I have been beading for 4 years now and I love it! I find it relaxing and have tapped in to my CREATIVE side : - ) I have had many shows and they do very well. I am even a vendor for an out of state casino. The opportunities are limitless!!!

I am glad that I have some time to peruse through the forum here. Sounds like everyone is like me, ECSTATIC about designing JEWELZ!!!

Hi CCS's Jewelz,

Welcome!!!   Where are you from in Illinois?  I, too, am from Illinois.  I live in a little town about 40 miles south of Chicago called Channahon.  Have you heard of it?  We have NOTHING here for bead shopping.  Thank goodness for the internet.  Once in awhile, when I visit my Mom or my MOL, I get to go to Michaels or JoAnns.  Those are big, exciting outings for me (LOL).  It seems almost everyone on these forums is from everywhere except Illinois.  I'm so glad to talk to a fellow Illini.  I've only been beading since last August, but I am absolutely addicted.  I've sold a couple of pieces through friends and family and have given a lot away as gifts.  As soon as I get a digital camera (this month for my birthday), I want to start selling on Etsy.  I also make Polymer Clay pieces and I am now starting to look into Metal Clay.  I plan on combining all three.  What is your favorite medium?

Laura

Hello Raven815,

Yeah I noticed there are not many here from Illinois also...I am originally from a small city outside of East St. Louis, IL--- named Centreville. I moved away about 11 years ago! And my husband and I decided, it was time to come home. We now reside in a small town named Mascoutah (25 miles outside of home) near Scott Air Force Base...we are about 4 hours south of Chicago : - ) I have not heard of your town, but it sounds like Mascoutah...We have to drive in to places for outings also...LOL

Yes. Michaels and JoAnns and even Hobby Lobby!!!

I do a lot of online shopping and have found a little bead store in Fairview Heights, IL to dive into from time to time...

I really don't have a favorite medium...It is funny that you ask because I used to sit down with tons of inventory and say "what am I going to make?" and set everything up on my tray and design that way...with NO medium in mind!!!

Now it is even more funny because I just pull out drawers of beads, gemstones, crystals, etc. and design...Isn't that crazy? I bead with no sense of direction.

BUT I do have to say that I have not used Polymer Clay or Metal Clay, maybe that is a thing to come for me..WHO KNOWS?

I just love beading!!! Almost if not all of my designs are strung!!! You can see some of my designs in the gallery sooner than later...I will download some of them today.

Sorry I took so long responding!!! Happy Beading!!! 

C_CS's Jewelz

Hi CCS's Jewelz and Raven815,

I'm from Illinois also!  I live in Chicago.  Most times I check the forum right before I leave work, so I don't sign in.  I've been beading for about 2 years mainly selling to friends.  I have done a couple of vendor shows which went okay.

I do a lot of online shopping but I prefer to go to the stores.  I like to see and touch items.  It seems to bring out more creativity.  Of course, I spend entirely too much.  The cold and economy have slowed me down.  I love working with crystals the most.  They always seem to add a little extra to my pieces.

Not sure where you guys are in the state but I'll be sure to look up your cities.

Be Breezy!

 

Hi Breezy,

Channahon is just south of Joliet.  Where in Chicago do you live?  I grew up on the south side of Chicago in a neighborhood called Mt. Greenwood.  Have you heard of it.  I lived right off of 111th and Kedzie Ave.  After I got married (25 years this October), we moved further out of the city each time we moved.  We went from Chicago to Oak Lawn to Plainfield to Channahon, where we are now.  I would move even farther out, but my husband works in Westmont and he has a long drive as it is.  I guess I am a country girl at heart.  When we retire in about 20 years, we want to go down to North Carolina.  The only drawback to small town living is NO BEAD SHOPS!!!  So, I usually get a package in the mail about three times a week.  It's so exciting opening them when they come and my husband doesn't know how much I buy because he's at work during the day when the mail carrier comes.  It's all good.  It's really nice to meet you and CCS's, too.

Laura

I live on the southside but over east near the lake in Chatham.  Most of my life has been there.  One of the beads stores I go to is in Oak Lawn off of 95th & Cicero.  I don't know how I would do that far out of the city.  But, I also never thought I would be doing jewelry or anything creative.  I thought for sure I would be happy doing some type of computer work.  Now my left brain and right brain are fighting for control.  Oh well!

 It's nice talking to you!

 

I've heard of that bead store in Oak Lawn.  One of these days I will get over there to check it out.  I know a lot of people in that area, as that is right near where I grew up.  When I lived in Oak lawn, I was on 93rd & Harlem.  I am thinking of taking an all day beginners Metal Clay class at that store at the end of February, but I'm not sure because it costs $150.  Money is extremely tight these days, so I'll probably have to pass on it.  Oh well, I taught myself beading, I taught myself Polymer Clay, so I suppose I can teach myself Metal Clay, too.  I'll just have a heck of a lot more pride when I advance on my own.  I also have to buy and teach myself how to use a digital camera so I can show my stuff on this forum and also open an Etsy site.  I would like to start earning some money back from all of the hundreds of dollars I've spent just establishing this jewelry making business.  I keep waiting for my husband to lose patience with me and pull the plug, but, so far so good.  I think he sees how happy it makes me and you know the saying "if Momma ain't happy, no one is happy".  Am I right?

Laura

CCS Hey there is a good LBS in St Louis called Lady Bug Beads.  You might look it up sometime.  They are a little bit more than on-line sources as are most LBS's but they sell by the bead on a lot of random beads.  By the way I am from about 3 hours straight east on      I-70 from St. Louis.  I have to mainly get my beads from on-line.  Kind of a bummer really.  I like to look at the beads...  :)

Thanks KariAnne Creations,

 I recently looked for them online and can't wait to stop and see them...I have been overly busy with my 6th graders' state assessments, but next week I'll be back to doing the 'other' thing I love...BEADING!!!