Unveiling FenBeads

I've opened this shop since December 2008. It's hard to maintain two shops while working a full time job as well and I just realized I haven't even unveiled it here yet.

Fen Beads http://fenbeads.etsy.com unleashes my inner child where I can do cute hair ties, rings, etc. while Bead Flora Jewels will continue to focus on Wedding flowers and other higher end special occasion pieces. I currently have a 15% off sale going on Fen Beads... All discounts will be refunded through PayPal refunds.

Bead Flora studio/ workspace

Ok, so I've moved into my new house since September 2008 -- and my studio has always been a mess (and by mess, I mean unorganized chaos). There's been stints where it's been clean --but still my organization of beads and findings were so out of whack that it goes back to chaos eventually.

Now, I think I have a whole better system with better storage. The most efficient storage containers I've gotten was the 55 tiny compartment handle container to replace the small baggies for storing seed beads.

Australian Bush fires

What a heartbreak it is too see these bushfires started by people purposefully in Australia. Homes have been burned to the ground and trees have turned into ashes. It's time for everybody to pull together for our Australian friends.

Feliciafairy, an etsy seller, has set up shop with donations from sellers all over the world -- and all proceeds from the sales will be donated to the Australian Red Cross. Visit the shop OZBushFireAppeal to donate items for sale -- or buy something.

My Day magazine winter 2009 issue is out!

And my wedding bouquet - Crimson Passion is a feature. Get in your custom requests before I get booked.

It's 2009! Goals

Yeap, it's 2009 and it's been awhile since I posted anything on here.
Goals for the Year that I wrote out end of December 2008.

1. Revamp the whole Bead Flora and Jewels shop with new pictures(DONE)
2. Buy a Mannequin (Done, her name's Mandy)
3. Incorporate
4. Do something for business everyday (Can't say I've done that - life gets in the way sometimes)
5. Make an item a day (Can't say I've been able to do that either)
6. List an item a day (Uh... day job is too much sometimes with the hours)
7. Carry bead kit everywhere with me (Haven't always done that)
8. Make a portfolio.
9. Order business cards (DONE)
10. Do a craft show by the end of the year.
11. Research craft shows.

Let's revist beginning of 2010 and see how I did!

I'm IT -- I've been tagged

I've been tagged by Elle from at Down The Street Creations to divulge six secrets about myself. I have secrets? But here goes.

1. I'm a graphic/web designer by study. Yeap, I've got the degree in it but I don't use it. My third year into college, I didn't want to do it anymore but I still had to finish it. I was too close to quit. It's true what they say, it doesn't matter what degree you have as long as you've got one.

2. I speak several languages. I moved to the United States back in 1990. I can communicate with my parents in our Tai Shan dialect. I'm pretty fluent in Cantonese and communicative (barely) Mandarin. I can speak, but I can't write. English is my second language, but it's the language I think, write, and dream in.

3. I eat weird things. I love to eat. What you'd call "weird" I'd calls a delicacy. :) One of the best restaurants I've ever been to is Congee King in Scarborough, Ontario. I had deep fried squid, blood jelly congee... just thinking about it makes my mouth water.

4. I love cartoons. I watch cartoons of all kinds. I love SailorMoon, The Simpsons, and most recently South Park.

5. I've learned to let go. Life isn't fair. I lost my best friend since 6th grade because she refound her religion. And decided that since we don't believe the same things, we can't be friends. The only way we could be friends was for me to convert and believe in her God. It put me in shock. I was sad. Then I was mad... then I let it go.

6. I'm the Cheese Queen. That was my nickname in High School. Or the Cheese for short. Coincidence that I live in the Dairy State?


That's enough about me! Now, YOU'RE IT:
Kaedan Krafts
Crickets Creations
Nora Karen Designs
CC Designs
Carapace

And the Winner IS...

The giveaway for the beaded brooch over and the winner is Natalie of RecupeFashion, a fellow etsy seller from Quebec.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Check out Natalie's creations here:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=15177413