New looks at Kora & Penelope!

Oh, I love Fridays.  Not just because I get to work from home all day, but also because I get to work on Kora & Penelope business from home all day. 

I spent the morning grading papers and helping out students with paper issues.  Then, I gobbled some lunch (mmmm margherita pizza!), threw in a DVD (Easy A - starring the adorable and hilarious Emma Stone.  Seriously, I want my daughter to be just like Olive), and settled in to CREATE. 

My favorite part about my jewelry making style is never knowing what will come out of a creating session.  I always begin with some idea in my head - and even a sketch at times - but then something entirely different appears.  It's exciting to finally stop and see what the Muses have inspired me to do.  Today was no exception.

Next week's designs are inspired by the always-true-to-herself Olive from Easy A and the giddiness of  Friday work.  I incorporate lots of different colors and styles, and wave away that need to make everything fit together.  The charms are askew, the stones are different sizes, and colors who don't usually sit at the same lunch table had a meal together.  Today's creating session has inspired me to create a new section on my Etsy page:  The Eclectic Goddess

According to the Oxford English Dictionary (yes, yes, I'm THAT English professor), the word "eclectic" comes from Greek origin.  The term had been initially used to distinguish different types of philosophers.  These philosophers used the "eclectic method," meaning they derived their practices and opinions from a combination of the arts and the sciences, rather than just choosing one of the two.  The term was officially used in print around 1683, but with the spelling "eclectick." 

[Honestly, I miss the days when we placed a "k" at the end of "ic" sounds.  Magick, physick, psychick, eclectick...it makes the words *pop* a bit more.  "Honey, did you pay the electrick bill?"  "I think we should use the metrick system!"  See what I mean?   Okay, I'm done now]

Today the term "eclectic" is used more vaguely and means "to borrow from diverse sources."  Since we are part of the "You-Turn" era, eclectic relates more to personal attributes.  So, naturally, it is the perfect description for the new Kora & Penelope style debuting next week. 

Still interested?  Tune in Sunday night at midnight to preview the first style. 

Can't wait?  Then check out the other gorgeous, free-spirited goddess styles available now:  http://koraandpenelope.etsy.com/ 

Library Challenge!

Unfortunately, I moved into my apartment during a period of frenzy.  My roommate and I had just graduated and we needed to leave our old apartment NOW.  Then, my roommate got married and she had to leave this apartment NOW.  I went to grad school and I had to study NOW.  Then my boyfriend had to move his stuff in NOW.   So, between the moving and the moving and the moving and the studying and the moving, the spare room looks like this:

Challenge Accepted!!!!

As a twenty-something who understands the importance of renting an apartment and how hard it is to find a two bedroom in my price range, this room will not do.  I mean, look at it:

It makes angels cry.  Honestly.

I guess you can gather from the pictures that we are a reading household, an independent business household, an academic household, a crafters' household, and a cat household.  I had to find a balance between all of these.

Solution:  Turn the spare room into a library!  Why not?  A library with a wall of books, an office nook, and  a crafters' table (complete with a crafters' closet).  I can exercise my spatial reasoning and organization muscles to make this into a room the apartment deserves.  Let's face it - we're not college kids anymore.  I already completed graduate school, have steady work, and run my own business.  What's my excuse for this room? 

Let's begin...