Bio Link
Tara has trained with several artisans in metalsmithing and beadwork techniques. Tara works part time from her studio at home. Tara’s jewelry and wraps are currently sold through the web site and at Rehfeld’s Art and Framing in Sioux Falls, SD; The Center for Western Studies Gift Shop in Sioux Falls, SD; Aviena in Sioux Falls, SD; Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD; South Dakota State Agricultural Heritage Museum in Brookings, SD; and Museum of Visual Arts in Sioux Falls, SD.
Red Door Creations | Sioux Falls Jewelry and Art
New Addition
I want to welcome my friend, Gabrielle, to Red Door Creations! She is my first official employee! She is an artist I met at Drawing Group and she is working toward getting her teaching certificate. She has become a wonderful tutor for our son, Jacob, in spelling and reading and she is a natural with jewelry making. A true Godsend! We are busy working toward my goal of another 100 corn necklaces! We think, we can, we think, we can!
A Helping Hand
For anyone in the Sioux Falls area looking for good, free advice on writing a business plan, you should contact Mark at the Small Business Development Center! He emailed me a business plan template which will save me a lot of time and be much more efficient, since I can just plug in the information.
He offered to review my business plan and do my projections! I will be handing my paperwork in for the PASS program through Social Security on December 29. This is the first plan of its kind that my rehabilitation counselor has worked with, so she is not sure how fast the paperwork gets processes and the funds are delivered.
All I know is that I want to get mom and Margaret on the payroll ASAP for all their hard work and dedication. I couldn't turn out beautiful, unique corn necklaces at this rate without their help!
He offered to review my business plan and do my projections! I will be handing my paperwork in for the PASS program through Social Security on December 29. This is the first plan of its kind that my rehabilitation counselor has worked with, so she is not sure how fast the paperwork gets processes and the funds are delivered.
All I know is that I want to get mom and Margaret on the payroll ASAP for all their hard work and dedication. I couldn't turn out beautiful, unique corn necklaces at this rate without their help!
Business Plan
Not many people are aware that I am disabled. I have deformities in my spine and a short leg, so I suffer from chronic pain. I go to the chiropractor once a week, I get antinflammatory injections, I do my exercises, I use traction, and I wear a lift in my left shoe. Needless to say, I have some obstacles to work around. I have been making and selling fine art and crafts since 1990 but I have really focused on turning my hobbies into a profitable business these last four years.
My rehabilitation counselor, Holly, told me about a work incentive program for people with disabilities. I need to complete a business plan which I will do with some help from Mark at the Small Business Association. When the paperwork goes through, I will be able to purchase two tables that can be pushed down or pulled up depending on my needs. With my condition, it is actually better for me to work standing up.
I have been fortunate to have friends and family help me keep up with the demands of my business, but I will need to hire a part time worker in January so I have more reliable help. This is all very exciting!
My rehabilitation counselor, Holly, told me about a work incentive program for people with disabilities. I need to complete a business plan which I will do with some help from Mark at the Small Business Association. When the paperwork goes through, I will be able to purchase two tables that can be pushed down or pulled up depending on my needs. With my condition, it is actually better for me to work standing up.
I have been fortunate to have friends and family help me keep up with the demands of my business, but I will need to hire a part time worker in January so I have more reliable help. This is all very exciting!
Wire Cuff Bracelets
I learned to make Wire Cuff Bracelets at my favorite bead store, The Bead Company, downtown on Phillips Avenue in Sioux Falls, SD. What a fun class! The other students used beads on their bracelets but I had some amethyst stones with holes drilled in them, so I decided to make a birthstone bracelet. I was born in February. I liked the look so much I stuck with the stone idea and people really seem to like them! To see a picture of my birthstone bracelet, go to www.reddoorcreations.com. The bracelet is fairly simple to make. You start with two feet of 20 gauge wire, create a hook clasp at one end. Then you measure and bend the wire to approximately seven inches and wrap the excess wire around the clasp, forming a round end for the clasp to slip through. I use a 22 gauge wire to wrap the rock beads around the form. These bracelets would be a funky alternative to a traditional mother's bracelet! Custom order one today!
Spiral Necklaces
I learned to make spiral necklaces when I lived in Fort Collins, CO at a store called the Bead Cache. This must have been around 1994 and I fell in love with the pattern so I've been making them ever since!The basic stitch for this spiral is an odd count tubular peyote. What makes the spiral necklaces so much fun is the texture achieved by using seven shapes of tiny glass beads. The original example was bunched together and held by a beaded chord. I have experimented with the design and prefer to stretch out the necklace as it spirals and I often weave a ribbon through the necklace so it ties in back. I just bought black beads for my next spiral necklace which will be given to my photographer, Deb Parks. I love doing work in trade!
Industry Booming
Our little cottage industry is booming! My friend, Margaret, and I took turns drilling corn. Today we worked with orange and red and the necklaces are beautiful! Mom, Margaret and I each strung necklaces. Each one is unique and we are going through beads at a fast pace, so I'll have to go see my friends down at the Bead Company for supplies tomorrow. I know what I'll be doing this weekend: finishing putting clasps on necklaces and making earrings to match. Life is good!
Natural Materials
Whenever I can, I like to use natural materials in my jewelry creations. Today I'll talk about three materials. The first one would be obvious: corn! I purchased corn from the farmer who grows corn for the Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD. The corn comes in these rich colors: blue, green, yellow, black, orange, red, brown, and white. When you combine corn with glass beads people think the corn kernels are stone!
The second material is pine cones. I paid a Native artist from Pine Ridge to send me a box of pine cones he picked up on his property. These pine cones are as large as your hand and when you separate the leaves from the pine cone, they make great accent pieces.
The third material is stones. I love rock shops! I have a friend who is a rock hound here in Sioux Falls. He travels around the state collecting agates, which he takes home and cuts and polishes. It is so much fun to rummage through a bucket of South Dakota agates looking for pendant pieces! I also like to use Sioux quartzite chunks as pendants. It is a stone with pink and purple colors found in quarries in this area.
My friend, Lisa, visited an amethyst mine and the Great Lakes on vacation last summer. She brought me a bag of amethyst chunks and Lake Superior agates! My mind has been working on designs for these pieces!
The second material is pine cones. I paid a Native artist from Pine Ridge to send me a box of pine cones he picked up on his property. These pine cones are as large as your hand and when you separate the leaves from the pine cone, they make great accent pieces.
The third material is stones. I love rock shops! I have a friend who is a rock hound here in Sioux Falls. He travels around the state collecting agates, which he takes home and cuts and polishes. It is so much fun to rummage through a bucket of South Dakota agates looking for pendant pieces! I also like to use Sioux quartzite chunks as pendants. It is a stone with pink and purple colors found in quarries in this area.
My friend, Lisa, visited an amethyst mine and the Great Lakes on vacation last summer. She brought me a bag of amethyst chunks and Lake Superior agates! My mind has been working on designs for these pieces!
What's in the Name?
The front door of our house is in the name Red Door Creations! We moved into this house five years ago and the previous owners had painted the doors red. I decided to go with the theme. The line drawing of the door in our logo is a representation of the actual red door. I chose the word "creations" because it covers all we do in fine arts and crafts. So there you have it! Red Door Creations!
Help is on the Way
I was feeling overwhelmed this week with orders so I put out the word that I needed some help. Two people answered my call! I am very thankful my friend Margaret will be coming over tomorrow to drill corn for jewelry and beads. My mom will be coming over on Thursday to help string necklaces with black corn for the Corn Palace. In exchange, they get to make jewelry for themselves and for gifts using my supplies. What a great trade and a big relief for me!
Red Door Creations.com and/or .net
We are both! We started out with .net but our friends at Complete Media discovered .com was available so we bought it! We will keep both domain names so you can find us easily. As they say, "It's a .com world!"
