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.

Frameable Pieces and Upcoming Events

This is my second frameable piece. This one is called "Into Chautauqua Lake".
It was created using over 20 different Delica colors and consists of almost 4,300 beads.
I created and sold a cuff which featured these trees as well,
though it was based on a different photo.

Here are both frameable pieces..."Into Chautauqua Lake" and "Serenity".

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show
Sunday, July 21st at the Terry Macklin Center in Solon, OH from noon until 5:30pm
(Proceeds will benefit the Cleveland Animal Protective League)
and
Saturday, October 19th and Sunday, October 20th
at the St George's Fellowship Center in Fairlawn, OH from 11am to 5pm both days
(Proceeds will benefit Jade's No Kill Rescue)

I will also be participating in the Oddmall "Chrishanukawazmadan"
on Saturday, November 2nd at the Clarion Inn & Conference Center in Hudson, OH
from 10am to 6pm

 After a lot of thought and consideration, I decided not to apply for Winterfair in Columbus this December. If, by some crazy chance I had been accepted, I would have to be prepared to spend three very long days on my own, as well as have enough pieces to last the entire event. An event of that length would require months and months of preparation and I have not had enough time this year with work and the shows I've already accepted. Next year I am going to plan out which events I would like to apply for and keep them to a minimum. I would also like to inquire about having my pieces in the Cleveland Natural History Museum gift shop or the Akron Art Museum and possibly at the Don Drumm Studio. It is still my goal to create art full time and I'm hoping the experience I've gained through these shows will be the catalyst to make that goal a reality.

Next Two Shows

I have two more shows coming up:

532 West Market St., Akron, OH 44303

Sunday- April 28, 2013

11:00 am-5:00 pm​

Mother's Day is right around the corner, find the perfect gift! This large show will feature artists and crafters selling their original handmade items at this beautiful venue! The show will also feature a la carte lunch items from Tangier's and a full bar! Admission is $3 to the public, children under 12 are free. A portion of proceeds will benefit Akron non-profit Stewart's Caring Place. The show is still currently accepting vendors. 

AND...

May 11th at the Clarion Hotel and Conference Center 

Hudson, OH from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm

New Year: Not So New Anymore

Wow, February 1st...where did January go? Like many, we spent much of January sick with the flu, hopefully the rest of the year will be much, much better. 

I did get to set up my studio and it's coming along, although I am in desperate need of an area rug and some wall decor. My oldest did get me a lovely calendar that I will probably use the photos from to decorate. It's a Hubble Space Telescope calendar with gorgeous deep space photos. 

I've also gotten some beading done. The Bello Nebula piece is finished, but I have yet to take photos and the purple agate piece needs better photos, but you get the idea. I'm currently working on lovely little bracelets in sterling silver, white or cream for the upcoming bridal season. I'll be selling them at the Avant-Garde Art and Craft show in Rocky River, March 23-24. If you're in the area, come in to see my pieces!

Bello Nebula

purple agate

Listings

I've finally gotten around to listing many of the pieces I created for the Art in the Park show. I still have about 10 more to list, but the majority are up in the shop now! http://arosebyname.etsy.com

I've had great response from my latest pieces and have had some lovely email conversations with people I met at the show. I now have a lot of new ideas and I'm excited to get moving on them! If only there were more hours in a day!

It's likely I will be a part of a show on December 2nd and possibly a future show at the art museum. We'll just have to see how things pan out. I really feel like I have grown a lot in my art over the past year or so and I'm actually finding it easier to refer to myself as an artist. Believe me, this has been difficult! I have amazing support from my family and that makes it even better!

This weekend Baby Girl is moving out, so that will rearrange the upstairs and I may just have my "studio" finally! I'm very excited about that, but I'm not heartless, she is just as excited to have her own place, too!

Best get back to work on my latest order...

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

Finally An Update

Galaxy Cuff
24 beads across, 14 colors, single-drop

Goose Creek Cuff

24 beads across, 15 colors, single-drop

Lightning Strikes Cuff
26 beads across, 20 colors, single-drop

Paua Shell Cuff
28 beads across, 20 colors, single-drop

Rosette Torregrosa Cuff
22 beads across, 18 colors, single-drop

I'm thinking about how I will set up my shop and the display at Art in the Park next year. I think I will have sections...Deep Space...Of the Earth...In the Garden...At the Museum. I have obviously done pieces for the Deep Space and Of the Earth sections, but I've yet to get going on the floral patterns and patterns based on pieces found in museums. I think, too, I will list my finished pieces, even though I was trying to stockpile for the show next year.

News

I haven't posted as much as I should, but I have very good reasons! I was trying to get things together for my first show! It was a two-day event and I did fairly well! I made enough to cover my fee as well as all the stuff I bought to do this show! (boxes, bags, display pieces, tablecloth, etc). The best part is that I had a really good time! I met some great people who have shops on Etsy and/or Art Fire or who just sell locally. The row of tables I was in had some hilarious people and we laughed a lot! Thank you to Lizz, Melanie, Veronica, Aminta, Jessica and Deanna for making my first show a blast! And also a very large thank you to Tammy for setting this up and being such a love to work with! The photos aren't the best as I took them with my phone, but you get the idea and note the BAO, EBW and Carol Dean's cards I had on my table as well! Oh, yeah, and I did show off my pattern in Step-by-Step Beads! :)

Secondly, yet more personal, Grandma has been very sick and it's not looking good for her recovery. It has been tough the last several weeks and the last several days have been the hardest yet. There is more before us... We give each other strength and have grown closer to each other through this trying time. So, if I don't post for a while again, I hope you'll understand.