a world of pictures

I've been quiet.  I've secluded myself into a world of photo taking, photo editing, and listing editing the last two weeks.  And I've found myself sinking into it and moving slower with it.  Yes, I bought fun new photographic equipment.  Does it really streamline my process?  Not by much.  I think it will with time, but not as much as I'd like.  I'll always need to put the photos into photo editing software which is where my slow spot is.  Not that I can't do it fast, just that I don't enjoy doing it.  So I move slow.
That's ok.  That's where I am.  I made the commitment to rephotograph my shop to make my shop the best I can.  And I'm sticking with it.  I also came to the conclusion that when my pace turns into a complete stop I need to give in and pick up some beads.  That conclusion hit me on Sunday.  I was in a blah mood, needing to photo edit but not actually doing it.  Thinking of all the things I could be doing.  I actually said to C that if I just put some beads in my hand's I'd be a happy camper.  Took another 45 min before I actually got up and put some beads in my hands.  I then cranked out a two beaded pendants and the beginnings of a new flower.  Same thing happened on Monday.  A few beads and some hammering of wire and things were looking up. 
So you might have noticed that the stock in Crymson Flower is slowing going up.  There are lots of new flowers mixed in with some renewed listings.  Can you tell the difference in my photographs?  What do you think?

And because I lack amazing pics of me taking pics.  I'll show you some of the listings I've been posting. 

Fuchsia lime Calla lily

 

 Lavender Calla Lily

Black Rainbow Calla Lily

Some Calla's before Vacation

Back in July while I was prepping for the winery show I made a bunch of calla lilies.  Before I assembled the individual flowers I discovered that together they could make some interesting flowers.  Both 2D and 3D flowers. 
Some time in the future I do want to experiment with some 2D flower ideas that I have.  I think I could come up with some fun and very different wall decor.

But for now I'm in the world of 3D.  These 3 callas put together like this and then turned up side down like a bell was really romantic.  Delicate and sophisticated and BIG.  The 3 together like this probably measures 5-6 inches across. 
I'm not sure where these ideas will take me or how they will develop, but I wanted to post them here in hopes that I don't forget or loose the inspiration for them.

Crymson Flower on Etsy closes tonight for vacation.  I will reopen early in the week of 19th.  I am bringing wire and beads with me to Wisconsin but they will not be my primary focus.  I want to relax and really enjoy the quietness and beauty of the woods up there.  My goals are to eat great vacation food, take R on his first boat ride, maybe relearn how to fish, go on some hikes, and get some sleep.  All of that seems like reasonable accomplishments.

holiday recharge

I hadn't planned to take the week off.  Ok, maybe I did plan to but then I decided I couldn't afford to take a week off.  I had/have too much to do.  So I took one day off.  Which was great, but I was still tired.  So I took another day off, and then the holiday weekend was here.  So I took the week off. 

This long holiday weekend was more of vacation than Door County was in May.  I feel so relaxed and re-energized.  We hung out as a family.  We watched fireworks, saw great friends, played in the kiddie pool, went on hikes and to the park.  We were a family together an it was great.  And then Friday night the beads started to flow.  Colors came together faster than I could string the beads.  Ideas for future flowers and colors popped into my head and I clung to them as I worked to finish what I had started before starting the next.  And that flow kept flowing through Saturday and into today.  Today I finished up the color combos I'd put together.  Now as I'm writing this about 5 more ideas for flowers have come to me. 

Sunday night the final tally of petals of flowers completed equals, 4 lilies and 8 calla lilies.  I went all out on the colors for new calla lilies.  They were a bit of a hit at the show and I love how they look in clusters together.  8 seems like a lot but I'm a little addicted to making them so I can seem adding some teal and aqua callas to the pile.  As well as some more white and neutral color callas.  I'm also wanting to make a couple of the bigger flowers.  Some more complex ones. 

Soon I need to focus on wine charms again.  I'm very excited about starting up wine charms.  I need to get all the flower inspiration out of me.  Maybe lace some petals up.  That's the plan right now at least.  It's going to be a busy two weeks.

Sneak Peak Friday-one week before two shows edition

Today is technically three sneak peaks. All of what I have to show are new, and I'm equally excited about each one.  I have a solo weekend starting today.  I plan to spend most of the time prepping for next weeks shows.  That means a mock booth set up tomorrow and lots of new flowers.

 

On FaceBook a few days ago I had someone ask if I made Calla Lilies and Gerber Daisies.  I'd attempted both in the past but haven't tried either one since I picked up the beads again.  Gerber Daisies are complicated with lots of petals and lacing.  Calla Lilies are slightly easier in that it is one large petal but getting it to lay properly was always my problem.  That night I stayed up late goofing around and this is what I came up with.  I'm over the moon excited about this Calla Lilly.  I have an album on FB with more images that show the curl in the petal.  The center is bright pink and copper wire.  I hope to get three more made for next week.

The Rhapsody in Bloom art show means I need to fill a 10x10 booth.  Which means I need to fill up another tables worth of inventory.  I'm making more wreaths.  Actually, I'm loving making wreaths.  And this one is pretty much already finished.  It is my new favorite wreath.  Sorry Strawberry wreath, I love berries but it is Sunflower season!

 This pile is much more organized now that I've spent a couple hours working on it.  The dark blue lilies will combine with those little silver petals to make one amazing wreath.  This will be done by the end of the weekend.  Underneath this pile are some turquoise petals, these will become my third new wreath.  I'm having some exciting design ideas with these and I'm hoping they pan out.

Confession:

I've typed "actually" about 5 extra times in this post and deleted it.  I've been watching Sherlock, the BBC version and in love.  But apparently I think I'm British now.  I really just can't get how they say "actually" out of my head!  What are you watching right now?  Is it a good show/movie to work to?