Atlanta Jewelry Making Group - Meetup…

I've joined a new Meetup group...The vision for this new group is a monthly gathering for jewelry enthusiasts to get together, make jewelry, teach each other new skills, and eventually come up with a plan to incorporate jewelry-making with giving back to our community. We hope to work with different women's organizations/shelters/non-profits and volunteer our time to teach others our jewelry making skills. I will be sharing my own experiences and tips on selling jewelry on Etsy. If you are in the greater Atlanta area and would like to join the group, please follow the link below to sign up and join our first meeting.

http://www.meetup.com/Atlanta-Jewelry-Making-Group/

Our first meeting will be on the 1st of February at 7:00 PM, at a great little coffee shop in Atlanta. This will be our Kick-off meeting to get to know one another and also discuss our expectations of what we’d like to accomplish each time we meet.

During each meetup, at least one person will show how to make something. At this first meet up, our organizer (Shama) will show how to use a crimp bead and crimp tool to attach clasps to necklaces/bracelets. It might be very basic for many of you, but for those who haven’t made jewelry before, it would be a great starting point.

If you have any connections to an Atlanta area non-profit/shelter that would benefit from voluntary jewelry classes, please share in the comments area below.

Hope to see you there!

Winter Sale Event...

As part of my “fresh start” effort this year, I am cleaning out the clutter and releasing some of the baggage that has been weighing me down. I mean this figuratively and literally. I get this yearning to lighten the load about every 5 years.



Examples of items currently On Sale in my shop.



So, to jump-start my effort I’m reorganizing my jewelry studio and offering 15% off the price of everything in my Etsy shop. That’s right…everything. I need to make space for my new materials and direction I want to take with my Etsy shop. I love making lampwork beads; I’m just ready to try something new this year.

I hope you can take advantage of the sale….Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day are just around the corner. Sale ends at 5:00 PM EST Tuesday January 31st.

I won the lottery!

Yippee, I was selected (by lottery) to participate in the 5th Bead Soup Blog Party!

Here’s the scoop; each jewelry designer is paired with another jewelry designer and tasked with sending their partner the following:

• - A focal
• - A special clasp (not just a lobster claw)
• - Some coordinating spacers or beads

 Using the focal and the clasp is mandatory, but I can use anything from my own stash to come up with a design for the event. My partner for this event is: Maria Rosa Sharrow from Willow Street Shops.

 

I’m curious to find out what she will be sending me….her materials and designs are very different from my jewelry designs.

My finished design from the 4th Bead Soup Blog Party.

But that’s the point of this event, the idea is to help you think outside the box and work outside your normal comfort zone, pushing you into creative directions you may never have gone. I’m sending Maria Rose a package of goodies I would love to use in a jewelry design challenge. I hope she likes them!

 

I’ll keep you posted on our progress….

Looking for inspiration in new places....



Ask a painter for a great idea in "Red and White", and you’ll get an answer that involves paint. Ask a quilter for that great idea in red and white, and you’ll get a solution that involves sewing. Ask a scrap booker for the same great idea, and you’ll get a solution that involves scissors.

We’re all a product of our experience, but I find the creative limitations I have are self-imposed. They are false limits. Only when I force myself to look past projects that I’m good at or feel comfortable with, can I come up with the new creative ideas that I’m looking for.



My Jewlery on Etsy - http://www.etsy.com/shop/LorisGlassworks?ref=si_shop

By experience I’m a bead maker (lampwork) and jewelry designer. Lately I’ve felt creatively sluggish. I’m trying to be more open to everything creative. Stepping outside my comfort zone and studying how those in unrelated areas do what they do. What seems impossible today may seem surprisingly doable tomorrow. Etsy has been a great road map to new creativity. Here are some creative projects found on Etsy that I’d like to try…..

This year I’d like to learn how to knit. Every time I see an adorable photo like the one above, I long for the talent to make cute little bear hats. I learned to knit when I was a teenager, but had many distractions competing for my attention. I’d like to give it another go.

This year I’d also like to learn how to watercolor. I’ve always been attracted to the soft images and the muted colors of watercolors. I have tried to paint in the past but ended up with a muddy brown mess on the paper. I think I need a basics class.

Remember playing in the mud? Ceramics is a great outlet for the urge to get back into mud. I was a master mud pie maker, maybe I have talent for ceramics. Love the container above.

This spring I’d like to add some planters to the terrace. I’d love to learn how to use power tools to create designs like the planter featured above. Home Depot has a Do-it-Herself class, I think I'll join the power tool class.

If you recognize this creativity slump in yourself, don’t fret. In fact, rejoice! Knowing that it’s your own opinion holding you back is the first step toward breaking down the barriers of creativity.

How about you? What stifles your creativity? Let us know in the comments how you’ve handled it.

Items Featured in this Blog Post:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/88036613/original-impasto-white-tulips-on-red-and

http://www.etsy.com/listing/86464461/antique-palm-turkey-red-quilt-handmad
http://www.etsy.com/listing/89130272/30-large-lace-heart-die-cuts-red-white

http://www.etsy.com/shop/LorisGlassworks?ref=si_shop

For the Love of Barns....

#10 Logging My Favorites

This is the tenth installment of a ongoing log of my favorite things. Once a month I will post a favorite. It might be a person, or a place, or even an event. Hopefully it will help you get to know me a little better. I'd love your comments and I hope to make some connections through our mutual enjoyment of these treasures.

 

I love old barns; if you've ever driven through a rural area, it's likely that you've seen barns standing watch over the landscape. Have you ever taken the time to take a closer look at the barns as you travel the country side, or stop and walk through one?  

When a family farmed to subsist and feed their livestock, understanding of the soil and awareness of nature were essential parts of rural life. This fertile lifestyle inspired barns and outbuildings of solid grace - - structures that reflect the regional character with original designs by innovative builders.

I didn’t grow up on a farm, but I did have access to the barns of family members in Indiana. I experienced many things in the barn. I watched animals being born, smelled the scent of fresh hay, milked the cows, shared secrets with my friends, and developed a love of nature. 

 Old barns were typically made of timber, and stone barns were built in certain areas where stone was a cheaper construction material. There are many different types of barns, namely horse barns, pole barns, carriage barns, etc. I find them all beautiful and each barn is unique. 

Why are most barns red?  There are several theories as to why barns are painted red, but in historically accurate terms, ready made paints were not available.  Farmers made their own red paint by adding ferrous oxide to the traditional mix of paint ingredients:  lime, linseed oil and milk to create their own version of long lasting red paint that acted as a quick drying wood preservative.

 Population explosion and the rise of agribusiness have caused the rapid disappearance of the small "family owned" farm. Unfortunately the need for these traditional structures has drawn to a close. What remains is an endangered species of splendid buildings that offer functional beauty and purity of design that once characterized the Farm way of life. 

Even though restoration of old houses is popular today, most barns of equal architectural merit and age have been ignored and seemed doomed. Yet people who take the time to befriend old barns will find that they hold many secrets, each one has its own charm and mystery.

 Adaptive use is the key to their preservation. For these proud structures to remain on any landscape their value must be recognized and adaptive new uses must be found. A small percentage of barns across the country have been lovingly restored and re-purposed to fit today’s needs.  The barn pictured above has been Turned into a lovely home.  I love old barns and I don’t want to see them disappear.

Next time you see an old barn off in the distance--close your eyes for a moment and imagine the laughter and tears echoing within.  Oh yes....I love old barns!

To see my Pinterest collection of fabulous photos - Barns Great and Small - click here.

Or cut and paste this address into your browser:
http://pinterest.com/lorisglassworks/barns-great-and-small/

Lower the resolution bar...

Every New Year I make one or two resolutions.  I try to make them very-doable so I’m successful.  I found some easy suggestions listed below and thought I’d share them with you. With any one of these simple resolutions you could easily get in better shape and slow the aging process THIS year for a younger, more vibrant you. Take a look and see if one or more of these 2012 resolutions might appeal to you.

1.)   Up the Dietary Ante Little By Little -- Completely overhauling your diet all at once is hardly ever manageable unless you’re extremely motivated. For most of us, making small changes, one at a time, is more likely to result in a long-term improvement in our diet. Decide on one improvement you are going to make to your diet in 2012. It could be as simple as adding a daily dark leafy green vegetable, putting the salt shaker away or substituting water or tea for your afternoon soda. I’m going to cut bread out of my dinner menu.

 2.)  Keep in Touch -- Each day, send a note or an e-mail to an old friend you haven't been in contact with for quite a while, just to say, "Hi!, how are you, I'm thinking of you, remember when we...?" By the end of the year you'll have brought a smile to the face of friends, acquaintances and family members.  It is well known that staying socially active is one of the ways to stay youthful. 

3.)  Attempt Something New -- Do something new and different each and every day. It could be as simple as driving a new route to the store, visiting and exploring a new website, or trying a new recipe. On the other hand, it could be something more ambitious, like taking up a new hobby or traveling to a country or state you've never visited. 

4.)  Huff and Puff and ---Decide you are going to enjoy an aerobic activity that gets you out of breath, or at least breathing deeply. During your walk, for example, make sure there is a hill or steps in the middle of your session that makes you huff and puff as you climb. When we perform a physical activity for as little as 10 seconds, it signals the release of human growth hormone (Hgh) from the pituitary gland, Hgh will start the process of repair and regeneration of cells to fight free-radical damage and reverse the general aging of the cells of the body and brain. IMPORTANT: Always check with your health-care professional to make sure it is safe for you to perform strenuous exercise.

5.)   Exercise Your Mind -- Decide that in 2012 you will enjoy a mentally challenging game each day. It could be a crossword puzzle, Sudoku, KenKen or one of several other puzzle choices. If you don't have time to devote to solving one of these time-consuming mental games each day because of your very busy schedule, then take two or more days to complete the game. Just make sure to put in at least five minutes each day in working toward the solution. Your dendrites and axons will thank you with a sharp mind in the decades to come.

 

 There you have it. Five simple steps you can take to make 2012 your best year ever. Any one of these resolutions can be easily achieved -- a resolution you can keep for the whole year for a younger, more vital you. Or maybe you have your own idea of an easy-to-do New Year's Resolution that's just right for you in 2012. Please share your ideas…Happy New Year!

Trim the Tree...

It’s time to trim the tree and put up decorations! I love doing this, but for some members of my family, it sounds like an unpleasant task. So, here are some ways that make our Christmas decorating less complicated. Maybe they will help you too.

Rule #1: we don’t go overboard. Sure, seeing our neighbors home turned into a winter wonderland is enjoyable, but doing it ourselves is a lot of work! You don’t have to make huge displays to enjoy the holidays. In fact, sometimes the simple Christmas tree and a wreath look better. We go for simple and elegant, not over-the-top and gaudy. Don’t get mired down in a battle with your neighbor over who has the biggest holiday display.

Rule #2: we make it fun. Get the entire family involved. Kids love hanging ornaments and helping decorate. It can bring the family closer together and create wonderful memories.

Rule #3: we make it special. Get special, individual ornaments for each family member to hang, and use heirloom ornaments if you have any. Using decorations handed down through family is a great way of honoring the memories of those who aren’t here to enjoy the holidays.

Rule #4: we try to keep it all organized. This rule mainly applies when we’re taking down the decorations. Don’t just throw it all in a box and put it in the attic for another year. Get a divided box for ornaments and try to bundle your lights. You’ll be thankful next year when it’s less of a chore to sort it all out.

Rule #5: we try to be creative! You don’t have to do things the same way every holiday season. Try having a theme this year if you haven’t done that. Make your own ornaments with your kids (popcorn chains and edible ornaments). Put your Christmas tree in a different place and move the furniture. Use some of your ornaments to decorate the dinner table. The possibilities are endless!

Christine Heidema of Christmas Creation has lovely hand beaded ornaments in her Etsy shop. I just love the intricate detail and the beads selected for each design. They are very beautiful and sure to become family heirlooms passed down over time. Check out her work, it's wonderful. Happy Trimming!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/52788506/christmas-queens-diamond-beaded
http://www.etsy.com/listing/59082179/candy-cane-christmas-tree-beaded
http://www.etsy.com/listing/52250275/the-victorian-diamond-beaded-christmas



 

 

I've got Cabin Fever!

For years we have been saving to purchase a cabin in the woods. We are not yet ready to move forward on that adventure, but I've been collecting photos of what I'd like the interior to look like when our cabin is finished. I must have 'Cabin Fever' today, I just spent a couple of hours searching through Etsy Shops for the perfect accessories for the master bedroom. Take a peek at what I found.

This is the inspiration photo for our master bedroom...

I love the look of this room, I just need a little more color and pattern.  Here is what I selected for the table lamp and the fireplace tools...

 http://www.etsy.com/listing/86404209/braided-iron-fireplacehearth-tool-set

 http://www.etsy.com/listing/82916963/table-lamp-ceramic-21-tiers-in-light

I love this throw blanket and a small rug for in front of the bed...

http://www.etsy.com/listing/87468000/car-and-carriage-quilt-crossroads

http://www.etsy.com/listing/72607198/vintage-1930s-navajo-hand-woven-wool-rug

The final touch will be throw pillows for on the bed and chairs... 

 http://www.etsy.com/listing/84595267/awesome-embroidered-fabric-both-sides-20

 http://www.etsy.com/listing/78528419/contemporary-olive-throw-pillow-covers

 http://www.etsy.com/listing/48117561/earthy-affair-throw-pillow-covers-16x16

http://www.etsy.com/listing/83549786/olive-branch-18x18-inches-throw-pillow

 

I just love shopping on Etsy! What do you think of my choices? We're looking forward to the move!  

 

 

Holiday Shipping...

A fellow artist mentioned that the price of shipping supplies is becoming outrageous for their framed art; luckily I’ve always managed to find cheap materials. While some of the following ideas don’t really support the ‘handmade’ mentality, they do help cut the cost of packaging:

1.  Try your local dollar shop for packs of bubble envelopes, mailing labels, packing tape and bubble wrap. The big chains seem to have the best selection at the lowest prices but do keep in mind that since dollar stores have a little bit of everything, you may need to try more than one location to get the amount of materials you need for a holiday seasons worth of shipping.
2.  Another great source of lower priced shipping materials (while not as cheap as a dollar store) would come from places like Wal-Mart and Target. While they don’t have prices as low as dollar stores, they usually have larger pack sizes (think envelopes in packs of 10 and gigantic rolls of bubble wrap) and more stock on hand meaning you don’t need to try more than one location to get everything you need.
3. Visit the after holiday sale event, for tissue paper, tags, boxes and ribbon during this time you can find super discounted pricing on packing supplies and boxes.
4.  Also, try your local shipping offices and see if they have any cheap shipping supplies. While most are overpriced, some shippers do offer very cheap supplies online to get you to use their online shipping tools, it’s worth checking into.

 I’m lucky - mailing jewelry is far easier and cheaper than mailing most other types of artwork. Most of my items are small, lightweight, fit in the smallest size shipping box and can be sent with a relatively small amount of postage. I hope this little list helps reduce your shipping cost!

 

 

 

Use a Coaster Dude!



Felt Coasters

We entertain a good bit and always start with drinks and appetizers in the living room. Our friends and family are generally well mannered and always respectfully of our home with one exception, the use of drink coasters. When guests dress up for an evening at our house, they’re expecting a sophisticated event: superb food, a relaxing atmosphere, great conversation, fine china... the works.



Red Elm Coasters

Our home is not a lofty castle, but it is our little castle. I’ve read that lack of respect for belongings is similar to dragging one's cashmere coat through the mud--the idea that if you can afford it, you can afford to have it maintained, abused, neglected, or replaced. Honestly, I can't afford to be cavalier about ruining the furniture. I love entertaining and enjoy our guests, I just wish they would be more mindful of where they leave their cocktail glasses and always use a coaster.



Fused Glass Coasters



Etsy has hundreds of fun, funky, and traditional coasters; I think I’ll purchase some before the holidays. All coasters pictured in this blog are available for sale. Just click on each picture to see the Etsy listing. Thanks for stopping by…cheers!



Very Cute Bear Rug Coasters

 

Postcards a Lost Art….

Today I received a postcard in the mail, my only traditional postcard in more than a decade. It wasn’t an invitation, “Save the Date” or “We’ve Moved” card; it was a picture postcard from a friend traveling in Greece. I must confess receiving the card thrilled me. This piece of snail mail, possibly left at the reception desk of a hotel, dropped in a mailbox, or taken to the local post office, made its mysterious and most likely grueling journey by truck, train, donkey—or whatever it was— and finally by plane to Atlanta. Postcards are indeed a lost art.



The terrific thing about postcards was and still is their vast variety. The possibilities are endless: the Eiffel Tower, Carlsbad Caverns, or any other famous tourist attraction. It could have a picture of a donkey wearing a sombrero, the champion hog at the Iowa state fair, or even a kitschy motel in Kalamazoo. Almost every business in this country, from a funeral home to a fancy resort and spa, had a postcard once upon a time. Today postcards are no longer a first-class marketing tool. We use the phone or internet to communicate; sadly postcards have become rare beyond tourist attractions.

I believe that postcards then and now contain masterpieces of minimalist verbal art; since unlike letters, postcards provide a brief and concise glimpse into someone’s life. It marks a brief moment in time when the writer thought enough of you to share their journey. I love postcards and I will make a greater effort to keep the tradition alive for myself and loved ones. I hope you will too.

Here are some great postcard sets that I found on Etsy.

 http://www.etsy.com/listing/74433387/postcard-set-paris-green-paris-photo

http://www.etsy.com/listing/73582247/scripture-art-delightful-postcards-set

Hundreds of creative postcards are for sale in many Esty shops; make someone's day by sending a handwritten postcard. It only takes a minute or two..... Cheers!

High Heels + Camping = Glamping!

Mention “camping” at a cocktail party and people bump into each other scurrying away with the sudden need to refresh their drink. Mention “glamping” and suddenly you’ve got an audience.

If the eco-friendly idea of falling asleep under the stars and roasting marshmallows around a campfire appeals to you, but the reality of pitching a tent and sleeping on bumpy ground does not, glamping, the new term being used for upscale — or glamorous — camping, could be your ideal green vacation.



Kelly Moore's Glamping Tent Design

I want to correct the misconception that camping is still about fighting bugs in a leaky tent with two sticks for fire and a tin of Spam. Glamping usually means a tent large enough to walk through replaces the pup tent, cozy bedding takes the place of the sleeping bag, a nice rug covers the cold plastic floor or even a hardwood floor, and campers use real barware instead of Dixie cups. In short, it’s more comfortable, civilized camping. Face it, we’re all getting older. Our fuse for tolerating the heat and bugs and lack of comfy slippers is short.



From the Glamping Girl Blog

Despite the fact that glamping is dismissed by hard-core leave-no-trace campers (who don’t so much as move a rock for fear of affecting the area), glamping can be an environmentally sound outdoor experience. It allows people who wouldn’t normally go camping to experience the beauty and joy of nature. I believe that once you have slept under the starry sky, you become more appreciative and protective of nature, instead of being distant and alienated from it. Glamping allows the chance to enjoy an eco-conscious back-to-nature vacation with the comforts of a classy hotel.



One of the Tents at the Clayoquot Wilderness Resort

Don’t misunderstand — glamorous camping can be expensive. Really expensive. For instance, in the summer months two adults can pay about $8,500 to spend three nights in a tent at the Clayoquot Wilderness Resort (http://www.wildretreat.com/) in British Columbia, Canada. The all-inclusive price of admission includes flights from Vancouver to the resort on a remote fjord, gourmet meals, drinks, massage treatments, horseback riding, fishing, whale and bear watching, kayaking, sailing, clay shooting, rock climbing, mountain biking and nifty day trips.

As heavenly as all of that may sound, a trip like that may not quite be in your budget for next year. Is it possible to go glamping closer to home for much less money? The answer to that question is a resounding yes. Check out the picture below....a standard tent transformed into to a cozy glamping space complete with rugs on the floor, cozy bed, and a convenient wash stand.

Jan's old tent transformed into a classy glamping retreat.

Basically, it all boils down to putting plenty of thought into the food, drinks, bedding and other comforts you feel like bringing along with you into the great outdoors. You can actually make car-camping incredibly glamorous, and if sleeping in a tent doesn’t appeal to you, you can make yourself and your loved ones quite comfortable in a cabin, cottage, yurt, tipi, VW bus, vintage Airstream trailer — or, heck, even a covered wagon is available.

I did a bit of research and found some great locations for a glamping adventure in the US; check it out and let me know your thoughts….Is glamping for you?

• WOW! - Resort at Paws Up http://www.pawsup.com/glamping/creekside-camp.php in Montana
• Cozy - Costanoa http://www.costanoa.com/site.php in California.

• Adventure - Teton Covered Wagon Adventures http://tetonwagontrain.com/ in Wyoming.

• Whimsical - The Martyn House http://themartynhouse.com/bed-breakfast/ in Georgia.

• Bathroom in Tent - Sinya on Lone Man Creek http://hillcountrysinya.com/About_us.html in Texas.

• Family - Black Canyon Ranch http://www.blackcanyonwildliferanch.com/Glamping.html  in Colorado.

Tutorial: $6 Solution to Jewelry Photography

I’m sure you’ve read countless articles about taking great pictures for your Etsy shop.  Today, while I was browsing my favorite blogs, I came across an easy to follow tutorial for taking pictures of your Jewelry.  I’ve learned that photographing jewelry has its own unique set of problems; diminished light and shadow, reflection, out of the ordinary iridescence, and small details, making the process harder than other types of photography.  And don’t even get me started on photographing Pearls!  The tutorial written by “Via U!  It’s your shot”  gives an easy and inexpensive way to get great pictures of your product.

The Tutorial below is published with the consent of: Via U! 

A window and a piece of cardboard is all you’ll need to take pictures of silver jewelry with brilliant, even tones....

1.) Move a table as close to a window as you can.

2.) Make sure that the top of the table is a higher than the window sill.

 

3.) Tape a piece of tracing paper to the window. Sunny or cloudy skies, the paper will make light coming in to be even and soft. Hang the paper so it goes down below the table.

 
 
 

4.) When using white paper as a background put something white underneath to avoid the table coming through making it look dark.

 

 

 

 
 

5.) I used a 2’ x 2’ piece of foamcore to bounce back light from the window, you can use anything that stands upright without bending. A piece of cardboard covered with sheets of white paper will work great.

6.) Light will reflect from the white card and from the white surface as well.

7.) Silver is like a mirror, it shows whatever is around. The light and white paper will reflect on the metal making it look light and shiny.

8.) If you pull the white card away from the window it will create a dark area that will also reflect on the jewelry.

9.) Different tones of silver make a picture have more depth. You may like the way it looks, or you may not. If you prefer the silver to have even tones make sure that the card is flashed against the window.



 

10.) However, if you do want your background to have a gradation of tones try replacing the white card with a black one. Blocking the light will create a shadow with a clear edge.

11.) Then you can play placing your jewelry where the background shifts from light to dark to see what happens.