Welcome to Inside the Studio!
Hello Art Bead Scene Friends. It seems like it’s been quite some time since I’ve had a chance to visit with you. There have been some changes in my life that have been keeping me busy. I’ll cut straight to the heart of it and tell you that I got a job! A job outside the studio. A job that pays weekly (yes I’m liking that!).
I am excited about getting out of the studio and back to work with other people. I had a challenging summer. You could hear the cricketts chirping in my workspace. My ideas dried up with the summer heat and I felt artistically tired. After a lot of thinking about my life and my direction I decided it was a good time for me to look for a job outside the studio. There are many folks that work hard and successfully create a niche for themselves in this art bead world we all love. Personally I find marketing my work to be daunting. Keeping up with trends and the ever changing desires of magazines and such is a chore for me. A chore that doesn’t resonate with my style. I’m pretty laid back and prefer to take life slow. I have a style and I’m not one who chases after too many trends. I stop often to listen to the birds and to smell the roses. I don’t care to rush about to meet deadlines for shows and magazines. I think some folks are cut out for this type of lifestyle. I don’t think I’m one of them. I love to create but a marketing guru I am not.
I’ve gone back to my accounting roots and taken a job as a bookkeeper for a large company that has a second location not far from my home. I’ll be handling all the accounting tasks in this location. I’m really enjoying it so far. I think this job will be perfect for me. The job is supposed to be part time but for the last 4 weeks I’ve been working close to full time. I see the light at the end of the tunnel and hope to be working on a part time basis next week. That’s where I want to be. I’m hoping the part time hours will allow me to have free time to create and spend more time with my family. I feel that creating without relying on it for my income will free up my creative spirit. I have to say that I like getting that regular paycheck. If you’ve relied on your art and craft for an income you know exactly what I’m talkin’ about.
Soooo….as far as what’s happening inside my studio, it’s been a bit quiet. I did manage to create some pieces inspired by the onset of Fall. It was down right cold in my part of the world this past week. We might even get a frost tonight. Yikes! It’s too early for that! Inspired by thoughts of Fall I got out some leaves I had collected, dried and pressed last year; before I ever had a thought about creating the Natural Impressions line. This means there are a limited number of these pieces available. When they’re gone they’re gone (until next year). As the Fall season gets into full swing I’ll definitely be on the hunt for fantastic leaves to press this year.
I thought these pieces would be fun in an Autumnal jewelry design.
beadrecipes
September 19, 2014 at 10:55 amWell, it's spring here in Australia, so I am thinking about beautiful bright colours rather than fall. Having said that, I just made a lovely bracelet in very autumnal colours, so I guess I am! (mlissa_trudinger at yahoo dot com)
Deb Fortin
September 19, 2014 at 11:45 amcongrats on your new job. I do hope it leaves you some time to create .
Your toggles are gorgeous and your style recognisable.
in fact just yesterday I was looking through (drooling i might add) the latest issue -Fall 2014 -of Jewelry Stringing and I saw one of your leaf toggles in the NEW BEADS article. I knew immediately it was one of yours. Congrats on that too. great to be published.
good luck with the new job.
Deb Fortin
September 19, 2014 at 11:50 amI didn't answer the question in my previous comment.
Fall is my favourite season , here in Ontario we have glorious colours in the changing leaves. I always make a few (ok maybe more that a few) pieces with fall themes or colours. i just received a shipment with fall coloured resin leaves that will soon be earrings and bracelets. can't wait to get started on them.
Kathy Lindemer
September 19, 2014 at 11:58 amYes, I am creating a piece of jewelry inspired by autumn. It is a necklace with a ceramic focal with a spider. I am working on links for it and a handmade clasp. It is for a Halloween challenge.
Divya N
September 19, 2014 at 1:45 pmI too went back to a full time job last month inorder to free myself a bit, financially, but I cant seem to make time to indulge in jewelry making anymore which makes me very sad. But I am planning to do a festive collection based on metals and pastels following the fashion trend of joyful juxtaposition for AW14-15
Mokki
September 19, 2014 at 2:45 pmI haven't started creating autumnal pieces yet, but I can feel my inspiration body clock getting restless. I love autumn, the colours, the smells. I'll start making after the weekend. I love the heart shaped piece, it's autumnal, romantic and feminine – some of my favourite things!
Katherine Thompson
September 19, 2014 at 2:50 pmWow! These pieces are fantastic! I think they are so wonderful and inspirational. My first thought was, "Why can't I think of that". Maybe some day!
Becky Pancake
September 19, 2014 at 3:32 pmHi Emma, Your lampwork set is yummy and I would be honored to win them. Yes I have a couple of fall pieces in the works right now. I am taking part in a fall blog hop in October too. Congratulations on your new job.
Erin S
September 19, 2014 at 5:24 pmuhhh, who won last week's beaded earrings? There's no name listed.
to answer this week's question, I love fall colors, and pretty much design with them year round. It's not like a special seasonal thing for me.
Sarajo Wentling
September 19, 2014 at 6:08 pmSo, who won from last week? The suspense is killing us! 🙂
I've been working on lots of fall inspired pieces for a big show next weekend. Lots of acorn and oak leaf designs. I'm especially excited about a resin pendant I just made with fall leaf scrapbook paper on the bottom and a little squirrel charm inside. Now I just need to make it into a necklace!
Carol Briody
September 19, 2014 at 9:43 pmOooo!..yes I am totally inspired by cool crisp Autumn! Our weather just turned a bit nippy in the mornings here in Delaware, the windows are wide open, there is a glorious breeze, the days are still sunny and warm to enjoy being outside. To celebrate, I signed-up for Toltec Jewels 'Octoberfest 2014' Challenge and just purchased the most beautiful Fall-inspired set of components to work with from BluMud for my submission. Love Autumn!
Carol Briody
September 19, 2014 at 9:49 pmAnd most importantly…congratulations on the new job! It's important to be happy in everything we try to accomplish. Finding the right balance is surely the hardest part.
Claire Lockwood
September 19, 2014 at 11:01 pmSuch beautiful toggles! I am always so gutted I can't win…
Patti Vanderbloemen
September 20, 2014 at 1:37 amCongrats on your new job…hoping you find your balance, too.
Lovely designs, as always!
Terri Del Signore
September 20, 2014 at 2:53 amI have nothing on the go for fall as of yet…
Glad you are happy with your job. Hopefully you will enjoy studio time without pressure!
Kristen
September 20, 2014 at 10:31 amI think we are soul sisters! I am exactly the same way when it comes to marketing, and smelling the roses too. I retired a month ago and one of my goals was self promoting but I seem to be putting that one off, haha. Congratulations on your new job!
Shaiha
September 20, 2014 at 11:45 amI participate in a blog hop every year celebrating autumn and I have found that creating jewelry for it helps me to ease into the new season though I am already missing the warm days of summer. It does help that I created myself a necklace using a single bead given to me by a dear friend.
Cheryl K Roe
September 20, 2014 at 1:17 pmI have always loved leaves, they are beautiful.
Ann Schroeder
September 20, 2014 at 5:41 pmI have to admit that though fall is my favorite season, I am not creating anything in response to it. That's just not how my mind works (yet). My creations are mostly in response to the beads themselves.
Robin
September 20, 2014 at 9:15 pmTwo of my beading buddies have birthdays in Oct.
I'm planning to make both of them Fall inspired jewelry gifts.
The lampwork beads would work in perfectly.
Must include the toggles too!
SilverstoneLt Jewelry
September 20, 2014 at 11:10 pmLooks so pretty!
haezz
September 21, 2014 at 1:56 amI understand that lull in creative flow. It can be such a battle sometimes, and others? Well, the ideas keep flowing so fast that I can barely sketch fast enough.
I love the Limited Editions of your work. Looking forward to grabbing a few.
Congrats on your new job and enjoy this new direction in your life.
Nan Smith
September 21, 2014 at 2:28 amFall is my favorite time of year. I always feel so energized after the dog days of summer are over. (not a big fan of heat & humidity!) My brain is in overdrive creating these days. Not one piece but several all using a lot of copper which is perfect for the time of year. Also I'm finding myself inexplicably drawn to orange which has never been a favorite colour for me.Love your copper work as always!
Ema Kilroy
September 21, 2014 at 8:30 pmThanks for all your lovely comments. I'd love to see and share some of your autumn inspired jewelry for another post I'm writing. Email me your photos at ema at emakdesigns.com if you'd like to share your work. I've updated the post to change the Etsy list date. I have a bit more work on these pieces than I'm able to devote time to this weekend (family first). I'll work on the pieces over the week, take some photos and have them listed by Friday.
Catherine Hex
September 22, 2014 at 9:45 amBeautiful pieces! Leaves are very interesting and you made an amazing job with them, Ema!
Terri
September 22, 2014 at 6:08 pmTo answer your question….Yes I like to create a fall piece each year….got some Ideas swirling around in my head.
Fall is a difficult time of ther year for me so being creative helps me. I really like your recent creations. Hopefully I haven't waited to long to check out some of you new pieces.j