Playing Blog Post Catch-Up

Another post within two days!  This must be a new record.  I had trouble uploading pictures to the last post, so I thought I'd give it another try, and chronicle some more recent activities.

On a recent business trip (unfortunately, not related to jewelry making) I made time to visit two bead stores in two different cities -- Beadaholique in Spring, Texas, and Bead Attic in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  At both I was reminded of how gracious and friendly bead lovers can be!  The shop staff in both places greeted me as I came in and were extremely helpful pointing out specials and helping me find my way around all the lovely beads and findings they offered.  

One of the reasons I made a side trip to the Spring store was to visit another trunk show by the Texas Hot Flashes.  These ladies are very talented, and I was anxious to see what new goodies they were offering.  And, of course, I came away with yet more lovely glass beads. 

Of course, those weren't my only acquisitions, and as soon as I got to my destination, I unpacked my tool box -- which I've started taking with me wherever I go! -- and whipped up a necklace and earring set using the lovely light amethyst rectangles I had also purchased at Beadaholique.  I needed something dressy to go with a purple print blouse I'd brought to wear to one of the conference events.  The large amethyst beads mixed with crystal pearls, Swarovski bicones, small amethyst chips, and tiny pewter spacer beads fit the bill perfectly!   

I can now say that I am in the business of making and selling jewelry.  A couple of weeks ago I took a small selection of horse-themed items to a horse show in Fort Worth.  I had only a couple of sales, but it marked a significant milestone for me.  Here's one of the pieces I took for sale. 

My daughter and I went out to eat at a Chinese restaurant a few nights ago.  I found the message in my fortune cookie particularly appropriate:  "Life is about making some things happen, not waiting for something to happen."  

That's my goal over the coming years -- to make some things happen!

New Acquisitions

Once again I've gone too long without posting.  But in the interim, I've been "gathering" new goodies to play with! 

A couple of weekends ago I went to a trunk show held by the "Texas Hot Flashes" (love the name!), a group of lampwork glass artists.  I bought some lovely beads to incorporate in my work.  Some are large focal beads, but I also got a couple of sets in graduated sizes.  I'm really looking forward to seeing what I can come up with to show off the new pretties.

After trolling the message archives for a couple of Yahoo groups, and looking at photos of various jewelry artists' work spaces, I "borrowed" the idea of getting an old desk to use for creating jewelry.  I love the idea of not worrying about ruining a costly piece of furniture with clamps and the inevitable mis-strike with a chasing hammer.  Our local Junior League chapter hosts a sort of community garage sale every year, and I was able to find a great desk combo for $30!  The desk is actually a computer desk, but I can remove the keyboard tray fairly easily.  It has drawers to hold tools and materials, and a hutch for extra close-at-hand storage.  It's quite sturdy; it didn't shift at all even when I leaned my considerable weight on it! 

Now all I have to do is find time to clear off and move out my temporary work area (a folding table), and get the new desk into place...