Who out there has New Year's resolutions / goals? As I reviewed last year's beading list it came to my attention that every idea checked off as "completed" was accompanied by specific "to-do" steps. So this year, I'm setting only goals with "how to" steps - no general resolutions. My "resolve" to do-what-needs-to-be-done seems somewhat weak, but give me a written out goal that I can then cross off the list and I'm on it. I love tools and my tools right now are a list and a Sharpie!So now I present you with a few of my beading goals and the steps for achieving these goals:
1) Keep up with paper work.
a) Place a sticky notepad by my bed so I can jot down notes as I get ready for bed. In the past I just kept one notebook in my studio, but could never seem to make myself go back downstairs to write in it if I had neglected to do so earlier in the day. I'd just tell myself "I'll write it down in the morning." Yeah, you can guess how good that worked out. So now I'll be able to just grab that sticky note and plop it into my actual notebook the next morning.
b) Put a sticky notepad in my car and one in my purse.
c) Get rid of that place where I put things to file later and just file them now, later never seems to get here.
2) Design and post a entry for each month of the Art Bead Scene challenge. (I know, this should be especially easy for me as I get to know the challenge even before the month begins!) As I set about laying out the steps to achieve this goal I realized that my block has to do with my beading space / organization. So my real goal here is to "Set up and maintain an area for jewelry making". Which, in my case, if very different than the area where I make bead and pendants.
a) Organize beads, pendants, findings, yarn, wire and tools.
b) Hang cork board.
c) Get a sketch book and use it. No more scrapes of paper all over the place.
d) Do not use my beading desk as a "catch all" place for my home life - this is work space. I'm very protective of my clay working space, why not be with my beading space?
e) When trying out different designs, take a quick digital photo of one arrangement before trying the next arrangement - my memory is not what it used to be. Keep digital camera handy - no lost time looking for it, its battery, cables or whatever.
3) List one item on Etsy per week. (This goal is also tied to the above goal.)
a) Read up on Etsy, but don't delay listing: I don't have to know everything before getting started.
b) Designate a place to store items listed in a manner where they can be easily packed up and shipped when sold.
4) Get new styles of beads and pendants out there for the public to see.
a) Maintain my own blog better. (I know this sound more like a resolution than a goal - I did write out steps to achieve this but they are too boring for here.)
b) Improve Elaineray.com (Same as above.)
c) Post entries on Art Bead Scene.
d) List on Etsy.
e) Visit and leave comments on designer blogs / web sites.
f) Send digital images / samples to bead shops.
g) Always take the time to photo new items.
5) Set up a somewhere to take quick, reliable photos. They don't have to be jury ready quality, just get the picture taken.
6) Get a business card and carry a few with me at all times. Never hesitate to give one out.
As I read through this list, I realize how fast I should be able to get the steps done, freeing me up to accomplish the actual goals throughout the year. To realize that I really do need to stop and think about what is getting in my way of accomplishing my goals has been a good exercise. Being an Occupational Therapist by training, I should have realized this - no one does Activity Analysis like an OT!
If you'd like another perspective, additional ideas and support to write or revise your own goals, here is link to a great article written by our favorite Bead Nerd, Lori Greenberg.
Thanks for letting me think out loud here with you. Everyone has different ways of approaching goals and getting the job done. Leave us a comment with your own ways of organizing / goal setting for your beady businesses and we can all learn from each other. Feel free to leave a link to your own list of goals / resolutions.
Smoky gray seam binding from 
A cuff bracelet by 
Hand dyed silk ribbon from 
Raku pendant with silk ribbon by 
Hand dyed ribbon from 
This fun headband is made from a 
To make these I used 9 inches of 18 gauge copper wire for the framework and 4 inches of bright brass 18 gauge wire for the hanger, but you can work with whatever you have or need for the look you are creating. Even colored wire would be lovely to use.
Wrap a loop at the top using each leg of the wire that goes around the bead, then bend the wires toward each other. Don't close off the top yet. Using the 4 inches of brass wire, make a eyeloop at one end, and wrap the loop around the copper wire at the bottom on the center mark. This brass wire goes through the bead and suspends the ornament, becoming the hook that goes on the limb. I put a star button with a shank loop on the brass wire above the loop, then put the bead over that. You can use any decoration you like or that has meaning for you.
So go grab your stash of favorite buttons, glass lampwork and art beads, you're bound to have some that will make wonderful ornaments and decorations. If you close the brass wire loop at the top instead of leaving it open, you can make gift wrapping decorations or even jewelry this way!
1. What inspired you to write Elements of Style?
6. What are your influences and inspirations for your jewelry designs?
Now return to the other long leg on the opposite side and curl it toward the center bottom loop, matching the size of the loop to the other two on the bottom. When you have both loops on either side of the center bottom loop adjusted, you can clip the extra length off the wire of each leg and nestle the loops close into the central bottom loop. There's your three-to-one connector!
The designs in the book can translate into any medium. Here is a variation of the Tinkerbell Drops project that I created with polymer clay, lucite and glass.
by Melinda Barta.
by Heidi Kummli and Sherry Serafini.
by Nicole Noelle Sherman.
, edited by Denise Peck.
First is a sparkly Bling Links Kit from 
The second prize is a bright and festive holiday pendant set from 
ABS Monthly Challenge
