Getting Organized: My Everlasting Struggle

I love window shopping at places like Ikea, Office Max, and the Container Store. Why? Because I like to dream about how to furnish and organize my dream studio/office. But it's only been dreams. I want to be organized. I cringe when I look at my room and my desk at work. I've let everything fall to pieces. But all my recent readings on small businesses and reading everyone's blogs... well... I'm starting to get organized again.

Even just the small steps I've taken so far have made making jewelry easier.

Look at that box! That makes me INSANELY happy. I have a WHOLE BOX full of beautiful lucite flowers... most of which are from my order which I received yesterday. I just love looking at it and touching all the flowers. I know. Strange. But, oh gosh, I think they're just delicious and having them organized makes it so much easier to look at and admire them :P

I got the box from the Container Store. I have maybe 3 or 4 of these compartment boxes and 2 single boxes. This is the first one I've utilized. See, I really WANT to be organized, but I'm just lazy.

Now, my "studio" is mobile (everything I need to make jewelry fits in a lovely backpack) but if and when I have my own studio space, I'll probably want to store my beads in something like this-

My tools aren't the only things I need to organize. My time. My money. My life. This is just the first step. YAY!

Hope everyone has a fantastic weekend!

WIP Wednesday: Running Low!

I really need to buy SPOOLS of waxed linen thread. But, payday is Friday and I'm almost out NOW. And of course, my fingers are itching to make bracelets and necklaces. I bought the red thread a few weeks ago and have only used it twice. Even though red is my favorite color, apparently, I love brown, purple, and teal when making bracelets.

Speaking of bracelets and necklaces, Heather Powers of Humblebeads is hosting nature challenges from now until her book release in September. I'm really excited and can't wait to get my hands on her book. And this week's challenge is Trees.

I hope I have time to do this challenge this week. I love Heather's beads and is one of my beady heroes.

Hope everyone is having a fantastic week! Mine has been a bit rough but I think things are starting to look up.

Lucite Flowers

Currently in love with lucite flowers. They're inexpensive and light. They come in such beautiful colors and there are quite a few different kinds of flowers and leaves.

So of course, it makes sense that I combine my love for waxed linen thread and seed beads with some beautiful flowers.

 Teehee! Look at the sparkle in one of the seed beads to the left! That was unintentional! Love it!

And these flowers are so beautiful and inexpensive, they've inspired the beginnings of a budget bride collection.

I just have to have more flowers! So, I browsed etsy and found a wonderful shop that had a ton of different flowers! BellasBeadsandMore had 10 pages of flowers! I bought quite a few. And I can't wait until the come in.

Here's a taste of what I bought:

Jules, the shop owner, hand-dyes these flowers and they are just beautiful. I just can't wait to get my hands on those little teal beauties!

Unfortunately, I'm out of linen thread. Sadness. But the boyfriend is working on getting me more. YAY!

What a great way to end my Sunday. Let's all have a great week, shall we?

August Treasury!

My birthday is in August. On the 23rd, if you're really curious. :P

I made a new treasury in early celebration! YAY!

I used to hate my birthstone. But now, I love the olive green color. It's one of my favorite colors now.

August has two astrological signs- Virgo and Leo. Being born on the 23rd, sometimes, readings have me as a Virgo (the sign I identify with) and sometimes, I'm a Leo. I like to think I have the best of both signs. Hehehe.

Happy Friday, all!

WIP Wednesday: Flowers

I recently read a post about how having a regular "blog anchor" is good for your blog. I was trying to do this with Wordless Wednesdays a few weeks ago but I think I stopped because I didn't really feel connected to the posts. I'm going to try Works In Progress Wednesday. Apparently I love alliteration.

 Playing with polymer clay. My first attempt. A bit different from the sketch... hopefully will have beads to show next week!

Resin flowers and fresh water pearls- so girly.

 Not really a WIP, but my BF. Doing what he does best- watercolor. My messy set up was on the other side of the table- I was yelling at clay a few seconds before taking this picture.

So this week I'm loving flowers. Well, actually... I love flowers all the time! Lol. 

What are you working on this week?

Ahtee's Reads

I adore books. My day job is in a book store and books have been a huge part in my life. My family always had tons and tons of books around and going to the book store was always something my parents approved of. Here's a list of books I hope to read this month:

Business: A list of books I'm reading to help me get one step closer to my dream of living off of my own small business.

Made to Stick: by Chip Heath and Dan Heath- What makes a product "sticky?" The Heath brothers talk about the art of making ideas unforgettable.

Built to Love: by Peter Boatwright and Jonathan CaganWhat do your products need in order to make a sale? Emotional fulfillment.

Good to Great- by Jim Collins- Collins explores how good organizations and business can become ones that produce great results.

Boss of You: by Emira Mears and Lauren Bacon- The subtitle (which is what made me pick up this book) reads "Everything a woman needs to know to start, run, and maintain her own business."

Pleasure: Stories I'm hoping to read this month that just tickle my fancy.

Snow Queen's Shadow: by Jim C. Hines- One of my favorite authors. This is the conclusion of his Princess Novels. I kind of don't want to read it because it means the end of the series BUT I HAVE TO! Cinderella, Snow White, and Sleeping Beauty are a kind of Charlie's Angels. How could you not love this series?

First Lord's Fury: by Jim Butcher- Another final book to a series. GAH! What will I read after??? This is one I'm doing in audio and it's fantastic. The first book is called "Furies of Calderon." Imagine everyone uses magic and you're the only one who can't. That's the pitch that got me into this series.

Firethorn: by Sarah Micklem- An orphan (the best stories are centered around orphans) with amazing powers falls in love with a with a king's nobleman. Amazon says "Blood, insightful, emotionally wrenching, and beautifully written..."

Ghost Story: by Jim Butcher- The 13th book in the Dresden Files series. This is Harry Potter for adults. Want another good audio book to listen to? Pick up this series. All of them are a fun ride. And James Marsters (from Buffy) reads it. Releases July 26. Might not get to read it til next month. *pout*

I'll probably post blogs on each book (hopefully I'll read all of them). What are you guys reading this month?

A New Found Love

I've found a new material to love. Waxed Irish linen cord (or thread... whatever makes you happy).

I still love copper, mind you, but the colors this cord comes in... just makes me giddy.

 Charming Double Wrap Bracelets

 Branching Out

Leafy Wrap Bracelet

My blog and jewelry making has taken quite a hit the last few months. And I've been pushed to the limit, I tell ya. I'm forcing myself to work less hours so I can focus on my jewelry and blog more. Why? Because, right now, my job is not worth the stress and the attention it gets on the days I'm not physically at work. 

I'm starting to have nightmares about work. That's a bad sign.

So. I am taking back my life and moving forward. I know this sounds familiar since I've done this once (or twice) before. I'm hoping this time it sticks.

Be prepared, my friends, for regular blog posts, comments on your blogs (I love reading them, but haven't had the time to offer real comments), and of course, more jewelry.

Check out the shop for my wrap bracelets. Branching Out and my Leafy Wrap Bracelet (featuring a Marsha Neal button!) will be in the shop later tonight!