SEARCH RESULTS

Perfectionism. The creative spirit in all of us has, at one time or another, fallen victim to the pursuit of perfection. While I use the word "victim" dramatically, it's also  honest, because striving for perfection is one of the most damaging habits creators can build in themselves. When I create, no matter what medium I choose to use, I am telling a story. Every story should (if it's a good one) tell a certain truth, express in its telling an honest representation of its author, even if through fictional, mystical or metaphorical means. These stories aren't always unicorns and rainbows. There is pain. There is sadness and loss. There may be anger and frustration. And these are all valid aspects to include and represent in our work, because what we create is a direct mirror of our lives and what happens behind the creative process. "Perfectionism is not a quest for the best. It is a pursuit of the worst in ourselves, the part that tells us that nothing we do will ever be good enough - that we should try again." - Julia Cameron When I create a piece of jewelry, I am not just making jewelry, something functional or impersonal, but am expressing the day I've had, or the month or the year, which all translates into the wire I weave. When you see an extra turn of the wire in a weave, a visible join or a kink, for instance, that is the part in my story when I was thinking about how my son was hit by a drunk driver while riding his bike home from work (he's thankfully very much okay), or realizing that my dinner has burned (again), or enjoying the constant distraction of my cats.  And, while many a jewelry artist may disagree with me here, I'm not keen to edit that from my story. I don't want to undo the pages I've just written until what the audience sees is a superficial, staged look at my life. There's no shame in accidents, and I'm never likely to call much of anything a "mistake". Don't get me wrong... if it's meant to be worn, it should serve that purpose without hindrance... poking wires or jiggling stones. This isn't an invitation to be intentionally sloppy, after all. But to nitpick the number of coils, or the kink in a wire, seems to strip from the story a truth. So no. I will not fall into the trap that perfectionism sets. I will not lose the parts of my story that make me real and keep me honest. I have a feeling there's an audience out there who appreciates the imperfections of others. Stay creative. Be a superhero in how you express yourself. Be fearless and unapologetic and embrace your story from start to finish. Creativity is about the expression of a vision, and those visions are a direct reflection of our lives. Sometimes, life is messy. Life is imperfect.

(Originally posted 5.24.2018) What do I do when it's a day off and I have a camera and a beautiful niece with nothing better to do than spend an afternoon with her aunt? I messaged her with "Hey, wanna go get thrown out of Hobby Lobby with me?" and a link to this video . I shouldn't have been surprised when she agreed, so I charged my camera batteries, packed extra SD cards, and off we went to complete the Hobby Lobby Challenge!  What is the Hobby Lobby Challenge, you ask? It's basically taking staged photos inside your local Hobby Lobby (or any craft store.... any store at all for that matter). Both of my nieces are always game to help me add new photos to my website, and are always (seemingly) keen to wear my jewelry for a bit and earn a little modeling fee, or free lunches, or both.  So, I'd packed my camera inside my rather large purse... I didn't want to be too obvious and bring my camera bag, stand and flash, you know. So I stuck to basics and even used my phone a few times. And straight to the floral department we headed! Now, I'll say that our local Hobby Lobby had a mostly, surprisingly sparse floral department with lots of unattractive shelving units, tags and posts visible between the vines and flowers, so most of these images required a rather intensive amount of post-editing. But I used free software with Photoscape and Snapseed, and it's easy to get a good basis for some great life-style shots this way. Plus, the weather was uncooperative with a light but steady rain, so an indoor location like this was an ideal exercise in photographic creativity. Surprisingly, we weren't asked to leave, as we wove our way from aisle to aisle, taking time to change out jewelry pieces, me directing her to stand a certain way, between certain vines or flowers. Employees and customers alike passed us by, some quizzical and some giggling with that "I watched those YouTube videos too" type of knowing that any of us who have fallen down that rabbit hole can understand. Tarissa was such a sport! She chose her own outfit for the shoot, which worked out beautifully with the greenery of the floral department, and she was never too shy to sit on the floor, sit on shelving units, tuck herself behind fake ferns and generally just rock it !  We were really only there for about 30 minutes before I stashed my camera back in my purse and we shared a great lunch. I managed to take and edit over 20 solid images. In my excitement, I (ahem) didn't take the time to properly adjust my camera settings beforehand, so many images taken before I realized my error couldn't be salvaged. Still.... I couldn't be more tickled with the end results.  Have you done the Hobby Lobby Challenge? Are you willing to do one now? I'd love to see the images you end up with if you give it a go!  Stay creative, folks. Nicole

I am not exactly an Instagram addict, but I can easily lose 30 minutes of my life scrolling through my feed. Wait... that doesn't exactly support my original assertion, does it?  Moving along. I wanted to share with you my favorite Instagram feeds to follow. Maybe you'll find them as inspiring as I do! Just click their names to view their feeds! 1. Joybird. I'm not going to lie. I love Joybird furniture. I want to outfit my entire house with it. I want to live in their Instagram feed, wrap myself up in art deco light fixtures beneath a brilliant blue couch.  2. Pitch Pine Pottery. I have a weakness for pottery... specifically coffee mugs. Probably born of my addiction to coffee, but I'm fairly certain if (gods forbid) coffee was striped from the earth, I'd still own a ridiculous number of handcrafted mugs. I love having them on my desk, being inspired by their art while I work, and feel a little indulgent when drinking from them.  3. Ravens Meadow . One of these days, I'll own all her work and may not even put a single one in wire, because they tell such powerful stories on their own.  4. Tammy Kanat. Five years ago, if you'd asked me, I'd say that I'd never much bothered to decorate my walls. I was, you could say, severely practical in home decor. But this artist's work with fibers is absolutely inspirational. I could easily cover every wall, ceiling to floor, with her work and live in a fantasy.  5. Gracemerewoods. So much detail on such tiny canvases. I could imagine myself with an entire family of these creatures in my home, keeping me company, taunting my cats, and generally just being awesome.  6. Spirit Nectar. If ever there was jewelry that captured pure magic, this would be it. Any single piece and I'm lost in the woods with the fey.  7. Terri Foss. And keeping with the theme of mysticism and magic, check out the amazing artwork of Terri Foss, where everything is a fairy tale and all those tales include witches! 8. Sculpted From Nothing. It's like holding a world in the palm of your hand.  9. Moonchild Tarot. I have a problem. I collect tarot decks. A lot of them. To be fair, I've downsized my collection from over 200 decks to (a respectable, I think) 50. And until I get my hands on a copy of the Moonchild Tarot, their Instagram feed will have to do.  10. Homesweethell. Everything about this appeals to my inner goth. So very very much.

(Originally posted 4.4.2018) March saw my second trip to Glastonbury, for the Glastonbury Wire Studio Spring Retreat, teaching with the incredibly talented Oksana Trukhan (whose work is simply magical), and to say I had a good time would be a massive understatement. I've mentioned in the past that I struggle with social anxiety, so there's always those moments, leading up to a class or workshop, when I think "Dear God, what did I sign up for?", but Tabath and James ( Lonely Soldier Designs ) are amazing hosts and no one has ever made me feel as instantly at home as the two of them! Seeing the familiar faces of students from a previous workshop created for me an atmosphere of belonging, comfort and instant ease. And meeting new students, Oksana herself, and the incredible Iza Malczyk (who was teaching her own 3-day workshop) was an exercise in excitement.... never nervousness.  Me-1, Anxiety-0. SCORE! But let's get back to that atmosphere I mentioned. The moment I stepped off the plane, I felt immediately relaxed. I wouldn't be so bold as to say I felt quite at home with myself, but... it's as close to that as one can be when not actually at home! Glastonbury has it's own magic, of that I'm certain. While that may be tapping into a whole pocket of cliches, given the nature of the place, the Abbey, the legend of King Arthur and all the tourist elements attached to it (which I totally eat up, by the way), it's also absolutely true. If I were never a believer in reincarnation, Glastonbury is the place to change my mind. And I think maybe I leave a little piece of me behind when I pack my bags to head home. Or, perhaps, say goodbye to a piece of me that's always been there. It was also incredibly cathartic. I'd been in a very weird head space the prior few months. While I was creating consistently, a certain drive was lacking. I had plenty of ideas, but without the motivation and passion to see them to fruition, it began to feel like "work". Blech. There are always elements of running a business that will feel like... well... a business, but there had never before been a time when I looked forward to "clocking out" at the end of my day, stepping away from my desk and binging a season of Downton Abbey. I didn't like that one little bit. I mean... I love Downton Abbey, but you get what I'm saying. And stepping onto the grounds of Middlewick Farm , where the five glorious days of work commenced, it was like a veil had been lifted. And the students..... the students were amazing. All 16 of them (or 17 when James came in to have some solder and sheet metal fun) created stunning work, as you can see from the photo here. While I provided a template, an idea, they took that idea and ran with it and created something uniquely "them". Watching them create, their excitement and yes, at times, even their frustrations, I felt a familiar (and welcome) itch return. And I created some new work myself! It's not just that I created new pieces, but that I enjoyed the process again. It felt like a friend had shown up unexpectedly after a long absence and surprised me with cake (thanks Keren.... you're a cake goddess!). And I was determined to carry that magic home with me. Or, perhaps "determined" is the wrong word, because an excitement for the creative process just sort of happened, embedded itself into my psyche. I don't think I had much choice but to allow that excitement to carry me forward. It did, too. Until I got sick. Before I get into that, let me tell you a little something about our airport.... it's awful. There are these horrible new kiosks that ask you whether you've touched livestock or purchased fine art, and then it takes your photo and prints you a receipt and you shuffle off to a customs agent for more questions and a detailed analysis of a stunningly bad passport photo. And, I'm not ashamed to admit that I got lost leaving my own airport. I walked around for 10 minutes before dropping my bag on the ground and, with a whimper, saying to the nearest employee "I don't know where I am." He touched my arm and said "Hun, where are you trying to go?" And I replied "Out. Just out." Ha! We both laughed and I found my way to the passenger pick-up. And, despite the travel time, I wanted to work that night, when I came home, and I did work for the next few days. Until The Great Ick arrived. It's not just a bug. It's a "sitting next to a man on a plane for 9 hours who stashed nasal spray and tissues in the seat pocket before him" kind of bug. But, at least that's given me time to write this post and imagine all the ways I can create my own magical atmosphere here at home. I envision a meditation station in the corner of my living room, new hanging lanterns above my desk for ambiance, and a fuzzy rug beneath my chair for some tactile fun for my feet. And while that may be further feeding the cliched idea of magic, and isn't quite indicative of the atmosphere of Middlewick, it's a type of magic all the same, I think. How do you create a magic work space?

If, like me, you also run a small handcrafted jewelry business, you'll understand the importance of delegating to improve productivity. However, as a one-person show, we don't delegate to assistants and social media managers and tech support and, instead, must rely on a wide variety of sources, apps and programs to help keep us motivated, productive and professional, and to further our growth as business owners. This can also be financial prohibitive for many small business owners, as well, who function on a budget. So, while compiling my list of the best e-tools for handcrafted jewelry business owners, I was sure to include free resources. Free E-Tools Google : Google offers a number of services, all under one convenient account, to help business owners simplify their life. Google Docs, Calendar, Photos, Gmail and Drive are all fabulous free programs to help keep your small business under one roof. Drive offers 15GB of cloud storage and file sharing for free when an account is created, with the option to tap Google Docs straight from your Drive dashboard, build new text documents or spreadsheets and add editors, create forms, or slideshows, and have them automatically saved to and stored in the cloud. Libre Office : Want a little more functionality for your documents, spreadsheets or presentations then this is the program for you. Not bloated with unnecessary tech, it's an easy program to master, even for those of us who might lack technological patience. Evernote : Not a fan of paper planners? Evernote is a great green alternative, to keep the carbon foot print small, for those tech-savvy folks who like to simplify their paper trails. This can keep you organized, is super easy to use, and has some impressive functionality for a free app. Storenvy : Need to build a customized website on a budget? This sales platform has an entirely free option, offering 500 listings and free shop templates to customize the look and feel of your store front, creating a cohesive branded experience. (Does not support digital downloads unless through third-party paid apps.) Up to 20 products free. Blogger: Using the free Storenvy service? Link a free Blogger to your shop front for a complete, functioning website! Blogger is a great resources to "publish your passions", write content that matters to you and your brand, and it's customizable with very little technical know-how. Square: Most home-based business owners are already vastly familiar with PayPal's payment processing system. But Square is another fabulous resource for free, excluding the per-transaction fees. Their dashboard is very easy to navigate, offers clearly defined sections to access deposits, individual transactions, analytics, and invoices. And they offer a wide range of paid services if you'd like to keep your operational software under one account. Square also offers it's own drag-and-drop website builder, with minimal functionality. The free option allows only 10 products, and their paid options start at $29/mo. Photoscape: This is the one photo editing software I will recommend over and beyond any other. It's not only free, but far easier to use than programs like Gimp, while utilizing only a fraction of your computer's operational capabilities. It's highly effective with multiple features for product photography, including text overlay (all the photos on this website were edited using this software). MailChimp : Email marketing is available for free through MailChimp for up to 2000 subscribers, and your list is yours if/when you decide to migrate to a new newsletter provider. The themes/templates are easy to build and  navigate, so the price is right for this service! Please note, customer service support is not offered for free accounts. Wave Bookkeeping: Not ready for Quickbooks (and its learning curve) for your accounting needs? Then Wave might be the online accounting software for you! Send invoices, link your payment processes for easy income and expense tracking, scan and store business receipts, and download reports for tax time. Paid E-Tools Weebly : (Starting At $16/mo) While not the most all-encompassing, nor inexpensive platform available, it's my pick for best bet when building your website, as it provides all the services I need for the best price, comparatively speaking. Please note: Weebly is now owned by Square and will soon lose support. All Weebly sites will be asked to transfer to Square. Mailchimp : (Starting at $60 for 2500 contacts) While up to 2000 contacts is free, once your base grows, and you need to reach a larger audience, you can definitely check out their paid options. Papermart: Padded envelopes, shipping boxes, product packaging, drawstring bags, tissue paper and ribbons, this is the most affordable one-stop shop I've found to date for all your packaging and shipping needs.  Vistaprint: While definitely not the only option for printing your marketing materials, their 50% off specials (held regularly throughout the year) make this company the better priced option for the quality. Craftybase : Inventory Software (Starting at $24/mo) I've tried Jewelry Designer Manager Pro and Craft Maker Pro, priced at 250.00 and 150.00, for their respective downloads and, while it may seem better to pay one sum up-front, verses a monthly subscription, it's important to keep in mind that JDM and CM pro programs no longer offer customer or tech support a year after purchase. I lost my entire JDM inventory while transferring the program between computers and, since my purchase was more than 2 years old, I was offered no assistance through their team. Stick with the online, cloud-based monthly subscription and you're worry free. While this list is not fully comprehensive, it will surely give you a place to start when delegating tasks to e-services. Or, if you're like me, you'll opt for your trusty paper planner and stick to hand-written notes for most of your business needs!

A few months ago, I posted this photo online with the blurb "Super productive! Some makes for the month!". Seemed innocuous enough, a straight forward little pat on my back. I was productive, I kept creative, and I wanted to share that success with others. To my surprise, a conversation erupted as a result of this photo, regarding the concept of quality vs. quantity. Let me stress I didn't take the comments personally, nor do I believe they were meant to be taken so, but it sparked an interesting conversation that I wanted to discuss here, which touched on the idea that the production of multiple pieces (and how many is too many was never defined) somehow suggests, on the face of it, a lack of quality... that somehow over production is perceived as an actual thing! Let me say that I agree (and I've said this before) that quality is important. Pieces should never catch on clothing, unravel, beads or stones shouldn't pop out of their bezels, tool marks should be filed or sanded, etc... these things speak to the quality of ones work and should be appropriately measured before offering that work to others. Design and aesthetics of finished work, however, are a different beast all together. And I cannot say, with any certainty, to which the above conversation was directed. And, let's be real honest here.... quality is still more a matter of preference than irrefutable, universal fact. I have purchased handcrafted pieces that have kinks in the wire, the curves are a little wonky, or the weaves are not compressed. Why? Because those pieces tell me a story, which is more important than their perfection, or my perception of perfection. So let's talk about the implied idea above that there's such a thing as over-production, that producing too many things in some predetermined time frame can somehow be damaging to, not only the quality, but the artistry or creativity. While we can (and should) consider ourselves designers, artists or creatives, we are also, in many instances, business owners striving to support ourselves with our craft. And here's the thing: we shouldn't judge productivity as haste. As business owners, we have responsibilities to our families, our customers and our audience and, as such, we make certain demands on our time, including a consistent production of work. One of the most important things I've learned as a business owner is this: productivity is the key to any successful venture. Producing 50 pieces a month no more suggests a "rush" in our work than producing 5 pieces a month suggests care in the work. I know, I know. Talking about money feels icky to many artists. There's this idea that artists should somehow sacrifice their livelihood for their craft... the whole "starving artist" ideology that serves (seriously) no one at all. So, words like "productivity" rub folks the wrong way. I get it. And you don't have to sacrifice quality or artistry to meet those productivity goals you've set for yourself. You simply have to know how to save time (your most important resource) where you can, how to batch processes and streamline work flow. That someone can complete a piece two hours faster than someone else should never imply the work is somehow less . Of course we should never sacrifice quality, or cut corners to meet deadlines. But neither should we assume quality is lacking due to the speed of production. So, quality vs quantity? The two are neither mutually exclusive nor inclusive of one another. It's for the artist and their customer to decide.

I love what I do. It can be stressful, without doubt. I have shaken my fists at the heavens when my computer went in for repairs, my website glitched, deadlines weren't met, or distractions derailed me. But every day I'm thankful for the opportunity to do it, to share my passion and spirit with those who would have it. But, in the spirit of transparency, especially towards those who wish to have a go at similar dreams, I have my struggles. As do we all, I imagine. My personal shadow... that one challenge as a business owner that comes at me in the dark and places it's hand on my heart, wraps the tendrils of its fingers around my fears and doubts and insecurities is this: time. And the sacrifice of time. Even to time. Oh, there's a strong word, right? Sacrifice. It evokes images of virgins at the mouths of volcanoes, Aztec altars or even just the loss of simple creature comforts in pursuit of greater things. It suggests you can't have one thing without giving up something else. This is a perception often tied to the hopes and dreams of many small business owners... that we must sacrifice. "Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable... Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals." Martin Luther King, Jr. And it's not an untrue statement. Sacrifice is often required. But it's how we perceive the importance of that sacrifice that matters. And it's how we manage the impact of those sacrifices on our lives. I am an introvert. I have social anxiety. My home business has often provided me an excuse to indulge in my need or desire to be alone. But this has sometimes been at the expense of experiences with others. While I can pound out five pieces of jewelry in a single feverish night of work, I am also aware, at the end of the day, of experiences and interactions with others I've missed as a result. So where is the challenge? In finding balance. In understanding that I can't allow business to derail me from spending time on family, friends, myself even. I must challenge myself to step into some discomfort for the betterment of my spiritual evolution, to recognize when it's necessary to set my business aside for social enrichment. The challenge is in breaking free of my social anxiety, as well, and in recognizing when I'm using my business as a crutch to avoid spending time outside of my solitude. And this, while also not sacrificing my income! We all have bills to pay, need food to sustain us. These are real concerns. Real needs. But when those needs become a catalyst for our anxiety, unnecessary sacrifices are made. Sacrifices bred by fear. So, why am I telling you this? Because it's important to know we all struggle with our sacrifices, with our perception of the sacrifices we believe we must make, with finding balance between those sacrifices and the consequences of them. It's important to know that, through it all, there are those who support us and that we are never an island unto ourselves.

A while back, I wrote an article on giving and receiving constructive criticism and, in light of some recent social media activity, I thought it was a subject worth revisiting, but this time from the perspective of creative flow. What I read online recently was a statement declaring there was absolutely no benefit to giving praise for artistic work unless praise is deserved . Seems straight-forward, right? I mean, are we enabling improper technique, poor design elements or incomplete production with our placating reactions of "Great work!" in response to art posted online? This question, however, remains: deserved by whose standards? While one person might deem a piece of art sloppy or ugly or unacceptable, someone else might view it as a beautiful representation of creative expression. And, while I might not necessarily purchase for myself a particular piece of art, I tend to believe supportive reaction to that art is far more conducive to creative growth than a critical review. With that said, I applaud anyone who encourages critical commentary on their work. Being open to constructive feedback is an incredibly important tool. There is an art, in and of itself, to giving and receiving a critique that is both helpful and encouraging. But accepting and believing praise, especially regarding artistic endeavors often plagued with doubt and self-judgment, is equally, stunningly important. Now, let's assume critical commentary is unwelcome or unsolicited. Let's assume we don't particularly like the work posted, either because we consider it sloppy or unattractive, per our standards or aesthetics. Should we then refrain from offering supportive commentary at all? More importantly, should we discourage others from offering support, per our particular set of standards? Imagine this comment (real enough, as it turns out): "I'm so tired of reading 'Great work!' on jewelry that should never be posted online, much less for sale." This is a real comment. I've read some variation of it more times than I care to count during my years in this industry. And hey... there might even be some honesty to it, per the standards of the person making that statement. Of course, we have our own opinions, and those judgments define how we, as artists, create. The problem, unfortunately, is when we project those judgments on others. These are things to consider: There is a market for everything. Honesty does not equal universal fact. You are not the boss of any opinion but your own. So, now let's look at the purpose of praise and how that impacts our creative flow. How many times have you been frustrated with a creative project so profoundly you've reached out to the public in a desperate pitch for encouragement? So many, right? We've all been there. We've all been pushed to abandon our passions. And I even hazard a guess that many of us know when our work is inadequate on some level, to some set of standards. Yet, we need some consolation to continue, to push past our own perceived deficiencies and strive for perfection as defined by our own set of standards. Six years ago, I gave up. I gave away my jewelry, my tools, my beads. I was discouraged, disappointed in my progress as defined by my own standards. And, after it was all gone and I was resigned to live a life without wire wrapping, a stranger contacted me. She found a photo of a piece I'd completed years prior. The photo embarrassed me. The quality was horrible. My wrapping was unimaginative, I thought, perhaps even sloppy. But she loved it. She praised it. She commissioned a copy of it and then purchased again. And again. And it was then I realized that praise, or positive affirmation, is critical to maintaining creative momentum. Technique can always improve. By creating, it improves, whether we set out to do so or not. The act of creation is the conduit through which improvement happens. Praise, however, is a conduit through which creation happens. So, then next time you refuse to offer "empty praise", I hope you recognize how that strips the spirit from creativity. Instead of denying someone your support, lift them up. If you can't comment on the positives of a piece in its entirety, pick out a single element you enjoy. You don't have to sacrifice your own aesthetic or standards to support the art of others. You just have to suspend judgment long enough to see what you might otherwise allow your perceptions to easily dismiss.

Getting Started Disclaimer: I am not a tax professional and this is not a comprehensive look at keeping records for your home or jewelry business. Please contact a tax professional for a complete list of IRS or tax requirements. The system by which I've chosen to keep my records is electronic. I scan all receipts, and import into electronic files all mileage, cost of goods, and sales or expenses as they occur (ideally) or as an end-of-month record keeping task. These files are not only stored on my laptop, but on an external hard-drive, a secondary business computer and a cloud service. While at least one is always current, the other redundancies are updated monthly. These e-files are broken down into the following categories: Tax Year Income & Expenses Shipping Fees Packaging Supplies PayPal Shipping Fees USPS Shipping Receipts Website Sales : Imported from my sales platform on a monthly, or quarterly or bi-yearly basis. This tracks transaction number, payment portal, customer contact information, date of purchase and purchase amount. Non-Website Sales: Includes screenshots of PayPal invoices sent and paid. Mileage Includes (Spreadsheet): Starting yearly mileage, date of trip, beginning and ending address, purpose of the trip, starting and ending mileage of the trip, total trip mileage, ending yearly mileage, total yearly mileage. Trips to Include (but are not limited to): post office for the delivery of customer purchases, post office for passport photos (when required for business-related international travel), airport, lunch with business prospects, hobby or craft or office supply stores, trips to tax professionals. Inventory (Spreadsheets) Cost of Goods Cost of Goods Sold Cost of Goods (Gifts and Promotions) End Inventory (Raw Materials) Start Inventory (Raw Materials) Receipts (Possible Categories Include): Advertising Bookkeeping Office Supplies Electronic Devices Gemstones, Beads, Wire Payment Processing Fees Meals and Entertainment Displays Travel Tools Inventory (Raw Materials) While most of the sub-categories listed above are self-explanatory, let's take a closer look at one possible way of maintaining records for inventory. I have, in the past, used Jewelry Designer Manager Pro, but found the program rather cumbersome for my needs. I've discovered, through the years, that keeping a minimum amount of materials on hand is most beneficial to me when calculating the tax benefits or disadvantages involved with ones inventory records. Purchasing materials as needed, verses an inventory surplus, means my capital is not tied up in unused materials. Remember: you can only claim deductions on materials in your costs of goods sold in any given tax year, not necessarily on materials purchased. However, inventory purchasing habits are entirely dependent upon the needs of your business, the nature of your product, and the market to which you sell. Since my inventory of materials is limited, I find spreadsheets sufficient for my needs. Let's take a look at how I've set up my spreadsheets for inventory maintenance. My categories include: Wire & Sheet Metal, Metal Findings & Incidentals, Seed Beads, Swarovski, Gemstone Beads, Gemstone & Glass Cabochons. Each category is listed alphabetically and these materials are stored in their containers alphabetically, so conducting an inventory checklist (quarterly, ideally) is as painless and seamless as possible. When new materials are purchased, each are broken down by item name, size, number of items purchased, price per number purchased, price per each, and total cost in inventory. For wire, while most calculate the cost of wire used by inch, I have decided to calculate by weight, into price per gram. Sheet metal is broken down in price by sheet, but may be broken down further in my Cost of Goods spreadsheet, depending on how many pieces I'm able to complete from a single sheet. When a strand of beads are purchased, the strand is broken down by price per strand, price per bead, and total cost of beads available. Every time a bead is used in a piece of jewelry, for example, the amount of beads is subtracted from the Inventory spreadsheet and added to the Cost of Goods Spreadsheet. Cost of Goods When determining the cost of goods, each item used is transferred from the Inventory spreadsheet to the Cost of Goods spreadsheet and adjusted to reflect the amount used in the goods. So, for instance, I copy and paste the line "Copper Round Wire, Dead Soft 28g" from the Inventory spreadsheet, then adjust the "Grams/Pieces" column to accurately reflect the number of grams used in the piece while also subtracting that amount from the Inventory Spreadsheet. This way, both spreadsheets accurately reflect the transfer of inventory as each piece is constructed. While this may sound complicated, once the spreadsheets are initiated, it's only copy and paste to keep each updated. I always maintain an unedited record of my inventory at the start of the year, and create a separate inventory list which is modified in real time, as jewelry is made and supplies are purchased or used. When an item is used entirely, the line item remains at zero in my End Inventory spreadsheet. This allows me to accurately determine all the supplies utilized from the beginning of the year, including supplies purchased and used throughout the year. At the end of the year, however, all lines with zero items is deleted, and this creates a "Start Inventory" list that will remain unedited in the following year. In essence, the "2017 End Inventory" list becomes the "2018 Start Inventory" list, minus all zeroed line items. Cost of Goods is copied and pasted to the Cost of Goods SOLD list as each piece is sold. Customer name and date of purchase is added beneath the photo. Now, using a program like Jewelry Designer Manager can certainly simplify the process for some, since it's all-inclusive in a single program and tax documents can be individually exported as needed, I personally found it more work towards its initial set-up than I was willing to invest and, upon discovering that tech support was not offered for the life of the program, I hesitated to perpetually re-purchase. I once had to transfer the program to a new computer, my files were lost and no tech support was offered to help recover those files, so I had to start from scratch. Insert the use of spreadsheets, especially those created in a free cloud service, which are updated and saved in real time and can be accessed from any device. A Note On Bookkeeping Software I admit that I am woefully unskilled in utilizing programs like Quickbooks to their fullest potential. For a couple years, I used GoDaddy Bookkeeping, which was incredibly intuitive and easy to navigate, though still (for me) an unnecessary monthly expense. While it tracked sales, payment processing fees, returns, in-state purchases (for state sales tax reports), receipts and quarterly tax payments made, I discovered these were all things easily exported from my sales platform and payment processors, into quarterly spreadsheets, and it proved itself a redundancy I just didn't need. I'm saving myself a yearly bookkeeping fee and only adding 10 minutes of work to my monthly bookkeeping processes. And, honestly, most of this bookkeeping and exporting of data would keep until my end-of-year review. Ultimately, however, your sales, platform, payment processors will all determine your need for a specific bookkeeping software. In Conclusion Bookkeeping, inventory, taxes are all evil words. Evil, evil words. Though I have an understanding with my bookkeeping process, and me and my process are cordial to one another and exist as a working business partnership, I will admit I wont be inviting my inventory out for a drink any time soon. And while I understand this article is only a quick outline of things to consider, I hope you found it useful during the discovery and establishment of your own evil, evil bookkeeping system.

Tree of Life symbolism is known throughout a multitude of mythologies the world over, spanning generations, religions and cultures as a philosophical archetype by which we can all learn valuable life lessons. As a teenager, I was fascinated with Greek and Roman philosophy. I studied both the Greek and Latin languages in high school, and the mythologies  of these cultures figured into my artwork, poetry and other personal creative passions. Through the years, these interests spread like tendrils from Zeus to Odin. From Odin to Kabbalah. From Kabbalah to Hinduism. Soon, it was less about the individual god or goddess and more about the philosophy or metaphor of their story, at large. The Tree of Life is one such metaphor that seems, to me, timeless.... evolutionary, even, and embraced as such by countless cultures. In Hinduism, the Tree of Life, as depicted by the Eternal Banyan Tree, is a metaphor for hope. After a creationist flood engulfed the earth, this tree reached into the heavens and held the child Krishna safely above the flood waters when land was no longer visible. In Buddhism, at the base of the Bodhi Tree is where Buddha discovered enlightenment, thus a representation of wisdom and knowledge. In Norse Mythology, let's look at the World Tree through this quote from the website Ancient Origins: "When Odin hung, speared, for nine days on the World Tree, he uttered the words that he had ‘sacrificed himself onto himself’. This stanza gives us a description of the unity existing between the Godhead and the Tree in the myths. To emphasize this connection, we find in old English the word treow, which means both tree and truth. Etymologically, then, truth and tree grow out of the same root. Subsequently, in the Norse creation myth, man and woman originated from trees. " Here, we could discern that the symbolism is one of infinity, of flowing ceaselessly from one creation to the next, and a symbol for the thread that connects us all. In Jewish mysticism, the Tree of Life is depicted as the ten interconnected powers of the Divine Realm, and represents the harmony of creation. Whether as a metaphor or symbol of creation, wisdom, harmony or connection, the Tree of Life, in some incarnation, figures into almost every world religion or culture. So is it any wonder this symbolism has maintained its allure throughout history and figures predominantly, even today, in popular culture and philosophical belief? Trends in fashion are constantly evolving, but meaning remains eternal. And, when meaning seems lost, it's easy then to turn to fashion as a means of expressing our desire to rediscover that connection. The Tree of Life can remind us (when it's easy to forget) about our connections to our environment, to one another, to a spiritual or higher good, sometimes even regardless or in spite of religious preference. It's all-inclusive, all-forgiving, universal, if you will. I expect, in the years to come, this symbolism will continue to evolve in cultural prominence. While its importance may, at times, wane in popular culture, its message will, I believe, continue to prosper as a spiritual, philosophical and religious icon. These concepts will inspire and unite, connecting one creation with another through the symbolic reaching of its branches, forever rooted in mysticism and beauty. The legend of the Tree of Life will continue, despite the science of this new world, to connect the physical and meta physical with its green, reaching fingers. Are you reaching back?

In those rare in-between moments when I'm not making jewelry, or organizing my work space or re-arranging my website, or... ahem... Facebook, I am usually doing one of two things: photographing my cats or sketching. Perhaps I should try sketching my cats! Lately, I've been obsessed with hands. Perhaps because it's one of the few things I can draw fairly well, quickly and still find meaning in the process. It's not just about the act of sketching, though that certainly has it's purpose, but about the process of considering the art before I begin. It's about the entire experience, and taking from that some sort of introspection, hopefully, and growth. Perhaps I'm obsessed with hands because I work with mine every day, because they give life to creative expression. They can soothe and conceive, they can be stricken with pain and even cause it, they can fabricate, construct and actualize. Hands are a rare, but often unrecognized, gift which we take for granted more than we appreciate them. I spent most of the month of April photographing my own hands, and then using them as a reference in my art. In the first image is a fist, gripping a pair of holy beads with the strength and determination of the self-assured. By drawing that strength, I was also absorbing it. In the next is a forward-facing fist with wings and a bright crescent moon halo above it. Here I was, for lack of a better word, evoking action and momentum during a time in which I had none. And in the last is a gentle and relaxed pose, a tranquil finger on which a butterfly has perched. This.... this was to invite serenity. Hands are one gateway to the soul. How gentle we are with them, or fierce when the call for such has been made, is a statement about our self-worth, self-reflection and self-expression. Our hands can represent the journey we take with others and the journey we experience alone, through our creative endeavors or personal labors. Appreciate their role in your life. I saw we all go get a manicure!

Facebook is the devil. I'm not gonna lie. It is the hulking heavyweight in a long list of distractions that permeate my day. And, to be honest, I sometimes invite these distractions in a self-sabotaging, fear-based montage of "imposter syndrome". You know what I'm talking about.... all those icky self-doubt shadows that ride the shoulder of every creative individual ever, throughout the entire history of creative individuals. But it's not just Facebook that throws my work and productivity off balance. It's suddenly needing to clean my oven at 4pm on a Thursday, when it was just cleaned on Tuesday. It's re-organizing my bead trays for the umpteenth time this month. It's paying bills and grocery shopping and visiting the in-laws and birthday parties and graduations. And it's also every other hobby I can conceive of, with which to procrastinate. Finding balance when working from home is, to say the least, challenging. So here are some tips I've learned during my five years in business for myself: Minimize distractions. Don't give yourself an excuse to procrastinate! Turn off the computer! Yes, we all want to check our email and, as business owners, it's important to address customer inquiries. But schedule a time to do so (see the next tip). Check your phone, email and social media accounts once before work begins and once when it ends, but otherwise turn the endless distractions of the World Wide Web off while working. Work space is for work! Don't eat at your desk. Don't play World of Warcraft at your desk. And, conversely, don't work while in bed! Keep work separate from "play", and you're bound to see productivity improve. A clean home is a happy home. Once a week, schedule just three hours to clean your home or, at the very least, the area immediately surrounding your work space. Don't allow a pile of laundry on the kitchen table to distract you from creating! Clear the work space when you've "clocked out". At the end of my work day, clearing my desk of tools, wire and completed or in-progress projects allows me to focus on personal time and interactions with family and friends, without a mess of wire on the desk catching my eye while discussing my niece's graduation party with my spouse. What was that you were saying about needing a "Congrats" card? Because all I heard was "blah blah blah... wire on the table... blah blah blah." This habit also establishes a clean palette for a new work day and allows me to approach projects from a fresh or unbiased perspective. Schedule, schedule, schedule. And stick to it! I'd be lost without my trusty Filofax planner, though I don't exactly "plan" in the conventional sense. I don't itemize my tasks by hour, nor keep a calendar of important dates. But I do list my daily goals if for no other reason than the satisfaction of ticking them off. I've found a scheduling and planning system that works for me, so I encourage you to experiment. Try the hourly daily planner spreads, or the list keeping, or the master monthly calendar. Give the bullet journal a try, which is also useful for personal creative expression! Find what works for your lifestyle and your own personal expectations and goals. But stick to it! Examples of things to schedule: Days off. Even if you love your job, schedule time away from it. Meal breaks and exercise (important for sedentary business owners). Bill paying, grocery shopping and household chores. Daily or monthly work goals and the actions steps required for completion. Custom orders: dates placed, completion promise dates, shipping days. Business reporting: budgeting, inventory, taxes or mileage, for instance. Routine! Creating routine is the cornerstone of a productive work day. Reset your internal clock! Wake up and go to bed the same time each day. Get dressed! Don't work in your pajamas, as delightful as that might sound. Getting dressed says "I mean business" and increases productivity. Breaks! Break for meals and exercise regularly, but do so routinely... the same time (or as close to the same time as possible) each day, to re-establish the mental mindset for work. Do not OVER schedule! This one is so important. And it was one of the traps I set for myself when I began to experiment with scheduling my day. I'd fill each hour of those daily planner pages with a chore or task, for business or home, and when I'd under-estimated the time needed to complete these tasks, I found myself disappointed in my lack of "completion" at the end of each day. It was, to say the least, a motivation-killer. So keep your daily and monthly goals realistic! If you have tips or tricks for balancing your business and home life, I'd love to hear them in the comments below!