A whole new look

This challenge has done several amazing things for me recently and everything seems to be falling into place. Through the month of October I put myself through a challenge that I pursued because I knew I needed the discipline. The discipline to complete a repeating task every day. To accomplish little by little a larger goal I have set in my dreams.

I am definitely a dreamer. I don't go a day without thinking up some wonderful idea for a new design or future plans for the bigger picture. Similar to most people, it is much more difficult to follow through with the dreams and goals I set forth. This challenge forced me to take the next steps toward those goals, and it was totally it.

Every day for a month I posted at least 5 items to my shop. I started out great, every day they were up and shared before the days end (some very late at night) but still they made it!  The purpose was to be consistent. If it had been any other time in my life I may have told myself "I will get that done tomorrow" or "I can finish this in the morning" and then putting it off again and again.

Some items were old pieces I have had laying around or packed up in jewelry boxes and some items are brand new collections. Days where I had the privilege to spend at least a few hours in my studio creating. Always with the hustle by the end of the day to get them photographed and listed.

I was able to share 155 items, some old some new. I was focused on creating new designs that are beginning to define my aesthetic and style.  I found many new ways to create the designs I have in store for the future and am learning the how to document my work and share it.

I have the freedom now to create new pieces without the old ones weighing me down. Most importantly, I was so overwhelmed with all the tasks ahead of me that I was struggling to chose a name and website for my business, which was holding me back.

Now everything just seemed to fall into place through this challenge! I am very excited to announce that my business will have a whole new look that connects my talent and passion with who I am and what I love. A new name, new colors, new logo, and a new beautiful website coming very soon!!

Have Faith. Everything else will fall into place!

Got the Mondays? Normally Id be just like everyone else getting up early and getting my self prepared for the first day of another long week at work. The weekend went by too fast and there just never seems to be enough time to really enjoy it fully. Especially Sunday, you end up spending the whole afternoon thinking about the Monday and all the things you have to do that week.

A week ago I was doing the same thing, I was working for Jared The Galleria of Jewelry as a Clerical/ Apprentice Jeweler. Id been working there since February less than two months after I graduated from East Carolina University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Metal/Jewelry Design. I always thought once I graduated I would have all the time in the world to create what i wanted rather than what i was assigned to make. In fact it was the total opposite. Once you are out in the real world, with a full time job, coming home to have a creative moment isn't even in the picture.

The past month has been pretty hectic. pacing in my mind whether I should leave my job and just go for my dreams. If I should try to find another job to have a steady income before I just up and leave. I battled back and forth and looked into many other options.

Thanks for everything Jared!

My situation became even more confusing when I got a promotion at work. I had been waiting for a while for this, I was being promoted to a full time Jeweler rather than just an apprentice /clerical. This was my chance to sit on the bench and work on jewelry every day and really get some hands on experience with the fine jewelry at Jared's. Strangely enough I was ready to put my two weeks in the same morning that my boss called me with the "good news." Don't get me wrong it was good news and I was very excited and proud of myself but at the same time I knew it wasn't what I wanted in the end. Once I had the opportunity to move up in the company I knew I needed to get out and make something real happen. Something that was not defined by a constraints of a huge million dollar corporation.

Kendall's new work space - where the creativity happens

3 days after my promotion I turned down the offer and put my two weeks notice in.I feared that everyone would be upset with me and Id be escorted out that day (after hearing other horror stories). Needless to say, everyone was very happy for the opportunities that lie ahead of me and I finished my two weeks on great terms. I also know that I left behind some very talented people and I can only hope that someday they too will be able to leave and pursue their dreams as well.

Now don't get me know, It is still Monday and I didn't quit my job to just sit around at home. I have a passion and a dream to follow and someone else to work with towards our goals. Every day will be a set of new challenges, a long list of things to do to get where we want to be. The one way you will never get there is by sitting back and letting your life pass you by. Take control of your future, have faith in your talents and your determination and do what your heart tells you. Everything else will fall into place.