Motivation Waning

I don't know if I'm getting sick or still wrestling with the weather (we had a little hurricane over the weekend), but my get-and-go has got-up-and-gone this week. I'm lacking so much motivation. However, I have my trusty bullet journal to try and keep me on track. So, I've gotten a few things accomplished today.

These three pretties were taken up to Southern Antiques and Accents to be added to the booth.

I listed a pair of earrings in the Etsy Shop.

You'll find these Blue Glass Fairy Earrings there. You may remember the from #The100DayProject.

I'm working on editing pictures of jewelry to be added to the Etsy Shop. In fact, I started editing the pictures for this necklace yesterday. 

And, I decided to wear it to a meeting last night. It got loads of compliments. It's part of an old watch. I added pearls in the face with resin and accented it simply with more pearls and gold-tone chain. I hope to have it in the shop within a week. 

Finally, I started on this necklace from my Bead Box to Go during Hurricane Nate. It's sitting on my desk at the moment waiting for completion. I'm hoping to get to work on it some this evening. 

I did get some household chores done and will be making dinner shortly. Oh, and I just finished a blog post. So, I guess I've gotten more done than it feels like (when I list it all out like that.) I just feel like I'm dragging. Ever have days like that?

Looking Inward for Inspiration

This week is totally getting away from me. However, that's due in part to the three-day weekend we just had. It's also due to the heavy-thinking I've been doing about creating intuitively. I had to jot down the pondering below about the following doodles.

Today I was organizing the craft room and making an attempt to sort through the miscellany I've collected. As I flipped through a file of some of my old doodles, I was surprised at how much they resembled Zentangles to an extent. I don't remember having the ability to create those type of patterns and shapes. But, apparently I did. It's made me consider the impact of constant internet inspiration on my own ability to create and be inspired. Though the internet is packed with inspiration and tutorials and Pinterest eye-candy, it's left my own inspiration and belief in my skills stunted. The pretty pictures, perfect results, and thorough tutorials have made my own abilities feel inferior and have left me with little desire to tackle projects because it feels like they've already been done and better. I think I really needed that revelation and reminder that I shouldn't compare myself to others, shouldn't try to recreate what they've made. I need to look inward and around (up from the computer) to find my path. How has it taken me over 40 years to realize this? Doesn't matter, at least I've finally gotten here.

 Anybody else feel similar? Just me?

Jewelry Making Mojo Challenge Week 2

Heather Powers of Humblebeads has challenged jewelry-makers to get their mojo back.

Each week she'll offer up another way to get those creative juices flowing and share what they create. Today's she's revealed week three's challenge, but I've yet to reveal what I made for week 2. . .because it's not all done yet. I figured I might as well go ahead and show what I've mostly completed. Week 2's challenge was to use some of your bead soup. On Wednesday, I showed you what I was working with.

Here's what became of it.

I made a couple of small bracelets for a friend's kindergartener who's a bit obsessed with bracelets right now and needs some of her own. As well, I wire wrapped rhinestone chain and loose beads from my soup around a bangle that was just laying around.

With the extra wire and some of the beads in my soup, I created these earrings. They still need ear wires, but that's in the works.

As well, I used some of those short lengths of chain to create a chain tassel pendant. However, the beaded chain for it is not quite done yet either.

I think I'm feeling that mojo for sure and am enjoying these challenges, as I do enjoy most challenges. Jump in on the fun and check out Week 3 of the Jewelry Making Mojo Challenge!