Your Thoughts on 2014?

Last day of the year.....they do go by so very fast!


So, I'm curious as to how this year stacked up for you. Exciting? Tough? Enlightening?
                                         


I've had some tough moments, and some exciting ones.
I lost a dear friend, the owner of my local bead store. But the blessing has been that a customer chose to purchase the store, and it has been very exciting working with her on new ideas for the store.
She asked me to teach some beading classes, which is very rewarding to share your passion with others.
I was accepted for Beadwork's Challenge for the Dec 14/Jan 15 issue.  Finally published!
Now I want to concentrate on creating a piece to send in as a pattern.
Opened a component store at Artisan Marketplace. Lots and lots to learn about selling and promoting without being annoying!
Social Media is a true challenge to balance! My poor blog has definitely suffered as I have spent more and more time on Facebook, which it seems is heading for some changes.  I truly love my Facebook groups, and I really hope they are not going away, with all the changes Facebook is implementing.
My blog name is Beads and Bread, but the bread part has taken a definite back seat to the beads this past year! As I've discovered some allergic issues, I've pretty much stopped making bread. But my family loves it, and I still have about 200 lbs of grain, so you will still see some baked goodies on here as well.
My Artisan Marketplace site has a blog feature, so I may be moving over there. Stay tuned for that....

Do you have any New Years Resolutions? Plans? Words?
I've been doing the Word of the Year for the last few, and it has made a much bigger impact on me than the list of resolutions that I fail at...
I am planning on learning some new beading techniques, and getting better informed about social media techniques and SEO's.

                                    

And....I am going to do a better job at posting here, since that is where I really get to talk and share with y'all!
Hope you have a safe and happy New Year's Eve! Blessings, Shirley

It's a GRAND OPENING!!

That's right! Tomorrow is the Official Grand Opening of all the stores at Artisan Component Marketplace....including mine!



I think the prices are extremely reasonable, but in honor of the Grand Opening, I'm also offering a 20% discount. Use GRAND20 at the checkout.
Here are a few of the products...

I still don't have a lot of product, but I'm beading just as fast as I can! :)
Hope to see you there..the discount will be good through Monday.   Blessings, Shirley

The Learning Curve...and a Giveaway!

So, this post has come about due to some recent conversations on facebook, and some exciting changes in my personal life.





As a beadweaver, there is a dedicated learning curve. Some folks instinctively grasp the math behind the beads, and some can effortlessly put colors together in fantastic displays of gorgeousness.
The rest of us? Well, it takes work, and more work, and more work.
I do feel that I have made huge strides in my technical skills, and choosing colors that play well together. Some of my favorites......

And....some of my 'not so favorites'...

The important thing is, I've learned with each design. I've found which colors I work best with, which materials, and the techniques that really make me feel good.

It has truly been and enjoyable journey, and I am finally opening a shop!!!!

It is a components shop, so those folks that love seed bead creations, but don't like working with them, can now use them in their designs.

It is still very small, with limited inventory, but hey, you've gotta start somewhere!

Here's the link: http://artisancomponentmarketplace.com/shirleymooredesigns/

I'm also working on opening a finished jewelry store as well, but that will probably not happen til after the first of the year.

My last piece of good news is that I am now teaching classes at my local bead store, Moonstone Beads. If you are in the Myrtle Beach, SC area, please stop in, it's a great store!

 It's been a fun challenge for me, really stopping to think about patterns that will work for beginners.

I have to confess, even when I was a beginner, I was always pushing the envelope, trying patterns that were harder than my skill level...so this has been very different.

Ok, so if you've made it this far, you definitely deserve a treat, right?

I need nice, constructive criticism, so I'm asking for help on the storefront.

Please head over and check it out, and let me know if you see something I can improve, change, add, etc. 

Come back and comment and you will be entered to win  one of these pretties. I will draw a winner on Friday, Oct. 24th

Thanks for your help! Blessings, Shirley