New Year's resolutions, jewelry-related?

[Renate]

I know I have some, or at least SHOULD have some, but haven't had the quiet hour yet to focus on them. I think resolutions can be really useful to keep on track, but they only work for me if I have actually ruminated them, and focussed them.

Maybe my first resolution should be: Focus. One thing at a time. Don't allow yourself to be distracted by all and everything. That goes for jewelry as well as for everything else.

Do you have resolutions?

[shiny]

I think I'm going to borrow yours, Renate: focus! One thing at a time.

[Tela]

More focus, one thing at a time and more organization (time management) -- yeah, that works for me!

[laura]

No resolutions here... but an ever growing wish list of must-have-tools Tumbler is numero uno.

[maryalece]

Well, sort of- I signed up for the YOJ! this year. I am terrified and excited. That will hopefully force me into a more disciplined stated of mind. I started doing a piece based on Mary Tucker's twining tutorial. I am loving the twining! I'm surprised at the fact that I caught on fairly easily and that I can do it neatly. I still can't do the lace/loop bezel setting- cannot seem to get those loops to be even, so this is a happy experience.

[Kate]

My resolution is to get some of my jewelry listed on Etsy. It seems that I keep putting it off and I'm finding other projects to work on. Getting everything organized to do this has become an issue for me. lol Since I'm newly retired, I would like to sell just a bit to support my new passion.

[sarahsequins]

Renate, focus is a good resolution! I keep being pulled in all these different directions. I have so many crazy ideas.

After that, I'd like to submit some jewelry photos/article ideas to different magazines.

I'd also like to get my Etsy shop going. I'm putting mine off too, Kate! Personally, I'm intimidated by the idea of selling my work online.

I'd also like to enter something in the Bead Dreams contest. But this one, I'm not taking as seriously -- I'll create fun things between now and March, and if I have an entry, great -- and if not, there's next year!

[Renate]

"Focus" seems to be the big hit this year ;D

And like all of you, I want to get a shop up, finally. Not for jewelry, necessarily, but I've got a huge stock of beads that I want to sell.
And the road to the shop is paved with photography...

[Tela]

Maryalece-- I wondered about signing up, too. Have you done it before? Will you keep us posted with links?

[glenda]

Jan 8, 2012 17:02:55 GMT -5 Tela said:

Maryalece-- I wondered about signing up, too. Have you done it before? Will you keep us posted with links?

I have often thought about this too.

Although to be honest I think the pressure of having to get so many pieces done may just make my muse pack up and leave altogether! ;D

Would definately be fun to follow though!

Maybe the reason we all have similar resolutions is because the majority of creative people have a similar make up (not the sort you wear either! ;D)

[Dearrings]

Hey Maryalece, I signed up for YOJ too!

I tried it last year, its a lot of fun and great to see everyone's work. I'll look out for your submissions in the coming year

One of my biggest resolutions is to get my bead stuff ORGANIZED. Also to resist buying more stuff till previous stuff is in order.

[maryalece]

I will try to keep you all updated about YOJ, but I've already fallen behind. My daughter caught a cold, became pneumonia, and now she's in the hospital in critical care unit, so I've been too distracted to really accomplish much. She will be fine, but I do hate seeing her so vulnerable. She is (by her own choice) on a ventilator right now, to give her chance to rest deeply while her lungs heal up. So, even though the situation sounds very terrifying, it's really the best place for her right now and I do believe in my heart that she will be just fine when this is all finished and out of her system. It just will take more time for her. Lupus is just an evil disease, that's for sure. If any you would like to send positive energy, kind thoughts, or prayers her way, I would be really appreciative. I believe that the prayers and positive energies directed her way have made all the difference in her still being alive. She is really a wonderful human and she is the reason I started with jewelry in the first place. I iwill try to post the story of that one of these days-it's sweet Anyway, I have 2 pieces nearly done for YOJ, but when I realized how sloppy I was getting because of distraction, I had to set it aside till I am better able to focus.

This is a bit of a jumbled post, but I thank you all for your interest and Dearrings, I will look forward to seeing you in YOJ :-D

I have never done YOJ before and I know there are some really gifted artists involved so I'm a bit nervous about being out there, but I'm gonna feel the fear and do it anyway, lol!!! Maybe it will give me the confidence to get my stuff listed on Etsy- another one I've been procrastinating on for quite some time.

[glenda]

Morning Mya!

It is ok to call you Mya isn't it? Im sure I remember from another thread you said it was ok!!

Anyway, I am waffling!! ;D

So sorry to hear about your daughter. I am sending all the positive vibes I can muster from the UK. I love how positive you are. Im sure that helps a great deal too!

Please keep us posted on her recovery - and YOJ when you get back on track (of secondary importance of course!!)

You take care of yourself too!!

[Tela]

Maryalece- how scary for you! It's understandable that you are distracted, my dear. Of course, your daughter is your priority and everyone should know that. Don't be discouraged about getting behind. It's understandable. I'll keep you and your daughter in my thoughts and prayers. Although, I'm sure she will be fine, especially with such a caring mother.

I may have mentioned this before, but my son was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis when he was 6. I was told at that time that he wouldn't live to see 20. Before genetic tests, there was only one test and it, along with his symptoms, were conclusive. After countless years, anguish, heart break, treatment and prayers his diagnosis was reversed at 18. To what or whom do I owe that miracle? Just saying... there are powers that we can not understand and I fully appreciate your journey with your daughter.

[christine]

Maryalece, Sending positive thoughts and prayers for your daughter. How scarey for all.

I signed up for YOJ last year for the first time. After 2 months, I realized, the pressure was too much for me to keep up with the deadlines and themes. Physically and mentally I learned, I don't create that way. For awhile, I really was hard on myself for dropping out then realized that was as difficult as participating!! There were some amazing artisans involved and some had been doing it for several years. Good Luck to all who sign up for it!

Tela, Always thankful for the powers we don't understand!

No set resolutions...each year, I vow to learn and grow as much as I can in creating and in life

[Renate]

Maryalece, I'm sending your daughter best wishes and positive energies from Germany, too! Hope she can be back home with you very soon.

I'm very intrigued by YOJ, but can only admire people who manage to turn out a very good piece each week. It would be interesting to know how many of the participants are full time jewelrymakers by profession, or how many have a full time job.

[Kate]

Maryalece, I'm sorry to hear about your daughter. She is in my thoughts and I am sending that positive healing energy to her.

[Dearrings]

Maryalece, hope your daughter feels better soon!! I'll definitely say a prayer for her and for you. Stay strong

[sarahsequins]

Maryalece, I'm so sorry that your daughter is sick! I hope she makes a speedy recovery.

*Hugs.*

[maryalece]

Thank you all so much for your support, love, and prayers. I believe in the power of prayer more than any other thing humans can do- I have seen some very amazing things in my life because Of prayer, and prayer comes in many forms and practices, but it all has effects we can never measure.

My daughter is hanging in there. Her bloddwork looks better, but she still has lots of crud in her lungs, and she is still on the ventilator. She was able to breathe on her own yesterday for only 7 minutes, which really is unsettling. She is getting really wonderful care- the nurses where she is are incredible and very competent She has a respiratory therapist who comes in every couple of hours to give her treatments and siphon her lungs. It will take more time than anticipated for her to fight through this one, but I have every confidence that she will come through OK. She is able to be less sedated now, and so she opens her eyes and can nod in response to questions. Yesterday she squeezed my hand. She is drowsy of course, but it was so sweet yesterday- she would fall asleep and then kind of wake up and wave her hand around until either I or her husband took her hand and held it! Very sweet and touching.

I feel very blessed to have this community of friends to be out there all over the world caring for her and I. Thank you all for being here.

Tela, the miracle with your son just really sends warm tingles all over me. I do believe...


Yes, definitely OK to call me Mya- certainly much easier to type, lol :-D

Take care and I send all of you my gratitude. Blessings to each of you to have wonderful, healthy, happy days!


Just tried to exalt all of you and was told I can only exalt or smite once an hour hmmmm This might take a while, lol!

[marytucker]

Mya, I was so sorry to hear about your daughter too! Adding my prayers to the others and looking for when you can give us better news!

[maryalece]

Good news! My daughter is much, much better :-D She is no longer on a ventilator, has been taken out of intensive care and been moved to a regular room. She is walking about some (with oxygen, still) and eating a bit. They restarted her antibiotics, due to a wicked bout with coughing, and as an additional precaution. To see her awake, with good color, and moving about is enough to bring tears of joy to my eyes.

When she woke up, she told us that she had been on vacation and described all the places she had been - Paris, London, and New York, but New York was under water. She had been bummed out on her visit to New York, because her daddio wasn't with her and she knew he'd have loved being there since it was underwater and he's a diver. So for her, the time she wasn't conscious was an exquisitely great time! She has such a delightful and quirky outlook on so many things, that nothing surprises us any more. She will probably be telling us details about her adventures for the next few weeks. I'm sure pain medication had a bit to do with this, but the fact that she woke up so happy was really fun and added so much to my happiness at her being better.

There is still a long road for her to complete recovery, but I'm so relieved that she has taken the first steps along the way.

Thanks to all of you for your prayers. I can't say how much this means to me :-D

[Tela]

Good news! Sounds like she had a good time even if you didn't.

[Kate]

Mya, I have to tell you first hand (two heart surgeries, congenital defects, and also hip replacements) that I have "enjoyed" and also entertained my family with my experiences. I am so happy that you daughter is getting better and stronger, and that they kept her comfortable.

[glenda]

That's fantastic news Mya!!! ;D

So pleased for you all. Your positiveness has obviously been instilled in your daughter - to treat it like an adventure with no negativity!! WOW!!!

I look forward to hearing she has been discharged from hospital!

Take Care of yourself too!!