Back from Tucson - Diggin' in for Winter

The Tucson trip was wonderful. There are many highlights, but I have to say that sitting in the sun one afternoon in my tank top with my skin feeling hot and sweat rolling down my belly was one of the Best!! The sun is so healing.

I will be rolling out new designs this week on my Etsy store, so check it out!
Cheers,
Kristen

New pieces

Things were tumbled, oxidized, polished yesterday. And now there are at least 12 new pieces ready to put together today. Annabel is home 'sick' although she is bustling about. Getting ready to make a necklace with her very own stash of beads.

I am sporting a necklace she found, although she 'didn't make it.' And she would remember something like that. She is the finder of lost things and the memory keeper around here. Here she's got a string, all ready to go! Where did all of those wrinkles on me come from?

ciao for now,

Kristen

Reality Studio and Real Life Time Management

Here is my surprise at how my time is spent..... And, above, real live shots of the studio... aftermath of holidays...

I am not sure it's actually time management. I need to schedule a date with myself to figure that out; but at present I predict that my actual creative time to maketing/networking/shop upkeep time is about 1:4. That is 1/4 of my time is spent in the studio creating and 3/4 spent marketing, shop upkeep, prep and delivery of work via mail or local boutiques etc (writing blog...). Can this really be true? Requires further research.

Ciao for now,

Kristen

Happy New Year!

New Styles for the store!

Happy New Year to all of my friends, family and customers!

The sun is setting on this first day of 2010; all is quiet in this house. A very unusual event is happening as I write. BOTH Cailean and Annabel ARE NAPPING! It takes staying up past midnight to ring in the new year to make that happen. Now...I must hope that they'll go to bed at their usual 8PM. Ha ha!

ciao for now,

Kristen

Let it Snow

It has been snowing orders from my store - by my accounts it's been a banner first holiday season on Etsy. Thanks to all of my new customers and other talented Etsy sellers! It's a privilage to be part of that wonderful community of artists. I am looking forward to the time to make all of the new designs that are floating in my head already! Here is a peek at the blue sapphire piece bezel set in pmc.

Lots of snow here in the East - it was fun to wake up and admire...play...and then shovel.

Good luck with getting last minute holiday preparations completed! Remember that it's all about sharing time - in real space/time or over the phone or through letters, email....

And what IS 'perfect' anyway? It's all perfect right now.

Cheers,

Kristen

New Beauties

A couple of new pieces posted yesterday. I love these and thought I would share. Just got a new mandrel for making bracelets and bangles. And a new raising hammer that I've coveted for a while. What a difference. Its all about the tools folks, always get the best ones.

Many 'items' going on. Sensory problems 'finally' diagnosed for my son. In some way it's a relief to have a systematic 'outline' of why and exactly how he has struggled all of his 7 years; and also heartbreaking. But there is much we can do as far as helping him and for that I am so grateful. And we see results right away. As we did when we first started with his cranial sacral therapy and homeopathic remedies.

Still a huge dose of love and patience is always needed. I love that little wisp of a boy and he truly is a joy, along with his sister. The difficult days or moments always bring me back to the very basic excercise of breathing and accepting things as they are in that moment. I have discovered that is the way to move peacefully through life. I don't always succeed! But I try, and it doesn't take me too long to remember to take a short break....and try again with a more accepting attitude.

Peace to all of you this season. Look into the eyes of the little and big people that you love and show them how much they mean to you. They are why we are here on this planet doing all of the things that we do. Sharing our gifts with them, and in turn enjoying those that they bring to us.

Ciao,

Kristen

Jazzercise and Jewelry

Today was all about jewelry and jazzercise. My daughter who is "more than four and half" as she puts it is a great little worker! Orders are coming in and I needed a helper. She has become an expert at putting earrings onto earring cards & my business cards into the jewelry boxes. She is also very into fishing out all of the pieces from the steel shot after they have been tumble polished. She feels very important helping me and I honestly am grateful for the jobs that she does! I just wonder when I'll have to start paying her....

Then it was off to teach my Jazzercise class. We had two new students tonight which is always exciting. I love seeing students laugh as they try to get the new moves down. Everyone feels like they have 2 left feet when they first start, but after they have 4 or 5 Jazzercise classes under their belt they get the hang of it and bust a move! It's very rewarding being on stage and helping these incredible women get a great workout, and motivating them to stay fit and make healthy choices.

Kristen