Autumn

It’s already November, and I have been busy with enameling. Supplies are expensive but the final products are amazing. I’m having so much fun learning and creating. My hope is that my online customer base will find them as beautiful as I do. I’ve been working on my photography so that customers can almost see just how amazing they are, but they’re more stunning in person – they have to be touched and tried on. It’s really fun to watch people check them out. I have some necklace concepts in mind but I haven’t had time or money to really invest into making anything, yet.

Discovering how to enamel and seeing my plan go through has increased my confidence and excitement with my jewelry shop. It’s so good to be excited and passionate about it again. And it’s so therapeutic, it is nuts. I am currently gearing up for a home party in early December. I’m creating vintage inspired pieces, earrings, enameled bangles, and there’s so much more to do; I need to plan out my displays, price everything, create a catalog page for my hand stamped designs, and think out everything to make sure I’m ready in a month.

Exploring this new chapter with jewelry design is reminding me that I can do anything I set out to do just like my supportive husband always tells me. He is very encouraging, supportive, and thinks enameling is really cool. I appreciate his interest and he almost made me cry when he told me that I was truly an artist. He is awesome, and his opinion matters second to God’s~

So as I find time, I will try to blog more. I am planning on entering a piece to a jewelry design magazine in hopes of being published. I can only try, so I will. The due date for the submission is mid-January so I’ll have to write about that for sure. As always, God is blessing me daily, and I’m so thankful for my amazing family and friends.

Relax - talk to it

Yea, yea, I know, the title to this blog is lame but Jeremy and I always say that quote from The Wedding Singer when we hear someone say relax. So anyway, this last weekend my husband and his buddy Jesse had to use their deep sea fishing passes. So our two families rented a beautiful beach house and enjoyed a relaxing weekend in Longbeach, OR. There's not much to do there but that was fine by me, my mind needed to vege and re-energize. My new full-time position has kept my stress levels up, and my mood levels down so it was nice to get away and not think. And that's exactly what I did. Rebecca and I sat peacefully on the sand while the kids had a blast and got soaked in the ocean. I really didn't do anything, and it was great. Probably boring for our friends but the kids had fun, and I could face work the following week~

Reinventing the baby book

As I’ve been dealing with the grief of leaving my friends at work, I’ve been filled with ideas and inspiration in my creative life. I have an amazing and supportive husband who doesn’t always get what I’m saying, but takes time to understand and encourage my ventures (every single one). I have started creating a book for my daughter, about my daughter. Each page will be altered art with photos of her and our family/friends, and fictional stories about her with loosely based factual events. My daughter Sawyer has an amazing imagination and she loves whimsical dramatic stories, so that’s what I’m writing for her. She is the leading lady in each story, and all the characters are royalty which is perfect since she loves princess stuff and is a princess herself. This book isn’t a scrapbook but so much more. It’s very exciting to create, now if I can just be patient and do one page at a time when I have time.

This “Baby Book” will probably take me most of her childhood to finish, but it’s a lot of fun to occasionally work on when the mood strikes, and Sawyer loves looking at the pages so far. She has even requested a few things that she’d like me to incorporate. I mentioned to my husband that I should probably scan in the completed pages so that she can play with them without wearing out the originals. He took a look at what I have created so far and he saw dollar signs  He thinks I should pre-make pages that people can add their own photos to but charge a lot because they’re so unique. This is a good idea except that I wouldn’t enjoy it, I don’t want to spend my time doing it, and I wouldn’t ever get paid for all the time and energy spent doing it. It was a nice compliment though, and when it’s done I think he will be impressed and overwhelmed by how cool it all turns out. He is the type who has to see it done before deciding anything about it. Not me, I can visualize in my mind, it usually changes in reality, but it’s a lot of fun along the way.

Mi amiga, Ana

My best friend Ana has been a part of my life for about 10 years. Wow, has it been that long? She is one of the most amazing women I know, and I admire all of her strengths and weaknesses. Ana is the type of person who will give up, sacrifice, go without, bend over backwards to help you or make you happy. God has created her this way, she has embraced it, and is my best example of service and generosity. The best part is that she is learning to set boundaries too, and it’s all out of love so it’s better for everyone and she still shares her servant heart and generosity.

Ana loves her children, her family, and her friends and it’s unconditional and everlasting. She is brilliant and beautiful; her beauty lights up a room and her cooking makes your mouth water. I appreciate how her perspective, wisdom, and passion compliment me and those close to her; she is a gift to us. One of the many things I admire most about Ana is her ability to accept anyone and everyone. She has an open door policy for her heart and her home.

I could go on and on, it’s this way with many of my close friends because they are all so awesome, but Ana is one of my dearest friends and I needed to take time to think about why and acknowledge how important she is to me. Ana is filled with the love of Christ and it oozes out of her. She is beloved, and Jesus cherishes her and stands beside her. She is an example to me, and I am eternally thankful to God for bringing her into my life.

Support

I just had to share a little note about how much support I have in life, all arenas, and I don’t even have to ask for it. This is not the case for everyone and it makes me realize that I have to let people know they have my support and of coarse show it, but I can’t assume that they just know.

My husband, Jeremy, has helped me with some research about enameling supplies so he knows how expensive some of the tools are. We have also discussed some of the road blocks I’ve encountered regarding soldering the copper before enameling it, and he’s tried to help me figure things out. Jeremy also spent a significant amount of time looking online for enameling classes since I wasn’t having much luck in my search. He even encouraged me to consider a class 4 hours away saying that he and my daughter could stay the weekend up there with me and hang out while I was in class. I have also set up two tables in our garage to be ready for enameling (assuming I like it) which causes me to park my car in the driveway. Jeremy mentioned getting an upright workbench from Lowes so that it would take up less space and I could park in the garage again. I suggested that he park his car in the driveway and I get to have my workspace and car in the garage :) but I’m not sure he’s sold on the idea. Actually, if I seriously asked him, he would agree to it to make me happy. He’s just the type of man that wants his wife and daughter to be happy (and spoiled). He also knew I was nervous about finding my way to the OSU campus to attend the safety orientation so he called me while I was driving. It was perfect timing because I was absolutely lost and I’m horrible with directions and even worse with a map. He found out what crossroads were around and he talked me through each turn until I parked my car and located the building. And I was not happy on the phone, I was very stressed and ready to turn around and drive home. Jeremy’s support for my creative ventures is countless and imperative to my creative successes. His support doesn’t end there, he’s encouraged me to go back to school if I want to get my BA, he’s encouraged me in many areas of ministry, and he’s always supporting and encouraging my relationships with my friends and family. If this wasn’t good enough, I even have amazing support and encouragement from my best friends and several family members. I have success whether I want it or not simply because I have the support it takes and the courage to try anything I want to try.

artistry

I am so excited about enameling! I can't draw, paint, sculpt, or work in many other forms of artistry but I can do some fun things with enameling and I can't wait to get my own supplies and get started. Day 1 at the OSU Craft Center enameling workshop was great. I learned several metal smithing techniques, some I've done, some I haven't. The enameling part was so much fun I was able to ask the instructor all kinds of questions. She is very knowledgable, nice, and gave good instruction. There are three other students in the workshop and they are very cool too. I feel fortunate that there are only 4 of us in the class, and that the class wasn't cancelled.

Tomorrow is a day to make more pieces, test things out, and ask more questions. Even though I thoroughly enjoyed today and I'm ready to go out and buy my own kiln, tomorrow I will test the design that I intend on making to sell in my online shop. If I can figure it out, feel confident about repeating it, and it's still fun, then I'll know I can invest in my own supplies.

My hubby Jeremy was so supportive and interested in how everything went. He said he knew I'd be good at it and have fun. He's so sweet. He asked about the Craft Center's kiln and suggested that we get the one we've been looking at. I said I needed a window and he thought that sounded good... I feel so thankful for his support, encouragement, and interest in my jewelry design. The photo above is one of the pieces I created today. I got home and added the chain to my ribbon shaped pendant. I may be making more of these for my Etsy shop. Stay tuned for upcoming enameled designs.

Oregon State University

I am gearing up mentally and emotionally for my weekend workshop at OSU’s Craft Center. Besides my difficulty in finding the campus last week to attend a safety orientation (just to find that it wasn’t even necessary), I am so excited about the enameling workshop. The class is small, so far there are only three of us registered and the studio is large. The great part about this weekend workshop is that it incorporates some basic metal working skills to prepare the copper before enameling it. The class and material fees are only $45 total and by the end of the weekend I will be able to determine if enameling is a technique that I want to invest in. Besides that, I will be able to ask the instructor specific questions that I haven’t found answers to online or in my enameling book. I am so going to get my money’s worth, and hopefully I enjoy the process so that I can start creating all my ideas. If I start now, I’ll be ready for the Salem Holiday Market!

This workshop takes place the weekend before starting my new job so I’ll be keeping busy doing something fun instead of worrying about starting a new job and working with new people. Now I’m thankful that the class in Portland was full, and I can see how God’s hand orchestrated things for my good. It makes sense since I am one of His favorites :)

Change

When people hear the word change, we all react differently based on our experiences. I think I handle change alright, even if I have to get through an internal battle first. I know that God is on my side and things will work out for His good. It is important that I acknowledge I haven’t experienced much change that wasn’t taken on by choice, so my attitude and optimism is from a perspective of very few life altering changes.

Now I am 32 years old, healthy, happy, and thankful, but facing an unwanted change. Due to revenue shortfalls and a union contract, I was “displaced” by another employee and forced to “displace” someone else. On July 19th I will be starting a new job for a different government division, leaving everyone and everything I loved in my former job. I can’t change this, and I have a lot to be thankful for despite this unwanted change. Nothing changes the fact that I will no longer be sitting by and working with my best friend, and several other close friends 40 hours a week. I won’t get into all the little things that sting about this change because the most important aspect is the distance it will create in my relationships. Fortunately I will be working in the same building, just two floors up and not even distance can break the ties I have with these amazing friends. I hope to come back some day and will be looking for opportunities to do so; this hope makes the change bearable and livable. I never thought a job would mean so much to me, and it doesn’t; it’s always been about the people and relationships we forge in life – and this upcoming change has solidified that belief.

My baby turns 4

Yes, this is the month of birthdays. We have a birthday in our family every single weekend in the month of June. It’s great, but busy. Our sweet daughter Sawyer is turning 4 years old on June 19. This is the same day that her great grandma is turning 80! And the following day my awesome Uncle Curt celebrates his birthday. Like I said, there are a lot of birthdays. We’ve planned a slumber party for Sawyer the weekend after her birthday, and she’s “helping” plan it too. She’s so funny, and I secretly love it because she’s a planner like her mama. We’re going to have my best friend’s daughter and son over, and Sawyer’s closest cousin in age and mileage, Avery. The girls will stay the night, and then my best friend Ana will pick up her son Diego at the end of the party (Sawyer says, “No boys allowed.”). I’m so excited for this party actually. Her girl guests, Sofia and Avery are about the same age, and Diego and Sawyer are 12 days apart in age so it will be a fun party. I have mapped out an obstacle course for them, and at each obstacle they will earn a part of their costume. I hope the weather is full sun by the end of June. I mean, really, this muggy rainy weather is nuts, it’s time for summer already. Oh yea, this is Oregon~

Stamp Happy

Stamping metal jewelry is quickly becoming extremely popular. It’s not like engraving, it’s better in my opinion. It’s less costly, has a unique handcrafted look, and can work with many styles. I actually love stamping brass, I’ve had a blast stamping Jane Austen inspired designs by stamping some of her character’s famous quotes on tags. I’ve also done several custom stampings on sterling silver and brass, from mother’s day designs, monograms, family, graduation, and pets. It is so fun creating a one-of-a-kind keepsake for someone. I love knowing how special the design will be to this person and that I’ve had a hand in creating it for them.

The stamping possibilities are endless and charming. It’s hard not to repeat the same design or concept because I’ve either found it to be enjoyable or the concept is widely popular. Plus the stamps are spendy so it’s not like I can buy every single thing I want~ Words, quotes, poems, and inspirational themes are entirely special and make stamping very enjoyable. Romazone is an Etsy shop which has a vast assortment of stamping and metalsmithing tools. They offer reasonable start-up kits and they ship fast.

Besides stamping, there’s etching which I don’t know a thing about except how beautiful the product turns out. I don’t know if I’ll ever venture into etching since I can’t draw, but it is a upcoming brilliant technique to watch for and explore if you’re interested. I’m so consumed with my enameling research that I can’t think of much else~

Mama turns 60!

Today, Friday, June 11th my mother-in-law turns 60. She looks fantastic and you’d never guess she’s 60! I’m think 60 is a pretty good age if this is what I have to look forward to. Besides looking so great, she has an amazing heart. Kathy is selfless, loving, caring, generous, considerate, and a lot of fun. I know that not everyone is blessed with great in-laws so I know I have a lot to be thankful for. I appreciate her so much, and feel blessed that she’s involved in our family and that’s we’re close. She’s a beautiful lady inside and out and she means so much to everyone who knows her. I hope she feels truly loved on her birthday because she deserves all the happiness God has in store for her.

Where did you get that!?

I’m often asked where I get my jewelry findings, or my close friends tell me that someone admiring their necklace asked where they got it. The findings and style I create is gaining in popularity so it’s not as uncommon as it use to be, but everyone puts their own spin on it so it’s still unique. I use a lot of brass, some of it raw, antiqued, or verdigris and these pieces aren’t commonly found at local bead stores (they’re kind of behind in the times if you ask me). My answer is that I find them all around online. Some of my sources like Vintaj Natural Brass require my wholesale number, and others are normal online shops like Ornamentea.com, or all the various Etsy shops. In terms of what’s the best deal and quality, is that everyone has their own standard and judgement of what’s quality and how much they’re willing to spend on certain supplies. Over time you get to know what shops you will return to and which ones don’t deliver the quality or look you’re after. Photographs sometimes don’t do quality justice, and other times photographs mask the quality details that you need to know before purchasing. Keep in mind that you get what you pay for, compare shops, prices, and satisfaction ratings for Etsy and Ebay shops, and sometimes you’ll have to gain your own experience to create your knowledge base.

Over the years I’ve learned that there are some things I can and will purchase from Fire Mountain Gems (FMG). When I buy from FMG I may at times take a risk when buying gemstones. The risk is that even though the quality of the stone is good, and the price is fantastic, I may not be able to use all the stones because the holes aren’t consistently drilled. This isn’t the case all the time, but it has happened enough that I know it’s a risk. In regards to buying clasps and other metal findings anywhere, you will get what you pay for. Sometimes it’s hard to spend a lot on a simple thing like a clasp, it’s not the focus of the design, but the fact is that the clasp has to function 100% of the time for the life of the necklace which should be from decades to forever. And there are safety precautions to be aware of also. You need to know what metal is contained in your findings in case someone asks. And it’s just not safe to handle and use metal with nickel silver or lead. You don’t need to use sterling to be safe, so to keep costs down for your customers you can use stainless steel, plated silver, copper, or brass. And when you find a good company that makes solid findings, stick with them. If the spring or mechanism in a clasp breaks one time, it’s usually a fluke and not fortelling of quality. Your customers will understand it’s not your craftsmanship and you should fix it for free. But if you get a bad batch of clasps or jump rings etc., just change suppliers. The quality of your designs is your reputation and controls your success to a degree. Most Etsy stores state their warranty, guaranty, and return policies, so check them out before you buy. A good store sells quality materials and they’re willing to back them, replace the bad items at no charge, and keep their reputation. It’s not like they crafted the clasps either, but a good supplier will invest in quality product to resale if they value customer satisfaction and repeat business.

Here is a list of some Etsy suppliers that I’ve purchased from for years. I’ve had a great experience buying from them, have always received quality products, and their supplies have contributed to my success as a jewelry designer.

Sunshinebuttercup
Lunasilver
Dimestoreemporium
Brassbouquet

One great thing about a lot of Etsy shops is that they’re willing to reserve custom listings for you. If you need more of an item, want a certain batch of things, or want something that they use to sell but don’t currently have online; just ask and they are accommodating if they can be. The Etsy community is unique and special, I prefer to buy most of my supplies from Etsy if I can. There are thousands of them, so take some time, check them out, and have fun shopping.

Mixing Business & Art

I’d have to say that every single one of my friends is creative. In some way, shape, or form I see their creativity and I love it. I’m not suggesting that everyone should use their creativity for profit but if you’re looking for a way to make some extra money, a way to pay for a family vacation, a way to get rid of the crafts you love making then you should try to sell your creations. I personally think Etsy is an amazing place to sell all things handmade. Or there are local craft shows that are less intensive. At the point that you begin to sell, you have to turn on the business-mindedness. You don’t have to turn off the creativity, in fact use your creativity to think of innovative marketing techniques, but you have to think like a business person to deal with the business end of things.

There are so many parts of a business to consider that it can give some artists a headache, but if you plan it out (business plan) it won’t be overwhelming and can even be fun. I have a lot to learn, and things to try, but here is a general list of things to do to get selling:

1. create a business plan (extensive or simple and decide on a company name)
2. determine your means for selling (online, word of mouth, shows, consignment)
3. create a marketing plan (branding, packaging, advertising budget)
4. set-up various accounts for doing business (PayPal, Etsy account, business band account)
5. gather resources for supplies and tools (packaging, shipping, presentation, suppliers)
6. plan time to create your creations
7. write out your policies and warranties, and determine how to communicate this information

And maybe before you dive into any of these general steps, you should gather feedback from friends, family, and strangers for unbiased opinions. This feedback can help you determine retail price, popular styles, your target audience, and the best place to sell your creations. If people don’t need your craft, determine what the demand is for these “want” items you’re creating. Do you have the type of creation that people only want one of, or like soap they’ll continue to want more of your amazing soap because they need soap anyway? Think about your craft from a customer stand point. Can your craft be converted into seasonal themes, or do you have an interest in crafting items around holidays or the seasons? Ask other craft sellers for advice or look up information in Etsy Forums to gain knowledge from their first-hand experience. And finally, don’t copy another artist’s design. It’s one thing to gain inspiration, and it’s another to be a copy cat. There are probably no original ideas but you can make your interpretation original and distinct. How would you feel if you put a lot of time, energy, and investment into your craft just to have someone copy it (and worse, sell it for less and sell more)? My guess is that you don’t need to copy anyway~ Good luck, and believe in yourself.

Giving Goes a Long Ways

I have learned time and time again that giving of myself, my time, my creations, and my money really just gives back to me tenfold. I personally believe that’s it’s pleasing to God if done from the heart, and I love to please my Father. Giving also produces an attitude of sorts, it’s hard for me to explain. But for me, my goal isn’t just to make money which allows me to buy things and do what I want to do, but it’s to also shows gratitude for what I’ve been blessed with (creative talents, drive, and extra money) And giving blesses others which we know can be contagious. Love the movie “Pay it Forward”.

There are countless ways you can give, some are to give a portion of your profits to the offering at your church or any charitable foundation, you can donate your products to charitable auctions for schools, ministries, or other worthy causes, you can be a sponsor under you company name for something that’s important to you like helping to buy jerseys for a kids sports team. You can give your time to mentor someone else with an interest in the same craft, or give your time to do a crafty project with a girl scout group, or use your time to write blogs about how to do something crafty to teach others. There are so many ways, I’m sure you have a lot of ideas too that I’d love to hear about. This blog is a great reminder to me, especially in difficult economic times when money is tighter. But we still need to be conscious of our attitude and the state of our heart. If we put the same amount of heart into giving as we put into our creations can you imagine the affects?

Or what about giving back to your loyal customers? I have a listing in my online shop for a free gift with purchase. I love giving extra things like matching earrings, a ring, bracelet, or bookmark, and this listing just makes it fun for the buyer to know they’re getting an extra little surprise. It’s fun for them and me, and I hope it shows my customers how much I value them and I want them to be a happy and satisfied customer. I have seen other shops list Pay-it-Forward items which is really cool too. I also offer free shipping and my items are ready to give as gifts. These are a few small ways to appreciate your customers. Think about the ways your currently give and try adding a new way or two and you will feel the difference.

Click N Ship

Have you ordered something online from Ebay, Etsy, or Amazon and noticed the professional looking mailing label? I’m here to tell you that those labels are not just for big companies, they’re for you and me too. I am set up on PayPal to receive payments for my online shop, and I have a debit card for my PayPal account too. It’s awesome, my business profits and expenses are all contained in one account. When I login to PayPal, there is a print label button next to the invoice line of the payment received. I didn’t click that button for several months because it seemed like a big deal, and I didn’t think I had time to look into it. I kick myself for thinking that now, but it’s all good because I have used it for years now and it’s awesome.

Not only does it look professional, printing a USPS mail label saves time, saves money, and I think it does one more unintentional thing. Let me explain. When I made daily trips to the Post Office, I paid $.75 for delivery confirmation. And I never had a delivery confirmed package lost so I’m convinced it’s worth the investment. The Postal Carrier has to scan the barcode at every location to track it’s journey. So this means these packages can’t just be thrown into big carts to be sorted later, they have to be hand-processed and accounted for. It’s better than insurance to me and a lot cheaper. When you print your own shipping label, delivery confirmation costs $.18. I don’t know why there’s a cost difference, maybe because the Postal Clerk didn’t have to take time to type in all the information, but at any rate it’s a good thing and worth every penny.

Another benefit of printing your own shipping labels is that it forces you to double check the shipping address. I compare the address given through Etsy against the address through PayPal. If they’re different then I confirm with the buyer before I ship. It’s one little step that can save you from a headache and dissatisfied customer. The label looks nice, it’s cheaper for me, it saves me gas and time in going to the Post Office, and it allows me to keep more organized records. When you print your label, the other half of the paper has instructions and a copy of the recipient’s information with the delivery confirmation number. It’s so much better than the hand-processed slip I use to tear off of the confirmation tags. The only thing to be aware of when using the printed label is that you’re not suppose to put tape over the barcode. This can prevent the carrier’s scanner from scanning it. No big deal though, it’s not even an inconvenience.

If you’re still not convinced, just track your mileage and time going to the Post Office compared to the cost of a black ink cartridge a ream of paper, and the 15 seconds it takes to print. I have a drop-off box next to my office building and down the road from my house so it’s very convenient to drop these off daily, but you can also schedule the PO to pick up packages from your doorstep (see website for details). I hope you’re running out of excuses for why not to print your own labels.

Tools

When it comes to jewelry making tools there are several considerations and decisions to make. Depending on the type of jewelry you’re making depends a lot on what tools you’ll need and how much you'll have to spend. My first set of tools were some pliers, they were inexpensive and highly functional for my needs. I didn’t know the difference between the cheap and expensive and I am self-taught so I didn’t have anyone to ask or advise. After 7 years though I’ve come to learn that you get what you pay for. Some tools don’t vary much in price like metal stamping. I stamp designs and words on brass, sterling, and copper and although I’ve found a difference in quality and ease of use, the tools are all around the same price. However, when using pliers to do wire wrapping etc. there are ergonomic pliers, cheap pliers that just don’t last, and commercial grade tools that require some safety considerations. Just be informed, and invest wisely. I didn’t know how long I’d make jewelry, I certainly didn’t know I’d open an online shop as well as sale at our local Saturday Market, but I started out learning and so investing in nice tools long-term came later.

Other crafts require serious consideration regarding up-front costs and estimating profits. How long will it take me to pay for my enameling supplies because buying a kiln is expensive? Finding the best resources and taking classes will give you the best tool you need, information! My enameling book, The Art of Enameling by Linda Darty goes over all the supplies I need and could want, and she shares how to make some of the tools instead of buying them. So being informed can save you money and help you to make wise decisions from the start. In regards to enameling I’m not concerned about it being a profitable art (because I’m sure it will), but I’m more concerned about how long I’ll be interested in using this technique to create lovely art. I love the final product and I’m still obsessing about making something, but what if I don’t like the process of making it after a while? This is when taking a class could end up saving you money in the long run. Like I said, information is your best tool. If you’re not informed, get informed. Etsy.com has tons of forums with people who love to help, and it’s possible that your question has already been answered. Google any question, and see what you get. People are so helpful and generous with their information and education, and it’s a nice way to network also. Being known in your craft community can be so much fun and build long-lasting friendships too. I’m really preaching to myself here because I don’t enjoy research but it is the best approach before making important decisions. It is possible to over-analyze and waste time researching, but I don’t personally have to worry about that~

Studio

Whatever your craft or hobby is, you know how important it is to keep your workspace organized and orderly (at least to your standards). My husband’s desk is a mess to me, but he knows where everything is and this (perceived chaos) works for him. When I’m designing pieces of jewelry, putting away supplies, creating jewelry, or packing up orders, I rely on my organized space to save time and feel calm when I’m working. I have a nice desk/bookcase set-up in our front room to store my supplies, hold my laptop, and package things up. My husband had the room painted for my birthday because this room is a space that I spend time in and I decorated it how I wanted it except for the finishing touch – paint! Plus the front room is a nice place for company to visit or for my daughter and I to listen to music and enjoy the view out the front windows. I usually don’t spend time making jewelry in this space because I need a lot of room to spread out my supplies but it’s perfect for everything else and it’s easily assessable for me.

Be aware that it could be a big mistake to clutter your home with your craft. This “mess” can cause other family members to be anxious or even be annoyed at your beloved craft because it just looks like a disaster. It’s also a headache if you spill something around your messy workspace (especially cleaning juice off beads one by one). And if company is coming over, cleaning up your crafty stuff will take up time that you could be spending on more important things, like making dessert~

When it’s time to create my designs, I usually use the kitchen table. This way I’m around my family, there’s plenty of space, and the lighting is good. My daughter has been around beads and craft supplies her whole life so she’s really good about putting items back where she got them. And it’s not extremely fascinating to her because she’s use to it. She gives me compliments on the finished pieces (total sweetie), and helps me name them. I hope that I can inspire her to create anything she wants to, at any age she wants to try something. I think she’s learning at a young age to put things back where they go, and being organized makes things easier. My husband is amazed (yes, being organized is a learned behavior too).

The nice thing about having all my supplies in organizers is that they’re portable, and I know exactly where to look to find something. There are several ways to organize your supplies, but I have opted to arrange my beads by color. I start with a design in mind and know what colors I’m going to use. It’s so easy to pick out the right beads when all the same color is together. There are endless shades, shapes, and sheens but it’s narrowed down when I start with the color I need. My friend Kathleen organizes her beads by type. She has grouped pearls, gemstones, glass, Lucite, etc. and this works for her. You can get organized to fit how you think and work best.

As many of you crafters know, it’s as much of a job cleaning your studio as it is in creating your crafts, but if you can start with an organized foundation it will save you time and make clean-up much easier. If you don’t have room for a studio, you still deserve to keep your supplies in an organized fashion. There are tons of organizers for scrapbookers and papercrafters, as well as sewing and painting organizers. And there are several sizes and types of Tupperware and baskets. Be sure to find something suitable for your craft, designate a spot (even if it’s the corner of a closet) and you’ll be able to enjoy working with these supplies without being discouraged about the mess and clean-up.

Awesome

One word explains her. AWESOME. My daughter Sawyer is awesome. This photo of her is adorable and it was her idea to peek one eye between the wooden letter “W”. She will be 4 years old on June 19, the same day her great grandma turns 80! Sawyer is the type of girl that you can tell will do great things. She shows leadership skills, she’s compassionate and loving, she’s fun and daring, and she loves people. We are so proud of her and she brings us non-stop joy. Jeremy and I are blessed to be her parents and we take our job very seriously. I know we’ll mess up, (we already have at times) but we want to give her the best of ourselves and help her to become the best she can be.

Now that I’m a parent I feel thankful for the daily chores after school, weeding during the hot summer days, and paying for my own car insurance. It all paid off and I’m reaping the rewards today. So thanks mom and dad! I admit, I was the type of kid who thought they knew a lot, but part of that was because my parents taught me a lot~ But now, I am keenly aware of how much I don’t know and that’s ok because it’s so much fun learning with my husband and daughter together. I have an awesome husband and daughter, and it keeps getting better. I will brag about my hubby in another blog.

Literary Inspiration

Why am I so excited (obsessed)? It all started about two years ago when I fell in love with reading. It seems strange to be at my age and discover how amazing books are, sad but true. It started with the Twilight series, and I’m still surprised I gave it a shot. I’m not into fantasy or vampire stuff, but I was convinced by Brenda at church that it was a love story and it wasn’t sleazy at all. So I read them all right after seeing the first movie with my hubby and from there got hooked reading. I tend to enjoy a great love story with some adventure and fun. I am a huge Jane Austen fan and continue to be inspired by her novels with my jewelry designs. I am a sucker for love stories, romantic comedies, and even the sometimes very sad Jonathan Sparks love stories.

Classic and modern love stories have inspired many of my current designs but very recently inspired a vision for new enameled designs. I have designs planned for the following:

Pride and Prejudice
Emma
Letters to Juliet
Young Victoria
Bright Star
Twilight

Although not a love story, Alice in Wonderland has also inspired a design, but I’ve yet to write out the details. I have a feeling that my closest friends will inspire designs also. Their personalities reflect certain colors and styles, and they inspire me too so it’s inevitable. Inspiration comes in many forms, find what inspires you and soar. I am so excited to learn enameling and attempt my new designs. Stay tuned, and I'd love to hear about what inspires you.

Research (blah)

My husband Jeremy is a terrific researcher and he likes to do it (gag me). I, however, do not enjoy extensive research, and am more inclined to just dive in and try. When it comes to enameling copper jewelry, I am less likely to dive in because there are safety issues to consider, expensive investments (like buying a kiln), and I really want to follow tried and true practices. I know there will be some trial and error, but I’d like it to be more about experimenting and not because I ignorantly cut corners.

I started out researching online. It’s free, it’s quick, and it was the obvious place to start. I also checked Borders but didn’t find one book about enameling (granted it was a small Borders). Then I relied on my fellow Etsy sellers. I emailed several shops that sell beautiful enameled work and asked if they could recommend any resources to help get me started in learning the technique. So far two sellers have replied and they both recommended the same book, Linda Darty’s The Art of Enameling. They both said that they still refer to the book. So I bought it on Amazon and I’m reading some each night. It is a great book, and all the colored pictures are very helpful. So far I’m compiling a list of the supplies I’ll need. My next step is to estimate their prices so I know about how much this new venture is going to cost me upfront. I visited a local art store but they didn’t have any jewelry making or enameling supplies, but the lady recommended Georgie’s in Portland. So I checked their web site, and of course they don’t offer their enameling items online. But I’m not discouraged, it may turn out to be better to physically go into the store and maybe even learn something from an employee. Hey, they may even know of another place where I can take an introductory class. My sweet husband helped me in researching enameling classes. To my surprise, he found a class in Portland at a bead shop I’m familiar with. I called to reserve my spot 2 months before the class and it’s full. I’m on the waiting list, but I was pretty bummed.

I also met a woman at work who fuses glass to make pendants. We’re going to meet for break to discuss kilns and what she knows. Meeting her during my lay-off notice was a bright spot during that difficult time. It encouraged me further to pursue learning this technique and following my vision.

So the research continues, especially for a hands-on class less than 4 hours away. If I can learn enough from my book and online resources I may dive in. I’m not sure how much longer I can wait to get my feet wet. If I do dive in I will be as well informed as possible.

New adventures, new visions, new outlooks

This is my first blog, and I must say that I’m not a writer so bare with me. I’d like to start by sharing just a bit about me before explaining the title of this blog. My name is Amy, I am a wife, mother, friend, full-time state of Oregon employee, interior decorator, general crafter, and a jewelry designer. All my friends and family know me to be creating something, planning something, or decorating something whenever I can. I don’t think of myself as an artist at all, that’s a bit too much credit, but I do accept the compliment of being creative. I love to express that creativity in many different ways. My friends and family have been extremely supportive in all my crafty money-making ventures and I owe them my unending gratitude for my success today and tomorrow. Without their love, support, encouragement, and desire for my success I’d be less creative and pretty depressed.

My new adventure was created for me, and I’m truly trying to focus on the positives which is why I refer to it as an adventure. The state government agency I work for is experiencing extreme budget shortfalls. The agency had to layoff several positions, and because we are under a union, we have options to “bump” or displace another position if we have more seniority and qualify for the position. Consequently, I was bumped out of my position and my last day is July 16, 2010. The worst part is leaving my work group. I work and sit by my best friend Ana, I work with other amazing friends that are like family, I have the perfect schedule and a lot of flexibility, I have a window seat (this may seem triffle but if you’ve worked in cubicleville you understand), and I really enjoy what I do because I’m good at it and I’ve had many opportunities to learn new things. Needless to say, the news grieved me and my friends greatly, but my new adventure (besides starting a new job) is looking forward to implementing new jewelry designs. The change in my career has afforded me with the opportunity to look at my life, my personal goals, and perspective.

With the opportunity to take a look at how I’m spending my time on this earth, I have been encouraged by a new vision. I have felt a little burnt out making jewelry lately, and have even considered closing my online shop. The economy has influenced my sales, and I have been distracted by other things also. My fire for design was all but a flicker until I stumbled upon a beautiful technique that I’ve been obsessing about for over a month now. I discovered an enameled bangle bracelet and instantly knew I had to learn how to create such a piece. I currently know basic wire techniques, resin, brass patination, stamping metal, PMC silver clay, soldering, and now it’s time to add a new skill to my design belt. The catch is that enameling is expensive, there’s a lot to learn, and I can’t find a class in my area. I am on the waiting list for a class in Portland, but I’m not getting my hopes up. Regardless of the present obstacles, I am determined to learn how to enamel copper and reinvent my online jewelry shop and vision.

Today, my new outlook is that I’m the only one who can limit me. Money can’t limit me because I can save. Others can’t limit me if I don’t let them. A lack of knowledge can’t limit me because I can learn. So at the optimistic age of 32, I’m going to move forward in living a life worthy of being called a positive legacy for my daughter Sawyer (almost 4 years old). I want her to have courage to pursue what she wants in life, from anything as simple as learning to drive a stick shift, to as complex as completing training in her area of interest. My relationship with God gives me hope and strength to do many things, and I believe that creating things is one of my gifts so I’m going to continue to walk in it, and watch how God uses me and my gifts.