It has been one year since I opened my Etsy shop. And while it hasn't gone gangbusters, I really enjoy having a shop, and occasionally listing items. Most of my jewelry sales are local custom orders, and my customers find me through word of mouth. But I love the Etsy community and wish that I could spend more time on the forums and wonderful resources that are available to Etsy shop owners. The beauty of Etsy is that it allows you to be as active as you want. If I ignore my shop for a month, it still sits there online, and doesn't cost me a penny.
I would like to get a few pieces listed for the holidays (Hey, it's only November 29th. I have plenty of time, right?), but I also want to paint my living room and potentially my kitchen, before the holidays. Which means I should start, um...tomorrow. I've mentioned before that I enjoy rearranging and redecorating my house...
Six years ago, I stripped the wallpaper in my living room and hallway (and kitchen and bathroom, but that's another story), and painted it red. By the way, if you ever have to strip wallpaper, I highly recommend Wallwik. I tried various methods that included steaming, DIF, scraping, screaming, and crying, and the Wallwik is just amazing. It saved my marriage, but that too, is a story for another time. Anyway, I have enjoyed my warm, rich, red living room for six years, but now it's time for it to go. And I mean now. I'm over the red. I'm looking at a nice neutral, like "Latte" from Restoration Hardware. However, I'll probably end up getting a similar color from Sherwin Williams, because, 1) it's less expensive, and 2) I won't have to wait for shipping (our local store doesn't carry the paint). If I don't paint this week, it will have to wait until January when I take down the Christmas decorations, and I really don't want to wait that long.
I recently started collecting some vintage pieces to add to my home. Most of my decor is fairly modern, and I decided that I want to infuse some fun vintage pieces into the mix, and just make it a bit more unique. I want to start with a fresh color palette, and then I'll feel like I've completely made-over my living room. I picked up a few things at a huge antique store last weekend, and I will be receiving some exciting packages in the next week. (Ssssshhhh...don't tell my husband -- I'm hoping he won't notice.)
So, I want to redecorate and make some new jewelry all in the next week. Sounds rather ambitious, huh? Wish me luck.
Welcome! At any given time, I will be working on 2-3 crafty projects. Chances are, I will only complete one of them. I have a variety of hobbies and interests, and they change on a whim. This blog allows me to document my notions, projects, accomplishments, and current whims and share them with my friends, family, and other crafters and enthusiasts.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Imagination
Creative block. Probably something like writer's block. I sometimes fiddle with beads, wire, and chain, and just can't come up with anything that makes me happy. I'll start a necklace, realize I don't like where its headed, take it apart, and start over again. Sometimes it all just comes together. Other times, I spend more time ripping things apart than putting them together.
I realize there are many factors affecting my creative flow (lack of sleep and lack of time, to name a few), but I wonder if there is an art to being creative. Is using your imagination an art in and of itself? I look at Conor, my 4-year old son, who is wonderfully inventive and imaginative, and I think that most parents would say the same of their young children. So, do we lose the ability to be creative as we age? I hope that I can always foster and encourage creativity in my children.
A recent conversation with Conor went something like this:
Conor: When Friday comes into my room, I can fly.
Me: Friday comes into your room?
Conor: Yeah, Friday is a boo-yak.
Me: What's a boo-yak?
Conor: It's a kind of a thing that turns into a ghost.
Me: The boo-yak's name is Friday?
Conor: Yes, Friday comes in and we fly all around my room.
Me: That's pretty cool. I didn't know you did that. Today is Thursday, so tomorrow is Friday. Will Friday come into your room tomorrow?
Conor: No, he only comes on Tuesdays.
I can't make this stuff up, people. I struggle to keep up with his creativity at times. Like when we're playing trains and he wants his train to talk to my train. I mean, other than introducing our trains to each other, and saying "Hey, let's pull some freight," how much does a train really have to say? I do my best, but it's a struggle for me. I realize that this type of pretend play is different from artistic creativity, but I think it all comes from the same general area of the brain, right? Perhaps more train-play will be good for my creative juices.
I finally sat down and made a bracelet this week. (Actually, since I started this blog post 2 weeks ago, it has now been 2 weeks since I made the bracelet.) It will soon be for sale in my Etsy shop. Ideally, I like to wait until I have a few pieces ready for sale, and then do a photo shoot for them all at once. I think it's a better use of my time, and it helps to give my website a cohesive look and feel when my photos are all shot in the same light. I made an exception this time, and just took a few photos of the bracelet today, so I can share them with you.
This bracelet feels like autumn to me, with the amber and brown tones. It was made from a mix of new beads, and some that I repurposed from consignment store pieces, so I will be making them in limited quantity.
I realize there are many factors affecting my creative flow (lack of sleep and lack of time, to name a few), but I wonder if there is an art to being creative. Is using your imagination an art in and of itself? I look at Conor, my 4-year old son, who is wonderfully inventive and imaginative, and I think that most parents would say the same of their young children. So, do we lose the ability to be creative as we age? I hope that I can always foster and encourage creativity in my children.
A recent conversation with Conor went something like this:
Conor: When Friday comes into my room, I can fly.
Me: Friday comes into your room?
Conor: Yeah, Friday is a boo-yak.
Me: What's a boo-yak?
Conor: It's a kind of a thing that turns into a ghost.
Me: The boo-yak's name is Friday?
Conor: Yes, Friday comes in and we fly all around my room.
Me: That's pretty cool. I didn't know you did that. Today is Thursday, so tomorrow is Friday. Will Friday come into your room tomorrow?
Conor: No, he only comes on Tuesdays.
I can't make this stuff up, people. I struggle to keep up with his creativity at times. Like when we're playing trains and he wants his train to talk to my train. I mean, other than introducing our trains to each other, and saying "Hey, let's pull some freight," how much does a train really have to say? I do my best, but it's a struggle for me. I realize that this type of pretend play is different from artistic creativity, but I think it all comes from the same general area of the brain, right? Perhaps more train-play will be good for my creative juices.
I finally sat down and made a bracelet this week. (Actually, since I started this blog post 2 weeks ago, it has now been 2 weeks since I made the bracelet.) It will soon be for sale in my Etsy shop. Ideally, I like to wait until I have a few pieces ready for sale, and then do a photo shoot for them all at once. I think it's a better use of my time, and it helps to give my website a cohesive look and feel when my photos are all shot in the same light. I made an exception this time, and just took a few photos of the bracelet today, so I can share them with you.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
I'm Still Here and I Still Love You
I have been receiving emails from concerned individuals wondering where I am. I'm here! Right here in my house! Between the pile of laundry and the baby swing. Can you see me now?
Seriously though, do you really want to hear my long list of excuses for why I haven't updated my blog? You do??? Good!
Meet Jude. Isn't he cute? He's the newest addition to our family. He is quite possibly the happiest baby on the planet. He doesn't sleep very much, but he's so cute that we forgive him for that. And actually, he is finally starting to sleep a little better. (knocking on wood)
As many of you already know, I left my full-time job in May to stay home with my boys. It has been a big, but wonderful, change for our family. We are having a fabulous summer, and I'm so fortunate to be able to stay home with them. For some reason, I thought I would have more time for jewelry/blogging when I left my job, but I am not finding that to be the case. My 4-year old hasn't napped since the baby was born, and the baby likes to take 15-minute naps.
Shortly after Jude was born, my computer crashed. That certainly put a damper on my website updates and blogging endeavors. I just got a replacement a few weeks ago, so that is a relief. And I switched to Mac! I really like it so far, but I'm still working through the learning curve. Earlier ,when trying to add a photo to this post, I accidentally opened Photo Booth instead of iPhoto. And when I tried to close it, I instead took a scary picture of myself. Scary because I'm still in my jammies and wearing a dumbfounded expression and yesterday's eye make-up. No, I'm not going to share that picture with you. Are you crazy?
We traveled a lot in July. And I mean a lot. For 2.5 weeks, we traveled via car and train from Massachusetts to Florida and back, with stops in Virginia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. In case you're wondering, I highly recommend travel via the Auto Train from VA to FL. The vacation deserves its own blog entry, but I will just say that the boys were superstar travelers, the weather was amazing, and we saw tons of family.
We have also taken a lot of little day trips and have just been generally enjoying summer and everything that New England has to offer in the summer. We have to live it up now and make the most of the summer, so that when we're having a Nor'easter in January and I question why in the world we live here, I can reflect on the fabulous summers we have.
I'm really flattered to know that there other followers who look forward to reading my blog. I didn't realize that I had more followers beyond those who follow me publicly. You know who you are, and I love you!
Since I'm such a procrastinator, I kept telling myself that I would get back to blogging and jewelry-making after the baby was born, after I figure out a new routine with the boys, after I get a new computer, after vacation...and before I knew it, six months had passed. It's really kind of ridiculous. I know you're saying, "How long does it take to write a simple blog entry anyway?" The answer is 6.2 days. That's right. Because I start it, and then the baby needs to eat, or Conor wants to play a game, and then I forget about the blog until the next day, and I pick it up again until someone needs help on the potty. You get the idea.
So for now, I'll say that I should finally be able to post more regularly. You know, after I get back from my trip to PA next week, and as soon as Conor starts preschool again...
Seriously though, do you really want to hear my long list of excuses for why I haven't updated my blog? You do??? Good!
This is my number one reason:
Meet Jude. Isn't he cute? He's the newest addition to our family. He is quite possibly the happiest baby on the planet. He doesn't sleep very much, but he's so cute that we forgive him for that. And actually, he is finally starting to sleep a little better. (knocking on wood)
Here is proud big brother Conor, who also keeps me very busy.
As many of you already know, I left my full-time job in May to stay home with my boys. It has been a big, but wonderful, change for our family. We are having a fabulous summer, and I'm so fortunate to be able to stay home with them. For some reason, I thought I would have more time for jewelry/blogging when I left my job, but I am not finding that to be the case. My 4-year old hasn't napped since the baby was born, and the baby likes to take 15-minute naps.
Shortly after Jude was born, my computer crashed. That certainly put a damper on my website updates and blogging endeavors. I just got a replacement a few weeks ago, so that is a relief. And I switched to Mac! I really like it so far, but I'm still working through the learning curve. Earlier ,when trying to add a photo to this post, I accidentally opened Photo Booth instead of iPhoto. And when I tried to close it, I instead took a scary picture of myself. Scary because I'm still in my jammies and wearing a dumbfounded expression and yesterday's eye make-up. No, I'm not going to share that picture with you. Are you crazy?
We traveled a lot in July. And I mean a lot. For 2.5 weeks, we traveled via car and train from Massachusetts to Florida and back, with stops in Virginia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. In case you're wondering, I highly recommend travel via the Auto Train from VA to FL. The vacation deserves its own blog entry, but I will just say that the boys were superstar travelers, the weather was amazing, and we saw tons of family.
We celebrated my grandmother's 100th birthday in Florida.
The boys enjoyed the Carolina beaches.
We have also taken a lot of little day trips and have just been generally enjoying summer and everything that New England has to offer in the summer. We have to live it up now and make the most of the summer, so that when we're having a Nor'easter in January and I question why in the world we live here, I can reflect on the fabulous summers we have.
I'm really flattered to know that there other followers who look forward to reading my blog. I didn't realize that I had more followers beyond those who follow me publicly. You know who you are, and I love you!
Since I'm such a procrastinator, I kept telling myself that I would get back to blogging and jewelry-making after the baby was born, after I figure out a new routine with the boys, after I get a new computer, after vacation...and before I knew it, six months had passed. It's really kind of ridiculous. I know you're saying, "How long does it take to write a simple blog entry anyway?" The answer is 6.2 days. That's right. Because I start it, and then the baby needs to eat, or Conor wants to play a game, and then I forget about the blog until the next day, and I pick it up again until someone needs help on the potty. You get the idea.
So for now, I'll say that I should finally be able to post more regularly. You know, after I get back from my trip to PA next week, and as soon as Conor starts preschool again...
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