So Much To Do, So Little Time

The bane for most artists is the lack of time. I literally have projects lined up, along with the beads I'll use, on a table in my studio! And after a wonderfully successful show at Kent's Art in the Park, I've started creating a lot of new pieces for the two shows I have in the next six weeks. But there just are not enough hours for everything I want to do!

Popular pieces at the last show were the triangle bead cuffs, Victorian style pieces, sterling silver pieces and my swirly filigree cuffs. I have several new triangle bead cuffs already created, a couple of new sterling silver pieces and am now working on the first of at least a half-dozen new filigree cuffs. Sometime in the very near future I really need to get a few more photo cuffs created as well!

There are two chokers here in the Victorian style. The top one (crystal) was sold at Kent's Art in the Park. I'll be creating a few more of these pieces in various colors, along with matching earrings. 

This is the latest of the beadwoven images pieces that I've created. This is based on a photo of a pink rose in my neighbor's yard, but I've altered the colors a bit to make it more a mauve-purple.

So, I have a lot of things I want to get done and in the midst of these projects, we are planning our youngest daughter's wedding plus I'm working part time, too. Oh, if only I could have a few extra hours in each day!

Emotional Rollercoaster

On Saturday, August 3rd, we lost our sweet Sadie. She was just over 12 years old and she was our fur baby. She had suffered from skin allergies for most of her life. In the last several years she also suffered from awful arthritis in her back legs. She never complained though, she was always a happy pup. Yes, she could be stubborn, but that was as much a part of her as her very expressive eyebrows and her "Chewbacca" grumbling. 

She was by far the sweetest, most loving dog. She helped me keep my sanity after losing my mom. She would stay by my side and lay her head on my lap whenever the sadness overwhelmed me. She certainly knew who the soft touch was in our house (my husband) and would gaze at him longingly whenever he had food, not to mention, follow him anywhere. She also liked having conversations with several of our friends who knew how to speak "Sadie". She was definitely a people dog and believed everyone who came to the door was there to see her.

Our house is so quiet without her and there is a definite hole in our lives and hearts that will never be filled. I know someday we will get another dog, but there will never be another Sadie.
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I did have something positive happen today, I received acceptance into Kent's 20th Annual Art in the Park . It will be held on Saturday, September 7th and Sunday, September 8th at Kent's Fred Fuller Park. I'm really happy about it as I did very well at this event last year. I hope this year will be just as successful. I feel I have a lot more to offer and definitely new and unusual items, such as my beadwoven images. I also hope the weather is beautiful and the turnout is huge.

1st Art Show was a Success!

On the 8th and 9th of September, I participated in Kent's Art in the Park and it was an amazing first art show for me! I was extremely nervous about it beforehand and didn't sleep much at all the night before, but it turned out to be a wonderful experience, even with the rain and chilly temperatures! I had a lot of interest in my pieces and sold quite a few. I made enough to cover all my costs (including the tent!) and still made some money...you can't ask for more than that!

I would like to thank my family for all their support. To my sweet husband; thank you for all your patience and putting up with my beads and jewelry covering every surface in the house, for setting up and taking down my booth and for supporting me each and every day as I create, and especially for telling me, "Don't worry, if it doesn't work out at this show, there's always another one." To my beautiful girls; thank you for your love and support and giving me new and fresh ideas all the time. Amy, thank you so much for being there and helping me both days...all day, I couldn't have done the show without you! To my brother-in-law, Todd (of http://toddalanstudios.com/); thank you so much for the display ideas and prodding me to charge more for my art.

I would also like to thank a very special couple, Pete and Lois; I know it was my art that got me in the show, but they wouldn't have looked if you hadn't shown them! I cannot thank you enough for that! And I hope to be a part of Art in the Park every year from now on.

I'll post pictures of my booth set up as soon as I get them from my dearest!

Newest Corsetted Pretties

Bridal Bling

Champagne and Pearls

Coral Shimmer

Pink Conch

Jumbled Gemstones
(mix of jasper and agate gemstones)

Platinum Pearls

Rock N Roll

Summer Shimmer

More Reasons Why I've Been Absent Online

My potential set up for Art in the Park

Triangle bead earrings and cuffs

Sparkle and shimmer corset-style cuffs

Photo inspired cuffs

New diamond cuffs

This Is Why I Haven't Been Online

Cherry Blossoms Cuff
peyote stitch, single-drop, 25 colors

 

Lightning Strikes Again
peyote stitch, single-drop, 20 colors

Little Orange Mums Cuff
peyote stitch, single drop, 18 colors

Aqua Cuff

Right Angle Weave cuffs in Lilac and Aqua

Right Angle Weave Cuffs in Topaz and
Flame Red

And there are four others I have yet to take photos of! I'm working on a fifth! So, busy, now I have to get photos taken and submit my application for the Kent Art in the Park before the 1st of July or all this crazy hard work will be for nought!

Now Showing

I've now listed all the completed cuffs in my shop (http://arosebyname.etsy.com) I love how they've turned out and truly hope they spark some interest (and buyers!). I am incredibly nervous about Kent's Art in the Park Show next year, but excited, too. 

I am currently working on a piece with an "ocean view" based on this photo from one of our trips to Florida. This one is from 1999!