emitate. on Etsy

About a month ago I reached a tipping point of sorts in my life.  How many times have you heard people say something like, "You don't live forever so you better start your dream today."?  OR "Live everyday like it is your last."?  Those sayings always ping my heart because I know they are true but they aren't ever enough to jump start anything in my life.   

Ahh.  Stop making feel guilty!

Well, I turned 30.  I didn't freak out about it (I am actually pretty excited about it) but there is a certain amount of reflection that seemed to happen naturally.   

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I am 30 which is like...a for real grown up.  I have two kids that are no longer babies in any way.  They notice everything and they are affected by everything.  I want to give them something of value to absorb and affect them.  What had the biggest impact on my first 30 years?  Living abroad.  I started to worry about not being able to give my kids that experience.  There is value in being a tourist but that won't be the opportunity to have an impact on my kids that way living in the culture did on me.  Both of my parents' lived abroad as dependents and agreed when they started a family that they wanted living abroad for their kids...a.k.a. Walter and Emily.  (What up, Walt?!)

In addition to diverse cultural experiences I want to give my kids the feeling that they can find a way to accomplish things.  I can't give them passion but I can give them an example to look at.  I have wanted to start a craft business for a long time.  It's been a dream or idea or desire and taken different forms for years.  If you have read my blog before you have probably heard me mention (go on about) that and also that I have fears.  Well, I am really tired of dreaming and I have been tired of being afraid for a long time.  I want to act.  I want to try something...success or failure.....

Last on my list of things leading me here...a few important people in my life have had life altering illnesses, health scares, and worse recently which has been a shocking wake up call.  It has affected me in ways that I am still realizing and didn't see coming.  

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Over the past few months I have been making a conscious effort to have quiet time, pray, and be present.  Through that I realize that while I have been doing my thing over here all of these thoughts, concerns, issues, worries, and desires have been working themselves out.  I just haven't stopped to listen.  

If I want to get my kids abroad and to have an experience beyond a week of seeing the sites I have to do something drastic..right?  Right.  Sean works from home doing a job that can be done anywhere with an internet connection.  I stay at home.  We are pretty flexible.  We could go somewhere for...more than a week or two.  So how do I make that happen because I have to make it happen....it's not just going to come to us.

About a month ago I got inspired to sit down and work on my list of jewelry ideas.  This past month I have been making and then going through the trauma of photographing them and today I re-opened my Etsy store:

It would make me so happy if you would check it out by clicking here:  emitate. on Etsy  

Also, if you want to hear what else I have been inspired to do then please click here and meet:  You're Maker.

Oh hi.

I have been working hard the past two weeks on some exciting things that I am dying to share but won't just yet. I can tell you that I have been taking pictures...lots and lots of pictures. I have been learning....Slowly....but it's real photography and not iPhone snaps!

I swear every ounce of intuition and interest in photography that existed in my parents went to my brother. He is an amazing photog. Here are the sad, small things I  have learned recently:

Lighting is important and frustrating. Underline and bold.
Something something light sensor something.  I don't know what I did to it but it worked.  If I am honest, I am not 100% light sensor is even the thing I am thinking of...I said I was learning slowly!
Modeling is not that enjoyable for me......ahh.
Reflective surfaces are pretty but DIFFICULT to photograph. I will only be using matte beads from now on.…kidding…mostly.

The good news is that once I fought back the tears that came after I calmed my rage ...something clicked and I figured it out and I learned something and I'm now feeling hopeful.   Let's hope I retain it.....any of it...

While I get my stuff together so I can tell you what's actually going on around here...here are a few pictures.

I'm not on drugs. I'm just in love.

I had to slow my roll on re-reading the books because...inspiration struck.  Big time.  I have been making jewelry.  I wish there were more free hours in the day so I could sew and make jewelry..and do all the house projects I want to do...alas....

Jewelry is harder to photograph for this novice photographer so I have to wait for some help....probably this weekend.  I can provide a sneak peek on what has been happening and let you know what music is keeping me going.

I used to think I could do anything while the TV is on.  Something happened.  Kids happened.  It's just such a luxury to be able to focus on only one thing.  If the TV is on at night, I am a vegetable.

Instead of trying to problem solve why I wasn't doing anything creative for a long time I just forced myself to power through while watching TV but there was nothing but disappointment.  It was taking me forever to get things done.  The quality was poor.  I had to correct a lot of mistakes...I HATE SEAM RIPPING! 

I struck gold a few months ago when I heard The 1975 on the radio and wanted to hear the rest of their album.  I played that thing on repeat for....well...I still play it on repeat.  Suddenly I was pumping out quality projects and my head had the mental silence it needed to come up with new ideas.  It was amazing.  It is amazing.

This week I have been listening to:

Banks - her album just came out and....I can't stop listening to it.  My favorite song is Change.

Tove Lo - especially Not On Drugs

The 1975 -  fav songs are The City and Robbers

Do you watch TV, listen to music, or prefer silence when you work/make?

Today's stack.

Creative update.

Oh blog...I miss you.  We have been getting settled in here in GA.  It has been slow going in the creativity department.  Lately, though, I have started flexing those muscles again.  Here are some creative projects I have been able to complete.... Yay for having time to complete some things... I plan to blog more details about some of these but here is a quick run down.

Whit turned two.  This picture, taken just at the beginning of setting the food out, shows the table runner I made.  I made everything from the star stencil used for the design to sewing the ric rac on.  Complicated stuff? No.  Very fun and mindless...YES!

This isn't exactly creative but man is it beautiful and inspiring.  I took a little birthday trip...mine...not Whit's....to Atlanta to meet up with my college BFF.  This temple is the Baps Shri Swaminarayan Mandir located just outside Atlanta....of all places!  It is incredible.  It is made entirely of intricately carved white stone...inside and out.  I am so glad we made the last minute decision to check it out.  It is located next to a Walgreens and across the street from a Publix.  Totally fits in.

Polymer clay beads.  This was the most fun craft I have done with my kids.  I like this stuff because it is gluten free and we can bake it and keep our creations forever....unlike Play Doh which stinks, has gluten, and we can't keep our awesome creations.  

The clay craft all began when B lost one of his favorite cars.  For some reason clay and this car came up together and B requested I make him a clay version.  I did.  When it came out of the oven he sadly realized that it wasn't going to bake itself into the actual toy.  Many tears followed.  

Dubbed the "Car Wash" by B.  It is a glorified sprinkler that we made to get the kids to stay outside.  They aren't fully used to this heat yet.  The car wash has really helped.

I painted our dining room chairs.  The best story I have from this project is I dunked my pony tail in the can of paint.  I got it out of my hair but the smell stayed in my nose for days.

This picture doesn't really do much for the project and who knows why that plaid tin is in the picture...toddlers.  I had some of these cheap cubes from Ikea.  The covers they came with were black but got bleached by the sun pretty quickly.  I have wanted to make new covers for a while...I am ashamed to say 2ish years...but haven't been inspired enough by any fabric to do it....until now.  They are wild but they look great under the sofa table.  You'll see.

I made some jewelry!  A wrap bracelet..

The one on the right... 

I played with a hammer and some wire.

More hammer and wire.  I was really just playing around one night.  At first I hated how the hearts turned out but I wear the bottom one with a few other stackable bracelets almost every day.

Pearl and gold wire chain and stone pendant.  I was going to put this up in Etsy...While I tried it on to show my mom, Whit got a funny look on her face and proceded to throw up...all over me...and the necklace.  Now the necklace is all mine.

Green pearl and gold chain with stone beads.

My first solo upholstery project.  Don't mind the styling. (styling..ha)  I bought those chairs at an auction for about 10 each and they are worth a few hundred!  I was the only bidder.  Can't beat that.

And finally, I painted my chandelier purple.  There are those dining chairs pre-paint.

And that's what I have been up to!  See you sooner rather than later! Blogging muscles..officially flexed.

Breaking the silence.

This is too good not to pass on.

I saw it on The Southern Eclectic (one of my fav blogs) but I am not sure where it originates from.  Although it is hard to find a feature of this necklace I do not like, the way the casings don't fit the stones exactly is the best part in my opinion.

Made it: Paint Drip Bangle

I have said this before.  I will say it again.  I love paint drips.  Don't know why.  

  

I was brainstorming ideas for my Mom's Christmas gift.  I knew I wanted to make her a set of bangles.  For months I have had this idea in my head.  Paint drips on a bangle.  It is one of those ideas that plants itself in your brain and grows roots.  I kept brainstorming because I thought there is no way my mom will wear it.  After brainstorming some perfectly good ideas that I was just not interested in trying I remembered some advice I once got about buying flowers for people....buy them what you would want to receive.  I can't remember why or when or from who I got this advice but it has made flower buying more meaningful and fun.

I make jewelry.  Everyone that I love knows that I make jewelry.  Isn't it more special to give them something that is "me" rather than making something I think they will like?  It's giving them a part of me rather than just giving them something I can make.

So those are the two I came up with.  The paint drips are rebellious and somewhat organic while the thin bangle is more militaristic and organized.  I didn't strive for those qualities to be represented but it is funny to me that they are what came out because they represent my mom.  My mom has a rebellious streak in her that you can see in her fashion or decor...standing up for what she thinks is right.  At the same time she is a hard ass mother.  I am pretty sure I stayed out of trouble growing up because my Mom scared the crap out of me..in a loving way.  Love you, Mom!

Made it: Colorful necklace

I have wanted to make this necklace for a long time.  It took me forever to decide how I wanted to go about making it.  Then I got the materials.  Then they sat forever. Then I strung it.  Then I decided I wanted to go about it differently...so it sat for a while.  Then I restrung it.  Then...I finally finished it. 

I realllly like this necklace.  Lots of color.  I think I will be keeping this necklace rather than gifting it or selling it.  

Sean's comment about it was, "That's different than what you usually make." Thanks.  Sure is.  It's symmetrical...is what he meant...I think.

Because I find inspiration interesting...here is what inspired this necklace.

PAINT dipped.  If I could figure out how to do a paint dipped chain necklace.  I would.  So cool. 

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Want: Earrings

I love the dresses on Shabby Apple...as I have mentioned before.  I was exploring their site again the other day..and I ventured into the accessories section.  Why I haven't before I do not know.  I found these.  I NEED these.  Need.  Neeeed.  Need.

They are just so happy.

These are also equally my second favorites.  

Can I justify buying these beautiful earrings that will probably be so tempting for my very grabby baby that I won't be able to wear them for quite a while?  Sad face.

Made It Monday: Bracelets

woven box chains

Until I have more than a few minutes at a time to work on things Made It Mondays will most likely be jewelry.

W is slowly able to go longer and longer between feedings.  She loves to eat.  My 6 week old is in 3-6 month onesies.  Is that normal?!  B was right on the money with sizes by age if not a little behind!

Anyway.  Here are two bracelets I made this weekend.  I used mason line and large box chains.  

Now this is what I am talking about

Those necklaces from yesterday that literally took trim and other notions and made necklaces.....not so much.  THIS IS WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT!

Diamond zippers.  Beautiful zippers.  I'm really not into diamonds but these are amazing.  Diamond lace....gem tassels.  Thank you, Van Cleef and Arpels.  Thank you for showing me that I must force myself to like the DIY versions of yesterday's post...b/c I will never ever be able to afford to wear a diamond zipper.

Would it be too much to ask for this for my 5 year anniversary this year?

How many years do I have to wait for diamonds??

60 years!!!???!!!

Ahh...Well, maybe by then we will be bazillionaires. 

A WOW and a What the...

Bottega Veneta via Style.com

I like things that "weird me out in a good way".  Like in this past post.  When I saw this necklace I felt equal parts awe and revulsion.  This necklace was like an optical illusion.  As a whole it seems quite beautiful but as my vision shifts to the see each part I'm no't quite sure what I am looking at anymore. As the beauty becomes confused I get goosebumps.

The color. It's all just a cold, unwelcoming gray.  Then, the gem shaped metal bits...what are they?  Metal?  That's my guess.  Then...the backing?  It looks like something from the ocean....but dead.  Would it be weird to say this necklace reminds me of the corpse of a necklace?  All in all I really like it but not because it is beautiful.

Then there are these:

WTF?

Akong via Style.com

 Speaking of WTF...I might think these are cooler if they were done as a DIY on HonestlyWTF.  Ha.

Akong

Akong

I'm just not sure.

Made it Monday: Jewelry

Having a young baby has made my time to work on projects both unpredictable and shorter in length.  It has been perfect for catching up on my jewelry projects which has kept the creativity flowing.  I don't know what it is like for you guys but I get more and better ideas if my creative muscles don't take a break.  Light workout include working on ideas in a journal that I carry with me everywhere.  Heavy workouts are actually carrying out those ideas.

I got the Jewelry for Joey pendants done.  I posted about the Jewelry for Joey earrings last Monday.  The pendant is very similar.  The pearl and bead are larger and the green bead is a different shape.  It is $10 and all proceeds go to the Howell family.

The pendant hangs from two braids and two chains.

These are two necklaces I added to my Etsy shop.  The top necklace is extremely long.  The bottom necklace is a conservative length.  For details go here.

I didn't post much last week.  It is strange how you can miss a blog.  Every alone moment I had last week was used to recover from the terrible twos taking over my house.  This week, as long as the terrible twos allow it, I will be posting regularly again.