Happy Mother's Day (not)

It's a new day, a new week, Spring is here and another year is going by.
Today is Mother's Day (at least in Lebanon), I need to be grateful for having the most adorable daughter ever. But in a way, right now, right here I am suffering a lot, I am very emotional.

Perhaps it's the missing for my mother who passed away 12 years ago.
Or maybe I am simply tired from years spent struggling to fill all the voids my daughter could have from being raised by myself alone, it's nearly 7 years already.
I believe some work pressure is involved too.
But for a while, I will just let go and let the pain settle, it sure will ease away again, just like it always does...

Transition

I haven't had time for myself in a while, and so I haven't been designing, this usually causes me frustration. It's not helping that it's Sunday and I can't even listen to a piece of music, or read an article without being interrupted. We're having a full house, daughter (6), her friend (5) her friend's brother (2) and their poor helpless helper (age unknown) . Being home and not getting any time for myself is killing me.

Putting the nagging aside, this was a good week when it comes to teaching. Yesterday I gave the last class in the current jewelry making workshop. I'm in the process now of preparing for the ladies' first exhibition, which could be in 2 weeks, and in the meantime, accepting new students for the new workshop. Besides the beginners workshop, I am organizing advanced workshops in collaboration with a new teacher, where students can learn, besides other techniques, soldering. I have been busy registering students and answering inquiries. 

Although I don't see myself designing or creating any new items this coming week either since my schedule is full with tasks and to do lists, I am excited about the new classes, grateful for finishing yet another successful workshop with satisfied students and new jewelry makers/designers, and looking forward to the exhibition where we get on spot feedback from the public which is always very rewarding. 

Until I share pictures of new jewelry that I can hopefully create soon, and before I am called again for the 50th time in an hour to answer the kids neverending requests, here's a picture from yesterday's class. 

The ladies are from left to right: 

Ensaf Khattar, Fatima Batch, myself in a bad hair day, Pascale Daou
and Maya Fares. (Suzy Saba and Alia Beydoun were absent)

Pictures from the workshops, students and exhibitions since I founded Jewelry Making with Rana last summer: 

https://www.facebook.com/jewelrymakingwithrana/photos

Custom made

I stopped by my friend at work couple of days ago and we had a lunch break together. I was delighted to see her wearing some of the jewelry I have made her a while ago, and took the chance to share some pictures.

I made the beaded name tag holder along with few others she ordered for giveaways last Christmas for her colleagues.  As for the earrings, they were a part of a set (2 earrings) that I made for her birthday a while ago. It's been some time now since I decided to start making jewelry using silver, gold and semi precious stones. It took me long enough to start since I always had other priorities when it came to purchasing expensive findings and stones. When her birthday came however, I thought it's about time, especially that she really loves me making her gifts rather than buying them. 

This is the birthday earrings gift set.

I used sterling silver (earring hooks, jump rings and wire) and Swarovksi crystals: 5mm bicones, 12 mm graphics, and 23mm semi matte rocks. And although I love colour mixing, and after spending an hour or so at the store trying to decide what colours I should pick, I went for amethyst and light amethyst. 

I'm counting the days now till I start making jewelry with only precious/semi precious stones, gold filled and sterling silver components.

The Christmas beaded name tag holders presents.