Izzie Bella's Growing Big and Strong!

Today, little "Iz" went to see Dr. Pagan for a checkup and she's doing just dandy. She's just over 6 lbs. She got a big Distemper shot, so by the time she got home she was like a wet noodle and she snoozed all afternoon. She is so much fun and is really keeping our spirits up these days. I think the funniest thing is when I am lying in bed in the morning, not quite ready to get up, and I hear her "war cry" as she clomps down the stairs to "attack" and get me out of bed to play. Dad almost has the pool fixed so I'm starting to look for a puppy life vest so we can get her in there and at least teach her where and how to get out in case she ever falls in.

Isn't she a cutie?

Also, I listed some new items on Etsy today so be sure to check 'em out!

Hey You! Come Here and Buy Some Beads!

Enough of the subtle approach. I'm going for the hard sell here.

Just take a look at these beads. Aren't they gorgeous? Can you even believe that I made them? Yup, I did.












Now, I'm hungry.

So, look over to the beads at the right (on www.lamworkbylori.com) and click on the lampworkbylori.etsy.com link (or just go there). Yes, that's right, you can do it!

When you see a bead you like, just click on it and then click Add to Cart. Easy peasy! If you're new to Etsy, you will have to create an account before you can check out, but what else is new? You can even avoid all that online payment crapola by sending me a check or you can even call me with your credit card number and pay over the phone. Can't you see that I'm bending over backward to make this easy for you!

Okay, so maybe you're a guy, or you don't make jewelry and don't know what you want to do with the beads that have caught your eye. Hmmm, well I can understand that. How do you think I got started in this game? All you have to do is let me know. I have lots of beautiful silk ribbons, cords, silver chains, copper and silver wire, etc. I'm sure there's something we can work out. Didn't I tell you I'm just that magical? (I crack myself up SO bad.)

I've given you a good start with some great listings today. Do yourself a favor and snap up some one-of-a-kid pieces of art by moi. I guarantee you will fall in love with them once you see them and hold them in your hands for they are much more delightful in person. Go ahead, you will thank me. ;-)

Cincinnati Show a Success!

Hello friends!

It's been a long couple of weeks getting ready to take my show on the road but it was worth it. My nephew Jake and I left Friday afternoon for a delightful weekend away from Indy. It was nice to spend time with him and he was a big, big help and we always have fun together. Lord knows I couldn't have done it without him, so thanks, big guy!

Anyway, I won't bore you with the hotel snafu. Suffice it to say that everything worked out just fine. Saturday morning we ate a quick breakfast and set up the booth. The Sharonville Convention Center was a beautiful new venue.

The people running the Bead Mercantile show (Jane's Fiber and Beads) were very kind and helpful, as I had never done a traveling bead show, and all of the other vendors were just great. I think there must have been about 60 tables there. I got to meet Patti Cahill (thanks for the $1's!) and Mavis Smith (thanks for the "wing tips"!) two very well-known artists in the American lampwork bead movement, as well as some ladies from the Miami Valley Lampwork group. We were set up right next to the ladies selling beautiful ceramic Kazuri beads, and of course, I can't keep my hands off of anything made from clay!

The flow of customers was smooth and steady and we made back our booth fee, hotel and gas on the first day. We celebrated by having dinner at The Outback Steakhouse and going to see Star Trek and heading back to the hotel for a good night's sleep. On Sunday the crowd was a bit lighter because of a huge thunderstorm, but we were back in Indy by 6:30 and both dog tired!

I collected 30 names from customers who wanted to be on my mailing list. I mostly sold beads from my orphan bowl, which I thought was odd because my prices were extremely competitive on my better beads, but I'm thinking that usually, unless you have a drop dead gorgeous bead, people are looking for low investment items that they can put into their own projects and turn a profit, so I'm going change up my strategy a bit next time.

Overall, I would call this effort a success because I got to spend so much time with my Jakester, I met some great folks, I got out of the house and made some money, and picked up some ideas for how to make it easier and more profitable next time.

I'm cooking up some great ideas in my head, hopefully they'll turn out right at the torch! In the meantime, I've posted some new items on etsy and ebay so be sure to take a look!