Focusing on Life: Take Time Your Yourself (3/52 Photos)

This one may be the hardest yet. I have three kids and a husband. I do not get alone time. I try to bead something every night. It does not always work out that way. Usually when I sit down I am to exhausted to do anything. Or I am in a creative slump. So to grab time to relax is very hard to do. So as I sit down to start this blog post I am whirring ideas around in my head to see what I can actually accomplish.


So here I am Saturday Morning and have not had the time to slow down and take time for myself. The top post was started earlier in this week. Yesterday I had to run Mark to the ER, he has gout in his left foot. Then it was off to take my daughter, Mya to her first therapy session. Came home and rounded the family up for dinner and dishes, laundry, and then of to bed not one, not two but three times for the boys. By the end of the day, I was to tired to do anything and had lost my light.. I did make two set of earrings, photographed one in the bad lighting of my studio. 

These will be rephotographed and added to my etsy later. So on to what I will do for myself today. I will get my house cleaned, we have company coming tomorrow, And I will clean my studio. I shall be back with a followup post that will show what I actually did.

Handmade Componets.

I am not by far the best handmade jewelry designer. I am not exactly new at it, I have had beads in my possession for nearly 10 years. I got serious about jewelry making when I met my Husband, four years ago. He poured money in to "my" company and still stands beside me with support. I am steadily working on a way to store my jewelry and beads/supplies.

But this post is about making components yourself. I have always admired artist who made their own components. And wished I would follow them in  their knowledge. A new friend Patti Vanderbloemen mailed me a few directions on making simple components. And I made a pair of ear wires. She also suggested that I look for free E-courses online and last night I finally did. With my copper wire and basic tools, plus a bail making pliers. I sat on my uncomfortable couch and watched videos. After the first run, I restarted and followed along. My first attempts were a bit wonky and rustic looking. But after awhile I managed to crank out some decent looking clasps. I even embellished a few with crystals and glass pearls.

I made a few with out watching videos and them the ideas started flowing. I am again nowhere near being able to do anything fancy with wire wrapping. But I am pleased with my work. And will use my new clasps, and continue to hone my wiring skills. 

Below you can see my various clasps. :)

All I need to do is hammer them.

Resources: The following websites are where I found the videos. If you know of anymore, please let me know. :)

Beaducation and Beadaholique,