IT’S A FAMILY AFFAIR

Quite honestly, I don’t think I could accomplish what I do without the help from my wonderful family. I hired a college girl last summer from the art department to paint six plywood signs for our spring craft show (The Signs of Spring Craft Show April 10th at the Buffalo County Fairgrounds.) Yes, that’s another fun thing I do. Here it is almost time to put the advertising signs up and she never came through. Now, it’s up to the Martin clan to make it happen, captain. I sweet talked all of them. Tim lined up heat & saw horses and arranged a place to work out in our old trailer house we use for storage. There is no electricity out there either so everything has to happen in the daylight. Saturday morning my daughter, Sydney, Tim and I worked to get one coat of primer on six boards. We went in for warm soup, gave them time to dry and headed out for the back coat. After church, Syd and I picked out paint colors and headed for home. In the afternoon, Tim, Sydney and Sage went out to give each board a fresh coat of yellow so I could stay inside and work on the Untapped Potential designs. Now the fun begins. I’ve printed off letters on my computer, laminated them and cut them out. We’ll start measuring out the signs and tracing the stencils. In between Singing Around Nebraska and a junior high basketball tournament this weekend, maybe we’ll be able to get started. They help because they love me; they are learning skills to help them in their adult lives and all in all they are helping people and changing lives!

Tootles for now,

Kyla

VALENTINE’S DAY PAID OFF

I was whining to my husband about not getting extravagant gifts for Valentine’s Day. His response is that he doesn’t need to buy my love with things. DANG! I’d sure like it if he tried once in a while. Don’t get me wrong. No hubby bashing here. He’s the best! After getting back from Tucson with all our treasures, I’ve been sorting and organizing. My eyes just kept getting bigger with the number of containers I’m filling. I’m perplexed with what I’m going to do with this all to keep it organized. Contrary to what my office looks like on any given day, I do like things organized and think better when it is. So I proposed an idea to my sweetheart, my son and his roommates. I’d cook enough barbecued ribs and funeral potatoes for all of them if they’d come to my craft room and hang shelves for me. I got the ribs cooking slowly in the morning and Tim took time out of his day to head to the hardware store to pick out the best deal with me. Okay, the ribs are cooked, there’s 5lbs of funeral potatoes in the oven, dessert is made and no boys! What the heck? While we were forever waiting for the two car loads of college boys (8 in all) to show up, Tim and I had the shelving figured out and mostly done. After they all ate, they weren’t any good for anything physical anyway so it was great the Tim got it done for me. When he was done, he asked me if this was better than roses and chocolate. I’d have to say, “Heck Yes!” Happy Valentine’s Day to me! I got to spend time with my family, their friends, and organized my craft room! Does it get any better than that? (Maybe a little chocolate could make it even sweeter!) Do you ever bribe your family with food? When they are starving college kids, it works for me. Love it when they all come out. I’m blessed that my children are comfortable enough to want to bring their friends home. Do you have a place to craft? Where is it and is it your haven? Let me know!

Tootles for now,

Kyla

A New Line ~ New Possibilities

We have began to develop a new line called "Untapped Potential" or "UPLine" that will allow us to hire two people to help create a new line based on the healing properties of stones. Kyla has taken the lead on developing our new endeavor. She is in the process of designing jewelry that our new team members will recreate in several different stones based on their healing or spiritual lore.

We will offer our new line on our Beads in a Box website and have it available at the events we showcase our jewelry. We are very excited about our new line.

>>>> Have a creative day - Hugs, Karen

Rambling Thoughts

When you begin a new venture and map out the path to arrive at your destination what you discover is so many ways and directions that you can take. As with all things; as you move down the path towards your vision you have many opportunities and bumps along the way. I believe that the journey is what one needs to embrace and enjoy; one never knows what is around the bend and how that will shape your next steps. It is what makes life so amazing. We are loving the journey and plan to improve what we do and how we react as we make our away along the path! Come join us; be a part of our journey.

One thing we have discovered and haven't found a solution for is there isn't enough time to make everything happen. Life and work can change what you hope to accomplish in any given hour; so we do what we can; we continue to expect more of ourselves, and we celebrate the small steps we take. Kyla and I have learned that we have more ideas, dreams, and hopes than the two of us can make happen. So, what to do; find someone who shares your dreams and wants to be a part of making a difference. We found a partner, team member, believer in Janice. She brings an array of talent and skills that have moved us forward in our desire to have web presence. She understands the pull of working with stones and creating beautiful one-of-a-kind heirloom quality pieces of jewelry. She speaks the language, walks the walk, and is a valued member of the team/family.

Check out both our website www.beadsinabox.com and www.sfejewelry.com we will have new pieces to showcase from our trip to Tucson. We hope as you read and get to know us you will send messages with ideas, suggestions, and sources we can use as we journey along our path. I know that I will have more rambling thoughts as we continue along our path to create a lasting legacy that will help provide discretionary dollars to support our programs and services.

Have a creative day, Hugs, Karen

More on Tucson Market Trip

Kyla and I had an amazing time checking what is new in stones, how they have changed the cuts of stones, and how it will look with silver, gold or copper beads. It is an interesting process to find a stone with a unique shape/cut and pair it with metal beads/spacers. The creative process kicks in and our ideas for creating a unique one-of-a-kind piece for Beads in a Box is born. Then to find a vendor who has a variety of stone bracelets in a new and difference cut called fingernail and we were "off to the races". We picked bracelets made of rose quartz, turquoise, onyx, picture jasper, moss agate, to name a few. These bracelets are heirloom quality and will make a fashion statement for decades. Love them! We will share a photo or two.

The trip allows time to discuss what we are doing; what we need to do; what can change; and where do we want to be this time next year. Our ideas and plans drive what we look for and purchase. Over the last couple of years we have developed a line called "Something For Everyone" or www.sfejewelry.com. We developed relationships with several vendors to purchase pre-made fashion jewelry. SFEJewelry expands our price points, provides more variety, and changes with fashion trends. Our Beads in a Box one-of-a-kind heirloom hand designed jewelry spans the years and trends. While we were in Tucson we kept in mind both lines. We looked for the new stones and discovered new vendors for SFE.

More later, have a creative day, hugs, Karen

Post Office Delivers!

After Kyla and I packed, carried, stood in line, and packed more ~ all ten flat rate will taped boxes arrived! One always wonder if they should add additional insurance, confirmation numbers, and anything else they suggest to ensure your packages arrive at their final destination. To me after we spend so much time selecting the "treasures" it was a small price to pay. Kyla checked in and unpacked 8 of the boxes; I did two of them. Kyla found the rolling containers to fill with the "new stuff" and sorted, labeled, and put away all ten boxes. Well, they were in my office when I returned from a special visit to see three of my grandchildren. Love my time with my son and his family! I decided the rolling containers needed to be behind my door. Well, the weight of ten flat rate postal boxes did not want to roll anywhere. Kyla came in to help move them and the wheels refused to roll; so we had to push, shove, and coach them about six feet. We lost a wheel and decided to take off the rest. I now have 8 wheels inside my beautiful lead crystal candy box! Janice asked if I had lumps of coal in it. *smile*

More later ~ have a creative day, hugs, Karen

Have a creative day, Hugs, Karen

Playing Catch Up

Karen and I spent our last working day in Tucson on Saturday shipping out the rest of our purchases. I am officially now a veteran at packing boxes out of the trunk of a car. (Notice my tan *smile*) (It was 70 degrees out!) It went fairly smooth. We prayed while we were in line with our boxes that we wouldn't get Mr. Grumpy behind the counter. If it was our turn and he was to serve us, we planned on letting someone go behind us. Mr. Grumpy would remind you of Fonzie from Happy Days. His hair was stuck back in the 70's and we are sure he hasn't cracked a smile since then either.

The rest of the day we hung out at the condo packing our suitcases, picking things us and creating. It was our goal to get some proto-types for the Untapped Potential line created. We struggled but made it happen. We watched I Love Lucy re-runs while we worked and I was laughing so hard that I could barely talk when my daughter called.

Karen and I had a date to go out to dinner at Joe's Crab Shack, one of my favorites in Tucson. They didn't let me down. I love their seafood enchiladas. We were entertained by a young college student doing balloon art and the dancing of the waiters. We shared a sinful dessert and headed back to work.

On Sunday morning the alarm was set for 4:00 a.m. I woke at 3:15 worried that I missed the alarm. It was a very, very early morning. We left the condo at 5:00. It took 30 minutes to get to the airport. We had to check both of us in and return the rental. So sorry to have to say goodbye to the coolest of cars, the Ford Mustang. We spent the rest of the day doing the airport hop. The hurry up and wait game. That's when it is so much fun watching people.

The closer we got to home, the colder it got. What a rude awakening to get off the plane in Lincoln with temperatures in the teens.

Monday wasn't just a typical back-to-work Monday for Karen and I. We put five Mondays into one. Ever have those days? I spent Tuesday and Wednesday organizing our boxes of treasures as they arrived from Tucson. Now, the fun begins. We need to sort, sort, sort. What goes to Karen's, what goes to Kyla's and what stays here. I took enough of the UP line inventory home to create the proto-types. Then we'll have our new staff create them here at the office.

Next week Karen, Janice and I will all be in the office together. It will be good to have us all together so we can start planning on the next steps to get the UP line up and running.

Tootles for now, Kyla

Friday in Tucson

Can't believe today is our last day scoping out bargains. Karen started early around 4:00 a.m. and she thinks I started around 7:00. That's a normal time to get up isn't it? We did a lot of organizing this morning and packed our treasures in postal boxes. It took an hour at the post office to get everything off.

We returned to the Kino Sports Complex by 11:30ish and started the insanity all over again. We quickly stopped in the first tent to grab a few things from vendors we visited on Thursday, grabbed a bar and water and started in the second tent. We were disappointed in the second tent. It didn't seem to have the vendors that it did last year. The two vendors we planned on patronizing were a disappointment.

Today our focus was to tie up loose ends and concentrate on the Untapped Potential stones. With the UP line, we've picked certain stones that we know their mystical properties. We plan on working with rose quartz, tiger eye, aventurine, onyx, lapis, sodalite, coral, and jade to name a few. These all have the mystical/healing properties that we want represented in the UP line. So on our adventure, we searched for the size, colors, and prices we needed to create this new wholesale business. We found some beautiful dyed coral, shell and glass pearls that will make gorgeous summer wear for the cash/carry sales.

We've had three things to focus on throughout this trip. We've been looking for new stones for the one-of-a-kind, heirloom pieces we create for the Beads in a Box line. Since the Something For Everyone line is a purchased line of fashion jewelry, we kept a close eye out for good deals on pre-made custom jewelry. We found some amazing gemstone and crystal bracelets within our price range. Then, of course, the third project, Untapped Potential, is the new wholesale line.

Our brains have been cluttered with plans, ideas and strategies to make the UP line fly. It might take several years to get it going and have a presence - we are ready to get started! We will be hiring our help as soon as possible. They will start by helping us organize the gemstones that we do have, price the new jewelry, and make the kits for the wholesale line. It is unbelievable how many steps there are to get to the selling point. All this inventory will arrive at the office at the beginning of the week. Karen will be in Lincoln and Janice will be out all week. I plan to organize it and hopefully get it arranged somewhere in the office to prepare for volunteers and new hired help. Our space is an issue so it always seems like we are working in clutter. I'm always working in mass chaos due to lack of space. The main thing to remember is our ending goal, stay focused so we can help people and change lives. . . and we will.

Tootles for now, Kyla

Thursday in Tucson

Neither of us could help ourselves, we were both up before the crack of dawn working with our treasures. There is so much that goes on behind the scenes. Our strands must be counted, taken off their fish line, bagged up and calculated so we know how much each piece costs. This is imperative for pricing our new wholesale line. Crazy or driven, we started this process again at 5 ish a.m.

Today after working at the condo about four hours we returned to the JOGS show. This is our favorite show. Unfortunately, it is the farthest away and takes quite a bit of driving time to get there. I'm mastering the layout of this large city so Karen shut off our navigating system which I've nicknamed "Margaret."

This is a rarity but Karen and I shopped for over two hours before we ever purchased anything and when we found the right thing bells went off for both of us. We found some spectacular stretch bracelets in our favorite gemstones in cuts that are going to WOW our customers.

At lunch time we shared a table with a very kind and interesting couple from Wyoming. Their take on this whole gemstone obsession was refreshing. We have come across people from every state and country you could imagine speaking many different languages.

I found our friend Vicki at New Century and was surprised to see that she moved her booth. She still had the same incredible chain that we get from her every year. I love it when they remember me from last year and give me a hug.

Tim, the lampwork man, was excited to see us again, too. We see him in Tucson and Denver regularly. We use his beautiful lampwork in many ways. I'm always on the look out for specialty beads like Halloween and Christmas. It is these beads that I put on quilt pins for seasonal and cancer awareness pins. Karen found some new findings in which we'll be able to create new earrings using our awareness ribbons. We can't wait to get them put together. I was tutoring the other lampwork customers on how to wash their beads before they use them and several people thought I was working there (Once a teacher, always a teacher!)

The clock struck 12 for these Cinderellas and back to the condo we went via the grocery store where we picked up some deli food. We spent the rest of the evening separating and cutting our treasures until we couldn't see anymore.

Tootles for now, Kyla

Day Three in Tucson

It was drizzling outside but not in our spirit as we trekked off for breakfast. We were at the show at straight up 10:00. The vendors were barely ready for us. We finished our shopping with Cherry Tree Beads and moved onto other vendors at the Double Tree Hotel. I found some wonderful base metal findings that will be perfect for our new wholesale line called Untapped Potential or the UP line as we refer to it. Our plan is to be able to hire 2-4 people part-time to create this wholesale line. This will get us closer to our original mission to be able to create a line that is repeatable so we need help. This will in turn give us a chance to hire those we are serving to give them a hand up not a hand out and steer them closer to self-sufficiency.

I cannot begin to explain the sense of AWE one feels when entering these tents full of table after table of wonderful gemstones, beads, findings, creations and so much more. It is total sensory overload. I hope to catch a picture for you. The fun is in the hunt as we say but I can tell you that it is not an easy process. To remember what you saw, where you saw it, how much it was and if you could ever find it again would require several full-time assistants following us taking extensive notes. So, we have to trust our gut and go with what feels right. It's like grocery shopping; you know when it's a good deal or when it's priced too high.

This is quite a process: searching, touching, asking what it is and how much it is, and then asking again because you can't understand their language. Most of these booths only have one attendant and there is usually quite a line up to check out. While they are checking out your purchase, they are also fielding lots of questions, too. Patience, patience. Yesterday, one gentleman just couldn't talk so I could understand him. He wasn't too patient with me but he didn't dampen my spirit because I found the most awesome garnet.
What is interesting to Karen and I is the naming of the stones. We always ask what a gemstone is from each vendor we buy from to report as accurately as we can to our customers. We figure that this is their specialty. What is amazing is that one stone can have four different names. How in the heck? Turquoise jasper, teal paisley, rainbow jasper, what is it? (It could be all the same stone just different from booth to booth.) So we will report out in good faith.

Wednesday's shopping consisted of mostly purchasing the base metal findings needed for the UP line. We also found some wonderful stones that will be used exclusively for the Beads in a Box one-of-a-kind pieces. Karen absolutely fell in love with Chinese crystals because she's a flash and dazzle kind of gal.


We left the Double Tree Hotel and traveled to our favorite show out at the Kino Complex. We were there three hours and only made it down one row. We will head back there on Thursday morning. It is heart warming to me to be recognized by the vendors and I received many hugs from them as we recalled shopping there for the last three years.

Our goal at 6:00 p.m. when we drug ourselves and our goodies back to the car was to have a nice dinner. Then the plan changed to be Wal-Mart chicken. Strangely enough the Wal-Mart we went to didn't have produce or a deli. McDonalds to go, please; we have to be pretty tired for Karen to agree on McDonalds. *grin*

We hauled in all our treasures, ate our "dinner" and cozied up with our baggies and treasures to start the real work. Step one thru four: we counted each bead on a strand, divided it by the price to find the cost of each bead, took them off the fish line and bagged them up. Step five: see step one thru four again, again, and again until we can't see to do it anymore from sheer exhaustion. Off to bed by 10:00 and up again to start step one again at 5:30 for me and 4:00 for Karen, the early bird. No pictures please!


Tootles for now -- Kyla

....We began our journey

Milestones Along The Path - - -

As I think about the milestones that make up our journey, many come to mind. I will share a few of them so we have a log that reflects the path we chose. You may find it interesting or not *smile* We do hope you will share your thoughts with us. The need for discretionary or non-federal funds is the underlying principal for creating a business plan to present to the Board for support and approval. The business plan was crafted to sell on the internet and teach beading classes. The plan had little face-to-face selling other than local craft shows and the Community Action Partnership national convention. The Board support and commitment of $7,500 provided the means to begin August 2004.

As we discussed our new business~Beads in a Box, yes we had to come up with a name that the domain was still available. Beads in a Box wasn't our 1st choice and possibly not our 4th, but we were able to purchase the domain name. It fit with the idea of bead project in frosted Chinese take-out boxes. Upfront expenses included web designer, photographer, and beads of course. A few of the staff stepped forward to help create the jewelry and I taught basic bead techniques to them. They created inventory and ideas for our beading classes. Our inventory was ready! We researched local craft shows and found one in Kearney. We were on our way after signing up to sell at a November show. Now all we needed was a way to package our sales. We found burgundy jewelry boxes and gold tissue paper. We then put the item in a frosted handled bags. Of course, we had designed a gold foil sticker for the box and bag.

Two months before the local craft show I arrived home to a phone message that the show promoter had canceled the craft show! What now? Next morning I called the "team" together and asked them if they wanted to manage a craft show? Of course they did! *smile* We now had a place to showcase our jewelry. Of course we had no idea how to set up or manage this craft show. We found the original manager of this craft show, Marlene Hadwiger. She was a blessing and became our cheerleader. She helped us every step of the way and loaned us the booth dividers for the newly named Holiday Splendor Craft Show. Beads in a Box had a place to begin selling our creations.

This was the beginning of our journey and it was so much more than one can write about. We had so many ideas that we thought were genius. *grin* Many, many false starts and do overs. We were determined and dedicated to the creating a business that provided discretionary income and would hire a couple of the folks we are here to serve. The idea to hire, train, and enable a young parent to be at home in the evenings with their children, give up a second or third job, and create inventory was at the core of what we had to accomplish. Thus, began our journey!

Karen

Tuesday in Tucson

Tuesday in Tucson

WOW! What a day! Karen signed both of us up for a polymer clay class. We left the condo at 7:00 a.m. sharp in eager anticipation. Karen is an accomplished polymer clay artist by my standards. I, on the other hand, had never touched the stuff and assumed it would be like playing with play dough in the old days. I can safely say I know how to roll up a worm or swirl it to make a ball. That was the extent of experience that I took into my first class filled with accomplished Polymer Clay artists a.k.a. enthusiasts.

The amount of tools and supplies that they wheeled into the classroom astounded me. Everyone set up their pasta machines and we never got to eat a single kind of pasta! I soon learned that the pasta machine would save a lot on blending and rolling out the clay. It was quite fun.

I learned how to condition the clay and then blend colors to create my own design. I love color and had no problem blending and mixing. Now the "accomplished artists" on the right hand side of us looked to be struggling quite a bit. They had clay flying as they stuffed it into a pasta machine that cried for mercy. I went in worried that I might be the one slowing the class down due to my inexperience but I will have you note, yours truly held her own.

So much of today's class took me back to my rubber stamping days when I taught my own classes. I felt at ease with the teacher. She was very personable and taught in a way that novice to experienced could learn and understand. Our instructor's name was Julie Picaarello and she taught us the technique of Mokume Gane.

We'd watch her demonstrate a technique and a list of steps and then we'd go back to our tables to execute it. Karen was very helpful and reminded me if I'd forgotten a step. We were allowed a half-hour lunch break just long enough to take the necessary break and eat a banana.

I was the lucky winner of the first band aid in the class. They should've known not to arm me with something sharp! Not that Karen didn't provide an indepth lesson on handling the tissue blades before we started. Of course I received I told you to be careful. *grin*

Before the class was over we were able to bake our new masterpiece (or not) called tribal pendant and learn how to make lizard tails out of our scrap clay. This technique required some of my skills that I came into the class with like rolling a snake. Phew!

What I took from the polymer clay class is the knowledge that it is an addiction of its own. It can require as many tools, clay colors and supplies as my rubber stamping and other beading additions.

Karen kept telling me not to get hooked because one polymer clay addict between the two of us was enough. I could get hooked but have to keep my focus on what lies ahead. My job is to create one-of-a-kind, heirloom quality treasures for Beads in a Box. And now I'm creating the Untapped Potential line designs. No more time for new addictions. (If I could only get addicted to weight loss and exercise!*smile*)

After our class Karen and I finally had a light lunch at 4:00 to keep us going so we could shop until 6:00. We went and saw our friend, Bill, at Cherry Tree Beads. We discussed our next venture of creating a wholesale line. He talked about what stones, lampwork and metals he could provide that he carried regularly. He also talked about pricing and delivery timelines. Then we hit the tables on the hunt for the treasures that hide beneath all the other stones. Many new stones to consider and our old favorites that sell great awaited us. Bill has quality stones and cuts available. We ran out of time and will finish shopping with him in the morning.

Tootles for now, Kyla

We've arrived in Tucson!

Here at last!

We were so excited to touch down in Tucson and not need our coats. It's 67 degrees and sunny. My kids are going to be so jealous when they see a picture of the car we are renting. A Ford Mustang and, no doubt, the coolest car in the lot.
I have to warn Karen to hold onto her cookies when I take off; it's got power. We started our hunt at the Village Originals tent where we traditionally start off buying our copper and silver findings every year. We had good luck there and found out that they will not be offering metals in the future. Something we've never done before is venture off to the other tents in that shopping area. We found some nice sterling silver earrings that our customers will love. Karen stopped dead in her tracks with pure bliss in her eyes when we found Austrian crystals. She was so in awe she could've bathed herself in all the glitz and sparklies coming from that area. Many colors and shapes were to be had. Hold us back! After an exhausting couple of hours we decided we couldn't take anymore. Remember we started our day at 4:00 a.m.

We thought we'd do some grocery shopping before we headed back for the night. Low and behold, half way through the store we realized we were in an all organic store! We are a little slow at this point. The realization came when we couldn't find our Diet Coke! Tragic! We got the heck out of Dodge and stopped at the nearby Italian restaurant. The shrimp marinara and shrimp scampi were wonderful enough to propel us back to the condo and get unloaded. Our condo has six remotes. Remember this country girl has only had three stations to choose from most of her life. Operating this high-tech system was quite a challenge. Just get a station we recognize. Karen and I sorted through all the treasures and cut the strands to put them in plastic baggies. Needless to say, we didn't last long into the night; we were tucked in by 9:00 p.m.
Tootles for now, Kyla

Tucson!

Kyla and Karen are off to Tucson --

They are on the hunt for beautiful and exotic stones to create with. It is fun and exciting, but tiring. Keep watching for updates on what "finds" they come across!

Janice