CUSTOMIZED LANYARDS

Sometimes it would seem wise to give up, but I can't seem to do that even though I've had very little success to date. I guess that is the nature of marketing...keep trying until you find something that works! I am convienced that lanyards can be fun and/or pretty to wear, therefore, a profitable commodity. I just need to figure out how to match product to customer. I've had good success with personalizing my cedar signs, so thought I'd try the same with lanyards. It is my plan to use clip art to create a unique and personalized lanyard. It will take a little time to polish my craft, but I'm off and running. I can't say I like every piece I've made so far, but I'm getting better at working with polymer clay to get a desired creation. Price will factor into each piece once I feel confident I can provide a consistant product. Right now I'm simply challenging myself to be creative. It is what I love best....

If you want me to create a customized lanyard feel free to contact me via my Etsy shop or through my email link. I will post the finished product on my Etsy BachsCrafts. No obligation to buy until you see something you like. Consider providing the following information when ordering:

• design (logo, or simple clip art works best)
•  shape (heart, circle, oval, square, flower, etc.)
•  colors of braid (up to 4 colors though 2 work best)
•  metal: silver, gold or copper
• spelling (if applicable)
• length, usually between 28”-40” (double the length from back of neck to where you want the pendant to hang)

Dragonfly Lanyard

Sun and Moon Lanyard

Stick Figure Nurse Lanyard

Squirrel Lanyard

Consignment Anyone?

     Now that I'm back among the ranks of the unemployed I'm looking to make a little extra money on my jewelry. I'm finding that jewelry (or at least my jewelry) doesn't sell well online, but does great at craft shows where people can see, handle, and try on my pieces. I'm hoping to find a shop or two around Spokane and/or Coeur d'Alene that might be interested in showing/buying/consigning some of my handcrafted items. Since my mix of jewelry is rather eclectic, handcrafted wood, polymer clay, wire wrapped, etc., I am willing to make whatever you feel would best serve your clientele, whether necklaces, earrings, lanyards, or bracelets, etc.
     I've created a new slide show of "My Favorite Pieces" that I've done over the last few years to give a sample of my work. I've included a couple of my contest winners. I'm not into creating exact replications or mass producing any one item--I enjoy creating one-of-a-kind jewelry--I can reproduce style and color so to accommodate some custom orders. If you're interested, or know of anyone who may be interested in hosting some of my pieces, feel free to contact me through my email links. I would be happy to bring samples by your place of business to let you see my product.

     I'm afraid my jewelry endeavors went on hiatus because of my year-long employment (which is now completed). Now that I'm back among the ranks of the unemployed I reflect back to my year long struggle to create an online jewelry business and ask myself if I want to try again? It wasn't my first time running my own business; I did well with my sign business, and ran a golf course/restaurant, many moons ago, but my BachsCrafts was different. Though there was some sense of financial necessity, it was really more an inner expression of self--as art usually is--which makes it personal, especially when it doesn't sell. I  thought it was because my jewelry designs were not very good (and some aren't), or people just didn't like what I made (and some don't), but when I attended a few craft shows I received feedback that was very informative and helpful. I was left to conclude that the jewelry I make is something that has to be seen up close to be appreciated. People like to try pieces on, and having a wide selection to choose from allows for the nuanced preferences of the individual. Having that kind of inventory is difficult for the one-of-a-kind artist. My whole selection, which took me months to create all fit into one small box!
     Craft shows are an interesting way to show one's craft. I sat three days in 100 degree temperatures and sold enough to cover the cost of the booth, but hardly enough to pay for my time and weekend long discomfort. On another occasion, I participated in a farmer's market and spent a pleasant afternoon overlooking Puget Sound; I did quite well selling my wares. It was a great way to find out what the market was interested in, mostly my copper wire wraps.
    Though I can say I ran a "business" (I did have a license and .com), it was hardly a success. It took me months to learn how to create an eshop, complete with SSL certificate (credit card security). It was always curious that the greatest number of "visitors" to my sight were Russians--especially in the light of their most recent incursion on US Banks. I spent hours and hours taking and editing pictures, writing descriptions, and posting products. Jewelry, unlike...let's say...a lawn care business, is quite different in web design. Where a lawn care business web site is stagnate with a main page and couple of links to products and pricing, my jewelry eshop required detailed attention to every item posted. And since I only make one of a kind jewelry, it was a lot of work for every good designed and posted. My eshop required constant attention, sadly, it was only the Russians who paid it any mind!
     Overall, it was fun to create a shop, market goods, and at least have the illusion I was building something. The profit was not in the dollar value of the goods sold, but in the experience of having attempted a dream, even it it didn't fly. I learned what not to do, and how expensive a simple .com at only $1.99 a month can run! The behind the scenes cost of maintaining an eshop was enlightening. The costs included: monthly hosting site, SSL (security for credit card users), templates, and a mess of apps to make your postings easier. This doesn't even begin to cover what it actually cost to get your web site to the top of a search engine, something one doesn't even consider until well into the project. It's a stark (or shark) discovery when you find out that all your hard work isn't even going to be discovered unless you buy Google power--that privilege of having your post listed on the first page, because, really, how many of us every make it to a second page in our search attempts?
     The margin for an artist between cost and profit is slim. Most artist starve or have partners willing to support them in their art. My husband was very generous in his support of my efforts, despite the fact I spent
far more than I ever earned. But, good times have to come to an end. I spent my year basking in my creative juices, then on to get a "real" job. Now that I'm back to being unemployed, I don't have the fortitude to attempt another business run at making jewelry. I'm content to keep it a hobby and sell an item or two on Etsy, or take in a craft fair or two. It's much simpler and less stressful. I make what I want, price it out for what it is worth, and relax if it doesn't sell. I'm not forced into mill production of products I don't care about. As my newly retired sister-in-law says, "I do what I want..."

   

JUNE GIVEAWAY

     Working with polymer clay is so much fun, but challenging on so many levels. This pair of checkered patterned earrings would seem to be a rather easy task, but getting crisp squares and even slices will take a little practice. So I'm giving away my practice earrings working with this pattern. To be entered in the drawing to win this pair of pink and white checkered earrings leave a comment on my blog or go to my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/bachscrafts and leave a comment on June's give-away post. The drawing is to be held June 30th. Good luck!

      It seemed a rather simple endeavor—building a web site. Templates are supposed to make it easy, just fill in the blanks…right?! When I saw the picture of this mouse I knew I had to post it as this was what I looked like at various points while building my .com! Web design seemed like a bottomless pit of possibilities and, being the creative person that I am, I felt compelled to explore as many of those possibilities as I was able. At some point I realized I would never create another piece of jewelry to post on my .com if I didn't back off a little and let it rest…as is…

     SEOs, CSVs, SLLs, SQLs, URLS—and the list goes on—of acronyms that I was clueless about. Working with my computer, a server host, a theme host, and various modules sites proved to be rather complicated, and when I finally thought I might have some small handle on the whole process I found that different browsers...taaaa, daaa...work differently. I spent two hours working on making a voucher box appear at check out--a relative simple, straight forward task--when I stumbled upon the fact that it would appear in one browser, but not in another. There was no “fix” to be made! There went two hours I could have been working on jewelry!

     As it stands, I now have a dot .com--www.bachscrafts.com. I've managed to keep my costs down on my “free domain.” After buying host time at $1.99 a month—to get that rate you have to buy several months at a time—I needed to buy an SSL (secure site lock) to encode and protect credit card purchases. To add any of the bells and whistles to my “free template,” took all my will power to resist. On several occasions it possibly floated around in the back of my mind that if I would upgrade my template or add certain modules some of the problems I was having would disappear. I was able to find free modules to satisfy my desire to expand my template beyond the basic Prestashop mold and tweak some of the features without having to risk all by rewriting the html coding. One misplaced comma can dismantle a whole site!

     What really saved me from becoming a totally bald mouse were the Nemo tutorials on You Tube: a step by step guide through the drop down menus in the back shop (as opposed to the front shop which you view on the web.) Prestashop’s back shop has a menu bar of 11 different items, and sub menus beyond count, and that expand with every module added. The drag and drop features of this blog are NOT to be compared to the eCommerce back shop that exists with both the domain host and in the template design itself. I’m embarrassed to admit it, but I cried when I came across Nemo’s step-by-step easy to follow—let me emphasis here—visual instructions. And I loved to hear him say that some features were not intuitive, or not working properly--“bugs”—and to realize that I was not a complete imbecile when I did A, then B, but C did not fall into line…so I’ve learned to live with bugs. I guess I could upgrade to a “better” template, but I doubt even that would get ride of some of those pesty bugs!

     I hope you’ll visit my web site (and make a purchase), and though it doesn't stand out as anything terribly creative, I’m rather proud of my accomplishment. From start of project to launch of web site only took me three months! Once I started to figure out the basics it went a lot smoother…thanks Nemo! And thanks to the complication of figuring out shipping costs and linking to the USPS, I found it easier to just offer free shipping for now

. I hope to figure out that module sometime this summer, so while I’m doing that I’d make use of the free shipping feature on my site! Happy shopping!!!

Jazz Proof!

      I couldn't resist taking a small photo shoot of my granddaughter playing with one of my old test pieces of jewelry. Of course I watch her very closely and would not leave her alone with any necklace at such a young age, but I was curious to see just what she would do with it. She figured out how to get it around her neck and to parade around with it like a queen. Quite an accomplishment to secure such a treasure all on her own!

     This last year I've made several Jazz-proof pieces of jewelry for her mother. My step-daughter—herself with three young children--first introduced me to "momma” necklaces and I've made several using polymer clay. My daughter favors the glass pendants that double as a teether and wearable “toy.” I wire wrap the pendant, double and triple thread, crimp at multiply places, and use a mixture of very large and small beads (just in case it breaks). On a rare occasion my daughter will bring me a pre-Jazz design that needs reassembling, but most of my pieces have held up very well. I really do want my designs to last!

     My new motto is: Is it Jazz proof? Of course some of my more delicate pieces will never be totally baby proof, but over all I strive for an excellence in my craft that I hope will last through the generations. My daughter’s newest piece—a Valentine’s Day heart—was a big hit with my granddaughter…you’d think I had made it for her.

     I can't wait for the day my granddaughters can wear their bling with pride--unsupervised!

Two Hearts Become One

In making this design--as is typical--it took on a life of its own. It was a very meditative piece and caused me to reflect on the purpose of having a holiday such as Valentine’s Day and the love it symbolizes. This piece did not come out as I envisioned, and in creating this sturdy piece of jewelry it spoke to me in several metaphors. This design started with two separate hearts, one smaller than the other and thought I could carefully lace them together. But I found that when bringing two hearts together you need much stronger wire. Lightweight and lacy will not suffice to keep them in place. Love needs something that is solid and strong. During the constructing I had to undo some things I did not like. Love must be willing to change and remake itself as necessary or desired. Love will rarely be what we envision it to be. And there were times while in the making I thought this a very dreadful piece and I contemplated scraping it, but again, with a little patience I was able to make it into something beautiful. Love is like that; sometimes it looks revolting and other times it looks amazing. When it is all said and done, love—even at its best--is complicated.

Media Marketing

February Promotion Give-Away
visit:
https://www.facebook.com/bachscrafts

      What a challenge! I opened a Facebook page for my BachsCrafts, have two blog sites, follow Pinterest, have a YouTube channel, and maintain my Etsy shop. I can easily spend two hours a day working promotions from one to each of these sites. And that doesn't even come close to the time I need to spend on on these tasks! My niece, Camas Rain-- https://www.facebook.com/camasrain77 -- has started a business managing the convoluted maze of media marketing for small businesses. She lives on her computer and phone! She's given me a few pointers along the way which keeps me steadily plugging along hoping to gain some piece of that "viral" media that is floating around. In the meantime, I feel robbed of the hours of actually making jewelry. Maybe, someday, if I become "successful" enough I can hire her to handle the media marketing end of things, though I have to admit I find the challenge of winning "likes" fascinating.
    Yesterday I substitute taught in an economics class. I brought out my little travel jewelry kit (I take it everywhere for when there is down time), and used it as a show-and-tell aspect for an introduction to Economics. Production, opportunity cost, scarcity, along with the 3 basic economic questions: What to produce? How to produce it? For Whom to produce? This lead to some interesting discussions. I'm always drawn to why people do the things they do, including myself. Why do I make jewelry? Why do I spend hours online trying to market it? Profit certainly couldn't be my biggest motivation as evidenced by my PayPal account, it must be something else. The desire to create seems overwhelming at times. I've seen it in my husband, niece, and brother--all writers--who burn with an intrinsic motivation to write, even when no one reads what they write. I believe there is something immortal about the arts that draws us to express ourselves in such a way. It might also account for why I try to keep making what I do better. 
     At times I think my goods don't sell because they are not good enough. That might be the case in some designs. I can get rather crazy with trying new things. On the other hand, it's hard to disguise when someone likes a piece of jewelry or their sincerity in saying, "You should sell this stuff!" I understand the economy is sluggish and few have disposable incomes for such commodities (have to get in those lessons), but to get a showing for items--with the least expensive cost--is huge challenge in today's media world...and I'm always up for a challenge!

Happy New Year!

       Having recently moved back to Spokane from NC has left me feeling stunned. I feel like I’m living in a surreal place. I’m closer to family and have had so much more time to create and craft. And what has been especially pleasurable for me is to share my materials and expertise with my children, just as my mom had done for me.

       When I was a new mother starting up my own home it was wonderful to have my mom nearby to help me make curtains and pillows, or refinish chairs. She knew how to hang wall paper straight and fitted properly. She sewed cloths for my children and, on occasion, an outfit for me. If I needed something repaired or remade, she seemed to know how to do what was needed and had supplies ready on hand to make it all better.  She was a wonderful cook and was there to answer any of my many recipe questions. We both had gardens and often canned together. Work was often shared, which made it fun.

      When I lived 2,500 miles away I could not do for my family as my mother had done for me. It was difficult to give instructions over the phone and know that down in my shop I could attend to the problem in a few minutes. A part of me always felt a little "unplugged," so being back nearer to my children and family has left me in a permanent state of euphoria. After years of being unplugged, it didn't take much to make me feel connected.

     This was a great holiday season for me. I think that I have nearly forgotten how to celebrate them. With all the travel required over the years to be with family on the holidays, it has been awhile since I was able to deliver or receive warm baked cookies and bread. I hardly bothered with decorations knowing that no one would be seeing them, including my husband and myself. Holidays felt stark and empty. Now I’m building my decorations one string of lights at a time; what may seem a pathetic attempt at holiday festivities, at times, feels overwhelming to me. There is a real learning curve to knowing how to string a decent set of lights across the lawn. Amazing, they even have light-sensing timers!

     This was my daughter’s first Christmas with her daughter. Nothing like young children to bring out the magic of the holidays! We made ornaments and handmade gifts to ease our budgets since we've both experienced a cut in the hours we work (or at least the paid ones). Even my son got in on the action and made a pair of polymer clay snowman earrings.                                                                                                                                             

      For me, that is what gift giving is about. My mother and I used to start at the end of summer planning what gifts we were going to make. We knitted and sewed, painted and hodgepodged our way to the holidays; and it made them so very special. My tree is still decorated with our odd assortment of handmade ornaments. I wanted to share this with my children, and this was the first Christmas in a long time that I was able to do just that. It was a wonderful feeling to add my granddaughter’s handmade, hand-print ornament to the eclectic mix of decorations already hanging on my tree.

     I look forward to the New Year and the new challenges we face; knowing that I’m surrounded and supported by my loved ones makes it a great start already.  

My handmade gift to my daughter...

Beading Across America

       It's been nearly a year since I posted an entry on my blog! A few life altering events gave me pause and a time for  reflection, and I have chosen to move  my life in a new direction. It seemed wiser to wait until I was of "retirement age" to make some of these changes, but the birth of several grandchildren proved to be the final motivation for my husband and I to move from the Carolina's we love back to the Northwest to be closer to family. We bought a house, are trying to sell a house, and the process of wrapping up a thousand loose ends has placed my existence into one hectic state of affairs for the last year. I have continued to work on my crafts, but it has been rather sparse and unfocused. As I near the end of this year's long journey (I measure my years by the school calendar), I look forward to being resettled and refocused. I will face new challenges, new motivations, more grief and more joys. Such is life, and as much as I hate to embrace life's sorrows, I find embedded, even in those trying times, strength and comfort from family and loved ones.

      I'm not sure about my employment options. As most Americans, I will face the uncertain job market (it was probably not the best time to leave a job I love and offers some security), but those who know me know that I'm a risk-taker. Sometimes I feel as if I'm throwing myself off a cliff and hope to grow wings before I hit bottom. Maybe. Maybe not. I might try to turn my hobby into a livelihood, or I might try to get back into teaching, or subbing, or maybe become a superstore greeter. Who knows? I'll know when I get there. It helps to know I have a loving husband who supports me as we share the uncertainty of what lies ahead. 

     Soon we will be leaving North Carolina to head back to the Northwest though it will be by an indirect route. We have a few eastern states to see on our way home. The very-out-of-the-way Maine and Vermont are the last two states for us to visit before my husband and I can say we've been to all 48 of the contiguous states. We'll stop so I can wave at Lady Liberty and after collecting my Maine thimble swing by Niagara Falls to capture another of our country's (and Canada's) natural wonders.  

Beading Across America

     I have packed my jewelry kit for the journey and hope to bead across America. I opted for a lot of blue and turquoise colors--the color of water. I love it when jewelry pieces have names. "Liberty" and "Niagara" are ideas waiting for a creative and free moment to craft into existence, though I'm thinking I might need to pick up a few red beads for my Liberty piece? I'm really looking forward to having the time to focus on being creative. I hope by the middle of summer to reopen my Esty shop. Check back in a few weeks to see how our great nation inspired me. In the meantime, wish me good luck on my new adventures!

Making Polymer Clay Earrings

A great rainy day activity...


I thought it would be fun to make an instrucional video on how to make a simply pair of polymer clay earrings using common household items. All you should need to buy is the polymer (or baking) clay. Here are a list of items you will need for this project.

MATERIALS NEEDED
Polymer Clay--"Baking Clay:: Red, Yellow, Blue, White, Black
Findings: Earring hoops or clips, wire pins (or 20 guage wire)
Razor blades
Pliers
Rolling pin
Paper
Paper towels
Aluminum foil
Scissors
Vinyl Floor Finish
Color wheel
Deck of Cards

PART ONE: Supplies needed

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FaJz9RkR4Y&feature=share

PART TWO: Making a pair of polymer clay earrings

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bWHfbP4q4s&feature=channel&list=UL

A Little Practice...

     Both my eye surgeries went well, though my vision isn’t back to normal yet. It certainly has slowed me down in the jewelry making department and eroded my confidence somewhat. That and the difficulty I’m having with polymer clay. What a great medium; and so versatile when trying to combine it with other art forms. The problems I’m having is getting a nice glossy finish. Having purchased some rather expensive spray shellacs I found that some products interact and make the clay sticky. So I’ve been working to solve that problem. The other is getting as smooth as surface as possible to minimalize the sanding and buffing needed. I’ve decided I simply need more practice and experience working with this product before selling some of my pieces on my Etsy site. So here are a few of my practice pieces that I have been experimenting with. This asymmetrical flower piece I actually made for myself. I’ll have to rework it to get it to balance on the neck better. I hate necklaces that slide around the neck so will have to tweak it, but I do love the design.

     The “mommy necklaces” are a great gift for mothers; something stylish and durable for the tug of little hands. A teacher friend loves bells so I made her a bell lanyard.

     I've enjoyed working with this new medium and exploring the use of more complicated patterns. Though I've created serveral new pieces, I've not put very many for sell in my shop. I want to get a little better at working with clay before selling them on the market. 

Life's a little blurry right now...

Several weeks ago I printed off a shipping label and noticed the UPC bar code had wavy lines. At first I thought my printer was misaligned, but looking at the lines again they were straight, then wavy. Finally, I had to take it in to my husband and ask him if the bar code had wavy or straight lines. He said they were straight. After a trip to my optometrist and then onto a specialist it was determined I had a macular hole, something I’d never even heard of before. Evidently it is not uncommon in “women my age,” who are nearsighted. I was told it would require two surgeries to fix…hopefully.

I’ve had the first surgery to fix cataracts I don’t have, but will develop with the second surgery. Surprisingly it wasn’t that unpleasant. In fact, after the anesthesiologist served me my “two martinis” I was in pretty good shape for the rest of the operation. A round of antibiotics and in a couple of weeks I should be ready for the next surgery which is for the purpose of actually fixing the hole in my eye. After the surgery I will be required to keep my face down for several days if not weeks. I can honestly say I’m not much looking forward to this task even with the consolation prize of getting off work for a couple of weeks. I’d rather work! But the universe didn’t ask my opinion as to whether or not I wanted this inconvenience and I feel I have very little room to complain. I am glad that there is a fix, even though there are risks and nothing is guaranteed.

Through the years I have been in good health, so facing this mini crisis seems inconsequential to the real hardships faced by so many. As for my jewelry making it has slowed me down a little. Everything takes a little more time and effort. Having lost "only" a quarter of my vision it stills leaves me with 3/4ths and that would seem sufficient until I try to replace the needle size pin on the glue bottle and I can’t seem to quite measure the depth or the distance. Sometimes I want to cry and feel sorry for myself, but then I think of others in my family who face real hardships. I have a cousin in a wheelchair, a brother learning to drive with one hand, a sister-in-law who recently lost her nephew in a motorcycle accident, students whose parents have cancer, families members without jobs, and the tears stop. I can’t seem to feel sorry for myself because I have to endure some pain and uncertainty. Like Scarlet O’hara, if at all possible, “I’ll think about that tomorrow.” Today I’ll just busy myself with making a necklace.

Link for more information about what is a Macular Hole: http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/macularhole/macularhole.asp#1

Obsession

It’s always a little embarrassing to admit one’s shortcoming and as a teacher you’re honed not to show too much vulnerability; on the other hand, sometimes a thorough evaluation of one’s weaknesses brings epiphanies, or at the least, insight. For me I have spent many hours making jewelry, and in the process spent many hours reflecting on the passion--bordering obsession--I’ve had with this craft. I’m a project person. I like to set out a challenge and then tackle it for all I’m worth. Making jewelry is a satisfying activity for a project oriented person like me, but at some point things went awry; I’d think about design as I drifted off to sleep. I’d wake up in the middle of the night tackling structure problems and how to fit pieces together. At times I’d wake up early to work on jewelry before going to work, and anyone who knows me, knows I am not a morning person. I set a pattern of leaving work at the soonest opportunity and skipped any activities that might divert me from getting home to my craft. I stopped going to the gym, and I resented any time I’d have to stop to pick up groceries. I take my jewelry kit with me everywhere I went. I had to ask myself, “why?” The hours I’ve spent hunched over my work bench were hours I’ve spent asking myself, “Why do I have to do this?” I think I’ve known all along. It’s only now, with a week of snow days to satiate my passion that I’m finally able and willing to reflect. Hopefully, I’ve turned the corner on the obsession and can level it back to being a passion.

In June I lost my younger brother, George. I took my jewelry kit back to the Northwest knowing it would help me pass the hours as I had planned an extended stay with family. Here is where my passion turned to an obsession. The jewelry kit became my place of comfort. It was my home, a place I could surround myself with my belongings, where I could create a familiar setting. When I unfurled my black leather faux work cloth, I had a sense of control and destiny, and a diversion. I created pieces in frenzy resenting anything that got in my way, not that anyone would know, but I knew. Sometimes a design needs to sit, as one ponders the pattern and makes adjustments until it seems right and the piece comes together. I couldn’t wait. I had to see it all come together--NOW!--despite my sense of dissatisfaction. And I couldn’t go back to make adjustments…I had to move forward, on to the next design. I seemed to be in a race, but no one else was running with me or against me. It was me against myself.

When I returned home in August after being gone for several weeks it took me awhile to unpack. I had a small kit with jewelry fixtures and a few left over chain links from George’s biker chain wrapped in a plastic bag left on the floor…next to the a pile of miscellaneous items set out to go to the Goodwill. I knew within hours that my husband had mistakenly grab my kit and packed it off to the Goodwill, but by the time I called in to the Goodwill it had already been sold. I sobbed uncontrollably. I can’t remember the last time I cried that hard. I’m not sure I even wept like that at George’s passing, but I knew the two were connected. Irretrievably lost. Gone. Out of my control and beyond my grasp. I think I knew that as I made each piece of jewelry I was trying to capture something, control the universe in some small way, to bring something into existence that was always just out of my grasp. And no matter whether or not I liked what I had made there was something incomplete about each piece.

I’ve had five days off work because of a snow storm. Snow where I live in NC turns quickly to ice and basically shuts everything down, and I was perfectly content to wait it out at my crafts table. For the first time I could revisit a piece. I could set aside a design and come back to it at a later time. I could start a project and tell myself, “I’ll get to that tomorrow,” or I planned it in stages not knowing if I’d have another day to work on it or not. It made me wonder what was different about this week compared to my week of winter break.

My winter break was bleak and depressing. I didn’t go anywhere or have anyone come visit. I didn’t put up a tree or send out cards. Each day was filled with anxiety as I ticked off the days knowing there would not be enough time to get my projects done. And the holidays passed and I was relieved. The new year came and I breathed a sigh of relief. My older brothers posted on Facebook how glad they were to be out of 2010 and into 2011 and I realized we had all passed a marker. We are only half-way through our first year of mourning, but we are past the first Thanksgiving and the first Christmas without our beloved brother. As hard as it was we could finally say good-bye to the old year and its grief and its sadness. I also said good-bye to the illusion that I was ever in control or that I could force each day into existence because of the projects I had to complete. I said good-bye to the overpowering sense of my mortality that hurried me on each day to accomplish something, to finish each project as if there was no tomorrow.

And so I start the new year with new jewelry. Pieces I like, because I have taken the time to work and rework them to my satisfaction. My obsession has calmed itself to a comfortable level of passion. My grieving is not complete, but using my craft to supplant the grieving process, I hope, is over. I will grieve and I will make jewelry, it’s just now they won’t be one and the same.

Crystals, Crosses & Roosters: Jewelry With Meaning

October was a busy month. A trip to Seattle to spend time with my brother while he was in the hospital, a trip to Boston to help my husband do genealogical research, and a trip to Spokane to see my step-daughter Ariell marry Anton. And along with each of these visits I packed my jewelry boxes so I could do bead work in my "spare" time; in planes, in hospitals, in libraries, and any place I could lay out a towel. My previous blog recounted some of the pieces made in Seattle. Current report: Slade is currently walking and has movement in his right arm! What a trooper! To face such a horrendous event with such courage and fortitude certainly puts him at the top of my hero list!

My trip to Boston followed the weekend after my return from Seattle. Massachusetts was a beautiful state to visit, especially in the fall, and Boston left me wanting more. There’s a lot to do in this state, especially for a history teacher! I felt so privileged to take in some of the sites. We got to the airport early so we were able to squeeze in a quick visit to downtown Boston. They have a great system to get one from the airport to downtown and back so having just a few hours to spare was easily filled up with a historic side tour. I was sometimes helpful in my husband’s research, but sense it was pretty tedious and specific research I would bead as he read old newspapers. I made this piece in Weymouth's library.

The next week I was in Spokane for Ariell’s wedding. It was a simple wedding. Last summer I asked her if she wanted me to make her wedding necklace and she was excited to have me do this for her. We went to World of Wonders bead shop in Spokane where she picked out the stones and pieces she wanted me to use. She loves amethysts crystals and wanted that as her centerpiece. When it came right down to making it though, I knew she’d want to wear the crystal frequently, so I decided to make the necklace in two pieces…one for everyday, wear, and a second, complementary necklace to dress up the crystal for her wedding. I thought the ensemble turned out nicely and she was pleased.

While in Spokane I also finished the work on my daughter Joy’s birthday gift. I made her a set of three lanyards to wear at work (preschool teacher). I stayed with Brook, and of course I had to make something special for my hostess! Back to World of Wonders to have Brook pick out what she liked. She selected a marbled white cross for a necklace and some mood beads for a bracelet. While we were there I found some rooster charms. Stacie was coming over for a visit so I made her a "rooster" necklace as a memorial to her dad, who had a rooster tatooed on his foot. (My father had a rooster tatooed on his foot durning WWII and it's become somewhat of a family tradition to have a rooster tatoo).  Stacie recently had a rooster tatooed on her back. So when I spotted the rooster charm I had to make it into a necklace for my niece. I get such pleasure out of making these gifts I’m surprised they don’t charge me! So, as you can see October turned out to be a very busy month for me! I’m currently working on Christmas gifts and craft shows, so haven’t been able to slow down much.

Edals

     Just a short time ago my older brother, Slade, had a stroke. I threw a few cloths into a suitcase tossed in some beads and rushed across the continent to offer my support through the first part of his ordeal. I take beads because I can do them on the plane, or in the hospital, or waiting to get the oil changed. It keeps me occupied and satisfies my need to be creative. I wouldn’t say I have a lot of talent, and too often I am impatient to see the end product. But I love the challenge and keep trying to perfect my craft. I knew that while my brother was in critical care there would be many hours of sitting and waiting. For a stroke, patience is key; and as I already stated, not something I have in abundance. You wait for a word, then two words, then a sentence. You wait for a toe to wiggle or a finger to move. Hours and hours you wait and the joy of a single twitch is beyond measure. Though the stroke was severe and left my brother paralyzed on the right side, small improvements came quickly, and there was little mental impairment. He was quickly back to his jovial and quick-witted comments. The words came first, the wiggles would come later. So, while we waited I beaded.   
     In this sad, sad situation I was elated. I had my brother’s undivided attention (when he wasn’t napping) and his willingness to indulge my interests. You see, Slade is an artist, the kind that is creative to his very soul. He taught me how to draw a straight line, mix colors, and at one point we made signs together until I was able to go out on my own and start my own sign business. If there are colors, designs, or patterns, he is a natural at figuring out what works, and what doesn’t. He doesn’t hesitate to tell me when something isn’t right or to encourage me to try a little harder or to be a little more patient in working towards a better product. I doubt I’ll ever have his penchant for perfection, but he inspires me to try harder. So, I beaded with my two hands and he examined my work and made commentary every step of the way. “Make it smaller, more delicate,” was his idea. Upon several attempts I was finally able to give him some aspect of what he envisioned. And as the days passed he was satisfied with my efforts to make a delicate chain necklace, and I was satisfied with his efforts to wiggle his toes. In that way we took care of each other and for me the time offers a sweet memory and ongoing admiration for a brother whose creative genius does not emanate from his hands, but from his heart.

Giving v Selling

I'm trying something new. I recently opened a shop on Etsy, but one of the hardest things I do is to try to sell my jewelry. I get a lot of satisfaction just giving it away to family and friends. Here are (some) of my cousins...second and thirds (w/ more on the way!). Kristen is a photographer and takes beautiful pictures (she's on my list of favorite blogs) and uses an owl in her logo. I came across some owl charms on Ebay so snapped them right up so I could send them to her. But I wanted to make a couple of necklaces for her two young daughters...but with a household full of girls I had to make a little something for everyone. And as girls are, they were happy to have another piece of jewelry to add to their collection. Adia, the youngest expressed it beautifully as she pointed to her necklace and stated "hoot, hoot!" What could be better payment than that! P.S. Shannon is working to get her store up and running on Etsy selling handmade purses, aprons, hats, etc. Such a creative family! Check back to find her added to my favorite blog list as well when her store is up and going!

At the family reunion my sister let me know that purple was her favorite color (when I was giving away purple necklaces away to everyone else!). I decided I had to make something specially purple for her as well...and of course, as my sister, she has to love it since I made it for her! I guess that's the beauty of giving jewelry away...less chance of rejection...at least to one's face...

I'm finding that creating jewelry is an art of sorts, and I put a little something of myself in each piece. Sometimes a piece fits together in harmony, other times it's an embarrassment to look back and have to admit I made that monstrosity. Selling one's art offers a sort of validation to one's craft, but oddly, it also feels as a betrayal to one's self. I like making money, I like the challenge of being an entrepreneur, but I also like the freedom to express myself whether it is in harmony or discord, and to grow with one's craft without having to place a value on it. Somethings are just priceless..hoot, hoot!

Chaos

While traveling I like to have projects to work on. Wire and beads made this the perfect traveling-on-an-airplane project. No tools that would raise red flags when checking in!

This pieced I call Chaos. There is something so random about twirling all these beads into a design. It is heavy around the neck, giving it an elegant feel. I love the rich colors and sparkle. It will tough to let this one go, but I need to replenish my bead supply!

Which "purple" necklace will Aunt Deanne pick?

And the winner is....


Aunt Deanne wanted a purple necklace and this is the one she liked best.





Amberly ended up with second choice. How could I deny her? It was a perfect match with the shirt she was wearing!






Of course I had to make something new for the reunion event....













and something for the wedding....