The Art of Balance

I haven’t written in a while.  Not because nothing is happening at DeAndreaDesigns, but Life outside of DeAndreaDesigns has a way of intruding and taking over.

The Art of Balance is almost as important as the Art of Creativity.

I am finding new Respect for my Mother who was able to raise 3 kids and my Father-and ALL that that entails. Still find time to work during the day, AND find the time in the evening to relax and do her nails or read a book.  That was probably the key to her staying Sane and Grounded.

I need to be able to find that Balance.  I cannot let the Creativity slip-pieces like this need to continue.

30ct Prasiolite on ArtFire

Enough hours at the new restaurant to bridge the money gap, while still putting in enough hours at the Store to ensure consistent foot traffic, while still being able to find time for Family and Friends. Not to mention a little time for Me-but that can really wait, because once the Store is financially stable I won’t have to schedule in restaurant time...Granted there will be something else vying for those hours, but by then I should have learned to Balance Everything.

That’s what I am telling myself anyway. I wonder if Mom ever felt like this?

UGH!!

It is another First of the Month.  That means we have a new Birthstone...PEARLS.
I know I have written on Pearls in the past-as I will again in the Future, but today is not that day.
I am going to vent on the frustration of not being completely computer literate.
I know enough to use the template provided to change the look anytime that I like.
I know enough add pages, and delete pages.
I know enough to attach links where they need to be-and even get them to go where they should.
BUT that is all because of the templates provided, and not being afraid to click on links.

Asymmetric Pearls perfect for a Summer Wedding

Right now the Website is down-through no fault of my own.  Now that I am a little more rested and focused I can address the issues at hand, but I need help.  Tech Support is not returning my phone call fast enough.  So I am relying on ArtFire and Facebook to get my Designs outside of the City limits. Both good resources, but they do not have the validity of a functioning website.
I am just going to continue to clean and re-merchandise the Store.

BTW, no more overnight restaurant job.  I did find something new-during the day so I will have to find a nice balance between the two so I can make enough to bridge the gap and maintain normal, consistent business hours...Or find someone that wants to become my Patron.

No More Complaining

You are as tired of hearing me complain about being tired as I am doing the complaining about it.

Yes, I am still doing the dreaded over night shift in the restaurant.  When I started this job/shift I thought it would be perfect because it would not interfere with me being able to have DeAndreaDesigns open normal and consistent hours. What I am finding now is that I am open my normal hours, but I sit like a Zombie, unable to concentrate on anything for more than just a few minutes. I simply cannot focus on anything-literally, my eyes go out of focus all the time when I am trying to work. The Business is starting to suffer because of it. I may be here physically in the Store, but I am not mentally or creatively.

I am done complaining for now.  

Time to take control.

I have been looking for another position-with a couple of distinct possibilities. One that will allow me to be more awake, more aware, more HERE. One that will allow me grow my Brand and allow me to take DeAndreaDesigns to the next level. 

There are so many GREAT things happening here and I don’t want to sleep through them.

I Was Asked...

I was asked the other day what my Favorite Gem to work with was.

It took me back a bit because I have never really thought about it. I always said that I LOVE ALL Gemstones, but once I started thinking about it, I tend to only work with stones that I am attracted to initially. That does not mean I choose Amethyst over Citrine, or Citrine over Amethyst, I choose what I am attracted to...

Tiny Ioloite-find me on Facebook

Two months ago I went on an Iolite kick. Last month I purchased, and wanted to work with, only Pearls.


I do only buy Stones when there is something about them that attracts me to them. That much is true. Rarely do I go out and looking for a specific stone unless it is by special request by a customer. Therefore, I do love all the Stones I work with.

Sometimes the Stones are easy to work with-I know exactly what setting I am going to use them in and everything works out on the First Chance.

Biwa-Style Pearls at DeAndreaDesigns.com

Sometimes I have to “deconstruct” a couple of times before I get it to the point that I am satisfied.  AND...
Sometimes the Stone sits and sits until a new setting emerges from the depths of my creativity pool.

I have found, however, that even with settings that I have used many times in the past when I place a different stone into one, the LOOK/FEEL/ENERGY of the Piece is changes-sometimes dramatically.
So I cannot say I love working with one stone over another, not really.  I just work with the Stones that feel right when they feel right.

At the end of the day I do tend to be more attracted to Colored Gems.

BUT...
When I think of my Wedding Ring, or look at the Stones that I have purchased for ME, there are THREE Stones that stand out.

Tsavorite Garnet and Champagne Diamonds-for my Wedding Ring. 2 Rows of 2mm Princess cut Tsavorite and 1 Row of 2mm Princess Cut Diamonds set into Platinum.

And Mexican Fire Opals.

Yet Another First

So just when I think I have this whole running of a business down, something new pops up.

This time was Tax Season.

Citrine is known as the lucky "Merchants Stone”

I don’t know why I did not think of this when I opened DeAndreaDesigns, but Tax Season snuck up on me. Hit me over the head like a ton of bricks, and then stomped me into the ground.  Not because of some huge bill or anything.  Nothing like that. I just HATE doing things that I do not understand.

My Friends and Family would say I have a slight Control Issues.

This year, I have resigned myself to being a learning year.
Next year I will be prepared.
I will have a much better idea of what to expect.
And I will not wait until the very last minute.

But now that it is finished, I am looking forward to this weekend where I can let loose a little with Friends.  Then SLEEP without worrying about getting the Taxes finished...But I am sure there will be something else to keep me awake at night.

EUREKA!!!!

We all know that South Africa is Famous for its Diamond Production, but did you ever wonder how they got their start?

Very innocently.

Back in 1867 a young man named Eramus Jacobs was helping his father on their farm.  Eramus was trying to unclog a water pipe when he decided to take a break under a tree.  While sitting there he noticed a rock that was just a little more shiny than the others.  He proceeded to place it in his pocket and finish working with his Father.
His Mother also intrigued by the new shiny stone, took it to a neighbor to show him.  Schalk van Niekerk offered to puchase the stone from her when he saw it.  She said no, “You can keep it”.

After seeing a number of experts and officials van Niekerk, took the stone to a notable gemologist, Dr William Atherstone. Atherstone suspected it was a Diamond when he saw it cut glass, and proceeded with further tests.  Finally declaring it a 21.25 ct brown-yellow Diamond.
The Governor of Cape Colony purchased the Diamond for roughly 500 pounds, and took it back to the U.K. with him where he had the Diamond Cut to its final size of 10.73ct.

100 yrs later, the DeBeers compnay purchased the Eureka Diamond at auction and donated it to the People of South Africa.  It is now on display at the Kimberly Mine Museum.

Such innocent beginnings for a Multi-Billion Dollar Industry.

I will always be looking for sparkly stones now-honestly I am always being distracted by bits of Sparkle.

Thank Vela for Diamonds

Another Month.
Another Birthstone.
DIAMONDS!!!

A symbol of Innocence and Purity.

But have you ever wondered how they came to be?  No, I am not talking about the geological and scientific way.  The more interesting Mythical Beginnings....

Ancient Hindu Texts tell of a Demon God, Vela, that was attacked, dismembered, and cast down upon the Earth.  It was here that the lesser Demigods stripped His bones and scattered his body parts all over the Earth.  Thus creating the whole range of Gemstones we know today.
His Eyes turned to Blue Sapphires.
His Skin Yellow Sapphires.

His Bones were ground to dust and sprinkled around the Globe to create Diamonds.
The various colors of Diamonds were imbued with distinct characteristics as well as Divine Properties.  Each color representing a different God in the Hindu Pantheon.

Innocence and Purity?
I guess destroying Evil once and for all can result in something Beautiful and Everlasting.