Expanding Line

In the process of making wine charms. Thought it would be a good promotional item to include in a welcome basket that the Great Brunswick Chamber of Commerce (GBACC) is putting together to distribute to new residents moving to the community. The charms will bring a sense of whimsy to my line of beaded items. I hope to expand to gift items such as beaded wine stoppers, serving utensils, and fan pulls. These are fast and easy 'wins' for the collection and expands the line to people who are looking for gift items more than jewelry.

I even came up with a catchy phrase for the card enclosure.

"Welcome new neighbor! Enjoy the 'charms' of Brunswick while sipping your favorite beverages with your new neighbors." Cute and kitchy. Hope it brings traffic to the website.

Songs of Summer Contest Results

Happy Mango Beads announced the winners for the Songs of Summer contest as well as the people's choice. I did not win either one, but there are no worries. I'm a new jewelry artist and these are the first contests I have entered. By entering these contests, I am accomplishing my overall goal of gaining a broader audience for my work. Winning is great, but free publicity is priceless!

A lot of people liked and voted for my necklace. I was right in the pack of potential vote-getters so it was all good.

Thanks to Happy Mango Beads for creating such fun contests!

Voting Begins

Voting began on Friday for Stinging Magazine's "Let's Go to the Movie" contest. Voting continues through September 3. My entry is #10.

http://www.stringingmagazine.com/gallery/Go-to-the-Movies

More Designs

Made three 3 new necklaces today. I recycled the glass beads from one of my personal necklaces since a bead broke and I wanted to repair it anyway. I am really pleased with the redesign for both. The one that will be a part of the Beadnicity collection is stunning (if I can toot my own horn).

I also designed a necklace using salmon-colored links, cream hexagon beads, coral, and turquoise puff coins, all mother-of-pearl. I had a happy accident today when putting this together. If I can duplicate it, then it will become a technique.

I'll post pictures on my facebook page and here soon.

Happy Mango Bead's "Songs of Summer" Contest

Well, I am trying my hand at another contest. This is the new contest sponsored by Happy Mango Beads. There are several themes based on summer songs. I entered a buttery yellow glass bead necklace with blue/green/white multicolored Krobos (African) glass beads in the "Kokomo" category. This was the category for tropical themed designs.

The other designers have really stepped up their game for this contest with some extraordinarily beautiful and creative designs. This is going to be tough.

Stringing Magazine's "Let's Go to the Movies" contest

Sent my entry for Stringing Magazine's "Let's Go to the Movies" contest. The necklace I designed used paper beads I made from the movie section of the Washington Post. I used Mod Podge and Glossy Accents to seal and lacquer the beads. The necklace has red bicone glass beads, grey oval glass beads, and white seed pearls.

This is the first time I tried to make my own beads and I am hooked on making beads from paper. I used a paper bead roller tool invented by Vicki (Dehne) Griffith. The tool makes this very easy. There is a slot to slide one end of the paper and in no time you are rolling paper beads like a pro! Makes for an unusual bead and just as beautiful as any gemstone or glass bead.

Happy Mango Beads

For all of the beaders out there, you have to check out 'Happy Mango Beads'. They are an online supplier of beads, gemstones, etc. if you are looking for the unusual, the unique, something ancient then HMB is the place to go.

I love antique beads from other countries and HMB has a rich selection of beads from Africa, India, Italy. I was surprised to see that they had old Roman beads. Wow!

Check them out! www.happymangobeads.com

Fall/Winter

Have to start thinking of designing a Fall/winter collection. Pantone has released its choices for the hot colors for the fall. All are reminiscient of the autumn, leaves turning from green to rich hues of orange, red, and yellow. Colors run the gamut from golds, blacks, gunmetal to chili pepper red, oranges, lavenders, emerald green, and blue. Natural stones and wood still will be popular - gotta be eco-friendly! Metal chains will also be popular - brass with silver, silver and gold. Links, links everywhere.

Can't wait to incorporate these into my designs.

Launch Date Nears

The launch date for the website is fast approaching. I have put it off several times, but have drawn a line in the sand. The launch date will be 8/31. If I can launch sooner that will be great, but the end of August will be a nice time.

Be on the lookout for announcements, maybe a giveaway to introduce the line.

Beading Contests

I entered my first bead contest a few weeks ago. It was sponsored by Happy Mango Beads, an online supplier of beads. The theme was Independence Day (July 4) and people could submit photos of necklaces, bracelets, earrings, home decor that reflected the theme.

I submitted a necklace that reflected our beloved American flag, In the design, I used cobalt blue Czech druk beads on one side blended into red Czech and white Czech druk beads. I used 3 Swarovski star pendants for the stars. I called the piece 'Stars and Stripes 4Ever'.

The piece was tied for first place in the Patriotic Category. The prize was an assortment of beads which I was very happy to receive and of course, the bragging rights for this novice jewelry designer.

Next on the agenda is another contest sponsored by Happy Mango Beads, centered around the Songs of Summer. I am going to submit a necklace in the 'Under the Sea' category since I have a ton of freshwater pearls, conch shells and other sea shells lying around the house. I won't reveal my design just yet. This contest deadline is August 6,

I am also going to enter the following contests:

'Let's Go to the Movies'' - Stringing Magazine
Steampunk Contest - SoftFlex
2010 Swarovski Beading Contest - Firemountain Gems

Seems like a lot, doesn't it? The deadlines are tight (both the 'Songs of Summer' and 'Let's Go to the Movies' are both due on August 6), but I find I work better and more creatively when my back is up against the wall. I have a general idea of what I want to do for each contest, just have to put it together and hope the actual works match my imagination.

Having fun with Paper Beads

Today, I played around with my new paper bead roller tool (thas makes paper beads). It is the invention of a woman in Maryland named Vicki (www.paperbeadgirl.com). This tool is very cool and easy to use. I was making paper beads in no time. I also have her template tools to cut consistent beads.

Paper beads are the newest sensation in the bead world along with making PMC, polymer clay and metalwork. If you don't have a kiln but still want to make your own beads plus be eco-friendly this is the way to go. You can use just about any type of paper: newspapers, magazines, scrapbooking paper. You cut the strips from your choice of paper, roll it using the dandy roller tool, smear a bit of ModPodge to seal and you have a beautiful, unique bead that you made! I also painted the beads with Glossy Accents to give them a bit more oomph.

Scrapbooking paper seems to work easier than newspaper because it is a heavier weight. I would assume magazine pages will work well, although I have not tried it yet. I plan to make lots of newspaper and other beads to incorporate into my designs.

Launching a Business

Launching a business is much like planning your wedding. There are so many steps to make sure the business gets off to a good start much like making sure a marriage gets started right. You have to obtain the proper licensing and make it legal within the eyes of the state. You have to pick the right outfit, in my case, the right website. You have to plan how the website is going to look, what to put on the website. Most importantly, how to promote it. Then you get close to the launch date and you get the jitters. Am I doing the right thing? Will people come to the site? More importantly, will they like what they see and will they buy?

I have been putting off launching the site for a while. I have most things set up except for pushing the proverbial button.