February Blog Challenge - Change

One of my Etsy teams has a monthly blog challenge. This month the topic is change. So I started thinking about my own attitude toward change.

Sometimes change is good like a new job when you aren't fulfilled in an old one, a new hairstyle or seasons changing. It's also good when we change our attitude toward something to a more positive or more accepting one. Sometimes change is hard. I do not like moving. I don't like cleaning out and packing up a house and I especially don't like leaving familiar places and old friends. However, sometimes moving turns out to be positive. It gives you a chance to meet new friends, face new challenges and experience new places.

I handle change in different ways depending on whether I am initiating the change or if it is forced on me. Of course I prefer the changes that I am initiating, but when change is forced on me I try to look at the good and the bad sides of it. I try to decipher what I can control and what I have to accept. Given time I usually realize that overall the change has turned out to be ok.

So I will close with a couple of pictures and a quote. The first picture I took in my garden last summer and the second I found on the internet.

Monarch Butterfly larva eating milkweed.

Mature Monarch

If nothing ever changed there'd be no butterflies - Author Unknown

Other blogs participating in the challenge:

1. http://annhartleystudio.blogspot.com/
2. http://janedeauxmetalfabrication.blogspot.com/
3. http://www.nova-designs.blogspot.com/
4. http://bellabijoujewellery.blogspot.com/
5. http://2trickponystudio.blogspot.com/
6. http://sassyglassdesigns.blogspot.com/
7. http://beadsnbanglesbykim.blogspot.com
8. http://kobrienjewelry.blogspot.com
9. http://www.artaddict.wordpress.com
10. http://www.abellablue.com/blog
11. http://luxedesignworkshop.blogspot.com
12. http://glenshire-shop.blogspot.com/
13. http://beachstonz.blogspot.com/

Ready and Waiting for Spring

It has already been a long winter and we have several weeks to go. So I'm starting to think about spring and I remembered these really cool pictures my husband took last year. I love bluebirds. They are one of my favorite birds. They often frequent our yard. I even saw a pair in the yard the other day. They usually nest in the two sided cedar house in the middle of my flowerbed, but one day we saw one checking out the Maine lobster buoy birdhouse I bought when we last visited Maine. I love the way the blue in the bird matches the house. So here are some pics for you to enjoy. Think Spring!!!

Slowly Catching up with Technology

Goodbye Old Dinosaur Phone. May you rest in peace.

So this past year has been my year for technology. Last Christmas my husband gave me a Garmin. For a while I didn't really think I needed one, but it has come in very handy when I've been traveling out of town. This past fall he bought Nooks for both of us. My friends have had Kindles for a while and I thought I would never want an e-reader. I thought I would miss holding a book and turning the pages. Then I started thinking about all those books sitting on the bookshelf collecting dust and the time it takes to sort through them and haul them off to Goodwill or whatever. So I now have my Nook and I love it. The other night I finished my current book and I had nothing to read. I just went to the shop icon and started browsing all the options. I picked one, clicked on it and like magic it was downloaded onto my reader. No trips to the bookstore, nothing to store - and best of all when traveling it takes up very little space and weighs next to nothing.

My next technology upgrade came at Christmas. I have never had an Ipod or MP3 player. When I work out at the gym I usually watch whatever is on the TV. As I've been spending more time in my basement studio I realized having some music while I work would be nice, so I asked Santa for an Ipod and a docking station with speakers so I could have music while I work and "Santa Hubby" came through. I got a little time Nano and a docking station. I now have something to entertain me while I solder and hammer away. I've been taking my Nano to the gym,too, and I didn't realize how much it would help me stay on track while working out.

Look how cute!!

My final upgrade was a new phone. I think my current phone was about 4 or 5 years old maybe even older. I've been researching which type of phone to get next. I really didn't want a data plan, because I just don't need to surf the web and get e-mails remotely. Then, ATT decided to sell the Iphone 3G for $49. I just couldn't pass up such a deal. I am loving it. I can text easily now which was next to impossible on my old phone. I've gotten some really cool apps. Some were even free. The one I am using the most is the Livestrong app. I've been struggling with my weight more and more as I approach the big 5 0 and I hate counting calories. With this app, I put in my food everyday and it keeps up with my calories. I can also put in my fitness and those calories are subtracted. I set it up for how much weight I want to lose a week and it tells me how many calories a day I can eat. I am amazed at how quickly calories can add up. I think this is really going to help me with this battle. The other app I love - a free one - I love is the shopping list. I put in my grocery store list and just look at it while I'm shopping. No more writing on note paper and leaving it at home.

I think I'm all set for a while as far as technology is concerned but you never know.

Ruby's Gift Selwyn

You get a bonus today. A double post. Be sure and scroll down for today's second article.

I'm working at the Selwyn store today so I thought it would be nice to feature it. Ruby's gift is a gift store featuring local artists and other unique items. Items from local artists include jewelry, pottery, painting, photography, hand bags, hats, and many more fun items. I am so excited to sell my work here. It opened in December and is constantly being discovered by new shoppers.

This is the lovely sitting area in the store. These chairs are handmade by a local artist. Aren't they adorable!!

Some of the cases in the store.

This is my jewelry display.

Jewelry from my friends Debbie Winchester.

Creative wall hangings from Scott Partridge and wood turnings by Dwight Hartsell.

Handmade hats and hand bags.

Adorable pincushions by Caroline Driggs of Carolina Creative Arts

As you can see this is a very bright cheerful shop with lots of great artists represented.

Ruby's Gift Selwyn is located in Charlotte, NC at 2910 Selwyn Avenue.

January is for Snow and Garnets

January's birthstone is the Garnet. I had some beautiful garnets on hand that I blogged about last week. For some time now, I have had a sketch for a pendant using them. I finally got to work on the pendant. I finished it this past Sat. and put it in the Jewelry Artists of Charlotte store. Of course I was rushing out the door to take it to the store and forgot to take pictures of it. I finally got out of the house yesterday and shot some photos at the store. They are not the best but you can get an idea of how it looks.

January has been snowy so far. For some reason my dog Gigi loves to eat snow. She begged to go out on the deck just to eat the snow. I made her wear her sweater which she does not like. When she came back in her legs were caked with snow. What a mess!

When she was all finished she begged to come back in. This was a really fun game for her, but not so fun for me.

She wore her new Christmas sweater on this outing. Notice the snow covered nose and beard.

New Year's Goals

I'm using the word goals instead of resolutions. Since resolutions just seem to be forgotten and broken. I have been thinking about things I'd like to do better this New Year. Maybe putting it all in writing will help me stick with it.

Of course, there's the usual - exercise more, lose weight ...

Now I have this challenge from the Chatty Metalsmiths thread on Etsy to blog once a week. Since I obviously don't blog regularly this might be a great way to get me to use this blog I created ages ago.

But I really have been reflecting on my jewelry design business and where I would like to go with it. I've been thinking about the areas where I can improve to help it be more profitable.

This past year has been good in that I now sell my jewelry in 3 local stores. My sales in those stores have been pretty good. This past fall I changed my business name and opened a new Etsy store. My online sales traditionally have not been all that great, especially since I changed shops so I took all my inventory out of my store. I hope to start replenishing my Etsy store soon and continue to add designs to the local stores.

So what do I need to do this year to make this a business that truly makes income.

1. I have to be more fiscally responsible. In the past I have purchased supplies - stones, tools, silver etc - whenever I pleased. I have such a surplus of supplies, but I always seem to find another stone I can't live without. So my goal is to use more of what I already have. I have stopped going to the little bead shows that come to town. Lately they haven't had any quality merchandise anyway. So before I get online or run out to the bead store I'm going to look at my stash and see what I can create from that.

2. Spend more time on new design ideas.

3. Try to keep my studio straightened and better organized. This is not my favorite task. I'd rather just create but I spend a lot of my time looking for tools that are hiding under something or moving things around because my work space is covered up. I know I'd save valuable time if I kept the area clean and tidy.

4. Make a list and prioritize projects. I seem to be very scattered when it comes to projects. I get stones out and work on designs then I push that aside and work on something else. I took out several bags of stones that have been lying around waiting to be used and I made a numbered list of projects I want to complete. Maybe by next week I'll have some projects to post about.

So here's my current working list.

I have these great little garnets that I want to set in a pendant. Since the birthstone for Jan is the garnet, it's a great time to use them.

I've had these Chrysocolla cabs for a while. My plan was to make a multi-stone bracelet. I keep pulling them out looking at them and setting them aside. They are finally going to become a bracelet. I may even attempt hinged connections for them.

I love this ruby quartz and faceted ametrine together. I have a pendant planned for these.

Finally I have these Star of India or diopside stones. I couldn't catch the sweet little star in them. The little ones will be earrings and the larger ones might be rings.

So there, I have put my goals and my project list in writing. Hopefully this will help me stick to my goals.

Till next week. Happy New Year.

My Latest Venues

I can't believe it has been over a year since I last posted. I have been so busy that my blog is often forgotten.

Since I last posted I have decided to change my business name. I am now known as Kimberly Bell Designs. I have moved to a new Etsy shop. You can see my shop link and slide show on the right hand side of my blog. I also started a new Facebook page, Kimberly Bell Designs.

About 1 year ago I was approached about selling jewelry in a Pop Up Store that would be open for the holidays. Well that Pop Up store has become a permanent store and my jewelry is still selling very well there. That store has become known as Jewelry Artists of Charlotte.

Recently the founder of JAOC has opened a new gallery in the North Davidson area of Charlotte. This is the arts district area. I have my work in Ruby's Gift as well.

In the next couple of weeks, a second location of Ruby's Gift will open on Selwyn Ave at the intersection of Selwyn and Colony and I plan to sell there too.

I will have a booth at the Holiday Fair, Greenville, SC on Dec. 2, 3, 4. I'll be in booth #1115. This is going to be a huge show and I am so excited that I got in. Since Greenville is my hometown and I lived there until about 11 years ago I am hoping that lots of my friends and family come by to see me there.

Just writing all this reminds me of how much work I have to do in the next 2 weeks.

Making Lemonade from Lemons

As I continue to learn new techniques in the art of silversmithing, I find I am using more and more expensive materials. This makes mistakes very costly. My most recent new venture was learning to fuse fine silver wire to make an open loop in loop chain. I took a class from Iris Sandkuhler from California. It is a really cool technique. It involves making fine silver jump rings and then carefully heating them so they are fused closed. No soldering or pickling is required. Then the rings are elongated and folded and connected to make a beautiful chain that should look something like this:

So I purchased some fine silver wire which is of course almost pure silver and more expensive that sterling silver. I made a whole bunch of jump rings. In fact I almost used an entire ounce of wire. It takes a lot of rings to make a necklace.

Then I started fusing rings. After I had fused quite a few, I began to elongate and fold, expecting to begin my beautiful necklace. I wanted the links to be a little smaller than those we had practiced with in class. When I started connecting them I realized that they were too small and after the first two links they wouldn't fit together no matter how hard I tried to maneuver them.

I wasn't about to waste all those beautiful rings so I started thinking about how I could save my mistake. I decided to create my own chain design and this is what I came up with.

It was quite a challenge because as I was connected the rings I had to fuse the round ones after they were connected to the others without melting the whole thing. It gave me some good practice at controlling my torch.

Once the chain was complete I made a clasp and attached some beautiful Watermelon Tourmaline faceted teardrop beads. Here is the final result.

I'm Featured on the Cafe Handmade Site

This week I am a featured artist on Cafehandmade. CafeHandmade is a really cool site with a virtual craft show and lots of other great info.

I'm excited to be featured.

Here's the link.

http://cafehandmade.com/index.php/2009/09/featured-artist-kim-bell-beads-%E2%80%98n-bangles-by-kim/

I'm Becoming More Computer Savvy ...(I Think)

I have really been working on my skills with web related stuff. This past week I decided to try my hand at creating a new banner for my Etsy shop. I opened my Photoshop and started playing. I like what I came up with. It's similar to the banner at the top of my blog.

Today, I saw a post about getting a domain name in the Etsy forums. I just leaped in there and applied for one. My new domain name is below and it is forwarded to my Etsy shop for now. I'm not quite ready to try to design a web page. Maybe in the future.

It's Been A Long Time...

Since I've posted on my blog. I was putting together some photos for a possible newsprint article. I'll say which publication if it gets printed. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Anyway I'll include those photos that I took. Some of the pieces are those I've recently created in my silversmithing classes. I'm having so much fun with my silversmithing. Silver has definitely become my favorite medium.

I recently purchased some new stones and I've been working on designs for those. I'm enjoying having more time for jewelry designs this summer.

Things I Have Done

I saw this on a friend’s blog. It’s pretty neat and really makes you think. The things in bold are the things I have done. Want to play along? Copy and paste this in your blog and bold the things that you have done! Thank you Jerrell!!!!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Salons Carrying My Jewelry Designs

I am very fortunate to now have my jewelry featured in two salons. One is here in Charlotte, my hometown. I have been getting my hair styled there since they opened and when I began making jewelry they graciously agreed to sell my designs in the salon. It has been a wonderful location for me. They have a newly designed website. A pic from it and a link is below.



Link to the site:

http://lookingglasssalon.com

Recently I was contacted by a salon in Tennessee. They are selling my designs as well. Here are pics from the web site and the link.



Link: http://theartisanstudioclinton.com

Oh! To Live the Life of a Dog

Wouldn't we all like the life of a well cared-for dog? My little Bichon, Gigi, has it so "good". Every morning afte her breakfast she chews her bone for a few minutes then sacks out on her very posh bed. Her only care is that squirrel that likes to hang out outside her favorite window.


Her daily schedule follows:

6:00 am out of a piddle, then breakfast
chew bone, early morning nap
9:00 take a walk
mid-morning nap
12:00 sunbath on the deck
lunchtime nap
4:00 eat dinner
watch out window and bark at squirrels
6:00 start watching for Daddy to come home
jump all over Daddy when he comes home
take a walk
A few minutes of playtime
8:00 early evening nap
9:30 sleep on Mom and Dad's bed
10:00 into crate for the night

Don't we all envy her!!!

By the Light of the Moon

I love Moon Flowers. They are related to Morning Glories, but they open in the evening and stay open until morning. I have a very good crop this year.

They have a lovely scent and are huge flowers. Supposedly bats like to visit them at night for nectar. Although I have never witnessed it. That's ok.

This is my favorite chair, but the climbing rose has sort of taken over. I've been too busy making jewelry to tend to the yard.

The weather is cooler now so maybe I'll get out there soon.

A Craft Attack Weekend

Last Saturday the Hornet's Nest Etsy Street Team sponsored a Craft Attack fair. We had so many talented vendors and nice attendance by the public. I had pretty good sales and met some really friendly buyers and sellers. Danielle Anthony took some fabulous pictures that can be seen on her blog. Link: http://dreadsky.blogspot.com/

That's a good thing because I forgot my camera. The weather was beautiful although a little windy at times. I fixed my display problem and only had one necklace display that blew over, however, at the end of the day while I was taking a load to my car my tent blew over and broke. Since then I bought a new one that is even better.

Thanks to the team the first Craft Attack was a success. I will definitely do it again.

Weekend Craft Show

This past weekend I participated in a craft show featuring mostly Etsy artists. We had to contend with the possibility of Tropical Storm Hannah coming nearby and deluging us with rain. Luckily we had a lovely day, only a little windy at times. I'm hoping the next show in October is better attended. I really worked on revamping my displays for the show. I think they turned out fairly well. Although I never seem to have enough space for all my jewelry. My next project is to come up with some way to weigh down my jewelry displays; they kept blowing over. This is an ongoing process.

AN INSPIRING CHALLENGE

What an inspiration for us all! An acquaintance of mine has taken on the challenge of hiking 1000 miles on Smoky Mountain Trails during the next year to raise money for our local Girl Scout Council.

The inspiration is not only in this challenge alone, but also for those of us reaching those milestones of leaving our forties and of our children leaving home. Her goal is to raise $20,000 for the Hornet's Nest Girl Scout Council in Charlotte, NC.

Being a Girl Scout brings back fond memories from my younger days. I know I learned a lot about reaching goals and being independent because of my participation in scouts. The Girl Scouts continue to be an organization dedicated to teaching young girls about leadership and believing in themselves.

I have included a link to her blog so I can track her progress. I'm looking forward to reading the updates as she completes her trips. This is a great cause and I hope she reaches her goals. Anyone interested should visit her blog to learn more and consider contributing.

http://smokyscout.blogspot.com

**An interesting note about the name Hornet's Nest. During Revolutionary times the people living in the area known today as Charlotte (Mecklenburg County) stirred up so much trouble as they fought against British rule that the area became known as a "hornet's nest".

ETSY ARTIST FEATURE OF THE DAY

Today I'm featuring Muddy Fingers Pottery. I love birdhouses and the one pictured below is very cute. Muddy Fingers has other nice pieces as well.

Go to http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5393498 to see Muddy Fingers' work.

ETSY ARTIST FEATURE OF THE DAY

I admire beautiful wire wrapped jewelry. Lilithu's shop on Etsy has some of the most intricate designs I have seen. Having tried some wire wrapping myself I know how much work is involved. Her pieces are exquisite. Take a look at this piece.






Check out her shop for other beautiful designs.

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5337452