Finding Inspiration...

I LOVE my friends!

Last Sunday my friend Lindsay hosted a beautiful Easter Brunch. I was a little sad to be away from my family, but I had my wonderful hubby and awesome friends to keep me company. Our "Brunch" lasted from 1pm-7pm, what a fun way to spend an Easter Sunday!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S, well almost!

I am posting today because I don't think I'll have tome tomorrow. Just wanted to say I have the best hubby/valentine ever. He is so supportive and such a great friend to me. I LOVE YOU BOO!!!!

Sun, Please come out!

OK, so it's been like 5 consecutive days with NO sun and I am starting to feel the effects. I NEED my vitamin D. The weather report says it "may" be partly sunny next Thursday. I can't wait until next Thursday, I may melt or something. Right about now I am missing our second home in Charleston, SC where we spent 6 months last winter. The weather, people, beach, and food there are amazing.

I am starting to sound like a brat because I should remind you that Josh and I are going to Panama in a week and a 1/2. Hopefully the sun will be shining and I will come alive again!

Happy Superbowl Sunday!

I was born and raised a Giants fan, being I am from NJ. We lived down the street from Phil Simms, and were friendly with his family. But now, living in Massachusetts and being married to a serious Patriots fan, I am torn. I have never been a competitor. In fact, I hate competition. The thought of it makes my stomach turn and I guess I just assume I'll fail. When I was 7, I auditioned for the gymnastics team. I totally caved under the pressure and started crying and my parents had to come and pick me up. I never liked the idea of having to win or to be the best, I just liked doing my own thing.

I am still the same way today, hence my creative outlet of Stixs and Stones. There are no judgements, no contests, no teammates to disappoint. If someone likes one of my pieces, they can look, admire, comment, or buy, but never in this do I feel a need to abandon my style, or please someone else, It is truly freeing!!!!!

So today I will be watching the game and all the while quietly rooting for the loosing team, whom ever that may be!

P.S. There is one game however, I LOVE! BOWLING... Any game you can do jello shots while playing is just fine with me!

Where would i be?

I have been working at my local high school as a substitute teacher. I can't help but look at each one of the kids and see all of the potential in them. It makes me think about what I would do differently if I could go back to High School! I think I would have joined more sports and clubs, gotten to know kids outside of my clique, and thought more about what I wanted to do with my future. Instead of picking a college on who had the best dorms, I would have thought more about what interested me. I ended up going to Fordham University at Lincoln Center which I loved, but never felt like it was 100% me. I flip flopped between majoring in Communications, then English, the Education, and then returned to Communications. In retrospect, I wish I went to a small art school where I could have learned more about jewelry and design.

But it's impossible to go back, so I am happy where I ended up. Living on this little island, married to a great man, doing my jewelry that is completely self taught. Things would all be different if I hadn't made the choices I did, so I am content and happy!

I think we end up where we should be!

A photo from my 10 yr Academy of the Holy Angels reunion in April 2007

Necklace and Earrings of the Day!

Serpentine and Anything is always one of my favorite designs. I found these rather large faceted Serpentine beads and paired them simply with multi-colored freshwater pearls. I rarely duplicate items, but I sold this neckalce at my trunk show in the Fall and had to amke another for the etsy store. The beads are 14mm and the color is to die for. It is so natural and organic looking, but can be very professional at the same time. I have paired it with Serpentine and Amazonite earrings.

Have a Beautiful day filled with positive thoughts and kind gestures!

Snow Day!

We are snowed in today, which means lots of BEADING!!! YEAH!!!! We had no electricity last night until 3in the morning so we had a fire for heat and candles to find our way. The winds are gusting over 40mph.

On another note, happy Birthday to my dad who turned 64 yesterday, January 27th. My dad grew up in a family of six kids and didn't even know what his real Birthday was until he was in his teens. He was always a day or two off, there was just so much going on, no time for the details!!! We have made up for it thougth and always have a party for him. I misses it this year, being on nantucket, and the fam in NJ!

Trunk Show November 2007

To get an idea of who I am, here is a picture of me and my jewelry when I had a trunk show at my parents house in late November 2007. It was so much fun, and we had a great turnout. The best part was seeing all of my friends and my parents friends trying on the jewelry that I had made. Since I live on Nantucket and my family is in NJ, it is always a treat to see them! We turned the dining room into a store...

New additions!

Some new additions to my etsy site. I worked hard all day yesterday, I needed to get some creative energy going. I did 2 new Necklaces, which are my most fun styles to make. I hope you like them. I am awaiting a new shipment of beads and then I will really get cooking. Enjoy!

My first Blog!

I have been thinking about starting a blog related to my journey with my jewelry business, Stixs and Stones. I have been doing my jewelry for about 4 years now and get so much enjoyment out of it. It keeps me sane and my dream would be to be able to make enough money on my etsy sight to support myself (may be a pipe dream, but whatever)!

BTW, my etsy store is: www.stixsandstones.etsy.com

More later
LRL