The Trials and Tribulations of Being a MOM!

As some of you may know, I am about to become a Nana to a second grandson. This is a wonderful and exciting time for me, but I have to tell you; it is a tad stressful at the same time. As I am becoming a Nana once more, I am still Momma to two very young boys.
I love each of my children with a fierceness that even I am amazed with at times. I strive to be there for each of my children, equally and when they need me. This has been quite a task these last few days. Brinson, my 10 year old son, has a science fair project due today. Chelsea, my 21 year old daughter, is in the hospital right now and hopefully we will have a new addition to the family very soon. Cache, my 8 year old son, has a Halloween party tomorrow. Halloween is his most favorite Holiday and, of course, the one that he chooses first to bring treats for. I am a Mom to all three of these wonderful children.
Night before last, Chelsea called me and told me that she was going to the hospital to begin the process of giving birth. I am fortunate in the fact that we have a wonderful relationship and she would like me to be there when the baby is born. She asked if I could be the one to take her to the hospital, as her husband works out of state and was on his way, but would not be back in time to get her to the hospital by the time she needed to be there. I, of course, said "yes!"
I loaded Chelsea up into the car, loaded her bags up into the car, loaded my grandson up into the car and took him to his other grandma's house to stay until the new baby would come home to play with him and headed off to the hospital some 30 minutes away. Upon arrival, I called my 10 year to let him and his brother know that I had gone with their sister to the hospital to hopefully welcome their new nephew into the world. I could suddenly feel the tension on the phone. I was instantly being yelled at and the tears began to fall. Brinson seemed lost now that I was not going to be available to help him with his science fair project. I explained to him that his dad was going to be there to help him and that I was confident that they would be able to do the steps necessary to get his project completed. This went over like lead. I was suddenly talking to no one. The phone was silent and I had been hung up on. My heart was now being torn in two different directions.
I called my husband, Kirt, at work and told him what was going on and that he would need to help Brinson with his project, as it was due the next day. I could hear the confusion in the silence on the phone. I explained the detailed steps to get the job done and I heard the, "OK", and then, "I love you...," and then we hung up.
I called Brinson back to provide what comfort I could, but it was no use. I was the one chosen to help. I was the one that was supposed to be there when the heat from the toaster made the balloon created out of the dry cleaning bag was to lift to the skies. I was the one that knew how to download the Flip. I was the one...I was the one.
We got Chelsea situated into her room and I nestled in to wait for Guy and the baby. Guy showed up and took his place beside my daughter, his wife, and then I was asked to please stay.
Of course, I was staying! It was a special opportunity to be able to see one of my grandchildren enter the world! I have always been the one to give birth and now it was my turn to see the miracle from a different view point and I was incredibly excited!
My cell phone rang, it was my husband.
"I don't know how to work the Flip..." This was the first thing I heard when I said hello.
Silence ensued for a few moments and then... "I don't know how to do this and I don't know what we are supposed to do. What is Brinson doing?" he asked, anger coating his tone.
I tried to explain what our son was supposed to do. I told him about the papers that explained everything. I told him to read the papers and get an idea of what was supposed to happen. He said, "OK", once more and then the phone was silent.
I hung up the phone as the nurses came in and explained the steps that were going to take place to get things moving and get this baby to greet the world. Cool!
My phone rang once more...
"Mom..."
"What?" I asked.
"The poster board is not big enough to go around the toaster..." and then there was silence. I had been hung up on again.
I called my sister.
"Where are you?" I asked.
"At the grocery store," was the reply.
"Can you do me a HUGE favor?" I asked, feeling guilty for asking.
"Sure! What do you need?"
That was a loaded question. I explained that I was with Chelsea and that Brinson was in the middle of his science fair project and he needed another piece of poster board. I went on to explain what the project was and the way it was supposed to work. I asked her if she could pick up a piece of poster board and go out to my house and help with the chaos that was everywhere. She quickly agreed and began driving to my house from hers, some 30 minutes away.
I called Brinson once more, "Aunt Sheila will be there to help you in a just a little while, she is coming over to help," I told him.
"We got it!" was his response. "We used the cover to the floor tablet that Cache writes on...." Anger is still lingering in the depths of his voice as the words seethe out of his mouth.
"OK," I say. "Sheila will still come out to check on you to see that you are OK," I told him.
"Never mind! We are already done!" was his quick response and then I was speaking to silence once more.
The nurse entered the room to go over the forms to be signed, the procedures in place so that babies are not stolen from the hospital, and general information that is just good to know. She finished up and left the room.
I sheepishly call my sister. "Where are you now?" I ask.
"I am at the edge of town, on my way out to your house," she tells me. I explain that the project is done and ask her if she can check in anyway. She agrees and we hang up.
My phone rings again. "Is there a baby yet?" my husband asks.
"Not yet, but maybe tonight," I tell him. He goes on to say that the project is done and that the Flip is downloaded. He asks when I might be home. I tell him that I am not sure, it depends on what happens. He says that he will see me later and we hang up.
There is cold air blowing down on the three of us from the ceiling above as we sit and wait for the baby to decide if he is ready or not. The nurses have tried several times to correct the air situation, but to no avail. Guy heads to Wal-Mart to pick up a couple of blankets and pillows to make he and myself more comfortable as we sit in the frigid room awaiting the birth of his second son. The air blowing down on us from the ceiling is cold and the chairs are uncomfortable. The night lingers into day and there is still no baby. It was a restless, sleepless night.
It is 7:15 a.m. now and I call home. Kirt answers the phone..."Are the boys up?" I ask.
"Yes," he replies. "We are headed to Blair's for a lunch for Brinson," he tells me.
"Brinson has a field trip?" I ask, surprised that I wasn't aware of this.
"Yes, I guess so..." he responds.
"OK," I say. "I love you and I will talk to you later." We hang up.
The nurse from the day before is on shift now and the night nurses are no longer visiting the room. She enters with news that Chelsea and Guy have a couple of choices to make. They can either go home and come back when the baby is ready, or they can stay in the hospital and the Dr. will put her on a pitocin drip through an IV to see if that gets things going. They decide to stay.
I feel the need to get back to my life at home~ my job, my other kids and my husband. It feels as if an eternity has gone by. I say my "good-byes" and I leave the room. I drive to my house, take a shower and go to work. I am exhausted.
I check in with Chelsea to find out what is happening. Nothing yet. I go and get my boys after work and get mauled by hugs and kisses. They truly miss me when I am away. We go to McDonald's and pick up their special dinner because their mom is on a total guilt trip. We get home and they get on the Wii. I sit down at my jewelry bench and create this...

a special order that I received from the show last weekend.
I call Chels... still nothing.
It is late and I am completely exhausted. I go to bed and I sleep like a baby until the ripe ole' hour of 6:00 a.m.
I rise and get the boys up. I take a toaster, a computer, poster board, dry cleaning bags and two boys to school. We unload. I go to work and call Chelsea. Still nothing, but they are putting her back on pitocin, but at a higher drip so maybe things will get going.
I get an e-mail from Cache's teacher.
 Janet,
I had told Cache to let you know that his ham rolls would be a perfect treat for the party, then realized that just maybe an 8 year old boy may not have remembered to tell mom. So, would you be able to bring treats to the Halloween party?
Julie
Of course, I said "Yes...", but I still have my Chelly Bell in the hospital trying to give birth to my grandson and I get to be a part of it. Guess what I am doing on my lunch hour...
Kirt may be taking ham rolls to school in the morning for Cache's party. (Am I a bad mom?)
Brinson has his science fair tonight from 5:30 to 6:00 p.m. I hope that Chelsea holds out until after I have the ham rolls made and I get to the science fair. My only wish is that I could be in two places at once when I need to be. No one ever said that being a mom would be easy. I can tell you that it is fulfilling and full of rewards, but it is trying at times. Especially times like these.
I will hopefully be creating jewelry again soon. I need to get back to my regular routine before one of my children literally EXPLODES right in front of me. My husband needs me back too...this is not his forte. He does OK, but he cracks under pressure.
God gives everyone a mom for a reason. Keep yours in your prayers and know how hard she works to provide herself wherever she is needed. Let this serve as a reminder to cut her some slack if she needs it too. Motherhood is a precious thing and sharing her time can be quite a difficult task under certain circumstances.
I would not trade my life for the world, I just hope that my kids may learn to understand...

The Tools Make All The Difference!

If you have not already guessed, I am a jewelry artist that loves to wire wrap. Wire is my soul food. It keeps me sane and lets me be who I am meant to be. Who knew, right? Another thing that you have probably guessed is that wire is metal and with metal comes sharp edges, pokey ends, dirt and grime. Of course, I need tools to work with my medium of choice and I have some very favorites. I refer to my very favorites as my 'Fab Five'. They are the tools I use the most and they are the things I love most, next to my husband and children, of course. My 'fab five' go places with me, they are always present when I sit down to create, they are my utensils that I use most often in my life. They aren't the 'fab five' for nothin', you know. No, they have a purpose in life and they are really good at what they do. They have to be, as often as I am grabbing them and holding them and squeezing them and loving them...OK, enough! I know.
So, today I have decided to tell you about my 'fab five'. I am sure every wire wrapper in the world has their favorites and they may not be the same as mine, but this is my story and I get to tell it how I want to.
My favorite among the five is...well, I don't have just 1 favorite, they are all my favorites so I will tell you about them all and I will be presenting them to you in no specific order, as they all have a job to do and they all do their own job quite nicely.

First of all, I have the Swanstrom Chain Nose Pliers pictured here...

These pliers are used to get into those tough spots where you need a little nose with a mighty grip. These are the best thing ever for that.
Next, I have the Swanstrom Round Nose Pliers...

These I use for making rosettes and spirals, swirls, and circles. They have a wonderful tip that can provide a very crisp circle. I love the fact that they have such a tiny tip. This can make the rosettes and spirals closed in the center and this is the look I really like when I am making these.
Third are the Swanstrom Flat Nose Pliers...

These are the greatest pliers I have ever used to form wrap wires around bundles. They have a nice thin end so you don't have to worry about having a wrap wire that does not hug the bundle tightly. They also have a narrow end and this is really nice to get a bundle wire that is the right fit without losing the sight of it in the jaws of the pliers.
I have used many different brands of pliers in my life, but I have to tell you; I have used nothing in the past that compares to the Swanstrom brand of pliers. They feel nice to hold, they have nice precise ends that do EXACTLY what you need them to do, they are a true PRECISION pair of pliers. I have invested a lot of money into pliers over the years, and I know now that I should have saved up and bought these the very first moment I started looking to buy my own tools. I have not been disappointed with them, only the fact  that I did not purchase them first. They are a little pricey at about $40.00 a pair, depending on where you purchase them, but I have to tell you from experience, they are worth every penny!
The next item in the 'fab five' are the Xuron Flush Cutters...

These are the best things to cut with. I have had many cutters, but these by far are the ones I prefer. They are very strong and I have cut through as many as 6 wires at once with absolutely little effort. Of course, you only want to cut jewelry wire with these and keep the wires at a gauge that is respectable. I don't suggest that you try to cut through 6 wires that are 16 gauge full-hard all at once, you may find a bit of resistance. I usually cut no more than 6- 20 gauge wires at once, half-hard. This is pretty extreme, and these cutters do just fine. They cut through wire like a warm knife through butter. (An old expression used in my dad's day...Happy Birthday Dad, I miss you every single day!)
the last of my 'fab five' are the Bail Makers...

I have 3 different sizes of these pliers and I love each one of them the same. I use these pliers to make the spirals that I don't want closed in my more swirly designs. I also use them to make perfect bails on my pendants. They are precise and even on both sides and I love that. The bail makers have come to be used for way more than bail making in my wonderful world of wire, so therefore they have become one of the 'fab five'.
I want to thank Wire-sculpture.com for helping me become the wire artist I am today. When I first saw things on the internet that I just had to learn how to do, I found Wire-sculpture.com and I have been using their site ever since. I have bought the 'fab five' from their website as well as countless feet of wire that I have used to create my designs. I also borrowed the pictures you see here, in today's post, from their website. If yo are looking for a place to buy quality wire and tools at a good price, go to www.wire-sculpture.com, they may just have everything that you have been looking for.

What's Next for Etsy

I have decided that the next things to be listed in my Etsy shop are my big chunky bling necklaces. You know the ones, the crystals and rhinestones glisten and shimmer in the light and the magnetic pendants make a distinct fashion statement. I have a few of these necklaces. I was not going to make these, as I am not much on trendy, fad jewelry but I couldn't help myself when I found the magnetic pendants that I used in my designs. They really made a statement, and I knew that if I paired them with the crystals and semi-precious gemstones that I know and love, then they would stand out even more. Would you like to see a few? Remember, after today, you will be able to find these pieces featured in my Etsy Shop under the CHUNKY COWGIRL NECKLACE section. http://www.etsy.com/shop/janetcozzens?ref=si_shop Here they are...

The name of the shop section may change as I get more savvy with Search Engine Optimization, or SEO, and Pageranking for keywords, but for now, this is what it is.
I feel stupid when it comes to all of this stuff. I wish that I knew more when it comes to optimizing my shop on Etsy. Handmadeology is a helpful tool that I have found. I think that I can gain a lot of knowledge through reading the things that they have to offer. It is made up of Etsy sellers that  know what it is like to want to sell your handmade items on Etsy. I am studying up on the Social Media Blitz right now. I hope to really get my shop out there and promote it the right way from the very beginning. I guess we will have to see what happens.
Anyway, these are the necklaces that will be featured next. I really hope to sell a few...

The Necklace Created from 5:00 A.M. Inspiration

I told you all that my husband woke me up at 5:00 A.M. the other morning and that once I was awake, the Fighter would not leave me alone. Well, I want to tell you about what was created because of the fact that the Fighter antagonizes me.
I lay awake from 5:00 until I actually HAD to get up at 6:00 to get ready for work. The entire time I was awake, I had this image in my head and I could not stop thinking about ways in which to make this image come to fruition. I went to work and thought about the necklace the entire time I was there. Thank gosh my boss was gone, he would have been astounded by my disconnection to what I was actually supposed to be concentrating upon. Anyway, I was consumed by these thoughts of this necklace so I got out the paper and began to sketch it out.
I am not a good artist when it comes to drawing. My art lies in the designs I create with wire and stones and fortunately, I can usually make what I see in my mind turn out with wire and stones despite the fact that I cannot draw my thoughts on paper worth beans. I proceeded to draw my sketch anyway because I know how important it is to get my ideas down on paper because ideas don't remain long in the creative mind before another inspiration moves in to take its place. I drew it out and this is what it looked like on paper...

Now remember that I told you that I cannot draw, so try not to laugh too heartily.
Once I had the drawing, I knew that I had captured the image pretty well. When I finally got to leave my job and go home for the day, I had to sit down right away and grab the wire. I found a couple of Aventurine stones, as this was the stone that I had in my mind, and I knew that I would have the correct sizes that I needed. Now I had the stones and the wire and I needed to get to work.
I took the idea out of my head and transformed it to the wire and stones. This is the necklace that was created once I could work on it...

 It is almost exactly what I had pictured. I had to change the stone at the bottom, as this stone fit the wire frame a tad bit better.
I was quite pleased to see the finished product. My minds eye and the Fighter have yet to fail me. What do you think? My only dilemma now is to antique or not to antique. I love the look of the antique copper, but I know how hard it will be to get the steel wool in the places that I need to get the black off and the copper to come through. Next thing I need to do is invent a tool to do just that. Any ideas?
So, here it is from my mind all the way to finished product. Yes, as I have said before, I am pretty proud of the results. I do indeed thank the fact that the Fighter is relentless!

New Necklace Deisgns

I have come up with a new necklace design that I believe is what I have been working towards for a long time. When I finally created this...

It was like a light went on in my head. I have finally found the design that fits me perfectly. It is a design with all of the appeal that I need. The wire, the stones, the frills and swirls, the Victorian flare...yes all that is me.
My husband decided to tap me on the arm at 5:00 A.M. this morning and bring me out of my peaceful slumber. I awoke to find him still fast asleep beside me, but dreaming. I wanted to go back to sleep so badly but guess what...the Fighter was there taunting me once more. I now have an idea for another necklace that is similar to this. It will definitely have its own element of design, but it will be along the same lines, semi-precious gemstone, swirls and curls of wire, you know...what I am in love with.
I lay in bed as the Fighter took over my mind once more. I almost had to get up right then and there, but was able to stave it off until 6:00. Now I have to get my sketch book out because I cannot shut the Fighter down until I actually PRODUCE something that will appease its need to consume me. I guess I know what I am doing tonight! Oh but how I LOVE to do this. It is what brings peace to me...and the Fighter.
If you have not heard yet, my Etsy shop is up and I have some rings for sell. This is another project that I cannot seem to push out of my mind for very long. I really need to get some more items posted. It all takes time I know, but I just want what I want when I want it and I am not very patient. Something that I have had to learn to deal with since I was a small child. Good things come to those who wait...
Here is the link to my shop:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/janetcozzens?ref=si_shop
now go and take a look. If you have suggestions, I would love to hear them. What, about my shop, appeals to you? What do you find that I could work on? I would love to hear your comments and suggestions. You can post them right here. Now go on...click on the link...you know you want to!
Until next time,
Janet

Some of my Favorite Things...

Today's post is all about some of my favorite things. Have you found Etsy yet? The place where you can go and find anything and everything you ever dreamed of homemade? The place where you can be transported into a world of fantasy and wonder? Where you can look at things that touch your heart and your inner being bringing out your true self? Well, that is how I feel whenever I go to the Etsy website. I feel as if I have found my true being. There are so many things that I am absolutely in love with on Etsy. Like this shop that offers the most beautiful lampwork beads I think I have ever seen...
www.RonsickOriginals.etsy.com
Or this shop that offers a faery chandelier made from twigs and flowers and crystals and everything else a little girl could wish for for her faery-tale bedroom...
www.queendecor.etsy.com
Or this shop that offers the most amazing notecards and tags for the Victorian soul in your life...
www.oakhollowprimitives.etsy.com
Or this shop that has the most beautiful bound paper journals covered in lovely leather...
www.GILDBookbinders.etsy.com
Oh yes, these are just a few of my favorite things.
Etsy is so innovative that if you go in and make an account, you can actually take a taste test and they will spotlight shops that they feel you would like. They have been right every time when I do this. You can even take the test over and over again and new things will come up. It is very impressive, and very addictive.
When you purchase something from ETSY, you can speak to the CREATOR of the item. The actual PERSON that made it. This I find to be one of the most appealing things to me about ETSY. Where else can you go and talk to the person that made the item you are purchasing? Who can better tell you about the item you are purchasing than the person that made it? You will get AMAZING customer service because most Etsians are there to sell their items and get you to come back to their shop to purchase again in the future. They CARE about the transaction and want you to be HAPPY with your purchase. Don't take my word for it, go and find out for yourself. 
If you have not done so yet, I think you should go to www.ETSY.com and sign up for an account and take the taste test. I think you may just find something that you will fall in love with and possibly cannot live without. If you can, purchase the item and then rate your purchase so that the person that created it will know how you feel and whether or not they can improve, or if they are doing a good job with their shop. Think of this...every time that you purchase something from ETSY, you are fulfilling someone else's dream to sell their passion. How cool is that? You get something that you will probably treasure, or that you will give to someone else to treasure, and you also helped someone to reinforce their belief that they can make things that people want to buy. This to me is the AMERICAN DREAM!
Come on...what are you waiting for? GO, GO, GO!!!

The Fighter

The Fighter is challenging me to try to come up with things that are my own...no patterns...no looking at something else and trying to make something similar...just creating some pieces that are totally my own. These are some of the things the Fighter and I have come up with so far...

I love each and every one of these pieces but I have found that I would probably do better with fine silver, the .999 silver. It is easier to create swirls and coils with, but have you seen the price of silver lately? OMG!!! I almost fell off of my chair yesterday when I actually went online to try and purchase some. I am very hopeful that my shows go well these next few months so that I may purchase some and really try to create something remarkable with it. The Fighter would love for that to happen too.
I think that I may try for Artist of the Month with Wiresculpture.com. I am really trying to put out some quality pieces to enter into the contest. It is a challenge that I have been contemplating for a while now. Me and the Fighter. I may try to enter a contest with Fire Mountain Gems as well. I always have a challenge when the Fighter is present.
I am sure you are asking yourselves who the Fighter is by now so I will tell you. I have this inner voice, dubbed the Fighter, that just will not let up. Every time I turn around I can hear the Fighter taunting me, "Come on...You can do THAT! You can do ANYTHING you want to do. Get up...get motivated...create something captivating...that people want to look at and try on and fall in love with...you know you can do it...just give it a try...come on!!!!" This is what I wake up with in the morning, this is what I listen to during the daylight hours, and this is what I go to bed with at night. This little voice~the Fighter~egging me on to be better, to do something that will make my mark in the world. It is like a shadow following me around everywhere I go. The only difference is...I can HEAR the Fighter! It never leaves me~it is always there...nagging!
It is trying at times to go to bed and have my mind not shut down and have the Fighter taunting me endlessly. I have gotten up so many times in the middle of the night to satiate the Fighter. My stomach will be in knots, the Fighter will be on active overload making it impossible to sleep. The Fighter is there whispering things to me, taunting me, and I can't turn it off. It is a constant voice...always present...always challenging me. When I finally can't take it anymore, I get up, go out to the kitchen~ that has become my studio~ and sit down. I pick up the wire, cut a piece off and start to create something. So many times I will not know what I am creating, or why I am doing it when I should be sleeping, but pretty soon the Fighter makes it clear to me that I have become motivated enough to create something in my hands that looks good...that is presentable...that is captivating...that people want to look at and try on and fall in love with...and I can finally put the Fighter down for the night and the Fighter will finally sleep...for a little while.
This is my life. This is my life everyday. This insatiable voice~the Fighter~controlling me, taunting me, never letting up, always there challenging me to keep creating and keep doing what I love the most in this world. The Fighter is an integral part of me, the part that has always been able to make me do better, to help me see things clearly and to strive to become the person I am supposed to be. I guess that, deep down, I really don't want the Fighter to stop nagging. For then, I would not be the person I am today~the person that keeps trying to improve and become that which I want to be...