Life Lesson: When in Trouble, Don't Contact Your Client

For a self taught jewelry maker, the knowledge often comes from a place I would never imagine.

Towards the end of last year I had somebody who asked me to make a pair of earrings that I would say challenging to make. But I decided to discuss with her and willing to stretch my knowledge.  After a back and forth a couple of times, she finally loved what I had scribbled for her.

I was so happy. Told her the price, she agreed and paid right away. Double happy.

But the trouble came when I had to fabricate the pieces. I had stumbled on the technical detail on the finishing.

Assumed that she would prefer the piece to be hammered like how I would do to almost all of my gold filled pieces, I didn't bother asking this detail. When the image of the final piece is sent, she said: alright I like them but the hammered look is not what I preferred.

Oops! Flustered, my heart raced so hard and was thinking but this is the only way I know to harden the metal.

There is another way how to harden a metal, with a tumbler. However I don't have any of these machine. Even if I buy it would take time since this is the end of the year, and some of the stores I know would have closed.

Went back to the customer and told her about this problem. She sounded upset. There is a possibility that she is angry. We negotiated for the price and finally gave her a big discount.

Packed the pieces, I told myself, fiuh! Almost lost the sales there.

The story is not finished. She followed the email, if you can make them in shiny finished it would be nice thought I don't have to wear them until January 19th.

Oh no!

My friend Natalka from keepityours gave me an advice to try with a plastic or wooden mallet.

I have tried with rubber mallet and have not been successful with those. So I found a piece of wood instead and did what she told me.

After hammering them with this piece wood, the earrings went hard, and it came out so beautiful, I have to admit her taste. I had a sore back but this is another thing.

Told her the good news. She was happy. Very happy I think, because she gets the earrings she likes with a discounted price.

Life lesson for me: When in trouble, don't contact your client.

After this, I have ordered two mallets online: rawhide and wooden. Preparing myself for the next war indeed.

You can see the difference of the shiny and hammered finished on the first image of this post.

Here are the photos of the hammered look which is available here.  

If you have noticed that I don't have the shiny finished available, that's because I prefer to work with what I am familiar with.

But that doesn't stop you from having them though. If you have the same taste as my previous client and want to have the same pair, please let me know that you have read my blog and would want the finishing touch to be shiny. I'll understand right away.

To end this story, I would like to have your opinion. Which finished do you like, round and shiny or slightly hammered ? 

The Beginning of 2018

The obsolete unpublished unfinished post I have written, that seems to be a million years ago:

"My girl Charlotte is 4 months old today. The pregnancy and the labor went well, although at the beginning of the second trimester the doctor announced that the fetus might have been too small.  They required me to lay down on the left side at least 4 hours a day. But thank God she was born normal, 3kg, 48cm long. It was quite easy to gave birth to her, to my surprise..."

She is now almost 4, how time flies.

Between then and now I have grown so much, more than I thought. Or perhaps it is for the first time I have realized that I grown mentally, pshycologically.. Evolving. Wiser, I think. I hope.

I am more comfortable with myself right now.

Have found the love of my life, not only he fulfilled me but also I am the better version of myself when I am with him. I asked myself from time to time, have I not met him, can I be the person I am today right now?

With the (early) challenge of being a mother, at the end of the day it gives me a chill to even think that what life is like without him by my side. I shared him this fear last night, he said that he would never let me be a mommy to his daughter without him by my side. This assures. For the single mother out there, your level of maturity if definitely above me.

Coming to this year, like almost every year I have written what I remember I had accomplished and what I wish to do in the future. I didn't start with checklist like years before, but instead asking myself this question.

What kind of Mother, Wife, and Woman do I want to be in 2018?

In a piece of paper I scribbled:

Wife: kind, loving, sweet, supporting, and let the husband do his stuff
Mother: no snap, no threat, loving, kind, encourage, comfort, long love, patient, soft-spoken, cuddly, cute, funny
Woman: strong willpower, achievement, wise, healthy, smart, courageous

So, you might ask, for this past 15 days, have I been the wife, mother, self I want to be? This came out harder than I thought.

I sometimes act as a mother to D (It's the initial of my husband's name. I don't mind mentioning his name, it will come out anyway, but for some reason I always refer him to D whenever I write about him). Please wear your scarf, don't forget the umbrella, here is your gloves, etc.. I thought that this is the right thing to do until two weeks ago when it had exponentially angered him.

That day we were supposed to go out and I asked if he could wear more outfits as there will be wind, he thought that he had worn enough, but I insisted.  He ended up doing what I asked him.

But it was very obvious that he was angry. We have promised C (my daughter, Charlotte) to go visit the Eiffel Tower the day before so we won't cancel this. Especially this might be the only sunshine we have for the week.  He asked me and C to go ahead and walk to the metro station while he would checked out the car. But I know that this is a pretext for we needed this space to calm down.

The selfish part of me is annoyed and think, why is he so stubborn, what happen if he gets sick again.  The other side think why would something so simple angered the man so much?

When he arrived behind us I let him walk in front of me along with C.  Confused and sad, I didn't understand his anger.

Maybe it is alright to let others take control, he has been living far longer than me and he should know himself better than me. And especially he is not my son, he is my husband.

I ran to him, at this time we have arrived at île aux cygnes and the sun was shining so brightly, I tried to hold his hand. "I am sorry.." I said. I looked at his face. Still angry.
"I have said no to you, have I?"
"Yes you did"
"Why insisted?"
"I don't know"

Before C was born we have this thing between us that any disagreement we have between us, it should resolved as soon as possible. I think this is my idea for I hate conflict, but this works for him too who is a little bit on the independent side.

Hugged him from the side. I looked at him.

"You don't need to insist when I have given you my no." he continued.

I stopped walking, and looked at him some more. Charlotte pull him away from me I think she wanted to show him something that she found. Somehow remember this scribble I wrote on a piece of paper for this new year resolution: "let the husband do his stuff.." 

I knew right away that I needed to practice what I wrote. How could something so simple involve so much of emotion!

I ran to him, and said "d'accord." means yes in french, then hugged him.

Hold his hand and he squeezed mine.

We grow because of the challenge of the daily things. If you tell me this 10 years ago I would have shrugs it off. But it is real.

I wanted to tick off this resolution but I know that there will be events like this in the future, and every time it appears, will it be ticked off or will I let my ego gets to me.

This time us win, not my ego. I hope that this means that I am closer to be the wife I want to be.

Gorgeous day isn't it? 

Where Have I Been

Hello there. I feel like I am obliged to reintroduced myself because of the long missing in action on the virtual world. Well, to start off, I have no more big tummy. Even if I am still wearing my pregnant jeans. Oops. I know. These kilos decided to love me more than I love them.  The weight is 60kg for 160cm right now, and my ideal weight should be around 52-53kg. So, 7 more kilos to go. Tough but not tough. I practice yoga from time to time. I am in a search of a good yoga book, or video, by the way, if you have a recommendation on which video to watch, I am more than happy to check it out.  Because to be honestly honest with you, lately browsing free yoga video on youtube means browsing Sam Smith new songs or watching Oprah Super Soul Sunday on Youtube. 

I also have been back to my jewelry bench. As "bench" means three pliers, cutter, and metal nail filer, laid on a piece of cloth laid all on the floor while I work sitting on the floor folding my legs.  If not at work the "space" I used to create everything you see here is just a space on the floor.  I live 5 minutes to Paris, although far less expensive than the Paris itself, we still can't afford bigger space. Thus the workspace. 

Grateful as ever though, as nothing I posses should define my state of wellbeing. 

I have a 3 years old daughter, she will turn 4 in March. She loves to draw:

The last picture is her drawing on a piece of receipt paper from the restaurant. She is very active and get bored very easily, if you are a mom of this age group you know what I mean, so I found a pen and paper in my bag, it literally save my life. Well, I exaggerate, not life, just give me a calm moment for those time she imagined a girl watering her garden.

Last September she started her first year of school, here in France they call it Petite Section, where I drop her off around 8:45 AM and picked her up at 11:45 AM.  She stays half day because I prefer to have lunch with her and she still sleeps with her mama. 

Since the beginning of this year I have been praying and thinking of what I want to do, as a woman, not just a mom.  I still don't know, to be honest with you.  For the moment I am just continuing what I left off here, and just see where the faith brings me to.

Hopefully you will see me often here too. It is good to be back. 

Long Weekend

Tomorrow this time I'll be in London. So excited! It's probably our first romantic trip together after Bali four years ago.

We don't know if we want to do the whole tourist visit, this is so not D's style (am not sure what style I have) but we'll make sure to visit the famous hyde park and either Museum of London or British Museum. 

I wonder if croissant and baguette exist in London but I don't really care, what I miss is eating a good bagel. According to this book, this is the cheapest best taste bagel to go for. 

Am off reading the rest of the book, and leave you with this video of Mr Bean for London Olympics 2012

Another Monday

I'm not afraid
Of anything in this world
There's nothing you can throw at me
That I haven't already heard

Remember this song from U2? I am listening to this right now at grooveshark.  It has been like the second monday I've got a headache. I hope this thing isn't regular.  Because of an uninvited guests, sometimes I just wish it doesn't pay visit and we'd be expecting a bigger more special surprise that'll arrive a lot later instead. But not this month. Sigh.

Motivation from Quit Your Day Job Story

Two years ago when I moved to France, and after intensively learning the language for a year, I have decided to restart my activities in making jewelries. Despite D's presence and loving support, doing everything alone can be depressing.  I miss chitchatting unimportant topic with the coworkers, I miss my friends sometimes, and my family all the time.

Yesterday, though, I stumbled upon a Quit Your Day Job story on Etsy blog, and so much motivated by  this couple the owner of Blue Hour Design.

 You can read the full article here, but I'll just quote something that motivates me.

*Don’t forget that business ebbs and flows. When business is temporarily slow, instead of feeling down, use that time to come up with new designs, marketing techniques or anything to improve your business. Don’t worry, the sales will come — and when they do, you need to be prepared!*

And when they are asked about the hardest part about running their own business, I just love their respond..

*It’s all freaking hard, but we absolutely love it! We have never worked this hard in our lives, but we don’t want to do anything else — this is it! Every morning we wake up looking forward to our day. We’re very passionate about what we do and know that having our own business is what allows us to live our lives exactly the way we want to live them.*

Well, with that, I think I'm ready to go back to work now.. What motivates you today? 

(Photo credit: D )

As for Me and My House

We will enjoy our weekend, and we hope you will too! 

Happy Valentine

It was my birthday ten days ago, I am officially 32 years and ten days old right now. D took my birthday photo and be the only witness of me closing my eyes wishing for something special before blowing the candle. Man I look old in that photo, sadly, years from now when I re-look at that photo I'd be saying, ahhh those young time..

I am not here to talk about that, by the way. It's valentine's day, I never get so excited honestly. It reminds me of those broken hearted stories that happens everywhere.  My girlfriends might be in at the moment I type this post, too hurtful.

But I send everybody a hug anyway.. Bisous xoxo

The sun, the spring, and the smile for your weekend

Aannd the sun shines again.. I have a feeling that the spring arrives early this year... And it's the weekend.. I have a feeling that things can only get better.... 

No no, the photo doesn't have anything to do with the blog. It was us experimenting with black background at the entrance of Leroy Merlin   These couple of days (and this weekend we plan to do the same) we have been going back and forth at this store to give a bit of a fresh start of the new year in our home. 

Have a good weekend and be save! 

Dream Home? Not Just There Yet

Remember this post? I forgot to share that the owner of this property is quite a stingy old man who doesn't want to negociate at all.  But we decided to see it again, if we really like it, we'll take it! 

Well, that night with a reason to take the measurement to have it consulted with the architect, the agent was willing to meet us at five thirty.  Arrived, everything went well, but then an hour later it is a completely different apartment. Fact that it is at the crossroad of a couple of big streets, and that it has plenty of big windows, had made us feel like we were actually on the road, even with the window closed. We heard everything! the cars, the bus, the motorcycles... We looked at each other with a super ugly face. 

This is what we let go... *sniff with the real wood and a marble chimney... too hard... *sniff again

The First Friday in 2012

It's been two weeks officially that we've visited apartments.  And I thought, perhaps, we might have found ours!  At Vanves, super close from Paris, the apartment is in one of the charming 1930's building with lots and lots of big windows and art nouveau balcons.

This afternoon we decided to see it, again, at the same time observing the quartier.  I am crossing my finger that everything goes perfectly well.. and... (yaay!)

Anyway, enjoy your first weekend of the year!

PS: In case you're wondering, the photo above has nothing to do with the apartment.  This gorgeous country side little house is in the south east of France, we happened to park our car in front of this cute house two summers ago on our voyage to the area.

I'm Back Happily Married

 

Hei I'm back! Last week would probably the last shorts and light jeans jacket I wear for the year as it starts to get super cold out there.

Despite of the weather, I am so happy to finally step on to a marriage life.  After the grandiose engagement party in Indonesia, a couple of romantic photo sessions as a newlyweds, the formalities at the town hall, an intimate wedding party in Paris, and a week of honey moon just the two of us, I am glad to finally get to breath fresh air without having to think about a wedding details.   

This week I plan to share a couple of things I did with my hands around the wedding preparation: the handmade hand bouquet, jewelries I made to match my red and white ao dai, and finally the table stationary I made for each of our guests on our wedding day. And if you are lucky perhaps I'll casually post some of our photos :) Enjoy your monday!  

Guest from Sancerre

Last weekend we had a guest from Sancerre. We had a lot of fun have our prewedding photos taken by Mimi , but what interest us the most was their 1 year old boy Marc. Here he is!

How time flies!

Can you believe that we're almost at the end of the second month in the year of 2011?

So many things to do so little time.  I restarted my french course at the beginning of last week, it is good to be back.  Apart from the grammar and vocabularies, I find it interesting to read and discuss interesting articles about social and cultural situation in France.  However, in return, I haven't touched any of my pliers nor took a peek on my stones, crystals.  

And as if things aren't busy enough, a little flu had invaded me last weekend thus forced me to step back and rest.  I doodle in my big book, I read, took a nap, and sleep early instead. I still hope to find a time to spend it in the workshop... 

A Friend..

Her name is Titi, not sure how it writes. Excuse me for one of us don't have a capacity to have a formal exchange numbers or anything like that. She lived close by the house I stayed during the last summer vacation.  She is never allowed to get into the house, but her plates are there by the terrace.

The first time I meet her is during lunchtime, she went up to her dish, eat and left without meowing anything.  Not even an eye contact, shy cat she is.  I'd just like to think that maybe because she knows that she will come back it's why goodbye is not needed.

One night during dinner time, everybody ate so well but too bad there are so many leftovers.  Daniel, a guy who stayed with us, suggested that maybe Titi could appreciate a gourmet dinner, I thought that it was a good idea, after a couple of days seeing her calmly eating her croquettes, I find her very cute.  

She came ontime, while we had our wine and cheese.    Like usual, no meow, no purr, just a quick look at her dish and ate them camly.  Me, looking at her back happily.  Surprise came after she was done with her gourmet dinner.  Walked up to me and went away while rubbing her side to my legs. Ticklish.  She dissapeared, the same night she came back and look up to me with her mesmerized eyes, our first eye contact.  I tried to carresse her, but she pushed my finger with her nose.

After, we are officially friends.  She would came by almost every afternoon and night.  She'd rubbed her back against mine while I took a nap on the hammock.  And hang out with me and D while we were basking on the sun. 

My First sale on Etsy

A months ago I restarted putting things on my etsy shop.   It started from one day between the week, going back from work, he told me all about the wife of his colleague who travel the world and buying the stuff meanwhile selling them on ebay. And I said to myself, tiens, I have an online store too! Fact that it is free, I never really appreciate its existence too much, but I DO have one.

So, I became active, again, in making the jewelries, taking the photos, editing them, posting, talking to the online sellers perhaps they have some ideas to be a successful seller.  One of them is Sandie, a super sympa lady who create ZaftigDelights and KnitzyBlonde on Etsy, she spent her time to write me a long email and all of them are pure experience and encouragement.  I honestly appreciate her wisdom and kindness.

But what excite me was last Sunday I had made my first sale on etsy.  The amount is not too much but it is enough to bounce me up and be ready to make more jewelries...

My Lavender Bush

Each morning I pass by an overflowing lavender planted at the yard of one of the nursery school next to my apartement. They were so much that the bush goes out to the fences, I was intrigued to pick some of them, in fact, ssh, I did. Once upon a sinful day on the Saturday morning in the summer, when the school is not open, I stopped by around there with a pair of scissors, and cut some that were hanging out off the fence. I felt guilty.

Until last weekend I walk into a store to do my groceries and saw two lonely small pots of lavender bushes waiting to be adopted. There were some other plants of course, the lilies, the orchids, and he wanted to buy a mini rose plant for me. But I remembered that a couple of years ago, a good friend of mine bought a pink mini rose and asked me to take care of the plant for as long as I can keep them, but guess what, I let it die for less than a month. I was really sad. I didn't want that to happened again. I said no to him.

Yet, my eyes goes to the two lonely small pots of little unborned lavender flower. I picked them, two of them, I touched them, I smelled them. Even the little leaves smell as good as the flower. C'était un coup de coeur. I fell in love. I decided to adopt one of them. I asked myself, what if it dies? You will be as sad as when you lost your mini rose. Yes, it's true, but I decided to take a chance to take care of it as much as I can.

Finally, here it is, the baby lavender bush sitting comfortably carresed by the ray of summer sun..