Beady Wendy Update - www.beadywendy.com.au

New QR Code

2012-02-18T21:16:00.000-08:00

Here's the latest QR Code. Use your phone to read it and go straight to my website. Cool, isn't it?!

Arts Market Was Another Success

2012-02-18T20:05:00.000-08:00

Hi again!

Yesterday the Arts Market in Warragul was another success. We had some lovely musicians playing all day and lots of shoppers. I had another terrific day with lots of positive feedback and sales. I'm quite surprised at how well it's all going being in such a small community. Let's hope March is just as good and the weather holds. March will be the last market for the summer. The next challenge will be to renegotiate with the Shire to continue holding it at Queen Street Park. Everyone loves the venue.

Made some more necklaces today. Here's a pic or two. They are similar but not excatly the same.

Warragul Arts Market on Today

2012-02-17T11:34:00.000-08:00

The Warragul Arts Market is on today, Saturday, Jan. 18th from 10 to 2 pm. I missed January's market because I was demonstrating at the Yarragon Gem Show for the weekend. December's market was absolutely fantastic. I received such wonderful feedback. It's really great when people see what I do and understand how much time and effort goes into creating even one bead. It reinforces why I love making beads.

My new Oxygen Concentrator is up and working a treat. It gives more pressure than the old one. I'm just about ready to start teaching too! Yikes.

I'll blog again tomorrow with the results of my day.

South America - What a Trip!

2012-01-12T12:43:00.000-08:00

Our trip of a lifetime was over the Christmas Holidays and was a 14 day cruise around Cape Horn. Our itinerary was to fly from Melbourne via Sydney and Auckland to Santiago, Chile where we connected to Rio de Janeiro. Nothing went right with our connections and so we missed our plane to Rio. It was a comedy of errors waiting in line with 50 others while the LAN service desk tried to accommodate us. Half were put up in a hotel in Santiago with a connection the next afternoon. The rest of us were rushed onto a plane to Sao Paulo with a connectoin to Rio later that night. It was like the Amazing Race. We ran through the security screening area without being screened as we had 15 minutes to catch the flight. The lights and sirens were going off like crazy as we raced through. I had to laugh at the expressions on the faces of the security agents. Imagine doing this anywhere else in the world?!

Once we made it to Sao Paulo, we had to find the LAN office which was no mean feat. Sao Paulo is the largest city in South America with a population of 22 million. Their airport is also the largest one I've ever seen. No one speaks English and our Portugese was non-existent. We kept asking police and security officers where the LAN office was and finally found it. They gave us our onward flight details and told us to go right away as they were boarding the plane. Another run through the airport to the gate and we were okay. Who knew if our bags would make the switch!

We finally made it to Rio at 2:30 am the next day. Our elapsed travel time was 48 hours from getting up in Melbourne to arriving at the hotel. A long day.

The next day we went shopping to the H. Stern jewellery factory. They picked 6 of us up at the hotel and took us to their factory/showroom. It was very lovely and we saw the artisans working on jewellery from design to finished product. Next came the sales pitch. We were taken to a lovely area filled with desks, chairs and separated by frosted glass panels. There were serving people all around and offering any kind of drink from a local soft drink to champagne. We were shown trays and trays of period, citrine, saphire, amethyst, etc. Our friends did a big shop and bought some amazing things. After that we walked to a shopping mall which is more like an office tower. The aisles were huge and the entire place was very airy and spacious. Lots of shoppers were there but it still felt empty. Things were very expensive so we had a bite to eat and walked back to Stern's to pick up the purchases and catch the shuttle back to our hotel.

We saw all the sites - Cristo the Redeemer, Sugar Loaf, etc. We stayed on Copacobana Beach where every Brazilian in the vicinity was sunbathing in 39C heat! They don't swim in the ocean as it's too cold but have showers to cool off. The sand is so hot, they lay pipes that spray water every so often so you can walk in bare feet without burning.

There's still much more to tell but I'll leave that for now. The trip was awesome!

Great Weekend at 2 Markets

2011-11-20T14:11:00.000-08:00

Despite the rain, the first Baw Baw Arts Alliance - Warragul Arts Market was a success! Customers were so appreciative that we braved the weather and were very supportive of the whole concept. It will continue to grow, no doubt about it. I felt the atmosphere was wonderful. It brings all of us together in a way that meetings never can. We get to look at each other's work and admire and that's what it's all about. I won't complain that I had some good sales too!

The Warragul Arts Market will take place on the 3rd Saturday of each month until after March. At present, it's located at the Queen Street Park beside the TAFE. It's a great site as it's got cafe's opposite and toilets close by. A must for all stallholders!

Sunday brought another terrific day. I wasn't too pleased to wake to rain - AGAIN - but the day fined up and was tremendous. There was a real buzz at the Lardner Park Craft Markets Australia market. Lardner Park only happens 4 times a year and since I have been doing them, the weather has been awful most of the time. So, yesterday was wonderful. I love watching the people go by and seeing them cart their purchases around the market. I had reasonable sales so can't complain. If you can remember, the next market at Lardner Park will be Sunday, February 3rd. Make a day of it and make the drive to Lardner Park, Warragul. It's worth it!

There's lots happening at the Arts Hub in Yarragon too! We have lived through the opening night which was terrific. Lots of stress getting this going but it's been very successful. My hat's off to the insightful people like Ingrid Thomas and Sue Acheson and Jessie McLennan who had the vision for a creative space and made it happen. It'squite exciting.

Anyway, that's it for now. Off to do other committee things! Trying to get the washing out before I have to leave. That's life in Drouin.

Take care,

Cheers!

Selling on Etsy Again

2011-10-05T12:55:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone: I've decided to add some beads to my Etsy store to see how things go. Etsy seems easier these days to put in new items. Sort of 'follow your nose' which is good. Especially as I do most of that type of thing very early in the morning. Go to: http://www.etsy.com/shop/beadywendy

My main computer is in the shop getting a new Mother Board and it's only 4 years old. So, I'm using the second hand laptop which doesn't have a spot for my memory card from my camera. I've taken tons of new photos but have no way to put them on the computer. If it's not one thing it's another.

I've got a commission to work on today for a good friend so that will keep me busy. I hope everyone has a terrific day.

New Bracelet Tutorial

2011-09-09T15:18:00.000-07:00

I've developed this lovely bracelet using one of my handmade glass focal beads. Compliment the lampwork bead with seed beads for an easy, custom-made bracelet. It should take about 2 hours for the average beader. A knowledge of beading and using needle and thread is helpful, but not essential. All requirements are listed. After you buy the tutorial, stay at my website and buy a lampwork focal bead for the bracelet!

Here's the bracelet:

Go to my website: http://beadywendy.com.au/ProductDetails/86/Embellished-Bracelet-Tutorial

Changed the blog a bit

2011-09-08T14:05:00.000-07:00

I had a look at my blog and decided to remove the ads. I don't know about you, but I find them annoying. I've made all of $.22 so can't see it as a big money maker. What do you think?

Cheers!

Arts Hub in Yarragon .... That close!

2011-09-05T14:05:00.000-07:00

Last night at the AGM of the Baw Baw Arts Alliance (Bbaa) I was elected Vice-President along with Jessie McLellan as President, Philip Van Ness, Treasurer and Sally Alsop as Secretary. We are that close to final permit approvals from the Shire and the lease being signed. Our new home will be a vibrant, arty place where all types of creativity will be fostered. We'll have gallery space, a small retail area and good sized workshop space. The Arts Hub will act as the hub of a wheel and other, satellite locations within the shire will be like the spokes of the wheel. It's a blank canvas right now and with so many talented people in our organisation it will be absolutely tremendous. I think I'm the least creative of all the members. I'm just the one who can't say no! I've given up the Golf Club Committee of Management and now taken on Bbaa. So, when one door closes, another opens.

If anyone is driving through Yarragon, stop into the Arts Hub, 2 Murray Street. Our opening hours will be Wednesday to Sunday, 10 - 4. Watch this space for more info.

Gardening, Gardening, Gardening - No Time for Beads

2011-08-31T12:34:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year when the garden grows overnight. I spent the entire day working in the veggie garden, getting ready to put in the potatoes, peas and beans. My husband thinks it's easier to just buy them at the shop but there's nothing like eating your own produce. It's hard on my back, though.

If I could only keep the b....y rabbits out of the garden. I've got metre high chicken wire all around and still one managed to dig under the wire and get in to start digging a warren. The pair of rabbits that plague me have now had a litter so there will be more of them digging up everything.

I'm excited about the New Arts Hub in Yarragon. I've agreed to become Vice-President of the Baw Baw Arts Alliance (Bbaa). The fact that the Arts Hub is almost a reality is amazing. Hats off to Ingrid Thomas, Jessie McLellan, Sally Allsop and Aleene. Their vision and determination has made it a reality. The AGM is on Monday, Sept. 5th at 7:30 pm at the Arts Hub on Murray Street in Yarragon. Watch this space for more updates!

That perfect market?

2011-08-22T13:03:00.000-07:00

Is there such a thing as the perfect market? I don't think so. I keep trying different markets but no success. It's not that people aren't spending. It's more about the number of people that come to these markets I keep being asked to attend. They're searching me out and misrepresenting the success of their market in the process. I guess I'll have to chalk another one up to experience.

On a more positive note the Baw Baw Arts Alliance Arts Hub in Yarragon is almost a reality. We have the building and the funding. We're waiting for the final lease to be signed. It looks like we'll be open in a month or so! It's so exciting to be involved at the inception stage. I'm the least talented of all the people involved and it's a pleasure to see such creativity come together. If you're passing through Yarragon, stop into the Arts Hub on Murray Street to see how creativity comes together.

And so.....

2011-08-15T23:11:00.000-07:00

We're back from Cairns and The Tip and it's time to get back into making beads. I have some great ideas for beads but need to get some other stuff out of the way first.

I've been checking dates for upcoming markets. The Berwick Clothing and Handmade Market is on this Sunday, August 21st. It's located at the Berwick Leisure Centre, 79 Manuka Rd., Berwick. It's my first time at this show so we'll see how it goes. If anyone's in the area, stop by for a chat.

The Barn on Jackson's in Jindivick has closed due to a lease dispute so my work is no longer for sale there. You can find some of my work at Wild Dog Winery, in Warragul, however. It's a great venue for lunch or dinner with an amazing outlook and terrific wines.

Cheers!

Wendy

Weekend at Lardner Park

2011-02-20T11:46:00.000-08:00

Well, I survived another rainy day at Lardner Park. What's with this rain? It's still too wet to get my potatoes out of the garden. They'll be the size of footballs before long - if they're not rotten. I plan to get some beads made today. Something for me I think. I've got these amazing pink semi-precious donuts that are just calling for a fabulous bead! I'll give it a go.

Just posted some new beads on Craftumi.com.au . Have a look: https://www.craftumi.com.au/detail.asp?id=10634 .

Bead Ramblings

2011-02-17T14:26:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone:

Well, another week is almost over and I haven't been on the torch once! Too many other activities keep me from my beads but things should calm down soon. However, I'm about to photograph my Convergence II pieces. That's my job today! I've decided to put in two entries this year. I'm not that rapt with the second one but I'm really proud of the bead. Can't seem to find a way to implement the design that's in my head. I guess I'm searching for the right inspiration but the clock is ticking. Entries need to be in by March 1st. Once I've entered, I'll post on the blog.

We took a drive yesterday with the car club from Warragul to Tyabb on the Mornington Peninsula. We drove all through the recent flood areas of Tynong, Coral Lynne and Bayles. It's so very flat down there and there are still paddocks with standing water on them. My friend's son has lost his entire potato crop! What a shame. Anyway, the run was terrific. We had lunch at a lovely little cafe in Tyabb called the Peppertree Cafe. If you're cruising through Tyabb, stop and have a coffee or a bite to eat there. While the men went to the Airplane Museum, the ladies went to the Antiques Shed. It's HUGE. You can spend a lot there. I like to fossick around and picked up a hand-made drill bit guide which I will use to straighten wire. It's just a steel plate with each size drilled from 1/16 to humungous.

So, that's my news to date. Oh yeah, almost forgot. I've added some new beads to Beady Wendy Craftumi Store . Have a look. My website is still undergoing some updating but that change should be done by Monday. Here are a few pics of my latest beads.

Watery Weekend

2011-02-06T13:04:00.000-08:00

What a weekend that was! You know, I said that exactly 2 years ago after the February bush fires! This time it was floods. We had 150 ml of rain from Friday night to Saturday night. Our house sits on the high side of the street but we still got so much rain that there were rivers running down the lawn, the driveway and around the house. We had a river running along the back of the house and down into the neighbors. I thought, well, it's raining what a terrific day to make beads.

Hah! Went to the shed where I do my work and found it filling with water. Everything off the floor, quick! Of course, my work bench is filled with glass so it meant a minor clean up to get boxes and stuff off the floor. The second shed took the brunt of the water - again! You just can't keep it out.

So, now we have 2 very clean sheds and a little bit of a tidy up and we're right to go again. Let's hope we don't have another one of these in the immediate future.

Instead of making beads, I got my photography kit out and started taking pictures of beads. It takes a long time to take and publish the pics. Perhaps I should just do them as I make them instead of piling them up. Anyway, here are a few of the latest creations.

I'm learning to do Search Engine Optimization

2011-01-29T12:44:00.000-08:00

It's not easy wading through all the stuff I received on Friday from my ISP, Webalive. They gave me and others a free 2 hour session on SEO (Search Engine Optimization). Some of it I was doing already but man, I've got a long way to go! I'm feeling over my head a bit. But, I'm going to keep trying and hope it will drive more people to my site.

I did a great show the other week with the Warrigal Lapidary Club. I was demonstrating how to make glass beads. The demo was really popular and I had a reasonable weekend in terms of sales. It's difficult to make beads outside my studio. If there's any wind, it blows the flame. If it's really hot in the venue then it's REALLY hot near the flame. The glass always acts up and spits when you least want it to! But, it's rewarding when you see people stand with their mouths open, amazed at how a bead is born.

That's how I tell it. The birth of a bead - how long it takes before it's ready for use, etc. It always depends on the crowd at these things. Some just take it as entertainment but it inspires others to buy beads or jewellery once they understand how complicated it can be to make a bead.

I had a young man stop by, absolutely fascinated with the process. He kept asking me to make another bead. He suggested colour and then a technique. It was an interesting process for me to ask the right questions in order to understand what his vision of the bead was. I'm not sure I managed it but he was quite happy with the end result. So much so, that his Mom paid for the bead and postage and I mailed it to him the following Monday once it had been annealed and cleaned.

Too bad today is going to be so hot. Way too hot to make beads, that's for sure. Instead I'll get the rest of the garden trimming done and take the fully loaded trailer to the tip! Then, it's inside to the air con.

Have a great day!

Bead Society of Victoria Bead Expo Update

2010-11-14T14:39:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone!

I just finished the Bead Society of Victoria's annual Melbourne Bead Expo. It was a terriferic weekend! We had good attendance and every single shopper was mad about beads! I saw some terrific creations, met some old customers and made lots of new friends.

I think my beads were better than last year and my sales certainly indicated that! Thanks to all who support me. The bead show is a terrific place for all of the lampworkers to chat and brainstorm.

Keep an eye out for the new lampworkers' group called the Flaming Mathildas! All like-minded lampworkers hoping to market ourselves, support and help each other.

The next few weeks are very hectic. I'm at The Barn on Jacksons, Jindivick on sunday, November 21st from 9 - 2 pm. The following weekend is the Craft Markets Australia Lardner Park on Sunday, November 28th from 8 - 1 pm. Then, the Red Hill Market on the following Saturday, December 4 from 7:30 - 2 pm. And, then the Mulgrave Makers Market in Mulgrave, (Melbourne) on December 19th!

Lots of chances to buy my unique, hand made glass beads and jewellery. There's something for everyone at my stall. From inexpensive to fabulous, art pieces! Hope to catch up with you all soon,

Wendy

Beady Wendy News

2010-04-10T21:17:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone:

Great News! My creation entitled 'Frida' has been accepted into Convergence II. Convergence II is a competition run by the International Society of Glass Beadmakers in the US. It's a very prestigious organization and I'm absolutely thrilled to be in the final running.

Boy, was this one difficult. Making a piece of jewelery, including the beads, for a famous person -- past, present or future -- was a difficult thing. First off, who do you choose? I figured there would be some predictable names and wanted to be different. After weeks of musing about it (most often in my sleep) I came up with Frida Kahlo. She was a Mexican artist in the '30's who was married to another famous Mexican artist - Diego Rivera. You may recall there was a movie made about Frida five or six years ago I think.

Once the person was defined, what to make? I tried many different beads. You know when you work too hard at something? That's what I felt I was doing. So I went back to basics, picked the colours I wanted to use and then let the glass do the talking. I love working with copper wire and that was going to figure into the piece somehow. As I built the necklace, it all seemed to come together.

I've had a look at the ISGB forum to see some of the other work that's been accepted and all I can say is WOW. Although I'm amazed I was picked, the other work people have done is really terrific.

What's next? Who knows, only the glass knows for sure! Want to see other beads I've made? Visit my web site at: www.beadywendy.com . Send me your comments!

Cheers,
Wendy