I've blogged about this before

Naming beads is another challenge for me. I guess I have another goal to write. So much for going to etsy quite yet to list a set of beads.

This is a bead I made that has been influenced by a fabulous boro artist named Pipyr. She did write a tutorial on how to make her creatures. However, that is one tutorial I didn't buy because her work is done primarily in boro, and I use soft glass to make my beads. I took a chance and decided to try to make my creature without purchasing the tutorial. I used two transparent colors to make my Creature. That helped because transparent colors are a bit more stiff than the opaque colors. This is the result. I really do like my creature, and when I wear it, I always receive compliments.
To make a long story short, this is my creature, but I dont' have a name for it. I'd like to name it. It might be female. Do you see what might be a baby bump near it's tail? I'm not sure, though since I don't know the anatomy of this creature.

This brings me to my goal of developing more creative names for my pieces of work. How am I going to do that?

Goal: To develop more creative names for my beads by January of 2009.
I've given myself a year to accomplish this goal. Again, it's a reasonable amount of time.

1) I will search the internet for creative names.
That is something I am able to do. I have, in the past, found websites that are nothing but names for children and pets. I have also looked at song names. In truth, I have found that creative names attract lookers. By attracting more window shoppers, I am hoping to increase my sales, too.

2) Lately, since my bead naming muse has gone on vacation, I must develop other resources.
You know that when you post comments on a blog, there is often a computer generated series of letters that you must type in to be able to post. Some of these would make great names for beads.
So, in order to develop more interesting bead names, I will write down these computer generated words and play with the words to develop interesting bead names.
Here are some examples that I have been collecting.
Ented, Pesse, Litym, Nonia, Ineurse
I think those could be interesting names for beads.
As I look at my creature, I am thinking Ented might be it's name. What do you think?

3) I will keep a journal of interesting names that I find or develop independently.
That is something I can do.

4) I will use these words to name my beads, if the bead seems to fit the name. That is a bit of a conundrum, isn't it? How will I know? I think the name will feel right.

All right, that is goal two of my 2009 creative goals. I am, again, always open to suggestions on how to achieve these goals. I do like the name Nonia far better than red and blue bead.

I forgot to mention, two artists that I feel are absolutely fabulous at naming beads and scultures are Angelinabeadalina and Deb Batten of FireBirdFlameWork. Check out their etsy stores, and you'll see what I mean.

Rambling Thoughts on a Warm Cold Day

As I write this, I am writing for tomorrow. Right now, it's today. When you read this, it will be tomorrow.

At the present time, it's 25 degrees outside. That's very good considering how cold it's been. Tonight, our low will be 4 degrees, and our high tomorrow will be 5 with a lot of wind. Brrrrrrrrrr! I'd rather stay home, but I will have to go out.

The discs you see in this picture will be listed in my etsy store by tomorrow, I hope. When I finish with this post, I hope to go to etsy and list them.

Topic here: setting goals for 2009.

I've been thinking about these things a lot today. I don't know why. They just seemed important to mull in my mind while I worked.
Marcy of Studio Marcy has increased my awareness of the need to set goals not only for business purposes but for our creative endeavors. I've been thinking about that a lot, and as a former special ed teacher, I am well aware of how a goal should be written.
A goal needs to be measurable. A goal needs to be realistic. A goal needs to be achievable.
Whew! That's a lot for one year.
Although I need to set more goals, and I will, this is the one I need to work on the most at this time.
Goal: To improve the quality of my bead photos by 80%.
Now, how am I going to achieve this goal? How long will I give myself to achieve this goal? How will I know that I have achieved this goal?

1) By January of 2010, I will have improved my bead photos by 80%.
(So, I'm giving myself one whole year to accomplish this.)

2) I will practice with my camera using different functions of the camera each time I take photographs.
(I honestly don't know how to use all the functions of the camera nor do I know what they are for.)
All right, that's something I can do.

3) When possible, I will use my tripod to insure that my photos are not blurry when I download them into my computer.
(I have two different tripods, but I rarely use either of them.) Again, that is something I can do.

4) I will work on ways to improve the lighting I use when I shoot photos of my beads.
(This is a real challenge for me. DD gave me a photo tent that she was making me for Xmas. She had some more work to do to finish it. When I get it back, then I will use the photo tent and work on ways to improve my lighting.) This is reasonable. If anyone has any suggestions about lighting, I am so open to help on this one. I think this is reasonable, and I think it's achievable. It will just take a lot of work to complete.

5) I will shoot at least 10 photos of each bead.
That shouldn't be difficult.

6) I will try to use some creative and innovative ways to shoot a bead.
That's where I might need a little help. Any ideas? I'm open to them.

7) I will make and use a photo journal to review my progess at least once every two months. By using the photo journal I will be able to, subjectively, assess whether I have achieved my 80% goal.
Does that sound reasonable?

Well, now, that goal alone should keep me busy for 2009! If you have any suggestions, please tell me. I will need the help.

And when I develop more goals, I will blog about the goal or goals and the way or ways I plan to achieve them. It's just the special ed teacher in me coming out again. She does that.

Now wouldn't that make a great bead? How would you make a special education teacher bead? I think I'll have to work on that too.

My Name is Tommy

And I hate the one who writes this blog. Well, perhaps, not all of her, but when I am at my house, I hate her right hand. When I am at her house, I truly dislike her. That human does not belong to me, totally, but her daughter does. I like he daughter. She does my bidding, and her hands are nice. I don't hate either of her hands. She feeds me. She takes care of me. I don't like it when she takes me to the vet, but I will tolerate it as long as that human does not stick his finger up my, well, you know. It is most undignified. Where is the food he should be giving me? Why does the mother of the human I have not understand when I tell her my bidding? Perhaps she is slow. My human is not.



This is my human. Her mother does not understand me, but my human does. I don't like it when we go to see her mother. When I see her mother, I hiss and let her know that I dislike her. I also try to bite her right hand. She knows why I don't like her right hand. My human tells me to be good, but I am not the problem. Here is the problem.











I believe they call it Spike. It smells. I don't like it. It comes and barks at me, and I hiss at it. It is a creature that should stay away from me. My human's mother seems to like this creature. I don't know why. I can smell this creature when she comes into my room to say good night or to pet me. I smell her hand, and I don't like that creature they call a Spike. He is most undignified. Why can't he meow and speak cat? Slow creature! Enough of him!









This is Marvin. He is my adopted brother. He is much more shy than I am. When my human's creature comes to the our house, he hides. He, also, smells the creature. Marvin has, at times, allowed the mother of my human to give him a hello backrub. I have allowed it, too, but not with her right hand. She does know why I hate her right hand. I allow her left hand to touch me. Marvin is much younger than I am. He thinks he's the boss, but I have to show him that I am. He doesn't complain much about our human mother's house, but when she comes in, he looks at me to see if it's okay for her to pet him.






I'm tired now. Enough of this. We shall return in the future. My human's mother thinks we're cute. We know we are. We shall return. Oh, my, I can smell that creature!

Getting Ready for a Lampwork Bead Exchange

When I looked at my list, I went, "Oh, my." The due dates are coming up, and it's time to get the exchanges ready to go. Hopefully, tomorrow, or the next day 3 of my 5 exchanges will be in the mail. What is a bead exchange? There are two forums to which I belong where a lampworker can sign up to participate in an exchange. The rules vary slightly, but they are all about the same. Make "X" number of beads, mail then in along with a SASE (Self Addressed Stamped Envelope) and you will receive the same number in return. There is always a due date. Of the 5, what was I thinking, that are due at the end of January, 3 are ready to go.

Here's a photo. You can probably guess the names of, at least, two to the exchanges: The cat bead exchange, The Heart Bead Exchange, and, last but not least, Love is in the Air Exchange. I made a conscious decision last year to begin sending in only the minimum number of beads. I love the beads I receive in return. I don't think there's been a dud in the multitude of exchanges in which I have participated. However, this year, one of my goals, is to get all of my "things" under control. Now, the minimum number of beads to be sent in for the exchanges is 3. The extra beads are a small thank you for the hostesses with the mostesses who take care of the work of sorting, repackaging, and resending all the beads that come to their house. Thank you, dear hostesses.

So, what do I need to do to get ready for an exchange?
1) Make the beads. All right, I've done that. Now what?
2) Next I need evelopes. I need to have two evelopes, usually, two different sizes of padded envelopes. The bigger one is to mail everything in. The smaller one is for my return beads.


















3) Next, I need some small plastic bags in which to place my beads before I get them ready to mail.


















4) You'll notice that one of the bags has a label on it. That is the next step in the process. I label all my plastic bags so that the hostess will be able to identify my beads. I guess I need to make some labels.
I put a different label on each side of the plastic bag. One has my user name, the other is a copy of my business card. We all have to advertise, right?














5) Now, I need something in which to ship my beads so that they will arrive safely at the home of the hostess. She also then uses the same box for my return beads. I use these sturdy, little, white jewelry boxes to protect my beads.


















6) Lastly, I write a short note to the hostess on my postcards.


















Well, as much as I would like to stay and chat. I have my evening's work cut out for me! I need to get to work! I still have to make the beads for two more exchanges. I know I'll be glad that I did, in the end, but right now, what was I thinking?

How Spike and I Spent New Year's Eve

You got it! We slept the New Year in! Spike didn't really like the fact that I had to share the bed with him, but he was willing to tolerate me as long as he was comfortable. You'd think he was a cat! Oh, well, Happy 2009!