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By Merritt Gade, July 6, 2010 7:54 pm

Boy, my blog was broken.  It is now fixed.  Thanks, Joe!

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By Merritt Gade, June 9, 2010 3:30 pm

It’s been one year of blogging for me!  I’ve learned a lot about a lot, but still haven’t learned to love writing.  I’m not as scared or intimidated as when I first started, but it’s still not natural to put genuine thoughts and feelings out in a genuine way.  My favorite posts to write are about upcoming events or new pieces I’m working on, which are usually very much in the realm of technical and factual.    I do like to feature other crafters, although I feel like I don’t do their work, or coolness as people, justice.  I can dare to get more expressive about someone else’s work; however, there’s still very little Salman Rushdie flourish.

I’ve made blogging a somewhat regular habit, though, and it feels important to me for some as-of-yet-unidentified reason to keep on keepin’ on.  More on that later, I suppose.

If I’m not too unsure of putting my feelings into written form.

And I’m especially flourishy that day.

Maybe.

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By Merritt Gade, March 30, 2010 10:27 am

The Cascade Style of earrings is one of my oldest designs.  I love to make them and love to figure out new combinations of metals.  They are one of my best sellers, especially the solid silver or solid gold.  They are also kind of big, like most of my earrings.

In an effort to offer smaller options, I came up with the Half Cascade Style.  I like them plain and kept a pair of these gold ones for myself.

My obsession with these hematite star beads hasn’t let up.

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By Merritt Gade, December 30, 2009 2:28 pm

Just to get back on track, I’m going to skip over talking about the past few weeks and why there have been zero posts.  I’ll likely address business and busy-ness during the holiday season at some point, but today, I’m just showing off a little something I like to call “Weird Aunt Merritt’s First of Many Weird Gifts to Alden.”  Alden is my new nephew and first of the next generation of any of the kids on either side of my family.  And he’s awesome.

My family and I decided to do a handmade Christmas this year and I thought it would be fun to make a Baby’s First Christmas ornament for the boy.  I could customize it with his own name instead of just “baby” using my metal stamping set and he could keep it as an heirloom Christmas ornament.  It was fun, but turned out looking like a cookie.  A lot of my jewelry looks like candy, so I guess it makes sense.  Still, not quite what I intended, but a keepsake nonetheless.

Delicious

Also delicious

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By Merritt Gade, December 1, 2009 4:42 pm

So for no reason other than she loves me and was thinking of me, my Mom sent me a box of boxes!  Little, clear-topped boxes, just the right size for beads and bits, that come in their own well-fitting bigger box to keep them tidy.  I usually keep my general, constantly rotating bead collection in one of a few large, plastic tool parts containers.  These work fine for grouping the many types of beads together and keeping myself mostly organized, but they are also kind of big and when the lid is open, they’re all ready to be accidentally dumped and then cried upon.  Usually in those bigger containers, I see a set of beads that I keep forgetting to use and either store them in my head on a list that’s never really accurate, or I put one or two on my work bench so I can think about what to do with them later.  Even when I know what to do with them, they may sit there in the way for many days and sometimes weeks.  Now, I have the perfect place to “brainstorm” ideas and hang on to combinations that I like that will get made when I’m good and ready.  Here is one set of my new toy in action…

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By Merritt Gade, October 15, 2009 8:31 am

Ten years ago when I graduated from college and hoped I would metalsmith full-time, I found it very difficult to learn a new city and find its crafty community.  So difficult that I got a regular job and stayed there for many, many years.  I needed resources, colleagues, help, places to sell, and people to buy.  As we all know, it has become increasingly easier to get one’s work out there, find assistance with any issue, purchase an odd yet necessary tool, or connect with someone who is trying to make & sell like you who can commiserate and share.  The internet has changed everything.

It changed so many things that when I first started handmaking full-time, I was incredibly overwhelmed.  Which shows are best?  Who are the most informative bloggers?  Do I even like reading online?  Where should I advertise?  Who sells the most affordable, non-junk tools?  Why do I have to be a member to so many things?

To help me keep on top of it, I use this browser tool, My Morning Coffee.  Each morning, I eat a little breakfast and turn on the computer (and Regis & Kelly, don’t ask).  With one click, the tool loads the sites I need for each day and that weekday in particular.  It opens my email, banking, Facebook, Etsy, Google Analytics, and a few others sites I need regularly.  It also opens whatever arty sites I’ve selected for that day only.  I like Cafe Handmade, for example.  It has a nice Show & Tell atmosphere in a variety of crafts and is updated all the time with interesting information by interesting people.  It’s on My Thursday Coffee and loads just that day in order for me to catch up.  If I don’t have time or brains to read the site before ending my computering for the day, I know it will be there next Thursday.  I’ve used My Morning Coffee to help remind myself to apply for a show by having that show’s website load every Monday until I get time to do it.  It’s easier than moving “apply to show” to next week’s To Do List or writing it on my calendar only to run out of time before the deadline.  I’ve rotated blogs and sites in and out of the system so I get new perspectives and contacts all the time.  And I no longer feel like I’m missing out on anything.  Or that I need a nap after just getting up.  Of course, that’s where regular coffee is an even better aid to the start of my day.

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By Merritt Gade, October 6, 2009 11:05 am

A calendar was installed on this blog recently and while I’m not sure about some of its components, the need is greater than the struggles.  I like being able to look at the next couple of months of events to see exactly how much time will be spent away from the workbench meeting new people and promoting my wares.  But I really like telling folks where to find me next.  Look at December!  Wow, I’m busy.  It’s mostly one big event, Blue Genie Art Bazaar, but still, I need inventory for all those days and display items that can stay at the location the whole time.  I’m doing a two-day show, Cherrywood Art Fair, and hoping to be part of the holiday event with the EtsyAustin Team.  November has a lot going on, too, and will be filled in as more confirmations are received.  This makes October a month of hand-crafting.  Fun!  That gives me permission to stay focused on building up my stock of best sellers and working on new designs for the season.  It’s like Christmas has come early.  Except it hasn’t, because if you look at the calendar, there’s a lot going on between now and then.

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By Merritt Gade, September 3, 2009 12:20 pm

I’ve only made one pair of these mobiles, but plan to get a few more variations crafted before We Make Stuff in two weeks.  They’re kind of a Fireworks style with a Cascade touch.  While they are big, they are also incredibly light weight.  They move like mobiles, hence the name.  I’m surprised that I haven’t made more of these already, actually.

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By Merritt Gade, September 1, 2009 7:43 pm

Back at the desk and work bench, I’m feeling overjoyed and overwhelmed.  I could honestly craft every single day.  I missed my current projects and I missed my tools.  I did not miss all the planning and follow-up and non-crafting that goes into running my business.  I don’t dislike this part of the job, but it really doesn’t thrill me very much.  It was great to have a break from thinking about everything that needs to be done while doing something that also needs to be done, none of which is crafting.

Before going on vacation, I made a great To Do List for the month of September and was able to relax during the break knowing everything was calmly waiting for me.  Now I’m back and starting on the list feeling like there’s way too much to do, but also that most of it is pretty fun.  For example, I need to make 50+ pairs of earrings, 10 necklaces, and as many bracelets as I can fit into the time left over.  I love all that.  I also need to make new seats for my director’s chairs, make an events apron/belt to hold all the things I need at my fingertips, and design and make some new shelving displays for earrings.  Pretty fun, too.  I have two shows to apply for, several stores to visit, my online shop to keep up with, and the prep and attending of three really great shows (see previous post).  All of this is doable, it’s just going to have to be at a pace I’ve not had to sustain since college.

The healing affects of laughing with family and friends, visiting the gorgeousness that is the North West during August, and getting a new cache of memories with Joe will surely see me through.  As will all the squeezing I did of my brand new nephew.

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By Merritt Gade, August 20, 2009 10:44 am

Between starting my own business and the extraordinarily long, hot summer, I am ready for my vacation.  I’m headed to the North West with my boyfriend to visit both our families and enjoy cooler, less humid weather for a little over a week.  Of course, all loose ends and post-trip planning is almost complete, so I should be able to travel without worrying about missing bench time, shop visits, and awesome events.  When I return, I’m in for a big month.

First up is another Austin Handmade Market on Saturday the 12th from noon to 6pm.  I like this event and know I’ll have a good time.  Second, is We Make Stuff on Saturday the 19th from 7pm to midnight.  This one should be great because it’s at Scoot Inn and promoted by Electric Promotions, who are really good at their job.  Not to mention all the great handmade goods, demos, a skateboard deck painting contest, music, and even a fashion show.   Finally, gulp, is The Pecan Street Festival.  This show runs both Saturday and Sunday the 26th and 27th and attracts over 300,000 visitors.  It’s a billion times bigger than any event I’ve done so far, but I feel a billion times more prepared now than I did when I signed up in May.  I’m counting on my good organization, my ability to prepare weeks and months in advance, and the promise of a Casino El Camino buffalo burger at the end of the event to get me through this one.

I’ll have more about each of these events, including what new jewelry I’ll be making and how I’m getting ready, in future posts.  For now, enjoy the end of August and see you in September!