I have been getting ready for three upcoming craft fairs as well as three consignments. I have been creating lots of beautiful sea glass and sea pottery jewelry, pendants and necklaces, earrings, bracelets and anklets. I have around 125 pieces completed and about 40 near completion, most waiting for necklaces. I am also trying to add two new types of sea glass crafts. One is a wind chime, the other is a sea glass frame. Oh, did I mention I want to add Christmas ornaments too? So make that three new crafts. I also have a facebook page and an etsy shop along with this blog.
This is my booth at a craft fair earlier this year. I will stick with these colors when I enlarge my display.
Along with creating everything mentioned above, I have been creating new displays for my booth. I am adding a new table, which means I need more fabric, which is on the list of things to do tomorrow. I have ordered new business cards and new jewelry cards. I have needed sea glass, drill bits, jump rings, necklace chain, lobster clasps, beads, wire, wood, glue, nails and screw eyes, clamps, paint, paint brushes, plexiglass and borrowed a neighbors battery operated saw. I have kept a detailed list, checked it twice, and crossed off what I’ve accomplished. This is probably the only way that I’ve been able to keep things this straight so far.
Creating the sea glass frames has been a real challenge for me. I am not familiar with wood working, and learning to cut the wood to the proper lengths with the saw certainly had a learning curve. My first choice of wood didn’t work, not strong enough, so back to the drawing board. I think that I may have finally figured the frames out. The wind chimes are coming along well, I have three completed, four in the works. Several people have seen them and all of them said they should be great sellers at the craft fairs. I also hope to sell them in my consignment shops too.
So, this morning I went down to my workbench and took a look around. I felt overwhelmed, so much I want to do. That’s when I heard this voice say “stop creating”. I heard it loud and clear and understood it perfectly. Doing too many things never works, something always suffers, and in this case it was me. I am a perfectionist and am a real stickler when it comes to the quality of my creations, so it takes me longer to create jewelry and crafts than it takes other people. I would rather produce fewer, better quality items. This I learned from my Dad who was a watch and clock maker and a perfectionist too.
So, that was it. The sea glass frames and the Christmas ornaments are off the list – for now. I still want to create them, and will, but after this rush is over.
For now I will do what I do best, create sea glass and sea pottery jewelry and wind chimes and more importantly, I’ll enjoy doing it.
