Snowing

It is snowing again today & I am missing work again. I was suppose to go in for a half day, but it is not safe & I can't get out of my driveway, let alone my road. Yesterday I walked to the top of my road & my boss drove me in. Today is only suppose to be a half day so we didn't bother, too much of a hassle & I worked really late yesterday so that should make up for some of it.

Best wishes to all & to all a good night. Merry Christmas & have a safe & Happy New Year.

Volunteering

Today my mom & I volunteered at the local community center.

My step dad picked me up & drove both my mom and I to & from the center. This was due to the extreme weather outside. We had a great time,even though I am exhausted, it was very busy. In our community the gift give away, this year covers 1000 children in the area. Today we had families for 600 of the children, and 400 more will be tomorrow. I have been helping with this every year for at least 10 years, maybe more. It is always worth it, so many people are helped and it feels good to help others.

I was happy to see so many people helping out this year, despite the bad conditions in the area.
So get out there and volunteer, it is worth it for everyone.

A Dinner, Movie & Christmas Shopping

My family & I went to Red Robin for dinner & to a movie after I got off of work tonight. We saw The Tale of Despereaux it was a cute movie. We then went to Target and finished shopping for the few people I had left. My husband actually found something he wanted, then I went & got it, he saw it in the cart since it was a remote control car - it was a huge box & took up most of the cart, pretty hard to miss. I told him he has to forget about it before Christmas. I also got some stocking stuffers & gift cards for 4 of my nieces that are at the impossible teen years & are not happy with anything. I will be wrapping alot tomorrow.

Snowed IN

It snowed so much last night - I am snowed in, my car will not make it out of our road. We live by the river & would have to go up a little hill. So too bad, I can't make it into work today. So we are staying in, we did take our new puppy out for a walk. Check out some pitures of the snow. I don't like the cold, but it normally does not snow much here.

Best wishes to all for the upcoming holidays

Snow & the Wizard of OZ

It snowed so much last night, we are going to miss the Play downtown in Seattle @ the Children's Museum of the Wizard of Oz. It is so sad, my Mom, my daughter (8yrs old) and some friends of ours were all going to this in the afternoon today. Now it is too dangerous to drive there and we have been looking forward to this for about 6 months. ): My daughter cried, she is very sad. Hopefully we can find something to cheer her up today, maybe a snowball fight, and decorating the Christmas tree that we just got last night.

Enjoy your time with your family, I will.

I am on ArtFire ! !

Check it out I am on Artfire, check it out.
http://kimforbeads.artfire.com I just joined on the 7th, I have started posting items, and wanted to let everyone know.

You can buy from either my Etsy shop or my Artfire shop. I will be posting some different items on each site. Right now I do have some overlap, any items that I have more then one of, or that I custom make for each sale I have listed in both. Or at least I will, lol.

I want to know who else is on Artfire, what do you think? They had a special to sign up, it is only $7.00 a month right now with unlimited postings, no charge on posting or sales as far as I understand. They are doing this for a promotion, to get more people to join, after they reach a certain number. After that they will charge $20. , so I signed up. It is less then I am paying on Etsy with all of my renewing. I hope in the long run this will work out, alot of stores I had my jewelry in closed this year due to the economy. Times are tough all over. Best wishes to all of you.

Victorian Christmas

Check it out I am doing Victorian Christmas - it starts December 3rd - Wed & runs thru Sunday.

I am in the Expo Hall - in the booth called The Handcrafters Guild. Some friends and I bought 6 spaces together . We all set up like one really big booth. We have a great variety & I brought tons of inventory. It is like a mini craft show in this really big one. We have a central check out - with a really cool register, thanks to one of the ladies.

If you are in Puyallup, WA- you should check it out, the show is amazing. Just make sure to look for handcrafted booths, it is not as common to find us as it use to be in the good ole days.

After the show has ended - I will be posting lots of new things on to my Etsy site, look for it.

Free Beaded Bug

SALE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Black Friday thru Cyber Monday!! I will be offering a free beaded bug & a free gift box made out of recycled Cards with all orders - no matter how small. - See some examples below & more on my Etsy site.

Along with that I will give 15% off any orders over $20.00 not including shipping charges. I will either refund the discount back to you after payment, or if you wait I will revise your invoice before payment, I will send you a convo upon completion.

This sale includes any & all custom orders if placed on Friday the 28th thru Monday the 1st of December.

BLACK FRIDAY SALE ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

S A L E !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Black Friday thru Cyber Monday - I will be offering a free beaded bug & a free gift box made out of recycled Cards with all orders - no matter how small.

Along with that I will give 15% off any orders over $20.00 not including shipping charges, check it out I have over 200 listings to choose from. I will either refund the discount back to you after payment, or if you wait I will revise your invoice before payment, I will send you a convo upon completion.This sale includes any & all custom orders if placed on Friday the 28th thru Monday the 1st of December.

Thanks & have fun shopping.

Etsy Front Page

I was featured friday on the Etsy front page, for the first time. It was in a fantastic treasury. Here is the screen shot. http://flickr.com/photos/oldworldprimitives/3048842514/

Mine are the fossils in the center row. They also sold that same day, fabulous. I do have some other fossil earrings if you are interested see the picture below.

thanks for checking these out.

Uber Amazing Blog Award

I just won a blog award it is wonderful,this honor was bestowed upon me by http://seefairies.blogspot.com/ check out here awesome blog. Check out my badge. Here are the rules.





Here are the rules for the award:

"How is the award determined? The rules are as follows:
The award is presented to blogs that-
1. Inspire you
2. Make you smile and laugh
3. Or maybe give amazing information
4. Are a great read
5. Have an amazing design
6. Or any other reasons you can think of that make them uber amazing!
If you receive this award: 1. Put the logo on your blog or post. 2. Nominate at least 5 blogs that you feel are Uber Amazing! 3. Let them know that they have received this Uber Amazing award by commenting on their blog. 4. Share the love and link to this post and to the person you received your award from."

I am awarding this Uber award to:
1. http://creativeladies.blogspot.com/
2. http://goshery.blogspot.com/
3. http://www.alipuckett.typepad.com/
4. http://prettypeardesigns.typepad.com/
5. http://www.sylvias-journal.blogspot.com/


Check out these blogs - they deserve this award.

Stocking Stuffers

I wanted to remind everyone one of the fabulous stocking stuffers that I carry in my Etsy shop.

I have beaded bugs. $2.00 each or 3 for $5.00,
Beaded rings $1.00 to $2.00,
Beaded blobby pins $3.00 pair
Beaded gloves $5.50 pair
Fun Fur gloves- $ 8.50 pair

and much more, like jewelry of all kinds. Check it out @ http://www.kimforbeads.etsy.com/

Puppies Name

OK my daughter has finally decided to name the puppy Princess. She liked the name Sadie until she accidentally said Satan, and realized she never wanted to accidentally call her puppy that, so she decided right there that her name is now Princess.

Princess has kept me up for many nights, she misses her sister. She is getting better at it, and at potty training.

Wish me luck, I am tired.
Kim

My daughters birthday puppy

My daughter turned 8 years old over the weekend & we got a new puppy. I also did a show this weekend. Lots of activities and fun going on at my house. Yesterday I worked my show came home unloaded, picked up the kids, got the cake, got the balloons and then went to the party we had it at a local pizza place. We took up 1/2 of the resturant, it was a blast. My husband came late and left early, so the puppy would not be buy herself for very long. Luckily she fell asleep in her kennel right before he left, great timing. The puppy is 8 weeks old check out the picture. My daughter is deciding between, Sadie or Princess- leave a comment and let me know what you would name the puppy.
Thanks for your input.

Over 200 listings

I have finally reached over 200 listings- what an accomplishment. I have been so busy trying to bead, take pictures & post to my site. This was my goal for the holidays, before the rush, at least the rush I am hoping for. lol

I have beaded jewelry of all kinds & all price ranges, beaded bugs, beaded bags, beaded gloves, chenille gloves & much more. I also do custom order, check out my shop & let me know what you think.

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5821737

Have fun shopping.
Thanks again
Kim

Feature in the Little Black Box

Have you heard of the little black box, well if you have not - you should. They are a great company that helps out all of who make handmade arts & crafts. Check out the website.
http://thelittleblackboxes.com/etailers.html I will be in the October boxes, which go on sale tomorrow the 24th. Don't miss out artists of all kinds and from all over in the USA, send in samples of their work (promos) along with a business card, in hopes to reach some new people. They advertise your shop on the month you will be in the box, this is a great opportunity & I hope to get a lot of new customers. I shipped out over $200. of merchandise- at no charge for the opportunity to meet some new people. I will give you a preview of what I sent. I sent lots of beaded bugs & critters, beaded rings, beaded bobby pins, beaded gloves & fun fur chenille gloves. Check out my Etsy site for more details & pictures of the items listed. http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5821737 . The boxes are only $23.00 - wow - I am getting one, I hope to find some great gifts for Christmas.

New Inventory

Check out my Etsy site, I have listed alot of new things over the last couple of days. Here is one of them.

Blue Nose Play

Hi everyone,
My family & I went to see a play at the Children's Theater in Seattle. We went & saw BlueNose it was a fun play with a great meaning behind it. Their were many messages that the play portrayed. The main message was that it was OK to be different, and not to be afraid of others that are different. Not to prejudge people & to speak for yourself. Not to let others speak for you or give you opinions about things that you have not seen first hand. Do not prejudge a race or a person when everyone is different or special in their own way. The play was fun, and was great for kids. My seven year old not only enjoyed the play, but understood the meaning of it and it lead to a great discussion about what everyone learned. Check out the Children's Theater if you are in Seattle they have great plays, my family & I have seen many of them.
In December we will be going to the Wizard of Oz & I will let you know how it is.

Enjoy your week.

Life Sucks Sometimes

It has been a rough week.
I had Monday off, I did get to volunteer for a couple hours at my daughters class, but did not get much done besides that.
Tuesday & Wednesday I spent playing catch up at work.

Thursday I had to take my husband to the hospital , we were there most of the day. They did many tests, that amounted to nothing and send him home after 8 hrs. More docter apppointments for next week. He is sick & crabby, and not getting any resolutions.
Today I played catch up from yesterday. Glad the weekend is here, and hope it is not more of the same.

Life sucks sometimes. I hope everyone else if having a better week then me & my family.

Mom's normally busy working

I normally am busy working during the week, but not today.

I volunteered today at my daughters 2Nd grade class. I had the day off so I spoke to the teacher and she let me come read to the class and also play site word Bingo with the class. All of the children loved it & my daughter was so proud and so happy. I also got to do her hair this morning for school, the first time all year. I picked out her clothes & waited at the bus stop with her.

Now the kids will believe that she has a mom, last week someone asked her if her mom had died. She tried to explain that I just go to work early in the morning and I don't get back until after school is out. Dad is always the one to get her ready in the morning and take her to the bus stop. She never has her hair done anything more then just brushing and pulling back in a headband.

This was a special day, I am sure everyone will be talking about it all week.

Do you know what a BNS is?

BNS probably stands for many things, but I am going to talk about a term that is used on Etsy.
Etsy is a website which promotes handmade artists as well as suppliers & others who sell vintage.

I have an Etsy website as many many other artists do, you can check it out if you like @
http://www.kimforbeads.etsy.com/ I have beaded jewelry of all kinds, beaded bags, beaded bugs, beaded gloves & much more.

On Etsy they have many things to help promote other artists and also your own website. One of them is a BNS ( thread- (line of communication) ). BNS stands for Buy & Stay, basically it starts out with one or more website (shop) and then when someone that sells on Etsy buys from one of the shops listed you also get added to the Buy & Stay list.

While on the list you promote other shops & yourself, and keep the Thread- (lines of communication) open for others to see. Since it is a BNS- you do not get bumped off of the list when you have a sale. It is great to get to know new people & new shops & also to promote sales and new products & what you have for others to buy.

I am in two BNS right now so check them out here is today's thread http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5851378

Here is the other one.
http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5850548

- Most threads change daily or every couple days. The list is always updating. If you do not check in or promote on the BNS you will be bumped for your lack of participation.

Have fun shopping. I personally have not seen alot of sales from these BNS yet, but I hope to soon, and I have meet alot of fun shops & great people.

Have fun & check everyone out on these BNS- maybe you will want to join us.
Enjoy - P.S. Christmas is coming.

Starving Housewives Crafts Show

Hey everyone,

I am in an awesome Craft show right now. It is juried & full of wonderful artists.

The show is in Bothell, WA. it started on the 7th and runs thru Sat. the 11th. If you are in the area check it out, I have a ton on inventory at the show. Way more then is on my website.

I have beaded gloves & a lot of Chenille Fun Fur Gloves in all colors. Of course you will find my fabulous jewelry, I have three rotating racks of various earrings in all prices. Along with many one of a kind pieces, necklaces, and bracelets alike. My beaded bugs & beaded spiders are not to be missed. Check it out. If you cant make this one, check out my website, I try to have the next couple of shows listed for your information.

Have fun & enjoy yourself.
Thanks again.

International Shipping

I wanted to make sure everyone knows that I will ship internationally, anywhere in the world.

I also will do custom orders, and design jewelry for that certain outfit, or wedding.

Just let me know I will do my best & I do not need payment upfront, just upon approval of finished product.

I have been beading for 18yrs or so, and I make all styles of jewelry & in all price ranges. So if you don't see something you want, let me know I will see what I can do. I have over 180 listings in my shop & way more inventory not listed, since I do lots of shows during the year.

Halloween

Sale!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SPIDERS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FOR HALLOWEEN!!!!!!!!!
My spiders are still on Sale for Halloween, check them out while you can.

I only make them this time of year, spiders creep me out. It is hard to bead something, when it is giving you the heebeejeebes, lol I just made up the spelling for that.

I hope you all have a fanastic Halloween, and have fun decorating for the occasion. I have had many people over the years use the beaded spiders for many things, cake toppers, quilts, to put in plants, decorations, sewn on clothes,sewn on purses and many more things I don't know about. I am sure you can come up with something fun also. Enjoy.

I have decided to have a Sale !!!!

Sale- !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
First off I have a sale on all of my beaded spiders, for Halloween normally they are $4.00 each & they are on sale for $2.50 each. check it out. You can pick the color or pick from my vast selection.
AND
In celebration of my son's birthday I am holding a Sale/Give Away, this weekend, Friday thru Sunday, 10/3 thru 10/5 .

Everyone who purchases anything- I mean anything-no matter the price will get a free beaded bug, I pick the colors- you can give suggestions if you wish & I can try to send that item, but it is suppose to be somewhat of a surprise. - you can see them on my website here is the link. http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5821737&section_id=5473244 I have beaded dragonflies, butterflies, lady bugs, lizards, frogs, bees and of course spiders for Halloween. I know technically these are not all bugs per say but (bugs & critters) close enough, so shop away. I have beaded jewelry of all kinds, beaded gloves & Chenille gloves with Fun fur. I will also include this give away for custom orders that want me to make them something special, not already on my site.

My Son is turning 20.!

On Oct 2nd my son is turning 20 yrs old, he is now engaged as of last Thursday and no she is not pregnant. He is really young though, they plan on being engaged for about a year, I hope longer so that they can mature more. He is also moving out on his birthday with one of his buddies. He quit his job - so that he can look for a new one closer to where he will be living. Yes he quit his job before finding a new one. Kids never learn, I am worried in these tough economic times he may have trouble finding a new job. A lot of changes are happening to him this week and I can't even believe it. If I had that many changes happening all at once I don't think I could handle it so well. But I am older (not that old) but older and set in my ways, I am sure you know what I mean. lol
I got married at 18- and was pregnant with him, I am still married - but it was not easy to say the very least. I hope he has an easier time of it then we have had. This is a hard year to be starting fresh on your own, with no set idea of your future. We will see how things go & hope for the very best for him on his Birthday and all of the days after that.

Tired Tuesday

I stayed up until 2:00 am this morning finishing more requested spiders & also listing them along with new Halloween earrings. I had to then get up @ 5:40 to get ready for my day job. Man I am tired today. I hope I get some traffic on my website to wake me up. lol

Best wishes to all of you, in these tough times.

Fresh Start

Hi everyone, it is Monday I am starting fresh today. I have a lot to do this week, I have three places to mail out promos too. One of them being the Little Black Box. I will be in the October boxes & have lots of great beaded bugs & rings to send. Since I have so many promotional items going out this week, that means I need to bead like crazy to get ready for my next show in two weeks.
Have fun everyone- oh and check out my beaded spiders I just made many different color combinations for Halloween decorations.

Show on Sunday

I was at a Craft Show today with fabulous artist with all sorts of crafts. Variety was not the problem, or the pricing, and the people were great. The weather was perfect and the location not bad either. The show on the other hand, was so slow, no one was coming in & the people that did, mostly looked, and did not buy. I think everyone is scared because the economy sucks right now. This makes it hard to make a living. I work two jobs to make ends meet, and I support my family all on my own. My spouse cannot work due to medical problems, so it all falls on me. Man life is hard and I try to stay positive, but when a show is so slow, I wonder how things will turn around.

Just my thoughts for today. Has anyone done any shows lately and how have they gone?

INSPIRATION & CREATIVITY

What inspires you? There are many things in life that can help inspire someone. I will try to help by giving you some ideas, some examples of what inspires me at times, and how to be creative.

First of all you do not need a plan, most of the best ideas come out of the blue, but you need to be aware and be open to be inspired. Once something hits you run with it, or right it down if the timing is not optimal.

When looking for inspiration you can look go out on a clear night – look at the stars, the moon, the way the winds blow the trees, or a flag, look at movement, colors, the lack of color, the way things are blurry at night or shadowed.

Listen to the sounds, and the feel of the moment can inspire you to write poetry or a story, paint, draw, sing, carve wood, bead, or just about any craft or hobby you are interested in.

Whether or not this is for fun or for business getting out of your usual surrounding also helps, or looking at something you may see every day, but looking at it in a different way. Go to the park, to the beach, to the store, the zoo, a pet store, to a museum, to a fabric store, to an art shop, to a bead store- people watch, look at colors, styles, designs, faces, emotions, moods, and the atmosphere. All of these things can inspire creativity in one self.

If you like fabric, beads, paints, or what ever your medium, another technique that frequently works for me, is to gather colors that look good together or a grouping of supplies, when you start to see the collection all together and see what you have in front of you the creative juices start flowing, you get all sorts of ideas.

If you have too many write them down, keep a notebook or journal, keep one also by the bed, for late night or early morning inspirations. Books can inspire you to create new and fantastic wonders.

Here is an example of something that inspired me. I had been reading to my 7yr old daughter a series of fairy stories, she was going thru that faze. When in the moment, I was thinking how I can make something with that feel, what would it be like. I ended up making a fabulous new design of jewelry. Instead of a fairy ring of mushrooms, I made a flower ring and used over one hundred little beaded flowers and made a necklace out of it. So this is to show you that the simple task of reading to your child can inspire you.

Let your mind wander before sleeping, early in the morning, when you are half asleep and half awake I find the mind is more open to go many different places it may not have traveled before. Be ready to right in your journal ideas you have, colors you want to work with or a feeling you want to express, be motivated to try them when you are awake and ready for the adventure.

I hope you have enjoyed this journey to things that can inspire us to be creative. Use it, do something new, and enjoy your surroundings. If you want to check out what my inspirations have inspired me to create check out my website at http://www.kimforbeads.etsy.com/ or come to a local show – I usually list the next up & coming shows on my site.