Bead Fest Philly Free Pass: August 20-22, 2010

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Visit me at Bead Fest Philly absolutely FREE. 

Save money at the door to spend on beads.  

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. 

I know I've been very bad about blogging. 

Can you blame a girl who was working hard torching in the studio all summer long?

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.

We'll see you at the show!!!
Lisa

Happy New Year to YOU!

I want to first wish everyone a Happy New Year! I know it is late but not really because we just celebrated Chinese New Year.

I'm off the hook right? ;o)

Well, can't blame me for trying...

I must apologize to those who read my blog that I was very busy after my last post entry regarding our trip to Portland Bead Fest. 2009 was a very challenging year for our family but I won't go into the nitty gritty details only to say that I am glad it is over. 2010 promises a new fresh outlook and I am SO excited about where I am taking my art. I am fortunate and feel blessed for the many friends/customers I have in the bead world. Thank you for your continual support. I wouldn't be where I am without YOU!

I have since started a Facebook page that I hope to be able to keep up. (biting nails) I hope to make announcements about shows and upcoming articles as well as interesting "other" things that I do. With Facebook growing exponentially each year, lots of artists are finding new audiences for their work there. So join and visit me on my Facebook page, Lisa Kan.

In the meantime, I'm working on a lot of neat projects and collaborations, simultaneously to preparing for shows. Its a bit hectic at times but I'm loving it. So although, postings here will be less, I hope to come here from time to time to share my thoughts with you.

I took a break from exhibiting in Tucson this year and just attended the shows for a full week of fun exploring. Walking around Tucson, I was energized and inspired by all the eye candy made by my friends and fellow artists. Brimming with new inspiration, ideas and opportunities I could hardly sleep all week. Adrenaline was what kept me going most days. I enjoyed every moment of Tucson even though I did miss visiting with all the beaders at my own booth.

I have decided that I will not be exhibiting in Tucson in the upcoming years (at least the next two years) so I can continue my exploration. I think that far ahead. Yes, I do. It will be fun to see how my art will change with this extra time off to work on many ideas I've put aside "on the back burner" while I was writing so extensively the last few years. I already know how to fill the time as I have been waiting for this opportunity for a LONG while.

I am still exhibiting at my regular shows the remainder of the year so I'm not taking a complete break from exhibiting totally. This only affects Tucson. I would be loss if I could not talk to beaders and glass enthusiasts at shows. I love talking to all of you when you visit my booth. I can not give that up but I have modified my 2010 exhibit schedule so I can make this happen. I've actually added three new shows this year to make up for missing Tucson. I will be exhibiting at Glass Craft & Bead Expo (Las Vegas, NV) and the Rocky Mountain Bead Society Bazaar (Denver, CO) this April. I have also added the Softflex Hawaii Fall to the show lineup. Actually it is an excuse to visit Hawaii and share some time with beaders at the same time. This means that we will not be at Softflex's New York venue since most of you come to the Bead Fest Philly show (August) to visit me anyways. These new changes are all fun and exciting.

For Tucson, don't worry, my new glass designs will be represented exclusively by my friends at Bello Modo at the Whole Bead Show, Windmill Suite 125. We already have some exciting things planned for next year! I'll also make sure to be at the Whole Bead Show on Friday night (openhouse night until 9 p.m.!) to meet, to greet and to answer any beady questions you may have. So let's mark the calenders and you have a date! Meet me in Tucson 2011 at the Whole Bead Show (I'll list the show dates later as we approach Tucson 2011)!

Right now I am getting ready for Bead Fest Santa Fe and taking care of some back orders. So I will cut this post short only to invite all of you to join me on Facebook where I'll be on from time to time. Drop by for a visit - to chat, to look, and/or to read. I look forward to our next visit together.

Stay inspired and keep on creating
Lisa

The Biggest Heterosexual Male Fan ...

What is your beading skill level?

Let's be honest about this question...

Exhibiting in many shows, I get many opportunities to meet different skilled level beaders. Then there are those who never ever want to imagine sewing with tiny seeds and immediately tell me that they are "stringers" or "that is WAY too much work for me." The comment I have the most trouble with is "I CAN'T do that!"

Why do I have a problem with the last comment the most? It's the word "CAN'T". I tend to want to believe that anyone can do just about anything if they put their mind and energy into it. "Never say never" and I try my darnest to never say "CAN'T" either. At least make an attempt... please? So this brings me to write about Gabriel Miller. (I had the okay from Gabriel to write about him... just so you know I'm not writing about someone behind their back! haha)

Gabriel had the most interesting introduction when he visited my booth on Sunday. He walked up and said (paraphrasing) "I think I am your biggest heterosexual male fan". Wow... I have never heard that introduction even though I have had male beaders buy my book. When I heard how my book inspired Gabriel to start beading and why he even bought my book, I thought to myself "This is what writing the book was all about".

So what was it all about? Inspiring folks to bead of ANY skill level. Sometimes beaders think they are more advanced than they really are. Sometimes beaders don't give themselves credit that they are capable of making anything if they put in the time and effort. Beadweaving is a challenge but a good challenge reaps rewards and results in an heirloom. I was totally amazed when Gabriel mentioned to me that he had never beaded before attempting the Triple Spiral Garden Lariat as his FIRST project. That is the graduation project for most and that is why it is the last project in the book. It is NOT a difficult project. It is a project that takes a lot of time and effort.

I usually recommend beginners to start with the easier projects in the front of the book and with earrings if they have never beadwoven before. Bead Romantique is not entirely advanced, the projects are gradually more difficult as you progress through the pages but begin with beginners projects like stringing/crimping if you are hesitant with the beadwoven projects. Then there are also a mix of wire projects consisting of making wrapped loops. Beginners tend to gravitate towards the more elaborate projects and think "I can't do that". Please change that mindset to think "I may be able to do that". And when you follow the instructions and complete a project, you may then say "I DID THAT"! Try not to give up before even making an attempt. How do you expect to grow as a beader? Fast and easy may be just fine for most but if you are like me or Gabriel, then a good challenge will keep you thinking and growing.

Gabriel shared some photos of his beading from Bead Romantique projects which were all amazing. He has also started designing his own creations. Perhaps because he is an engineer too he found the instructions straightforward and easy to understand. Gabriel was a beginner but yet he was able to complete (wonderfully, I might add) the most complicated design in the book. He put in the time and effort which took him a total of 100 hours. So it can be done and Gabriel did it (as well as 4-5 other projects from the book.) I hope sharing this story, you will have a different perspective when it comes to beadweaving. Thank you very much Gabriel for taking the time to visit my booth and share your beading journey. I hope you continue the journey and create fabulous designs of your own. You and others like you who share your beading stories, answer for me every time "This is what writing the book was all about".

******

I may not post much here and my friend Andrew Thornton reminded me in Philly that I should write more here. He manages to write consistently on his amazing blog nearly every day. Andrew is very disciplined. Me? I get myself in so many projects that I sometimes work 12+ hours daily getting prepped for a major show. I have lots to write about... LOTS. Finding the time and energy to get all the words and upload my gazillion photos from trips takes a lot of time. I will try my best. At times I can be a very private person and just want to keep my thoughts to myself. Then there are those times where words just flow out of me, these fingers, and you can't shut me up.

Philly Bead Fest was a challenging show last year as many of you know I had a major theft about 1 hour into the opening of the show. This year, I pleaded with the show folks to change my booth to be rid of the "bad vibes". So I was in a new fantastic location next to my new friends Saki Silver. On many levels Philly was an excellent show. A few weeks prior I had discovered that Bead Romantique went into it's second printing (first printing was 10,000+ copies!!). YAY! We also sold out of all the copies in the building. So things were just hopping this year and I want to thank everyone who came to the show to visit our booth. I had a few relaxing days prior to the show to enjoy with Nick, who is now able to exhibit with me.

I will share some Philly photos, meals and stories next time. We had lots of fun in Amish country, in Old City Philly, at Longwood Gardens, at the Valley Forge Historical Park... etc.

Until next time, never say "CAN'T" okay? If you are a newbie beadweaver, just start beading and you'll surprise yourself.

Keep on creating and believing,

Lisa

About the new Botanicals . . .

Hi there...

Yeah, I know... you don't have to say it.

Sorry for not posting more often here on the blog, but I really have been busy in the studio, really.

This time, I've been getting ready for Bead Fest Philly!

So, I hope everyone's summer has been going great and you've been able to spend some quality time with the family. I know that I've been fortunate to do so most of July. Summer will be coming to an end soon and that's when the show season ramps up. I'm looking forward to all the upcoming shows.

In the meantime, I did promise in the last post that I would write a bit about the inspiration and development of the new Botanical series. I won't be able to update the website's online catalog until September so you'll just have to trust me that I've been diligently working hard in the studio. It's always a challenge to work in front of a hot torch in the summer months but the new series and experimenting with colors have enticed me daily.

Before I show and tell you all about the Botanical series, I want to take a few moments to thank all the wonderful beaders that visited me at the San Diego Bead Society Bazaar. It was fun to catch up with old friends and make new connections. Part of my joy in exhibiting at bead shows, in particular bead society bazaars, is that I get to see so many creative folks wearing their lovely creations. I get most excited when I recognize designs from Bead Romantique or a design from one of my bead articles. It is so nice of beaders to drop by the booth and proudly show me what they have created. It is even more exciting when I meet a new beader that expresses their joy in learning beadwork.

I am currently taking a well deserved break from writing and designing beadwork for publication but I hope everyone continues to look forward to the remainder Beadwork Designer of the Year projects. Two more are yet to be published!! After busying myself in writing and designing for magazines and my book for the last three years, I somewhat "neglected" my glasswork. Many glassy ideas were placed on the back burner of "to do's" until I had more time to develop them. This is why I was so very excited when the Botanical series came to life after my writing commitments were completed. Yay!

It has been several years since I have wanted to create this series. I have mulled over the technical aspects and challenges of the creation in my mind, spent countless hours dreaming consciously as well as subconsciously in the execution, and as usual, a design never comes to realization until it's time. And it was time... this July.

So here's the story...

When we purchased our home in 2002, one of the requests I made to my husband Nick was to have either plum or cherry blossom trees planted in the front garden. Not to disappoint, we planted two plum blossom trees. Although the trees are still quite young, this Spring (May) they blossomed beautifully. (see below)

Can you see above why I love plum and cherry blossoms? They are stupendously gorgeous.

The Chinese view the plum blossoms as both a symbol of winter as well as a harbinger of spring. Because the tree blossoms in the winter in China, it also serves as an example of resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity. The Japanese, on the other hand, believes the plum blossom “Ume” as a protective charm against evil and traditionally plant the tree in the north-east part of the garden, from the direction where evil is believed to travel. Interesting tidbits of info...

Below is a sample photo of the first batch of plum/cherry blossom inspired Botanicals. The floral shaping is inspired by the blossoms from my tree above, but since I love to play with color and I know beaders like me do as well, I've since created these Botanicals in a myriad of colors. The photo only shows a smidgen of available colors. And since I've been busy in the studio for the last 2.5 weeks, there will be over TWENTY (20!!) colors available for Philly Beadfest attendees. As colors become standardize, I will add them to the website's online catalog. For now, the Botanical series is only available at shows.

I like to use a 6mm Swarovski margarite in the center, as shown above. Soon, when I have "free" time, I shall design a beaded collar with these flowers to give you further design ideas. In the meantime, at shows you'll see a wirewrapped rendition with five Botanicals. These plum/cherry blossom inspired Botanicals are exactly how I envisioned them and finally after more than two years of thinking about making them... here they are! These flowers range from 0.75" to a little over 1"... just about quarter sized but less than half dollar. I didn't want the flowers to be too large and I think these are perfectly sized for beadwork. What do you all think?

I'm excited... and these fingers are itching to bead but I can't ...

Not yet, at least...

Prepping for shows come first as beading is a rare luxury these days.

You will also see a connection of the Botanical series with the next Beadwork Magazine Designer of the Year project coming up in the Oct/Nov issue. I won't spoil it for you folks but you will be able to connect everything later.

P.S. Btw, many of you have asked why I do NOT teach beading in a classroom setting. One of the prime reasons is that beading is my hobby. If I start teaching beading then it will become "work" and may make beading less fun for me. That's a risk I am not ready to make just yet. A girl's gotta have some fun, so for now I don't teach.

Until next time, stay creative!!

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!

The Heat is On ...

It has been amazingly hot here in Southern California. The temperatures reaching in the 100's. Imagine working on the torch in this heat! I've been away from the torch for nearly two months working on finishing the book. Inventory is way low. I have so many beads to make for three August shows. So how am I going to do it? I've made a mental schedule and targeted a certain quantity of beads to make each day of a particular style. And if I should slack off and not meet my daily targets, this only means I have to work that much harder the next day(s) to make it up. I always like to be over-prepared with more than less beads to offer.

Bead Fest Philly moved to a new location and moved up to new dates, from October to August. Otherwise, do you think I would be this crazy to schedule three major shows in one month! It will be a hectic few weeks, but what else is new? This heat is not helping at all and the pressure is high but I'll try my best. "The heat is on", literally and figuratively, as in Glenn Frey's song:

The heat is on, on the street
Inside your head, on every beat
And the beat's so loud, deep inside
The pressure's high, just to stay alive
Cause the heat is on

I play with fire all the time to create my art, but there are obvious dangers in doing so. I often contemplate how fire can be so destructive, yet can create beautiful works of art in the right hands. The two photos below illustrate fire and water juxtaposed as two opposing yet similar elements. Water puts out fire, but both can be just as destructive and lethal as the other. We need both in differing degrees to survive, yet with too much of either, destruction results.

fire on water: reflective pool

fire and water: circle of life