Be Charming.....

Be.

I have shared before that every year I like to choose a new word for myself. It helps me embrace something I need to work on during the year or just a reminder. I am not always successful but I find that having my word nearby helps me to remember my goal as the first few months of the new year passes.

For a long time I have been wanting to roll out the be line using my part of my tag line, be, and adding inspirational words as gentle reminders. I finally came up with a way to do this that I find simply enchanting. These charms are small and delicate and can be worn every day. I usually like to go bold but wanted to design the be line as something you do not have to remove so that your daily reminder doesn't get in the way of your daily life.

I am so excited with the new be necklaces and watned to share them. So what be necklace will I be wearing this year?
be fearless
because this year I plan to spend less time overthinking and more time embracing.....

Be Amazing....

Amazing.... my favorite word.

Be Amazing. Even better. There is a special place in my heart for those who reach out across the plains of the universe and take hold of that which is greater than themselves. They take risks so dangerous that many on the sidelines gasp! This is life. This day is the only day like it. You can not re-live it, you cannot take it back and you can not change this day. It is what it is.... but yes, tomorrow is a new day.... and tomorrow can be anything you want it to be.

Take pleasure in this day. Fill it up like a cardboard box with anything you like and imagine that you are the star of the show, the queen of the night, and the hero in your own happy ending. I find that those who shoot for the snow covered caps reach heights far beyond they ever imagined even if they do not reach the stars. This is the brilliance that only you can offer and only you can bring....

There is something so special about the New Year! It is a chance to be anything you want to be.... to imagine the wonderous possibilities. Take ownership of this year! It is the most amazing gift I can offer for when you own it, you control it. You can determine the course of this year and where it will take you.

So though many of us have felt the cold set grip of fear this last year I beg each of you to release it. Let it go and capture something true to who you are. Realize that your deepest and darkest fear..... aknowledge it's strength and it's ability to change the course of your life.... then realize it as a change in direction and not the end of a universe. Let go of that which holds you in bonds and remember that being safe rarely brings the pleasure of an unexpected adventure.

There is no place you cannot go, no person you cannot be, no dream you cannot imagine..... you may have to work for it....... but it is there waiting for you to realize it.

Xo and Happy Twenty Ten!
From the one that believes in you!

The Board

Adapting the Vision Board...


I had a friend introduce me the concept of a vision board a couple of years ago. You create a board using magazines, articles, whatever you want to idealize where you want to be. I loved the idea and went out and purchased this board for the studio.


My board however has adapted over the last couple of years to something I find truly useful. I use the board to develop new work. The actual bulletin portion of the board is where I tack up work that is in progress. I put anything up that has not been finalized whether it is a piece that I like but have not finished, an idea I like but have not fully explored, a piece that is missing a component, or even things that I have finished but have not decided if they will work within my permanent collection.


The white board is always a mess. I use this side for renderings of ideas that have not yet been fabricated in metal, items I need to order, appointments or things I need to do, and of course whatever current mantra I am working within.


This board has really taken on a life of it's own and has really helped me to build on what is missing. I am a visual person so having these pieces up where I can view them while I work helps. I am able to problem solve throughout the day and in a relaxed atmosphere. It seems everything is able to come together in it's own time and nothing is forgotten. I have also begun using the board to put up the finished collection as well. I can immediately see if there is a missing hole that needs to be filled or if there is a piece not getting along with the others.


I thought I would share the idea because it has become such an important tool in my studio.

Restocking....

Restocking...

So Christmas is just a few days away and November and most of December just flew by. I always forget how hectic this time of year is and how quickly time escapes me. The days flew by as I filled Christmas orders and stocked the shelves of retailers carrying my work.

I always look forward to the months following Christmas, as this is time spent working at a peaceful and steady pace. I enjoy my work most with a little pressure but without the anxiety of more to do in less time than I can do it in. I find that I get a perfect rhythm going when I work steadily and I enjoy each stage; cutting, forming, soldering, filing, sanding... it becomes a dance.

I spent the last three months researching my new designs and am so pleased with the new pieces that will begin rolling out in January. Each has gone through every step of the design stage and has been perfected. There is an ease that comes after this stage and you move from research and development to implementation. I am so excited but just like last year, I plan to begin these steps much earlier next year.

I am always surprised by how quickly the year rolls by when you gauge its progress by shows, holidays, and seasonal market changes.

Website Again....

Many Hats....

I used to hear this term all the time before I started Delias Studio.... I didn't think much about it until suddenly I found myself trying to specialize in all aspects of the business. There are some things I will always pay for ( a good accountant) but there are others that will stretch me too thin.

I have been wanting to develop my own website for awhile. I have been using creative pixels to host my site but it limited and it has served it's purpose but I have been anxious to get something a little nicer up. I want to keep it simple and clean but interesting and dynamic. I have spent hours trying to develop some skills in order to do this and have always fallen short but this weekend I did some research and found a program that even I could use. I built this using Freeway... and I think I am quite happy with the results. It's still fairly simple but much nicer than my current site and has a little style and edge to it. This is the homepage and I am going to continue developing the rest of the site but it took me most of day to get this page together.

So what do you think? Should I keep moving forward with this concept or should I save my pennies for a webmaster?

It's all Possible.

Dogwood Festival

I have always had private markers stretched out before me that I felt would check off points of personal success. Things I want but wasn't sure I could achieve. Some of them are short-term goals and some of them long.

In my own mind these things can be a bit intimidating. They are the things that push me to keep moving forward but also bring out the dark secretive thoughts that criticize my work and fear it is not good enough. It's a yen and a yang though for without the fears..... I would not continue to evolve and push myself and through pushing myself I sometimes find I can achieve these goals that seem so difficult when set.

One of my personal goals has been to exhibit at the Atlanta Dogwood Festival. Considered the premiere show in Atlanta it showcases some pretty extraordinary talent and has course some amazing metalsmiths. Every year I apply and each year I have been declined invitation.

Today I was throwing myself a small pity party, as I was not invited to a local show that highlights both local and national metalsmiths. All of the voices in my head came out to join the party when I received the e-mail congratulating me for my acceptance to the Atlanta Dogwood Festival. Instant validation prevailed and I realized that I have come so far and perhaps a small nod of encouragement from myself would not be outlandish.  This is a big step mentally for me and I feel that I am on track and moving in the right direction. Again, I must remember to believe in the possibilities and myself even when they seem distant.


Never give up. Always believe. It is all possible.

Recharged...

Sometimes a few days to step away can make all of the difference. This is the first weekend since I can remember that I did not spend a single second in the studio. I ate well, drank well, and generally spent my time enjoying myself.

I think sometimes life can be taken too seriously and only time away can remind you that this great adventure is first and foremost supposed to be fun.

Don't sweat the small stuff and yes, most of it is small stuff!