360 degrees

Whoa!

Here it is, my second torch anniversary! So much happened since the last one....mainly me going sculptural big time. It's funny that the torching anniversary matters so much - well, not *so* much (since I can't remember the exact date of my first lesson ;o), but it's a great opportunity to take stock and reflect.

Here are some of the beads I liked most this past year, and thank you to everybody who has shared their knowledge and kindness with me over these past two years, and to the lovely bead collectors and jewellery makers who keep me in glass.

To celebrate, there's a little mailing list competition - join my mailing list by emailing me at mail@littlecastledesigns.co.uk, and everybody on my mailing list by end of August will go in the draw for one set of 5 made-to-order lace beads - winner chooses the colour. :o)

Leaving the comfort zone...

Following on from the last post, I have been - well...busy! Nothing focuses the mind like pending unemployment. So, in addition to launching a full bridal business at www.nowforevermore.com, I have been stocking my derelict etsy store (http://littlecastledesigns.etsy.com), and tried to keep a steady flow both there and on the 'normal' online shop at www.littlecastledesigns.co.uk. If this looks like a long list of links as part of a desperate flogging attempt...well, I guess it is :-) I've noticed a few things, and I don't know what they mean. I know that some beadmakers appear to be working in the shadows, generating a steady stream of income based mainly on commissions which never see the light of day on the general beading circuit. Others twitter and tweet and blog everything they sell. I'm not saying any which way is better or worse than the other, just that there appears to be more than one way to...stuff a mushroom (never liked skinning cats). And so I thought I'd post all links conveniently together :-)

Here's another:

http://bit.ly/FUZbP

It's the URL to an ebay auction finishing a week from today, for a lampwork bead based on Edvard Munch's The Scream. Another funny thing. It looks a bit grubby, but that was entirely deliberate. Should I have tried to 'prettify' it by sticking less closely to the original? I don't know. As it is, I've promised myself to try one 'art bead' based on a famous painting per month, for auction. Let's see what happens, eh?