New meaning to the term- Found Object…

So the items pictured here were in the display cases at beadniks- sadly enough, they had to be rescued. I am sick at heart to say that the store has closed; another victim of the economy. I could say, what a crappy week, but really, it wasn’t as bad for me as what so many other people go through. I will miss having that fun place to hang out; one of the regulars likened it to Cheers with beads rather than beer!

I am not sure where I will teach, but if God wants, there is another place that would give me opportunities to share my love of creating. For now, I am organizing my workshop and supplies a bit and concocting a portfolio. I have tons of pictures, but have not put a sample of work together to show shop owners or community colleges yet.

It is sad and difficult, but I only have fond memories of that chapter in my life and am so grateful for the opportunities that teaching at beadniks afforded me. The best part is my friendship with Darlene Jones, the manager. She has been the greatest encourager a person could ask for and has really helped me to try new things and “stretch” myself creatively. I know that we will continue to work together and have a few ideas already!

So I was trolling Twitter and Etsy this morning; anything to avoid working… I had to share with you a couple of cool items I discovered.

First, from http://www.etsy.com/shop/OstlundCustomWorks this incredible clock blew my mind! Ron has many incredible pieces, mostly home decor, in all price ranges. I have great taste and love the most expensive pieces!

This next item is close to my heart: Both my parents are retired postal workers. They have started a little collection of post office boxes: Look at this one-  http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheFancyLamb has some wonderful vintage items!

Last but not least! I am featuring an item from one of my students at beadniks- she is now a metalworking genius!  http://www.etsy.com/shop/LadyEM Emily is a very talented lady and has put a wonderful spin on some lovely found objects- love this one!

I hope you check out all of these talented artisans.

Happy 2nd day of spring everyone! 

I let it fly the coop! I just placed this pendant in the display case at beadniks- I miss it already!

I am trying to evolve this blog into more than just me blabbing; I want to feature some other artists and do some tutorials as well. I placed some new section links and will try to work on them soon. Let’s not bite off more than we can chew, lol!

Happy Wednesday!

Did you ever bite off more than you can chew, can’t say no, or just generally do too much? If you answer yes to all three of these questions, you must be Lisa Hamilton!

I am doing tons of classes at beadniks, which I love; however, I am also trying to make my Christmas gifts, do a 25th wedding anniversary cake this weekend, type reports and keep my shop updated! I think I need a Cat-Scan!

Anyhow, I wanted to say hi. I cancelled my Facebook account this week and am trying to keep every one of my 5 followers on my blog updated :) Really, it is a good move, as I am a big procrastinator, had a spamming incident, more like scam, and just don’t need to spend that much time doing all that stuff.

Instead, I made all of these (and more) this week. Pretty cool!

A quick hello as I get ready to run…

We had a family emergency last week and I am playing catch-up- now I am getting back into the swing of things!

I am going to beadniks in just a few minutes to teach Simply Solder- one of my faves! I actually don’t have a favorite, I love all of the classes I teach!

Hoping to get a few more things ready for an open house I will have in December. I had to skip the craft fairs this year, but that is okay; it is hard to pack all the stuff and I would have been spread too thin.

See ya soon!

Having fun with custom work!

It has been enjoyable to do some commisions for a couple of people; the trend of wearing a saying or name(s) of family members is still going strong. I feel so honored that I would get to be part of the process!

At beadniks, I am teaching the regular classes that I have been doing for about a year now as well as the 2 new ones, “Get Connected” and “Bubble Beauties”; cold connections and soldered glass marble pendants, respectively. The classes have died down significantly since school started, but I am noticing a trend of gradually increasing enrollment. It will be the giftmaking season soon, which will get things hopping again! It is not such a bad thing that is slowed down, as it allowed me to get into a routine of working more on my shop and getting used to school starting in my family too!

Let’s see if I can figure out the best way to provide tips and tutorials. I am not sure where to start but have many ideas!

Man oh man, do I have a lot to learn!

So I was all pumped about doing some soldering. Not the kind with a soldering iron, been there, done that, love it! No, real hardcore soldering with a torch and solder and all that fun stuff that can burn me or my house down! Anywho, I thought of an earring design that would incorporate soldered copper and silver rings. I cheated and fused fine silver because I had a bunch of that. Still have boo boo’s every now and then, but I am pretty comfortable with it. Copper, well lets just say there is a big learning curve. I used too much solder. Sand it off you say. Fine, but it shows on the copper as the solder is silver. So, lesson learned! It isn’t the most awful looking thing I have done, but not great, just the same! I can’t wait to try again- tomorrow is going to be a typing fiesta, so we shall see!

Blah blah blah- who cares? I want to focus on other things than my mess ups. On September 17th at http://beadniks.com/highlandsranch/ I will be unveiling two new classes that I will be teaching there! No, you can’t find out what they are now, but you can head to my shop on Etsy and look around; you may find a clue! Its absolutely riveting! www.beadsoul.etsy.com So I am excited and nervous about bead lounge. They do it once per month and have drawings and prizes. But I will be doing all this in front of a bunch of people! Well, I hope a bunch! Come in if you live in the Denver Metro Area and you can win cool stuff and even free class tuition!

Okay, I think I am tired of hearing myself talk; have a wonderful Labor Day!

Oh yeah, I have a blog!

My bad; I haven’t been here lately. It seems that I go in spurts, but that is about how I do everything. I have been teaching steadily at www.beadniks.com and that is great! I was worried a bit in June, but now it is getting pretty regular. I am also working on some project classes to do; more of an art piece. I will let you know when I get it all worked-out!

Here she is…just in case you are not the voting type, I thought I would show you what made the finals: Introducing Sky Blue Dream… FYI! All supplies for this baby came from beadniks Denver, the awesome bead shop where I teach! Stephanie Lanker, the owner, is so committed to keeping the latest and greatest equipment and supplies in her fabulous store and is such a big support!

Darlene Jones is soooo amazing! She is the one who inspired me to enter the contest. She is a fabulous instructor, published jewelry designer and is the manager at beadniks. She not only has been a wonderful encourager, but has helped me to grow as a designer and instructor. Oh, might I add, she is one of my newest, but dearest friends!

Arlene Couchman, another instructor, fantastic designer and friend at beadniks, has also been super to learn/work with! Our late-nite bead fiestas, that’s what I just named them, have been so fun and inspiring. Her beadweaving is superb and never ceases to amaze me! One day I am going to try that too, Ar.

I can’t forget my sweet Ricky; he doesn’t like attention, but is the best hubby in the world! He even listens to me wax poetic about a stone that to him, must just look like a rock!

Lastly, but firstly is the Lord- I know I have said that I wouldn’t preach too much, but how could I not acknowledge the ONE who has blessed me in so many ways!

So, did it seem like I won an academy award or something? I just wanted to thank all of the wonderful people that have helped me grow!

It is so amazing to see all of the talented designs in the running. I had the hardest time figuring who to vote for… http://www.beadstar.com/

I had so much fun at beadniks on Saturday! I did a make and take workshop making handstamped pendants for Mother’s Day. Everyone left with some really cool pieces and I had a blast showing them how to do it. Each participant was eager to learn more metalworking and I have a new class up my sleeves. Hopefully by June we will have all of the equipment in to do a more advanced metalworking class where I will will teach cold connections and other fun stuff.

Busy little bee!

So I have been lax in the blogging department, but I have a good excuse! I have been working on submissions for the contests that I mentioned earlier, and also did demonstrations at the Rocky Mountain Bead Society Bead Show on April 24th. It was a blast showing some fun, new things to some really enthusiastic beaders! Everyone was so nice and it was a neat way to share my love of creating.

My health stuff has been troublesome, but I am so glad that I have lots to keep my occupied. The dystonia is off-the-charts lately; I am not sure if it is because I can’t sleep due to it, or if it is because I am not sleeping! Anyway, I am plugging along just fine most days. My head it pretty much eternally rotated to the right; it probably appears that I am looking for something more interesting when I am talking to people, but what can I do!

Here is a piece that I wore when I was doing demos the other day; it is made with a UV resin technique. I am teaching a new class called Rockin Resins at beadniks. It is amazing to see what you can do!

Revamped and ready!

Here is the final product- the tiny bracelet is now a pendant! I am happy to report that it is ready to roll.

My website has a whole two items listed so far. I have been swamped teaching at beadniks and getting ready for Easter.  I am not stressing about it; life is too short. Don’t worry, you will know about it when the store is ready!

The transcription has been piling up also. I can’t believe the change since the first of the year. I know how it works, people race to be treated before the year ends, and then wait until they absolutely have to come in after the new year begins. Deductibles and such make this happen every year, and yet, it catches me by suprise. I get used to the lighter workload, then pow! It is nice work, but I do like playing more. Gotta pay the bills, and it is nice to be able to work in my jammies!

Happy Easter everyone!

Something new is brewing!

I am working on a new website that will be up soon! Keep checking in here to see the unveiling!

 I made this bracelet with vintage lucite, the rose stones are imperial jasper and the blue-gray ovals are labradorite.

Teaching at beadniks is going well. I have quite a few classes coming up. I am enjoying the classes that I have been developing and really love working with such fun, creative people! We all learn during those 2 hours!

See you soon!

The Shame!

Wow, here I am again, in awe of how infrequently I post! One thing that makes it seem like I “get er done” is that I am Tweeting and Facebooking and that stuff goes here- still, I know that all of my three followers want to know what is going on! (At least she has a sense of humor, they say!)

Been busy with teaching at Beadniks, though not as much as I would like. None of the February classes got put on the internet until last week, so that explains the lull. I was thinking I needed to change deodorant brands or something!

I have also been submitting work to beading publications. I have “published designer” envy- the other instructors at Beadniks are quite well-known and are published quite frequently. It is a nice challenge for me, and I am learning a lot!

Here are some rings that I made while teaching my Ring Rage class- I love all the different ways you can make a ring with just some stones, crystals, whatever, and some wire. Fun! Come join me!

Valentine’s day is fast approaching! In honor of that romantic day, I created this riveted pendant. Hopefully I will get this listed soon! I hope to add a more advanced metals class at beadniks in the future; making this type of pendant would be part of the class.

More and more people are signing up for classes, now that the Christmas season has ended. I am having so much fun sharing techniques with others. The feedback I have gotten so far has been great!

My goal for today is to take more pics of the pieces that I have made. It bugs me how empty my Etsy shop is- I have many things to add to it and hope to get some listed today or tomorrow.

I am also going to submit some pieces to beading magazines. Darlene, the manager of beadniks has really encouraged me to just jump in! She has been published many times and is a real inspiration to me! I am a bit overwhelmed by the idea of submitting pictures, directions and supply lists, but stretching my comfort zone will be good for my growth as a designer.