Tidying up

A few months ago, my husband came home with two copies of Marie Kondo's popular book The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up. 

What a tempting dream this book presents -- I confess I always fall for the idea that someday, somehow, I can get my life in order. My house, my car, my studio -- all in order. Even my pets will be perfectly behaved and immaculately groomed.

Reality is a bit ... different.

However, I decided a few weeks ago to just dive in to something that's been bothering me for awhile now, actually for years -- my "boxes of shame." The boxes of shame are boxes filled with pieces of jewelry that have, in my opinion, fatal errors; or jewelry that didn't sell even after being in many galleries and shows. I put the pieces in these boxes, intending to take them apart and reuse the pieces and parts.

You know how that goes. Years have gone by and I have 4 large and dusty boxes. 

So, I got into them. I have to tell you, it is kind of a pain, as well as painful. A pain to take all those bits and pieces and sort them, etc. Painful to see some of the work I attempted to sell -- yikes!

Life changing? Not exactly. But direction changing for a new spring collection? You bet! I have found wonderful beads and bits and pieces and am wildly inspired for a new spring collection that just drips color and romance. Above is an example piece. I'll be sharing more as they come along. 

If I ever get out of those boxes ...

---