% off all items)
Rocknrollmcmama ( 15% off all items)
Simply Charming SC (10% off all items plus free Christmas gift wrapping)
Southern Creations (10% off all items)
Strange Little Girl (25% off total order including shipping)
Sugar Baby Designs ($5.00 off any necklace)
Sweet Tea Designs (25% off all items except CUSTOM items)
Your Name In A Frame ($5.00 off any item and buy 4 get one free)
Yum Yum Creations (15% off all items)

Information and rules for the hunt are available right now on our blog. http://scstreetteam.blogspot.com

Watch for the official forum thread on etsy under Promotions on Thursday, November 6th at 5:00 pm.

We’ll be looking for you.

Election Day Woes

2008-11-04T17:30:00.003-05:00

Well, today is November 4th, Election Day, voting for the next President of our country which makes it a VERY important day in the lives of all Americans, and it also happens to be MY birthday. I hate it when my birthday falls on election day! (I'm sure that those that have their birthday on big holidays such as Christmas don't have any sympathy for me whatsoever!) It's so hard to plan on celebrating with family because everyone's schedule is all messed up, trying schedule when they have hours to stand in line to vote. My husband and I managed to get up early to get to the poll before they opened (but everyone else apparently had the same idea - LOL). We've made "tentative" dinner plans with our family, hoping that our daughter can join us. She has to wait until she a) gets off of work, and b) goes to vote before the polls closed. Oh well, fortunately this doesn't happen frequently enough to really be a bother !

Winner of TeamSC Weekly Challenge

2008-10-22T20:14:00.003-04:00

I regularly participate in my South Carolina etsy team's (TeamSC) weekly challenges, and I won the challenge titled "I WANT CANDY"! Click here to read the article on the team blog. Just after I submitted the earrings for that challenge, I took them to a craft show and somebody stole them! Shame on them !!!

etsyBEAD Street Team EBTW "Wine Country" Sale ~ 9/21 - 10/4

2008-09-28T08:25:00.013-04:00

Here's a few of my favorite listings from some of my fellow etsyBEAD members that are participating in the "Wine Country" theme sale:

SquareEffects

NomolosDesigns

CassowaryJewelry

CooljewelryJR

Click HERE to find all the beautiful items in this theme sale.

Featured in Carolina Girls Treasury

2008-09-28T07:43:00.003-04:00

Here's a beautiful treasury with some of my fellow TeamSC members created by Blanche of Sha-sha Handcrafted Jewelry. Thanks, Blanche !

etsyBead Theme Week, Blue Moon, September 7th - 20th

2008-09-12T17:59:00.003-04:00

The bi-weekly theme is "Blue Moon". Here are a couple of my theme items that are 20% off during the theme sale. To see more of jewelry collection, visit my etsy shop at http://beadifulworld.etsy.com/.

etsyBead Theme Week, Green with Envy, August 24 - September 6

2008-08-24T17:02:00.005-04:00

The bi-weekly theme is "Green with Envy". Here are a couple of my theme items that are 20% off during the theme sale. To see more of jewelry collection, visit my etsy shop at http://beadifulworld.etsy.com/.

etsyBead Theme Week, Craving Colorful, August 10 - 23

2008-08-11T13:52:00.006-04:00

The bi-weekly theme is "Craving Colorful". Here are a couple of my theme items that are 20% off during the theme sale. To see more of jewelry collection, visit my etsy shop at http://beadifulworld.etsy.com/.

Featured Artist - Lynda of Diva Designs

2008-08-01T19:18:00.007-04:00

I am very pleased to feature Lynda of SCDiva.etsy.com. Lynda is a fellow member of etsy's TeamSC street team.

Where in South Carolina do you live, and were you born here? If not, how long have you been in SC?
I live near Barnwell and I was born in Orangeburg. I have lived in SC all my life. In fact, I am a 9th generation South Carolinian.

What do you like best about living in South Carolina?
Everything but the gnats and skeeters! Seriously, I love the friendly people, the mild winters, the beautiful landscape, the fact that we have beaches and mountains within a few hours’ drive. I love the state flag. I get all choked up seeing the Palmetto and Crescent on that indigo background. I love our manners and the fact that we still pull over on the side of the road for a funeral procession. I love the food and the various cultures represented in the diverse population of South Carolina. I love the slow, easy pace and the fact that neighbors still look out for each other here. I love knowing everyone and everyone knowing me. I love the fact that my family’s roots are here and have been since the 1600s. I am a Southern girl down to my soul, and I know if I was born anywhere North of the Mason-Dixon Line, I’d still have found my way to South Carolina somehow. I would never live anywhere else. You know that saying, “American by birth, Southern by the grace of God”? I changed it to American by birth, South Carolinian by the grace of God!

What kind of materials do you use in your creations?
I design jewelry around polymer clay focal beads and pendants I make myself. I absolutely love working with polymer clay as a medium for jewelry design. It offers an endless array of patterns and color combinations. I am limited only by my imagination. I pair the pendants with semi-precious gemstones and metals, a kind of unusual take on polymer clay jewelry design.

What inspires or influences you? Do you have a plan before you make a piece, or do the materials "speak" to you?
I find inspiration in just about everything. Nature is a wonderful source of inspiration. I pair my polymer clay pendants with semi-precious gemstones. My favorites are the Agates and Jaspers, both of which offer an endless array of pattern and color and compliment my polymer clay designs perfectly.

Art and architecture are also huge sources of inspiration for me. Watercolor is my favorite medium, although I am strictly a collector and observer. I personally cannot draw a straight line! Watercolor fascinates me because it is such an unforgiving medium.

History inspires me. I recently completed a series of necklaces inspired by women warriors through history. It was a very creative and empowering experience for me.

Colors inspire me. My favorites are the tertiary colors, especially those found in abundance in the landscapes of the Southwestern United States and in the Native American culture: Turquoise, mustard, salmon, burnt orange, teal, tomato red, etc. I may be the only person who can find inspiration in a tomato, but that color just calls to me!

There are also many artists, jewelry designers and polymer clay artisans whose work I admire tremendously, and I always get inspiration from looking at their work: Georgia O’Keefe, Frida Kahlo, Andrew Wyeth, Jasper Johns (a fellow South Carolinian), and Gustav Klimt; glass designer Louis Comfort Tiffany, photographer Dorothea Lange, and sculptor Frederic Remington; as polymer clay artisans Donna Kato, Lisa Pavelka, Karen Lewis, Rebecca Geoffrey, Marcia Palmer and many others.

I try to plan, but I do believe in letting the clay speak to me. I love a “happy accident”. I never pick out gems and then do a pendant. I never have certain gems in mind when I create a pendant. I do the pendant first and then go look for things to compliment it.

Do you have a certain design style, and what is your favorite technique?
I’ve been told I’m a master (mistress?) of clay marbling. I don’t know about that, but I like clean lines, a glossy finish, a striking pattern. I think my designs, and my style, are unique and easily recognizable.

Polymer clay is baked in an oven and then sanded and sometimes buffed. I wet sand every piece through six grits of sandpaper, then bake it again for a second time, then sand again and I always buff with a modified Dremel outfitted with 1 ½” unbleached cotton muslin circles, which produces a glass-like shine if I’ve sanded correctly. It’s an obsession with me. I cannot stand to leave a bead nekid, even the tiny ones.

Other than Etsy, where could someone find your creations?
I’m only at Etsy for the time being. I don’t do craft shows and I haven’t put any designs in local shops yet, but I’m working on it. I use my Etsy store for local clients to shop. They see something they like, they call me and I take it to them to try out in person. I also do private “trunk shows”, and I have a few clients who call me to look at a new outfit or even a whole wardrobe, and I’ll jot down a few ideas, go back and make some designs, and call them to see if they are interested. I am trying to build up my inventory to show in local shops, but I can’t keep it full because of word-of-mouth sales, which is great! My local clients are very good to me.

How long have you been involved in your craft, and how did you get started?
I have been designing jewelry since I was a teenager, but only recently started working with polymer clay as a medium for design. I purchased my first block of clay last October. It took me a month to work up the nerve to open the package, and 600 or so beads later, I decided I was ready to start designing jewelry around the beads. It has quickly become an addiction, and I cannot see myself ever abandoning it. I wore one of my designs to work one day, and it got such a positive response, I went back home and made nine more necklaces. They all sold out within an hour, and I’ve been at it ever since.

Do you work from your home, or do you have a brick and mortar store?
I work from home. My studio currently occupies a spare bedroom, but that will hopefully change. A fellow Polymer Clay Artist Guild of Etsy Member has put ideas in my head with her photos of her basement studio. It made me drool. I would love to not have to move everything every time someone comes to stay. It’s a major pain!

Do you have a method for remembering ideas you want to implement, such as a notebook or tape recorder, etc.?
I keep a notebook and pen with me always. I get inspiration from just about anything, but if I don’t write it down, I’ll forget it in a skinny minute.

What do you do when you hit a brick wall creatively and nothing is working?
One of two things: I either get in the car and take a drive down the coast with the top down, or I get in the kitchen and cook. I love to cook as much as I love designing jewelry.

What is the most rewarding, interesting, or even weirdest thing you’ve ever been asked to make?
I had a male friend who asked me to design a necklace, bracelet and earrings for his wife, whom he lovingly refers to as “Miss Thang” because she is a diva. She knows she’s a diva, so I’m not telling anything I shouldn’t! I’ve known her husband all my life, but I don’t know her very well, and I was very nervous about designing something for her. Her husband only told me her favorite color, which is red. I did something I loved myself, and it was very rewarding when she called me herself and told me how much she loved the set and asked me how did I know exactly what she’d like? I even called the piece “Miss Thang”.

What are some of your goals for your craft, and where do you hope it will take you? Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
In 5 years, I hope to be fabulously successful and financially comfortable so that I can retire from my 50- hour a week, day job as a real estate and probate paralegal and devote myself to jewelry design full time.

What is your favorite part of being a member of TeamSC?
Getting to know my fellow South Carolinians, and having the opportunity to help promote them and South Carolina. I am so happy I found the team. I really hope we’ll be a force to reckon with at Etsy for a long time. We have such a diverse group of artists on the team, I don’t think we can help but be successful!

What are your hobbies, or how do you like to spend your free time, assuming you have any?
I love to read and I collect first editions, church cookbooks and vintage children’s toys and kitchenware. I love to cook. I’m a genealogist and created and manage 3 DNA Surname Group Projects for genealogy purposes. I learned to tat several years ago, and I try to do that on a regular basis so I won’t forget how.

Favorite color? Red
Favorite food? Fried Chicken and tomato sandwiches with Duke’s Mayonnaise
Favorite song or musical artist? Al Green’s “I’m Glad You’re Mine” and Michael McDonald’s version of “All In Love Is Fair” ; Bon Jovi
Favorite book or author? Ecology Of A Cracker Childhood by Janisse Ray
Favorite movie, actor or actress? To Kill A Mockingbird, The Quiet Man, Hoosiers; Gene Hackman, Maureen O’Hara

Featured in Clemson vs. Carolina Treasury

2008-07-27T09:00:00.003-04:00

Here's a treasury with some of my fellow TeamSC members:

Featured in Christmas in July Treasury

2008-07-20T08:53:00.003-04:00

Felicia of "Fluffy Flowers" featured one of my keyrings in her treasury, which consists of items in a Christmas in July sale.

4th of July Treasury on etsy

2008-07-04T23:21:00.002-04:00

One of my fellow estians apparently is in the mood to go to the beach, so she created a treasury of beachy items and featured one of my keyrings. Thanks KNITBLITZ for picking my Turquoise/Teal Wave Keyring to include in your list.

Featured Artist - Judy Richards of Cats Paw Artifacts

2008-07-02T22:43:00.006-04:00

Judy Richards is a fellow artist and member of etsyBEAD, a bead group street team on etsy. Below Judy shares a brief glimpse into her artistic background:

I'm a lampwork artist who also designs jewelry - unique jewelry with semi-precious stones and my beads and also now precious metal clay pendants and charms.

I'm inspired by ancient pictographs, nature, and abstraction as well in an artistic sense.

I started out as a bead weaver and became familiar with and interested in lampwork beads and making them, took a class, and the rest is history!

Judy's items can be purchased in her online shop, catldy99.etsy.com. Below are just a few pictures of some of her favorite pieces.

7/1/08 Treasury

2008-07-02T07:58:00.003-04:00

Being featured on a treasury is always so much fun, and tlsexton0913 (Tammy of Ivonnardona's Creations) was able to get a Treasury and featured one of my keyrings on it! Many thanks, Tammy !

Christian Artists Street Team "Christmas in July" Sale

2008-07-01T12:02:00.009-04:00

One of the etsy Street Teams I belong to, the Christian Artists Street Team (CAST), is having a month-long "Christmas in July" Sale. There are several members of the group participating.

Here's a link to search for all the individuals items on sale:

http://www.etsy.com/search_results.php?search_type=tag_title_all&search_query=cast+team+cij

Each store also has a list of all the participating stores.

Here's a couple of the items I have for the sale at 20% off. Both make great stocking stuffers !

Party-Time Earrings	Lime Green Lampwork Bead Keyring

etsyBead Theme Week, Catch the Wave, June 29-July12

2008-06-30T17:08:00.001-04:00

The bi-weekly theme is "Catch the Wave". Here are a couple of my theme items that are 20% off during the theme sale. To see more of jewelry collection, visit my etsy shop at http://beadifulworld.etsy.com/.

etsyBead Theme Week, Wild Thing, June 15-28

2008-06-21T17:48:00.000-04:00

The bi-weekly theme is "Wild Thing". Here are a couple of my theme items that are 20% off during the theme sale. To see more of jewelry collection, visit my etsy shop at http://beadifulworld.etsy.com/.

etsyBead Theme Week, A Day at the Beach - June 1-14

2008-06-04T18:50:00.000-04:00

The bi-weekly theme is "A Day at the Beach". Here are a couple of my theme items that are 20% off during the theme sale. To see more of jewelry collection, visit my etsy shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5507576.

Etsybead Artist Spotlight

2008-06-02T15:33:00.000-04:00

Part of the joy of being involved in etsy is the wonderful team streets. I belong to etsyBead, which is an amazing group of artists that are either jewelry designers or lampwork bead artists. On the team's blog, they feature interviews with different members. It was great to be a part of this. Here's a write-up on me:
http://etsybead.wordpress.com/2008/05/27/spotlight-beadiful-world/

Keeping in Touch

2008-04-21T22:17:00.001-04:00

Today at work, one of my co-workers was telling us about childhood friends that she has kept in touch with over the years. Listening to her, I thought to myself that I've done a really lousy job keeping in touch with my friends. I left my hometown in Indiana to move to South Carolina two years after graduating from high school, and have pretty much lost touch with everyone I knew then. It made me really sad to think about all those people that I at one time had a strong connection and were no longer a part of my life. However, one of my very dearest friends that I’ve known since I was 3 years old still lives close to my hometown, her parents still live in the house across the street from the house I grew up in. She was the friend I had constant sleepovers with, did gymnastics in the front yard with, and played tag all evening long with. We have spoken only a handful of times over the course of our adult lives, and it’s probably been five years since we last spoke. I lost her email address years ago when my computer crashed, so I went to whitepages.com and found she and her husband were still living in the same house as they were the last time I saw her about 22 years ago. I called her during my lunch hour, and it was so wonderful to hear her voice again, telling me all about her daughters and grandkids, her chaotic pet-sitting business, her wonderful husband, the tragic loss of her brother. I vowed then that I would call or email often to stay in touch with her because I don’t want to lose that part of my life. My friends mean too much to me to lose them.

Wendy, I’ve missed you and I’m sorry I haven’t been there for you.

etsyBead Theme Week, 'D' is for Delicious - April 20 - May 3

2008-04-20T08:02:00.000-04:00

Sometimes beads are so wonderful, they seem "good enough to eat". Therefore, the etsyBEAD street team's theme of the week is "D is for Delicious". Here are a couple of my theme items, and of course, they are on sale 20% off for two weeks only.

kiss the rain Treasury

2008-03-23T18:32:00.000-04:00

One of the best compliments you can receive on etsy is to be featured in someone's treasury. I'm been listed in a few, but decided it would be nice to capture them here for posterity since they disappear off of etsy after just a few days.

This treasury is called "kiss the rain.....spring showers are headed your way". It was selected by starfactory.

etsyBead Theme Week, Stormy Weather - March 23-29

2008-03-23T18:19:00.000-04:00

I don't know about the rest of the country, but here in the southeast we've been having some really wicked weather. The etsyBEAD street team's theme of the week is therefore "Stormy Weather". Here are a couple of my theme items, and of course, they are on sale for this week only.

etsyBead Theme Week, Sunny Days - March 16-22

2008-03-18T09:37:00.000-04:00

Each week, my Etsy street team, etsyBEAD, chooses a theme. Members select items from their shops and usually offer a discount off their themed items. The theme this week is "Sunny Days". Here are a couple of my theme items. A woman from my church was cleaning out her jewelry box, and realized she had more jewelry than she would ever wear. Knowing that I make jewelry, she brought me a bag full of stuff, and these beautiful pale yellow crystals were amongst them. I've had them for several months, and now that yellow is one of the "hot" colors for spring and summer, I knew now was the time to do something with these beauties. Thanks Tommie !

To see more of jewelry collection, visit my etsy shop at
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=10301694 or my website at http://www.beadifulworld.biz.

Taking out my frustrations !

2008-02-02T14:10:00.000-05:00

It's been a really tough week. I'm taking two computer programming courses for my job, so I had a test in my Visual Basic class, plus my Javascript class was given two days to turn in an assignment, which interfered with my time to study for my VB test.

This morning I got up feeling the need to take out some of my frustrations, and the best way to do that is to get out my hammer. I have a variety of sizes of copper washers, so I hammered two different sizes, drilled a hole in the top and bottom and attached them with sterling silver jump rings. I then put three different sizes of Swarovski bicones in the color of Indicolite to help bring out that verdigris color that copper gets. I didn't want to use pre-manufactured earwires because they wouldn't blend with the rough hand-made look, so I made the ear wires by hand.

Bracelets for Bucks

2008-02-01T07:49:00.000-05:00

One of my dearest friends, Pam Cuny, is very active in her community. One of the organizations she is involved with is the Animal Advocates of Barnwell County. This non-profit charitable organization is made up of volunteers, dedicated to rescuing, healing, safeguarding and giving new life to animals. They have taken on a project to open an "upscale" thrift store to raise money to eventually build an animal shelter.

Pam came up with the idea to have the organization purchase from me some inexpensive bracelets which could be sold for a small profit in their "Pick of the Litter" thrift store. Each bracelet would have either a cat or a dog charm on it and be for girls anywhere from elementary to high school. I used a variety of colors of Czech fire-polished beads and have been very busy making bracelets all week long. Here's just a few as a sample.

First ETSY Sale !!!

2008-01-31T06:54:00.001-05:00

Late December I found out about this awesome site, etsy. Don't know if my head has been in the sand for the last couple of years, because etsy has been around for a while, but I just found out about it. I opened up my store, beadifulworld.etsy.com, and have been anxiously waiting to see what happens. I finally made my first etsy sale !! Recently I went to a bead show and found some bea-u-tiful Blue Crazy Lace Agate buttons, so I whipped up an entire sterling silver ensemble using the Blue Agate, which I offset with Swarovski Caribbean Blue Opal AB Bicones, Swarovski round Smoked Topaz and Pink Opal Nuggets. The bracelet sold, which still leaves me with the necklace and earrings. I'm so excited to finally have made a sale since January is traditionally a slow months for retail sales, plus there are just tons of awesome jewelry designers on etsy so the competition is TOUGH!

First Post to my blog

2008-01-29T09:58:00.001-05:00

Just signed up for my blogspot, and so now I'm thinking.... now what? I'll have to do some pondering and see where my mind wanders off to.