Bling! Bling!
Posted on | September 29, 2009 | 1 Comment
I love jewelry and I love sculpting, and both can be expensive at times. I am also a “casualty” of the current economic crisis in our country that has left me unemployed. Panicked? I was for a few weeks till I got it together and decided to suck it up and create my own job. So how’s it going, you ask? Well…I’m not living the life of luxury but I was able to pay my mortgage with my new “job” this past month. Yay!!! I sell my art on Etsy, a site that promotes hand crafted goods, and through word of mouth through customers and the Internet. It’s a great venue with some awesome people that I’ve been privileged to meet along the way. I also have joined a group of local artisans called, ArtsInRI, who sell on Etsy as well as do shows throughout New England.
What do I do? I sculpt. I go for long walks in the country and collect leaves which I preserve and use to imprint polymer clay to make wearable art pieces. I also have begun to create jewelry, which I am finding to be loads of fun. It is a nice way to make some money and I get to create and wear some pretty unique things for myself. Never mind that gift giving has become a breeze… 
The challenge I find is downsizing my life and deciding what I need and what I can let go. It’s tough when you tend to be a bit of a pack rat. As an artist , I can find a use for everything and will talk myself into justifying why I “need” to keep a certain thing many might consider tossing. (just created a nifty pair of earrings from an up-cycled sterling silver watch band)
The easy part has been cutting back on what I spend and becoming more aware of how I spend. I find now I eat better, sleep better, and am happier. I have chickens who help out by providing me with eggs and are a comical group in themselves. I hardly need to use my car so I’m saving on repairs, gas, tires. Big surprise, I’ve gotten to know my neighbors much better and by putting resources together (ie. gardening, bartering, pooling).
Is it easy? No, not at all. Some weeks I make a sale and some weeks I don’t. So it’s a constant ebb and flow of adjusting and readjusting my finances. Is it worth it then you ask? Yes. To be able to create a living from what you really love to do is extremely satisfying, and that my friends, makes all the difference in the world.
So buy hand made art when you can. You never know when you are helping someone realize their dreams and allowing them to pay the mortgage. 
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September 30th, 2009 @ 6:42 pm
Valerie,
As a fellow Rhode Islander I so can relate to your situation. I made drastic changes in my Life these past 2 years. I cut down on all the OT I used to work and made a decision to live within my means. It is tough as Hell, because for years I was chasing the Almighty dollar. The Dollar that almost cost me my Life. I worked so many OT hours for over 7 years that I developed High Blood Pressure and a rapid heartbeat. My doctor told me that if I didn’t address my situation ASAP I would more than likely have a Stroke or Heart Attack. So being that I love Life very much and have so much more I would like to see and do. I choose to “slow down”! What I gained from this choice was worth more than what I lost. I feel for you and know the Stress that each month can put on you. Trying to make ends meet is a constant worry. So I will spread the word of your site to as many as I can in the hopes of getting you some peace in your daily life. If I won the Lottery tomorrow I would be more than happy to help such a person as yourself and many others like you. But until I do I will let my friends and family know of your site. I hope in some way it helps. My thoughts and Prayers are with you. The Warmth and Joy that comes from your words and works of Art make you a very special person. Thank you for being a friend.
Michael