Working Artist

‎"The working artist will not tolerate trouble in her life because she
knows trouble prevents her from doing her work. The working artist
banishes from her world all sources of trouble. She harnesses the urge
for trouble and transforms it in her work."
The War of Art by Steven Pressfield

Shannon LeVart of Missficklemedia posted this quote on her facebook page this evening and it really hit home with me. I am always saying that stress zaps my creativity. I find that when I harp on the bad things-lack of money, bills piling up, my still unfinished kitchen, I am unable to make anything. It is almost like when I worry about things that negative thought takes over my brain and I am unable to think of anything else.

 

I have always tried to be positive even in difficult situations but now it is even more important for me to be positive. It is my job to be positive. You see I make jewelry and if I am not making any jewelry I have nothing to sell, if I have nothing to sell I won't make any money. If I am not positive at the salon I will push away my clients and then I won't make any money. Without positive thinking I would be out of a job and make worse the initial negative thoughts.

Sounds so easy doesn't it? I know you are thinking duh. Well it isn't easy to be positive all the time. I had a fight with my sister the other day, wham bad day. I had a fight with my husband because of the fight with my sister, wham 2 bad days. I was green with envy over someone's home, bad day. The list goes on and on but I am not going to dwell on that.

I am going to try and be positive and be thankful for the things I have, a healthy daughter, a home, a job, creativity, a loving husband, 4 housebroken dogs, parents who help without us even needing to ask, food, beads.

How could you not be happy with that bundle of cuteness running around, right?

Mommy's Helper

Just a quick post for today.
I have been super busy at the salon, which is a wonderful thing. I feel the week goes faster when I am busy. I did enjoy a really slow week two weeks ago but it is nice to get back to my normal pace.
I am trying to get ready for some upcoming home jewelry shows and some craft fairs.

Heart charm from Round Rabbit Extra

We are still fighting fleas so if anyone knows how to get rid of them once and for all please let me know. I have 4 dogs and a cat so this has been a bit of an uphill battle.

I went to vote tonight, it was my first time voting and I had no clue where to go. That made it scary and I almost didn't go but as a client/friend of mine said you have no right to say anything if you didn't vote. Thanks Mar. :-) It wasn't that bad once I figured out where I was supposed to be. I went to 3 different places before finding where I was supposed to go.
I thought this picture of my daughter was so cute, she was helping me bead one afternoon, I tried to give her the biggest beads I could find so she wouldn't choke. It is so much fun to see her personality really starting to emerge. She is a very sweet little girl who loves giving kisses, animals and books.

I hope you all have a great week, welcome November! I cannot believe you are here already!!!

Shannon

Simple Beauty

I am going to call this post simple beauty because I believe you don't need to have a lot going on to be beautiful. Sometimes too much going on will detract from one's beauty.
I was in a store the other day and the owner had a ton of makeup on, piles of bracelets and he hair was teased as high as it could go. It was difficult to take her seriously and she was very sweet but she just looked silly.
I wanted to share with you a package that came in the mail today.

It is so perfectly beautiful and yet very simply wrapped. I have never received an item I ordered packaged with such care and attention to detail. 
When I pulled the box open, squealing with glee I discovered the most lovely perfectly packaged beads. Each bead had it's own wrapper, business card and a description card tied to the bead itself.
This was the box of goodies from Mary Harding of maryhardingjewelry.com. 

I won a toggle clasp and $25.00 GC from Mary during the Beads of Clay Open House.
My husband and I spent hours, okay I spent hours he spent minutes, trying to pick beads from her etsy store. It wasn't that I couldn't pick it was that I wanted one of everything and we have a very limited budget for beads right now.
I chose these:
Dill Seed Heart Pendant

From maryhardingjewelry

 

Cluster Daisy Heart Pendant

From maryhardingjewelry

Wild Harvest Pendant in Blues

From maryhardingjewelry

Toggle Clasp Bown Sea Urchin Texture

From maryhardingjewelry

Aren't they lovely! I am so excited to play with these beads, it is just going to take me a while to open the absolutely perfect packaging!