SEARCH RESULTS

One of the first things I learned as a home-based business owner was that the saying "you have to invest in yourself before anyone else will" (I have no idea who coined that phrase) was entirely accurate. BUT, I also learned that there are things you can utilize to propel your business forward that wont require the black-market sale of a kidney. Or both kidneys.  So I'd like to share with you some more resources I've used in my business practices.  ACCOUNTING, TAX PREP, INVENTORY MANAGEMENT: First, one of the most popular and prolific questions I'm asked regards accounting, tax preparation and inventory management. I am not a tax professional and encourage everyone to talk to a tax professional before instituting any accounting, tax or inventory software or processes. But, if you'd like to get your feet wet with some research, this invaluable resource was introduced to me last month that is a rather comprehensive list of resources to suit the needs of this category. Check out THIS RESOURCE (click here) from Cloudwards for a thorough walk-through of some of the most popular accounting, tax and inventory solutions.  PHOTOGRAPHY: If you've followed me for a hot minute, you'll know I'm a photography enthusiast. While, as a hobbyist, I have invested in pro-sumer camera equipment, those beginning to build their home-based business can use free, inexpensive or on-hand resources to create stellar marketing and sales photography.  Phone Apps and Computer Programs: The photos included in this image were edited using the Snapseed phone app, available for iphone and android users ( also adaptable for use on a PC, though I've not tried it ).   It was then compiled with another phone app, Pic Collage , also available for both iphone and android users.  The compiled image was then brought back into the Snapseed app to add the final text overlay.  The background color can be changed, as can the color and style of text added. These apps make marketing and promotional images super easy to build and share! These images were created by finding a free stock image (ie. the woman in the woods) from sites like Pexels , www.pikwizard.com and Pixabay . Each image is uploaded by users who like to share their work for use by others. Check the individual Terms of Use for each image to determine if they may be utilized for commercial purposes. Once the stock image is chosen, it's brought into the free PC photo editing program iPiccy . Check out Starla Moore's thorough video on creating outstanding marketing photos using the iPiccy program. Not a program or software, but still photography related.... No light tents, no external lighting, and requiring no additional purchases. Photos edited in Snapseed.  Note 8 Old cookie sheet Side Table WEBSITE AND ONLINE PRESENCE: I've said it before and I'll say it over and over again. I no longer have any affiliation with them, but if you're looking to build your business from the ground-up and finances are tight (we've all been there, may still be there, may find ourselves there again....), try Storenvy . It's free. It's customizable. You can link a free Blogger , Wordpress or Weebly   blog to it, create static pages for a gallery of past work, an About page, a policies page, for a complete online presence. For the price (you know... free), it's an absolutely amazing option.  These are my most-used or most-referenced resources in the running of my business, or have been in its beginning stages. I hope you have fun giving them a go!  Stay creative, folks! ​Nicole

Now that I am feeling a little more myself, I will be, for the time being (and maybe only occasionally) bringing back some favorites, such as the Tuesday Tutorial Treasure Hunt, video tutorials, and the "Finish It!" contest. Unfortunately, there no longer seems to be the interest required to continue the Tutorial Membership Discount Program. But hey.... take what we can WHEN we can, right? I'm very happy to finally, after all this time, have the energy to offer a free lesson here and there, and host a contest here and there and maybe throw in a video tutorial ... you got it... here and there. I can't go promising this will be a regular occurrence but it's for now, and that's got to count for something, eh? One of the reasons I wont make promises is because I do have a new endeavor in which I'm often focusing what extra energy I have. I've started a new website called The Witch's Rattle, where I offer all kinds of handcrafted magickal tools and ritual wares, for those with a more..... unconventional spiritual practice.  My spirituality is just one of the things with which I can credit my new found enthusiasm. It has always been an integral part of my life, since as far back as (eegads) the 80's, though I admit that I've sometimes not been as devoted as I'd like to have been. My spiritual practice has recently allowed me to express myself creatively, with new crafts that have even inspired my jewelry making. So far this year, I've made rawhide rattles, wands, spirit dolls and poppets, headdresses, amulets and talismans, because when I have the energy, I like to share it with others, lift others up when they are low or sad, because I understand what it feels like to feel alone. It's a wonderful thing to make something, pour my energy and intention into it, and to know others are using it, enhancing their own spiritual practice. What a beautiful thing to be and feel so.... included.  I had my grand opening last month, and it was so lovely to feel so supported, not just from friends and family and from those within the jewelry community, but from those newly met during this journey, as well. I want to thank those who have stuck with me while I rediscovered my  passion for jewelry and who have also entertained my newer creative endeavors, my random abstract paintings, weird dolls, and rattles made out of bones and bits and definitely a lot of love. I have not felt this invigorated in years. Literal and I feel I should credit all of you, who have rallied behind me, despite the emotional mess of my life these last three years (perhaps in spite of it). It is because of you that I now have it in me to give back to others which is, I feel, how it should always be, this cyclical movement of sharing.  When I was at my lowest, so many gave to me in so many ways, and I'm forever grateful. For today, I'm able to indulge my creativity AND my spirituality, with both Nicole Hanna Jewelry and The Witch's Rattle, and I couldn't feel more blessed. I'm excited for what's still to come. Thank you. ​Nicole

(Originally posted 5.6.2024) Well. Hi there! It's been a hot minute, hasn't it? In fact, it's been OVER A YEAR since I last posted a new blog post and that is just one of many things I aim to change these next several months, starting now.  When Covid-19 hit, the world was forever changed. We had to re-evaluate how we interact, how we work, how we manage our spending and finances. Jobs were lost or forever altered. Businesses closed amidst frustrations and tears and, quite frankly, I almost saw myself among them, especially these past two years. Because, with the chaos of Covid, came a chronic-illness flare that saw me ill-equipped to handle the new stresses now facing me. For two years, I struggled to work, to clean my home, to get out of bed at all, even. Still today I sleep 12 hours at a time, force myself to crawl from the cocoon of my blankets and do something, anything, with my day. And, if you've ever experienced chronic illness, you'll know it's almost always accompanied by it's faithful companion, Depression.  I struggled deeply. I cried daily. I saw very little point in moving forward, in striving to do and be better, when feeling so very low. So, I began to make sacrifices, as part of my effort to manage my illness and depression and simply cope with my new life. My business was the first sacrificial lamb, of course. I cut activities I enjoyed yet had no energy to continue. The Treasure Hunt Tuesdays, tutorial memberships, videos and live chats, and the "Finish It!" contests were all casualties of either Covid, or my attempt to take control again, in whatever ways I could.  Many times, I thought "Today is the day. Today I'm announcing the closure of my business", and I was ready to do it. I was ready to sell everything, beef up my resume and find whatever soul-crushing retail position this town could provide. At least, I thought, that's stable... that's a paycheck. I know what I'm getting myself into.  And yet not even that felt feasible while I slept half the day and cried for the rest.  I reached out when I could, when my energy allowed. I journaled at times, to help work through the traumas of my illness and the ever-present feelings of failure. And this helped for a time, for a day or a week even. But still, I slept. And when I wasn't sleeping, I was weeping. And through the struggle, somehow, I seemed to find the other side of it. Through perseverance and the support of others, I moved through each day, only thinking of the next minute in front of me. Eventually, the depression seemed to slink into the shadows, and I could see a bit more of the light. I wish I could tell you how, but that doesn't seem to be how depression works. I don't want to romanticize mental illness with some white-knight allegory about how all I needed was love. Sometimes, what you need is therapy and medication, the time AND the support of others. I was privileged to have that time and that support, required to see me through. I was privileged to have a doctor who listens (with an abundance of tissues and hugs). And, quite frankly, I got a little lucky that, just as I hit my limit, the darkness dissipated and the weight of sadness lifted. If I could wish anything at all for those who suffer illness and depression, it would be these same privileges and luck.  I handled what I could handle, gave up what I couldn't, and saw myself day to day towards some semblance of living. And I feel safe now, in my own head. I still chronically ill. I still sleep 12-14 hours every single day, break out in a rash when I'm hot. I'm still losing my hair, gaining unexplainable weight, and can't climb stairs without a sweat soon to follow. I'm still incredibly nervous about getting a cold or the flu, which almost always worsen my symptoms ten-fold. But, despite it all, I feel safe in my own head. And, for that, I'm eternally grateful.  So, what I wish to say to you, reading this now, is that I see you, and I hope for you freedom from your burdens, your illness, your stress and sadness. I want for you support and, while it's not a cure, the love of those who care for you. You deserve no less than that. And if you are struggling, just look at the minute you are in, and the minute coming next, and focus on walking from one minute to the other, and keep walking and, someday, it's not quite a chore. Someday, you'll realize there's a little more light by which to walk, and your legs don't feel quite so heavy and maybe.... just maybe.... you can smile and laugh and mean it.  ​I see you. I love you. Keep walking.

(Originally published 4.20.2022) TRIGGER WARNING: This post discusses depression. I've always, from the time I was 10, been an avid writer. I used to sit on our porch and wax poetic about the trees as if I were a brandy-drinking Henry David Thoreau, using nature as a metaphor for social structures. This evolved naturally over the years into poetry and fiction, however, I always held true to my diaries, completing more than three dozen during a three decade stretch... all of which were burned in a yearly ceremonial pyre of release! In 2016, with the growth of my business well under way, I began to recognize the need for a conventional planning system, which extended beyond standard notebooks, to help organize my projects, goals and tasks, while still maintaining a daily journaling practice. While I toyed with a digital system, I felt it never held me accountable because... well... I had no desire to view a digital planner. It made everything feel a little too clinical and clerical. Blech. So, to pen and paper I went! The Hobonichi planner became my obsession and I was truly excited about planning and completing projects, simply for the excuse to be inside all these beautiful books and crisp, crinkly paper! And the planner helped, too! I was more organized, more likely to stay on task if for no other reason than to enjoy the satisfaction of ticking tasks off my list with my favorite pen. I rarely left my house, but could now highlight the few instances of social gatherings and appointments that kept me connected to the outside world. And, with a daily journaling habit, I had a clearer path towards living a healthier life. It was a joyful, almost spiritual process, during which I would empty myself of the heaviness of the day. Then COVID hit. ​For almost two years, the entire world was asleep. I'd convinced myself COVID required nothing more from me than I already gave. But, the forced isolation and solitude did more to my mental health than I, already an introvert, could have anticipated. While I never put myself in too varied a social situation prior to the pandemic, I didn't appreciate how greatly my mental health relied upon the few planned social gatherings in which I invested myself. The social anxiety​ against which I (sometimes barely) won my battles was a small price, I learned, for the precious freedom to socialize. We need one another, dont we? We are not the solitary creatures some of us might convinve ourselves we are. So, without those rare social situations in which to invest my energy, I slowly withdrew into my own thoughts for company. But I'd forgotten, somehow, that my journals were meant to take the burdens of my day. Perhaps I thought "What day?" I was home. I'd done nothing to plan, had no experience to journal. But ignoring what was once a natural inclination to journal because the world shut down somehow began to burden me with my own negativity. In the past, I would've naturally turned towards journals during difficult times to work through the shadows and eventually... hopefully, see the light. But, for some inexplicable reason, I abandoned them and, as a result, the sadness festered deep in my thoughts.  I didn't understand at the time exactly the depth of the damage I caused myself but retreating from my journaling habits into a really poisonous internal monologue of negativity. If I wasn't putting these thoughts to paper, they took root and grew. They grew with a ferocity I almost didn't crawl out from underneath. My work suffered. Our income suffered. Our home was no longer a bright place of promise, even though I struggled to maintain a face of (if nothing else) benign resignation with some inkling of hope.  It was a dark time for me, the past (almost) three years. And, during a rare day of clarity, I realized at least one thing I'd been missing... my journals.  So, I dumped money we didn't really have on new notebooks, and I filled them. One after another, beginning August of 2022, I was filling books again. Books with 400 pages in them, and I was filling them in a matter of a month. A MONTH! I would fill them, rant in them, cry and scream at them, give them all my worries and then burn them, rip them up or throw them away. Better the books have those thoughts than me.  And I started to enjoy productivity again. I was releasing, while slowly, some of the best tutorial designs I've created (in my opinion, ahem) in years. Truly. I was proud and excited for work. I was making plans, again, for a future I could finally see through the darkness. I was able to work through the mud in my head with my journals and, as a result, experience clarity and, most importantly, a hint of happiness, for the first time in almost two years. I will not lie. The darkness almost took me.  So now I have many notebooks. For poetry, prayer, journaling and planning, for notes and tutorials and jewelry ideas. I have notebooks I haven't even found a use for yet, but they bring me comfort regardless. I have filled six 400 page books since last August. Filled them with fear and doubt and allowed them to strip me naked of negativity, to make room for something... bright. I am a minimalist, yes, and I had to work through a period of justification to have so many notebooks. But it's an easy justification to make once what was on the line became so frighteningly clear.  They have been my friend these last several months, when I felt the most lonely. Without judgement, without suggestions or opinions or ideas about what's best for me, they allowed me to work through the pain of depression. And I'm smiling again. Laughing again. Hopeful again.  I wont say that journaling is the answer for everyone or everything. How could I possibly know? But what I will say is that it saved me, and I'm grateful.  2023 may not be any easier than the previous three years, but I'm ready for it.

As any creative knows, there are days (sometimes aplenty) when our process is derailed, when our confidence is shattered, when our consumption of new information and new techniques overwhelms us and we stop. We stop creating. Sometimes for days or weeks or months.  And it's scary, right? It's a frightening prospect to consider our art may someday just not be there for us to tap.  But there are ways to nurture our crafts, nurture our creative spirits and feed the need to create. To do this, it's important to recognize when our process begins to suffer and the root cause. So I've compiled a little list (based on personal experience, of course, so these notes may not always be applicable to all creatives) of the seven deadly sins for the artistic soul. ​And maybe, just maybe, by recognizing when they happen, we can take steps to counter their negative presence in our life.  Thinking there is a right way to be creative or "do" art. Have you ever been told you're doing it wrong? That your art isn't art because you didn't do it the way someone else has done it? Have you ever told yourself something similar? Let me be perfectly clear.... there is no wrong way to "do" art. The act of the art is the only thing that matters, because your story matters, and in every piece of art is a piece of our story. Who is that person to control how you tell your story or diminish its important because it doesn't fit inside the paradigm of their own perceptions. Art is, and always will be, subjective. It's an indefinable way to express our own creative spirit. The expression matters, not the methods or techniques used.  Not taking risks. Oh, comfort zone, how we love thee. This is perhaps my biggest creative sin. I do what I know and I enjoy a place of confidence in my competency and the idea of failing at something new really, honestly, terrifies me. But one of the biggest ways to stifle creative flow and growth is by refusing to take risks. This doesn't mean you need the newest tool or the best supplies. This means it's important to flex the creative muscles any way you can, even when utilizing the materials already at your disposal. What matters is trying something new and sharing it with others. Because it's through the sharing of it that we realize our fears are misplaced.  Self-criticizing before the process is complete. Don't get me wrong, it's an important part of the creative process to be honest with ourselves about our work and the ways in which we can improve. But one of the quickest ways to derail progress is criticizing our work before we've even finished it. How many times have you scrapped a project and started over? By doing this, we are teaching ourselves that our story (here I go with the "story" metaphor again) is somehow flawed and, excuse me, but you... are.... not.... flawed . So I challenge you with this: the next time you want to scrap a project, fight the urge and push through. Use that mistake and build from it. Because what is a story without the mistakes from which we learn? And you might be surprised by the magic of your mistakes.  Inconsistent creative times. If you've followed my blog for five minutes, you'll know I'm a huge advocate for organization, planning and order. And while many creatives may fight this ideology and cling to the cliche that artists are inherently chaotic, there is an important role of consistency and order in the creative process. By this, I mean it's important to create daily. Every single day. It doesn't have to be gallery-worthy. It doesn't have to be wearable. It doesn't even have to be particularly pleasing to look at. It just has to be made, however small, however functional, however utterly UN-artistic it may seem. Create something every day, be it a sketch, a poem, collage, a journal entry, a prayer, a photograph. Even 100 ear wires or 5 feet of viking knit chain. All of these activities stimulate the creative muscle and it's through this daily stimulation that our imagination and creativity become habitual.  Consuming more information or skills than we have time to process. I see this one a lot. I want to learn bezel setting. I want to learn soldering, or metal clay or electroforming or acrylic paint pouring, knitting, pottery, crotchet! This may be hard to hear..... this may even be totally counter-intuitive to your nature..... but it's important to limit our creative endeavors to what we have time to really invest in and process. Learn something new, yes, but then do that thing for months and months. Do it until you don't have to think about it any more because your body knows what's required of it to tell your story effectively in your art. Then learn something new, and do that thing for a year. But, by consuming an endless library of skills, techniques or information, you're more likely to overwhelm and short-circuit your creative muscle than you are to flex it.  Believing there is nothing new to learn.  You know that saying "there's nothing new under the sun"? You should, because I've mentioned a time or two how much I hate it. The confusion here is that we sometimes believe learning is limited to technique, but art and creativity is more than that. Our voice and heart and spirit (however woo-woo that may sound) is part of the process, perhaps the most important part, and there are always new ways to express that spirit. I challenge you to spend thirty days.... one whole month.... working with only one medium, and make something totally different with that medium each time you pick it up. If wire is your medium of choice, make a pendant one day, a brooch the next, a sculpture, then a candle holder or a wall hanging or a picture frame. Teach yourself (through risk, as mentioned above) that there are endless ways to tell a story and you'll never know them all.  Toxic comparison as a form of self-sabotage . Oh boy. This is a big one and perhaps the most damaging of them all. Because there is no quicker way to dampen our creative flow than by comparing ourselves to others. And we've all done it, I hazard a guess, because we're socially wired to see ourselves as less than. Our bodies are less than those in the ads. Our paintings are less than those in the galleries. Our jewelry is less than those in the magazines. But that's doing ourselves an immense disservice, because comparing our work to others is diminishing the heart and soul of our creative flow. My challenge to you: go to Pinterest or Google and find that artist and his or her work who sparks you to say "I'll never be that good." Go on... do it. We all have that artist to whom we have compared ourselves and found ourselves lacking. And look at their art. Admire it for the beauty and talent and dedication it took to complete it. There is purpose and meaning in surrounding ourselves with the art of others and finding beauty and inspiration from it. But then look at your own art and note all the ways, even if you have to physically write them down, your work is amazing. Did you utilize a new technique in your latest piece? Did that wire flow in just the right way to lead into the next and the next and create a whole? Did the combination of materials spark joy in your when you put them together and planned your work? Be proud of your accomplishments. You made something! And the next time you make something it will be better.  So tell me, have you committed any of these creative sins? Are there sins you've created that I haven't mentioned here? I'd love to hear about them in the comments below!

For as long as I can remember, I've been a fan of art. All kinds of art, but drawing or sketching specifically. I used to sit at my kitchen table with my colored pencils, while my father cooked dinner, and sketch doodles of elephants and unicorns and fairies. Fantasy always appealed to me and I added fairy wings to everything. It's never just a frog or a cat because a frog or a cat that can fly always seemed a more sensible choice. While my mother was envisioning a career for me in nursing, I was sketching dragons.  So it seemed a no-brainer, as I got older, to invest a little time in art classes, as part of my school curriculum. I'd always been decent with a pencil, and could work with reference photos easily enough, but looked forward to the opportunity to learn techniques, work with new mediums and stretch my creative wings.  Little did I know, 8th grade art class would start a downward spiral of negative experience with the "creative" side of the educational system. It begins with Mr. Stanley, whose bald head and pompous demeanor I still clearly envision and, if you can't tell, for whom I still hold a great deal of disdain.  We were learning to work with pastels. It was my first experience with the medium, and working from the  still life of a fruit bowl (because those are always riveting, am I right?) and I was having a great time dusting all that chalky powder from my hands throughout the class. Mr. Stanley was making the rounds,  looming over the shoulders of students, correcting perceived mistakes and pointing out bad technique. To 8th graders. Sigh. I was proud of my work, and my fellow students were complimenting me. But, as the teacher rounded my table, he leaned in close and said "I'd like to enter this in the state school art fair, but these shadows need a LOT of work. Make them darker". I didn't think my shadows needed more dimension, but he was the teacher. He knew what he was talking about, right? So I worked those shadows, nervously, while he continued his circuit around the class. Eventually he made his way to me again and said (I kid you not) "That looks like shit. You ruined it." But he took it and shrugged and said he'd enter it anyway. My junior high school art teacher just told an 8th grader their art looked like shit.  And you know what? My piece of shit won 3rd place. In the entire state. Out of hundreds of entries. I thought he was rude and pretentious and a snobby critic, but I brushed it off and brandished my winning ribbon proudly while he said "You could have won first place if you hadn't messed it up." High school rolled around, and I figured I was done with art class and content to fill my sketchbooks in my own time and work with the medium that brings me joy. I was done with self-important, snobby art-critic teachers. Until I needed a class to fill my schedule and basic art was the only thing available. And you know, it was a good class. My teacher was impressed with me, she wanted to push me and didn't feel she had the tools in an introductory class to do so, so recommended to the school that I move on to the (already full) advanced class.  They made room for me and I was chuffed with myself. But worried.  For good reason it seems, because I almost failed that class. I almost failed a class in which the content is 100% subjective. The techniques were ridiculous, the projects totally obscure (for instance, we had to make a place setting for a famous person, from the place mat to the silverware). Gone were the innocent days of using oil paints or acrylics or charcoal pencils, because apparently the classics had no place in modern curriculum. The final project was 40% of our total grade and absolutely ridiculous. We had to sketch our home. I lived in an apartment. Do you know how hard it is to sketch an entire apartment building without any prior knowledge or experience with DRAFTING? But I did it, and it looked good. Damn good.  But that wasn't all. We then had to add texture to our drawing. The door would have carpet on it, for instance, and the windows would have a sponge, and the siding would be popsicle sticks. We had to cut and paste textures to our drawing. Then we would paint the textures and print our homes on a clean sheet of paper. I was horrified. The idea of ruining my perfect, clean, crisp beautiful drawing was heartbreaking to me. And also hella difficult! Because my entire building was comprised of really complicated lines and stair cases and small details, that I now had to try to translate with texture.  Needless to say, my print was a muddy mess and I received a D on my final exam, and a C in the class as a whole. The only C I received in my entire high school experience.  So, what did this experience teach me? What did two years of ridiculous projects and pompous teachers reveal to me about my art?  That I don't need to darken my shadows to benefit the aesthetics of others, and I don't need to make a place setting for Merlin to be artistic (I got a C on that project, by the way) and, as the artist, I know when to stop and when to move forward with my art, and I will never not listen to my own creative instincts.  Because art is an expression of self. And no one knows me better than me.  So suck it, Mr. Stanley. I'm an amazing artist, and ENJOY my art, no thanks to your criticism.  And I hope those of you reading this take your power back from the hands of those who would tear you down. You deserve to enjoy your art.

(Originally published 1.5.2019) If you follow me on social media, I'm sure you've heard me mention a time or twelve that I enjoy the process of organizing my work space. As goes the old saying "Cluttered space, cluttered mind", so go I towards a space that allows me ample room to express my creative tendencies in ways most productive for me. And, when you're living in a 1000 square foot condominium, with three other adults, sometimes organization and minimalism is born as much from necessity as it is from an inherent love of the process. One way in which I keep my space organized is, quite frankly (and much to the chagrin of many, I imagine) to limit what I own and what I purchase. As I've mentioned in previous blog posts, minimalism is a way of living I admire and to which I aspire. And this is by no means a judgement on those who surround themselves with supplies, who have rooms full of their hobbies and crafts, which spill out over dining tables and through hallways. Because, ultimately, we can only do what serves our spirit and our spaces in the best possible ways for the individual, and not the expectations of others.  But, if you're cramped for space, looking to minimalize or otherwise want to give a face lift to your work room or studio, my first suggestion (and probably the hardest to follow) is to limit and reduce your supplies, and keep only what can reasonably be used in a 6-12 month window. While I truly recognize how difficult this can be (we all love shiny things, I know), one way to help yourself stay organized is to allot a specified space for your supplies and commit to the limitations that space demands. I have two storage centers in my living room (aka studio) and do not buy supplies or tools that cannot fit reasonably well within them. Once those tools or supplies begin to spill out into other areas of my home, I pause, take stock, and reduce and re-home what's not be used in the last 6 months.  Small spaces also require quite a bit of compartmentalizing and creative storage solutions When tools and materials must share limited drawer or cabinet space, using storage bags, boxes, baskets or containers can mean the difference between chaos and calm. If you have a three-drawer storage chest, but fifteen different hobbies, dividing these supplies in boxes or bags, within each drawer, helps itemize what you have. When you shuffle through a drawer full of acrylic paints because you need the knitting needles you had no other room for, you not only waste precious creative time, but you also risk distracting yourself from a creative task by the inevitable pull of other supplies and hobbies within sight.  One of my absolutely favorite storage solutions are these weekender toiletry and cosmetic bags (purchased from Amazon). Not only do they have clear compartments (so you can see what you're reaching for), but they are roomy enough to store supplies for multiple hobbies or crafts. And they are easily portable! They are travel bags, after all, so it's easy to take your crafts on the go and, when you're home, tuck them away without ever unpacking a thing! This bag, for instance, contains two tourches, four cans of butane, a Dremel with attachments, third arm, and all the necessary accoutrements. Better still, these (or some variation thereof) are available in a variety of colors, so you can easily color code your supplies! Tan bag for hammers, red bag for torch supplies, blue bag for saws, blades, files and cutters., black bag for beads. Reach for what you need without the distraction of a table top full of tools! ​Happy organizing everyone!

Let me start with this: we're all human .  We're fallible and we make mistakes and sometimes we don't act in accordance with our higher purpose, with joy or happiness or for the  lifting up of others in the face of difficulty or lack of confidence. It happens to the best of us that we serve our own interests over those of others, and it's not my intention to suggest there isn't a time and place for that. I believe in self-love and self-care and that sometimes it's in our best interest (and therefore, the interests of our loved ones) to cater to our our own needs first. What's the saying? Take care of yourself before you care for others. Because it's incredibly difficult to commit to the needs of others when we can't recognize how our own time, energy and mental health is coping prior to or during this process.  So, how does this relate to the creative community?  While I'll provide some examples, please understand these are only that.... examples. Based on actual interactions and conversations, but examples without personal emotional attachment, for the purposes of this dialogue.  The creative community, especially in a digital era, is an incredible thing. It's a collective sentience from which a world of spirits conjoin to feed the whole. During the last ten years, I've been incredibly lucky and blessed to have experienced some unbelievably positive communications and friendships as a result of my presence and interaction within a creative online forum (in one capacity or another). And I can happily assert that the positive far outweighs the negative, at least when drawing from my own experiences. But there is a worm working its way through the essence of our communal purpose.  Perhaps it's always been there, this bit of darkness, and it's only the ever-growing digital world that allows it a stage for its play. But I'm concerned, folks. Truly. I run a large wire wrapping Facebook group, with over 26k members (and counting) and, while the majority of the interactions are (thankfully) super helpful, positive and from a place of growth and inspiring creative spirit, there's an alarming amount of negativity. And, having thought about it for some time now, I'm confident in my theories regarding its source. In essence, self-doubt breeds ugliness. Because there's an undeniable need to tear others down to lift ourselves up. It's easier to see ourselves as better than we believe ourselves to be, when we convince others they are somehow  less . In the last week, I've seen individuals criticize (and I have a very strong opinion against offering unsolicited advice or critical commentary) the work of others, for no other reason than to hear themselves talk. Because, ultimately, criticisms are only beneficial when shared in a manner that is empowering. This social skill, like any other, must be learned.  "Why did you leave so much negative space in this piece? It looks awful."  "It's no wonder this took you so long to make. You've completely overworked it. Simple is better." "Did no one teach you how to use tools properly?" "You're charging WHAT? For THAT?" In the creative community, when does serving our own interests justify questionable behavior? If everyone doesn't leave an interaction having been empowered, even if only a little, then there's no justification at all. It's not "helpful" to make any of the above statements, and I honestly and sincerely question the motivations of those who believe otherwise.  It's time we, as a whole, take a moment. Stop and think about how our opinions, and how we chose to express those opinions, affect others. We can no longer enable this behavior, nor foster an atmosphere in which it's more acceptable to say "Well you posted it online, so you should expect people to tell you they don't like it" than to say "I can't wait to see your next creation" or, if you can't or wont indulge in false compliments, say nothing at all. It's time we recognize that because we can offer an opinion doesn't mean we should , and it's important to understand the needs of those sharing their work before we commit to our comments to them.  Words have power. And this power is motivated by either negative or positive intention. Will you chose to use your power to diminish others, or lift them up?

I love a good documentary! So I've compiled a list of my top five favorite documentaries about the art world, how perception paves the way for art, prices art, how art is born and shared. While these are not related to wire wrapping, directly, there's certainly a correlation between the same sentiments expressed here in these films and the world of wire wrapping or any creative endeavor. Many can be viewed or purchased on YouTube, or on Netflix, though one was a HBO special, and I'm not sure on its current availability.  The Price of Everything: In a world where everything can be bought and sold, this documentary takes a bold look at how we value our own time, the time of others and where are values become skewed due to the perception of ownership and exclusivity.  ​My Kid Could Paint That: An eye-opening and daring portrait of how we might sometimes paint our own reality to suit our perceptions of art and its value.  ​Blurred Lines: Inside the Art World: Asks us to question whether or not the art world is more a multi-million dollar industry to feed the egos of the rich.  ​ Exit Through the Gift Shop: One of my favorites on this list, as it's essentially (in my estimation) a Banksy prank, by Banksy, perhaps even mocking his own popularity and the absurd propensity of the public to ascribe value to everything. Marina Abramovic- The Artist is Present: If there was one artist I would love to meet in person, it would be Marina Abramovic. The Artist is Present details her performance art career and exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art. Moving and compelling. NOTE: This one is sadly no longer available for free on YouTube, but it's well worth the purchase!

Something has settled inside me this year. A sort of urging to find more peace with less distraction, to settle down with myself in a sacred space and begin to feel and experience my own journey without the diversion of wants replacing or negating my needs. I discovered I was in a constant state of confrontation with my things which, instead of bringing me joy, filled me with a sense of frustration and claustrophobia. Too many clothes or purses or journals, all slowly catching me in their wave and pulling me from a clearer path with meaning and purpose.  Minimalism looks different for everyone and not every need is the same, so my journey may look a little less stark than some, and excessive to others. I've always been organized and tidy. I've rarely kept things out of sentimentality. And "collectibles" was a word I'd banished from my vocabulary. Almost a decade ago, I donated my entire personal library of 5000 books, and never felt more free from the burden of stuff. So I held on to that memory when starting this journey more fully, when it seemed too difficult to separate myself from my things. Things without meaning or function. And I was surrounded by my husband's stuff. And my kid's stuff. And it all felt.... heavy. While I can't control what those around me chose to surround themselves with, I decided to take some power back for myself. I tossed old clothes.... you know... those clothes we hang on to for the special occasions we've never had in the two years since we bought them, or the clothes that will fit "some day". I condensed my purses to what would fit in a single basket on the shelf in my closet. All things that I had a lot of were all condensed to similar baskets, with the intention that nothing should "spill over" from the space they were allotted.  And this applied to my craft supplies and jewelry supplies as well. While I run a business, and keeping a certain amount of supplies and tools are a necessity, I committed to not spilling into the kitchen or closets with my shipping envelopes or unused or superfluous tools. I would buy as needed. I re-homed the dapping set, tumbler, chasing and repousse tools that I either only used a handful of times or never at all in the two years I'd owned them. And every day, I'm moving things out, to make space for more me .  Don't get me wrong. I still have things. While I purged a ton of kitchen gadgets (I don't even own a blender or mixer any more), and my coffee mugs dwindled from eight to four, I still have things for the fun of it. I have an obsession with hand-knotted mala beads and tarot decks and my aversion to the term "collectibles" turns a blind eye where they are concerned. I am not so minimalist (nor do I believe I ever will be) that I'll only own five shirts, one pair of shoes, or a single plate and bowl and fork and spoon. But what I do have must serve a purpose ("knick-knacks" is not a term I understand), and sometimes that purpose is simply to act as a conduit to serenity. The jewelry I own, for instance, provides a sense of serenity for me, acts as a sort of worry stone, that I can wear, carry with me, concentrate on, meditate with. It brings me to center. But, when something stops bringing me joy, or begins to feel more a burden than a release from burden, I am now quick to let it go.  And what has this meant for my creativity..... downsizing my tools and bead stash and everything else? Surprisingly, it's opened up new possibilities for me. The tools I'd had and didn't use were simply broadcasting this notion that I was somehow "failing" myself. That I wasn't pushing enough boundaries. And, quite frankly, it was stressing me out! But, by moving them on, I discovered there were still so many more boundaries to discover with what I still had. Without the distraction of that tool I "may someday, eventually use" I've become hyper aware of ideas still untapped with the mediums I already know and love. And I'm in a space now peaceful and serene enough to allow me to explore those possibilities.  Now if I can just get my husband to downsize what's in the garage. That room gives me hives!

"Self-taught" is a prevalent word in the creative community and often misused or, at the very least, used without an understanding of our current educational climate.  In a world of YouTube videos, instructional files, magazines and books, I'd be hard-pressed to find a creative soul today who hasn't enriched themselves using one or more of these resources. And, as a result, were taught by others!  Now, I'm sure what I'm saying here might ruffle a few feathers. It's easy to split hairs regarding the use of this term, and there's a certain sense of pride in calling oneself "self-taught". I totally get it! There's often no formal training to learn to knit or paint or draw or use a camera. I'm not discounting that there is a great deal of personal dedication required to learn a skill without a formal educational system to push and reward us as students. We don't have papers to turn in, tests to take, and our efforts are not assigned grades by which we can gauge our successes and failures. We should, as creative souls, be proud of our accomplishments but, in doing so, should not forget those from whom we've gleaned even the smallest enrichment during our creative journeys.  And I'm not saying that there maybe isn't someone out there in the world who truly did learn and improve their skills without those resources I mentioned above. There are clearly a few creative savants in the world who, from birth, hold a degree of talent that can't be learned. But I'm confident in asserting we can all be improved upon and improvement comes often as a result of influence by others.  While I never attended a school to learn to wire wrap, to draw, or to take a passable portrait of my cat, I watched endless videos, purchased tutorials (thank you Eni Oken, IMNIUM, Lonely Soldier Designs, Iza Malczyk, to name a few), scrolled through many a DIY magazine at my local craft store, and joined creative communities where I could ask questions and explore possibilities. I would not be where I am without the influence and work of others and, therefore, couldn't confidently (nor honestly) call myself "self-taught".  But let's split hairs (because I know a few are probably dying to do so). Self-taught is defined as " having acquired knowledge or skill on one's own initiative rather than through formal instruction or training" and, as such, implies that many of us creatives would fall within these parameters. But this also implies that we learn without the help or aid of teachers. This, to me, ignores the influence of talented souls we meet and who inspire us to be better. What are those individuals who provide us with videos, articles and lessons if not our teachers? Without these influences, I'm not sure I'd have had that initiative to explore my talents and improve upon them. Please keep in mind, this is my perception of the term and I how I chose to personally relate to it, and I understand others may not agree. But it doesn't fill my heart with joy to congratulate myself on my successes without recognizing the work others have done to help pave my way. So no, I am not a "self-taught" artist. I am a self-learner. I take the initiative to read those articles, watch those videos, try those lessons all in an effort to improve my skills. But those resources are provided by teachers . And I intend to express how grateful I am for the gifts they've given me, and that I am eternally, thankfully, their student. But, no matter how you learn, or how you define your journey and your successes, I wish you all one important thing..... a long, creative life!

One of the questions I'm asked most frequently is whether or not it's okay to copy a design, or how similar a design needs to be before it requires attribution to the inspiring artist. I wish I could say "The short answer is...." but, sadly, as with most things in life, it's not quite that simple.  Let's get the obvious out of the way. If you've paid for a tutorial, followed a tutorial offered for free, or otherwise have verbal or written permission from the artist to replicate a design, feel free! As an aside, it should be noted I'm discussing a complete design and not technique. Techniques are not protected by copyright laws. If you see a weave you like in another design, for instance, use it! But use it creatively and originally.  I learned the netted bezel technique from the Eni Oken tutorial ,  pictured below, and used that technique with an original woven frame. Whether I used the tutorial or not to replicate the technique, it was utilized in an original design and therefore not a copy of the design. While attribution is the polite thing to do, in this instance, it's not a legal requirement.  This is also not a post about "accidental replication". You know what I mean.... those instances when two artists who have never met, nor been introduced to the other's work, somehow create pieces that are incredibly similar. While truly rare (especially in an age of Pinterest), this does happen. If you find yourself in this situation, and one artist can prove provenance (their piece was completed first), and they request a cease and desist, it's my opinion that the easiest and most professional thing to do is comply. Honestly, this isn't the end of the world. There are other pieces to be made.  As in my other posts on copyright, I'll reiterate that the idea you can change some variably-defined percentage of a design and still call it original is muddy waters, at best. There is no magic percentage that will protect you from copyright infringement. If you've been heavily influenced by another artist, the easiest way you can protect yourself and your work is to ask the influencing artist their opinion on the piece. Worst case scenario they say "Hey, that's a little too on the nose and reminiscent of the piece I made last month. I'd appreciate if you refrained from sharing or selling your version of my design." It happens. As artists, I understand we're often emotionally invested in the work we complete, and this response can rattle our sense of creative self, for lack of more effective phrasing. Rule of thumb: if you ask yourself "is this too close to (insert design here)", then it probably is. Ask the inspiring artist and go from there.  ​ With that said, copying has it's place in the creative world. Artists, for thousands of years, have copied and emulated the work of masters as a study to improve their own techniques and discover their own style. I often find photographs I like online and use those as a reference to sketch. If those photographs are not open source (ie free for use), I do not share my sketches utilizing those protected images. They are just for me, to help me improve my skills, and they stay between the covers of my sketchbook. It's good to remember that not everything our fingers touch needs to go out into the world for recognition. So if you see a design on Pinterest, and you want to give it a go, I'll be the last person to say "Hey now.... whatcha think you're doing?". But I would caution, loudly , these replicas should not be shared or sold, even with attribution, without permission from the inspiring artist. If you can't determine who the inspiring artist is, don't share it. I like to err on the side of caution. I suppose, in the end, the answer is simpler than I'd originally anticipated when I sat down to write this post. Ask. When in doubt, ask the inspiring artist. When in doubt, ask for the opinion of an impartial third party. Can  or should you copy? Yes to both. There's a place and time for it. What you do with that copy, or how you handle copyright infringement claims as a result of that copy, is another matter entirely. In the end, folks, I encourage only one thing... stay creative and happy weaving! Nicole