I am trying really hard to find it right now. My consulting work has picked up, but still seems to happen at random times. My personal life is well... a little crazy. There are a lot of things going on that I am not going to get into on here, but it's very stressful. And then, throw in trying to run my other start-up business... and I'm way off kilter.
I'm not sure how to find balance right now. I am currently taking things as they come, but am not really making much headway on any front. Is it better to schedule and partition things so that everything gets attention? It might be, but the demands of both my personal life and my consulting work aren't scheduled very far ahead of time. Overall, I feel like I'm doing a poor job of everything. Nothing I do is getting my full attention because I am always thinking about what I have to accomplish elsewhere as well.
How do you find balance between work and your personal life?
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Friday, September 2, 2011
Featured Artist Friday #7
This week's featured artist is lots of fun. My favorite thing about her is that she lives on a boat. Yup, you read that right, she lives on a boat. How much fun is that? She works in many mediums and produces a variety of wonderful things. Check her out!
Name: Kirsty Waight (but also known to many as "Pink")
Business: Little Floating Craft Co
Website(s): www.littlefloatingcraftco.folksy.com, www.facebook.com/littlefloatingcraftco , www.littlefloatingcraftco.blogspot.com
Tell us a little about yourself?
I'm now officially closer to forty than to thirty and have been a rather poorly creature for the last eighteen months or so as I seem to be allergic to myself and have baffled the experts! Other than that I'm a pretty chilled out kind of character (unless you don't pick the mat up off the floor after you're done showering!) and I absolutely adore living on the boat my husband and I built. My family and friends are the most important thing although health reasons stop me from seeing them as much as I'd like.
What do you do?
By day I manage an office for a small pharmceuticals company, and really enjoy it too, but the rest of the time I'm making very classical vintage styled jewellery, altered card crafts, clocks, textile gifts.... anything goes as I have a short attention span and flit from medium to medium
Where do you get your inspiration?
From looking out of my windows and hatches. The flora and fauna around the boat is stunning and always provides something to attract my interest!
Who has been one of your biggest influences?
My mum, most definately. She too has always worked with many mediums and never shied away from trying something new.
If you could have dinner with one person from history who would you choose and why?
My darling dad. I would love to show him some of the kind words from people who've seen my work, as I know he would be as excited as I am. I miss him constantly as anyone else who's lost a parent will I'm sure understand.
Anything else you would like to add?
I'm always interested to hear if something in my work inspires someone else to follow a path and create something that's off their beaten track! And it's always great to hear from anyone else who has craft on the brain all the time too!
Name: Kirsty Waight (but also known to many as "Pink")
Business: Little Floating Craft Co
Website(s): www.littlefloatingcraftco.folksy.com, www.facebook.com/littlefloatingcraftco , www.littlefloatingcraftco.blogspot.com
Tell us a little about yourself?
I'm now officially closer to forty than to thirty and have been a rather poorly creature for the last eighteen months or so as I seem to be allergic to myself and have baffled the experts! Other than that I'm a pretty chilled out kind of character (unless you don't pick the mat up off the floor after you're done showering!) and I absolutely adore living on the boat my husband and I built. My family and friends are the most important thing although health reasons stop me from seeing them as much as I'd like.
What do you do?
By day I manage an office for a small pharmceuticals company, and really enjoy it too, but the rest of the time I'm making very classical vintage styled jewellery, altered card crafts, clocks, textile gifts.... anything goes as I have a short attention span and flit from medium to medium
Where do you get your inspiration?
From looking out of my windows and hatches. The flora and fauna around the boat is stunning and always provides something to attract my interest!
Who has been one of your biggest influences?
My mum, most definately. She too has always worked with many mediums and never shied away from trying something new.
If you could have dinner with one person from history who would you choose and why?
My darling dad. I would love to show him some of the kind words from people who've seen my work, as I know he would be as excited as I am. I miss him constantly as anyone else who's lost a parent will I'm sure understand.
Anything else you would like to add?
I'm always interested to hear if something in my work inspires someone else to follow a path and create something that's off their beaten track! And it's always great to hear from anyone else who has craft on the brain all the time too!
Friday, August 26, 2011
Featured Artist Friday #6
I have mentioned this week's artist in my blog previously. She does great work with natural stones. In many cases, she harvests the stone, cuts it, polishes, and then wraps them into awesome pendants. I love her work and bought a beautiful piece recently for my mother. Two examples of her beautiful work are below.
Name: Marie Frazier
Business: Superior Aagtes Wire Wrapped Gemstone Jewelry
Website: www.superioragates.etsy.com
www.facebook.com/superioragates
www.superioragates.blogspot.com
About me: I am a 40+ year old woman, with 2 grown children, and 2 grandchildren. All of their lives, they have been the root for my survival, my base, and my strength. I draw any and all positive things in life from knowing they are my children, and I love them deeply. I am an artsy person, who has dabbled in a lot of different skills and crafts, and I believe that this just happens to be the most enjoyable one of them all.
What do I do: I cut my own gemstones, from either the rough, or slabs, hand polish them, and wire wrap them in to jewelry
Where do I get inspiration? : Life, and the stones themselves just kinda "talk" to me spiritually.
Who is my biggest influence: God, My children and grandchildren
Dinner from someone in history: Thomas Kincaid.....his paiintings are nothing but pure inspiration to do better, be better, and to use the God given talents instilled inside each and every one of us
Name: Marie Frazier
Business: Superior Aagtes Wire Wrapped Gemstone Jewelry
Website: www.superioragates.etsy.com
www.facebook.com/superioragates
www.superioragates.blogspot.com
About me: I am a 40+ year old woman, with 2 grown children, and 2 grandchildren. All of their lives, they have been the root for my survival, my base, and my strength. I draw any and all positive things in life from knowing they are my children, and I love them deeply. I am an artsy person, who has dabbled in a lot of different skills and crafts, and I believe that this just happens to be the most enjoyable one of them all.
What do I do: I cut my own gemstones, from either the rough, or slabs, hand polish them, and wire wrap them in to jewelry
Where do I get inspiration? : Life, and the stones themselves just kinda "talk" to me spiritually.
Who is my biggest influence: God, My children and grandchildren
Dinner from someone in history: Thomas Kincaid.....his paiintings are nothing but pure inspiration to do better, be better, and to use the God given talents instilled inside each and every one of us
Sunday, August 21, 2011
After the Flood
I found the pendant for this necklace awhile ago, but never could really find what I wanted to pair with it. The pendant made me think of the great flood story as told in the Old Testament, so I wanted to pair it with something that reminded me of water. This turquoise came and was perfect. Its a combination of blue and green that made me think of the ocean and the shape was different.
Now I have the idea out of my head and can rest. What do you think of the combination? Does the necklace tell you a story?
Now I have the idea out of my head and can rest. What do you think of the combination? Does the necklace tell you a story?
Friday, August 19, 2011
Featured Artist Friday #5
This week we're going to talk to another jewelry designer. I have a couple of her items favorited on Etsy. I really enjoy her perspective in making jewelry and really enjoyed her interview. A couple examples of her work are below.
Shocking that I would choose blue and green, huh?
Suzanne Cavataio
VCubed Jewelry Designs
www.vcubedjewelry.etsy.com
www.facebook.com/vcubedjewelry
Tell us a little about yourself?
I am a stay at home mom to three beautiful children, all of whose names begin with the letter 'V' (where the name of my business came from). I grew up in rural town in PA and then went on to college at University of Pittsburgh where I studied engineering. Working in my field was amazing, but I always knew that I wanted to stay home after my children were born.
What do you do?
Several years ago I was looking for something to do for me and after taking a jewelry making class I found my niche. As any of you jewelers know, once you start to purchase gemstones and beads you just cannot stop! I decided to start my own business working from my home designing jewelry and I have not looked back since.
Where do you get your inspiration? The patterns and colors of the gemstones inspire me to want to create something to show off the beauty in them. Also, jewelry is something that is so personal to each individual and I hope that everyone who wears one of my pieces feels special while they are wearing it. That is my ultimate goal and explains why all of my gemstone necklaces are one of a kind.
If you could have dinner with one person from history who would you choose and why?Wow, hard question! The engineer in me wants to say Ben Franklin or Thomas Edison, but I think it would have to be Jane Austen. Pride and Prejudice is my absolute favorite book! I am not a strong writer especially when it comes to fiction so I think it would be fascinating to have a conversation with her to hear how her ideas materialized. Her writing is so powerful yet romantic.
Anything else you would like to add?Going forward I would like to incorporate more metals with different finishes. I love how different processes can give you such different effects. These mixed with gemstones will create even more unique pieces.
I am a member of the Pennsylvania Crafter's Guild - Yellow Breeches Chapter, the Central PA Bead and Jewelry Society, and also the National Association for Professional Women.
Shocking that I would choose blue and green, huh?
Suzanne Cavataio
VCubed Jewelry Designs
www.vcubedjewelry.etsy.com
www.facebook.com/vcubedjewelry
Tell us a little about yourself?
I am a stay at home mom to three beautiful children, all of whose names begin with the letter 'V' (where the name of my business came from). I grew up in rural town in PA and then went on to college at University of Pittsburgh where I studied engineering. Working in my field was amazing, but I always knew that I wanted to stay home after my children were born.
What do you do?
Several years ago I was looking for something to do for me and after taking a jewelry making class I found my niche. As any of you jewelers know, once you start to purchase gemstones and beads you just cannot stop! I decided to start my own business working from my home designing jewelry and I have not looked back since.
Where do you get your inspiration? The patterns and colors of the gemstones inspire me to want to create something to show off the beauty in them. Also, jewelry is something that is so personal to each individual and I hope that everyone who wears one of my pieces feels special while they are wearing it. That is my ultimate goal and explains why all of my gemstone necklaces are one of a kind.
If you could have dinner with one person from history who would you choose and why?Wow, hard question! The engineer in me wants to say Ben Franklin or Thomas Edison, but I think it would have to be Jane Austen. Pride and Prejudice is my absolute favorite book! I am not a strong writer especially when it comes to fiction so I think it would be fascinating to have a conversation with her to hear how her ideas materialized. Her writing is so powerful yet romantic.
Anything else you would like to add?Going forward I would like to incorporate more metals with different finishes. I love how different processes can give you such different effects. These mixed with gemstones will create even more unique pieces.
I am a member of the Pennsylvania Crafter's Guild - Yellow Breeches Chapter, the Central PA Bead and Jewelry Society, and also the National Association for Professional Women.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Picture proof of the organization
I took a few pictures of my newly organized work space for proof that it actually happened. I spent about $45 on the containers I used. I got them from the hardware department of the Fleet Farm. They work great for storing beads and such.
You can also see a few of the items I've been working on as well. Better pictures of those items coming soon!
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Emberglow
Yesterday, I posted a blog about the new hot colors for fall. One of those colors was emberglow. I am including a swatch below. I usually think of this as more of a spring color, but the orange tone does make it great for fall.
I made a necklace in this color family out of some faceted coral beads and silver donut spacers. What do you think? I think these may trend more into pinkish red. Back to the drawing board on this color for the season.
I made a necklace in this color family out of some faceted coral beads and silver donut spacers. What do you think? I think these may trend more into pinkish red. Back to the drawing board on this color for the season.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)