Denise's Lampwork Beads and Babioles

Treasury

2008-03-19T11:53:00.000-07:00

It is sad that after 2 or 3 days the treasury page on Etsy dissapear. Another of my journals have been featured earlier this week but only for a day as the curator was alternating between many artists.

I do hope that other curators will choose to feature my work as I could see the featured item received many more visitors...the more visitors, the more chances that one will become a buyer. That's the purpose isn't it?

I have a few more beads ready and another miniature journal but no time to take decent pictures so I won't be able to list before next week.

Etsy's Treasuries

2008-03-12T16:28:00.000-07:00

How cool is that? I've been featured in a Treasury page, chosen by Glasfaden who's an artist I admire. I am a happy camper and keep my fingers crossed so that will bring me some sales.

New beads

2008-03-12T10:11:00.000-07:00

I just can't get enough of those little bones. The added silver foil give them a an ancient look, artifact-like and my imagination run wild as to how to wear them. I have one of them on a chain, as a pendant, one on wire for a bracelet and am tempted to make another bracelet. They are a great conversation piece.

Hibernation

2008-03-10T10:20:00.000-07:00

What a better day to light the torch than after such a storm. Seeing so much snow makes me cold. I spent my Sunday evening and Monday morning making beads and am now waiting for the kiln to finish it's job. I'll have new beads to list on Etsy tomorrow morning. Meanwhile, here's a little idea of what we got on Saturday. The fence is 5 feet high and the pool 52 inches. Keep cool!

Stormy Saturday

2008-03-08T15:26:00.001-08:00

It's almost scary...snow, sleet, wind... as we long for Spring, we are having the worst storm of the winter. At least, we still have power and I can surf Etsy. I succeeded in obtaining a Treasury. You have to be on Etsy just at the right time to click on the button to obtain one. Then, you enter all the items you want to show the world. I choose some of my favorite sites and showed very colorful items that worth seeing, in my opinion of course. You can see my first treasury here.

So little time

2008-03-07T17:30:00.000-08:00

I always hope that I will have more time after this meeting or that appointment... and well, I still can hope. Beside working on pictures for Etsy. I am showing this picture here, some eggs beads, because that little set sold within minutes of listing it on Etsy so very few people got to see it. I plan to light the torch this coming week end and want to do some focal beads....if time permits. Then, I plan also to list from my orphan box.

New work

2008-03-03T12:09:00.000-08:00

Finally, I took time to make some more journals. From the beginning, I wanted to add my lampwork beads to the stitching or otherwise but until now, I though the beads were too big to be easy to incorporate. Next time I sit to the torch, I sure will make some flat beads and try to design something fitted especially for a perticular journal.

Meanwhile, here is how I incorporated some beads. The leather is a chesnut color. Those journals will be listed on Etsy tomorrow.

New pictures

2008-03-02T07:19:00.000-08:00

After taking the same pictures over and over again, I finally got some that I liked. As a background, I used one of my daughter's paintings. It makes all the difference in the world. I am happy with these pictures and will experiment with other paintings as new beads will be ready. Those beads and journal will be listed on Etsy very soon.

New work

2008-03-01T10:46:00.000-08:00

Even though very slowly, I am still working on some leather journals and new beads. Then, I tried to take some nice pictures but only one or two are not too bad, the others are blurry, badly framed or absolutely out or focus. I really have to set some kind of permanent space to take the pictures so I will get accustomed to a way of working and won't lose so much time for ugly pictures. I managed to get at least two and listed those two items on Etsy. More to be listed later this week.

A new avatar

2008-02-20T04:15:00.001-08:00

I've been thinking of an avatar for a while. I like my bead pictures and wanted to include one so asked my daughter who's currently studying for her BA in visual arts to transform a bead into a head... the avatar on the right is what she came up with. I like it. It's exactly what I wanted. She is very talented, have gold fingers and imagination to boost. Soon, we might have collaborative work to show. One of her art book will be exhibited from Friday to La galerie circulaire in Montréal.

On the crafty side, I still have 5 or 6 blank journals to sew. That will be for later today as I have to teach a boutis class this morning. Anyway, my new laptop is still missing so I can't get good pictures - my favorite picture program is in there - and this old trusty laptop screen is far from giving me the right colors. I am really looking forward to have new things to show.

New articles on Etsy

2008-02-18T15:45:00.000-08:00

I listed a few more things on Etsy and I still intend to add more. Today, each time I tried to sit down and work on it, something happened... phone, door bell and then it was time to go out for a class... Tomorrow is another day and I'll add more beads, journals and even a couple of my needlefelted polar bears. Those are hard to part with but well, I can still make more.

It's a go

2008-02-17T08:13:00.000-08:00

As of this morning, I began listing on Etsy. I intended to do it for over a year but always lacked confidence and that little push in the back to finally do it. I will list, little by little, different articles I make and that usually just pile up in boxes.

My laptop is still at the repairshop due to a faulty battery and Fujitsu having a very lousy customer service, I can't go as fast as I wish now but well, now that the first step is done, I'll go on.

Leather journals

2008-02-11T16:10:00.000-08:00

A few weeks back, Chantal from France sent me a wonderful little red notepad she made herself. The crocodile imitation paper was so shiny and appealing, the little gold findings so cute, the color just perfect for me so all I can do is just keep it stored in it's bubble wrap enveloppe so I won't damage it. That's what started my quest for handmade books. I have drawers of fabrics which I though would be so nice as a book covers. I found nice leather journals here and there on the web and, as I do have some leather I hoarded from the days my kids were into medieval recreation, I decided to give it a go. Now, I just can't stop making them. This first picture is the 2 first day's crop.

Gladly, I had everything needed at home: leather, waxed linen thread as well as beeswax and linen thread so I could wax it myself, leather, buttons, paper... My goal is to add my own lampwork beads to them. I have to make beads with bigger holes and I got a button mandrel so I can make beads with two holes. Meanwhile, I continue to make those journals and I intend to list these on Etsy very soon.

A new beginning

2008-02-09T07:38:00.000-08:00

Not really new in the blog world but I though it was time to start a new blog especially for my lampwork beads and other handmade items that don't fell in the knitting-quilting category. You will find here pictures of beads, leather journals, maybe some jewelry and accessories....

I am moving slowly as at the same time I am trying to take good pictures, open an Etsy store and still create and work in my studio. Once I'll find my cruising speed, everything will set into place smoothly.

You can bookmark my blog addy and come back from time to time. Don't hesitate to leave comments, I'll answer.

Still not ready

2008-02-07T04:45:00.001-08:00

Come back in a few days...