Significance

The end of the year always brings more reflection for me. I like to look back and mentally note how far I've come. The challenges I've faced, the hurdles I've overcome, and the victories I've celebrated.

2014

My personal life had some major, life altering, almost life shattering events. Things I will carry with me for the rest of my days, and situations that changed me to the core.

Maybe changed is the wrong word.
More, solidified my outlook.

I've always known life is too short.
We all do.

We never know what the next year,
or day
or hour
or minute will bring.

This year made all of that so much more real.

I'm done saying "life is short."

This phrase, it's not just words.
It's not something to say when life gets you down.
It's not something to think when you're at your wits end.

No.
"Life is too short" is a verb.
It's a thought process.
It's a way of life.

I choose to live with no regrets.
I choose to live "life is too short."

__

On the business front, last year brought the skills and knowledge I need to be successful.
I took time to develop, to become this person, this artist.
Now I'm all polished up and ready to shine.

Looking back remembering where I was, and how much I've grown and changed.
I feel proud.
I feel accomplished.

As a small business, sometimes it's hard to recognize where you've come. There's no one to pat you on the back or  hand you a bonus for your hard work. Celebrating the victories can get pushed to the side.

Ultimately I can say that I've run a successful business for over 4 years.
Something I built with my own 2 hands, my head, and mostly my heart and soul.

I'm so thankful for what I have,
my job,
what I do.

This work, it's heaven.

____

2015

Next year I really hope to put my new skills to good use. To make choices that are significant, and important, and to forget the rest. Leave it on the table.

2015, I'm ready for you! Bring it!

____

JUST A LITTLE CLEANUP.

ITEM 1:
There are so many ideas I have for the new year. I'm working on pieces behind the scenes that I just can't wait to show you. In the mean time, I'm clearing out space for them in the shop by having a huge CLEARANCE SALE! The items are already marked down in price. Somethings as much as $40-$50 off! Get them before it's too late!

Shop here. 

ITEM 2:
With the changes Facebook has made over the last few years, it's no longer feasible to do free shipping for Facebook fans. This will end as of January 1st, 2015.

I do appreciate you all so much, and I'll instead be looking to put this money back to you with better pricing, more giveaways, and more!

♥ Carin

Cultivate Positivity

Many of you read my recent post about continuing to swim, despite the challenges, working hard and never giving up.

I feel like I've continued to choose to not give up, but having a hard time making any real progress.

I have been putting the effort in.
It's never been about the effort.

It's about the rewards and what is being produced from all the effort. That is where my frustration lies.

In the past, a little effort has pushed the a business a long way. Right now it feels more like sprinting on a treadmill. No matter how much effort I put in, I'm not going anywhere.

So last week I spent some time wondering how I can be more productive. See more rewards with the same amount of effort.

As always, nature had the answer.

Recently, I've been letting such negative energy enter my space. Negative thoughts about myself and my abilities.
Words and ideas that are far too harsh for anyone to be having.

And then I realized, when a seed is planted in such harsh, infertile ground very little will grow.
Just like poor soil, I was planting my ideas and putting all my energy into growing in a bad pasture.
My negative energy and thoughts were smothering any good ideas I was having. And no matter how much energy I was putting in, now matter how hard I was trying, growing something in that type of environment rarely reaps rewards.

To benefit from a bountiful harvest, I needed to be planting my seeds in a nutrient rich and fertile ground. Planting here, will set me up for success. My energy and effort will not be wasted, and the chances of growing something beautiful surrounded by good and positive energy are astounding.

And so I cleaned....
... literally and figuratively.

I spent the weekend in my studio cleaning and organizing every square inch. Getting rid of any unwanted or old stuff that I no longer use, and made a ton of space for new work and tools.  Now when an idea comes, I can be much more productive.

In the same way, I gave myself some breathing room.
I cleared out all the negative thoughts and energy I was having.
I gave each idea one last glance, and then let them go.

 By clearing out old baggage, I cultivated space for new things.
New life, new ideas, new positive energy.

These earrings were born from this idea.

Large hoop like earrings. I resisted the urge to fill the void in the middle with anything.

You may see an empty hole in the middle,
but I see space for goodness to be planted. 

May you too clear out any negative energy, and only make room for good. 

Cultivate positivity.

Earrings available here. 

♥ Carin

To Sink or To Swim //

My whole life, creativity has been on the sidelines. 

Not even the sidelines, the water boy.

It was always a small part of my team, but I never had the confidence to make it a major player. 

I remember facing my college years, and wondering where to go.

On one side of me, I had a love for the earth, for nature, for biology. 

I always have and I always will.

On the other side of me, I had this urge to create. To make things and be artistic. 

I stood at the top of the stairwell, on the Northern Arizona campus, and looked down on the art department. I shook as I slowly walked down the stairs. 

I wondered if I was good enough. Because art was always on the sidelines, I never made the effort to develop my skills or abilities. I couldn't draw. I could barely take a picture. 

What the heck was I doing there? 

Could I hack it? 

After my 30 minute tour I felt alive. I wanted nothing more than to be a part of that. Whatever magic was happening there. Where students were making, and building, and bringing to life wonderful things. 

But instead I ran.

The story goes that I let the self doubt take over. 

I choose a biology degree over art thinking I would go into medicine or some other well known career. 

I loved bio. I loved studying it and learning. I still do. 

But it wasn't enough. It will never be enough. 

I was looking for more.

A part of me wasn't fulfilled. 

I wasn't happy. 

After a few failed attempts in the biology field. I realized art and making was missing.

I had to let my creativity be a major player.

It demanded it. 

And so I changed life paths. I dropped the biology craze and I started the jewelry business. 

I was happy.

Just a few weeks ago, I sat down with a friend. And I told her, I know what I'm supposed to be when I grow up. 

I'm a maker.

Plain and simple. A short, but powerful word. I am supposed to bring beauty in this world. In whatever form it may bring at the time. 

I need to work with my hands.

With my heart.

With my soul.

To produce... 

anything and everything.

But this career path isn't for everyone. In many ways, the stable life of a surgeon would have been much simpler.

Easier. 

There are days when I feel as though I'm back looking at colleges and wondering if I can make it in this artistic world.

There are days where I'll put my everything into a piece and it still not be good enough.

So here I stand, on the verge of letting the doubt take over once again.

Looking for an easy way out.

And I ask myself,

"Will I sink? or will I swim?"

I CHOOSE TO SWIM. 

I CHOOSE TO SWIM.

I CHOOSE TO SWIM.

Every time. 

I will not give up.

I will push harder.

I will dig deeper.

I will do whatever it takes.

This is me.

I am a maker.

May you too, choose to swim when an unfriendly current comes your way. 

Be true to yourself. 

Stand your ground.

And swim.

Items available here. 

♥  Carin

A Northwest Nature Moment

I get a lot of crazy ideas. 

Most of them never work out.

But some do. 

If you follow me on Instagram, you've probably noticed these amazing nature inspired almost mandala pictures. I've been really into creating them. I'm loving every aspect of them, from collecting the elements to setting them up to photographing them.

The emotional release of the imagery is almost cathartic. 

Recently I got one of my crazy ideas. 

To video the set up, stop-motion style. 

Not only did it work, but the idea grew into something so much more amazing than I could have ever hoped for. 

I got the opportunity to include work from an amazing, local singer/songwriter. We've been admiring each other's work for years, and this opportunity to include Allison Preisinger's work couldn't be passed up. 

I hope you love it! 

 ♥  Carin