So much to do, and so little time to do it !

This seems to be the story of my life! Always feeling like I am running in circles, but wondering if I am getting anything accomplished. This week the EART Team Blog ring is taking a look at how we manage being an active team member, a creative and productive artist, and still have a life outside of the handmade world.

To be quite honest, this is what I struggle with the most. Between two kids under 4 years old, housework, 9 hours of college, and my jewelry business I have a hard time keeping up! The one trick that I have found successful is to "budget" my time. I only give my self a certain amount of time to complete tasks. If I am not done by the end of my time I put if down and have to wait until I have spare time to finish. In all honesty, when I set reasonable limits, I have no problems meeting them.

The final, and most important thing that I do with my time is prioritize. If I have to choose between my family and my art, my family will win every time. Sometimes it is good to refocus and remember why you decided to make your art a business. When the lines get blurred and the art becomes more pressing to me, I step back and reevaluate how much time I "really "need

Want to read about how other EART members manage to lead a full life and still be able to by productive? Start here at the team blog, and read your way around the ring!

The Eclectic Artisans Team Shop Features Punky N Munky

Please stop by and read about the Eclectic Artisans Team Shop featured artist, PunkyNMunky!

The Eclectic Artisans Team Shop Features Punky N Munky

My Favorite Thing

As a jewelry designer and artist, it is really hard for me to pick out just one piece that I have made and call it my "favorite". I love all of my creations because they all cam from my heart. That being said, there are some pieces that I have made that really grabbed hold of me so to speak, and led me by the hand through the creative process.

This is one of those pieces. It is named "Inspiration" because it inspired me to use different items as focal pieces in my jewelry.

The focal piece of this necklace is a Czech Pressed Glass Button. The button itself is new, but it was molded using the original antique molds, and was crafted in the exact manner that this company originally did more that 80 years ago. I was impressed with the craftmanship of the button as well as how easy it was to use it just as I would a precious stone.

Inspiration - it is found in the strangest places! That is why this is the favorite item I have in my shop.


Want to find out what the other artists in the Eclectic Artisans Team treasure the most in their shops? Stop on by the EART Team Blog and follow the ring around. I'm sure that you will enjoy the stories that they have to share with you!

Happy Thursday Everyone!

The Eclectic Artisans Team is Open for Business!!

I am proud to say that the Eclectic Artisans Team, an Etsy Street team, has now opening up a team shop. This is a great place to go and brows through the great variety of what the EART team has to offer.
This week we will be running a Promo where all of the participating members will be offering a free gift with a purchase from the team shop! I am extending this offer to my home shop, and will be sending a free gift with every purchase over $20.00.
Take a moment and go visit the new team shop to see what my great team members have offered there. Who knows what you might find!

I need to go shopping!!

I mean it! I NEED to go shopping, just not for me personally- for my shop. The one thing that will stop an artist dead in their tracks is running out of their medium of choice. Well I am fast approaching the point where I hit a brick wall.

My favorite wire to work with currently is 20 gauge, dead soft sterling silver. Well... I a am running very low! So I guess a trip to www.Monsterslayer.com is in the near future for me. They have such an amazing variety of metals, chains, and beads. I could spend hours looking around online. I know, I know... it is a sad state of affairs when a girl is more interested in her next silver wire purchase than the next pair of shoes she will buy.


So, as much as I would like to say that my next shop purchase will be these FANTASTIC set of Wubbers pliers, it won't be ( maybe next time...). But that doesn't mean that I will have anyless fun with the purchase that I will be making!

Want to read about what other EART team members are shopping for to complete their shop? Stop by Diva Dea's blog and find out whether her next purchase will be a "need" or a "want". Who knows, maybe she is in the market for a little from both catagories...