Accessories Hair Clips Jewelry and Art by jewel4u on Etsy

Finished a few Breast Cancer Awareness necklaces and loaded them into my shop.

Accessories Hair Clips Jewelry and Art by jewel4u on Etsy.

Weekend – Return Please!

Do you ever have a weekend that you would just like to return or exchange for a new one?  I’m sorry this doesn’t work for me, I’d like to return it. Yes, I still want a weekend, I just want to exchange this one for a different one. Your return policy?  I realize it’s past the 30 days, but it’s taken 30 days to fit in time to do this exchange.  Surely, some of you can relate.

Between cleaning out the girlie’s room (sorting every piece of clothing – some since birth), then converting her crib to a toddler bed (you know this involves a complete rearrange of furniture – multiple times), followed by a trip to the emergency room – I need a break. Just when exhaustion is overwhelming, let’s start a new week!  Since God only gives us what we can handle, I’m spending some time reminding Him of my threshold just in case He forgot.  

View Bookmarks by jewel4u on Etsy

Finished a small collection of bookmarks.  A Perfect Mom’s Gift!

View Bookmarks by jewel4u on Etsy.

Unplugged – I took the challenge

Motivated by the challenge set before me in fellow bloggers post: Project Unplugged: Can you disconnect from technology? I decided I would sever my ties from electronics for the evening. How’d I do?

As I had mentioned I had great apprehension. I thought maybe it would go away as the night wore on & I got used to the idea. After all, other people had commented on how liberating it felt during their technology sabbatical. I wanted this experience so badly for myself. Here’s what I learned…

With my DH being out for the evening it was just me and the lil’girlie. I assumed we would play like never  before, bond beyond words, and have a magical night. Instead, 2yr old independence was running this evening. I sat with her on the floor (which I often do anyway) and grabbed a toy to interact with her. She didn’t want me to play with her toys and promptly ripped them out of my hands. In fact she didn’t want to play with me at all, and seemed rather annoyed that I was interfering. So I just observed.  It really impressed upon me how grateful I am to have a child that is happy to entertain herself. (Sharing seems to be an issue – but we’ll work on that).

Without DH, & a little girl who wanted to do her own thing, the house was quiet and lonely. (I had even opted to remove TV or music from my repertoire). At this point – and MANY points throughout the night I LONGED for my phone. I just wanted to see what everyone was doing. I had purposely left it upstairs as I knew the temptation would be too much. It taunted me with its little ting-tingings of email, FB messages, & txts. Ugh!!  But we continued on… dinner, more play time, a book or 2.  I even took a needle & thread to a pillow that was losing it’s stuffing – Gasp!!  I spent time rocking the girlie before bed.

I was dreading bedtime the most. Without ALL sources of entertainment what would I do?  Going to bed myself, would be my only choice to survive this lonely-fest. I thought about doing so, but then stopped to put the final touches on a custom order I had been working on. Then I found myself beginning a 2nd custom order I had waiting in the wings. Oh and why not work on these bracelets I have sitting here too….  And then it struck me: during creative endeavors, I’m completely unaware, free, and liberated. I don’t long for anything. Even the alarms of my phone have no hold on me. My sabbatical had arrived.

The evening taught me that technology’s grip could be broken. I learned that I use my phone and computer mostly to pass time in-between tasks. I enjoyed my quality time with my daughter. But it wasn’t much different from any other night. I think the most freeing aspect of my evening was realizing that I had more will-power than I thought I could muster. And I actually started at 5:00pm last night and didn’t look at an electronic device until 7:00am this morning. And now that I have…. I didn’t miss much…..

Have you unplugged?  How did you survive?  What was your experience?

Disconnect from technology? – Can I do it?

No Touch? Ugh!!

Since I wrote: Mark Zuckerberg did what?  yesterday, I’ve been thinking about the affects of social media on my life.  I’m haunted by my own quote found in that post : “social media has been kind of a shallow pastime for me”.  For the most part I kind of believe that to be true.

But today I read a fellow blogger’s post:  Project Unplugged: Can you disconnect from technology?  She plans on disconnecting from technology from 6:00pm until bedtime. Just the thought, is giving me shakes of withdrawal. Hmm… Refresh my memory, what are the signs of addiction?  I think I already hit denial with the previous quote, and now I have anxiety just tinkering with the idea of severing social media communication.

It seems it might be time for my own technology cleanse. So I’m joining in tonight at 6:00pm as well. To be quite honest, I don’t know if I can make it. So to all my Facebook friends – All your interesting status messages must be posted before 6, after that time, you may resume with boring pics of your food.   And here’s a nudge to all my “Draw Free” fellows – get to drawing people!  I want to get in as much drawing game time before my cut off.  ;-)

Wish me luck folks.  If anyone wants to join us, let us know how it goes.

via Project Unplugged: Can you disconnect from technology?.

Bracelet Inventory

Lately, in between special orders, I’ve been working to build my bracelet inventory. Bracelets are much more time consuming due to the amount of bezel cups in each one. When working with Lisa Pavelka Magic-Glos UV Resin, it’s imperative to keep the bezel cups perfectly level. I try to shave off time by not separating each one, but the bracelet must be placed length-wise under my UV lamp in order for the bezels to levelly cure. And what do you know… the bracelet won’t fit under the lamp unless I disconnect it.

My method is to start designing the bracelet in one piece, so I can get the flow of elements from one bezel to the next. Then when it’s time to add layers of gloss I remove one of the connector rings in the middle which then gives me 2 pieces of bracelet. I finish my process of layering and filling until complete which involves reassembling the bracelet.

I have 3 more that I want to finish to add to my currrent collection shown below. These are available for purchase on my JeWeL 4U Etsy shop.

I’d love to hear from you:  What do you think of the bracelets?    Any ideas for improvement in my work flow process?  Any experiences you’d like to share?

View Bracelets by jewel4u on Etsy.

Mark Zuckerberg did what?!?

Obviously, I’m a fan of social media since I use it to share Sophie’s updates, and my art adventures. But the truth is, it’s really just a place to catch up on the latest gossip. I’m too busy to keep up with the Kardashians, not that I would anyway (sorry Kimmie, Khloe, and whatever K names I’m leaving out).

Don’t get me wrong – I do like a little “Reality Tea” once in a while. But for the most part, social media has been kind of a shallow pastime for me. Until today!

I have to admit, I cringe every time I hear Facebook is making an update. After all, about 85% of the updates usually crash my iPhone, screw up my contacts, or put the wrong faces with status messages. Even my own JeWeL 4U Facebook page is currently on the fritz. But now, give it up to Mark Zuckerberg, who finally made strides in social media of life-saving proportions!  This time, I’m willing to wait out any ‘bugs’ because Facebook has officially joined forces in a cause I believe in: Organ Donation!!  I can’t tell you how excited this makes me. I want to stand up and applaud Mark for using social media for such an amazing and worthy cause.

Not only can a user add the “Life Event” in which they became an organ donor, but Facebook is also integrating links to Donate Life America so anyone who might be on the fence can click immediately to sign up. I encourage you to read this CNN article about these features. If you’re a donor please update your Facebook accordingly.   If you haven’t become a donor please think about it  - Register by clicking here – and make sure you tell your family and friends. In many cases families can over rule this decision to give the gift of life. So please make sure they are aware of your wishes to carry out the most selfless act humanly possible.

This little girl wouldn’t be alive today if it wasn’t for the family who made the most difficult decision during an unbelievably devastating moment.  We are truly grateful!

God Bless My Liver Donor!

Riddle me this…

What do a canvas, a cross, & black blanks have in common?

     

I dunno, but I’m going to find out. And when I do I’ll share them with you.

I love a fresh new start – so I guess that’s what these have in common. I have some ideas rolling around in my head for ALL these blank canvases. We’ll see how they turn out. Occasionally things get lost in translation from my mind to my hand. But the evolution can sometimes become surprisingly fun. It’s during that process, I’m reminded that I’m NOT in control.

And it’s best if I let go…..

The following piece is something that I let go and it’s turned out to be one of my favorites.

Redeemer Cross Necklace - Can be found in my JeWeL 4U Etsy Shop

April is the Month!!

Happy Easter!

He’s Risen!

Become an Organ Donor!

Promote Autism Awareness!

That’s right, it’s all landing in April!  And I’m doing what I can to shed some light on all of the above. 1st I’d have to say Happy Easter to everyone! The true meaning for me is the glorious miracle that took place as my Lord Jesus Christ rose from an empty grave!  He defied the impossible.

Now I digress to the colored eggs & silliness. I had fun with my previous post in hosting an egg hunt with my Etsy Shop. Congrats to Jeannie McCoy, Sara Haux, Emily Taylor, Mary Davis, Karrie Kalmes, & Jackie Payne who were all winners in my contest! I haven’t changed the pictures back, so if you would still like to get in on some prizes feel free to join the hunt by reading my previous post here.

Also, April is Organ Donation Awareness month. And since my daughter was given a second chance at life by an unknown precious family in their time of tragic grief, this is close to my heart. Please consider becoming an organ donor. Many people believe that just signing the back of your license is enough. But it’s not true in many cases. So register on a national level by clicking here. And most importantly make sure your friends and family are ALL aware of your decision.

Lastly, but surely not least – Autism Awareness!  April is the time to bring this cause to the surface of our minds. 1 of every 88 children are affected by this disorder, with a growing number each year. Lets raise awareness to increase the funding and research needed to help so many families touched by Autism. Learn more at http://www.autismspeaks.org/

By the way, the Autism keychain above can be found in my Etsy Shop.

It’s Egg Hunting Time!!

Details:  I’ve hidden plastic eggs-  1 pink, 1 yellow, 1 blue in photos on the pages of my Etsy Shop. Click around on the pictures to locate them.

To Win:  You must locate ALL 3 eggs and PM me their locations.

Prizes:  10 winners will receive prizes!  They are as follows:

First 3 people to message me the correct locations will receive ANY 1 item from my JeWeL 4U shop for FREE.  (Do this on my Facebook Page, or contact me on my Etsy Shop site).

Next 3 people will receive a coupon code for 50% off their next purchase from my JeWeL 4U shop.

The last 4 people will receive a coupon code for 30% off their next purchase from my JeWeL 4U shop.

Fine print: This Egg Hunt Game is for US participants only. Sorry!  I will use timestamps to correctly identify the order of the winners. All coupon codes awarded will be available for a one time use, and must used by the winning name. They may not be shared, duplicated, or publicly posted.  Anyone using a coupon code that does not match a winning name will NOT receive the coupon discount. All coupon codes will EXPIRE ON MAY 31st.

Thanks for playing. Good luck and have fun!

Here’s the link to begin:

 http://www.etsy.com/shop/jewel4u