Etsy BeadWeavers: Voting for the December Challenge Simon & Garfunkel "Songs of Inspiration"

Etsy BeadWeavers: Voting for the December Challenge Simon & Garfunkel "Songs of Inspiration"

I'm trying to learn other ways to link to sites. I would like to post the picture grid here, but I've only succeeded in taking you to the site at the bottom of the entry so if you scroll up to the top you can see to vote IF you click on the lower title above. Another computer thing I need to work on.

Please visit and vote for your favorite entry.

I was in college when Simon and Garfunkel became popular, so I know most all the songs from way back. If you have a favorite tune, please share it with us in the comments.

I'll get back to writing soon; I put my photography equipment away when I cleaned for Thanksgiving--mistake to put it away, not to clean.

Do I Create or Worry If It Will Sell?

It has been almost two weeks since I've posted here. I've been making items for consignment, always with the lowest possible price in my mind so that the shops will be able to sell it. It feels like production work.

You can view the inventory I left on consignment at the Chicago Illinois Artisan Shop on my flickr site. http://www.flickr.com/KRDesigns11 It is in a set which is with other sets on the right hand side as you arrive on the page. If you click on the slide show, it won't take very long to see 15 images. The items I made are well constructed and beautiful, but far from the price points needed to be an impulse purchase or gift for most women, especially in today's economy. I have been given the gift to be able to make these bracelets, yet they are no longer satisfying something inside me.

I long to create a truly one of a kind piece...the EBW Challenge is due soonish and the Muse has yet to visit me with an inkling of inspiration for it. Oh, I can see the colors...there is dark green, emerald? It's a vintage European Christmas item....

Last Christmas I asked for and received a book on micro macrame because I want to explore it further; I purchased parts to practice the techniques, but I've yet to sit down and try it. I have green ivy leaves and red round crystals for holly berries to make a micro macrame bracelet that I purchased last year...so those UFOs are haunting me, too. Speaking of UFOs, I want to set up a tray with them, displayed so that I can see them several times a day. Where do I start?

So the question of what do I offer for sale for holiday gifts goes on the back burner. The UFOs will be worked on as I can. My priority will be to learn more about micro macrame. That means I need to find the things I set aside for this activity, so cleaning my work space hopefully will clear my mind. Maybe I will find the beads for the EBW Challenge item!

EBW Challenge Voting, Latest Project

The voting on the Etsy Beadweaver's blog is in process with a record turnout for the vote with almost 700 votes so far. It continues until Sunday midnight. The leading entry is by bead4me; this entry not only uses a lot of Swarovski crystals but is woven in 24k gold beads which are expensive to use. There are about 50 entries with the votes distributed among the entries instead of a couple of run away winners. I even have a record high of 7 votes for 1%; my personal best in ebw challenges. The link to vote is to the right; remember to click on the names below the mosaic to get the details of the entries. The mosaic is just to entice you to look further. Enjoy!

The photos are in process of my current project. I purchased some Peace Jasper, wrapped thread around and through the round coin bead that is the focal point and have worked out in brick stitch in a free form pattern of a variety of beads. The colors are from another of Margie Deeb's Fall Winter Color Report palates using Endive, Rose dust and Purple Orchid. The bracelet needs the second strap lengthened, a clasp created and the picot fringe added. I'm thinking I'll order size 15 seed beads in a color other than the green I started to use for the picots, so it may be a week or more before the bracelet is completed.

New Listings

The photos are of recent listings in my etsy shop. If you want to see more pictures, you can also go to my flickr site which is listed under my favorite sites on the right side of my blog.

It is time for the August Etsy Beadweaver's Challenge entries to be listed; the voting starts on the 9th. I'll remind you to vote when it's time. The team has had lots of new members and there are more entries this month. Harder to choose your favorite. My entry is simple this month; it's the cream pearl, crystal ab with gold charlottes bracelet shown here. The theme is Silver and Gold. Next month, it's Bollywood. Help! I have no idea what the person who selected that topic was thinking of, so I'll probably create something I want to make and say it's for that theme. Everyone knows I won't win and I've not known anyone to be disqualified for not creating on topic. I need to google Bollywood.

I'm still working on the necklace/bracelet set in Margie Deeb's purple shade fall colors (one of too many palates to try them all). The bracelet was pronounced finished this afternoon, but the necklace needs some work yet. I will include it in my next batch of pictures. I know why I don't normally make sets--it seems to take forever doing the same/similar thing.

Etsy Beadweavers Team Challenge Voting Now

Please go to www.etsy-beadweavers.blogspot.com to pick your favorite entry in the current monthly challenge, Secret Gardens and vote for it. The list below the grid of pictures has links to each entrants etsy shop so you can check out all the details. Voting is from July 9 thru July 15.

My entry is my cobalt blue and gold free form bracelet. I would appreciate your vote, but want you to vote for your favorite and there are many worthy choices. So have fun.

I have been working on a cellini spiral bangle which has not been working out as well as the others I've made. On a favorable recommendation, I tried Toho's One G thread. While it has many admirable qualities, I don't think it is strong enough as I've had the thread break a couple of times and not where I knotted. It doesn't fray unless it breaks and is much thinner making it easier to thread the needle. It is supposed to be as strong as fireline. If anyone has comments on One G thread or knows what I'm doing wrong, please comment to let me know. I switched to my old favorite, nymo so I can complete the bangle.

Supplies to complete things have arrived in the mail this week. I'm not sure how much I can work on because I need to prepare for the Art Spree next week.

Status Update

I'm being drawn away from beading by my family. I did shop for seed beads at my local bead store--the one with the Venetian beads--to correct my poor choices of colors I ordered on line.

I started my latest cellini spiral bangle bracelet which I will probably place on consignment at TLDDesigns.com gallery in Westmont, Illinois. I will put a picture of it here. The colors I chose are sapphire blue transparent in two sizes, purple in two sizes with a lighter purple in size 15, a metallic rainbow green/blue in size 8, green blue and blue topaz transparent in size 11, and turquoise transparent charlottes in size 13 and 15 for a total of 16 beads in each spiral--some are repeated. The colors were inspired by a collage by JoAnn Deck which you can see if you follow the link to her blog on my blog. The TLD Design center & gallery is also a link on my blog.

I'm hoping working alternately on finishing up items with the spiral will lower the monotony of the repeats on the spiral bracelet. It has taken me two full days worth of beading to complete one in the past. I'm finishing a Swarovski bronze pearl, ceylon topaz crystal flat spiral bracelet currently. It has the same colors as the keshi pearl edged bracelet at www.etsy.com/listing/49536225 I also have to figure out something to enter in the EBW Team challenge Secret Garden.

New Listing

I listed my Swarovski and Pearl Bronze Bracelet tonight. I love the iridescence and irregularity of the keshi pearls woven along the edges. I don't usually like beige things, but the colors seem quite pleasant to me. The Ceylon topaz crystals are in the middle with bronze pearls on either side. The connector beads are cream, eggshell and a crystal ab with gold inside tiny seed beads in three sizes. It has the chevrons in cream and like all my flat spiral bracelets is reversible. I previewed this bracelet in my photos yesterday.

I completed a Swarovski Light Cream Rose Pearl Bracelet this afternoon and will photograph it for my next listing. I'm learning the subtle nuances of white, cream, cream rose, light cream rose, etc. to help in the bridal white section in my shop. I'm featuring pearls to honor all the June birthdays!

The end of voting on the Etsy Beadweavers Blog for the June challenge is almost over with bead4me the front runner with 23% of the vote. Be sure to check out this stunning bead work. http://www.etsy.com/listing/48781443/ooak-lava-flow-sculptural-beadwork I think she won two months ago and was able to choose the theme. Her efforts on the challenges are always outstanding.

Treasury East with June Challenge Entries

I created a Treasury East tonight with entries to the Etsy Beadweaver's June Challenge, Phenomenon. There are more than 16 entries so be sure to go to the team's blog on June 9 (I'll remind you to vote) to see the remaining entries. As always, there are difficult choices. Next month's theme is Secret Garden which should be delightful as some members have the ability to create realistic flowers from beads...I am in awe.

June Etsy Beadweaver's Challenge Entry

I decided to do a more playful theme for the Phenomenon challenge. This necklace is called Rolling Snowballs. The stitch, dutch spiral, reminds me of rolling a snow ball, stopping to pack it together and then rolling some more. The spiral is an increasing number of white iris charlotte beads that are loose, with several other beads that are connected in peyote style. The top portion of the necklace is strung white Swarovski pearls and crystal moonlight and crystal ab Swarovski crystals in rounds and bicone shapes. This necklace is 24 inches long. It is white and crystal ab. I'm thinking of doing a bridal and special occasion section in my etsy shop. Taking the pictures was somewhat of a challenge with white and depth of field to get the entire necklace in focus; the skinny one is taken almost vertical while the other is flat focusing on the center front of the necklace. The skinny one is most in focus for the entire necklace. When I photographed it on white, I had some shadows which were cooler than the necklace!

Gone Beading

Taking a day off from blogging to complete EBW Challenge for May due tomorrow.

Pictures tomorrow!

Earrings

I did some photo editing tonight as I was running out of images to post for the April earring promotion. I think these are lovely for spring and summer as they are light in color--crystals are Swarovski black diamond ab and the corrugated round sterling silver bead seems to resist tarnish nicely. I'm liking the black diamond ab color, so next time I order beads, I'll have to make something with them. Maybe I should add the three strand flat spiral bracelet to my shop, but I think it has black charlottes connecting the crystals.

Today is the first day of voting for the etsy beadweavers April challenge. http://etsy-beadweavers.blogspot.com/ My entry is number 30, Dancing with the Sky. Scroll beneath the group photo to find the listing by number where you can click on the item and go to the shop to see and read the details. This is my first time participating, so I am just happy to have created a lovely bracelet in time to enter. Voting continues thru April 15, so you have time--anyone can vote. Being from the Chicago suburbs I'm not sure if you can vote more than once

I have also worked on my Use the Muse entry which is due Monday. I'm not liking the components in the kit and think I have only used size 15 black seed beads from it so far. The Muse is required. The style is different for me--a choker with dangles from it.

Earrings Promotion

This is the latest pair of earrings in my April promotion. I think my next promotion will only last one week. The purpose of this one is to motivate me to finish photographing all of my inventory. The earrings are especially time consuming because there are so many of them.

This morning I purchased a spot in the Mothers Day showcase on two different days. This will be my first experience with advertising on etsy. I would have purchased a spot for the etsy beadweavers challenge voting, but they were all taken already. I've learned to purchase a spot when I list my entry.

The challenge voting is from 4/9 thru 4/15. It is on the beadweaver's blog. The Facebook page for the beadweavers has each entry listed where you can click on the photo to go to the creators shop. Facebook has some nicer features than blogspot. My entry is Dancing with the Sky which you can find by clicking on the item listed under my blog banner. My description includes where to vote details. There are many choices.