I wonder where mine is…

My iron, that is.  I rarely iron.  I can’t even think of what I would iron for myself, but I will iron for my children if needed.  I may have found another way I would consider ironing.  You know, if I can’t seem to find my way to fame through glass.

Extreme Ironing, oh yes I’m talking about the fine sport of ironing.  The actual ironing part isn’t the sport so much as getting to the spot you will iron.  I suppose once you are there you would be foolish not to iron.  After all, it was the whole point of doing the extreme activity in the first place.  And, you need to take that picture for the website gallery.

But, I have a problem with this extreme ironing thing.  How do you get the items back without wrinkling all over again?  No, I think something along the lines of extreme dusting might be more worthwhile. 

Yes, now that I think about it (and you do know I just found the extreme ironing link minutes before writing this, right?) extreme dusting has more purpose.  First off, it is a renewable resource sort of thing.  No matter where you dust, someone else can always come along and dust again.  You never limit the opportunity.  Secondly, you only need a cloth and maybe a bit of spit to dampen it.  Easy, peasy.  But finally, you leave behind your mark, fleeting as it may be.  Isn’t that what we all long to do anyway? 

 

The Awwww Factor

Marcy Lamberson has it.  Her beads are cute.  I mean that in the nicest way.  They really are cute.  Flying pink pigs, happy babies and litte peas; they all make me go aawwww. 

She is clever too.  I love bonehead.  Her beads make me smile and browse in awe.  The ones I keep returning to are the puppies.  They tug at my heart every time.  Only this time, I bought one.

 

Two Words

Guitar Hero. 

I’m totally addicted.  It helps that I was pretty successful right out of the gate.  But, it’s feeding my childhood secret desire.  I am dreaming of being a rock star.  I’ve got a cool star shaped guitar and wear just a bra with my jeans.  How cool am I?

When my youngest started going to school she asked me what I did when she was gone.   I would tease her and say I played with her dollies or set up awesome Brio train tracks.  Now, I just may be telling the truth when I say I played guitar hero all day.  And, she’ll probably believe me. 

Know any top secret cheater codes?

 

 

 

The Lure of Tools

 

In the business of art, one spends countless hours playing with other mediums.  Often you decide something would be a nice addition to what you do.  And other times you can’t resist the calling of something fresh and different.  It may be a new way to express yourself or just a challenge.   I call it R&D.  “No dear, it isn’t another project, it’s R&D”

 

When approaching a new medium you usually need a new tool.  It’s only natural I would go beyond the local hardware store to the mighty internet.  It has nothing to do with not being able to see the sales clerk roll his eyes at my questions, nor does it have anything to do with the fact I only need to move my fingers to search for something.  It has to do with the almighty newsletter.  My evil temptress?  Harbor Freight. 

 

Now, you may need to skip this next part.  If you are particularly weak when it comes to a bargain, a new tool or the possibilities of enhancing your creative endeavors, you may need to overlook what I am about to say.  Because when it comes to the art of Motherhood, no tool is beyond consideration.

 

The latest Harbor Freight newsletter had a few morsels I would like to share:

 

First up, the non-contact infrared thermometer, think of the uses!  I can take my “I can’t go to school today, I’m sick.” child’s temperature as I walk by her room.  Or I can decide if I want to wear a sweatshirt by aiming it out the front door.  Did that car just pull in the driveway, let me check the engine.  I wonder, can I check the temperature of the oven?  All for only $29.99.

 

How about the 4 gallon back pack sprayer?  Imagine the possibilities there.  Fill it with sunscreen and yell, “Get your goggles on, line up and let’s get ready for the beach!”  Going for a walk in the woods?  Let me help you with that bug spray.  Hey, you could even wash the car without tripping over the hose.  How about the ability to satiate the “Mom, I’m thirsty!”  I think it sounds fun….

 

But, my favorite this week is the ooga air horn for a mere $12.99.  Is it not the perfect thing to call the kids in for dinner?  Or wake up that sleeping teen? Get my husband’s attention when I know he isn’t listening? (or reading my blog ) 

 

Whew, thank you for letting me share.  I now think I can resist the urge to purchase any of the above.  I’m safe, until next week. 

 

Business Hours?

How often do we drive to a store, walk up to the door only to find they aren’t open?  It’s life, and we deal.  But what about internet business?  Sure I work some wierd hours, but how does someone know when your actually open for instant email responses?  (Because we wouldn’t actually want to pick up the phone.)

I could post actual hours.  Ah, but that would be too much like the real world and what if I have a sudden burst of creativity and spend hours away from the computer?  What if I just don’t feel like it?  Too scheduled for me.  Sorry, that idea is out. Next!

Perhaps a web cam you could monitor?  You know, something pointing right at my face so you can watch my every facial expression as I read emails, do shipping and edit pictures.   Would that be fun?  Not happening.  That would mean I might have to brush my hair or make sure my sweatshirt didn’t have a big stain down the front.  Actually I would have to buy new sweatshirts.  Even worse, you might catch what I am eating and not be very impressed with my attempt to fit into my summer wardrobe.  Nope, next idea.

Maybe a cute little light on my site that is green when I’m in and red when I’m out.  Do you suppose I could have lots of colors?  Like purple when I feeling funny or yellow when I’m happy and black for when you probably want to try again later?  Hmmm, of course I have no clue how to make one, or turn it on and off.  But, maybe… 

Oh I know!  I think I’ll just keep promising to check emails often and answer within 24 hours.  Besides, you all know I never wait that long.  And the best part,  you never have to go back home until I’m open again.  I’ll get back to you.

 

 

 

 

 

The Almighty List

As many of you know, I’m a list person.  I have running lists in my head, on my desk, in my computer and various other places.  It isn’t uncommon for me to find an old list tucked away in some corner of my studio.   

Some days my lists are overwhelming.  I feel as if I need a list of which list should be tackled first.   Lately, I’ve been in the too many lists mode.  I tried to bail myself out, ….really.

I thought I had found the perfect solution for organinzing myself. I put up a big white board in my studio.  I can put numerous lists on it and it’s right there.  No getting tangled in the contents of my pocketbook, no slipping between notes and papers, it is easy to find.  But, it’s all wrong.  Practical, but wrong.  

With my paper list I felt great satisfaction throwing away the completed list.  If I was particularly thrilled with finishing a dreaded deed, I could tear the list with a vengance.  Ah, the satisfaction.  But now, I erase.  Using a soft cloth… ok, a saliva covered finger, I erase the finished item.  Then I can fill in the hole with something new.   The darn list never goes away!  And how satisfying is it to erase?  It doesn’t even make noise.

I suppose I will get comfortable with this wonderful new system.  It will help me with productivity.  It will be a fabulous tool I can’t live without.  But, forgive me if every once in a while, I write down my accomplishments, cross them out and then tear up the paper.    

 

Pictures and Online Sales

I’m feeling rather proud of myself this morning.  I’ve been quoted and blogged!

I belong to a group of Etsy sellers called Etsy Glass Artists.  I recently challenged members to improve their product shots right along with me.  Many were doing a fantastic job, and some found they were no longer happy with what they had been doing.  Once we got the discussion rollling, we found great ideas jumped out at us.

One of my best idea bouncing buddies  Leah Pelligrini blogged about her journey.  Click on ME to read my quote worthy advice.

 

Do de do do, do de do do…..

That’s a little twilight zone music for you.  I realize it is hard to hear me, but things are strange in my little world. 

Last week I thought about teaching again.  Within days of pondering how to get my certificate to teach art I heard about an opening to teach a beginning lampwork class.  Cool.

Last week I checked my numbers on Etsy and thought..  I want to get 500 hearts.  (Etsy hearts are a tally of who clicks to say they like you as a seller)  I was at 400.  Today I’m at 512. 

 I also thought, it would be great to hit the front page on Etsy.  Guess what?  You guessed it, on Sunday one of my bead strands was on the front page and I got 700 or so views.  (This explains how my hearts skyrocketed too)

It get’s better.  Today at lunch time I thought, I want to get to the point where my sales and items for sale are even.  In a matter of hours I had sold another 5 items to make it 71 for sale and 71 sold….  weird!

And one more…  I was thinking about a package that never arrived last Fall.  Delivery confirmation said it came to Exeter, but I never saw it.  This afternoon the sender called me to say the package was returned to her.  Months later! 

Something.   Is.   Listening.  To.   My.  Thoughts.

Hear this please:  That lottery ticket I made my husband purchase yesterday?  Please, could we win? 

Hey, if I become a millionare, you’ll have heard it here first.  Have a lucky day!

 

Sit still my little beadies…

I have a love hate relationship with my bead pictures.  On the one hand, I feel a sense of pride when I look at a beautiful representation of my work.  On the other, pure angst when I can’t get them right.

There are many factors to getting a good bead picture.  Over the past 4 years I have come to learn the best lighting and set up.  I use white matt board, white foam core “walls” for bounce to fill in my shadows and natural outdoor light.  I know I have to take at least 3 shots of each bead pose.  My usual session is about 200 pictures.

Unfortunately, outdoors in New Hampshire means cold temperatures for a good part of the year.  Imagine me taking 15 or so shots of each bead strand with my bare hands, wind whipping my set up and the cold creeping up my body, because I’m on my hands and knees. Yah, I’m not having fun.

Often I get inside, download the pictures and find one or two that require a retake.  On a bad day, they are all bad and I want to pull my hair out trying to make things right with photoshop.  There is a lot of truth in the saying, “Photoshop can’t fix a bad picture, but it can make a good one great.” 

Ah, but then there are the good days.  The light is just right.  Not too much sun, not too dark, no bugs landing on the background, no dust coming from thin air; these are the days I just know I don’t need three shots of each pose.  Oh, I still take them.  But editing will be a snap.  As each bead talks to me from in front of the lense I can feel it.

Does my customer even notice?  Heck if I know.  It is my not so silent struggle to listen to the beads and let them talk to you. When they do, I’m having a great day.

 

Link me up Scotty!

Wouldn’t it be great if you could just stand in the tube of light and have your name transported all over the internet?  Unfortunately promotion still falls in the hard work category.  In my ongoing search for ways to get my name out there I have never actually compiled a list of where I am.  As you look at my list perhaps an idea or two will help get you more widely know.  And hey, I’ll welcome any links you think I could use.  Here we go:

My Site

Justbeads

Etsy

Etsy Glass Artists

Collective Creatives

Flaming Hot

Bonded By Fire

Modern Savages