I is for Insanity, ie... Bead Mania!!

Insanity is defined as: (1) The state of being seriously mental ill; madness. (2) Extreme foolishness or irrationality.

Yup, that about sums it up!! I decided I must have experienced a bout of insanity recently when I decided to revamp my system of sorting and how I store my stash of beads.
It all began when Lisa Kan released her latest book, Bead Metamorphosis, which btw, is  fabulous and you should definitely give a look see, if you haven't already.
 OK, I digress here... so as I was saying, it all began with the release of Lisa's new book. A friend of mine purchased this book for herself at Christmas time and she was enthralled with the projects in it, but also the knowledge Lisa shared with the beady world. I don't know if it was something Lisa specifically suggested in the book or just an idea my friend came up with after thoroughly exploring Lisa's book, but.... my friend decided that she would re-sort her stash into groups of beads by color rather than storing her stash by size and shape. It seemed like a great idea on the surface. One could only surmise that  it would be extremely helpful to know exactly what one had available in varying sizes given any color scheme. My friend believed that it  would prove to be time-saving as well, because you could just pick any color, go to  your stash and have available at your fingertips all the bead types and sizes in that particular color to work with. Seems simple enough, right?
After making her decision, it took only about a week and a half before she twisted my arm and talked  me into re-arranging my stash accordingly. :) OK, so maybe she didn't have to twist my arm... I am always up for trying something new, especially if it makes my life easier, and believe me this should have, because I have been known to spend literally hours sorting through my beads looking for a particular color of something!!
Enter Phase 1 of insanity.... You know what I am talking about. That phenomena when you are thinking about tackling a project and you tell yourself that you will breeze right through this and it will only take you an hour or two to complete the project, and it ends up taking you three or four days?!?!?!
Yup,that about sums it up!! It seemed like it took forever to go through each of my containers and sort them into little piles of color here and there all over my living room. Everywhere I turned there was a different pile of color staring back at me. No kidding, it took me at least two days to get them sorted into piles... and my stash is nowhere as big as most. I think I have like ten containers of beads... which really isn't all that much in comparison to some stashes I'm aware of. So why did it take so long? I have no idea...lol, the only thing I can think is that I had just too much fun going through them all and "remembering" what I actually had. I will say this; after all was said and done, this exercise proved very insightful. I discovered I had very little beads in some colors that I thought I had lots of....lol,  and I had a multitude in other colors that I didn't think I was very fond of. Well, I must be fonder than I know, because otherwise, why would I have such a huge collection of them?? It definitely showed me where my stash lacked and where it didn't. In betweenst all that sorting, I somehow managed to begin three new projects, one of which I have completed, and the other two are works in progress. Thought I would post some sneak peeks for you to look at, while taking this journey with me. :)

Blue Ingenue Bracelet

OK, so once I had them all sorted, I had to put them all away again. (I'm hearing a collective sigh!) That proved to be mind boggling also, because then I had to decide which colors to group together in each container. For example, when it came to purple... they took up an entire container of their own... but not so much with things like pink, red and yellow.
Enter Phase 2 of insanity....Listen to your little voice! The entire time I was putting away the newly sorted, by color beads, I kept having this nagging, kind of uncomfortable feeling. Did I listen to my little voice? Nope!!
Yup, that about sums it up!! Enter Phase 3 of Insanity.... Denial! Deep, down inside me, I knew that this new system wasn't for me, but I kept telling myself that this was going to be great and so much easier when it came to choosing beads and colors for a new design.  I was lying to myself.  One day, when I was on FB this woman posted a picture of her bead stash and she had them all sorted into huge tubs full of beads. For example, all the browns and each of their respective shades were in one tub, greens in another and so on and so on.  I thought how wonderful that she has  such a huge collection, and I admit, I was a bit envious... but upon deeper introspection, I thought, OH MY GOSH! I could easily see myself spending an entire day going through any one tub  looking for a specific size and color of bead. Now, don't get me wrong, I have absolutely nothing against sorting your beads by color, if that's what system works for you, but as it turned out, it isn't the system that works for me.

Well,... not wanting to admit defeat to myself... I tried living with the new system for about a week and a half... until I began a new design. The strangest thing happened and I made a profound discovery about myself and my design process. Perhaps when creating a new design,  most people choose a color palette they want to work with first, but I tend to choose the type of bead I want to work with first, and the colors second. That's huge and really important for me to know about myself. When it came time to choose and find beads in this new system of mine, completely lost and seriously confused. What I thought was going to take a shorter amount of time actually took twice as long, because I seriously couldn't recall what type bead I had available in any particular color. The end result was that I spent more time going through each color looking for particular types of beads.  With my original system,  I could just think superduo... and look to see what colors I had available in them. Point made and taken... I really knew my way around the old system!!
Enter Phase 4 of Insanity.... Don't fix what isn't broken!

Yup, that about sum's it up!! I spent the next three to four days resorting my stash back into piles of types and sizes of beads, so that I could put things back the way they were when I began this journey, and I have been a completely happy camper ever since!!

What's the moral of this story? There are several.
First, Don't be afraid to try and explore something new, because you never know when a new method will hit the nail on the head and turn out to be the perfect solution to a dilemma!
Second, Learn to listen to your little voices, they will rarely lead you astray!
Third,  Don't fix what isn't broken, and
Fourth, and  perhaps most importantly, Figure out what works for you as an individual and stick with it!!

Have you ever taken a journey that led you right back to the place where you began?? :)

....and the Winner is!

My apologies at this late posting but my internet has been down today and just came back. So so sorry! Thank you to everyone who participated in my giveaway!! I really appreciate your support!
I honestly couldn't decide between your pay it forward ideas as to whose was the most creative, so I have decided to give each of you that participated in the giveaway a free tutorial from my Lady Abeada Designs Store on Etsy.


Lady Abeada Designs

If you will email me at : rubymoonfloral@aol.com with your tutorial choice, I will get the tutorial of your choice sent off to you!


Now to the giveaway.... The winner is: #4-Shirley Moore!! Congratulations!!

Please email me your full name and address so that I can get your giveaway winnings mailed off to you!

rubymoonfloral@aol.com

Again thank you everyone for your support and participation!

H is for Holiday Happiness and a Giveaway!!

I just returned from a glorious trip to Interlaken, NY to visit my Son and his family for the Thanksgiving holiday, and the entire thing was gifted to me by my very generous son!! I had such a marvelous time that I, myself am in a very happy, generous mood and want to spread some of that happiness around to the rest of the world. I've been thinking a lot lately about different ways that I can pay things forward to return some of the goodness that has been bestowed upon me, and for me, this giveaway is the first step in that journey.

What do you get?

A new copy of Kelly Angeley's book, Explorations in Beadweaving, Techniques for an improvisational approach, and all the beads and components that you see pictured in the photo below. Its kind of a mixed media spread with a little of this and a little of that; Super Duos, Rivoili's, peanut beads, some delicas, triangles, a cameo, some cabs, and a few seedies, among other goodies!!

The Official Rules:

While I think it would be a super awesome sign of your appreciation for my having this giveaway, if you would follow my blog and/or share this post on your FB page, I won't require you to do that in order to be entered into the giveaway. (If you are already following my blog, I thank you for your support!) The only requirement for entering is to leave a comment following this post and tell me how you will pay things forward in your life in  2015. Put your thinking caps on and be creative! (The most creative response may win something special!)

The giveaway will run from December 14, 2015 until 9pm on December 19th, PST. One lucky person will be drawn by random number and announced on Saturday, December 20th at 1pm, PST.

Best of luck to everyone!!

 

I don't usually do this sort of thing, but due to some extenuating circumstances and posting issues, I am extending the giveaway through this weekend to give everyone a chance to participate. The lucky person will be announced on Monday, December 22, 2015, at 1pm, PST. Thank you to everyone for your understanding and your participation!! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

G is for Guest Blogger-Cynthia Newcomer Daniel!!

Hey Everyone... When I asked Cindy if she would write a guest blog for Lady Abeada Designs  and she said "Yes, she'd be happy to," well, ... I was over the moon as you can imagine!! I left the subject matter to her saying she could write about anything she  wished as long as it had something to do with beading. I am  excited to read what she has prepared for us, as  I am sure you all are, as well. She is one of my favorite designers, and one of the nicest, most generous people I have ever had the pleasure of being associated with.  I know you will all make her feel welcome. Grab a cup of joe or your favorite tea, take a load off and enjoy this wonderful guest post and the incredible work made by my talented, creative friend, Cynthia Newcomer Daniel!!

Once upon a time, there were seed beads, and it was good. We wove them into chains and rings and bracelets; we loved our little beads. And then, we added pearls. And crystals. And gemstones. Our bead cupboards were full, or so we thought.

We had all we needed (except for new colors, we always need new colors), but then, one day, it all changed….
What was your first 2-holed bead? I started with Twins, and quickly moved to Superduos. I couldn’t get enough of them; after my first tube was opened, I knew I needed more. Transparent, Metallic, Magic…I had to have one of each. Then more, and even more.

The designs flowed, and it was wonderful. It wasn’t just a crush; I was in love. Superduos let me do things with seed beads that I’d never imagined doing. They became an important structural element; they took my beadwork to new places that I’d never visited before.
And then, in rapid succession (and in no particular order), I tried Rullas, Tilas, Half-Tilas, Tiles, Peanuts, O Beads, BiBos, Pyramids, Tri-Beads, Silky Beads, Tipps and Chexx. But that’s not all: on my desk, waiting for me to open them, are packages of Dobbles, Pucca Beads, Dome Beads, Dragon Scales, Tulip Petals, and Pellet Beads.
I think I need another cabinet.

I confess; I’m a bead addict, and I love trying new beads. I’m sure there are probably more new beads out there that I haven’t got (yet); every time I see a new one, my imagination is fired up and I want it. I have to have it. I won’t rest until I find a supplier. (Am I the only one who finds this paragraph a bit disturbing? Good thing beads aren’t illegal or immoral; otherwise, I’d be breaking bad.)

I don’t know which of these new beads will stand the test of time; I suspect some will, and some won’t. I hope that my favorites will be around for a long time, but even if they aren't, I will still be glad that I knew them. I think that this is a very exciting time to be a beader; with all of the new beads out there, the design possibilities are endless.

Are you as enamored of the new beads as I am? Or do you wish they’d stop already?

F is for Forward Motion and a FREE Tutorial!

   As many of you most likely already know, once again, the Bead Mavens are no more, which means, I am no longer a Bead Maven! :( At first, I was very sad at this turn of events, but now in retrospect, I realize I have more time to focus on my business and my blog... which is always a good thing. :) I will always be grateful for an opportunity to learn and grow and that was what the Mavens represented to me. But onward and upward and forward motion as they say. :)
  One day I was playing with my beads... well, experimenting with a particular color scheme, actually, and these cute little earrings are the end result of that experimentation. I hope you like them. They use Herringbone and Peyote stitch,  work up really quickly and are a great project for when you don't have a lot of time to invest in something. Enjoy!

E is for an ETSY PRESENCE!!

With all of the changes that Etsy has made to its platform in the last year or so, especially allowing the sale of mass produced items on the site, exposure and visibility seem all the more important to us little guys who continue to make and sell hand made goods.  What can one do to stand out a little bit in an over saturated jewelry market on Etsy? Trust me, I know it is easy to feel over-whelmed and like you are a tiny fish in a humongous ocean of competition, but with a little hard work and some serious focus there are things one can do to shrink that ocean down to a lake. I have no doubt you have heard all of these things before, but if you are really serious about your Etsy store, then it won't hurt to have another listen.

  1. PHOTOS

We covet what we see!! Should I repeat this? WE COVET WHAT WE SEE! Always keep this little saying in mind when you are taking your photographs to post online in your Etsy store or other venue. Selling online comes with its own special challenges. Remember, you aren't a brick and mortar store where someone is able to walk in off the street and  handle your item to see all of its wonderfulness up close and personal like. It's imperative that your photos are as clear, concise and enticing as possible. Selling online is an art in and of itself, and it begins with great photos!  Etsy gives you (5)Five photo slots per listing. Use all five of them to your advantage to provide your customers with as many views and dimensions of your product as you can. Use the macro or close up setting on your camera and don't be afraid of cropping your photos and learning how to get a very close up view of your item. Let your photos make a statement so that  your customers want to reach out and touch your products. Pay attention to the  lighting and shadows in your photos and keep your backgrounds on the light side. White is usually best, but not in all cases.

You want your customers to be able to see as much detail as possible and try to answer any questions they might have with your photos. For example, maybe you are listing a necklace. Of course, you would do a frontal shot of the necklace but perhaps the customer wonders what kind of clasp it might have. While you may put that info in the description,  many customers don't take the time to read descriptions unless they are searching for a particular piece of information, so it helps to take a photo of special elements such as that. Especially, if the necklace in question has a specialty clasp on it and would  be better served with  a visual presentation,  rather than just a few words. Use your imagination when it comes to photos and asking yourself the kinds of things your customers would like to see, and then answer in kind with relevant photos. Remember-- Your photos are the first impressions your customers will have of your shop and business.

2. Unity and Branding

What is unity and branding? Well, its just what it sounds like. Its something that binds your photos and items together and separates you from the crowd. For example: I have one friend who uses a gray marble slab as the backdrop/background for all of her photos. I would know a photo that she has taken anywhere because of this one thing. It is branding and unity all in one step. You can accomplish this through the use of lighting, a background, or even a prop that you use in each and every photo.  Another shop I am aware of on Etsy that sells jewelry uses an old vintage photo of a woman superimposed underneath all of her jewelry pieces. This is a bit more dramatic, but it accomplishes the same purpose. Its just that little something extra that lets her customers know... this photo came from her store and shop. I sell tutorials in my Etsy shop, Lady Abeada Designs and one of the tools I use to brand my photos is a white and gold banner that says tutorial draped diagonally over the left corner of my photo.

Get creative and let your light shine through.... but don't stop with your photos. Continue to define yourself throughout your store via your policies, your profile, and your item descriptions.  Tell your own personal story through all of these threads in your Etsy store. Remember, you are introducing yourself to someone that isn't able to shake your hand in person, so its tantamount that you do everything you can to make a lasting impression on your potential customers.

3. Search Engine Optimazation

 Three little words that have such a huge impact upon our online life and success!
You won't get found without it, so get ready to dive in and get your feet wet!!  One of the first things you will need to do is to determine what your keywords are for your store and for your listings. Well, how, you might ask? Simple.... you can use Google Keyword Tool, or you can use the stat section in your store to see the keywords that Etsy customers are using to search for your items.  Once you have identified 8- 1o of the most prominent keywords, you will want to weave these same words in all of your text, including but not limited to your item titles and item descriptions. Every possibility for text needs to be filled with your keywords... most importantly, your shop title!! Remember this is google's first impression of you... so make it a good one!

4. Relevancy

Since Etsy has changed their search platform from Regency to Relevancy, keywords in titles and descriptions have taken on new importance. It used to be that the more creative titles such as Red Rose Blossom Earrings would get you to the top of the list... but today its your keywords that will do the trick for you. Now your title might read something like this: Peyote Floral Beaded Red Earrings. Pretend you are a customer searching for your product. What terms or keywords would you type into the search box to find your item? These are the words your titles and descriptions should begin with. Remember tho, Google only looks at the first three or four so make them count. Be sure you remember to add these words to your tags as well, while Etsy doesn't use the tags to rank you, Google definitely does and you want your reach to be as wide and as far as possible!

5. Cross Promotion

This is your story! Tell it and tell it well! Tell it using all the Social Media platforms that you have available to you. Do you have a blog? If not,  maybe you should consider having one as an option. Use it to promote and link back to  your items and special events and sales that you have in your Etsy store or other appropriately related items.
Do you spend a fair amount of time on Facebook and Twitter? How about a Facebook Fan Page? Both of these are great venues for showing newly listed items and making all of your contacts aware of sales etc, and don't forget about Pinterest and Instagram!! The more of an online presence you have and can create the mote people will see you as legitimate and real and someone they want to know and trust. All of these changes take time and hard work, but the payoff can be substantial! Give it a try and see what happens. Do you have any suggestions or tips to share that have helped you to create a strong and successful Etsy presence??
                                                                      

 

D is for DIY Recovery!

Some time ago I was introduced to a wonderful book and creative tool, called the Artist's Way, by Julia Cameron. Basically, the book is a DIY course in discovering and recovering one's creative self.
 The two basic tools that Miss Cameron teaches us to make use of is "The Morning Pages" and "The Artist's Date". What exactly are the Morning Pages and the Artist's Date?
The morning pages are three pages of long hand written material that you are asked to do each and every day.... better known in the book as "brain drain", and it's just what it sounds like. Three pages of writing down whatever comes to mind until you have filled three pages worth. Unless you are someone that really likes to write, cultivating the habit to write the morning pages every day may be a bit difficult at first.  But once you do.... its worth its weight in gold.You will be amazed at the things that will come spilling forth from your brain on to your pages.
.... And the Artist's Dates? This for me is the fun stuff! Once a week you plan and take your inner Artist(yourself) on a play date and you don't share the experience with anyone else. Its meant to stimulate and cultivate your creativity by exposing you to new and different experiences, and reminding you of the things you really love and covet. Excursions and experiences can be as simple as coloring or doodling in a color book, taking a lengthy nature walk,  or taking yourself to a museum or exploring some experience that you have always wanted to, but for whatever reason never have given yourself the permission to do so before. There really are no limits to the possibilities for Artist's Dates.
This wonderful book also covers several important topics such as synchronicity, jealousy, criticism and integrity, just to mention a few. It explores the different avenues  in which we, as artists, find to  block ourselves creatively and it gives us tools and exercises with with to overcome these blocks and prevent us from becoming our own worst enemies.
If you have never read this wonderful book, you definitely should. Its well worth the time and effort to re-discover your creative self!!