Image Copyright Gil Elvgren

Hello My Lovelies!

Is it just me or is time flying even faster these days?! Where did my week go?! If you see it, will you be so kind as to return it to me?

I managed to finish the last of my new book designs yesterday, which is a minor miracle. I’m working on instructions for a little while today and then I’m clocking out. It’s a picture perfect day outside and we plan to enjoy it.

Happy Fourth! Before you fire up the grill, here are some no calorie TastyLinks™ for your enjoyment.

Cheers,
Madge

Vickie Howell-Craft.Rock.Love Learn how to finger knit with Vickie's step-by-step how-to, featured on the CRAFT website!

The Impatient Crafter Madge shares the clip from her recent appearance on Lifetime TV's The Balancing Act for Beadalon.

The Artful Crafter Eileen suggests you go shopping for craft supplies in your jewelry box and closet. Make an old accessory into something new and fresh.

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery Old plastic bead necklaces go under the knife (and in the toaster oven) to make Melted Plastic bead Star Earrings perfect for the patriotic holidays

Naughty Secretary Club Thinking about starting up your own craft business? Jen has a few suggestions of things you might consider first. Plus learn how you can take a Crafty Business Seminar with Jen from anywhere in the world!

Mixed Media Artist Cyndi reports on her experiences with using the new CopprClay. This stuff rocks!

Cross Stitch at About.com Why no knots in Counted Cross Stitch? Find out why and how to secure your floss in alternate ways.

Crafty Princess Diaries Tammy shows off her cool new sewing cabinet that was surprisingly inexpensive.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world At Craftside there is a bling-tastic video on hand lettering with Lisa Engelbrecht, from the new book The Crafter's Devotional a how to make a leather book cover and flag cuffs made from a book cover, an "actual size" silver heart using PMC, and a fun snack recipe.

Cathie Filian It is summer and that means beach & pool time! Visit Cathie Filian's blog to learn how to stitch up a terry beach throw.

Aileen's Musings Ever wonder how to get that cute copyright symbol or better yet, how to put one on your artwork or photographs? Aileen offers a easy tutorial using PSP.

About Family Crafts If you are looking for a creative way to celebrate every day during the month of July, check out this special events calendar!

Ask Madge!

I'm introducing a new feature to the blog called "Ask Madge." I'll be printing emails and responses from my website on occasion and if you've got a question, feel free to visit my website and send it on over. This is the first installment! Hope you enjoy!

I'm taking tomorrow off...so look for the Crafty Blogger links on Sunday!

Cheers,
Madge

Your Name: Maire
Subject: Jewelry storage?
Message:
Hi Margot! I'm a huge fan of all your books, and blog too! I just started making jewelry on my own now and have an unkempt pile in my room; it's adding up fast. I can't imagine how designers like you maintain all of it! So I was wondering, how do you store all the jewelry you make? Did you do a DIY project?
Thank-you! :)

Dear Maire,

Thanks so much for your kind compliments. I have to admit that organization isn’t really my strong suit, but I effort. Keeping up with my ever growing stash requires an ever expanding array of storage units. My beads sit in divided plastic trays angled on cheap wooden shelving from Ikea. That way I can see what I have when I’m working on a design. I have a huge wardrobe also from Ikea that holds ephemera, paper crafting supplies, inks, glues and adhesives, rubber stamps and miscellaneous goodies. My fabrics, vintage buttons, yarns and ribbons are all stored in plastic bins. Last year for my birthday my husband bought me some small vintage cabinets with sliding drawers and I immediately filled them with ink pads and vintage bits and baubles. I keep the tools I use the most often on my Jeweler’s bench and I keep small trinkets and charms in storage units designed for nuts and screws I buy at Lowe’s.

I’m sorely in need of a few more solutions because there’s a horrid mess of boxes and bins taking residence under my desk and they’re threatening to take over the studio!

My husband is thankfully blessed with the ability to organize and with his help I managed to mostly keep it all together. It’s an ongoing battle! Good luck!

Cheers,
Madge

Your Name: Beverly
Subject: Love Your Books
Message:
I have bought two or your books and absolutely love them and am extremely excited about starting my journey into Jewelry making. My question is what would you say are the have to have tools and supplies to have on hand before I start my new found love. I think it is amazing how you can get someone who is not very creative, like myself and get them to thinking about all kinds of things I can use to make beautiful jewelry. Looking forward to your new book.

Thank you,
Beverly

Dear Beverly

I'm so happy to hear that!

You'll need:
Round nose pliers
2 pairs chain nose pliers
Wire cutters
Crimp tool
Bead board
If you are going to use Memory Wire you'll need to buy Memory Wire Shears

I suggest you get some good quality stringing wire 19 strand in a .018 diameter to start and then you can play with other diameters. The higher the number, the thicker the strand.

Crimp tubes
Clasps
Ear wires
Head pins

This should be enough to get you started and if you really like it, you'll expand outward. I always have a list of tools you need in my books and if you look on my website I wrote an article about what you need to get started.

Good luck! You're going to have a lot of fun!

Cheers,
Margot

The Balancing Act for Beadalon

Well folks, here it is! It was my distinct honor to appear on The Balancing Act for Beadalon. I love their products and have used them since I owned a bead store 11 years ago. They're good people and they make a good product right here in the USA. They are the only wire company that manufactures and spools their own wire and they have been 'green' since they started making wire thirty years ago. I'm truly honored to be a member of their Design Team.

Enjoy the segment and I'll be back tomorrow!
xoxo, Madge

Shameless Self Promotion AND a Bonus Mixed Media Jewelry Project Idea

Peonies and Pearls Mixed Media Necklace Copyright Margot Potter
Peonies and Pearls Detail

Your regularly scheduled blog post has been interrupted so that we may bring you these important messages:

Everyday Artist’s Studio has officially launched and I’m their first Craft Celebrity blogger! You can visit their site to read my guest post and while you’re there poke around a little! Big thanks to Jenn Mason for asking me to participate.

Just another little reminder...I’m so excited to be appearing on The Balancing Act on Lifetime TV for the fine folks from Beadalon tomorrow morning talking about their products, jewelry making and showing how to make a quick and easy double needle ladder stitch bracelet. You can read a little blurb about the segment on the Balancing Act home page. The show airs from 7-9am daily so tune in! The three airdates are: 7/2, 7/17 and 7/21

I’m working on a full day co-teaching event with the Queen of Utee and the Designing Diva Ms. Suze Weinberg at her New Jersey studios on October 18th. Details to come soon!

I'm teaching two fabulous classes on the When Creativity Knocks Celebrity Craft Cruise this November! It's a great line up of teachers and events with a cruise to the Mexican Riviera!

We're nailing down dates for my Beads and the City tour and it looks like May of 2010. As soon as we have the dates confirmed, I'll send you the 411! Don't forget about the Crafty Cabaret Cruise with Brini Maxwell in October of 2010!

And now...we return you to your scheduled free mixed media jewelry project idea:

Above is a fun mixed media jewelry project I made a while back using general craft supplies mixed with jewelry making components. It’s a three layer tim holtz™ Grungeboard flower I die cut with my Sizzix Big Shot, this flower is BIG (3 inches big!) I painted the layers with Ranger paint dabber in pink and then stamped using silver paint dabber and edged with Krylon Silver Leafing Pen. The layers were glued together with fabric glue; but any porous surface friendly glue should work. I used a hot fix crystal applicator wand to attach the CRYSTALLIZED™-Swarovski Elements. I punched a hole in the center of the flower with my Crop-o-dile and threaded a head pin through creating a loop on the back I could slide on the beaded pearl section. Beadalon Quick Links, a small section of 49 strand .018 wire with wire guardians and crimp covers, CRYSTALLIZED™-Swarovski Elements crystals and crystal pearls were combined to make an open and airy asymmetrical design. I could have made it all chain or created a repetitive pattern, but I was feeling a funkier vibe to go with the larger than life flower focal. The key to asymmetrical design is to create balance and adding the dangling CRYSTALLIZED open circles achieves that effect. This is one of those pieces that absolutely comes to life when you put it on.

I love mixing unexpected elements together. I’m not a materials snob. In my world there are no rules. Rules...schmules. Try not to take it all too seriously, “life is an absurdist tragic-comedy and you are the star!”

Until next time...craft on with your bad selves.

xoxo,
Madge

A New Day

Image from WikiMedia Commons by Peter

Today is a new day and I’m going to focus on possibilities and positivities. (Yes, I know that isn't a word, but it works!) I'm working on more book projects...and the great news is that I’m almost there. I’m waiting on some materials to arrive this week so I can finish. I’m really looking forward to playing with some new toys! Yay!

We bought two guinea pigs this past weekend. They do better in pairs or small groups because they’re herd animals. We named them Finn E. Pig and Truffles. So far they’re still getting used to us, but slowly warming up. We’ve been hand feeding them carrots while talking softly to them. We had guinea pigs when I was a kid and I really loved them. They are truly endearing little creatures.

Yes, it’s true, fifteen chickens, two pot bellied pigs and a cairn terrier weren’t enough pets, so we had to get two guinea pigs. The menagerie grows on!

I have a big phone meeting this afternoon and I’m hoping it goes well. I’ve been trying to get the right combination of idea and opportunity to coalesce in this format for a while. It’s a lot of hurry up and wait and a lot of almost...but not quite. This is where you have to persevere. I think a good portion of ‘failure’ comes from giving up too soon. It’s easy to get discouraged or to feel inferior when people dismiss us. No matter how good you are, you can’t be everyone’s cup of tea. Try not to take it personally, chances are if you keep plugging away at it, you’ll find someone that likes your flavor!

I’m going to have a free project for you tomorrow. It’s a fun and easy mixed media design and I think you’ll enjoy it.

Until then...craft on with your bad self. Or as Finn E. Pig and Truffles would say, “Squeep, squeep.”

Cheers,
Madge

R E S P E C T

Image Copyright Enoch Bolles

I have been waiting for months for six of my designs to be returned by a magazine publisher. One of them has been held hostage for over a year. I’ve emailed them, messaged them and sent smoke signals begging for my projects back...and I occasionally get a reply that yes...my six projects will be returned...after they find them...and then nada. What...did they send them on vacation? Are they wearing them?

I love these designs. Several of them are made with one-of-a-kind materials I simply can’t replace. I sold them the right to publish them, but I did not sell them the actual pieces. The understanding was they’d return them to me. They’re fully aware of that...but they keep stonewalling me.

Then today I returned home from the hair salon feeling like a Breck girl and in a lovely mood only to find a thinly padded envelope with THREE class samples tossed inside. Where did the bubble wrap packages I created for them go? Why couldn’t they have used a box? I’m amazed they weren’t shattered into a zillion tiny pieces. PLUS they actually GRADED them with RED PEN! What?! Are you friggin’ kidding me? I got a low ‘B.’

Uh, okay, what...ev...er.

I give them a big red ‘F’ for packaging followed by a very juicy raspberry.

Sheesh.

I don’t think it’s asking so much from my clients that they treat my work and me with the respect we deserve. They don’t have to like my pieces, but they should return them in a timely manner and packed with some semblance of care and respect. I’m seriously considering not working with either of these companies again. Sorry, Charlie. I’m not going to let people walk all over me.

The point of this rant is to remind everyone that we do not have to allow other people to treat us like crap just because they think they’re in a position of power or because they appear to wield so much importance we’re afraid of standing up to them. So maybe we won’t do business with them again, but who wants to work with people who don’t respect us? Everyone deserves professional courtesy. After 12 long years waiting tables...I made a deal with myself that I was NEVER going to do a job I hated again.

Find another sucker.

I know some folks are willing to work for the honor of associating their name with something big or are so happy to get a book deal or a magazine article they’ll pretty much do it for nothing and suck it up. I’m just not there anymore. I’ve built something and when you get me, you get my considerable talent, insight, hard work, dedication and my brand. It’s a mutually beneficial situation.

Aretha was so right on. Sing it, sista.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

It's a damn good thing my hair looks this good or I'd be a mighty grumpy Gertie.

xoxo,
Madge

TastyLinks Sunday!

I came up with a clever plan to relieve some of the pressure on meeting my book deadline. I can’t say what it is yet...but it’s made my life much easier and I think it’s going to give the book lots of bang for the buck. Huzzah!

This week I took the proverbial bull by the horns and started work on one of my big dreams. I’m hoping that it will result in the next level for my career. It’s time. I’ve built a strong foundation. I’m fine tuning a big idea and we’ll see where it leads. I’ve been re-visiting Dream Big starring Olivia before bed every night for inspiration!

There are a lot of big ideas on the burner in my world right now, and it’s all simmering nicely but I’m ready for something to boil. That’s the life of a freelancer and an entrepreneur. We have to make it up as we go along. Well really that’s life...it’s just that some of us realize we are the star of our own movie and some of us think we’re extras. Step away from the donut table and get your ass center stage!

(Olivia the Pig Images Copyright Ian Falconer)

The fine folks from Rings and Things are looking for a few good blog partners. Go here to find out how to join the fun!

It's TastyLinks time yet again and here’s what’s happenin’ with the Crafty Blogger Gang:

Vickie Howell-Craft.Rock.Love Keep your kids busy this summer by setting up a Crafty Challenge for them!

The Impatient Crafter Madge shares a technique in this post about embossing on slick surfaces!

The Crochet Dude Read Drew's first installment supporting the 3/50 grassroots project!

The Artful Crafter “Panadieres for Zambia” is a neat story and one small example of crafters helping crafters – all around the world. As Eileen likes to say, “Crafters are just the nicest people.”

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery See how to make a card and card album themed for a rock and roll mom to be that uses cute die cuts in a cool way.

Naughty Secretary Club Arty Masterpieces are over rated; it's all about the Glittery Crafterpieces! Take a peek at the handmade art around my house and try your hand at making a fun glittery deer picture!

Mixed Media Artist Have you been wondering what happened to "Layers Upon Layers"? Cyndi's still hard at work, but has moved to "Mixed Media Artist". This week she's got a round-up of fabric painting ideas for you!

Cross Stitch at About.com Work at Your Own Pace - An encounter with a critter in the yard has Connie thinking about Cross Stitch (imagine that!) and speed.

CraftyPod Sister Diane reviews an intriguing new book: Micro Macrame by Annika DeGroot

Crafty Princess Diaries Tammy uses her jewelry making skills to create some beautiful and functional stitch markers.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world This week at Craftside you can watch the latest Look, Learn & Create video that includes tips on drawing, two techniques and projects for cutting photos up, a bit of fabric eye candy, and a free paper stencil and project from the new book The Art of Decorative Paper Stencils 2 and if you leave answers to the day's questions you are entered to win free books!

Cathie Filian If you are wondering what to eat, craft and play on the 4th of July then head over to Cathie's blog for ideas.

Aileen's Musings Hard as it was, Aileen has narrowed down the playing field and needs your help again to choose from her favorite sayings that have been posted for her blog giveway! Stop by and pick your favorite.

About Family Crafts What are your cleaning tips for crafting with kids? Please take a moment to share your tips and then browse through tips shared by others.