These are a first for me... matching lampwork cabochons which I'm planning on using for Christmas presents for my family. They will ultimately become part of my range of giggle gifts range. People will be able to choose the base colour, the colour of the line and the colour of the dots.
I will also be introducing other funky designs which can be part of pendants, cufflinks, earrings whatever is wanted which people can personalise for themselves
Thank you for your interest in my work
Julie
For those of you who have read my blog over a period of time you will have seen that I have been suffering a major identity crisis in my glass work. As I sit and look back at it there are definitely a number of conflicting ideas
Putting these together it becomes clear that I have been struggling to find out who I am which affects how I promote myself and all those other fun things that come with trying to run a little business.
I know you might think that I am thinking about things too much and making life harder than it needs to be. Well if you don’t I certainly do. I had thought about just letting the style continue and grow until I realized that there are probably two distinct styles that I want to create and ultimately it boils down to the difference between art and craft.
So simple I create an art range and a craft range
So let me introduce STONES OF FIRE the art range
This will be a place to showcase my intricate art beads using murrini, implosions and fine stringer control. Often these will be set by myself in silver. The silver will be hallmarked by the assay office in London so you can be assured you are receiving awesome one off wearable glass art.
And let me introduce GIGGLE GIFTS the craft range
This will be a range of more costume jewellery, simple jewellery beads which is affordable and has a funky edge to it. My hope is that over time that this range may end up being specifically focused at young families and include fingerprint jewellery, jewellery with personalised pictures and electroplated shoes and the like. I'm not going to develop the young families range too much at the moment simply because whilst I am having fertility problems it's not really so wise to be around babies too much.
Thank you for your interest in my work.
Julie
Well... its happened... and it went great... well I think it did anyway.
Like this it doesn't really look all that much but the good news is that bead show tables are nice and narrow so it looks like so much more.
If my aim was to break even, I did that and more and I'm so pleased. I know others weren't so happy with the day but as a first show I think it went great.
The things to learn are about how to price my beads... man do I underprice... lol. Having a wide range of beads is a really good idea but the things that sold were the things which were different from the other lampworkers and not production beads. If a bead is only worth £3-4 put it in a rummage pot rather than trying to sell it as a focal.
The most fun thing for me and my ego was one of the sales I made. The show was organized by Bead magazine. The editor came round towards the end and was checking out how people had done. She then proceeded to purchase a bead from me saying that she'd broken her own rule and I was the only one she had bought from today... just how cool is that and sooooo good for the ego.
There are loads of beads now up on the website.... happy hunting. Julie
Isn't it always nice to realize your still new at your career and youthful. For the last 7 years I've been the senior member of my team in my paid job. I guess in the world of lampworkers I'm still a baby... which is a lovely thought
On one of the lampwork forum they set up an Ages Poll. At the time of me posting this of the folks who make lampwork beads.
8-25 years old = 3.4%
26-35 years old = 14.97%
36-45 years old = 32.49%
46-55 years old = 33.16%
56-65 years old = 13.27%
66-75 years old = 2.55%
76-85 years old = 0.17%
Now this is so cool because I fall into the 26-35 year old category. Makes me feel so much better and somehow makes me think, wow, that gives me time to learn and develop. I have years of this career ahead of me rather than thinking I've hit the glass ceiling and can't go any further. Means I have time to develop my own style and find my niche in the market rather than having to be the best at everything right now.
I just thought I'd also show you some beads which I'm calling tiny treasures. These beads are 5 mm from hole to hole which means that they are fantastic for making into jewellery as they are small enough to be part of a set yet distinct enough to be fab beads.
Thank you for your interest in my musings
Julie
It's amazing how much time it takes to put sets together and photograph them. I have to say though I'm really happy that I've done it and I can begin to see what sort of stuff I have made ready for the Big Bead Show.
By a long way I don't feel as if I've made enough but at least I feel as If I'm on my way and wont be ashamed of what I end up taking. I guess the truth is that I'm beginning to get anxious about this and wonder how people will take my work. The truth is I wont know until the show.
Thanx for dropping by. Wish me luck for next Saturday.
Julie
... well I am for at 2 weeks.
I've left my last job and start a new one in two weeks, but that gives me two weeks to prepare for the Big Bead Show ... re-write my web site which has been winding me up as Mr Site will just not behave ... and make loadsa beads.
I've got a whole pile of beads which need to be cleaned and I will get those photos up in the next few days, but the main priority is fighting Dreamweaver. I hope I'm winning but we will see in the next few days. I feel really excited as it will give me full control over how the web site works... and I wont have to fight something which although meant to be easy... really isn't.
Signing off as a lady of luxury... lol
So today I was supposed to be making beads... kinda hasn't happened but instead I've been making a facebook business page. Rowanberry Glass was telling me how good its been for her business, so I decided to give it a go.
So its up and running http://www.facebook.com/pages/Julie-Merrett-Glass/30083316505... hopefully you'll like it
I've also been making some more sculptural beads. This one is a little bird. I made a whole flock and the do look cool together. The can be used to make really cute earrings.
I can see a whole line of little creatures coming. Dragonflies, beads and of course cute teddies.
I've put a whole new load of snaps of the beads I plan to take to the big bead fair on flickr. They aren't selling piccies but more of a record of what I've been making. Enjoy
Thank you for dropping by
Julie
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