A magazine feature and a new giveaway!

I may have mentioned this in a previous post but it bears repeating.

I am going to be the featured designer in Bead Trends magazine for February.  This means I get my head shot, bio, and 10 page spread of my jewelry in the center of their February issue.  I am beyond excited about this opportunity and have been searching for the perfect way to celebrate this momentous event.

I have found it.

I will be once again hosting a giveaway.  But this time.... it is HUGE.  I will be giving away a $100 gift certificate to not one but TWO lucky people on February 10th.  Entries will begin on February 1st at midnight (12am CST) and end February 9th at midnight (12am CST).

How can you enter to win for a chance to win one? 
1.) Tweet about the magazine issue on Twitter (send me a copy of your tweet). 1 chance
2.) Post a link to Bead Trends magazine on your FB.  Make sure you tag me in the post (Cynthia Thomson). 3 chances
3.) Send me a photo of you with the February issue of Bead Trends magazine. Let me know if I may use your photo in my blog or FB page. 5 chances
4.)  Make a comment on this blog about which featured jewelry piece from the magazine issue you like best and why.  5 chances

So, get out there and check it out.  You can find Bead Trends magazine online ( http://www.northridgepublishing.com/store/issues/bead-trends-magazine ) and also in craft stores.

Back after a hiatus again.

I just can not seem to motiate myself during the summer to blog about anything.  And so much has traspired over this particular summer that I am almost uncertain about how to compose this "I'm back" blog post.  Perhaps a list with select details will be best.

1.) The garden looks phenominal though as usual some things grew better than others.  I have lots of pictures about that to post at a later date.  We had some hellish weather this summer which made my watering of the garden more of an obsession than a passing chore.  Because of that, the plants grew big but haven't really officially started producing vegtables until these past few weeks. It's bizarre.  We had pumpkins ready to pick and cook before we had ripe tomatoes.  Positively strange.

2.) My friends have some serious drama going on.  One married couple split up the same day as another married couple... each of the dumpers leaving their respective spouses for the other. So.... it's been an odd social season for us.  We can no longer just call couple #1 and couple #2 for dinner or drinks because... well.... they are now single #1 and single #2 and couple #3.  It's a big, fat mess and we are all forced to deal with it. *sigh*  Doesn't make a god case for marriage does it?

3.) I have been busy doing Farmer's Market things once again this summer.  Since we've had 40 traight days of 100+ degree weather, produce has been slim and thus we have almost all resorted to making some kind of baked goods and crafts to sell in the mean time.  I discovered that Dodge City is comprised of a number of dog lovers.  So, I began making and selling homemae dog biscuts.  People and dogs love them. I've also been making homemade english muffins and scones which are becoming a big hit as well.  I've done quite well this summer.

4.) Lee, my boyfriend, moved into my home in January of 2011. Things have been going well for us.  So well, he got a promotion at work.  He is no longer an assistant manager of customer service at the car dealership but has been transfered to a different section and made a proper manager of customer service.  In other words, when your car breaks down or has the oil changed or is making that weird noise, he's the guy you talk to to schedule an apointment with the technicians.  And he's damn good at his job too.

5.) On the jewelry front, not much has been happening in the way of sales.  However, a lot has been happening in the way of PR for my jewelry studio on Artfire as well as my designs in general.  I've had pieces featured in Bead Trends magazine in the past and have pieces that were selected to be featured in the November and December issues for 2011 as well.  This July I received an email from the editor asking if they could use me as the Designer Highlight for the February 2012 edition.  It's a full 10 page spread along with a head shot of myself and bio page.  I am SUPER excited about this opportunity and will therefore be getting pieces put together and shipped off in the next 2 weeks.  How cool is that?

That's a good update thus far.  More to come later.... including pictures.

Bead Trends magazine again!

I have had the good fortune to be published this year (2010) in Bead Trends magazine not once but twice!  These earrings were in the October issue.

And this necklace is appearing in the recently published November issue.

Add to that the excitement of knowing that the editors at Bead Trends have also selected a piece for the upcoming April issue... well, my PR cup runneth over! 

Woohoo..... super excited on my end of things!

Bead Trends and submitting photos for publication

In April 2009, a friend and fellow jewelry artist walked into my classroom after the dismissal bell had rung for the day.  She had with her a copy of a magazine called Bead Trends. 
"I think you should submit photos to this publication."
"Really?"
"they published my things and your wire work is way better than my bead stringing.  Submit something.  See what happens."
She dropped the April issue on my desk, smiled and walked out again. 
I flipped throught he magazine and saw all the wonderful things that people had created.  Could my pieces really compete with these seasoned artisans?  By the following morning I had decided to investigate the magazine further.  I went to their website and poked around a bit.  ALL their photographs were submitted by artists, some of whom design and create jewelry for a living and those who likeme are hobby jewelry designers. 
I read up on their requirements for submission and decided to try it.  I submitted three photos of pieces I had created and waited to hear back.  It was so simple.  All I had to do was send an email to the address listed with my name, contact info, a description of the piece in question and a photo of the piece.  Simple. 

Amazingly, they accepted one of my rings for publication!  I was thrilled! 
The editor wrote a letter explaining that I was to send the ring to their company in a secure box, well wrapped and insured to them within a specified period of time.  They would then have their photographers photograph the item and then would send it back when the issue with my piece feautred was released.  They also sent two copies of the magazine as well as a $20 certificate for me to spend at Fire Mountain Gems. I thought this was a great deal!
I have since submitted and had several other jewelry pieces accepted for publication, including a pair of earrings featured in this month's issue.  I highly recommend this publication for great jewelry ideas as well as a means for getting pieces published.  It's great PR and super easy to get pieces accepted. 
My next goal is to be the 16 page feature artist in an issue.  Still working on that idea though.

Bead Trends October issue

I once again will have a featured piece in the October issue of Bead Trends magazine! YAY! And I am submitting LOTS of pieces for the November issue as well. I'm just going to keep submitting until maybe they ask me to be the featured designer... or they get sick of me. Whichever happens first I guess.

They are featuring this pair of earrings.

Bead Trends May issue

I have a necklace featured in the May issue of Bead Trends magazine! I am super excited about this. I've had a ring featured previously. Its always a thrill to have someone else out there validate your work as an artist. I just listed the piece in my Artfire Studio this morning. I've also submitted about 14 more items for publication in the October issue. They are featuring "Wire Artistry" in that issue and I feel my items more than fit that category. Maybe if I keep submitting pieces, they'll ask me to be their featured artist in an issue.... Dream big right?