Not To Brag Or Anything, But…

The Bead Society of Orange County hosted a bead challenge this fall. They gave us a packet of purple seed beads and lavender flower beads, with the instructions that we had to use at least 75% of those beads, plus any other beads we wanted, in whatever colors we chose. There were six categories, including bead weaving and novice~I chose Wire Work. And, woo hoo, I won!

I had a lot of fun with the challenge. The flower beads are really made more for bead weaving and flat projects, I think, so they truly were a challenge. I didn't want to just string them (although after seeing some of the projects, people got truly creative with their stringing!), so I used a funny technique I saw earlier this year. I put a fire polished glass bead on the end of a head pin, followed by one of the flower beads and a metal spacer for some stability. Then I "curled" the head pin and bent it up so the flower would face outward, not just dangle down.

I'd been think about how to use the seed beads and I didn't have a lot of choices since I was using a lot of chain. Again, head pins to the rescue! I threaded a bunch of the seed beads onto a long head pin, made loops at both ends and then bent the head pin into zig zags. Connected them with more curled wire. Pretty different and I think that got me some extra points! And my BFF has already asked me for a zig zag necklace!

 

I worked on the necklace a little bit every night for a few weeks, making components with crystals and headpins and eventually connecting it all with jump rings. I knew I’d need components to attach the three strands and when I saw the round silver connectors that looked like flowers, I knew I’d found the perfect ones.

For the focal piece, I took a length of chain and kept adding flowers and seed beads and crystals until it was full and lush.

Here I am with three other category winners, including Cindy Carpenter (left), who won the big prize~a jar filled with beads, tools and other crafty necessities. I’m jealous!

But I was very happy with my $50 gift card to Brea Bead Works. And all but $1.55 is already spent! On tools for my next class and seed beads to make some more zig zag things. And a wire jewelry magazine. And some other cools beads… Well, I had a 20% off coupon and, really, you didn’t expect me to just let it burn a hole in my pocket, did you?!

Do What You Love!

http://www.bearchick.etsy.com/

http://www.bearchicksundries.etsy.com/

I Love to Learn!

A few weeks ago, I took a metals class to make two pendants and I'm totally hooked!

You know how you can see a demonstration and understand how something works but you don't really "get it" until you do it for yourself? That's what happened to me. Actually being able to saw and stamp and hammer and texturize was a revelation! Some things, like chainmaille, I can learn from a book but metal work has lots of tools and banging and filing--this was something I had to be walked through patiently.

I was fortunate enough to find a great class at Brea Bead Works, with Candace White Steppes teaching.

Candace creates a fun learning environment, where you're not intimidated or afraid to make a mistake.

The coolest thing I learned was how to rivet. Just call me Rosie! Being able to connect two pieces together without soldering is a technique that I hope will catapult me to a new level of design work. I need a few more little tools and a drill. The Husband owes me some birthday shopping. Hmmmm :-)

Here's a bunch of the tools I have now, at the bench at Brea Bead Works:

And here's the pendants I took away with me:

I've managed to finish one, with a fire polished glass embellishment and chain, that's actually wearable:

I discovered this weekend that I have a device that makes holes in copper!

I think I bought it in a metal stamping frenzy last year but didn't realize it's significance until now. I have some of those souvenir squished pennies you get at amusement parks with their logo's on them, so I made some holes in those (soon to be bracelets/necklaces!). And then I tried it on my 22 gauge copper, where it worked like a champ. So I made a few holes in the second pendant. Ummm… I think I need a center punch, to make a starting point to line up the bit… Suffice to say, I'll be wearing that one around the house only!

Here's my advice: If there's something you want to learn and there's a class you can afford, go! Not only will you learn something new, it will probably give you a welcome dose of inspiration for your other talents as well!

 

Do What You Love!

 

http://www.bearchick.etsy.com/

http://www.bearchicksundries.etsy.com/

PS--Everything is 10% off at Bearchick.Etsy.com!

Bear Chick~The Wonder Years

*sigh*

This is almost as bad as showing my high school pictures!!

Here I am at the first show I ever did, at the clubhouse where I live:

Ah, simple stringing, necklaces and bracelets. I sold quite a bit and it encouraged me to actually get my business license and get serious about jewelry making. I think that's a piece of foam board beneath the fabric… Oh, the innocence!

And here I am at a monthly art fair that the Muckenthaler Cultural Center in Fullerton used to hold on their beautiful property:

We got a canopy and real tables and everything! I was experimenting with different props and creating levels on the table for visual interest. I'm the first to admit that I'm not the best merchandiser around…

And we sold a few times at The Rose Bowl Antique Swap Meet in Pasadena, where they had a handmade section:

Ye gods! You had to be there at 5 in the morning (earlier if you were doing antiques) but you got to keep your car with you and the foot traffic was wild. It was a great experience. And it must have been pre-canopy because we only had the big umbrella. A canopy definitely defines your space better…

Of course, these shows were all pre-Etsy! I don't do a lot of shows these days. For someone working full time (knock wood!), it's more time consuming than I'm willing to deal with and right now, in this economy, it's a bit hit and miss. But my canopy and tables and velveteen fabric, jewelry busts, props and trays are just waiting for their next outing!

Do What You Love!

http://www.bearchick.etsy.com/

http://www.bearchicksundries.etsy.com/

How Bear Chick Got Her Name

I'm asked a lot how I came up with the name Bear Chick. When I was trying to think of a name for the business, I was concentrating on my height. Or rather my lack of height… Short Stuff Jewelry, Little Bit Jewels, things like that. But I really wanted the name to be more specific to me. I thought and worried and fussed and one day, it came to me. I should use the endearment The Husband called me. Bear Chick.

 

BEAR-When we were young, we called each other Tigger and Pooh Bear. Cue the chorus of Awwwwww's… Pooh Bear eventually devolved to Bear.

CHICK-He doesn't remember how that got tacked onto Bear, but it does mean girl, so it's fitting.

 

He actually bought me a bear dressed up as a chick but I can't find it… Here's a picture:

The actual business name is Bear Chick Originals. For a while, I combined the jewelry business with a since defunct home redesign business and I dropped the Originals so there would be less confusion. Now I still have only Bear Chick on my business cards and banners. I like that it's short and sweet!


I have to say that Bear Chick is a fairly memorable name--many times people will see me at an event and remember the name from years past. You have to admit, it's not a name you hear every day.

 

Oh, and I have to be very careful to spell out the name if I'm saying it to someone… Otherwise, it sounds quite risque!

Do What You Love!

http://www.bearchick.etsy.com/

http://www.bearchicksundries.etsy.com/

The Necklace That Started It All

10 years ago, I took a bead stringing class at a community center. That started me on a path strewn with beads, findings, pliers and cutters. And the path continues ever onward!

Here is the first necklace I made in that fateful class:

 

No giggling! The design is not really that great… It's not very well balanced but… it's still in one piece and it's purple!

I remember when the jewelry bug first bit me, I would be up till all hours, beading and beading and beading. The hours sped by in those early days. That's a sign of something that really has a hold on you--losing track of time. I think most people who start an art/hobby based business probably tell a very similar story--"I couldn't stop doing _____________(fill in the blank: jewelry, collages, art) and had to sell what I made just so I could buy more materials to play with!"

Fast forward: I was just at the hardware store today, buying tools for my next jewelry challenge--cold connecting metals. I’m a little nervous--it looks labor and strength intensive but my goal is to find a medium that I can make my own. Right now, I consider myself a jewelry composer--using other people’s materials to create jewelry. I’ve been searching for “my” medium for a long time. I’ve learned that clay and glass are not my thing but wire and jump rings are. I’m hoping that metal work will be another of “my” mediums. I’ll let you know next weekend how that works out!

 

During this 10th anniversary month, I’ll be posting some Bear Chick history. Even though I’m not a household name, in the last 10 years my jewelry has shipped all around the world. That amazes me! And even though my jewelry business doesn’t support me, it’s an accomplishment to still be here, doing what I love and connecting with people on a global level. What a pleasure it’s been and I hope will continue to be!

I wish you all a pursuit that you love and that compels you to expand your knowledge and talents. It’s been a very satisfying and sometimes challenging 10 years!

 

Do What You Love!

http://www.bearchick.etsy.com/

http://www.bearchicksundries.etsy.com/