The day before New Year's Eve a.k.a. December 30th

Brendan it is sitting on my lap asking me about the metals on my desk.  "Can I smell it?," he asks.  "Of course!" is my response.  After all, I smell metals myself. On my desk,  I have pieces of a brass planter, which I have cut up and copper from a chafing dish also indelicately dismantled.  I have been on a mission to repurpose metals fashioned for other uses.  Really, are chafing dishes a hot commodity? Since I adore estate sales and a particular local on-line auction house, I am enjoying the hunt. 

As I head into the new year, I reflect on 2011.  I must say that I loved this year.  Not because I was wildly successful in all my endeavors but that I showed up.  While there we discouraging events, they were also opportunities to learn about myself and those around me.  I must say, I prefer wildly successful to lesson learning.  Honestly, who wouldn't.  However, my life is exactly how I have chosen it to be.  I made the choices. I reap the benefits and am responsible for what I show up with.

So, instead of re-learning last year's "lessons", I am going to repurpose them for my wild success!  I must say this aloud to tell myself to keep moving forward with purpose 'cause if I stand still, I will get run over.

I wish you love, peace, and WILD SUCCESS today and always!

Staying Funky

I had a great experience at my first "big" show, Funky Finds.  I spent a lot of time getting my displays ready and they came out wonderfully.  I extremely nervous but confident I would come out of Funky Finds with some money in my pocket and with a wealth of good knowledge about how to run a booth. 

The show was not so prosperous but I am not discouraged.  I had fun.  I made some new acquaintances and I know I needed to have more merchandise.  My friend, Kelly Hinkle, helped me on Saturday and we got to spend time together.  Robbie Jenkins was across the aisle from us with her husband Joe.  They were invaluable at helping me tear down.  Robbie is also on of my biggest fans and I am of her.  She is an artist through and through. 

I still love making jewelry and I will do another (and another and another) show with high hopes.  I will continue to believe in myself and stay Funky.

Seasons show

Last week I had what I call a mini-show at a conference for the Seasons Sessions group.  They were mostly ladies from school districts who teach nurses aides.  They were a delightful group starting with Mary, who runs Seasons, all the way to my neighboring vendor Cindy with Scensty. 

Everyone was complimentary and easily accommodated.  I also learned a lot about setting up and running my booth.  I offered choices that gave people input in their finished product.  I made contacts and had a warm, fuzzy feeling when I left the first day.  I had fun. 



Customer, Cynthia Campbell

Everyone wanted these!

On the second day, requiring me to be there at 7:15 a.m., coffee helped get the juices flowing. Jeff was kind enough to take Brendan to school and let Audrey sleep in.  I dashed home while the conference was in session to pick up Audrey.  I held onto the unopened Cinderella movie for the occasion.  She was quiet for the most part and we enjoyed our time together.  Cindy with Scensty had time to come over and discover what I had to offer... and she loved my baubles.  She gushed, actually.  I was positively glowing.  That is until Audrey upchucked on the hotel carpet.  Well, at least it was near time to pack up.  It made for a hasty exit.    



Cindy with Scentsy

The amount of merchandise I sold wasn't staggering, but being face-to-face with people asking me questions about my handcrafted pieces boosted my ego and reconfirmed my conviction to do what I do.  I spent this week lost in enameling and absolutely loving it.  My talent, my creativity all come from The Creator and I am so grateful.

Good Morning MONDAY!

  Jeff, my husband, left early this morning for his first business trip with Dell, his new employer.  He used to travel quite a bit several years ago.  This is good and bad.  Bad part: he isn't here.  Good part: he isn't here. 

Let me explain.  I love him to my tippy toes.  He does pitch in when asked to and, frankly, I need help with the kids and I love having a dinner companion other then the little people.  However, (you knew this was coming) for a few days,  I can look at my junk and twirl it around, gaze adoringly, and envision the junk turned into dollar signs or dust collectors or other fabulous re purposed treasures.  Jeff just sees junk.  He has voiced his adamant disapproval of the clutter I have created.  That makes me nervous.  I don't want to stop acquiring my "treasures" and *gasp* get a real job.  That is what his displeasure means to me...forced into real labor, again.  No, thanks very much.  

I love creating.  I re purpose tins and albums people were potentially going to throw away.  I love my Tuesday night jewelry class. I love taking, picking up, and being involved with my children and at their schools.  I enjoy my days unfettered by restrictions, mostly.  I am in my element.    

Perhaps, I am getting ahead of myself.  I think so.  Joy, God, and love are in this moment with whatever is put in front of me, today.  My mission is to focus on this moment.  With reminders, God guidance, and the people I surround myself with, I can be the best me I can - one minute at a time.  I have people who inspire me to push forward (Tara Tosta, an ultra runner, www.mommysarunner.blogspot.com and the women of the aforementioned jewelry class, and my closest friends), not matter what the obstacle; usually my own thoughts. Optimism feels better than fear. 

So, I will enjoy a couple of days husbandless and, I am sure, Jeff will enjoy some quiet evenings without two screaming banshees.  It is a trade-off but most of life is. 

Tribute

I am going to dash in and post this link in Chicago yesterday.  I didn't see it originally so I sharing so others can enjoy and stand tall. Awesome tribute to our country's experience on 9/11.  We will never forget. 

How could we?

http://youtu.be/B7BQV93tFLs

And the winners are...

Kim Alipour gets first choice of a record pendant.  Congratulations, my friend.  Secondly, Tara Tosta, the ultra runner goddess mom, you get second pick. You deserve something fun for enduring a week with NO POWER!   I am so happy the randomizer picked you two since I adore you both.

Labor Day weekend

Re posted from the JET blog.  I liked the way the Labor Day holiday was described:  

 

"Labor Day in the US: What Does it Mean? Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a celebration of the creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country. It is also the unofficial end of summer: kids go back to school, football starts, the wearing of white stops." 

 

Thank you for the well-said tribute to the hard labor that makes the United States of America so great.

 

I have posted some interesting, non-jewelry items on our local Craigslist that I purchased at an auction.  Just to see pictures, you can go to: https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=5fc2f7ea70faf803&page=play&resid=5FC2F7EA70FAF803!1249.  I will be picking up more items on Monday.

Two large bamboo pieces and some high-quality indoor shutters are for the local market.  Here are the listings: 

 

Bamboo: http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/for/2580021180.html 

Shutters: http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/mat/2579971846.html

 

In other news, I am going to choose another winner, for the record pendants, at noon today.  I am working in the wings to create more items and to write and post about how, exactly, these pendants are made.  A nice long weekend might produce, but my babies are home and awfully cute...

 

Have a prosperous and safe Saturday.  Much love to all.