I'm beat

I had a show this weekend and I'm exhausted.  Because of my kids, I can only do one show every six months.  It's just too hard to find childcare for a whole weekend.  This time I picked the Big Bang Bazaar.  It's an indoor show, they provide the tables and chairs and all you do is bring our stuff.  That was a big part of the appeal of this show for me.  Here's my little corner.

We couldn't hang up anything on the walls, so no sign.  But I actually think the faux wood paneling worked with my stuff.  I attended this same show in September and it was so packed you couldn't move.  So I thought close to Christmas it would be the same way, people lined up at the door to get in, everyone shopping for the holiday.  Not so much.  It was VERY slow.  Like time moving backwards don't see anyone for a half an hour slow.  All the vendors that I spoke with were not happy to say the least.  The woman in the space next to me said she didn't even make back her entrance fee and the woman next to her only sold one thing all weekend.  I felt so bad.  I made back my booth fee and a some profit, so I was very happy about that.  

But man I am tired.  You wouldn't think standing around talking to people would wipe you out, but I'm beat.  Shows are always a learning experience, what works and what I would change about the next one.  I'm thinking I definitely need a stylus.  It would be easier when I'm using my Square to have people sign with that instead of their fingers.  A couple of vendors had one and it works really well. I was also interested to see what people were picking up and what they bought.  I sold necklaces off of my neck stands the most, so I'll have to invest in more of those.  And I sold a lot of bracelets that were memory wire or stuff with a length of chain so the size could be adjustable.  I think I'll focus on more of those styles for the next go around.  

To all of you out there who do a lot of shows, hats off to you.  That's hard work and I don't know how you do it.  Hopefully maybe something I learned this weekend will help someone else too.  

Halloween Blog Hop

I love Halloween.  Not sure why because I'm not that fond of candy or dressing up.  I think it might be because it is the start of the holiday season and I love this part of the year.  I especially love making holiday jewelry, even if I don't wear it that often.

My first piece is actually a redo, I made it awhile ago, but I didn't like the clasp or how I finished it.  The pumpkin, crow and spiderweb beads are by Kylie Parry.

Another shot of the beads.

My next necklace is with a gorgeous pendant by Golem Studios.  They made such great ceramic beads and pendants they are some of my favorites.  

Close up of the pendant.  Well, that's it for me, please hop around to see what everyone else made.  Thanks for stopping by!

Diana Ptaszynski  http://www.suburbangirlstudio.com

Staci Smith  http://www.stacilouiseoriginals.com/

Kathleen Breeding  http://99bobotw.blogspot.com

Sue Kennedy  http://www.suebeads.blogspot.com

Dianne Miller  http://www.artbydianne.blogspot.com

Lisa Liddy  http://www.lisaliddy.wordpress.com

Toltec Jewels  http://www.JewelSchoolFriends.com

Linda Landig  http://www.LindasBeadBlog.com

Laura Medeiros  http://Www.zoeowyn.blogspot.com

Veralynne Malone  http://www.veradesigns.blogspot.com

Lynn Jobber  http://thecreativeklutz.blogspot.co.uk

Michelle McCarthy  http://www.fireflydesignstudio.blogspot.com

Karen Totten  http://www.starryroadstudio.blogspot.com

Jayne Capps  https://mamasgottodoodle.blogspot.com

Jenny Davies-Reazor  http://jdaviesreazor.com/blog

Joan Miller  http://metalmudandsand.blogspot.com/

Melissa Meman  http://melissameman.blogspot.com

Melissa Trudinger  http://www.beadrecipes.wordpress.com

Kari Asbury  http://hippiechickdesign.blogspot.com

Inge von Roos  http://www.ingetraud.wordpress.com

Andrea Glick  http://zenithjade.blogspot.com 

Stephanie LaRosa  - you're here! http://Www.stringaholic.blogspot.com

Lola Surwillo  http://www.beadlolabead.com

Jennifer Cameron  http://glassaddictions.com/blog

Diane Hawkey  http://dianehawkey.blogspot.com

Kristi Harrison  http://kristibasket-itsanewday.blogspot.com

Nicole Valentine Rimmer  http://www.nvalentine.blogspot.com

Tanya Goodwin  http://www.Pixiloo.blogspot.com

Shai Williams  http://shaihasramblings.blogspot.com/

Sandra McGriff  http://skyescreativechaos.blogspot.com

Sarajo Wentling  http://www.sjdesignsjewelry.blogspot.com

Marie Covert  http://thistledown-and-swaddlings.blogspot.com

Lisa Stukel  http://www.carefreejewelrybylisa.blogspot.com

Laurie Vyselaar  http://www.Lefthandjewelry.wordpress.com

Sherri Stokey  http://www.knotjustmacrame.com

Pam Traub  http://www.klassyjoolz.blogspot.com

Lori Dorrington  http://lorisglassworks.blogspot.com

Kristen Stevens  http://kristen-beadjourney.blogspot.com

Eleanor Burian-Mohr  http://cornerstoregoddessjewelry.blogspot.com

Sally Russick  http://thestudiosublime.com

Dawn M. Gallop  http://www.flipflopsandpoptarts.com

It's my birthday, bleh

My poor, neglected blog.  Most if my time is spent trying to prevent a kamikaze 14 month old from flinging himself off of things.  When he sleeps, I like to make stuff and not write because I like making stuff more then writing.

Today, I'm not feeling so inspired.  It's my birthday.  There comes a certain point in almost everyone's life where they no longer look forward to their birthday, but see it as a passing of time.  I've reached that point.  I am not old, I know that.  I just feel old, some days more then others.  Blah, blah, whine, whine.  I hear myself, but I just cannot get out of this grumpy mood.  Maybe I need some cake.

Anyway, I have new stuff that will be landing in my etsy store today, including a necklace that was rejected by Stringing magazine.  :(.  ( see how I can make anything grumpy today?)

Hope everyone else is having a wonderful Wednesday!

Thinking about when it's not so insanely hot

I don't know if it's because I live in Florida and it's August, but I have been daydreaming of cooler weather.  Not likely to happen for at least 2-3 months but a girl can still dream.  Maybe that's why I made these two fall-ish necklaces.  Just seeing them makes me long for days I can wear pants and drink Caramel Macchiatos.  Hope it's more comfortable where you are!

Bead Hoarders' Blog Hop

Yes, this is my second blog hop for today.  When the talented Lori Anderson was putting together a new blog hop for Bead Hoarders, I thought, well shoot, I'm gonna have to participate in that.  I'm a bead hoarder.  This is one box of art beads.

 

Just one.  There are more.  I may need help.  There are lovelies in here from Kylie Parry, Menagerie Studio, Gaea, Spirited Earth, Golem Studio, Humblebeads, Tree Wings Studio, Jangles, and many more.  I don't only hoard art beads, I'm an equal opportunity hoarder.  I collect all beads, expensive, cheap, glass, plastic, metal or ceramic, I buy them all.  I store them in little boxes and wait for inspiration to strike. 

 

My first necklace is with all Gaea beads.  I strung them on a simple suede cord and the length is adjustable.

 

This next necklace features a ceramic pendant from Kylie Parry and vintage Lucite beads. 

 

Some more Gaea beads and a cute little owl pendant.  I added two silver leaves I have had for about four years and was saving for something special.

 

Bracelets.  The brown one has a "wisdom" bead from Diane Hawkey, a Jade Scott birdie pendant, a purple bracelet made with a tiny owl clasp, and an orange and teal bracelet with a Humblebeads house and Green Girl Studios flower charm.

 

I have had this heart pendant from Green Girl Studios for awhile, but could never figure out what I wanted to put with it.  I added some multicolored glass beads and yellow suede cord.   

 

I love the unique polymer pendants from Menagerie Studios.  I have had this particular pendant for a couple of years, but was saving it for something special.  This design isn't terribly unique, but very sparkly and wearable.  I think I might give this one to my mom.  

 

And last, but not least, these cute little earrings featuring charms from the Jangles line from Michaels, which I keep stockpiling every time I end up there.

 

Thanks for stopping by, and have fun hopping!! 

Tree Wings Studio Beads

I have been a fan of Rebekah Payne of Tree Wings Studio beads since I saw her sweet sleeping animal beads.  Needless to say, I needed to own some.  Or all.  I have even had a necklace made with one of her rustic pendants in the fall issue of Jewelry Stringing Magazine awhile back.  So when I saw she was having a giveaway with a chance to win some and make something with them, I jumped at the chance.  I was shocked when I won, first time ever.  Here's what I made:

I added a sweet little tassel to the bottom of the polymer clay bead and added some ceramic beads and silver chain.

The bracelet has matching ceramic beads and the clasp is made with a link from the chain.

Thanks for the chance to play with your beads, Rebekah!  Here is the rest of the hop!

Rebekah Payne - http://www.treewingsstudio.com/

Stephanie LaRosa - http://stringaholic.blogspot.com/ ( that's me!)
Kathy Alderfer - http://artfulaccents.blogspot.com/
Kay Thomerson - http://kayzkreationz.blogspot.com/

And so it begins...

I'm trying to soak in the last moments of peace before my eldest gets out of school for the summer. I am kinda dreading having to go to the grocery store with the both of them. I'm very thankful my mom is coming next week to hang out with us. I did manage to pick up some new beads at Joann's the other day. The combo of sale/clearance meant that all of this was about 22 bucks. Including my new favorite beads-neon! I'm seriously smitten with anything neon right now, no idea why. I'll have to post when I use them.

May Artbeadscene Challenge

I think the last time I participated in an Artbeadscene challenge was last May, so I'm probably due for another one. I love this bracelet that I made with a ceramic toggle from Pajego Art House and lots of Czech glass dangles. I thought it worked with the painting from this month. And the prizes this go around are kinda awesome too. Wish me luck!

New Happy Jewelry

Three posts in a row, I'm on a roll. I wanted to show off some new jewelry that I made from some very fun pendants that I bought from Michaels. They are all from the Jennifer Heynan line. I think I may have purchased all of the pieces in the collection-they kept putting them on sale, what was I supposed to do? They are just so fun and they make me happy just by looking at them.

Most of these made their way to my Etsy shop and some are sitting in my jewelry box. :)

Bead Soup - Better Late than Never

So yeah, stomach bug, food poisoning, I don't know, whatever it was came on hard and fast and left me incapacitated. When mama goes down, the whole house is in an uproar and it usually takes a couple of days to get back on track. Anywho, I finally finished my piece. It's not exactly what I pictured, but I kinda like the way it turned out. I used the focal bead on top of a tassel of copper chain ( that tassel was originally supposed to be made with tiny orange beads, but I realized that was not my forte so I switched) added some wooden beads to the orange and white Czech glass and put the clasp on the side with the flower dangling next to it. I hope Michelle likes what I did with her beautiful beads and thanks to Lori for organizing another fun blog party!

Bead Soup Postponed

My Bead Soup reveal is going to have to be postponed due I an unforeseen illness. I hope to have it posted by the beginning of next week. In the meantime, please check out what my partner created at www.michellescreativemusings.blogspot.com.

Happy Hopping!

Bead Soup

I have been remiss in not posting the adorable beads that my partner, Michelle Tucker sent to me for this round of the Bead Soup Party. I will say that it is not my fault and I will blame the taskmaster that is my second son who won't let me alone for a minute to go to the bathroom, much less some time to write.

But, he is sleeping so here are the goods. Lamp work beads handmade by Michelle, white leather, a handmade clasp and coordinating beads in orange and white. In a funny coincidence, I sent the exact same color combo to Michelle. You will have to come back and take a peak on Saturday to see what I made.

New Earrings

I've come to realize that if I cannot do something on my phone instead of the computer, it won't get done. Some of my new favorite apps are Etsy and Blogger. I can actually update them without dragging out my laptop. Lately the baby has been sleeping on a great schedule so I have actually had time to myself. And I've been on an earring kick. Some of these have been uploaded to my etsy store and the rest will be updated shortly. I put my bead soup together to send out to my partner, hope she likes it!!

Also diggin the collage app too. :)

Hello? Is this thing on?

I have a new man in my life. He is the best. Calm, sweet, happy and he takes up a lot of my time. He is the reason I haven't been posting or making jewelry. But I thought it was time to dust off the blog for the annual Bead Soup Blog Hop. I'm so excited to do something creative. It's hard beading with one kid. Add a baby and it is near impossible. I figured I should strive to do more beading this year, because I really do miss it. And maybe the laundry can wait til tomorrow.