Etsy Update

Finally I am getting around to updating my Etsy site. It takes a lot of work or should I say concentration and lately that is fleeting due to this new found affliction called pregnancy brain:)
I listed new jewelry last night and I did some more tonight. Tomorrow is a new day and I am positive more will show up as well.

Baby boy revealed:)

My hubby and I are officially 25 weeks pregnant and we recently found out that we are having a little boy!! We wanted to tell our whole family in a special way so we got our local Publix to bake us a cake and in the center was the color blue or pink. In our case blue.
We had the two grandmother's, to be, cut into the cake to reveal the sex. How fun when the room erupted into laughter, tears, and shock. Blue it is. And the consensus before the reveal was a girl. So those were the shocked people. It was so much fun!! We are so excited to start this next chapter in out lives. It has been a long time coming and we are so happy:)

Inspiration vs. Theft

O.k.! I have to rant for a second so bear with me.
Today I went to a really well known festival and came across lots of jewelry designers that share my same aesthetic in jewelry making. Even though they use vintage components in their jewelry they each had their own style in how they created and presented their pieces.
I then turned the corner and was hit in the face with my own designs staring back at me. My signature style of jewelry design had been pirated. Felt a little like identity theft and it was sitting on someone else's table. Her and I were at the same festival earlier this year and our stuff was very different, until today. This bothered me to the core. This was personal and I couldn't believe how similar in construction she copied my pieces. I think that was the hardest to handle. No twist of her own just straight up copying.
This is where the question comes in to play; when does being inspired by someone turn into theft?
I am inspired everyday by so many things but you find inspiration and make it your own.
Jewelry is tricky because it is fair game. You can't protect it but you can put your own artistic eye and love into it to make it unique. Make it YOU!!!
This is why I blog. I just had to write this frustrating moment down so that I can get over how angry and disappointed I feel.

Fall and Rainbows in Clarkesville Georgia

My favorite parts of Fall are the leaves changing, the way the sun casts shadows differently in the house, and the excitement of the holidays coming.
My hubby and I also love taking road trips and so this past weekend we drove up to the North Georgia Mountains and came across this really beautiful town outside of Helen called Clarkesville.
We past the center of town and ended up on a side street right outside the square. That is when the window art of bumbleberry caught my eye. We had to go in and explore further.
We walked in and there was the cutest cut out wooden trees, cards, local art and then the color of the rainbow taunts you to the back of the store. Rows and rows of the most beautiful/colorful yarn. I had to take pictures. So I was lucky enough to have met Bonnie, the owner, and she said to go for it. Yaaay, now I could share bumbleberry with all of you. If your ever in the area their address is 1345 Washington Street Clarkesville , Georgia. Their e-mail address is bumbleberry@windstream.net Check them out.

Buttons and Buckles for a rainy day

Since it is pouring down rain in my neck of the woods. I have a fun project for such a day.
I love vintage buttons and buckles. So I decided to marry the two together to make a wearable piece of art.
What you will need are some lovely buttons, an old buckle, strong glue that adheres to plastic, jump rings, and some chain and you to can make your own personalized button/buckle necklace. Lay them out however you would like and just glue. Make sure you glue a 4 hole button to the back of the buckle so that your jump rings can go through to attach your chain. I just love them!! Have fun:)

My visit with Jane

It has been 11 years since I last visited London. This time around was just as enchanting as the first time. I knew right away that I had to visit a tiny town 45 minutes outside of London called Chawton in Alton, Hants. This is the place where Jane Austen called home for the last 8 years of her life. Where she experienced life and then wrote about it. I cannot even explain in words how much this particular visit excited me.
When my sister and I arrived, I could hardly contain myself. We asked the cabby who was outside the train station to please take us to Jane Austen's house. He replied jokingly, "I will take you to Jane's house but she ain't home". But something told me she was there in so many ways. Ten minutes later we were dropped off in front of the most enchanting brick building that was being hugged by beautifully colored flowers.
We walked in and were immediately greeted by the loveliest two ladies who were just as excited to see us as we were to be there. Into her home we went. Into her life where she watched society and its "follies and inconsistencies" with a fine eye.
When I saw Jane's writing table and chair I was silenced to just stand there and envision her creating her characters one heroin at a time. So unbelievable. But the more I was in the house the more I felt a peace and a sense of calm. She was happy here with her mother and sister, Cassandra.
I think I could have stayed there all day. But I took my last moments in the garden and realized I had just experienced one of those moments you check off your life long list of things to do. This was a big one.
"Follies and nonsense, whims and inconsistencies do divert me I own, and I laugh at them whenever I can" Jane Austen

Sneek Peak to ShakeRag Arts and Crafts Festival

Fun vintage button rings
dainty vintage charms

vintage lucite from the 50s just yummy
Canceled old stamps encased in glass


I always get so excited when Fall Festival season rolls around. Especially Shakerag Arts and Crafts Fest right here in my hometown, Peachtree City, Ga.
I remember attending it as a child and now this is my third year with my own booth. Last year was such a blast and I got to recruit and be next to my creative gal pal Tiffin with Linwood Avenue.
So many talented artists participate and it just makes you believe that the spirit of art is alive and thriving.
I have been MIA for a while because I made the decision, a leap of faith, to leave my job and do jewelry full time. I couldn't be happier. I feel like if you put something you love to do, want, dream about, into the universe it will listen and you will be richer for it.
I keep a promise to myself not to let a job define me. I define myself and who I am by kindness, love, and a full creative heart.
Funny how my entries seem to always turn into deep thoughts with JoyAnn:) I just get so inspired. Can't help it. I hope this fall season finds you inspired.

Breathe

Alright the creative juices are starting to flow again. I am feeling I need to get my butt in gear for Shakerag which is Sept. 19 and 20. But, I will blog more about that soon to come.
I just listed some jewelry on etsy and I am hoping to get some more listed tomorrow. My goal is to try to list up to 5 pieces a day.

Lots of changes going on right now and I am again regrouping but in a really good way. I recently found my old journal from highschool/college. It is so funny how my old self was telling my future self to breathe. Some advice I think I was searching for. So funny how you can be that person then and this person now. I do love it though. So often we forget that we were once a certain way and then we grew like flowers into the person we are today. Always growing. Happy Monday!!!

Unbalanced

You now those moments in life you have no control over. Like when your neighbors tree decides to fall in your yard and skewer your pool. That would be that moment for us. May 3 we had a bad Georgia storm and in an instance it happened. According to the insurance company if the tree is viable and not diseased it is considered an act of God and the neighbor is not responsible. NOT FAIR! But here we are two months later and we have decided to house rogue tranformers in a hole that was once our pool (my husbands idea).
I think the sarcasm comes from an unbalance I feel. I am a Libra and balance is super important to me. Especially for my creativity. I feel like ever since this happened my creativity has been null and void. This frustrates me to know end. Why must this control my ability to make jewelry. No clue but it just does. It could have been a lot worse and I know this. So, I think that is why we are able to joke about it now. But, still I want my pool back and my creativity!!!

junkin finds

Lately all i want to do is plant, plant, plant. On a recent yard sale jaunt with some of my junkin gal pals i found this fantastic plant stand. I also came across these charming metal containers. I think i was inspired by all the beautiful landscaping in the frog hollow area of east point. Charming houses with charming gardens.

the 70s are still alive

Today, I visited my favorite Goodwill store and found a fabulous sparkly top straight out of Studio 54. You know when you find something but your like "when am I ever going to wear this?" This butterfly top is one of those things. But, I just could not leave it there, I had to buy it. I only spent $2 so that helped with the decision not to leave it. I know a time will arise where I will adorn this sexy hot top and dance my butt off.

Happy to be "Beyond The Door"

If you haven't had a chance to check out Senoia Georgia, it should be on your list of places to visit. Recently this small town underwent a beautiful face lift. The town is filled with lots of history, beutiful homes, unique stores, and yummy restaurants.
I met Ann Busey recently at an art show. She invited me to visit her store in Senoia named Beyond The Door. She was so kind to carry some of my jewelry in her lovely shop. She has so many unique hand made pieces. Art, Jewelry, and so much more. The builiding her shop resides in used to be the old hardware store. So it has beautiful esposed brick and it feels like if the walls could talk they would tell the best stories.

Happy Easter

My earliest memories of Easter are waking up and looking towards the foot of my bed and seeing my Easter Basket. My mom did this every year until I went to college;) I couldn't help but look this morning out of nostalgia! I did however get a cute lamb from my hubby.
I hope your Easter is filled with fond memories and fun times.

Thanks Dayna At Be-Teen

I was recently introduced to Dayna Davis by my good friend Leigh. Dayna and her friend Allison Firestone have created www.be-teen.com a wonderful web site for teens through their masters program at UC Berkeley’s School of Journalism. The site is all about empowering young woman to be unique and true to themselves. It was an honor when Dayna asked if she could interview me regarding joyajewely for her site. Check out my interview at www.be-teen.com
Thanks Dayna for letting me be a part of such a wonderful place where young woman can go to be inspired.