Intentional Stones

Momentum

I live a fair bit of my life as a firm acolyte of inertia.  It took me over two years to file for divorce after a nasty break up because I quickly settled into a routine for my kids' sake.  That time was crucial to my sanity, and theirs, but it also put a lot of my long term goals on hold.  As I sometimes do, I convinced myself that doing those few things left on my to do list, the ones that would answer the big What Ifs, were just too daunting. 

I had all these other obligations, don't you see, and I couldn't possibly find the time to take care of all those things.  It's the same roadblock we all put in our own way sometimes.  "I'd love to bead today, but I need that one piece..."  Never mind you could make something else entirely or run out for that missing bit.

Then I talked to a good friend who knows more about the things on my to do list than I ever will.  The things that looked so huge, so scary, so time consuming?  "Stop into the office," she said.  "Half hour, tops, and they'll have you sorted." A HALF HOUR?  Was she kidding?  As it turns out, the process probably took closer to five hours all told, but she was right about that office.  They got me sorted.

And now I'm back in college.  Taking real classes toward a degree I abandoned when I had my first child.  Shocked?  I am.  That kid is fourteen now.

In the meantime, Simbelmyne took her own huge leap, got past the idea that something was just 'too much' and got us the best showing at a sale that we've ever had.  I don't have words for how proud I am of her hard work or how grateful that her family supports her, and thus Intentional Stones, so fully.

After years of putzing away at this, of trying to chip away, Simbelmyne kicked us into high gear.  A real business, the real thing, our momentum has changed.  I only hope I can keep up. 

--Mina

Themes

I often wonder what our direction should be.  I see people in their shops really settling into a theme.  Defining their product according to a trend.  Working beautifully within a style or a genre.  And I've wondered if we would enjoy doing that.

Ink-Wear tattoo inspired printed clothing, especially shoes.

Tattoos are emblematic.  We choose pictures that work within a simple style and symbols that will endure meaningfully throughout our lives. But tattoos are difficult to design because the two dimensional images must exist on a curved and moving surface.  They also carry social significance, whether it comes from their direct meaning or the preconceptions others bring to viewing our tattoos. 

dottral Handmade pincushions.

Turning our passions into tools for our craft.  I've seen beaded knit counters, I have books about creating tools for my jewelry making using the skills I've learned, and now these beautiful examples of fabric crafting and embroidery.

verybigjen Schmaltzy Craftsy Handcrafted Pincushions by Jen Segrest. 

These items are delightful to make, and they complete the crafting experience.  I've worked on items for my work space, used my sewing and yarn working impulses to fill needs I have for storage in my studio.  

When I have a need that I don't have time to fill, it's gratifying to find another crafter who's selling handmade items that'll do it.  More and more I'm learning to look for these items first, and when I find them, I'll buy handmade.  

In this case, embracing the theme makes it easier for people like myself to find exactly what I'm looking for. 

Red Panda Chainmail

The specific technique theme has advantages for both the crafter and the customer.  Techniques can fill the needs of a specific interest category, like costuming or historic reenactment.   

One particular style or technique gives the crafter the endless opportunity to improve. I admire the ability to work this way.  Whenever I design a piece, I'm endlessly wishing for more skill.  Something I can only achieve if I stick to a lesson more than one item at a time. 

Technique comes from discipline and practice.  I love the intricacy of these chainmail pieces and admire the time and patience they take. The better we get at technique while we build interest in ourselves as sellers, the more involved, intricate and interesting projects we can take on for our customers. 

Catherinette Rings handmade Steampunk jewelry.

Trends in art, costuming and literature wander in and out of the attention of the world. The Steampunk theme combines specific techniques or materials with style and inspiration.  It's currently popular in movies, books and role playing games.  This particular style includes upcycling and intricate technique in the examples I've seen.  It draws from technology, geometry and Victorian flare.  It attracts fans of art, technology and science fiction and it's a beautiful art and costuming style.

Though it's another limiting theme, it feeds on hot interest in fashion, and so it's going to draw people in and get them interested in your work.  

Jens Pens handmade wooden pens 

This seller is creating within a much more specific product category.  Pens are something everyone needs, and yet rarely do we associate it with handmade.  The theme choice stands out as a specific niche.  Like the pincushions, this seller is handmaking tools, but for a much wider audience.  Re-envisioning a tool that we take for granted, she's making them special and beautiful through her craft. 

Pens have an appeal of their own.  I know I'm very picky about mine.  I look at the way it feels in my hand, the smooth flow of the ink, the width of the line.  Pens can be like clothing.  Loving your pen can mean loving what you write with it. 

This choice allows for technique, expertise in the product, and style for a specific audience.  It will make a beautiful opportunity for seller and buyer, combining the advantages of all the other themes I've looked at.

Do I know what theme Mina and I would embrace?  No, I'm not any closer to finding one.  But I see distinct advantage in a themed store.

-Simbelmynë

All sellers I've discussed are part of the The We Love Artfire Guild.  Please join me in choosing handmade!

I'd like to reinvent the clock

Time management.  It's my worst skill.

In making more time for one thing, another inevitably loses.  It's like my brain believes that time is compressible, so it seems like a good idea to plan to proceed with homeschool after visiting a friend to help her out after working out...All before making another few charms and then a bracelet.

All non-craft objectives were complete around 9:30 pm, leaving me with another 5 or 6 hours of work?  if I was completely clear headed and ready to work hard.......Well, sleep is optional, right?  And my moody nature is compliant?   

no.

On the bright side, the charms I made last night came out even better than the others.  Snowflake with a round cut quartz stone wrapped into the center, and three ornaments made of moonstone and fancy jasper, carved with words and designs.

Today, my eldest has already started on school so that we can run to a good bead shop to find a suitable chain for the bracelet.  (Ah, the other cost of poor time management, cash for things we meant to make.)  Then I need to find the time to complete the last charm, the gift, which will be a large squarish lapis bead wrapped in flattened patterned silver wire similar to the bow on the wreath.  The put it all together,  Photograph all the little individual works of art in the piece, and get to the post office before the last pickup!  (oh, wait, there are two kids to drag through their school today and the laundry........)

Not much better.

In my own stumbling way, I will get through everything.  But, this long rambling process of making it, just barely, through the day inevitably gets me to bed really really late.  I always feel like something has gotten short changed. 

I know I can make room for everything.  And when I take control of the time, I feel amazing.  I'm pretty good at the things I do.  And I can be better, if I sieze control of my time.

More on this later....

-Simbelmyne

Cluttered brain

This Saturday I was Sooooooooo scattered.  My normal ritual of clearing my head completely didn't work.  Usually breakfast and coffee, a half hour workout, a shower and some low grade television help me tune out my normal day to day concerns.  And I can bring out the ideas that have been stewing, waiting for me to have a longer block of time. 

Maybe the family stuck around for too long before they went into the great wide world of the borough fair?  Maybe my choice of fluffy TV has gotten a bit too dramatic?  Maybe strength training exercises don't have the same calming effect as yoga?  Did the mess upstairs keep my brain too occupied?  It's very hard to say.  I think I'll bring some earplugs and blinders upstairs to my room next Friday night.

So, I set to work on older projects.  I'm working on a charm bracelet, to practice sawing, sanding and forming.  I even set a bezel on one charm.  I annealed more of that copper from the bracelet I mentioned in one of my very first entries.  I soldered the last bangle, it still needs finishing.  And all this rushing around trying to do a million things, left me unable to focus on any one, and I had to put them all away unfinished.  Lesson learned.

I'm going to take my little notebook, examine each project that I have partially finished, and plot out  useful steps towards completing them.  It's funny, when a design is forming in my head, it's not this difficult to come up with a good work flow.  It's just when I put it aside for later that I lose track of what I'm doing.  

Anyways, this week, I'm looking for challenges.  In order to expand my skills with metal and craft, I need to find projects to make that are just outside the realm of what I know I can do.  I've posted a poll on my personal journal  to get random suggestions.  I'm looking through the step by step projects in Jewelry Artist Magazine.  I've pretty much decided not to take any classes in the fall semester, since the time and money are hard to come by, so I'm on my own.  I feel like such a newbie, especially since every time I look at a new technique to learn, there are more tools and more materials that I need to buy.