Catch my breath

I've been so busy!  Slacking on the blog.  Oops.

I'm loving things in my life.  I've been working hard on the jewelry. A lot of time & devotion associated with being a full time employee at my "real" job, a parent, a partner, and now an entrepreneur.  It's all worth it though.  Things are really coming together. 

I have met a lot of new people through all the little adventures I've been on trying to promote my stuff, and just in general with the church community and new friendships I've made, etc.  I am amazed at the generosity I've experienced.  Puts a smile on my face.  Little reminders all the time of how great people can be.  Makes it easier to shrug off the difficult people. 

Anyways, the site is going good.  If you haven't already, be sure to check it out:  www.facebook.com/neat.and.sweet.  It's got a lot of cute items that I've put a lot of time and effort into making. 

I'm thinking my next post will include a tutorial.  I know that I have LOVED to view other people's tutorials and they have been really helpful in my jewelry making... so I figured I would pass on the info/help!  :) 

Ready, Set, Create...

I've always been a crafty chick.  Recently I have put forth a lot more effort into my jewelry making.  I have made jewelry off and on for quite some time now.  Several years.  I was tought by one of my friends who does fabulous work.  She inspired me to test the waters and I really enjoyed doing it.  Costume jewelry.  Stuff that looks pretty, but not too expensive.  I love looking for good deals, searching for the right kinds of beads and color combinations, and of course seeing the finished product.

I love being creative in general.  I have always been one of those people who have projects going.  This is not a new thing for me.  I remember being in grade school and making homemade decorations for each holiday, making pillows out of old clothes, begging my mom to let me test out this idea or that idea, or letting me help her with her creations.  My grandpa was a painter, both my parents are creative and have as many finished projects as ideas in their head.  My brother does amazing work with home remodeling.  It's just a family thing I guess.

I have been a little nervous to share my creations up until recently though.  Not that I didn't think that they looked nice or were fun or neat.  I simply just wasn't ready to have the potential criticism.  Anytime you put yourself out there, as a person, or as an artist, you are going to be judged.  I'm not really a competitive person, so that has always been a little scary to me.  Somehow over the past several years I have drummed up the nerve to just expose myself for what I am, and being proud of it.  Definitely still a work in progress, but I am getting better with my self assurance little by little. 

Recently I have put my nerves aside and pushed forward with my creativity.  Not only doing things creative but being confident enough to share it!  It's all falling into place and I'm enjoying this more self assured, proud to be creative side that's shining.  I put myself out there and it paid off.  I have a website that I've been sharing, and I'm now selling jewelry through a local clothing store.  I have a lot of other things besides jewelry going on, but for now I'm focusing on featuring that.  Until the next project :)