New Creations

Jade, who owns 5280 Platinum Studios next door, has commissioned two pieces from me. The first is a pair of earrings to match the beautiful silver and gold bracelet that her husband bought her for their anniversary, and the second is a necklace that hasn't even begun to make its way to fruition yet.
So we'll start with the earrings: First I made a short version which I really do love in all antiqued silver.
The bracelet has the CZ's surrounded by a gold bezel, so I decided to make the same earring in the same silver, only with a little gold bezel near the crystal so that they would match. That little change let to a much more bold earring as pictured here:
I love them! They are very sweepy and dangly, but they aren't heavy at all. I plan on keeping this style in my line-up. I haven't come up with a name yet.

Thus far, Gaslight Globes, Fun Globes, and Cats Eye Crystal have been suggested, along with Deux Jolies (which means two pretty in French). Any additions?

I Spy Treasury

I am honored to be included in an Etsy Treasury named 'I Spy' by curator Katnawlins. One of my Mata Hari Bindi Boxes was featured here (my favorite bellydancing spy!). You can view the whole treasury here.

Blog Challenge: 10 Weeks to go!

Two whole weeks are down in my challenge to create a cleaner, and slightly functioning bead room from the disaster area it had become.

I began by cleaning off a small space to put a bead mat on in the work station area, then proceeded to clean off the workstation table a bit at a time. This is what I came up with by the end of the first week and a half.

I know it doesn't look like much to your neater folk, but it's a big improvement over the old clutter. For one, I can actually bead at this station! Maybe I'll actually get some work done this week...crazy, I know, but you never know ;)

The Peacock Shop is 6 Months Old!

Many of you know that I own a bead shop called The Peacock Shop. My little bead shop has grown from a corner of my livingroom, to its own bead room,to a kiosk in a bitty mall, to its current incarnation (and first storefront location) a 170 sq.ft. shop. My goal is to continue growing incrimentally until I have a mini Beadlush (a wonderful bead shop that I used to work at, located in Charlotte,NC. Stop by to see Lydia, Vanessa, and the girls if you're ever in town;). Eventually I would like my shop to occupy around 1500-2000 sq ft, but I've got a long way to go!

What am I doing to ensure survival? you ask....On top of working my 45 hour week as the sole (yet unpaid) employee of the shop, and lone teacher of classes both public and private. I often wander home at the end of the day and continue working (bagging, tubing, pricing, searching for the next cool thing) until it's time for me to pass out, and do it all over again. My 'days off' are spent taking pictures to list on one of my Etsy sites (Gypsybeads and ThePeacockShop, if you're interested), testing class 'ideas', and sometimes teaching private lessons. I blog, I Tweet, I update my shop's Facebook Page a couple times a day most 'working' days. I host Crafternoons, I teach at bead shows, as well as the shop, and sell my jewelry in person at shows both night and day. In my 'spare' time I come up with new ideas for classes and kits, and teach private lessons. Recently I've been working with Bead Unique Magazine in the hopes of getting some of my work published more nationally.

For those of you who are wondering: Yes, I am married, Yes, I do make time to 'be married', and Yes, I am exhausted most of the time....but I'm hoping it will pay off in the end :)

How do I do it? With the world's most fantastic support group, of course! From my best friend Shannon who gives advice both personal and professional, and is always ready with a Margarita, to my husband who seems to understand when I need to just run with something, and not be bothered, to my wonderful beaders and crafters who purchase things from my brick and mortar and online shops, and let me know what they want the next 'big thing' to be, I thank you all! I really couldn't have done it without you.

So here's to the first 'real' 6 months...May there be many more to come!