An Artist's Year Off

The Year-End Wrap Up

2010-12-27T15:39:00.001-05:00

It's that time -- the year-end wrap of An Artist's Year Off. Time to see what goals I accomplished, what went by the wayside, and what unexpected things happened.

(This will be a long post, so grab a drink and a snack and away we'll go!)

(If you've just stumbled upon this blog, I began with this post. If you want to read in order, go to the right side bar and click the months and work backwards. I wish there was a way to take this blog the other way around, but alas.)

Here's what I said in my first post:

Starting January 1st, 2010, I begin a new adventure.

After five years of 15-20 craft shows a year, I am tired.

I've cut back my showings drastically, and have decided that this is my year to explore.

My year to hone my skills.

My year to learn new things.

I'm nervous, and apprehensive, and more than a little scared.

But it's now or never!

Reading that, it seems to me I was absolutely desperate for a change. The "now or never" part just smacks of "get me out of this rut!". I felt like all I did was make the same thing, the same style, over and over and over again, and I felt stagnant. I wanted to expand without losing my customers, and I wanted to learn new skills that would enable me to become more memorable.

typical "me" style

I also wanted to stretch my wings and learn new skills, including something I'd never tried before -- mixed media art. Well, I did learn new skills, which I'll touch on later, but I totally failed when it came to learning mixed media and journaling. I'd signed up for Art and Soul in Hampton, VA, but had to cancel at the last minute due to migraines. Migraines were a common overture throughout this year, getting in the way of a lot of creative endeavors, but I learned to work around them and to just let some things go.

mixed media art by Kerry Bogert that I own

I did find organizing my day to be helpful, but this was a hit-or-miss project. I started the year with the best of intentions, but in a couple of months, the day planner got buried under piles of paperwork and I forgot about it. Around September, when life started getting hectic again, I chucked the old day planner and bought a perpetual calender at Paper Source. This way, I'm not stressed by missing weeks or even months of time, but fill in each page with the dates and go on from there.

I did take some classes. I learned how to torch-enamel beads with Barbara Lewis...

and I learned how to rivet, dap, and texture metal with Tracy Stanley.

I practiced in my lampwork studio, but didn't get past making frit beads because our house contractors took over my studio to hook up their generators, and then my lampwork class at BeadFest got canceled at the last minute, and by then, it was crunch time for making jewelry for fall shows. But I was happy with my progression, even managing to sell some spacer sets.


spacers I made with CiM glass

bracelet I made with my beads

There were, of course, some stumbles. I picked up books along the way, planning on trying new skills, like polymer clay and metalsmithing, and never got around to it. I signed up for Stephanie Lee's "Homesteader's Metalsmithing" eCourse but due to a FAR more intensive selling season than I expected, only made it to one class. I never got around to trying more intricate wire work or the tutorials I purchased. I DID try Zentangles -- once. The kit sits on my desk, unopened since that one attempt.

I wrote a free eCourse on my personal thoughts about blogging. I made the decision to put my son into private school, which due to the expense, caused me to totally re-evaluate how I run my business, from cash flow to marketing. Taking a look at my business plan actually wasn't a bad idea, as I hadn't visited it in a while.

photo by Cindy Wimmer, at one of my shows

In the Huge News department, I launched a brand new web site, which totally rebranded me from eye-burning stripes to whimsical Chinese lanterns. New fonts, new layout, new style.

Along with the new web site came the need to learn a new style of photography. I packed up my light tent and moved to taking natural light pictures and went from using (for the most part) stark white backgrounds to using photo props. This takes a lot longer because I have a limited amount of time when the sun cooperates with me, not to mention I don't always know what I'm doing with the camera, but when the photos work out, they work out.

So far, my customers have liked the new site and I've gotten minor glitches fixed pretty quickly. Money well spent.

Also in the Huge News department was the creation of my personal baby, the Bead Soup Blog Party. Held three times this year, it's a blog hop designed to help jewelry designers work outside their normal comfort zones, introduce each other to new blogs, and create a sense of camaraderie. I was overwhelmed with the response, and the first party was such a success the BSBP has become a standing hop. The next one has sign-ups in January -- I hope you'll join! The information can be found by clicking here.

To help me continue to work outside the box, I started the Cup of Bead Soup. That's a monthly series that features one bead artist who sends me beads, sight unseen, and I spend the month designing with them. Through this, I not only get to push myself, but promote an awesome bead maker. I've really grown through the Cup of Bead Soup, and I'm looking forward to next year's editions.


polymer clay beads by Floridity, lampwork by me, copper clasp by me

ceramic pendant by Spirited Earth

And the Ultimate Big News -- I'm writing a beading book. I'm telling you, it still hasn't sunk in. The book is due out around October 2012, which seems like forever, but the publishing world just works that way. Trust me, it'll be worth the wait!


the beading book section of Barnes and Noble

All in all, it's been a good year. No, I didn't accomplish all I set out to do -- but I'm incredibly happy with what I DID accomplish. Sometimes the best plan is to have no plan ... or at least, be willing to bend to the whims of chance and change. I worked around a lot of physical pain, a lot of worry about my own self-worth in the beading community, and came out feeling stronger. I've made the most amazing blog friends along the way, built my customer base, and strengthened my family.

Trees near our house.

Reach up, you never know how high you'll go.

Yes, this year off from all the stresses of craft show after craft show after craft show helped me grow, often in ways I hadn't planned or didn't expect. I'm looking forward to 2011, and I hope you'll join me at my main blog, Pretty Things, to join me in my coming adventures.

Some things I've learned....

2010-11-21T13:08:00.001-05:00

♥ It's ok to be behind in an online class.

Stephanie Lee, Homesteader's Metalsmithing

♥ It's wonderful to embrace a new art form -- but realize I have to wait until after the Christmas rush of shows and internet loading and year-end tax preparation to fully explore it.


Enamel beads I made in Barbara Lewis' class

Glass waiting to be made into beads in my lampwork studio

♥ It's ok to curl up in bed with a good book and then take a long nap.


check out the books I've read at GoodReads.com

♥ It's an incredible, freeing feeling to find inner peace.

A wonderful quotation in front of a paperweight I made.

Thank you for being here.

Thank you for reading.

Lori Anderson creates jewelry for Lori Anderson Designs and also writes the blog Pretty Things. She's also a contributor to Art Bead Scene.

Enameling Beads with Barbara Lewis

2010-10-27T13:03:00.001-04:00

This weekend I took another Painting With Fire class with Barbara Lewis. I'd taken the class previously, but as with most classes, I usually have to take it twice to really GET it and let it sink in.

One of the things I love about taking classes is getting to meet fellow jewelry makers and bloggers. It's so much fun to put a face to the words, you know? Sometimes my world is so small over here on the Eastern Shore, sitting at my work bench and computer, so it's wonderful to get out.

Anyway -- this time, I really feel like I GOT it. I hit the bead in the right part of the flame, covered it well in enamel, and actually ended up with usable beads at the end of the day.

I'm pretty darned pleased with these! They aren't perfect, but they'll absolutely serve my purpose of making a necklace for myself. I was also sufficiently inspired enough to buy a bunch of enamels and start dreaming up some ideas.

I also learned some new techniques in this class, such as making tricolor beads....

And how to make bi-color beads.

Hard to tell the colors on the bi-color beads, because believe it or not, those were harder for me than the tricolor, but you get the idea.

And then I went to town on covering regular color with transparent colors to get some really pretty vintage-esque colors.

All in all, a very productive class, and a day well spent!

Lori Anderson creates jewelry for Lori Anderson Designs and also writes the blog Pretty Things. She's also a contributor to Art Bead Scene.

Two More Classes for the Year

2010-10-21T10:08:00.001-04:00

I have two more classes scheduled for the year!

The first one is a re-take of Barbara Lewis' Painting With Fire torch enameling class. I've taken this class before, but true to form, I rushed a bit too much, trying to make ALL the beads she offered (and boy does she give us a LOT of beads to play with!). This time, I plan to take my time and really pay attention to how the torch works with the enamel, and focus on getting good coats of enamel on each bead.

The class is this Saturday (yay!) in Annapolis, MD, and I'll get to meet some bloggers I've "met" online. Doesn't get much better than that.


Beads by Barbara Lewis, available at her Etsy shop

My next class will be my first online course, this one with Stephanie Lee of "Semiprecious Salvage" fame. My friend Cindy Wimmer took the last Homesteader's Metalsmithing course and thought I might like it, so I signed up for the second round. It's an entirely new style of metalsmithing than I've taken previously, so I'm eager to see how I'll use what I learn.

And that will about do it for my learning for the year. I'll be doing a nice long wrap-up of the year at the end of December to see how I've fared -- did I actually accomplish what I set out to do? Did I learn anything new? Did I learn something I didn't expect to learn?

Stay tuned for class photos!

Lori Anderson creates jewelry for Lori Anderson Designs and also writes the blog Pretty Things. She's also a contributor to Art Bead Scene.

Getting Branded and Saving the Earth

2010-10-11T14:56:00.001-04:00

Since I launched the new web site with the new logo, I've been busy getting new branding materials together -- stickers, signage, postcards, that sort of thing. I've even had t-shirts done! I always like to wear my t-shirt when I'm setting up my booth for a craft show.

But what I'm really grooving on are the tote bags for groceries, which I've mentioned before ....

and the Sigg water bottles.

I'm going to be using both of these as promotional items throughout the year, and I like that they promote recycling. At shows, I'm noticing a lot of people bringing in their own shopping bags, so I've not had to hand out as much plastic. And having a nice water bottle is such a good idea!

I created these items at Cafe Press (my shop is here), and if you're in business, you can create your own marketing materials there as well! It's one more step to setting yourself apart from the rest.

Lori Anderson creates jewelry for Lori Anderson Designs and also writes the blog Pretty Things. She's also a contributor to Art Bead Scene.

I'm writing a book!

2010-10-08T20:13:00.002-04:00

I just got the final word a few days ago and it's not quite sunk in yet -- but I'm writing a beading book! This is a HUGE accomplishment to check off my list of things I've always wanted to do in my jewelry career!

Read more about it by clicking here.

Another mile stone -- the new web site!

2010-10-03T14:02:00.001-04:00

Another mile stone for this year has been accomplished at long last -- my new web site, www.lorianderson.net.

The launch was largely successful, with only a few glitches found afterward that couldn't have been found until after going live, and they're being worked on. I also have to purchase another package to flesh out the check-out, giving customers the space to write in comments, tell me where they found me, and the like.

Overall, I'm really, really please, although I was apprehensive at first. I contracted Quirky Bird to not only build the web site, but to give me a new logo for a total rebranding. I felt I was at the point in my career, six years later, where I needed to get serious and "become".

When I first saw the proposed web site, I was afraid it looked too cartoonish, so I asked my best buddy Cindy Wimmer what her opinion was, without telling her what *I* thought. She loved it. I was worried that the look wouldn't be cohesive, but it's grown on me, and now I like it. I like the slide show (which I can change) and the blocks at the bottom with seasonal jewelry (which I can also change, and already have).

The company also gave me a crash course in SEO and how to write decent ad copy, and got me hooked up with a professional credit card processor for the site. In all, I had about five people working on the site since January. The web site would have been launched in the summer if it weren't for my migraines getting in the way -- I had a huge hand in doing a lot of the back end so I would be very familiar with how to change things down the road and not be beholden to paying an hourly rate to the developers.

The company also created all my print media, including this postcard. Again, they gave me the PSD file so I can make complete changes to it. I love this, because many companies give you a finished file that CANNOT be tampered with.

All in all, I'm quite pleased. Yes, it was very expensive, but it was worth it. It's been a long time coming. I'm waiting now for my booth sign, and am looking for small Chinese lanterns for my booth (I already have large ones but haven't quite figured out how to use them). I've also printed up t-shirts as well as tote bags for customers that have bought a gazillion things from me and brought in a lot of customers, but they can also be purchased here.

So one of the items on my Artist's Year Off list can be absolutely checked off!

Lori Anderson creates jewelry for Lori Anderson Designs and also writes the blog Pretty Things. She's also a contributor to Art Bead Scene.

Private School -- The Story Continues

2010-09-24T11:47:00.001-04:00

First, I want to thank all of you SO. VERY. MUCH. for all your stories and suggestions and advice. I've taken them all to heart and have talked to my husband about them and thought long and hard about things.

Earlier in the week, Rick and I had our school visit and interview, and we were enchanted by the school. We got to see the classroom Zack would be in, and a girl that Zack went to preschool with would be in the same class. They were good friends so that's such a great bonus. We also got his class schedule, and it's got so much more emphasis on art and music and computer skills than he's getting now, plus ample time for recess to blow the cobwebs out.

Yesterday was Zack's assessment tests and tour, and when I picked him up, I asked him what HIS thoughts were. He loved it and was ready to go.

Today we got the call -- he's in.

So, Tuesday he starts. I feel like I'm in a whirlwind!

Time will tell if this is truly the right decision, but my gut tells me it is. The class size is small, the headmaster is visible and hands-on, and the opportunities and teaching methods are up Zack's alley.

All anyone wants for the children is the best they can give them -- of themselves, and of the world. I know I'm already giving Zack the best of me. Now I hope I'm giving him the best schooling opportunity. Who knows where this will take him?

Lori Anderson creates jewelry for Lori Anderson Designs and also writes the blog Pretty Things. She's also a contributor to Art Bead Scene.

A Clarification

2010-09-20T10:30:00.001-04:00

I wanted to make a clarification to this post.

When I said my time would be crunched -- I didn't mean my time with Zack. Right now, I don't make any jewelry when he's home, unless it's jewelry we make together (and he does have an eye for color!). My first job is being a mom.

What I meant was my time to make jewelry while my son was at school would be crunched. And my point to that was making jewelry was what would make the money to pay for his schooling, and it was a Catch-22. I didn't mean I was upset that MY time alone or my time for working was shortened. Not at all.

I mean, look at this face. Who wouldn't want to play endless games of UNO with him instead of making jewelry?

A New Focus -- Jewelry, Education, and Finding a Balance

2010-09-18T16:06:00.002-04:00

(This is long, so grab a coffee -- I'd love and appreciate your feedback at the end.)

Recent events in our lives here at home have made me take a good long look at my job as a jewelry designer. How I operate my business, what hours I keep, even how I market my jewelry has all now come under scrutiny.

Being a jewelry designer is my full-time job. Until now, though, the money that I've made has either been put back into the business or used to finance the extras in our household, like remodeling jobs and new appliances. It's paid for my lampwork studio, workshops, and bead buying trips. In other words, I haven't had too much stress over my bottom line.

my booth at an outdoor show

Now, however, things have changed.

My son, Zachary, is seven and just entered 2nd grade at our public school. He's so smart -- and that's not just a proud mama talking. Last year he was blessed with an amazing teacher who had a wonderful way of teaching, and the children learned about science and math using hands-on methods, and their reading levels were pushed to where Zack left 1st grade reading at an end-of-2nd-grade/beginning-of-3rd-grade level.

Over the summer, his reading really sky-rocketed and we kept a summer reading list. The kidlet read 21 chapter books (some were pretty big hardbacks, and many he read twice so he actually read more) and we worked on worksheets from a Summer Bridge Program I bought. We've had him in museums since he was two, so he's naturally curious (his own word to describe himself) and he's just a sponge, ready to learn.

Zack, on the left, at Eco Camp

Now that he's entered 2nd grade, though, I've realized that what I saw in 1st grade was the drastic jump from the fun-and-play days of Kindergarten to the settle-down-to-business of 1st grade. I also realized that teachers are only allowed to do what they're allowed to do.

Zack's 2nd grade teacher is a sweet, caring woman who has been nothing but kind. Her communication with me has been exemplary. I have no problems there whatsoever. My problem is with the public school's education.

To say that Zack is bored would be an understatement. Part of Zack's "homework" (I put that in quotes because, well, if you saw the homework.....) is to read a book of his choice for 15 minutes each day. I have to MAKE Zack turn out his bedroom light after he's been reading for two hours.

Zack at two and a half

Since Zack was in preschool, Rick and I have tossed around the idea of putting Zack in private school. We were really, really torn. We didn't have the first clue what to do. We had friends who had children in all three schools -- the public school, the private but affordable Catholic school, and the expensive private school. We finally decided to put him in public school because we figured Kindergarten was Kindergarten pretty much wherever you went.

But now, after loooong conversations and agonies between the choices (I even considered home schooling, something I *never* thought I'd be able to do), I made a phone call to the expensive private school. My thought was to apply for 3rd grade.

Oh wait, the admissions office said. We have one slot left for this year's 2nd grade.

And I took that as a sign.

So here we are, waiting for our first interview on Tuesday, with a child who is over the moon about the prospect of changing schools. And herein lies the reason for the title, "A New Focus".

I will be the one paying the tuition.

At first blush, this is totally doable. The timing is great, because I have four large craft shows coming up, and along with holiday web site sales, they will more than cover the cost. But then the tuition bill comes around again in the spring, and there is only one show on the books for the spring, and that will in NO way cover the cost.

So for the past few nights, I've lain in bed rethinking how to run my business. How to manage cash flow. Where my customers are currently coming from, and where to gain new customers. How many classes I can afford to take. How many beads I can afford to buy.

Fortunately, I contracted with a web development company to make me a new web site (which I'm told will launch next week after we test the credit card processing unit), and this includes a new logo, so I'm primed for rebranding. Included in the package was a ton of different sized logos, letterhead, postcards, and internet ads, along with a healthy course on SEO.

I've also been pushing myself creatively with my Cup of Bead Soup project, and I've decided that while I'm not ditching my tried-and-true style, slowly adding in my new style might garner new customers. Actually, this is already happening, as six pieces have already sold when I've posted them on Pretty Things and on Facebook. I don't think my new designs are that off-base from what I normally make, so I'm hoping they'll blend nicely.

necklace I made with ceramic by Spirited Earth

I may also have to apply to more craft shows. This year was my "Artist's Year Off" because I drastically reduced the number of shows I participated in. I don't know if I have that luxury anymore. On the other hand, I don't know if my health issues will allow me to take on more shows, particularly if they're outdoors. So I'm researching galleries, online venues, and wholesale opportunities.

The other thing that will change will be the crunch on my time. The new school expects a certain amount of volunteer time, attendance of functions, serving on committees -- much more than what I'm used to. I volunteered at the public school and I also volunteer at the humane society, but this is an entirely new level and type of volunteering.

This means I'll have less time at the torch, less time to make jewelry, less time to upload jewelry to my web site, and less time to do paperwork. It's a Catch-22 -- a vicious circle because in order to pay for the school, I have to make the jewelry.

bracelet in my normal style made with my own lampwork beads

Ultimately, though, it's about my son. I entered this business when my son was nearly a year old, getting hooked on beading when I was still pregnant with him. I knew that this business would be what would eventually pay for his college, so I guess I'm just starting early.

I have a business plan, but it's going to have to change. My advertising plan, for instance, will TOTALLY change. My budget will also change. But my main goals will stay the same -- make pretty things that last while being a hands on mom.

Zack at six months. Photo by Jen Fariello

If you've lasted this long, I'd love to know if you've faced this sort of dilemma, and how you've made changes in your life to accommodate your craft. How did you handle the added hours, or the change to your schedule? Did it change how you looked at what you do?

Thanks, treasured readers, for listening.

Lori Anderson creates jewelry for Lori Anderson Designs and also writes the blog Pretty Things. She's also a contributor to Art Bead Scene.

I Spy With My Bead-y Eye

2010-09-08T13:55:00.002-04:00

I have a new post up on Art Bead Scene about finding inspiration in patterns around us.

Click here to read it!

Wire Work is Hard Work

2010-09-05T13:25:00.002-04:00

Something I've discovered about the wire work that I've admired -- man is it ever hard work.

Not only that, but it takes a ton of time. Which brings me to the question of how much do I pay myself and how much do I charge for my jewelry?

Wire work seems to look the best after it's been put in liver of sulfur to turn it black, then buffed so it shows depth. I've discovered a sincere hatred for steel wool, as it shreds and sticks in the wire and makes a hella mess. Thankfully, I've discovered a substitute. When I took a class with Tracy Stanley at BeadFest, she introduced me to Pro Polishing Pads and I've never looked back. That's saved me some time, but it still takes extra effort that my stringing doesn't require.

Over the summer I've been experimenting a little bit -- and I say a little bit because as I said, this stuff takes time and will end up costing more than my normal work. The challenge for me will be educating my customers as to why. Hopefully, they'll be able to just look at it and see -- hold the piece and fall in love. I haven't strayed from my love of lampwork, so the jewelry isn't too far off track, and I think that's key to adding in new work.

I'm not sure why I'm worried, because I also make chain maille jewelry, and it's priced a bit more than my lampwork jewelry, and yet it sells. I suppose I should remember that there is indeed a person out there for each piece of jewelry.

Will I keep making wire jewelry? Yes. But I'll pace myself. I haven't had a show since March, and my new web site hasn't launched yet, so I don't know how these pieces will be received. I know *I* like them -- but will they? And if they like them, will they want to pay a little more for them?

Either way, I've tried something new, and that's all that matters in the grand scheme of things.

Lori Anderson creates jewelry for Lori Anderson Designs and also writes the blog Pretty Things. She's also a contributor to Art Bead Scene.

My New Torch!

2010-08-31T19:39:00.001-04:00

Today I anxiously awaited the Man in Brown to roll up in his truck and deliver a most important thing:


Photo via GTT

My new Bobcat torch!

This was supposed to be my Christmas present, but I've been having the devil of a time lately with my current lampwork torch. Or the propane. Or the oxygen concentrator. No one seems to know for sure.

I'll be going along fine for about an hour, making beads, humming along, when all of a sudden, pressure drops in everything and my flame dwindles. I've posted this dilemma on Lampwork Etc and had several people give suggestions, and then a local lampworking friend came over to test things out -- and we're all still stumped.

photo by Cindy Wimmer

Soooooo. The plan right now -- get my Christmas present early. Next -- replace the propane tank, even though it's not empty. My friend will come over then and run another test. Heaven forbid the problem is with the oxygen concentrator, because that's my most expensive piece of equipment, and it weighs a ton so who knows what shipping it off for repair would cost.

photo via ?

Keep your fingers crossed for me. I was having so much fun melting glass before this flame poofing out on me thing started and it's now just frustrating me to no end. Of course, it's also been hot as Hades and probably not a good time to even THINK about using a flame, but still.

(And isn't it cool that my torch is purple????)

Color Inspiration

2010-08-27T21:50:00.002-04:00

Art Bead Scene included me in their Fall Color Inspiration post -- this was one of those times when I accidentally fell on my face right into the "in vogue" color palette of the season! Usually I just make what I like (and believe me, I like this bracelet and hope a customer does, too!) but I wasn't intentional trying to follow a trend.

In case you're interested, here's the fall color palette for the year:

And here was my accidental contribution, using beads I made myself and polymer clay by Floridity:

So maybe I should be paying more attention to trends. I think I'll clip the color palette and keep it by my design desk. I must admit, I keep gravitating to bright colors -- in fact everything I made this morning was colorful and fun. But trying a few more "trend" pieces and seeing how they're received by my customer base might be an interesting experiment!

I learn something new every day.

Lori Anderson creates jewelry for Lori Anderson Designs. She write the blog Pretty Things and An Artists Year Off.

Book Review -- Blogging for Bliss

2010-08-26T17:30:00.002-04:00

I love to write. I learned to read when I was three years old and when I started to write, I quickly filled notebooks with my little made-up stories. I remember one in particular. After consuming way too many Nancy Drew mysteries, I wrote my very own -- "The Mystery of the Missing Mummy". The only thing it had going for it was the alliteration, but I was so proud of it, especially the crayoned pictures.

All that to say, when blogging came about, I was in heaven.

(photo via imagechef.com)

So when I ran across Tara Frey's book "Blogging For Bliss", I was intrigued. Why do other people write? What motivates them? What is their purpose?

This beautifully written book is also beautiful to look out -- throughout it shows various blogs that inspire by the sheer beauty of its pages. "Blogging For Bliss" also covers what Frey calls "the tools of the trade" -- how to even start a blog and how to begin learning the ropes. Will your blog be personal or strictly business? Just what the heck do all those online acronyms mean, anyway?

My favorite sections were about beautifying you blog and finding business via the blog. I know that I regularly sell pieces of my jewelry off my blog, and I'm constantly working on photos and other "beauty marks".

The last section is so very important. It covers the courtesy and manners for a good blogger and how to promote a wonderful atmosphere to your readers. You can still show who you are and ask thought-provoking questions without causing a stampede of unsubscribing readers.

(art by StellaLola on Etsy)

I highly recommend this book to all bloggers, both new and seasoned bloggers alike. It's an invaluable business tool as well as a source for inspiration. Check it out today at Amazon.com, and visit Tara Frey's blog at http://www.tarafrey.com/

Lori Anderson creates jewelry for Lori Anderson Designs. She write the blog Pretty Things and An Artists Year Off.

New Technique and New Media -- Turquoise and Shells

2010-08-22T16:40:00.002-04:00

I normally use bright, colorful lampwork in my work, creating things like these:

But I've been trying to stretch my repertoire and use the extensive drawers of gemstones I've collected over the years. I love them, I buy them show after show, but I don't use them that much. I don't know if it's because they're in the bottom drawers, or if they don't lend themselves to whimsical things, but enough is enough.

Some time ago, a bead vendor was liquidating a ton of their ready-to-wear gemstone pendants for a ridiculously low price. Things that were over $100 were now in the range where I could buy them and use them in my jewelry and still be able to charge my customers a rate they would be comfortable with. Months ago, I made this necklace, but I just now got it photographed (and yes, that's how this summer has gone!).

click for a larger photo and more detail

The pendant is a large shell, genuine turquoise, a set pearl, and strangely, a set faceted aquamarine. Color me puzzled on the aquamarine. Anyway. I've always admired asymmetrical designs but there's a trick to it -- keeping it balanced when worn, not using too many materials and turning it into a circus of color and texture -- so I'm not sure if I succeeded or not.

I linked pearls to pick up the color of the shell and the set pearl. I found some turquoise that was the same color as the pendant (that took forever). I added one modern sterling silver bead that I picked up heaven-knows-where. And I finished it out with fringy chain.

I skipped adding aquamarine. I just don't get that aquamarine.

I'm charging 158.00 for this, and I hope it goes to a happy home. I'd be interested to know, before I post it on my web site, if you think I should change anything. I have to admit, putting this together was a LOT harder than working in my usual color palette and preferred lampwork. But I see more of this in my future.

Lori Anderson creates jewelry for Lori Anderson Designs and also writes the blog Pretty Things. Ironically, her birthstone is aquamarine.

Come see what I made!

2010-08-19T18:58:00.001-04:00

Click here and come see what I made with beads by Barbara Bechtel of Floridity! I tried some new techniques, including patinating copper, playing with asymmetry, and making my own toggle clasp.

Lori Anderson makes jewelry for Lori Anderson Designs and writes the blog Pretty Things and contributes to Art Bead Scene. She is so glad summer is almost over.

I'm Going to Art and Soul Hampton, 2011!

2010-08-19T14:50:00.001-04:00

If you recall, I said that I was going to Art and Soul this year. Unfortunately, I had to cancel because I was suffering from a week of migraines. But my friend Cindy Wimmer of Sweet Bead Studio has convinced me to try it again.

(www.artandsoulretreat.com)

This time, instead of taking journaling classes as I'd planned this year, I chose to take an enameling class with Linda and Opie O'Brien. I think this will help me stretch myself artistically, as will taking my second enameling class with Barbara Lewis this October.

Are any of you planning to go to the Hampton, VA event? I know tons of people go to its flagship retreat in Portland, OR, but I hope some of you consider the east coast version.

I'm very excited to continue my journey into the next year!

Lori Anderson creates jewelry for Lori Anderson Designs and also writes the blog Pretty Things. She can't pass a bookstore without going inside.

For the love of shoes -- Sanita and Beads

2010-08-18T17:32:00.001-04:00

Come on over to Pretty Things and see what shoes have to do with beads!


(photo via Sanitaclogs.com)

Lori Anderson makes jewelry for Lori Anderson Designs and also writes the blog Pretty Things. She loooooves her some shoes.

Update on BeadFest

2010-08-15T17:44:00.001-04:00

Update -- I can't go.

I was so excited, but I got an email saying my instructor had taken a bad fall and was unable to teach. At this late of a date, there wasn't a class left that I felt like taking, so after a long talk with my husband, I canceled my trip.

"But you could shop!" you say.

Yes, yes I could.

But I decided to save that money and now I'm going to go to Bead and Button next year!

So --- who is planning on going??? I'd still love to meet people there!

Are you going to BeadFest?????

2010-08-09T15:52:00.001-04:00

Keeping up with my plan on taking classes, I'll be taking a beginning lampworking class at BeadFest in Philadelphia August 22nd. I'm actually heading up the day before to go bead shopping and hope to see some of you bead artisans there -- and if any of you designers are going, give me a shout so I can read name tags and maybe find you!

Are you going? If you are, are you going to take classes, or just shop?

Lori Anderson makes jewelry for Lori Anderson Designs, and also writes the blog Pretty Things, and occasionally for Art Bead Scene. She loves funky, colorful beads.

Enameled Beads

2010-08-08T20:55:00.001-04:00

I really should have posted this post here, but I goofed -- anyway! If you're interested in seeing my tiny foray into enameling, click here!

Bead Soup For One -- Beading with Barbara Bechtel of Floridity

2010-08-05T18:13:00.001-04:00

Please hop on over to Pretty Things and see what I made with Barbara Bechtel of Floridity's beads! I decided to challenge myself each month with my own personal Bead Soup Challenge (have you participated in one of my challenges?) and Floridity is the first Artisan of the Month.

Are you a bead maker -- ceramic, polymer clay, glass -- and would like to be a featured artisan? Email me and let's talk!

Lori Anderson designs jewelry for Lori Anderson Designs and also writes the blog Pretty Things. She lives on the eastern shore of Maryland.

I'm Trying

2010-08-01T13:24:00.001-04:00

I really am trying to make jewelry that's new and cool and different.

But it's hard to make jewelry when iCarly is on TV or MySims is on the Wii. Ah, life with a seven-year old. Love him dearly, but he rules the TV.

So this weekend Rick and Zack headed to the farm in PA so I could have a day and a half of quiet to bead. And of course, I had a headache, but I was bound and determined to make things.

I don't have photos yet, but I did manage to make some new things with Floridity's beads I bought for this month's Personal Bead Soup challenge I set for myself, and a couple of them were totally new designs to me.

But because of the headache, I found that I just had to make what I know -- the tried and true and (sigh) trite. OK, not trite. That's being to harsh on myself.

This morning, though, I looked through what I made and realized, someone's going to love those things. If I change my style too much, and have too many new designs, I'll lose my valuable customer base. The new designs will hopefully gain me new customers, but I can't forget the people who got me to where I am -- able to make this a full-time job.

The point of this post? I'm trying. And that's fine. I think I'll be "trying" all my life. I'll never be "there" because if I decide, "I'm done, there's nothing left to learn", I'm doing myself such a disservice.

So maybe this weekend was a pretty good weekend for beading after all.

Lori Anderson designs jewelry for Lori Anderson Designs and also writes the blog Pretty Things. She lives in Maryland.

Jewelry Inspired by Nature and Life

2010-07-25T22:23:00.002-04:00

When I was 11, my parents and I took a mission trip over the summer to Colombia, South America. We lived a good 100 miles from the civilization of Bogota, living in a house on a missionary compound called Lomalinda -- smack in the middle of the jungle.

There were two ways in or out. On our way in, we rode in a shoebox-looking double prop airplane that at times sported a wooden wheel, had no pressurization, and no seats. We sat on the floor, along with the cargo, strapped to the walls -- oh and don't forget the slide locks holding the door shut.)

To leave, we took a looooong taxi trip up and over the Andes mountains. We couldn't take the double-prop plane because it was missing a part, and the single prop plane couldn't physically make it over the Andes. That taxi ride was a trip I'll never forget -- four of us squashed in a cab with a very kindly gentleman who spoke only Spanish, and I was the only one in the car that knew even the remotest bit of the language.

Another interesting tidbit about this taxi trip -- there were guerilla check-points along the way, and they carefully examined all our luggage and Dad's rolls of film. I don't think they knew what to do with us other than to wave us on. But they did keep our cinnamon rolls that we were given by the missionaries before we left! Smart guerillas.

It was an inspiring trip for an impressionable 11-year old. My love of travel was spurred by this trip, and my willingness to learn about other cultures as well. Why visit a country if I didn't know at least something about its history?

All that to say, nature and life spawned this piece of jewelry.

The color is spot-on for the green of the jungle. We lived in Lomalinda during the wet season, so we got rains three times a day -- you could almost set your watch by them. The darker spots remind me of the walk to class in the mornings. We traveled through a denser part of the compound, overgrown with trees and vegetation (and ants -- lots of leaf cutter ants). Some trees were so tall all you could see was the bark unless you cocked your neck waaaaay back, and some trees were like Banyan trees, with their dark, hard roots high above the ground.

I added a leaf to commemorate the jungle -- it's not a banana leaf, but ah well -- I can pretend. And the one silver bead is for this single journey into a land so foreign and wild and dangerous that had we known then what we know now, we may never have gone.

But I'm glad we did.

Lori Anderson makes jewelry for Lori Anderson Designs and also writes the blog Pretty Things.

Win a Book!

2010-07-25T17:22:00.002-04:00

Head over to Art Bead Scene and you might win this book!

Click here~!

Collaboration with Floridity

2010-07-19T13:43:00.001-04:00

On my other blog, Pretty Things, I've run two Bead Soup Blog Parties, and they were really successful. They pushed other bead artists to design outside their box, really made them think in different ways.

To that end, I've decided to pay a bead artist once a month to send me, sight unseen, a set of beads so I could push myself again. Since the next Bead Soup party isn't until January, I felt the need to continually kick start my motor.

Please head over to this post at Pretty Things and take a look at what Barbara Bechtel of Floridity sent me!

Metal, metal, metal

2010-07-16T14:54:00.002-04:00

Hi everyone. If you read my other blog, Pretty Things, then you'll know that I've been hit really hard by the death of my cat, a pet I've had for half my life. It's knocked the creative wind out of my sails, and I promise, I DO have a nice collaborative project coming up, but right now -- just not the time.

So I thought I'd share with you the rest of the metal pendants I made at Tracy Stanley's class at BeadFest back in, what was it, April? Yes, I finally got around to taking pictures of them! That's how slowly my life has been moving. So enjoy -- and I'll be back with more soon, I promise.

This one is called "Misty River and is made with brass and copper that I dapped, textured, riveted, and linked and then added the lampwork bead to. I constantly have a bowl of orphan beads on hand for projects just like this.

This one is "Stonybrook", and I did the same thing -- lots of texturing, dapping, and riveting, but this time I added a river rock to the bottom. Like it?

See you soon,

Lori

Lori Anderson designs jewelry for Lori Anderson Designs and also writes the blog Pretty Things. She lives in Maryland.

The Very Good Thing About Lampwork

2010-07-07T17:55:00.002-04:00

Come on over to Watch Me Create and read my latest article, "The Very Good Thing About Lampwork".

Click away!

Photographing jewelry with natural light

2010-07-01T19:05:00.002-04:00

Photographing with natural light is not something that comes easily to me. There seems to be too narrow a window of opportunity for me, and since I have SO much to photograph for my new web site (read that to be -- every. single. piece.) it's also a daunting task.

But today I got a bit done, and wanted to share the results. I'm getting there. It's just a slow process. I'm going a little cross-eyed uploading things to the new (and still un-launched) web site, but I'm hurrying as fast as I can with a child moping around saying he wants to DOOOOOOO something yet has absolutely NO idea what he wants to DO.

Lori Anderson designs jewelry for Lori Anderson Designs and also writes for the blog Pretty Things. She lives in Maryland.

Art Bead Scene Design Challenge

2010-06-29T13:24:00.002-04:00

I was recently approached by Heather Powers of Art Bead Scene, asking if I'd like to participate in a design challenge. Heather is an amazing polymer clay artist working under the name Humblebeads.

She sent out the same set of beads to several jewelry designers, we all made something with them, and then she posted the results.

The challenge for me was I normally don't work in this color palette. I let the beads sit on my bench for awhile, and then something clicked. Here is what I made...

I used a unique chain that was full of fringy flowers, to mimic the flowers in the pendant, and a combination of carnelian and kyanite to pick up a bit of the muted colors of the pendant. I'm actually quite pleased with how it turned out, and am enjoying these challenges, as they've really done a lot for me, forcing me to think outside the box.

To view what the other REALLY talented artists created, just click here.

Lori Anderson designs jewelry for Lori Anderson Designs, and also writes the blog Pretty Things.

Lampwork beads are better than flowers

2010-06-24T15:02:00.001-04:00

Lori Anderson makes jewelry for www.lorianderson.net and also writes the blog Pretty Things.

Broken Torch and Smashing a Wall

2010-06-19T14:52:00.002-04:00

Oopsie doodle.

I was cranking along just fine, torching my little heart out, making beads, even starting to add dots, learning new things (yay me!) when

CRACK!

Glass flew everywhere and a big chunk flew directly at the torch and MELTED over the part where the flame comes out. Right. On. The. Front. Where the gas and the oxygen comes out. Which, if you've never lampworked before, is, um, kind of stinking crucial.

I managed to flick off the biggest glob, but of course, as luck would have it, bits of glass got into the tiniest of the holes and there was no getting it out. So the torch is on its way to Bethlehem Burners to be fixed.

I'm bummed because I just bought a ton of glass and was really getting into a groove and was trying to fill up my Etsy store with spacers and had decided to take a deep breath and get brave and start exploring.

Not sure when I'll get the torch back (2 weeks? More?) which is NOT a long time, but I hate when momentum gets stalled. It's like running like hell and then turning your head to look behind you to see where you've been and then WHAM hitting a wall. Looking back, it's funny, but when it happens, not so much.

I tried to make some jewelry today but it's just not happening. So I'm giving myself permission to relax with reruns of "The Office", a bag of M&Ms, open windows, and the cats. Rick and Zack are at the farm, so the house is chaos-free. The Bead Soup Blog Party started today, so I'm visiting a bunch of blogs, too.

There's a slight bit of guilt inside that whispers, "Hey, you should be working," but thanks to so many of your wonderful comments over the past weeks, I'm finding it easier to just... let it be.

Thanks.

Lori Anderson designs jewelry for Lori Anderson Designs and also writes the blog Pretty Things.

Open Studio Friday

2010-06-18T14:36:00.002-04:00

Jennifer Cameron interviewed me for her Open Studio Friday, so if you'd like to take a look, click here to see what it's all about!

New Post on Watch Me Create

2010-06-17T14:40:00.001-04:00

Take a wander over to Watch Me Create and take a look at what I've FINALLY made with my own beads!

More Spacers in the Etsy Store!

2010-06-14T18:22:00.001-04:00

I added a few more sets of my own (!) lampwork spacer beads in my Etsy store, Lori2, today -- not expensive at all, either! I hope you'll take a look!

www.lori2.com

This isn't quite going as planned.

2010-06-12T16:29:00.001-04:00

OK, Dear Readers. This isn't going quite as planned.

I'd planned by now, nearly halfway through the year, to have made enormous leaps and bounds and huge artistic strides to great new designs and innovative coolness.

This, however, hasn't happened. Let's see what's going on, shall we?

* I started out with an Inspirational Journal. I am no longer using it. It's buried under papers.

* I started out with a stack of books so I could learn new techniques. So far they're still in a stack, although I've flipped through a few and read one.

* I've spent an inordinate amount of time in bed, reading a heck of a lot of novels, fighting a heck of a lot of migraines. I know I can't help that, but it still has been a huge time suck.

* I haven't even made all that much jewelry at all.

So I've got the "Time Off" part down pretty well!

But that wasn't The Plan.

So what have I done?

Well, I started lampworking, although all I can do is make spacers, and I did take two cold connections classes, but I haven't used the techniques since. I haven't updated my web site daily, like I'd planned, but then I have contracted for a NEW web site to be built.

So I guess it's not a total loss yet.

One thing I HAVE done my level best to do is stop looking at what everyone else is doing so as not to compare their progress with mine. It's crushing to feel like the world is passing me by, so while I still visit blogs, there are certain ones that I bypass (not that they ever comment anyway!) and focus instead on relaxing and getting well and rejuvenating.

I'm afraid I'm disappointing everyone, and I so don't want to do that. But there comes a point where I have to realize I'm just not able to do it all in a certain amount of time given my health and other obligations. I'm not giving up -- far from it. What I'm doing is regrouping, taking a deep breath, and remembering what this was supposed to be all about.

Lori Anderson designs jewelry for Lori Anderson Designs. She also writes for the blog Pretty Things.

New Web Site Logo

2010-05-28T14:14:00.000-04:00

One of the many things on my list of changes to make this year was a face lift to my web site. Earlier this year my current web site got panned on an "it's stuck in the dark ages" web site and while they weren't too horrible about it (they liked the jewelry, just hated the site design), I had to sit back and take stock and ultimately agree.

I started out by making my own web site with Microsoft FrontPage in 2001. Back then, I was wholesaling handmade greeting cards that I made with vintage papers, fabrics, and buttons. Then in 2004, jewelry took over my life and I reworked the web site (still in FrontPage).

Advance a year and I traded several hundred dollars of beads to a fellow beader to design my current web site. I picked the colors and the idea of stripes and you have what you see now.

I don't know if it was the rude web site or the stripes starting to give me a headache or my loss of love for the Harrington font, but this year, I decided for a total and complete face lift. We're talking a TOTAL face lift, a face lift that both excites me and scares me. It is SO different from what I have now that I can't even decide if I like it. It's completely, totally unlike ANYTHING I've ever seen - unique to be sure. But will it work? Will it translate? Is it too much change?

The web site is due to launch later this summer, but I do have a brand new logo. I kept the colors, but toned them down. Here it is:

The one person I've shown the entire web site to loved it. I'm living with it for a while and trying to get used to the new font, the Chinese lanterns (which I may translate to my trade show booth) and just the newness of it. Is it ok to be scared of change?

Lori Anderson designs jewelry at her web site, www.lorianderson.net. She also writes the blog Pretty Things.

My Etsy Bead Store is Now Open!

2010-05-27T12:36:00.001-04:00

I finally uploaded a few small sets of my own handmade lampwork spacers. They're my humble beginnings, but maybe you'll like some of them! The shop is www.lori2.com, and as I learn more and more, the beads will become more intricate and varied.

Thanks for looking!

I'm in my first Etsy Treasury

2010-05-23T12:41:00.001-04:00

I just got notified today that I'm in my first every Etsy Treasury, with the beads that I JUST posted last night in my new store, Lori2....

So someone must like these humble little beads!

Just a little something new

2010-05-21T11:41:00.002-04:00

It's been raining, I've been under the weather, taking some REAL time off to read and knit and be a mommy, but I do have a little to show.

This one uses some new (new to me) wire techniques. I'm inspired quite a lot by Cindy Wimmer of Sweet Bead Studio and she's been very encouraging.

I learned chain maille back when I first started beading but this is a new style for me. It's very delicate, with cultured pearls. Not the best photo, but it's eluding me and the camera.

So those are a couple of new things, using my old styles and mixing it just a bit with new styles.

I've been giving a lot of thought to how my customers would take a huge departure from my current style to a totally different style, the style I see in my head when I imagine jewelry, and I've decided that too big a leap, too soon, would be too jarring. I'd certainly lose a huge portion of my customer base, alienate them, as they are used to seeing a certain thing. Adding bits and pieces, such as in these two bracelets, is more apt to garner interest, and I can add bit by bit a few "wow" pieces, because you never know who will see them and fall in love. But if I want to stay in business, I can't just jump ship and change boats and start sailing for a totally different port of call.

That doesn't mean I'm not going to continue experimenting. It means I'm going to hone my current skills, and pick and choose skills that work well with my existing style. It means I may back-burner some of the elaborate things I've been imagining. I keep thinking I have to do it ALL this year, and that thought has just been completely overwhelming me.

What do you think?

Book Review -- Living the Creative Life

2010-05-06T14:31:00.002-04:00

I just finished reading the book "Living the Creative Life" by Rice Freeman-Zachery.

When I first opened the book, I felt immediately intimidated by the artists featured. THESE are ARTISTS, I thought. What the heck am I?

First, their art is fantabulous. Exquisite, unique, and ground-breaking. Second, their studios are divine. Beautiful fabulous places that are portals to creative energy.

Then I started reading. In addition to information about the specific artists and what make them tick, the book offers little vignettes of wisdom that can actually be used -- things like immersing yourself in color by picking up paint samples of every color at the hardware store, or making a list for a day of all the things you saw, smelled, or heard.

(An abandoned bee hive I found... what will it trigger?)

This is the sort of book that you can pick up and put down as needed just as easily as you can read it cover to cover. It's a great book for any artist to have on hand to refer back to when they're having a stagnant time (that would be me right now!), and the visuals are just excellent.

Highly recommended! Click here to buy it on Amazon.com.

Bead Soup Blog Party!

2010-04-29T10:35:00.000-04:00

Interested in swapping beads and having fun? Then visit my blog Pretty Things to join the Bead Soup Blog Party!

More Spacers

2010-04-24T07:53:00.000-04:00

Photo thanks to Cindy Wimmer of Sweet Bead Studio -- I gifted her these humble beginnings. Wondering if/when I could sell spacers? All the above were made with CiM glass (my current favorite) -- Sepia, Chalcedony, and Lipstick Red that for some reason I couldn't strike to RED well enough.

Won't be hitting the studio for a little while -- had some minor sinus surgery that the doctors are hoping will dial down the migraine pain a bit. But I plan on expanding a bit and starting to play with stringer next time out, which will be a HUGE learning curve.

As always, thanks for reading!

Lori Anderson designs jewelry for www.lorianderson.net and also writes for the blog www.PrettyThingsBlog.com.

New Article on Art Bead Scene

2010-04-22T10:17:00.002-04:00

Thanks to the kindness of your comments on my "I'm In a Funk" post, I had time to think and wrote an article for Art Bead Scene. You can read it by clicking here.

And thank you again for your caring and kindness!

The Spacer Queen

2010-04-19T16:00:00.001-04:00

First, thank you to everyone who posted in my mopey thread yesterday. It's nice to know I'm not alone in my thinking!

Now, head on over to Watch Me Create to read about my adventures in lampworking! I've got some spacer adventures from the past weeks to read about.

I'm in a funk.

2010-04-18T15:04:00.002-04:00

This one is a little long, and mopey, so if you're not up for that, skip it and come back next post -- I'll understand.

*****

I kind of figured this would happen at some point this year. Usually it hits me after the Christmas rush, when I'm so exhausted and burned out I can't stand it. But right now, I'm just in such a blue funk that I wonder if I'll be able to muster my enthusiasm for jewelry design ever again.

Or let me put it this way. I can keep going with the status quo, making what I've been making for the past five or six years. But making new things, expanding my horizons? I wonder if I have it in me.

I know a lot of my problem is living in constant pain. When my eyes and head and neck are always hurting, I can't think, let alone follow tutorial directions or dream up new ideas. I see the creative world passing me by and it bothers me -- but I feel powerless to stop it.

I buy new beads, bring them home -- and stare at them blankly. My head hurts. My heart is sad. Something has to give.

Home life is just fine -- my husband is supportive and says it doesn't matter if I sell another thing, that this year is for rest, and to play, and to not worry. But for me, this year was to play, yes, and to rest, yes, but to LEARN, and to EXPLORE. And many days all I can explore is the back of my eyelids as I squench them shut in pain.

Crap. This is such a lousy post. I'm sorry.

There have to be others out there that feel this way, or have felt this way at times, who can share with me their stories. I feel alone, like I'm being left behind and will never find my voice again. I feel I have it in me -- it just isn't stronger than the pain.

What do I do? I fear losing customers, losing momentum, losing ... it. Whatever "it" happens to be on any given day.

If you've read this far, thank you. If you stick with my blog, I promise this won't be the mood or content of future posts. But I felt I owed it to myself to just this post explore my soul as well as my art and try to figure out just where I'm going in all of this.

Comments are gratefully accepted.

Riveting with Tracy Stanley at WireFest/BeadFest

2010-04-12T12:15:00.001-04:00

Finally, I got to go to WireFest/BeadFest! For the past five years, I've always had to either prepare for or exhibit at a craft show, but this year, of course, I took the time out to go to classes.

I first want to say that going to this event wasn't just about taking classes, but about meeting up with friends (Cindy Wimmer of Sweet Bead Studio, Jeanette Blix of Fundametals, and Kerry Bogert of Kabs Creative Concepts), meeting a bunch of people I met through the Bead Soup Blog Party, and finally getting to meet the editors of the magazines I've contributed to over the years. Oh, and bead shopping. OH yes. The shopping. :-)

(Photo by Cindy Wimmer)

But on to my classes!

I opted to take two classes with Tracy Stanley so I could immerse myself in riveting, metal texturing, dapping, and basically all things metal. I was nervous, a complete wreck going into that classroom, let me tell you! Here I am, a jewelry designer that works in color and glass, and I'm getting ready to work with anything but!

The first class dealt with metal stamping and riveting with metal wire. Unfortunately, I'm not finished with that project yet, so you can expect to see it in a future post. But the second class was an intensive all-day extravaganza of hammers and dapping blocks and learning to both rivet with tubing and eyelets.

Instead of a bracelet, I decided to make some pendants. So far, I finished this one:

Each dapped circle is textured, patinaed, and riveted. The bottom one has a lampwork bead riveted to it, and I used a combination of brass, sterling, and copper. (You can click on it to see a larger photo).

The next pendant started out as a ring. I cut my band, looked at it, and decided I didn't really WANT a ring. So again, another pendant came about.

This one has a dapped disk, a tiny river rock, and a Bali spacer, all on copper. The width of the pendant is only half and inch. This one will end up on my web site for sale.

I'll have more to show soon -- three more await embellishment!

I'd be interested to know what you think!

Lori Anderson designs jewelry for www.lorianderson.net and also writes for the blog www.PrettyThingsBlog.com.

Learning to Rivet, Learning to Stamp

2010-04-08T18:23:00.001-04:00

I'm leaving tomorrow to head to the Philadelphia area to attend BeadFest, more commonly known as WireFest for this particular venue as the classes focus on wire and metal. I've been looking forward to this for a while, having signed up for two classes with Tracy Stanley. I'll be learning about cold connections, which is basically how to join metal without soldering, using rivets. I'll also try my hand at metal stamping (very hot right now) and dapping (make little cups out of metal, like bead caps, always handy).

Here's the example she posted of one of the class projects:

Very cool, isn't it?

I'm also stoked that I'll get to meet a lot of online and real life beading friends, both students and instructors, so it's going to be a mini-vacation as well as a learning experience and oh yes, a shopping trip! What self-respecting BeadFest would be complete without a bead market to buy from?

So expect to see some humble offerings when I get back! In the meantime, enjoy creating!

Lori's work can be seen at www.lorianderson.net. She also writes www.PrettyThingsBlog.com.

Some of my glass beads

2010-04-03T20:08:00.000-04:00

Let me say first -- lampworking is hard. At least, it is for me. It's not one of those things that you become perfect at right away. This is tough for me because I like to master things FAST and this, dear readers, is just not going to happen.

But I'm learning something really interesting -- I need to melt glass for more reasons than just to make beads. Melting glass takes me to a zen state, a calming state that I can't really find while doing anything else. There's not a thing I can think of except the glass when I'm sitting in front of a torch and beside a kiln.

It's very hard for me to share my early efforts, but this IS the year of exploration, so I'm gonna. So here goes.

This one was decent enough that I made it into a pendant with amethyst for myself, a modest reminder that I'm on my way. I used Val Cox frit to make the pretty blue designs.

Lousy photo, but this is more Val Cox frit over a cobalt blue (DEEP cobalt blue) base, all in Moretti glass. It turned out even enough that I felt comfortable making a pendant out of it. Will anyone like it? No idea.

This one is a big friendly lump, kind of like Hagrid of Hogwarts, but it sure is pretty. The back, however, is (for lack of better description) burned. So this is its good side. Everyone has a good side, right?

These are made out of BullsEye glass, a glass with awesome colors but a definitely different feel from Moretti.

And these are all the beads I've made thus far. I have a small batch waiting to be cleaned, and a small batch in the kiln, but as you can see, I've not made many yet. So even though I have mostly lumpy wonky beads going on, I don't have NEARLY the practice time in to say "I can't do this".

Today I worked with a glass called Creation is Messy, and I LOVE that glass - melts like butter and fantastic colors, so I can't wait to show you my wonkies from that batch.

Thanks for looking!

Lori Anderson designs jewelry for www.lorianderson.net and also writes for the blog www.prettythingsblog.com.

Polymer Clay

2010-03-31T16:51:00.001-04:00

Today I went Over the Bridge to Barnes and Noble to take a gander at the new beading magazines and stumbled over "The Complete Book of Polymer Clay".

"Hmm," I thought. "Why not?"

So I bought it and have added it to the stack of books that lie in wait of exploration. I know what my polymer clay style would be like -- sanded, painted, maybe some transfer work -- it's just getting there, knowing the right kind of clay to use and how to cure it. Or bake it. Or cook it. See, I don't even know the proper terminology, I'm that much of a novice!

The lampworking is coming along. Today I played with BullsEye and even tried working with BullsEye frit and encasing it all. It looked good going in -- let's see what it looks like coming out.

Tonight, I'm reacquainting myself with yarn and crochet hook and taking it easy. Who knows what I'll do tomorrow, since Zack is off school for a week of spring break. But whatever it is, it'll be fun.

(PS - click here to take part in my 1000th blog post giveaway! Deadline is April 5th!)

Lori's work can be seen at www.lorianderson.net and she also writes the blog www.prettythingsblog.com.

I Made Some Beads!

2010-03-19T15:43:00.000-04:00

I've been spending the past few days in the studio, making beads and trying to get them to be even. I'm also trying to keep from switching from the left hand to the right hand (which is apparently a big bad no no). I've also been playing with frit, which is tiny crunched-up glass that can make pretty decorations. Ignore the bead release, and you can see:

I tried my hand at encasing these in light amethyst, too, and encasing is a skill all its own, I quickly discovered! I'll put that on the back burner for a while longer.

Today I went out and ooooh, Rick bought me some Moretti Alabaster. Let's try that.

BLAMMO! OK maybe not -- the stuff is either shocky or I was doing it wrong -- a huge chunk exploded off the bottom the minute I wafted it through the flame. That got bundled up and put back on the shelf for later.

(Picture from www.sundanceglass.com)

Bottom line -- I'm getting out in the studio and trying. I don't have huge chunks of time right now but will next month, and I signed up for a class in August at the Philadelphia BeadFest, so that will help. I'm trying to stay positive, and trying to remember that for every spectacular bead artist I see, there was once a newbie.

Thanks for reading!

Mine, Not Mine

2010-03-17T17:17:00.000-04:00

In my curio cabinet.

Not in my curio cabinet.

In my closet.

Not in my closet.

How I feel this week.

NOT how I feel this week (but wish I did).

Sigh.
I need a nap.

Please Cross Your Fingers

2010-03-15T16:47:00.000-04:00

It seems strange to ask you to cross your fingers for something I can't quite tell you about yet, but please do? It could be something big for me, and I'm crossing everything that can be crossed. It would also be a milestone in my art exploration, so is apt for this blog!

THANKS, and when I can, you'll be the first to know!

Painting With Fire with Barbara Lewis (and friends)

2010-03-10T19:56:00.000-05:00

This past Saturday I had the utmost pleasure to start my exploration into classes by taking my first of many for the year -- "Painting With Fire" with Barbara Lewis, a metal enameling class that I'd been looking forward to for many reasons. One, the class is very cool. Two, I was going to get to meet some blogging buddies I'd yet to meet in person (always a fun thing).

Cindy Wimmer of Sweet Bead Studio took some awesome pictures of the setup:

And Barbara Lewis who is the master of this technique ....

And of me when I wasn't looking. (Eek. I hate photos of me).

Notice that I have my finger in the water? Wondering why that is? I was the first burn victim. I very carefully avoided the hot flame and the hot mandrel but had no problem chasing the hot bead. Yup.

These are my beads:

I have a lot to learn -- I need to coat the beads more fully with the enamel, for one, but I actually quite like the more rustic look of the beads. You can see Barbara's professional lovelies at her web site, Painting With Fire, but hurry because her beads do go fast! You can also buy the tutorial and materials you need to get started on your own projects.

All I need now are enamel powders (I bought an arsenal of metal beads). I can see so many applications where this style of bead could be a beautiful addition in my work. I've got a birthday coming soon -- maybe I'll treat myself!

Thanks to Jeanette Blix and Cindy Wimmer for putting on this workshop, and to Barbara Lewis for sharing her talent!

Lori also writes for www.prettythingsblog.com

Modge Podge Experiments

2010-03-07T13:47:00.001-05:00

I have a Yahoo group related to the Bead Soup Blog Party I recently ran. The group is an informal, chatty little group that does smaller swaps and is just a fun place to relax and talk about beads. If you'd like to join, just go to

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BeadSoupBlogParty/

and be sure to give me your blog in the comments as it's a closed group to keep out spammers but open to jewelry designers. And don't worry - any of the Bead Soup Blog Parties will be announced on my Pretty Things blog, so you won't miss a thing as long as you're a follower there!

ANYWAY! Our latest project was to buy a large matchbox, decorate it, fill it with beads from our stash, and swap it with a bead partner. I've never worked with Modge Podge before, so after one woopsie and a new match box, I made this:

I put raised dots under the butterfly to give it some height, and then filled it up with goodies:

So there you go! One small step to a new medium I've never tried before!

More on the enameling "painting with fire" class I took later!

Lori designs jewelry for www.lorianderson.net. She also writes at www.prettythingsblog.com.

Going Zen

2010-03-02T16:31:00.000-05:00

This year, I made a promise to myself try new art forms. I’ve tried lampworking and fully intend to keep it up. I have some other classes scheduled for late spring, but in reading blogs, I ran across Got Art? and her post about something called Zentangles.

Just the name intrigued me. What was a Zentangle?

I emailed her and she directed me to their web site and I bought a kit.

I’ll let you go to their web site and get their story, but for me, this is what a Zentangle is — a way for a non-doodler, a non-artist, to get their doodle on. Seriously, this is some cool stuff. You can stay within the simple parameters of one “tangle” per space, or get funky with it and mix two or even three in a space. I found that as I made my first Zentangle, I could feel my brain uncrunch and smooth out, and I could see where, yes, that might indeed go there, or oh, I don’t want to do this that they tell me to do, but explore this, which my own imagination chose on its own.

Here’s my very first Zentangle.

Mine is very simple, but a huge step for me. You know why? I overcame a fear. I tried something new. I bought something and didn’t put it on a shelf to collect dust like so many things before it (PMC, anyone?).

I absolutely plan on doing these again. They’re small, and they’re fun. I plan on doing these with my seven-year old son on a grander scale, with larger paper and colored markers – he’s very enamored of the dice you roll to see what pattern you draw.

I hope you take some time out today to doodle!

Lori Anderson designs jewelry for www.lorianderson.net. She also writes at www.prettythingsblog.com. She now loves to doodle.

The Pain of Designer's Block

2010-02-27T15:50:00.001-05:00

For those of you who don't know, I have pseudo-tumor, also called intracranial hypertension. It's a nasty neurological condition that has no real cure, and it means I work with an almost constant lurking headache when I'm not working with a full-blown migraine in my eyes. The treatments are nasty -- I won't talk about that here.

I got diagnosed last summer, and it's really dampened not just my spirit but my creativity. Many times I've sat down at my work bench and stared blankly at beads and not had the slightest idea what the heck to do. "SPEAK TO ME!" I shout silently. Normally, the beads tell me what to do, but more and more, they can't be heard for the pain in my head.

I've been preparing for a huge show that takes place over three days the end of March, and I have to bring a LOT of inventory. Last year, I nearly got wiped out of everything, so this year I know I need twice as much. I want so badly to bring new, innovative things with me -- but my head hurts.

Don't get me wrong -- the jewelry I'm making is pretty and it'll sell. I'm just not FEELING it. The point of this year off was to explore, and I knew that I wouldn't be able to really start doing that until after this big show. But I didn't count on feeling so tired and in pain.

So what to do?

What to do.
Well, let's see. I can focus on the craft show. I love the crowds and the energy, and my customers just rock out loud. I'll be exhausted the week after the show but that's a welcome exhaustion -- I earned it. I'll get to see vendor friends I haven't see for months. I can think about that.

I can buy new beads. As if I really needed them -- but really, maybe a new medium (ceramic? clay?) will have a louder voice and can shout down the headache. Let me try a little retail therapy.

I can allow naps. Naps can help. I've been working HARD and it's ok to nap when I need it.

I can enjoy the loveliness around me -- a quiet moment with a good book, knitting, restful moments of yoga or stretching.

I can breathe, and remember why I'm in this business -- for the beauty and joy of it. If I lose that, there's no point in it. I haven't lost that. I refuse to let a headache take that from me.

So I've got a plan. I'm the sort of person who NEEDS a plan. Just writing this made me feel better. (Deep cleansing breath inserted here).

Curious -- what do you do when the weight of the world is on your shoulders?

(Lori Anderson designs jewelry at www.lorianderson.net. Her other blog is www.PrettyThingsBlog.com.)

Interview at ShoozieShoes

2010-02-24T08:33:00.000-05:00

ShoozieShoes of Etsy interviewed me last night -- if you're interested, click here!

I Know, I Know....

2010-02-19T13:06:00.001-05:00

I said that I was only doing five shows this year, but since my show this month was canceled due to the Great Blizzard of '10, I accepted an invitation to participate in the McLean Holiday Craft Show in McLean, VA. These are the same awesome folks that put on the Jewelry Showcase that unfortunately had to be canceled due to that mega-snow we got.

I figure it's a wash -- it's still five shows, right? And it's a new show for me, even though it's in an area I'm used to. I'm excited because this fall I should be launching some really neat new things (that's the plan ... yes, indeedy do!).

I've been busy preparing for one of my biggest shows of the year that occurs in March, so here are a few simple things for your viewing pleasure:

You can see more of my work at www.lorianderson.net, and read more of my blog at www.prettythingsblog.com

An Interview

2010-02-15T10:20:00.001-05:00

Ever want to know a little more about me? Head over to Sweet, Mysterious Feast to learn a little bit about what makes me tick and what I'm all about.

My First Beads

2010-02-12T10:39:00.002-05:00

I wonder -- has anyone seen any of "the greats" show their first beads? I know Corina Tettinger has, and the lovely Z-Beads recently did. But anyone else? I'd love to know and to see?

Want to see mine? I despair of every being anything other than a Spacer Queen, but head to Watch Me Create to see what I've done.

Bead Soup Blog Party!

2010-02-09T23:39:00.002-05:00

On my other blog, Pretty Things, I ran a blog party called the Bead Soup Blog Party. Each person got a partner, got a pack of beads, including a focal, a clasp, and some coordinating beads, and was then tasked with making something with them. The only thing we HAD to use were the focal and the clasp, but there were lots of creative packs sent around! You can visit all the 80+ participants by clicking here.

I had three pieces to make as there were two late-comers to the party that I could not would not turn away -- I am NOT that kind of hostess!

First, my piece made with beads by Libby Leuchtman. I've long been a fan of Libby's flowers, so when she asked me what I liked, I secretly longed for one. I told her I really loved all her work (and I do) but I told her I have trouble designing with donut focals.

So she sent me a donut focal to make me push my designing skills. Smart girl.

Her work is stunning, and I loved the challenge I had. I told her that I love pink and purple and blue, but I always have trouble with yellow -- another design challenge (and I love a challenge)! There's nothing quite like working outside your box in things that aren't what you normally would have chosen, with things that are gorgeous.

Here's the result (click the photo for a larger shot).

I've never quite worked with donut beads other than sling them on leather and call it a day. Of course, with this beauty, that just would. not. do. So I dug out some seed beads I had in my stash, created a holder out of them, and then used some of the bead soup for the neckline. The trick was not to go TOO overboard with the beads since there's a fine line between the desired funky-beyond-all-reason effect and the ouch-my-eyes debacle. So I made the top of the necklace less bright than the bottom -- besides, the back of the necklace hides under most people's hair, anyway.

I had some beads left over for earrings -- one pair was in my ears at photo shoot time.

Thank you, Libby! You can visit Libby's blog at LibbyLeu and Glass, Too.

Next, a mix of gemstones from Dee. She sent dyed jade, horn, silver, and moukite. Moukite is one of my favorite earthy stones and I was excited about using it. I knew EXACTLY what I was going to do with that faceted focal as soon as I saw it.

I wanted to stretch my wire skills so decided to make some components that I have never done before. First, a herringbone weave I learned from Eni Oken ....

Next, a J-section I learned from Connie Cox...

Next, a smaller component that I've used and taught often with larger focal beads -- this time with much smaller beads....

And the final result (click for a larger photo) .....

Not only do I love the deep cherry reds in this piece, but I love how this forced me to finally get off the stick and learn some wire techniques I've been wanting to learn for a long time. I also pulled out the liver of sulphur gel I got from Fundametals.net and oxidized the entire thing, then brushed the high points for depth. Like?

Thanks, Dee! You can see Dee at Runako Designs by Dee.

Finally, a piece that traveled all the way from Korea. I used to live in South Korea, so I have a fondness for this one. Dale sent me a mix of metal pieces she made and some pretty bead soup. She gave me instructions for how the parts were supposed to go together, but when I couldn't find the screws I needed, I got a brain storm as I dug through my watch bits and bobs.

I've long been interested in the steampunk craze, and have a nice collection of old watch parts, but have never used them. I mean, we're talking TINY gears and such. So I pulled those out and used them to connect the frame to the sandwich of silver and brass. See how she stamped "PRETTY" into the silver? Then, I dug even further into my stash and found a Volcano Swarovski crystal to go with her green and purple seed beads and crystals and filled in the frame.

I can't tell you how tickled I am that I even thought of this. I am NOT this type of jewelry designer at all so this really did stretch my horizons. I love it!

It's going to take up permanent residence in my office, on my dressmaker dummy. I made the length of the necklace out of a huge bowl of bead soup I already had, using bits of Dale's green and purple to make it all come together.

Thanks, Dale! Dale can be found at Flights of Fancy.

So there you have it -- my contributions to the party. I hope you liked them. Now go to www.prettythingsblog.com and see what the other 80+ participants made!

The Shipping Muse

2010-02-04T14:51:00.002-05:00

My office, my entire house, really, is full of artsy beauty. My postage scale is no exception. This functional piece of necessary business machinery has its own muse, this lovely mannequin I bought from a neighboring vendor at a craft show. I like to think that every package I send out has first been touched by this sweet headless Victorian Venus de Milo.

Yeah, I'm silly. But silly is good.

I'm here....

2010-01-28T09:18:00.001-05:00

...plugging away at making jewelry for the next two shows....
... working like crazy on preparations for my new web site -- there is a LOT of work involved, but I'm excited about this next step up.

... sending in jewelry for magazine tutorials -- I've got a good line-up for next year.

... writing pages and pages of book outlines in my head. I can't wait to get started!

So many things are going to happen after March 29th, which is not only the day after my last show until September, but is also my 41st birthday. How apt -- newness all over!

Stay tuned for more!

Lori's web site is www.lorianderson.net, and her other blog is www.prettythingsblog.com.

A Productive Weekend

2010-01-25T20:02:00.002-05:00

I got a lot done!

Click here to read!

Chain Maille for Dummies

2010-01-22T18:27:00.002-05:00

Chain Maille for Dummies . In this case, the dummy would be me.

I've made basic chain maille since I started beading. Chain maille is the art of weaving silver jump rings into a repetitive pattern to create a chain, and it was developed hundreds of years ago to create chain maille armor. Lots of traditional patterns translate well into jewelry.

Believe it or not, I don't own a chain maille bracelet. I haven't made myself one even though I've made dozens and dozens for customers.

Enter Chain Maille for Dummies.

I often bite off more than I can chew. I look at something and think, "oh yeah, I can do that". Chain maille patterns are either in the public domain or there are tutorials on line for them, so there are directions for every weave you can imagine. So I set out to make a byzantine ladder weave, feeling a little smug because, after all, I've made a bunch of the most basic of bracelets -- The Byzantine.

The ladder weave, however, nearly bested me. I didn't have enough hands, or enough fingers, and most certainly not enough patience. I made all the byzantine lengths, but couldn't hold them in the right orientation to hook them together. I'd hold the pliers, open a ring, and hook the pieces together, then drop the whole mess before I could scoop up another ring and get the orientation back again.

ACK!

I sat in the local coffee shop when I started the bracelet, fully expecting to get it pretty close to done by the time my mocha was finished. Instead, I left in a foul mood with nothing done except a bunch of short Byzantine bits that mocked me the entire way home.

At some point, though, the light bulb went on.

I don't know how, but I got one ladder bit made. Angels sang, martinis were passed, all was merry. And as with most chain maille projects, everything went fast once that first piece of the pattern was started.

Here's what it ended up looking like:

Click the picture for a better peek.

The clasp is an amazing vintage Swarovski crystal:

All in all, worth it. Frustrating? Oh yes. I very nearly quit. In fact, I DID quit at one point and put the whole mess away for a while. I took it out again when I had a fresh mind and had successfully completed some other projects to bolster my confidence - something I think is important to remember when you're facing a fear of tackling a new technique.

Lori Anderson's jewelry can be seen at www.lorianderson.net. Be sure to visit her other blog, Pretty Things.

I made beads today!

2010-01-18T18:48:00.001-05:00

A very fast post because I am exhausted -- not nearly enough sleep this weekend as I worked and worked and then worked some more almost all three days of the long weekend.

BUT!

I finally braved it. After my friend Kendra hooked up my propane, I went out today, took a deep breath, and made beads.

They're still cooking in the kiln, and they are just wonky spacers -- nothing to write home about -- but I DID IT. I conquered my fear of blowing up things and just DID IT.

If you know me well, you know that's HUGE. If you don't, stick around long enough, and you'll realize how terrified I am of trying new things. I want to be able to get it right the first time. I hate failure and flub ups -- I get embarrassed easily. But in the quiet and peace of my little studio, I found myself saying to myself,

"You are going to be good at this."

I hope so. I hope so.

Oh my word.

2010-01-17T20:14:00.001-05:00

I need to get my eyes checked.

I wondered why I wasn't getting any comments on this blog. On my other blog, I get an email letting me know I have a comment that needs approving and I go and read it and approve it. But nothing at all ever came from here.

"How can I have all these subscribers and no comments? I must be REALLY boring," thought I.

Then I checked my account.

And realized, I am indeed either blind, an idiot, or more likely, both.

Because you guys have INDEED been commenting, and have been so incredibly kind and thoughtful and encouraging in your comments. I just forgot to put my email address in and never turned on the "comment approval" thingee.

THANK YOU, from the bottom of my heart.

New Year, New Look

2010-01-17T16:21:00.001-05:00

One of the things on my list for the year is to change the look of my web site, www.lorianderson.net. I designed my original web site in Microsoft FrontPage, and then traded a bunch of beads for the look you see now. It's worked for a while, but now I want to change it up. I'm changing, my jewelry has improved so much over the years, and it's just time.

Launch time won't be until summer -- it's a pretty intensive job, and I'm not doing it, thankfully! -- but I'm so excited, and so looking forward to it!

How to Store Art Supplies

2010-01-15T22:52:00.001-05:00

Part of getting ready for new artistic ventures is getting my proverbial ducks in a row. Even as I prepare hard and fast for two of my five shows for the year, I'm gathering the goodies for the classes I'll be taking. Paint, metal stamps, glass - it's accumulating fast.

One of the issues is figuring out how to STORE all this stuff, these growing assortments of beautiful things that await metamorphosis into a different type of loveliness.

I've started random collections throughout the house. Here, lovely jars from Pottery Barn full of yarn, waiting for a class in sock knitting....

The yarn was just too pretty to put away in a box, so for now, they're filling up these jars. Speaking of jars, I found a vintage fruit jar and I'm using it to hold a treasure-trove of glass rod ends that I was given by a lovely blog reader. I'm holding on to them for a bit, just waiting to mash them up and turn them into frit.

Storing your art supplies this way may not be practical. Don't get me wrong -- all of my stash is most certainly NOT on display. Most, in fact, is packed into boxes and unceremoniously shoved under beds or into closets. But considering the beauty we make WITH the tools of our trade, doesn't it stand to reason that they would be beautiful, too?

So choose a few. Find an unusual way to make them an everyday part of your decor. Who knows? It might just be the gentle nudge you need to try that new project you've been meaning to start.

Lori Anderson's jewelry can be seen at www.lorianderson.net. Her other blog is www.prettythingsblog.com.

Another class -- enameling

2010-01-14T22:01:00.001-05:00

(enameled heart by Barbara Lewis)

Keeping true to my word that I'm going to stretch my skills, I've signed up for yet another class, this one with Barbara Lewis of Jewelry of Distinction. She was recently featured in Belle Armoire magazine, and I'm so excited to get to take this class -- not just so I can learn metal enameling, but because I'll get to meet some of my online blogging friends!

I'm pretty proud of myself for jumping in with both feet and signing up for classes. With five classes scheduled already for this year, I'm taking as many as I've taken in the past five years! I think the next class I'll be looking for is a lampwork class, but I'll wait a while for that, taking the time instead to explore and play on my own for a while to get the basics handily under my belt before venturing into a classroom setting.

I'm on my way, baby step by baby step.

So how are you doing?

You can see my work at www.lorianderson.net, and read my other blog at www.prettythingsblog.com.

Wire Woes

2010-01-12T09:45:00.002-05:00

Aaaaand, this is what happens when you clip the beginning of a spool of aluminum wire without holding onto it.

An Artist Needs a New Look

2010-01-09T16:42:00.002-05:00

Not only do I want to reinvent my jewelry, but I want to reinvent myself -- just a bit.

I've already been working out, something I used to do with a slightly frightening passion in my 20's but dropped with astonishing suddenness in my 30's. Changing my body is just going to take too long, though, so the next thing on the list? The hair.

My hair is naturally dark brown. I've always secretly admired people who rocked purple hair, wild streaks of bright color -- women with rebelliously beautiful locks. I've never felt cool enough to try it out myself, and honestly never wanted to draw that much attention to my face. Crazy jewelry? Sure, I can pull that off with no problem. People notice the jewelry, not the person wearing it. But do something to draw attention to ME? Scary.

I have a super stylist, and last appointment, she gave me highlights in the auburn color I craved -- just a little taste to let me get used to the idea of fun. Thursday, I took the plunge and went for it. I'm now officially auburn with strawberry blond highlights.

The photo doesn't do the color justice, but I can tell you that it did take me about a day to get used to. I'd catch a glimpse of myself in the rear view mirror and think, "Woah. What did you do???" But now, I like it. I feel like an artist. I feel
like just because I have red hair, by default I'm fierce and confident and creative.

Amazing what a bottle of hair color can do.

Where to Start?

2010-01-07T12:54:00.001-05:00

Over the past few years, I've collected what seems like tons of tutorials and books -- everything from wire work to lampwork, metalsmithing to beadweaving. I have a huge three-ring binder that houses only a portion of these tutorials, and facing that notebook, the shelves of books, and my clock can be daunting.

Where in the world to start?

Out comes the trusty day planner.

I started flipping through the weeks, writing down on random days random tutorials. "Try spiral beadweaving" reads one. "Experiment with etching metal" reads another.

(Etched charms by Jeannette Blix).

I already use a lot of wire work in my normal day-to-day designs, but I want to use more intricate designs, so I didn't write this down, knowing that after my show in March, trying those techniques will just be a natural process.

Ditto for lampwork. My work bench faces the glass doors that lead out into the backyard, and I face the glass studio every single time I sit at the table, so it's hard to ignore that building calling to me. Besides, I know that once I light up the torch for the first time, the siren call of glass rods and colorful frit will be impossible to ignore.

(Shed before it was rebuilt for the lampwork studio.)

Starting anything is usually the hardest part, whether it's starting a diet, starting a marathon, or starting a new chapter in your life. If you're new to jewelry design, don't wait. Don't tell yourself, "I can't". Make an appointment on your calendar, a date with yourself, and start. Take that first step.

Lori Anderson's jewelry can be seen at www.lorianderson.net. Her other blog can be read at www.prettythingsblog.com.

Organizing the Day

2010-01-04T14:40:00.003-05:00

In order to make the best of my days and not waste too much time, I've decided to organize my design time and other activities with a daily calendar.

As with everything in my office and studio, I had to find a pretty one. I settled on one from Papaya Art.

I think it's the perfect daily journal for a year of exploration, don't you?

Instead of just writing down "make jewelry", I drill down even further. "Make larimar jewelry", or "make earrings". Then I have a focus, and can get more done than if I just opened up my many drawers of beads and got lost in all the possibilities. Too often, I realize I've gotten distracted and have hardly made anything.

I'll also write down "appointments" for reading my art books, and once I get past my two craft shows, I'll schedule deadlines for trying new techniques. Once they're committed to paper, it's harder to ignore or forget about them

I hope this new way of organizing my time will work. I'm an avid list maker, but my lists tend to become huge and therefore completely overwhelming. By using a daily calendar that only allows a few lines, I think I'll be able to stick to it.

Let me know if you've been using this method, or plan to try this technique. Think it might work for you?

Lori Anderson's jewelry can be seen at www.lorianderson.net. Her other blog is www.prettythingsblog.com.

A Production Day

2010-01-02T19:04:00.001-05:00

Even though this is my year of exploring new techniques, there's not a thing wrong with doing what I've been doing. I make pretty jewelry (at least, I think so!) and I do have two shows coming up in February and March. My inventory is practically nil, so I have to work hard to get ready. The good thing is that once the show in March is done, my next one isn't until the end of September -- lots of time to experiment and play.

So today I spent some time making my normal style of jewelry, but I've found myself looking at it all with a new eye. As I make things, I see ways that I can change them down the road, and I'm drawing designs in my sketch book for later.

Not a bad day's work.

You can visit my web site at www.lorianderson.net and read my other blog at www.prettythingsblog.com.

Today Starts a New Adventure

2010-01-01T14:16:00.001-05:00

Today starts a new adventure! I've decided to chronicle my New Year's Resolution of taking time off from my usual killer craft show schedule and spend this year exploring new jewelry techniques and new art forms. I'm still doing some shows, but I chose carefully and completely avoided the brutally hot and logistically nasty summer shows.

I'm pretty much a self-taught jewelry designer and have only taken a couple of classes in the past six years. This year, though, I've already signed up for four classes. Sure, I have a ton of books bought and ready to be read, but signing my name and pulling out the credit card commits me to the task in a way that a stack of books doesn't.

In April, I'm attending BeadFest in King of Prussia, PA, and I'll be taking two metalsmithing classes with Tracy Stanley. One is her "Riveted Pendant" class, where I'll learn to make this:

and her "Riveted Links and Rings" class, where I'll learn to make this:

I'm really excited, because while I know how to solder and cut things with a saw, I don't know much about cold connections or stamping, and there are so many applications I have in mind for these techniques. Check out www.beadfest.com for the other BeadFest shows and classes!

I've also decided that this is the year I'm REALLY going to jump out of my creative box and try an art form that I've always admired but have NO background in -- altered art. I got over my fears of inadequacy, bit the bullet, and signed up for two artistic journaling classes at the Art and Soul Retreat in Hampton, VA in May.

First, "Journal Spilling Watercolor" with Diana Trout....

And "Inspired Journaling: Every Single Day!" by Melanie Testa.

Both classes use watercolors, pen and ink, ephemera, gesso, and imagination to create journal pages that are works of expressive art. My hope is to find a voice within so I can create art on a smaller scale, drawing and painting little bitty pieces that can be soldered behind glass for pendants.

So that's the very beginning of my journey. I'm excited to see where this all leads me.

If you'd like to stretch your creative wings,
join my Bead Soup Blog Party at my other blog
by clicking here.

A New Adventure Starts Soon.....

2009-12-10T20:02:00.001-05:00

Starting January 1st, 2010, I begin a new adventure.

After five years of 15-20 craft shows a year, I am tired. I've cut back my showings drastically, and have decided that this is my year to explore.

My year to hone my skills.

My year to learn new things.

I'm nervous, and apprehensive, and more than a little scared.

But it's now or never!

Join me, won't you?

Lori Anderson designs jewelry full time. Her work can be seen at www.lorianderson.net.