CANS! Your New Favorite Storage
...2023 Update...
Now that the pandemic is "over", I'm happy to say that CANS! (I totally should've done an update about them) are nearly perfected. What initially started as a means to reduce our contribution to local landfills, CANS! are gaining in popularity. I also have a stronger technique for reducing rust and I'm even working on a fundraiser for a community organization where I'm a new board member.
Even with its shaky start, I hope to turn GRAND CANS!, a specially replicated CANS! into something special for those of us who love repurposed decor. I still will make jewelry occasionally, along with any other ideas that bubble up. I'm also challenging myself to sew a new garment weekly, and I'm already 5 pieces behind! However, this Carnival break has given me the time to play catch up. Thanks for visiting the shop! Until next time...
...2019 Update...
See what had happend was- in 2015 I started a new chapter in my career working for a non-profit that turned into my absolute dream job. Because we were still in start-up mode AND I worked virtually, pieces of my life started to fall into place. This meant that one of the primary reasons for "playing around" greatly diminished. Still, I found time here and there to make items for friends and by request, but I wasn't crafting in ANY way as often as did. While I thought about this shop A LOT, my world was just too full to be as committed as I originally intended. Soon my poor little site dwindled down to one listing.
Soon after, I experienced a double loss, losing my father and his mother within months of each other. As tragic as this was for my family, personally and professionally, I have accomplished tons in the last two years, freeing up space and time for me to really do more of the the crafting I've longed to do in a long time. So now I'm back! I'm a bit more sophisticated with keeping up in inventory and pricing but I still will keep pretty simple listings (I like to chat so message me anytime with extra questions). I'm looking forward to this new journey while I play around with new machines, materials and skills! Your continued patronage will help me keep my habit from bleeding into the bill money and spring a horseback riding lesson or two for my budding eleven year old!
...to be continued
Previously...
Back in 2014ish,
My most recent adventure in jewelry making started back in 2011 after I was abruptly laid off. It was the beginning of the year- the worst time for folks who enjoy a career in education. As the weeks stretched on and no immediate opportunities manifested, my anxiety grew to astronomical proportions. I needed something do! This was during rhe time when long feather earrings were really popular and a friend of mind purchased a pair earrings from a young lady. After examining the craftsmanship of the piece, I realized that I could make earrings in a different, yet similar style. It was out of this need for a challenge and a creative outlet to deal with my anxiousness that JPANOLA was born.
I started an Etsy shop this year as a way to share my creations on a larger scale and this environment seemed like a good place to start. People who buy from me locally would always encourage me to set up at a flea or farmer's market but with an eight year old daughter, sitting for hours in one location on the weekend just won't happen. Couple that with the fact that jewelry making would become another "demand" on my time, I just wasn't interested. I applaud and even envy the hard work and dedication that full time shop owners put in to production, maintaining inventory, marketing, etc. Me? I still "play around", preferring to simply create, challenging myself to create as many unique pieces as humanly possible.
By the way- very randomly, I'll add non-jewelry things just because I want a new challenge and I just think it's a good idea to sell it to the world. This year it was flower pens- which are fantastic (makes great gifts for Teachers and other folk who have their pens stolen regularly)!
Take care for now! ~Ramie
