Lingering Women

September 2, 2009 Karen

A chat with Mother at the nursing home today, brings to mind a phrase I often use for the women in my family. I call them “lingering women”. It seems the females in my family outlive the males by a considerable number of years. When my mother commented on missing my father who has been gone 9 years, I mentioned my thoughts about lingering woman to her. She said she’d rather be a malingering woman, commenting that she often hides out in her room to avoid activities. Earlier in the week, she remarked that she had been very unproductive and idle in the three days since my last visit. I tried to explain that I thought that was what she was meant to do at her stage in life, but I don’t think she bought it. She had two novels out that she is reading in tandem. One big book is for her room, and another skinny book is for hauling to the dining room to read while she waits to be served. Her organ music sits near the door so she can go to the living room and play and her crochet is at the foot of the bed ready for action. She doesn’t look at all like a malingering woman to me.

I may age to be a lingering woman, but I don’t think I can ever malinger either. I, too, have a couple of books going at once at well as multiple other activities aside from the ranch work. In terms of the design work, as do most other beaders, I keep multiple designs going at once. The current seed bead project fits well with listening to TV, hammering wire and metal is readily on tap for relieving frustration and stringing projects, organized into small groups on the work table, wait for this human to arrive. While yesterday’s blog showed the copper Pascal’s necklace I completed yesterday, today’s picture shows a seed bead collar finished the same day. Diversity is good or as the saying goes, “variety is the spice of life.”

So whether we linger or malinger, I choose to believe that barring unforeseen medical complications, the strong survive. The men in my family would probably say that the strong-willed survive and looking at my mother, grandmother and great grandmother, I might have to agree.

Necklaces, Wire Work

Pascal’s Necklace

September 1, 2009 Karen

When I was a consultant providing training for teachers of gifted students, one of my favorite workshops to present was on mathematics. I used Pascal’s triangle during the workshop and it provided the basis for the necklaces shown here. If you’re interested in knowing more about Pascal’s triangle, you might go to the link that follows: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pascal's_triangle where you’ll learn that it’s basically a geometric arrangement of the binomial coefficients in a triangle. The link demonstrates the process of number development in the triangle and I’ve provided only the first six rows below.

The copper necklaces are obviously inverted from the triangle above, but you can see how the number of links are based upon Pascal’s work. The links for both necklaces are made from 18 gauge copper wire and the neckwires are from recycled wire from the San Marcos Green Guy. The necklace with colored stones seems to lay the best due, I believe,to the wider curve of the links. The plain necklace, composed of more links, is more delicate looking, but made from the same gauge wire. I’m hoping this design holds possibilities for further exploration. It’s one of the few pieces I’ve made that doesn’t take too long to complete.

Hmm . . . I wonder what else I used in that math workshop that could stimulate a design idea? I knew I shouldn’t have thrown away all my notes!

Diversions, Philosophy

What’s Important?

August 31, 2009 Karen

Yesterday, I sat at the computer twice to write about a new design and I left the computer idle both times. The first instance occurred first thing yesterday morning. I had a jewelry photo ready to go and narrative on tap when the phone rang. “I need you now!” uttered my husband on the other end of the line. He had discovered a newborn calf. Since we were not expecting it yet we didn’t have its mother in the safe pasture. When he tried to move the pair, the little one ran through the barbed wire and electric fence onto the neighbors property. Eventually, following a loud yell when my husband encountered the electric fence, we retrieved the little and got the pair all the way to the barn. The poor newborn was so hot and tired that it . . . (good grief, the phone is ringing again this morning. . . got to go to the barn) . . . (45 minutes later) Yesterday’s “found” newborn was so hot and dirty by the time we got her to the barn, that she had to be hosed down and have the thorns pulled out of her nostrils.

Late yesterday afternoon, I again sat down to write and the mobile phone rang. Since my husband was here at the house, I just kept writing. Yet, there was another newborn that needed attention. One of our customers had a newborn calf that arrived three weeks early and couldn’t eat or stand. We grabbed a bottle, tube and warmed the frozen collostrum from our freezer, setting off on a mission to save another life. I was worried the little one would perish in the hour and a quarter drive to the ranch, but there she was when we arrived, barely able to hold up her head. I fed her all the collostrum while the two men kept the mama cow away from me and we left shaking our heads at the less than 40 lb calf. Yet, after our friend followed my advice and fed the calf both at midnight and six am, she’s standing this morning. They will bottle feed her until she can stabilize. While the calf may still have grave difficulty, it appears there is always hope.

Oh, and about today’s phone call. It WAS from the barn. We watched as another cow delivered her healthy bull calf without assistance. Whew! I need to close this writing before the phone rings again.

As for design work . . . it seems that the more compulsive I become about sticking with work, the more apt LIFE is to remind me of what is important.

Bracelets, Philosophy

Marketing Rules

August 24, 2009 Karen 2 Comments

There’s probably a wonderful list somewhere that I have refused to follow, but I’ve got to begin to stick to my own marketing rules. Rule number one for me is to always wear jewelry I’ve made. I’ve followed this regimen for so long that I don’t feel right if I go out without both a necklace and bracelet on. Rule number two must surely be the following: have another similar piece to what you are wearing available for anyone who asks “where did you get that?”. I thought I was doing pretty well with that one, but the rest of the story will follow. Rule number three: be willing to remove the piece you are wearing and sell it. Yes, I’ve also followed that one reasonably well.

Now, I have a new rule. Last week, in a rush to call on a customer, I quickly donned a bracelet that matched my outfit. I didn’t even think about my second and third rules. Off I went; I called on my customer; I sold several pieces; then, she wanted my bracelet. “Oh sure,” I said, “I will make you one of these, the one I have on is a bit too old.” Actually, it was a good three years old and I had worn it a great deal.

When I commenced to recreate the bracelet, I realized that it’s hard to find the same beads you used three years ago; but a thorough digging to the bottom of the seed bead drawer produced the needed beads. I began the piece, only to remember why I don’t make that bracelet any more. It takes TOO long! Five hours later, scratching my head I asked myself why I quoted the customer such a low price. That’s when I instituted rule number four: Never wear a piece you don’t want to make again. Rule number five must surely be: Stop quoting prices until you see how long it takes to make the piece.

Actually, the bracelet turned out well as shown in the picture. I made and sold a number of these some time ago. Made on elastic from the fabric store, it is especially nice because it doesn’t require a clasp and easily slips on and off. It’s also very sturdy. I made a few of these on narrower elastic and my mother, who has severe arthritis, has really enjoyed hers. I used matagama seed beads for the one pictured. They are shaped like drops, but are a bit larger. The turquoise stones add a little color. The second photo shows the inside of the bracelet.

I think these are pretty good rules if I could remember to follow them. Rules, however, as we all know, are meant to be broken. I just need to be smarter about how I break my own next time.

Diversions

Another Tiny Diversion

August 23, 2009 Karen

At the first of this calendar year, I wrote about my little diversion from design work when our first grandchild was born. Today, I have another diversion of a different biological configuration. Today the pictured calf was born early and small, but thankfully is quite healthy and eating well. She’s the first calf born to those cows that will make up the pairs in our October sale. I always know that once these little creatures start being born it’s not too long until sale time. This little gal has a good mother; therefore, the photo was taken from outside the pen while the mother made disparaging sounds in my direction. I’m certain she was saying, “If you come in here with my calf you’ll be real sorry!”

I enjoy listening to each new mother cow as she encourages her calf. The harsher moo echoed in the pasture pre-birth changes to a softer, gentler, more singing and elongated sound directed toward the calf. I never cease to be amazed at this occurrence. On the other side of this duo, the calf actually seems to pay attention. I’ve been almost close enough to touch a newborn only to hear that Mother Moo and have the calf immediately get up and move away. It’s a shame that we humans don’t exercise that power over our children.

With six more births pre sale due in the next few weeks, I look forward to that hopeful feeling that often comes from nature in the Spring of the year when things branch out and bloom. In ranching, the best “blooming” comes from successful births and healthy calves.

Belts, Metal Work, Wire Work

Not Your Grandmother’s Belt

August 20, 2009 Karen

I’m still belting it out here. As the post several days ago indicated, I’ve been making copper belts for a few weeks now. I need to STOP, but keep having little ideas that need developing pop into my head. The idea for one of the belts shown here came from showing my ranch workers what I was making. One of them said he had seen women wearing large double link belts and suggested I try enlarging my original horseshoe links. I tried the double links, but it made the belt too heavy for my taste and I ended with the style shown on the right. When I asked what type belt he saw on the women, he looked a little funny. We decided, he probably shouldn’t be looking that closely at “other” women’s waists. His wife might wonder! The second rather poor photo shows how the belt hangs. The buckle has a white magnesite heart wired to it and deerskin fringe hangs on the other end.

The second pictured belt is much smaller and made with links less than half the size of the one above. I have been wearing it and find it to be very light and comfortable. These links mold well and stay in place.

Diversions, Pendants, Philosophy

The Song Remembers When

August 16, 2009 Karen

I’ve always liked Trisha Yearwood’s song by the above title. Based on something most of us can relate to, she sings of hearing an old familiar song over the radio and lets the tune wind her back to a memory. Couples may have “their song” that reminds them of a first meeting, wedding or other time. Music can bring up a memory out of the blue when you are riding in a car, sitting at a desk or moving along with daily chores, but it’s not the only memory initiator.

Last week, using the drill in the house, my husband, unbeknownst to me, brought in an old tin can from the garage which housed the larger drill bits. He set it on the bookcase and went about his work. Later, it caught my eye and took my breath. As the picture shows, it’s just an old tobacco can, rusted, dented and worn; but it is a definite reminder of my father who died in 2000. It sat in Papaw’s workshop for many years. As the tears gathered in my eyes, I could almost smell that tobacco smoking from his pipe and see the gnarled mouthpiece of that same pipe he chewed upon when he quit smoking. The can also conjured that funny memory of my father doing a little jig the day he put that lit pipe into his pants pocket just a little too soon and it caught his pocket on fire. These are good memories and I’m thinking of leaving that sad old can in the house.

I’m sure I could name many other things that bring back memories, but today I’m thinking about some of the special jewelry pieces I’ve made that “remind me of a time”. One of these is the seed bead piece pictured here. It reminds me of our family joy when our daughter got married here at the ranch over three years ago. It was a small outdoor wedding, but totally ours as we did the planning, work, and setup. This simple, but beautiful event, set in the bluebonnets of our front circle, left me quite exhausted the following day; so I gathered my seed beads, plopped in a chair and declared that I should not be bothered. I sat there all day and made my very first freeform pendant. I still love wearing it and it emits happy memories when I look at it.

I’ve sold a good deal of pieces for weddings in the past years and I’m hoping that some of them bring pleasant memories for the purchaser. I also hope that those tourists who pass through the hill country and pick up a local artist jewelry souvenier find pleasant memories when wearing each piece. Certainly, those folks who have recently purchased “Ralph’s Rocks”, picked up and polished on a ranch in Cameron, Texas, which I’ve wired and hung on copper neck wires were looking for a little piece to help them remember our hill country.

Many people look for little treasures while traveling to help them recall the trip. I’ve repaired many such “treasures” for people who just couldn’t part with an inexpensive and, in my mind, often not so pretty, piece of jewelry because of where it came from or the special person who gifted it. I enjoy hearing the stories of why the piece is meaningful.

While all our design pieces certainly will not store precious memories, I’m struck today by the power of the few. I believe I’ll be paying even more careful attention to construction of my designs in the future so those little treasures will hold up. We just never know when the “necklace will remember when”.

Belts, Metal Work, Wire Work

Belted

August 14, 2009 Karen

Usually when I think of “belted”, I’m in the arena of music as in “the singer really belted it out.” But for the past few weeks, the word has conjured new meaning.

Earlier this year, I made a couple of mixed link belts that took a good long time to create and made my hand ache. The original practice belt is in the picture below on the far left. When the second of the belts was complete and had been sold, I vowed never to do another one. Then our bead group decided to make belts at our last gathering. “Urgh”, thought I, but I decided to give it another go.

I wanted something western, but the only readily linkable shape I could think of was a horseshoe. The first prototypes are in the right picture. The horseshoe links worked much better and were easier to make than the mixed links. The horseshoes swivel easily and fit nicely around the torso. The final version of this style belt is in the picture above. I added turquoise to the buckle at the request of a boutique. You can see how these look in the picture below.

I’m also experimenting with heart shapes for the links and learned that they require a horseshoe link between each heart in order to swivel and fit. I’ve also played with a bird shape, but that didn’t hatch well.

Next, I’m trying a smaller gauge wire and smaller horseshoes with dangles in multiple locations on the piece.

I would enjoy hearing other suggestions for shapes. Until then, I’ll just keep belting it out.

Bracelets, Techniques

The Seedier Side

August 3, 2009 Karen

I haven’t done as much seed beading lately as I used to, but Friday, as I walked by a tray of turquoise on my table, a bead whistled my name. I picked it up and felt it should become a Fall bracelet. In order to make the freeform peyote used with this stone more interesting, I started in the middle with the stone. Usually, I start at one end and work toward the focal. I enjoyed this technique and will try it again soon. The pictures shown really don’t do the stone justice. I would take another photo, but I had it with me and a store purchased it. Don’t you just love a fast turn around?

The problem with quick sales, is that I sometimes jump to erroneous conclusions. I begin to think the design or color combination is really going to catch on and I repeat it too many times. Then I realize that the initial sale just happened to go to the one person who liked it rather than selling because it was such a winner. Alas, how do we know a winner from a one-timer? Lately, I’ve been trying not to go all out when something sells quickly. Should I make another similar piece like this bracelet? Of Course! Shall I make 14 of them? Of Course NOT! It’s such a shame that I must use common sense even when I’m creating. Bummer!

Creativity, Philosophy

Sales’ Ego

August 1, 2009 Karen 1 Comment

Lately, I’ve enjoying hearing about designers who are excited by making a specific sale, like one person, who made her first Etsy sale, and another who made a gallery sale. I may be wrong, but making certain sales seem to me to be more about someone appreciating the art/work enough to want to take it home rather than pertaining to the finances. When I first started about 8 years ago, I could hardly believe that someone actually bought one of my pieces. Someone liked it!

Sales can certainly be a big boost to the ego and creative spirit. I hear that craft shows and bazaars are slow right now, so how can we continue to work toward creating new things without the boost those sales provide? In what ways might we retain that feeling when sales are slow? Ideas . . . ?

1. Experiment more – work on new ideas with inexpensive materials and perfect them before making them with more expensive products and marketing them (examples: play with recycled materials such a wire, old beads gleaned from undone projects, etc.) Then take the next step and buy those good products for the real thing. Buy a more expensive bead once the idea is perfected– Support our great vendors.

2. Share more – meet up for the purpose of sharing ideas – get with a group of like-minded folks who appreciate (as opposed to stealing) your ideas. Be truthful to one another about what you like and don’t like. You can appreciate the creative work, but still make suggestions about design improvement. (Szarka just fixes my rough edges – THANKS)

3. With regard to #2, adopt a “take it or leave it” attitude when it comes to the comments of others. You’re still in charge of your design. Don’t take offense at suggestions. Put them in the pot and stir them for a while. If they taste good use them and if not, throw them out; but don’t throw out the person who commented. This suggestion is VERY hard to do.

4. Learn how to make suggestions to others. Read your friend and determine whether the person really wants your advice. Some people require a good deal of TACT while others can take it without the sugar.

Help me add to this list. Changes have been made here to make it easier now to comment on this blog since you don’t have to “sign up”. Feel free to add your thoughts.

Dreamcatcher Designs