Why yes, I do!

There was a conversation on a facebook group recently about people getting asked:

"So, do you still make jewelry?"

and how offputting it is to so many people.

I get asked that as well but it doesn't bother me. (most of the time). For starters, I can go a month without making anything due to this crazy busy lovely life I lead so I suppose its a valid question.

And also, it's a perfect opportunity to say:

"Why YES, I do! Let me show you some recent pieces I've made.."

See what I did there! LOL

I think we always have a choice in how we accept the words of others. I'm not suggesting it's always easy to swallow, and the Lord knows I am not perfect at it, but I am getting better. If we practice not assigning ill intent, if we cultivate that thoughtfulness, we nurture it into a habit. And how much more beautiful is life when we can go about it with positivity rather than negativity. Negativity is SO draining and probably pretty toxic to our bodies.

I am preparing for an upcoming show and have a few new pieces that I hope to develop into a line with different variations. These will be a more casual and 'easy to wear' line than some of my work has been thus far.  Here are a few starter pieces:

Sterling silver and carnelian by DoxalloStudio

Sterling silver and turquoise by Doxallo Studio

Anyone else gearing up for a summer show?  If so, are you enjoying the process or stressing over how much you have to do yet?

May Synchroblog - Words

It's time for the first Artists Synchroblog post!

The Artists Synchroblog is a group of bloggers who post every other month on the same topic, sharing our experience or perspective. (On alternate months we undertake a Pinterest Project where we each take inspiration from a pinterest picture, create something (art, a meal, a DIY project, etc) and then post about it.)

This month's topic is:

WORDS HAVE MEANING “A quote to live by/favorite saying”

I have to admit, I struggled with this.

YES, words have meaning. But is there a quote that I LIVE by? I'm not sure there is. I don't have one of those: "My momma used to say...." quotes.

I do have a few favorite verses of scripture that I return to. That speak volumes to me. And there are some song lyrics that I love. And various sayings here and there from books and famous folks, and some from some not-so-famous folks.

And I have been pondering what might be special enough for this Synchroblog post and just wasn't set on anything - and then, just earlier today I ran across something that jumped out at me and has stuck with me.

It comes from a thesis written by Rachel Timmins - her Masters thesis deals with concepts of home, comfort, belonging, and maybe more central, NOT belonging. She explores the topic in a honest, informative, and creative way (and she created a lot of AMAZING jewelry in the process). In her thesis she writes:

"I was here. Remember me"

This stopped me in my reading. It just spoke to me.  

It's so simple and yet also rather profound because it's so central to all of humanity.

I was here.

We all want to leave a mark.

Remember me.

We don't want to be forgotten. We want our life to matter. And so in a way speaks to 'meaning'. We want our life to have meaning.

It's personal - inward focused. Don't waste time. LIVE so there is evidence we were here. "tag" the world.

But. It also spoke to me with an outward focused. Open my eyes and SEE people --- acknowledge that they are HERE. That they matter - no one is insignificant.

And to especially see the 'other'. Those who stand outside the gates of our culture, at the edges of our community. Those who don't conform, who are 'different' - those who are perhaps easy to dismiss and maybe therefore forget.

No one should be forgotten.

Over the next few weeks I'll share some of the other quotes, sayings, etc that have been hanging out in my head for a while. :)

What are some quotes or sayings that stick with you? Share with us in the comments below! 

and don't forget to visit the other Artists Synchrobloggers this month:
http://amyestellemetalworks.blogspot.com
http://www.islandgirlsinsights.blogspot.ca/
http://www.wrapturewirejewellery.on.ca/blog
www.elenorbuffington.blogspot.com
http://doxallodesigns.blogspot.com
http://lesliervillarreal.blogspot.com
http://www.journeyinjewelry.com/blog/My-Journey-in-Jewelry
http://simpledesignjewelry.blogspot.com
http://designsbylynnea.blogspot.com/
http://marikach.blogspot.com/
www.createrecklessly.com
http://design.kcjewelbox.com
www.allwiredupjewelrydesigns.blogspot.com
http://shaktipajdesigns.com/blog/
http://silversmithblog.com/
http://stonezjewelry.com/blog/
www.beadsbythebay.blogspot.com

An evening of errors

Last night I went to the store.

then I went again.

And then, believe it or not. I went yet again.

Three trips in one night.

Can we say cuhhhh-raaaazy?

I stopped on my way home to pick up some items to send to school with my son for a teacher appreciation luncheon. It's a taco themed lunch. YUM!

While there I grabbed a few things I needed for our pantry and dinner.

Home I went, made dinner, ate, and then settled in to help son with Science project.

Epic fail.

Trip #2 to the store. 

Back home, work on project, homework, etc. Make dessert for the luncheon. And at almost 10 pm it hits me - I forgot the taco shells.

BLEEP!

So after finishing the dessert and watching Bates Motel, I go BACK to the store!

WOW.

So why all of the back and forth? It's not a simple case of poor planning - I had a list for the first grocery stop, I just didn't slow down or pay attention - or something! 

The second trip to the store was due to a project fail which was really based on lack of research or planning.

So the morale of the story for me is - SLOW DOWN, PLAN AHEAD, and PAY ATTENTION.

These are great points to remember for metalsmithing too.

1. SLOW DOWN
Take time to complete each step properly before moving forward. It's difficult (and sometimes impossible) to go back and fix.

2. PLAN AHEAD
Know what you need, have it all on hand, think through the order of steps. Layout, measure, and proceed.

3.  PAY ATTENTION
Really pay attention to each step. Inspect your marks, attachments, layout etc from various angles so that you know if something is 'off'. See how one operation affects another and take notes. Pay attention to where your flame is pointed so you don't burn through a hose (i've seen that happen), or where the whole length of your sawblade is moving so you don't cut through an opposite part of your work....

If I had done #1 above, I wouldn't have been running out to the store at 11pm. If my son and I had done step #2 we would have been better equipped for a successful project the first time around. And step #3 - well, I would have had the taco shells the first trip if I was really paying attention - and yea, I may not have mentioned the glue on the table and floor leftover from the science project but that probably wouldn't have been an issue either. . . . . . .

An evening of errors was first posted by Janice Fowler on A Metalsmith's Journey