Weblog #1

Hunter, my partner, and I purchased our first home together early last fall. It was an exciting but stressful time. The house was built in 1925 and retained the original charm but with some modern upgrades.  One of the original features of the house was the coal storage room in the basement. It was the perfect size for my one-woman studio! Hence, the weblog name- Into the Coal Bin.

Coal Bin: Studio Space

This room features (behind my chair) my jeweler's bench made by my father for me for my high school graduation. I know what you are thinking, and yes, I have wanted to own my own jewelry business since I was seventeen. Dreams do come true I guess! Along the right wall I have a work bench made from an IKEA counter top and four adjustable legs. The table ends with a yellow cabinet with a green Formica counter top original to my parent's house.
We had mold removed from our basement about a month ago. In the process the left wall had to be stripped down to the studs. My hope this summer is to cover the wall with similar wood planks to hang my tool peg board and some related artwork. I also need to find a home for every bit and bob in my studio. Remaining organized has always been struggle for me. Wish me luck!

Office Space/ Fulfillment Area

My basement office serves its purpose. It's a place I can fill orders and try to complete the never ending amount of computer work. I even have enough space to set up my photography equipment! My studio and office is a major work in progress. Stay tuned as it evolves!

Going Forward

This monthly weblog will come out the last week of every month with an update on my jewelry, small business life and much more. I am using this blog to speak directly to “my people”. Social media can be difficult, but blog posts allow me the space to share the work, thoughts and feelings that go into making my jewelry as well as running a small, woman-owned business.

Also each blog post will end with a tip/ trick from yours truly. It's my way of saying thank you for taking the time to read "Into the Coal Bin".

Tip #1

Want a simple way to keep your rings looking sparkly and clean? Remove your rings before applying hand lotion. The lotion will build up on your rings/jewelry and will make the diamonds/gemstones look cloudy and the metal less brilliant. It's a simple tip but makes a world of a difference!