Welcome to my blog. I hope you enjoy what you read. The purpose of this blog is to continue thoughts shared in my monthly emails but in detail. Most of what you will read here is mostly streams of thought and nightly rantings. I hope you don't take it too seriously. If you smile while you read this blog you will understand me better. I know many of you are wondering where I will find the time to keep up this blog...well, I hope that the blog will un-busy my thoughts so that I can have more time for other projects...that is the theory anyway...oh, and yes, I have a tendancy to curse so just skip those parts...will try to keep to initials.

November 22, 2009

In the past years, I have had many comments on our Swarovski display so I thouhgt I should just post how I created it so that you can do it yourself. It is not to say that it was easy. The entire project took hours and a lot of heartache to finally figure out an "easier" way of making it.

First of all you will need test tubes, which can be found just about anywhere on the internet. Then you will need acrylic display shelves for slatwall or pegboard. Which can also be found anywhere on the internet. From here, using a drill press, make the holes for your test tubes, put up slatwall and away you go!

By the way, for your ladies who are putting up slatwall, you better solicit some help. Most MEN can not put this up on their own. During out build out, it took 3 guys and me with the drill to put our sheets. Good luck!

October 26, 2009

Our first Cruise

Well, despite my best efforts to book a cruise line that is suppose to be a good one, I failed. This being our first cruise there were certain expectations set forth by friends who were seasoned cruisers. We were told the following:
1. Don't worry about motion sickness, you won't even feel the waves….Whu??? Really, what kind of joke is that? Thank god I was not naïve enough to go without some sort of precaution. We packed wristbands for me and Bonine for Andy. THANK GOD!! By the time we reached the high seas we were both feeling the effects of it. The only time we felt good was when we were sitting in bed or at a table. Walking around? Huh! That was miserable. It would also appear that we were not the only ones feeling the pain, as we observed the people around us with the tinge of green around their faces.

2. The food is great! Expect to gain some weight. You can not get around the food!...Again, let me say Huh? What food? We went looking for the food and did not find it. Our first meal was a lousy burger on the pool deck. Andy thought it was ok, but I think he was just hungry. Not content to settle there I decided to wait for dinner. We went to one of the sit down restaurants and ordered conservatively, I did not want to over eat. After all there was still plenty of time to gorge ourselves. I ordered the baby shrimp cocktail and sea scallops. Andy ordered the ceasar salad and tortellini. My shrimp cocktail I, code for "bay" shrimp cocktail, was some sort to shrimp hash and cocktail sauce. I passed. Ceasar salad was good. Scallops were good except there were only 5 of them, and I would not exactly call them "Sea" scallops. They were again of the "Bay" variety. (ie a little small for this girl's appetite.) The scallops were accompanied by some sort of cheesy paste disguised as grits? The tortellini? Lets just not speak of them. I decided that since the meals were inclusive we should just finish up and go to another location. Why not? What else was there to do, right. We skipped dessert and headed to the other restaurant. Can you believe it? It was the SAME menu! Another pass. After hanging out in our room for awhile we decided to hit the buffet. What the heck. I was not feeling really well and needed something comforting. There was indeed a buffet and there was food but it was not really hitting the spot. I had asparagus, which was good and mild which made me feel good, there was turkey piccatta? Pass. French fries! Fresh and crispy, the way we like it. We both needed the salt. After about 10 minutes I see what I had come for, a PASTA BAR! Yippie! I was finally going to be reallllly satisfied. Let me say again, wellll. While standing in line for the pasta I started feeling the pings of …throw up. Yup! It starts to hit me. Pass. We took dessert back to the room. Neither of us ate it. We just had to lay down. The final word on the food, the fries were great! Did I mention they ran out of coke?

3. There is so much to do on a cruise. You won't be board. Let me first of all point out that I am currently on the ship on this computer writing this blog. Hmmm. Well, we headed to the casino and checked it out. Unfortunately, we were both feeling a little sick from the motion that standing in a room with loud noise and smoke was not cutting it. Shopping? Yes, there was plenty of that, but again, Andy and I do not buy, cigarettes, jewelry or chachtkies. Especially the overpriced kind. (remember, I am way too cheap for that.) There seems to be a lack of open space. By open space I mean areas that you can sit at outside. I was so looking forward to sitting outside and relaxing. But the areas that are outside were crowded and always full of very loud music and cigarette smoke. I fear that I am getting old.

4. You can totally relax on a cruise…HUH??? What up with the 8am wake up alarm EVERY morning? Yup. Every morning at the strike of 8am, the flippin' cruise director would make some sort of announcement I could not understand THEN thought it would be cute to sing some freaking "good morning" song. Just kill me. As if it that was not enough, the first morning, they decided to do a staff emergency drill, which meant that they would sound the alarms. The second morning was to the lovely sound of some sort of maintenance on the boat. Was there one morning that they were not doing some sort of work on the boat? That would lead you to think that maybe we should go to bed earlier and get our rest in on the other end. Well, well, well. That was not to happen either as there were partiers up the hall making all kinds of ruckus. On another night, they were playing the music sooooo loud we could hear it 2 decks below the bar!

Now that we are back and we have been fully scammed… I think the reality is, cruiselines are like the airlines. They have cut back. The days of ice cream for snacks on a 3 hour flight and appetizers on real china with silverware in first class are over. Which leads me to believe truly luxury cruising is also gone.

June 15 - Getting into an Art Show

Most people think that it is so easy to just get into an art show. The reality is the competition is incredibly stiff. As much as people think that they are better than the artists at these shows, it is simply not that easy. Unless you have something absolutely original, you have a very tough road ahead of you. After this past weekend's show I was reminded of what I had to go through to accomplish what I did while I was on the art show circuit.

So if you are considering entering an art show keep a couple of things in mind. First of all, a reputable art show are ones that are juried. You can't just pay your way in. ( you would not believe the number of people who asked me that this weekend.) Secondly, you may want to take a good look at your competition and what they are offering. This will tell you how you compare. It is not enough to have good skills but you have to have concept, design and technique. And somehow you must convey this to the judges. It is however hard to know what judges are looking for and sometimes that is just what it is...luck of the draw. Hopefully, the judge has the same perception as you do.

Good luck out there, it is not easy. If you are thinking about giving up, instead you may want to consider a different approach. Until something clicks.

June 12 - Doing an Art Show

So it has been about 2 years since I have done an art show. Today I found myself setting up 2 shows....helping out my sister (a photographer) with her shows. A couple of things came to mind...I sooo don't miss shows and I sooo miss shows, but I am sooo tired. Recapping the day I thought it might be helpful to share some tips with you.

1. Make a list, make a list, make a list, and if you did not make a list keep a notepad handy just in case you need to start a list.
2. Bring a change of clothing for weather just in case. Had to change into a tank top today...it was suppose to be much colder.
3. Always bring water and a snack for set-up and the show.
4. Suntan lotion and insect repellant will keep you comfortable.
5. Bring a change of shoes. If it rains you will have a dry pair to drive home in. If it is hot (like today) a pair of sandle will make you sooo much more comfortable.
6. Wetnaps
7. Zip ties are your friends.
8. Carry a multi-tool...a good one, not a dollar store one.
9. Appropriate change for cash sales.
10. Bring extra credit card receipts.

Upcoming June Stuff!

Wow, sitting putting together my schedule I am so overwhelmed. I can not believe how full my summer has just gotten!

June 7 - BAAM - Rocky River

June 11 - Taking better pictures - Rocky River, $10, join us to learn how to take better pictures of your jewelry for the web and show submission.

June 13 - Direct Importer Trunk Show - Chagrin Falls, over 20,000 strands of beads, seed beads and STUFF.

June 20 - Northern Light Bracelet, $5 Rocky River.

check out the website for more happenings www.bead-q.com

June 8 - Bead and Button Show

Just got back from the Bead and Button show in Milwaukee. It was by far the best show we have had, it was so good that we will be going to Beadfest Philly. All I can say is, I am beat! After opening RR last week on Monday we left for WI at 5:30am on Thursday and was ready for the opening of the show that afternoon at 4pm...yipes. The good news is, we are now a well oiled machine. We were able to set up in less than 1 hour and broke down in literally 22 minutes! That also says, we sold a bunch of stuff that did not need to be packed.

The show prove a few things. First of all beading is still alive and well. By all reports the foot traffic was up. By observation, people were still buying quite feverishly. Secondly, during this show I learned how popular Andy is with the ladies. It was quite funny to see these ladies coming up to the table exclaiming, "Aaanndyyy!, how are you,...hugs, hugs." Then they gave me the, who is she, look. Funny. They all said, wow, how come we have never met you? I don't know what this means, but I never thought there would be a day that my husband would know more people in the beading industry. What happened?

Over all however, I did not see anything new. I did pick up a couple of things, but almost not enough to mention. I am glad to be home and hoping for little time off. This rest of the summer is going to so busy I am tired already.

May 28 - Too Many or Not Too Many

So the question is, are there too many jewelry designers? These days it seems that everyone makes jewelry. But is that really true or is it because you/I am in this industry that it only seems that way? You know, when you are looking for something you can never find it, then when you finally find that perfect outfit that you have spent months looking for, it would seem that they are everywhere and everyone is wearing it. I collect "tea for ones" (the tea pot with a cup built into it), most people have not heard of it, then they come over to my house and there is that ohhhh, that is what those are. Then they report back, I see those everywhere now.

Back to the question are there too many jewelers? Well, when you are trying to make a living in this industry I would say the answer is definitely Yes, BUT No.

Yes, because you hate competition. Life is hard enough without that many competitors. It's sort of like being blonde, really, would it not be easier to be a red head? less competition.

No, because the reality is there are plenty of non-jewelers to sell to, and there are plenty of frustrated designers leaving the industry who's shoes you can fill. If you take a positive attitude about the competition, you stand to win. Competition makes everyone better. It pushes people to set higher standards. This can only be a good thing. By meeting the competition you become a better technician and a better designer. Right?

To survive when the competition is at its best you must have a thick skin and a huge ego. Understand what makes you the better jeweler and use that as your soap box.

May 24 - One Person CAN

Make a difference! Hard to believe in this day and age, but it really does happen. Last week a friend from Dayton came to visit and shared her story of triumph. She recently moved to Dayton and is now shopping at Meijer (the local grocery store) and discovered that they use #7 plastic in the meat packs. #7 plastic is one of those items that can not be recycled. She was so disappointed that she sent and email to Meijer letting them know that she would no longer be purchasing meat there for that reason.

Can you believe it? They responded within a half hour! Then they proceeded to copy her on all email corresponding to the subject. A week or so later while shopping at Meijer her husband noticed that all of the meat trays had changed. In their disbelief they started flipping over all the trays! and it was true. Meijer had made a change for the better and seemingly because of One Person!

That is so incredibly exciting. A person who was willing to speak up because it mattered AND was willing to follow through with her beliefs. Additionally, a company that is willing to listen to their customers and respond vigorously? Good still exists.

May 16 - Sad

Tonight I watched the Debaters, Denzel Washington and it has left me so sad. I hate watching these kinds of movies. They leave me with much angst and tense. I hate tense movies. The movie takes place in 1935 when racial tension was high. It saddens me that there was so much hatred in the world. But I am happy knowing that the world has changed much in 60 years. However, we still have so far to go and that leaves me even more sad.

Will we get to racial utopia soon? I believe it will happen as righteousness and morality will always win. I pray that it will be tomorrow.

May 13 - Moving Faster

As much as I have been complaining about time and things moving way to fast...I am going to have to admit that I am my own worse enemy. And yes, I bring on the trauma/drama upon myself. Here is where it stands. I have been working for about 6 weeks to pull toghether a deal for a potential new store. I could have quickened the process by making the decision sooner and pushed other people harder. But I did not, now I am pushing myself harder. I could make the decision to open the store later giving everyone a little breathing room to do things, but somehow that just does not seem to be right either. So I will have to admit, I did this to mysself.

What's really funny is this has come as a complete surprise to my husband. Really. How is it that he is not used to this?

The first store, Tanglewood. I opened in about 4 weeks. I did 90% of the work by myself. There was little to no help. I was working day and night to get it done. I still remember the day a friend announced to Andy, "how do you feel about the opening on Friday?"..."Whaaaaa? I thought you were opening next month!" and walked out.

The second store, Chagrin. We closed the Tanglewood store at 4pm and was ready for the Grand Opening party the next evening at 7pm!

The third store, North Olmsted, was opened while I was out of town.

So why does it surprise anyone that I want to do this in 2 weeks? At this point we should know what are doing. Is this not the Fourth store? All we have to do is paint, put up carpet, install the slat wall, move the stuff and we are good. Right?

Ask me about my sanity in 2 weeks.

May 12 - More changes at Bead Q!

I can not wait any longer. I am going to burst if I don't tell! Bead Q! North Olmsted will be moving. I am very excited. We will be moving to Rocky River. North Olmsted has been under re-consideration for sometime now and it has been very hard making decisions on its fate. Close the store or move it? Can this economy continue to support our business? Is there too much competition in RR? Can I afford to move it? Can I afford to keep it open where it is? What will it take to make either decision.

Like many things in my life I left a lot to fate. I did do my share of research in the area and talking to peers in the industry. But there was still a certain amount of fate. Ultimately the decision was based on the fact that all the details had to be Perfect. (Of course you are wondering if there IS such a thing as perfect.) I say YES. The location is where I wanted to be 2 years ago but could not afford it. It had to be the right size. The landlord had to be people who are willing to work with their tenants and had a good reputation. AND the deal had to right. I was not willing to give in on many points. I made it clear upfront, what I wanted and what I was willing to put up with. And can you believe it? They want to play in my sand box too! Wooohooo.

What is the timeline? I still don't have keys and have not yet signed on the dotted line. The lawyer has given his thumbs up. A few more small edits on the lease and we are there. Hopefully we will get the keys at the end of the week then we are off and running. Considering how busy I am in June I am hoping to open in the next 3 weeks and get a week under my belt before I leave for Bead and Button. Wish me luck.

I will again journal our move on the bead-q.com site.

May 10 - Mother's Day

I believe that we always get we ask for. Not necessarily the way we want them, but we always get what we ask for. For instance, Tonya Harding. She wanted fame and money. Well, she got it. But I am sure she did not get it the way she had imagined it. Both of my sisters in-law wanted children. And for a time neither one could have them. So they both adopted, then as it would be, they both got pregnant after adopting their children. Recently I was told a story of a couple who had been married for some time and had completely given up on having children. They tried just about everything, there were several miscarriages, and they were getting old (and I do mean old not older...we are talking about making babies). So they gave up the notion. Then low and behold, they were pregnant! We have all heard this story before, but wait hear these details. He is 63 (that's right sixty three!) and she is 50 (FIFTY!). Oh my. Better late than never? Wow. Glad it's not me, or should I say, I hope it will not be me!...maybe this is time to get something fixed.

So on this Mother's Day I am reminded, be careful what you ask for because in time you will always get it!

May 6 - Faster than the speed of..

Over the weekend there was a very scary moment. Some of you may already know the story. The 19year old son of a friend of mine was in a very serious car accident (less than one mile from their home). There was much speculation and rumors in the community as to the details of the accident but the reality is the accident was the result of a young and inexperienced driver. Thank goodness there were no drugs, alcohol or TEXTING! in fact there was not even a cell phone. Youth and experience is just a life lesson.

Coincidentally, his grandmother and a friend/neighbor coming in opposite directions were the first on the scene. Followed by more friends/neighbors. I don't think that could have happened any better. To have people who know you and care about you around during the time of need.

The best news is that everyone is fine! There were some injuries but everyone will recover in time. I am sure there are some bruised egos but that too will heal. His parents are not sleeping very well this week, I am sure that too will pass.

The crazy part of this story...before the fire department was able to get him out of the car, his sister was already receiving text messages about the accidents. OMG. How does that happen? Are things moving so fast that it can not be tamed? What if the news was much worse? Can you imagine receiving that kind of news on your phone? how horrible. A few years ago when Aaron Spelling died there was a rumor that his daughter, Tori, was sent texts from her friends. I always thought it was just a rumor, but now I really believe it. At the rate in which news travels in today's world, do we have any chance? How do you control these things? We talk so much about the inforamtion highway and how fast it is, but I never imagined that they we were talking about us! I always assumed that was more about the famous people, about the people actually make a difference in the news. Never did I think we would be affected personally.

Since I heard this story I have been thinking about how I could control information in my life, how they could have controlled the story. But I realize that there was no way to do that. There is no real way to even determine where the information started. Was there a teenager in the car of one of the witnesses? Was it someone driving by who happen to know one of the victims. It could not possibly be one of the adults, they were all busy helping, right? hmmm. I still can not wrap my head around it. He was still trapped in the car when his sister got a text!

April 27 - Jewelry Exploration

The Jewelry Exploration is over..yippie! We all survived. From everyone at Bead Q! I would like to thank everyone who participated and made a success. To everyone was on one of 3 waiting lists, I hope you find something on our regular schedule.

The exploration took off without a hitch...sort of. During the first drilling demo of course I cracked the very first piece...ugh. I guess it was a good thing as it was the first and only piece. yeah. All instructors reported success and the staff was not completely stressed out as there was plenty of help to go around. After 8 classes I sounded sexier than ever. My head was spinning and exhausted so I am going to take tomorrow off. really.

I am already planning for next year and wondering when the best time of year will be.

April 25 - Tina

Tina was a customer who became a friend of the store. She applied for a job but there was not sight of anyone quitting. After sometime of getting to know one another it became apparent that at the very least she should become an instructor.

After a little prompting I talked Tina into teaching her first class to the staff. I figured it was a good test run. So funny. Tina arrived with moral support (her sister), food support (snacks for everyone, and spousal support (husband dropped her off). Despite all the support Tina was literally shaking like a leaf. I am surprised she made it through the class without losing her cookies!. Needless to say she survived and started teaching classes.

Not too long after her first class a window opened and Tina became an employee then an idiot buddy. Everyone needs one. I never suspected that she would outwit me in snarkasm. We actually kept points and I admit defeat. I never laughed soooo much while working. But somehow I new the good times would end.

Last Fall Tina left for the third time to go back to the Bahamas to take care of an ailing Grandmother. Then she was MIA for 6 months. Yup, she was suppose to be back after 3 weeks...6 months later, I get a phone call. "I'm coming home for 3 days can we visit?" Well, of course! if nothing else I am dying of curiosity.

Tina came to visit last week and boy, was my curiosity satified. Grandma dyed 2 months before. Everyone is recovering from the loss as expected. And she has decided to stay in the Bahamas. Really?shocking... The real shock? I am pregnant!...and I'm in love. OMG! I guess that sealed the deal. She was here to tie up loose ends and permanantly move to the islands.

After she was sure I was cool with the arrangement she brought Steve (the baby daddy) back to meet me. What a cutey. I approve. They seemed so happy and there is not much to dispute when you watch a guy checking out his own girl! very endearing.

What more can I say. I am so sad Tina will not be coming back. She will be soooo missed. I am so happy that Tina will not be coming back. She is so happy, and everyone deserves a lot of that.

April 20 - Fast Times

Too fast

The world is moving way too fast. They say that the older you get the faster time flies. At this rate I think I will be 85 sometime next week. I wonder if there is a way to slow things down or at the very least do things that make it feel like things are happening slower.

I remember last year there was period during April – June that felt like everything was taking its dear old time to happen. Gosh it felt great. I was never really in a rush I did not feel the pressure of things happening. It was like everything was happening as it should and I was actually just enjoying life at its pace. Then suddenly somewhere in the middle of June it all sped up. Then out of nowhere it was August, then boom October. I remember my head was almost spun off. What happened? I was so aware of this but there seemed nothing I could do to slow things down.

Here I am again facing such a challenge. The last couple of months seem to be a blur. Heck, wasn't the 12th yesterday?

I talk all the time about how the microwave has ruined society. You know if it was not for microwave 30 seconds would still be a very short amount of time to put on hold on the phone. Had it not been for the microwave, popping corn would still take place on the stove and about 6minutes (without butter that is). Had it not been for the microwave instant gratification would still be a thing of chance or maybe even luck. I am sure that the microwave is the reason for why time is moving much too fast.

Where has instant taken us? to the depths of…I tell you! the depths of …Okay, maybe not that bad, but I can say, instant has shorten our lives…I guess we could die more instantly. Instant has taken away the meaningfulness of hard work. Instant has taken the joy and fun out of discovery. The road to discovery is no longer fun for most people, they just want to discover.

Vacations go by way too fast and seem to shorten time. Quiet time spent in bed with my husband seems to only expand my day by 30minutes. The realization of time only seems to help for the moment during which it was realized. What is the answer? While I am not sure how I will slow down time or how I am going to make myself “feel” like the time is not just passing me by. I hope that when I am in between the mad rush of things I will remember enjoy that which is my life.

April 12 - Customers

What is a Customer? Defined a Customer is (noun) a person who purchases goods or services from another; buyer; patron. Thus Bead Q! has customers. Like, any other store that have things to sell Right? I would like to know when Customers became Clients? huh? right.

Clients are (noun) a person or group that uses the professional advice or services of a lawyer, accountant, advertising agency, architect, etc.; a guest is (noun). a person who spends some time at another person's home in some social activity, as a visit, dinner, or party. With all of that it mind…

Uh, hum..It drives me nuts when people call Customers Clients. (I think it is because someone once said to me, “the only people who have clients are accountants, lawyers and whores.”) Right? Not to diminish anything. But I really like to keep to reality. Customers are customers. This is does not change the service/product that we are selling. So why do people think that when they are called Clients they are getting better service or a better product when they are called Customers?

Then I was in Target and I could not believe they are actually calling Customer Service, Guest Services! What the…? Can you believe it? I don’t recall getting an invitation from Target to come and just help myself to all the stuff in the store and a cup of , coffee…although there are Starbucks’ in the stores these days. Again…by definition, Guest (noun) one who is a recipient of hospitality at the home or table of another; one to whom entertainment or hospitality has been extended by another in the role of host or hostess, as at a party; one who pays for meals or accommodations at a restaurant, hotel, or other establishment.

Now that we are calling Customers Guests. I have one question, do you feel welcome? Does this make you want to shop there more? Seriously, what are they thinking?

Let it be known I believe that we have Customers. And sometimes when things are really good, our Customers become friends as with many of our employees. And sometimes those Friends become Guests in our home as sometimes I have become a Guest in theirs. And NEVER have I charged nor have I ever charged any my Friends to be in my company or theirs. Lets keep it that way.

April 11 - Websites…Sharing

After posting information about Dreamweaver on my blog a month ago a customer brought to my attention a program called 1st Page that is user friendly and cuts through the goop in a lot of programs. I have not used this program myself, but from what I can tell this customer is MUCH more knowledgeable than I am so I am going take her advice.

There seems to be a free download at http://www.wdvl.com/Reviews/HTML/1stPage2000.html
The professional version is $60, but it would seem that the freebie will work. Here are some bullet points.

What's it called again? Evrsoft's 1st Page 2000 (Version 2.0)

Where can you get it? http://www.evrsoft.com/download/

How big is it? 5.2 MB

What does it cost? Zero, zilch, nada.

What are some of the features? 400+ javascripts, 15 dhtml scripts, 17 perl scripts, 6 html scripts, 2 cgi scripts.

Is it worth your time? For the price, with all the features, yes.

April 1 - Back in the Saddle...again

Took 5 days off to visit family in CA. It was my father's 80th, my mother's 75th, and my sister-in-laws 50th.Yup, all that in one weekend. Always great to see family, always best to keep it short and even better to visit with the Sun!

Despite the short duration, it is always good to get away. To give myself the bit of a mental break from the daily grind. Is it actually true that I did no work at all? Well, sort of. I did finish a couple of instruction sheets for upcoming classes and was able to develop a few new designs. So where was the break? Well, for those few days I am resolved to the fact that there was nothing I could not fix things at the stores. So if something came up, it simply came up and had to wait. ahhhh. Seriously, it took 11 hours to get from Cleveland to Orange County (lots of weather delays) what do expect me to do with myself? Twiddle my oposable thumbs? Really. The sad result of such time off is the fact that I only created more work for myself when I got back. Now I have to figure out when I would actually have time to make the jewelry I designed. It is a wicked cycle.

Everytime I go away I make some weird promise to myself to change things in my life when I got back. To be less lazy about something or to put something into action. Since it is almost Spring I have decided that excercise will be a priority again and getting more organized the other. Seriously. Hard to believe but true. I have also decided to put it into writing, figuring that if you actually shared your thoughts with someone you would be stuck. You have to carry it out. So there!

By this summer, I will be fit again. I will not embarass myself when we go repelling. I will be able to pull my own weight up a rope if needed.

March 25 - Day Off - Field Trip

Yes, it is true I said Day Off. Hard to believe but it is true, I took the day off today...mostly. With a couple of friends and Andy we headed downtown to my favorite Vietnamese restaurant, Superior Pho, then we went to some part of Cleveland (supposedly downtown, more like Lakewood...still unsure) to go to a Pawn shop. Really. A customer told me there was a pawn shop that had buckets of gemstone that they were selling for nothing because they were only interested in the precious metal. This I thought was worthy of a field trip thus a good excuse to also get a bowl of Pho. After our bellies were full we headed to the pawn shop. Well. Let me just the stones were so not worth the tripl. However, the shop turned out to be a great place to sell your back your silver scrap. At a $13.30/oz market, they were buying back at $10.20! Wow. We checked another shop and they were only giving $8.30 on that same day. Can you believe it? That is a huge difference. OH, the place is call the Coin Shop at 17012 Lorain, Clevland.

From there, we headed back to the east, next stop, HGR Industrial Surplus. 300,000 sq. ft. of big stuff. We have found alot of weird stuff and yes, actually bought some of it. Today, were vibratory tumblers, the size of a small end table! oh my heart be still. They were about $150 ea. My only problem aside from the size was how much shot it would take to fill the thing...ChaChing! Onward...

To Middlefeild...I heard there were places out there where we could find second hand tools and an ANVIL! there are plenty of blacksmiths out there right? and blacksmiths use anvils...right? Looks like basic assumptions did not work out. We started at a sawmill/lumber yard that we know and asked for the first clue. From there I think we ended up at 4 more places. All of whom sort shrugged the shoulders and said, "you know anvils are really hard to find...but there is going to be a big sale next month."... uh, of anvils? NOT! of stuff and there sure oughtta be an Anvil. Ha, ha. Anyone for an auction next month? Marty's Auction. Just in case you want to join.

That was a great mostly day off. So back to work I go.

March 24 - completely distracted...

Tonight it took me 2.5hrs to ride from North Olmsted back to Chagrin. Ugh. I-480E was actually cut off after I-77. I have no idea where it opened up again. All I know is I ended up in Independence on Rockside for oh, about 30 minutes on that 2mile stretch. Ugh again. In that time, I was again thankful that I had charged my bluetooth enough to last the entire trip!

Last night I went to the Cleveland Film Festival for the first time. I was invited by a friend to watch "Under Our Skin", a documentary about Lyme Disease. I can not say that it sounded like fun (afterall the show was at 9:30pm!), but I knew that I was about to be educated, which is always a good thing. Lemme just say Wow. That is some seriously scarey stuff. OMG! I am completely overwhelmed by what I saw. Shocking. So much that I have not stopped thinking about it since. All I want to do is start researching this.gaahhhhd I don't have time for this! I am suppose to go on vacation this week and I have a bunch of projects to finish before I leave. So instead I am getting this off my chest until I get home next week.

I guess I was glad to have a long ride home as it gave me plenty of time to talk to my friend about what we saw last night. We have decided to do a screening sometime in May. This is such an important subject matter. If you don't know anything about this disease go to www.underourskin.com

So I am completely lost as to what I am suppose to be doing right now. I hate that. When you have so much to do that you can not put your finger on one thing. Then suddenly you are even more confused because something is pulling on your heart strings? Ugh! So how does one deal with that? This girlfriend starts playing computer games in hopes of clearing out her head.

March 20 - Some people are just nice...others..stooopid

Did I get your attention? In the past few days heading into our anniversary I have been abudantly reminded that some people are just nice. I speak often of our customers and how great they are. Really. We have really great customers. What makes them nice? They appreciate and respect our business and our intentions. Is there any better acknowledgement?

This week a customer had an appointment with me to discuss wholesale pricing and special orders. On her way out she said, "Is that it?"..well, yes. Was there more?..." Don't I owe you money?"...not yet. "Didn't I buy anything?"...not today. "Wow, that is unusual..."

I think this is great. That a customer actually think there is something wrong when she doesn't have anything to pay for. For me this says people are nice. What I would love more is that people become so comfortable with us and just drop in to say Hi! every now and then. We do get those from time to time, but I wish it happens more. I like the idea that we are as attached to our community as they are with us. You know you should not feel obligated to buy something but obligated to say is simply wonderful.

Over the holiday season I am continually asstonished that so many customers think of us. So much that they bring by cookies, snacks, wine...Did someone tell them that we really could be bribed with food? hee. hee. The reality is it warms our spirit when people think of us!

As for the stooopid people...I just thought I would get your attention. Besides I already mentioned them previously.

March 18 - Never short on words

Tonight I was invited by a student to do a presentation at Ursuline College. Throughout the semester the students are each asked to bring in members of the business community to talk about their business. With just that bit of info I headed into the class. Funny, I told a couple of people about this and they all asked me the same thing, "What are you going to talk about?"...I dunno. "How long is it going to be?"...uh, about 2 hours? again..."What are you going to talk about?" Now really, do you actually think I am going to run out things to say?...I guess you don't know me really well.

Overall the talk went really well. I did not struggle to fill in the time. There is always something to share. Basically I told them about how I got here and where I was headed. As usual I came with all of ego and confidence that makes me, me. At the end the girls were given the opportunity to ask questions or comment. From that I learned a few things and re-established a few things for myself.

One of the girls said that it was so nice to hear from a female who is confident and not ashamed to own it. It was reassuring for her to know that she did not have to succumb to societal expectations for women. Did she really say this? (not quite in those words but you know what I mean.) I can not believe that someone so young said this. I can not believe that someone so young feels these pressures. I thought we were well beyond that, at least for the younger generation. I wonder when it will be over. WOMEN WAKE UP! Teach your daughters to rise above it and NEVER give in to such notions!

I could not even begin to sensor my comments after that. My answers, Why? why would you allow such notions to rule your life? What is wrong with being a self-sufficient, confident women...Why not? I thought it was interesting, I did not say these things for effect, but there was a collective, "yea, why not?" I glad they agreed.

Funny was the comment from the instructor. She said that although they have had many presentations, there was not anyone with quite the energy combined with the number of things that I do. Fuhhhnnny.

Another question was, "if you had 5 minutes to make an impression with someone (potential employer), what is the worst thing you can do, and what is the best thing you can do." Wow, that completely caught me off gaurd. uh, I dunno. Then it occurred to me. The worst thing, be someone you are not. As an employer, they can see through that bull like glass. The best thing, be the person you are. If the person hiring you likes that person, it is a good match. It like dating, sooner or later they will find out you are farter and they may not like your farts and the relationship will end anyway. Why waste your time or theirs.

In the end I learned that I am still the exception to the rule. That makes me sad. I learned that I really need to do more of these talks...someone has to. I was also reminded of how far I have come. It is nice to have opportunities to revisit my life and share it with people.

I hope your journey has been and will be as enriching as mine. Happy Day.

March 16 - In the News

Last week in the PD Kim Crowe wrote and article about her recent trip to NYC for Fashion Week. While she was there she decided to begin her beading adventure by visiting some NYC bead stores and acquiring some beads and tools. After getting home she discovered that the task at hand was not as easy as she had assumed. And because she did not complete her task she spent more money than she should have. This is the pretty much the story in a nutshell.

After much thought I have decided that I should comment on it...at least a little. First of all Yippie! Yes, I said Yippie. The first part of the article is complete affirmation for all of us designers out here. As much as I believe anyone can bead, I do not believe that everyone can design. There are really good reasons that the like of Paloma Picasso, Tiffany, Bulgari, etc...get the kind of $$$ they do for their designs. They are original, cutting edge and classic. And sometimes they are all of the above. Their designs are well defined and balanced. I can only aspire to be there one day with my designs.

For first part of the article, artists out there who are trying so hard to eek out a little piece of the pie should be rejoicing. The general public have just been told "not just anyone" can do it. You know I have so often listened to artists who have shared stories of customers who look at their stuff and say, "I can do that!". The reality is they usually can't. Because if they could they would. AND, if they did, often they just copied what they saw. Bottom line, if you have the confidence to not only create art, but to sell it, you should stand behind your work knowing that it was inspired...not copied. If it was copied, don't mis-represent it.

In my design classes I tell people all the time to copy what you like, this will help you get used to design. From there you should tweak it until it becomes your own. BUT you should not sell the things you copied, this not only unfair and unethical, but little...not legal. When you are making it for yourself or to give to someone that is one thing, but to sell as your own design....well....

For the second part of the story, beading is not so easy. I am very sad. Yes, that is with a :(. Beading is EASY by most accounts. And it if did not just come to you, you can easily conquer it in a few hours at the local bead store. Right? I hope that people do not walk away from the article swayed away from beading. In tough economic times people are turning to crafting and doing it themselves to fill the gap. Bead/Craft stores are a great place to turn to as we can satisfy just about every budget to meet people's needs.

Lastly, I am sad that Cleveland was not given the opportunity for the fun that was had in NYC. Yes, FUN. I think that it is great that we have mecca's like NY and LA to look to for style trends, but as a business owner I have worked hard to provide those styles here in Cleveland. I have chosen not to move to NYC or LA (where I actually have family) because this little guy can not compete. So instead I have decided to make my stake here in Cleveland. I am not alone. I am sure you see other small businesses who bring the best from other places to Cleveland. If we are so podunk, we would not have businesses like Laura Lee Salon, Sweat Threads, the Westside Market, and so on. Do you really think the likes of Trader Joes or Wholefoods would come here if we could not support it? Did you know that Cleveland has the second largest number of Fortune 500 headquarters? (at least it was a few years ago, I am sure we have not lost that much status.)

Having been to most of those places in NYC (if for nothing other than research before opening the stores), I can say without a shred of insecurity, the stores in NYC may have a lot to offer, but they surely are not as friendly as we are in Cleveland. I once heard a talk by Susan Goldberg, the editor of the PD who at the time had just moved from San Jose, CA say how "nice people are here in Cleveland."

My point is simple, we like to hear about what's out there because not all of us can get there to see it for ourselves. But it is even better to know where we can find it here. Because shopping online or living vicariously is not fun for the most part.

March 8 - Time Help

Do you hate time change as much as I do? Why do I feel like I lost something today?...besides my head. I sure hope tomorrow is a better day.

Who knew when I started this job that scheduling would be one of the toughest challenges. Tonight I am working on scheduling for the Jewelry Exploration. I am excited that there is so much interest already. So I am working vigorously to get this schedule toghether. 10 instructors, 30 classes, 2 stores. What is the best way to keep this straight? Making sure instructors do not overlap on their own schedule. There is enough space and the classes don't overlap for the space. The tools needed are not being used by more than one class at a time. Oh, and staffing sales people who also teach.

Okay, so I tried plotting everything out on a spreadsheet, that was not fun. I put everything in Outlook, that was a mess. Tried to flow chart it on Power Point, that was a different mess. Now I am thinking about doing it all on paper...but somehow I am not sure I really remember how. Did I seriously just say that?

So this is a cry for help. If you can think of an appropriate program that might help I would love to hear from you!

Oh, the customer who is the computer techie I talked to the other day (not you Kathina) with the glasses and long hair, I did not get your email. I am sorry for posting this but I simply can not remember your name. Please forgive me. I really do want to know the software you were suggesting for building a website. Thanks.

March 4 - Patience and a lesson

Last night I got a lesson in patience. Andy needed a little help with MS Front Page and Photoshop as he is working to update his website. After some arguing about patience or lack thereof, I got up and walked away. Ugh. Needless to say I did finally come back to help...with some...asking. Since I had to do this for Andy I thought it would be good to share some hints about Front Page and Photoshop.

Front Page, this program comes with the MSOffice suite. But I don't use it, I use DreamWeaver for many reasons. I am a little more on the technical side so when I need to do a little coding I can do it easily. Front Page has a tendency to assume that the user is sort of stupid and will do things for you. This is not really a good thing because it is not necessarily what you want. Therefor you must figure out where they buried it and take it out. But then it doesn't always let you delete those things out. This is a hint on why things are not working out for you if you are struggling. And unfortunately most people do not read code well enough to make necessary changes. On that note, be sure you have a good understanding of what you are doing before you do it, this will save a lot of grief.

If you are working with Photoshop and are creating images that need to be consistantly the same size the easiest way to do it is to create an Action. Actions recordings of steps/changes you make to an image. Once recorded you can use the Action again with another image and it will repeat all the same steps. To create a recording of a size for cropping, open the Action window, click New action, name it, click Record, then select the Marquee tool (on the floating tool bar) and create a Marquee around your image to the size you want. Click stop on the Action window. Open another image, select the Action you just created, click Play. This recreate the Marquee you previously created, then crop. Voila! you can repeat on all your images and have a consistent size.

You can create Actions for anything you want to duplicate. This is nice because you don't have to remember any of your image settings like sizing, dpi settings; coloring. When creating an Action you can stop and start the recording and you can record as many steps as you want.

I hope this little lesson helps. If there is something you would like more help on drop me a note. :)

Feb. 28th - Creating

After teaching all day and facing a long week of classes; all day bezel class tomorrow, and TWO soldering class on Tues. I decided to relax the brain little before I burn out. So, I took time out tonigh to try a couple new techniques, to the detriment of the office work that is still waiting for me...yippie. Since we are making some considerations for the next Jewelry Exploration so I thought it would be good to find some new projects.

The first was cutting a channel in stones. My new bits arrived this week so I thought I would jump in and see how many stones I could destroy. To may amazement none! I did choose tourmaline since is on the softer size. (I know, nothing like choosing an expensive stone, but it was the right shape!) This project reaffirmed what happens when you have the right tools. There is much less effort to accomplish the task at hand. Not that I did not already know this, but I have made a bad habit of being...frugal. Can not wait to try again with a better stone.

The second was wire crochet. While I as Tucson I had moment to watch a demo. I was so intrigued by it I thought I would it give it a try. After all it has only been 15years since I've crocheted, should be easy right? Well, I did have to solicite some help from Francine, it would appear that I have forgotten how the wire. But as I had assumed, it was like riding a bike. OMG, I am soooo thrilled with the results. Wooohoo. Unfortunately, I did not anticipate properly...I ran out of wire. Hopefully I will be able to find a few minutes next week to finish...after I finally finish Tucson.

Feb. 26 - Tucson...

Still Tucson....OMG I wonder when this will ever be done. I have officially logged over 475 line items and still counting. It has been 2 weeks since I got back from Tucson and we have been working every day since. UGH!! I keep thinking that it is almost done, but everytime I turn around there is another ziploc waiting to be opened...calling out to me...Open me!

Today I worked on gem cuts and cabachons. By far this was the toughest to do; counting and weighing. In past years it has always been pearls which took the longest. With gem cuts being our newest product line it now reigns as the toughest inventory to record. geees. One invoice took over 6 hours today and there were only about 30 items!

I am relieved that the silver is done. The more I look at it the more pleased I am with the buy this year. By far it was the most pleasing buy I made.

All that is left are some czech strands, some chain, all the stuff I am hording for myself and few pieces that somehow unidentifiable stones. I figured there will be about 2 more nights working until midnight, then I get to clean the office, finish some paperwork for taxes and finally start making plans for this year. Hopefully all will be accomplished by the time I go on vacation in 4 weeks.

Feb. 22 - Empowered

Tonight while out with some friends I received a phone call from my husband (Andy) to please come home now. Huh? The washer had overflowed and needed attention. You know everytime something goes wrong mechanically at the house I am notified. I remember one of the last dinner parties we had (4 years ago) one of our guests came to me incredibly perplexed and said, "Andy told me I should let you know that the toilet is on the blink?"...ok, I take care of it. HE could not believe what was happening so he followed me to the bathroom to watch. ha.

You know as much as I hate it when things fail at the house, I love it! I feel completely empowered that I (a woman) was the one to do what is traditionally a man's job. It is even funnier that both incidences were quite minor and were very simple fixes. Really, had he just looked around he probably would have figured it out. It is however nice to be relied upon. Additionally, knowing that I am capable of fixing just about anything that goes wrong in the house is an incredible feeling.

I thought about Andy's sisters and wondered how they would have handled it...not. Which is so sad. I wish that women would take it upon themselves to be more in control. Why wait for someone else to do it? Aren't we out of the 50's? You know we are smarter than men, isn't it a fact? Lets use those brain cells and push ourselves ahead. Bring it on.

Feb. 16, 09 - I Win!

One of the most challenging things to buy in Tucson is Silver. There alot of vendors selling the same thing. The ones who are selling anything different are too expensive to by for wholesale. Additionally, the question of whether or not it is really sterling plays at every booth. So who do you really buy from? Not that this is not the question everyone as when they are at the local area shows. Apparently there were so many complaints by buyers that one show promoter asked every vendor to declare the silver quality. They were all given a cute little sign that said something like, "This Vendor Sells _______ Silver". Okay, lets get real.

I did not even noticed these 8.5x11" signs until one of the vendors pointed it out. He told me about the show promoter and how not everyone was really selling "silver" and that now they are all legit because they had these signs. The next vendor was very proud of his sign and made sure I knew about as soon as I was in the booth. (Funny how these 2 thought it was important to let me know, as I was a very long time customer. And trust me I spend an obscene about of money with them.)

I went home that night and thought about it and then there was the AHA! But wait this doesn't seem right to me. The next day I went to one of those vendors and a very frank conversation that started with, "Let me get this straight..." blah, blah, blah and ended with "Who is to prove you did not lie about the fact that it is Sterling?" To which he replied, "that is true." Are you following this? What a crock of pooo.

I was also told by the vendor who seemed very trustworthy (and remember I am a long time customer) that the reality is, there are only 3 manufacturers of silver beads in India. So basically everyone was buying from one of the 3. AND, according to the manufacturer, he was the only one asking for his beads in 92.5% while all the other vendors are buying at 80%...huh? wah? Really? "That is why everyone's prices are less than mine, " he said. Wow. I am definitely impressed.

But only for the moment. Shortly thereafter I confirmed the "story" with another party who had no vested interest. I asked long time vendor, who deals in stone, who I consider a friend. He had some beads manufactured for me as a favor several years ago, lives in Jaipur and is an established international business. According to him there are quite a few manufacturers of silver beads in Jaipur and the fact is, unless you start testing this stuff, there is no way to know who is telling the truth. And the reality is these people are working on a very narrow margin; a margin that most US wholesalers will not work within.

The question remains, who do you trust? What do you look for? For the first time I made the decision that cheapest is not the best way to go. I looked for quality and if the quality was good enough I was willing to pay the higher price. Maybe by next year I will be organized enough have a silver testing kit with me to Tucson. Then I will really know.

Now that the buy is complete and I have processed abou 80% of the silver I am absolutely sure I made the right choices. Bead Q! has some of the best silver beads I have seen to date and at the best prices. The gem show was in town this past weekend and customers have already confirmed that our silver is less, by almost 17%...I WIN! I am so happy I can not even begin to tell you. Happy day. :) CAWABUNGA!

Feb. 13, 09 Tucson part 2

Every year as Tucson approaches I hear the comment, "It must be sooo fun to go to Tucson!." The reality, Tucson is as much fun as someone could possibly have looking at beads 8 hours a day, having to decide which is the best buy, the best quality and what is enough? While working through more than 300 vendors in those 8 hours without rushing. Fun? Suuurrre. I really do enjoy the job, really, how bad could it be to have to go shopping for 10 days? But it is still work.

Tucson this year was a challenge even for the someone with experience. No one was taking risks nor were they making investments. The vendor/distributors were only selling off old inventory. While new was few and far in between, old and mudane was rampant. I felt very sorry for everyone who was new to the show. Vendors were reporting all kinds of challenges. There was even a rumor that several vendors were hospitalized for heart conditions brought on by the stress of it all.

Adding to my schedule this year were 2 classes, 1 day as a vendor (helping out my husband at his show), 2 cocktail parties and 2 extra shows I usually don't attend. The 10 days went very quickly and as much as I was glad it was over, I would have felt more comfortable with another 2 days. I think I say that every year. In the end, I had to assure myself that I did my job and I got a lot of great stuff.

Buyer attendance was noticibly down. Not only did I catch vendors sleeping in their chairs, I almost stepped on one sleeping under the table! Yes, a full grown adult. For me this was a good thing. Less people meant less competition for beads, and less people I had to kill which equals less stress. Buyers in Tucson, much to my dismay, are considerably STOOPID! I have been to this show 7 times and it has not changed. I keep thinking that it should get better as more people join the industry but it hasn't. Here is story which will explain what I mean.

The Blue Ribbon of Stoopid, I hope you can appreciate this story. This is me ranting and yes, it is a bit harsh...

So there I was finishing up a buy from a vendor I knew when this so called "buyer" walked up. In her hand was Thai Hill Tribe flower pendant. (If you are reading this blog you know what color that is, SILVER. And you would agree that Silver goes with almost everything.) She handed the pendant to the vendor and asked, "Do you have anything that goes with this?" OMG, did I really hear her ask that? She is suppose to be a buyer, everyone who walks into this show needed a vendors license to get in. Which means you are suppose to be a designer or even a store owner. Ok, maybe you are guest of someone who has the license, don't you think you should ask them? Really!? Did she think that was a bead store?

The Blue Ribbon for Effort

Lets elaborate a little more. She asked the little Hindi man who barely spoke english standing behind the table! How could she possibly think he would know. He sells beads, he does not design jewelry. But I have to give him a lot of credit for trying. He looked at the pendant and suggested labradorite (which was really great). She turned him down. So I thought I would help Him out, (not her) I suggested a very beautiful strand of moonstone. Trust me both were good, the right size, shape and shine; and even if I am wrong, it was WHITE! white goes with everything. Of course the answer was, "No, I don't think that goes..." That was a surprise.

Here's the deal, you are at a wholesale show, we are suppose to be professionals. You are suppose to know your business better than the people you are buying from. And if you don't you should really try to fake it...at least a little. Faking it means you should at the very least look around and pretend to show interest before asking a Bad question. Don't B-line it for the defenseless little man behind the counter. You may also want to say hello and ask them some innocuous question to figure out if they even speak english. Lastly, you are at a wholesale show, you may want to do something that indicates you will buy more than One strand.

In the end, she looked at NOTHING in the booth and said, "I don't think there is anything here, but thank you anyway." then walked away.

Okay, so she was just stupid. What gets me most are the Ignorant, ugly buyers whom I really want to give a little smack upside the head. I just don't understand where these people think they get off. They treat vendors like substandard citizens (they just don't speak english). I actually watched a buyer tell a vendor how grateful she should be that she was getting he money. Yes, she said this out loud. I watched the whole deal and trust me it was a very fair price and the vendor was nice. Oh, the stories go on. But I think you get the idea. BE NICE TO PEOPLE!

Oh, my husband says that I need to mention that he did the laundry all week so that I had fresh clothes!

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Feb. 11, 09 Tucson part 1

The annual business trip to Tucson was as dreaded as it has been for the last 3 years. I look forward to this trip as much as I dread it. As always, there were many last minute errands and projects to be finished. Although I put in a ton of hours, I did not stay at the store until 4am like I did last year. I was so busy I couldn't answer the question, "when exactly are you leaving?" I couldn't even tell you what time were leaving until about the day before. Heck, my husband packed my bags, which will explain why I only had 1 pair of socks for 10 days! that would be the pair I wore on the plane. Good thing I did not need them...much.

We were greeted in Tucson with 75degree weather and sun, oh glorious SUN. When we left CLE it was 5 degrees. The tone of the trip was set from the time landed in Tucson. While waiting for deboard the plane a voice from behind asked, "Excuse me, can I ask you question?" I looked around and discovered she was talking to me? huh? "Sure." She asked, "How long have you 2 been married?" We both answered in synchronicity, "Toooo long!"..."Oh, because you seem like newlyweds..." gag me with spoon! She was even more enamoured when we told her 8 years. Dear Gahhhd! can yo believe we were asked that question again the next day!