YouTube and TOTAL AWKWARDNESS

Some of you may know that late last year I began a YouTube channel, Go Art Yourself, which I describe as an artistic endeavor separate from Nicole Hanna Jewelry, but with a heavy focus on wire work, in general. And my inaugural video was a no-nonsense time-lapse of some wire work, mostly in an attempt to learn how to film and edit film for YouTube. It was a... uh... learning experience.

Anyway, I followed it up with a quick how-to easy painting video, and then... well.. nothing.  And I have no excuse aside from unabashed laziness and a fear of the camera. But, I've been asking members of my Facebook group, Wire Wrap Tips & Tutorials (which I'll talk more about below), for video suggestions, making notes and itemizing those suggestions on a perfectly organized check-list, to which I likely wont adhere at all. Sigh. And finally, despite myself, managed to finish a few videos in a Quick Tips series I intend to continue (based on those suggestions), while working on a pendant featuring a lovely bead by Darcy York. And you know, I thought I did pretty good.

Until I watched it.

For real, I'm seriously awkward, people. Talking to a camera, to an empty room, filled me with some mild psychosis by the time the evening closed on me, and I wrapped up the recording. I think I continued to talk to myself for the hour following filming, remarking on how painfully gawky the experience became. Though I tried my hardest to avoid "uh" and "um" every ten seconds, I did manage to pause uncomfortably and repeat myself into neurosis. But I didn't practice, because I thought that if I stopped to practice I'd only be giving myself another excuse to postpone the final video. And that's a totally viable excuse on my list of excuses that I will likely use at some point in the future.

But, I posted three videos, which aren't intended to be detailed tutorials or a studied look at wire weaving. Just three sneak peeks into my methodology, touching on some questions and suggestions posed by group members. There will be many more to follow, with a (hopefully) less ungainly air. You can watch those videos at my YouTube channel, or by checking the Tutorials tab in the menu here on Nicole Hanna Jewelry.

And if you'd like to offer suggestions of your own, you can leave a comment here, on the videos or by joining the Facebook group mentioned above. Wire Wrap Tips & Tutorials is open to customers and students who have previously purchased PDF lessons (this is non-inclusive of the free treasure hunts or standard free tutorials offered) either directly from nicolehannajewelry.com, or other approved venue, and membership may be contingent upon proof of purchase. Some venues do not provide me with customer information, and some customers purchase via accounts or names not linked to their Facebook presence, which makes it difficult to verify purchase. Usually sending me a quick IM with some proof of purchase will expedite membership approval. And I try to post discounts or deals, tutorials or contests exclusive to group members, and everyone is encouraged to share their work, offer critical comments or simply acknowledge great creativity when we happen upon it. So far it's building into a wonderful community!

So, all things considered, I managed to get some things done this week! I have some great new tutorials coming in April, a fantastic online retreat on the calendar for 2016, for which I'll be releasing more information later this year, a local class at Beads to Live By, in September, and I'm not even procrastinating, which is like total crazy talk, because I always procrastinate. And all this despite hearing an audio recording of myself for the first time and wondering how I don't hear my own Southern accent when I talk! Weird. Just... weird.