THANK YOU NOTES...

I got the best note on my Facebook wall today from someone who purchased a large amount of product over the past week & had received her package this morning. I must share, it made me smile...

Cake Serving Set... my first set of these.

"I never understood how one could fall in love with someone they've never met. And furthermore, how it could be a woman if I wasn't gay. But, I think you've managed. LOL! I got my package today, can you tell? Everything is STUNNING, and the red heart key is MIME MINE MINE!!!! Thank you, Julie ♥"

It was such a pleasure to work w/ someone who knows & appreciates art glass pieces. It makes her funny little note that much more meaningful.

YOU CAN DO IT!!

I just received a wonderful letter from an interior designer I used to work with. She just saw my website & just had to send me a note. I had to share, it really touched me. 

JULIE.. I JUST MET YOUR BEAD FRIEND WENDY FROM STEVENS CABINETS.. WE ARE WORKING ON A KITCHEN PROJECT FOR HILARY SANTONI. SHE SHOWED ME YOU WEB-SITE AND I WAS BLOWN AWAY… GORGEOUS!!!  INTRICATE AND THE COLORS, FAB. I WILL PICK UP THE MAGIZINE THAT YOU ARE FEATURED IN.. ANXIOUS TO SEE IT. JUST WANTED TO TOUCH BASE TO TELL YOU HOW HAPPY I AM FOR YOU AND YOUR SUCCESS. YOU MUST FEEL FULFILLED... DOING WHAT YOU LOVE AND BEING REWARDED. YOUR WORK IS EXQUISITE. IT ALWAYS WAS. I ENJOYED WENDY. SHE WILL BE  A HUGE ASSET TO THIS PROJECT. SHE IS VERY DETAILED. I THINK ABOUT YOU, MISS YOUR BEAUTIFUL WORK AND WISH YOU THE BEST .. CONTINUED JOY..  SANDY

Sweet note... it was good to hear from her. The reason it touched me so was that I have so much respect for Sandy & for her to get a chance to see how I'm doing & how far I've come means alot to me. THANK YOU, WENDY!! 

The one thing that really hit me was that it had been a good 2 1/2 years since she had seen my work.... my very early work. And I remember how much she gushed over my little black beads in the very beginning. I remember back then, I would go out to LampworkEtc & see the work of the BIG KIDS & would feel really intimidated & frustrated that I would never be that good. Over time, I got up the nerve to start posting pictures of my work & had a few specific BIG KIDS message me w/ really encouraging words. That meant oh so much to me. I can see how far I've come in those 3 1/2 short years... I'm a BIG KID now & I just want you, the newer kids, to know that you just need to be patient, it'll happen. Focus on what you enjoy & just play. Don't push yourself to just make SOMETHING so you can start selling your work... take your time, search for your voice & strive to stand out. Be different. You can do it. Ask me how I know. :o)

These thoughts probably came on because I'm feeling a little intimidated today. I just found out that along w/ me teaching @ the Midwest Glass Experience @ Third Degree Glass Factory in St. Louis in February, Brent Graber (Mr. Smiley) & Jennifer Geldard have both been asked to teach. I.N.T.I.M.I.D.A.T.I.N.G... seriously. I'm suddenly that little kid again... questioning my abilities & experience. But I'll be okay. I can do it. Ask me how I know. ;o)

BEAD FEST TEXAS REMINDER...

Just a quick reminder that I'm going to be @ Bead Fest Texas?? (I'm still not on their list online!) Booth 423, come find me! Should be a great show!! Here's a coupon for 20% off any 1 item @ my booth, I'll have an ad in the program worth 10% off any 1 item, too. You can use both coupons, but only 1 per item.

I'll tease you a bit w/ what I might be bringing..... ACORNS, of course... & etched copper leaves & washers

And handmade findings, like my twig & other changeable findings

changeable bead pendant

this was my Bead & Button tease, but these are representative of some of my pieces...

I'll have beautiful hand dyed ribbons & both sterling & Vintaj brass chains (that go perfectly w/ my acorns!)

& plenty more. 

Hope to see you there!! 

BEADWORK MAGAZINE... IN MY HANDS! (FINALLY!)

I couldn't wait for Barnes & Noble or even Target to open this morning, so I ran to our 24 hour WalMart as soon as I delivered The Teenager to school to see if the Oct/Nov issue of BEADWORK Magazine was on the shelves yet.... IT WAS!!! How exciting it was to see my name in the TITLE on a magazine page! (my very first!) Of course I had to check it out as soon as I picked it up. Ever fallen apart [just a little bit] in the magazine aisle @ WalMart? ;o)

A portion of my Bead Artist feature in BEADWORK...

If you found your way to my blog via BEADWORK, Welcome!! You'll find me not only creative & artistic... but sometimes quite a rambler & a bit of a goofball. I hope you take a bit of time & enjoy getting to know me. Then come find me on FACEBOOK. I tend to update & post pictures of current pieces more often there than anywhere else. You'll also find me quite busy @ the moment, getting ready for BeadFest Texas, which I'm leaving for a week from today! (w/ a 3-day Kristina Logan class thrown in this weekend!) I have some items on Etsy, but have had a really busy few weeks of sales, sales, sales & because I'm in show mode at the moment, I won't have a chance to add new items until mid October. If you'd like me to let you know when I've posted new items, head to my website's CONTACT page & sign up for my newsletter. I'll be sure to send out a message when I start adding more items to my shop. Feel free to contact me, as well, if you're looking for something specific or just want to get in touch!

Thanks all!

~ Julie

ART BEAD SCENE INTERVIEW...

Just thought I'd post a link to an interview I did w/ Erin Prais-Hintz of the Art Bead Scene blog. It was fun to do. I met Heather Powers & Erin @ Bead & Button this summer, Heather mentioned an interest in doing an artist interview w/ me for the Art Bead Scene blog. Erin sent me the questions & did some super fine editing (because you know how I tend to ramble on & on! LOL!) & they posted it earlier this week. Great job, Erin! THANK YOU!!

 http://artbeadscene.blogspot.com/2010/09/opportunities-knocking-credit-river-art.html