About Me - and the Blog!

You know a little about me already, if you read my profile blurb. Now I'll go a little more in depth about how I came to be making jewelry.

How did I get into this anyway? In general, I've always been creative; I took after my mom in that way! I dabbled with drawing, crochet, cross stitch, painting, and the list goes on, but I was never able to stick with any of them for more than a short length of time. Mainly because those mediums didn't call to my soul as something I NEEDED to do - was driven to do - and because I quickly grew bored.

In 2004, during a very stressful time at work, I was strongly instructed to find a hobby (if you want the specifics of this story, you'll have to contact me directly). I looked back over the years and saw all the things I had tried, and couldn't find a one that appealed to me. I had found them all tedious and nerve racking to the point that I abandoned them. So anyhow, I walked thru the store looking for a creative pursuit that appealed to me...that's when I happened across a display of beads and all things jewelry! Those beads, in myriad shapes, sizes and colors, appealed to the magpie aspect of my personality :) I started with inexpensive materials and made rather simple strung pieces, but they were well received by my friends and coworkers. My skills grew along with the variety of techniques I could command, not to mention the size of my bead collection!

I also determined over time that I was still subject to hair ripping tedium. Some pieces I made were tedious - but they weren't also boring! If I was asked to make duplicate pieces I really had to sweat the second piece out because it no longer held my interest. As someone who suffers from ADD, boredom means something is going to get cast to the roadside but I found myself unwilling to give up the beads! Making OOAK jewelry has granted me the grace of being able to get past the tedium of constructing a piece - the doing and redoing, the undoing - the having to drop back and punt when a design just doesn't work, but seeing the finished piece makes the hair pulling worth it, and all of it lacks the boredom that would cause me to abandon this creative avenue. I hope and plan to pursue my bead addiction for the remainder of my life. I'm in my forties, and that downhill slide is picking up some serious speed. As my physical health deteriorates and my ability to work outside the home goes down with it, I find myself looking forward to the day when I can sit in my bead-bombed studio and create full time.After all, who, having found their niche would be willing to cast it aside for more mundane pursuits that may provide immediate gratification but far less personal satisfaction?

Well Dear Reader, I'm sure your eyes have glazed over by now - assuming you stuck around long enough to read this sentence, lol. I don't plan more posts that go on about me, I just felt it important to give you a peek at the chick behind the curtain. Feel free to comment - good and those not so much so, are always welcome.

Thanks for riding along to the first stop of the Elemental Xpress.
Steph