Thank you for so many things!

This is too long to put in one blog post, so it will be a several part post.  I think I'll intersperse some photos in the post ... even though they'll be unrelated to the text.  You're going to think you're at Erin's blog when you visit today, but you're not, I assure you.  I don't know why I'm writing this, but I feel compelled.  I hope you find something in this tome that will encourage you to do whatever, go out on a limb.  Sometimes the limb gets cut out from under you, but you can bless your enemies.  I have some enemies I bless nearly daily.  Had it not been for their jealousy ... I would never have left the nest.

First unrelated photo. 

As I write this I am really tired.  I wake up too early because I'm excited for the day to begin ... I mean, how wonderful is that! I hear my son upstairs working on a new song, belting it out and my husband's getting ready to start dinner, which is his favorite thing to do ... cook.  As I write to you, friends, most of whom I have never met in person but feel a kinship to, I am grateful for your encouragement over these past many months. You have contributed so much to who I am today by your encouraging words and kindness. I feel as though I am complete, finally at age 60!  I hope you don't take that long, but I had a rocky start, and I'm a late bloomer. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Second unrelated photo.

If I were to describe my life as a song, it would be "Fumbling towards Ecstasy" by Sarah MacLachlin.  I've thought of that many times since December 24, 2008, when I started blogging.  Back then I was a ceramic artist, making beads because my body had betrayed me.  Two rotator cuff surgeries saw me saying goodbye to my potter's wheel.  I have no idea what made me even think of starting a blog.  I guess it's because my sales at etsy sucked! But then again, I could barely get listings on etsy.  When I think of how long it used to take me ... Geez!


My early days of etsy were discouraging.  By early days, I mean about a year. I read everywhere that you had to give etsy at least 6 months for people to find you.  I guess people found me but didn't like me ... or what I had to offer.  By July 2009 I was ready to quit etsy, stop making jewelry, and start cleaning my house ... because it certainly needed it.  Then a miracle happened. Christen Olivarez, Editor of Belle Armoire Jewelry (BAJ), saw some of my work on flickr and asked me to submit something to BAJ.  I couldn't  believe it. In fact, I was convinced that she would get my things and then have to figure out how she was going to break it to me that she couldn't use them.

Third unrelated photo.

By this time, I had started enameling.  My enthusiasm was palpable.  Mary Jane Dodd was the first one to encourage me to consider writing a book.  I thought, "Who me?"  Then I remembered a blog post written by an incredibly talented artist, June Roman, that went something like this, "Do you remember when I told you I was thinking about doing a book?  Well, the book concept has been accepted!"  I used to visit June's etsy site all the time to drool over her work ... she was terrible about keeping up her blog.  So I wrote to her, introduced myself, and asked for her help.  I explained that several people had suggested I write a book and any advice she could offer would be greatly appreciated.  June was so forthcoming.  We also discovered that we were going to be in the Winter 2010 issue of BAJ ... firsts for both of us.

... to be continued   Hang in there with me. :-)  Barbara