Fail...

Okay... so between work and almost taking off three of my fingers today, I haven't created anything these last two days... I'm doing great at this whole getting creative/ actually making jewelry thing... Tomorrow is a new day though! Hopefully I won't have any mishaps... I'm starting to think I should have started this whole thing after the Holiday Season...

Random Thought

Okay, so i just discovered that this book came out on December 9th. I feel like it was kind of a sign when I spotted it on the shelf in the craft section of Borders. I know I'm ranting about this book, but I really feel like it's going to help me/ has already started working its magic on me. Alright, more later...

Day 2

Okay, so I haven't created anything today. I'm starting to learn that its not so much as following everything in this book, they are more like guidelines, but to actually get motivated to create something once a day. I can however post something that I finished this morning. I think for awhile you are going to be seeing a lot of similar creations, but I am also going to do my best to do others as well. So, here is what I finished up this morning, It is fine silver with a 23k gold keum boo rat, as well as a cleaver/butcher knife. I will have bunnies with guns soon too, maybe sheep with shears? The good thing is I have a lot of ideas right now, just have to find the motivation and time to do it all. Maybe a change of environment is in need? Okay, I shall post later.

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Day 1 Cont.

Okay so Day 1: Start small and create something that fits in your palm, using materials in your immediate vicinity.
So, here is what I created today. I don't know why I've been upset with rats lately but I have. Here are a few simple pendants and earrings that I made today following the guidelines from my new creativity journal "A Daily Creativity Journal 365: Make Something EveryDay and Change Your Life" By Noah Scalin. This is exactly what I needed to guide me back to creativity. I know my current creations are pretty simpel, but I have the tendency to over think designs and concepts and then I never get anything done, so sometimes simple is better. I have also started some keum boo pendants, once finished I will post them here and will be starting an etsy site soon, yay, for getting my life back together. Ha. I'm starting to feel good and am getting all sorts of jewelry ideas, so hopefully soon there will be lots more to come! Yay for Day 1!

Day 1

Okay dudes and dudettes. Today is Day 1 of me getting my butt in gear and getting back into creative mode. A little side note, after graduation I was super motivated and had so many ideas in mind and decided to cool off a bit, you know I had just graduated, I deserved a break, right? Well, here I am now, 6 months later and I haven't accomplished a thing! So, today is the day. Get ready for some pictures later, because I know how excited all you bloggers are to see what I will accomplish today! Ha.

Okay, so my earlier blog post was a little depressing, so, I decided to post something inspirational! Like I said earlier I made a trip to Borders today! As well as Half Priced books, which by the way is a great store! I needed a pick me up and I found some great books! I found some new books on the ocean and new jewelry books which I'm really really excited about. The book that I'm most looking forward in reading/actively participating in, is the book in the middle of the jewelry books/ocean posts. It is a journal in which you do a craft a day. Or should i say a craft for 365 days... I have a feeling that I might not be able to do it everyday... But anyways, I hope to follow this journal and see what jewelry and or craft by using the helpful tips and guidelines the book lays out for me! I will then post my lovely crafts on this blog so that all my lovely followers or lack of followers will be able to see a glimpse into my creative process. I can't tell you how excited I was when I found this book on the shelf! Get ready to get creative!!!!


The second sets of books I've posted are travel books, clearly. My family is planning a trip in the summer and i get the lucky job of job of planning said trip. I also hope that maybe I will be able to move to one of these lovely places at least for a little while. I have to the urge to travel and the need for new environments. We shall see.

Lost

Ever since graduation I've felt lost. I feel like I'm stumbling through life right now. I had gotten the jobs that I had wanted when I got home, but they haven't worked out the way I had hoped. Deciding to work for Allison again was a big disaster! Her business is dying and her personal life drama has affected it immensely. So working for her, well, has been a big disappointment. At least I have the jump ring maker position to fall back on, which is mindless, but at least I'm making some money. I also recently took up a job at the Kidney Cancer Association... Okay yes, not jewelry related, but it's a charity and I only work there 4 hours a week, plus it definitely helps with my dreadful student loans! I've applied for an internship and am just playing the waiting game right now... so, life after graduation has been kind of not how I thought it would be. I used to be so motivated and so inspired. Now I can hardly get myself to sit at my work bench and create. I get so many ideas and get so excited, but when it comes down to it I can't get myself to produce too much. Maybe coming home was a bad idea, but at the time, it seemed like the right decision. After being gone for four years from my family. But now that it is winter time here in Illinois, i remember why I chose to go to school in the south... Well, enough depressing talk... In a month I will be taking classes again at the local art studio, so hopefully that will help my motivation. Also I am going to borders today and maybe i can find a book on squids or some other inspiring thing and maybe it will click! cross your fingers!

Wow, long time no blog...

Cross your Phalanges part 2!

Kendal and I applied for Art Vs. Craft, we didn't get into renegade handmade, so lets hope we get into art vs. craft! If there is a craft god, please please please help us out! IN THE NAME OF ART HELP US GET IN!

Cross your Phalanges!

Cross your fingers for Kendal and I because tonight I sent in our app for the renegade handmade craft show in the beautiful city of Chicago!!! I'm so excited, I really hope we are accepted! We find out next week, June 18th, two days after my b-day. Hopefully this year it will be a good one with the acceptance into the craft show! I don't think I've ever been so excited to do a craft show, I've been doing them since my sophomore year in highschool... and I can't be more excited for this! PLEASE JEWELRY GODS GET US INTO THIS SHOW! Thanks, love Steph

Renegade Handmade

Off to meet up with Kendal to talk about the Renegade Handmade show! Hope our App gets accepted!

Updated Website

Hey guys, I updated my website, you should check it out and leave a comment for me!!! Let me know what you think!

Renegade Handmade

This Kendal and I were thinking about applying for the Renegade Handmade craft show in Chicago. She sent me this great link on what to do, Enjoy!
http://blog.create-some-buzz.com/2010/05/18/14-tips-to-increase-your-craft-show-sales/

Florida or Chicago?!

So, I've had a lot on my mind recently. I've been trying to get through finals and figure out what to do with myself after graduation. I have currently made plans to head back home and work for Allison Schiller Designs, as well as participate in Summer craft shows. The other day, I was approached by the head of the department and she recommended me for a bench jewelers position for Spectore, in Deerfield Beach, Florida. Now this sounds like a great opportunity. I'm torn as to what to do in this situation. Part of me is really excited, I'm thrilled that I was recommended to begin with, and this would be a great learning opportunity and experience. However, I'm not sure if I'm ready to make the big leap and move to a new state. I was hoping to spend time with my family this Summer and explore the city of Chicago. I guess I just need to start making a list of the pros and cons and figure it out. Hopefully I will make the right decision!

Make Your Own Ear Wire

Look at this useful Youtube video on how to make your own ear wire. I know sometimes the simple things might scare you, but after watching this video you will never have to scared of making ear wires again! Its so easy!

Hello Michigan, here I come?

Alright, back to seriousness. I've been contemplating grad school for awhile now, and I think I have found one I'd Really enjoy. It is called Cranbrook Academy of Art. I feel like Cranbrook would be a refreshing environment. After my four years at SCAD, I need a change and I think Cranbrook, seems like a good environment to continue my studies.

Glamour Your Cross!

So, this afternoon I was informed that I will be making jewelry for my roommate for the rest of my life. She informed me that I will most likely be making something for her children's first communions and other special events. So, not having grown up around many crosses, I decided to do some research on how to make a cross look good, I found this hilarious video on how to glamour your cross! One day if you see blinged out crosses all over America, you can blame me!

Companion Suckling Cat Video

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Website

Hey Everybody In Blog land, I've started making a website to really showcase my work! You should check it out and let me know what you think. I will post some photos here so you can get an idea what I do.

http://www.stephanieannedesigns.weebly.com/

Distractions

Everything has been distracting me lately from getting my work done. The bad thing about having to do work on the computer are the distractions of the internet. No matter how much I try to avoid the internet whilst doing work, I always wind up having to use it at some point. Whether it is to check blackboard for assignments or grades, or to look up artists of influence to help me out, no matter what, I get distracted. For example, I'm in the middle of trying to write my bibliography for my presentation packet, I look up online other artists or students who have graduated before me so I can get an idea of what I should write, then I wind up look at their websites for minutes even hours and I look at my bibliography and it is at the same place I had left it. Like write now. My bibliography has changed slightly, I keep deleting and retyping and I feel like I'm getting nowhere with it.

Also, my apartment is quite toasty. Resting the computer on my lap probably doesn't help, because it definitely increases the heat in the room. Its not the internet or the heat that has been distracting me the most lately, its my kitty cat.

I haven't had much time to spend with her due to work and I'm loving that I can actually spend some time with my fur ball of joy. She is a great distraction, but a distraction none the least. She jumps at every little noise and has the most curious personality. She is a little trouble maker. My roommate has two male cats and out of the three them my little girl really know how to misbehave. She picks the fights and shows the boys whose boss. She also destroys all the toilet paper and paper towels within her reach. Now I'm not trying to give you the impression that she is a terror. She is quite tame and actually hates to be picked up. Her motor is constantly running and truly is the sweetest happiest cat. Unless your another cat picking a fight.


There we go fifteen minutes of ranting. Hopefully now that I got all this off my chest I can get some work done and not be distracted... Wish me luck! I need to get this work done so I can graduate!!!

All I Wanna do is Blog

Imagine some catchy 80s tune when you read the title.

Maybe this whole blog thing was a bad idea. I never realized how much I relied on technology until recently. With the popular of Facebook, Twitter, and Blogging, I have really joined the band wagon. They are all advertised as being ways to connect with people. Yes I think these new technologies are great, but I've started to become dependent on them. Its been over a full day since I started this blog and I've already posted 7-8 times, and started a few others that will not see the day of light. Every time I get to the computer I can't wait to see if I have any new followers.

I know that as part of our class assignment we had to create a website, blog, or a combination of the two, but now that I have started I know that I'm probably going to continue with the upkeep of this blog. I just hope those who follow enjoy what I have to say and will continue following for years to come.

This Blog has sucked me in. I'd rather be blogging than doing the work I need to do. I have a serious lack of motivation right now. I guess being a Senior in your final quarter of College will do that you. I really need a good swift kick to the butt to get me through these last few weeks!

P.S. I'm getting my edited photographs from my photographer tonight! Super Excited to see what he did to my photos, maybe that is the motivation I need to get my butt in gear.

Sent an e-mail to Allison last night, she can't wait to have me back. Its a comfort to know that I have a job when I get back home and that it deals with my field. Its not what I hope to do for the rest of my life, but at least its a foot in the door. Something to look forward to.

My roommate just asked my friend "so, how does it feel to be done with school in three weeks?" My reaction "AHHHHHHH". I guess, the one good thing about going back home is not having to find work immediately. Should be working for the Allison Schiller, a local jewelry designer, who I have been working for about a year and a half now. Its nice to know when your employer appreciates your work, can't wait to get back home and see the new office space she got! We had been working out of her house previously. Something to look forward to.

http://allisonschiller.com/index.html

Renegade Handmade

Before I forget, my friend and fellow classmate, Kendal and I plan on applying for the Renegade Handmade craft show that will be in Chicago in September!

Check it!

http://www.renegadehandmade.com/

I know I said I wouldn't blog again until later, but I'm so excited that I have a follower! Thanks Kendall!

Chicago Vs. Savannah

I'm taking an architecture history class right now and for my paper that I have to write, I chose to write about the Marshall Field Wholesale Store, which if your from Chicago you know Marshall Field's is kind of a big deal. Unfortunately both the Wholesale Store and the company have been demolished and bought out. The Wholesale Store was replaced in 1930 by the now famous Merchandise Mart on Michigan Ave, where all the big stores sell their items wholesale. Not only is the Merchandise Mart used for stores, but jewelers as well as well as housing many diamond dealers. My favorite part of the Merchandise Mart are the different exhibition/shows they have every year such as The One of a Kind Show. Now, I've gotten on kind of a tangent. Now, that I'm ending my time here at SCAD, I've realized how much I appreciate it. I chose to SCAD not only for my major, but for the history as well. Savannah and Chicago are very much alike and actually have many historic ties. What I have come to appreciate about Savannah is the preservation of buildings. While I've been attempting to do research about the Marshall Field Wholesale Store, I've come to notice that Chicago has this bigger, better, mentality. We tear buildings or houses down, to make something even bigger and hopefully better. Which has its ups and downs, but what is great about Savannah is that they actually preserve their old buildings and reuse them, by giving them a new life and purpose.

I suppose I've gone on many tangents here, but while doing research I have come to realize how much I'm going to miss Savannah, yet how much more there is to learn about the great city in which I'm from. I hope I find my way back down the South to revisit these college memories and learn more about this town that I didn't have time to learn from, while being here these four crazy years.

I guess I should get back to researching and finals. I will post jewelry soon!!!

Enjoy!

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

This is new

Umm, so this is my first post... new to this whole thing, but I think I will enjoy this. I have to figure out how to change all the settings, but at least I have something up and running, right? Alright, well, I shall write more later once I figure all this out...