Michelle Mach

When I checked out Blogging for Bliss by Tara Frey from the library, I wasn't sure what to expect.  Were artist blogs different enough to merit their own book?

What I Liked Best

Huge range of topics:  I liked that this book covers a huge range of topics, including naming your blog, technical set-up, how to write good posts and take stunning photos, getting traffic, advertising, and etiquette (copying someone's posts and photos is stealing!).

The heart of blogging:  Many blogging books seem to go either the technical or business route.  While these are important aspects of blogging, they're not exactly inspiring.  Craft bloggers tend to blog for creative and personal reasons.  They also are acutely aware of being part of a community.  I was very happy to see that the first chapter was titled "Why Blog for Bliss."  Many people are just told to blog without any understanding of why.  Hooray for Tara Frey for her warm and thoughtful explanation!

Successful blogger profiles:  I also appreciated the 50+ profiles of popular craft bloggers, though I wish an additional photo of their work had been included, rather than simply their blog header.  The only name I recognized was Jennifer Perkins (The Naughty Secretary Club), so it was exciting to know that I have many more great blogs to discover.

You'll Like This Book If

• You're a newbie blogger or just thinking about starting a blog.  This book will hold your hand through the entire process.  For example, it will help you decide what kind of software is a good fit for you, rather than just listing available options.
  
  

• You're currently blogging and need help with some aspect such as gaining more traffic, working with affiliate programs, or hosting swaps.
  
  
  
• You're looking to add more visual appeal to your blog.  I learned some new tricks from the photography chapter and I've been using Photoshop for years.
  
  
  
• You want ideas on inspiring—and visually appealing—blogs to visit.

Did you have "join a gym" or "get in shape" on your New Year's Resolution list?  Me, too.

I've put away the hand weights.  Geez.

This year I impulsively signed up for the Bead Journal Project. I didn't sign up the first two years because I felt I didn't have enough time.  I have already learned my first lesson: 

There is never enough time!

Here it is, the second day of March, and I'm just now writing my first post about this project.

A Way with Words

For this project, I found a frame at Target designed for "baby's first year" with 12 little openings and 1 large one in the center.  Each picture space is 2 1/2" x 3 1/2."  It's perfect for my first year working on this project, as I definitely fear being overwhelmed and not being able to finish.  Baby steps!

My basic design idea is to bead embroider a word on a square for each month.  I'm open to the idea of additional bead embroidery and actually printing my own fabric to use, but at minimum I'd like to have 12 inspiring, meaningful words at the end of the year.  

January's Dream

I chose "dream" as my January word.  I picked out some blue, star-studded fabric and then I started with silver-lined beads, deciding I would fill in the pre-printed stars.  I love stars, but this one felt too glittery, so I opted not to use it in the final piece.

The cobalt blue lettering choice surprised me.  Aesthetically it's not a great choice; there's not enough contrast between the fabric and the beads.  Emotionally, however, it felt right.  I have some dreams I want to achieve this year, but they're still at the quiet, hard-to-read stage.  This blending-in-blue is just right for conveying that.

I have the fabric picked out for February, so I'm going to start that this week.  The word I chose for that month is (of course) "love."  It will remind me to cut myself some slack when I don't meet all my goals, including keeping up with this project!

I have several pieces in the new spring issue of Stringing—two pairs of earrings, two necklaces, a bracelet, and a feature article on redesign.  Each piece has a story behind it, including the earrings.

Last year I attended the Bead Renaissance show in Denver determined to be more adventurous with color. I bought tubes of orange and yellow seed beads from Beyond Beadery, along with some orange tauga nuts from Lillypilly Designs and some yellow striped glass from Sonoran Beads.  I could practically hear my heart beating through my chest as I stood in line to pay.  Just the purchase of those orange and yellow beads felt very daring!

Tips for Working with a New Color

Here are two tips I learned making those orange and yellow earrings:

1.  Start small.
It's admirable to jump into new colors with a bold multistrand necklace or 3-piece jewelry set.  But I knew that if I tried to go big immediately, my muse would run away!  A pair of earrings was just right for a cautious first step. 

2.  Combine the new color with a color you already like.
Both earrings were combined with brown and copper, neutrals I liked and felt comfortable with.  It felt a little less scary—much like dipping your toe into the water first, rather than plunging in.

This was a small step for me, but a successful one.  For the fall issue, I've submitted a bracelet that combines orange and brown--and aqua!

Color Challenge

If you need a push to experiment with color, check out the color challenge offered at Art Bead Scene.  Deadline is April 1st.  You also might enjoy Margie Deeb's webiste.  It's loaded with great color tips.  Good luck!

Over the weekend, I flipped through a copy of Jean Campbell's Steampunk Style Jewelry.  (I won a copy from the Craftside Blog.  Lucky me!)  I enjoyed learning more about steampunk and love Jean's description of the style as "Mad Max Meets Jane Austen."  One of my favorite designs in the book is the Airship Captain's Ring by Jen Hilton.  It has a propeller in the center!  How cool is that?

As a designer, I was fascinated by the parts and pieces sprinkled throughout—the keys, watch parts, filigree, chain, mechanical parts, and found objects. 

Inspired by the book, I started to pull out all the steampunk stuff that I've been collecting and thought you might enjoy a peek at my own personal stash:

These cool watch parts from Ornamentea:
Fun porcelain links from Melanie at Earthenwood Studio:
Gears by Tim Holtz, available in Michael's:  (FYI:  In my local Michael's, they're in the aisle with the inks and rubber stamps, not in the bead aisle.)
Lots o' gunmetal chain from Rings & Things:
Brass filigree butterfly from Vintaj:
Whew! I honestly had no idea I had so many cool steampunk-y things in my stash. And that's just what was in my bead drawers—I bet if I dig around in the hardware area of the basement I'll find even more. It's playtime!