When life makes you SLOW DOWN

Some people believe things (events) happen in people's lives for a reason. Some call it fate. Others believe it is God speaking to you, while some don't believe in fate (or God) at all.

Me? I haven't quite decided yet. This past week my husband was in a car accident. Don't worry, he's fine! A little sore, but perfectly fine. The car? Well, to quote the Collision and Repair Shop, "Repairs exceed cash value" which just means in layman's terms, the car has been totalled.

So this week I have had a flood of emotions: Fear, helplessness, desperation, confusion, and love.

When my husband called me on the cell phone and said he had been in an accident, shock and fear filled my spirit. Shock because, well, does anyone expect to have a loved one in an accident? And fear. Fear of harm to a loved one, fear of loss. This fear is coupled with helplessness. Because as much as I wanted to be there just to hold his hand and look into his eyes, I couldn't be there. I just couldn't physically be there!

But then, something took over my emotions and I knew I had to be strong. I had to think. I asked him if the other drivers were OK and if the police had been called. Yes, he did that before calling me (thank goodness). I asked him to write down details, gave him the local number to our insurance agent, etc. I had to keep it together, not only for him, but for the kids too (who were probably wondering what was going on and why I wasn't taking them to school on time!). Once the police arrived on the scene, I had to turn my attention elsewhere.

I then had to call my work and let them know I wouldn't be in and then called the school to let them know the kids would be late. Then I had to make a call to Grandma just in case I needed her to help with the kids.

After I realized my husband was going to be OK, desperation and confusion began to set in. Desperate because I felt like I needed more information. How did this happen? Why? Where? What is going to happen to our car? (I now realize these are all pretty selfish emotions, but I must be honest and say that they seemed like real important concerns at the time.) I also felt confused because I learned it would take over a week for the police report to be available and until that piece of paper becomes available there is really nothing we can do to get our lives back to normal. I guess by normal, I mean having transportation. Right now my husband is carpooling, but he also travels for his work.

Today, for example, he had to catch a flight to Albany, NY. Well, since it is Sunday, that isn't a problem. But if he has a flight scheduled during my work hours or when it conflicts with the kids' school, then what? Well, I suppose it's only temporary, but I like plans. Schedules. The whole "unknown" plan makes me uneasy. Seriously uneasy. However, I know we'll manage. We always do.

Ah, but there is also love. Saturday my husband took the kids sledding. This is something they had been asking to do since the first snowfall. As a mother and wife, there is no greater pleasure than watching (and sometimes participating) in joyful family activities. To top it off, the kids and my husband brought out the toolbox and built (assembled) a new stool for my workbench! What a joy to watch them twiddling around with wrenches and screwdrivers. Seeing the determination in the kids' eyes is just priceless.

As an added surprise, my husband suggested we have sushi take-out. It was heaven. Sushi and a nice bottle of plum wine to cap off the evening. A delightful meal with delightful company.

So this weekend we slowed down and really appreciated each other's company. We reconnected as a couple and as a family. Call it fate, or whatever, but because of the accident we are emotionally a stronger family once again.

Artist Feature - MARY HAMILTON

An award winning artist, Mary Hamilton is the artistic force behind DreamOn. Mary is heavily influenced by her travels and the many cultures she has experienced.

Mary describes her work as impressionistic in nature because she "love(s) it when the center of interest appears in the midst of background objects that aren’t so well-defined. I want watercolor to look like watercolor, and I want my paintings to have a painterly look, not a photographic copy."

One of my favorite pieces in her Etsy shop is entitled, "Rare Bird" and features a white Egret investigating the sand dunes. This original watermedia painting is available for $39 USD.

In addition, Mary is a member of Studio 1212 Gallery, Artists' Guild of Anna Maria Island, Creative Artists’ Guild, the Beach Art Center and Glenwood Springs Art Guild.

To learn more about Mary and her art, go to http://www.mary-hamilton.com/ or http://www.dreamsaboutart.blogspot.com/

Getting over the FEAR

I'm terrified to participate in outdoor craft shows! Simply terrified. Worse, almost all the late spring and summer shows in my area are all outdoors. I just know Mother Nature will have it in for me and blow my entire tent and all my precious jewelry into the Lake. Gone forever!

Now some large indoor shows do happen in the summer, however they are several hours away. In comes fear number 2. I have an awful sense of direction, truly. There is a running joke in my family that I can get lost in my own neighborhood. Sad fact is, it's true!

This past year I discovered and reconfirmed the fact that my jewelry does not sell at smaller venues. If the gate is under 1,000 my sales have been pitiful. If the venue does not advertise and promote to my target customer, I have very poor results. So, after my last small show in October of last year, I swore off these types of shows. Mind you, I did learn valuable lessons at these shows, but frankly, I could have much better spent my time (10+ hours a day) developing new products, marketing, updating my blog, etc.

Therefore, in order to participate in ANY craft fairs this year I will need to conquer at least one of my fears. Do I suck it up, get a tent and sell locally? Or do I risk getting lost on the way to Madison? Or do I stop doing craft fairs all together and focus on consignment and wholesale accounts? Hmmmm...there's and interesting (and scaredy-cat) idea!?

Artist Feature - CIGAR BOX BEADS

Hailing from Seal Beach, California, Marilyn is the creative force behind Cigar Box Beads. Beadweaving has been her passion for over 20 years and it all began with a simple purchase of a cigar box full of beads at a flea market. Additionally, Marilyn enjoys crochet, knit, sew and decoupage.

The piece featured above, is a hand-woven Amulet Bag which is comprised of hundreds of tiny seedbeads, red jasper gemstone chips, and a wooden fetish lizard. It is available in Marilyn's Etsy shop for $80 USD.

Marilyn is a proud member of the Etsy Beadweavers Street Team and the California Craft Club of Etsy (CCCOE).

Artist Feature - CAT'S PAW ARTIFACTS

Judy Richards resides in Portland, Oregon where she makes lampwork beads and designs jewelry - unique and hopefully artful jewelry. She is always striving for new ideas and new shapes in glass. Judy is inspired by nature (flowers, birds) depicted in glass. She loves abstract lampwork most of all with layers of glass and complexity. She is always striving to meet that goal. She has done the work of reasonably exact glass beads - but yearns to break out of that toward something more complex and deep in an artistic sense.

Furthermore, Judy is a member of the Portland Bead Society, the ORBS (Oregon Regional Beadmakers Society) and the ISGB (International Society of Glass Beadmakers).

The bracelet featured above can be purchased in her Etsy Shop for $60USD.