New items and today's sale item

For the last couple of weeks, I have been trying to be consistent with posting a sale item each day in the hopes of clearing out some items from my studio.  I hoped this would start a domino effect that would go something like this....  sale items will sell, making room for new creations waiting to be listed for sale in my Etsy Shop and this would lead to a jump start in creativity to create more items.  

Lately creativity seems to be stagnant for me.  I have periods of time where ideas are hard to muster and creativity seems to be playing a clever game of hide 'n' seek.  A game which I am losing because creativity has found a REALLY good hiding spot.  Hopefully I will find her soon.  Until then here are some new items I have posted in my Etsy Shop and Today's Sale item.

If you have a custom order you would like me to create for you, send me a message at whimsicaljewels@rocketmail.com  That would help me win this game of hide 'n' seek  ;)

Click on the links to see the items in my etsy shop

* New items *

you are beautiful healing message box

$5.00

Birdhouse in My Soul

$5

Pinwheel upcycled bottle cap earrings

$12

Live Out Loud magnet

$8

Heart upcycled bottle cap earrings

$12

Spiral upcycled bottle cap earrings

$12

Empower Others, Practice Peace

(Slight imperfections so the price is lower)

$8

Today's SALE items in my Etsy Shop

Cowry Shell Ring

Original Price $8, Today's sale price $6

Sunflower Girl double sided pendant

Original Price $18  Today's sale price $15

Side A

Side B of pendant

Looking for something fun to do this weekend?  Bring the family for some fun at the Lewisville Easter Festival and start your mother's day shopping early.  I am a vendor at this fabulous event and will have a variety of my handmade goodies for sale.  Stop by to see me...

Clutter free and feeling GOOD!

During and after festival season, I was left feeling a little overwhelmed and exacerbated by the season itself and my surroundings.  Holiday time was here and of course it was also festival season.  My creative space, where all the magic is supposed to happen, seemed to be the dump site for anything and everything.  In between shows I wasn't able to keep my space tidy and by the end it became a mess to say the least.  I couldn't even open the door!  I  couldn't create and my magic left me.

I don't know about you but I HATE clutter.  I have found that it not only causes distractions in my work space but it also causes my mind and spirit to be cluttered and then I feel defeated and drained.  Cumbersome is the word that comes to mind.  I certainly can't create in a cluttered environment.

I promised myself that I would start cleaning out my room and make it a workable space again once the holidays were over.  I have to admit that I felt overwhelmed just thinking about it and because of that it took longer than I would have liked or expected. The task took me over a month but I finally did it!!

BEFORE.....

         

standing in the doorway of my studio looking
at contents of my studio lining the hallway

standing in my kitchen looking at
the contents of my studio
lining the rest of the hallway
outside of my room

standing in the doorway looking
in my studio

                                                

another view of my CLUTTERED studio from the doorway

standing on the chair - a view of my "stuff" on the floor and surrounding work tables

AFTER...

After cleaning...  clutter free, clean work space
My bead table

Another work table in my studio
with my books, supplies and tools

Clutter free soldering work table

So, the next time you are feeling a little overwhelmed, take a look around you.  Is the space cluttered?  Is it filled with too many distractions or things?  I promise you that if you clean up and get rid of things you will feel MUCH BETTER!  I started on this tedious project shortly after the new year and I vowed on my birthday (2/21) that no matter what I would have it done by the end of the week.  I completed the task late Thursday evening, 2 days later.  I awoke on Friday the 24th with a smile on my face and the first thought in my mind was how nice and refreshing it was to have a clean studio.  Now it's time to make some magic.  Magic for you and magic for me.

To love and be loved

(Bouquet of Flowers fused glass pendant)

V-Day, Valentine's Day, Lover's day, The day of love....

I have heard all of these names before and countless others. Personally, I think we put too much energy and money into one day of love. Is this what we have resorted to, one day of selfless love and giving? What happened to showing love everyday? I know I may be taking it a little too far. But then again maybe I'm not.

(Rose wired button ring)

Yesterday as I sat making my husband and children a handmade card there was one main thought running through my mind... Do I show them enough how much I love them? What can I do to make each day better? What can I do that is greater than what I already do?

I know my children know they are loved. I also know that my husband and I both shower them with love and affection everyday. But I'm sure we can do more. We have daily signs of love. We sit down at the table for dinner as a family and discuss our day almost every night of the week. We don't leave the house without giving them a hug and a kiss and telling them how much we love them. On the way to school we go around the car and state what we are thankful for in each person. Most importantly, we teach them. We teach them the skills they need to be self-sufficient, better people and successful. We discipline them and correct them when they have made a mistake. We celebrate their successes and discuss how to correct a mistake when one is made. When I think about the love and lessons my parent's taught me, I'm filled with so much gratitude and love. They gave me the greatest gift by preparing me for the future and a living example on how to raise my children.

Now I move on to my husband. It seems in the hustle of life there are times when our spouse is the one who is forgotten. I think I do a fairly good job at showing Shayne how much he is loved but I can do better. Love began here and without it I wouldn't have my two beautiful children that I adore so much. So I realize that I need to do more to make him feel loved and adored. Because the truth is I do. I still light up when he walks in the room and inwardly smile that I am so blessed. 17 years later and I still feel like the 19 year old girl that fell so hard for a 18 year old boy. I am truly blessed.

So, I encourage you to show the people in your life that you care about them each and everyday not just on Valentine's day.

(the fused glass bouquet of flowers and rose ring pictured above are handmade by me and can be found at a.l.o.e in Lewisville, NC. http://www.aloeoflewisville.com/default.html or visit their Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/aloeoflewisville)

Show yourself some love too. ;)