Mater Dolorosa, working

Originally uploaded by luluvillage

The Angels knew it was about to happen. I had been swimming for a while now, and, emboldened by the smoothness of the journey, I started to believe I was the one in charge.
Swimming had been a perfect metaphor for life creative. Until I hit a bend in the river, that is. Unable to see what was ahead, gripped by a sudden fear, I tried going against the current. When that failed, I decided to build a house on the river bend. A solid house, for I was convinced that I knew how things ought to proceed. A house on sand it was.
The angels came bearing gifts, gifts a creative could only dream of: new ideas, new images, new ways, a fresh new start.
But my house was closed. I shut the windows and locked the doors. I lowered the blinds so that not a shard of light could get through. I was convinced I could go on doing what I had been doing. I refused to let go of the ways that had worked before. I refused to acknowledge they weren’t working.
The angels camped outside, waiting.
Part of me yearned for them to break through – they would not. Patience and compassion were more their style.
My defenses gave in, I slipped into mourning of ways long gone.
“Let it go, let it go,”- they whispered.
“No, no, no,”- I whispered back.
They proceeded gently.
“Yes,”- eventually answered my soul. I surrendered to their magic, letting go at least for now of control, my idea that I could control!
No, I do not, I control little if anything.
I slowly allowed myself to go with the flow, guided through the up and down of the waves, until the next bend in this river, and another visit from the angels.

http://luluvillage-solitude.blogspot.com/
http://luluvillage-art.blogspot.com/

What? You didn’t get the memo. I know, it came as a surprise to me too. Don’t feel bad, now you know. The first time Greg (my hubby) and I went to an ISGB Gathering, International Society of Glass Bead Makers, we were both surprised at the amount of people who knew who we were. Of course, instead of gushing about what fabulous creations we made they gushed about how cool our lifestyle was. At the time we lived in an RV and traveled the US continuously, selling our beads and marbles online. We were stopped by numerous people with the, “Oh you’re the RV people. That is sooo cool! I wanna be you when I grow up.”

Okay, so we didn’t become famous, or is it notorious, in our little bead world by making fun stuff, though we think we do, we became known for our wacky lifestyle. Hey if it works roll with it, I say. So we have become known as the traveling vagabonds. Mostly people came to know us through message boards. I had a tiny 80 x80 picture of both of in an avatar and you’d be amazed at how many people recognized us from that tiny little picture. Be forewarned, when posting on message boards, there are far more people reading your words than you will ever know. So keep it positive people.

The reality now is, we no longer live in an RV. After four and a half years, I was ready for a house and a real studio. It has been almost a year now and I don’t miss being on the road all the time. I miss the traveling, but not the living in the RV part. It was great fun and I’ll always treasure it, who knows maybe I’ll do it again someday. But for now, I am happy where I’m at. So, will we still be famous? Probably not, though we have made a name for ourselves in the bead and marble world and thats all I really care about. Maybe we won’t see our names up in lights, but the business keeps the cash flowing and we don’t have to work outside jobs, and that is all the fortune I need.

When I looked at my given topic this month and saw it labeled as, “The Journey”, I thought of several ways this article could go.  I thought, WHICH journey?  The journey I take each day when I sit to design?  The journey that it takes to find my creative self in the midst of a chaotic day?  Or the journey I took to get to this point in my life, where I make pretty things for a living?

I thought it might be interesting to try the latter — how I ended up where I am now, where I have the absolute joy of actually making a living making jewelry.  It’s a strange, convoluted journey, with lots of twists, turns, and almosts, and it will tell you a little more about me, and in the end, why my jewelry is so eclectic, and doesn’t adhere to one given style.

I’ll start with my first real-world job.  It’s as far from jewelry design as it could possibly be — four years in the US Air Force.  Joining right from high school, I spent a year in California learning Korean, and then off to Osan AB, Korea, to work an intel position.  Lots of fun, except for chemical exercises (see photo for the reason why!), but no beading.  I never even thought of it. 

After four years in Korea, I left the military for the civilian world, and held a few different jobs, mostly in marketing.  While marketing didn’t have a thing to do with making cool things, it DID give me a solid background that I now use everyday in how to market myself and my company. 

A quick jaunt to Italy occured when I realized I was never going to quite be complete without a college degree.  I spent the three months before classes started living in Italy, teaching aerobics for spending money. I fell in love with Venice and, of course, Murano glass.  I spent my time admiring the vases and large sculptures, never dreaming that glass beads were going to become an integral part of my future career.  Oh, if I’d only known then what I know now, and had a bunch of money to spend on beads!

Next came college — two years at community college, then finishing off a four-year degree at the University of Virginia, majoring in Biology.  I’d taken nearly every microbiology and teeny-tiny-things bio class I could, and was in pre-med, so I’d had lots of time in chem labs.  THAT gave me an attention to detail that I use now in each piece I make — it has to be JUST so, down to the ending bit.

After self-imposed poverty while getting that degree, I decided to take a year off to make some money before med school, and ended up in the IT world, smack-dab in the middle of the dot.com explosion.  Once again, I found myself working in sales and marketing, and gained more skills that would eventually serve me well when I owned my own little company.

Another twist in the road — meeting my husband!  Deciding to have a family rather than spend up to age 40 in internships, I happily got married, and discovered while making wedding programs, table cards, and favors that I had a bit of a creative side.  I very nearly took the tests to become a wedding coordinator but then, oh joy, we were expecting a baby!

While I was pregnant, I spent part of the time on bed rest, and my friend brought me some beads to keep me busy.  Uh oh.  Kinda got hooked.  I didn’t have time until after Zack was about 8 months old to really play around seriously with the beads, but it was addictive.  I sent some things to my mom, who took them to her office, and they sold — and all of a sudden, I had a business! 

Now I do about 16 craft shows a year, have tutorials in magazines and a book, have been a mentor to a few new crafters, and have never had a job I loved more.  I feel so lucky.  All of those twists and turns in my life could have led me anywhere — a career military sergeant, a PeopleSoft IT professional, a doctor, a wedding planner.  Each of those stops along the way gave me something to take with me to this part of my Journey.  And I couldn’t be happier.

You can see Lori’s work at www.lorianderson.net and www.lori2.com.

Her blog is at www.lorianderson.blogspot.com

It is so easy to get caught up with work. As often struggling artists/artisans we put 110% into our work – to creating, to promoting, to selling and we often fret when we are prevented from doing so. Sometimes we have to step back, take a breath and a good look around us and assess our lives.

The old saying that you should “work to live, not live to work” is true. Admittedly some amazing artists put their lives on hold while they worked and worked and worked. And the body of work they created has afforded them a measure of fame (often after their decease, however). But what was the quality of their lives as a consequence?

We mustn’t let our health suffer – we must take time to stop, to rest, to eat healthy foods and to get sufficient exercise. Our minds are important too – we need time to reflect, to refresh our perspective, to recharge our batteries. To let new ideas flow and new creations emerge without being forced.

What about our families? The love that our families can give us and the esteem in which they hold us will be for the type of person that we are, not just for the art we are able to create. Do you want to see your children grow and be a part of their lives? Do you want to be a valued and integral part of your family’s life?

When I started designing and creating jewellery, things accelerated incredibly fast. I found myself busier than I had ever been and surprisingly stressed at the success I was experiencing. But I was too busy to do things with my family and I also became very ill. Even though becoming ill was unpleasant, it made me stop and assess - and I realized that, for me at least, living my life and being enriched by my art, but not controlled by it, was the key to my lasting happiness. And years down the track, it is still working.

Keep your work fresh and new with a balanced look at your life.

Annette Piper Dip. Gem. Handcrafted Jewellery
Under the Loupe

I always find it quite difficult to talk about inpiration in relation to my glass beads.  I sometimes struggle to find inspiration in what may be seen as the obvious places. I had, for example, hoped to return from an exotic overseas trip with lots of new ideas relating to the experiences I had, the cultures I witnessed, the art I observed….. and yet in the 18 months since that trip, none of my beads have directly responded to those experiences.

I am very fortunate to have a 4 page artist’s profile published  in this months Creative Beading magazine here in Australia.  To quote from that article “My interests are quite eclectic, so I draw my inspiration from a lot of different areas. My study of historical beads has been a great inspiration, but I am also inspired by an approach to various skills and techniques,rather than external stimuli. Often I work on a series of beads to acquire and extend my skills, and I am always influenced by the range of colours available…”

I often find myself considering the differences between a craftsperson and an artist, and at this stage of my beadmaking career, I often feel I lean more towards the craft.  The impetus behind the beads I produce is so often a desire to master a particular skill, technique or tool, rather than a desire to express a more nebulous concept.  I don’t feel that this is any way affects the aesthetic appeal of the final product, but it is an interesting approach from one who has studied and taught Fine Art for many years. My recreations of  historical beads are also driven by research, rather than artistic intent, although aesthetic appeal always remain paramount in my work.

Suzanne blogs and beads at her studio in the Dandenong Ranges, Australia.

www.solarflarecreations.com.au

One of the amazing things about glass is the ability to alter light.  Glass can transmit, bounce or reflect light.   Who doesn’t love a good suncatcher in the window?  The magic of sunbeams dancing about a room is fascinating. To create light altering beads I employ texture. 

Not only can texture send light flying in all directions, but it can produce a look that begs to be touched.  Adding depth to my beads is a challenge I enjoy.  Using a varitey of tools, I can manipulate glass in sculptural ways.  The beads can bounce light as well as take on an interesting shape.

Texture in glass is not only a feeling, but a look.  Silky smooth glass can also appear to have texture. A mixture of transparant and opaque glass is a subtle way to create depth. 

Creating with glass offers possiblity and challenge.  Employing the concept of texture helps add dimension and interest in glass beads.  Focus on texture in your next work and see where it leads you.

Susan 

When it comes to choosing colors for jewelry, I admit it—I am all over the place. I buy beads and pearls and other supplies in the colors that I like first. Then I look around at what is HOT for the season (might seem a backward approach but I get where I need to be eventually). Usually there is some overlap (always a good thing!). And I’m always looking at the classics and neutrals.

If I’m wearing it this summer, it’s likely to be fuschia, orange, hot pink and black. Somehow my summer casual wardrobe (6 months of wear in AZ!) ended up in those color combos. I call it “accidental coordination”. My sub-conscious knew more than I did when I was out looking for clothes! This bracelet is actually my daughter’s but if she doesn’t start wearing it soon, I’ll reclaim it!

I’m a sucker for black and white in jewelry, too. It always sells and no one seems to think you can have too many pieces in that color scheme! And I’ve also gotten hooked on pale pink and brown like in this ring. I call these “Sex and the City” colors!

As I’ve gotten more years behind me in the business, I’ve tended to avoid most holiday, seasonal colors (with the exception of a very few red, green, and white pieces) in favor of more marketable year-round colors. And in the “rules are made to be broken” category, I’m working on a red, white, blue bracelet—but that is really more for another blogging project than to sell. I have some great ideas in holiday color schemes, but I find my style of jewelry doesn’t sell easily when wearing time is limited.

All shades of purple appeal to me and to my buyers. It’s such a comforting color palette for me too. When I am having a creative drought, I pull out my purple stash and start to relax and let things flow.

Another combination that always makes me feel good are “watermelon” shades: pinks, greens, reds… Especially for summer but I make Melonhead Joolz year-round thanks to generous beadmaker friends.

Eventually, I’m going to get my office repainted in soothing shades of teal and mauvey plum. I have had the paint chips picked out for a year but if you’ve been in my office, you’d know what an ordeal it will be to paint.

I told you I’m all over the place with colors! I’ve thought about sorting all my handmade glass beads by color, but I’m half afraid where I saw “gaps” in the color wheel, I’d feel the need to fill in and that would be a bad thing!

I really can’t imagine life without all the colors of the rainbow in beads!

www.joolzbylisa.com     www.lisaliddy.wordpress.com

 
Blue Madonna, detail

Originally uploaded by luluvillage

One of the reasons I write is that I seem to acquire a magical ability to connect the dots previously unseen, to air out vague yet profound feelings. It is as if I rake up old, last year’s leaves of ideas off the surface to uncover a sleepy crystal clear lake underneath, brimming with new life and desire. Yet I was surprised, that while intending to write of hikes and forests, rivers and mountains (my preferred recharge environment), I wrote of etsy.
I still do not fully understand why I started an etsy shop. I am not a shopkeeper. Promoting things is not one of my strengths. I can hardly do the same item twice.
Then I had an insight why mulling over the upcoming post:
I like the freedom it gives me to experiment with new stuff. It is as if I put on a different hat and allow myself to do things quirky and odd, out of my ordinary routine. I realized that I think of myself as a serious artist- too serious, really, to my own detriment! I’ve forgotten how to have fun with all things creative. This of course explains why I could not put my name down- me? Associated with all these seemingly unrelated crazy things? No way!
And yet, I inch forward in the new direction. My etsy shop has become more of a lab: a place to try, a permission to fail, no strings attached. I understand now that it was not the business I was after, but a place to play. The shop has become my playground. I have explored with a child’s curiosity. I have tried mediums from decoupage to video in just the past six months. I am learning to get out of my own way, and silliness and joy are back on my daily agenda.
Surprisingly (or is it?), my other ‘serious’ self has only benefited!

www.luluvillage.com

Years of apartment living and juggling the needs of a family of six have taught me a few things about clutter. It seems like the cardinal rule is to not make it in the first place, but unfortunately, I am a clutter bug by nature. I am doomed to expand to fill the whatever space I am given. One important lesson that I learned at our last apartment was that creating an organization system that doesn’t work with my style will result in failure every time. Armed with that knowledge, I set up my first studio by creating zones that fit my work style while focusing on keeping the most-used items readily available.

Another important organizing truth I learned is that all the baskets, bins and shelves in the world won’t work if I have too much stuff for my space. Furthermore, it’s important to think about what I need to organize and the space I have for it before buying nifty widgets to hold my stuff. A closet or shelving unit holds a finite amount of matter. Rubbermaid totes can only be stacked four or five high before they hit the ceiling or toppling over. If it reaches that point (ideally before then!), it’s time to downsize. I have promised myself that if I find myself thinking “I need another tote,” I will stop and sort through what I have and donate some of it to charity.

My current studio has four main areas: the closet, the sewing table, the “extra” desk and the computer desk. For the most part, these zones are working well, as long as I make a point to keep on top of things. I’ve come to realize that one of my biggest time wasters is spending an hour cleaning up the mess that I’ve let accumulate for two weeks, instead of spending five minutes a day tidying up.

The closet contains my completed inventory, bins of fabric, scrapbooking supplies, yarn and other random detritus including an old iMac and wrapping paper. It also serves as the hiding place for holiday gifts (and chocolate). Most importantly, there’s an organized area for my shipping supplies. I re-purposed hanging closet shelves from a previous home to contain envelopes, bubble mailers, tissue paper, a postage scale and boxes. Having a designated spot for these items simplifies the shipping process and encourages me to always put the shipping supplies back where they belong.

My top priority is keeping the sewing/cutting table clear. If I allow things to pile up on it, I have no hope of working efficiently, or even of being inspired to sew. The cutting mat is always on the table and I place my sewing machine on top of it. Underneath the table, there’s a conveniently placed bin for scrap fabrics. I recently admitted to myself that I will never be able to use all of the scraps and started donating some of my scraps to collage artists and other crafters (including my children).

We had planned to set up a second computer on the extra desk, but my fabric addiction quickly gobbled up the available space. The desktop is currently being used as a staging area for creating market totes. The fabric is organized in stacks, but my current goal is to clear off the top of the desk so that my children can use it for their creative endeavors. Meeting this goal will require a lot of sewing in the next few weeks or getting rid of some fabric that I am not likely to use. In actuality, I will probably use a combination of the two to tackle it.

My desk is usually a disaster area. It’s covered with the computer, printer and electronic gadgets; to-do lists and love notes from my children; coupons, menu planners and grocery lists; a plastic drawer set for bills, stamps and address labels; a wire bin for random bits of paper I can’t part with; homeschooling materials and assignments; a stack of CDs; hair bobbles and assorted toys that the children leave behind when visiting. I keep a shredder and recycling bin at the end of my desk and I use them every day. I do try to clean the desk every week, but it’s one area that I have decided is mostly hopeless, and that’s okay.

The third, and maybe the most redeeming, lesson I’ve learned while battling the clutter bug is that taking baby steps is acceptable. My studio doesn’t have to be perfect. I didn’t accumulate my stash overnight and it took years for me to realize that my bad habits were holding back my creativity, and it will likely take me years to streamline my space. While I am still tempted to do an extreme makeover, I know that it would be wasted time. In the long run, focusing on one or two areas of my studio and creating systems that truly work will improve my productivity.

Andrea Quenneville blogs at Thoughts from Ms. Q.