GIVEAWAY 5 copies of Jewelry Designs for Artisan Lampwork Beads

Well it has been a long time between posts, you probably had all thought that I had fallen of the face of the earth. A change of jobs has led to a change of pace in the bead studio.  I am not even sure if I would call it a pace, I think it would be more likened to a dead stop.  I can't even tell you the last time I turned the torch on,  I even bought two new diamond tipped reamers from the USA and they are still sitting in the packaging that they came in.

This lack of creativity has had me thinking about what it is that I really want out of life.  I would love to -  stay at home, create a few beads, learn more glass skills, potter around my large garden, learn more about photography, spend more time with my family, cook (and enjoy the process), teach jewelry making again and even video the odd tutorial.  That 9-5 day job is stifling my real passions.

Well it is time to take a stand, pull up my big girl undies (Australian Slang for underwear)  and make a change.  Whilst I love being able to go to work and be appreciated for what I do, I just don't love it that much to keep me ultimately happy.

I have come to the realization that I have to start my "real life design" on the side whilst still doing the 9-5 thing.   This poses a problem for me, as I am so easily distracted during the day with all my amazing ideas for my "real life design".   It is going to take Focus, Focus, Focus, Organization and Patience - these are skills I need to hone in on.

Step One - JUST START!!!

One of the life coaches I listen to regularly says to FAIL FAST.  So if what you are doing is not working, find out sooner than later and change the plan.

So over the last couple of days I STARTED!!.  and now I wanted to share that first step with you.

I compiled my first ever Kindle Book.  The book features my jewelry designs using my own lampwork bead creations.  It is a book that offers inspiration to beaders struggling with what to do with that awesome beads that they bought.

To celebrate Step One - I am offering the PDF version of the book for FREE to 5 of my fellow bloggers.

All I am asking is if you can share this book on your blog or your facebook page and leave me a comment to let me know that you have done so.

 

 

I will let the lucky 5 Bloggers or Facebook fans know on Wednesday 7th August  - I will contact you again then so I can send it to you via email.

Winner of the Giveaway

Congratulations to Christine from Columbus Ohio

Christine shared the link on her blog Sweet Girl Designs

I have already contacted Christine and hope to hear from her soon to organise her gifts from my Etsy Store

Thank you to everyone who shared, linked, liked and commented on the blog and facebook page.  I have really enjoyed checking out the blogs from the new followers.  It is wonderful to find like minded artisans all over the globe.

I have had so much fun doing this giveaway that I think I might make it a regular occurrence and might just do another one before Christmas so make sure you check back from time to time.

Hopefully I will have some time this week to hit the torch again - I found an old photo taken a couple of years ago of one of my raked stars - I think I might have to revisit this type of bead in time for Xmas.  - Might hang a few off the tree.

 

Cheers

New Pendant & Bracelet Designs

Have a lot of images to share with you.

New pendants featuring - leather, sterling and bali silver

New Bracelets featuring - leather, copper and magnetic clasps

Also being playing with my bead press and frit!

What is in a name? - tanglebeads

It is time for the change.  It has been well over two years since I closed my retail bead and craft store.  It has been over a year since I have moved house and locality.  Now, it is time to bring my branding skills back into my business and give it a bit of a makeover.  Choosing a name I thought was going to be hard.  My old name wasn't sitting with my style or personality anymore.  Time to think of something new.

I have a love for tangling (doodling, zentangle) and of course my bead making - so how could I incorporate the two, - I came up with Tanglebeads - ok it has both things in it.  Easy to say, conveys the product.  I liked it.  Also checked that I could register it and it was all good.  Hooray.

But now the story gets better - while I was looking for a cool font to use and saw that name about 100 times in 100 different fonts, it dawned on me that Tangle incorporated both my name and my partners name.  Tan - for Tania and Gle for Glen - and while I was looking at the font I liked, I put the E backwards.  When I showed Glen last night I told him that that was because he is not the type of person to run with the sheep he always does things his own way.  

I am so happy with the name and style I hope you like it as well.  It is more me, and I am really looking forward to the tangle part of the name and what will come out of that.

Today I will be tagging my exchange beads for the "You Pick 9" - Lampwork Etc exchange - here are a few of the ones that I am sending off.  Not the best picture but I took it at work (shhhhh....)  I attempted a Jellyfish bead and a tree decoration, neither of which I had done before, so in my eyes exchanges are a great way to expand your skills and also your colour pallet as I never use orange but heaps of the inspiration pictures had orange in them.

Silver Murrini - I am challenged!

Ok - so I am leaving a certain exchange that I am doing on the Lampwork Etc Forum right until the last moment.  My beads need to be sent and postmarked by the 17 September to be sent to California USA.  So I only have a couple more days left to make some successful silver reactive murrini recipes.  

Here are a few beads that I did Monday night a couple might just scrape through as good enough to send.

Also this week the Artisan Beaders of Australia Blog went live - I have been working on the concept for a while now.  Would love you all to visit and follow along.

Etsy Spring Coupon Sale

Well Spring has certainly sprung in my neck of the woods.  I know I have a lot of followers from the other side of the globe and I hope your Fall is looking beautiful.

In honour of the season I love so much I am having a 10% off sale in my Etsy Store

CODE : SPRING2012

The sale ends at the end of September - Enjoy!!

My most recent creation has been gifted to my Mum for her birthday earlier this week - she saw this bead when she visited me last time and commented on it - so I made it into a surprise necklace for her.

Glass Bead Makers Challenge & Students

Over the last couple of months I have opened my world to teaching basic lampwork bead making classes.  I am loving it!!! - I have great students and some of them are picking it up really fast.  Soon enough they will be addicted too.

Here are some beads that a student made in her second class - I am really impressed with the shape and holes that she is forming after a two hour first lesson.

I am also organising the challenges on the Glass Bead Makers Forum - the July/August Challenge  which finishes at the end of August and I made a bead for it over the weekend.

Here is the inspiration

Here is the bead.

I still love my Moroccan Lamp Style beads - so why not make a few more!!

Cheers Tania

Dreaming of Ceramics

I scored big time last week - a friend on mine (friend since grade one) sold me a pottery kiln and wheel for an amazing price - I have yet to pick it up but very excited - so apart from everything else I am supposed to be doing, I am now trolling the internet for ceramic inspiration, tutorials and insight.

So if you know any amazing websites for me to visit leave a comment and let me know please!

Finished off a few more pendants that I have listed on Etsy as well this week.

Cheers Tania

Bead Soup Cooked and Ready to Serve

Whoops a bit late - work does get in the way of some things when blogger decides it does not like scheduled posts!

Done and ready to wear - my lovely soup from Alicia in Canada from All the Pretty Things - 

Here is the soup ingredients

And here is how is was served. - I used every last piece - and I love it!!!!!

I love the unbalanced designs and use of different components, none matching of course.

Can you tell I like chunky!!

I added a couple of my own lampwork beads to one of the strings - the colours matched perfectly.

Click here to see the complete list of Participants in the Bead Soup Party 6 First Reveal

Lampwork Rings and Stock Clearance

I just have way too much stock and no room.

I have been diligent about listing my jewellery supply stock on Etsy over the last week or so.  I have so much in my demountable studio that I don't have room to lay it out the way I want - you know Girl Cave Style - I want to put a sofa in there - have a nice display of my finished works - a place where I can invite friends over for a coffee and play with beads and things.

I have also started to import some items that will be new and need ROOM!!! - so go and check out my Etsy store - and see if you can help me make some space in my Girl Cave.

Chain - great for Steampunk Designs available on Etsy

While I was cleaning out some things in the cave - I found a packet of adjustable ring bases - these are now featuring some of my newest lampwork beads. - These ones are available on Etsy as well as down at L'abundance

I had these pink strawberry beads floating around in the what to make pile - they found there way into a chain with some funky black and white beads, making for a fun fresh necklace.

Lastly my EDP goddess adorned with Bali Silver accents

I have also finished my bead soup jewellery item.

Can't show it until the reveal date on Saturday - which is Sunday here. I nearly wore it to work today, I am really happy with the results.

Cheers Tania

Bead Soup in the House!!

Woo hoo - my bead soup package from Alicia has arrived safely in my letterbox all the way from Canada.

I had to wait a couple of days to photograph the soup as the weather here has been overcast and rainy, and I love taking my photos out in the natural light.

So here it is - and what a wonderful package with the added Canadian Pin (nice touch)

Bead Soup Ingredients

Alicia has handmade the silver flower focal and clasp.  She has worked with a wonderful fall pallet, gifting me with jade & rhodonite gemstones, swarovski crystals and some other gemstone chips and flowers. - I am now in creative mode thinking of the possibilites for these ingredients.

I have also been working on some reactive twisties for a challenge on the Lampwork Etc Forum - some not working quite the way I want them - but never the less it is all experimentation and taking yourself out of your comfort zone.

Reactive Twistie Experimentation

During the week I made a couple of bracelets to showcase my Mandala beads - one has already gone to a new home - I will be listing the other in Etsy sometime soon.

Sold

Finally a few beads made with DH Terra 2 Silver Reactive Glass

Goddess made with Terra 2 & Sage

Focal bead with Terra2 and CIM Olive & Triton

Terra2 and CIM Olive & Triton

Cheers Tania

Blog Catch Up - and a SURPRISE!

Well this is what happens when you don't check your blog for a few days - BLOG CATCH UP!!!

The first thing I see is that my bead soup partner has given me a blog award!! - Woo Hoo I am special!

There are a couple of housekeeping rules that come with this award

1. Post a link to the person who awarded you 

2. Share 7 well-thought out random things about yourself

3. Award to 10 other deserving bloggers and let them know

 My award was given to me by Alicia - All the Pretty Things -and as I said she is my bead soup partner, she is from Canada and is an accomplished Trap Shooter as well as a jewellery designer.

7 Random Things about Me

I have a Bachelor of Science in Australian Environmental Studies

I can drive a Fork Lift

I am related to Lord Tebbit in England ( not sure if that is a good thing)

I have stood on the edge of the Grand Canyon - hoping not to fall off.

I have never touched snow.

I have never owned a Barbie Doll (that is child abuse LOL!)

I love stationary!

I will list the 10 bloggers that I choose at the end of this post.

This week I compiled my first ever Etsy Treasury List - It was compiled for the Artisan Beaders of Australia Page - so pop on over and check it out and even better still leave a comment. We have a lovely selection of artisan lampwork and our up and coming beaders would love the encouragement.

I did manage to get some beading and jewellery making done this week- here are a few pictures - I am working on uploaded them to Etsy this week

The past couple of days here at home have been wonderful, Sunny Queensland Winter Days!  Ella and I planted some flowers, some for her cubby, and we enjoyed the sunshine and then today while I write this post it is pelting down with rain.

Talk Soon - Cheers Tania

10 Bloggers I Award

Creative Arty Facts

Cultiver

I am the Diva

Jenni's Beads

Patty Larkinsmith

Kellie Chrisite

Pendragonfyre Tales

Jane Perala Designs

Something Sublime

Tree Wing Studio

Bead Soup Ingredients on their way to Canada

Well the bead soup has left the building, out of my little home town of Fernvale, Qld Australia off to Burlington, ON Canada.  Off on a little trip to Alicia - All the Pretty Things.

I visited Canada back in 1989 when I was still a university student.  I meet a young boy here in Australia "Kurt" who used to live in Canada and we went for a months holiday to go back and visit some of his old school friends.  It was my first time travelling overseas and it was wonderful,  We mainly hung out in Vancouver and Victoria Island, and I was always commenting on how the people there were very similar to people in Brisbane, happy, easy going folks.

Anyway back to BEAD SOUP - I had a hard decision on what to send Alicia as I have been making quite a few different beads lately,  I have got my mojo back at last!!!!

Now that the package has gone, I have a few things to get up to speed with,  I have to check out my Zentangle challenge for this week as I missed last weeks due to my little holiday with Ella.

I have to put together an outline for my one-on-one classes "Lampwork Bead Making Basics" that I am going to start offering very soon

I have to get some finished items down to L'abundance before they completely run out.

I need to also concentrate on those UFO's that I mentioned a couple of posts ago

And lastly (I am sure I will find something else LOL)  I need to keep working on the new blog for Australia Artisan Beaders.

I think that is enough to worry about this week - Phew! - that is alot!


Cheers Tania

PS - ok in the time is has taken me to rough draft this post - I have just joined another challenge - on the Lampwork Etc Forum.  Yes another one.  Anyway this one is not due to ship out until the 1 Oct - so I will tell you a little more about it later.

PPS - joined another challenge on the Lampwork Forum this morning - Reactive Twisties and also think I signed myself up to look after the challenges on an Australia Forum - haven't announced that yet.

OK TIME TO STOP!!!!!!!!