Cathie Carroll ... my Bead Soup Partner!

I wanted to tear into these gorgeous packages so bad, but I also wanted to savor their beauty and share them with you! The photos don't need much explanation because their preciousness is evident. 

I love that Cathie has joined her obvious love of fabric with her love of jewelry.  I already have ideas about how to use these gorgeous pieces.  

  

Look at this unique raku pendant!  It's a teeny, tiny red barn with teeny, tiny trees in a plowed field.  I love it! And the stones Cathie sent are some of my favorite.  I love stones that have a milky translucent quality!  I always think of calcedony as being blue, but these are some gorgeous green ones. 

Wynwoods findings were some of the first things I bought when I started making jewelry.  I just love these ... and the buffalo nickel button is also a favorite.  I think Cathie has been rooting around in my jewelry stash!  I can't wait to get started! :-) Barbara

Torch-Fired Enamel Inventory for Bead Fest Philly

We've been working like crazy people around here! So I thought I'd show you what crazy people make when they create!  

These are some large gears that have been domed and joined during the firing process. 

I used one in this piece. 

Here are some new items we call "Torch-ured Hearts."  I came up with the name and Chris came up with the spelling.  Isn't that Chris a clever boy!  (Some of you may know him as "Pookie"!) The metal has gone through a rolling mill to give it floral detailing and then sterling silver has been fused to the surface.  I really like these!

Here's a technique from the "Luscious Links" project in the book on how to torch-fire decals.  I'm lovin' these!  These are 1.25" pendants that have been torch-fired once.  When cool, decals are placed on the enamel ... some that are black and white that I print from my printer and the another that is a commercial floral decal.  The black and white decal turns a sepia tone as a result of the red iron oxide in the ink.  

Working with white liquid enamel, like what's on the black and white heart, is a technique shown in the book on a couple of projects, including "Wings of a Dove" which features LeAnn's (Summers Studio) porcelain bird and bronze clay branch. Love these fun little hearts.  You would not believe how easy they are to make.  Actually, I should be saying, "These are terribly hard to do.  Only a master craftsman can do these.  You have to be a genius."  NOT!   LMAO!  

More decals on littler discs. 

More decals on even littler discs. 

White liquid enamel and more coarsely ground colored enamel make quick work of these discs!

My son, David, dreamed up these babies ... (some of you may know him as "Orton!")  Aren't they cute? 

Small and large copper gears will be available, too!  Pretty simple, but sometimes you need simple because what you have in mind is way complicated! 

These are perfect charms and also dangles for earrings! 

Various sized discs in lots of different colors! 

You call them "yo-yo's," I call them "bobbins."  It's all about perspective. 

Some adorable bead caps from Chris.

The elusive enamel head pin is also described in depth in the book. This is the funnest clasp I've made in a long time ... err, ever made! 

That's all folks!  If you're at Bead Fest Philly, please come see me at the Painting with Fire Artwear Booth 828!  You'll see a big shelf with tons of enamels and bags and bags of beads so you can make these yourself if you're so inclined! 

Alain de Botton, A Kinder, Gentler Philosophy of Success

I could listen to this guy all day!  If you don't have 16 minutes right now, listen to part of it and then come back. This post is spurred on by Lori Anderson's recent post.  I think you'll really enjoy it.

Cathie Carroll ... my Bead Soup Pardner!

I'm so excited to participate in the Bead Soup Party Swap again.  I think one of the reasons is that it encourages me to stretch in directions I might not ordinarily go.  I think another reason is that I know what I'm going to send Cathie.  I've been working on some things in the studio in preparation for Bead Fest Philly and have come up with a great clasp ... and that's all I'll say!  I can't wait to experiment on her!  LOL

I think Cathie and I might be clones.  Her love of fabric and her expression of it's beautiful qualities appeals to me so much.  Fabric was my first love.  Here are some of Cathie's magical pieces.  I especially love her Poetry Pieces where she hides a message in the piece for you to find.  I can imagine these would be a great purchase for yourself, but imagine receiving something from a loved one with a special message!  Wouldn't that be cool!  I know it's going to be hard, but please stop drooling on your keyboard!

Thank you for so many things, Part 2

Fourth unrelated photo. 

This is a continuation of the last blog post.  So, if you're getting here without have read that, you might want to go back because this part will make much more sense to you. :-)  When we were last here I was explaining how June Roman helped me to think about the book proposal.  I certainly didn't think I was an enameling expert ... not by any stretch of the imagination ... but I was making some interesting discoveries in the studio based on skills I had acquired when firing Matilda, my big Roman arch downdraft kiln. I was merging two decades of ceramics arts knowledge with the world of torch-fired enameling. June gave me insights into her process of submitting a proposal to North Light. She insisted I go with her publisher.  She said, "When you're ready, let me send an email to my editor, Tonia Davenport, so that she'll know to expect your material and that I'm referring you."

Fifth unrelated photo. 

That very weekend I went into hibernation.  I knew there weren't any books on the market that dealt with torch-firing ... but for how long?  I had to get this finished ... plus, I realized I was not getting any younger! Who knew! I started writing the book concept, which I lovingly refer to as the "oxyclean commercial" ... the pitch.  If you read the book, it's the Introduction ... almost word for word. I wrote all weekend and finished up on Monday. I was bleary eyed and in a fog.  Book concept, preliminary table of contents, a couple of project how-to's, a copy of the Winter 2010 BAJ article, 20 digital images, bio, artist's statement sent.

Sixth unrelated photo.

Tonia was kind, she didn't make me wait on pins and needles.  She said she really liked my work, but she would have to check with the "trade guys" first.  The "trade guys" are the ones who make sales calls to big craft stores like Michael's, JoAnn's, etc.  She said that because I didn't use materials that were commonly found at these stores, she wasn't sure that North Light could count on the sales from these stores.  Since this was ten days before Christmas, Tonia said it might take her a few days to get back to me because people were on vacation.  In about a week she was emailing me that the "trade guys" said, "Go forth, young padawan." Well, not exactly in those words, but you know what I mean.  Of course, I wasn't nearly over the hurdle.  That didn't come until March 5 at a North Light meeting when Tonia presented the book idea and got approval.  I don't remember having many days as exciting as that!  It was unreal.

Seventh unrelated photo. 

My first days in the studio were overwhelming.  It was like I had stage fright.  I was frozen.  I thought, "I'm going to have to call them and tell them I can't do it. What made me ever think I could do it?"  I would have backed out if I hadn't gone on so much about "the book deal." I thought, "I'll never be able to show my face again if I don't go through with this.  I'll have to move to Siberia."

In the meantime, I had just started teaching workshops.  I had become a Diamond Tech distributor for torches and I bought beads wholesale for use by the students at the workshop.  I also sold the torches and beads at the workshop.  The students loved the new enameling technique, but at the end of the workshop they said, "What?  No Enamels?"  I thought, "Okay, I need to become a Thompson Enamel distributor."  My husband called Thompson Enamel.  It was very carefully explained to him that Thompson was particular about who they gave distributorships to ... you could not be strictly an online store because we would be competitors with Thompson.  Jim explained that we would be generating sales through the workshops I'd be teaching. "Great, that's the type of business we're looking for," they said.  We got the enamels just in time for my Northern Virginia workshop sponsored by Jeanette Ryan and Cindy Wimmer, which was a success, btw.

Eighth unrelated photo.

Sarah MacLachlin's song echoes in my ears ... fumbling, stumbling ... but at least moving forward.  More workshops, more needs by students for more enamel colors, more learning on my part, more writing the book. Nearly everything I'd done was in response to a need or request by students or customers.  It's not like I sat down and made this grand plan and said, "I'm going to do this, and that, and this." I am constantly asking for guidance from those around me.  My daughter is a business major finishing up her degree.  A year of 4.0's in some of the hardest finance and accounting classes gives me confidence to ask her for advice.  She has a wonderful mind but comes from a mother with a learning disability in math!  Go figure!

Along the way I've had to make mental adjustments about how I viewed myself. The tape that had been  previously recorded in another's voice and played in my head had to be put on pause.  Changes appear to have taken place by leaps and bounds, but in reality it was a series of baby steps put together. 

Today, I write to tell you that I'll be doing my first book signing at Bead Fest Philadelphia!  It's really happening.  It's here!  I hope you feel as though you can share in this success because you certainly have been a part of it. If you're at Bead Fest Philadelphia on Friday, August 19, come by Booth 848 and say hello. On Saturday and Sunday, since I'll be teaching, I'll be at the booth from 12:30 to 1 p.m. and from 5 to 6 p.m.   If you want a book, they'll be there and I can sign it!  It's still unreal!

Thank you for so many things!

This is too long to put in one blog post, so it will be a several part post.  I think I'll intersperse some photos in the post ... even though they'll be unrelated to the text.  You're going to think you're at Erin's blog when you visit today, but you're not, I assure you.  I don't know why I'm writing this, but I feel compelled.  I hope you find something in this tome that will encourage you to do whatever, go out on a limb.  Sometimes the limb gets cut out from under you, but you can bless your enemies.  I have some enemies I bless nearly daily.  Had it not been for their jealousy ... I would never have left the nest.

First unrelated photo. 

As I write this I am really tired.  I wake up too early because I'm excited for the day to begin ... I mean, how wonderful is that! I hear my son upstairs working on a new song, belting it out and my husband's getting ready to start dinner, which is his favorite thing to do ... cook.  As I write to you, friends, most of whom I have never met in person but feel a kinship to, I am grateful for your encouragement over these past many months. You have contributed so much to who I am today by your encouraging words and kindness. I feel as though I am complete, finally at age 60!  I hope you don't take that long, but I had a rocky start, and I'm a late bloomer. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Second unrelated photo.

If I were to describe my life as a song, it would be "Fumbling towards Ecstasy" by Sarah MacLachlin.  I've thought of that many times since December 24, 2008, when I started blogging.  Back then I was a ceramic artist, making beads because my body had betrayed me.  Two rotator cuff surgeries saw me saying goodbye to my potter's wheel.  I have no idea what made me even think of starting a blog.  I guess it's because my sales at etsy sucked! But then again, I could barely get listings on etsy.  When I think of how long it used to take me ... Geez!


My early days of etsy were discouraging.  By early days, I mean about a year. I read everywhere that you had to give etsy at least 6 months for people to find you.  I guess people found me but didn't like me ... or what I had to offer.  By July 2009 I was ready to quit etsy, stop making jewelry, and start cleaning my house ... because it certainly needed it.  Then a miracle happened. Christen Olivarez, Editor of Belle Armoire Jewelry (BAJ), saw some of my work on flickr and asked me to submit something to BAJ.  I couldn't  believe it. In fact, I was convinced that she would get my things and then have to figure out how she was going to break it to me that she couldn't use them.

Third unrelated photo.

By this time, I had started enameling.  My enthusiasm was palpable.  Mary Jane Dodd was the first one to encourage me to consider writing a book.  I thought, "Who me?"  Then I remembered a blog post written by an incredibly talented artist, June Roman, that went something like this, "Do you remember when I told you I was thinking about doing a book?  Well, the book concept has been accepted!"  I used to visit June's etsy site all the time to drool over her work ... she was terrible about keeping up her blog.  So I wrote to her, introduced myself, and asked for her help.  I explained that several people had suggested I write a book and any advice she could offer would be greatly appreciated.  June was so forthcoming.  We also discovered that we were going to be in the Winter 2010 issue of BAJ ... firsts for both of us.

... to be continued   Hang in there with me. :-)  Barbara

Treasuries of Lime and Turquoise ...

What a wonderful morning!  But before I thank the ladies for including my work in their treasuries, I have a revelation.  Most of you know that I have a website, in addition to my etsy site, that also features beads and enameling supplies.  What I've discovered is that the website has been great for supplying supplies to enamel artists, but not so effective in supplying finished beads to jewelry artists.  Over the weekend I listed on etsy the beads that I carry at my website.  I am grateful for the very nice acknowledgements I've received.  My spirit really needed the boost.  

This first treasury is from the very talented Nadine at Quilted Bliss by Nadine.  Nadine has a wonderful eye for color.  You simply need to visit her shop ... you'll really enjoy it!  She included by Bitter Green Pierced Temple Bead. 

The very talented Marsha Neal included my Caribbean Green Ridge Bead in her wonderful treasury.  Marsha has "a way with clay."  Amazing things ... I'm a proud owner of some of her things.  The richness and depth of the glaze on my two pieces shows a ceramicist that completely understands her medium. :-)  I'm glad to see that others love the color turquoise as much as I do!

I am humbled ....   Barbara

A new treasury

My humble little Aqua Arabesque bead appeared in this beautiful Treasury yesterday ...

Please visit my website: Painting with Fire Artwear, or my etsy site: Painting with Fire.  You'll find lots of new bead colors in better-than-ever prices!