As a jewelry designer, I will readily admit that I am not organized. A sad, sad fact. Ask my parents, they will attest to this ... ha. ha. I am trying to remedy this. Maybe if I start small, I will be motivated to organize the other things I've been lagging on ... like my receipts from the past year. State taxes are due at the end of January or ELSE. EEP. The joys of having your own business...
I have gone through several versions of jewelry containers over the years. I'm obsessed with small things, small containers, etc. I've had the ever present plastic baggies contained in several makeup bags. This solution has caused me to continuously root through the dark bag for the intended pair of earrings, sometimes I freak out thinking I have lost something when I really haven't. Imagine the unnecessary stress repeated every time I look in my jewelry bag! I am currently using a travel case from The Container Store where I can finally see all my pieces and it only costs $15.
I've been looking for more pretty jewelry storage ideas for my bedroom which would keep them in the open, not in a drawer. Considering the financial situation, the two requirements would be cheap and pretty. I don't want a plastic container with compartments for my earrings, because I like to have my pieces on display to motivate me and they are a representation of the progress I have made as a designer.
I've been searching everywhere for storage, so far I have found the frame with the wire screen, a jewelry frame carved out of wood, a cork board covered with fabric, and the jewelry tree at varying prices.
Today, I went shopping with my boyfriend and at Ichi Ban Kan in Burlingame, a Japanese dollar store. They were $1.50 each so I "splurged" and bought three. Ooooh ... I'm a BIG spender. Maybe this will be the thing to motivate me to organize the rest of my room and finally convert it into a jewelry design studio.
My next goal ... a fantastic workbench. Um, when I can afford it. Stay tuned.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Saturday, December 27, 2008
GETTING STARTED
My name is Jenalyn Lorenzo and I am 31 years old as of December 21, 1977. I graduated from Cal State Hayward (now known as Cal State East Bay ... boooooooo ... I am NOT happy with that name change at ALL.) I graduated with an English major but my real passion is sparkly things. I'm like a fish, anything and everything sparkly catches my eye. I have been making jewelry for almost 9 years now, and I recently decided to turn it into a business. I got my business license on January 2, 2008. I thought finally gathering up the nerve to get my license would be a good way to start the new year, and it turned out to be so much easier than I thought.
I have created this blog, with the help of my loving boyfriend and cousin, my website jenalynlorenzo.com was created, and opened an account on Etsy.com, my favorite site. I could stay on that site for hours!! I am inspired by the countless sellers like myself who have their own store, have sold so many pieces, and envious that they were able to quit their day job for their passion.
THAT is my dream. Although, I have graduated with an English major, I realized that I don't want to be a teacher. I have so much love for those that do, it is a crazy job. I just cannot see myself stuck in a stuffy classroom for eight hours a day. I have tried, believe me, but I can't force myself. True, there are so many options for a career in this field but I can't see myself in any of them.
I just see myself surrounded by vivid colors, oxidized silver with callouses on my hands from all the beauty that I have created. It is my goal to be able to support myself with my creativity, to love what I do.
I have tried to steer away from my passion, I've been told that it's just good enough for a side job, that I don't have the business skills for this career, that I need a nest egg in order to finance Jenalyn Lorenzo Jewelry. In other words, obtain a regular 9 to 5 job. Ugh.
However, even though I've heard these things, it doesn't stop me. I just don't see myself doing anything else. As the great man, Randy Pausch said, "brick walls are only there to show you how much you want something." (I may be paraphrasing, but that's the general idea.)
I am the Master Procrastinator. I am my own brick wall. Haha. I need to take photos of my pieces for Etsy and my site, create MORE stock, finish some overdue projects, and find the perfect packaging. Those are just the beginning of a long list of tasks that I need to complete. It will be awhile before I consider my business up and ready to go.
This blog, for example, was created at least two months ago. This is my first entry. You could say that I have had a lot of meditation time. So I apologize in advance for any lagging that may take place on my blog or Etsy. I am trying to change all of that. In the past couple of years, I have worked at a few places and parted ways with said places for various reasons. Those momentous changes crystallized my desire to be ecstatic about my career path. I don't want to work in an office environment anymore. I don't want to be in food service ever again. I want to be comfortable and wear whatever I want, set my own business hours. In other words, be my own boss. That plus the compliments garnered by the pieces that I have made as gifts for friends and family are what have fueled my transition from "bead freak" to entrepreneur.
I am inspired by vivid colors, especially cobalt blue, unique construction, one-of-a-kind stones. I love to inject a little rebellious elegance into my pieces. I love leather cuffs, actually, any kind of accessories of course, white button down shirts, motorcycle boots, Tokidoki, gadgets, and Urban Decay makeup, and martial arts. I would only wear a dress for a special occasion, like a wedding. High heels are gorgeous, but they are not my best friend. I'm a bit too clumsy ... I am more of a classic, punk-ish, sporty girl. I strive to make my pieces versatile, lightweight, modern, asymmetrical, and of course, original. I want to be proud of each and every twist, every link, every headpin. I am notorious for dismantling something great in favor of something awesome. "Great" just isn't enough for me.
Thank you for reading my first entry and I hope you enjoyed it and come back for more! I won't ramble as much, I promise.
I have created this blog, with the help of my loving boyfriend and cousin, my website jenalynlorenzo.com was created, and opened an account on Etsy.com, my favorite site. I could stay on that site for hours!! I am inspired by the countless sellers like myself who have their own store, have sold so many pieces, and envious that they were able to quit their day job for their passion.
THAT is my dream. Although, I have graduated with an English major, I realized that I don't want to be a teacher. I have so much love for those that do, it is a crazy job. I just cannot see myself stuck in a stuffy classroom for eight hours a day. I have tried, believe me, but I can't force myself. True, there are so many options for a career in this field but I can't see myself in any of them.
I just see myself surrounded by vivid colors, oxidized silver with callouses on my hands from all the beauty that I have created. It is my goal to be able to support myself with my creativity, to love what I do.
I have tried to steer away from my passion, I've been told that it's just good enough for a side job, that I don't have the business skills for this career, that I need a nest egg in order to finance Jenalyn Lorenzo Jewelry. In other words, obtain a regular 9 to 5 job. Ugh.
However, even though I've heard these things, it doesn't stop me. I just don't see myself doing anything else. As the great man, Randy Pausch said, "brick walls are only there to show you how much you want something." (I may be paraphrasing, but that's the general idea.)
I am the Master Procrastinator. I am my own brick wall. Haha. I need to take photos of my pieces for Etsy and my site, create MORE stock, finish some overdue projects, and find the perfect packaging. Those are just the beginning of a long list of tasks that I need to complete. It will be awhile before I consider my business up and ready to go.
This blog, for example, was created at least two months ago. This is my first entry. You could say that I have had a lot of meditation time. So I apologize in advance for any lagging that may take place on my blog or Etsy. I am trying to change all of that. In the past couple of years, I have worked at a few places and parted ways with said places for various reasons. Those momentous changes crystallized my desire to be ecstatic about my career path. I don't want to work in an office environment anymore. I don't want to be in food service ever again. I want to be comfortable and wear whatever I want, set my own business hours. In other words, be my own boss. That plus the compliments garnered by the pieces that I have made as gifts for friends and family are what have fueled my transition from "bead freak" to entrepreneur.
I am inspired by vivid colors, especially cobalt blue, unique construction, one-of-a-kind stones. I love to inject a little rebellious elegance into my pieces. I love leather cuffs, actually, any kind of accessories of course, white button down shirts, motorcycle boots, Tokidoki, gadgets, and Urban Decay makeup, and martial arts. I would only wear a dress for a special occasion, like a wedding. High heels are gorgeous, but they are not my best friend. I'm a bit too clumsy ... I am more of a classic, punk-ish, sporty girl. I strive to make my pieces versatile, lightweight, modern, asymmetrical, and of course, original. I want to be proud of each and every twist, every link, every headpin. I am notorious for dismantling something great in favor of something awesome. "Great" just isn't enough for me.
Thank you for reading my first entry and I hope you enjoyed it and come back for more! I won't ramble as much, I promise.
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