This writing thing is not what I thought it would be!
This morning I had somewhat of a meltdown. I looked at the outline for the 31Days writing challenge and the lines crossing out potential jewelers to interview... and I wanted to just throw the paper in the trash and either chuck it in... or change my subject!
I have to say, I vented on Facebook... I generally don't vent on G+(Why is that?). I obviously don't communicate through writing well enough to get my point across, because I was told I had anxiety and needed medication.
Then I was told that the anxiety was getting in the way of me looking for a job....
No....
I am asking for interviews for my blog....
I would like to interview people for the blog...
The writing challenge...
sigh...

No, I haven't chucked it in, yet. I haven't changed the subject, not that it hasn't crossed my mind more than 30 or 40 times today... but I have my outline, I have a few interviews already, I have modified my letter asking for an interview. I've modified my questionnaire for the interview. I have worked on pictures,the linking button, gone back and redone some of my graphics, fonts, sizes and colors..

OK, I admit to being a bit OCD when it comes to getting blog pages to the point I like them, and I hope that other people like them... I want the page to be pleasing to the eye, easily readable, and interesting.  Hopefully, this comes across as looking inviting and professional.

So, back to the story. I have learned my lesson, maybe, to not post to Facebook anything that might be misconstrued. Not that it will matter, anything I say can and will be misconstrued. I guess I have to go to the person that misunderstood me, and gave me advice about medicating...  and apologize for writing like I was manic and a bit anxious. The truth is...I was a bit anxious, but not in the bad sort of way... but in my crazy, mixed up sort of way that I get stuff done if I'm pushed to that point...? Does that make sense?

I mean, I obsess about something, but I can actually make myself decide on a course of action if I am faced with a dilemma. If I have obsessed about something for a few days, I will just turn it off for a bit and I will usually find a solution for the problem rather quickly.  I learned that from Wanda Greene. She owned a floral business and took me in under her wing, so to speak. She taught me the business from the ground up. I got frustrated one day, doing a job that no one else would do, and she came up and asked me what was wrong with the piece. I said I didn't know. She said... walk away.
I looked at her, wondering if she had lost her mind. I had to finish it right then, and get it out. But I did it. I walked to the back of the shop, I got a drink, worked on another project for about 10 minutes and walked back into the room and could tell exactly what was wrong and what needed to happen to get it out the door in maybe 5 minutes.

That works with just about everything. I guess not brain surgery, but with writing it does. With jewelry it does, same with sculpting, painting, floral arranging, and sewing. I'm pretty sure in designing just about anything...

After my little meltdown and subsequent embarrassment on social media... I am ok. I know what I need to do and am implementing the changes to my approach. Things feel better tonight, I feel a bit relieved. We have 5 days to go before the challenge begins and I am ahead of the curve already with my page, graphics, subject, and ... most of all, with my newfound sense of accomplishment!

Join me for the 31 Days Writing Challenge, beginning October 1st. 

Coming Up!

It is Fall! Today, the 23rd of September is the official beginning of the season and it is cool and beautiful here in the Western part of Texas!
With the beginning of Autumn, the thoughts of football, changing leaves, hot cocoa, and pumpkins are swirling around. Here in the desert, we don't have the change in leaves like other parts of the country, but we do have football... and it is in full swing now. The Friday Night Lights author, H.G. Bissenger,  was here just this past weekend, signing books for the 25th anniversary of the release of his book. Hard to imagine it has been 25 years, a movie and TV series since that release.

31 Days

With Fall also comes the preparing for the 31 Days writing challenge. I am participating again this year, with what I hope will be an interesting series on Jewelry. It will be a mixture of history, manufacturing, artists, and a glimpse into what goes into making and selling jewelry.  I am excited to write on something that I love, and something that will hopefully intrigue others.

Some of the jewelry artists that are lined up to be interviewed are :
Richard Salley
Lorena Angulo
Cristine Pablon
Al Martinez
among others. It should be very interesting and informative.

There will be links to the different artists and pictures of their work. There will be tips along the way, on how to get started in jewelry making, where to learn the trade,  how to set up a workbench, tips on selling the finished products.

I hope you will join along starting October 1st. The Write 31 page is chocked full of blog links to some wonderfully exciting writers, some with blogs that will entertain, some that will inspire, some that will make you cry, but all are intriguing and enjoyable to read.
Throughout the month, I will link to that page, as well as to my pages, so that you can peruse the lists and find something that will interest you. I hope you will take time to visit the artists that I have listed and see their work, maybe even buy some of their beauties.

Hope you'll visit often!

Remembering/Looking Forward

Today, September 11, 2015, is a day of remembrance for the people of the United States, and truly, around the world. It is the day in 2001 that the world changed. It effected everyone, whether you knew someone that died in a flight or on the ground, or not.
Every year, we look back and still say what we were dong on this day, at that hour, at that moment that we found out about the tragedy in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania.

This is also a day to look forward, to what we want as a country to become, what we strive for every day, what we can be, the reason that so many people hate us, and what we stand for. We can become a nation that is strong, brave, and can overcome every obstacle in our path. We can be united, equal and brothers. Not many countries have achieved that, but we can.

Join with me today, to look forward. Join me to pray for the uniting of our United States, and for our leaders, that they have the guidance and wisdom to bring peace and prosperity to our great nation.

Nearly Fall

Here it is, down to the last couple of weeks in August, and I am starting to think about Fall... Cooler weather today (dipped to the upper 80s here) has me thinking that it might just get around to being Fall sometime soon. Though we don't really have "Fall" in this part of the country, we do have a few days of really nice weather. Today was one of those days that I am sure that there is a God in Heaven, and he has sent a couple of days of cool breezes to promise that change is coming.

With Fall, there is change. We don't see the leaves change until nearly Winter, but we have the kids going back to school, Football, the Corn maze, Pumpkins in the stores, and all that goes with the coming of October. I am most excited about the month of October, not for the spooky yard decorations, and not even for the cold spell that comes the week of Halloween... I am excited about the 31 Days Writing challenge!

I'm signing up again for the challenge... I know, I know, last year I probably said something like... shoot me if I ever do this again... but... even with all the crazy  stuff that happened last year, and even though I complained that I was behind... I want to try it again this year!
I am going to really have it organized better, and now that I have decided early... not like 3 days before it starts... I will have my outline really concrete and stick with it (last year, I think I tore up my outline after the first day... nearly changed topics, and did cry a few tears). This year... I'm excited to say... I am determined to finish each and every day!!

Visit the new home for the challenge blogs, at My 31 Days  and the blog list at My Blog Series 
If you have any suggestions on making the site more navigable or more readable, please leave me a comment. I appreciate any comments!

See you in October!

Wanting to paint!!!

I've been wanting to paint for a while, every day it seems, but life and work always get in the way... sometimes I just can't stand it and will paint something that I have made just to fulfill that craving... I can't seem to find time to pull out my easel though.

You know, I might just have to today...

My son went to camp yesterday, and while we were driving to and from we were able to see what the recent rains brought to our arid region... bodies of water that normally would be fields of corn, cotton, or sorghum! What a treat! I didn't get a good picture, since I'm not driving... I can't just stop the car and take pics like I normally would... that and we were running a bit tight on schedule...

but I was able to take a few pics on the way home of some sunflowers... that would make a beautiful painting, but I really wanted to capture the water that we saw... and I came acros this article today, how timely!



How to paint light on water - How To - Artists



So, I visited the site and thought, wow... I need to get my paints out!

I really want to, but I know in my heart that I will just pine away and want to paint and just never do it unless I make myself...

I always say that I crave oil paint... and I think it is addictive... the smell, the feel, and the 'high' you get when you are creating... it is a drug for me!

OK, I've talked myself into doing it... just step away from the computer... take a break on working on jewelry, and remember that I don't have to make dinner tonight... and I'm going out onto my back porch and setting up my easel!!!

The Pioneer Woman... again she's giving stuff away!!

I usually start drooling when I go to The Pioneer Woman's page. There are yummy treats that will make you do that... but also the weekly (or so it seems, sometimes it seems daily) giveaways that are drool worthy capture your attention in no time...
Today, it is this beautiful mixer... and you know how i love this color!!!
Pretty, Pretty Blue Mixer.  What on earth can you say???

Give a look at some of the recipes, or gander at her beautiful and enchanting photos of life on a ranch, homeschooling? there's that as well, TV shows, Cooking of course...Home and Garden, got you covered... and well.. just go look!

Ree Drummond is multi-talented and just the person that you wish was your best friend. She's that nice.  Funny? you got it, she would keep you in stitches, and I know she is more than intelligent, she's got a bunch of kids that she's homeschooled... all the while she runs a business and household, and... well, she's a go-getter.

I've signed up for this beautiful mixer, you should, too!

Playing Catch Up

I have been trying to get my Year of Jewelry blog posts caught up today. I took a lot of pictures of work that I have done... and try to match them to the weeks that I made them for. It has been hard, and I didn't realize that I was so far behind. I feel like I have lost a whole month... and pretty much have. Mom was in the hospital for three different problems... and now... well... between that and my son... I haven't been home much in just over a month. I really hadn't realized it had been that long until after I blogged about the Bead Peeps Swap 'n' Hop... I thought it had been a few weeks... and today, while I was taking pictures, I thought... Wow! that's a lot of jewelry... and then I started trying to catch up with the blogs... and man... I did a bunch and didn't get caught up. I looked and thought, yes... I am done... nope... only in April!
How time flies... and don't let anyone lie to you... it isn't just while you are having fun!
 I looked at my son today and realized that he has grown another inch in the past month! How?
How on earth can he grow so fast?
His voice is starting to change! How funny is that?
No, it isn't funny... it means that he is going to be hitting puberty soon... ergh!!!

Well, if you get a chance, take a look at the Year of Jewelry page. Not great work, but it is mine. I'll try to get more posted... and if you get a chance, look at the blog hop page as well. Now, there are a couple of pieces on there that are pretty nice!

Blog Hop Reveal Day!

Today is the day of the big reveal for the Bead Peeps Swap 'n' Hop! I've been excited about showing the items that I made,but I have been even more excited to see what my partner Alicia made!
the blog is  under the tab  "Jewelry Bloghops"
Please click on it and see the pieces that I made and visit my bead partner, Alicia, at her blog All the Pretty Things and be sure to scroll down the page and use the link to find the other participants in this blog. There is some really beautiful work out there!!!