Heading back to the torch!

Today's gonna be a great day at the torch. I got a special package in the mail yesterday that arrived from Denmark. I was so excited, I squeeled in delight. I've been waiting a couple of weeks. It came much quicker than I thought. I'll share with you what it is when I have the pretty beads to go along with it. (Does that give you a hint?) I want to make more discs to make a necklace. I have a list or fun, whimsical beads I wanna make. I'm so inspired, I won't wanna leave the torch today. Ok, now to try and sneak out without the lil guy seeing me...

Disc Challenge

A friend of mine wanted to come up with a challenge to help us attain a goal and complete it since we both have motivation issues and get mind blocked. She wanted to challenge me to 15 discs. I completed mine yesterday. Here they are, all nice and cleaned. One picture is outside in the sun and the other on my table top studio. (Dont mind the dust on the black surface. I'm working on cleaning the studio.

Sick on my big 5 days off... BLAH!

Well, I had 5 days off from work that I just couldn't wait for it to happen. Now that it's here, I'm so SICK! Needless to say, no beads this week. I was really hoping I would feel better today but it just won't go away.

So, I've been keeping to my promise...

I've been busy making beads and going to local art shows. Having a great time. I moved my studio to my mother-in-law's house to have it indoors and I've been busy setting it up. I'm super excited to get to use it. I'll have peace and quiet and "my own" time to just create. I'm thinking this is going to be a big step forward in my bead-making career. I'm hoping to get to do this full-time and hopefully do some art shows and start selling online when I get a fancy dancy website. I guess I should add that my goal also this year to "BE HAPPY". I'm doing that by making my dream a reality. It'll be slow, but steady progress. I guess I should make the next goal to clean my beads and take some damn pictures, already to liven up my blog, huh?

Ringing in the New Year... What's YOUR Resolution?

Every year it's the same thing, lose weight, get fitter, cut carbs. As much as I should do it, I don't wanna fail again. So this year its a little different. This wasn't planning on being a resolution. Actually, I hadn't even thought about a resolution until this moment. I wanted to write about my plan. And then got to thinking what today is. Now it's a deal. I'm making a deal with myself to get out to the torch 2 days a week. I work 3 days a week, 12 hour days. If I get out there 2 days a week, I'll still have 2 days off. I also figured out that if I make 25 beads a day, that will be 200 beads a month. Can you say, wow? I can't even fathum that. Mainly because when I think about it, I get overwhelmed. But not this time. Its not a short term goal like the usual, it's a long term goal. I'd like to do my first real show in September. And then do one each month through the holidays. I'm also going to be working on some web design classes to get that up and running as well. So.......

200 BEADS A MONTH! WOOHOO!

I'd like to see the different variations of beads I come up with. Hopefully, few mindblocks.

So..... what's your resolution?

How do people get the time?

I've been dieing to get to the torch lately but life just hasn't let me. Hence the lack of posts. I view my favorite blogs of bead and jewelry designers and I see post after post of beautiful work. I wonder how many of them have little kiddos or work full time or are full time designers. And if they are full time designers, how do they get started to be able to do it full time with lack of funds to begin with. I work full time, which is really 3 days a week, 12 hour days. I have 4 days off unless I put in overtime, then its 3 days off. Of course, I can't torch during the day because I have my 2 year old and even if hubby is home, I want to spend time with them. When he naps, I want to nap. I occasionally get out there at nap time but usually it takes awhile to get my mojo going and by then time its going, he's awake. It's either that or I'm just not feeling it and I stop after 2 beads. He doesn't fall asleep until late, about 10pm and then its mostly too late to get get started on anything. When I think about well, I can make jewelry inside, he would be so in the midst of it all, getting into it all and then the disappearing tools, oh my! Yea, that won't work. So how do you get the time? I really want to, but there's always a "but". Any suggestions?

Busy Happy Days

I've been busy lately... trying to find the meaning of life. LOL, not. Actually, been working overtime when I can and trying to get my life in order to finally finish college. Yes, I have my Associates Degree, but I want a Masters. Life is settling down finally since the move and its time to get it done. The kids are doing great in school. Its time for Mommy. I'll be studying for my GRE and taking a review coarse to make sure I do well. Then it'll be time to study for the CCRN while I take Chemistry II and finish my BSN courses. I'd like to apply for my Masters to start January 2012. Classes aren't cheap though so I'm trying to work overtime to pay for it. I've been getting out to the torch and working on some basic beads, different shapes, etc. Beadmaking is such fun. I'll be squeezing the torch in when I can for some stress relief. Mesmerizing the flame. Ahhhh....