Spring in Seattle

Wow, the weather has been so beautiful. I swear it looks like summer and it isn't even June yet. I hope this keeps up for awhile. It makes me want to work out in my yard and get it all fixed up for summer. But I guess that will have to wait awhile.
I got a lot accomplished this weekend, though. Made some great jewelry and even sold a couple of things. All is good. I'm getting ready to display my jewelry in Designing Images, a wonderful hair salon in Edmonds. In another week or two, I'll have bracelets and earrings there for customers to see and, hopefully, buy. Or, they can simply take a business card and look at my ArtFire or Etsy stores.
The jewelry shops are taking up most of my life right now and will until I get enough inventory ahead that I can have several pieces in reserve. I don't mind. I love making beautiful things that other people find beautiful too. Fortunately, my lovely husband doesn't mind taking over some of the household duties while I'm so busy.
And my regular job keeps me busy too. I've been off for almost the whole week and, while I got to sleep a little later and make lots of jewelry, I really miss the patients and my coworkers. I don't get to talk to my customers beyond an email or two so it's great to see the patients face to face and talk and laugh with them.
I work at Dr. Diane Doppel's orthodontic office, the very best one in the city and possibly the state. We work with the greatest bunch of patients in the world.

Another Sunday

All right! I'm keeping up with my vow to post once a week. Yes!
Things are going well in both of my shops. I've been listing new items each week so there are always new things.
Today, though, I feel like I haven't accomplished much. Jewelry wise that is. I spent most of the day cleaning up my studio. And my darling husband, Guy, helped. He's a saint. He stands there calmly while I spill Windex all down my leg and all over my favorite pair of shoes. While I ran to clean up the apparel mess, he quietly cleaned the floor (which hasn't been this clean in months!) He helped me move furniture, lamps, junk and an amazing assortment of stuff. He wrestled with the file cabinet to plug a lamp in behind it. What a doll.
But I do have goals. I'm trying to make and list more things for the ArtFire store. I have great faith in that one. Someday it will be as big as Etsy and I'll be one of the charter members with a zillion sales. I'm going to display some of my work at a salon in Edmonds soon. I'm making more things for that too. And my Etsy shop needs more necklaces and bracelets.
I actually have some time this weekend because I don't have to go back to work until Wednesday. Unfortunately, when I have lots of time, I tend to waste it. The thinking is, I guess, that I have so much that I can take longer. I work better under pressure.
Okay. That's enough. I need to go make something now.

Midyear Resolution

So, it's May and I haven't written here since January. I vow to write once a week. See if I don't.
We went to the University street fair today, which, for us is the true beginning of summer. And it felt like summer too. It's sunny and hot and you could believe it was July instead of May. Saw some great stuff but the best thing was that I found some gorgeous pendants to make into some even more gorgeous jewelry. They're made from recycled art glass and are absolutely beautiful. My head is spinning with ideas for jewelry.
Genevieve Church is the woman who makes them. I love that they're recycled. You can take a look at Genevieve's web site at www.recycledloot.com. I'll soon have some fantastic new stuff on my Etsy and ArtFire sites using her pendants.
I'm debating about doing a street fair or two myself. It's so expensive. I guess I won't know if it's worth it until I try. My little shops are doing well. Pretty well, in the bad economy, I think. At any rate, I love my shops and I love making jewelry and I won't be stopping anytime soon.