Wirework Earrings and White Goblin Pumpkins

Wisdom tells me I am nothing;
Love tells me I am everything.
Between the two, my life flows.
- Buddha
White Chrysallis Earrings

I begin every morning the same way, a cup of green tea, and pen in hand as I make my "to do" list for the day. I put everything that I want to do down no matter how insignificant and then prioritize the items on the list starting with the must do and usually stop after 8 items have been listed in order or importance.

I have learned that if I don't prioritize my day - it's gets away from me. How did we get so many things to do in any given day? Like finish jewelry for orders, doctor's appointments, kid duties, household chores, errands, watering plants, taking care of pets, returning phone calls to my friends, exercise, blog, etc. Stop the madness! But, we can't - can we?

So, it's back to the list... After I make my list I then place a time allotment on each item to see if I can get all of these things completed in just one day. If not, something has to go back on the list for the next day. It's hard to find the time to create in all of these responsibilities, but I must create or I get grouchy... I must create or I get bummed out. I must create or I loose touch with who I am...

Organic Earwires

Somehow, I manage to squeeze in studio time and share the photos of my work with you. Time spent doing what I love - learning new techniques and experimenting with sterling silver wire is me time - it's reminds me of who I am deep inside.

Earth Goddess Earrings

I long to spend one solid week in the studio, but I have been dreaming of that for a couple of years... Someday. Someday. Someday. Until then, I squeeze in studio time at least three times each week. I am trying to get inventory ready for a Holiday show and another show in early 2010. Will I have enough inventory? It's a good motivator to stay productive when I am in the studio. I organize my drawings in order of production so that when I sit at the bench I crank out alot of work. Every moment counts... This usually helps me stay focused, but there are days when I just struggle through and feel like I didn't accomplish much at the end of the day.

Labradorite Bliss

I take my creations to the farm with me and photograph them there in an environment that always brings out my creative side - it's quiet, peaceful and very relaxing. Exactly what every artist needs to allow the mind to play. I usually do my best design work there as well.

Angelic Totem Necklace

The light is always better in the country - why is that? My best photographic efforts happen there and when I come home after a long weekend I am ready to edit and post the photos of my work for this blog, and online stores.

Here is our beloved farm that we cannot imagine life without. How did we ever unload our stress before we could escape to the country? The double windows are the windows to my future studio that I will occupy when we retire someday.... I can't wait. We are still in the rennovation stage and I will share some photos in a future blog of what we have finished so far... The house was in really bad shape when we purchased it - it had been empty for a long time...
We planted white goblin pumpkins at the farm and this is the tiny beginnings of a tiny white pumpkin on the vine with the blossom still attached.
Another little pumpkin on the vine is so sweet.
Another pumpkin that I picked while we were there so I could bring it home with me.


See how sweet the pumpkins are in floral arrangements for your Fall table? Perfectly perfect.
If you don't have the room to grow your own you can recycle sweaters, sweatshirts, towels, etc. into fabric pumpkins that you can use year after year. Form into a ball tie string around the ends for a stem and then wrap the string around the ball to imitate the sections - it's that simple. Now go dig in your closets for cast offs in creamy white.

xo - Julie