Hello friends and fans....
I've decided to cut the cord for good and leave Facebook, both as me and as Ovenfried Beads. It's time to simplify. I've grown weary of Facebook and the time it has stolen due to my inability to moderate my own time on it. For me it has turned into one giant vat of advertisements and an overload of information that frankly isn't doing much to inspire me to get busy. I will disconnect some time on Saturday. (March 23)
So if you've recently "liked" my Ovenfried Beads page on there, I apologize for the short virtual relationship that we have had. (This past week there have been a LOT of new likes...I wonder where that came from!). Fret not...this blog is going to stick around.
In any case, this will be the only place that I announce new classes, shows, sales in my Etsy store and other occasional random riff-raff. Please follow this blog or visit it to get updates.
My other blog, A Very Pedestrian Snail, features my photography that has absolutely nothing to do with Ovenfried Beads or my craft adventures. Mostly nature stuff....nature is my main inspiration for all things creative. If you like moss, lichens and fungi, you should bookmark that, too.
I hope to update this blog about once a week if not more. I'm branching out into fiber art again. This is a good one-stop shop for me to post pictures of what I'm doing. Now that I'll have the time to really create, I'll have more time to truly SHARE with you what is going on.
I always welcome comments and questions, too, so feel free to chime in!
Have a great day!]
(March 24 update: Getting rid of FB was like taking a whole warehouse full of garbage and burning it. It was the best computer-related decision I have ever made. Highly recommended.)
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Monday, January 28, 2013
New 2013 Work and New Blog
Hello friends and fans!
2013 started with a terrible creative slump. The cold dark days and holiday recovery just really got the best of me. I toyed with the idea of just scrapping Ovenfried Beads altogether. Honestly, I didn't think that I'd ever really be moved by polymer clay again.
Then I installed some lights in my new basement studio. This Thomas doubts no more that there has to be an endless spring of creativity that just ebbs and flows. Sometimes it's a torrential rush that turns into compulsive creation....and sometimes it trickles so slow that it seems like adding something to mashed potatoes is a genius idea.
I've been digging out beads that were packed up for moving. A trip to the craft store resulted in some new findings that I've been needing for a while. Classical music on public radio, even during the winter fundraising, set the mood.
SO, as I posted on my Facebook page this morning, my big liquidation sale ends Wednesday. I have new work to post, so if you happen to read this before January 30, get your behind over to my Etsy store and save a boatload on everything you like there. Don't forget to enter the promo code! If you forget, you will pay full price. I just really don't have time to cancel transactions, relist and have someone re-buy them so that they can get the sale price.
Wednesday night I will be putting it all back to regular price so I can freshen it up with new work. These photos are items that will be available for sale. (After they're posted I plan on linking them to the actual ad. If I remember.)
OH, and by the way....just one more thing to tell you. I have a new blog that has absolutely NOTHING to do with Ovenfried Beads or my handcrafted art. Photography is another one of my hobbies, so if you like neat pictures of nature and urban stuff (lots of closeups), just hop on over to my new photo blog: A Very Pedestrian Snail. It's pretty much just all photos.
2013 started with a terrible creative slump. The cold dark days and holiday recovery just really got the best of me. I toyed with the idea of just scrapping Ovenfried Beads altogether. Honestly, I didn't think that I'd ever really be moved by polymer clay again.
Then I installed some lights in my new basement studio. This Thomas doubts no more that there has to be an endless spring of creativity that just ebbs and flows. Sometimes it's a torrential rush that turns into compulsive creation....and sometimes it trickles so slow that it seems like adding something to mashed potatoes is a genius idea.
I've been digging out beads that were packed up for moving. A trip to the craft store resulted in some new findings that I've been needing for a while. Classical music on public radio, even during the winter fundraising, set the mood.
SO, as I posted on my Facebook page this morning, my big liquidation sale ends Wednesday. I have new work to post, so if you happen to read this before January 30, get your behind over to my Etsy store and save a boatload on everything you like there. Don't forget to enter the promo code! If you forget, you will pay full price. I just really don't have time to cancel transactions, relist and have someone re-buy them so that they can get the sale price.
Wednesday night I will be putting it all back to regular price so I can freshen it up with new work. These photos are items that will be available for sale. (After they're posted I plan on linking them to the actual ad. If I remember.)
OH, and by the way....just one more thing to tell you. I have a new blog that has absolutely NOTHING to do with Ovenfried Beads or my handcrafted art. Photography is another one of my hobbies, so if you like neat pictures of nature and urban stuff (lots of closeups), just hop on over to my new photo blog: A Very Pedestrian Snail. It's pretty much just all photos.
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Etsy Sale Just Got Deeper
Hey ya'll's.
My Etsy Store liquidation has been on the slow path. Perhaps starting it right after the biggest spending-money-on-others season wasn't the most strategically smart thing to do.
In any case, everything that is listed is 48% off the listed price IF, and only IF you enter the coupon code "OBEADS48" when you check out. If you don't enter it, you'll pay the full price. (Which would be really cool, actually.) Valentine's Day is less than a month away, and Mother's Day will be soon after that.
I still have room in my Stacker Bead class coming up soon, as well as the Polymer Clay Buttonmaking class. The Fabric Coiled Bowl class is almost full. Check out my previous blogpost titled "Winter Classes with Ovenfried Beads" to get the full details.
Have a great day!
My Etsy Store liquidation has been on the slow path. Perhaps starting it right after the biggest spending-money-on-others season wasn't the most strategically smart thing to do.
In any case, everything that is listed is 48% off the listed price IF, and only IF you enter the coupon code "OBEADS48" when you check out. If you don't enter it, you'll pay the full price. (Which would be really cool, actually.) Valentine's Day is less than a month away, and Mother's Day will be soon after that.
I still have room in my Stacker Bead class coming up soon, as well as the Polymer Clay Buttonmaking class. The Fabric Coiled Bowl class is almost full. Check out my previous blogpost titled "Winter Classes with Ovenfried Beads" to get the full details.
Have a great day!
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Winter Classes with Ovenfried Beads
Hello!
Here is a near-carbon copy of my last class update from this past fall at Silk Road Textiles in Cincinnati, Ohio. The classes are the same, but the dates and times are not. If you can't make these dates, there will be others in March, April or May. Stay tuned! You can also sign up to receive emails about class updates by clicking this link.
**********************************************************************
Fabric Coiled Bowls
Here is a near-carbon copy of my last class update from this past fall at Silk Road Textiles in Cincinnati, Ohio. The classes are the same, but the dates and times are not. If you can't make these dates, there will be others in March, April or May. Stay tuned! You can also sign up to receive emails about class updates by clicking this link.
**********************************************************************
Fabric Coiled Bowls
 |
| See those Stacker bead buttons? Scroll down...there's a class for those too. |
rope. Good manual dexterity in both hands is necessary. I was featured on HGTV's "That's Clever!" in 2007 making this bowl, so if a TV network thinks it's cool, it's probably worth signing up for. The bowl you see above is a huge version of what you'll be making in a 3 hour class, but it gives you a good idea.
The lady behind the company Recyclabowls took my coiled bowl class and turned it into a business. Even though her technique is similar, she has turned it into her own "thing". In fact, her bowls are available for sale at Silk Road Textiles and at several stores in Cincinnati.
Class fee is $35, and students must purchase 3 cotton fat quarters from SRT. The rope, hot glue, string and needles will be provided by me.
Sat. 2/2 9am-noon
**********************************************************************
Polymer Clay Buttonmaking
 |
| These are some random buttons that I have made recently. Yours will be unique...your own design. |
Students will make handmade buttons using various techniques with polymer clay. To alleviate stress and work on the student's part to gather the many tools and clay needed for this 4-hour workshop, I am including everything in the package, so the class fee reflects the added expense on my part. I will cover some basic techniques in polymer clay (simple canes, marbling, and/or stamping, depending on the group) and students will create their own buttons.
Note: If a student has polymer clay tools that they would like to use, like a favorite blade, pasta machine, stamp or even colors of clay, they are free to bring them, but the class fee won't change.
Class fee is $65.
Tue. 1/22 10am-2pm
**********************************************************************
Stacker Beads/Embellishments
Students will learn how to make Stacker beads, a polymer clay bead design that I perfected about 12 years ago. Stacker beads make amazing embellishments, so even though Silk Road Textiles is not a bead/jewelry supply store, students can learn this technique to embellish their own fiber art pieces or make them into beads. I will supply all the clay and tools needed.
Class fee is $65.
Wed. 2/20 9am-1pm
Note: If you do not live in Cincinnati or can't take my classes you can purchase a PDF of my Stacker bead tutorial directly through me. It's $16 and I'll email it to you. Email me if you are interested. I accept Paypal. (I normally have it on Etsy, but since I'm having a store-wide sale, it's not available there at this time.)
**********************************************************************
There are many other great fiber art classes being offered at Silk Road Textiles. If you are interested in learning more, visit their website or "like" their Facebook page (or both) to find out more. The class list is updated on a roughly quarterly basis.
Etsy Liquidation Sale
Happy New Year, dear fan of Ovenfried Beads!
This is the 18th year I've been "playing" with polymer clay. Well, technically it will be mid-June that I will have filled my life with such a colorful adventure. Right now I'm at a point in my life where I am ready to slow down a bit and explore other/additional creative venues and re-visit outlets that I love but have ignored. Though I do plan on continuing creating with polymer clay, it will be part of larger things. Mixed media with fiber. I don't want to give away too much information, but let's just say the "artist" in me wants to bump the "crafter" in me off to the side and take the wheel for a while.
Therefore, I'm having a whole-store liquidation sale in my Etsy shop. Everything in the store is 33% off. Ideally, I'd like to sell it all off and start fresh. There are an awful lot of great classic pieces in there that need homes. Items in my Etsy store represent my best and favorite, work.
Please take a minute to browse the store and check out the great goods that are there. Many people in the industry have told me that it's already reasonably priced. The 33% discount does not mean it's second-tier. I just need to move it out and get started on new things to post once the stock has whittled down. If you want to purchase something, all you have to do (besides be registered with Etsy) is enter this coupon code when you check out: OBEADS33. That's it. In case you haven't used Etsy in a while, you're now no longer required to pay with a credit card through Paypal. You can pay straight through Etsy.
If you are interested in purchasing my Stacker Bead tutorial PDF, you may email me directly. I accept Paypal and will email you the tutorial upon receipt of payment. The tutorial is $16.00. It's 4 pages with full-color step-by-step instructions.
Thanks for your time...next blog entry will be about my newest classes. If you can't wait, visit the website of Silk Road Textiles' class page and click on the "More Fibers and Fabrics" tab to find out about my Fabric Coiled Bowl class, as well as the "Mixed Media and Embellishments" tab to get info on my Polymer Clay Buttonmaking and Stacker Bead classes.
 |
| Click pic to see the Etsy ad! |
 |
| Click this one, too! |
 |
| And don't forget about this! |
Please take a minute to browse the store and check out the great goods that are there. Many people in the industry have told me that it's already reasonably priced. The 33% discount does not mean it's second-tier. I just need to move it out and get started on new things to post once the stock has whittled down. If you want to purchase something, all you have to do (besides be registered with Etsy) is enter this coupon code when you check out: OBEADS33. That's it. In case you haven't used Etsy in a while, you're now no longer required to pay with a credit card through Paypal. You can pay straight through Etsy.
If you are interested in purchasing my Stacker Bead tutorial PDF, you may email me directly. I accept Paypal and will email you the tutorial upon receipt of payment. The tutorial is $16.00. It's 4 pages with full-color step-by-step instructions.
Thanks for your time...next blog entry will be about my newest classes. If you can't wait, visit the website of Silk Road Textiles' class page and click on the "More Fibers and Fabrics" tab to find out about my Fabric Coiled Bowl class, as well as the "Mixed Media and Embellishments" tab to get info on my Polymer Clay Buttonmaking and Stacker Bead classes.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Fall Classes with Ovenfried Beads
Hello!
It has been forever since I've been able to announce a cluster of classes. My classes are taking place at Silk Road Textiles in Cincinnati. Any signing up/registration has to take place through SRT, not me. If you'd like to register for any of these, please contact them by calling 513-541-3700 or stopping in. The address is 6106 Hamilton Avenue, 45224, for those of you who use GPS systems to find your way. I limit my class sizes to about 5, so don't wait to register if you know you can take a class that interests you.
Please keep in mind that all of my classes require good manual dexterity in both hands. People with advanced arthritis or other conditions that weaken the hands may have a difficult time conditioning stiff clay or pushing/pulling a thick needle through dense rope. I'm not saying that these folks shouldn't take the class....I just want them to be aware that it could get uncomfortable and they could have difficulties. This has occurred in past classes.
Students will learn how to create a specific style of
functional bowls using fabric and
rope. Good manual dexterity in both hands is necessary. I was featured on HGTV's "That's Clever!" in 2007 making this bowl, so if a TV network thinks it's cool, it's probably worth signing up for. The bowl you see above is a huge version of what you'll be making in a 3 hour class, but it gives you a good idea.
The lady behind the company Recyclabowls took my coiled bowl class and turned it into a business. Even though her technique is similar, she has turned it into her own "thing". In fact, her bowls are available for sale at Silk Road Textiles.
Class fee is $35, and students must purchase 3 cotton fat quarters from SRT. The rope, hot glue, string and needles will be provided by me.
There are two separate dates. It's not a two-part class.
**********************************************************************
**********************************************************************
It has been forever since I've been able to announce a cluster of classes. My classes are taking place at Silk Road Textiles in Cincinnati. Any signing up/registration has to take place through SRT, not me. If you'd like to register for any of these, please contact them by calling 513-541-3700 or stopping in. The address is 6106 Hamilton Avenue, 45224, for those of you who use GPS systems to find your way. I limit my class sizes to about 5, so don't wait to register if you know you can take a class that interests you.
Please keep in mind that all of my classes require good manual dexterity in both hands. People with advanced arthritis or other conditions that weaken the hands may have a difficult time conditioning stiff clay or pushing/pulling a thick needle through dense rope. I'm not saying that these folks shouldn't take the class....I just want them to be aware that it could get uncomfortable and they could have difficulties. This has occurred in past classes.
**********************************************************************
Fabric Coiled Bowls
|
| See those Stacker bead buttons? Scroll down...there's a class for those too. |
rope. Good manual dexterity in both hands is necessary. I was featured on HGTV's "That's Clever!" in 2007 making this bowl, so if a TV network thinks it's cool, it's probably worth signing up for. The bowl you see above is a huge version of what you'll be making in a 3 hour class, but it gives you a good idea.
The lady behind the company Recyclabowls took my coiled bowl class and turned it into a business. Even though her technique is similar, she has turned it into her own "thing". In fact, her bowls are available for sale at Silk Road Textiles.
Class fee is $35, and students must purchase 3 cotton fat quarters from SRT. The rope, hot glue, string and needles will be provided by me.
There are two separate dates. It's not a two-part class.
09/20/2012 12pm-3pm
10/27/2012 10am-1pm**********************************************************************
Polymer Clay Buttonmaking
|
| These are some random buttons that I have made recently. Yours will be unique...your own design. |
Students will make handmade buttons using various
techniques with polymer clay. To alleviate stress and work on the student's part to gather the many tools and clay needed for this 4-hour workshop, I am including everything in the package, so the class fee reflects the added expense on my part. I will cover some basic techniques in polymer clay (simple canes, marbling, stamping) and students will create their own buttons.
Note: If a student has polymer clay tools that they would like to use, like a favorite blade, pasta machine, stamp or even colors of clay, they are free to bring them, but the class fee won't change.
Class fee is $65. There are two separate dates. It's not a two-part class.
10/30/2012 9am-1pm
11/10/2012 1pm-5pm**********************************************************************
Stacker Beads/Embellishments
Students will learn how to make Stacker beads, a polymer
clay bead design that I perfected about 11 years ago. Stacker beads make amazing embellishments, so even though Silk Road Textiles is not a bead/jewelry supply store, students can learn this technique to embellish their own fiber art pieces or make them into beads. I will supply all the clay and tools needed.
Class fee is $65. There are two separate dates. It's not a two-part class.
11/06/2012 9am-1pm
12/01/2012 9am-1pm
Note: If you do not live in Cincinnati, you can purchase a PDF version of my Stacker bead tutorial on Etsy. It's $16 and I'll email it to you.
**********************************************************************
There are many other great fiber art classes being offered at Silk Road Textiles. If you are interested in learning more, visit their website or "like" their Facebook page (or both) to find out more. The full fall class schedule is going to be released very shortly.
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Holy MACKERAL, This Girl is Busy
Hello fans!
First of all, this barrette and bracelet are starting at ridiculously low bids on eBay. They are older pieces that I love but don't want to deconstruct. Starting bid is a SCANT $.99. You can't even buy a candy bar for that.
So I want to apologize for not being a better blogger. There are many things for me to talk about, but I just keep doing them and forget to (or choose not to) talk about them. I guess it's part humility, but mostly part laziness. When I look at people who ditch their dayjobs and make a living at their art/craft of choice, what I'm mostly seeing is good marketing, but I also recognize there is interest and demand for their work.
Marketing is not my forte'. For example, I don't even have a logo. I used to have one, and I still have the original artwork, but it's a snail, for crying-out-loud. Who the hell will look at a stylized snail (which happens to be inked on my left forearm...THAT's commitment) and think "Boy, this woman must have a LOT of skill and experience in polymer clay and beadwork!" I just happen to love snails. And business cards. I just recently received a box of 250 amazing cards from Vista Print that remind me of a) my favorite color brown, and b) a Dandy Warhols video that I just love...very artistically stimulating for me, and of course, brown and scroll-y.
About 7 weeks ago, a new fiber supply/art store in Cincinnati called Silk Road Textiles opened in College Hill. I realize that I'm completely biased, BUT, I have to say that it's a pretty amazing place. I'm lucky to work there, and will start teaching this month (September). We carry all sorts of amazing yarn and fabric, and sell not only the work of 14 excellently skilled craftspeople from the Cincinnati area, but also jewelry and knit stitch markers from moi, Ovenfried Beads. You can get a more thorough list of items sold at the store at their website if you click it above. My favorite yarns there right now are Mountain Color, Berroco Remix, Rowan Tweed, Leilani Arts recycled sari silk, Berroco Lodge and of course, Noro Yarn. Since I'm not sitting in the store looking around, I'm sure you can imagine that I'd come up with another dozen "favorite" items. In any case, as a beginner (but not virgin) knitter, I'm seriously intrigued by what I see and feel, and am anxious to dig my fingers into some skeins I can call my own and create something awesome. We also sell a ton of fabric, which I'm a little too lazy at this second to list. You just have to go to the site. OR, if you like to know what's happening as it happens (including classes, which will be announced VERY VERY soon), just "Like" us on our Facebook Page.
On one last note, as I'm sure I've about worn you out at this point..... I'll be participating in my first City Flea in Cincinnati on Saturday, September 15. My friend from the Cincy Craft Cartel invited me as a guest artist, so I will have a large selection of earrings, bracelets and loose beads, with a more conservative selection of bead embroidery, buttons and necklaces.
My next blog will feature a listing of all of the brick-and-mortar stores in Cincinnati that regularly sell my work. I hope you will consider patronizing those stores. They are run and staffed by hard-workin' folks just like you. Stay tuned. If you just can't wait, go here.
I wish I had more pictures tonight. Maybe next time.
First of all, this barrette and bracelet are starting at ridiculously low bids on eBay. They are older pieces that I love but don't want to deconstruct. Starting bid is a SCANT $.99. You can't even buy a candy bar for that.
Bid on this barrette here! (Ends Sept 13)
Bid on this bracelet here! (Ends Sept 13)
Marketing is not my forte'. For example, I don't even have a logo. I used to have one, and I still have the original artwork, but it's a snail, for crying-out-loud. Who the hell will look at a stylized snail (which happens to be inked on my left forearm...THAT's commitment) and think "Boy, this woman must have a LOT of skill and experience in polymer clay and beadwork!" I just happen to love snails. And business cards. I just recently received a box of 250 amazing cards from Vista Print that remind me of a) my favorite color brown, and b) a Dandy Warhols video that I just love...very artistically stimulating for me, and of course, brown and scroll-y.
About 7 weeks ago, a new fiber supply/art store in Cincinnati called Silk Road Textiles opened in College Hill. I realize that I'm completely biased, BUT, I have to say that it's a pretty amazing place. I'm lucky to work there, and will start teaching this month (September). We carry all sorts of amazing yarn and fabric, and sell not only the work of 14 excellently skilled craftspeople from the Cincinnati area, but also jewelry and knit stitch markers from moi, Ovenfried Beads. You can get a more thorough list of items sold at the store at their website if you click it above. My favorite yarns there right now are Mountain Color, Berroco Remix, Rowan Tweed, Leilani Arts recycled sari silk, Berroco Lodge and of course, Noro Yarn. Since I'm not sitting in the store looking around, I'm sure you can imagine that I'd come up with another dozen "favorite" items. In any case, as a beginner (but not virgin) knitter, I'm seriously intrigued by what I see and feel, and am anxious to dig my fingers into some skeins I can call my own and create something awesome. We also sell a ton of fabric, which I'm a little too lazy at this second to list. You just have to go to the site. OR, if you like to know what's happening as it happens (including classes, which will be announced VERY VERY soon), just "Like" us on our Facebook Page.
On one last note, as I'm sure I've about worn you out at this point..... I'll be participating in my first City Flea in Cincinnati on Saturday, September 15. My friend from the Cincy Craft Cartel invited me as a guest artist, so I will have a large selection of earrings, bracelets and loose beads, with a more conservative selection of bead embroidery, buttons and necklaces.
My next blog will feature a listing of all of the brick-and-mortar stores in Cincinnati that regularly sell my work. I hope you will consider patronizing those stores. They are run and staffed by hard-workin' folks just like you. Stay tuned. If you just can't wait, go here.
I wish I had more pictures tonight. Maybe next time.
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