Live What You Love...and a Giveaway!

"If you want your life to be a magnificent story, then begin by realizing that you are the author and everyday you have the opportunity to write a new page."

~ Mark Houlahan
 I always look forward to the new publications that come out each month. I get a lot of them via subscription. Some I pick up at the store. It thrills me to find so many of my friends listed as the contributing designers. I feel like they are right there with me when I pop open the pages to see their designs and read about their inspirations.

 

I remember back when I first got into beading I would pick up the random copy of Stringing or BeadStyle. I would pore over every issue and rip out pages of the ones I liked the best. I often wondered how those people whose names I saw in those pages got that job. Yes. I thought that those names were designers that were on staff of the magazines. Then I started noticing the same people in some of my favorite resource books. That is the job for me, I thought.

Little did I know that those designers were just like me. They were dabbling in their basements playing with beads and creating pretty things. They were not 'on staff' per se, but they were paid for their time. But more than that, they were seeing their designs published.

At the urging of a friend who is a well published paper artist, I submitted my first two pieces to a new beading magazine in September of 2007. I was surprised that they were both picked up, even though she told me that it isn't likely on my first time out as it took her many tries before that happened. In fact, one was the necklace that a bride was wearing. The design was supposed to be received the weekend of the wedding. When I explained the situation, they agreed to give me a few extra days. At the end of the night I had to take the necklace off the bride and package it up to overnight to them. (And yes, she was okay about that!)

Once I had my very first piece published in Bead Trends January 2008, I was hooked on this whole publishing thing. It was like crack to me. I wanted to keep trying at it, and I dipped my toes in a few more times in 2008. Then in 2009 I set a goal for myself to be published once per month that year. I did it, but it was a helluva lot of hard work and I thought that perhaps I had burned out my creativity. That didn't happen and I still love to be in the publications, but I am more realistic about the time that I have and just send designs in when I can and hope for the best.

I remember the first thing that I had published in Stringing. A necklace with an asymmetrical Bali silver flower focal in loads of pearls. It was in a Winter issue. And I understand that it has been republished in an online issue devoted to weddings.

I am usually not so good with keeping ahead of the seasons. I am usually right in the moment that is going on and it is sometimes hard for me to switch gears. But in December 2010 I had just started making what has become known as my 'simple truths' pendants. I made some as gifts for the nieces and one more substantial necklace for each of my sisters-in-law. One of them I liked so much I recreated the colors and feel of it with a slightly different pendant because I thought it would be page-worthy. And the editors at Stringing agreed with me. I was delighted to send in not only that necklace but bracelet and earring design as well. And then I forgot about it.

But about two weeks ago, the sweet Danielle Fox, editor of Stringing, sent me a sweet note "You're a Stringing Star!" and showing me the cover of the Fall issue with my necklace on the front.

That just blows me away.

Not every single thing that I send into magazines gets picked up. But that doesn't stop me from trying.  I have studied what the different focus is for each publication so that I know if something I have made might work for one then I submit it. To be honest, I have had more than one thing turned down by one publication but then sent it to another... et voila! It was published. So don't let a rejection discourage you. There are still publications that I have attempted to crack into but haven't had the right piece to send in or the ones I have were all rejected. That disappointment might sting a bit, but it also helps me to refocus and change the piece or find a more suitable place for it.

And while I am not 'on staff' of these publications (but that is a goal for someday!), I have treasured the relationships that I have fostered with the editors and assistants there. They are some of the best people! I thoroughly enjoy everyone and I have been blessed with being a part of these different publishing communities.

The moral of my story is that anyone can be published.

Here are some tips that work for me that might help you if you are interested in submitting your own designs for publication.

• DO study your favorite publications for the style and type of pieces that are accepted and tailor your submission to the type that they feature.
• DON'T knock off something that is in the magazine to submit to another. I am sure that they read all the competing publications.
• DO be open and positive and accommodating with the editors and their assistants. Respond promptly, follow their lead and remember that you are making contacts to cultivate for the future.
• DON'T be discouraged if your submissions aren't selected. Look at them with a critical eye and fix things, or find a publication that it might be a better fit for.
• DO write your instructions in the format that they provide.
• DON'T forget to email that to them if asked in addition to putting a hard copy in the box.
• DO keep track of the sources for the materials of the piece you are submitting. Provide websites if possible (sometimes companies have a submission policy and they love to know that you are using their materials!).
• DON'T submit anything that is not ready for an extreme close-up. That means that all wraps are perfect and no wires are showing, everything should be finished to the best of your ability.
• DO keep the packaging to a minimum but well protected and in keeping with your brand identity.
• DON'T be afraid to send in simple designs. I have a tendency to overthink things, and this cover piece is one of the more simple designs I have ever made.
• DO take a chance. You have nothing to lose if do and a whole lot gain so... go for it!

If you are ready to try it yourself, here are some links to publications that I love (some I have been in, some I would like to be in) that are always looking for new and inspiring designs:

BeadStyle

Bead Trends

Bead Unique

Belle Armoire Jewelry

Jewelry Affaire

Step by Step Wire

Stringing

And because I want to celebrate, I am kicking off the first of several giveaways this month on my blog. My birthday is coming up in just 10 days and I would like to share the love with you, my loyal readers. So watch for more fun to come!

I normally don't make too many of the same thing, I prefer one-of-a-kinds to one-of-a-million. I also find it incredibly difficult to reproduce the same thing over and over. But to celebrate making the cover of Stringing, I have created a limited edition run of the pendants on the cover. You can get yours in my Etsy shop (I promise to post more this week!) but how about the chance to win one?

One lucky random commenter will win one of the limited edition 'simple truth' pendants from the cover.

I don't like to make people jump through hoops or follow me if they don't want to. All you have to do is answer the question. But only if you want to. Or you can just say hi. Or whatever you want to say. But just be sure that I have a way to get in touch with you. That is the only way to win. Deadline to leave your comment is Friday, August 5th. These look just as great on a simple chain as they do in a piece of jewelry. If you want me to put it on a chain for you to wear out of the box, I will even do that for you.   

The honor of this cover reminds me that every step I take I am one step closer to living what I love every day of my life, and that the only way to make that happen is to believe it. 

What does "live what you love" mean to you? Tell me what that would look like to you for the chance to win a pendant!

Random winner will be selected from all comments on this post received by August 5th. International welcome!

P.S. Be sure to have your email turned on in your profile! If you leave a comment I will respond so you can be sure that you are in the drawing. If I cannot respond, then I will have no way to reach you. Please check your profile to be sure that your email is displayed!