Why I have a Bead Blog

Well, I'm a bead seller. :) I sell Swarovski Crystal Elements (beads, rhinestones, buttons, pendants, etc) and prisms. I also have the beading addiction, so I make things.

I was recently laid off from corporate america and surprisingly, I'm thankful for it. I've been bleeding money over the past two weeks, buying stock for my two online stores: www.argentsol.org and www.argentsol.net

I've also been cramming to fill custom earring orders as well as suncatchers that I sell at the local gift shop.

Currently, I'm sitting at a desk with a laptop in front of me. To my left are three bead containers full of Swarovski crystals ranging in color from Lt. peach to Emerald AB. There is a brass gauge that I use for measuring beads and stones, and a cup full of vintage Swarovski crystal beads that still needs to be sorted.

On top of my desk there are 5 strands of lovely rose-pink freshwater pearls - perfect in every way. I almost don't want to sell them. Like most bead addicts, part of the addiction is the ability to fondle the beads whenever we want. Don't ask. Bead addicts will understand.

To my left are some Hill Tribe fine silver beads, another container full of Swarovski beads, beading wire, three jeweler's files, seven pair of jeweler's pliers. Oh - buy good ones. Mine are Grobet, and they cost a bundle of money but they are much MUCH better than the ones you buy at hobby and craft stores.

Directly across from me is a chair. No one can sit in it and I have two cats complaining about that. It's filled with bead containers. On the floor is a container full of lampwork beads. Oops - there's the pair of green millifiori beads I was looking for last night. They're hiding under my note pad.

A little farther to my left, in front of my bookcase and radiator is a lovely oak table with gorgeous curved iron legs and matching chairs. I think it's a dining room table, but it's currently covered in beads, wire, head pins, eye pins, tool caddy, poly bags, and more bins of beads.

On the floor between the table and the chair that my cats want to sit in are 9 bead totes, each containing a dozen sectioned bead holders. They're full.

The antique edwardian bench in front of my fireplace is littered with wire, more beads, planishing hammer, my jeweler's saw and a roll of blades, as well as a lovely indian-red tapestry pillow - and you guessed it. I added beaded fringe to it. snort!

On the floor next to the lovely edwardian bench is a shipping box full of - OMG - how did you know? BEADS! Mostly Swarovski, but some Czech glass and lots of brand new lampwork.

I've pulled my reading chair in front of my sofa so I can sit and watch movies as I fill orders, count beads, 24 to a pack, into poly bags, or, when time permits, get to work on creating finished product to sell at the gift shop.

I'm awaiting an order from Finding King that contains my new torch, a new set of hammers, a jumpring maker because it's just a pain in the butt to coil the wire, go to my bench, sit down, align the coil in my pin, and hold it steady while I saw through the coil. Inevitably the coil slips and I wind up with my floor littered with jump rings and not one of them is the same size as the other. Hence the jump ring maker.

Behind me is a sewing table. Do I sew at it? HAHAHAHAHAH! No. The top has stacking drawer bins for inventory. The drawers of the table are full of tools and beading materials. Underneath it live my 4,000 poly bags, 300 small gold gift boxes, and two cardboard boxes full of beading miscellany that I have yet to sort.

So, now do you know why I have a bead blog? I'm unemployed, I'm an artist, I'm a trained silver smith and it makes no sense for me to go back into corporate america where I'm a seat warmer. I'm going to make my living through my passion: jewelry and the supplies to make it.

So if you're a bead or Swarovski addict, as I am, click on my links, (any link will do because I'll be optimized for adsense here in 48 hours, or so they say, but I'd love for you to look at my shops - I have one on Etsy and one on Artfire. I intend to open my own website soon, as well. Baby steps.

Okay, the kitties are circling me with ravenous intent. I believe this means they are hungry. I'm off to feed the ravening hordes.