New Year on the Horizon

So with the new year right around the corner, I am terribly excited!! The last two years have brought so much changes to my life...many of which I can't even begin to talk about. But so change comes growth. I must say though most of this growth is completely unwanted, however, I have had no choice, so therefore I am going to make the most of it. I think, no I will.

I did find out yesterday that another boutique that I am quite fond of is closing, out of San Francisco. Each boutique that has closed has stated "due to the economy", times are tough. It is heartbreaking...so I am off to the San Francisco International Gift Show in just 2 weeks...I hope that it goes well, but with the economy the way it is, it will be interesting to see.

I spent the last week in Las Vegas, can I just say, what a great trip it was...I went to Cirque du Soleil Elvis, which is great at Aria Hotel, I visited the Eiffel Tower, Hoover Dam, Ethel M's Chocolates, saw Jerry Seinfeld (hilarious, laughed my ass off), shopped, spa'd (massage and facial), ran every morning on the strip when it is quiet and only the drunks are up from the night before, I was an Elvette with Big Elvis at Bill's, saw all the decorations, oh and I did gamble, and won, who knew!!! It was a great trip, and much needed. I feel refreshed and have a nice perspective on some things!!

So to all of you....happy holidays...oh and here is to a Rockin' (good kind) or New Year!!!!

Here's to the Next Year

Happy New Year and enjoy your holidays!! Here's to 2011, a new beginning. I have made a few ecisions about what I am going to do differently in 2011. It is exciting to think of all the posibilities!!

Enjoy!!

Another Small Business Bites the Dirt

A couple of weeks ago, maybe longer, I received a notice from this great boutique I was in, French Hen, that they were closing. I was so sad to hear it, it was a great boutique that was run by a woman named Nicole and her wonderful mother, and sometimes Nicole's children. It had a very French feel, Parisian flare and couture uniqueness. I loved to go in there, it was everything I wanted my home to feel like. Then the other week I receive an email that a great site, Posh Mama, was closing. This site focused on mother's, delivering information and various giveaways to mothers, and they did a wonderful job.

But with the economy and lack of support from the immediate community these boutiques and others will continue to go out of business. In a country that allows people to dream big and then encourages originality, we somehow don't support it once it is established.

It is saddening. I challenge all the big businesses, making all the money and often monopolizing various industries to spend just as much time encouraging, supporting and directing people and monies to small businesses in their communities. It can only be good for the whole.

So I am off my soap box!!

With this Druzy I the....

A friend of mine found sterling silver and gold metals from an estate sale...what I have been able to do with the metals is so much fun!! The beaded wire above, I have never worked with, and a bangle is what I came up with...I love it, definitely a statement piece!!

So for the next month...literally from this day forth, I will be working towards making pieces for the SF show, and getting my display ready, as well as my little giveaways...that is my goal.

Oh and yes...I as of today have my business on track...so exciting!!!

Well off to zumba...now that makes me smile too!!

Sacramento, California

So living in the same town that you grew up in can be not so much fun...sometimes. It can feel like nothing is new and everything is the same. Which of course can be boring. But then you start to realize that there are some great benefits to "the same ol thing".

Well of course the obvious...I never get lost, which is lovely, I know where all the boutiques are, and the malls as well, I can find my favorite greek restaurant in a heartbeat, and know my massage spa phone number by heart (oh and they know me). Because I have been in the same place for so long, it is comfortable, stable and yes it is still fun.

I have been fortunate to run into people throughout town that have been huge supporters of me, kkpw designs, and what I create. So tonight I turn on the news, and Adrienne Bankert of Channel 3 is wearing my earrings. She is a sweet person, I met her several years ago at a fashion event, and she has been kind and supportive of my designs since then. Not to mention the support I have received from Good Day Sacramento, thanks Jackie, and various local blogs. But the best part of being in your home town, is that people appreciate my designs and that they are local, and that my pieces reflect Sacramento, or should I say Sacramento has had an effect on me, therefore an effect on my designs.

Best of Sacramento was last night, it was fun, and do you know how many people I ran into from all different parts of my life. Too many to count, but it reminded me that sometimes, there is new in old, you just have to be open to it!!

New Year

So for the new year, with regards to reading "The Happiness Project", it makes me want to start a year of working on being "happier". I almost want to follow Gretchen's same path, with a few tweeks here and there, that is for sure!! But the first month of her plan, she cleans and organizes...I love it. Although I have spent most of this year doing that, I am going to reinforce my organizing by going over and through everything in January. February will be month of doing something new....what does that mean? Well how about going to a museum I haven't been to, reading a new book, donating to a new organization, taking up cooking (that would be new for me, maybe I should start with a class first)...I know there is so much more to do, but I am going to start with the first two months for now. As for the jewelry business, I am going to apply the same philosophy. Get organized. Then try something new, a new technique, class, develop a new skill. Sounds so exciting and inspiring to me!! Hope your December has started out great!!