Recycled Sari Silk 18-10" Adjustable necklace- Video Tutorial!

Hello friends!

So I finally just decided to do this video tutorial. A long while back I did a step by step photo tutorial on this. Yes, it's easy and simple, but it is also: super pretty, recycled, and handy to have on hand. I had originally thought to offer it as a very inexpensive tutorial, but later just decided to botch that idea and do a free video instead. This simple necklace is perfect for: creating a quick gift, having a ready made piece to offer at shows, or for a great everyday simple piece. So before I show off the tutorial how about a little background on how it came to be and where the infatuation started.

THE STORY.....

So many years back in my early lampwork career I used to use things like rat tail. It worked, but the cording was so thin.

Then there were the inexpensive Chinese ribbon cords. Sure they came in a variety of colors, but there were still nothing compared to fairy silk, which was my true love in cording. Necklace from 2009ish? See where the "Bright Earth" Wing Ding palette originated? ;)

Fairy silk was so gorgeous and it's like it was made just to match with every color of glass. Vortex Flower necklaces from 2010.

The down side was that fairy silk was so expensive. It was over $8 a cord and with no wholesale license at the time there was no bulk order I could make. As much as I loved the cord it just wasn't cost effective for me.

Then I fell in LOVE with sari silk. It was not only GORGEOUS, but it was inexpensive, recycled(I love all recycled and re-used things), and available in batches with gorgeous color variations. I couldn't think of anything better!

When I first moved to my apartment I decided that I needed to leave my studio at mom's house. So I took that busy time with no lampworking to find other things to create. That is when I came up with the Recycled Sari Silk adjustable necklaces. I loved making them so much I sat down and mad a gagillion!

THE TUTORIAL

So my gift to you is this super fun, super easy, and super addictive, Recycled Sari Silk 18-20" adjustable necklace.

See how great this looks for this simple necklace?

Want to just show off that incredible focal on a simple cording? Viola! Necklace available here.

So get to work and make some of those recycled sari silk necklace cords!

See you soon!

xo Genea

All Roads Lead Here... Bead Fest Philly August 2013-Part 1

Hello friends!

I am still processing everything from the show. I can't believe this huge life event has finally come and gone. What a bittersweet experience. From the beginning of my glass career (about 10 and a half years in the making) I had dreamed of becoming "famous" in my glass. I would tell people when I first started that "I was going to be famous". They would chuckle and I would say "No, I'm serious. I'm going to be famous." Usually they would either say nothing or be shocked and go "Oh. Ok." Like "Wow she really was serious." So, for me, going to Bead Fest Philly was "making it," finally "being famous". It was such a deeply spiritual event for me in so many ways.

 This being the main thing, but very closely behind it,  doing this show with someone I consider to be one of my very best friends. Someone who has always considered me to be an equal. Someone that admired my talents just as much as I admired hers. Someone that created with me in, now two collaborations. This wonderful friend and artists I am writing to you about is Staci Smith. You all know her as, Staci Louise, S L Artisan Accents, or Staci Louise Originals. 

Here is a beautiful photo of Staci and me that Linda Landig took :)

So let's start at the beginning...

A special thanks to Lori Anderson for unknowingly bringing Staci and I together through her Bead Soup Blog Party.

So my darling husband, Ricky and I had just arrived at Staci's house early on Thursday morning after driving a straight 20 hours with barely 2 hours rest. We arrived tired, and haggard, but excited.

We came inside and sat down on the couch where Staci's kids excitedly greeted us.

Staci was so sweet she offered us coffee and breakfast!

We had a few more things to do in the morning before going to the show in the early afternoon to set up.

After we ate breakfast Staci and I went into her studio. I was so excited to be here I had to mark this event with a photo of my feet on her beautifully painted studio floor. Yes, I was ACTUALLY in Staci's studio!! 

I brought the finishing touches to our special Collaboration kits for Bead fest. 

We needed to add wire, chain, and instructions.

Here are the finished necklace kits.

Awhile later we were off to the show to set up.

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Look at our signs!! :D:D:D

Here you can see the beginning of our booth set up. 

You can see the display building here. Man was it HOT. The a/c was not on yet and it was balls humid!

Staci and me in our booth the first day of the show.

Here is our moment, our "Making It" our "Being Famous". I couldn't think of a better person/people to share it with!

Where would I be without one of the other very special people in my life, my darling husband and partner in crime, Ricky. 

Ricky ROCKED the booth! He was my resident math guy, money taker, and holder of the fort while Staci and I wandered about the show to visit or shop :)

Here is Staci in front of her table. Doesn't she look amazing with all of her little works of art?!

We ROCKED the corner with our good friends Karen Totten of Starry Road Studio and...

Her amazingly talented daughter and Wrangler of Wooly Wire, Nellie!

After the first show day we were STARVING! Thanks to Melinda Orr of Creative Bead Chat, Artisan Whimsy, and Bandana Girl Beads for setting up a wonderful dinner at Legal Seafood.

The group gathered around the table and chatted while we waited for menus.

It was great to unwind from the first day with a big glass of fresh sangria!

I ordered the gluten free Seafood bake that was topped with gf breadcrumbs and a side of fries. Yum!

Our dessert was a gluten free chocolate lava cake with ice cream and a coconut macaroon! OMG was it amazing!

After being fed, watered , and desserted the groups formed for some photos! From Left to Right: Diana P(Ha ha you try to spell her name correctly without looking!), Me, Diane Hawkey, Staci, and Linda Landig. 

I love this group hot of : Ricky, Karen, Staci and me!

I have so many more photos and memories to share, but I will leave you with this awesome photo of Staci and me until my next blog where I show you my Bead Fest Bead Swap loot! 

Staci and me the last day of the show. You can see the happiness in our faces. We had such an incredible weekend!

More Bead Fest stories and photos to come soon!

xo Genea

The Magic of MOO- Amazing Business Cards, Packaging and Customer Service

Hello friends!

Well if you didn't get their "heads up" e-mail, Moo was running a 30% off sale on their merch so guess who had to go pick up some new cards <<<<< :D:D:D

So if you have never been snagged by the EPICNESS that is Moo let me give you a little example of my past and current business cards.

On the left you will see my old cards I got printed at Vista Print. Not bad, and definitely a nice inexpensive card to get the job done. On the right you will the the AWESOMENESS of Moo. Um, yeah. Pretty sure the cards are F*ing AMAZING! Ooooo *FAN-CY* On the top is one side of the card and on the bottom is the image. You can upload 50 DIFFERENT IMAGES! How cool! Their little uploader is super easy to use and it's awesome to see your work come to life in each little card outline! Oh did I mention their shipping was fast too? Between printing and shipping you will get your cards in about 6 days.

Ok so I kinda tore through the first packaging cause I was so excited, but I clicked the rest of these photos with my cell phone as I opened everything :D

Here is the cute box my Business card holder came in. I love Moo cause they are silly too. Here is the caption on one side of the box. I was reading it out loud and chuckled when I came to "... chewing or a light snack." Lol. I love silly cleverness :D

Here is the other tab on the box. Awww you are my number 1 fan Moo? Shucks *blush* :D

Here is my regular business card holder. I thought it was just a plastic flip case where your cards just slip out of the top, but....

It does this! OOooo FANCY! It holds 15 cards too! See what I mean? Clever. Whoever did their marketing and packaging must surely be rich!

Now here was the next part! I ordered 200 cards. This was my first "big order". I had only ordered 50 cards before, then 100. So this is the HUGE fancy box you get when you order 200! Woo hoo! Double bonus!

This was my mini card holder. Ok, I admit... I couldn't resist! Girls love tiny cute things and besides it was only like $4 bucks with the discount! 

Here was the inside. It slides open to reveal the cards and it's even slanted so you can get your cards out easily :D

Here are the cards that came inside! See, clever! I tell ya they think of everything! Oh and these are discount cards btw! Sorry this is sideways. You will just have to turn your head sideways to read it ;P

This is the inside of the huge business card box under the little cardboard business card separator  thingy. Cute huh?

My NEW pretty cards in their fancy pants new holder! 

My mini cards in their fancy teeny holder :D

If that didn't make you want to RUN to their website and order I don't know what will. You won't be disappointed! Amazing business cards make you look professional and put value on your work. Well imho ;) 

Enjoy!

xo Genea