Show Stop: February 5-10, 2008: Manning House, Tucson, AZ

I thought I would start posting some photos my husband, Nick, helped me take during the Tucson show. The photos are with Nick's camera, a Kodak, not mine that I usually use for the bead and jewelry photos on my website. There are some show photos I'll post later that aren't too pretty but since I have them to share, I might as well. The photos are the best his little Kodak can generate and not due to Nick's skills as a photographer. (At least that is what I tell him. hahah) This was just a portable camera that he likes to take on our trips. I often joke with him that he should stick with Canon or Nikon. My camera is the old trusty Nikon 995 that I purchased in 2004 and it still works like a charm. My photos would not be as pretty without the Nikon and my Bowen Tri-Lites (I have three of them)

The first "Show Stop" photos are of the beautiful Manning House Mansion, where I have been exhibiting for the last three years, since the show's inception. This show is where it all began for me, January 2005, my first major show while STILL working fulltime as an engineer. I was invited to join the show on November 17, 2004. I remembered the date distinctly because I recall I thought to myself "what did I get myself into and how am I going to have enough beads to make it worthwhile?". I BELIEVED and proceeded forward to build my signature booth look. Today the booth is pretty much the same, with a few additional accents here and there. Even the banner, is the original one I took to that first show.

So, I had saved up two weeks vacation and used it all for Tucson 2005! One week to make as many beads as possible for Tucson and another for the actual show dates. I know you think it's crazy to work only one week in the studio, to make as many beads, and expect to be prepared for Tucson. You know, you're right. You have to be a bit crazy and adventurous to take up such an endeavor and chance. I was determined to make it work and now reflecting back - you know what? - it lead me to where I am today, so it did work out!

After this show, working as an engineer, was never the same again. I was so happy when the company told me that they eliminated my job and department on April 20, 2005. It was SIX days from my 10 year anniversary where I would have won a company gold watch. Ah shucks, I missed that by SIX days!. My decision was made for me, right there, right then. It was time for me to fly off to new beginnings and start becoming the artist that I always knew was in me. One of the engineering directors that I worked with closely at the company contacted me two weeks after the "layoffs" and asked if I needed a job at a competing company. I gave my thanks and said "no I don't need another engineer job as I want to explore my art, glass and jewelry designing. If things don't work out, I'll give you a call". I haven't made that call yet and don't anticipate to ever. I even spent time attending the free occupational transition classes that the company offered, knowing full well that corporate life was a thing of the past for me.

The day I got laid off, I contacted my friend Kelly Thompson, owner of the San Gabriel Bead Company, and began shortly to work there part-time as I planned out my next moves. The San Gabriel Bead Company is where my artistic adventures started back in 2001. It was there that I discovered lampworking, metalsmithing, beadweaving... you name it, this is the best bead store around. And with my nice severance package, I was ready to jump right into booking as many "key" shows as possible and the Softflex Sonoma show was the first. While exhibiting there I met Marlene Blessing, editorial director of Beadwork Magazine and Marilyn Koponen, advertising director. Also there, I met the wonderful Gail Crosman-Moore, who invited me to exhibit with her at BABE that year. I gladly accepted. Well, as they say, the rest is history. (I'll tell more stories in future posts!)

I work REALLY hard now, harder than I ever worked in the corporate world as a senior quality assurance engineer, but I'm building something that I can call MY own. My own voice. My own art. My own image of what I want others to see me - see my art as - the stories that I tell through my work - whether I'm a glass artist, a bead artist, a designer, a writer, a metalsmith, a PMC artist, and a whole slew of other persona I will become overtime. I will always challenge myself to be better and better - growing, flourishing, learning and exploring all the intricacies of my creativity - and I hope you see that in my various works and follow me on this wonderful creative journey. Thank you for reading my thoughts, now let's return to the Manning House. (I can be quite verbose even with my writing! Yikes! You have been warned. Read on.)

I can't imagine a better setting for my work than the Manning House Mansion. Be sure to visit the Manning House link to read about this historical landmark, in the center of downtown Tucson and down the street from the Tucson Museum of Art. You must plan a visit to Tucson in the upcoming years during the gem shows in Jan/Feb to see this beautiful and elegant venue. It's really amazing all the work Colleen Concannon, CEO of the Manning House, and her team did to renovate and transform this glorious building to it's old grandeur. No detail was left unattended and the pictures will help tell the story in the next post. Check out the Manning House Beadshow site too for updated news on the upcoming 2009 show!

The Thursday Tease

This time the Thursday Tease is a photo of my reaction to my current webhosting issues with Yahoo. Doesn't she look cute! I love animal humor. And I WILL get my site up and running soon.

Website Having Problems...

Debugging over at www.LisaKan.com, my website

Hi all,

Good thing I have this blog up and running because I found out late last night that Yahoo, my website host, recently decided to update their hosting software while I was in Tucson. Whoopee for them but now I can't update the site with new info. So I'm using the blog to keep you informed of the latest news.

As with any software updates, there are bound to be issues in the beginning. Never fear, we'll still stay in touch via this blog! Yeah! For the most part the site is still operational but it just does not look too pretty, due to a partial upload gone wrong. Thanks to the Frontpage extensions that got all jumbled because Yahoo fouled up while they transferred my site to their new web hosting platform. I won't bore you with the gory technical details but I've been up to the wee hours Activating, Deactivating, Re-assigning, and Re-calculating the root web, subwebs and authorship galore, I can't tell you more or I'll have your head spinning too. I used to do this when I was an engineering school, debugging software and programs. That was when I had NO choice since it was part of my engineering curriculum but this didn't have to happen. Oh well.. I must keep my energies up to get the website fixed. I'm determined. VERY determined.

So, be assured that I am working on this in the background with them and hope to have the site back to it's pretty self soon. For instance all my header logos are GONE, the footer copyright and contact links GONE, and then the fonts throughout the site are small and large - simply put, not pretty. At least offline, the site looks like it's old self. Thank goodness I am somewhat proficient in troubleshooting and know enough about programming to tackle fixing this issue. But with such a busy and hectic schedule getting ready for Portland, this is the last thing I want or need to worry about. What can you do? I'll just roll with the punches and tackle each issue as they come.

The next few days will be devoted to paperwork, taxes, booking travel to beadshows, making contacts for new projects, writing proposals, writing articles, beading projects and maybe somewhere in between I'll actually sleep. And you thought a beadmaker just makes beads all day. The paperwork is the least desirable part of operating my shop and the second, cleaning beads! All this happening at once and together, can make a girl spin crazily. But I'm on top of things here, knocking each task down at a time, based on priority.

Chinese New Year Sweets

Chinese New Year Lanterns
(the red color is very predominant in the Chinese and Asian cultures.
It symbolizes a wish for prosperity, fortune and good luck)

I'll be back in the studio this weekend maybe Sunday (as I still have to celebrate Chinese New Year with my family, since I was in Tucson!) and will have some pretties to share with everyone shortly. I hope. There is a growing number of people on the waiting list for Haiku, Luft, Strata and Sandstorm series. If you are interested just send me an email and I'll email out photos of actual beads that will be available soon. How's that for customer service. Thank you for your patience. Your continual support means a world to me.

I'll be adding a vacation bounce back email to let everyone know about the website being semi-functional and to link to the blog. I am however NOT on vacation. This girl does not take much time off, even on Valentine's day!

Email me questions anytime at lisakandesigns@yahoo.com. We'll get over this website hurdle together. Thanks for sticking by me. I won't give up if you don't.

Back from Tucson ... Happy Valentine's

The day for love is here. Happy Valentine's to everyone. Please remember to tell the one you love how special they are to you!


I am definitely still recuperating from my excellent show at the Manning House last week. It's a good form of exhaustion. I will be updating the site and blog with lots of info in the next few days so keep your eyes peeled for the new Luft and Sandstorm series photos as well as an alternate Strata Metallic series that will be offered periodically at select shows. (See update to earlier post for some fabulous photos of the new series!!)

I will also be adding links to the wonderful new beadstores that will be carrying my work at your local bead store (LBS) and on the website (once it is back online). Thank you to them! Thank you also goes to the customers, old and new, who traversed to Tucson and visited me at the Manning House. I had a great time talking to each and every one of you. Perhaps some of you tried to escape my long-winded conversations but I always perk up when speaking about beads/designing. Ooops.

Next week, I move forward to prepare for Bead Expo Portland and will open up the show stock for email orders. Let me know what series you are interested in and I'll email you a photo of what's in stock NEXT week. Right now the selection is low because many bead styles/colors sold out in Tucson. This is a good and bad thing. This means I have to work that much harder and stay focused to bring you new goodies. Not a problem if you don't mind being on a waiting list. I'm always up for challenges and hate to disappoint!

Thank you for sticking in there and being on the waiting list for your special beads. The website is currently having some issues due to Yahoo Webservices updating their entire hosting software (which I found out after returning from Tucson). You can still view the catalog but it's just not pretty, the fonts are all weird, the header with my logo missing, the footer with my copyright and contact gone, and I can not yet update the inventory status. I'm working on fixing all the issues behind the scenes. Just email me and I'll respond ASAP. I'm always an email away.

Bead Romantique Promotional Postcard
handed out during the Tucson show
(click the image for a larger view to get the nitty gritty details)

In the meantime. Yeah! Double Yeah! I'm so excited about the book launch at Bead Expo Portland next month! I'll have alternate samples of the projects in different colorways at my booth and Interweave will have the actual samples from the book at their booth. We are right across from each other. I'll be at my booth (#218) most of the show, since I'm exhibiting solo, but feel free to walk across the aisle for a chat. Signed books will be available at Interweave's booth. And the Girls from Vintaj will be right next to me too! It can't get any better than this!

Woo... I'm spinning with excitement.

Bead Romantique on Beading Daily

Beading Daily is holding a vote on a free project from Bead Romantique. It's a reader's choice and the project with the most votes will be posted in their March 21st newsletter.

Click here to vote for your favorite amongst the three contenders. May the most favorite project win!

Excerpt from today's Beading Daily newsletter:

Choose Your Free Beading Project

Topic: Off-Loom Stitches

Introducing Bead Romantique

Last fall I saw a preview of the new spring beading books from Interweave. There are some terrific new books coming out, but the one that really captured my imagination was Bead Romantique by Lisa Kan. (See a preview.) This book is filled with elegant, historically-inspired beadweaving designs for the intermediate and advanced beader. If you love beadweaving with size 15 beads, you'll love the projects in this book! I left that preview with only one thought: I had to have one of Lisa's projects to share with you on Beading Daily.

I went through the manuscript (the book hadn't been printed yet) and put a bright orange Post-It note on every project I liked. The book looked like it was on fire when I was done! Clearly, my typical selection method wasn't going to work. I went through the book a second time and narrowed it down to three projects--a pair of earrings, a bracelet, and a necklace. I tried to choose a range of styles, techniques, and level of difficulty. Now it's up to you! Which project would you like to do?

Meet the Contenders

	Ndebele Pearl Medallion Earrings Lisa writes: "While exploring how Ndebele stitch could be gradually increased by the addition of a larger band between its branches, I discovered this design. Further exploration expanded the original concept into a semi-circular hollow form which could hold something of a similar size. A coin pearl could be cupped and held with two semicircular forms stitched together." Techniques: Flat circular Ndebele, wrapped loops, picot, reverse picot
	Mesh Pearl Bracelet Lisa writes: "I use freshwater pearls in just about any imaginable shape, size, and color in my jewelry designs. The elegant pearl dangles in this bracelet are accented by the wire mesh, which not only cushions the pearls, but also creates volume and airiness. This bracelet is built on a graduated wire link design that I have been making for years. It can easily be shortened for a smaller wrist or elongated into a necklace by adding chain." Technique: Wrapped loops
	V Scallop Necklace Lisa writes: "The elegant gem-encrusted necklace collars you may see on Hollywood mavens were the inspiration for this piece. You can create your own red carpet event with an elegant necklace to spice up a simple evening dress. The recipe is clear: Swarovski crystals for the sparkles, the pearls for a pinch of elegance, and the scalloped edging for a touch of feminity. The "V" shape accentuates the neckline, and the vintage button closure adds a bit of old-world glamour to the necklace." Techniques: Right-angle weave, scalloping

Choose Your Free Project

• Voting is limited to Beading Daily members. (It is free to sign up if you are not already a member.)
• One vote per person.
• Last day to vote is: February 18, 2008
• The project with the most votes will be free to Beading Daily members for one week in late March.
• Vote Now

Introducing at Tucson 2008...

I'm off to Tucson at 5:30 a.m. Monday. It'll take me two days to just pack and prepare everything! It'll be a long drive but I'm looking forward to seeing all my beadie friends there! That's the fun part of exhibiting at shows. I'll be taking my camera along and will capture some of the fun to share with you.

Two new series for 2008 and an updated metallic Strata look will be introduced in Tucson. Let me tell you a little about them and I will post photos later, just to maintain the mystery a bit longer. (updated 02/15/08 with photos! click the photos to ENLARGE)

LUFT: A Hollow Metallic Bead Series

a. Luft (German for "air") - a hollow bead series that plays with minimal texture for visual appeal and is a special transparent metallic finish that I have been playing with. Hollow beads are ideal for beadwork design because they are light so you can use MANY of them. I hope to have time to design something fabulous with these beads soon. The metallic finish compliments iris, AB, satin and luster beads well. It has been FOUR years since I've made hollow beads and it was fun to be challenged by this old friend. There will be MANY colors available but above shows the first few introduced in Tucson. What magic a poof of air can do to glass!

SANDSTORM: A Metallic Series

b. Sandstorm is based off of the Strata series but has a metallic finish instead. A mix of transparent and opaque glass are used to create a floating sandstorm maelstrom that swirls about with small earthy inclusions. This organic bead compliments iris, AB, satin and luster beads well.

STRATA: A Metallics Series

c. There will also be a limited selection of metallic Strata beads available, made while testing out the Sandstorm series. This will be offered periodically at shows when I experiment with Sandstorm colors.

Some Additional Comments: If you haven't noticed, I don't like signing my work. I find signature canes generally detract from the flow of the design and the bead, itself. Even the titanium pens, which are used by some artists, scratch the bead's surface and are not all that appealing to me. Besides, I want my beads to have a life of their own, to speak for themselves, and find their way into your fabulous jewelry designs. Anyone who follows glass bead artists will know my signature work. One can of course collect glass beads but I want my beads to be utilized, instead of hidden in some display cabinet, where only a few people can appreciate. I work hard to come up with designs that can be easily incorporated into finished jewelry with an affordable price-point in mind. Although my more complicated beads will be pricier, they will not break the bank and will always be a balance of labor and materials that is fair to the artist, ME. So I hope you'll USE the beads you buy from my booth as I'd love to see what you make from them. See you all in Tucson soon at the To Bead True Blue Show at the Manning House Mansion!

Vintaj features Bead Romantique

My friends at Vintaj has featured my work and book in their latest newsletter. Read more by clicking the image above to enlarge. The necklace you see is one of the three projects I designed for my book, which incorporated Vintaj findings.

Okay so your keen eyes have found that there is an extra "h" in my name. Actually that is how you pronounce my maiden name. I have MANY identities, under different circumstances, depending on who's asking or looking for me. (hehe) In case you're wondering, I don't always look that glamorous, but with some help, proper lighting and under the expertise of others, I can clean up quite well. The beautiful photo was taken by the talented Henry Wang, hairdo by my sisters, and makeup by Yoyo (yes that is her name).

I want to thank Vintaj for an excellent product and the inspiration I find in every one of their findings. Oh, the possibilities, if I had more time on my hands.

My buddies will be exhibiting in the same show in Tucson, so we'll be sure to have a blast and hang out a bit. I hope to have more time to play with all the wonderful new findings they have sent and are launching at the show. Yes, I am one lucky girl and have them right here on my desk already! I can't wait to design some beautiful jewelry with these new additions.