Amazed and Grounded

Last week when Etsy rolled out their new circles feature, I was amazed at the names of well known bead and jewelry artists adding me to their circles.  Big names.  Names of editors and contributors to the Art Bead Scene.  Names of successful artists.  Published artists.  Artists who teach and artists who are so well respected in this community.

I know I have been melting glass for five years now and I have been slowly working at building up my Etsy business over the last three years (or it will be three years in this upcoming February).  But I tend to keep my head down without looking up too much.  I feel small.  In spite of surpassing a major goal of 600 sales in my shop last month.  I feel small.  Every time I get an email notification that I made a sale, I'm surprised and delighted.  If Todd is at home, he is sure to hear me yelling at him "Honeys!  I just sold this set of beads!!!"  It's about as exciting as when I pop the kiln the morning after filling it up.  This hasn't gotten old.  I'm amazed when I see the number of people following my blog has gone up.  And I get a thrill out of that, too.

I am so very grateful for every one of my customers who helps support my addiction desire to play with fire.  And thankful for all of you who speak up and throw in your two cents or encouragement on this blog.  You guys rock!  You really do.  :)  And I'm amazed that somehow, I have ended up on Wikio's list of top jewelry making blogs and am surrounded by incredibly talented and successful company.  I don't know how the list is compiled or what criteria needs to be met, but I'm on there with a few people I have had the good fortune to meet in person and enjoyed their intellect, humor, talent and kindness.  Again, I feel small.  And wonder how I got here.

And just so you know I'm not getting too big for my britches over these things that amaze me and make me walk on clouds, I have friends who help keep me grounded and have no problem putting me in my place.  Like last week when my girl Tabitha had to ask if I had cleaned the light fixture or window sill in our entry way.  Because she has seen those two things and knows they are just disgraceful.  And isn't afraid to publicly point it out for me that I need to get off my toukis already.  Or laugh at me that I actually wore a dress over the weekend (because jeans are my uniform).  Or further laugh at how my body contorted as I tried to squeeze into tights and I wished I hadn't eaten so much Mississippi Mud Cake last month.  Tabitha is one of a select few friends who know me well and still love me.  Each one of them keeps me grounded.  I appreciate their honesty.  They let me be myself.  And they temper their harsher criticisms with kindness.  I couldn't ask for better friends.

Was I rambling?  I think I was rambling.  My friends won't have any problem telling me to shut up already.  I am expecting to catch some grief later today anyway because I still have the 57 beads I made on Sunday evening soaking in my kitchen sink and waiting to be cleaned.

Thanksgiving Holiday Break

On Tuesday, I got in my last hugs and pics of Little Horse before taking him to the kennel.  He is a sweetheart, but he can't be trusted left alone for more than a few hours.  I know he is in good hands because he gets to play with all the other dogs inside and outside all day long.  He will come home worn out when I pick him up next week!

Yesterday we drove down to Davenport, Florida which is just South of Orlando.  A normally 8 hour drive took us closer to 12 hours in the car with holiday traffic.  Even though we arrived before 10pm, I didn't get to bed until after midnight.  There were plenty of things I would have loved to have taken pics of to share with you, but I drove all but an hour and a half in my Mom's car.  During that hour and a half break, I was sleeping because I was so exhausted!  This is the one picture I did get when I woke up and took back the driver's seat.  I think Spanish moss on the trees is so cool.

This morning, we took off for Clearwater Beach and ate lunch at a cafe right on the ocean.  We sat outside and I enjoyed the best helping or Huevos Rancheros.

Then we walked all of 100 feet and saw this wonderful view.

There was no hesitation in taking off my shoes and socks to bury my pigs in the sand today.  It was so warm!  In the 80s with a nice breeze (that'd be 29C for you anti-Fahrenheit folks) and I didn't even get cold walking in the water.  I was shocked to find that it was warm enough for me to wish I had a swim suit to go all the way into the water.

Right as I walked up to the shoreline, I saw a dorsal fin.  There were only two dolphins and they didn't stay long.  I felt so fortunate to witness this because normally I'm the one with my eyes shut or back turned when everyone else sees the shooting stars or the deer cross the road.

My kids had so much fun chasing each other and running through the sand and water.  This is my most favorite shot of the day.

I liked the silhouette of Pier 60 against the horizon.

More pure joy and exuberance from my kids.  I really could not have asked for a better Thanksgiving Day.  So many things throughout made me pause and think about how thankful I am, both for things that happened today and already in my life.

My honeys is at the top of my list.  He is my rock and keeps me grounded.  He helps me to not be so serious and remember that being silly is a good thing.  I could not ask for a better father to our children.  Or a better supporter when I want to try something new.  He is my love.

I am thankful for my children, who help me see so much through new eyes.

My family and friends, who aren't afraid to remind me of when/how I screwed up in the past and how much I have grown.

My friends who are patient with my lack of reaching out to pick up the phone or send an email and trust that when I'm no longer drowning with work and life that I will call and email them.  

My time on the torch to create, relax and unwind.

My wonderful customers and friends who keep coming back to my blog to look and comment.  You guys really keep me going.  I know very few of you in real life, but your support and encouragement means so much to me.

So.

My way of saying thanks...

For coming back to my blog, even when I'm slack and can't keep up with posts.  

For being repeat customers.

For just being you.

If you see something in my bead or jewelry shop, enter GRATITUDE in the coupon code field at check out for 20% off your entire order.  This little appreciation sale will be going on through Monday, November 29th.  All items will ship out on Tuesday, November 30th.

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day if you celebrate this holiday.  

I hope that you are surrounded by love and have more blessings to count than you know what to do with.  

I hope that you may also have as wonderful of a day as I had today.

Thanksgiving

husband

kids

family

friends

pets

faith

torch

camera

job

roof

wheels

flowers

life

turn signals, when they are used

grace

kindness

helping others

making a difference

Jimmy Stewart

It's a Wonderful Life

angels

innocence

forgiveness

cookie dough

Moms

grandparents

Dads

magicians

warm weather

I bought a new torch!

It is a little propane torch for soldering and I tried my hand at it for the first time.  I realized that I need more workroom space and that the garage is better than my glass studio for this.  When I saw Lorelei's stand that her husband made her, I knew that this was a great idea and I needed to try it out for myself.  I made one a foot tall for necklaces and another 6 inches tall for bracelets.  I'm so excited!  I will be able to use these next Saturday at Cas's house when we have a jewelry party and then again at my house the following Saturday.  :)

Thanksgiving was an excellent day of relaxation, hanging out with my family 

(we were several important people short this year so I didn't have to cook as much....which freed up more hours to just hang out with my Mom & Grandma, look at the sales ads and sneak a nap before dinner!)  Chloe was my right hand at preparing all the dishes Thursday morning...she even made the green bean casserole all by herself!  

I had typed a TON more, but blogger is not behaving and I'm too tired to keep re-typing since I've figured out it doesn't like for me to copy/paste within this Creation Post spot.  I'll try updating later this week, along with a pic of our Christmas spirit and all the windows bedecked in wreathes as of this afternoon.  Check out pics below of beads just waiting to be strung up!