Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Ok.... so I'm quite far behind in blogging.

I'm quite far behind in EVERYTHING right now.

I'm not going to talk about HOW far behind because it will freak me out.

I'll just say that I have a LOT to do before Thursday!!! BUT when it's all finished, I'll have a great head-start on the New Year AND will be able to start selling the You Are My Sunshine ring kits AND the newest Head Over Heels kits!!!

(which is important since as of the New Year beads are the job.... the only job.... more on that in another entry where I'm not freaking out about all the stuff I have to do!)

Anyways... the New Year will be good!

But for now.... I'm just far behind!!!

tiny blah blah blah...

coffee today was totally yummy, but was NOT a CDL. I'm trying to figure out how the new Starbucks discount thing works and it doesn't seem to like me ordering a Cinnamon Dolce Latte. If I switch to a Vanilla Latte, it's MUCH cheaper.... go figure! ANYWAYS... thank you to everyone who gave me Starbucks gift cards for Christmas!! It's going to be a nice treat this month!!

music - my long long long mellow playlist. I didn't even make it the whole way through the list while working in the studio today... and I was in the studio for a long time!!! Guess it's a LONG LONG LONG LONG LONG playlist!

Thursday, December 24, 2009


Merry Christmas Everyone!

I forgot to tell you that I was taking off a week from blogging for the holidays!!! Glad that there were no real riots started due to my absence... just a couple of disgruntled people from Delaware.

Here's a picture from my most recent Holiday Party... this one was at Flametree Glass. This is me with the lovely Maureen McRorie who owns Flametree with her husband Lance. Go order glass from them... they're da bomb! PLUS I'll be teaching there in 2010!!


Merry Merry to you all!!!!

tiny blah blah blah...

Coffee - Cinnamon Dolce Latte which was FREE due to a coupon! YAY!!!

Music - Christmas Christmas Christmas!

Friday, December 18, 2009

Happy Friday my friends!!!!!

The weekend is here!!!!

I'm doing more pattern-writing and photo editing today, so there isn't much exciting stuff to report.... that part of my job is really not very exciting, but it's very necessary!!!


what IS exciting (for me anyways) is that TOMORROW is my Girls Gone Mild Christmas Party!!!!

And in honor of that... I'm going to "rerun" my posting from last year... sort of. I changed it up and it's now the forward for a book I'm giving them for Christmas (and I hope they don't read this till after our party... but they don't read my blog usually, so I'm pretty sure I'm safe!)


Here's to the Girls Gone Mild!!!!!!!!!! I love you!!!!



Thursday, December 17, 2009

Happy Thursday beady (and not beady) friends (and not friends.... happy Thursday to you too)

Merry Merry almost Christmas!!!

This is a not so very busy day, so this post won't be long (but anytime I say that, I always end up with a long post, don't I?).

I have a very Christmasy weekend ahead and I'm trying to do all sorts of stuff I need to get done bead-wise done today and tomorrow. The kids get out of school for the holidays as of tomorrow afternoon, so I will focused in different directions next week... we'll be all about Christmas!!!!

That begins with the Christmas-palooza weekend!!!!! I have THREE, count them THREE parties this weekend!!!!! It's my favorite weekend of the entire year.... I really think so!

Friday night we have our small group party for our church. CCB- Christian Church, Buckhead. I love my friends there and they have become a 2nd family for me. It will be fun to have a social night celebrating our year together. Thank you Perimeter Connect Group Peeps! I love you guys!!! (but I don't think any of you read this, so I'll tell you in person tomorrow). ANYHOO.... it will be a fun night AND the first of 3 fun dress-up occasions!

Saturday night is the BIG NIGHT... the night I look forward to all year long and talk about incessantly... The Girls Gone Mild Christmas Party!!!!!! (more about that tomorrow)

and Sunday night is a very very special party.... it's a party with the 2 people I love most of all... my boys. It's our holiday party for each other. We've done this the past 2 years...this will be the 3rd. We have a party for each other... pick a special restaurant, get a little dressed up (just a little... I don't expect miracles) and go out together to celebrate Christmas. It's not about gifts... it's just about doing something special... a tradition. Then we'll drive and look at lights. I love our silly traditions that have become "our" thing over the past few years. Most of them are a little kooky.... like having 3 Christmas trees... one for each of us..... like the surprise Christmas party last year (which won't be happening this year because it's an every-other-year phenomenon to keep it surprise-worthy). SO, Sunday night is a party for the 3 of us... a special tradition... and it will be the perfect ending to my weekend of parties!


but today... WORK!!!!! Must work!!!!!!!!

Merry Merry Thursday everyone!!!!!!!


tiny blah blah blah...

coffee - yes. Today I splurged on a CDL.... and it was gooooooood!

music - no. I'm watching movies while I do photo editing. Just watched "Lost in Austen" I give it a "so so" Not great, but not bad. Next up... a holiday movie. I'm thinking White Christmas OR Love Actually (again) :D

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

WOW! 2 days of blog postings in a row!!! could it be true?????


I've been puzzling over why I haven't felt like blogging lately. Part of it has been that I'm just busy, but I don't think that's all of it. But I also don't have an answer to why I don't feel like it. Guess I'm just not as bloggy sometimes?

Yesterday was photography day. I'm still editing the photos, but here are a couple. These are ornaments from my Christmas collection. They are fairly large. The Christmas Ball is about 1 3/4" in diameter... it's blown, so it won't weigh down a tree branch. :D

The other is one of my component pieces. They are about 5ish inches in height from the swirl at the bottom to the top loop.

I really love these pieces and I'm trying to figure out how they fit into my work. I have some ideas, but they're not all the way fleshed out. I'll keep you posted. In the meantime... here are some pictures!
Have a great day!

tiny blah blah blah...

still early. No news on the coffee/music front.

Monday, December 14, 2009

Happy Monday!!!

I'm going to try and be better about my blogging this week... even if I don't have much to say.

Today is about photography. I'm trying to get pictures shot of my Christmas ornaments so that I can at least post what they looked like and maybe even sell one or two.

I'm going to be in the studio a bit tomorrow making tiny faces for the ring project. They're fun to make because they sort of take on personalities as the glass shifts and that's fun. They look different when they come out of the kiln too.. so it's sort of an adventure.

That's the plan for tomorrow... we'll see if it happens or not.


tiny blah blah blah for today...

I'm not so much into sharing what I'm having or not having at Starbucks because I feel like if I say I DIDN'T have Starbucks someone will worry about my finances and if I say I DID have Starbucks someone ELSE will pass judgment on how I chose to spend $4.50 of my money. See the predicament I'm in??? SO instead, you'll just have to wonder if I had coffee or not and if you're concerned about the fact that I might NOT have had coffee due to my pending unemployment, then please feel free to re-load my coffee card! :D

I didn't listen to music today, so I'm sort of boring in the tiny blah blah blah department. sorry.

Friday, December 11, 2009

Happy almost Christmas my friends!!!

It's approaching quickly isn't it???? LOTS to do between now and then, plus getting ready for the retreat... working on new projects... planning 2010 show schedule....

phew! I'm worn out just writing that!!!!

I know I've been missing a lot lately and I apologize to my regular readers (waving to Laura who let me know that I've been away too much lately!) :D

I'll try to be more focused on your needs (snicker). I've just been in the studio more lately and not on the computer as much, so I forget about you guys... sorry, but it's true.

I'll have lots of things to say in the next month as I work on my newest project... as it drives me crazy because I can already tell that it's going to take a lot of stitching and tearing back out to get it the way I want it.

I'll also be talking a lot about shows and show schedules because I'm totally flummoxed by this stuff right now. What to do, where, when... it's a lot to think of and I'm coming at it from a new direction this time.

back to work!!!!!!!

tiny blah blah blah...

coffee - YES! My first one this week!!! Starbucks Cinnamon Dolce Latte

music - Christmas, of course!!! Mariah Carey's Holiday album is on right now. Looking forward to 'All I want for Christmas is You' (love love love that song!)

Monday, December 07, 2009

Happy Monday my friends!!!

I'm taking today off. I'm exhausted after prepping for the Clairemont show and then the late nights it involved.

Need to rest.

Will be back tomorrow!!! (I had to be reminded by friends that I don't need to work 7 days a week... no one else does... so when I do a Saturday show, I need to take a weekday off. Thank you friends for reminding me of that)


tiny blah blah blah...

no coffee

no music.... it's quiet and nice. :)

Wednesday, December 02, 2009

It's POURING in Atlanta today. Did someone ask for rain for Christmas???? I didn't and I really don't think we need any more. Will someone please ask Santa for a NO RAIN day??? I'm not asking for a drought again.... just to have rain every ONCE in a while instead of every DAY (I'm exaggerating a little I know)

I looked at the forecast for the rest of the week and it's going to be cold cold cold and might even SNOW on Friday night or Saturday! AAAAAAHHHHH!!! NOT on the weekend of the show!!!! No snow until Sunday! Please???

This was just a quickie weather posting... I'm warming up upstairs for a minute then back to work in the cold studio!

Stay warm and dry everyone!!!!


tiny blah blah blah...

coffee - not enough in the world for me today... had some need more.

music - Christmas Playlist over and over again.... I truly think that Otis Redding's White Christmas is the BEST Christmas song in the world.

Tuesday, December 01, 2009

quick post then back to work....

Decatur Holiday Marketplace... this weekend... BE THERE!!!!


Click the link above to get directions. I'll be exhibiting, so will my friend Blair and my DAD!!!

see you there!!!


tiny blah blah blah...

no coffee

music - Christmas favorites... the VERY favorite today is Otis Redding's White Christmas

Monday, November 30, 2009

I know I'm far far behind in my blogging. (sorry Laura) ;)

I had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday out of town with my family... and now I'm back in the studio working my tail off to get ready for the Decatur Holiday Marketplace show this weekend.

I haven't done a "finished" show in a LONG time (like 2000... maybe?). By "finished" I mean... not a beadshow. A show where people can walk away with something that is FINISHED... a wearable or useable item... not just a bead. So this will be the first of this type of show for me in a long time.... and I'm a bit nervous for several reasons.

I'll blog more about that tomorrow. I'm exhaustified!!!


tiny blah blah blah...

we're way past coffee time, but I did enjoy a starbucks CDL today

music - it was Christmas Christmas Christmas in the studio today!

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Bead Show!!!!!

I'm headed, in a few minutes to the Down The Street Bead Show in Marietta, GA.

I have WAY less inventory than I'd like to have, but I'm not going empty handed. Taking an unplanned week off sort of messed up my groove, but such is life. God was teaching me to BE STILL I guess. A hard lesson to learn... and I know I'm not there yet.

But, today is the show. After a stop at Starbucks, I'll be on my way to make a lime-green and white girly girl table which today will probably be more fluff than substance... but I could possibly find that I have more inventory than I really think I do. I think all people who do shows NEVER think they have enough inventory.

SO... what did I do while I sat still??? I worked on the next retreat...that's what! I found the perfect venue for my Detroit-area girls. It's actually in Toledo, Ohio, but it's only an hour-ish drive from Detroit AND will make it not too bad of a drive for anyone in the Chicago area...not to mention Ohio!

And without further fa-la-la, here is the first look at the retreat info. The image and full information for this project is forth-coming, but this will be the BIG project of the year... the one that launches at Bead and Button. I've always tested my patterns with the bead-divas of Michigan and I'm hoping that they'll help me through this one as well.


Sylvie's Spring Dreams Bead Retreat. March 18-20, 2010. This class will be followed on Sunday by the Great Lakes Beadworker's Guild's Bead Bonanza, so if you are coming that direction and are NOT from Detroit... it might be worth it to stay an extra day for the show. It's a GREAT show for a local bead society!!!

I'll have more info on the retreat in a few weeks. Need to catch up with other stuff first!!


time to go!!!!


tiny blah blah blah...

on my way for coffee

clock radio music isn't really my thing, but Drivin' and Cryin' was just on.

Friday, November 20, 2009

Happy Friday world!!!!!

It's demo day!!!

Tomorrow is bead show day!!!!!!!!

lots to do between now and then.....


tiny blah blah blah...

coffee - yes, but need more (but not before I demo!!!)

music - no, but need some!

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Well.... so much for all the stuff on my plate that needs to get done this week.

I can't see.

I can SEE... but everything is blurry. I have a few days of it left and then the doctor says I should be fine by the weekend.

I have an eye infection in BOTH eyes, so things are very fuzzy. (luckily my computer lets me put the zoom on big enough for me to see what I'm typing here). Driving... not so much. Beading... HA! Beadmaking... not a chance.

SO, I'm sitting and thinking about what I would be making if I was making stuff.

phooey!


tiny blah blah blah....


coffee - oh how I wish!

music - nothing yet, but I need to find something!

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Happy Tuesday world!!!


SO much to do in the next weeks...

1. prepare for bead show this weekend

2. prepare for art show the first week of December (knowing that for almost a week of that I'll be away from the studio for Thanksgiving vacation)

3. prepare for the New Year's Retreat

4. PLAN future retreats!!!!!


not much to do at all!!??!! aaaaaaaahhhhhhh! (I'm not quite panicking, but we could get to that point the first week of December)

Oh yeah... I forgot to squeeze Christmas in there!!!!! That too!!!

so back to work........


tiny blah blah blah...

coffee - I'm on my way!

music - need it like I need some coffee! I'm about to cue-up Somebody to Love, the Glee edition

Monday, November 16, 2009

Happy Monday World!!!!!

I had an incredible weekend full of reminders of my purpose in life and reminders how loved I truly am. WOW.

I'm exhausted from the weekend, but have SO much to do today that this has to be quick, BUT I had to write and say that......

THE RETREAT IS FULL!!!!!!!!!!!


Can you believe it??!!! And it booked in a week??? CRAZY!!!!!!!!!!!


So now I'm seriously looking at other venues.


and now i'm off to make beads!


tiny blah blah blah...

chick-fil a tea instead of coffee this morning (though I'm freezing and now questioning that decision)

music - Christmas Playlist on deck and ready to go!

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Thursday!!! We're almost there folks!!!!

And what am I talking about today?? retreat, retreats, retreats...

I received an email yesterday from one of the women who is coming from Florida to the New Year's Bead Retreat. She's super excited (and so am I!!) and took the info to her bead society meeting. While she was there THREE people told her they want to ride up with her for the retreat. At the time I received that e-mail, I only had 4 spots open, so if they really DO register then I'll be down to ONE spot. I'm totally amazed. I officially announced it on November 3rd, sent out an email to my customer list on November 5th and here we are on November 12th with it 70% officially booked in 7 days and these 3 others would put me at 90%! WOWZA.

What I've learned from this... I'm on the right track. We love going away for a weekend and really getting to concentrate on a workshop. We love the camaraderie of being with a group of people who love what we love... and we're all still teenage girls at heart who love a good slumber party! (and cake... my son keeps saying that cake is what sold it... the fact that I mentioned we'd be having cake) :)

So, having learned that I'm on the right track, I'm researching places QUICKLY because the venues that work best for this book FAST. None of them are beady places, but they work for our purpose... problem is the scrap-booky/quilty people who they are also perfect for already KNOW these secrets and book them a year in advance. I've got feelers out and I'm scouting places, but I'm going to have to act pretty fast and get a calendar firmed up for 2010 in the next few weeks or I'll lose my possible venues.

Currently I'm looking at.... Michigan (small town outside of Detroit OR Toledo Ohio...also close to Detroit), Wisconsin (for pre or post Bead and Button classes?), New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas (either Galveston OR a tiny town off the beaten path but driveable from Houston or Dallas), Oregon (south of Portland), Tennessee (East of Nashville), Colorado and Southern California. Not many choices there huh???

I wouldn't be picking all of these probably just a few. They are all just possibilities at this point....and it's a little overwhelming! I'm really going to need to hear back from prospective students to know for sure where I should aim. I WANT to find a venue in New England and Florida and maybe central to northern CA. Who knows!!!

AND I think I might have one other trick up my sleeve for the New Year's retreat. I'm not making it any larger, but I might have one fun surprise to talk about in a future blog entry (and newsletter).

ok... time to get moving on getting non-bloggy stuff done! Have a great weekend ya'll. I'm not blogging again till Monday. Too much to do!

tiny blah blah blah...

no coffee - Dr. Pepper instead.

music - I've got Pearl Jam's "The Fixer" stuck in my head... need to play some other music fast or that's going to be "playing" all day long!!!!

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

It's Wednesday!!!!!

And it's SUPPOSED to stop raining this afternoon... PLEASE let it stop raining! I'm sooooo tired of being cold and wet! It rained for the last 30 (?) hours... and it wasn't just sprinkling most of the time... it was RAINING... ugh. It looks like it's stopped now, but it's still grey. I'm HOPING for some sunshine to get me motivated to...

go to the post office. It's shipping day for Sylviebeads!!! (woo hoo!!!) Not woo hoo for me... I hate that part of things and I really miss having an assistant to do that for me, BUT it's a good thing that I have orders that need to be shipped and I hope that my customers will be saying "woo hoo" when they open their packages!

And yes... I know that today is a postal holiday, but I figure, there won't be any lines at the automated machine and I'd rather get in and get it DONE than wait till tomorrow. I've got a lot on my plate tomorrow anyways.


I've been working on my website a lot. A lot of it is behind the scenes work, but it's taking a LONG time to get it all sorted and together. There are still a LOT of things that need to be fixed or added, but I'm getting there.

At the same time, I'm writing patterns and making samples and making beads for upcoming shows. Can you say BUSY?????? Can you say "NEED AN ASSISTANT?" (I know you can!!... said in my best Mr. Rogers voice) Anyhoo... I don't have an assistant right now and it will take quite a while before I'm back to the point where I can have one... but I'm GOING to get to that point.

Things are going really well and I feel the momentum start to build... which is truly exciting! I have a great life!


so... back to work! Lots to do!!!


tiny blah blah blah...

coffee - oh yeah... it was definitely a cinnamon dolce morning! Even if I had to get out in the rain to have one!!

music - Taylor Swift. Love that girl!

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Good afternoon bloggy friends!

So.....My mom informed me that no one really cares about my Girls Gone Mild Christmas party (she didn't really say it THAT way, but I understood what she meant) and that it doesn't look like THAT big of a deal because there are only 4 of us going. She has nooooo clue how much fun we have that night and what a BIG deal it really is, BUT I can understand that you all might not be as interested in it as I am... but again, it's my blog and I felt like celebrating the fact that the party date is getting closer.

back to talking about beady things....

The retreat is getting closer to booked by the day! I have FOUR spaces remaining!!!

Which made me get excited and start singing this song in my head...



I can't help it. I'm a child of the Sesame Street generation. I hear a number and I think "Four, Four, Four, Four... Let's sing a song of Four!"

So... FOUR of you need to get your registrations in FAST. I've had WAY more than 4 people emailing me, so people who are on the fence need to move before someone gets your spot!

For those of you who weren't into driving cross-country for a retreat... tell me you want one in your area and I'll see what I can do! I'm looking into possible venues in other states (Michigan and Texas to name a couple), so I'd love to hear from you!


I'm working on another ring sample tonight. More muted colors to show how different the project can look from one color to the next. I'm going to have the kits in 6 different color palettes. This will be one of them.

happy Tuesday everyone!!


tiny blah blah blah...

no coffee today... too rainy to go inside, so I did Chick-fil-a drive thru instead! (it's REALLY rainy here today)

music - just the sesame street song! :)

Monday, November 09, 2009

WARNING... this post has nothing to do with beads or art...

It is in direct conflict with what I've said lately that I'm not talking about life stuff...

I lied. (but I can do that since it's my blog)


I was too busy to really blog today, so this is simply an announcement for all of you who wonder about such things...

How long is it till the Girls Gone Mild Christmas Party you ask???
(see? I KNEW you wanted to know!!!)

It is 39 days till the party!!!!!

We were together this weekend making pre-party plans... and I can't WAIT!


So... the countdown has officially begun.... and can I say one more time how absolutely lucky I am to have these 3 friends???? Love you guys!!!!!


tomorrow we'll be back to our previously scheduled bead programming....

Saturday, November 07, 2009

Happy Saturday World!!!

I don't usually post on Saturday, but I forgot to post what I needed to yesterday... so here it is!

This week for the first time since 2006 the Sylviebead News was e-mailed. I am almost certain that if you are reading this you are on my email list, but just in case... if you're NOT on the list and hope to be receiving the newsletter, please click below and sign up.


If you missed the news... here's a link (not quite as pretty as the newsletter was in e-mail form, but it works just the same)

Click here for The Sylviebead News


Ok... that's it. Back to your regularly scheduled Saturday activities!!!


tiny blah blah blah...

oh no you don't!!! I'm not telling you what I do on my day off! We've covered that before!!! I've got to keep my private life private!!!

Thursday, November 05, 2009

WE DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is an early blog entry for Friday, but I couldn't wait another moment because we have now reached VERIFIED per Google Analytics....

TOTAL U.S. Blogosphere Domination!!!! Woo hoo!!!

Those of you who follow the blog regularly know that I was looking for someone from every state to read the blog, so that it would fill in the little map on the Google site that tells me how many people read my blog, what they've googled, where they live etc. I would love world-domination (because doesn't everyone?), but know that I need to start closer to home, so I went for U.S. domination... wanting someone in each of the 50 states to read the blog.

I diligently "worked" promoting the blog and found readers from the elusive states like West Virginia and Vermont, but NO readers from Delaware came... the state stayed empty. My friend Laura emailed her friends in Delaware and got them to read the blog, and they told her they DID read it, but for some reason, their hits were not showing up on the Google Map and I didn't feel like I could say with PROOF that I had U.S. domination (ok... ya'll should be rolling your eyes and laughing at me by this point... it IS a silly thing, I know!)

Well today... low and behold... I log on to see who was visiting the blog and what do I see???

DELAWARE!!!!!!! It's filled in on the map!!!!!!! We had a reader from Delaware today!!!!

And HERE is what the map now looks like......
So what are we going to do tonight Pinky????





(Happy Birthday Mom!!!!! I love you!!!!)


tiny blah blah blah...

I can't tell you what I'm having for coffee on Friday because it's still Thursday! I'll have to update this tomorrow
Happy Thursday everyone!

And I AM happy... really happy. I love my life! I'm back to doing art for a job and I'm continuing to see that it's what I'm supposed to be doing... as I drove back from dropping kids off this morning I was thinking about jobs and this job of mine and it's a weird job for sure... but it pays bills just like any other job, so why should I feel guilty that I get to make cute things for a living??? (because I was feeling guilty about how happy my job is compared to others.... sounds silly huh?)

ANYWAYS... I love my job. It's a LOT of work right now, lining things up, setting things up, getting back into gear, so I'm not getting as much creative time (or as much sleep) as I'd like BUT I'd rather work over-time fielding emails from happy customers and spending time setting up classes than working overtime doing something not nearly as fun! (although I still see Starbucks as a possible backup plan should I need one!)

speaking of work... I need to get to it!

I sent out my first "Sylviebead News" email last night. It was a BIG mailling... my customer list had continued to grow over the years. I finally decided to use a mailing service so that it could field any of the returned email stuff, removing people from the list, etc. It has worked great so far! It was just scary to hit "send" knowing that I was making it REAL... that I was OFFICIALLY back in business (not that I wasn't before... I just hadn't told everyone!)


ok... this is getting long and I have stuff to do... flyers to print... beads to make...

Happy Thursday Everyone!


tiny blah blah blah...

coffee today is Dr. Pepper. I was in a different kind of mood this morning....some days just need a Dr. Pepper!

music - I'm about to put some on... Matt Nathanson is my music of choice today, so I did a Genius playlist on I-tunes and it pulled lots of similar stuff. I do that every once in a while to make a new mix... it finds songs that I didn't necessarily listen to, but had in my collection. Today I'm loving the song it picked from Joshua Radin "What if You" I hadn't ever paid a lot of attention to this song from the album. Beautiful!

Wednesday, November 04, 2009

If this were facebook, my status would say...

"Sylvie is FLOORED by the reaction to the retreat"

(retreat info here for anyone who missed the entry yesterday)


WOW. All I can say is WOW. I planned this as a Georgia thing... thinking that the local bead gals would love attending something close to home...that MAYBE I'd get someone from TN or NC. I wanted to do a test-run before I do other retreats around the country (because that is my goal). I had NO idea that people from all over the country would be talking about the event.... let alone making plans to attend.

This morning I'm feeling bad that I only have 13 spots!!!! I had a crazy dream the night before last that I was teaching and I showed up with only 12 kits for a class of 12 and there were last-minute registrants making the class over 20 people... 8 of them with no kit. I won't have that situation to worry about (because I SO would not under-pack kits for a class... I always ahve WAY more than needed), but I am a bit anxious that people who said prior to the announcement that they really wanted to attend won't sign up fast enough and the spaces will be filled before they get a chance to.

Wow... just wow.... that's all I can say. It IS going to be a blast, so I'm glad people see it that way and want to come cross-country to be a part of it.

tiny blah blah blah.... speechless blah blah blah...

coffee - Starbucks to celebrate - Cinnamon Dolce Latte

music - Christmas playlist ready for the studio! First Snow in Kokomo by Aretha Franklin... love that song!

Tuesday, November 03, 2009



TA DA!!!! The official announcement of the retreat!! I'm ready for registration!! A mailer will go out to my email list later today!! YAY!!!!


tiny blah blah blah...

time for coffee!!!!!

Monday, November 02, 2009

It's a BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

Seriously, it's gorgeous in Atlanta today... makes it hard to be indoors (so I keep sneaking out for errands or picture-taking)

And speaking of "picture taking" at LONG LAST... here are the pictures I've been promising...


Head Over Heels Queen of Hearts

This is the project that has been torturing me for the last 2 weeks... stitching, un-stitching, re-stitching until I got her JUST the way I wanted her... and I did. I love this girl and I can't WAIT to teach her at the retreat!!! (and now that I finally have her finished and photographed, I can advertise the retreat!!) She won't be available for sale until late December, but I needed to have her ready to photograph and kit for the retreat. YAY!!! I'm really happy with her! (can you tell???)

I also photographed the You Are My Sunshine Ring! I will have it in several other colors, but here is the bright cheery one that I've been wearing which "makes me happy when skies are grey"



This is the first project I've ever designed specifically as a BEGINNER project. My sister suggested it when we were at Bead and Button and I really struggled with how to make a piece that would be easy to make, but still had the same whimsy-factor that my work has. I really think I did it with this one. It will be a very affordable kit AND it's super quick to make. This will be the other class that I teach at the retreat. It's lots of fun and students might even have time to make more than one ring if they choose to spend their evening beading time that way.

This project won't be for sale until late December... so if you are the person who searched for it (and I have no clue how you even KNEW about it... you psychic friend, you!) you'll still have to wait a bit. Sorry. :(

And THAT is what I've been up to today. Hope you're having a beautiful fall day wherever you are!!!


tiny blah blah blah....

coffee - one of my field trips out into the sunshine was to Starbucks. :)

music - not really.... wonder what's with that???

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Ho Ho Ho Merry Wednesday!!!!!

It's Christmas at my house... without the tree, or the presents, or the lights....

but I DO have ornaments... well... pieces of ornaments, that is! I'm cranking out the components that go into my Christmas ornaments and will be assembling them in a few weeks after all the components are made.

What am I making??? Here's a picture of one of them... it's kind of fuzzy, but at least you get a picture.... right???!!!The picture is quite small, but for me, this is a pretty large piece. It's the largest of the ornaments and is about 5" long. I'm having fun making the different polkadot beads.... just because it's play-time and I can put them in-between the making of more complicated pieces like angel faces and jesters (there are also angelic versions in softer less-traditional Christmas colors). And several styles/sizes of ornaments. They're so cute!!! (if I do say so myself).

So... back to making things.... see ya tomorrow!


tiny blah blah blah...

no coffee today - Dr. Pepper instead

music - Christmas playlist made by I-Tunes genius. Right now I'm listening to Bette Middler "What are you Doing New Year's Eve" (and the answer SHOULD be... "Going to Sylvie's Retreat!!")

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Tis the season to wear UGGs in the studio.

It's cold cold cold in the basement!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Well, the basement itself isn't cold... I don't need a coat, BUT my feet get freezing and then I can't warm back up again.

SO.... UGGs are the required footwear during the cold months. They're not the prettiest shoes, but they do their job.

Thank you Mr. Ugg wherever you are!


other bead-related non-shoe related stuff...

Still beading Head Over Heels Queen of Hearts... she's turning out OH so cute!

Working on the ring pattern. I do a good job diagramming everything, and this is an EXCELLENT beginner project, but BOY does it take a lot of work to get a pattern done.

Making colorful beads that will be incorporated into my Christmas Ornament Collection. They're turning out quite fun... not my normal stuff.


that's it for today... time to warm up!!

tiny blah blah blah...

coffee - no, but I'm going to have to get some!

music - time for the Christmas list!! I'm grooving with Otis Reding's White Christmas today

Monday, October 26, 2009

Well... I need to write something because I know you're looking to read something (otherwise why would you be here... right??)

It's very busy in Sylviebead world right now. I'm working on Christmas things, trying to finish the Queen of Hearts sample, while at the same time writing the You are My Sunshine pattern.


Multi-tasking? Not really... just switching from one thing to another as necessary. Today I made beads to use in the Christmas stuff I'm doing for quite a while and then rotated to pattern-writing. Later tonight, after a birthday party I'll be back to beading the sample.

See??? That's how my life works when I work for myself. I work a LOT. But I DO have a fun job, so I keep reminding myself of that and reminding myself that taking breaks and days off on the weekend is really ok.

I try not to be a work-a-holic, but when it comes to the work that I love... and doing it to support the people I love... I am. I think there are probably much worse things to be and I am WAY better at balancing fun and work than I was years ago... but work IS fun, so I have to be careful.

Gotta run... time for fun!


tiny blah blah blah...

coffee - no, it was an iced tea day

music - Taylor Swift right now... christmas music in the studio

Friday, October 23, 2009

Happy Friday again!!

WOO HOO!!! It's finally here!!!!

And it's a ME ME ME weekend!!! I have SO much planned and I'm going to have a great time!

What do I have planned???? Oooooh sorry... that's on a need to know basis only and this is a bead blog, remember??? I DO have one beady thing going on Saturday night. I'm going to watch Heather Trimlett's demo at the Southern Flames meeting. I'm looking forward to that!!

But today... until the kids get home, I'm beading beading beading (re-beading) the legs for Head Over Heels Queen of Hearts.

I'm officially SOLD OUT of the Halloween Head Over Heels! YAY!!!! I'm glad I kept one for myself!!!!!!

The Holiday girls are selling and I haven't even sent out a real mailing yet letting people know about them! I've been putting that off until I could advertise the retreat, just so that I wouldn't have to double email people... I didn't want them to feel spammed. SO I have to hurry and get this girl finished. Which means... no more time to blog!


have a wonderful weekend everyone!!!!!


tiny blah blah blah...

coffee - CDL (i've indulged a lot this week due to the stress of re-doing the project I think)

music - Happy Song Playlist - Beck's Think I'm in Love is playing right now. I love that quirky song! My other favorite play of the day is "Someone to Love" done by the cast of Glee. GREAT song!!!!

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Happy FRIDAY!!!!!!!

WOO HOO!!!!!!!!! (My friend Jonathan informed me that today is actually Friday and that it's a secret, but I figured that it wouldn't be a bad thing to share that info with you guys... you might be in need of Friday as much as I am this week!!)

SO... happy Friday!!!!!!!!!! It's a special 48 hour version!!!


Today I'm working at the office for part of the day and in the studio in the afternoon. I made some good progress on the re-beading of the Queen of Hearts project,but I have a ways to go still and NEED to get it done asap to get my class publicized. I can only bead so fast though.... and it has to fit into the hours I have available to bead... I'm not a factory and it's harder because I'm beading something I already made AGAIN.

The fun for me is in designing a project... not so much making it over and over again. I know there are people who LOVE that (and I love those people because they buy multiple kits), but I don't... I want to move onto the next thing. This project I have made like 12 times... each with a little variation, but not enough of a variation to make it fun and exciting for me to be ok with re-beading the same one again! Normally I make each project twice... the first time to design it and see if it will actually BECOME a project, not just something I'm making for fun. The 2nd time, I'm writing the instructions.... and those of you who have done one of my projects know how much work goes into my patterns. They take MONTHS to write because they are so heavy in visuals and diagrams... and fun "sylvie-speak"

I'm sure that technical writers would gasp and roll their eyes at my text, BUT my quirky writing style seems to appeal to my customers/students because most of them become repeat customers... buying every project I make.

Can I say once again that I love my customers?????????

(I'm going to get off track of what I intended to write about here, but oh well... I got an email while writing this blog entry that caused the change of subject)

I'm sooooooooooooooooo lucky to have a job where you actually KNOW that what you do makes people happy.. that you KNOW it effects them somehow... be it putting them in a good mood, giving them a creative outlet, WHATEVER. I get positive feedback from people who have bought my work and it is truly gratifying.

I know that most people don't have that in their jobs... they do their job, whatever it is and don't hear something like "thank you for doing what you do or your work has meaning" from the general public like I do. Can you imagine if people wrote emails to their utility companies that said that??? Or to the people who write the manuals for refrigerators???? or to the billing department at Macy's??? or even STARBUCKS Baristas (who are very important) ANYONE in their business life??? I don't think it happens very often.

BUT I'm very lucky to hear from people who love what I do... even if they've never actully purchased something. I have emails that I've saved from people who wrote me during my hiatus to tell me how the art/beading world missed me and the special something I brought to it. That meant a LOT and was definitely part of the driving force that gave me the push I needed to come back.... a non-financial push.

BUT I'm back and people are buying my work again, I'm seeing my customers at shows again... and realize how very lucky I am.

SO... if you are one of those people who made me write this today.... thank you.

And if you are a person who is a friend or family member and reads this because you just want to share in whats going on with me... thank you too because I truly think that the fact that I have wonderful people in my life makes me a happy person with a very rich and full life and that flows into someone else's life through my work.


whoa... that was sort of deep (if it made sense at all!)


tiny blah blah blah...

coffee - Cinnamon Dolce Latte which I neeeeeeeeded this morning

music - not yet! I need to sync my ipod after all the moving and rebuilding of itunes library that I had to do this week. I lost all my playlists, BUT not most of my music...so that's a good thing!

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Kids

Lunch w/ friends

Beads

Kids

(then after they go to bed more beads)

this is my day today in shorthand because I feel like there is too much going on today to blog.


tiny blah blah blah (in shorthand that would be t.b.b.b.)

c - CDL

m - LMP (long mellow playlist)

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

(the screaming kind not the happy relaxed kind)

I'm SO TICKED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Why am I screaming you ask???? WELL... I'm screaming because I have a bad batch of Nymo. For you non-beady types, nymo is a type of nylon thread used for beading.

Why would I be THIS upset over a spool of thread???

Well, here's why. I have a mountain of size 15/0 seed beads on my beading tray right now. Beads that were in a completely different form at 9:00 last night... beads that were a beautiful little Head Over Heels Queen of Hearts, close to completion!!!!!! Something was wrong with the thread and as I held the piece it pretty much disintegrated in my fingers... beads spilling threads splitting.

It was a beading nightmare!!! HOURS and HOURS near DAYS of work spilled onto my beading tray. I cried.... then I tried to look at it as some sort of "maybe I should use this as an opportunity to do something different" sort of moment that I encourage students to do when things go wrong. "BUT I DON'T WANT TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT!!!" is what I screamed inside.

SO.... where do I sit today? Having pile of beads ready to be re-beaded FAST so that I can get my project photographed and flyers/emails ready to go out about the retreat.

I'm truly sad about this and truly stressed out over the time wastage... but I have no choice other than take another 2 days to re-do this work. :(

(and please don't send me a message telling me that you hate Nymo... I know people do, but I've NEVER had a problem with it... it's always been kind to me.... but our relationship is on the rocks right now and it has some MAJOR makin-up to do!!!)


tiny blah blah blah

coffee? ohhhh yeah. I might even need a 2nd cup!

music - I'm playing my long mellow playlist...which apparently is NOT the mellow list because I'm listening to Bootilicious and now a Pussy Cat Dolls song.... which are NOT on the mellow playlist. Guess the ipod thought I needed something OTHER than mellow????

Monday, October 19, 2009

Monday Monday Monday.....

Actually, it hasn't been toooooo bad for a Monday.

I had a great meeting with the girls from Beads by Design to talk about the retreat. I've been working on the Queen of Hearts sample over the weekend and more today. I'm making progress... but I wish it would go faster. I need to get pictures taken!!!

I am working on another color palette for the You Are My Sunshine ring. I can't remember if I wrote this before or not (so ignore it if I did). I decided to name the project that because it really makes me happy when I wear it.... and skies have been SO grey around here lately, so it just seemed appropriate since it looks like a Sunflower.

So... must finish samples.... off to bead!

tiny blah blah blah


coffee - CDL

music - audio books. Finished the Sookie Stackhouse book and started a Sophie Kinsella one that I've listened to before, but forgotten most of the story.

Friday, October 16, 2009

Happy Happy Happy Friday!!!!!

My day has started off really great... both my boys are well and at school, so I can actually get some work done today!!! woo hoo!!!!!!!!

THEN I got an email that I was accepted into the Decatur Holiday Marketplace show in December!! Woo Hoo!!!

THEN I looked at the email and noticed my dad's name, which mean that HE was IN too!!! Woo Hoo again!!!!!

I have been working my butt off getting stuff organized for my Georgia bead retreat. I settled on the site that's in North Georgia. Both venues are beautiful and PERFECT for this sort of thing, but the one in GA is closer to home and I think it's going to work best this time (though I'd love to go to the one in TN some time too... it's adorable!)

The official info will be posted later, along with pictures of the projects, but here is the skinny, for now.

December 31st, 2009 - January 3, 2010

Sylviebeads New Years Beads Retreat

Ellijay, GA

Includes 2 full classes (a 1-day and a 2-day), along with all materials for the projects, lodging AND meals while you're there!

I'm still working on the price, but it's going to be VERY reasonable for a class that includes all lodging, food and kits!


I will be posting pictures of the projects as well as more details later, but I was so excited, I had to go ahead and post things!


ok... off to work!!!!! LOTS to do between now and December for the show and even MORE to do for the retreats!!!


tiny blah blah blah...

coffee - boy do I need some! I'll pick some up when I go out to get more printer ink... Between patterns and labels, I've been printing like a mad woman the past week and a half!

music - I'm doing audio-books for a bit. I'm listening to the Charlaine Harris Sookie series right now.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Working on the computer today... planning my retreats and writing patterns.

I am getting fairly close to finalizing the Southeast retreat for this winter! I'm trying to get all my ducks in a row as soon as I can so that I can publicize it!

I'm sooooooooo excited about it (I think you could probably tell that since this is the 3rd day in a row I've talked about retreats)

It's going to be a 3 1/2 day retreat EITHER in N. GA or in Eastern Tennessee (I'm leaning towards the TN location because it would allow beaders from places other than GA get there easily AND the venue is fab!). I'll be teaching 2 classes (a 1 day and a 2 day) and there will be lots of free-beading time in the evenings for working on the class projects or other UFOs (un-finished objects).

I've decided on New Years weekend...which is a bit crazy because it's a holiday weekend BUT at the same time it's NOT crazy because there are tons of people who will be off work that Friday AND a lot of women who don't want to spend the weekend watching football (although I'm quite aware that there ARE female football fans and I'll try to make sure there is a TV for emergency use). New Years Eve is my tricky part. I think it will be mongo-fun to have a New Years Beads party that night and actually start things up on Thursday night... BUT I am trying to figure out of that will hurt the class because of people having NYE plans.

Still pondering all these things.

off to work!


tiny blah blah blah...

coffee - Cinnamon dolce latte on a rainy day!

music - listening to books on tape lately. Starting the first of the Sookie "True Blood" books!

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Hello Happy Tuesday People!

I'm happy for many reasons... one of which is that it's NOT RAINING!!!!! WOO HOO!!!!

(but it's going to rain again tomorrow according to weather.com)


I'm recuperated from my quick turn-around trip to Michigan. I've spent this morning researching venues for bead retreats and I'm getting really excited about the whole thing.

I found a location in the Southeast that is PERFECT and is centrally located for GA, TN, SC, TN, AL and even Kentucky beaders. A GREAT place and I'm working on setting up a special retreat called.... (wait for it)....

Sylvie's New Years Beads Party!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Maybe I'm the only one who thinks this sounds fun, but hopefully I'm not. I'm planning a 3 1/2 day class beginning on New Years eve, going through the Sunday afterward. The location is a FABULOUS bed and breakfast that is perfect for this... it sleeps 15, each person has their OWN bed (which, as you know is not usually the case at bed and breakfasts), has an INCREDIBLE workroom already setup and ready to go with tables, comfy chairs and great lighting.

I'm going to post more info later, but if you are a Sylviebead girl and want to be the FIRST to make the You Are My Sunshine ring and the first (and only) Head Over Heels Queen of Hearts class, then let me know SOON so that you won't be left out of the loop.

Hopefully this will all fall together and we can have a great weekend!!! VERY excited.

At the same time, I'm looking for a retreat location for my Michigan girls. I've found a couple of possibilities and I'm running them past people on the 'committee' to see what they think.

Lots to do!! PLUS I need to get crackin' and make more Jester beads as well as get started on the new project directions!

so... must go work!!!

Happy Tuesday everyone!!!!! Hope to see you December 31st!!!


tiny blah blah blah...

no coffee and no music. a sad state of affaris... must remedy this quickly!

Monday, October 12, 2009

I'm home from Michigan and I'm totally exhausted, but had SUCH a great time and left feeling that I am on the right track. It was really really nice to get validation that I'm creating things that people appreciate... that people want to learn to make.

I have people excited about workshops. I'm excited about teaching again! YAY for my Michigan girls!!!! Luv you guys bunches!!!!! SO I'm now searching for a place to hold our retreat this spring. I'm hunting for the perfect place where we can have a true girls weekend away and spend a few days creating something AND enjoying hanging around with the girls. You guys are SO much fun... it's going to be a blast!!! NOW I just need to write the pattern so that you can have something NEW and exciting to make!!!!

I'm ALSO looking for a place for the Atlanta beaders.... I just haven't quite figured it out yet... but I will! I found a scrapbook cabin that is PERFECT, but it's booked solid other than New Years weekend (which might be kind of fun) and Valentines weekend. The project I was going to teach IS a Valentines project.... I just don't know that I would wait until Valentines DAY to make her!

lots to research... lots of exciting ideas brewing!

tiny blah blah blah...

coffee - AGES ago... like 6 a.m. I had a Cinnamon Dolce Latte. It was airport Starbucks, which usually doesnt meet my standards, BUT somehow it was really good today!

music - no... just clicky keyboard. :)

Friday, October 09, 2009

AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

(not the relaxed exhale kind of "aaaaah" but the Lucy Van Pelt Peanuts kind of "AAAAH!!!")

I have SO much to do before I leave for Detroit and not enough time to do it... PLUS the boys are out of school for a teacher work day... which means even LESS time to do it in!

AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

The good news is that I found some special Halloween girls and will have them at the show. I thought I was completely out of Halloween kits, but I have a few really fun and different witchy hats and shoes. Hopefully they'll find the right home in Michigan!

I'll also have the Christmas kits there... the question is how many.

So... off to work!

Happy Weekend!!!!


tiny blah blah blah...

coffee - CDL but could SO use another one! (but shouldn't since I'm trying to make beads today)

music - a mix of all kinds of stuff this morning from Aerosmith to Guns and Roses.... studio music will be JT or Corinne Bailey Rae.... I need to chill.

Thursday, October 08, 2009

Happy Stress Free Thursday!!!!!

So far, so good... and only a few hours left till FRIDAY!!!!!!

I have a ton to do in the next day and a half and I'm busy getting things ready to go to Detroit this weekend to see my favorite bead Divas!!!!!

Head Over Heels for the Holidays is being kitted. The supplemental instruction book is WAY more detailed than I thought it would be, so hopefully everyone will appreciate all the work that went into it. I love love love it!

Here's a picture of the cover... not such an exciting font, but I was going for readable more than cute this time.
But just LOOK at these yummy diagrams!!!!! I'm the bomb!!!!!!! I totally rock the bead-diagram world!!! (I'm laughing at myself as I write this... just making sure ya'll know that.)

Here's a sample from the original Head Over Heels pattern, which is still a part of the current pattern....

And here's a sample from the supplement... I know you can't read it, but isn't it SO CUTE!!!!!??? And you should see the fancy diagrams!!! (can you tell I'm quite thrilled with my own efforts??? LOL)

Ok... off to do some non-beady stuff.


Tiny blah blah blah...

coffee today was a very yummy Cinnamon Dolce Latte

music - Christmas!!!!! I don't know if I ever informed the "studio audience" here, but I finally found Aretha Franklin's Last Snow in Kokomo that was on the elusive Starbucks Christmas Album that apparently never really existed according to Starbucks headquarters people who researched for me. Oh well... I found the song! And today I enjoyed it and my other favorite Christmasy non-Christmas song 3000 miles by the Pretenders. Love that song!!!

Wednesday, October 07, 2009

Hello blog-reading friends... Happy Wednesday!

It's actually a pretty happy Wednesday. I'm not just saying that. It's happier than Tuesday was for sure!

I wasn't sure if I was going to talk about this or not, but I guess I am... my Tuesday SUCKED!

(so, if you're here because you're one of those people who loves looking at the "car-crash" that my blog can sometimes be... or if you're someone that really revels in other people's bad days... this one's for you.)

I found out yesterday that I wasn't accepted to teach at Bead and Button. There were over 2,000 applicants, so my odds were slim in the first place, but something about the rejection really stung. It hit me WAY harder than I thought it would (and I was expecting rejection... for the record). But the reality of it was more than I could handle yesterday. I don't remember EVER crying about something bead-related. (I'm a major water-works kind of girl... I cry at commercials, sit-coms, books, movies, music, church, friends WHATEVER... but I have never cried about anything art related.)

I've been snubbed at shows by other artists... had my authenticity questioned because a designer told everyone she had made my beads... I was called derivative by the editor of a major bead publication... laughed at in person by customers who said no one would ever buy my Head Over Heels kit because the price was too high...insulted by a customer who questioned the value of my glass work... all sorts of stuff that I could have cried about.... but I didn't.

But this...being turned down to teach at Bead and Button made me cry. big-time. boo-hoo sobs in my car on the way home from the office. Smeary mascara-big-time.

I can't figure out WHY it hit me so hard. I'd been rejected for BeadFest Santa Fe and didn't shed a tear. Sure, I was bummed, but it wasn't the same. For some reason, this hit me where no other art-related thing has.

A few friends said "don't take it personally" and I don't... but I do. I don't take it PERSONALLY... it's not about ME as a person... but I did take it personally as an artist. There's no other explanation for me crying... I took it personally. It was about the stuff I create and the stuff I love. It was the place I WANT to teach the most.... and that's the only reason I can think of that I broke down... I want them to love my stuff as much as I do.... and they didn't.

... and the thought that B&B didn't love it bummed me out in a big way.



But now it's Wednesday ... enough pity party. I just had to write what happened yesterday.

I'm better today.... but thought I'd just say here what I'd been thinking. I'm ready to move on.

tiny blah blah blah

coffee - Starbucks Cinnamon Dolce Latte (CDL)

music - my long mellow list which has gotten longer due to my finding new artists to add to the playlist. My favorite not new, but new to my playlist is Missy Higgins.

Tuesday, October 06, 2009

Quickie posting...

Busy busy day. In the office this morning... bead making this afternoon and evening. In between, more pattern diagramming (is that a word? looks funny!).

I like the new Adobe Photoshop Elements, but I'm still getting used to it... the tools are in a different place and when I work, I'm sort of on auto-pilot, clicking where I THINK the paintbrush is... and ending up with some new tool that I don't yet know what it does.

I'll get used to it and HOPEFULLY find the new fun things that it can do... but for now, there is a learning curve that I just don't have time for.

Kits are getting assembled, beads are being made and packing is SORT OF starting... but not really. I'm totally bad at packing!!! I do have to ship some stuff to the hotel and need to get it out today so that it can meet me in Detroit. The luggage limitations and hassle have made this a new challenge.

I'm getting into the groove again and it should get easier each time... BUT at the same time, I'm looking at new venues that will have challenges of their own. The more I think on it, the more I am considering doing art shows instead of bead shows (or in addition to bead shows). I know that the percentage of people from the general population that purchase beads is small... and my percentage of bead buyers, those buying high-end products is even smaller. So, I've been thinking that I need to cast a broader net... to be in more shows that aim at the general public, where the percentage of buyers is larger. I don't know how my work will be received in that audience.. or with those juries that accept people into the shows, but I think it's time to consider this more seriously.

This is ONE of the things that has been spinning around in my brain lately. It's also caused me to question whether I would sell jewelry or something else at shows like this. There are WAY too many jewelry booths at every show I've been to lately and I think it would be much harder to be accepted as a jewelry artist. So what do I do??? This is what I've been asking myself lately and what has caused a lot of reflection AND a lot of new creative ideas. It's just a matter of deciding what road I want to take.

I'm excited about the possible paths... it's just that they are all new AND require, in layman's terms, some Research and Development. Most companies have whole department for that... with Sylviebeads... I'm it. I'm everything. I'm R&D, production, travel & transportation, marketing and sales, management, procurement, shipping and receiving, accounts payable... you name it, I'm it. And that is a LOT for one person to handle... especially a creative one that wants to just be the R&D department right now.

Maybe someday I'll be an empire... for now, I'm just a one-woman show! (with some really cute back-up singers who step in and help when I need them)

ok... this was longer than planned. Back to work!!!!!

Have a great day everyone!!! (and hello to the unknown person who likes Gilda Radner... glad you've stuck around!)


tiny blah blah blah...

coffee - Cinnamon Dolce Latte which seems even yummier than usual!

music - Black Eyed Peas for now.... Jane Austen audio books later!

Monday, October 05, 2009

It's a rainy Monday in Atlanta...

Adobe finally sent out Photoshop 8 for Mac and that made my day! I had things on hold that couldn't be finished without Photoshop and my old version wasn't cooperating... so now I'm back in business.

My Head Over Heels for the Holidays is finally in the storefront and will be with me in Detroit at the Great Lakes Beadworker's Guild Bead Bonanza this Sunday.

It's a long way to go for a one day show... but I love my customers there and they have always been SO good to me, so I'm making the trip and can't wait to say hi to everyone.

ok... short posting... much to finish today...


tiny blah blah blah...

music - no

coffee - no (but I really could use some!)

Thursday, October 01, 2009

Well, I've had official confirmation that yesterday's blog posting was a "hot mess."

I knew it was, but just couldn't stand editing the nonsense.

I also tried to explain something to that same reader about what I've been working on and it rendered her confused, so I'm guessing I made the right move in not trying to explain it here.... sometimes it's hard to turn visual concepts into blog postings.

Today has been about non-bead stuff. Tomorrow is "free-play" creative day. I can't wait!!!!!! I have stuff I KNOW I need to be doing, but between the hours of 8-3 I'm going to let myself work on this new stuff without feeling pressured to do something that is marketable. I think this is going to be essential in the upcoming months... having a day that I can CREATE in addition to days that I "make" Hopefully this helps keep artistic burn-out at bay when I'm doing more shows and making more sales. Hopefully.

ok... off to do more non-beady stuff!!


tiny blah blah blah...

coffee today - Cinnamon Dolce Latte... YUM! Perfect for a chilly morning!

music - missing

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

It's Wednesday already???? WOW!

I have been terrible about blogging lately. Mostly because I'm trying to adjust to my new schedule and I haven't got a rhythm yet...when to "computer," when to design, when to make beads, when to play with new ideas, etc. I'm working on it, but it's going to take a little while to find the right balance for things.

But there are other reasons as well. There is a lot of stuff I'm dying to talk about, but I don't know how to phrase it all in a way that is for general public consumption. I have no idea if that makes sense to anyone but me (maybe it does to a few of you). For some reason(s), I'm being self-conscious again about my blog. I feel like if I talk about designs before they actually happen, people expect them all to come to fruition. Maybe they don't.... but I was feeling sort of pressured by it.

I've always used my blog as a way of talking to my customers/friends as well as hammering out ideas for myself... but I'm not feeling as open about things right now. Add to that the number of people who are reading who are not beady at all, it makes me think "how do I explain this in a way that makes sense to non artist people?" and I find myself over-editing. (and at this point some of ya'll are saying, "wait!?? what??? she EDITS??!!! My WORD what sort of hot mess is this blog before she does that??!!!")

But I do see who logs onto the blog and recognize that some are friends and some are not, that some of you are fellow artists, some are customers and some of you, I have NO clue who you are or why you're here (but you are looking for Sandra Bullock quotes or parts for swimming pools or recipes for smoothies or blue journals from Barnes and Noble or some sort of bizarre dessert served at Kroger), but I "see" you logging on regularly from your various servers and cities, which tells me that my audience is a bit broader and consistent than it used to be.... which makes me think differently about things I say.

I thought about the Pioneer Woman's blog (which I love)... that she probably started off writing not having any clue that she'd have TONS of anonymous viewers every day... and that when she thinks about who is reading, how does she feel? Does she feel like everyone reading is a supporter of her? Or does she wonder if people are competitors trying to hone in on her ideas (I'm thinking not)? Or think about her neighbor down the road who is just too nosy and wonder if she is reading too? I wasn't sure, but for some reason I'm thinking that I'm taking things a little more personally than she does.

Then I thought about my friend Regan's blog. She's a writer who aspires to being published. I think the people who read her blog are cheering her on like I am... but wondered if there are other writers who read it and think "oooh I would do that differently" or "ooooh! that's a great idea, I'm taking it!!!" (not trying to make you paranoid Regan!!!) and thought that it might be the case for mine.... and then I got self conscious again.

It does bug me a bit... the thought that not EVERYONE who reads the blog likes me or reads with a positive view of me and my work, BUT I think my hesitation lately is primarily about the art...and feeling vulnerable about it... too vulnerable to be so open here. I'm doing a lot of transitioning artistically and it involves a lot of things that are new and different.... The perfectionist in me is not ready to say "oooh! look at what I'm doing" when I don't completely know what I'm doing. I don't want to give the nay-sayers any more amunition than they already have. Does that make any sense? Probably not.

I just found myself with a WHOLE lot I wanted to say on Monday... about artistic growth and transitions and how ideas form and flow and how it effects me personally and I decided not to post any of it at all. And then that bugged me.... that I'm not saying things that I normally would have simply because I'm unsure of the support I have from my "audience". I never felt like that before when I blogged in the past.

SO.... today I'm going to end with this. If you are reading this and on my team, I probably need some cheerleading through these transitions. It's scary to make changes. When I moved from being ONLY glass to doing bead-weaving projects, the first times out there were scary. I feel a bit the same, only on a bigger scale. I think that the things that are brewing could be BIG for me.... it's just a bit of a leap.

My ex husband used to tell me that I had a good instinct for when it was time to change artistically... that I was usually ahead of the trends and he'd remind me of the various times it had happened. I really appreciate that he said that. It gave me confidence to try new things back then... even if they didn't all come to fruition. I DO have a gift for knowing when it's time for transition.... it's just scary all the same.

So... the conclusion is.... there is no conclusion. I'm trying to figure out where my work is going... where my life is going... how to balance everything... how to know which ideas to follow up on and which to abandon or put on a back burner... and how to support a family doing what I'm good at and what I love. Scary stuff... heavy stuff.... blog-worthy stuff???

And re-reading this post I see that it falls into the category of long meandering blah blah blah from me that should probably be edited... but it's my blog and I'll be a hot mess if I want to. :)


tiny blah blah blah...

coffee today? oh yeah.... Cinnamon Dolce Latte and I could probably use a 2nd one!

music - nope. I really wish I knew where that lost ipod was. :(

Monday, September 28, 2009

I haven't felt like blogging much lately and I don't really feel like it today either.

(but I thought you were probably dying to know where I was.)

:)

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Atlanta's flood... the very terrible destruction and a very needed smile.


I talked a little Monday about the terrible rains and floods we've had here in Atlanta. I've been lucky and not sustained any real damage from the HUGE amount of rainfall we had Friday through Monday. Others have not been so lucky.

One of our own Southern Flames, Atlanta glass beadmakers, Diane Kovach has been hit in a devastating way. Her studio is a basement one and was flooded with over 2 feet of water, completely submerging her workspace, supplies and equipment. I can't even begin to imagine what she's going through. My prayers are with her AND I'm giving a Sylviebeads "shout-out" to any of you who can help. She teaches from this studio, so besides having to replace equipment, furniture and supplies, not covered by insurance, she will also be losing livelihood by not being able to work or teach in this space.

PLEASE consider giving something to Diane to help out. I don't know of an official fund, and I haven't asked her about this, but I'm thinking that if we go to PayPal and send money to her paypal account then she'll get the funds as quickly as possible.

Her e-mail address that you would use for "send money to" is

diane@dkdesigns.biz

Make sure to note that this is NOT a purchase (it asks that... purchase or personal) and choose "gift" as the option. Hopefully this will avoid any service charges paypal might subtract from the funds given to her.

I think that this will be the fastest way for her to get donations and HOPEFULLY she is ok with me posting this.

I don't know many of you who read my blog and I know that you don't know Diane AND I don't usually ask for things (unless it's something silly like having people from Delaware read my blog), but this is important. Consider it a "paid" read today and give Diane some much needed assistance.

Ok... that was definitely the serious side of my blog today. This is the silly. Even in bad times, we need to find something to laugh at and someone in Atlanta did just that with this image. Thanks Regan for sharing it with me!!!


Stay dry my Atlanta friends. I'm afraid we're not through with this yet.

Off to make kits....


tiny blah blah blah

chick fil a sweet tea instead of coffee today
d
music - listening to Jane Austen's Persuasion

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

It's Tuesday and it's sunny outside. AMAZING! We haven't seen the sun in so long that I'd almost forgotten what it looked like! SOOOOOOO glad to have a break from the rain... even though it's coming back.

I'm re-grouping after the beadshow and trying to get things together for future shows and for online sales. My calendar is starting to fill, which is exciting, but a bit nerve-racking at the same time. How to fit everything involved into my schedule.... but I've done it before, so I need to just keep reminding myself of that.

I had SUCH a good time at the beadshow.... talking to customers, re-connecting with other vendors who I hadn't seen in a while (hi Tara!!!)

I had a great response to the beading retreats and need to get to work right away planning some. If you are one of the people who said that you want to be an organizer, or had your own group of people that you wanted to invite... PLEASE let me know as soon as you can so that I can get something blocked off for you.

Ok... back to beading and kit making!!!

tiny blah blah blah

no coffee today

no music either (and I need to remedy that right now!)

Monday, September 21, 2009

long long long rainy day.

I'm exhaustified after the weekend and today.

I need to come journal about the beadshow, but after a day of mentally taxing jury duty, I'm making this short.

(I didn't get picked for the jury thankfully, but had to sit through over 6 hours of questioning of jurors for a particularly difficult case) I wasn't released until almost 5:30... got there at 8. LONG day.... then had to drive home in scary wet weather.

SO... bead show news tomorrow....

coffee - YES! I had CDL before heading off to be a juror

music - none.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

It's Thursday.... THAT day of the week (but I'm not going to jinx it... too much going on today to risk saying the words that cause my Thursday to go wacko a lot of times)

I have a bead show this weekend... my first in Atlanta in a LONG LONG LONG time.... maybe even longer!

I'm trying to get all my stuff together and organized. I'm still sort of flying by the seat of my pants on shows... I just don't have all my display stuff the way I want it. The ISGB show was a quickie show that I just took a little bit of stuff to, so I didn't cart all the stuff that I would have to a show like Bead and Button.

Bead and Button, however, has a lot of the set-up stuff already in place... draped tables, backdrop ready to hang signs, decent lighting (still need table top lights, but the overheads are decent) and I know what to expect.

This show is a new one for me, one that I haven't even attended as a buyer (I did it at a different location in the past), so there are a lot of unknowns that I'm trying to prepare for. PLUS after doing the ISGB show, there are some things that need tweaking for table-top shows. LOTS to do today!!!

so I'll get to it!!!

Hope to see you there!!!!!

(and a note to whoever was googling "Sylviebead Ring" it's something in the future... not yet. You'll have to be patient. Not even sure how you knew about it in the first place!! Sneaky customers!!!!!!


tiny blah blah blah...

coffee - Cinnamon Dolce Latte.... mmmmmmmm.

music - Adele. It's a grey day and it seems to fit. AND Taylor Swift... it's a grey day and I need a pick me up after Adele.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Happy Holidays!!!!!!!!


She's here!!!

At long last... may I present to you... for the first time.... the only time...

Head Over Heels for the Holidays

a limited edition kit
Isn't she fun???!!

She'll only be available until the end of November... then a new girl arrives to take her place.



I made some changes from the original Head Over Heels pattern. She has a pinafore, which I think gives her a bit of a nordic "I live in the North Pole" sort of look. Don't you agree?

Her Jester Hat is available in 3 colors... red (seen here), green (either lime or a true kelly green) and violet (like her shoes in this picture). She was SO fun to embellish!

I just LOVE how she turned out. Hope you love her too!!


off to finish photo-editing! Have a great day!!


tiny blah blah blah...

no coffee and no music. sorry.




Monday, September 14, 2009

I'm really late checking in, but I'm posting something so that my three readers have something to read tomorrow. :)

I had a great day in the studio. I made hollow beads for my Christmas ornament collection, as well as some of the beads for the Holiday Head Over Heels project.

I have to say that a good number of my beads today did NOT go as planned, but I feel like I got work done and that not everything is going to be perfect... right now it's just good to be producing.

I'm doing a bead show this weekend! More news on that to follow!!

ok... this was quick. I'll have much more to say tomorrow.


tiny blah blah blah...

no coffee today. I needed it though!

music - I've already forgotten what I listened to!!! Guess that is a side-effect of no coffee!

Friday, September 11, 2009

Happy Friday Bloggy Friends!!!

I'm soooooooo glad it's Friday! I'm looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow! I need to catch up. I stayed up too late beading last night working on the tiny project, trying to make it less complicated....which is not proving successful YET. I WILL make it easier... it's just hard to make it ME without making it too complicated. I like complicated.

It looks super cute though!!! I think people will love it when they see it. It's something that I'll probably wear a lot...which I can't say about a lot of my pieces. I love designing them, but I don't wear them very often... this one is crazy eccentric, but it's not going to need to be dressed around. It's hard to wear Splish Splash with a t-shirt and jeans. This one will be fun and work with just about anything I wear on a day-to-day basis. Can't wait to finish and show you!!

This is a quickie post because I'm on my way to the Yellow Daisy Art Festival. I'm wandering and looking at booth displays to get some ideas for my own booth and my Dad's future booth (he's an artist too... and he's being forced into the world of shows by his very pushy daughter). Anyways... I've never had an outdoor setup and need to get some ideas and see what's involved.

Preparing for a rainy walk... it's awfully grey outside!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!!!!

Wednesday, September 09, 2009

It's Wednesday again!! WOW! The last few weeks have been speeding by... seems like last week's Wednesday was just yesterday!! Holiday weeks always mess with my inner-calendar!

I have been busy creating and thinking about creating, as you could tell by yesterday's blog entry.

I've already been in the studio for a while this morning working on beads for some prototype projects.

I'm working on a really cute smaller project at the suggestion of my sister... thing is... I'm not real good at smaller projects and I see this one getting more complicated already. I'm going to have to scale back I'm afraid... but that loses some of the "cute factor" OR I'm going to have to ignore my sister's suggestions all together! (which I know better than to do... she's bossy AND I don't want to lose my personal assistant at Bead and Button where this project is headed!)

I also worked for a while on the winter edition of Head Over Heels. She's going to be SOOOOOOOOO fun! Can't wait! But first, I must photograph Holiday girl and get her posted to the website! I'm already over a week late!!!! (sorry Jane!!)

Today is lunch with my friend Marcy. I'm hoping that she'll help me sort through some of the other ideas that are whirling around in my brain. She's such a good one to bounce things off of!

off to lunch!!!!!

Happy Wednesday everyone!

tiny blah blah blah...

coffee - not yet
music - only in my head and it's a really obnoxious song so I'm not going to say it here because it will get into your head too!

Tuesday, September 08, 2009

It's Tuesday (which is actually the Monday of this week since we had yesterday off) so I'm back blogging.

I have SO many things to talk about that I don't even know where to start... so I'll just throw out random snippets of what I'm thinking about and then get back to work!

  • art quilts
  • art dolls
  • beading retreats
  • Queen of Hearts project
  • Her Hidden Treasure project
  • What to name the ring project
  • Head Over Heels for the Holidays
  • art show applications
  • bead show applications
  • beading retreats (I'm thinking about this one a lot, so it's getting mentioned twice)
  • cowboy boots (ok... that has nothing to do with beading, but I DO want a pair... and probably it's just a wish list item, but I figure if I'm thinking about it, I should include it in my list here) :)
  • beaded rings
  • chandeliers
  • ornaments
  • jurying into shows
  • show displays
  • missing bead (I stuck a bead in my pocket and now I can't find it! It's around somewhere but I hate that I can't find it right now when I need it!)
  • WORLD DOMINATION!!! (thanks Laura!!)
See? LOTS to think about! Going back to work on a project I can actually finish (i'll keep ruminating on the other things while I work!!!)

tiny blah blah blah...

no coffee. no music. boring.