Hello Folks!
This blog has been lying neglected in a far dusty corner of the internets (and my mind) for the last few months. Why? Because I've been running around like a crazy person since September. The last half of the year for me was crazy busy, at work and at home. I moved in with the Shop Monkey and got engaged! Then end of the year exploded at work for me, and I was forced to shut down my Etsy shop just so I could finish everything I had already taken on. This was great, but I was just about to have a nervous breakdown, and this half-down time has been just what I needed. Not having to answer a thousand emails every week has been so refreshing!
I'm just about ready to jump back into the fray though! Big plans! New designs! I'm about ready to get my own website going, so that will be the new and improved face of my business by the spring (I hope!). I'm also trying to decide what continuing education class I would like to take this year....maybe pavé stone setting, or maybe enameling? Maybe both? Chasing and repoussé? I just feel like I need to expand my skill set and become better at certain things. I've been looking at a lot of books of beautiful jewelry and it has been very humbling. (I actually sort of hate/love it when I see something and I know that I wouldn't even know where to start...) I will keep you posted on what I decide.
I'm contemplating hiring someone... But that is such a big step that I start to PANIC when I think about it too much. But it would be soooooo nice to to have a part time person come in once or twice a week and do the cleaning and polishing of the rough pieces. That is probably my least favorite thing to do, and it is so time consuming as well. If I had someone to do that, I could spend more time on other things. I still need to think about it....(panic....panic....)
I've been too busy to blog and that means I haven't shared any of the new things I've made. I just have a couple here:
I also finished the giant bling bling ring, but I haven't had a chance to photograph it. I can't wait to share it!
Hmmm...what else? I'm planning on going to the big gem show, but I'm not sure if it will all work out. But I would really, really like to go and get some unique stones to work with. I think it would be a fun trip as well.
Been doing a little bit of wedding planning. I think I have a dress chosen (J.Crew), and a veil style (mantilla). May be making my own invitations.....not sure about that just yet. Seems like it would be a lot of work (but it is also just the sort of thing I like...projects!). I'm also working on an illuminated ketubah...which is turning out quite nicely, I will share some photos when the rough draft is finished. We picked a date (one year from today actually!). We have a space....everything is going to come together just fine I think. :-)
Okay! Best wishes for a great New Year for everyone out there! Peace and joy and happiness and prosperity and everything good! 恭喜发财！
