Creativity takes Courage

Part of my re-organising process was to put up this little chalk board that one of my students gave me as a Christmas present. It now sits above me while I sit here typing and it's the first thing I see when I go down into the "beading room".

After a hectic year of markets and full time work in 2016, I really needed a break from all my beads over the Christmas period. Wow! I never thought I would say that! In fact I think it's the largest break I've ever had out of what we all call the 'beading room', but when I stumbled along this quote in the endless world of pinterest, I suddenly found some of my mojo again. I started planning, designing, drawing, making endless idea lists and basically getting into the swing of things.

But it's not always that easy. I know so many gorgeous crafting artists who struggle with so many doubts and insecurities about their product, pricing, marketing, the list can be endless and I must admit at times I feel these things too but then I felt something 'click' when I saw this quote.

CREATIVITY DOES TAKE COURAGE!  You are putting yourself out there for everyone to see a little piece of you.
*What if they don't like it?
*What if they love it, but they balk at the cost?
*Or maybe they do the "Oh I could make that for less than that".

Unfortunately, what a lot of people don't understand is that whatever you make has a little piece of you inside, some of your LOVE and that takes an extraordinary amount of courage. So for all the handmadies out there; the seamstresses, crocheters, knitters, bag makers, candle makers, glass makers, jewellers and artists of any form putting love into the world, thank you. You make this world a better place, a place where old traditions won't be lost, creativity is valued, and generations to come will have something to teach the new generations. This blog post is for you. Creativity takes Courage and you have it in spades!!
Liz xxx

Welcome 2017!

Well I don't know about you, but I'm super happy that 2017 is finally here. Last year was a big one!

With a daughter graduating high school and getting her L plates, road tripping to attend different markets, 3 different venues for our local market, working full time, being our netball club's treasurer and trying to create inspiring jewellery to sell, I'm pooped!

My beautiful family

"CQ Eat Street" Music Bowl Market

So it's no surprise that I've been a little quite on the tech side of things over the Christmas break (of course technical issues of internet dropping out 20 times a day hasn't helped). Of course with tech being off the table for a while it has given me a chance to clean (blah). Like most people I really don't like cleaning but I do love the end result. And for me the beading room was in a serious 'oh my you really need to put that stuff away' and re-organise, plan, and be inspired to get 2017 off with a bang!

So to that end I thought I'd start the 2017 year with a "Before and After" blog post.

So here for all to see, is the mess I can get into.

But with the help of my trusty sidekick and motivational cleaner (aka Ben) 2017 is starting on the right foot. 

Plus I see that Carlisle (my gorgeous but ever so lazy boy kitty) really likes the lovely clean desk surface and is ready to distract me with cuddles (which is far more distracting than fb, instagram and pinterest all put together).

So if I can get Carlisle to move (preferably not to my chair or other table) than I might actually get stuck into my business for 2017! 

I hope everyone has had a great start to the New Year and you have clean and clutter free work spaces to get the inspiration buzzing. 

Liz xxx

Come on Safari at Gossamer Dreams

Gossamer Dreams is on safari this month with the theme "Out of Africa". With gorgeous photos supplied by Margo at The Climbing Tree we were all inspired to go wild and find our favourite African animals, prints, fabrics and ideas to come up with some gorgeous OOAK items for the October stocking.

I love the diversity of African jewellery....it can be bright and colourful, neutral tones like the savannah, layered, long, short, anything seems to go.

I decided to go with a bit of everything for this stocking, a touch of bright colour combined with some animal print beads, add a touch of wood, African opals and wah lah you have African style jewellery sitting on the work bench.

This is the second last stocking for the year before our big one in November so make sure your drop in and you might just see some wild animals (no not the regulars or guests) and have a wonderful time exploring "Out of Africa".

Leopard anyone?

Another sneak peek of more traditional African style jewellery

I did promise some colour....this has colour!

Learn a little bit about African roses.....

NEW WEBSITE! .....nearly there yay!

Ok I'm excited. 

I've finally managed to get some pieces up on my new website.Cherish Jewellery Designs  

It is still a massive work in progress and I'm slowing getting through all the html stuff but it is coming along. I have some brand new pieces up with hopefully more to come.

I have managed to add in some lovely new resin designs, some very rich looking pearls and a few little gemstone numbers but I still need to put up some wooden items and my Petite Cherish range for the younger Cherish fan. 

I still have to change all the little buttons that are preset on Congo Cart but that means creating lots of new little buttons myself.....something that will have to wait. 

I would love for you to check it out and give me some feedback. I know there is still lots to do but as I'm doing all the work by myself in that so called spare time it's a little tricky. 
 

Cheers

Liz 
xo

Hide and Seek anyone?

In September you will be able to play hide and seek on my website to find the

logo somewhere in my website. It's a little bit of fun if you can find all the logos on all the sites.
I think you have to find quite a few....around 150 but if you can be the first to do so you can win a whole bunch of prizes.....and it costs you nothing but your endless time searching wonderful WAHM sites looking at cool stuff and to be honest we do that a lot already!

The hunt doesn't officially start until September 1st but you will be able to see a list of prizes at www.clothnappyhunt.com very shortly.

Hopefully I will also have a few more items up on my new website with my new logo!

'till next time
Liz
x

New adventure begins

I have always wanted to have my own website from even before I had my madeit store. I have been tossing around the idea for quite a while but I have finally taken the plunge. I have heard that having your own site is good for business...people can see how dedicated, professional and passionate about what you do so I have started building a Congo Cart store. Of course in order to make this store scream "Cherish Jewellery Designs" I need to vamp it up in my colours with my logo and rearrange things to how I want them to be. So off I went to learn myself some html through some great online tutorials (there is nothing you can't learn online) so I could create what I need for my store. It is slow going but I'm getting somewhere...at least I know how to upload photos etc all I need now is a little bit of finesse and plenty of time. Hopefully something beautiful will begin and I'll be off and running.

Winter is here! Brrrr!

It's finally getting the chilly feel in the early mornings and nights here in Central Queensland and with the start of winter we have a wonderful Gossamer Dreams stocking. 'Boots and Beanies' and anything wintery was the theme for the June stocking and what fun it was!

With winter as the theme I thought of all the things that I love and the first thing was hot chocolate. I love having hot chocolate (and not just in winter) and so I couldn't pass up on my "Malteser" beads, as my hubby calls them! Of course I had to add 'marshmallows' to the design to get this simple looking necklace!

Then after throwing some other ideas around I knew I wanted to use leather and suede (the boots part of the theme) so I came up with two cute little bracelets that couldn't be more different.

Beautiful soft Greek leather with sterling silver beads and freshwater pearls and a pair of cowboy boots. A feminine yet rustic adjustable bracelet.

And this bright little number! Gorgeous hot pink suede wrap around bracelet or a lovely long necklace.

 

 Of course you can't have a winter theme without snow and I instantly thought of my big hole freshwater pearls. Lovely little snowballs in their own right! 

My last two designs were complete opposites! One was all about warmth and the other design was all about icicles and the cold part of winter.

Warm wooden beads combined with some of my favourite red coral and red resin beads. I wanted to create something to reflect the cosy fireplace with warm timber and fire tendrils flickering out from all places. I love this necklace even though I don't wear too much chunky myself it has a real comfortable feel too it.

These earrings though are so cool and refreshing with the cobolt blue resin and Swarvoski pearls and crystals dangling within. A bit funky but a perfect colour for the trend this season.

I've had so much fun with this theme. A bit of a challenge to piece together the ideas and make them into jewellery items but I love how I can push an idea and find all sorts of beads to make it happen.

Thanks to the Gossamer Dreams team again for having me as a guest and letting my creativity have a wonderfully inspired avenue.

Don't forget to check out the Gossamer Dreams page every month on the 15th to see a wonderful collaboration of some amazingly talented WAHM's!

www.gossamerdreams.com.au