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Monday, February 21, 2011

Doors Open When Doors Close

 Years ago, while playing around with some crafting supplies, I hit upon a technique that I really enjoyed.  It was fun, unique, and all my own.  I played around with it for years, on and off, until I finally fully developed my Present Past Treasure line of pendants.  I adored making them, seeing the embossing powder swirl around and mix, discovering what colors were going to peep through the brass filigrees, matching leather backings and ribbon around the edges.  I adored it all.  It was too bad they never really seemed to "take off" as it were. 

They were described in many ways, beautiful, unique, delicate.... I guess the time wasn't right for them. Within the past year, they became less fun to make.  They became pure work.  Hauling out all the supplies, cutting out the cardstock, trying to keep the kids out of the embossing powders and away from the electric skillet became a real chore.  Continually burning my fingers and hands was no longer suffering for my art, it was just plain suffering.  Storing the supplies until the next day became a hassle, too, since I had to work on the kitchen table.   It was just getting to be too much.  And they weren't really selling, so, I began to see less and less of a point in making them.  

However, when I realized these pieces were on their way out in my life, I was also realizing that I wasn't going to have to look very far for something to take their place.  When I had been working on my Present Past Treasure, I played around with different mediums, trying to find the perfect one.  I did splurge at one point and buy an epoxy resin kit, and some dyes to go along with it.  They weren't what I was looking for at the time, but they have certainly come into play now.  

And I have found my new love.  (Good thing my darling hubby isn't too jealous!)  I did some reading, I did a little research, I asked around, and applied my own common sense/imagination.  WAH LAH!  (Voila! for the spelling purists...)   As I have been discovering just how versatile this stuff is, it grown more and more and more addictive.  I can't wait for the days when I can play and explore just how far this stuff will go.  





I'm going to be using it to really expand out my pieces, add new lines, and who knows where it will lead me. 

So, just remember, when something ends, look around, because something is probably beginning too.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Additions to my shops...

Here are some new additions to my stores!  I've been a little busy lately, because this my list of everything that has been going on lately:

  1. Housework, because we know this is unending, but I'm really trying to stay more on top of it this year.
  2. Getting new pieces made and priced and ready for the Fluvanna Farmers Market which opens in April.  It's right around the corner!!!
  3. Getting new pieces made and ready to go up the Palmyra Country Store, because I need to switch stuff out there.
  4. Trying to figure out some other venues to get my pieces into.  One looks promising, I'm just trying to figure out how to swing the initial rental fees.  Once my work is in there, I'm sure it will be GREAT!
  5. Getting new pieces photographed and listed on my ArtFire sites.  Another goal for this year?  Have around 200 things in each store.  I'm a long way away in one.  Just under 50 away in another.  
  6. Oh, yeah, did I mention that while doing all this my twins were down with a cold, hubby had the flu, and so did my mom.  So I was having to take care of EVERYONE!  Whew!  I'm glad everyone is on the road to recovery!
 So, while dealing with the chaos and anarchy that is my life, I did manage to get a couple of things done.  Okay, blogging wasn't one of them, but something had to give.  And really, the kids did need to be fed.  Right?

In my destash/supply shop on ArtFire, I added a couple of supplies:


KEYS ANYONE??? TBBCompostPile - ArtFire Found Objects http://ping.fm/6gDUi





And I've also added a couple of new pieces in my main store, The Beaded Branch.



BRAND NEW!! Amethyst & Pearls Make Lavender Necklace : TheBeadedBranch artfire http://ping.fm/bpMnq


Handmade Gold Dot Resin Pierced Post Earrings : TheBeadedBranch artfire Jewelry http://ping.fm/kOmeQ

NEW! Jade Dream Necklace : TheBeadedBranch artfire Jewelry http://ping.fm/ssbQH