TGIF: end of a busy week!

This has been such a busy week for me!  Normally my weeks are kind of slow, not much going on and not much leaving the house, but this one...whew!  Glad it is Friday!!

The silent auction on my Facebook page to clear out some inventory went well.  Glad to be making some room on Etsy so I can get some Valentine's Day stuff listed.  Put more items on sale on Etsy and created a whole new section just for Valentine's Day (this link should take you right to it:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/DirtyGirlDiamonds?section_id=10643100).  Everything in there is heart shaped or has to do with love and romance.  A word to all you men out there trying to figure out what to get your love for V Day...women love jewelry!  And nothing shows more thought than something that was handmade (even if by someone else) or custom made just for her. 

Speaking of custom made, this week has been busy with custom pieces.  One I still have to finish but two are done and on their way.  This is one that was made that I have to admit, I absolutely love!  This is going to be a gift for a very lucky lady on her birthday and is a 34.12 carat genuine amethyst:

Talk about a stunner!  I hope she loves it too!!
Then there was this necklace that I made.  Sunstone and a sun face on silver plate.  Really turned out nicely and matches perfectly the earrings that were won in the Pet Helpers silent auction:

I love doing custom work.  Besides the fact that it gives me a chance to create something new, it also is amazing to see other people's creativity come through in what they are looking for.  Plus there is such an amazing feeling that I get when I make something for someone that makes them happy.  I actually feel like an artist when I get to do this.  :)

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend! 

Working on some things :)

So my New Year's resolution is still going strong.  I'm still working on me and getting back to the me that I want to be.  So far so good. 

One of the biggest parts of that is making changes in me to make me happier.  I'm letting go of somethings and embracing others.  Letting go for me is kind of hard.  I've learned to hold on to angers of the past as reminders of what I don't want in my life.  But I think by holding on to those reminders I've held myself back.  Kept myself in a constant source of pain even though I never really thought about it that way before.  So I'm letting go.  And it feels good.

I'm working on some things here at the house.  Cleaning out and clearing out...slowly.  Working on things with Gracie...trying to get her on a more regimented schedule with time limits to hopefully help with her ADHD and making new friends.  And I'm working on new pieces of jewelry and working on clearing out some old inventory.  I'm doing a silent auction on Facebook...ends tonight...to help with that.  Here is the link to that album:  http://www.etsy.com/listing/87995055/sale-30-off-new-life-oceans-keeper

So I just keep on working on things...and so far, I'm liking the results.  :)
(Here is one piece I just finished...not listed yet)

Holidaze and the recovery

Christmas and New Years seemed to fly by.  Partially because of things that never should have been, but also because of great times with family.  I was able to make a few things of those days, but even more since.  That was all thanks to lots of deliveries made to me during that time.  But for the most part...all of that time is now a daze.

I have several new things I am working on...a silent auction that will be on facebook sometime before the end of January to help my favorite pet rescue group, Shout Out Saturday where I will be doing special shout outs to businesses on FB that I personally like, Facebook Fan 50% off Friday sales, and special sales each month on hand picked items on Etsy...plus finding shows so I can get out there more. 

And then there are my New Years resolutions.  I decided to do things a bit different this year with my resolutions.  I made just one biggie....to get back to the me I was and want to be again.  For me that is so much more than the normal loose weight, get fit, get organized, etc...that is to get back to the me that I liked best.  The me that was more outgoing, stood my ground and put up a fight if necessary, didn't take sh*t from anyone unless I deserved it me.  I will not allow myself to fall into a passive quiet shadow that I was falling into...I'm going to be the stand up for myself woman that I had been.  And anyone that doesn't appreciate me being me can, well, get over it.

So I'm working on that...and it is a slow process.  When you tell yourself so long that you aren't that person anymore because you don't see that person in the mirror any longer, it takes a while to get back there.  Work in progress, work in progress, work in progress...my mantra LOL

But I will do it.  Just as I've rediscovered my love for making jewelry, I am going to rediscover myself.

Hope you all had a wonderful holiday time and that you are finding the New Year bringing you all that you long for.

A new piece just added today...well actually...6 :)

http://www.etsy.com/listing/85488116/captured-love-key-to-heaven-open-cage