Vintage Stampings and Castings

I am up to my elbows in vintage stampings and castings. Well, ok not right this second...but I just went through one of my two tubs and sorted it a little. I have one more lovely tub to go through.
I just love vintage jewelry parts. And they are so hot right now! These are so timely and yet so timeless. Here, let me see if we have them listed: These leaves are so beautiful. And these are really gorgeous. But I have a lot in my kit that are not available on the web. I'll try to get a picture up here before Marlboro. I have a lot on my plate right now, and that is good, because I am hungry ;)

Where have you been all my life?

Ah, the first blush of love between a girl and her new job. Selling beads is fun. I really enjoyed the show in Albany and I am preparing for Marlboro by sorting and counting my inventory. And scouting sign solutions and booth accessories. In addition to all of this, my first job is very busy in a very good way and so All Sorts Of Things Are Happening. :)
I wanted to post a picture of my booth at the Albany show but I just never had the time to take the picture.
What I did learn is that the bead company I am working for really does have the lowest prices I have ever seen on lead-free pewter and it isn't that horrible dull grey. I'm going to whip up a bracelet soon so you can see what I mean.
For now, I must sleep.

Zen and the Art of Bead Storage...etc etc.

Five days until the Albany Bead Show, my first, and I got a wild hair to reorganize my beads (READ: Make room for all the fabulous beads I am going to earn.) I knew it was a Pandora's Box, but I just went for it. I have one large tackle box with four large flat divided clear bins inside and room for 8 of the small ones in the top but I use the top for wire, leather, Acculon and other stringing materials, plus I have a Santa Tin full of base metal chain, vintage and non. That part is all set and ready to go.
The bottom four flats have traditionally held the beads I have purchased by the each at bead stores (SHOUT OUT TATNUCK BEAD! WOOT!) and the occasional strand from shows or online. I have lugged around the same four flats of beads since 2004. I haven't set foot in a bead store since (I was making my own beads and doing other things.) I was doing a lot of mixed media for a while there as well. So these four flats of beads have got to go. I think I'll do a giveaway. Perhaps at the Marlboro, MA show. Stay tuned for details on that. I'm just rollin' with the flow here.
So what I am getting at is this: What is your method for organizing your beads? Do you keep all your gems in one container and your silver in another? Do you use ziplock bags or tackle boxes? Help me organize my stash. Because the subject line of the spam mail that inspired this post reads: "Hey You: Get It Together."

Upcoming Bead Shows

I'll be in Albany, NY Saturday, April 16 - 10AM to 5PM and Sunday, April 17 - 10AM to 4PM. I'll update this as more shows are confirmed.

Hello! It's good to see you again!

Hello friends, it has been a while. Make a cup of tea, pull up a chair and let's chat. Where have I been? Oh that's a long, long story. I've been here, lurking, reading your posts, admiring your work and missing you. But I had some life stuff to deal with and now I am coming out on the other side. It seems appropriate that this transformation is coming about at springtime. I feel like I've been hibernating and I am starting to wake up, shake myself a bit and I am looking out of my den, hearing the birds singing and seeing the sun shine and thinking, "Wow. Look at that. Time to get up out of here and get some things done."

For the last year, I have insulated myself quite a bit from what has been going on in the magazines and I've stayed away from the craft stores, because I sort of felt... how did I feel... resentful that my creative juices weren't flowing? I passed Michael's (the craft store) like it was my ex-boyfriend's house and I was afraid to look and see who might be going in or out, who took my place. I averted my eyes when I drove past the bead store, pretending that part of me was gone for good.

And then one day, I saw a way to make a change, and I hopped on it. All I had to do was update my resume and send in some pictures of my work. Then I decided to let go and let it happen, or not. But it did. So, my friends, you are looking at the new NY/MA rep for a really great bead company. I'll be going to bead shows but I'll be on the other side of the table. What could possibly be more fun than talking to all of you about beads? How could that be work? I mean, I harbor no illusions that making a huge change like this is going to be without "work" but, it feels RIGHT. AND my husband is going to go to shows with me. For those of you who have not met my husband or heard of his awesomeness, let it henceforth be known that upon voicing some petty concern about going to shows myself, in his characteristic, unruffled manner, he said, "Oh. I'll just go with you. No big deal." <--- Right? Right??? Yeah! THAT is my husband. And him going with me makes anything possible.

So, that's what has been going on with me. I won't be at Artfest this year so I'll miss you there. But maybe we can meet up anyway and talk about beads!

If there is anything to be learned by me this spring it is, Everything Happens For a Reason. I might need you to remind me of that when I get scared, but I know it for a FACT. =)

[This blog is still very much under construction. I'll be working to get all the widgets going this week but I just HAD to share my news!]