It seems like every time I have a jewelry party I totally crash afterwards. After 3 months of non-stop jewelry making, and weeks of building up for the party, a large sigh of relief often takes shape in not opening my craft room door for several days. Unfortunately, add to that starting a new job where I work 30-hour shifts weekly (hospital chaplain = love it, hate the hours) and suddenly making jewelry isn't so relieving anymore. So I inquire of you, friends: How do you balance your personal and your work life? How do you find energy when you come home from a draining day? As of late all I can do on the weekends is nap and maybe watch TV to decompress. Not fun! So, Bead Up buddies, my apologies for being so MIA lately. I have lots of new items to add to Etsy and custom pieces I have made here and there to share with you - which will happen - as soon as I can figure this balancing act out!
I made my first jewelry sale at the age of 8 when I initiated a fund raiser for a terminally ill classmate outside of the cafeteria during lunch. The product? Old school friendship bracelets! We sold $30 worth on the first day - a large sum in the eyes of a 2nd grader selling constructed string!
My passion continued through my youth as I mastered the art of camp gimp bracelets and teenage hemp necklaces. While shopping in a flea market in Beijing a new medium struck my interest: semi-precious beads! I have since been fascinated with the medium as an element in formal and casual jewelry alike.
Though some of the materials I use in my jewelry are from the local craft store, I purchased a good deal of my materials while bargaining in Chinese on the streets of Shanghai or San Francisco. I thus hope each of my pieces act as a mini-souvenir of places we have each been or hope to go.
I hope you enjoy joining me on my jewelry journey - thanks for reading :)