There are 3 days left of my first semester in the Jewelry Design program at FIT, and I have certainly been on a rollercoaster of emotions throughout. In the beginning, I was excited but nervous about the unknown. As the semester rolled on, I realized just how out of my league I am. The teaching style at FIT seems to be one of survival of the fittest.

Most of my classmates have already had some form of experience with the main studio skills like soldering (which I still can't do) so they jumped right into our class assignments. Their projects have been experimental, creative, and really professional looking, while most of mine still show the signs of a novice. The teacher doesn't really teach the skill; you just kinda learn from doing. Which under normal circumstances is okay, but I am a visual learning and I very seldom get a demonstration of what is expected of me in these classes.

http://EtsyAOC.ning.com

I joined them last year right as things were being organized. At some point I realized I wasn't "emotionally" ready for the commitment to logging on, checking in, and participating on a regular basis. But I've recently reinstated my membership and a lot has happened in a year! Those of you on etsy, if you haven't already done so, should look into this. It's just another avenue for shared interests and common goals. And can help with business exposure and support.

Is excellent so far. It truly is an urban epic and puts her on par with Richard Wright (Native Son), Ralph Ellison (Invisible Man), and other notables who attempted to chronicle a specific experience in the black community. Definitely worth the $30 price tag.

Okay, since this giveaway isn't as popular as the first one (and it just dawned on me that if I'm giving earrings away, then why would anyone want to buy them :-), I'm shutting things down at 2. Thanks to those ladies who responded. I'll be in touch with you to get your addresses.

Greetings ladies! Today is my father's birthday. He died almost 12yrs ago now, but I miss his presence very much. I wish he was here to witness the wonderful change that is happening in American politics (and hopefully society as a whole). To honor my father and to kinda commemorate the momentous presidential election, I am holding another tyramade giveaway. I'm giving a pair of earrings to the first SIX (that's a lot, but this is a special occasion) women who log on and do the following:

1. You MUST set up a membership on www.etsy.com. This is free, secure, and fairly easy to do.

2. You MUST go to my shop (www.tyramade.etsy.com) and HEART me. Again, this is free, secure, and easy. Take a look around at what's for sell.

Oh my goodness! I can not find the words to describe the feeling I have at this moment. I am overwhelmed and full of hope for this country.

Okay, I'm new to giveaways with respect to my Etsy shop tyramade jewelry. I'm a little hesitant to do any mostly because of my confusion with how to work the pay pal invoices, this, that, and the third. However, I've been reading around at how other small Etsy people do giveaways and think I've come up with one that is low maintenance enough for everyone, including yours truly.

Here goes: In light of this economy mess, I've decided to giveaway 4 pairs of earrings, because we could all use a little free beauty in our lives. The catch?

1. You MUST set up a membership on www.etsy.com. This is free, secure, and fairly easy to do.

2. You MUST go to my shop (www.tyramade.etsy.com) and HEART me. Again, this is free, secure, and easy. Take a look around at what's for sell.

3. You MUST leave a comment on this YMIB blog confirming your HEART and telling me which pair of earrings you would like (discounted items are excluded, sorry).

4. You MUST provide me with your address so that I can package up your earrings and ship them to you complete with tyramade packaging (obviously, I wouldn't expect you to post your personal info here. I'll personally email you).

Shaking My Head With My Mouth Open...

Any thoughts?

Is anybody else psyched that there are not one, not two, but three designers of color on this season. And how great is Korto?

So, I've been avoiding this conversation with my husband because, quite frankly, it makes me angry. He supported Hillary as the nominee and has been adamantly against Obama (still not clear why) since he secured the nomination. The other day, he offered the vague explanation that Obama is not "black enough" for him. He went on to say that "black enough" means that Obama's upbringing does not relate to the typical (meaning accepted or expected) African-American experience, yada yada yada. Now, my husband is a very smart man, but this is probably the dumbest thing I have ever heard him say (and I have heard him say a lot of dumb stuff over the years). First, there is no typical African American upbringing, there is only stereotypical. Actually, my husband has more in common with Obama than he realizes so I was stunned to silence when he came with such an argument.

I've just updated my Etsy store with some pieces that I absolutely love. Here's a preview below:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=13995496

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=14536621

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=14537005

More styles are on the way. Feel free to shop around :-)

as the India.Arie song goes. I've been reading "How One of You Can Bring the Two of You Together" by Susan Page, who turns out to be a minister in addition to being a marriage counselor. I bought the book after a particularly frustrating attempt to get my husband to see how important it is for us to work on fixing the craziness that is now our marriage. You know, to bridge the gulf between us, help us remember why we got married in the first place, and to some how get us back to closeness we once had. He suggested we go to counseling starting in September or October. September or October? But it's July, why are we waiting so long? Money, he says, even though he can get insurance through the company he works for, blah, blah, blah. I wanted to get a book on intimacy of a carnal nature that we could read or look at together, which in affect would bring us closer. Of course to cover up his discomfort, he acted silly and immature (which is typical of him when he is dealing with real emotional issues).

You know when you are truly going through something; a real emotional upheaval and the Universe/God sends help? It could be a television show, a conversation with a good friend, anything that taps into your emotions in a profound way and sends you into...well, yourself? I am having one of those profound moments right now. Okay, before I get into the meat of my post, I have a confession to make. I have a slight aversion to the publicness of blogging and sometimes think it a bit self indulgent. There, I said it. But I've been reading through some of the posts onYMIB and I appreciate 1)the openness of expression and emotion I've found and 2)the honest support and love that pours out from responders. So, during my moment of deep reflection, I started thinking of safe places to vent and YMIB came to mind.

My etsy mini did not show up in the original post so I'm going to try again. Just in case it doesn't work, here is the url to my shop:

www.tyramade.etsy.com

Etsy
Buy Handmade
tyramade

If you haven't read my little profile blurb, then you don't know that I am a jewelry designer. Currently, I make one or two of kind styles and sell them on etsy, which is a great marketplace for handmade goods of any kind. Below are pictures of some of my products and a link to my shop. Please feel free to look around. In the fall, I will be attending The Fashion Institute of Technology in Jewelry Design. I am very excited and nervous as it is a huge risk financially and professionally, but time waits for no man (or woman). Anyway, have a look see.

new EtsyNameSpace.Mini(72339, 'shop','thumbnail',3,3).renderIframe();

I figured out the quickest way to get a response is to start a blog so here goes:

Ok, as a black woman, I have been known to jerk my neck from side to side and wave a finger or two in an argument (just ask my husband, who used to, affectionately, call me The Hulk). And there is a long standing complaint/stereotype/joke in the community about "bwwas" (black women with attitudes). But, ladies, are we so bad that we have become a caricature?