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There, I admitted it. I simply do not understand the obsession some women seem to have with shoes.

Admittedly, I have too many pairs, but that tends to stem from two things -

1. I am a pack-rat, and keep old, scuffed, sole-broken shoes loooong past when I should; and

2. I have a tendency to buy cheap shoes when I need them for something (usually work) and they are too uncomfortable/wear out too quickly, but, bringing us back to 1., I can’t bring myself to part with them.

That, and I pretty much refuse to wear heels. Oh, I own a nice pair of black heels, and a sexy red pair of shiny stilettos (which, in my defence, were bought after a traumatic breakup in an attempt to be a new, crazy woman). I also have one pair of boots with heels, which I will wear on occasion to work, as well as a pair I bought years ago because I was my best friend’s maid of honour. But that’s it. And do you know how many days a year I would wear those, altogether?

Less than my number of fingers, that’s for sure. Though, it was only in preparing that list that I realised how many pairs of heels I have, for a person who hates wearing them…

When I was a teenager, I was completely oblivious to any kind of fashion cares whatsoever. I absolutely lived in sneakers. I’m still fond of my sneakers, but I spend most of my time in plain black flat shoes for work - and as I am up and walking around for hours, comfort is my first priority! I have also become a convert to my rip-off pink crocs that I bought for $5 at a cheapie shop. They are just so darn comfy!

So - are you a shoe fashionista? Are your shoes - as a colleague of mine once said - your babies? Or are you like me and just have no idea what the big deal is?

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As the big ‘09′ is just around the corner, I thought I should write a post about New Years Resolutions.

But everybody’s already written about the resolutions you should make - you know, like eating healthily or exercising… getting more organised…

So, I decided to take a slightly different perspective. Here’s a list of 10 New Years Resolutions that you absolutely shouldn’t keep… but, chances are, you will…

1. Get Terribly, Hideously Drunk

This is so, at 8am the next morning, when you are vomiting, you will be reminded as to why you should never get terribly, hideously drunk again. Should you?

2. Don’t dare attempt to take up that hobby you’ve been dreaming of for years

What’s the point? You’ll just spend lots of money to find out that you hate rock-climbing/fly fishing/glass-blowing/kite-flying/(insert hobby here). Oh, and you’ll meet new and interesting people and add to your life experience *shudder*. Just stay at home, nice and safe, and keep watching TV, my friend.

3. Ignore your dearest friends - and while you’re at it, your partner and kids, too!

They love you anyways, right? Why bother putting any effort into maintaining the relationship at all. If they’re really your friend they’ll be there to lend you $5000 when your uninsured car blows up and you need a new one right now!

Your wife? Eh - all the hard work is done! Just sit back and grow that beer gut, buddy! No-one needs to put any effort into keeping the other half happy once you’ve got them!

Don’t even mention the kids… they have the Internet to tell them what to do…

4. Eat whatever takes your fancy - and do it now!!

Mmmm… chocolate (please read beer if you are male). As much as you can eat. For ever. Doesn’t that sound like heaven? Of course that little piece (drink) won’t do you any harm… Diabetes happens to other people!

5. Make sure your job stresses you out!

You are so damn important that the cup of coffee you made wrong/sale you didn’t make/typo you missed will snowball and mean an end to humankind!!! The planet’s oceans will boil away! No-one will ever love/hire/smile at you again because you’re the harbinger of doom!!

Of course your mistake will still matter this time next year!!! Won’t it?

6. Watch too much TV

TV is your warm, fuzzy friend. It loves you! Never leave its side, or you might miss the Australian/American/Pop Idol finale! Or be the last to know what country Brad and Angelina get their next kid from! Shock-horror!

Of course the fact that you sit inert for hours each day, your eyes and attention mesmerised by a glowing lightbox, is healthy! This one really helps you stick to resolutions 2, 3, 4 and 8, as well, so it’s extra-important to keep!

7. Make promises you don’t keep

This goes for promises to others, and promises to yourself, as well. Let’s be frank - whenever you say “I promise”, everyone knows you don’t really mean it! And then they go and act all hurt and surprised when you don’t keep your promise! I mean, how dare they!

8. For heaven’s sake - don’t exercise!

Really,  there’s no solid evidence that it does you any good, right?

9. Buy whatever you want, whenever you want, and damn the credit card bill!

Recession? What recession? I’ll just keep spending… they money will come from somewhere! I can afford to pay my new $2000 TV off over 12 months - I only have to pay 18% interest. Oh yeah, and the $500 worth of clothes… and the new computer… um…

10. Keep making To-Do lists… and never finish them

Organisation is totally overrated. So what if you’re mobile phone is cancelled because when you got the bill you put it in the pile of already un-opened mail and forgot about it?

Just keep living on the fly, and you can look forward to endless messyness, disorganisation and frustration! Won’t that be nice

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This list, was, of course, written with tongue in cheek - but it also carries a message - especially to myself ! Some of these things I am notorious for, (number 10 in particular - ahem), and some I am lucky enough to have overcome.

So, do share! What’s the New Years Resolution that you shouldn’t keep?

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This is a question that I have long considered, especially as I’ve gotten older.

Blue eyed cuties by yo_heidi_gurl

Now, I work with kids, and I find that quite enjoyable. However, I have always maintained that kids are great… as long as you can give them back.

Being a parent has never been anywhere near the top of my to-do list, even though I am increasingly surrounded by family and friends who are having children of their own. When I tell people that I’m not really interested in having kids, they inevitably tell me that I’ll change my mind when I hit the magic Three-Oh.

But I wonder - will I? And even if I do, will having children make myself or Nick (my fiancé) any happier?

A number of people have written on this issue (The Happiness Project, Amelia Hill, Lorraine Ali) and have come to different conclusions based on their personal beliefs - but the research seems quite clear.

And the answer is no.

As someone with no plans to have children, this is a heartening find - though I can well imagine those of you out there who scoff at this finding, arguing that you love your kids more than anything, and can’t imagine being without them, and that *of course* they make you happier!

To be honest, though - it’s hard to miss something you’ve never had. I’ll use the analogy of siblings. I am an only child, and so have never known what it is like to have a brother or sister. But you know what? The vast majority of people that I have spoken to in my life have confided that I shouldn’t feel that I’ve missed out - because, apparently, having siblings is not all it’s cracked up to be. I take them at their word, but I’ll never know one way or another. It’s a similar thing with children. If I never have any, then all I have to go on is what I see around me, and the research and stories of others.

To be frank, most people I know who have kids (and, keep in mind I work with around 150 families) are constantly tired, frustrated, and worn out trying to run both their lives and their kids lives.

I think the one thing we can all, perhaps, agree on, is that once you have kids, your freedom is severely curtailed. You no longer have the time (or energy) that you used to, and your needs and wants go on the backburner while you take care of your child.

Call me selfish, but I love my life, and I don’t have a desire to sacrifice my current joys to parenthood - at least, not yet! I am the happiest I’ve ever been, I have a full life, and if I never have kids, I don’t think I’ll spend much time regretting it.

So, what is your take on this issue? Do your kids *really* make you happier? Or do you just want to believe they do?

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Since coming over all crafty and all, I decided that it was high-time I made presents this Christmas. Obviously only for female friends and relatives, though, as I’m yet to crack the skill of making masculine jewellery!

Here are a few of the sea glass pendants I’ve made people so far:

This one was for a good friend and colleague, Liz -

This one I made for my assistant manager, Lydia, who happens to also be Liz’s sister -

And this one is for my partners, mum, Jenny. I know she reads this sometimes, so if so, hello, and I hope you like it

I’m still in the process of deciding what to make for my Mum… it’s a shame that purple sea glass is so rare, as it’s her favourite colour!

I’ve also bought a few handmade presents off Etsy, and hope to visit our local craft market this weekend to get any additional gifts. There’s something really fulfilling about buying hand made goods, and making things myself for those I love. There’s nothing like the feeling of watching someone open their gift and love it, and know it is something that you have dreamed up and created!

How many of you are making your Christmas gifts this year? Have you done this for a long time, or is it a new thing for you, as it is for me?

'Dark Rose' by Jessica Van Den

It hit me last night - as I lay awake at 2:30 in the morning, thinking about my jewellery designs and business - that I have found my passion.

I have never had a ‘proper hobby’ before - as in something that occupied my mind in my spare hours, that I loved to do - except perhaps reading.

I’ve always wanted to find that thing that drove me on, that I wanted to do whenever I was doing something else… and now I finally have! Part of me is hesitant to claim my craft as my passion. See, I have a terrible tendency to get really interested in something for a short time, and then forget all about it. This time, however, it seems to be sticking!

I think working across a number of different media helps. I get bored easily, and having a number of different things to work on means I always have something I want to be creating. My mind will leap ahead to what I want to learn - such as metal smithing - and will then hop onto a new earring design, before focussing on the next sea glass necklace (I sold my first sea glass necklace yesterday on Etsy - I was so stoked!)

It really increases the joy I have in my life, and starting to sell what I make - knowing that other people love it enough to pay for it!! - has its own special reward. The ‘day job’ I work in is education-related, so while I do get the satisfaction of seeing children grow and learn, I have never before made anything concrete and tangible.

Finding an online community of people who are equally passionate about what they create has opened up a whole new world for me, and I am very greatful to be a part of such a creative, friendly, and passionate group of artisans.

I’m hoping that what I create now will lead me towards bigger and brighter things, and that perhaps, one day, I could spend all of my time doing what I love.

* * * *

Visit Epheriell Designs tomorrow to read the first of a new series by guest bloggers - My Crafty Journey! Each Thursday, a new artisan will write a post outlining how they came to be living a creative life - and how they were drawn to their particular craft. Our first guest is Theresa Mink, of Classic Design, who has made the Etsy ‘Top Sellers’ list!

Lavender is a rare colour for sea glass. It was originally white, but over time the sun reacts with Manganese used in the production of the glass! These pieces may, therefore, date back to before the 1940s! Apparently, if I leave them in the sun, the colour will intensify over time.

Here are my two, precious, pieces of lavender sea glass! I found the larger one just this weekend gone…

Lavender Sea Glass

We had a lovely night last night! My partner Nick and I have been renting a lovely 3-bedroom house near the beach for a few moths, and we decided we wanted to have our family and friends to visit. So, last night was our housewarming!

It was great fun…

Our house-warming, November 08

Two of our good friends stayed the night, and we all went for a walk down to the beach this morning. It’s a windy day, but not a cloud in the sunny sky. Here’s what it looked like…

My local beach - Redcliffe, Queensland, Australia.

As always, I couldn’t help but cast my eyes to the sand! As it’s been very stormy here this week, there was lots of detritus on the beach, which, of course, equals fantastic sea glass and stone/shell/coral finding conditions. My haul was quite modest compared to what I’ve come back with some times. There were a few particularly nice bits there today - especially the awesome long, deep-green bit that Nick spotted!

What I Wombled today...

This is not my favourite collecting beach, though. I think I may have to head out this afternoon to the best beach I have found… but I’m keeping that one a secret!

I also finally got the chance to photograph some of my sea glass jewellery! I also wore one piece at the party last night (you can see it in the photo above), and it was really rewarding to have people notice and comment on it. It’s just so wonderful to create something you really love and are proud of

Hmmm, it’s almost 4pm, I think I’ll have to head down to the beach soon. It’s been such a lovely day after the crazy week of storms we’ve had here. Last night was perfect - no clouds, stars and a light breeze. We thought we might have had to postpone it, but we’re glad we didn’t! Enjoy the rest of your weekend, all!

It’s the end of another long week - but it’s been a fruitful one for me. After working six days this week, and fitting in little bits and bobs of my crafting when I could, it was nice to sit down this evening and get stuck in.

This morning I took advantage of the good sunlight to take photographs of some of my pieces that I will soon be putting up in my second Etsy shop - AusSea Designs. I have been squirrelling away making jewellery from sea glass, coral, shells, and sea stones… and all work of that nature will be for sale at AusSea.

After that, I spent a few hours cleaning up what had become of our study! After a trip to Bunnings, where we purchased all manner of things - and me, specifically, some more storage containers - I finished finding a place for everything! I then printed out some business cards and packaged my first two sales! Sneak peak - if you ever buy from me, this is what your package will look like…

A little Epheriell Package!

Then, just as we were eating our dinner to the sounds of the thunderstorm outside, the power went out! So, after a bit of knitting, I decided to make some earrings I had been planning for a while. This turned into two pairs of Triple Loop Crocheted Earrings, and one pair that I’m really proud of, and that took me ages - The Gypsy Rose Crocheted Earrings. Here’s a sneak peak… I’ll be photographing these and popping them on Etsy in a few days time..

New Crocheted Earrings

Finally, the power has come back on, so I was able to finish my instruction sheet for ‘how to wear your NeckWrap’, and hop on here to potter around before, hopefully, a very good sleep to prepare me for the massive week ahead!

I’m so excited! I’ve been gathering supplies and working on a number of projects over the last week:

- my first batch of resin jewellery is almost done, I just have to attach the findings to finish off the pendants. I’ve made another two small batches too, embedding some of my digital art in one set, and they’ve come out really well!

- finished off a lovely scarf that I’m hoping to have up on Etsy soon

- been spending a lot of time at the beach, collecting shells, sea glass, and stones. I’ve wire-wrapped some of the sea glass, and embedded some lovely shells in resin, and I’ve got some other projects planned with these materials too. I’m aiming to open another shop at Etsy that focuses solely on my sea-based designs soon.

Currently, I’m also working six days a week, so I’m finding it hard to make a lot of progress. But just doing a little here and there has been great - it keeps me happy and keeps me sane!

You know, I only just cleaned up my desk last week….

I do happen to be a bit of a chronic disorganiser, (heck, one of my friends has even nick-named me messy - rhymes with jessie…) and my crafts are no exeption to the rule. I simply cannot start one thing, work on it exclusively, and then finish it! I start one thing, get bored or have another brain wave, start something else, and then don’t put the other thing away…

Most evenings are spent sitting at my desk, my boyfriend Nick beside me playing games on his computer, and me alternating between a bit of knitting, crochet, jewellery making, nipping off to have a look at how my latest resin is going, reading blogs and forums, writing, posting, tweeting… whew!

Does anyone else suffer this delightful malady I like to call multi-crafting? Okay, now I’m off to read some more forums…