Sweaters and Carpal Tunnel...

Back in November my older daughter asked me to knit her a sweater.  I decided to make both girls similar ones to wear for their great grandmother's 90th birthday party (with dresses that my mom made).  One night I knitted for 10 hours straight (until about 3 am) in order to finish them in time.  I think they came out great, but since then I have been having problems with my hand and some wrist pain too.  After a nerve study and an MRI the doctors say it isn't carpal tunnel syndrome.  I still need to go back to for the results of the MRI, but at least no surgery for now... and no knitting either.

The girls with their sweater and dresses on, with "Aunt Margaret" (my cousin...who is Lara Spencer's Doppleganger by the way.)

Long time...no see...

So, yes, it has been a long time since I posted anything on this little blog o' mine.  A lot has been happening... let me explain a bit.

First of all, although I consider myself an artist and jeweler first and foremost, for the last year I was working as a dental lab technician in an orthodontic lab.  It was a really great job.  I got to use many of the same skills I use as a jeweler.  I made retainers, study models, as well and many other types of dental appliances.  It was really fun and I felt like I was doing something great by helping dentists help patients, plus I was really good at it.  Well, about a month ago I learned that the company was being mis-managed and as bad luck would have it now the lab has been completely shut down.  It was a very successful business, but one bad apple spoiled the bunch and the business just couldn't recover.

Study Model...one of the fun things I got to make at the dental lab.

Skip to present day... I am left with 2 kids in daycare and no job.  At least no job that gives me a steady paycheck on a weekly basis.  I could find another lab job, but not close to home and a long commute is out of the question since K already has an 1 1/2 drive each way!  Ugh!  Needless to say I have been spending a lot of time in the studio. For the first time since graduate school at RISD, I have actually had time be in the studio uninterrupted.  I think every art school student takes for granted the community aspect of art school.  It is something we all surely realize one we are sitting in our studio, alone, remarking to ourselves just how quiet it is.  So, I am trying to get myself back in art school -  creative problem solving - design machine - mode.  All without pressuring myself to make $dinero$.  Let me tell you friends, it is pretty darn hard!  But I'm not giving up.

Some of the things on my workbench.

With all that said, I am planning some great things for the future.  I am doing a whole bunch of new work.  There will be one-of-a-kind jewelry, production jewelry, painting, commissions, and repairs.  I will also be teaching at a local college this summer and I plan to teach some classes out of my studio as well (something I have been wanting to do since undergrad.)  I also plan to post more on this here blog.  So stay tuned and thanks for hangin' around.

90 years...

My grandmother turns 90 years old in a few weeks.  This is a photo of her from her wedding day.  Doesn't she look beautiful?  I hope I can live to be 90!

Efficiency....

In everything I do, I strive to be more efficient.  To me, that means a lot of things.  It means being able to get healthier, save money, be more organized and keep my house clean and in order (and spend less time doing it), keep my family happy, spend time on myself and my goals, and the list goes on and on...

I want to do all these things more efficiently so that my family and I can be as happy as possible and spend less time worrying about all the small stuff.  

So many posts on so many blogs seem to dedicate so much space to all of these things from organizing, to cleaning, to cooking once-a-month, to making everything DIY.  I guess that means that everyone else is inspired to become more efficient too.  The great thing about that is there is such a plethora of information out there for people to research.  

One of the best reasons to become more efficient is to save money.  Who couldn't use a few extra bucks in their bank account?  Implementing a budget has been one of the hardest things for my family to do, especially when being creative means I have a new plan for a new house project every week!  I am finally going to make it happen people (the budget that is, not all the new projects, but hey maybe I will get extra creative and do both!)  

I plan to do a lot more research and find some great resources for becoming more efficient in everything I do, and as I find them I will share them here with you.

I was really inspired today as I read Blissful and Domestic, a blog written by a woman named Danielle who has certainly embraced a more efficient and frugal lifestyle and it seems like she has fun doing it.  Check it out...and let me know what do you do to be more efficient?

Hamlin Beach State Park...

Yesterday we spent some time at Hamlin Beach State Park on Lake Ontario's southern shore.  Having gone there many times as a kid I guess I tend to take the place for granted.  It really is such a beautiful park right in my back yard (not really, but literally only a few miles away).  It really has everything a park needs; beaches, trees, playgrounds, trails, tons of open space, campgrounds, picnic tables and very cool old sandstone buildings.  Some of the cool old buildings happen to have been built by my great grandfather's construction company in the 1960's.  Despite it's beauty, Hamlin Beach State Park is not nearly as busy as it was when I was young.  It seems people have just forgotten about it.  So, if anyone out there is looking for a nice place to have a fall picnic, consider Hamlin Beach.  I will bring the wine.

(Hamlin Beach State Park holds many events throughout the year including concerts, an Earth Day celebration, a Civil War Reenactment, and also has a former POW Camp site that can be explored.  More info can be found at Hamlin Beach State Park).

Fall organizing fever...

It always happens this time of year.  I get so anxious about the change of the seasons and all I want to do is clean out my house and organize EVERYTHING!

As an artist, I am always collecting interesting things that inspire me.  The fact that I am also OCD, means that I am really torn sometimes between keeping things because they are interesting to me and wanting to eliminate clutter and simplify my life.  How do you solve this dilemma?  Excuse me now while I go clean out a junk drawer or two.

Spice labels...

I am an organizing nerd for sure!  I am sure there are a lot of us out there especially with all the "organization inspiration" that can be found on Pinterest these days.  So, today I finally decided to make labels for all the spice jars in my pantry.  There are many free printable labels online, but I couldn't find any that were the right size and shape, so I just made my own with my word processing software.  The font is "Sail" and can be downloaded free here.  Happy Organizing!