August....

Hrmm..it's amazing how our lives can quickly go from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows and not even know how you got there.  The last several weeks have been SUCH a roller coaster for me.  I've had my first pieces of jewelry published, I was interviewed by our local newspaper, I boarded a plane to DC, couldn't fix my cars a/c, couldn't get access to cash, had a pretty rough meeting and left feeling defeated.  I know it will get better...but tonight...I just want to cry.  I think that's allowed.

It's that feeling of not being able to 'catch a break'.  I'm tired of being bullied by people who think that it's a-ok to bully others.  I'm tired of grown adults - bold face lying.  I'm tired of poor choices and just not know what to do between the worse or worser choice.  Most important I'm tired of not being able to deal with basic things in life.  I feel so lost and alone.

It's been 1 year since moving back to Minnesota.  I have exactly 1 more friend than I did before I moved.  When will things finally look up?  All my things are STILL sitting in storage, in VIRGINIA....1000+ miles away.  I desperately want to get my things home - how do you raise money when you have none?

Just.so.sad.tonight.  Will be ok - just alot on my mind and really sad.

On the other hand....this is the 2nd piece that made it in to the September issue of Bead Style

 

http://www.etsy.com/listing/157217096/multi-color-shell-necklace

http://www.etsy.com/listing/157976476/bright-cheery-custom-bib-style-necklace

Exciting News!!!

I'VE BEEN PUBLISHED!!  My very first piece that I ever sent in to be published, was picked up and published in the September 2013 BeadStyle Magazine!!

I made this piece a few years ago, when I was pretty young in my jewelry making.  I found this strand of adorable glass beads - for $1/strand.  I wanted to make a bubble style necklace, but being that I didn't have or really know where to find, the prefab pieces - I set out to make my version of the necklace.  THIS is what came out. 

Now, I have to be honest....this piece was just ok, in my eyes.  I didn't really wear it but kept it around because it was cute and something I thought was a good learning experience.  It was a pretty deary day and a galpal and I stopped at the Post Office to mail some packages out.  While there, a woman who worked there saw my necklace and just raved about it.  My friend immediately said 'She has other stuff in her purse'...which I did. SO, I finished my business with the PO and walked back to her to give her a biz card, when she walked us over to another coworker who loved jewelry, too.  This necklace started a beautiful friendship with these women - it also got me thinking that maybe this was a better piece than I thought. 

On a whim, I decided the week before Thanksgiving to send a photo of this piece in to BeadStyle to see if they may be interested.  Within a week, I had an answer and it was YES!  I FREAKED! =)

Fast Slow Forward to June when I receive an email telling me that MY piece will be the first piece featured in a BRAND NEW SECTION of the magazine!  *I* would set the bar!!  EEEEKKKK!

I don't know what will come of this, but what I DO know is to NEVER discount your own work.  Had I not pulled this little piece out on a rainy day - it might not have given me exposure on a world wide scale and even more importantly - put me on the radar in jewelry world.  SO excited to see where this goes!

ZOINKS! My "bead hoardes" piece!

OH NO! I forgot all about the bead hoarders post!!  Please forgive me? This piece has been in my head for a loooong time and am so glad I FINALLY took the plunge and glued all the rivoli stones in!  I just LOVE this piece and am SO, SO proud of it!

Dry Desert Land

I've been kinda in a funk lately....feeling dry, parched and in the desert.  I'm struggling with inspiration, I'm struggling with my health and I'm struggling to get my feelings conveyed in the way that makes sense....just struggling.  I thought writing might help me process some of these things, but I'm not even sure what to say beyond that I just don't feel 'right'....whatever that means. 

I do know that I've been struggling socially and that is never a good thing, in my world.  I continue to feel unknown here - people are asking if I'm back for a visit...and I say 'I've been here since August'.  Nearly a YEAR! 

I think I'm kinda lost right now....looking for direction...looking for the place to look next....waiting for the chapter to be turned in to what is next.  and frankly...I see nothing.  No change. No brightness of exciting things to come. No idea at all.

This time last year, my life was in complete chaos.  My great roommates were moving out, I was getting ready to move out - finding movers - finding a place to live with a girl who was so neurotic that she wouldn't sign a credit check form and finally (June 27th-ish) I decided to come home for 'a few months' - which has now turned into permanent.  I feel so lost - it brings thoughts of a marathon runner running their race, minding their business and knowing that a hydration station is coming up...but not being able to find your team....because they aren't there. 

Chronic illness is difficult and strips you of so many things that you can't control - and frankly - those are the worst. 

I'll get through this, one moment at a time....just really struggling

So when you say 24 hours....you really mean 2.4 days?

Alright - rant alert...

There is a company, who shall remain nameless, that I have purchased beads and supplies from in the past.  On every page of their website, there is a beautiful banner at the top of the page which states that they offer "Fast Shipping - Orders Shipped within 24 hours!".  Now, to most people, that would mean, that within 24 hours of ME placing an order YOU will have it picked, packaged and in the mail to me...right?  Well, for the 3rd time, in a row, this company has not followed through on their 'promise'. 

So, the 2nd time it happened, I wrote them an email asking what took so long.  They informed me that since I placed my order during a sale, that it took longer for them to process it - now keep in mind - I also placed an order from another website supplier who DOESN'T make this claim, yet THEIR package arrived before the one I placed with the alleged 24 hour shipper - but is it MY fault that THEY offered a sale and didn't send the supplies within their own promise?  That's a no.  Well, apparently, I offered an olive branch too soon because once again I ordered from this company....and yet again....3.5 days to process my meager order and send it.  I placed said order last Monday 5/24 - it shipped on 5/27 - I have yet to see the order.  *sigh*

And yes -I ordered something else from ebay on Thursday...it arrived today.

Stepping off my rant pedestal.

Hey Ma look! A mistake!

So the last few weeks, I've noticed this trend in my jewelry that I'm making silly 'mistakes' in many of my pieces.  Now, keep in mind...I'm not seeing these 'mistakes' until the piece has been made and usually photographed, that I see it - grrrr!  There are times that being a perfectionist blows!  HOWEVER, I've decided that there are no mistakes in HANDCRAFTED art, these imperfections show it's HANDCRAFTED!  No big box company would EVER let a piece with a 'mistake' leave the warehouse...but since I decide what goes out the door....imperfections give my piece character!

I present to you my value-enhanced, handcrafted, necklace 'WOODn't you like to own me?'

http://www.etsy.com/listing/129882806/yellow-purple-blue-pink-and-brown-wood

Putting the FUN Back In My Life

Holy Crickets has it been a loooooooong winter here!  Just this week - we had another FOOT of SNOW!!  THIS is why I moved to DC!

As you can imagine, gray skies and a bunch of personal drama (You can help by clicking here) has REALLY damped my spirits.  I've been struggling with depression for most of my life and after being here just 1 winter, I know why.  It's just SO dark, gray and dreary for SO long!  I miss the sun, I miss playing in the Cherry Blossoms and I miss the freedom of SPRING!  This has also been evident in my jewelry...pretty boring or not even happening at ALL.  SO sad and making me feel even worse about things. 

A few days ago, I'd had enough.  It's time to start putting some FUN back in to my life.  SO....here is the fruit of that labor. 

You WOODn't Know It's Spring....

I Went To A Craft Show and Came Home Hammered

I SAW her standing there..

 No Need To Be Crabby, Linda!

Shameless Plug...Or Beg

Friends - Many of you know that due to some unforeseen circumstances, I ended up moving home last summer rather hastily.  I'm DESPERATE to get my things back to me...including my car, hospital style bed, camera, other jewelry supplies, clothing, shoes... everything.  If YOU feel led to Help A Sistah Out, would you?  ANY donation will help!  THANK YOU! 

http://www.gofundme.com/2hw19k

BEAD SOUP! Nom Nom!

BEAD SOUP REVEAL!!!

Ok some of you are like...uh...what?!

Several months ago, I joined a little group known as Bead Soup Cafe and what we do there is several times a year, a very SWEET and ORGANIZED woman opens up the opportunity to exchange "Bead Soup" with a partner, who has a style quite different from your own.  You are given a few weeks to put together a BANGING piece of jewelry from what is sent to you.  It is requested that you send REALLY nice beads and must have a clasp as well as a 'focal' piece.  Over 500!! People signed up and you can see them all right here: http://lorianderson-beadsoupblogparty.blogspot.com/2013/03/7th-bead-soup-blog-party-first-reveal.html

My partner was a very kind and adorable lady named Jackie and her blog is: http://jaacquelinesjewels.blogspot.com/ - please take a moment to visit!  She's from the great Commonwealth of Kentucky! (I don't think KY is a state? - anyway)  She sent me a beautiful mixture of beads that she made and thought would go together swimingly. =)  

If I'm being honest, it was a challenge for me (and it should have been).  I'm much more of a bright, chunky, silvery kinda gal and was presented with a mixture totally out of my comfort zone.  If I'm being more honest - i LOVED it!  I LOVED being stretched to look at things I wouldn't typically gravitate towards and making it kinda fit my style.  SO - without further adieu I give you what was sent to me.  

 

And THIS is what I made!!!   I LOVE IT!! =)  OH and she MADE the STUNNER of a pendant and the matching beads - she MADE THEM!!

Day 6 - Use a different metal

Today's challenge is to try a different metal - here I come copper....

Typically, I'm a silver girl.  I don't know why - I just like it.  Today's challenge was to use a different metal, so I went with copper.  I found these GORGEOUS earring pieces and purchased these stunning vintage, czech glass beads and found out how beautiful they look together!  Proud of this one. =)

http://www.etsy.com/listing/125688978/vintage-copper-and-green-earrings