Do you work better under pressure?

I am definitely a work under pressure kind of person, I seem to rock'n roll better when I have a short deadline.  My brain goes in overdrive and I just go on auto pilot.  My mom and I did a open house in the Spring and we are talking about doing one before Christmas, while I was dragging my heels and not really giving my mom an answer but last night I went to bed early and I must have been dreaming about the open house, while I got the ball rolling this morning I have booked a date have some vendors confirmed and am thinking about all of the things that will need to be done in order to have my open house.  It is going to be a Christmas themed open house, so I am wondering do I set up my Christmas tree and have decorations out to get everyone in the mood? 

Almond Crafts

I started to panic too, because we moved into this house at the end of August and guess what the whole house needs to be painted, I knew that the house had to be painted but in all of the commotion of planning this morning it didn't dawn on me that I need to get this done before the open house I can not welcome guests in my home with patches all over the walls.  Talk about panic, I called my mom and dad three or four times this morning will all the planning, I then had to beg my dad to help me paint so I can have the house ready.  Thank goodness that my dad is retired and can give me a little bit of time.

 4 Eyes and Ears

My inventory is also way down, I need to get cracking and start making some stuff, I am thinking about Christmas party's, New Year's party type jewelry.  I am not attracted to making stuff with red, green's and white's for Christmas jewelry do you have any suggestions on what I could do to attract customers.  My comfort zone is earth tones. 

Sue Beads

I have to admit that I realize I might feel stressed planning this event and I will likely get somewhat grumpy but I feel like I have a purpose and I like planning stuff, it gives me a bit of a adrenaline rush.

If anyone has any suggestions about holiday themed jewelry please let me know I could really use the input.  Is November 13th too early to set up the Christmas tree?

Blessings and Thanks

We celebrated Thanksgivings today with my wonderful parents and our best friends.  It was such a wonderful day, and I feel so blessed, do you ever just feel so grateful for your life and the blessings that have been bestowed upon you.  I try to remind myself everyday how lucky I am that I have wonderful supportive parents who love me unconditionally and that I have some of the best friends around.  I grew up with lots of family and friends but not siblings of my own, and I used to feel sad for myself but I think because I didn't have siblings I looked for friends who have become my family, and boy do I feel grateful for these wonderful people, they make my life rich and colorful.  We have some friends that are going through some hard times in the last number of weeks, and it makes me realize how much I love my husband and children and how thankful I am for them and how blessed I am to have three healthy children and a man who loves me.  Everyone looks for different things in there life and not everyone wants to have family or a husband, but for me this is always what I wanted a big family with friends and family to share it with and good food.  Oh how I love food, sitting down at the dinner table breaking bread with loved ones is one of my most cherished things, and I have fond memories growing up doing just that, it is something I strive for.

Onto other things that I am grateful for and unexpected surprises.  I was notified this week that I was the lucky recipient of the Love My Art Jewelry giveaway and Riki Schumacher, E-workshops giveaway.  How can one girl get so lucky!!!  Thank you to Love My Art Jewelry and Riki Schumacher for giving me these wondeful gifts I can't not express to you grateful I feel and how lucky I am.  Much love!!!  Make sure you check out both blogs, lots of wonderful things to share.

Take care,
Penny

Some Things I want to Learn how to do?

So my mind runs 90 miles an hour I find that I jump from one thing to the next and I have a long list of things that I want to learn for making jewelry.  I am so in awe of the wonderful artists that are in this community and the awesomeness that they create.  Here are a few things that I would love to learn how to do.

Curious Crow Jewelry

Melinda Orr Designs by Orrtec

Sue Beads

Captured Moments

Do you have anything that you would like to try to create to stretch you skills and creativity?  Please share, and do you have any great places that could teach you these skills?

Take care,

Penny

Gratitude

What does gratitude or being grateful mean to you.  I know there are many things in my life that I am grateful for, the essentials having a roof over my head to offer protection to me and my family, to have food in our bellies, to have two feet and a heartbeat to get up and welcome each and every day.

I am an Oprah lover and I followed her for years, I remember when she introduced Sarah Ban Breathnach, and the book Simple Abundance, at that time I was searching and that book opened a whole lot of revelations for me and it helped me be grateful for my life.  I started keeping a gratitude journal and writing down 5 things every day that I was grateful for, at first it was a bit difficult because my head space wasn't good but once I started looking around I realized that there were so many things to give thanks.  I no longer keep my gratitude journal but I find that I live a grateful life each and every day, I remind myself of my blessings often and how lucky I am to be here and that I get a choice each day to chose how I handle the things that come into my life.

Check out Sarah's 10 Simple Truths to Live by.

Have you heard of the new blog that Molly Alexander has launched Grateful Living, I am really looking forward to it, there will be a bunch of guest contributors and Molly herself that will be sharing.  If you are looking for some inspiration or just some like minded individuals check it out.  

I want to say a great big THANK YOU to all of the individuals who hopped by for the 4th Annual Bead Soup Blog Party, I had a great time, I am still hopping through the list, but everyone who left comments on my blog thank you so much your comments mean so much to me and I was truly inspired and in awe of all the great talent out there.  Everyone is so wonderful and I truly feel grateful for all of you!!!

Take care,
Penny