A silly day

Some day's I look at my beads and I just want to play. I want to experiment, I want to try to do something new and different and just push the envelope with a bit of silliness. Usually when I have one of these day's I don't really care if I come up with anything in the end or not because it is just playtime. Sometimes though I surprise myself and make something that while it may be a bit unusual but I like it and this was one of those day's. I had a lot of left over beads from my peach USB bag but not enough for to awfully many things, so you know I have been working on some cuffs so I made up a plain cuff and sat thinking what could I do with it a little different. I beaded a glass marble and set it in the cuff but then I realized it was quite tall off the wrist. What could I do to minimize that? Well when I thought about doing fringed loops, all I could think of was a floppy flower so grabbed a few green seedbeads for a bit of contrast and some tiny little cheap pearls and just started looping and looping and looping. When I got done I thought well, this is definately different but you know what? I like it. It is silly, it is fun and yes regardless of that I like it and posted it in my Etsy shop. Funny how sometimes a little goofing off ends up in productive work time.

A bit more scenery

I thought today was a good day to share abit of my home with you. This water fountain sculpture is called "The Spirit of Life" Commissioned by Katrina Trask in memory of her husband Spencer Trask who lived his life in service of making Saratoga a better place for future generations. They owned a large mansion that is now an Artist Retreat, Artist from every medium may it be a painter of a songwriter are given the opportunity to spend a few months at the retreat to work on their craft and the grounds surrounding the mansion are full of the most amazing rose gardens which are open to the public during the summer and draws many people not only tourists but locals who just love to wander the gardens and photograph.
Just another bit of our rich history. I should mention the Trask's lived in the late 1800's.

Todays creation

Managed to finish another USB bag and get it posted in my Etsy shop. I am finally feeling myself again, we have had a couple of hot day's without much rain which was very welcome. My house has been really quite today, everybody is gone away except me and it is kind of nice. I started a little house work , managed to clorox my back bathroom and get a start on my kitchen, hoping to do my front bathroom tomorrow. Stuff like this has to be done when no one else is home because both my daughter and my grandson are allergic to the smell of a lot of cleaning supplies. When they are home I use vinegar and dawn. But right now it all needs cloroxing. Iwas so sick last week, then Sunday my granddaughter started with the vomiting and runs. She has a sleep over with a friend from middle school. She was really bad for a few days running a temp etc. The day she was sickest a letter came home from the middle school with 2 confirmed cases of swine flu. Instant panic, by the time we got hold of the Dr. though, she was finally feeling better and it was just a stomach virus. Whew!!!

I have to tell you, even though it is very new, my experiment with my Etsy shop is not making me happy. Very low views and absolutely no sales. But I will hang in there cause it could be just because people are out enjoying summer rather than looking at things on the computer. Still have a few weeks to see if views go up and I have posted several new items. Would like to do 2 or 3 a week but with my particular type of work it is a slow process and sometimes I can't post new items as often as I would like. Any way, it is getting late and I have spent alot of time in front of the computer today, I wish you all a good night.

Kindergarten Graduation

Okay, I am officially old. Yesterday my Grandson graduated from kinder-garten. We proudly attended the ceremony in the horribly hot school gym which was very cute and brought the usual gramma tear to my eye but within the minutes after the ceremony I was ready to leave. We were all invited to stay and have icecream sundaes with the kids and I thought I would lose my mind with about 70 kindergarten kids running wild around the gym. I no longer have the patience to watch that and enjoy it anymore so we have decided that we are glad these things are done. Except my son has not had children yet so I will probably be doing it again at some point.

Thought I would show you what is apparently now the newest fashion statements for teenage girls. My grandaughter got this hat at the Americade. It is actually quite eyecatching with a lot of sparkle and bling but who would know because we must wear it sideways. Okay? Any way, another school year is finally over, I for one look forward to summer vacation each year with out relaxed schedules. So, even though it is a bit early, Happy Summer everyone.

I'm back

I have spent a number of day's basically not getting out of bed. I have felt really lousy. Nothing worse than getting sick in the spring and summer months. Although I did not miss out on much, most of the day's I was to sick to get up it was raining out any way. I did get another bag done though and got it listed in the shop last night. This USB key holder is pretty neat idea and I have to work up a few different designs to use it in different way's. Have been up most of the day today so my energy is fading fast but hope to be even a bit stronger tomorrow so I can get back to normal routine. I truly hope everyone had a wonderful weekend and Fathers day.

Saratoga Characters

Hi folks, I'm having a really bad day, sick since last night so don't have a whole lot to say. So just another bit of Saratoga. The wild life, ducks, squirrels, chipmunks in the park are so used to people all the time they follow you around. The ducks will follow for bread and crackers. There is a lady who sits in the park for hours with a can of nuts and the squirrels will get right up into her hand to eat. This baby chipmunk sat and posed on the rock for me until I got a little to close. Wish I could have gotten just a couple inches closer.

New Bag

Here is today's work that I just posted in my Etsy shop. I am sure you know by now I love fringe. So far I have made very few things without fringe. This bag is so delicate and feminine with the clear beads and 2 shades of pink but Yup, Love the fringe. I am going to attempt a few pieces with some decoration on the front but Not Fringe. I won't like it but some one else will. I know not everyone can love it as I do.

How did I get so busy?

Wow, I have had so much going on. After doing the Etsy Yart Sale, I followed through on what I committed myself to doing and went in and cleaned house. I feel like I have just given myself a really fresh start. I will remain positive that this was good for me, we shall see but as I told my sister, I will remember her when I become a World renowned, beadweaving , Avon lady millionare. It just has to happen. Yesterday, I spent hours trying to fix a problem. I know better than to ever click on anything in either my email, or websites or twitter that I am not sure of. Sunday, I made the mistake on clicking on this twittertrain because I was just so curious why so many people were tweeting it. What a mistake that was. I just went in looked around, followed a few people on there that looked interesting. The next thing I know, I am not even on the computer and my twittername is telling people to get on the twittertrain to get 500 new followers. Well this really really ticked me off. First of all this is not something I agreed to do. I don't like spam and that last thing I would ever do is be involved in it. Well I spent along time trying to stop that including contacting twitter spam for help. Then I decided to clean house and got rid of everybody that is always pushing a link to make money with this and that, then I cleaned out all the people that did nothing but constantly promote. Well I think we all joined twitter to promote but once a day mixed with just some fun conversation is enough. Then I got rid of all the very pretty but suspicious girls that turned out to be cam girls for porn, although well disguised. Oh yah, I gave the boot to at least 10 people that wan't me to see Britney spears porn tapes. Well in the end, this took hours but I have to say signing into twitter this morning was pleasant, I was able to see all the fun tweeters that I used to and be able to interact with them and of course that is the fun part of being on this. Today my Avon order came. Someone screwed up big time. I always order 30 books. I only have about 10 customers and the rest I just pass out randomly. Avon sent me 180 books. Wow, I can't afford to pay for them. I can't afford to send them back that would cost me a fortune! I wrote them an email and while I am waiting to hear back from them. I better come up with a strategy. Who knows if I break my neck trying to give out all these books maybe I will gain a bunch of new customers. Well now I am beat. But of course, I am babysitting. Time for the kids to settle down so I think I will bead while waiting for sleep to take over for the little one. Although, I might look around for a while to see if I can change my page around a bit. I thought I really liked the black page with white writing but I am not so sure now.
Well, have a great night, maybe I will be able to show some pictures tomorrow.

Good Sunday Morning

I was thinking yesterday while at the parade, I talk with people all over the world. Through my Etsy shop, on Twitter, and a few other places. While i was waiting for the parade I was in the local park and was taking pictures of all the things I love about where I live. The park has always been one my and my granddaughters favorite places to be on a nice day. My town is so full of such amazing, rich history, I would like to share a bit with people that I am talking with and creating long distance friendships across the world. So today, I would like you to meet Spit and Spat. That really is the fountains name. Spit and Spat are hand carved out of Italian Marble. Sitting on the edge of the fountain and watching the water spray is just such a great feeling. A few years ago some foolish teens vandalised these statues. They did thousands and thousands of dollars in damage. The city of Saratoga took on a year of fundraising and donation begging to be able to pay a sculpture Artist to repair them but they pulled it off and saved our treasure. Any way, this is today's part of my world.
I am not feeling good at all today because I pushed myself a bit to hard yesterday to walk down to the parade and through the park but I find something strangely satisfying about being in pain because I pushed myself to do something I am not supposed to be able to do. And I have the HUGH swollen ankles and knees today to prove it. Yet, I have a big to do list today and this blog was first and now onto other things, mostly centered around my Etsy shop to get ready to start implementing my changes when the Yart sale is done tonight. I hope you all have a wonderful, joyous, restful Sunday today.

Flag Day Parade, Saratoga Springs, NY

Flag Day Parade

Saratoga Springs puts on a great Flag Day Parade. I go every year, more than 20 of them, The parade alway's kicks off with a fly-by of a US Service Plane, they fly as low as possible up and down Broadway several times. Any way, I wanted to share a few pictures, not many, we have everything from cub scouts, girl scouts, cheerleaders, high school bands, Harley Davidson Club, Vets, every division of every possible organization of every branch of service, Miss New York, Clowns, well you get the idea. I took 200 pictures and then my memory card was full but it is probably a good thing cause, I can't put them all up here for you to see.

Just a few of many, many groups

More Vehicles

Fun Vehicles

Officers

Memorials

Viet Nam still missing memorial
USN Submarine Div.

Music

Fun Stuff

A tough decision made.

Hi everyone, hope all are doing well today and if you are doing Etsy's Yart Sale, hope your selling like crazy!
If you have read a few of my most recent posts, you know I have been struggling with some decision about my craft. I have been giving alot of thought to some changes and had come up with a few ideas but after a long conversation with my brother last evening my ideas were turned into a decision. Thank you Dave.

I am involved in the Yart Sale, have been doing alot of stuff that I get very little enjoyment out of just to keep my shop visible and promote some traffic to it which really hasn't worked. I will be the first to admit, when I do sell, I undersell my work because I need the money just to pay my Etsy fees' which are not hugh but without the sales can't do it. Any way....................................
As I said, I am doing the Yart sale thing with rock bottom prices hoping to get some stuff cleared out of the shop. When the sale ends on the 14th I am going to get serious. I am deleting all the stuff I don't like to do. Gone, no more work just to have a presence. I am sitting down (already doing) with pen and paper doing some math. Cost of supplies, amount of work hours, fees to be a part of Etsy, shipping costs. At that point I will reprice all the work I wish to keep in my shop so that I may make a small profit, not just cover what it cost me to do this. From this moment on, I will only create what I love, sell what I love for a reasonably profitable price point. Then I will spend a month, tracking views on the items as compared to what I have had so far, will track hearted items, will track sales, comparing to previous months. This information will help me in a final decision of whether I am on the right track or is it time for major changes.
Love it when I can finally come to a solid decision about something and boy does it help to have these very rare talks with my brother who is extremely knowledgable in the field of making a living on line. I will update you with my progress in about a month.

My Son

My son with his pride and Joy. He let me borrow a few of his pictures from the Americade. There were so many to choose from, the different types of bikes and the amazing types of airbrushing and murals on these bikes is just unreal so I just picked a couple. Just starting off mild with my son and grandson:)

My Grandson

Giving his Uncle TJ instructions on how to ride this thing.

Awesome airbrushing

Can you imagine the time and talent put into something that could crash tomorrow?

Awesome Artwork

I am to old to be excited about riding a motorcycle but I am forever amazed at the time and money these bikers will put into the artwork on their rides

Bikers Mascot

Every Biker needs his Mascot and boy is this guy looking good today!

Yart Sale

Well , I decided, I have never done the Etsy Yart sale before because I know I kind of underprice myself to begin with but I have been wanting to do some spring cleaning and have tried a few sales on my own. So I decided today it was time to get brave and join, well I dived in nose first and put my entire shop on sale. Would love it if you felt like taking a peek.
www.debsparkles.etsy.com

Busy ness

I have had a really busy few day's and haven't got a bit of bead work done to show for it. Monday, had to go to Albany with My Mom and Sister, my Aunt recently had a heartattack and after surgery and coming home decided she needed to clean out her craft supplies because she couldn't handle walking to her second floor and just trying to down size things. I worried that when she got feeling better she would want to start crafting again but say's most of the supplies hadn't been touched in years. I came home with a car ful of stuff. My sister and I need to sit down and split it up, we have material, lace, ribbon, beads, fun foam, stencil patterns, plastic canvas, felt, yeah, lots of stuff. Last weekend my daughter took my granddaughter and a friend to the Americade motorcycle rally in Lake George. They took my camera so I am thinking I am going to have some great pictures to post. This event is so awesome, if you like motorcycles, it draws the simplest to the most extreme, some of the art work alone on these bikes is simply amazing and to see so many thousands of every description under the sun in one place is awesome. Any way, this morning I uploaded the pictures from the camera thinking I would pick out just one really cool picture here and the entire camera, I mean the entire camera was full of pictures of my granddaughter and her friend posing. One, ONE picture of a motorcycle, plain, no airbrushed painting, no cool tattoo decals, just a plain everday blue motorcycle????? I guess 13 year olds have their own set of what's cool! Any way, sorry, no planned eye candy today unless you want to see my granddaughter posing for the camera. I am working on an idea, to use up some of this fabric without neglecting my beads, I'll tell you about it later.

Serious thought required

I went to bed angry last night. I woke up still angry this morning. I know I have to really give some thought to what I am doing and I don't want to. LOL.
I opened my Etsy shop in 2007. Almost 2 years later I only have 42 sales. That does not bother me too awfully badly because I am the first to realized and admit my type of work does not appeal to everyone. There is a particular niche of people that wear the type of beadweaving I do. I have been doing alot of reading on turning your craft into a business that you can support yourself on and the one message that keeps coming through all of it is there is a very small chance of supporting yourself with your jewelry making because so, so many people are doing it. I have been looking for summer time craft shows in my local area, I did craft shows for 20 years with reasonable success. 80% of the local shows say they are full or accepting accplications in every area EXCept jewelry, they have enough vendors doing jewelry. I had someone approach me and ask me if I would be interested in doing a series of shows this summer for a organization that was holding them. I got excited only to find they wanted me to showcase my Avon fundraising. Which is wonderful, I could use alot more Avon customers but....they already had enough Jewelry Venders. Got a call last night that I was waiting for for a show I have done for many, many years, found out there is still time to apply for the show "as long as I am not selling jewelry, they already have too many booked selling jewelry.

I am so frustrated, angry, I am writing this in the morning and mornings are tough for me. The first few hours I am up the pain is unreal. It takes a long while of sitting quietly waiting for meds to kick in, Coffee to kick in, before the pain eases up to the point I can be productive and now I am just sooo lost. If I beleive everything that I have stated above, I have to rethink what I am doing. How do I turn this around , what can I do with my beads that is going to be more of a benefit. I have pushed this so hard just to ... not even make a living, just be able to pay the monthly bills on basic house hold expenses.

I guess there is no real point to this other than to vent. I am so angry, all I want to do is be able to take care of myself. I don't ask for much out of life. just the basics we all deserve. a roof over my head, electricity for light and heat. My cable, I guess I could live without cable but I don't want to, the TV, and internet get me through the day because we all need something to keep our minds active, the phone, well these day's how do we live without one?

Any way, I have vented. If you have any ideas' of something different I can do with my beadwork that would better my ability to create an income, please, please, let me know, I would love any ideas, input, advise.

Gettin Busy

Well I made a decision this last few day's that I needed to find a different outlet for promoting both my Etsy shop and My Avon Shop. So , I have applied to several summertime craft shows. By doing so, I have just created a huge amount of work for me. First of all I have to bead double time. I do not want to remove items from my Etsy shop. It seem's to take so long to add to my shop that I just prefer to leave them there. So I need to make a bunch of things to take to the shows. Here we go with the simple bracelets and bookmarks. I need to order alot of material and assemble for Avon. Some of these crafts shows I will be doing double duty. Selling my jewelry and Doing a Avon Fundraiser for the organization of the show. What I really need to do is come up with a really eyecatching business card and they must be plentiful. I have an idea though. Use colorful cardstock, just have My name, phone number, email and 2 website printed long way and cut the card into bookmarks. Punch a hole in the type and thread with a little ribbon. If the time is available use clear adhesive covering to kind of "Laminate them" . Any way's a lot to think about and do in a rather short time. I just hope I can do all this without neglecting my Etsy shop terribly. Worth a shot, need to be more proactive in getting my name out there.

Do you have your own website? Know any one who does? I would absolutely love to trade links at:
http://www.serenitycollections.com/links/links.php

Hope you are having a lovely Saturday.

Today's work

I finished another lip balm holder today and actually got my pictures and posted it in my Etsy store. I surprised myself because I haven't been feeling good and napped all afternoon. I have spent the last 2 days, up until last night with no internet, phone or cable. A wire to the modem broke outside my house. I was going crazy not being able to follow my schedule, checking emails, my Etsy, twitter etc and etc. That is so sad that I have become so dependant on something like this but boy do I realize how much having it has helped me stay involved and busy and socializing. It has been quiet here and I do enjoy that, we only have 3 weeks before school is out for summer and my daughter is going to be very busy so I may be doing a lot of babysitting. Hopefully not, would like to have some time this summer for me. Sounds terrible but even if I felt better, I am getting a bit old for chasing a 6 year old around all summer long:)
My item is in the giveaway today on the indiestyle blog, hoping it gets a good response. Now, I would like to go take another nap but instead, I will start a new bit of beadwork.

Accomplishments

We have had a busy weekend here, kids were away but we started working on some household repairs and they sort of took over the week end. I still found some time to sneak away and work on my new bag. I am going to call it...
Hold my lip Balm..... I am so creative with my titles! Any way my new bag is just the right size to hold a lip balm securely and it was just a thought to change things up a bit. What surprised me was how much more work it took than my mini bags not thinking about the fact that it had to be almost 3 1/2" tall in order to hold a lipbalm or chapstick without it sliding out. So now I have a bit more knowledge as far as time involved in making the different size bags I do.

I wanted to get a few new items up early this week before the giveaway starts and don't forget, it starts tomorrow, a different giveaway every day for the month of June. The blog is pretty nice to. So be sure to check it out.
http://indiestyleblog.com

More Finished work