One for me

And one for the shop!

So springy and fresh! Love it!

New supplies!

All the way from Singapore. Can't wait to start playing with these beauties!

Still doing inventory

I have been working hard getting all my data input in my new jewelry inventory program, and it is taking a LONG time! I imagine I will still be a few weeks getting it all set up.

But I carved out a few blissful hours of jewelry making yesterday and here are some of the results. These beauties will be up in my etsy shop shortly:

Doing inventory

On Monday I purchased a jewelry inventory program to help get me organized and better able to keep track of supplies, customers and vendors. Since then I have been working for a few hours each day adding supplies into the system. I am also doing a massive re-organization and de-stashing of all my supplies. It's going to take me awhile to get through all this and feels a little overwhelming, but I know it will be so worth it in the end, both for the business and for my sanity!

In the meatime, here are a couple of pieces that just went into my etsy shop:

Have a great rest of your day!

Happy Valentine's day!

Hope you are all having a lovely day today! Here are some photos of new goodies:

These lovelies are off to a couple of local shops here in Phoenix.  The cube necklace is in my etsy shop. Enjoy!

The best job in the world

Today I am feeling so fortunate to be doing what I love for a business. When I was little, I would draw and paint non-stop, make paper dolls and clothes, paper furniture and houses, and write stories. As I got into early adulthood, I put all that aside to pursue what most late teens thru mid thirties do; a significant relationship and finding my place in the world. For all of my adult life till now I worked to survive. I never really enjoyed what I was doing, just did it to put food on the table and a roof over my head. I never felt fulfilled and felt as if something was missing. Then about 15 years ago, I discovered quilting and that became the jumping off point for easing back into my creative life. Since then, I went back to school for graphic design and worked for a newspaper group in Portland, OR. That was much better than selling advertising for a living, but I still longed to make and sell my own creations.

A crossroads came about 2 years ago when my partner accepted a promotion and the possibility of us moving to Cape Cod  (where my family is) was shelved. At the time I was still in Portland and my partner was in Phoenix. We had a heart to heart, and I said I would move back to Phoenix if I could pursue my own business of creating and selling. She agreed, and here I am, almost a year later, making jewelry and painting.

I am about to cross the next threshold and purchase an inventory program to make my business more profitable and run more smoothly. Then it's on to more selling and making!

Here are a few things I worked on today:

Lots of new goodies

I have been working like crazy the last couple of days to get jewelry done for a couple of shops and my etsy store. Here's a peek:

Tomorrow I will have more to share...

Busy week

I have been prepping for a few things coming up. One is First Friday, and my paintings will be hanging at The Roose Parlour and Spa on 6th Street in downtown Phoenix for the month of February. I just hung up the show today and it looks good. I am also going to have some of my jewelry there.

Speaking of which, I have a lot to make! I need to re-stock one of my shops, and I have a new stockist as well, Cleo and Clementine, a couture bridal boutique in downtown Phoenix. I'm very excited for this new opportunity!

Here's what I've been working on: