OMG, what a summer it has been -- I mean roller-coaster hot weather, a shocking minor surgery, job search, job search, job search. I have barely had time to look at my jewels let alone make the new ones I have had designed in my head for months now.
I have done a lot of soul searching in the midst of my insane couponing to make ends meet this year off (not by choice, mind you) and I keep seeing "if you don't love it, don't chase after it." That really resonates with me as the summer winds down and I get ready to send the hellions (I mean my wonderful, darling children) back to school. (Will that day ever really come? I am one terrible stay-at-home mom.).
I keep thinking about my jobs I have done -- you know, in PR, Marketing, etc. And while I like it enough to get out of bed with a smile on every morning there are really two places in those job descriptions I love:
1) Research. I am really more of a balanced individual when I research almost anything. The last year I spent a lot of time researching theory of leadership as it relates to the military rank structure and how the federal government hires who they hire and why -- plus the impact those things have on current operations during the pending draw-down. I know I know, from a stay at home mom/ jewelry designer who is really bad about updating her store and blog. Makes absolutely no sense, right? But, it makes my blood really move with passion when I look into not only what is going on, but how to make it better, ya know?
2) Relationship Building. I love to build community and relationships online and offline. There can be no real reason for a relationship to form -- for example, one of my neighbors who is also unemployed during the 'recession' (let's be honest, this really is a depression that has been faked to look like a lingering 'recession') is also suddenly into couponing to make ends meet. So who was the first person I told about the insane deal on Vitamin Water I found (after my mom)...the neighbor lady in the same situation as me.
Now -- what does this have to do with jewelry making? Absolutely nothing, I just thought maybe I would open up a bit and give a glimpse of my real personality. Which, by the way, is a bit neurotic.
But, the sun is out -- its not as warm today...so finally I got off my but, out of my room, left the fan for a few minutes and didn't break out a single coupon to take some pictures of some new and older jewels. They are up on the site now, after I showed my kiddos how to take close ups and edit in Picasa, you know so I can pay them to take pictures later on in the year.
Yeah, it's a family thing, this Etsy thing.
