tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65231446884840106712024-03-13T13:19:42.447-07:00Lisa Kana passion for color, shape, texture and creativityLisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386361971010726098noreply@blogger.comBlogger188125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6523144688484010671.post-67622140894505419932011-01-30T20:26:00.000-08:002011-01-30T20:27:49.591-08:00The Road to Tucson 2011<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEPJU8jcO_NbVh083FcKbMS6Du3suhYDMdQp41r_L_EpEiR6dMnfZUsdOuhzwwB36AIejvmr7Sie3oDeu4zXRIgsoMsUHvIIghbs0_eZF3wTRF7VCjBOu7lVZuTsEPHikLJFzxMHPgRSc/s1600/Saguaro+Tucson+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEPJU8jcO_NbVh083FcKbMS6Du3suhYDMdQp41r_L_EpEiR6dMnfZUsdOuhzwwB36AIejvmr7Sie3oDeu4zXRIgsoMsUHvIIghbs0_eZF3wTRF7VCjBOu7lVZuTsEPHikLJFzxMHPgRSc/s320/Saguaro+Tucson+copy.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Every year's show season for me begins in early February when I trek to Tucson for a week of beads, beads, friends and beads. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Before I tell you about exhibiting at the Best Bead show, I wanted to let everyone know that I have been extremely busy and thus the reason I've neglected this blog for so long. You've heard these comments before about "being extremely busy" but it's true. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There are only so many hours in the day to be creative and I use every ounce of it between all the things I do. The other fact is that I've been more active on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/#%21/lisakandesigns"><b>Facebook</b></a>. Most of the information is duplicated between the blog and my Facebook updates, so here is where I invite you <b><a href="http://www.facebook.com/#%21/lisakandesigns">over there to join me</a>. </b>I will be updating the blog sporadically when there is an upcoming show but for the most part will be devoting more time updating my Facebook page.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I took 2010 off from exhibiting in Tucson, more because my show was canceled and I decided it was time to be on the other side of the booth. So I went visiting friends and just had fun. I missed exhibiting in Tucson but had a longer break without having to prep for the big show over the holidays. So, when my friend Kim Fox <a href="http://www.handfast.biz/"><b>(Handfast)</b></a> asked me if I wanted to share her booth at Best Bead, who am I to say "no". Actually I knew I wasn't going to be in Tucson and offered Kim my help for a few days. This ended being a win-win for both of us. Kim is going to be exhibiting at the AGTA show for the first time so I will be representing her work at Best Bead. The Best Bead show is the show all glass artists want to exhibit in and so I feel fortunate for this opportunity.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm going to cut this entry short and get to the show details next since I still have to pack and load the car. It'll be a long but wonderful drive to Tucson and I'm looking forward to seeing all my friends there. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The show location: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <span style="color: black; font-size: 22px; font-weight: bold;">Kino Veterans Memorial<br />
Community Center</span></div><span style="font-size: 17px;">2805 E Ajo Way, Tucson, AZ 85713-6217<br />
(Intersection of E. Ajo Way & Forgeus Ave./<br />
Across from University Physicians Hospital)</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 21px; font-weight: bold;">Showroom<br />
Hours:</span></div><span style="font-size: 16px;">Wed:10AM-8PM<br />
Thu: 10AM-6PM<br />
Fri: 10AM-6PM<br />
Sat: 10AM-6PM<br />
Sun: 10AM-5PM<br />
FREE SHUTTLE To/From<br />
Gem Mall- <br />
Wed: 10:00-6:30<br />
Holidome- <br />
Thurs-Sat: 10-6<br />
Sun: 10-5</span> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <b><br />
</b></div><b>BOOTH Main Hall "Gym" #413. </b>The booth is a corner location near the Softflex Company. So come for a visit and see what I've been up to.<br />
<br />
For more information and a listing of the exhibitors, visit the <a href="http://www.bestbeadshow.com/BestBeadShows/BestBeadShow.aspx?id=1"><b>Best Bead Show website</b></a>.<br />
<br />
I look forward to seeing everyone in Tucson.<br />
<b>~ Lisa </b>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386361971010726098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6523144688484010671.post-49091868769930735802010-09-28T19:56:00.000-07:002010-09-28T19:56:00.415-07:00Bead Fest Texas, Arlington Free Pass! Oct 1st to 3rd, 2010<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkPZLKnADBy4AS8T4KCN5uF064_QHkDANebWp7L-jdt7npuxOQEGMWhaVNmuaL5ya4Nq0CEfnGWkrUNmQw4WZfFmnVh58QmZeZkqh4AOOhxmhFP0Qm0MK4x5X96ah7DaHDHjSS4PwKXFM/s400/2010+Bead+FestTexas+Free+Pass.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
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</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkPZLKnADBy4AS8T4KCN5uF064_QHkDANebWp7L-jdt7npuxOQEGMWhaVNmuaL5ya4Nq0CEfnGWkrUNmQw4WZfFmnVh58QmZeZkqh4AOOhxmhFP0Qm0MK4x5X96ah7DaHDHjSS4PwKXFM/s1600/2010+Bead+FestTexas+Free+Pass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="UIStory_Message">I am headed to Dallas/Arlington, Texas immediately after just returning back from the Softflex Hawaii show. It was an excellent time in Oahu even though I did catch a cold and was bitten by mosquitoes going hiking in the late afternoon.<br />
<br />
It's time to go to the South to visit all my beady friends. Even though it is a bit hectic having back to back shows, I just couldn't miss the first ever Bead Fest show in Texas after hoping that the show would eventually make it there for a few years. </span></h3><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="UIStory_Message"><span class="text_exposed_hide"></span><span class="text_exposed_show">So if you are in the area or already thinking of attending the show, come as my guest for FREE. <br />
<br />
SAVE MONEY!! to spend at the show. <br />
<br />
Show Location:<br />
<br />
Arlington Convention Center<br />
1200 Ballpark Way<br />
Arlington, TX 76011<br />
<br />
Bazaar Hours:<br />
<br />
Friday October 1st: 10 AM - 6 PM<br />
Saturday October 2nd: 10 AM - 6 PM<br />
Sunday October 3rd: 11 AM - 5 PM <br />
<br />
Admission at the door (cash only) or come FREE on ME!<br />
<br />
1 day pass - $12<br />
2 day pass - $14<br />
3 day pass - $16<br />
<br />
For more information visit <a href="http://www.beadfest.com/beadfest/texas.cfm">Bead Fest</a> or click this link to view the <a href="http://www.beadfest.com/beadfest/atx_exhibitors.cfm">exhibitors list</a> </span></span></h3><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMzncfU23G3WhIZ-ueJ3_-1l87bN155AZ4PDC3FgyyTUn-A_Yrcf6_t56O76-xj_UscI_QMvAWXc1od3UZIzBWTmiP6wlaZlXWeKE5QjNMRvt9KruBu7HE4YzHuWX40POcYq0541ajyCU/s320/2010+Bead+Fest+Texas+Floorplan.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="279" /></td></tr>
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</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMzncfU23G3WhIZ-ueJ3_-1l87bN155AZ4PDC3FgyyTUn-A_Yrcf6_t56O76-xj_UscI_QMvAWXc1od3UZIzBWTmiP6wlaZlXWeKE5QjNMRvt9KruBu7HE4YzHuWX40POcYq0541ajyCU/s1600/2010+Bead+Fest+Texas+Floorplan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="UIStory_Message"><span class="text_exposed_show">You will find me at Booth #201, right when you enter the exhibit hall. See above for the blue box that will mark your first stop.<br />
<br />
I'll see everyone in Arlington, October 1st-3rd, 2010.</span></span></h3>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386361971010726098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6523144688484010671.post-14516799305653616412010-09-02T12:22:00.000-07:002010-09-02T12:48:07.262-07:00Writing for Bead Publications<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYNelUcbxL7E9bfwbg4CVDBfzH-CxwnVwpXdKiIdgjQLqax9qr2Q_Shh35J3MRjuOpSBLkoISIr28ybVDWR7lPAmr5RMKdxXsM4DCAw2orTdU0jgg3pHOawU1VOvhPl-1mN5lY2ZPFROY/s1600/Writing+Image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYNelUcbxL7E9bfwbg4CVDBfzH-CxwnVwpXdKiIdgjQLqax9qr2Q_Shh35J3MRjuOpSBLkoISIr28ybVDWR7lPAmr5RMKdxXsM4DCAw2orTdU0jgg3pHOawU1VOvhPl-1mN5lY2ZPFROY/s320/Writing+Image.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
There are many bloggers that are very good about writing almost daily...<br />
<br />
Well this "blogger" is a real life working artist who has many shows and projects to prepare for.<br />
<br />
Not that I don't enjoy writing here.<br />
<br />
I do...<br />
<br />
Sometimes words don't come out as easy as you may think.<br />
<br />
You may think....<br />
<br />
Hey, Lisa wrote a book.<br />
<br />
Why can't she write more on this blog so I'll know what she is up to?<br />
<br />
Well....<br />
<br />
So today I was thinking a little about writing on the blog, my long list of "to do's" and coming up with a topic for an upcoming Softflex Company bead article I am to write.<br />
<br />
Then...<br />
<br />
I came across my article from 2009 and thought I'll buy some time (I mean ...I thought I would share it here with you all) my thoughts on getting published in bead magazines...<br />
<br />
So it's not too quiet on this blog.<br />
<br />
Here goes...<br />
<br />
Enjoy the read and I promise I will write more on this blog later.<br />
<br />
I have two shows coming up back to back (more details on this later) so guess what?<br />
<br />
Yes, I'm going to the studio after I post this...because "I am buying some time..." :o)<br />
<br />
<br />
**********<br />
(previously written for and published by <a href="http://www.softflexcompany.com/WSWrapper.jsp?mypage=spotlightarticle_Dec09.html">Softflex Company December 2009</a>)<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center"><span class="IntroText"><b>Writing for Bead Publications</b><br />
<b>Written by: Lisa Kan </b></span></div><div align="center"><span class="IntroText"><b> </b></span> </div><div class="IntroText">Do you have ideas to share with the bead community and want to see your designs in print? Perhaps it is the fear of the "R" word that keeps you from taking the first step or jumping that last hurdle. The "R" word, you ask is what we all fear and it is quite normal to have these feelings. It's "REJECTION" in capital letters. Capital letters because it strikes our egos and beats down our spirits. As it is said "when the going gets tough, the tough gets going". And to tell you the truth, rejection happens to all writers and designers, we just don't talk about it much. </div><div class="IntroText"><br />
</div><div class="IntroText">Rejection is GOOD for us because it makes us persevere and become better artists. There is always room for improvement. Challenges allow us to grow internally and externally. And there is always more to learn, to write, to design, to create, etc... as the journey is never ending, so never give up. Positive or negative critique, we should all aim to please the most important person, ourselves. So, I am here to cheer you on and give you some tips on how to submit your first article to a prospective bead magazine.</div><div class="IntroText"><br />
</div><div class="IntroText">I submitted my first article in Fall 2005. Reflecting now as I write this article, I can't think of a better way to share with the beading community and creating a "voice" for my work than through writing. Since I don't have time to teach in a classroom setting, I have focused my efforts in the last four years to sharing my work and techniques through publication.</div><div class="IntroText"><br />
</div><div class="IntroText">You must be willing to “let go” of your design when you submit and get accepted for publication. If you thought the hardest part was taking that first step? Letting go may be the second hardest in the submission journey. I encourage you forward as it’s amazing what can happen with just one article and how one can grow as a designer by letting go. I do warn you in advance that once your design is published it is now “out there”. Even with the advent of copyright laws there is little one can do to stop someone else from copying you. If you have problems seeing others recreate your designs or making it their own, then stop reading here, writing for publication may not be for you. </div><div class="IntroText"><br />
</div><div class="IntroText">As I've written in a past Soft Flex® article and to quote the painter James McNeil Whistler again:</div><div align="center" class="IntroText"><br />
<i>"An artist is not paid for his labor but for his vision". </i></div><div class="IntroText"><br />
Your rewards are not always tangible. You are the visionary, be original in your design approach and in the utmost, be true to yourself to create unique works... so let us now begin this journey:</div><div class="IntroText"><br />
</div><div class="IntroText"><b>Researching</b></div><div class="IntroText">The focus of this article is on writing how-tos for bead publications but you can modify any of the suggestions to your respective subject. First, gather the magazines that you subscribe to and read on a regular basis. Sort them so that you have the most recent magazines for reference. In the bead magazines, look at the types and complexity of the projects. Go over the layout and familiarize yourself with what will be expected should you pitch a project and be accepted for an assignment. Be cognizant of the page limitations you'll have as magazine articles want to be concise and most projects are between 2-4 pages with diagrams.</div><div class="IntroText"><br />
</div><div class="IntroText">Most magazines now have their submission guidelines available on the Internet. Visit the respective magazine's website and search for their submission guidelines. As a last resort contact them for the submission information if all avenues have failed. You don't want to appear as though you have not done your research if all this information is readily available online. Go over the submission guidelines to see what is expected of you once your project idea is accepted. Many times, the editors like to be queried with a photo of the finish project first to determine how the project may fit in future issues. The editorial team also would like to see if the project is something they have published in the past or have already accepted.</div><div class="IntroText"><br />
</div><div class="IntroText"><b>Taking the Photos</b></div><div class="IntroText">Taking good photos are by far one of the biggest challenges in project submission. If you are writing a step by step with photos, make sure you are taking photos in a neutral background. I like to use gray gradient screens and daylight specified lighting (6500K) like Ottlites. A camera with a macro setting is a must if you are taking close-ups. A tripod can keep the camera steady and images sharp. As the photos will most likely be the same photos used for the article, they need to be crisp. I like to take at least 3-4 photos of the same step and then select the best when I write the instructions. Most of the time, you only need to snap photos of the finished design when submitting a prospective project for consideration. </div><div class="IntroText"><br />
</div><div class="IntroText">The sample photos give the editors a sense of your design style as well as the complexity of the design. For magazine how-tos less is generally more. You'll need to consider the wear ability of your design and how easily assessable the materials can be found.</div><div class="IntroText"><br />
</div><div class="IntroText"><b>Duplicating your Submissions</b></div><div class="IntroText">It is generally not good practice to send an identical design query to multiple magazines at the same time. Magazine editors generally frown upon a duplicated design and if more than one magazine editor likes your submission, then what will you do? Wait until you get a response before submitting the identical design to another magazine.</div><div class="IntroText"><br />
</div><div class="IntroText">If you do this, you may end up on the black list of designers. Each publication has a list of authors that they will not work with. You don't want to be on that list. Also each publication has a list of designers they use regularly and call with ideas. Your goal is to get on this particular list of regular contributors if you want to write for publication regularly.</div><div class="IntroText"><br />
</div><div class="IntroText"><b>Introductory Cover Letter or Email</b></div><div class="IntroText">Dependent on the publication, you may be sending your query via email or snail mail. Make sure you introduce the project in your cover letter to describe its inspiration or maybe how you came to select the components used for the project. A good story behind your design will make it more inspiring for the readers to recreate. If your design employs a unique technique this may also increase your chances of acceptance.</div><div class="IntroText"><br />
In this cover letter, you'll also want to note how soon you can write up the instructions or if they are already completed. Sometimes after getting an assignment, you may have as little as two weeks for the final package to reach the publisher. Can you do it in such a tight time constraint?</div><div class="IntroText"><br />
</div><div class="IntroText">It also takes some time for editors to review submission requests so if you don't hear anything immediately, it is not necessarily a rejection. Wait a month and follow-up with an email to inquire on the status. After a certain time lapse, I say about two months, if you haven't heard anything it's time to move forward to the next magazine.</div><div class="IntroText"><br />
</div><div class="IntroText"><b>The Acceptance and Contract</b></div><div class="IntroText">Once your project is accepted, the publication will let you know the deadline to have the finished piece and instructions delivered to their offices. Read the contract carefully as signing any legal document becomes binding. Generally, the fees for the project are documented for use and for non-use. Sometimes, the contract also specifies details for reprinting the project in electronic media, etc. Once you sign the contract you have made a commitment to meet all the terms outlined. Impress the editors and get your package in before their deadline.</div><div class="IntroText"><br />
</div><div class="IntroText"><b>Writing the Instructions</b></div><div class="IntroText">Familiarize yourself with the industry terminology and the respective magazine(s) you hope to write for. Write instructions in more detail then necessary assuming your reader is a beginner. Every step it takes to get from point A to B then C, etc should be documented. The technical editor will trim your instructions to suit the page layout and their audience. While designing your piece, take copious notes, which will help also during the editing stage. </div><div class="IntroText"><br />
</div><div class="IntroText">Re-read and go over your instructions before finalizing them. There are many ways to get from point A to point B, so try to use the most concise for the industry. I tend to go over my instructions 3-4 times before I consider them done. Some designers may also have their friends test bead their project. If time permits, exhaust all avenues. But, remember you are ultimately responsible for the content of your article so take suggestions openly. There are many ways to achieve the same results in beading and your way may just be the unique aspect the editors liked. For me, most of my designs are created especially for magazine publications and I generally bead multiple samples to avoid time delays in test beading. You'd be surprise how a second sample can improve your instructions.</div><div class="IntroText"><br />
</div><div class="IntroText">Most publications will email you their edited version of your instructions to ensure that the integrity of the article is maintained. If this is a step that is important to you, ask before accepting the assignment. You don't want to lose your creative license by allowing any publication to change your article drastically. It is possible that instructions can change after editing that it becomes no longer "YOUR" design. </div><div class="IntroText"><br />
</div><div class="IntroText"><b>Diagrams</b></div><div class="IntroText">Once your project has been accepted, if you are writing a how to for a seed beaded project, most likely you will need to document the steps with diagrams. I am very old school when it comes to diagrams, I hand draw every step on graph paper. I usually draw out more steps than I think will appear in the magazine leaving it to the graphic editor to decide what is necessary or not necessary. In this case, more is better than less. Not everyone understands beadwork the same and there is a big possibility that the editor is not familiar with your technique.</div><div class="IntroText"><br />
</div><div class="IntroText">After drawing out the diagrams, I also scan the drawings for my personal portfolio. This also helps in the editing stages when the graphic editor has translated your drawings into computer graphics and you want to refer to the original for consistency. It is always a good idea to have a hardcopy and an electronic copy for your final package to the publication as well as for yourself.</div><div class="IntroText"><br />
</div><div class="IntroText"><b>Putting it Together</b></div><div class="IntroText">The submission package is an extension of you so make it as professional as possible. I see any submission as a presentation of me. First I get some folders with sleeves from the office supply store. The ones I usually get have slots for a business card and two pockets for papers.</div><div class="IntroText"><br />
</div><div class="IntroText">I compose a cover letter to the editor covering the details of the package and a short paragraph on the inspiration behind the design. In another sheet, I compose "about the author" and provide contact information. I place the cover letter and the "about the author" sheet on the left pocket of the binder. Then I tape down (so that it doesn't accidentally slide out in transport) my business card in its slot. The detailed instructions composed in Word, a sample photo of the finished project on top and the diagrams behind, are stapled together. A CD with all the same information is protected in a CD sleeve and placed in the right pocket of the binder.</div><div class="IntroText"><br />
</div><div class="IntroText">The finished project also needs to be sent with the instructions and I place the sample(s) carefully in jewelry boxes and secure with tissue/bubble wrap. When mailing, I insure the package and document the tracking number. When the publication receives your package, you will know that it arrived safely. </div><div class="IntroText">Then it's just a matter of waiting for the specified issue to be published to see yourself in print.</div><div align="center" class="IntroText"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="IntroText">***************</div><div class="IntroText"><br />
</div><div class="IntroText">The above are just high level notes and suggestions for getting published. As you write more, you will develop your own ways of presenting your work. Writing will become much easier with subsequent submissions. In writing, it is inevitable along the journey that there is rejection. Just remember, rejection allows us to improve and persistence allows us to grow. By sharing ourselves with the bead community, through writing or teaching, we give back to the art of craft and the craft of art will continue to reward us.</div><div class="IntroText"><br />
</div><div class="IntroText">Bead Creatively,<br />
Lisa Kan</div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386361971010726098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6523144688484010671.post-10877259114080130172010-08-13T21:20:00.000-07:002010-08-13T21:23:16.695-07:00Bead Fest Philly Free Pass: August 20-22, 2010<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO-ZtNVNlmfJctpIDpKf3d1jiojL0qHgPjRA9w5-IgtMidFx2D7aNnGayahd6ZN53Am2FzpAOkrHxX2AHCjmIGmeajgCyvl6gnPWvlk4vYu8gdtYKTe063rg2Nt3bycROeEzJgGs3RdYw/s1600/Bead+Fest+Philly+2010+Free+Pass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO-ZtNVNlmfJctpIDpKf3d1jiojL0qHgPjRA9w5-IgtMidFx2D7aNnGayahd6ZN53Am2FzpAOkrHxX2AHCjmIGmeajgCyvl6gnPWvlk4vYu8gdtYKTe063rg2Nt3bycROeEzJgGs3RdYw/s400/Bead+Fest+Philly+2010+Free+Pass.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><div style="text-align: center;">(Right click on image and save to your desktop to print out)</div><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Visit me at Bead Fest Philly absolutely <b>FREE. </b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Save money at the door to spend on beads. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Drop by my booth #209 first before you stroll the rest of the show. I'm on the top level, main exhibit hall. Enter and turn left, walk about 100ft and you'll find me to your right. I am right next to my friends, Saki Silver. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">I know I've been very bad about blogging. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Can you blame a girl who was working hard torching in the studio all summer long?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">I will be introducing fabulously new purple and fuchsia shades of Botanicals at Bead Fest. Once I return from the show, I'll update the website with the new selections.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">We'll see you at the show!!!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Lisa</span><br />
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</tbody></table>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386361971010726098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6523144688484010671.post-76894368942622195202010-06-21T00:02:00.000-07:002010-06-21T08:44:52.991-07:00Blythe Blanket... On Again, Off Again<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-eGjzLIVd4kSk7L12pQWwW8oxBxVVKSVmUI17Str7f9Py_74cQYpOwYlJl5NS7aHSAdUhYbbcTOBgxHG7mahqPVUJPdSwbnR7q2YvJV5k7CfsIOtqZk1bhXT8WcXOK-4-gE9FZIj3f5U/s1600/Lisa+Blythe+01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-eGjzLIVd4kSk7L12pQWwW8oxBxVVKSVmUI17Str7f9Py_74cQYpOwYlJl5NS7aHSAdUhYbbcTOBgxHG7mahqPVUJPdSwbnR7q2YvJV5k7CfsIOtqZk1bhXT8WcXOK-4-gE9FZIj3f5U/s320/Lisa+Blythe+01.jpg" /></a></div>I thought I would have a chance to knit a bit and work on my Blythe blanket (shown to the left) after Bead and Button, but who am I kidding?<br />
<br />
SO SORRY, Blythe...<br />
<br />
I DO miss you.<br />
<br />
Please don't be mad at ME! <br />
<br />
It won't be until NOVEMBER before I have time OR energy to knit. <br />
<br />
At least you're getting a sneak peak at the masterpiece I have been working on since last winter.<br />
<br />
I am a fast knitter but this blanket will take at least 60 skeins of various yarns and maybe two more years until completion at the rate I am going.<br />
<br />
But...<br />
<br />
priorities are priorities AND I have to be a grown up about things.<br />
<br />
After returning from Bead and Button, I've been tackling special orders and requests. I should be all caught up by Tuesday then move forward to prepping for August shows. There are many back to back shows, so I better be good and not indulge in my other "hobbies" as I had wanted.<br />
<br />
Looks like I won't get to bead either since my special project deadline has been extended. There is no rush to design "yet". <br />
<br />
So it's just me and my glass for the next month... all July. <br />
<br />
I've been playing with new limited color rods I got the other day, experimenting with even more color mixing possibilities, for the Botanical series.<br />
<br />
(BIG smile)<br />
<br />
I absolutely LOVE playing with color in ANY medium.<br />
<br />
Next post, I promise to talk more about the new Botanical colors introduced at the Bead and Button show. And, I actually introduced more colors than I originally thought but also four colors were recently "retired" or discontinued due to running out of the respective limited production glass color(s).<br />
<br />
Aaaaah... but those are the breaks!<br />
<br />
Makes things interesting as well as frustrating if you like a color a lot!<br />
<br />
Life remains VERY busy for this girl.<br />
<br />
I stay out of trouble when things are busy for me.<br />
<br />
THIS IS GOOD!<br />
<br />
P.S. You are not imagining, I can write shorter posts and the blog does have a new look thanks to Blogger's new template designer.Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386361971010726098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6523144688484010671.post-35645861659711798932010-06-20T12:52:00.000-07:002010-06-21T00:24:43.959-07:00The Perfect Tomato<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAaIcWQnsLX54lRMZLwJMZcWbWRYsfq8IpwuaOZLHcEujEKZTY6TBn0EWTNrLqqV_FuYrVmsJt5H2LemDyLxM_5h0mqioGsGWAcdj4dFO18826aID52ZJa4-59s-JPj7rw0yufWSQJkxU/s1600/First+Tomato+01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAaIcWQnsLX54lRMZLwJMZcWbWRYsfq8IpwuaOZLHcEujEKZTY6TBn0EWTNrLqqV_FuYrVmsJt5H2LemDyLxM_5h0mqioGsGWAcdj4dFO18826aID52ZJa4-59s-JPj7rw0yufWSQJkxU/s320/First+Tomato+01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The PERFECT tomato... heirloom tomato to be exact.<br />
<br />
This is the first tomato that came out of our garden.<br />
<br />
Before leaving for the Bead and Button show, this perfect tomato was the first of several to be vine ripened.<br />
<br />
For the gardeners and those with green thumbs out there, you may laugh at me for making such a big deal out of one small tomato.<br />
<br />
But this first perfect tomato was the MOST delicious I have tasted. It was split in half and shared with my husband who was the one really responsible for the TLC required to make it the best tomato EVER.<br />
<br />
You know I have to say this because he was kind enough to share HIS first tomato with me.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjioLGAOCXOiwzAiAyjgP4eZwVNyXxH4v4fweJPi4rO_F-OCIH6c-f5Q-fSWVrHrM3AloGtMhyphenhyphenWPtcgNs56OFmUbx79yug5Z9ud00JxKD4u34MMTmZetcaqvMvuReZ7RMcZv0N4BTcv4FM/s1600/First+Tomato+02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjioLGAOCXOiwzAiAyjgP4eZwVNyXxH4v4fweJPi4rO_F-OCIH6c-f5Q-fSWVrHrM3AloGtMhyphenhyphenWPtcgNs56OFmUbx79yug5Z9ud00JxKD4u34MMTmZetcaqvMvuReZ7RMcZv0N4BTcv4FM/s320/First+Tomato+02.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Check out the closeup photo of this PERFECT and BEAUTIFUL tomato. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
I know you are salivating as you look at these wonderful tomato pictures. (wink)<br />
<br />
It's okay, go ahead and salivate.Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386361971010726098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6523144688484010671.post-18432877459799399332010-06-05T03:33:00.001-07:002010-06-05T05:50:37.635-07:00Introducing a NEW limited fabric wrap...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkVY4ZQ0EswsqHoCsYVmgLl71xYI35fnPGsppcxOaC5CPFCIN-0bhcSms8CpycKChyphenhyphenBy6UOpriQnWGiPuwWNB7wGlMpAdk6QUdNDZhspz6vQURjg7J1nDDSKLdvNcK9TyB7GXbsy9s0OM/s1600/TWL-031.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 332px; height: 325px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkVY4ZQ0EswsqHoCsYVmgLl71xYI35fnPGsppcxOaC5CPFCIN-0bhcSms8CpycKChyphenhyphenBy6UOpriQnWGiPuwWNB7wGlMpAdk6QUdNDZhspz6vQURjg7J1nDDSKLdvNcK9TyB7GXbsy9s0OM/s400/TWL-031.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479235999090533410" border="0" /></a>This will be a VERY short post (for me, it is short) as I have not gone to bed at all and have been up for more than 24 hours.<br /><br />Don't ask me why.<br /><br />See the above wrap?<br /><br />I will be introducing this fabric only in the larger toolwrap size. They are very limited so if you are attending Bead and Button (BnB), you get first dibs.<br /><br />I am tempted to save one for myself since it is purple and have cherry blossoms. What's not to like? Can't go wrong with that combination!<br /><br />So.....<br /><br />Uhmmmm....<br /><br />What else was I suppose to write here?<br /><br />(Lisa is thinking....)<br /><br />I intended to also post about the new Ginkgo and Serenity leaf colors I will be introducing but although I snapped the photos earlier yesterday, I am TOO exhausted to work in Photoshop.<br /><br />I will also be introducing six new Botanical colors. This brings the current available colors to a whopping<span style="font-weight: bold;"> FIFTY-FIVE </span>colors. There are two to three limited edition colors that will be discontinued soon due to the rods are no longer being produced. I'm always working up new variations to the existing color selection. So don't worry, be HAPPY.... more colors are coming.<br /><br />I will write a blog post about the new Botanical colors when I return from Bead and Button.<br /><br />I'm not taking the laptop on this trip but will have my Dell mini to check in now and then.<br /><br />If you don't read from me on this blog or Facebook, then it's because I'm having a fantabulous time in Chicago... in Madison... or in Milwaukee. I will have a great time because I'll get a chance to visit with friends I haven't seen in months, beaders who are excited about creating, thunderstorms to run through, etc.<br /><br />So anyways.... why do I not sleep more than 24 hours before leaving for a show?<br /><br />I am NOT a last minute kind of person, this is just my modus operandi.<br /><br />Why ask why?<br /><br />I just like STRESS. It makes me feel like I'm working extra hard to reach a goal.<br /><br />(You know I'm kidding, right?)<br /><br />I NEVER sleep the night before an impending trip because of the fear of waking up late and missing a flight. So I just stay up to work and have just finished packing because earlier in the day I was still cleaning beads. After the beads were cleaned, they had to be strung and priced. There is also a trick to packing the beads compactly so they don't break.<br /><br />But no matter how well I pack, I always get stopped and searched. My beads are small and piled on top of each other separated by bubble wrap so the airport scanners can't readily detect what's inside. At least that's what TSA agents tell me each time. I'm so used to it, its just part of traveling and not a big deal.<br /><br />ZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzZZZ<br /><br />Oh...uh<br /><br />Where am I?<br /><br />Who am I?<br /><br />Where are you?<br /><br />Why am I here?<br /><br />(Lisa rubs her eyes...)<br /><br />Well I'd love to continue typing to you but I'm a bit exhausted and I fear writing something here that I may regret later. I better go before my fingers start typing on their own.<br /><br />These fingers, they misbehave at times. But since they have a mind of their own, I take no blame for what my hands, these fingers type.<br /><br />NO BLAME.<br /><br />I AM BLAMELESS!<br /><br />Until next time, I'm gonna have a grand time in Chicago, my first stop. I'll take you along with my photos on Facebook upon returning. It'll be like you were with me but in reality you are NOT really and Rebel is there with me. Rebel is always with me.<br /><br />ZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzZZZ...<br /><br />Oh it' time to get up already?<br /><br />Where is my cup of coffee?<br /><br />Geez look at the time... I am CRAZY. I'll have to get some shuteye on the plane. I hope I don't snore!<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br />See everyone soon in Milwaukee<br />But before then, time to have a few days of FUN first<br /><br />Fun First, Work Later<br />Adios,<br />Lisa<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">P.S. Goodness gracious. THIS is a VERY SHORT post? And I was just mumbling nonsensical gibberish as I normally do when I am half awake. Bad fingers.... very BAD.<br /></div></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386361971010726098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6523144688484010671.post-18494969218827745772010-06-04T01:19:00.000-07:002010-06-05T03:39:27.283-07:00Introducing the NEW Limited Edition KITS at BnB!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoCayrgIU9JvBqCvRPymt-BNdZpuII61f5O8CJueF8_k0QDN5YOyd6RukrY0o7ZG8lJH42C1xFQBBT8CUBw5TQaLsGVwQbFYbbBaWRcCMWC-STleqlqOK8k87Cc6Z0oAbewv7-xBxhYkM/s1600/bnbs_logo.GIF"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 70px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoCayrgIU9JvBqCvRPymt-BNdZpuII61f5O8CJueF8_k0QDN5YOyd6RukrY0o7ZG8lJH42C1xFQBBT8CUBw5TQaLsGVwQbFYbbBaWRcCMWC-STleqlqOK8k87Cc6Z0oAbewv7-xBxhYkM/s400/bnbs_logo.GIF" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478849195389876354" border="0" /></a>Ever since I started writing projects for publication in late 2005, there was always a desire to eventually be able to offer kits for some of my designs.<br /><br />I often use vintage beads, Swarovski crystals or high quality semiprecious gemstones in my beadwork, so the feasibility to recreate certain designs was not economical to some.<br /><br />Many of you have asked me for kits, especially since my book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1596680466?ie=UTF8&tag=liskandes-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1596680466"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bead Romantique</span></a> was published in March 2008.<br /><br />I was and have been listening.<br /><br />REALLY!!<br /><br />I was not ignoring your cries.<br /><br />But I have also been very busy with MANY projects and focusing on my glasswork. Most of my time is devoted to ensuring my preparedness for each show which I have many each year. I am only ONE person and do not have a team of little ants working for me. I do everything from photography, web design, procurement, advertising, packing, shipping... etc.<br /><br />You get the idea! <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />I didn't have enough hands to work on developing kits, until.....</span><br /><br />I had a wonderful discussion with my friend Pamela Maxfield (owner of <a href="http://bellomodo.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bello Modo</span></a>) in Tucson 2010, where I was attending as a designer this year instead of the glass beadmaker. <a href="http://bellomodo.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bello Modo</span></a> was also representing my <span style="font-weight: bold;">Botanicals</span> at the Whole Bead show. And after some brainstorming in Tucson (Feb 2010), discussing further in Santa Fe (March 2010) and MANY emails later,<span style="font-weight: bold;"> I am very EXCITED to be able to offer </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">you my exclusive collaboration of LIMITED EDITION kits with Bello Modo.</span><br /><br />The first kits are based off of THREE designs featured in <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://lisakan.blogspot.com/2010/05/bead-trends-june-2010-designer-highlght.html">Bead Trends Magazine's June 2010 issue</a>. In the feature I designed 7 ensembles inspired by <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://lisakan.blogspot.com/2010/05/bead-trends-june-2010-victorias-love.html">Victoria's Love Story</a>. We will be introducing these limited and numbered kits at the Bead and Button show next week. <span style="font-weight: bold;">You will be able to view the originals at my booth, #818 and then walk down to Bello Modo to purchase alternate colorways at booths #838 and #840.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">And we haven't forgotten about those who can't attend Bead and Button, so the kits will be made available on Bello Modo's website soon. </span>I'll add a link here and on my website when Bello Modo launches the kits on their website. Different colorways will also be developed on popular designs overtime. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Remember these are </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">limited edition</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> colorways so if you like a color get it soon as some of the components are hard to restock. </span><br /><br />The kits will come with full instructions and a nice photo of the finished design for your reference. All materials to recreate the respective design is included, EXCEPT the standard tools like chain nose, round nose and flush cutters which most beaders have in their tool stash already. <span style="font-weight: bold;">I used the Professional Precision Tools for all my wirewrapping and should you need a kit, you can find them available on my <a href="http://lisakan.com/">website</a> or the kit is also available at my shows</span>. <span style="font-weight: bold;">I will have a limited quantity of the tool kits at BnB and an optional upgrade with a small fabric toolwrap!!!</span><br /><br />ALL crystals are guaranteed to be Swarovski and ALL antiqued brass findings are Vintaj. You will note their respective logos on the kit packaging. <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Here is a sneak peak at what is in store at Bead and Button and soon on the Bello Modo site.<br /><br />The photos below show the actual colorways being offered currently:</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikKBDHb74jwVsbgttio_cQnsjuw0S9XnaaJlWQx3yTRV3h4qpqeYlGxDvqzm8MMFXVIB0BmUiWu1TVlM6r7kqObX-ig1uCkI6EEIXX7ygxXQb9xOTUAiu9kNIKuwhKMUFfxlHPl2CtCSs/s1600/Captured+01.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 125px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikKBDHb74jwVsbgttio_cQnsjuw0S9XnaaJlWQx3yTRV3h4qpqeYlGxDvqzm8MMFXVIB0BmUiWu1TVlM6r7kqObX-ig1uCkI6EEIXX7ygxXQb9xOTUAiu9kNIKuwhKMUFfxlHPl2CtCSs/s320/Captured+01.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478820457219714162" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Capture Thy Heart (Necklace and Earring Kit):</span> <span><span>The thought of finally seeing Victoria after several weeks of absence quickened his steps. He scuffled through fallen leaves and pushed aside the ivy vines that hid the pathway into their hideaway, careful not to make too much noise. He wanted to take her away and start life anew but that was not immediately possible. He still could not believe that he was able to “capture her heart” nor could he fathom that she loved him as much as to risk her father’s antipathy.<br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span> ***** </span></span><br /></div><span><span>A filigree heart connector cages and captures a Swarovski crystal heart drop. The symbolism in this design evokes Victoria feeling caged by her father’s will, yet her heart is captured by love and now belongs to Him. The festoon necklace scallops romantically around the neck to lovingly caress the wearer.</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIBfzgSvZ-CsXwDlnCo6sHEdVAtjUSk6VVTDoi1_oD91KU2EVxCrnbL_uAnSz9HgAPsemP7NhERp943MsqzSMeBdYvFn-FvvMhNcKI7-1HrtME2UF303Qo2P4X5w7xcUoIxEF8msjLRB0/s1600/Water+Lilies+01.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 254px; height: 140px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIBfzgSvZ-CsXwDlnCo6sHEdVAtjUSk6VVTDoi1_oD91KU2EVxCrnbL_uAnSz9HgAPsemP7NhERp943MsqzSMeBdYvFn-FvvMhNcKI7-1HrtME2UF303Qo2P4X5w7xcUoIxEF8msjLRB0/s320/Water+Lilies+01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478820442540654018" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Water Lilies (Necklace Kit): </span><span><span>Victoria sat at one edge of the pond in the Secret Garden, a special secluded hideaway from prying eyes. Water lilies floated amongst several frogs, hopping from lily pad to lily pad whilst sunning themselves in the afternoon sun, croaking loudly in unison. The noise did not bother her as she drifted dreamily into thought, feeling rapid anticipation for the late evening. She smiled contently.<br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span>***** </span></span><br /></div><span><span>Custom coated waterlily colored baroque crystal drops adorn this netted chain necklace. Combined with golden shadow briolette drops and faceted rounds, the design evokes a subtle elegance. In any lighting, the crystals sparkle from the right, from the left and from center stage. This necklace caresses the neckline in choker length with sparkly drops dancing about, adding to the fluidity, flow and movement of the design.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Note: Waterlily colored baroque crystal drops were unavailable but will be offered in the future. There will be many other colorways to select from later.</span><br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXOkSMnnZpkGfSnwsPH0gAd5utQh_PzAW-hYHwrIQMzMO8NEuH9wYQirULgY_wlz7fKooFbnCxqjpw8L3UB5mz3cWYFLwqe8BAqA2I_bIxFaLVbCYwRKSk23i4LN2Slmlq0QVshzzYnCA/s1600/Damsel+01.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 256px; height: 126px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXOkSMnnZpkGfSnwsPH0gAd5utQh_PzAW-hYHwrIQMzMO8NEuH9wYQirULgY_wlz7fKooFbnCxqjpw8L3UB5mz3cWYFLwqe8BAqA2I_bIxFaLVbCYwRKSk23i4LN2Slmlq0QVshzzYnCA/s320/Damsel+01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478820451103258114" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Damsel & the Dragonfly (Necklace Kit)</span>: <span><span>Victoria, “The Damsel in Distress”, is represented by the large oval rhinestone wrapped by the orchid filigree. The filigree symbolically frames the contours of her face while the two small drops represent her earrings. It has been several weeks since she saw her Love. Arriving early to the Secret Garden, she waits longingly for her “Knight in Shining Armor”. A dragonfly dances playfully below her face. </span></span><span><span>Dragonflies are symbols of courage, strength and happiness.</span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span> ***** </span></span><br /></div><span><span>This necklace can be worn long as a sautoir or doubled by joining the spiral clasp as a double tiered lavaliere. When worn as such, a crystal necklace frames the pendant protecting Victoria in her Secret Garden. The chandelier earrings with its tiered chain embellishments and crystal dangles compliment the pendant’s wrap style.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Note 1: </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">The large jump ring that attaches the filigree wrap to the dragonfly dangle requires to be carefully added from the back, slowly and precisely. It will be snug but as you can see in the samples above, it will work. Also, the original design used a vintage oval Swarvoski crystal. In the kits we will be substituting a similar shaped Czech or German oval crystal due to the obsolete Swarvoski crystal. This changes the crystal link counts on both necklaces but with no material changes. The kit instructions have been revised to reflect this change.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Note 2: We are working on issuing the earring kit separately. Due to the vintage nature of the stone I used, we are seeking some alternate sources.</span><br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span>*****<br /></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Note for ALL kits: </span><span>Although there is sufficient wire included for each project, the length of wire in the kits are based off of my method of wire-wrapping. <span style="font-weight: bold;">It is recommended that you pick up an extra spool of 24 gauge Artistic Wire vintage bronze (or "gunmetal" as called by some) if you make a mistake and need to redo a wrap.</span></span><br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />*****<br /></span><span><span><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">ONLY Bello Modo is authorized to create and sell my limited edition kits with the original copyrights of these designs to myself, Lisa Kan Designs. No other third parties may sell, distribute, OR reproduce any part of the kit in any form. EVERY kit is numbered for authenticity and each colorway has a limited edition of NO MORE than 250 or LESS kits issued when components used are vintage.</span><br /><div style="text-align: center;">*****<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I hope you have enjoyed this sneak peak and take advantage of the limited edition kits at the <a href="http://beadandbuttonshow.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bead and Button</span></a> show. <span style="font-weight: bold;">These first few kits and this launch are VERY limited</span>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;">See everyone at the show soon!!!<br />Lisa<br /></div></div></div><br /><span><span></span></span></div><span><span></span></span></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386361971010726098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6523144688484010671.post-42656638996280058092010-06-03T00:02:00.000-07:002010-06-04T02:32:39.677-07:00Bead and Button Show: June 10-13, 2010<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW2on01rPxUX-nN93lCBtwEViJCFK4HZbqJwHJHKYuwMTW5GvT_XFP6KinMuu5D2U2tBW_YpQ5VLCXnaErAWwCWaXF-IcQRtKUysO5fxhi6KcWh0MF3xaSaiewCJ3IY1m7rn_9mcX-pio/s1600/bnbs_logo.GIF"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 70px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW2on01rPxUX-nN93lCBtwEViJCFK4HZbqJwHJHKYuwMTW5GvT_XFP6KinMuu5D2U2tBW_YpQ5VLCXnaErAWwCWaXF-IcQRtKUysO5fxhi6KcWh0MF3xaSaiewCJ3IY1m7rn_9mcX-pio/s400/bnbs_logo.GIF" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478848305378680146" border="0" /></a>Yes, it is SHOWTIME again at the 10th Annual Bead and Button Show. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The LARGEST Consumer Bead Show in the WORLD!!</span><br /><br />This time I am flying to the Midwest with a few days in Chicago and Madison to enjoy before the show starts.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">This will be my THIRD year exhibiting at BnB</span> in my<span style="font-weight: bold;"> THIRD</span> booth assignment!! My booth has <span style="font-weight: bold;">THREE </span>numbers!!<br /><br />You may know the significance of the number "three" to me.<br /><br />I have had many good associations with the number three this year and so far so good, so I hope the momentum continues!!<br /><br />There is a forecast of thunderstorms again this year. Last year, the attendees were held up on the show floor because of tornado scares. We even lost electricity several times. This is definitely an exciting show full of energy from the attendees AND many days of thunderstorms!<br /><br />So if you are in the area or are attending the BnB show, here are the nitty-gritty details that you'll want to know.<br /><br />If you want to see what goodies I am introducing at the show then please read the posts in the next few days.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Show Location (NEW name but same location):</span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.midwestairlinescenter.com/categories/2-frontierairlinescenter"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Frontier Airlines Center</span></a><br />400 W. Wisconsin Avenue<br />Downtown Milwaukee.<br /><br />Show Hours:<br /><b>June 10, 2010 - 4 PM to 9 PM<br /><a href="http://www.beadandbuttonshow.com/bnbshow/default.aspx?c=a&id=13">Private Shopping Preview </a><br />Exhibit halls open to registrants ONLY</b><br /><br /><b>June 11, 2010 - </b><b>10 AM to 8 PM</b><br /><b>Bead and Jewelry Marketplace<br />Exhibit halls open to general public.</b><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">June 12, 2010 - 10 AM to 6 PM</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">June 13, 2010 - 10 AM to 4 PM</span><br /><br />Daily tickets are available at the Frontier Airlines Center box office at 9:30 a.m. each day, but the Bead Marketplace does not open until 10 a.m.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.beadandbuttonshow.com/bnbshow/objects/pdf/coupon_2010.pdf"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Click here for a daily $2 Coupon.</span></a><br /><br />For MORE info on the show schedule, visit the <a href="http://www.beadandbuttonshow.com/bnbshow/default.aspx?c=ss&id=18"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bead and Button Show website.</span></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Lisa Kan Designs Booth is located on the 800 aisle.</span> You will find me at Booth #818. <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Look for my banner and showguide ad. We are in a new corner booth but just one booth over from last year.</span><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">See you all soon!!</span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Lisa</span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"></span></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386361971010726098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6523144688484010671.post-66879365278716952102010-06-02T00:29:00.000-07:002010-06-03T15:22:04.532-07:00Social Networking Etiquette<span style="font-weight: bold;">Subtitled: Confronting Negative Comments</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.mjsa.org/publications_and_information/mjsa_journal/social_networking_etiquette">Original article</a> by Peggy Jo Donahue<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Commentary by Lisa Kan</span> in <span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">RED</span> is meant to be humorous. If you are a customer of mine and one of my Facebook "friends" <span style="font-weight: bold;">DO NOT</span> take any of what I have typed personally.<br /><br />Uhmmm...<br /><br />Nevermind.<br /><br />Let's continue forward to the sage advice from MJSA industry leaders. (MJSA = Manufacturing Jewelers & Suppliers of America.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIBkyKjj2jIU72qQetp6P6wsouH7X2HzcYhEDhv1rdI3f7T6uHjtip5_A-ddmlE3d29GQZfSKzhICkK6E0gsUNm-U5a0SR9UFuLeIcXYQLunL8XOLcbuu69SnP3R3ImRvhw8V9PDz8RLU/s1600/Facebook+Logo+03.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 170px; height: 45px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIBkyKjj2jIU72qQetp6P6wsouH7X2HzcYhEDhv1rdI3f7T6uHjtip5_A-ddmlE3d29GQZfSKzhICkK6E0gsUNm-U5a0SR9UFuLeIcXYQLunL8XOLcbuu69SnP3R3ImRvhw8V9PDz8RLU/s320/Facebook+Logo+03.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478073547899710082" border="0" /></a>Many Facebook novices worry about negative comments marring their social networking pages. But experienced networkers in the industry say nearly every online personality or brand has endured negative comments-and lived to see another day. The ones who have handled it well have even won praise. <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />You can </span><b style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">please</b><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"> some of the people, some of the time, but </span><b style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">you</b><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"> </span><b style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">can't</b> <b style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">please</b><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"> all of the people, all of the time</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">. <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">If you get stuck on some negative person's comments to bring you down, get under your skin or ruin your day then they'll just keep on doing it. The better way is to stay positive and get rid of anyone who gets in your way. Remember sticks and stones will break your bones, but words will NEVER hurt you. So hurl around some "sticks and stones" and maybe they will hit the perpetrator.</span><br /></span><p>"I welcome it as an opportunity," says Daniel Gordon of Samuel Gordon Jewelers in Oklahoma City. "In the past, people who were unhappy would go away without saying anything-and never come back. At least now I find out and can do something about it." The key is handling it constructively.<br /></p><p><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Is Daniel Gordon for REAL??? How would any one welcome a negative comment as "an opportunity". I think most people these days WILL tell you they are unhappy with you on Facebook by either saying it on your page or just canceling out on the "friend"ship. The key is to be on top of things and continuously monitor your Facebook page. Make sure everyone behaves and ONLY say nice things about you. Fortunately for me, no one has been rude enough to tell me they are unhappy with me "yet".</span> <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">But then again, you wouldn't know if they have... (wink)</span><br /></p> <p>If you get a negative comment from a customer, follow these guidelines for responding:</p> <p><strong>• Think before you act.</strong> It’s hard to react positively when your company has endured what might be an unfair attack. "First, take a minute before you react, so that you can craft a positive response," advises Ann Arnold of Lieberfarb, a manufacturer of bridal and anniversary rings who is active on social networks.<br /></p><p><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">I would just get rid of the person and disconnect them from your Facebook page. I thought about it for one second too long and they are GONE. There's the big "X" to cancel them out of our relationship. Who needs negativity in your life? Read my <a style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" href="http://lisakan.blogspot.com/2010/03/happiness.html">Happiness</a> post from March 3, 2010</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> Get RID OF THEM! ;o)<br /></span></span></p> <p><strong>• Let your fans come to your defense.</strong> Waiting a bit before responding has a second purpose. Fans may quickly come to your defense-before you even need to say a word. It’s one of the reasons that Veronica Wei Sopher of Ben Bridge in Seattle takes the time to create a give-and-take bond with her connections in social networks-even on non-jewelry issues. "Sometimes a co-worker will ask, ’did you really need to ask that customer about her headache on Twitter?’ The magic of all that is realized when a negative voice shows up," says Sopher. "If I’ve done my job well, the strong and supportive community around the Ben Bridge brand will speak up and drown out the negativity." <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Waiting will allow more people to see the negative comments, Veronica!!! By deleting the comment immediately, you can avoid having to explain the situation to the rest of your Facebook friends or fans. The key word is the Fans "may" quickly come to your defense. I'd like to bet on a sure thing. I'd like to know the negative person is gone before anyone else gets hurt. Besides what if you don't have a "Fan" page. Now why would a "Fan" provide negative input anyhow? You would not be a "Fan" or a "Friend" of someone or company on Facebook if you felt negatively towards them right? UNLESS... this negative person is just trying to infiltrate into your positive energy.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">This is the reason why it is safer to have a regular Facebook account. Yes, Fan or "Like" pages as Facebook calls them now, allows you to have endless contacts but it also allows free reign for anyone to join thus later say absolutely anything on your page. With a personal account, you can "accept" whom you want and "ignore" whom you don't. There is a lot of maintenance involved but there is something I like about having control over MY own Facebook page. So I would NEVER wait. I would instead handle this the Lisa Way!!</span><br /></p> <p><strong>• Apologize publicly.</strong> When you’ve given it a little time and thought, there’s a way to respond, say experts. A quick "so sorry you had a bad experience," is the first step. Then, get it offline quickly, says Sopher. "Ask: ’Can I communicate with you directly, so that we can discuss all of your purchase details?’"</p><p><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">There must be something wrong if a customer, who is a "Fan", is contacting you to resolve an issue on Facebook and YOU have to APOLOGIZE publicly. By the time it reaches Facebook, you already have not done your job. Why are you in business anyways? Why wouldn't you communicate on the phone or email before the situation escalated to this point? I think if it does reach this level of negativity then the customer just wants to send bad vibes on your "Fan" page. I for one would not stand for this type of retaliatory behavior. What happened to "forget and forgive"?<br /></span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Another reason why you should not have a Fan page. A regular account will allow you to have up to 5000 friends. Unless you are a big humongous company, do you really need to have a news feed of more than 5000 people typing to you? How could you address the needs of 5000 people effectively? You would need to be on Facebook 24/7 monitoring each of their behaviors. Also, NO ONE needs to see how you handle these sensitive situations in a public forum. What I would do is to send a private email to the customer and then delete their public comment. That is what Lisa would do. And she would do it IMMEDIATELY before any other evidence is left. (wink)</span><br /></p> <p><strong>• Don’t hit "delete."</strong> Though there’s a temptation to erase the offending remarks, it’s the worst thing a business can do. "A personal attack or one that’s vulgar, absolutely, you can get rid of, but otherwise, it’s better to engage publicly with a response," says Carrie Soucy of Miamore Communications in Providence. Companies that delete all negative remarks risk being branded as inauthentic and controlling, two qualities least likely to win you more fans. Worse, the complaining customer could spread the news throughout his network that you ignored or silenced him. Nothing makes social networkers angrier.</p><p><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">I'm not too sure about not hitting "delete". I think the complaining customer who is acting as a "Fan" coming to a business page to complain is up to NO good. Why should this person hold all the cards? There are moderated newsgroups and chat forums, why can't a Facebook page be moderated too. What's controlling about this behavior in wanting to maintain proper decorum by deleting improper posts? And what constitutes as an "improper post" is determined by ME!!! I'm in control here, right? If a customer is complaining this incessantly to have their negative comments reach Facebook, then maybe you should be OUT of BUSINESS!!! I think anyone taking bad experiences to a Facebook page is going too far and they should be canceled out of the relationship. They are not a "friend" or a "fan". These instances should be handled with gloves.... (not kid gloves)... but gloves as in "I'll meet you in a boxing ring" type of gloves. Challenge the complaining customer to take care of this like a man.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">(Uhmm... but I'm a lady!! Maybe this won't work in my case. Nevermind.)<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;">**********</p><p style="text-align: left;">These are some tips from jewelry industry leaders on Facebook etiquette. You can take their advice or mine. <span style="font-weight: bold;">It's your choice.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;">But... IF you do it MY way, the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Lisa Way</span>...</p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">tell me the story later and we'll both have a good chuckle</span>.<br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">If you want to setup a "Fan" or "Like" page as it is known on Facebook these days, here's another article you may want to read up on from the experts. The info may be a bit outdated since Facebook just changed a bunch of settings June 1, 2010!!: <a href="http://www.mjsa.org/publications_and_information/mjsa_journal/getting_started_with_social_networking"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></a></p><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.mjsa.org/publications_and_information/mjsa_journal/getting_started_with_social_networking"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Getting Started with Social Networking.</span></a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">I hope I have been helpful!!<br />but if not...<br />then at least you had a good laugh<br /><br />The Night Owl</span></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lisa</span><br /></p>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386361971010726098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6523144688484010671.post-9780692535788564832010-06-01T00:10:00.000-07:002010-06-04T13:45:21.884-07:00Victoria's Love Story<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvCMhlEZWdM77G2BeGI_X7CMpCYVmOm3jkzpemCWMAzMMf3hURMKLjLaVtynAi2kE5FK03HO1Y7vk9V2_gsXKTxB-djmEQ331v_pbHLMjB6j2F6I7F9tzZOa5-Qr3wp1AyIOWRjcffNrk/s1600/Designer+Highlight+BT+June+2010+Cover.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 255px; height: 261px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvCMhlEZWdM77G2BeGI_X7CMpCYVmOm3jkzpemCWMAzMMf3hURMKLjLaVtynAi2kE5FK03HO1Y7vk9V2_gsXKTxB-djmEQ331v_pbHLMjB6j2F6I7F9tzZOa5-Qr3wp1AyIOWRjcffNrk/s320/Designer+Highlight+BT+June+2010+Cover.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477650716789976162" border="0" /></a><span><span>After all my shows were completed in 2009, I worked on a special collection of designs for <a href="http://beadtrendsmag.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bead Trends Magazine's</span></a> Designer Highlight feature on my work that was just published in the June 2010 issue. You can read more about this feature in <a href="http://lisakan.blogspot.com/2010/05/bead-trends-june-2010-designer-highlght.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">May 27th's post</span></a>.<br /><br />Due to the magazine format, I could not share the story behind the designs. I want to take this opportunity to share with you the love story that was not printed along with the seven ensembles so you may understand my inspiration for each design.<br /><br />The designs are listed below in the order of the storyline with the cover design, <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Blushing Blossoms, </span>as the "finale" to the story.<br /><br />Enjoy my little fairytale romance.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">This is Victoria's Love Story...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Project 1:<span style="font-style: italic;"> Victoria's Spiral</span></span><br /><!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> She stepped into the ballroom in a flowing black gown trimmed with all the finery of golden threaded lace. She searched the room with its multitude of unfamiliar faces cautiously. The room grew silent as attention spiraled towards her walking down the last few steps of the grand entrance. Then out of the corner of her eye she spied him as she greeted her father. There he was with a silly big grin greeting Victoria with a wink. Did anyone else see this? Her heart skipped a beat.<br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span> ***** </span></span><br /></div><span><span>In classic and elegant black with bronze/brass metallic accents, the versatility of this design is captured by both the faceted jet beads and black onyx quatrefoils. The necklace is connected so that it is worn asymmetrically but with a defined pattern. The spiral clasp represents Victoria’s “spiraling” grasp on her suitor’s attention. The complimentary bracelet can be connected to the necklace to continue the flow of design and converts the princess necklace to opera length. The necklace can also be worn doubled as a choker when connected with the bracelet extender. The earrings continue the spiraling symbolism.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Project 2: <span style="font-style: italic;">Water Lilies</span></span> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --><br />Victoria sat at one edge of the pond in the Secret Garden, a special secluded hideaway from prying eyes. Water lilies floated amongst several frogs, hopping from lily pad to lily pad whilst sunning themselves in the afternoon sun, croaking loudly in unison. The noise did not bother her as she drifted dreamily into thought, feeling rapid anticipation for the late evening. She smiled contently.<br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span>***** </span></span><br /></div><span><span>Custom coated waterlily colored baroque crystal drops adorn this netted chain necklace. Combined with golden shadow briolette drops and faceted rounds, the design evokes a subtle elegance. In any lighting, the crystals sparkle from the right, from the left and from center stage. This necklace caresses the neckline in choker length with sparkly drops dancing about, adding to the fluidity, flow and movement of the design.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Project 3: <span style="font-style: italic;">The Secret Garden </span></span><!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --><br />The Secret Garden was a place of magical possibilities where Victoria came to dream, escape reality and to pretend to be just like any other woman, not the privileged daughter of the Duke. Here is where she came to meet Him with the belief that although they came from two different societies in life, they were equals within the walls of this garden. She had to maintain this inner strength to continue the façade. No one must know, least of all, the Duke.<br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span>***** </span></span><br /></div><span><span>The garden trellis medallion captures the essence of romanticism. The champagne coin pearl is filigree encased and wrapped into the pendant’s center. The coin pearl symbolizes the confines of the safety Victoria feels when she is within the garden. The champagne pearls, Waterlily drops, golden shadow crystals and rose luster firepolish beads were all carefully chosen for their subtle colors to evoke the feeling of privilege and status. The motion of the crystal dangles added to chain follows the movement of the wearer as she walks about. The earrings were designed to continue the necklace motif, which by no coincidence also compliments the Water Lilies netted chain necklace (Project 2).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Project 4: <span style="font-style: italic;">The Damsel & the Dragonfly </span></span><!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --><br />Victoria, “The Damsel in Distress”, is represented by the large oval rhinestone wrapped by the orchid filigree. The filigree symbolically frames the contours of her face while the two small drops represent her earrings. It has been several weeks since she saw her Love. Arriving early to the Secret Garden, she waits longingly for her “Knight in Shining Armor”. A dragonfly dances playfully below her face. </span></span><span><span>Dragonflies are symbols of courage, strength and happiness.</span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span> ***** </span></span><br /></div><span><span>This necklace can be worn long as a sautoir or doubled by joining the spiral clasp as a double tiered lavaliere. When worn as such, a crystal necklace frames the pendant protecting Victoria in her Secret Garden. The chandelier earrings with its tiered chain embellishments and crystal dangles compliment the pendant’s wrap style.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Project 5: <span style="font-style: italic;">Capture Thy Heart </span></span><!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --><br />The thought of finally seeing Victoria after several weeks of absence quickened his steps. He scuffled through fallen leaves and pushed aside the ivy vines that hid the pathway into their hideaway, careful not to make too much noise. He wanted to take her away and start life anew but that was not immediately possible. He still could not believe that he was able to “capture her heart” nor could he fathom that she loved him as much as to risk her father’s antipathy.<br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span> ***** </span></span><br /></div><span><span>A filigree heart connector cages and captures a Swarovski crystal heart drop. The symbolism in this design evokes Victoria feeling caged by her father’s will, yet her heart is captured by love and now belongs to Him. The festoon necklace scallops romantically around the neck to lovingly caress the wearer.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Project 6: <span style="font-style: italic;">Midnight in the Garden</span></span><br />The hour is just past midnight. He is late again! Where could he be? As soon as Victoria thinks this, she hears leaves rustling, followed by the noise of someone walking towards her direction. Could it be her Father, her Love or just the night wind teasing tauntingly at her? She sat nervously still as her heartbeat quickens in anticipation. She hopes it is He but she better hide, if not.<br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span> ***** </span></span><br /></div><span><span>Much of my designing for this collection is of similar components. With the use of smaller components joined in a myriad of ways, one is left with more flexible design options, where a simple element can become a more involved design. Designing and beading is very much like a puzzle to me. Rivolis which are bezeled with a netted stitch can be joined easily with jump rings, a technique I utilize often. It is also not a coincidence that this ensemble compliments <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">The Damsel and the Dragonfly</span> (Project 4). Many of the designs in this Bead Trends collection are built from complimentary colors and can be worn interchangeably together.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"> Please note: The rivoli bezels are created following instructions from my book Bead Romantique (pages 26-27) with two additional beaded rows. Only the two additional rows of beading have been written for the Bead Trends article.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Project 7: <span style="font-style: italic;">Blushing Blossoms</span></span><br />So the story ends here with a grand finale, a blushing bride wearing a <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Blushing Blossoms </span>necklace. Is this just one of Victoria’s dreams, that she ran away with her Love or was she really able to break away from the confines of her duty to family and her father, the Duke? We can only hope that love conquered all and everyone <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">“Lived Happily Ever”.</span><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span>***** </span></span><br /></div><span><span>Continuing the theme of romance and elegance, this blossom necklace utilizes five Botanical flowers from my new lampworked line combined with my luster (silver-fumed) Luft hollow beads. The asymmetric design adds visual interest with the Botanical flowers added to the necklace so that they could freely move, flow and dance around the neckline. The necklace in peachy and champagne tones reflects what it is to be a woman that transpires time, with a feminine mystique. This necklace would be a perfect fit in a summer wedding as the bride looks luminescent in an outdoor garden ceremony. I enjoy adding a bit of inspiration from Mother Nature and to infuse my designs with stories. I hope Bead Trend readers enjoy this exclusive collection of designs.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"> Please note: Reference my book Bead Romantique (page 42) for additional tips on creating a balanced and graduated dangle bracelet/necklace design.<br /><br /></span></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span>*****</span></span><br /></div><span><span><span style="font-weight: bold;">I hope you have enjoyed reading Victoria's Love Story and are enticed to pick up the June 2010 Bead Trends Magazine.<br /></span><span><br />Recreate the romance for yourselves...</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><span><span>The Storyteller</span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span>AND</span></span><br /><span><span>Hopeless Romantic</span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span></span></span><span><span><br />Lisa</span></span></div><p style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:100%;" ></span><o:p></o:p></p><b style=""><i style=""></i></b><p></p>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386361971010726098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6523144688484010671.post-24663324820035273092010-05-31T01:53:00.000-07:002010-05-31T23:18:29.016-07:00Let's Facebook It...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4yENaPSycs8PFbllxH2obng7PzFkNDorzrtexl94OILOtCPtPGIURQvtRtx8MssHXIpV6uyqKYn0XXOI6ImPdO3TOAebYK0s7NkmFuUO1pQnn8RNHPSLrVt87fFkmBtsD6IOrrHqZ160/s1600/facebooklogo2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 145px; height: 81px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4yENaPSycs8PFbllxH2obng7PzFkNDorzrtexl94OILOtCPtPGIURQvtRtx8MssHXIpV6uyqKYn0XXOI6ImPdO3TOAebYK0s7NkmFuUO1pQnn8RNHPSLrVt87fFkmBtsD6IOrrHqZ160/s320/facebooklogo2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477339475377950130" border="0" /></a>If you haven't noticed, my last few blog posts have been quite late in the evening or early the next morning, dependent on your perspective. It just so happens that I want to write and share my thoughts on the blog lately, more so than ever. For whatever the reasons, here I am.<br /><br />It's just about 1 a.m. as I begin typing this post. Maybe I have too much spare time on my hands, have much on my mind or just like to stay up late blabbering on a computer screen to whomever wishes to read from me.<br /><br />I'm a night owl. Always have been.<br /><br />I get my best ideas as my mind wanders and a lot of work done when the house is quiet. After a long day at the torch when my hands hurt, generally the last thing I want to do is to type on a keyboard, but some days/nights I have much on my mind that I want to write.<br /><br />Reverse psychology, you know. And amazingly when my fingers touch this keyboard, the thoughts just flow and I forget how tired I am.<br /><br />In the past, during my studio breaks I would go flip through a magazine for inspiration, clean beads, have a snack, answer emails or knit a few rows of a project. Believe me there is ALWAYS something to do around here.<br /><br />Since mid February though, I became more active on this social networking site.<br /><br />Perhaps you have heard of this place?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Let's Facebook It...<br /><br /></span>Anyone and everyone it seems is on Facebook which brings me to the topic of this post. I had joined Facebook around late February 2009 only because by then I had already had a handful of invites from friends touting "you gotta get on Facebook". Even my sisters urged me to go on there so we could share family photos, etc. After Tucson of that year, I succumbed to the peer pressures.<br /><br />I am usually good about resisting peer pressures, really I am.<br /><br />So here I was on Facebook. The instant I signed on, all the automatic invites were my "friends" and then a bevy of other mutual friends saw the "friending" and the next thing I knew within a few minutes I had 20 friends. From there it continued to escalate.<br /><br />I didn't know what to do with this Facebook. I mean I had a blog where I shared tidbits of my life as a beadmaker, jewelry designer, writer, etc. I didn't give Facebook much thought and throughout 2009 I visited my account sparingly. I was too busy being a writer and beadmaker traveling to shows to bother with Facebook. I barely had time to blog here.<br /><br />Maybe I was asleep or just tuning things out but all of a sudden it seemed the whole world was getting on this Facebook. I started seeing mentions of Facebook on electronic trade newsletters. I started noticing more of my artists friends mentioning it on their blogs. I started hearing radio stations mentioning their Facebook fan pages. I mean there was NO escaping.<br /><br />Facebook was EVERYWHERE taking over my life even though I didn't want it to. It seemed as if Facebook was this growing entity taking over everyone's lives and what was I doing? Was I missing out on being part of a social networking revolution? As an artist can I sit on the sidelines and just ignore Facebook? When would I have time to even participate?<br /><br />A year went by and then I decided to take a leap. I began to believe that Facebook could help bring awareness of my work to a whole new worldwide audience. That, I as an artist, wanted to give back to a community by sharing more of my experiences and what inspires me to create. That I wanted to BUILD my own community of artists with common interests. So I set forth on this goal.<br /><br />In mid Feb 2010 after attending the Tucson shows, I was determined to take a more active role on Facebook. As an artist, who is also a techie at heart, I couldn't let the signs of times ride along without me. I was jumping on a HUGE bandwagon even though I generally stride to a different drummer. And, Facebook was GREAT and there to help recommend "friends". And those who were my "friends" were also there to recommend me more friends. And I found some old colleagues from my past life as an engineer, so they too became my "friends".<br /><br />I was asked by a few if I would start a "FAN" page. No, I was not going to start a "FAN" page because I barely had enough time to keep up with one Facebook page. I wanted Facebook to be a place I could share some photos and another side of myself that is not here or on my website. It was the most feasible method to share many photos in "albums" with a lot of people at once. There was instant feedback on Facebook, which this blog lacks.<br /><br />Isn't that what we all crave when we are on Facebook, feedback?<br /><br />I am AMAZED at my newsfeed these days. I can barely keep up with what all my friends are up to and I feel guilty at times that I can not respond to every one of their "news" because I genuinely do care about my friends.<br /><br />Then I wonder what I could be doing instead of being on Facebook?<br /><br />EVERY break from the studio since late February 2010, there I was checking Facebook updates. My mailbox was full of responses or requests for "friending". At times, the activity was overwhelming. I had to do something about this.<br /><br />*****<br /><br />Hey Lisa!!<br /><br />Yes YOU, Lisa!!<br /><br />Have you forgotten your purpose and goals in this life?<br /><br />You should be CREATING!!<br /><br />Get off Facebook!<br /><br />*****<br /><br />I could be doing a lot of other things but I also know that Facebook is an "investment" - as far as *I* want to take it - on being an artist and sharing my ideas. So I MUST be on Facebook to some degree but I must also not let Facebook take over MY life.<br /><br />So these are my conclusions after actively spending 3 months on Facebook:<br /><br />I've decided I don't want to go on Facebook to tell the world the minute details of my life. Who really cares? I will just visit now and then to share photos from my trips that I believe may inspire other artists. I will just visit again if I happen to be on a trip and had the most amazing meal at "so and so" restaurant so that YOU can visit too. Or I will post about an article I've written so you'll know what magazine to pick up next, if you enjoy and follow my work.<br /><br />The day to day activities of me working hard in the studio... well that is really boring news.<br /><br />Do you really need to know if I am happy, sad, tired, inquisitive, philosophical, etc.?<br /><br />Really? (Said in a tone, as on SNL)<br /><br />There is living and then there is LIVING.<br /><br />It seems we are stuck in the mode of "reality shows" where we desire to get a snippet of others' lives. Facebook feeds this in each of us. I admit some people live quite interesting lives. There are so many photos that are not secured, you can see EVERYTHING on Facebook unless you know how to tweak the privacy settings and navigate safely. There lies one of the biggest problems people are lackadaisical about, the ability to secure their own privacy and learn Facebook.<br /><br />WOW!!!<br /><br />Tune in hourly and on a busy day my newsfeed is 300+ long. How can you really get to know a person from news feeds (unless they are already your friend in real life). It's just a slice of their life.<br /><br />So if you are a "friend" on Facebook and start noticing that I'm not really there or why you don't hear from me much, come back here to read this post.<br /><br />I'm LIVING, not living.<br /><br />I have a gazillion things I'd like to do with the time I have spent on Facebook. Yes, Facebook is time consuming but I won't say all of it was a waste of time. I've enjoyed looking at my friends photos and seeing art being created. That is the best part of Facebook, connecting with like-minded artists, whom you would never otherwise meet in real life from ALL over the WORLD!! But I definitely don't want to contribute to the news feed clutter. I can only guess what some of you folks think about perhaps MY past news entries.<br /><br />Besides between my website, this blog and Facebook, you'll know this girl is always up to something. There is only so much time in a day even if I don't sleep to get things done. Also, if you really miss hearing from me there is always email or the phone.<br /><br />(Although I am generally in the middle of torching in the studio to answer phones. Nevermind, email me to call YOU back instead.)<br /><br />Lately there's been so much news about how Facebook is disregarding their user's privacy, etc. etc. stepping over the bounds. But you know, YOU are in control here and are responsible for what you post in a PUBLIC forum. NOTHING is truly private on the Internet. What you share on Facebook is for all your "friends" to see and read whether you know them well or not. Even private emails and photos can be forwarded.<br /><br />There is even a "quit Facebook day" (TODAY! 5/31/2010) proposed but of the few thousands that might quit, how many come back later? Facebook is like a drug. Does the loss of ten, twenty, thirty thousand or more members make a difference to the over half a billion people in this world that is on Facebook today? No matter the weaknesses of Facebook, it serves one major purpose. It brings people together and provides them an "audience".<br /><br />What is ultimately sad about Facebook is not the privacy infringements on their users but that some of their users don't know how to communicate outside of Facebook in REAL life. The computer screen is their facade to create an identity which they wish to believe. I'm just saying this is the case of "some" not ALL people. I have really great friends I know in person on Facebook.<br /><br />I have always loved the face to face interactions where you can see the other person's facial expressions and hear the inflection of their voice. I mean when I tell a joke, a "hahah" or "LOL" can only go so far online. And I <span style="font-weight: bold;">*DO*</span> have an excellent sense of humor.<br /><br />But on the other hand, I've met a few wonderful people (quite unexpectedly) that I would not otherwise have had the pleasure of meeting if I was not on Facebook. Because in real life, our paths would most likely not have crossed, so Facebook has it's pluses. But on this other hand, I've met a few interesting characters that I wished I never came across too. I've dealt with those situations the<span style="font-weight: bold;"> "Lisa way".</span><br /><br />So <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Let's Facebook It"</span> is a balance of time and in moderation Facebook will not take over your life (unless you want it to). Facebook should never take over anyone's life. If it has, then it's up to you to change that.<br /><br />I'm making some conscious changes and tweaking my own behavior.<br /><br />Facebook will not take over THIS girl's life.<br /><br />No way, Jose!<br /><br />Yes, NO way!<br /><br />I'll have more to share about the business aspects and positives of Facebook from some industry leaders...<br /><br />... but on a future post.<br /><br />Later...<br /><br />This girl has to get some sleep!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Time for these fingers to get some rest....<br />Good night/Good morning<br />Lisa<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">P.S. I bet you wondered when Lisa would stop typing this post. If I type this much, imagine how much I talk at these hours. Yep blabber mouth here!<br /></div></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386361971010726098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6523144688484010671.post-13403063189752035352010-05-29T14:49:00.001-07:002010-05-29T15:21:03.009-07:00Lariats You Will Love: Knotted Treasures<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuiGRpohBRYOUN8rkSnrtTJHrodlQoJVpHgvLe-YzjsahDEn_6KU3MMswlgVONLC1uESw_8ld0fJ34Mlmzmf69lLnhb8Ov092mP48hQlnNOzXkbf-AwZPMh2HEQLf0TMtfIzJZ4UBq_NM/s1600/Amazon+Night+01.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuiGRpohBRYOUN8rkSnrtTJHrodlQoJVpHgvLe-YzjsahDEn_6KU3MMswlgVONLC1uESw_8ld0fJ34Mlmzmf69lLnhb8Ov092mP48hQlnNOzXkbf-AwZPMh2HEQLf0TMtfIzJZ4UBq_NM/s320/Amazon+Night+01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476812665993841954" border="0" /></a><br />Yesterday, <a href="http://www.beadingdaily.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Beading Daily</span></a> did a writeup on lariats. Here is the link to read the <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://beadingdaily.com/blogs/daily/archive/2010/05/28/lariats-you-will-love-and-a-free-project.aspx">newsletter.</a><br /><br />You will find my Knotted Treasure Lariat featured with a limited time free download. This project was originally published in the February/March issue of <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://beadworkmagazine.com/">Beadwork Magazine</a> in 2007. It was my first article for Beadwork, thus began my long association with the magazine as well as Interweave Press. I have written MANY articles since then.<br /><br />It was later that year (August 2007), even before I ever wrote a seed beaded project for Beadwork Magazine, the editors trusted in my abilities and offered me the opportunity to write my book, Bead Romantique. As they say,"The rest is history...." I have Interweave Press to thank for having faith in my abilities, not only as a writer but as a designer.<br /><br />In the meantime,<span style="font-weight: bold;"> the Knotted Treasure design was missing an important part that I later discovered when I designed the Pearl Mesh Bracelet for Bead Romantique. </span>In order for the mesh not to fray, you need to twist the ends and add a dab of GS Hypo Cement. Let dry and spread the mesh embellishments into little leaf shapes.<br /><br />If you need Italian Mesh, I do carry 100" spools in 28 colors of the 6mm mesh. Just visit <a href="http://Lisakan.com"><span style="font-weight: bold;">my website</span></a> to order. If you will be at <a href="http://beadandbuttonshow.com"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bead and Button </span></a>or any show I exhibit at, you will see this necklace up close and personal.<br /><br />Here's the <a href="http://www.beadingdaily.com/media/p/78368.aspx"><span style="font-weight: bold;">link to download the "Knotted Treasures" project</span></a> absolutely FREE from Beading Daily.<br /><br />Enjoy this project!!!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Lisa<br /></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386361971010726098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6523144688484010671.post-9848629842411883242010-05-27T00:52:00.000-07:002010-05-31T11:52:26.692-07:00Bead Trends June 2010: Designer Highlight<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgegKyMymQTaUTvv5xB7mrYczu_zfS0aQTI6KQMUGYBzcNZv_ToqlZ8Qb3J1ierUZMQzcbeJz4sAhvicNunOYAnvQkw8dyn1TZn-c5Cu9fW3UOMxAkje8llhC9EvMGsh5JOS4TnlpOitqk/s1600/BT+Cover.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 238px; height: 245px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgegKyMymQTaUTvv5xB7mrYczu_zfS0aQTI6KQMUGYBzcNZv_ToqlZ8Qb3J1ierUZMQzcbeJz4sAhvicNunOYAnvQkw8dyn1TZn-c5Cu9fW3UOMxAkje8llhC9EvMGsh5JOS4TnlpOitqk/s400/BT+Cover.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475858345569480210" border="0" /></a>I want to take this opportunity to share with all of you, Bead Trend Magazine's June 2010 feature of my work.<br /><br />As many of you know, I not only work in glass but I also design jewelry for publication through my articles for many industry magazines, both in the US and abroad. It is my hope that my writing and designs will inspire beaders (and stringers) old and new into the art of craft.<br /><br />I do not teach in any other medium than through my writing. Through my writing, I can reach many more people and artists than I can in a classroom setting. This is why I write SO much!!<br /><br />I don't have an opportunity to bead as much as I used to but when I do, most likely an article will result. Although my specialty is designing intricate beadwork for the seed beader, at times I am invited to share my design techniques in other mediums. I look forward to each of these challenges.<br /><br />This feature on my romantic and vintage design sensibilities has been over ONE year in the works. I would like to first thank Tatia Meyer, editor of the wonderful idea book Bead Trends, for inviting me in late 2008 to be part of the Designer Highlight after her invitation to design the cover of Bead Trends' December 2008 issue.<br /><br />At the time, I had accepted the invitation from Beadwork Magazine to be one of four Designers of The Year 2009. That commitment was a wonderful experience as well, designing six exclusive projects for the readers in every 2009 Beadwork issue. Writing kept me busy in between my glass and exhibits! It was a challenging time not in designing but to switch hats from glass to seed beads in between all my shows.<br /><br />So when my commitments were completed, Tatia was so nice to offer me again to be part of the Romance June 2010 issue as the Designer Highlight. She asked me to think romance, love and weddings.<br /><br />(click the image for a larger view)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH-JcFB6JQ5yzimru53ksrvUFkQXPecmyfn-tRhAJP3TFojJaOn9fA8LPq213AMHQ6DgDhAGnftL3kpqIK41byBfACtBwM7JAFdTh4YHCLEntX_Xl724E6ZgmwC2JnlkuoTAHUuyo7UYU/s1600/BT+Designer+Highlight.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 324px; height: 334px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH-JcFB6JQ5yzimru53ksrvUFkQXPecmyfn-tRhAJP3TFojJaOn9fA8LPq213AMHQ6DgDhAGnftL3kpqIK41byBfACtBwM7JAFdTh4YHCLEntX_Xl724E6ZgmwC2JnlkuoTAHUuyo7UYU/s400/BT+Designer+Highlight.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475861407672674466" border="0" /></a>Hey, I'm the romantic and that is one of my trademarks.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>It was not difficult to create the story of Victoria and a love story behind the pieces. I hope you will be encouraged to pick up this issue of Bead Trends to create a love story of your own.<br /><br />In this issue you will find the following, 23 pages of my work with my story of why I do what I do and why I work so hard in doing it. Most pieces have complimentary designs that can be worn interchangeably or in a multitude of ways. Just use your imagination and go....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ZgfqIYnTNVqnW3l5G0lKLHJgg5ebv6ydbSe7qkDgvF2BKvt7fJor6eZ9gJKW8LAsX5Mzm3DNsdTVUH5R_QuxBdaKHgqa_xvecuXLsRa7ZrfNOZKbRfyDXqrtFDatoOtmO-jpgnbxp_4/s1600/Blushing+Blossom.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 283px; height: 276px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ZgfqIYnTNVqnW3l5G0lKLHJgg5ebv6ydbSe7qkDgvF2BKvt7fJor6eZ9gJKW8LAsX5Mzm3DNsdTVUH5R_QuxBdaKHgqa_xvecuXLsRa7ZrfNOZKbRfyDXqrtFDatoOtmO-jpgnbxp_4/s400/Blushing+Blossom.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475856059706630162" border="0" /></a>1. On the cover, Blushing Blossoms: pages 1 and 8<br /><br />2. Designer Highlight Feature: page 41<br /><br />3. Victoria's Spiral: pages 42-45<br /><br />4. Midnight in the Garden: pages 46-49<br /><br />5. The Secret Garden: pages 50-53<br /><br />6. The Damsel and the Dragonfly: pages 54-57<br /><br />7. Capture Thy Heart: pages 58-61<br /><br />8. Water Lilies: pages 62-63<br /><br />I also want to thank <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.vintaj.com/">Vintaj</a> and <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://findingsdesign.com/">Kim Fox</a> for their support in this feature. Without their wonderful findings, my designs would not be what they became. Also thanks to <a href="http://kgottfriedinc.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">K. Gottf</span></a><a href="http://kgottfriedinc.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">ried Inc</span></a> for some of the lovely crystals used in the projects! Thank you SO VERY much to all three!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Get a sneak peak at some of the designs on <a href="http://vintaj.com/wpblog/?p=6601">Vintaj's blog</a></span>!!<br /><br />*****<br />About Bead Trends Magazine from their website:<br /><br />From the novice to the professional, the art of beading and jewelry design is a craft that anyone can enjoy. It is a world of beauty filled with color, pattern, design, texture, and style. It provides a satisfying outlet to create something that is a unique expression of yourself.<br /><br />Because we have a passion for creating and believe that everyone has within them the talent and vision to make beautiful things with their hands, Bead Trends has introduced a beautifully photographed series of idea books designed to inspire. Every issue is filled with a variety of styles and techniques that showcase the work of many talented crafters. A favorite section of mine is our “Designer Highlight.” In this section we are introduced to a single artist, who is then given the opportunity to express him/herself and showcase their personal style in their designs.<br /><br />To read more, visit <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.beadtrendsmag.com/">Bead Trends</a> website<br /><br />*****<br /><br />Thank you for everyone's continual support and enjoyment of my work. You make my dreams come true.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I will continually give you my VERY best<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Lisa</div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386361971010726098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6523144688484010671.post-9000421938140491262010-05-26T00:01:00.000-07:002010-05-31T15:15:11.686-07:00Things I MISS!<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWeyQBXPtpRI1q-qSPKj1mVF7LtttNtWREKDpu4DKyN-uK_NvmKzy6J3ImstAZDTUrFpATUySI-yOn0llQ7lqeI7ep7K5VSsEjA9WTsFOtTo1Yf3pS0F6Qv9cG8jZf8CYbcLc2kljvRwM/s1600/SF+May+2010+03kk.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 323px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWeyQBXPtpRI1q-qSPKj1mVF7LtttNtWREKDpu4DKyN-uK_NvmKzy6J3ImstAZDTUrFpATUySI-yOn0llQ7lqeI7ep7K5VSsEjA9WTsFOtTo1Yf3pS0F6Qv9cG8jZf8CYbcLc2kljvRwM/s400/SF+May+2010+03kk.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475629708479504386" border="0" /></a></span>Lately it has been one show after another. If you have stopped by here or Facebook you'd know my crazy schedule for the last few months. It's been never ending.<br /><br />As an artist, its great to be busy so I'm not really complaining.<br /><br />Well not too much.<br /><br />Really.<br /><br />But I am EXHAUSTED!<br /><br />I'm the one who scheduled all these shows last year knowing that there would only be two weeks in between four shows back to back to prep for each of the shows. And then after the fourth show there would only be three weeks to get ready for the largest consumer bead show in the U.S. - Bead and Button.<br /><br />What was I thinking?<br /><br />Sure, I am crazy because most people take nearly 2-3 months to get ready for this show.<br /><br />So you heard it from me personally... I am crazy.<br /><br />Lisa is CRAZY!<br /><br />(about sharing her art with as many folks as possible)<br /><br />Well, I'll be in Milwaukee by June 5th, next Saturday.<br /><br />I had the bright idea of going early so I can do some photography in Chicago and visit around Wisconsin before the big show. What I should have done instead was to schedule extra days AFTER the show which would have given me a few more days of studio time.<br /><br />These are my mini-vacations, extra days before or after a show. I don't have time to vacation in exotic places otherwise.<br /><br />Live and learn.<br /><br />So I live...<br /><br />And learn...<br /><br />I can be very focused and have been diligent in the studio but even a determined Lisa can humanly only work so many hours each day. I make the most of the time still remaining. My hands can only sculpt so many Botanicals before they ache each evening.<br /><br />My poor right hand has two callouses from sculpting each flower petal. It can not be avoided. It is how I do my magic to create this series to share with the world... the story of the Ume...the plum blossom folklore. It is the cost of creating my art which I wholeheartedly understand and welcome.<br /><br />So bring it ON! Bring it on.<br /><br />Please don't ask me at a show if I make every one of my beads and if I use a mold?<br /><br />It is a question I get at least once every show. I can't assume that everyone is familiar with my work in the vast bead world. But I hope when people look at my glass work you will notice that NO mass production facility can create beads of this quality, color depth and personal detail.<br /><br />What factory would put this much heart into their work?<br /><br />But I will answer those who ask me each and every time with a smile. And then show you my right hand, which I sculpt glass with. If you want to touch my callouses to feel if they are real, please do. Just know that it does bother me a bit when someone questions whether I am the beadmaker. I work long hours and suffer callous hands for a reason. The meticulous details, small and large, I place in my work is the reason why you may think I use a mold. If you can find a mold that does what I do, PLEASE let me know.<br /><br />With My Hands, I Create.<br /><br />I create from my HEART.<br /><br />I create with a vision and dream of the possibilities.<br /><br />I dream.<br /><br />*****<br />So what I was REALLY trying to get at with this post was the schedule has been SO crazy that I miss the things I used to do more often when I had more time.<br /><br />Do you know that I have two eight foot tall bookshelves full of books which I have not had time to read? I miss that. Those books have been sitting on the shelves for many years and there is dust collecting on them. I know I can pick any book out and read it any day but exhaustion encompasses me at the end of most days to do much more than manage the day to day activities of being an "entrepreneur".<br /><br />You know what though?<br /><br />I am a proponent that you have to make time for the things you love. I should listen to my own advice. So soon, after I tackle Bead and Button I will indulge again in some of the things I have missed. I'll have nearly seven weeks of no shows but that doesn't mean I'll be taking a break from the studio. The beads don't make themselves folks. I have a bevy of Summer and Fall shows to prep for too. So things will remain busy for this girl but just not as crazy.<br /><br />I will give myself the need to escape, perhaps in one of those books on my bookshelves. Authors like Patricia Cromwell, Robert Tannebaum, Richard North Patterson, James Patterson, etc. sit in dust waiting for me, calling to me. I have so many favorite authors I used to visit with time and time again.<br /><br />The good or bad thing about my reading habits is that if I like a book I can finish a 500+ page book in one day. I am (or was) a voracious reader. I will give up sleeping to finish a good book.<br /><br />Yes, I am fanatic about reading and that is why I have not read a book in a LONG time, not because I didn't enjoy the process but because I knew if I read, I would only read. My glass and studio time would suffer.<br /><br />Of course, there is the knitting too. My fiber addiction and a walk in closet full of wonderful yarns! I have taught myself many things over the years and knitting is one of them. The satisfaction of finishing a project!! The feeling of excitement to wear something I made with these hands and the wonderful yarns I select for each project. There is also a sense of pride when I have the time to make a gift for a love one. I miss this! I MISS!<br /><br />There are several in process projects that have suffered from completion. I have a habit of selecting huge projects that take months or years to complete.<br /><br />I love knitting blankets!! Yeah, I'm crazy. But think of ALL the love in every single stitch of the blanket. Love it.<br /><br />Well, I started back knitting a few days ago. The particular project was at the foot of my bed, in a plastic bin of chosen yarns. Over SIXTY skeins will complete this project!! <br /><br />I picked the project up and found the modular blanket pattern I had started late last year on my night stand. My notes carefully scribbled with alterations and stitch counts to spice things up a bit. My hands remembered easily the pattern after glancing at the instructions. It was as though the project never left my hands, these fingers. The needles flowed with each stitch and the knitting brought comfort to me, working on a project that I missed. Working with my hands, creating something from simple components, I love it.<br /><br />So, hello again, Blythe Blanket!<br /><br />Hello.<br /><br />(My blanket is blue, purple and green and has black borders around each square. It will be slightly different than the photo below.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8CBVrJC09qMxLXnWzIkA7YUxCJmUFFI2l24daB_DpqptKXr0g-wRn3yWe3Q4ZigJAiaL6oNAuxTMwBddsNVXTkfdvSL0TR-CRNWnJQA7UmU4YX2EkM7m92ZfJLRj9a08HjtiifJ04Kq4/s1600/Blythe+Blanket.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 209px; height: 261px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8CBVrJC09qMxLXnWzIkA7YUxCJmUFFI2l24daB_DpqptKXr0g-wRn3yWe3Q4ZigJAiaL6oNAuxTMwBddsNVXTkfdvSL0TR-CRNWnJQA7UmU4YX2EkM7m92ZfJLRj9a08HjtiifJ04Kq4/s400/Blythe+Blanket.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475629702468787042" border="0" /></a>I've missed you.<br /><br />Even though it will take me months to finish you, I will.<br /><br />Then there is my beading. I see my Facebook friends uploading beautiful finished projects into their photo albums and then I think to myself why I only bead these days if I am writing an article.<br /><br />It is true.<br /><br />I have not really beaded for FUN since before writing Bead Romantique! My main focus has been my glass work and prepping for shows. My beading has always been another comforting craft I indulge in between the busyness. Many people think that since I write about beading and create projects for magazines, I must also teach and have kits. I bead and write because I want to share with the world my love of beading. That's why I write so much but I have been taking a break to focus back on my glass work. And many of the projects you see in magazines are usually created the same week before a deadline.<br /><br />Designing. Creating. Writing. All in a two week duration while working in the glass studio too. Now do you realize why I have little time to do the things I miss?<br /><br />I suppose having an assignment and beading last minute challenges me. I so miss beading but I will get a chance to bead soon after Bead and Button. Yes, it is for a special assignment that I will talk more about later. I wish it was for pleasure but I can only justify so much indulgence without feeling guilty.<br /><br />At least not TOO guilty.<br /><br />So I'm looking forward to June and July for the things that I miss. I miss doing them and I will make time (somehow) each day to do one of the things I miss. I miss doing many things. The sacrifices of an artist. It's what I must do. I will miss less things soon. Doing many things keeps me sane and creating. That is why I have so many interests. Good or bad.<br /><br />Thank you for dropping by to read from time to time. I know we are all busy so I appreciate the time you spend on my blog or on my Facebook. And, I'll try to be here more often to share my thoughts. I should be better about blogging even if these hands ache from a long day in the studio.<br /><br />I should.<br /><br />No more excuses.<br /><div style="text-align: center;">Introspectively,<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Lisa<br /></div><br />P.S. Yes, yesterday, I finally started decorating this blog a bit with a new banner. After starting this blog on 07/07/07 it was about time!! There was a reason for starting the blog back then... to write to you...share with you a bit about ME. Thank you for being interested in my work and allowing me into your lives.Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386361971010726098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6523144688484010671.post-31205167852684935122010-05-06T13:36:00.000-07:002010-05-06T13:47:11.973-07:00Bead Society of Norcal Bazaar: May 15, 2010<p class="BSNCbodycopy">Yes, it is almost SHOWTIME again.<br /></p><p class="BSNCbodycopy">Seems like I've been on the road non-stop with a show every two weeks apart for the last few shows and you know what? yes, I have<br /></p><p class="BSNCbodycopy">I am making beads as fast as I can and so my fingers are crossed I'll have a nice selection of the Botanicals for my Norcal beader friends.</p><p class="BSNCbodycopy">From the Bead Society of Norcal <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://beadsocietyofnorcal.org/bazaar.html">website</a>:</p><p class="BSNCbodycopy"><strong>Please join us again this year for the <span class="BSNCheading style1">BSNC Bead Bazaar, Saturday May 15, 2010</span><br /> </strong></p> The<strong> BSNC Bead Bazaar</strong> is the<strong> LARGEST</strong> one day show in the US. With<em><strong> over 115</strong></em> studio artists and bead <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://beadsocietyofnorcal.org/vendors.html"> exhibitors</a>, selling ancient/vintage/modern beads, finished jewelry, findings, books, and more,<em><strong> this is a show not to be missed.</strong></em><br /> <br /> Centrally located at the Oakland Marriott Civic Center<br /> <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 153);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">10th and Broadway, Oakland, CA.</span> </span><br /> <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://maps.yahoo.com/dd?ed=8.bJTP960Sy05BuI9ZwJAAcXsyS9CC2brd2mr4WhizVMPIzv39kh_oj0_IlGYyLooByjQu0-&tname=&tcsz=10th%20and%20broadway%20+Oakland,+CA+94607-4019&tcountry=US&tdesc="><img src="http://beadextravaganza.com/images/map.gif" width="250" height="155" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >click the map to get detailed driving directions</span><br /></div> <br /> <strong>Public Transportation:</strong> Consider taking BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit ) or an AC Transit bus, saving the $22.00 parking fee (which you could spend on beads!).<br /> <br /> The Oakland Convention Center is located across the street from the 12th Street BART station and is within easy walking distance of a number of AC Transit Bus Lines. Remember that free, convenient parking is available at many East Bay BART stations on weekends. You can park your car at the station and take BART to the Convention Center. (For weekday parking, be sure to check the rules at the station you park at) <br /> <br /> An easy to use trip planner for BART, Muni, and AC Transit is available at: <a href="http://www.511.org/">www.511.org</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Save some money on the entrance fee and spend it at MY booth! (Right click on the image below and save to your desktop to print out the $2 coupon)</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-yAywwUvSOew_c8Tf-qV-ApgWRK23OBJhowKyGVzow5ke8YlOXRmM3Jlky9vW_lkTez8IYtMSMyJlU7-ItMDC7a_F2xaa8LBQMJXMMlOZkSQijGcYrpdfX2zRG6wq1AD9Dwg38KTrsGo/s1600/NorCal+Bead+Bazaar+2010+coupon.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 294px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-yAywwUvSOew_c8Tf-qV-ApgWRK23OBJhowKyGVzow5ke8YlOXRmM3Jlky9vW_lkTez8IYtMSMyJlU7-ItMDC7a_F2xaa8LBQMJXMMlOZkSQijGcYrpdfX2zRG6wq1AD9Dwg38KTrsGo/s400/NorCal+Bead+Bazaar+2010+coupon.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468260297575582610" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">See everyone at the show soon! <br />I<span style="font-weight: bold;"> CAN'T </span>wait to visit the Bay area again!<br />And spend time with good friends<br /><br />There are many <span style="font-weight: bold;">MORE</span> beads to make in the next few days<br />so I better get busy<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Flame On</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lisa</span><br /></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386361971010726098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6523144688484010671.post-36960751281550822902010-04-18T09:46:00.000-07:002010-04-18T10:02:26.538-07:00Rocky Mountain Bead Society Bazaar: April 24-25, 2010Yes, indeed.<br /><br />It is almost SHOWTIME, once again.<br /><br />I will be on the road again soon, this time to beautiful Denver, Colorado.<br /><br />The road trip will take TWO days but I'm looking forward to stopping over in Santa Fe for some Good Eats.<br /><br />If you are in the Denver, Colorado area or are just planning to drive up for the Rocky Mountain Bead Society Bazaar, come visit me, will ya?<br /><br />This is my first time exhibiting at the RMBS show and I am SO excited to connect with beaders, talk about glass and creating, talk about ANYTHING really.<br /><br />So welcome me to Denver, and drop by to say hello.<br /><br />You'll find me at Booth #436!! way in the back but I won't be hard to find.<br /><br />Just look for my banner that will mark the spot for you to STOP!!<br /><br />Here are the details for the show:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.denvermart.com/"><strong>The Denver Merchandise Mart</strong><br /></a>Expo Building<br />452 E. 58th Avenue (I-25 at 58th Avenue)<br />Denver, Colorado 80216<br /><br />April 24 and 25, 2010<br />HOURS: Saturday 10-6, Sunday 10-5<br />$5.00 admission EACH day<br /><br />For additional information, visit the <a href="http://rockybeads.org/Bazaar2010/2010bazaar.htm"><strong>Rocky Mountain Bead Society Bazaar page.</strong></a><br /><br />TWO more days and I'm on the road again.<br /><br />When I return, you'll see some new photo albums uploaded to my <a href="http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=1486667930&v=info&ref=profile"><strong>Facebook</strong></a> page, so don't forget to look me up there for some "visual" stimulation!<br /><br />See everyone in Denver soon...<br /><br />There's many more Botanicals still to be made and lots of packin' to get done.<br /><br />But I'll be READY when it's SHOWTIME.<br /><br />Looking forward to getting away and taking my mind off to a distant place.<br /><br /><div align="center">Busy is Good. </div><div align="center">Keeps me outta trouble.</div><div align="center">Trouble is NOT my name.</div><div align="center">Lisa</div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386361971010726098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6523144688484010671.post-16397326050574339812010-04-07T02:26:00.000-07:002010-04-07T02:41:34.056-07:00Glass Craft and Bead Expo: April 9 -11, 2010BE THERE if you can.<br /><br />This is a new venue for me this year so come visit me and keep me company. I will be at booth location G7 and H7.<br /><br />Also a first for me is my design <strong><em>"Spring Blossoms" </em></strong>for the <a href="http://www.glasscraftexpo.com/?page_id=13"><strong>Gallery of Excellence</strong> </a>exhibit.<br /><br />“<strong><em>Spring</em> <em>Blossoms”</em></strong> celebrates the arrival of Spring and the exuberant colors of the season. The necklace showcases my new Botanical sculptural glass florals, inspired by the plum blossom. The design incorporates peyote, twisted herringbone and fringe beading techniques in addition to wireworking.<br /><br /><div align="center">*****</div><div align="left"><br />Here are the general nitty gritty details for Glass Craft & Bead Expo 2010:<br /><br />Location:<br /><a href="http://www.southpointcasino.com/">South Point Hotel & Casino<br /></a>9777 Las Vegas Blvd, South<br />Las Vegas, Nevada<br /><br />Classes: April 7-11, 2010<br />Show floor: April 9-11, 2010<br /><br />Show floor hours:<br />Friday, April 9; 9:00am - 6:00pm<br />Saturday, April 10: 9:00am - 6:00pm<br />Sunday, April 11: 10:00am - 3:00pm<br /><br />The $15.00 admission is good for ALL THREE days of the Expo.<br /><br />Special <a href="http://www.glasscraftexpo.com/files/coupon_pages.pdf">coupons</a> you can use at select vendors at the show.<br /><a href="http://www.glasscraftexpo.com/?page_id=11">List</a> of vendors exhibiting at the show.<br /><br />For MORE info, visit the Glass Craft and Bead Expo <a href="http://www.glasscraftexpo.com/?page_id=11">website</a>!<br /></div><div align="center">See you in Las Vegas,</div><div align="center">Lisa</div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386361971010726098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6523144688484010671.post-38806185149754662552010-03-17T02:32:00.000-07:002010-03-17T03:44:38.358-07:00Ume... Plum Blossoms... the 3 NEW Botanicals<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz8ektOe-URpm4B3qZ6UGoaIZQ6LFBpEWUK2-hAyptzM0GtpBH0R3iBAOHlr-Et_kLeF78KHmuPjWC87L97upWzDwBKu3-IEIAezGW4ne0uf4KO6tVjmETUFjRA4Q02Rbe6N-0lT2eaFg/s1600-h/Plum+Blossom+06.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 349px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 269px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449550558903036866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz8ektOe-URpm4B3qZ6UGoaIZQ6LFBpEWUK2-hAyptzM0GtpBH0R3iBAOHlr-Et_kLeF78KHmuPjWC87L97upWzDwBKu3-IEIAezGW4ne0uf4KO6tVjmETUFjRA4Q02Rbe6N-0lT2eaFg/s400/Plum+Blossom+06.jpg" /></a> <div align="left"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 341px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 314px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449526249471858498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-l-sYPd8UwXyAeMXZDBwG-Tr6LeACDtWQsp7KIXQBy_csjsSuYOlSI6TSLphgQG-AxtEsDGCiceVdKaRA3GM0NpECb3G6cXnK6aRp-btIvmEcMOfcmRf1HhLoVdgHXStbJy_STwszEvY/s400/Jean+Botanicals+03.JPG" />Lisa is tired ...<br /><br />VERY tired<br /><br />What's keepin' me up is adrenaline and looking forward to my Santa Fe trip where I'll be seeing some of my favorite people, dining at some great eats, and just plain fun with artsy folks...<br /><br />See previous posts for info on Bead Fest Santa Fe and the free pass you can print out.<br /><br />Don't say I didn't try to save you some money! </div><br /><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Come spend it at my booth, will ya? (#208, at the Convention Center)<br /><br />I wanted to write one more blog post before heading off to Santa Fe... just ONE more.<br /><br />Does this redeem me for my lack of writing last year? Pretty, please?<br /><br />Goodness I have been so active with my writing, its a wonder how I got all these beads made.<br /><br />I know MAGIC folks.<br /><br />So before my head hits this keyboard...<br /><br />I want to let you know... for each show this year, I hope to introduce at least three or MORE new Botanical colors.<br /><br />How is it possible to have MORE colors, Lisa? Isn't there a limitation to the color palette?<br /><br />Well yes and no.<br /><br />If you have a Color Goddess on your shoulders looking over you while you make Botanicals... then you are blessed to create infinite combinations of colors in differing shades and hues.<br /><br />Hey besides, I know MAGIC!<br /><br />So with no further adieu, <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.beadfest.com"><strong>Bead Fest Santa Fe</strong> </a>attendees will be able to pick up the following three new colors. Please come on Thursday March 18th for opening night festivities from 5-9p.m. If you come, you will get first dibs on everything.<br /><br />Everything is limited...<br /><br />Don't say I didn't warn you to come early. If something sells out, well I guess you can always place an order and "wait".<br /><br />I do make custom orders on rare occasions, only if you give me an extra $2 dollars for every bead or special request.<br /><br />So, I am human and can only make so many beads each day. Don't want to have carpo tunnel.<br /><br />But I have been productive even though some of you know that I have also been quite active updating my page on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/reqs.php#!/profile.php?ref=profile&id=1486667930"><strong>Facebook.</strong></a><br /><br />I can usually do 3-4 things at once and plan my time accordingly. Besides, by the time of this post, you'll know I really don't sleep much. </div><br /><div align="left">SLEEP IS OVER-RATED!!<br /><br />Here's the new colors... as I need to get back to packing.<br /></div><br /><div align="center">BT047<br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 193px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 135px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449526255210085682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhBNcpkDOZT76Ml04uAqu0RpjVLdEo3RCu2UKUwsDHo6kkPOKI5IDkSB26aXCbJ-X41n5Xw4_XPkooK7d-R2KEhmXOJ8-CrDcH8gZTupLZhN3RJW0zK3jLeFViGjPM2YQ-nqXi3hF2Ihw/s400/BT047.JPG" /> <p align="center">BT048<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 192px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 149px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449526261860791666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmxrSulC__JMxvElhvOdDBY-DTvtMxXUPaM8aOrj9rNzg_igQ1xsQ9dvkJ8v4k-5-ljlQKtK1cScXhr6RsuuPViodi1u7I0K3ULvvVRd1d2TPRr5k4eltbqn9LDfVm5K4amZ9EwlsFMBw/s400/BT048.jpg" /></p><p align="center">BT049<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 187px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 152px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449526268128887170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYlJtVb9AKS9wTHlUv3Jvelt4fc6xJ543tGHdXsiTvBaIuKX5GEhodwQP3kydgdRXHUh8TmQ6zDJp7PX_y6-DahZ3mZ3waYqsqzg-yLY1phFs8qfMAWMJYhPATIAtjmlJWZOXbQdU360I/s400/BT049.jpg" /></p><p align="left">Well that's about all you need to know. The photos speak for themselves I hope. </p><p>And if you visit my <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.lisakan.com"><strong>website</strong></a> catalog, you'll find I have many sales going on... because there will be some interesting surprises coming</p><p>And I'm NOT telling you what they are... until you buy up all the items on sale.<br /><br />So come see me in Santa Fe if you are near... I promise I won't talk to you to death. I'll probably be snoring behind the booth, trying to catch up on the Zzzz's.<br /></p><br /><p align="center">Good night/Good morning</p><p align="center">Yes, back to work...</p><div align="center">Lisa</div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386361971010726098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6523144688484010671.post-44269652178188463252010-03-16T00:52:00.000-07:002010-03-16T06:27:47.025-07:00Come to Bead Fest, Santa Fe...<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSc3MHxQ8MtWznD8vxPmmN2L7JWMnMkU0hhaXKfBYar0hNagozDrGg484pYJfQsrFV1ITqVwWiJkuNbCAcdaWSBzrnDXjiJAt2nnrPDKqkxD6xVcpuD-Mdp0ysAGbqH8zY7suOs7gLkEI/s1600-h/Bead+Fest+Santa+Fe+Banner.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 350px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 205px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449070633160738034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSc3MHxQ8MtWznD8vxPmmN2L7JWMnMkU0hhaXKfBYar0hNagozDrGg484pYJfQsrFV1ITqVwWiJkuNbCAcdaWSBzrnDXjiJAt2nnrPDKqkxD6xVcpuD-Mdp0ysAGbqH8zY7suOs7gLkEI/s400/Bead+Fest+Santa+Fe+Banner.jpg" /></a> It's SHOWTIME folks!</div><p>I will be exhibiting at the <strong><a href="http://www.beadfest.com/beadfest/santafe.cfm">Bead Fest Santa Fe</a></strong> show from March 18th to March 21st. If you are nearby and happen to be in Santa Fe, please come by the show and visit me at booth #208. I'd love to chat and visit with you. I'm at the Convention Center.<br /><br />Here are the nitty-gritty show details: </p><p align="center"><strong><a href="http://santafe.org/">Santa Fe Community Convention Center</a></strong><br />201 W. Marcy St<br />Santa Fe, NM 87501<br />Santa Fe County<br /></p><div align="center"><strong>2nd location with more vendors:</strong></div><div align="center"><br /><a href="http://www.lafondasantafe.com/"><strong>La Fonda Santa Fe</strong></a><strong><br /></strong>100 E. San Francisco<br />Santa Fe, NM 87501<br />Santa Fe County<br /></div><div align="center"><br />For a list of exhibitors you can visit, <strong>click </strong><a href="http://www.beadfest.com/beadfest/saf_bazaar.cfm"><strong>here</strong></a><strong>:<br /><br /></strong></div><div align="center"><strong>Bazaar Hours:<br /></strong>Thursday, March 18: 5 PM - 9 PM<br />Friday, March 19: 10 AM - 6 PM<br />Saturday, March 20: 10 AM - 6 PM<br />Sunday, March 21: 11 AM - 5 PM<br /><br /><strong>Admission Fees at the door: *Cash Only*<br /></strong>1 day - $10<br />2 day pass - $12<br />3 day pass - $14<br />4 day pass - $16 </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><strong><br />OR </strong><a href="http://lisakan.blogspot.com/2010/02/bead-fest-santa-fe-free-pass.html"><strong>click here for a absolutely FREE pass</strong></a><strong>. </strong></div><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><br />But if you use this pass, you HAVE TO come to my booth for a visit.</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">*****<br /></div><div align="left">Also just announced by Interweave is a BRAND new show this October!</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><br />Mark your calendars folks, this new show is coming to Texas. I have been asking the Bead Fest folks to add a venue in Texas and finally it is coming true! I am COMING to see all of you in Texas this October. I don't care if I have to slave in the studio. I am SO there! So Texas... HELLO out there!</div><div align="center"><br /><strong>Bead Fest Texas<br /></strong>October 1-3, 2010<br />Arlington Convention Center<br />1200 Ballpark Way<br />Arlington, TX 76011 </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><strong>*****</strong></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br />See everyone soon in Santa Fe!</div><div align="center"><br />Goodnight</div><div align="center">Lisa</div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386361971010726098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6523144688484010671.post-60569906359832754572010-03-15T23:19:00.000-07:002010-03-16T06:27:25.256-07:00Introducing the NEW Metal Clay and Polymer Clay Toolwraps<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449128654914594450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil9V3yvyb0FKqe-3pxv_plL_B7_J2x5FpWjAEZagjLuSuaU7UQnQ0ghqI6Bb9Rk0hUYKETt1VJb67XiDbzGt5D_KRmuJj2_6IVt_67sCL1YEmsVjstXd8_aLJget5KWUJqnG4ZbjkS0N0/s400/TWLFabricRelease+01.jpg" /><br />What you see above are the fabrics being introduced at Bead Fest Santa Fe later this week.<br /><br />What for Lisa?<br /><br />Well, thank you for asking...<br /><br />With the popularity of our small and medium Tri-fold Tool and Bead Wraps, we of course was planning all along to introduce the large version. Projects like these take time to develop. You can read more about the wraps on my <a href="http://www.lisakan.com/"><strong>website</strong></a> and see more detailed photos.<br /><br />Basically this wrap is targetted for the Metal Clay and Polymer Clay artists. Have you seen all the tools they lug around and generally in plain looking toolwraps? I think having one of our toolwraps would make creating oh so much more fun. Don't you say?<br /><br />So here are just some photos of what you can use our new LARGE wrap for. I'll let the pictures do the talking because this girl is WAY too exhausted right now to write any more.<br /><br /><strong>For the Metal Clay and Polymer Clay Artist:</strong><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449128668296904258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgt4KH8rQLViuMnUceWoNn-SoOQpqOik_Q-sIW1zXCwoF2i1NjG5D-yn76y2bPG8GiOkZ9o2BMAkHADC6UyK7EMlQFL0UZ6ckPDWxD6UqnCMN2S9_INeVEIcSrjBUdFowj1ecZO8uQZCk/s400/TWLClaySample.jpg" /><br /><strong>For the Seed Beader:</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449130891640447042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAU-gZxjPPJIyco5lHsFPwgOXgkM7RhJcQdd8Wq0eFVld9pugcy9-V3EVC3pXWOcNnGhq9B4OQBxJB4ydsX_VUScB4mZHH_HN_WAWk5XNt2L6bBr7Jw28tqOLSHKmkzmpdsrlZtJjgBWI/s400/TWLBeadSample.jpg" /><br /><strong>For the Knitter, Crocheter and Needleworker:</strong><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq5spzG8igeLQDYqyjbinPDcEitkhW5LP89e7fguX0C4YqivT_WrDjjiC6hUJvpJg1c1yGSONn0cHShOFReWz7cb9LnWkQZH0kDcnAlJNpGRc4moeTwg6tN6ar9KCBRpJRZafD7JxlsdM/s1600-h/TWLKnitSample.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449128695931815090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq5spzG8igeLQDYqyjbinPDcEitkhW5LP89e7fguX0C4YqivT_WrDjjiC6hUJvpJg1c1yGSONn0cHShOFReWz7cb9LnWkQZH0kDcnAlJNpGRc4moeTwg6tN6ar9KCBRpJRZafD7JxlsdM/s400/TWLKnitSample.jpg" /></a><strong></strong></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><strong>For the Painter and/or General Crafter:</strong><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2LrbU8WM0ETWvDHA-4KH4k3GZ_uqZol8LgxWmEUKGWVfsSdiYIOnzVyV8U-Y_CJO5a3I7OipUYNUXoLiz0RPmueAwORgxPJqt1iR2R5tRjaElNIpLlE1W53csBj65SWXqqwnEOzUz1c4/s1600-h/TWLPaintSample.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449128680840154898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2LrbU8WM0ETWvDHA-4KH4k3GZ_uqZol8LgxWmEUKGWVfsSdiYIOnzVyV8U-Y_CJO5a3I7OipUYNUXoLiz0RPmueAwORgxPJqt1iR2R5tRjaElNIpLlE1W53csBj65SWXqqwnEOzUz1c4/s400/TWLPaintSample.jpg" /></a><strong>For the Glass Artist:</strong><br /><br /></div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_WKhP5ncaJvf1I0bvncMVzKYgnNIe2ar49jjc8cs_Zix7R7co_SeruAHyrvUjc66ydtz-SxiOUDry9u3u-Qjng5BAEsRv-tpKTIqvGdRQpU8AL4ZbVaMvByDMcESRJM4pby3iiDP_c1Q/s1600-h/TWLLampworkSample.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449128679225362770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_WKhP5ncaJvf1I0bvncMVzKYgnNIe2ar49jjc8cs_Zix7R7co_SeruAHyrvUjc66ydtz-SxiOUDry9u3u-Qjng5BAEsRv-tpKTIqvGdRQpU8AL4ZbVaMvByDMcESRJM4pby3iiDP_c1Q/s400/TWLLampworkSample.jpg" /></a><br />Now, can you see why we are SO excited about this new line of wraps? Now we have three sizes to meet all your needs.</div><div></div><div><br />So drop by Bead Fest Santa Fe between March 18th to March 21st as we will have a limited quantity. These are MSRP at $39.95 and are made in the USA by ONE person, my sister Sandy. </div><div></div><div><br />If you purchase more than one wrap, you will get $5 off each subsequent one. So come on by and check these wraps out. I'll do a demo for you too if you'd like.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br />See everyone in Santa Fe soon</div><div align="center"><br />Good night/Good morning!!</div><div align="center">Lisa </div></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386361971010726098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6523144688484010671.post-60221222551352374382010-03-14T23:51:00.001-07:002010-03-15T20:31:16.559-07:00Happy Surprise.... It's a SURPRISE!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKc5lh1OKYA70D4hCeZNmZipKFkKq2EC0Lhy6BFs81krKBemGcUSGKO7D1oxXwBfyzAtpfTxTvMWsfpjrXU65HYeJzq9uVpx8pE-fzj6uXhdHH0JWSwZmmT3WY7YZhgX62S-2vElnjZ70/s1600-h/IrisGift.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 311px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448750028984294882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKc5lh1OKYA70D4hCeZNmZipKFkKq2EC0Lhy6BFs81krKBemGcUSGKO7D1oxXwBfyzAtpfTxTvMWsfpjrXU65HYeJzq9uVpx8pE-fzj6uXhdHH0JWSwZmmT3WY7YZhgX62S-2vElnjZ70/s400/IrisGift.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Sometimes, you just do things for others because that's who you are. </div><div></div><div><br />I do things for others "just because" I care about them, sometimes even before they ask me.</div><div></div><div></div><div><br />Never do I expect anything in return... but perhaps just a simple "Thank You!" showing their appreciation.</div><div></div><div><br />One of the fun things that makes me HAPPY (yes that subject again) is giving my friends and family unexpected SURPRISES. </div><div></div><div><br />I've sent friends unexpected gifts just because I know that whatever I send would bring a SMILE to their faces. </div><div></div><div><br />It's not what you give someone (as in the material good), but rather WHY you give them that SURPRISE. Think about that statement a bit.<br /><br />"Actions speaks louder than words." </div><div></div><div><br />A SURPRISE shows someone you are thinking of them and care for them. </div><div></div><div><br />I think it is better to give rather than to receive because the more you give others, the more you will receive back tenfold later. </div><div></div><div><br />It may not be apparent at first or immediately, but all good things will come back to you. The adage of "What goes around, comes around", you know.<br /><br />You send out vibes of Happiness and Love... well that is what you will get back!</div><div></div><div><br />If you meet up with someone who takes and takes from you... well read my <a href="http://lisakan.blogspot.com/2010/03/happiness.html"><strong>Happiness post</strong> </a>from March 3rd and get rid of 'em.<br /><br />These types of people are not helping the "circle of life". In a circle everything goes around and around... give-take and take-give. </div><div></div><div><br />This circle should spin counterclockwise and clockwise, nearly equally.</div><div></div><div><br />So, it makes me HAPPY to make those who make me HAPPY, HAPPY... </div><div></div><div><br />Life is much better when one is HAPPY.</div><div></div><div><br />So what's with the photo of the irises Lisa, if you are talking about Happiness yet AGAIN?</div><div></div><div></div><div align="center"><br />*****</div><div></div><div>Tuesday March 9, the doorbell rings... I was NOT having a great day this particular Tuesday!</div><div></div><div><br />(Ding Dong)</div><div></div><div><br />My husband opens the door and it's our neighbor from down the street. We have the same house number but different street names. Apparently a delivery was dropped off erroneously at her house and she walked up to deliver it.</div><div></div><div><br />Anyhow, I was in my studio working on Botanicals for Bead Fest Santa Fe and I get called to get a package with somewhat of a perturbed tone.</div><div></div><div></div><div><br /><br />"Someone apparently sent you some flowers..."</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><br />Hmmmmmmmmmmm.... ?</div><div></div><div><br />Huh, who would send ME flowers? I couldn't think of anyone who would send ME flowers besides my husband of course. It wasn't my birthday and my husband was not in trouble with me YET. haha.</div><div></div><div><br />Well, I opened the box from Proflowers and there was a card.</div><div></div><div><br />It said "Thank you for taking the time out of your busy day and life to drive us to and back from the airport."</div><div></div><div><br />For a moment I said to myself ... "HUH? IS this a JOKE or is this from one of my goofy friends?"</div><div></div><div><br />Then it dawned on me who sent me these irises. </div><div></div><div><br />This was a most generous and elder man much my senior.<br /><br />And OLDER man.</div><div></div><div></div><div><br />This wonderful man, who just made my day with this wonderful SURPRISE. </div><div></div><div></div><div><br />I was all SMILES the rest of the day, erasing my earlier bad mood.</div><div></div><div><br />The flowers just started blooming in it's vase a few days ago and aren't the irises simply gorgeous?</div><div></div><div></div><div><br />Makes me HAPPY to know that the bouquet of irises were sent as a "just because" I know you have been working hard and still thought to take care of others, even though you were busy, getting ready for your big show!</div><div></div><div></div><div><br />I wanted to share with all of you that this wonderful man is none other than my FAVORITE and ONLY Father-in-Law!</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><br />I'm such a lucky girl!</div><div><br />Who would have known that driving someone to and from the airport would result in a beautiful bouquet of irises?</div><div></div><div><br />I definitely didn't expect this surprise and after the week I had, I *REALLY* needed the irises to cheer me up. No elaborating necessarily... but this girl is NOT always happy go lucky. There are things that DO upset me. But I don't want to go there when I am writing a post on Happiness!</div><div></div><div><br />So it's OKAY to get flowers from someone other than your husband, especially if you've volunteered your services as a chauffer to the airport.</div><div></div><div><br />Does anyone need a ride to the airport? (wink)</div><div></div><div align="center"><br />Relish in Surprises</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br />In the Giving as well as In the Receiving</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Make Someone Special Happy</div><div align="center">With a Surprise!</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br />Goodnight!</div><div align="center">Lisa</div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386361971010726098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6523144688484010671.post-74794614769265881412010-03-05T22:14:00.000-08:002010-03-09T07:50:03.100-08:00Passionflower on Knitting Daily Spring 2009<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw3Vh1Ls7y0e7kduNAfh9hTxS9EWng4fez-bygGrbbzh0jNGyoGompbHnRJcADE6puAklUkgcl_HgADxvPo2f9k8_gaWndfhekQzZkNEG4FTlGKQYOM9l3urzt77GbDKUFZ9nA7_85cOQ/s1600-h/Lisa+Kan+Beadwork+April+May+2009+Sample+Photos.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 285px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445401041053328770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw3Vh1Ls7y0e7kduNAfh9hTxS9EWng4fez-bygGrbbzh0jNGyoGompbHnRJcADE6puAklUkgcl_HgADxvPo2f9k8_gaWndfhekQzZkNEG4FTlGKQYOM9l3urzt77GbDKUFZ9nA7_85cOQ/s400/Lisa+Kan+Beadwork+April+May+2009+Sample+Photos.jpg" /></a><br />Let me introduce you to my romantic side again and again through my beadwork.<br /><br />This is Passionflower...<br /><br />This design was one of six designs, originally published in the April/May issue, which I created to share as <strong><a href="http://beadworkmagazine.com/">Beadwork</a></strong> Magazine's Designer of the Year (DOY) 2009.<br /><br />As you can see, I can't help but to be influenced by the Victorian/Nouveau period in my work.<br /><br />This design is actually quite simple and quick to make. Don't let the finished piece fool you. It's one of my techniques in writing projects... to create designs that look difficult but are easy to create. Although it appeared in 2009, you can still pick up the back issue or the project PDF on <strong><a href="http://www.interweave.com/">Interweave</a></strong>'s website.<br /><br />Why am I going back in time and writing about this design on the blog, you ask?<br /><br />As many of you know, one of my favorite things to delve into during the winter months is knitting with natural fibers (WHEN DOES LISA FIND TIME TO KNIT?) , especially that of wool/silk blends. I have been teaching myself knitting for the last few years but only realistically knitting for a few months because there is just so many things to do around here. I'm a fast learner and have knitted not ONE but TWO queen sized blankets that I'll share photos here sometime later)<br /><br />(<strong>Lisa's informative side note:</strong> Your hands are the best creative part of your body... second only to your mind and imagination... your hands create the art that your mind thinks up! So folks, take care of those HANDS!)<br /><br /><br />So, I was clearing my mailbox of old emails and found that I had wanted to make a note here sometime ago but got busy. <a href="http://knittingdaily.com/"><strong>Knitting Daily</strong> </a>featured the Diminishing Rib Cardigan, cover project from the <strong><a href="http://interweaveknits.com/">Interweave Knits</a></strong> Spring 2009 issue, in a superb and wonderful gallery on their blog.<br /><br />Now how does this EVEN have ANYTHING to do with the Passionflower DOY project?<br /><br />Have patience my readers...<br /><br />I'll get to the rest of the story. (For those folks who love trivia like me, this is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Harvey"><strong>Paul Harvey</strong> </a>reference.)<br /><br />Well if you click <strong><a href="http://www.knittingdaily.com/media/p/26156.aspx">this link</a></strong> you will find the answer but please promise to come back to my blog, okay?<br /><br />I'm waiting....<br /><br />Okay...<br /><br />Thank you for coming back to my blog.<br /><br />I appreciate you listening to directions. ;o)<br /><br />So now that you've visited the link and even if you didn't, tonight I feel nice and HAPPY so I'll tell you what this is all about, anyways.<br /><br />(I'm not REALLY THAT nice, folks...don't believe the rumors of my niceness from anyone who DARES to spread such rumors about me. Just go to my <strong><a href="http://www.facebook.com/friends/?id=520367048#!/profile.php?ref=profile&id=1486667930">Facebook</a></strong> page and see how mean I REALLY am!)<br /><br />The good folks at the knitting division of Interweave Press, was nice enough to model their Diminishing Rib Cardigan WITH my Passionflower design for Knitting Daily's Gallery.<br /><br />How COOL is that?<br /><br />That is Way COOL.<br /><br />I love SURPRISES, don't you?<br /><br />Sorry for the caps folks, I am just Happy.<br /><br />I found this link quite by accident roaming around in knitting newsgroups searching for info, searching for yarn, researching as I do on most things I get myself into. <strong><br /></strong><br />This was a WONDERFUL surprise and can you tell from the photos that all the models are HAPPY? They are HAPPY to be out in the sun and wearing my Passionflower necklace while wearing the lovely, beautiful Diminishing Rib Cardigan?<br /><br />Being Happy is GREAT!<br /><br />If you are puzzled as to why I have reference the word "Happy" or feeling of "Happiness" so often in this post, then you must read <a href="http://lisakan.blogspot.com/2010/03/happiness.html"><strong>THIS POST</strong></a> from Wednesday March 3, 2010.<br /><br />Go there NOW!<br /><br />Then Come Back Here!<br /><br /><div align="center">Enjoy Your Surprises</div><div align="center">and BE HAPPY </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Today, Tomorrow and Forever</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Goodnight!</div><div align="center">I'm Tired</div><div align="center">Lisa</div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386361971010726098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6523144688484010671.post-77231102989903884522010-03-03T23:59:00.000-08:002010-04-18T09:37:54.568-07:00Happiness....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqr_BWjylhXPpU-dTTqCU8jVPsY4DCoDEjo-0u7a3sseLYpMfrqSbBGULTu7IPSUlwTHzxQm6POCM5AI276S0-0FbiuNArgnAUWaHDfQfBy8gtKhdDVBh3qG4jlm2J1uMyucD43g5KfvQ/s1600-h/Happiness01.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444812789004584818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqr_BWjylhXPpU-dTTqCU8jVPsY4DCoDEjo-0u7a3sseLYpMfrqSbBGULTu7IPSUlwTHzxQm6POCM5AI276S0-0FbiuNArgnAUWaHDfQfBy8gtKhdDVBh3qG4jlm2J1uMyucD43g5KfvQ/s400/Happiness01.jpg" /></a><br />I must be on a roll...<br /><br />Three posts in three consecutive days.<br /><br />(a bit of trivia for those who love trivia... The number "3" is often used to signify the number of completion.)<br /><br />I think I've finally made up for the months that I slacked off NOT writing here towards the end of 2009.<br /><br />I am forgiven right? (wink)<br /><br />So what is on my mind today and why is Lisa writing so much on the blog this week?<br /><br />Uhmmm look up there.<br /><br />Yeah, way up in the <span style="color:#990000;">RED</span> section.<br /><br />The topic of this post?<br /><br />Uh huh.<br /><br />Because I am "happy".<br /><br />And so... when Lisa is happy she tends to write, write and write. If you are SO lucky to get one of Lisa's long emails recently (you know who you are), then hey you can always hit DELETE!<br /><br />And if you have the unfortunate fate of being in her presence, she will talk, talk and talk. So bring some ear plugs if you visit Lisa at a show when she gets into one of her "happy" moods.<br /><br />What?<br /><br />Really, what?<br /><br />Don't you talk about yourself in the third person when you write about yourself? ;o)<br /><br />*****<br /><br />Sometimes when I write about "Happinesss" here, I write poetry (one of my favs, <a href="http://lisakan.blogspot.com/2008/05/random-thoughts.html"><strong>Random Thoughts</strong></a>) and other times it's just "free association adlibbing" aka "blabbering out loud".<br /><br />(okay I took a much deserved break and am back to finish this post. I hope I haven't lost my train of thought but I guess if I don't make much sense, then you'll have your answer).<br /><br />Let's see here... (flipping through my mental notes.. all the happiness thoughts are in my head and it is all jumbled up from working in the studio all day...) Aaaah Got It...<br /><br />***** (continued from earlier)<br /><br />Happiness. What is it and how does one achieve it. It's simplier than you may think. If you search on this blog, you'll find many references on this topic that I've written on over the years. If you find the poetry, then you'll know I can be silly about this topic too.<br /><br />I don't claim to be the happiest person all the time but I am generally a happy person. There are times, of course, when life deals you cards that you can't "put on a happy face" but here are just some tips I have on staying happy as often as I can.<br /><br />It takes a lot of energy to be negative (upset or mad...) use the energy instead to channel it towards HAPPINESS. So what will it be for you?<br /><br />Will you try to be HAPPY with me?<br /><br />Follow my <strong>TOP FIVE </strong>tips on how to get and stay Happy. You'll then know the true sense of Happiness like me!<br /><br />1. Eliminate negative thoughts. Thinking negatively not only brings YOU down, It brings other's down. I try not to think negatively unless it's about someone who is thinking negatively about ME. Hey, turnaround is fair game, so go for it! The double negatives will collide and make a positive. (Math reference, I can't help it!)<br /><br />2. Eliminate negative people from your life, COMPLETELY. You just show 'em. If YOU're not negative why would you want to keep those pesky so call "friends" who are negative around you, around. Get rid of them. Negative energy around you will bring you down. I try to eliminate all negative people around me. So if I am not around you that much, guess what... yep, need I say more?<br /><br />3. Listen to your Heart (Not your Wallet). If you do what you love and love what you do, you're a more happy person. It's real simple and not rocket science. For my artist friends out there, if you think about the pocketbook too much, you will invariably sell less. When you create your art.. think about the art... NOT how much you will sell it for at a show. Trust me, I know.. have you seen how cheap my prices are? Guess what? I'm not rich in my wallet but I'm rich in my heart. ;o)<br /><br />4. Love more, Hate Less. Love your fellow man/woman/child/brother/sister/pet/etc. Simply put, share yourself and your ideas with others. You'll be surprise when you sit next to a stranger at a restaurant or something... just start talking to them. If you get a strange look, well don't BLAME me. I think you just made the wrong selection and that person must have been a "negative" person. Refer to #2. Get rid of 'em. Most people will just smile strangely at you and it's okay because YOU ARE HAPPY and they AREN'T, so you're already ahead of the game! ;o)<br /><br />5. Don't take things too seriously, just let (it) go. So you have a fight with your best friend. Generally, I think most arguments start out small and is made big for no reason. I mean can't the other person just see it MY way? Be the bigger person and just let go. I mean really just let go. Take the person you are angry with to the tallest bridge in town... then just let (him/her) go. ;oP<br /><div align="left"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Have a great night or morning</div><div align="center">Be Happy</div><div align="center">I am</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Lisa</div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386361971010726098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6523144688484010671.post-49966568073547412822010-03-02T09:18:00.000-08:002010-03-07T12:45:48.528-08:00Change...Changes... Changed<div align="left">People say "change is good"...<br /><br />I come here this morning again, typing on a new keyboard. Actually not really new just confiscated from storage because I had to "change" to a new keyboard.<br /><br />Let me tell you a funny story about Lisa, sometimes also fondly referred to as, Ms. Klutz.<br /><br />There are many things I am capable of doing, especially when I get up early in the morning - all charged up - about what needs to be accomplished on any given day. I generally start off with a Cup of Joe and maybe if I am good a few almond biscottis.<br /><br />Now mind you, I NEVER eat or drink in front of the computer...<br /><br />(What am I saying? I can't tell a fib to these GOOD people)<br /><br />How do you folks think I get as much done around here if I didn't eat in front of the computer? I know bad habit. Bad habits are hard to break sometimes.<br /><br />So this REAL funny thing happened to me this morning around 7ish a.m...<br /><br />I've been VERY productive in recent days and getting up at the crack of dawn to work, work and work as I have this HUGE mound of paperwork, computer work, etc. to do. A day in the life of a glass bead artist is not just making glasswork in the studio. There are many business things that need to be accomplished, so that there would be studio time later in the day for preparation of shows like <a href="http://www.beadfest.com/beadfest/santafe.cfm"><strong>Bead Fest Santa Fe</strong></a>.<br /><br />Anyhow (I'm not really laughing but...),<br /><br />Funny thing happened this morning. You see I was just about to take a sip of Joe from my FAVORITE Hershey's mug I picked up from PA last year... , and uhmmmmmmmm somehow I didn't get a good grip... it slipped slightly but because I am so ambidextrous (just <a href="http://lisakan.blogspot.com/2009/08/tutorial-under-15-minute-botanical-silk.html"><strong>look at the photos</strong> </a>I shot of my right arm with my left hand holding the Powershot G9) I was able to catch the mug BEFORE too much damage could be created.<br /><br />However... things don't always seem as they are. Being technically inclined, I knew I had to shut the power off or my entire keyboard may be fried. </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><br />So there goes the power.... OFF<br /><br />The mess was cleaned up but later when my laptop came back on... funky keystrokes would result when I typed.<br /><br />I mean...<br /><br />LOOK at this garbage...<br /><br /><em>dffirfirollllljfdioeireighghghachdfiaccb///fereow</em><br /><br />Now how am I supposed to make sense on this blog, in emails, on <strong><a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2052586&id=1486667930&saved#!/profile.php?v=info&ref=profile&id=1486667930">Facebook</a></strong>, on my <a href="http://www.lisakan.com/"><strong>website</strong></a>... or anywhere else, if I typed like that??<br /><br />(Not that I make all that much sense usually... but let's play nice and play with me, okay?)<br /><br />Fortunately I am not all that DUMB after all. I have an arsenal of keyboards stored in SEVERAL boxes in the attic.<br /><br />Why does anyone need more than one keyboard you ask?<br /><br />Well...<br /><br />Uhmmm.... you haven't guessed yet?<br /><br />Well... for THIS exact reason.<br /><br />(Do you think this is the FIRST time this mishap has happened?)<br /><br />So here I am with my old Logitech keyboard connected to my laptop and fortunately nothing more on the laptop was fried like the HARD DRIVE. Goodness... this would have slowed me down if I couldn't get online. I would have lost so much data too...<br /><br />(slaps herself on the forehead)<br /><br />The interesting thing is... now, if I don't like an email or the person emailing me, I can respond with the fouled up keyboard from the laptop.<br /><br />If I like the email or the person emailing me... then I use the Logitech.<br /><br />On the brighter side of things...<br /><br />THIS IS GOING TO BE SO MUCH FUN!! (wink)<br /><br />If you get an email from me from this day forward, make sure you can read it (smile)<br /><br />If you can't then... uhmmmmm... I don't know what COULD of happened.<br /><br />(Maybe you spilled a Cup of Joe on your computer monitor, don't blame me now.)<br /><br />So what is the lesson of this story?<br /><br />Don't eat or drink in front of the computer?<br /><br />NO... Not really...<br /><br />Although I learn from most of my mistakes and try not repeating any, this girl likes to have FUN, has a lot to do and will still try to maximize time by eating in front of the computer, at times.<br /><br />Sometimes I change my habits for the good... but in this case, my habits better change with me or ELSE!!<br /><br />Don't spill again or I'll have to break you into shards! </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Yes, I'm warning you, Hershey Mug, for the LAST time. </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Don't mess with me.<br /><br /><br />P.S. I highly recommend other klutzes in the world, who happen to be reading my blog, to go get some of those keyboard covers. You will save yourself a LOT of hassles. Ask me why and how I know. You own me $1 for this valuable tip of the day.<br /><br />P.P.S. For those who read my blog regularly, you will notice that I have changed the blog's appearance/colors as of today... but still this place is quite unattractive.<br /><br />Now why would someone (Lisa Kan) who is passionate about "color, shape, texture and creativity" have such an uncreative, color bland blog? I'm working on it...really I am... there are many more higher priorities to handle right now....like getting ready for the next FOUR back to back shows (with only about two weeks apart) and that's not counting other special *secret* projects I'm working on.<br /><br />And it takes time to find the right accoutrements... but change will be coming folks. It'll just take awhile but I'm working as hard as any human being can behind the scenes. I hope you will see the fruits of my labor soon. Goodness knows, even a spilled Cup of Joe, can't slow this girl down.<br /><br /></div><div align="center">Have an Excellent Day Creating Everyone, </div><div align="center">Remember this though...</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br />It's okay to make a mess as long as you know how to fix it</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br />Ms. Klutz</div><div align="center">Lisa</div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08386361971010726098noreply@blogger.com