Leap of Faith

Last November I decided to quit my job of 9 years and stay home with my children, but one of my goals for staying home was that I wanted to start designing jewelry full-time.  I want this to become the way I make my living and how I contribute to my family financially.  I have always had different things that I thought I could do to become an entrepreneur but once I started making jewelry I felt like I had found my calling.

Over the last few months I have questioned my decision because by no means have I made any big money to put back into my family, really what it has afforded me is being able to buy more artist beads semi-precious gemstones and beads.  I have thought was it a wise decision to give up a good secure job, with a pension and benefits and you know what I still don't know, I do know that I felt exhausted when I was working that my immunity was always low from lack of sleep and trying to keep up home life, work life, and feeling stretched in so many directions.  In all my adult life I have worked, one was out of necessity but the other was I always thought that I was a career focused person, I believe that after working for almost 19 years in a professional setting it has taught me a lot and I believe that the tools that I have learned will carry me forward with what I am trying to build with my jewelry business.

I do know that one thing that I missed from so many years of being a focus driven career person was that I didn't really give much attention to my creative side and maybe that is why I felt so exhausted and worn out before I quit my job I didn't feel like I had much left to give.  In the last few years of my career I had two babies, I would be considered a mature mother this time around and boy did I adore those two cute little bundles of joy but I don't know how I kept my eyes opened some day's and functioned.

In terms of my life I have worked for 19 years but I would consider myself a young person and when I was young I had a little mouth to feed so I needed to put food on the table and a roof over our head, and I have never regretted having to do this, but because of the pull to be responsible I don't think I have ever been able to explore my true passions or what I would be really good at.  If I asked myself today what I would like to be besides designing jewelry, I have thought about being an event planner, personal life coach, a chef, ceramic artist, lampwork bead artist. A lot of my desires have to do with jewelry making.  I would love to do all of these things but money is the biggest roadblock right now.

I have asked myself am I being selfish putting the burden on my husband to be the sole provider for our family.  Am I selfish for wanting to pursue my dreams of building a business, being able to be my own boss, fulfilling my dreams and goals.  Dream for something bigger in life than just punching a time clock.  I ask myself these questions all of the time and feel guilty, I am raising our kids trying to shape them into mature, responsible, loving, kind, conscientious individuals.  But the internal battle is always there.  This time that I have been off work has been a exploration of myself and a healing, and this process is ongoing.  I don't know if I could actually work at a company right now, I don't know if I have the energy or focus to dedicate to what a job would require.

I struggle with my hopes and dreams too, what makes me think that I can be a jewelry designer, there is so many great designers and artists out there.  I am a little fish in a big pond and the pond is over flowing with talent.  What makes me think that I can make a sufficient enough money to contribute to my family financially.  Can I really create a successful business where I have happy customers a great reputation and have fun and fulfillment with what I am doing.

Where does my leap of faith come into play, when I decided to quit my job and pursue my hopes and dreams.  I have slowly but surely been trying to build my business.  My word of the year that I chose was growth, there were many things that I wanted to grow, I want to grow myself spiritually and mentally.  I want to grow my life financially so that I can pursue some of my dreams for myself and dreams I have for my family.  I want to grow my skills in designing jewelry.  I feel that I need to put my intentions out in the universe, so that I have things in alignment for my goals and dreams.

Have you taken a leap of faith?  What do you do when the negative Nelly voice creeps in?  Do you have any tips to share for growing your business?  

Take care,
Penny

Custom Orders

I think one of my favorite things about designing jewelry is doing custom orders for someone.  I was having a coffee with one of my best girls the other day and we were talking about designing a necklace for her sister, and lo and behold I had some of my stash on the kitchen table.  Between keeping the kidlets entertained and getting coffee and stuff my friend had a look through my stash and we went about designing something special for her, I finished up the designs earlier this week and had to share.

 

Do you like doing customs orders?  Do you let people go through your stash and have feedback in their pieces?  Happy Saturday!

Take care,

Penny

Rings & Things Blog Partners Design Challenge

Take our design challenge!

The theme is brushed copper beads, look at ‘em:

Design challenge! Satin-finish copper beads

We think you’ll love these:
They’re gorgeously shiny…
fun to touch…

and we like how people’s faces light up when they see ‘em at our bead shows!

Here’s how to enter:

1. Leave a comment below.
2. Get an extra entry in the drawing: Link from your blog to this post.  Share this post in Facebook or Twitter.

Then, wait for an email from me:
One week from today, on Thursday, March 24th, I’ll do a drawing & pick 15 lucky participants.  I’ll send those 15 people a packet of these satin-finish copper beads.

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They’ll have 1 month to provide photos of the jewelry they make with these beads.  Out of all those entries, Rings & Things will pick a Design Challenge winner to receive a surprise pack of our jewelry supplies!
So enter now, tell your online friends, and get thinking–what will you do with a bunch of brushed copper beads?  Doming?  Sawing in half?  Image-transfer solution?  Patina’ing?  Hole punching?
–Dave at Rings & Things–

Pay It Forward or (PIF)

I am the lucky recipient of Courtney's Pay it Forward. 

I love this idea, sending joy to someone! Gifts in the mail.

So here goes...

The first 5 people who comment on this post will receive a handmade gift by me (it could be any thing)! In return you must write a blog post explaining Pay It Forward 2011 and send your first 5 commenters a gift handmade by you.  It's a great way to make new friends and spread some handmade love around in Blogland! No rush to send them out today or tomorrow.. but do make sure you send them out...'

So, here goes. 

The first 5 people who comment here will get some handmade goodness from me. In addition to commenting, please leave me your favorite color.

What great way to make someone's day. It sure made mine

New Stuff

I received some good news a few weeks back from Marsha of Marsha Neal Studios that she would be taking down her special blog and My Mom Pattie and combining them all into the Marsha Neal Studio blog.  With her taking down the Marsha Neal Studio Special blog she was going to send something along to all of the bloggers as a thank you for those that put a badge on their blog.  I had ordered some beautiful silk ribbon from Marsha's Esty store, have you seen the silk ribbon it is so lovely and the colors are so rich and beautiful.  The package arrived last week and boy was I surprised with all the goodies that were sent to me, I have been admiring Marsha's beautiful pendants and I was lucky enough to get a lovely stash.  I have made a few pieces that I will be listing in my Esty store later tonight.

Another necklace including a Shaterra pendant.

Thanks for stopping by, take care everyone.

Penny

Comfort Food

When I was growing up we always had Sunday dinner, we started out having it at my dad's parents and as I got bigger we started having it at my parents home.  My mom had a big family and at one time everyone lived in the same place I remember my aunts dropping my for a visit and their families ended up staying for supper, my mom always had enough to go around and we had great conversations and fun.  When my son and I moved away from my hometown I still tried to have family suppers for the two of us, but the last number of years I have gotten out of the routine of preparing the Sunday supper.  I have decided that is all going to change, I want to start having a constant meal that as a family we share together, Sunday usually is a day for relaxing and why not prepare something yummy to eat.

Tonight I am making a old family favorite from my childhood, sweet and sour ribs, rice and broccoli. 

What are your comfort foods? What do you like to make for your family?  Do you have Sunday supper at your house?

Take care,
Penny

Thank You

DesiComments.com | Thank You | Forward this Picture

What a awesome time I have had participating in the 3rd Bead Soup Blog Party.  Thank you everyone who stopped by and left comments.  I think that I visited everyone, and was so inspired and in awe of all the talent.  I am looking forward to the next one, be sure to sign up between August 1-3 at Lori Anderson of Pretty Thing.
Don't forget to grab your badge for the party.