Susan G. Komen 3-Day 60 Mile Walk in San Diego (Nov 21-23)

SPOTLIGHT ON ... ARTICLE

December 2008

Beaders Unite for the Susan G. Komen Walk for the Cure

Written by: Lisa Kan

Read the entire article on Softflex Company's site:

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I hope this story inspires beaders around the world to use their "voice" and to look within your community to find areas where you may contribute. Every effort is important, small or large. Performing good deeds feeds your soul as you act outside of yourself for the benefit of others. Whatever your circumstance, wherever you are in life, there is always someone/some cause that can benefit from your kindness and lending hand. Giving what we are capable frees ourselves, adding meaning and enrichment to our lives. With the human element added to the mix, there is nothing we can't achieve together. In helping others, we help ourselves. To give without expecting anything in return is the true spirit of selflessness. There is no bigger reward than that which feeds our soul.

"People know you for what you've done, not for what you plan to do" - Author Unknown

Website Back Online

Hello again,

After a phonecall to the folks at Yahoo, the website is back online.

I will update the webpage after Thanksgiving but wanted to let everyone know that as of today, the entire first shipment of the Japanese Professional Precision Tools are SOLD OUT. This is phenomenal as most of the publicity on these tools have been through the excellent reviews in Beadwork, Stringing, Step by Step Wire, Step by Step Beads and from the editors of Bead and Button through their forums. Word of mouth raving comments from all of you to your beadstores or friends have made the launching of this product a success.

Unfortunately those who waited to order for Christmas, will have to wait a little longer. In order to maintain affordability the second shipment (smaller than the first) shipped from Japan by sea two Friday's ago. My Japanese business partner indicates generally the shipment takes anywhere from 30-40 days to arrive. My fingers are crossed it gets here before the holidays but because of the overwhelming response I have opted to extend the promo price of $125 for those who want to pre-order and pay for the tools from the second shipment. Otherwise, once the shipment arrives, more than likely the price will be from $135 to $140, dependent on any custom fees. I think for the value and quality even this price is quite affordable.

So, I am sorry we are sold out but I promise the tools will be worth the wait. Please email me to be placed on the waiting list and order from the second shipment. There are only 60 kits in the second shipment and the third shipment will not arrive until late January for Tucson. Due to the expense in importing product and the volatility of world economies these days, I am being watchful in each shipment. This is to ensure that the costs to you remain affordable. Thank you for enjoying these tools and please show your friends your tools.

Next, when I started importing these tools, my intention was to eventually have a beautiful Japanese tool bag to carry them in. We set that project aside to see how you would like the tools but because of the rapid sell out of the first shipment we will bring the prototyping back online. I hope to have a tool bag design by early 2009 and then go into production. Once this is ready, I will post on the website. If you want to be notified via email on the bag's availability, just send me an email.

Thank you again everyone for loving these tools!
Lisa

Website Down Temporarily

I just came back from my 3-Day walk with Sara and will write an update on the blog after a long absence. Need to take care of some immediate projects and then I'll catch everyone up to what I've been up to since the last entry.

In the meantime, the website was temporarily down while I was gone and I'll try to get it up by tomorrow or Weds. Just to let you know that we are nearly sold out of the first shipment on the Japanese tools. I only have FIVE kits left and the next shipment will not arrive until right before or after the Christmas holidays. This was to save money so that I didn't have to raise the prices too much, while still bringing you all a good value on these excellent tools. We've had a lot of recent publicity on these tools from Step by Step Wire, Step by Step Beads, Stringing, Beadwork and Bead and Button Editor forums. So, if we happen to sell out but you place and pay for your order before the second shipment arrives, I will honor the promo price. You just have to be a bit patient to get them as they are traveling by sea. The next shipment will be a bit more expensive due to the drastic changes in the exchange rate between USD to Yen but still a good deal. I will have the new price after the shipment clears any custom fees.

More writing later as I am recovering from the 60 mile walk with a slightly sprained left ankle and have some urgent projects to finish. Have an excellent Thanksgiving everyone.

Goodbye My Amber

Today I mourn the passing of my beloved pomeranian Amber, who passed to a better place this morning. She suffered from a collapsing trachea, which is a common ailment of pomeranians, as they age. A small heart murmur exasperated her situation these later years and she suffered from coughs. She was with us for eleven wonderful years. She loved life, me and was the most affectionate dog amongst our three.

Life is precious and you never know when you will lose a love one. My days are emptier without her companionship but I will survive. I still can't believe that she is gone when only yesterday she was frolicking and running in the backyard, happily sitting under the shade of a tree (where she now rests in peace). Although her passing is an extremely sad event in our family, I am glad she was able to hold on until I returned from Philly, to say goodbye. I was only able to spend 3 days with her after Philly and wished I had more time with her but she left us knowing she was deeply loved. In the three years that I've worked from home, every day I would take breaks throughout the day to speak or play with her. I will continue to speak to her, as she will forever be in my thoughts/heart. She may be physically gone but my memories of her will forever be fresh.


Amber was the shining light in my life and a great companion, keeping me company as I worked. She saw me through a lot, in these years, through joys and disappointments. I will deeply miss her. I love you Amber (aka Hamburger, as her nickname). Mommy will miss your smile, kisses and cuddles. You will always be in my thoughts.

Thank you for allowing me to share my loss with you all,

Lisa

Disappointment and Feeling Violated ...

I know I have been absent from this blog for A LONG TIME. I've been quite busy with other things in life that somehow came in between having time to share news with you here. Tonight I felt a need to write here as I am still in Philly, after another arduous show. This trip was one of the most challenging and demanding ones I've made in recent weeks. It seems I have been living out of suitcases month after month, draining my energies quite a bit to be creative. On this trip and Bead Fest Philly, I had some highly positive moments (when some of you came to my booth to thank me for writing Bead Romantique and sharing my design sensibilities in my articles. So thank you everyone for all your kind words which truly keep me going - designing and writing as much as I do. Then there was the spectacular experience early Sunday morning as Marlene Blessing interviewed me for Beads, Baubles and Jewels.

With all these great things happening, I was deeply affected by the singular event on opening day, Friday, when I felt truly violated for the FIRST time. After 3 hours of the show opening when I turned my attention to addressing a customer and was not looking, one of my sample necklaces were stolen from my booth. It was the only piece that I did not have a display for. Of course I should have known better and pin down the necklace, but perhaps my faith in my fellow beaders were too high. Nonetheless, this act show a deep lack of respect to me as an artist. I guess I should feel flattered that whomever took my necklace loved my work. But I am not flattered. I am hurt but as with anything I will get over it with time. I just can't believe that after three years of exhibiting it has culminated to this one event that disappoints me the most. We've all had small items taken, that's part of business, but this necklace meant a lot to me.


However, I want YOU (the one who stole my necklace) to know (not that you would read my blog) but that you have deeply sadden me. The piece that you took was the debut project I wrote for Australian Beading Magazine in 2007. Although I can easily replicate the design, it is troubling to me that you felt a need to take something important from me. I would like to ask my fellow beaders to keep an eye out for this necklace. Should you see someone wear it amongst you, know that it was stolen from me. I can not fathom that the culprit would ever return it but my hopes is that if you feel inclined to return the necklace, if you have an inkling of a conscience that you may mail it back to me - no questions asked.

My address is:
PO Box 80491
San Marino, CA 91118

Or perhaps you can easily slip it back to me next year when I return back to Philly. This event almost made me think over whether I would come back to Philly to exhibit. I hope my spirit will be lifted as I fly home tomorrow. I have to set this disappointment aside for the meantime to focus on preparations for yet another show, this time in Denver. In between, I will be busy writing and have several assignments to complete. You may not hear from me until end of September.

Feeling violated and disappointment
Lisa

P.S. On a positive note, thanks to my friends at Vintaj, I have met my fundraising entrance fee for my Breast Cancer walk. Thank you Wendy, Jeanne and Jess.. you guys are the best!

Chihuly Bridge of Glass

A dozen beautiful photos of the Chihuly Bridge of Glass from Tacoma, WA. No words are necessary to describe Chihuly's work. I hope this makes up for my absence from the blog the last few weeks.

I'm getting ready for a busy August - three trips in total this coming month. Wish me luck and survival! You may not hear from me until September as I need to focus on getting things done in the studio. In the meantime, enjoy the visual inspiration of all those glorious colors in Chihuly's work.

Almost there...

From my 3-Day Walk for the Cure Blog

Hi all,

Look at my fundraising efforts. Thanks to those who recently donated to my effort, I am just 15% away from reaching the $2200 necessary to walk this November. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I send xoxo's to all those who are showing their love for not just me but for all of those who are suffering with breast cancer.

There are amazing stories out there. As I exhibit at my shows this year, I have people coming up to me and giving me their thanks as they or someone they know is suffering from breast cancer. It feels good that I am taking a small part in the entire endeavor and helping "my way." I am just at the beginning of this challenge and there is more up ahead.

Well, I recently recovered from being sick after the Bead and Button show (for over two weeks!) I am just about back to my healthy self. I just also began to receive the suggested training program from the 3-Day organization. I admit, I have been out of training but it's just about time to ramp things up again. Today I'll do a video workout.

I'm leaving shortly for a show in Tacoma and you better bet I will make sure I'm walking everywhere while there. I will return back to my walk training after this trip. I need to be ready by November...and now that I'm feeling better there's no more excuses.

Thank you again everyone who has donated in the recent week(s). You are A #1 in my book. See some of you very soon.

Have a great summer!
xoxo
Lisa

*****

For those who read this blog, please donate if you can. I know things in life are tough out there but if you can give up going out to eat once this year, you will be able to help me in this walk. As of today, I'm $330 away from reaching my "admission" to walk this November. If I am still short by November, I will personally donate again, the remainder of what is necessary, to be able to walk. It will however mean SO much more if beaders out there are supporting this effort. That is why we named our team, TEAM BEADALICIOUS.

Be well,
Lisa

P.S. I will not be posting any new entries until AFTER my trip to the Puget Sound Bead Festival. My kiln's controller broke and now it is fixed. I am frantically making as many beads as possible for my trip thus the reason for my absence from the blog.