Love

Some things I’m loving right now in no particular order:

* Trader Joe’s Peaberry Coffee- grinding the beans and making at home. It’s helping me curb my addiction to buying coffee out. I used to spend SO much $ buying iced espresso 2x’s a day. Yep. So this is helping me with my new budget.

* My new life- working towards my goals and creating full time. Even though the new budget mentioned above limits from some luxuries my husband and I had gotten used to (going out to eat yummy breakfasts every weekend with soy lattes and mimosas and egg white scrambles, oh my! haha, dinner, lots o’ coffee, books, movies, etc.). Working full time for my self is totally worth it and eventually it will pay off and we can add the old luxuries back in little by little ;)

* Creating with wire. It’s fun. Also frustrating, but sometimes you create something new on accident that you like even better than originally planned. I like to switch my mediums up quite often but the past week or two I just keep picking up that wire even when I sit down to work with fabric.

* My early morning walks/yoga. It’s just the most beautiful way to start your day :)

* My city. I love Los Angeles. I’ve been living here for over 6 years but I still find something new every day and I love that. I was in Echo Park the other day and I hadn’t been over there in a while and I fell in love with it all over again. I also recently got acquainted with the fabric/fashion/jewelry district in downtown where there are TONS of places to buy supplies at discounted wholesale type prices. Thanks Mark Montano for introducing me to that area!

* My husband doing this silly dance in the doorway of the living room. I make him do it often to make me giggle. It’s hilarious! I would post a picture of it but I think he would have me killed ;)

 

Now I invite you to list what you love right now, whether in the comments or create a blog post and share the link here. Let’s spread the vibration of LOVE around as its the highest vibration and great for manifesting MORE of what we love. Ready, set, GO!

 

xo

 

Julie

Inspired Ideas

I’m a new age junkie, for real. I love it all. Energy work, meditation, frequencies, vibrations, la la la lala. You know what I’m talking about.  I like to get inspired by all things metaphysical while I create, while creating with source energy. It’s a full circle experience. A few years ago I made a 7 chakra pendant out of clay and acrylic paint.

 

And last night I sat down and quickly created this 7 chakra bracelet by 1) knitting a simple base bracelet (3 rows knit stitch for the desired length- then stitch the ends together to form the bracelet loop! easy peasy!) 2) needle felting little rounds of colored wool roving directly into the knit bracelet.

 

 

Isn’t it super fun to look at? 

This is a super easy project for a beginner knitter and felter, but if you aren’t up for the challenge I’d be delighted to craft you one! Click HERE to view the 7 Chakra bracelet in my Etsy shop :)

 

Thanks so much for looking! Be sure to follow my blog and stay tuned for tutorials and giveaways and new shop listings :)

 

xo

 

Julie

Volcano!

Ok so I don’t know if I’ve mentioned this previously but I’m a pretty huge rock nerd. I studied geology in college and it was love at first rock. I’ve been known to make inappropriate advances toward rock and mineral specimens. (in a joking way, of course. i think. anyway.) It’s something about the history of it all that just mesmerizes me. These prehistoric minerals and rocks created during crazy early earth times- it’s just amazing. Think of what they have experienced. I know not all rocks have been around foreverrrr but you know what I mean. Oh and fossils, don’t even get me started on those…ooooh boy.
So anyway, yesterday I picked up some wire and some pumice stones (a volcanic rock- you may know of it as a wonderful exfoliant for your skin) and created this:

another view:

Patch of dry skin? No problem, buff it up with your trusty pumice ring! Haha.
My husband said “This one is…ugh. Not pretty.” Haha. I of course told him it’s not always about being “pretty” in a traditional sense. I would describe it as “neat”, and I like neat things. And I hope other neat people out there can appreciate neat too!!
Oh and even better, this could be made for a guy too! I would make the wire band a little less fem.
What do you think?
Love it? View it for purchase in my Etsy shop here.
Be sure to add me to your blog reading list to stay updated on new listings, chances for giveaway, and exclusive coupon codes for blog followers!!
xo

Julie

Wired

Hello! Hope everyone is doing well. It's nearly been a week since the last day at my job. I find that time moves much faster without a traditional job! NOooooo. This isn't good.

So the other night as I was falling asleep I got this like download from the universe or something to create some new wire pieces.  So I hopped right out of bed and started creating!  I can't wait to roll them all out but for now, here is my first official one just listed in my Etsy shop.

Isn't the design so simple and sweet?

Anyone else work with wire? I'd love any tips you may have. I just kind of make it up as I go :)


xo

Julie

New Routine

So it's day 3 of my new position as self employed artisan. I've gotta say, I'm loving it however I am still working on getting into my groove. I'm trying to use the first week or so just really organizing my craft area and supplies in order to streamline my productivity.

 I've been waking up between 6 and 6:30 which I LOVE to get the day going like that. Maybe I should even wake up earlier. Yesterday I went on a walk first thing around the beautiful reservoir in my neighborhood and this morning I did some yoga in my livingroom. Such a wonderful way to start the day! Then came back to make coffee and have some toast and take my husband to work. It's nice.

(I took this yesterday morning- sun coming up over the hill and a tractor mowing the grass at the park)

 I spent a large part of the day adding new listings to my Etsy shop that I hadn't gotten around to before so that's good.

(a precious little floral mini tote, available HERE)

I think I will need to pre-structure my days in order to get the most out of them. I'm also thinking maybe planning a weekly blog perhaps even with tutorials and such.

So to all of you self employed artists out there, I am accepting any advice you may have as to keeping yourself streamlined/efficient/productive. It would be much appreciated :)

xoxo

Julie ooolie oooh (that's how my Grandma addresses me in birthday cards. hilarious!)