Trials and Tribulations

Soooooo long since I have written. Lots has been going on! So my little shop in Paris is up and running. It's a shared space which is less than ideal but it is in a great location which kinda makes up for it. I can't believe how much stuff I can fit in my space actually! So far, I am off to a good start. No advertising yet still a steady flow of people in the shop and sales as well. I also really enjoy working in the shop. I like my studio space and I like the balance of customers and jewellery making. I have a few worries with regards to sharing the space (with a handmade furniture company) but I am sitting back, observing and seeing how it plays out. So far, not bad! On a personal note, I did some hypnosis over the past two weeks. I was a bit skeptical going into it but I have to say, I am loving the results. The sessions were a cross between counselling and meditation almost. Lovely! It is doing wonders for both my health and my mental well being. I truly love it and will probably do this FOREVER. Now I am going to share with you a picture of my daughter at her first horse show. Cute?

excitement baby

Life is good. I officially have the keys to my little shop and am moving stuff in this weekend. I am planning to open on Tuesday although I won't have a lot of the wholeslae stuff I have purchased. I have only a tiny, smidgen of worry about this venture. All in all, I feel positive and really excited. I am not having that same, stupid conversation with myself where I doubt what I am doing and fill myself with worry. I really think this will be successful and it is exactly what I want to be doing right now. I am a little but bummed out that I am not doing it with someone who I used to be friends with. We had spoken a fair but about having a shop in Jordan or Beamsville and it is kind of sad that she isn't part of this. I guess things happen for a reason though and I am proud of myself for realizing a dream and making it happen. It has been loads of fun (although quite expensive) to buy things for the store. I am having jewellery (of course), art work, hand made bath products, mineral make up and more. I think it will really appeal to the Paris market. I am planning a grand opening party for the beginning of June but that's still up in the air right now. In the meantime, I have been ridiculously busy with custom orders. I have 123 items on my order board! Luckily most are smaller. Still though... I am SUPER excited that next week I will be working in a new studio! I think it is going to be a welcome change and hopefully inspiring!

Brick and Mortar Baby

Well it has been a few weeks of change! So, I was all set to rent a studio space and I had found a decent place with plans to move in this month. Then there was an issue with the renos and it became clear that the move in was going to be set back significantly. In the mean time, I learned of an amazing opportunity with much more retail promise. It is right downtown Paris Ontario which is a thriving little community with lots of foot traffic. I am getting the keys on April 21st and plan to be open on April 24th. I am going to be nestled in with a thriving cafe, a yoga studio, a bakery, a hand crafted furniture place, an art gallery and more. I think it is the perfect setting for me and I am so excited! When I was thinking of the other space I was excited as well but I was really worried about the location. I was going back and forth in my head every day...should I do this or should I go back to the corporate working world? Since I have made the decision to rent in Paris I have been sleeping better and have not been filled with self-doubt. I just have a fabulous feeling that this is going to work. Granted, it is still a gamble but I think you have to take a chance once in a while to truly reach your potential. Obviously the main thing I am going to be selling is my jewellery but I am also going to sell hair accessories, tiny paintings, hand made bath treats, hand made mineral makeup and perfumes. Who knows what else! I have been really busy ordering signage, buying packaging and working out displays. I find that all very enjoyable though and I am ever-more excited about this shop. In even more exciting news...Piper Shaw is three on Saturday! She is so excited, as are we. We are going to spend the day at the Toronto Zoo and then we are having a bunch of family on Sunday. It is going to be so much fun and this little lady deserves all the fun in the world!

Summer in March?

I can't believe the weather we are having! It is as warm here in March as it was in Florida a few weeks ago! Total t-shirt, shorts and flip flop weather. I am so glad to be done with winter for a while. Despite all of that, I am really struggling with self esteem lately. The last few days have been hard. A huge part is definitely my body image. I just feel hopeless. In any event, I am trying to push forward. I know that everyone battles with stuff in life. I guess I just wish it didn't affect me so much. I also wish I had enough self control to get ahold of my issues. Well, enough doom and gloom for today. Just wanted to vent. Carry on....

Crazy Month

Well it has been a bit of a wild month since I last posted. We our lost our boxer of nearly 10 years to heart issues. We still have her "sister" and we are all doing okay in recovering but it was very sad. We lost her right before we went to Florida which was awful. The trip to Florida was okay. The sunshine and warm weather was a much needed break, even though our winter has been pretty light. We stayed with family in Florida and I am now more convinced than ever that this is not a good idea. It is stressful for the people who house the guests and stressful for the people who are guests. This was a lesson that I already knew so I am not sure why I needed this reminder. On the business front, I am stressed out. I have rented a studio space that I will get in Apil. I am very excited about this space but I am also freaking out. I am really questioning if I am cut out for being in business. I know that I love to create and I am good at ensuring orders are filled etc but I worry constantly about the rotten economy and not having a steady paycheque. In weaker moments I want to pack it all in and get a job but when I am making and selling jewellery I love it and want to do nothing else. I really wish I had a crystal ball. In negative news, I have been rejected for the first time ever for a craft show. There was a jury process (as there often is) and I was not accepted. Kind of a kick to the old ego. Moving onward though. What else can I do? Piper Shaw is turning 3 April 7th! I cannot believe it! She is such a gorgeous little lady. Best thing I ever did! I invited her god parents whom we have fallen out with to come to the zoo with us but I don't think they will. I am ready to bury the hatchett and get on with life but I'm not sure they feel the same way. In any event, here is the special little lady with a pony friend.

Valentine's Day

On this Valentine's Day I am indeed in love! We went out for a nice meal on Sunday and this evening we just had pizza but it feels good to love and to be loved. Today I did a nice random act of kindness. I found myself alone at lunch so I decided to treat myself to fish and chips. I went to this little hole in the wall that has delicious f&c. When I got there I saw this lovely, elderly couple that had just arrived before me. They were obviously out having a little Valentine's lunch. They sat at the same side of the table and were clearly enjoying each other's company. I got my meal quickly (it was delicious) and I ate it quite quickly too. I was done before the older couople and when I went up to pay I told the waitress to add their meals to my bill. I told her I didn't want to make a big deal. I just wanted to treat them to their Valentine's lunch. She was very touched. She told her boss and her eyes actually welled up. I asked her to tell them after I had left. I didn't want acknowledgement, I just wanted to do something nice. On another note, I finally bought the Adele cd, 21. It is FABULOUS. I can see why she won a wack of grammys! Her voice sounds like it has been marinated in scotch! It is rich and velvety. This CD will definitely get a lot of action in my studio.

And just like that...

Business has picked back up! I love being creative. I love making jewellery. I love having some freedom with my schedule. I love buying beads and supplies. I hate the uncertainty of sales and money in :( I guess the pros out weigh the cons though. Life is good. I am really looking forward to Florida and hoping to find a bead shop while there! I am toying with the idea of renting a little studio space as well. It would be nice to have something more professional to set things up in and consult with customers. I hate having to bring them to my house. I do love having very little overhead though. If I was to rent a space it would need to be pretty cool and also pretty cheap!! Lately I am loving memory wire. I just love putting together a wild mix of beads!