Full Circle - Learning Curve

I'm working on new line-sheets this week for a tradeshow that's coming up fast (this weekend!) I'm not the most adept user of photoshop, so I sat down with Jeff and he showed me quicker ways of doing what I usually do. Man, was I making my work so much harder than it needed to be! 

Also, I'll announce the winner of the giveaway tomorrow. I didn't realize that today is a holiday for most folks until this morning, so I figure more people will be around on the inter webs tomorrow. So, check back then =). 

A little run down of the above photos (top to bottom):

1. my brass bead stash
2. patterns and textures: two essential ingredients to my wardrobe
3. Todos Organics infused cocunt oils. Soooooo good for the skin!
4. Arlo, lazing in the sun. (Yes, that's a wound on his forehead. He got in a pretty nasty cat fight a week ago. He's healing up nicely tho!)
5. Otis, lounging in the backyard with his brother.
6. my current weaving project. I'm working some driftwood into this one. I'm curious to see where I go with this one.
7. Some new designs! I really want to get these in the Etsy shop this week, but reality and my schedule may dictate next week. I'll post here when they go live!

Full Circle - Back to Events and Craft Fairs

Last week was the return to selling events (pop up shops, craft fairs, art walks, etc) for Tangleweeds. First Friday/Art Murmur in Oakland on Friday night and a pop-up shop at Rickshaw bags in San Francisco on Saturday. After taking about a month and a half off from events I thought I would feel a bit rusty, but nope, it all came together pretty well!

There was also some planning and scheming time. The longer I run Tangleweeds the more I understand that things just don't happen without a fair amount of planning. It can of course get in the way though: if you find yourself always waiting until everything is perfect before trying to make any changes, or make something new happen, then you're probably hiding behind the planning. But a bit of planning, definitely a good thing in my book!

Photo details (top to bottom):
1. my set up at events
2. bracelets for an upcoming tradeshow
3. work in progress at the studio
4. morning tea and sketchbook
5. winter flowers in our yard
6. hedgehog mushrooms, part of Thursday nigh't dinner
7. my Susan Eastman silk blouse (that I picked up at the KPFA Craft Fair.)

Today is a "catch up on paperwork day" so I better get back to it. Here's to a wonderful week!

Full Circle - New Places, Favorite Places

This last week was all about finding my groove with my work/Tangleweeds schedule as balanced out by time for self-care. As I write this I'm dealing with a nasty cold, (boo!) bringing home the importance of taking care of myself even when things get really busy. I'm working from home today, resting as needed.

This past weekend Jeff and I went to Down Home music in El Cerrito for a free music show. It's a great place if you have a love/interest in country, americana, roots, blues music. While we were over there I finally stopped by the little button shop, Exclusive Buttons. They sell vintage buttons and the selection is amazing. Be forewarned tho, they're only open on Fridays and Saturdays. The buttons I picked up may find themselves into some one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces later this year. I'll make sure to share photos if and when they do!

In the studio there was lots of work on the classics: the swoops, the featherlight necklaces (which are currently sold out in my Etsy shop, but more will be added later this month), and the full circle earrings. 

I also decided to have a little sale for the rest of the month. This season I'll be discontinuing some designs to make room for new ones. A lot of the designs are older ones that I have either re-invented at this point, or they've ebbed in popularity. Everything in the shop is 25% off with the coupon code "jan2015" for the rest of this month. I figure it's a sweet little way to pick up something you've had your eye on for a while before it's gone for good! That last photo at the bottom is an example of one of the deigns that'll be discontinued. 

Al righty, it's time for me to make a big pot of tea and go curl up in bed with a book for a bit. I'm hoping this cold runs it's course in a quick manner!

Full Circle - Weekly Recap

Good morning and good Monday folks! 

My first point of business 'round here: I'm going to be changing my "weekly recap" posts name to "full circle". The name feels right 'cause these posts are my way of looking back over the last week and seeing where I've been and what I've done (and sharing it with all of you), in essence coming back "full circle" to Monday from last Monday. And it's the name of one of my classic collections, yet another reason it felt right. 

This last week was my first week "back to work" with Tangleweeds. I must say it felt great. Taking a break right after the holidays always helps to re-charge my batteries, both creatively and around more practical matters. But this year I'm striving for a bit more balance, and this last week  definitely held a better balance: farmer's market shopping with Jeff, thrifting with my mom in Livermore, and time to practice my new found passion and hobby: weaving!

If you follow me on Instagram, then you've seen that this last week I was spending some time getting my studio cleaned up, including creating a small showroom space. This took the better part of Monday and Tuesday, but I was so glad I had the time to do this. I can't begin to explain how satisfying it is to look over my shoulder while I'm sitting at my desk, typing this blog post, and see my work all on display. I still have a bit more work to do to get the space completely ready for any sort of open studio time, but it will happen this year! Overall this last week was a lot about planning and laying out the groundwork to make my goals this year for Tangleweeds happen. 

Now, I gotta go prep for a small photoshoot that's happening tomorrow. I'm putting together a look-book for a tradeshow I'll be showing at in February. 

Here's to a wonderful week everyone!

Not all Fun and Games

You know, this year has really started out on a great note for Tangleweeds. Lots of great energy in the studio, growing and maintaining healthy relationships with local and out-of-state shops, and starting the beginning processes on some new lines of products. But sometimes when you run a business there are hard decisions to make, and sometimes they're not the decisions you want to make at all. The learning curve can be steep when you are the "wear-er of many hats" so to speak, and I may have tried to best that learning curve. . . Why do I share this with you? Simply to say that it's not always fun and creative but sometimes it's simple business practicalities that must be dealt with. I don't say all of this to complain, but rather to keep other's perspectives realistic. Sometimes in this era of over-information saturation I think us creative folks can look at what others are doing (and by look at I mean mostly browsing around on the web) and think "I want to do that but I don't think I could ever get there." Things can get pretty glossed over on Facebook, blogs, twitter and the like, making running one's own business look like an un-attainable dream. I don't have some magic key that has opened up the door to having a small handmade business possible. It's mostly come from working my fanny off. If you want it you can have it with enough hard work and perseverance. And ask for help when and where you can. To all my tireless friends and compatriots striving towards your dreams: don't give up, it ain't always easy but it's almost always worth it. 

(And when things get completely over-whelming and I just need a break, I always have this guy to cuddle up with at home.) 

The Days Fly By

The last week went by in a blur! Things are really picking up quickly this year with Tangleweeds. To balance out the busy-ness of the work week, I spent a lovely, relaxing weekend with Jeff, spending time in the "great outdoors" of Oakland. We hiked on Sunday and on Saturday we took a walk around the lake, did some window shopping (window-shopping only! I'm working on a budget this year) and had a lazy evening in cooking and watching Boardwalk Empire (we're only on season 1). 

Photos (from top to bottom)

1. From our hike at the Huckleberry Botanic Preserve
2. Otis chilling out at home with us on Sunday afternoon
3. This one's from one of my many ocean-side mid-day walks near my Jack London Square studio
4. Evening tea. It's become a bit of a ritual for me. Helps me slow down and get ready for sleep!
5. Some in-progress work. These bits will be turning into finished earrings today.
6. From Jeff's and my walk around the lake on Saturday. This giant eucalyptus tree fell over in that really bad windstorm we had back in December (I think it was December at least.) It's crazy big and birds are loving perching in the tree roots that have become more like tree branches now. 

I hope everyone is having a great start to this new(ish) week!