sarawestermark

Monday, February 20, 2012

Gratitude

Today my heart is filled with gratitude. I finally have received a reprieve from chronic nerve pain from my back injuries. I am still in some pain, but it is manageable. I am out of my neck collar from my last neck surgery! I am in the metal studio and getting back to work--albeit slowly--but I'm working. Thanks for all your patience. I've been feeling stuck and a bit blue from having to take time to heal from my December 21st cervical neck surgery.

Today, I noticed that all three of my Kiva Loans have been repaid, so I decided to use that money for new loans. Kiva is an organization that lends money to third world entrepreneurs to help them help themselves. It goes where the communities that are most impoverished by war, internal conflict with no government infrastructure. These people cannot get any aid--period. These loans are given in $25 increments by donors like you and me. Its much more than just a donation, these donations are loans that actually get repaid. For me its extending my hand to friends across the world who I just haven't met yet. With programs like these I hope to do my part to help out. I hope that you will consider lending $25 to help.

Here are some of the loans I've contributed to:
Saran from Sierra Leone
Margaret from Sierra Leone
Galeh from Sierra Leone (pictured above--her loan still needs funding)
I wanted to pick women from a region that has been so dreadfully torn about by the diamond trade. Since I'm a jeweler, I felt that this was a fitting place to begin. (Note: I use after-market diamonds in my work)

Another great way to spread Kiva is to purchase $25 gift cards in which the recipient picks their own loan recipient. After the loan is repaid, they can cash it out or reinvest it into another candidate. Thanks again for reading my post. I hope that you might be moved to do one small random act of kindness.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Custom Cross Pendant

I have been wanting to make a cross in my Byzantium style and yesterday I finally got the opportunity. It was my turn working as "shop girl" as my part of being a member of a Co-op gallery, Port City Pottery and Fine Crafts. After a long day of restocking my work, making sales and wrapping packages, a customer came in and asked if I made any crosses. I didn't, at least not yet.....

I have had one in mind for a long time, but custom orders tend to take priority over creating new work. So these crosses never got made. I tried to guide him to other jewelry shops in the Cotton Exchange, but they didn't have what he had in mind. I decided that this would force me to make a piece that I've been wanting to do for 2 years. So I asked his price range and I it was enough for what I had in mind. I sketched what I have been thinking about for so long and I was excited when he liked it too.

Tonight my customer picked it up and was thankful that I made it so quickly. It was just what I needed to get this piece out of my imagination. I got to meet his sister when he visited the Cotton Exchange and I loved talking to her about goats and kale. It is very rewarding to do something that is so meaningful. I just knew it was the right thing to do.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Holidays are nearly here!

I have a heart full of gratitude and joy as I pack up three sets of wedding rings ready in time for Christmas. I am so grateful for my customers--that you trust me to make rings for your special day. I am excited to complete two more custom orders to arrive in time for Christmas-each one of these are pieces that I will enjoy making.

I go on and on about this because on December 21st I'm going to have surgery. I have another herniated disk--this time in my neck. I will be so relieved to be out of the intense pain that I've been suffering with for the past 2 months. I have been able to work due to the double blessing and curse of strong painkillers. Apparently this is a common injury for someone who hunches over a workbench. (Insert here a plug for good posture! ha!).

This injury has forced me to do things differently. I need to learn to take time for myself and to not push myself. I will have to change the way I run my business and I might have to rely more on online and custom orders. I do love to do retail, because I love to meet and talk to my customers. All of this thinking has made me realize how grateful I am for my loyal customers. I really do have the best customers in the whole world. To all my customers, I thank you for a wonderful year and I look forward to a beautiful New Year!

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Home for a few weeks...

I am home for a few weeks after an intense marathon of doing four back to back Art Shows. I do enjoy meeting all my customers and seeing their faces light up when they find the right piece.

ART SHOW Highlights:

At TACA in Nashville, Tennessee I met a woman who commissioned me to work with her on designing her wedding band with diamonds from her family. We decided on a tidal pool type of ring with a wide band with the diamonds set in rose gold. I am so excited to begin work on this.

At the St. James 4th Street Art show in Louisville (where I won an honorable mention prize), I met a lovely woman and cancer survivor and who unbeknownst to her just happens to be my new muse. (insert a smile here) She has incredible creative energy and I immediately connected with her and her daughter. She bought a hammered organic circle pendant with a champagne diamond in an 18k gold bezel. My mother and sister live in Louisville, so it was nice to get to visit them.

In Waynesboro, VA at the Fall Foliage Art Show I was thrilled to win 1st prize in the jewelry category. Its wonderful validation when your work gets recognized in a public way. Plus prize money is always a bonus! I don't know who does it, but the kettle corn popcorn at the show was the biggest and fluffiest I have ever tasted.

Stockley Gardens Art Show in Norfolk, VA was a great show and I got to room with fellow jeweler, Dolores Fawkes and her sister Pauline, who specializes in lampwork beads. The Virginia shows are closer for me to do than the Asheville NC shows, so I'll be looking for more shows in that area.

Now that I am home, I have taken my art show pieces and have them for sale at Port City Pottery and Fine Crafts located in the Cotton Exchange, Wilmington, NC. If you are in the area, stop by to see my larger pieces of work. On Tuesdays, I work in the gallery as well--so feel free to come by and say hello! Now I will have to get to work on my commissions. :D

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Ring A Day Book by Lark Books!

I just got back from doing two back to back art shows, and was so thrilled to open a package with my "Ring a Day" book inside! "Ring a Day" is a beautiful book full of images from cover to cover. With its field guide type of feel, this book is brilliantly edited by Marthe Le Van and demonstrates the project's breadth and endless variety of rings. Some rings are novel, some are funny, some beautiful, some challenge practical notions of what is a ring.

For the reader--it is a book of inspiration, imagination, and a visual snap shot of the creative process. For me, it is eye candy. I have several rings in the books as well--so I'm slightly inclined to be in love with this book!!! Enjoy and be inspired!