libeado

Okay, so what do you do if your "name" is being used elsewhere for the same purpose? I have realized that maybe this isn't a problem because the other woman who is using the name libeado is from a state far away from mine, and maybe it will never cross paths, but what about when someone googles it, and 2 different things pop up? And both of those things have to do with beads? I have been using the name libeado since the early 90's but haven't gone very far with it. I did get my DBA but it has since expired, and I don't know how long the other woman has been using the name libeado. I have found that many bead stores have the same name, but no correlation to each other. Oh how the Internet has changed things. 10 years ago, I never would have known about this other woman, and therefor wouldn't be concerned about it. What to do, what to do?

Bead Quilt Square

Well I completed my first square for Jeanette Shanigans Bead quilt. I know that it technically isn't a rose but do you think it will matter? I just fell in love with this flower that was made of shell and thought it would be so pretty that I would give it a try.

I know the picture isn't perfect but I still have a lot of practicing to do on taking the perfect picture. On that note, I would like to thank my ever generous husband for buying the new digital camera that takes a kick butt picture when it comes to the detail needed to properly photograph beadwork. Now if only I were that good, we could have awesome pictures. I find the hardest part is getting the perfect lighting. I should make myself a photo box, and see if that helps. I did find an instructional page on the net explaining how to make a cheap photo box with a cardboard box and some glass. Any one out there know of any other good methods?

I still haven't gotten any replies on anything, so I am assuming that no one has found this blog yet, but I did Google libeado the other day and this blog did come up as one of the hits, on the first page none the less. That must mean that the 250 words tip must be true. I know I could just tell people about this, but that would mean everyone that looked would already know me, and I wants some opinions of people that I don't already know. Where are all you guys hanging out at? Am I missing some really cool beading blog that I don't even know about?

Monday at the store

Well, Here I am at the bead store on a Monday. The most boring day of the week to work here. Everything else except the dry cleaners is closed in this plaza on Mondays, so we don't get a lot of traffic. I do believe that Monday must be a good day to pick up your dry cleaning because there seems to be quite the flow of people down there today. I am trying to motivate myself to do something today. I am just not sure what yet. I finally got my pellon to make my squares for Jeanette Shanigans bead quilt she is doing for breast cancer. Every year she does one, and this year the theme is roses. Check out what she has done so far on her website http://www.shanigansbeadshenanigans.com/ . I give a lot of credit to women like her. Not only did she come up with a fabulous way for people to reach out and help with such a worthwhile cause, but every year it gets bigger, and she stays so dedicated. I really am glad that we have people like her in the world. Okay, well I have motivated myself just by talking about it so I am going to go and make a square. I will post a picture when I finish it, or you can check it out on Jeanettes website once I mail it to her in Alaska! Thanks again for listening, maybe you would like to respond?

What gives?

Okay, well it has been about a week since my last post. I still don't think anyone has even looked at this blog, let alone can even find it. I read somewhere that in order for Google to even hit on something it has to have a minimum of 250 words. I don't know if this is true or not, but I am sitting here trying to add more words so maybe I will be easier to find.
I have been continuing work at the bead store, and just dealing with all the comments that people are making about the store closing. I have been beading for approximately 22 years, and am shocked that people keep asking me whether beads are actually a profitable business. Of course they are!! Beads have been around since the dawn of time. Humans never get tired of trying to adorn themselves and make themselves stand out from a crowd, be it jewelry, tattoos, piercings, etc. The owner of the bead store I work at just doesn't seem to have a business head on him, or maybe he is just giving up. I wish there was something I could do to convince him to hang in there, but it is to late, and he is hanging up his towel(or something like that). If I had the time, I would consider opening a small store of my own, but with 2 young children (Xavier age 7, and Aiden age 4) I don't feel I have the time to put into a business yet. I still have feel I need to put the most time into my guys while they are little ( Aiden is still in preschool, and only half day at that). I am still wondering whether an Internet venture is that right way to go. A book I read recently suggests that all artist should have their own web page, but if it cant be found, what good is it? What makes a web page worth visiting? And as an artist, do you just show your work? Or do you have to try selling it over the Internet also? I happen to live in a town where there is not a good market for the type of jewelry that I like to make. It is a small town in Michigan, and Michigan's economy is not doing all that well. People do not have the same sort of disposable income that the rest of the country seems to have right now. So how do I get my product to a market that will buy it? I don't travel much, so that isn't really an option. I wish someone would just find this blog and give me their 2 cents worth. I need input, and I am hoping someone out there might be kind enough to give me some. So this is my plea....please respond if you read this. I am starting to get kind of lonely here all by myself.