giddy about giddings

We made it. 2 days and 20 hours of driving.
God Bless Texas.
Photos to come soon...

1,800 Abs

The movie 300.
It was really good.
Half naked, tan, killing machines with rippling, quivering, muscles.
And the story was alright too...
No, but seriously, the way it was filmed, the saturated colors, the characters, all rock.
you should see it.

STUDIO FRIDAY: hope

What gives you hope? How do you keep it up? What or who guides you through the rough patches and makes you keep on going no matter what?


The unconditional love I get from him. I know its probably a little cliche and cheesy but it is the absolute truth. No one inspires me more than him. And when things suck he's always there to make me laugh and help me figure out my problems.
I love you.

which way do I run

Do you ever feel like you have so many choices you don't know what to do first? I constantly feel like that.
I get all these ideas up in my noggin' and I have a hard time managing my time to get them all done.
Today I need to update my website with all the freshly sold items.
I need to make more jewelry because I am running low.
I need to take new jewelry over to The Artists' Nook.
I also need to send an invoice out to Beyond for her order.
I should call that girl that wrote me a bad check for the third time and remind her kindly to pay me again.
I would like to go to the fabric store and look for some new purse patterns that I could revamp.
I would like to figure out what all I am going to take to Texas to sell and how on earth I am going to display it.
I need to decide if I want to be in the highlands street fair again.
I should eat breakfast somewhere in there.
I would love to have a ton of jewelry to take to Texas. a few purses, some pieces of art, and a handful of cash to spend while I'm there.

Have you ever been to the roundtop/warrenton antique fair?
It happens twice a year. Last year was my first year. I go with my mom and help her sell her antiques but I also get to go off on my own and find cool junk. The best spot I've found so far is Clutter. Beads By Sandy is also there, and Uncommon Goods (my other favorite). Not to mention the hundreds of random people just selling their wares.
It is like a different world. One where everybody is nice nad ready to cut you a deal (ok, not everybody, but most people).
A world where you can find the most obscure things you can think of.
A world where the Texas bar-b-que comes in a styrofoam cup and tastes so good at the end of a long day washed down with a Shiner Bock.
A world where Sharon from Sack Lunch (out back behind Clutter) is queen and she happily gives me sandwiches and cookies and even shares her dinner.
A world where there is humidity (enough to make me feel good compared to Colorado) and sunshine and green hills and blue bonnets and wild pigs and gigantic spiderwebs.
A world where there are gypsies and junk.

a little midnight snack

I started wondering a few years ago about the changing of the seasons. I know scientifically why the seasons change but I have often thought that maybe it was the collective concentrated thoughts of so many people focusing on one thing that made spring/summer/winter/fall arrive. Whether consciously or subconsciously everyone thinks about said approaching season. Imagine if we could put all that thought power towards other things in this world. What else could we change?

bring it on

"And then the day came, when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom."
-Anais Nin
This is such a metaphor for my life right now.
I have a feeling 2007 is going to be a good year...

our deepest fear

"our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate; our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond all measure.
It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, "Who am I to be brilliant, georgous, talented, fabulous?" Actually, who are you not to be? Your playing small doesn't serve the World. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that others will not feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of that which is within us. It is not just in some, it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give others the permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

i love that.

STUDIO FRIDAY: Fragile

The minute I read about this I knew I wanted to participate. Then I looked at the topic for this week and I knew exactly what was the most fragile thing in my studio.

I found this pair of photos at a flea market in France, I don't remember what I paid for them but I remember it felt like a lot. They are not literally the most fragile things in my studio but they are my favorite and my most dear, that makes them fragile to me. I don't know why and I can't explain it but I feel like I know this woman, I feel like her and I would have been good friends.

Not only are these fragile to me but I think the woman in the photos gives off a fragile vibe but at the same time a very strong and independent vibe. I think that is why I like them so much. In the photo with her eyes open she is just that; facing the world with her eyes wide open. Boldly and bravely. Then in the photo with her eyes closed she looks like she's listening to her inner voice, refilling her well and getting ready for the next thing she'll have to face. These photos give me courage and remind me to be myself and listen to my heart. Facing the world with eyes wide open and listening to my gut.

well this is a new sensation...

So, here's my blog.
Now, what am I supposed to do?
I haven't really written in a journal for a long time. I used to write off and on, but only when I was upset about something. I'd like to start writing about the good things in my life because there are so many. That's where the name for my business and this blog came from.
I remember when I was a little girl, whenever I got a new journal I always felt awkward writing in it without introducing myself properly to the pages. I'd write something like "Hello, new journal. I'm Whitney". Then I felt like it was ok to mess up the perfectly blank pages. There's something I love about a blank page, so many options, color or no color, big words or small, vertical or horizontal. Sometimes I get paralyzed by the options. That is sort of how I feel right now. What should I write about? My business? My life? Both?
I'm sure it'll come to me.
So let's start with the introductions.

Hello Blog, I'm Whitney.

I make jewelry. I'm trying to make a name for myself making jewelry. Some days are good and I feel hugely optimisitic and other days I wonder who on earth is gong to buy all this junk. I make 'odd' jewelry. I say that, only because I don't make traditional 'red bead, yellow bead, blue bead and repeat' jewelry. I make big chunky knit cuffs which I think are very cool and are bought mostly by middle-aged ladies. Which is strange to me, I guess I always imagine them on a young 20 somethings' wrist. I also make crocheted necklaces that should be worn three or four at a time. These aren't huge sellers yet but I know they will be. I've seen ones just like mine at Neiman's and Anthropolgie! Lastly, I recycle vintage jewelry... I LOVE this. I buy old jewelry and take it all apart and make new stuff with all the pieces. So far, this is my most popular jewelry. I participate in local fashion events from time to time and I have some pieces in stores around the country. I busted my butt last summer doing street fairs and such, I never made any money, but I didn't lose any either so I guess that's good. I don't know if I'll do that again this summer...
I have a serious addiction when it comes to vintage stuff. I love it. I love to have it and display it. I love to sell it. I love to find it. There's nothing better than spending a day searching the thrift shops for cool stuff. Someday I'll do something with this addiction, maybe I'll start another website or open a little boutique here in town. Who knows.
I am also a collage artist. I feel the most at peace and plugged-in when I'm making art. I used to make greeting cards from my art and they sold pretty well, but it was a tough road and the jewelry started taking off. I'll get back to the collage stuff soon and meanwhile I'm trying to find ways to incorporate it into my jewelry.
I bought some resin the other day, i'm excited to play around with it.
I live in Colorado and I love it. I'm getting very tired of winter and I'm really looking forward to sunny, warm days. I planted some seeds yesterday I thought they might help bring some spring inside.
ok, that's all for now.
Goodbye new blog!
xo
whitney