Happy Dance!!

Yay!! The verdict came in while I was at work and I should receive my settlement within a few weeks! I spent the day celebrating with my co-workers...lots of group hugs and then on the phone with all of my loved ones...all of us were crying tears of joy! I'm so ecstatic and so very thankful and I have so many more emotions running through me that I can't even explain! All I know is that it's over...and I finally...finally feel like I have closure!

*Happy Dance*

The Waiting Game

Well it was a long day yesterday and Arbitration seemed to last forever, but it's done. Now we're just waiting on to see how the 3 arbitrators decide. It could be another week because of spring break.

The whole arbitration process was very surreal, lasting 8 hours. The most difficult part was having people talk about me as if I didn't exist all the while I was sitting right there. Often the words spoken were harsh, but I didn't show any emotion. I couldn't for some reason...until today. Replaying it in my head today, I broke down. I'm exhausted. I thought I would feel closure with my part being done, but I don't. Maybe after they come back with their decision I'll feel it....I sure hope so.

I'm off to take a nap in hopes that I can regain some much needed energy. I'll be sure to post the results later.

Almost to 300

Wow...I can't believe that I'm just one sale away from reaching 300 *Happy Dance*

So now I'm thinking of a free gift to go with that sale....hmm...maybe a pair of the Itty Bitty Rustic Hoops?



Or...maybe a pair of stud earrings...I don't offer the stud earrings in my store, so that might be a little nice surprise. I guess I'll just wait for the sale and ask my customer then...hehe


I'm not sure what my 2nd year anniversary goal will be....I think I'll just be content with reaching each 100 sales milestone! A huge thank you to my customers, friends and to my dearest Etsy friends.....thanks for being with me every step of the way! Hehe...it almost sounds as if I'm receiving some sort of award...honestly this feels better than that and couldn't have come at a better time :)

Better Today and Something New

I'm feeling better today...frazzled but a bit more pulled together. At least my emotions are in check for the time being. Thank you for your well wishes and especially for the Tiger's Eye idea...I have been racking my brain on what stone to carry with me, and I hadn't been able to decide.

I even gathered myself together enough to make a new pair of earrings. I have to admit that I don't really want to part with these, and while the war goes on within myself over them I will keep them listed in my store...but if I have my way I may end up pulling them before the weeks out :)

They're inspired by both the saga Twilight (I just read the whole series last week) and by the poem Into The Twilight by William Butler Yeats. I've used London Blue Topaz gemstones and naturally oxidized (using the egg method) Sterling Silver hoops to create these earrings.

~Enjoy...and again thank you!

Frayed

With my upcoming arbitration this Thursday, I find myself scattered. My emotions are everywhere, my stomach is in a constant knot and my nerves are completely frayed. I thought I was more prepared emotionally, but it would seem otherwise.

It's been exactly 4 1/2 years today. Who would've thought that a hit and run accident would impact my life so. I personally feel like I've come a long ways. Especially when it comes to my emotions, to my mind. I can live with the pain, it's just a fact of life that has come to be, but my emotions have wreaked havoc on my family and myself over these last years. It has been an emotional roller coaster that seemed to have evened out over this last year, as I put the tools that I've learned to work. But now....I feel like I'm at the beginning again....that I'm shattered and pieces of me are everywhere and I'm scrambling to put myself back together again. Reminding myself of the nursery rhyme Humpty Dumpty.

How do you convince a complete stranger that you're in pain? How would they know if they don't live with you, if they haven't been there to see the before and after, or if they've never experienced this pain themselves?

Whatever the outcome...whatever happens on Thursday, this particular part of my life will be over. I will move on to the next chapter and I'm looking forward to what the future holds.

Sitting here deep in thought, I hear the powerful gusts of wind against the trees behind me....I think I'll go outside for a bit to allow the wind to sooth my raw nerves...to help bring me back to center again.

The Dear Little Shamrock

by Andrew Cherry

There's a dear little plant that grows in Ireland.
'Twas Saint Patrick himself sure that set it.
And the sun on his labor with pleasure did smile.
And a tear from his eyes oft-times wet it.
It grows thro' the bog, thro' the brake, and the mireland,
And it's called the dear little Shamrock of Ireland.

That dear little plant still grows in our land,
Fresh and fair as the daughters of Erin,
Whose smiles can bewitch, and whose eyes can command,
In each climate they ever appear in:
For they shine thro' the bog, thro' the brake, and the mireland,
Just like their own dear little Shamrock of Ireland.

That dear little plant that springs from our soil,
When its three little leaves are extended,
Denotes from the stalk we together should toil,
And ourselves by ourselves be befriended.
And still thro' the bog, thro' the brake, and the mireland,
From one root should branch, like the Shamrock of Ireland.

With this little poem in mind, I set out last night to make some shamrocks/clovers out of fine silver. At first I made one out of sterling silver with a wire wrapped stem, but it wasn't exactly what I was aiming for....so I'll be keeping that one for myself :) That's just another perk of making jewelry! Below is what the final product looks like, and I've paired it with a faceted green Opal heart briolette.

Well I just received my PMC books in the mail...so I'm off to lose myself in the creativity found in those many pages :)

Ohh.....This So Made My Day!

My muscle spasms have ceased a little, at least I'm able to sit here for a bit to write another post.

~ Lisa, thank you so much for your lovely compliments and well wishes! Hugs to you my dear :)

Okay....so I go to check my mail and a package is there waiting for me....I know what it is and with excitement I tear open the package! In a beautiful box is a treasure that I couldn't wait to put on my finger :) It's the lovely ring below made by Debora of BeadinByTheSea , a dear Etsy friend who kindly made this with me in mind and gave me the opportunity to purchase it from her! I don't often get to splurge on myself but this was an absolute must have!! It couldn't have arrived at a better time...it completely brightened my day! Thank you so much Debora for creating such a beautiful, earthy, and just an all around stunning ring....I'm so happy :)

Just A Quickie....

It's been a bad day for pain, so I'm going to lay back down again, but I wanted to post these earrings first. I made them last night and was able to grab a few quick photos of them. I'll be back later after some icing and heating....bleh!

Earrings....Gotta Love 'Em

I love jewelry, especially earrings. There's something so very feminine about them, whether they're short or long, simple or adorned with gemstones....they really are the perfect addition to finish off your look. While making a pair of earrings or any type of jewelry for that matter, I normally make myself a pair too. Mostly to test the style...see how they wear, but also because I can't help myself :)

Below are a couple of pieces that I made today to list and no need to ask...I made myself a pair of each of these..hehe

I made a Peridot set to sell and a Garnet set for myself...it's my birthstone and it had to be done!

For these earrings I made myself a very small pair and a 2" pair as I tend to like big earrings. The pair pictured are comparable in size to my Large Rustic Hoops also sold in my store.

I'll be ordering some PMC (Precious Metal Clay) soon, and can't wait to start working with this medium. I have so many ideas and sketches that I'm looking forward to making. I was going to order some this weekend, but I've decided to wait just a bit to allow myself to gain more knowledge about working with it. Oh, I so love the creative outlet that jewelry has given me!

New and Discontinued...the verdict is still out

Here's a couple of new earrings that I've added to my store today. With any luck and time allowing I'll be adding a couple more tomorrow as well. These are just really simple designs that can be worn everyday and with any outfit.





Now on to the discontinued subject. I love this pendant below and made the originals 4 years ago for my best friend and myself. I've sold quite a few of these, but I'm considering not selling these anymore or at least for the time being. It's one of the few pieces along with the meditation/prayer beads that I carry in which I put a lot of my healing thoughts and energy into. It really is about focusing on the metaphysical properties of the stones and while creating sending that intent into that particular piece. I really enjoy making these pieces but find with my time constraint that I can't dedicate the energy that I want to....or that I feel needs to be dedicated to them. I've just sold my last Chakra pendant today and I only have 1 Meditation/Prayer beads left, and more than likely will not relist either one of these until I've figured out a solution. Maybe it's as simple as better time management...I'm not sure, but I'll let you know when I've figured it out!