Update

Ok. Today's the day! I am sending my beads to Pokey Bolton to be featured (well, maybe not exactly "featured") in Quilting Arts' special magazine, International Quilt Festival: Quilt Scene. I have them packaged up and ready to go - sort of like sending a child off to college (ok, not quite that dramatic). But they are going all the way to the East Coast by themselves...

I have the article for the magazine ready and will email it to the editor today as well. I have reviewed it a thousand times and had it proofed by several friends who are much smarter than I. They like it, or like to humor me. Regardless, when I get the nerve to push the "send" button, it will be on its way as well.

Then, I sit back and wait for fame and fortune to find me. Or not...

Exciting News! REALLY Exciting News!!!

So, the other day I'm in this really boring meeting and I decide to look at my iPad and check my email. In looking at my email, I saw a message from Pokey Bolton, the editor of Quilting Arts Magazine - one of my very favorite art magazines. After I closed my jaw, I opened the message, and found she was asking if I wanted to do an article for an upcoming issue of their specialty magazine, "International Quilt Festival: Quilt Scene". Again, I closed my jaw, and tried to hide the huge grin on my face (I was still in a meeting). Really? Me? Perhaps she had the wrong Lou Haines? No, I think it was definitely me since she attached the picture of my felt beads that I had emailed to her several months ago begging for a look.

So I immediately emailed her back and said I would be happy to do an article. Actually, happy doesn't quite describe it. I am over the moon! Now comes the hard work of coming up with what is needed by July 18th! Then waiting for the magazine to be published will be torture!

I am SO glad I bought new yarn for my beads while on vacation a couple of weeks ago (Nautical Yarns in Ludington, Michigan - GREAT yarn shop!). I'm so glad I have a good portion of this weekend to work on beads and an article. I'm so glad I'm throwing myself out there!

See? Sometimes it works!!

A blog is like a child...

I am feeling pretty guilty these days. I have neglected my poor blog terribly, and I feel just awful. A blog must be nurtured and cared for in order to flourish, and my blog has sat forgotten for a while now.

Ok, I'm over it. No time for this blog guilt! It's just been very, very busy this spring.

So when I last blogged, I was preparing for my first art sale, and worrying about having enough inventory. I had more than enough as I made quite a few bracelets as I sat at the show all day. But the show/sale was very successful for me, and it was a great learning experience.

I made my first necklace last night with felt beads and sari silk ribbon. I still need to take a picture, but I think it actually looks pretty good. Lots of hot pinks and oranges.

We have another show/sale in September, so I will need to dream up some new things. I like the necklaces, and also need to figure out how to attach the felt beads to hair sticks as a few ladies expressed interest in those. So many things to do - so little time...

I Have Arrived!!!

Well, sort of ! My "calendar days" have been posted at "CreateMixedMedia", and there is a direct link to my blog if you click on one of the numbers. You absolutely MUST go take a look! The colors are a little different from my original artwork, but it's so completely cool to be on a page with so many other respected mixed media artists!

Here is the link to the website: http://www.createmixedmedia.com/

How cool is this??? Very cool... Very, very cool !!

My First Art Show and Sale!

So with everything else that's going on this month, at the end of the month I have my very first art show/sale here at Miami University in beautiful Oxford, Ohio! My bracelets even made the flyer! I'm pretty excited about this, and will have to put it in high gear to get all of the beads made into bracelets before April 30th. My friend, Anne, and I are sharing table space, and she has a beautiful sense of design when it comes to laying out her jewelry, pottery and stained glass, so I know she will find a great place for my bracelets too!

Can you tell I'm pretty excited about this?

I have finally finished my artwork that was needed for the CreateMixedMedia.com site. I have had a few roadblocks thrown in this month, and I was just a little behind, but Tonia Davenport at North Light Craft was such a big help. My artwork will appear at the site from April 17th through April 23, 2011. I can't wait to see it, and I hope you will stop by to see the "calendar" on April 17th. Here's the website address: http://www.createmixedmedia.com/