Bunches of Stuff

Lately, it seems as though this blog has been less and less about color and art, and more about life and conflict.  That's just the way it goes sometimes, unfortunately.

Life has a way of piling things on - and it seems like so many people in my current large circle of family, friends and peers are dealing with huge....uh....piles.  :)

I'm included, so this post will largely cover the latest stuff, to keep everyone up to date and also ask for a little help.  Again. :( This post will be long.  Stupidly long.  So if you're inclined, grap a cup of tea and settle in.  If you get to the end, you'll be rewarded with bead pics!  :D

First, the latest in the Ullja v Artist dealio is that after we dropped our suit against her for lack of funds, she has evidently decided to turn the tables on us and sue back.  (Previous posts of mine will inform you if you haven't heard about this before).

Now, she's not suing everyone who was on the last lawsuit - and she has added some new people to the mix.  Her choices seem a bit random to some of us, but whatever.  The suit isn't really official yet - none of us have been served - but papers were filed by her sometime in the last couple of weeks.  I wasn't surprised given her blog posts (which I am not linking, sorry).

So, we're being sued by her for defamation and a host of other bogus things.  The suit has no merit whatsoever, but we still have to defend ourselves somehow if this actually goes forward.  Therefore, the AGLF fund that we have for legal issues is being used again for fundraising, just in case.

{sob story} Many of us on the suit are really strapped for cash - and really, who isn't these days?  So, we're hoping some of you who have the means can help.

Along with accepting straight donations, we're also doing a couple of other things.

On Etsy, we have opened up a store where artists are donating items to sell to benefit the AGLF.  There are some really lovely things there - you can check them out here.

We're doing a 2011 calendar (the 2010 calendar was a huge success and turned out beautifully).  We need submissions from artists - some 300 dpi pics and links to your websites would be wonderful.  You can send your submissions to me and I will forward them on to the person doing the calendar layout.  Once we have the calendar layout done, we will be posting info on how to buy it.  I had images in last year's calendar and have also submitted to this one - and I would love it if you would join me!  Any kind of handmade art or craft is welcome - beads and jewelry and soaps were in last year's calender.

My humble thanks go out to the people who are donating their time, money and art to help us out.

Moving on to the next topic.....what the bleep is going on with me and beadmaking??  Well, the truth is I don't really know.

Many people have noticed that I have had fewer and fewer beads listed on my website for sale, and haven't been all that vocal in the forums or online anywhere.  There are several reasons for this - not the least of which is this weird Ullja stuff.

Another reason is that sales are really very slow.  My husband and I are struggling financially in a pretty serious way, and this has created a major depression for me.  I'm prone to depression and anxiety anyway, and when this kind of thing happens it saps any creative energy I have.  So making beads, while necessary, has been literally like pulling teeth.  I've wasted a lot of time and glass trying, and only getting about a 40-50% success rate, which is awful for me.

It's kind of a catch-22.  Sales are slow - people are strapped for cash, so they aren't able to buy beads.  I panic, because we aren't able to sustain ourselves, and it becomes harder for me to make beads anyway.

Soooooo lately I have been looking for outside work.  This terrifies me because I have not worked outside the house for 10 years now, and I have no idea what I am qualified for or where to start.  More panic and anxiety ensues, which cripples me at points.

Still with me?  I know - it's depressing, and it's all too common everywhere these days.  Many, many other beadmakers are going through the same thing.  It sucks but there it is.  Beads just aren't a necessity, and things which are not needed are sometimes dropped from our budgets in times like these.

I'm kind of in a holding pattern at this point - and trying to decide what I should and am able to do.  Right now, I am still making beads when I can, and exploring other avenues of income.  To be honest, it's not as going well as I'd hoped, but I will keep trying.  I have one more bead order outstanding, and then that's it.  It's been a very long time since I have not had outstanding orders to fill.

I did have a couple of fruitful bead sessions last week, where I was able to finish up a bead order and also make a couple of small sets in colors I really love.  Amber and green - fantastic fall colors.  And with this heat, I am really, really looking forward to fall.

Friends, I'm going to be straight with you.  I really, really hate boring you with all this stuff about how bad things are for me.  I can't imagine anyone wanting to read all these tales of woe.  I am an independant, self-sufficient person, and I don't like having to depend on anyone for help of any kind.  But so many people have asked after me, and I really appreciate that.  The artist community has really been very supportive of me lately, and it really moves me that people I have never met in person are checking in on me and being so kind.  I almost don't know what to do with it - except say thank you.

And so the end of the post approaches (finally, for the love of gawd!!) and I promised pics.  Here they are....click on them to see them on my website.

Hugs to all. :)