Wrapping up the Bead Show

by Staci Louise Smith

After endless bead making, and posting about bead making- the Berks Bead Bazzar is here and gone.  It was a fabulous time, as always!

I was happy with how my booth turned out, I ended up with a lot more beads then fit on the 6' table!  So I had to stack and be creative.  I used my folding book shelves on part of the table, and then used a shelf the hubs made me- but I altered it to be higher.  I added a crate on the other side as well.  I made the shelf higher and removed the slats from the back of the crate to allow me to see my customers better.  Everything is so high once you use table risers!

Since my beads are unusual, I like to have lots of jewelry samples so people can envision them in actual jewelry.  

Diana of Suburban Girl Studio was my neighbor.  Her booth looked sharp, I love her magazine display!!!  

Jenny Davis-Reazor was next to her - her booth is always full of magical fun.  I like that she labels things...so organized!

Next to her were Patti Cahill and Joan Miller

So it was nice, we had a great section of Artisans all together- (but there were many many more!!)

Even my lovely daughter had a little table, thanks to Joan Miller for thinking of her!

I was certainly a proud mama!  I even walked away a couple times and found her explaining my beads to my customers for me!  What a great little helper! (and she is only 9)

I came home with some great goodies- as always.

(show and tell time)

i got a nice tray of art beads- including an order from Marsha Neal Studio that takes up most of the tray!  Top right corner is some great Suburban Girl studio beads, top middle is Joan Miller, Top right is Jenny Davis-Reazor (she made the fox!!!) 

I also couldn't resist Grep Graup's bin of odd cabs.  You know odd and unusual is where i live in my designs!

(the grey druzies in the bottom left corner were from Mamania)

I had another tray full for the boys, who don't get to come with me.  They LOVE the cool rocks I find them in Greg's stash!

I also found a GREAT deal on pearls at Mamania's.  As well as some other gemstone strands.

I think that about wraps it up.  I am totally inspired now and cannot wait to catch up on things so I can make jewelry with my new beads.  Now its time to start getting ready for jewelry show season.

If you are interested, I am will be posting trays of beads up for sale on my facebook page later today, and listing in etsy early next week.  I have lots left to offer to all of you who couldn't make it to the show.

Diana is also listing some beads today or tomorrow in her etsy shop, so check in for new art beads.

Thanks for letting me go on and on about the show!  It was certainly consuming all my time and brain power.  I am slowing switching gears- back to jewelry and other art!

Finding the Zen in my Work

by Staci L. Smith

I love what I do.  I really do.  However, it is still work, and there are times I just want a day off.  Or I don't want to paint another bead!!!!  Or edit another picture!

But last week, as I was carving my black beads, and doodling on my Zen Doodle Beads, and drawing tiny details on my scrimshaw beads, I realized, that is my happy place.  That is my zen.  I could carved and draw patterns and doodles for hours on end, and still want to do more when I am done.

I never really understood zen until I found it painting my studio floor.  I am sure I still don't fully understand, but to me, it was my zen.

(remember this?)

It really was sort of meditative to me.  My mind is always on overdrive.  I am not one who can clear it, or relax by just sitting.  I cannot focus while still.

I found if my hands are moving, my mind is more clear.  I only think about the lines, the flow, the feel. 

As I painted my floor last year, I painted designs into it that made me thing of friends and family, and as I painted, I said little prayers for them in my mind.

So as I was in the throws of endless bead production this week, it felt good to realize how much I love this aspect, because I think we all get into slumps at times.

(painting and painting and painting and painting)

Its nice to have that one thing that is relaxing, yet keeps you working.  Eventually, creative energy, a spark, motivation, will follow. 

I particularly loved carving.  My body did not quite agree with me, (tendonitis) but it recovered quickly enough. 

(side note on carving beads, they are small and it is hard or near impossible to not cut toward yourself.  I borrowed this finger guard from my son, and it really sped up production.  and its definitely more relaxing when you are not worried about cutting yourself the whole time)

Then, drawing these scrimshaw like beads, I was in heaven. I even made an extra batch, just so I could mindlessly draw more!!!!

Then, my floor inspired doodles, which are bigger and more bold then my scrimshaw ones....they allow the whimsical nature to come through.  

Now, when I have a stressful day, I wish I could just doodle all over the house, until my walls are non-stop art, filled with my therapy!  Maybe I can just start with one wall................maybe...............

So, what is your zen?  Your happy place?  Do you find it while you are doing something?  Or do you have quiet time to refresh and inspire you?



Boot Camp: Asymmetry in Design

by Staci Louise Smith

Design is a topic that is near and dear to my heart.  Design is what makes or breaks a piece jewelry.  You can make a piece of jewelry with perfect execution, but if it doesn't have a good design, it fails to WOW and stand out in the vast ocean that is jewelry!!!!

necklace by jamie jo fisher
https://www.etsy.com/listing/129508517/green-olive-green-acid-green-oxidized?ref=favs_view_12

We have all made them too, that necklace or bracelet or earrings that we thought we would love, but we look at it, saying, what is wrong? I just don't like it.  It's the design.  Something fails to carry your eye through it, or excite you enough to keep your attention. 

So for this boot camp, we want to tackle the ever more popular Asymmetrical Design.  It is probably the most challenging type of design- for many reasons.  It is not a new concept, though I really see it spreading through the art jewelry world like wild fire.  After all, art mimics nature, and nature is certainly not symmetrical.  

asymmetrical earrings by pipnmolly
https://www.etsy.com/listing/121586245/asymmetrical-pair-earrings?ref=favs_view_2

Some of the things we will cover in this Boot Camp is playing with shape, color and texture- and using them to create balance within an asymmetrical piece.

We will also go over balance- both visually, and physically.  There is nothing more disappointing then making an asymmetrical piece that doesn't hang right when you wear it.

Nat Art Jewelry
https://www.etsy.com/listing/177677505/minimalist-black-leather-cord-necklace?ref=shop_home_active_3

We will cover balance in earrings, bracelets and necklaces!  

I know that some people are absolutely drawn to asymmetry in art, and others are VERY symmetrical people.  For some people, creating a piece that is not symmetrical comes naturally.  For those of you, we hope to give you some tips to make your designs even better.  For those of you who notice every bead that doesn't match the next, we are encouraging you to break that mold and give asymmetry a try. 

So please join us each Monday, to join in.  We encourage you to share what you are making while following this Boot Camp in the flickr group.  PLEASE share what you are trying out, or using from Boot Camp in your description of your piece.  We want to know what you are learning or sharing with us!

Beads Beads and More Beads

by Staci L. Smith

It is that time of year again, where I make beads non-stop for a month or so in preparation for the Berks Bead Baazar.  

Berks Bead Bazaar is such a wonderful little bead show.  Yes, it's little, BUT the vendors there are top quality.  You can go there and get everything you need, and cut out the 600 other people you have to walk by to get to them (like at larger bead shows).  

Here is a great post about the show from Joan Miller last year:  The Little Show that Could

It was the first bead show I attended (where I fell in love with art beads), and the first bead show I sold my beads at as well.  So, its special to me.  The artists are top notch- plus they are plain old fun to hang around with too.  

This year B.B.B. has made a blog and a Facebook page.  You can follow along as us beady gals and guys prep.  You can get previews of what you may find there, and there may even be some artist interviews.  

I hope you can stop by if you are in the Reading PA area the first weekend of March.  I also hope you don't mind the million pictures of beads I may, (most likely will) bombard you with.

So, these are some of my newer style beads.  I am having fun adding color back into the mix.  I kinda took a break last year, and really dug into my earthy, dirty and ancient muse.  This year, there will still be ancient- but I was missing color.

I am also trying to make some new hearts this year- I get bored easily, and didn't look forward to making more hearts.  However this style with the black and colors really worked well to intrigue me enough to make more hearts!  I am smitten with them.

I also made some new owls.  I wasn't going to do the owl thing, I really wasn't........but then I challenged myself to make owls that were still my style.  So I made some tribal ones last year, and these are my newest ones.

I have also been obsessed with making earring pairs in polymer.  I began doing them for me- so that I have some easy earring assembly down the road, but I am making more then I can use, so to the show they will come!

I leave you with the view from my back porch.  We have had the snowiest winter this year in the north east.  Its wonderful, (except I hate driving in it)....but it makes for good bead production.

I am off to paint more beads, and bake more beads and paint more beads................you get the picture.