Shutting down

After the need to clarify about a hundred times, I have come to the difficult conclusion that it was necessary to shut down the last post.

I don't think I have ever removed a post from this blog...but after the comments here and on the forum and in email, it is clear to me that I didn't express myself properly or accurately or something.

And this was causing me stress.

And I'm not a big fan of stress.

Not to mention I felt like I asked for thoughts and then didn't want to hear them - which wasn't the case at all !

When people began talking about low-balling and undercutting I knew my point hadn't come across - since that is not at all what I meant.

So, rather than re-explain a hundred times over I decided to save myself the stress and remove the post.

If I want to do something nice for my customers, I will.

If I want to give away what I make, I will.

Similar to Alan Revere's Adorn America philosophy perhaps.

I've never been mainstream, probably never will be.

And with all of that in mind, I think I'll give away something right now!

Just comment here, on the blog, and then we'll work together to create a custom piece JUST FOR YOU.

YAY.

Period.

And Amen.

:)

Comments will be open for 48 hours.

This is what happens

when you give your kids your camera so they can take pictures of the beautiful rainbow in WV.



funny kids

I'm caught in a trap!

I can't back out out

cuz I'll trip over too much jewelry baby!




Trip over it because its spread all over the living room at the moment.

In the past I have not devoted much time at all to market, sell, photograph, etc

and now I can hardly see my way out - I'm caught in a trap!







It is time to dig myself out.






Thus commences the photographing





and measuring





and descripting (yea, not a word - I like to make up words)




and uploading. (and cropping and cussing and crying)




Last night it was photographs. And I barely scratched the surface.




I should have snapped a photo of the living room floor - - -

where I was until a little after midnight.

oy.




Unfortunately, since I am using a new photo setup, it is taking me a while to find the best positioning of everything -

lights, jewelry, camera......surface.

The whole nine yards.




I think I got some decent shots last night, I just wish I had a big enough space to put the box up off the floor so I wasn't alternating between kneeling, sitting, and being prostrate in front of the box!

I was REALLY sore when I lifted my tookus off the floor after a couple of hours of that nonsense.

Hopefully I will have some of these items available online in the next day or two.

@ doxallo.com

Its nice that most of my work was all cleaned up for the show I just did - made taking pictures that much easier.

Speaking of which, back to the evolution of my show booth. . .. I did remember to take a few booth shots.

Day 1 of WV show - too hot for all the sidewalls.



Day 2 - switched things up a bit on the tables. Liked this better.



If you had asked me two weeks ago, I would have been very happy with this booth set up.

After seeing some of the booths I saw at the two shows I've done the past two weeks......

Ummm, not so much so happy anymore.

So this is something I will begin working on late summer.

An overhaul of my new booth, to be an even newer-er booth. :)

Stay tuned for more jewelry listings (have a date with the living room floor again tonight)
and for the booth redesign!

~Janice

Are you waiting?

Waiting for 'the right moment'?

Waiting for things to happen? Til you have more time, more money, more 'something'.....

Waiting to make a run for your dreams?

Sometimes things are always going to be out of our reach depending on how we view them. Its like waiting to have children until this or that or the other occurs. If most people really waited until they had it altogether, had enough money, or time, or until they felt ready, they'd never have children. And where would that leave the world? (ok, don't answer that - its actually a loaded question)

I was skimming a blog post by Steve Errey which was talking about success and this really hit me:
But what about now? What’s stopping you from feeling like a success right now, this very moment? Waiting for success in the future takes you out of the game in the present.

I have to be honest. I rarely feel like a success.

I mean, I feel successful if I don't poke my eye out putting on my make-up in the morning, or if I manage to make something for dinner that at least half the family likes, or when I fabricate an entire piece of jewelry without a single melt down (me or the metal, take your pick).

but in a larger sense......in an overall sense. Do I often feel like a success or that I am successful?

Not really.

Steve mentions our definitions of success. How they can differ from one another.

That makes sense to me.

I for one probably have not always had a great grasp on what success means to me personally.

I do now though.

I know what success means to me - what it is and what it isn't.

What's important and what's not.

My definition of success may not match yours.

That's ok by me. We're different after all.

The other thing that Steve refers to is an article someone else wrote where they said something about failure being part of success. WOW! What a great reminder for me! I believe that many of us don't achieve because we are afraid to try.

FEAR paralyzes. If we can move past fear and try anyway, that is a little success right there.

In many ways, I know I am successful right now.

Do I want more successes? Yes!

Do I want success in different areas of my life? Yes!

That blogpost came at such a great time for me. It reminded me of a few things, gave me some different perspectives to think about, and inspired me to spend some time thinking about my life - where and how I've been successful (acknowledging and embracing it!) and what I want for the future.

How about you? Do you know where you are successful RIGHT NOW and where you are going?

Wonderful West Virigina

We got back last night.

LATE last night. Rolled in around 11:30. Late night for a LG who has school the next day.

But it was a lovely weekend in WV.

I had the urge the entire time to break out into song

Take me home, country road....

(No, its not really home, never was - I'm not from WV. But I could imagine it being home! The scenery was lovely, the air, although hot - was clear, and the people were very friendly and fun to talk with. It was a really nice get away. )

Back to the song

dark and dusty.......

painted on they sky

In reality though, I can assure you that you don't want to hear me sing.

Really, you don't.

We had about 10 minutes of rain on Saturday night.

No big deal, until we saw what happened next. . . . .

Pretty, isn't it?

Its some big sky up in those hills.

the rainbow was gorgeous and my daughter took some wonderful photos of it (I'm sure you'll see more of those later). She really has an eye for photography. I believe she took all the photos that are making it into this post!

I'd take a photo of something and then she'd grab the camera and take the same photo, only better. So I guess its not the SAME photo - just the same subject matter.

She just has a great eye for composition.

We were in WV for an Arts Festival.

It was hot. VERY hot.

And Saturday was a REALLY long day. We got in late Friday night, went to bed, and the tall one and I rose early on Saturday to go set up my booth. After that, she ditched me in favor of the pool at the hotel. They had a great time while I sat and sweated in my booth! I had a good time, but it was a SLOW weekend for me. Not a heap of traffic and few sales. Enough to cover the expenses I needed to cover, but thats it. :( And then of course there was so much to spend my hard earned money on!

Like this 'tattoo' for my LG.

Very cool really.

Done by Black and Blue Temporary Tattoos

Very fun!

My daughter (AKA: the tall one) also picked up a piece of artwork. I'll have to get a photograph to share with you all. Its a very trippy inkpen drawing.

I very much wanted to pick up a piece of artwork. You have no idea......but alas, that purchase must wait until I have a little more cashola in the pocket.

I was particularly impressed with the

Porcelain artworks of Ridgetop Pottery.

Is that not gorgeous?

I want one.

or two or three or four.

And they are completely functional! With the most secure, stable lids. No rocking or teetering. Everything is a secure fit.

The craftsmanship is amazing.

I have more to tell about our adventures in WV but I'm still playing catch up so it will have to wait for another time!

HAPPY MONDAY!

~Janice

Frosted Strawberries

These strawberries were hand picked by my family at Larriland Farm.

They look a little frosty - don't they?

Well that is because they ARE!

They have been washed

and hulled

and then given a quick freeze

before going into gallon ziploc bags to be used later for smoothies, slushies, other yummy treats.







And there were LOTS of them.

Two huge flats were picked and what is pictured here is only HALF of them!

We'll be eating strawberries for a while. :-)


Thats fine by me. Strawberries are so tastey and they are good for you!

Low in fat and sodium they are a good source of folate and potassium, and a very good source of dietary fiber, vitamin C and manganese. They are high in natural sugar but for most people this doesn't present a problem. So ENJOY!

Those frozen buggers are slippery though, especially on the new granite counter tops, so I did lose a few to the floor - and no, I did not apply the 10 second rule.

I knew when I wrote about the rule that it would be controversial- but I didn't realize until later, as I sat working at my desk, how untrue it really is. I mean, I do practice it - but there are so many clarifications and limitations on it that I began to wonder if it was really a true statement put out there the way it was.

In truth, I guess I am really only comfortable with my own dirt, as in, in my own home, so there is no applying it elsewhere. And even at home the rule depends on what bites the dust - nothing sticky, nothing wet (ewwwwww) . . and on and on, so a few of these lovely ladies did get tossed. Though one or two may have just gotten another good washing. ;-)

I was thinking the other day of a few other little known facts and oddities.

One of them being that I drive barefoot 3/4 of the year AND I often drive with my feet crossed. Strange. I know. I use my left foot under my right to sort of prop up my right foot. Don't know how it began, but its comfy and its how I do it.

Another - I'm a lovely procrastinator. (maybe not a little known fact) On rare occasions procrastination bites. But most of the time it works for me. I'm a last minute kinda gal. Then I just jump in and 'get 'er done'.

Which brings me to the fact that despite having a show on Saturday (come and see me at Gunpowder River Artfest!)

and I should be finishing up last minute items and polishing and pricing (oh my!)

what I did instead was BEGIN some new items!

[In between loads of laundry]

Now I feel compelled to finish these and take them with me on Saturday.

I am not sure that will happen though as I am already behind on a few other obligations which I truly am going to attend to tomorrow.


But, just maybe, if I can squeeze it in..... some of these enameled items will end up as earrings or pendants. And that would be lovely.

The weekend was crazy daisy busy.

We had that b-ball game at 8am on Saturday, then the school fair after that


where we spent almost three hours walking to and fro.

Seeing "Splash" get released from 'jail'

(yea I know - weird. maybe they could have thought of something better like 'release Splash from captivity' or 'release Splash back into the wild!' Then parents wouldn't have heard "Mom, what did Splash DO to get thrown in jail??? Isn't Splash a good dolphin?" truly, I heard this from some little ones more than once!)








There was also a 'toilet' dunking booth.....where my would be pitcher had a great time drenching his teacher.

Unfortunately there isn't a chair, bench, or other place to sit on the school grounds so it was lots of standing and walking.

But it was a good time and the school raised funds for future endeavors.









I ran some errands, had dinner and something else that slips my mind right now, then crashed!

Sunday was church then lunch and laundry and whatnot.

This week:

I have got to put some time into finishing up a few items and packing up for the show on Saturday.

LG has his first playoff b-ball game on Friday night. GO JAYS!

Then it's off early Saturday morning for what I hope is a GREAT show day. Should be a really good experience for me as its my first time at a bigger show. I'm a bit nervous but I 'know' two other vendors who will be there and I'm looking forward to seeing them and having it all be a good learning experience.

What is your week shaping up to be?

Momentum

I'm trying to keep the momentum here with the posting so I thought I'd update on my upcomign events and share a few WIPs (Work In Progress).

On June 12th I will be showing at The Gunpowder River ArtFest in Monkton MD.

If you are anywhere nearby, come out and see me!!!

I've never done this show but it appears to have some fabulous artists and there will be music, food, demos and even a painting workshop.

Sounds like a good time for the whole family.


THEN, on June 19 & 20 I will be showing in Morgantown WVA at the Arts on the River

Again, a show I've never done. I also don't know much about this one but thought it might be a nice weekend getaway for my entire family. So we're most likely all packing up and heading to WVA on the 18th.

I've been trying to get together a few new pieces so I can properly fill out my tables at these shows.

Unfortunately I've not been able to get a lot of bench time, or I just haven't MADE time.

In the time I have put aside, I have been working on the pieces to the left - almost done.


And I have a handful of pendants from the past month or two that just need chains. I will create a few more pieces before the 12th. Probably my 'made in metal' pieces, fold forming and my lines line. And then I'll just hope for the best!

If you come out to see me at a show, mention my blog by name for a 15% discount!

HAPPY FRIDAY to all! Hope you are looking forward to the weekend. We have a baseball game at 8 am tomorrow - we have to be at the field at 0730. BRIGHT AND EARLY! After that I am going to try to set up my show tables and see how I might arrange my displays. Sunday will be church and a few errands and hopefully some bench time. Seems like I am forgetting something but I don't know what....

So what are your plans for the weekend? Leave me a comment and let me know whats going on in your world. :)

~Janice

A New Day

I wish I could post something like:

It's a new day and I feel GREAT!!

That wouldn't be the truth. It IS a new day. And I do feel pretty good.

Definitely not GREAT - but 'good' and for sure better than the past couple of days.

I do need to thank everyone who commented here or on FB on in email.

THANK YOU!!!

And thank God for grace and mercy and never letting me go.

And thank God for all of YOU!

I really am so appreciative for all of you who take the time to read and better yet engage with me - via comments or email or FB or Twitter or wherever! I am a busy person so I really appreciate the time and the efforts, no matter how small it may seem to you - its big to me.

really really.

I get email notifications of comments and today I had one from an older post of mine, asking about my engravers ball/block. I posted back in the comments but will also note here that the block either came from Creative Metalworks or Contenti (contenti link to econo model but they have others).

As I was looking at the comment on that older post, I saw one that I had forgotten about. It was a blog award. !!

And so timely................its the Sunshine Award!

How ironic!

When I was feeling LEAST 'sunny' that I would be brought back to that old post where Odin was giving me a sunshine award. Life is strange. But good. Even when I'm not. :)

Thank you Odin!



I'm supposed to award 12 bloggers...but since I haven't even awarded the full number on the last award I received...I'll just say thanks to ALL of you!

Phillipians 1:3
Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God.

Seriously.

I really am thankful for you.

Some of you have been a constant presence since I began this whole jewelry journey and began blogging

For instance -
Chris Kerr (website)
and blog who I feel like has been here since my beginning and she still comments and encourages me!! HOW AWESOME IS THAT!!??

There are too many of you really to name you all - and I would hate to overlook anyone just because my brain isn't making all the connections at the moment. But I really need to send a shout out to Evalie -- I appreciate you my friend!!!!!!!

In addition to those I know and love - there are over 800 subscribers to this blog! Blows me away.

And the page hits are well over 3000 a month (another constant surprise) .....and visitors from SO far around the world. I LOVE that about blogging. All of the interesting people, from different walks of life. I don't get caught up in numbers but I do have a tracking system on my website for business reasons and it carries over to the blog for free, so occasionally I will glance at the geographic origins of hits on the blog - amazing. While I don't know who comes from where, I can't know WHO is visiting, its interesting nonetheless - in the last 24 hours we've had hits from the USA, Germany, Poland, Romania, Argentina, Australia, Canada, Ireland, Brussels, Belgium, Israel, and Norway! whoa.

Thanks guys! And if you have never commented, please know you are welcome to do so. Anytime. I'd love to hear what you have to say and know what you are up to and how you found my little blog. :)

~Janice

Shake me up!

I totally need a good shaking!

I need to snap out of it.

What 'it'?

a mood

The mood.

That dark, heavy, icky, pissy mood.

The one I've been in for the past few days -- some of you are familiar with these moods - the ones that come on, unannounced, unbidden, unwelcome and try to make themselves at home from time to time.

I am determined today to shake myself out of it, its been about 3 days and I'm totally sick of it.

I know many who read here don't share my particular faith so I won't belabor it, but for me - everything (all of life) is faith related, so whether its a good mood or a bad mood - I need to talk to God about it. Right now that means more prayer, more time in the bible. . . .more reliance on God. Gotta love these repetitive reminders of my need for grace. Starting last night instead of reading my current novel in bed - I went with the bible. I've read several devotionals today already (short passages of bible with some commentary).....and while these things aren't out of the norm - I can (and do) get into periods where its more infrequent and less meaningful.

Part of my current mood, I recognize stems from 'life', parts of which are too private for blogsphere, but one thing I realized today is that even though it IS overwhelming and it IS a lot to bear and much of it is out of my control....I need to take responsibility for what I can control and I need to buck up. I think I've been letting (to a large degree) life happen to me lately rather than engaging fully.


So, as of now (and for now, today is all I can commit to) -- eyes open, focused, head and heart aligned - engage life. No passive BS.

As for what I can share on the blog....I am not even sure I can remember everything thats been going on the past couple of weeks.

Lots.

LG had his Spring Strings Concert



and his Spring Choral Concert

I only managed to have the camera on hand for the choral concert.

And he saw me having the camera on hand

and it was fun to smile and wave

until I kept trying to get him to slide left two steps so I had a clear shot





That is when I remembered how much he likes to follow the rules. He apparently had been coached to stand in the EXACT spot in which his two feet were FIRMLY planted

and my charades were getting old




and he wasn't having any of it

Then there is Pedro.

You may remember him from the bath

or the bad breathe

or the surgery.

well, here he is again - looking quite forlorn

He had an injury to his foot (paw) which required a trip to the Animal Hospital.

(where I had visions of Missy)


And he has looked quite pathetic...with his bandaged paw

and its hard to walk




our chunky monkey is a little hop-along.

or was.

He now has the bandage of and his foot is healing nicely. :)

In addition to all this running around - I've been busy trying to get ready for two shows this month. First larger shows that I've done.

I purchased a tent and am trying to re-configure my displays.

In addition to making some new items to fill out said displays.

I'm les tired.

so take a nap and then fire ze mizzles!

oh never mind.

The holiday weekend went by in a blur as we cleaned windows (and I do mean CLEANED as in scrubbed, inside and out, top and botton, frames, sills, screens) and attended other chores.

I am so thankful for that extra day off. So nice.

LG had a friend spend the night Sunday night.

They chased fireflies and caught a frog, roasted marshmallows and ate 'smores.

Posed for the camera.......

Watched a movie, played some games and went to bed promptly at 1am.

They arose at 7am.

Then they had b-fast and played and ran in the sprinkler and ate lunch and then went to the pool

and then friend went home around 4:30.

They were les tired.

Happy Wednesday all! :)