Reorganizing

I finally found the energy last night to sit down with my mounds of beads, unsold pieces, and a bit of peace and quiet. I reworked several of my pieces and even found time to create a new one or two. I'm hoping to take photos this weekend and have pics and listings posted to my etsy shop next week. I finished my first hemp piece (the one I created for my husband) and even moved right on to the next one - another hemp necklace, created as part of my brother's graduation present. I love both pieces and so do the recipients! My son even took an interest in what I was doing, and I've promised to show him the ropes (or cords, haha) when I start my next one.

We have a fun, relaxing weekend ahead of us. My husband and I don't get many weekends together, it's just the nature of his work. This will be our first planned weekend off together in almost four months, and we've packed it full of busy goodness! We're heading to South Bend, IN on Friday for a concert with some friends. Following that with a trip to the Battle Creek/Kalamazoo area for a chopper show on Saturday (for him) and a Renaissance Faire on Sunday (for me). We're both excited to be able to get out of the house and spend time together, and so I'm hoping the weather cooperates!

Wishing all of you sunny days, peace and blessings!

-Lisa

Summertime...

"Summertime, and the livin' is easy...", or so the famous Ella Fitzgerald tune tells us. Well, let me be one to say it ain't so! This summer has been busy, busy, busy for me and my family! Between working my regular 9-5 (ha! more like 7 - 7 lately), summer sports, family gatherings, traveling for work and home improvement projects (not to mention every other "everyday" activity), I'm exhausted! I think that the days of carefree summers are long gone – at least for this gal!

Unfortunately, the first casualty due to lack of free time has been my jewelry. I haven't completed a new piece, save custom orders, for a few months now - something that saddens me, as creating jewelry is a great way for me to let the rest of the world go and focus on something just in my hands. However, there is light at the end of the tunnel and I've recently acquired some new materials that I'm really looking forward to working with. I've also been toying around with hemp and natural beads and I'm quite happy with the results. I'm working on a piece for my husband, who is my most loving critic and cheerleader. While on our honeymoon, I purchased a Thor's hammer pendant for him, but he's never really liked the chain that it hung on - so I'm working on a nice hemp necklace with some accenting silver and I'm very happy with the way it's turning out - so perhaps this will lead to some new, natural creations down the road.

I’d like to take a moment to thank Laurie Beth Beggin, who is an extremely talented stained glass artist, for awarding me with the “Sweet Home Blogger” award. I’ll be sure to pass it along in the coming weeks. Thanks again, Laurie!