August 2006 News
Back To School
Believe it or not, it's Back to School time in my area...our kids start back mid-August! Other schools in the US will be starting up soon as well. So how does beading tie in with BTS? Busy beaders may want to do a few fun projects in preparation for returning to school, such as
- Book Buddies (pictured below) or Wire Book Marks - Cell phone straps can be decorated and used for great backpack identifiers, jean charms, or pen charms
During the dog days of summer, let your kids work on these school prep projects...it may just get them excited about returning to class!
Fall Forecast
It's HOT right now...temps are close to 100 here in the Midwest part of the US, but cool fall days are not far off. Looking forward, I'm seeing pearls, pearls, pearls...freshwater pearls are inexpensive, timeless, and go with so many different styles and stones. Create a "Knotted" Pearl Necklace if you love the classic look of a single strand, or go a little funkier by pairing pearls with lampwork or furnace glass. Don't forget pearls come in all shapes and sizes...from "perfect" round to trendy sticks, you'll find pearls to compliment your personal style!
Show Season
Finally...for those beaders who have taken the leap into beading for profit, the busy show season is right around the corner! If you have not already booked fall shows and appearances, now is the time to do so. And while it may seem early, start thinking about holiday lines and increasing your ready-to-wear stock...once you start showing and selling, you'll be glad you did!
For those who may have had their "show gear" stowed away for a few (or more!) months..a refresher before your first show of the season is a great idea to reduce stress and speed up your set up time. Try setting up at home to be sure all of your displays are in tip-top shape, and that they work with your current stock and space constraints. Most craft shows allow room for an 8' x 30" table; if you are on a corner or end space, you'll have a bit more flexibility.
Feel free to use Beading Help Web's craft show checklist when doing your dry run set up...make sure you have all your needed supplies on hand before arriving at your first show!
I'd love to hear your craft show success OR horror stories! In the month of October, I'll host a contest for the horror story...when that awful event occurs, keep in mind it could win you a bag of beads. More details to come in next month!
