Saturday, September 25, 2010

If Filene’s Can Do It, So Can I!


Artfire, the artisan website I’ve had a love them/love them not relationship with, recently offered a $5.95/month pro plan, where you don’t pay to post items and you don’t pay a fee when something sells. They’ve been in Beta (a test phase) for a year or two, really concentrating on attracting sellers with their tools that Etsy doesn’t have, like sale and BOGO banners and sections, coupons and the ability to import items straight from Etsy (a big help when I migrated things this morning-more on that later). Once out of Beta, they’ll be concentrating on getting more traffic to their site, which is one of the big seller complaints at this point. The deal ends September 30, so if you're interested, get on board soon!



So, here’s what I decided to do. Artfire is now Bear Chick’s Bargain Basement! I really wanted to clean up my Etsy shop, keeping the newer items with the best pictures. This morning, I “imported” all my sale and older items to Artfire. Most of what’s there is on sale, plus a couple of things I posted there recently. Everything is quality merchandise, just with older pictures that aren’t quite as clear and sharp as my newer photos. Given the choice between taking new photos of everything or using that time to create new jewelry, well, you can see what I chose!

On sale for $6!


When you get a chance, take a look at Bear Chick’s Bargain Basement. I’m planning to add items as I’m going through inventory during the fall. And if you’re looking for affordable holiday gifts, bookmark both my Etsy shop and the Artfire shop for all your gift giving. If you find things you want in both shops, let me know before you buy and I’ll make you a special listing on Artfire (where you don’t need to be a member to buy) so it will be one order with the lowest shipping I can figure.


PS-for my non-US friends, Filene's is the Cadillac of Bargain Basement stores!

Do What You Love!

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Flattery or Rip Off?


For years, I've read tales of woe in the Etsy forums about designs for everything from jewelry to tote bags being stolen, copied, ripped off. But I never thought it would happen to me…

A couple of nights ago, I was searching around Etsy and found this:



Terrible picture but a complete copy of my Peacocks Pride Handmade Chain Necklace , that I listed August 7. The colors are the same and the size of jump rings, small colored ones connected with the larger silver, just can't be a coincidence.



So, should I be flattered or angry? If this person had been influenced by my design, why didn't she use different colors or make the design her own in some way? We're all influenced by what's around us but if she considers herself to be a jewelry designer, she's got a lot to learn about making a design unique to herself.

Legally, there isn't a whole lot I can do. She has copied some other designer's work as well but none of it is copyrighted. I may write to her and let her know that what she's doing is ethically not cool. If she's going to use someone else's work as a base, at least add her own touch and make it different. The fact that mine is a necklace and hers is an anklet is not "different" enough. If you're going to be a "designer", then design!

End of rant…

Do What You Love~But Make It Your Own!

Sunday, September 12, 2010

The Jetsons Would Be Proud


Ok, I'm probably a little behind with technology but we recently got a phone that accesses the internet, lets me Facebook and Twitter with abandon and other things I haven't even thought about accessing yet, like downloading music, uploading pictures and getting around with the GPS.

The Husband and I are actually sharing the phone, although I'll have it most of the time since I have the online shops. He'll take it when he needs to be somewhere he's never been (GPS) or when he's got a show he wants to record and upload to YouTube right away.


Why I wanted a multi-purpose phone (any technology beyond a VHS player I consider in the realm of the fantastical world of The Jetsons):

1. It's getting harder to access email at work, so I wanted to be able to pick up business emails right away.

2. When we're away from home, whether for the afternoon or on vacation, I can now be connected with the world! We've never gotten the hang of wireless, even though The Husband has a laptop. This means I don't have to put my Etsy shops on vacation while we're away because I'll be able to convo buyers with info whether I'm watching dolphin shows or standing in line at the grocery store.

3. This phone has GPS capabilities for The Husband, who, and I say this with affection, is Directionally Challenged.

4. I wanted to have a presence during the day on Twitter and Facebook for the business (and, ok, for friends…)

5. Dang it, I just wanted to be one of the Cool Kids Who Are Connected.

I have a really ginormous learning curve with things like this, so I work at something until I’m so frustrated that I want to throw the device, then I start again when I'm calm. This led me to comment on Facebook that it's times like these that I regret not having kids because it would be helpful to have a teenager to explain all this stuff. I had at least 8 people comment back that all I was missing was the eye rolling, sighing and derisive behavior they get from their smart alecky children when they make the mistake of asking for tech assistance! LOL! Of course, this is probably the description of me The Husband would give when he asks ME for tech help…

So, the phone and I are slowly getting to know each other. My next hurdle is downloading the Facebook app for photos, so I'll be able to upload pix from the road. You feint of heart folks, cover your sensitive ears! I'm goin' in!

Do What You Love!

Saturday, September 11, 2010

A Froggy Day in the Neighborhood

We took a trip to Muzeo today in Anaheim, to see A Chorus of Color, the frog exhibit that ends tomorrow. You may remember my trips to see the Napoleon exhibit earlier this year NAP1 and NAP2~same wonderful museum space. Next month begins a great looking exhibit on Russian Icons.


Anyway, A Chorus of Color was a blast. And today and tomorrow, it's underwritten by Bank of America, so it's free and free is good! I read a lot of froggy facts but I'm not an authority so I'm just going to show, not tell :-) Enjoy!




At the Beginning


Frog imitation... Very flattering...

Little green frogs. They don't even look real...

This one looked like origami...


Tomato frogs.

Peekaboo!


A friendly lookin' fella.


DANGER! DANGER!!

They may be pretty but there's enough venom in these gorgeous guys to kill 10 humans!

These look like cricket legs to me...

The second building at Muzeo is now hosting Mirada's, Mexican Art from the Bank of America Collection. This whimsical piece is by Alejandro Colunga.


Trust me to find the bling! I think this is a Miss Anaheim crown.

Oooo, he just couldn't resist...

So, if you're ever in the Anaheim area (think Disneyland), spend a few hours at this awesome little museum. I'm sure there'll be something that will spark your interest!

Do What You Love!

www.bearchick.etsy.com
www.bearchickart.etsy.com
www.bearchicksundries.etsy.com

Friday, September 10, 2010

Sometimes Things Just Don't Work


Here's one from the "What Was I Thinking??" file…

This is a necklace I made a few weeks ago.



I kept looking at it, thinking there was something not quite right about it. The green chain bothered me but it wasn't until I took pictures that I finally realized that there isn't actually a whole lot of green in the dragonfly tiles I was using. I could have sworn there was when I was creating the piece!


Well, I couldn't very well put that out into the world! So I rummaged through my Cool Colors box and came up with these resin beads in a similar green. Better, yes?


Now, I have to make a necklace with the dragonflies because they're so pretty! Stay tuned…

Do What You Love!


www.bearchick.etsy.com
www.bearchickart.etsy.com
www.bearchicksundries.etsy.com

Monday, September 6, 2010

What I Learned from My First Teaching Experience


I taught my first jewelry class this summer, choosing to tackle a pretty chainmaille pattern. Here’s the pattern, called Celeste:


The class was given through the Bead Society of Orange County, upstairs at the Bowers Museum. It almost made me nervous that I wasn’t really nervous! I felt comfortable with the pattern, since I’d won second place at the OC Fair this year with a necklace that included 4 sets of it. And these were women who wanted to learn it and I knew they’d be supporting me as much as I was going to support them.


Sorry, I was too busy to take pictures!


Here’s what I learned/enjoyed:


1. Don’t give out the instruction sheets until everyone is there. I gave them out as people paid and then I had folks half finished by the time the last arrivals were ready to start.


2. Instruction sheets are good. I’d done a really detailed instruction sheet with photos taken by The Husband as I made one of the sets. The photos really helped to show people one of the trickier steps of the pattern.


3. It’s fun to see the designs that people come up with.


4. It’s really satisfying to see people walk out of class wearing their creations.


5. One of our members brought her college freshman niece to the class. I didn’t realize until she’d finished her bracelet that she’d never made a piece of jewelry before. I hope that we got her started on a creative path that will bring her satisfaction and joy, just like the first jewelry class I took did.


6. Some people had no problem with the pattern and other people took a few sets to really get it. But seeing those folks “get it” was really cool. It’s delightful to give people knowledge they didn’t have before.


So now, I’m hooked on teaching. Currently, we’re having some transportation issues but when we’re a two car family again, I’m going to actively pursue more teaching. I’ve already got my next Bead Society class lined up for May 2011, teaching the Byzantine pattern! I’d better start planning my instruction sheet now!!


Do What You Love!

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Palm Springs Reunion


A few weeks ago, The Husband and I took a trip to Palm Springs to see my cousin, Paul, visiting from Massachusetts. He and His Dean (since The Husband is also named Dean, this seemed a good way to differentiate The Dean’s…) had come out to Ventura for an anniversary party and drove over to Palm Springs (about a 2 ½ hour journey) on their own for some gambling and visiting. I hadn’t seen Paul in 28 years!! We had such a fun visit!


My Dean, Paul’s Dean, Paul and me

Here we all are at the buffet at the Spa Resort Casino. Four thumbs up for the buffet! Really good food and since it was mid-week, we were able to linger a couple hours at dinner and another couple of hours for breakfast the next day. We gabbed about everything under the sun and The Dean’s have music in common, so they spoke their own language for a while :-)

Did I mention it was over 106 degrees when we got there?! Nobody really wanted to spend a lot of time outdoors but I got The Husband up at 7:30 in the morning to take a walk before the triple digits took hold again. Here we are in silhouette. I’ve been inspired here by Angela Cartwright, who does a whole series of her shadow.


I’m happy to report that downtown Palm Springs seems to be reviving. When we were there last, about a year ago, so many storefronts were empty--so sad to see. This time, we noticed a lot of new stores and restaurants. Of course, I had to snap a pic of the French themed shop!


We caravanned to the Agua Caliente casino the next day and did a little gambling with Paul and His Dean, then said our goodbyes. I hope they come back again, maybe in the winter, when it’s a bit cooler! On our way home, we stopped at the Palm Springs Air Museum, one of The Husband’s favorite places on earth. Here he is, peeking through a plane engine.


And me, at the end of a miniature of Doolittle’s Raid.


That’s what I did on my summer vacation. How about you?

Do What You Love!

Saturday, September 4, 2010

Summer is Waning, Fall is in the Wings


Summer somewhat zapped my blogging ability… It wasn’t a particularly hot summer (thank goodness!) but there’s something about this season that makes me lazy. Lord knows, my school vacations are an affectionate, verrrryyy distant memory. But the desire is reasserting itself to be more present on my blog, so here goes.

I can’t believe it’s September! Time flies, whether you’re having fun or not (thanks, Mary Engelbreit!). Fall and Halloween are almost here, so I’ve been working with all my black, orange and yellow/gold/browns to post on Etsy and get ready for the September Member sale at the Bowers on Sept. 25.

Here’s some of my newest creations for fall:

Lampwork and faceted glass

These beads are so dimensional and soft looking

And here are some sparkly new additions to Etsy:


Handmade Byzantine chainmaille and vintage beads



Vintage Emerald Glass Earrings

Ice Blue Vintage Glass Earrings


We’re actually having a rare heat wave right now but the Weather Channel swears it’ll be in the 70’s by Tuesday. I’m grateful for the mild summer we’ve had! I’ll try to blog more consistently because I really want to. I think I said here once that I’ve always wanted a magazine of my own and this is as close as I can get!

Happy Labor Day weekend!


Do What You Love!