The Hive

I am pleased to announce that Elan Studios hand-beaded jewelry is now available at the boutique located in THE HIVE Waxing Salon in Encinitas, CA.

Amanda Maxwell is the new owner of the Salon, and has the cutest assortment of fashion goodies for sale in the boutique, in addition to the services that they perform at the salon. (Ever hear of a "Fun Betty?" I hadn't til I went there.) Amanda and her mom discovered my work at one of the springtime jewelry shows I had at the Carlsbad Inn and they both fell in love with my beadwork. The HIVE now carries beaded earrings and bracelets in fun, summertime colors.

Check out their website at TheHiveWaxingSalon.com and go visit them sometime!

Spring Shows

I had two springtime shows in April at the resort in Carlsbad where I have shown my work before. It is a hotel and timeshare resort, right by the beach, with a vibrant and ever-changing clientele. The guests come from all over the place, and I enjoy meeting them and having a chat. It seems that the winter holidays bring more foreign visitors and people from northern climates whereas the springtime holidays appear to pull in just about anyone, including locals who come to use the resort facilities just for the day.

We had a gorgeous, warm day today, and I had brought all the pale and pastel beaded jewelry that I had to display. It made a nice statement, as my table was set up in the lobby, and the Easter-like colors stood out against the orange and brown and white decor.

I also had the good fortune to meet a potential wholesale client and will follow up with her next week. Mumms the word on that right now, but will keep you posted.

Now off to bead a special order bracelet to go with the necklace one of my clients purchased today.

Facebook Forgiveness

So I have been paying a lot more attention to my Elan Studios Facebook site than I have to my Beads, Beads, Beads Blog site since last summer. Really shouldn't do that as I reach a different audience through the Blog.

I am starting preparations to open an Etsy shop sometime soon. Thanks to a very cool tutorial on La Bella Joya's blog, I learned how to make a banner for my web shop. First one is very basic:

Maybe a few more tries before I get it right, and then I will take the plunge. I have some new beaded earrings that will go on that site right away (unless they are sold to a blog-reader or FB fan first), so take a peek on my Facebook page to see them. (I have still not mastered the skill of inserting photos where I want them to be on this darn blog.)

Bead and Button Show

All I can say is I am already starting to save $$ for next year's show. I was inspired, entertained, creatively challenged, productive, and worn out by the end. I met some great people and saw some amazing beadwork. If you are a bead addict like me, do plan on attending this show and taking classes, if you can afford them.

Off to The Bead and Button Show

I am so jazzed. Last week I bit the bullet and booked a flight to Milwaukee for the Bead and Button Show this month. I used to go to this event back when it was called Embellishment, and was usually held in Texas or Oregon. I haven't been since the 1990s and am very excited to go again. It is sponsored by the Bead and Button Magazine, hence the name of the show.

My goal in attending this show is to be inspired. Not that I'm not already, what with all the talent and creativity on the internet, but to be awed by what I see in person. I also want to make new friends who share my passion. New Bead Buddies...

There will be an exhibit, Bead Dreams, of a juried competition of bead artistry from around the world. They have categories of Seed Bead Jewelry (my favorite), Crystal Jewelry, Finished Jewelry, Wirework, Handmade Buttons and Beads, Metal Clay, Polymer Clay, Non-Jewelry Objects or Accessories, and Lampwork items.

There will be a Marketplace with hundreds of booths, selling everything from beads and buttons to tools and books and anything related to making jewelry. I don't really need a darn thing (thanks to Tucson) but will just browse for anything that strikes my fancy and gives me an idea.

If anyone who happens to read this post also happens to be going to the show, please, please drop me a line. I would love to meet more beaders from anywhere.

Another Bead Buddy

A week ago I went to another Beadwork Meetup and saw fellow seed-beader Doreen. She does exquisite work and inspires me. (She has beaded miniature teapots and wedding cakes, among other things!)

I scooped up the items she had brought to show that day and took a quick picture. Here they are.

She made the bracelet that you see in the magazine picture (green, center), and several others using seed beads. You can also see a little vessel she made (above the bangle), and there were two 3-dimensional pendants, too. I was in awe.

Here she is.

Doreen

Instant Fashion

I did something this weekend that I used to do all the time but have not been in the habit for a while. I bought a new shirt and came home and made jewelry to match, the same day. That used to be the norm for me. Shop. Bead. Wear proudly. But not lately. So, maybe this is the beginning of a new trend for me. (I hope.)

It is a sunwashed tee, with a graphic and little copper studs on the front. I was showing my hubby a different necklace I had made last week and he suggested I make one to match this shirt. So here it is! Yellow jade nugget, copper chain, assorted glass beads dangling from the lower chains, and a springy pair of earrings to match. I think I'll wear them tomorrow. :-)

Snakeskin jasper

I got out the snakeskin jasper beads from the Tucson trip this weekend and got inspired. I ended up with a pretty multi-strand necklace, a bracelet and a pair of earrings.

The jasper is deep teal with brownish, creamy mottled patterns. I bought only one strand of oval beads and one strand of rectangle beads, so was limited to whatever they would make. I filled out the necklace with coordinating colors of crystal rondelles (teal, gold and clear) and for spacers between the jasper I used irregular-shaped bronzy-brown seed beads.

Then I decided to add a removeable piece consisting of four strands of those same seed beads. I like the idea of being able to wear the necklace as just two strands of the jasper, or adding the 4-strand seed bead component to it.

Let me know what you think! Comments welcome.

Bead Buddies

I still have a little trouble with the layouts and uploads and other details about this blog thing, so yesterday when I was writing about the Beadwork Meetup, I actually had more photos to include. I uploaded them multiple times but must have been doing something wrong because they didn't stick. Hmph. Never give up. Here they are today: my beading buddies!

This is Theresa, the organizer of the San Diego Beadwork Meetups. She is a busy mom, but makes time to get together with the many other beadaholics in the group to have fun. She never seems to run out of energy.

This is Michelle. I have watched her skills progress over the past year or two, and am impressed at the projects she tackles. I think I rubbed off on her a little, too, as she has been working in seed beads lately.

This is Debbie. She is a transplant from Chicago. We understand each other because we know what wind chill factors are, and never ever want to experience them again!

The lady on the left is a newer member, so I don't know her too well, but she is picking up skills very fast.

That's Kristene on the right -- the Swarovsky Queen. She is a fast seed beader, and has a little Yorkie named Harley. She also knows exactly which drawer I keep my Swaro crystals in and peeks at them each time she is here to see if I have any new colors.

And finally, this is Linda. She is taking on beadwork like a storm and even brought her tools and beads with her when she went back to India on holiday last fall. She wore traditional Indian clothing for me on Sunday because I am a fan of that fashion.

So there are a few of my Bead Buddies. I have lots more and will introduce them over time. :-)

Beadwork Meetup Feb 28, 2010

I hostessed another Beadwork Meetup at my house this past Sunday. We crammed seven of us into my studio and had a wonderful afternoon of beading and chatting.

Everyone brought food and it was a sunny day so there was good light too.

Teresa worked on a necklace that featured a pendant made by our friend Kimberly. Michelle used seed beads to make a circular medallion. She wasn't sure if it would become part of a bracelet, or half of a pair of earrings.

I finished up another cube and delica seed bead bracelet. Kristene worked on a necklace using Swarovsky crystals and seed beads. I think we all made progress on our projects, but can't be sure because there sure was a lot of yakking going on at the same time.

I really enjoy hosting these events at my house. There is a severe lack of bead buddies in Escondido and I truly appreciate these gals driving all the way up here to visit.

The Cube and Delica bracelet

I mentioned previously that I would try to upload a photo of the bracelet I made using the cube beads and Delicas that I got in Tucson. Well, here it is. The cubes are about 3mm and irridescent with a matte finish. The Delicas are irridescent and shiny, and shimmer with purple, blue, green and gold hues. I have edged the bracelet with the delicas plus some gold 3-cut charlottes that I got from Donna Palmer's Beads & Magic Wishes. Turned out pretty nice, I think!

Tucson, Arizona -- February 2010

On Thursday, 2-4-10, I picked up my friend, Diana, and her friend, Kay, and we set off for Tucson. We took my SUV and I did all the driving. The seven-hour road-trip went fast, as we never shut up the whole time! We had great weather, plenty of food and beverages, and great spirits.

Once there, we found the hotel, checked in, and went out to dinner. I reserved us two suites at the Marriott Residence Inn near the airport, and got a great deal (AAA rate). We loved the hotel as the rooms were spacious, had little kitchens and living rooms, were comfy (but had slightly noisy air conditioners), and the hotel served a free hot breakfast every morning.

Friday morning we set off for downtown Tucson, and parked a couple blocks away from the Convention Center. We made our way to the first show, and while looking at the registration requirements, realized this show was for the very SERIOUS jewelry designers, i.e. the ones who used diamonds, gold and other very pricey materials. So... off we go across the street to another show at a huuuuge tent. Inside the entrance, I went to register and whoa, it was another show for buyers of diamonds, rubies, emeralds, etc. Too high end for us, we went back to the parking lot and begged for our $5 bucks back (and got it!).

So off to the next stop. To Bead True Blue. Aaaaah, this one was just right. We split up and searched the rows and rows of vendors, finding wonderful things. They had several ballrooms filled with goods, and a large tent out in the parking lot as well.

My first purchase of the day was a mass (12 strands) of cream colored 'nibblets' (flat rectangles, about 4mm) with irridescent round spots on them. Hard to describe, but really different and cool.

We shopped at that show for maybe four hours, and then headed over to the Kino Sports Center where the Best Bead Show was located. That place was packed with glass bead artists, Soft Flex Wire company, vendors selling pearls, glass beads, ceramic beads, findings, books, you name it. I visited two of my favorite shops, Out on a Whim (WhimBeads) and Beyond Beadery. I made massive donations at each shop and my shopping bag got very full.

I also saw my friends at San Francisco Arts and Crafts, and found fun seed bead mixes at their booth. I spent maybe a half an hour chatting with them, as I had not seen them in a couple years. They are really nice people so I enjoyed catching up.

That evening, back at the hotel after dinner, we spread out our purchases for a little 'show and tell.' It was interesting to see who bought what, and what new things were discovered.

On Saturday, we went to the wholesale shows at the Gem Mall and the Holiday Inn Holidome. These are massive tents, football-field sized, and packed to the gills with bead vendors, finished jewelry, crystals, pearls, glass, silver, semi-precious stones, findings, tools, books, gifts, and oh, did I mention, BEADS...

Again, we split up and spent the entire day at the two shows. I got pearls, glass beads, ribbon necklaces, Chinese silver beads, ceramic beads, some funky bracelets to give as gifts, some cool snakeskin jasper (turquoise and beige), some picture jasper, a few other types of stone beads, some Vintage German glass buttons, a little more Chinese crystal, and LOTS of Czech crystals and glass beads.

In the evening we shared our goodies with each other again, and decided that we had to go back to two of the shows tomorrow before heading back home, to pick up a few more things. I had the perfect picture jasper beads that would go with the cabachons that Diana had gotten, so she needed to stop at the Gem Mall and get a strand for herself. I also wanted a funny button that Kay had (You did WHAT? With WHO? For HOW many BEADS?) so that meant a stop back at the Best Bead Show.

Sunday morning when we got up, it was raining cats and dogs. After breakfast we checked out and headed over to the shows for our last-minute dash. I spent some time chatting with Jeanette Cook of Beady Eyed Women, and she graciously allowed me to photograph her in her booth.

I have known Jeanette since the early 1990s when we were both early members of the San Diego Bead Society. She is a lovely gal, and talented as heck. Her booth was filled with colorful beaded jewelry, and she was selling her kits to make necklaces, earrings, bracelets and brooches. I love her sense of style and color combinations. She is a really cool lady.

We drove in the pouring rain for a couple hours, and finally drove out of it. The weather got much nicer as we made our way into CA, and we even saw sunshine and puffy clouds. We stopped in a teeny town called Dateland where I tried a date shake (yes, real dates in a milkshake) and it was GOOD!

I dropped the two gals off at Diana's place (Kay was visiting from the Bay area) and drove another 45 minutes to Escondido.

When I got home, the girls were over watching the Superbowl with Harvey. We had food and watched football, and afterwards played Wii games.

A fun-filled weekend, now I am exhausted!

Pasadena Bead and Design Show - January 2010

It's been over a month since I went to the Pasadena Bead and Design show, but I wanted to blog about it briefly. I wasn't planning on going to it because I intended to visit Tucson in February, but I ended up going anyway at the spur of the moment, and packed a bag in case I decided to stay overnight.

It was a nice day on Saturday and the drive up the 15 freeway was pretty. I got to the show around noon and when I registered, one of the show organizers was there and I asked her why I had not been sent a postcard for free admission this time. Long story short, I got in for free (instead of $10)!

Having been to this show several times in the past couple years, I recognized many vendors and took note of the new ones. One importer had incredibly inexpensive Chinese crystal beads, where I made my first purchase of the day. I also visited my friend Donna Palmer's booth, and made my usual 'donation' at her shop. She always has a nice variety of seed beads and interesting kits. She loves bright colors and Swarovsky crystals, and has a playful style of work.

Since I was planning a major shopping trip to Tucson in February, I kept the buying in check and finished the show in about four hours. I decided to stay overnight in Arcadia (close to Pasadena) and the next day I tracked down a new bead store, San Gabriel Beads. And oh, mama! They had seed beads galore! I spent maybe two hours looking at everything and brought home a large bag stuffed with more seed beads, clasps, and other goodies. That store made the weekend complete! (So much for saving my $$ for Tucson!)

I did not take any pictures of the stash this time, but will do so after Tucson.

Holiday Boutique in Oceanside, CA

Holiday Boutique
Featuring:
Silpada Designs
Sterling Silver Jewelry & Accessories
Élan Studios
Unique Hand-Beaded Jewelry
Taglieri
Original Oils & Limited Editions
The Olde Bag Lady
Designer Handbags
Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009
11:00 am to 4:00 pm
4723 Rim Rock Road * Oceanside, CA 92056
78 to College Exit, North on College to Oceanside Blvd.
Left on Peacock Hills, Right on Rim Rock.
For further information: Elan_Studios@sbcglobal.net

Carlsbad Inn Trunk Show - week 2

We had a very successful second weekend at the Carlsbad Inn Beach Resort and both Bonnie and I are very grateful for the opportunity to show there. We were inside the resort's library this time, and out of the cold and rain. We had lots of resort traffic, and some visitors from the flyers we had distributed.

The things I learned from this past weekend include:
1) Don't plan a show on a Chargers Game day if you plan to set up in the only area with a big screen tv.
2) It was a very, very, very good idea to accept credit cards and go through all I had to do to get set up to take them. Two-thirds of my sales were paid for with plastic.

Things I learned from the first weekend include:
3) Balloons are helpful if you have an outdoor booth located on the other side of a parking lot. It lets people know that there is SOMETHING going on over there, and most are curious enough to come over and look.
4) Bring lunch. Bonnie went to get us food, and while she was gone I had a sale. The problem was, the lady hurried me (my mistake to let her get me flustered), and I did not check the expiration date on the credit card. Lesson learned--I had to eat the sale because I couldn't process the charge without the expiration date of the card.
5) Dress in layers. I got this one right.

I had a lot of fun and it felt great to hear the compliments on my work. I moved a fair amount of stock and met some really nice people, including the resort staff.

Holiday Trunk Show in Carlsbad - 1st weekend

Well, the first two days of this Holiday Trunk Show were COLD! Our spot was outside between the resort and the restaurant, and there was a cold breeze from the ocean whipping right through us. I had to get creative with some of my displays as gusts would topple them over from time to time, but figured it out in the end to put the plexiglass necklace stands sideways so the wind went past them.

Bonnie got a tank of helium and we added balloons to the posters I made. This was good because it indicated to folks on the other side of the parking lot that there was something going on over here. We had lots of foot traffic, thanks to the influx of resort guests and restaurant traffic, plus stragglers from the weekly art show that is held on the front lawn of the hotel. Also, being jewelry, 99.99% of the women who saw our tables stopped by to look. A woman can never have too many shoes or too much jewelry!

And because of the art show, one of the oil painters we met is going to join us at the home show on December 20th, too. Bonnie is probably going to move it from her house to her mom's house because there will be more room. It's now up to 4 of us: Bonnie (Silpada Designs), me (Elan Studios hand beaded jewelry), The Olde Bag Lady (knockoff designer bags), and Mary, the painter.

So ultimately Bonnie and I had a good time doing this and are looking forward to being here again next weekend. Let's hope the rain stays away (on the weekend) and that it is a little warmer too.

Update on Holiday Boutique

There has been a change to the dates for the Holiday Boutique that I will be participating in with my friend, Bonnie. We are reducing the dates from the first three Sundays in December to only December 20th. But for good reason!

The first two weekends in December, I will be displaying and selling my jewelry at the Carlsbad Inn, outside between the hotel and Fidel's Restaurant. I'll be there Saturdays and Sundays (hours to be determined). I am waiting for confirmation that Bonnie will be able to sell her Silpada jewelry as well, and will update this blog when I find out.

I am pretty excited about this opportunity. There is a long-standing art show that takes place on the hotel's front lawn every weekend, so there should be established traffic from that in addition to normal weekend foot traffic in the area.

Wish me well!

DC Bead Store

I was in Washington DC last week for business, and while there I visited a bead store I had been to a few times before. Bedazzled is located in Dupont Circle, very near the Metro. While it is convenient, it is not the best bead store in the world (sorry, Bedazzled), but it IS a bead store and I support any and all of them. (LOL)

I found some gold french boullion I had been looking for (I use it to protect the threads while attaching clasps) and some different toggle clasps in gold and silver, and even two $1 grab bags of assorted beads. I got those as a challenge to myself to make something from a hodge podge assortment.

Many of the bead magazines that I read often have Bead Challenges, where the same assortment of beads is given to three or four people, and they are to create something with them. Then the magazine publishes photos of the finished pieces to show everyone that there are many ways to use the same materials, just depending upon your taste, skill level, and preference of materials. (The designers are encouraged to use the beads from the initial assortment, but it is okay to fill out the design with materials from their own stash, too.)

Anyway, if I ever get around to making something with those grab bag beads, I'll post a picture of it.

Better Late Than Never

It's been way too long since I updated this blog. Life gets in the way sometimes.

Anyway, my friend Bonnie and I are going to hostess a Holiday Boutique at her home in Oceanside this season. She wants to hold it over three Sundays in December, from 11 to 4. My initial thoughts were that two would be enough, and another vendor that is participating thought the same thing. But I don't have anything to loose by doing it three weekends, so heck, I'm in.

Bonnie is a rep for Silpada Designs, which is a line of very nice sterling silver jewelry and accessories. She used to sell Cookie Lee Jewelry, but moved up a few notches with the new silver line. Bonnie also makes jewelry herself, so I hope she has some of her own work for sale too.

I have been on sort of a bracelet binge the past couple months. I like making them and they take less time than a full beaded necklace. (I am talking about beadweaving moreso than stringing.) I am addicted to tiny seed beads, in all shapes, colors and finishes, so I love to work with those more than any other type of bead. Which isn't to say that I don't adore semi precious beads, freshwater pearls or glass beads of any kind -- I Do!

Anyway, I will attempt to post the flyer that I am working on for the show. Tell me what you think, and by all means, come and visit!