Javagoth's Blog

Tamera's Tips & Bits


Big News!!

Published: 02-01-2012 10:27pm
Posted In: New and Shiny
"Dear Tamera, Thank you very much for submitting images to be considered for inclusion in... the August 2012 Lark Jewelry & Beading gallery publication Showcase 500 Beaded Jewelry. Hundreds of artists from around the world submitted work for the book, and we tried to capture the diversity in aesthetic and technique that the bead world holds. I¹m a little biased, I suppose, but allow me to say that the finished book is absolutely gorgeous and inspiring. I'm pleased to report that Hard Wired, 2011 was juried into the book. Congratulations!" This is the book: http://www.amazon.com/Showcase-500-Beaded-Jewelry-Contemporary/dp/1454703164/ref=sr_1_... » Read More

Why do all your blog posts have the same date of today???

Published: 11-25-2011 10:35pm
Posted In: The Nitty Gritty
Well, I have been really busy and apparently missed the memo that the Blog feature was being revised and that the blogs would have to be started all over again. At first I thought I'd lost all my previous blog posts but then I found the migrate feature. Unfortunately, it didn't migrate the previous publish dates and there was really no way for me to find them all again (if I'd known I'd have written them down before migrating) so I just decided to re-post everything today and then start again from here. Isn't technology grand?... » Read More

Care and Storage of Handmade Beaded Jewelry

Published: 11-25-2011 10:30pm
Posted In: Tips & Techniques
I was working on a necklace repair for a friend of mine when it occurred to me that I should probably start giving out care and storing instructions with my jewelry so it will stay looking it's best for the folks the buy it. Much of the jewelry I'm creating and selling is made with seed beads in a variety of colors, styles, and finishes.  Usually this involves bead weaving like the monocle piece shown in the picture, above.  Seed beads come in a wonderfully wide array of colors and finishes.  Many of the finishes can be rubbed off over time, though, so these pieces need to be stored carefully so they will continue to look their best.  I... » Read More

Staying True to Yourself &Your Vision and Make It Work Moments

Published: 11-25-2011 10:29pm
Posted In: The Nitty Gritty
The weekend of March 4th-6th, I was vending at Emerald City Comicon as part of the Feral Sky Studios collective. Several artists combine forces for the weekend to help off-set the cost of the booth to a manageable level for all of us. We end up having a wide variety of eclectic yet similarly themed items to offer.  All weekend long we got many compliments and comments from a lot of people who liked the variety we had to offer.  We seem to fill a niche that is needed at that event.  At any rate, it's a large event with a lot of people coming through.  It was a long weekend and a successful one.  There were, as always at these events, highs... » Read More

Working with Ice Resin & Silicone Mold Putty

Published: 11-25-2011 10:29pm
Posted In: Tips & Techniques
I've been working with Ice Resin for about a year now. I tend to do batches at a time as it's very space intensive and labor intensive at times (including the sanding & drilling often needed for mold pieces). My space is somewhat limited in that I live with 7 roommates: 2 humans and 5 cats. The 5 cats means that the Ice Resin has to cure on a folding table that I set up in my bedroom - which is why I tend to work in larger batches and to do a couple batches and then leave off for awhile. I've been doing a lot of trial and error with the Ice Resin. My set-up is not always ideal & I got kind of frustrated with some of my efforts ar... » Read More

Prototype: Steam Powered Listening Device

Published: 11-25-2011 10:28pm
Posted In: New and Shiny
Introducing the prototype for my newest Steampunk related jewelry design:  Steam Powered Listening Devices - in other words:  Steampunk Bugs. Learning to do bead weaving has opened whole new avenues of creativity and inspiration!  Living with and otherwise having creative friends also helps.  The Steam Powered Listening Device is the brainchild of my friend Mickey and I.  Mickey is one of my roommates and I also sometimes blog with her at Geek Girls Rule!  It was my partner Carl who came up with the name I liked best:  Steam Powered Listening Device. It's created from and empty watch case - which I kept after harvesting all the wa... » Read More

The Tricky Business of Pricing Beadwoven Items

Published: 11-25-2011 10:28pm
Posted In: The Nitty Gritty
The picture for this post is a quick & dirty picture I took of my latest completed project.  It's a beaded medal that will be marketed as a Steampunk Medal.  The medal part is a coin which I have encased in Opaque Black Japanese size 11 Delica seed beads using a right angle weave which I embellished with more seed beads.  The "ribbon" part is made of a mix of Opaque Black, Matte Black, Opaque Dark Red, and Metallic Bronze Japanese size 11 seed beads using a Peyote 2-Step Odd Count stitch.  Because the number of rows are an odd count this means I have an extra series of steps I have to do at the end of every other row that I wouldn't need t... » Read More

The Importance of Good Product Pictures

Published: 11-25-2011 10:27pm
Posted In: Tips & Techniques
This may be a relatively short topic for now.  It's one of several things that have been on my mind of late. Part of the way I promote my friends, fellow Arftire artists, and Guild members is through the Collections feature.  I try to always create collections that are eligible for publication on the front page.  Here's the thing:  only the best looking collections get on the front page and the competition is fierce! Whenever possible, I have my friends who are much more experienced at photography & editing and have much better equipment with which to take the pictures do them for me.  In lieu of that, I have read the Artfire photog... » Read More

Lesson's Learned & General Feedback - My First Convention Vending Experience

Published: 11-25-2011 10:27pm
Posted In: Tips & Techniques
The weekend of November 19th-21 was my first convention vending experience.  I've vended at various arts & crafts shows in the past but the most popular local sci-fi/fantasy convention can be extremely difficult to get into, is very expensive, and I really haven't had enough stock that would make it worth my while in years past.  Since my newest creations have sprung from my desire to make Steampunk/Victorian inspired items, it seems only appropriate that my first convention vending experience was at Steamcon II.  The experiences and tips that went into my previous post served me very well.  I need to add the following caveats: ... » Read More

One Day Vending Events Can Be Brutal

Published: 11-25-2011 10:26pm
Posted In: The Nitty Gritty
I was reminded recently that one day events can be brutal. I recommend asking a friend to help you out rather than doing it all yourself. In addition, the one day event was happening 4 days before a 4 day event so I didn't really get to recover. I am paying the price now in 3 days of very low energy and a cranky back. Let's start this by giving you a general sketch of what this one day event was like for me. First, I end up staying up late the night before the event. This is a given. No matter how much I resolve not to do this, it happens. In the unlikely event it doesn't happen, there's still the issue of nerves that make me not sleep well... » Read More

Where is she?

Published: 11-25-2011 10:25pm
Posted In: The Nitty Gritty
So much for my resolution to post at least weekly... My guilds may be wondering where the heck I've been as well. Best I can offer is that life happened.  I recently ran out of unemployment and the last couple weeks have been a real struggle for me in a number of ways.  I'm trying to figure out what to do while not succumbing to depression inertia.  I have to think about what to talk about that others want to hear or might find useful.  At the same time I'm starting to be in deadline crunch for Steamcon II - a local steampunk convention that's happening November 19th-21st.  I notice that traffic has picked up here in the last day or so ... » Read More

The fallacy of the statement

Published: 11-25-2011 10:25pm
Posted In: Not As Easy As It Seems
Today I'm going to reference a topical rant posted by my friend and roommate because not only am I the friend she's referencing in the post, it's something I'm living right now (warning - she uses some strong language).  My "day job" for the last decade has been software testing.  Except that I haven't managed to land a software testing job in the last year and a half.  As I was getting closer to the end of my unemployment I thought maybe this is the Universe pushing me to finally get my jewelry/craft business started on-line.  I've been making beaded jewelry and accessories for a number of years now.  I've occasionally showed at small ve... » Read More

Tips for preparing/packing for an Arts & Crafts fair or other vending opportunity - for those who may be new to it

Published: 11-25-2011 10:24pm
Posted In: Tips & Techniques
I was getting ready to go to Steamcon II this weekend, and was thinking about what I could post about before I left.  The answer became obvious as I started making up my lists of things I needed to do to prepare:  Write out my tips and advice to those who may be contemplating selling their wares at arts & crafts fairs, vendor fairs, bazaars, etc who might have little or no experience at it.  Why learn the hard way when you can benefit from the experiences of others?! Unfortunately, time got away from me and I was unable to complete the proofreading/editing I needed to do before leaving for the weekend.  As a result, you're getting thi... » Read More

Looking on the bright side

Published: 11-25-2011 10:23pm
Posted In: Not As Easy As It Seems
The bright side of low sales at the Kitsch & Stitch event is that I have a fair selection of stock now and can spend some time working on improving my Ice Resin skills and techniques and learning more bead weaving stitches.  I want to do more experimentation with combining stitches and just playing around with designs.  I've been looking at the class list for a local beading shop I frequent but I'm not feeling pulled to any of the classes.  I think this is an indicator that this quarter is the time for my own experimentation.... » Read More

Kitsch & Stitch Arts & Crafts Event

Published: 11-25-2011 10:22pm
Posted In: Reviews
On Sunday, Aubust 22nd the folks who run the Mourning Market had their first Kitsch & Stitch show at Club Motor on 1st Ave in Seattle.  It was actually a nice location with a fair bit of parking and, since the show was on Sunday, no parking meter fees.  There was an area in the back for the vendors to park for free - which was a pleasant surprise as I had expected we'd have to find a lot to park in (to reserve prime parking for the customers).  Unfortunately the show was not so well attended.  I'm not sure if it was Hempfest that drew them off or maybe people didn't know if they'd like what they found there (though there were links to most of ... » Read More

Two of my collections and my studio featured on the Brizel Handcrafts Blog!

Published: 11-25-2011 10:20pm
Posted In: The Nitty Gritty
A couple of the collections I've created (Celestial & Blue Flower Inspirations) are featured on the Brizel Handcrafts Blog today!  Go take a look and check out the wide variety of nifty crafts and craft items she has there.  We seem to have the love of many crafts in common though she has a good deal more education and experience in many things.  She's one of the many helpful people here on Artfire who do what they can to help their fellow artists put their best foot forward!... » Read More

Guilty Pleasures and Inspirations

Published: 11-25-2011 10:20pm
Posted In: The Nitty Gritty
For a number of years after my divorce, I didn't have a TV.  My ex and I had watched A LOT of TV and movies together and I was just kind of sick of it.  I also didn't want to pay for cable TV anymore.  Though I date myself by saying so - I remember when cable TV first started and I felt that the cost vs what you get now and what you got then wasn't justified.  I finally got a small TV with a built in VCR & a used DVD player so I could watch the belly dance videos I had and movies I owned.  Sometimes I would hear about a show from friends and watch it on-line or wait for it to come out on DVD (I hate commercials - about 80% of which seemed to ... » Read More

The more tedious part of jewelry making

Published: 11-25-2011 10:16pm
Posted In: The Nitty Gritty
I love jewelry making.  I've been making jewelry for a long time and I really love all the new (some new in general and some new to me) techniques I'm learning.  Preparing jewelry to sell (particularly on-line) involves some tedious tasks I'm not so in love with.  Before I left on vacation I did a couple pours of Ice Resin so the pieces could cure while I was gone.  I had a mixed bag of items I was working on.  I was doing some finishing work on some pieces that had been put off while I was doing some arts & crafts shows, I was making some new pendant pieces, and I was doing some experimentation on what I hoped would be a new line of ... » Read More

A disappointing set-back

Published: 11-25-2011 10:07pm
Posted In: Not As Easy As It Seems
I think I've mentioned here before that I'm trying to get into the local Arts & Crafts Fairs circuit.  I've mostly done smaller fringe group sorts of events - aimed at a specific and somewhat small group of people (ie: the steampunk vendor fairs I did earlier in the year).  The Shoreline Arts festival was the first larger festival I've tried and I had good results there.  It's hard to get into the crafts fairs on an unemployment budget - especially since there's no guarantee of making that money back.  Still, if you don't try you definitely won't succeed so I have been trying some of the middle of the road (price and attendance wise) festi... » Read More

Busy weekend

Published: 11-25-2011 10:06pm
Posted In: Just for Fun
Once again I'm a bit off-schedule for getting new items updated to my Artfire account.  Part of this is because last weekend I participated in the Seattle AIDS Walk again this year.  In recent years it's gone from being a little over a mile walk to a 5K walk and run (so a little over 3 miles).  It went pretty well and the weather was great if a bit more humid than I like to deal with.  I found I had some hip issues this year - likely due to a bit too much activity in the days leading up to the walk combined with a bit too much time sitting in front of the computer vs walking in the last year.  I ended up pretty much in the back of the pac... » Read More