Signature beads....really?

I'm not sure what I was thinking. Uh....actually I've been doing a lot of that lately. The whole "thinking" stuff doesn't seem to stop lately. I stay awake some nights with thoughts running through my head. Some good and productive, others a complete waste and depressing. That's life I guess. We can't always have sunshine and rainbows. Although it would be fun! Sign me up! Okay...where was I? Oh yes...signature beads. I made 2 sets of my signature lampwork beads! Wow! Unbelievable! You know, the 5 bead sets of lentils I haven't made in ages? I stopped making them so much because I felt a little uninspired to really put myself into it all once again. Not that my simple beads weren't "me," they just weren't the dotted up, twisty, full of life beads that feel like me! I felt like I needed to make easier things because people weren't spending what they once did on beads. There was NO way I was going to devote THAT much time on something to have them go for peanuts! That's the hard part about trying to make a living from your art! If you're not independently wealthy, it HAS to be a concern. I wish I could just create anything and everything all day long without worrying about the financial end of it! Wouldn't that be nice? I care so much about originality and my signature designs. These beads...as all my beads do.....come entirely from my own imagination. I'm grateful that I have a real good one! ; )

So you know.....I don't "do" e-books nor will I. Not that I have any thing against them BUT....it makes me yawn to see everyone doing the same thing. I wish people would stop trying to sell the things they're copying from the e-books. Maybe wear them or give them as gifts but trying to sell them....really? There were days when I'd turn on the computer to list my items and see oodles of people with the same stuff out there. I quickly did a search and yep....another e-book!!! Is it because people stopped buying your designs so you decided to make money another way by telling people, that do what YOU do for a living, how to make EXACTLY what YOU made? And they're going to benefit how? If a zillion people are making the same thing don't your items become practically worthless in a short amount of time? Anyone can do them now and people eventually forget where the "original" design came from. It all seems a little desperate to me. I'm not talking about the "how to" books, we all need to learn how to do something. I'm only talking about the e-books that tell you how to make a certain style or design. That's great if it's for fun but some folks turn around and sell your design exactly as YOU made it. Same colors too sometimes! Let me guess.....you're hoping someone will put their own spin on it? That's probably NOT going to happen the majority of the time.. I've had this conversation with a few people now and we all scratch our heads in amazement. Has true art left the building? Could it be on its way out? Nah...there's still some really talented folks out there! There's a lot of originality still left in the world! YAY! BUT.... how many things REALLY stand out these days and how many "Oh...yawn....another one of those?"" have you passed by? I think we could all come up with some really unique ideas and fun-filled things if we'd only use our noodle and stop leaning on what already exists.

AND..... I'm not saying my beads are "all that." I know some people probably don't even like my beads or my color selections. I'm okay with that! BUT...they are mine....and they come from me!!! Again, I think I have a great imagination. Luckily it makes up for some of the other things I lack! ; )

So......signature beads! Yes!!! It's been ages! I had a few people ask me about them recently and I didn't think I had it in me at this time. Some of you may know this hasn't been the easiest year for my family. I've been on an emotional roller-coaster here and there too. So....to try and get ME back, I decided to take a semi break from beads until after the holidays. I have some things laying around with pics I need to list BUT I was going to lay off eBay auctions and maybe even stop making beads for a few weeks. Funny thing is, when I allowed myself the freedom from the "have-to" part of it all, I felt inspired again. Isn't it odd how life works? I'm also trying to keep a promise to myself about not making rules for myself. I'm going to try and stop putting unnecessary pressure on myself to produce and list a certain amount of things by my own set times. How silly is that? AND..... if the beads sell quickly...great! If they sit a while...that's okay too! That's another good thing about letting go. No expectations! Maybe if I go with the flow a little more and just BREATHE, life will be a little bit simpler....a little more manageable. I'm trying new things each day and trying to release some of my old ways of doing things that aren't working for me anymore. This could be fun!

Okay.... I've gone on long enough. I don't know when you'll see the beads I mentioned. I think they may go on Etsy....who knows. AND.... I'm not sure when. Maybe tonight...maybe a week from now. BUT.... I hope you like them and I hope you'll keep checking back. Just like my beads, ...... I'm still a work in progress. ; )

Best Wishes,

Rebecca : )