Bringing you Up to Date....It's been a while!

Hello! Wow, it has been a while since I blogged! The summer season has been busy, busy, busy! Not so much with my jewelry (but that has been steady in July), but with trips, kids activities, and family visits!

I never finished posting articles about my trip to Washington D.C. in June. I will get back to that at some point! Of course, I have more pictures to show off, as well!

We returned home from the Florida Keys on Tuesday. We were there for a week, at a wonderfully relaxing resort. The weather was fabulous and the photographs I took there are stunning (if I do say so myself)! I'll be writing about that experience, as well.

Yesterday, I went to a wonderful local art show (juried) called Art Fair on the Green on the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse campus. This event has grown so much over the last few years! My husband was juried in for his fine wood furniture he crafts. However, due to a schedule conflict he was unable to participate! The good thing is that he is juried in for the next two summer shows as well. It will be a great exposure for him. I applied to this show as well but was not accepted this year. The reason? Well, the reason is that they already have many jewelry artists that are making beaded jewelry. So, just like Etsy, the market here is glutted for jewelry! I went to be somewhat of a spy....to see what jewelry artists were accepted by the jury. I agree that it was not the quality of my work, just that they already had many, many jewelry booths! I am working on new pieces; incorporating my photographs into the jewelry and believe that will set my work apart. I will continue to apply to this show, until I am accepted. The opportunity will eventually present itself, as the jewelry artists have to be re-juried in after their three years in the show. I would hope the show organizers would want some new "blood".

Finally, I just completed a custom set of Bridesmaids Jewelry for a woman in Maryland. Her wedding is in the fall and she contracted with me (through etsy) to make two sets of Navy Blue Swarovski Pearl Bracelets and Earrings. They are shown in the above pictures. Other custom work I finished this summer was a horse pendant necklace on leather. These have been a popular item for my shop. Enjoy the pictures!

I have moved most of my pearl jewelry over to my own website at;

http://www.carolsjewelryorchard.com

Some still remains on my etsy site at;

http://carolsjewelryorchard.etsy.com

If you are interested in what bridal or classic style pearl jewelry I already have made you may view those pieces on the first website I listed.

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy this Sunday! Mine is sunny and warm. I hope yours is too!

~ Carol ~

Planning for Summer.......Now!

Well, I finally have that list on my kitchen counter whittled down to only a few items. For weeks now, I have had a running list of things I need to get scheduled! Here is a sample of what my list looked like;

Register and Pay for AP exams- high school (done)

Register for Youth Options- (college courses for high schoolers) (done)

Sign up for Summer Sports at Park and Rec (done)

-basketball

-track

-archery

Sign up for Summer activity classes (can't until 4/4/11)

Get National History Day sponsor (done)

Schedule vacations

-decide where (still undone)

Turn in teenagers work schedule for summer (done)

-(around our schedule)

Organize digital picture files (undone and there's more than 8,000 of them)

Invite friends to High School Spring Musical Performance (done)

Put important dates on family calendar (done)

-state solo ensemble, forensics, AP exams, National History Day performance

Check with relatives coming to visit (done)

-when?????

-who?????

Clean closets (done)

Submit Juried art show applications by 3/31/11 (done----show is in July).

As you can see, I have been busy and I will be busy! Living in a relatively small suburban/rural community, activities fill up fast. I have learned, through trial and error, that I need to plan our summer now......in March! Ugh! Sometimes, that is harder than it sounds. You need to realize this is more that just a list.....each item involves important decisions on the part of several family members, as well as, coordination of dates, times, and available transportation efforts. Sometimes, yes....I am being a mom here, I really have to push to get those decisions made!

But, I feel like I am finally getting through most of it! The list was daunting when I first made it but now, not so bad when I look at what's left. It's manageable! All this activity (and I really try not to over schedule) will keep my children busy and not bored over the summer months. I also try to squeeze in some school work a couple times a week to keep them up to speed for fall. Now, I can start looking for the workbooks for that..........although that is a job that I enjoy because it entails going to the bookstore!

Maybe, I'll get around to organizing my pictures soon, too. Probably not! Next week brings setting up a local display of my jewelry at a business, holding a meeting of a committee I chair, leading the garden club at our local elementary school (we are exploring worms), expecting company, and attending the high school musical! Someday, I'll get around to those 8,000 pictures! :) The picture I featured is of the snow that was still on the ground in northern Wisconsin this past weekend, from last week's storm!

Piled high, but with Blue Skies! There sure won't be sledding in the summer!

What's keeping you busy?

I'd love to hear! Thanks for stopping by!

Carol