#macarroll

by MaryAnn Carroll

A little bit of housekeeping before getting to our bi-weekly designer interview.  First, please enter in our ArtSpark challenge. To be taken right to the post, click the ArtSpark June button to the left.  We would love to be able to feature your piece in our weekly designer selection (the first designer selection will be tomorrow).  Not to mention, you will be entered to win the fabulous donations that are shown in the post as well as on our right sidebar.  Please share your creations along with your connections to that creation. Also….. the Sunday giveaway has been postponed until tomorrow, Monday, June 13th, which means you have one more day to enter.... The link is to the left of this post. Thanks for creating with us!  You can find links to learn more about Nat at the end of this interview.  Please take some time to visit her various sites. 

Natalie Etsy Shop: Grubbi



So, here is what Nat had to say when asked to share a little about herself personally.  Being from the U.S., I was a little concerned when Nat shared that she lost 5 stones!  Ouch!!!

I had to look up what a "stone" was since I only know about passing those and that is not pretty....

Unless, of course, if we are talking about passing stone beads...... that can be a pleasant experience ;o)

In the UK, however, it would be delightful to lose a stone since one of those equals 14 pounds in the US.  Congrats to you, Nat for losing 70 pounds in U.S. lingo.  Oh boy, before I confuse anyone more, I will just get onto what Nat had to say....

When I’m not at my desk kneading clay and hammering metal I’m training part time to become a counsellor/therapist. I live in Liverpool in the UK with and am mum to my beautiful 14 year old daughter who could generate enough dirty clothing to sink a ship! 

I have a love for animals and have three cats, one of whom was a feral stray that we took in and over time she’s become a lot tamer and part of the family. I’ve been a vegetarian for 25 years and animal welfare is a cause very close to my heart.

I’m also on a fitness/healthy living kick, having given up smoking 3 years ago, I’m now counting calories and introducing exercise into my life and have lost 5 stone in the last 6 months, which is a big change but is a wonderful feeling to be taking positive steps towards a new me.

I must start off by asking.... How did you come up with the name Grubbi?

Well, I was originally going to use my regular nickname but as I’m known in other online communities by that name I wanted a new name that would be connected with my jewellery only. Grubbi resonated from the word “Grubby” which is English slang meaning “a bit dirty” or “worn looking”. As I love aged, distressed and antiqued jewellery and beads I thought it apt.

What was it that got you first interested in creating jewelery?

I’ve always had a passion for art and creating things…in the past it was pieces of art, portraits and sometimes 3D meshes and graphics. I first became interested in jewellery making when I was looking for a piece of jewellery for my Mum's birthday. I found some beautiful earrings but they were extremely expensive and so I decided to buy some beads in similar colours and try to make something similar myself. Once I had purchased beads and made my first pair of badly made earrings, I was hooked! Not just to creating jewellery but to buying beads. I must have spent a small fortune over the last couple of years. There are beads everywhere!

You mentioned that you have been creating jewellery for some time now and have been experimenting with different mediums. Would you tell us a little bit about that?

I get bored very easily and even though I loved buying beads, I found that I wanted a more hands on approach, buying beads and stringing them didn’t satisfy the Gemini in me and so I moved on to polymer clay and making my own beads.  I discovered polymer clay by accident. I was looking for beads to buy and discovered the polymer clay and lampwork artist Emma Ralph. I fell in love with a set of her polymer beads and so bought a load of clay and set about learning how to use it.

After that I discovered Etsy and art beads! That’s where I really found my niche…art and beads combined…just perfect!!

I discovered MissFickleMedia on Etsy and my love for metal work and patinas emerged. From that I discovered stamping and just more recently, etching. I would totally love to try lampwork but I don’t have a studio or the funds for the expensive equipment. I would also love to try ceramics and enamelling but I’m trying to become more adapt with the tools I do have and not concentrate on what I don’t have.

Do you create beads with jewellery styles in mind or do you make the jewellery work for the beads that were created? Please tell us a little about that.

Some days I fancy playing with clay so I’ll get out my stash and try a new technique or make a cane, other days I’ll just make some components such as ear wires or clasps from wire so that I have some for the future should I need them. Other days I’ll actually force myself to sit down and finish unfinished projects and occasionally I’ll have the right beads and the right components at the same time and I’ll actually get to finish a piece of jewellery!

I do like doing some of the challenges from the online community or if I have a custom order…I seem to work better when I have a theme or colour scheme or a commission…I like a little spark to kick of the creative process.

How did you get started selling on Etsy and what have you enjoyed the most about selling online? And the least? Friends and family kept telling me that I should start selling my stuff.  I had spent a couple of years stocking up on beads, findings, tools and learning how to use them but never really had the confidence to think that anyone would actually pay for something I had made.

I made things for family mostly; my Mum is a huge fan of jewellery so she was my tester. I had looked at starting a website but found it quite difficult to get the look I wanted and worried about how I would drive traffic to it.

Even though I had been shopping on Etsy for over a year, it didn’t occur to me to open my own shop because it was a predominantly US site and I was over in the UK.  Then it occurred to me that if I was happy to shop in the US, others may me happy to shop in the UK. 

I joined in with some online communities and started adding my stuff to Flickr and had some good feedback and so less than 2 months ago, decided I had nothing to lose by opening an Etsy store and seeing how I got on.

So far I love it!  It’s great to see my things out there for everyone to see. Having such positive feedback from peers has given my confidence a much needed boost and every time someone adds something of mine to their favourites I feel very flattered!  My first sale was to a lady in New Mexico…blew my mind that my beads would be made into jewellery in New Mexico, the other side of the world. Very exciting!

Have you set any goals for your future in terms of creating and selling?

No, not really. I don’t think it will ever be a full time job unfortunately. I just don’t have the time to devote to creating on a full time basis. I think if it “had” to do it then I would fear it becoming a chore rather than a passion. So I’m happy to keep it more as a part time job/hobby for the foreseeable.  Unless of course I’m discovered in a big way and offered millions, hehe.

While purusing Nat's shop, I also noticed that she not only created wonderful beads and jewelry, but also offers some fabulous portraits. I have drawn portraits for over 20 years and art has always been a huge passion of mine. I used to draw portraits with good old pencil and paper but moved on to Photoshop and a graphics tablet a few years ago. Your portrait will be delivered via email for your approval and then sent to you on a CD with an A4 print in a hard backed envelope. If you prefer you can just receive the email delivery and I will refund your postage costs. I will include different versions of the finished piece in many finishes including faded, black and white, high contrast etc... From the CD you can print out as many copies of your portrait for family and friends.

Check out Nat's shop http://grubbi.etsy.com/

and some more artwork on flickr......

   www.flickr.com/photos/grubbi_/

 and then learn more about Nat by following her blog:

 http://www.grubbi.co.uk/

by MaryAnn Carroll

Put on your thinking cap and join us for

Art Spark...

In this new challenge that we are hoping is going to get you thinking about your thinking.... 

Pretty deep, huh? and This challenge extends to those of you who do more creating of art beads/components (like me) as well as jewelry designers who create handmade using handmade.

We hope that you share your creative experience with us.  If this is your first time participating in our challenge, please be sure to read through this entire post.  Or, if you are like me.... and you are NOT new to this, you might need to read through the entire post too....  since... you know...

what was I saying?

I forgot....

Oh yeah...  about reading through the post.  You might need a refresher.

We have some absolutely FABULOUSLY unique prizes too!

Before getting to that...  (no sneaking before you finish reading.....)

Let me see if you can figure out what our June ArtSpark is going to be about.... 

Here is your clue:

When I was young, I grew up in a neighborhood where we were fortunate to have six weeks of arts, crafts, games and more every summer.  I made many a boondoggle (lanyard) keychain, a never ending supply of potholders for my mother, paintings and more.  I have very fond memories.  Another fun activity during those years was tetherball.  There were 3 poles set up, 2 little and 1 big!  As I got a little older and more skilled, I graduated to play on the BIG tetherball pole court. Well..... not only was I able to play, but I kicked butt played well and bragged was proud to admit it.

 When I spent some time capturing that tetherball memory in a piece of handmade jewelry, here is what I came up with.

Now it is YOUR turn.

Think about a time when you were a teenager or younger that you felt very proud of something that you did well.

hopscotch champ, best speller, top reader, had solo for a chorus concert,

best chalkboard eraser clapper...

 huh?

You get it...  I know that you do, because you are smart as well as talented....

Can you do it?

I think so and here is a peek at what you might win..... But remember..... read the directions at the end of this post veeeerrrryyyyy carefully.... and have fun!

This adorable small wood-fired lidded container was made by Bill Perrine (my husband).  This adorable piece (with a slight defect under the lid) can be used to store your rings, favorite beads or anything else that you might like to keep in it.  For more unique wood-fired pieces, visit his shop:

http://splitfirepottery.etsy.com/

 Barbara Bechtel donated these beautiful polymer clay components.  Check out Barbara's Etsy shop for some more fabulous beads, pendants, earrings and more:

 http://floridity.etsy.com/

Our very own Mary Jane Dodd donate the book on beginning soldering.  If you have been interested in learning more about soldering but might feel a little intimidated by the process this is the book for you.  You can see what Maire has done with her soldering skills by visiting her shop:

http://mairedodd.etsy.com/

So.....here is the best part....  The RULES!!!

A game without rules is like intersections without any traffic lights....

One last mention before I go on.  If you are interested in more detail about our ArtSpark Challenge, click ArtSpark on the navigation bar above. 

And...... in addition to the FAB prizes above, you will also win one month on the sidebar of our blog showing off your piece as well as ONE YEAR on our website along with links to your shop and/or blog.

Once you have your creation ready, here is what you do:

1. Take pictures of your creation and upload it to our flickr account.

2. Leave a description of your thought process while creating your jewelry or beads/components. We really want everyone to share their creative thinking related to the theme so please make sure that you description is thorough.  It does not necessarily have to be in paragraph form.  Be creative.

3. Since we are a group promoting 'creating handmade with handmade', your jewelry consist of at least 75% handmade. This doesn't mean that you have to create everything that goes into your piece. You could use beads/components created by other artists. Please give credit to that artist in your description.

4. If your submission will be loose beads/components created by you, it may include any medium that you prefer to make those in. These submissions would also require a description of your creative thought process. 

5. Please only one submission piece per artist. Up to three views of the work are allowed and encouraged.

6. Have fun an come back often to check out the entries!

by MaryAnn Carroll

Pet Peeve # 3.623 Etsy, which I love by the way, is continually making changes, upgrades, etc. to make their site easier to navigate around and certainly, easier to list on.  One thing that the folks at Etsy have little control over is the "tags" that people use to promote their own shops.  My complaint is this.....  If it IS NOT a handmade supply then don't use the tag.  Etsy allows commercial supply sales, which is not my complaint, but the sellers should list them as commercial to help out those of us who create handmade supplies.  People that are new to handmade beads don't always know the difference at first and listing commercial beads amongst those who create their own beads does not help those of us who are creating one bead at a time.  With that said, here are some handmade ceramic beads from some of the members of beads-of-clay.

YolandasClay

Winchell Clayworks

Shaterra

MaryHarding Jewelry

 

Marsha Neal Studio



Lisa Peters Art

Joan Miller Porcelain

Golem Studio

Gaea

Chinook Designs

Artisan Clay

Marsha Hedrick

Artisan Beads Plus

If you are interested in more work by the ceramic bead artists listed above, the links are listed in the same order as the pictures.

http://yolandasclay.etsy.com/

http://winchellclayworks.etsy.com/

http://shaterra.etsy.com/

http://maryhardingjewelry.etsy.com/

http://marshanealstudio.etsy.com/

http://lisapetersart.etsy.com/

http://joanmillerporcelain.etsy.com/

http://golemstudio.etsy.com/

http://gaea.etsy.com/

http://chinookdesigns.etsy.com/

http://artisanclay.etsy.com/

http://amazingporcelain.etsy.com/

http://macarroll.etsy.com/

And to see more ceramic bead artists and/or learn more about creating ceramic beads, check out:

http://beads-of-clay.blogspot.com/

http://beadsofclay.org/

http://ceramicbeadartists.com/

If you know of any handmade bead artists (ceramic, lampwork, metal, other) that you would recommend, please share.

thank-you for supporting artists by

by MaryAnn Carroll

And add an extra sprinkle of spice by reading to the end of our designer interview to learn if you are the winner of the earrings giveaway..... Now on to getting to know Izzy Winterhart... I have to say, the little bit that I have gotten to know Izzy, I feel like I've known her for a long time.  Some people just have those open and honest personalities that comes shining through even in brief online conversations.  Izzy is one of those people.  I think you will also find that personality shining through in her jewelry creations and in her blog writing.   You can view her Etsy shop which I am sure you will be curious to see.... ....as well as her blog where she shares her personal side.....

 So Izzy, How did you first get interested in creating jewelry?

I’m a bit of a rock-hounder and I noticed each time I attended a gem and mineral show more and more gemstone bead vendors where there.  I found myself mesmerized by this vast sea of beads.  So I purchased a few strings and started creating jewelry.  The past few years, however, my fascination has turned from beads to copper.  Now I find myself swimming in a sea of metal, hammers, blow torches and sheer happiness.

How long have you been selling and how did you first decide to sell (online, shows, etc.)?

I’ve been selling on Etsy for about four years combining my first shop and current shop.  Etsy seemed to be the most suggested online selling venue for crafters, so I gave it a try.  I’m hoping to take my show on the road at some point and participate in local craft fairs.

Have you set any goals for your future in terms of creating and selling?

I will continue to establish myself as a “jewelry artist”, growing and learning along the way.  I will also continue to try new techniques while keeping the uniqueness of my style.  I’d like to one day see something of mine in a gallery, peeking out and calling in those who wander the streets window shopping.

How did you first get interested in working with metals?

To be honest, I’m not sure how that happened.  It seems copper found me, not the other way around.  Copper exudes warmth and who can resist something that comes straight from the earth.  It is easy to work with, has a sweet energy and looks amazing.

How do you come up with your designs?  (for example:  Do you sketch them out on paper or do you start out and just freestyle?)

I tried the sketching thing in the beginning but the more I forced a piece to look like its paper counterpart, the more I completely messed it up.  So I quit.  I now just sit at my bench, music jamming in the background, pull out some copper, add a dash of filigree and a sprinkle of bead sparkle.  I just let it happen.

What have you enjoyed the most about selling online?

For me, selling online is the greatest way to reach out across the world and meet people.  I love the idea that one of my little creations might cross the sea to some far off destination.  And that it will be greeted, loved and worn by someone who may, in fact, speak a different language.  My jewelry has seen more of the world than I have…

Lastly, Izzy, When you are not making this gorgeous jewelry,

what else are you up to?

When I’m not working with copper I’m knee deep in home improvement.  I love fixing up our home, even though my husband thinks I suffer from projectaholicism.  I seriously can’t have too many items on my “to do” list.



Thank-you Izzy for such a great interview.... and for my your understanding regarding my accidentaly pre-posting blunder that I didn't realize shows up in google reader.... even when I think I'm quick to remove it!  I've learned something new......  Be vvvveeeeeerrrrrryyyyy careful which button you push ;o)  Careful is a word that I have had to personally practice throughout my life..... I'll get it right one day :O)

To learn more about Izzy..... just click any of the links below.

Blog

Etsy shop

Facebook page

And..... as promised, the winner of the earrings giveaway is.....

TRACY SUZANNE

Congratulations Tracy Suzanne!  Our next giveaway will be Sunday, June 5th.

by MaryAnn Carroll

I was going to write a blog post with another one of my pet peeves, which happens to be pricing way too low just to get sales, along with what I think is a little dishonesty when selling. But since life has been exceptionally difficult for the past couple of months, I decided to keep it light and share the things that make me happy.  I'll save my pet peeves for another day... So....  here is my happiness....  my family..... My sister lives about four hours away and we don't get together as often as we should, but when we do, it is always special.....  Here is a little tour of that week.... not quite in order.

Here is my first born granddaughter Lacey getting a ceramic bead making lesson......

That's right, sweety..... you roll it up in a ball.....

and now you are going to roll the ball into a snake.... she loves snakes!!!

see what I mean....

and then, we will cut the snake up in sections as evenly as possible.... or not so even if you are like Nonnie.....

and there you have it.....  She IS like Nonnie ;o)

I did manage to save a few before I noticed that she re-started the ball rolling process with the completed beads ....

My present and future bead makers..... my son Ben who helps me with my bead  making, his son Benny and my granddaughter Chole, Lacey's sister.....

We definitely were focusing on our creative side this week...   My nieces Juls and Izzy were getting their hair done by my daughter Theresa while they glazed bisqued molds.

We also took a trip to the bead store....

The girls decided that they would rather learn how to make charm bracelets rather than stringing beads...

Looking like professionals with the jewelry tools.....

Juls..... almost done....

and Izzy making sure she counts the correct number of links before adding the next charm....

My niece Nat had more fun browsing....

Then we all got together at the end of the week.....

After the photo shoot,  I decided it was probably a better idea to leave the picture taking to a professional..... As you can see we have some squirmers, some not putting their best faces on, etc.,.....

but what I do have is my family.... and I am thankful for the time that I have with them....

My sons, my daughters-in-law, my sister, my husband, my nieces and grandchildren.....

Before they left to head home, I gave Izzy a quick lesson on how to make a link from a bead so that she could create her own charms....  As soon as she arrived home, she did exactly that....  Colleen sent me this picture that evening with Izzy (age 9)  modeling the charm necklace that she created ENTIRELY by herself!

Impressed?  I was.....  I'm pretty sure her future holds a career in fashion.....

Hey, Maire!  I am wearing the necklace that you made :O)   ....  LOVE IT!!!!

If you are ever in the area of Cortland, NY.....check out a great little bead store called Beads and Beyond. 

 by MaryAnn Carroll

And today, we are offering an extra sprinkle of spice.....  Once you have finished reading about Elisabeth Strong of Lizard Breath Beads, check out the winner of the fabulously generous bracelet that she offered for our Bi-Weekly giveaway.  And .... it wouldn't seem right to not ask Elisabeth where she came up with the name Lizard Breath Beads since Elisabeth was so kind to donate to our giveaway inspiring the question, "How did you come up with the name of your shop?"

Elisabeth shared this...... "So, my older brother initially pick, pick, picked on me with the name growing up, but it slowly transformed into something of a more endearing nickname. So, strangely enough, I have to thank him for all the lizard breath comments because it allowed me to create a unique and personalized name that I felt was fun but at the same time a little off beat."

How did you first get interested in creating lampwork beads and jewelry?

I discovered it through a craft television show and shortly thereafter bought a starter kit. I was hooked after experimenting in my garage for hours and made the leap for all the heavy duty equipment. I haven’t stopped since. Do you design the beads with a finished piece in mind? I like the freedom to let the bead design the piece but I also enjoy the challenge of having a bead in mind and creating it. I will usually split each firing 50/50 so I have room to explore but also ensure that I have productive and piece producing firings.

How long have you been selling and how did you first decide to sell?

I first sold about three years ago at a local community festival and slowly increased frequency, size and confidence thereafter. I was constantly making and producing so it seemed like the next natural step to take. To meet the demands of customers I joined in on etsy at the end of last year.

What have you enjoyed the most about selling online?

I love sending the pieces off and imagining how they will be met on the other end. It’s sheer delight to imagine making someone happy with something I have sent them.

Have you set any goals for your future in terms of creating and selling? I am always trying to improve my techniques, use new color combinations and manipulate and explore all the magical things glass can do it the flame. I will always focus on keeping a strong etsy site and producing a consistent and creative blog. I have just recently started to sell in local shops as well.

Lastly, Elisabeth, when you are not creating these beautiful designs, what are some other ways that you spend your time?

When I am not creating beads or designing jewelry, I am playing duck, duck goose, completing my master’s degree in counseling and soaking up as much inspiration as possible. I blog at lizardbreathbeads.blogspot.com and try to stay active on facebook as well. I truly enjoy just creating and sharing a connection with others that like to create in their artistic forms or in life’s work.

Check out more work from Elisabeth at her Etsy shop Lizard Breath Beads by clicking HERE.

and

Learn more about her by following her blog by clicking HERE.

And what a great way to finish this interview by announcing the winner of this fab bracelet.

Using the random number generator.....

The winner is.....

KRISTI BOWMAN

Congratulations Kristi......  Please contact Elisabeth with you address.

Please stop back next Sunday for another fun giveaway :O)

by MaryAnn Carroll

Although I still struggle with trying to get just the right picture, I think that you will see some progression from the first picture below to the last.  What I have found is that using the highest quality option on my camera is well worth the space that each picture takes up on a card.  After all, you can delete them once you save them to your computer.  There is nothing that drives me more crazy that seeing items for sale that are blurry, have busy backgrounds, etc..  Well....that's an exageration....there are some things in life that drive me crazier.....   However, when it comes to online shopping, I would rather see fewer pictures displayed rather than filling up space (5 on Etsy) as opposed to those that are poorly done.  Let's talk picture taking and presentation..... 

What's important to you whether you are a seller or a buyer.......or both?

The top three picture below are from my earlier days.....  done with just the standard quality and the last three are using the highest quality....and the macro option, of course.  I have an okay camera....  nothing spectacular...but it does the trick using the high quality option.

What are your frustrations when you are shopping online? 

 Not enough pictures, too blurry, too busy in the background?

by D'Arsie Manzella

I hope your creativity is on overdrive and you are engrossed with your Art Spark challenge project! I am excited to see your interpretations.

This week I am sharing the work and inspiration of MaryAnn Carroll. Her soulful creation illustrates a beautiful truth. Read on...

You Just Need to Look...

One thing that I am excited about with our new challenge called "Art Spark", which will be replacing the former "Call-to-Create" is that we (the blog authors) are invited to join in. We won't be eligible, of course, for all of the fabulous prizes, but we will benefit from thinking creatively in different ways each month. The other part that I like, which is different, is that the submitted piece can be finished jewelry or a handmade bead/component created by you that you feel fits the theme of the month.

When I saw that our challenge was the word "CONTAIN" it made me think of the troubles that I have been experiencing over the past couple of months. Right away I thought of my favorite bead which I have kept for myself. My family and I have recently been faced with a crisis that I'm quite sure will not be common in the lives of most people. At least I hope not. It was a tragedy that brought me to my knees. Someday I will be able to talk about it, but for now I will talk about it through this bead.

It was a phone call that left me almost unable to move....frozen...... but I knew that I had to be there for my son and his family. I didn't even remember how I left work that day until I was recently told by a friend that it was she who drove me home. After many sleepless nights, daily trips to Syracuse, etc. we had to bring some sanity and stability to what we were going through. That is where this bead comes in. When I look at it, it reminds me of feeling so lost inside of a darkened tunnel, but then.....slowly....I started to see the openings. They were there already, I just had to see them myself. When life seems so overwhelmingly hopeless, there are always those openings that you will find if only you look. Although, we are still experiencing the pain that this tragedy brought, there were so many people out there willing to guide us and support us...... we just had to find them. Like sitting inside of this carved out black bead surrounded by holes, things just seemed to fall in place. I started to look through those little openings and began moving my way out from what felt like my own little desperate lonely world.

My son Ben made this bead months ago and I glazed it. I didn't make it specifically for this challenge since my bead making has come to a halt for now but thought it worthy of sharing. I think now I will add this to a chain and remember to take it out during those times when I just can't see a way out...... There is always light somewhere when you are feeling lost in the dark; you just need to remember that it's your job to find it.

MaryAnn :O)

*************************************************************************************

And here is a glimpse into my (D'Arsie of Mamacita Beadworks) sketchbook for this month's challenge. My next step will be the clay sculpt. Because I am in the middle of a move, I will need to wait to mold the pendant and cast the finished work in pewter until I am settled in NY.

Hope is a Seed,

to cultivate, to protect and to give tenderly to others. It is a great gift contained inside every moment. Be a steadfast gardener and hope will nourish you through the sparse moments in life.

Hope is a Seed.