Epiphany

While browsing for info on photography for etsy and talking to my computer-savvy son, I had an epiphany. There are two mindsets when it comes to doing things on the computer. There are people who fearlessly fiddle around and try every button on menus until they figure out how to do something. And....there are people who search desperately for a step-by-step manual, a diagram, a person who can simply tell them in plain English: "Click that button." Why is this so? My training in education taught me to read instructions, follow directions, and, when you can't find something, ask the reference librarian or teacher for help. There is no reference librarian on your computer. There is no teacher. You have to figure things out for yourself. You have to boldly go. I'm not sure if the two mindsets are a generational thing or a personality trait. I simply know that I need to take better photos if I want to succeed as an online beadmaker. I just wish there was a computer-savvy reference librarian or a photography teacher leading me by the hand.

How the Rainbow was invented

I found this lovely tutorial on Parole de Pate, the French polymer clay site. These beads were made and hidden in a pile on the bead table for weeks. Lately I've been adding a patina to some sculptures I did a few years ago, and the look is completely changed. I decided to do the same for these beads and I love the earthy look. I'm adding stuff gradually to etsy-just not sure what direction the shop should take: loose beads, bracelets, sculptures? For now I'll add a bit of each and keep preparing for future craft shows.

The Eyes Have It

I love this bead set! I started out with a HUGE cane of two brown eyes with olive green shadowing. Then I chopped it up so that I would have eyes in the bracelet looking up at you, but more in an abstract way. It's the first bracelet I am considering "etsy-worthy". If I don't chicken out, I'll put it in my shop. Fingers crossed, breath held,face squinched up and making a wish that someone else out there likes this as much as I do.

Tilting at windmills

Like Don Quixote sometimes I feel like we're tilting at windmills. Starting an etsy shop was a dream for so long and now that it has happened it seems like a case of "hurry up and wait" for someone to find us in the hundreds and hundreds of shops. This polymer clay Don Quixote and Sancho may make their way to the etsy shop or they may just stay right here on my worktable to remind me that things are not always as they seem. I want to sculpt more characters from literature. Anybody have a suggestion?