Long Time no Beads

by Staci Louise Smith

I know this blog has been vacant for sometime now.  Life gets in the way like that at times.  However, it has been calling me back. I miss blogging about my creative life.  I miss that interaction with everyone, because you know what?  We inspire each other!  

I am prepping for Bead Fest Philly again, and have been hitting the polymer clay after a bit of a hiatus.  I am both intimidated and excited.  This year I have some new work that mixes polymer clay with two part epoxy resin and crystals- I must say, I am loving these so much!  

Dragon Eye bead / polymer clay, epoxy resin, crystals, paint, other mixed media stuff

Due to life's complexities, I know I am not going to have the amount of beads I like to at Bead Fest this year.  I do know I will have enough.  I used to freak out and work 16 hours days prepping for this show making everything I know how to.  This year, I am focusing on making what my heart is telling me to, rather than what I think others would want to buy.  I am listening to my intuition.  I will have a table full of unique items for sale in addition to my beads, like I have in the past.  I will have my jewelry, ceramic offering bowls and other things.   

You can find all that event info here on my Facebook page.  Please follow it if you have not in the past.  It is the best place to keep up with where I will be and what is going on in my creative world.

I also recently finished converting y Gold Rush class I did for Craft Art EDU into a PDF file you can purchase in my shop.  I was so very sad to see Craft Art EDU disband, but I am thankful they gave us our classes.  The tutorial is an entire class in one!  You learn to form the polymer clay beads, do the faux gold, cure and paint them with a crackle to make them look like stone, and then it even gives complete instructions to make two different necklaces.  You can purchase that here if you are interested in learning some techniques.  The best part is that this class is so full of different techniques and tips, you can use them many different ways.  I really believe this class can take you on a creative journey to new places! 

Well guys, it feels good to be back!  I am hoping to also do some posts to highlight some of the wonderful tutorials we have on this blog.  Click the tutorial link above to see a list of all the wonderful tips and designs posted by various artists over the years.  

Sometimes I need a push..............

When Jen Cameron of Art Elements posted this months Bead of the Month, and it was one of her glass sugar skulls, you know I commented on that blog in hopes to win one.  

I mean, looks at how fun these are!

Each month, one of their artists make a bead, and each member, plus a couple lucky readers, get one of the beads, and then they create something with them.

I haven't really had a chance to do that in awhile (to create with something that I did not purchase), and you know what, once in awhile I need that push.

Now, I buy and use a lot of different components.  But when I am making and / or hand picking my components, they are all very much my style, and something I can see right away in my jewelry.  Once in awhile, I like to have something given to me, something that challenges me to think a little more about the design.

It's no secret I love sugar skulls- and Jen sent me a delightful one.  It is however, bright.  Like sugar skulls usually are.  And I didn't really want a bright finished piece.  So it took me some time to figure out how to maintain the color pops, but tone it down, so it still looks like something I'd make- old and a bit gritty.

I love a good challenge and push now and again.

I began to pick beads that matched the colors in the skull, but were earthy.  At first the layout had some polymer beads in it, but it quickly changed to all / mostly gemstones.

I decided to wrap the skull in wire.  Putting antiqued copper wire around something bright immediately tones down the brightness.  So I started there.  

Since the hole is vertical, I could not do one of my chunky classic chokers.  So, it needed to be the dangle, or part of a dangle.  I kinda saw that would have to be the layout from the start.

Well, after much fiddling and doing and un-doing, I am so freakin happy with how it turned out.  I honestly didn't think I'd love it.  As I added elements, I wasn't sure they would work (like those seed beads).........but they did.  It all came together quite nicely.  It is heavy with all those large gemstones and heavy wire (16-18g) and the extra chain, but it lays perfect and is oh so comfy to wear.

I think I need to make some more like this, one one art bead shown off among many large gemstones.  

I am so thankful I got to be a part of this challenge.  I needed that little push.  Something a little different and fun came out of it- and that is what it is all about.

Now hop over to these other blogs and see what everyone else made with their pieces!

Guest Designers

Staci Louise SmithKarin Grosset GrangeSolange Collin

Art Elements Team

Caroline DewisonSusan KennedyLaney MeadClaire FabianDiana PtaszynskiJenny Davies-ReazorCathy Spivey MendolaLindsay StarrNiky SayersLesley WattCooky SchockJen Cameron 

Tinicum Arts Festival: Weekend Review

What a wonderful weekend at Tinicum Arts Festival.  

As some of you may know (if you follow my blogs or Facebook) sales at shows have been really down for me.  Like, REALLY down.  I was getting quite discouraged.  

I had considered not doing Tinicum Arts Festival at all this year.  And that is huge, because I have been doing that show for around 13 years.  It is like family there, great vendors, its in a shady park, the folks that run it are like family too.  Anyhow......

Instead of not doing the show, I did some thinking and decided to change directions and add some art prints (linocuts) and hand dyed and printed purses to my booth- and that gave me a nice distraction.

So for the first time in a long time I was EXCITED again to do a show.  If for not other reason, then to show off my stuff.  

But then I started to follow the weather for the weekend, and sure enough it was chance of storms and temps in the mid to high 90's!  Now, I don't do well in the heat anymore.  And I don't mean, like, it is uncomfortable, I mean, I feel ill.  My heart races, I ache.  It really effects me.  So I spent the week praying for better weather (no storms) and lower temps.  I also got a bigger batter operated fan, a small hand fan / mister, and brought an extra cooler of water and a bowl to fill and dip my feet in should I get too overheated.  I have a bunch of neck coolies in the cooler which I rotate too.  They really help. (neck coolies has something in them that absorbs water, so you can keep it in the cooler once you activate it with water, and then tie it around your neck.  Cools you down instantly!!!

Here is the woman I buy from, I add a new one each year to my collection!!!

Here is my newest batik fabric one (not activated yet)

http://relaxpak.com/products

I am so happy to say, the storms broke up, with I think only one overnight on saturday while we were gone (looked as if there was only one tent casualty from that, and she didn't have weights on her tent, so......................)  Instead of the temps being in the 90's for Saturday as the weather said, they didn't even crest 70!!!!  With it being misty out it was actually chilly.  I didn't use any of my "cooling" kit.  Instead I put a shawl over my shoulders part of the morning.  Sunday was gorgeous, high 70's low 80's, sunny.  I broke out my fan for that day, and used a neck coolie for pack up, but it was not bad at all.  It is amazing how much better I felt after the shows with it being in oppressive heat. 

Another thing that helped me to feel better, is that I invested in a nice chair to sit in.  I need to sit up high, since I sit behind my tables.  I used a stool forever, because it was cheap, and collapsible, and I stand most of the time anyhow.  But the last year my body has protested this (not to mention, slower shows mean more sitting).  I found this one on amazon, and could NOT believe the price.  Not to mention, it is roomy (I am not a little woman) and sturdy (must be able to be thrown in the back of a vehicle with multiple things piled on it, repeatedly and survive.  Well, I love it.  It takes up a bit more room in the vehicle, and the booth (its very wide), but I felt wonderful and relaxed.  I was just what I needed.

Here is the link to the listing on Amazon.

My son Aiden (14) was my helper all weekend at the show.  Set up, tear down, sales, booth watching.....fetching me food.  He was wonderful.  I love spending time with him and he enjoyed catching some new Pokemon in a new location (yep, he is into Pokemon go!).  He got to walk around with a fellow artist and dear friend who didn't do the show this year too, and I think he really enjoyed spending time with him and having that freedom.  I am so thankful he enjoys shows and the arts!!!

I had to play with the display since I had new items.  The first day, with it being misty out, we had to keep the prints inside and the bags.  

First they were tucked in a corner (nope- didn't work well) 

and then we moved them up more (better). 

 But on Sunday when it was sunny, we moved them out front as I had wanted to have them, and they got soooo many people looking through them, which was nice. I sold a few as well!

I also brought extra hangers for the bags, since they were soooooo clustered together  on Saturday.

You couldn't see the designs or root through them well because they were piled on top of each other..

Sunday they were more spread out, and I even put the tote bags out front.  They got more fondling and I even sold some of them.

I also ditched my shutters for the earrings and used closet shelving we had in the basement.  Worked better because I could have them inside for bad weather, and didn't have to take them down at the end of the day to lower the tent or to have the sides on.  

I think sometimes I love setting my display up as much as creating!!!!  I still think I need some sort of coat tree for out front to display the bags.  I think they need that.  Eventually I will do that!  For now, this is my last outdoor show till September.  So today is cleaning up, rinsing off the tent, drying walls and table cloths and packing it up till fall.

Another thing I want to mention, because, you know, polymer- is my friend Mary-Lynne Moffatt, who took BEST IN SHOW,  at the annual Art Barn art show, which brings artists from all over Bucks County and NJ as well.  Out of all the entries, in all mediums, she got the Best in show.  Go Mary-Lynne and go polymer!  I love seeing polymer taken more seriously as an art form!!!

Her chess set is something to behold, and I wish you could see it in person.  Each piece hand sculpted.  

You can find her on Facebook here.

Anyhow, I am glad I did the show.  There is such a feeling of family there.  Even a slow show there is nice because there is good company and lots of artist to visit and chat with. 

I wish I had taken more pictures.  I am so busy talking I always forget!!!!

   

Getting my Hands Dirty

It has been a whirlwind around here.  Lots of fun and exciting things going on.  The kids had a week of fun days at school, including crazy sock day, crazy hair day, future career day and hat day.  It was a week of fun to honor Dr. Suess!  So we had fun being creative all week!

 My Little Pony Socks

 crazy socks

Crazy Hair, Julia had a faux hawk with buns, and collin wore a wig

Future Career Day

Julia as an artist and Collin as an explorer

Hat Day

Then the hubs and I got away to NY to visit friends and spend some time on their organic farm, just relaxing and with no kids in tow.  We also got to see Enter the Haggis while we were there, which is always a treat!  

On the way up to NY, I found out I would be doing a jewelry show the next Saturday (the North Penn Select Craft show).  It's quite a nice show, and I didn't want to miss the chance to participate.  I needed to create some sort of pipe and drape, since it was an indoor show, AND make jewelry, since I was low.  

I had a great time figuring out my booth and making lots of new jewelry.  My hands were dirty and happy as I worked antiqued copper and soldered silver.

Thank goodness I had an old pipe style tent to work with.  There were size constraints, so it was a bit rigged.  Here it is in my family room being worked on

And here it was at the show.  I was really happy it all came together nicely.

Here are some of the new pieces I made for the show

 I didn't get a good pic of the finished bracelets.  I made a ton of them!  Oh my dirty sore fingers!

This pieces is sterling silver, crystal, polymer clay, fossils, bezels, pyrite, rutilated quartz.....its a show stopper!

This piece below is rockin' copper choker with ceramic, bronze, kyanite, 2 pieces of leeland blue!!!!, and turquoise (ceramic by marsha neal, bronze by me)

More polymer clay, ceramic and stone

I made more but just didn't get pics of everything due to time contraints.

My oldest son, Aiden, came to the rescue and helped me all day at the show.  My hubs and I had tickets, again, to see Enter the Haggis that night in Philly, and we had to get out of the show ASAP when it was over.  

We kicked butt with a 1/2 hour tear down and load.  I ran home, changed and was right back out the door.  Aiden and I also had a great time laughing and hanging out all day.

And got to see these guys again!!!!

These guys are just an amazing group to witness live.  They cross genre's, and have a wonderfully diverse following of people who just appreciate wonderfully written and executed music!  (they are extremely nice people too!)

Check out their Facebook page, and go and see them if you can!

https://www.facebook.com/enterthehaggis/?fref=ts

or you can just listen here to their newest release Mrs. Elliot here

Turn it up, cause its good!

http://www.enterthehaggis.com/

Yesterday I recovered.  I ran non stop for two weeks!  Oh yeah, we had our tax appointment in there too!  (both self employed).  

My kids and the dogs were all feeling the stress of the busy weeks and time away.  So yesterday after lots of snuggles and hugs, my Julia and I spent hours painting and she learned some new techniques to add to paintings.  She learned to start on the background first, we talked about varying shades, and blending colors.  She learned to stencil.  And she painted her own Pony on top so it would POP off the background.  She was hesitant to go in the order I was telling her, but she did it and now she is really proud.  I love that she got to work through the process of a painting start to finish, so she could see that it doesn't always look how it will in the end when you start, or are even in the middle.  

 (Julia loves My Little Ponies and draws her own versions endlessly.  She has made pony versions of all her friend and family too!!!)

I feel so refreshed after so much creative time, time spent around other amazing artists, time with friends we only see once or twice a year, time enjoying music I love and time with the family.  Now, I MUST finish a class, and prep for my April Bead Fest classes as well.

Have you signed up? Carving is going to be SOOOO FUN!

http://www.stacilouiseoriginals.com/content/teaching

Thank you to everyone who participated in my destash event as well.  You guys are awesome!  Hopefully I will get to make some more beads in the next few weeks as well and have a HUGE sale!  I will also be bringing beads to sell during my class at Beadfest.  I hope to see you there!