EtsyBloggers Team: Productivity -- Blog Carnival
http://alankarshilpa.blogspot.com/2011/10/time-management.html
Monday, October 17, 2011
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Time Management
How do I manage time?
How do I get more hours out of the twenty four hour day?
And am I a multitasker? or, do I rather prefer to finish one project before starting another? These were the questions my Etsy blogger friends asked.
It reminds me of a workshop I had taken a couple of years ago. We were to fit a jar with some big stone pebbles and a bag of seed beads. I found to my surprise that when I poured the seed beads first I could not fit the big stones any more. When I started with the big stones and then the seed beads, they somehow all managed to fit in the same amount of space.
My 24 hour day is like the jar. When I started with the big jobs first, I could manage to squeeze in the small jobs (seed bead like ones ) too. The analogy is great. But the challenge is to understand which ones are the important pebbles and which ones are seed beads.
To me I prioritize in the following order: health, immediate family, career and job, home and hobby, extended family, neighbors and friends. Some times I do get side tracked and waste the whole day browsing in the internet.
I do use a to do list, a google calender, an organizer binder and a kitchen timer to keep me in track. Believe me, with out these tools I would be lost.
But today, this Sunday afternoon, I stop to ponder how important is it to accomplish those to do list? It is equally important to slow down, take a break to smell the rose, enjoy a cup of hot coco and just do nothing. That makes me more aware about life and living and what I value in this journey.
That helps me to prioritize the to do list for the following days.
Well you asked - am I a multi tasker?
Heck yeh! Some times I am like a whirled wind maniac, tangled with many projects at the same time. Especially,when I am beading other ideas come and I can't stop. And all the beads and findings make a huge big mess like this -
I hate this but I am so caught up playing with the muse, I just can't help it.
But I really do not like that. I like to take one job at a time and like to be nice and organized, having a place for each thing and every thing in its place.
Life is not quite like that with me. So while the washing machine tumbles I wind up coils to creat earring. I use the 30 minute timer to see how much time each jewelry project takes. This helps me to price them too. Then I must get up to give my eyes and back a break and load the dish washer.
While the stew simmers I catch up writing my blog or upload in Etsy shop.
But the best thing I like is to sit down with a bowl of yummy munchies and check on the comments my friends leave in my blog , which is multi tasking. Isn't it? :)
How do I get more hours out of the twenty four hour day?
And am I a multitasker? or, do I rather prefer to finish one project before starting another? These were the questions my Etsy blogger friends asked.
It reminds me of a workshop I had taken a couple of years ago. We were to fit a jar with some big stone pebbles and a bag of seed beads. I found to my surprise that when I poured the seed beads first I could not fit the big stones any more. When I started with the big stones and then the seed beads, they somehow all managed to fit in the same amount of space.
My 24 hour day is like the jar. When I started with the big jobs first, I could manage to squeeze in the small jobs (seed bead like ones ) too. The analogy is great. But the challenge is to understand which ones are the important pebbles and which ones are seed beads.
To me I prioritize in the following order: health, immediate family, career and job, home and hobby, extended family, neighbors and friends. Some times I do get side tracked and waste the whole day browsing in the internet.
I do use a to do list, a google calender, an organizer binder and a kitchen timer to keep me in track. Believe me, with out these tools I would be lost.
But today, this Sunday afternoon, I stop to ponder how important is it to accomplish those to do list? It is equally important to slow down, take a break to smell the rose, enjoy a cup of hot coco and just do nothing. That makes me more aware about life and living and what I value in this journey.
That helps me to prioritize the to do list for the following days.
Well you asked - am I a multi tasker?
Heck yeh! Some times I am like a whirled wind maniac, tangled with many projects at the same time. Especially,when I am beading other ideas come and I can't stop. And all the beads and findings make a huge big mess like this -
I hate this but I am so caught up playing with the muse, I just can't help it.
But I really do not like that. I like to take one job at a time and like to be nice and organized, having a place for each thing and every thing in its place.
Life is not quite like that with me. So while the washing machine tumbles I wind up coils to creat earring. I use the 30 minute timer to see how much time each jewelry project takes. This helps me to price them too. Then I must get up to give my eyes and back a break and load the dish washer.
While the stew simmers I catch up writing my blog or upload in Etsy shop.
But the best thing I like is to sit down with a bowl of yummy munchies and check on the comments my friends leave in my blog , which is multi tasking. Isn't it? :)
Monday, September 19, 2011
A Jewelry Story
I'll remember this jewelry story for a long time and after I came back from the wedding party ( that I went to attend this weekend) I was itching to put it down in my blog. It deserves a post in my journal. Sorry, it took two and a half days.
I met a wonderful lady last Saturday in a wedding party. She was a School Principal and I was in the school community for some time too, so we had many common concerns and topics to share. We were worried the way the school districts are cutting Art Programs. It is always the" budget " to blame.
I told her I was going to participate in an Art Fair on October 1 and 2 as a jewelry artist and this fair - the Art in the Park Fair, sponsored by the Alamo Danville Art Society ( ADAS) is contributing 10% to the school district. Actually we, vendors are giving 10% of our sale to the local San Ramon school community for restoring the Art program.
It is a great thing that ADAS is bringing the artists and the community together to solve this budget problem. Art is essential to many people especially children, we both agree.
Coming to know that I make jewelry she told me a beautiful story that I want to share today.
Why do we wear jewelry? Well, to show power. You know who is the king or the royal heirarchy from the crowns they wear; to show STATUS - that is why people go for expensive jewelry; just for the sake of BEAUTY, for EMOTION - that's why you wear your wedding ring and now I learned that you also wear jewelry to remind you a special message.
Here is her story:
Long ago when gold was only $35 an ounce, Helen went traveling with her husband and bought a moonstone. In this far away land this precious stone was a great buy she thought and perhaps her husband bought it to her lovingly as a souvenir. But what will a round moonstone do unless it is set?
Much later, another day on their walk, they came to see a small sign saying JEWELRY REPAIRING or something like that.
They open the small door of the shop. It creaks. A man with a heavy foreign accent appears.
"How may I help?"
They showed the moonstone and asked if he could set it to a ring.
"Yes, of course, I'll put some tiny Hyderabadi pearls that look like grains of rice around it ...How'bout that?" - he asked.
Helen could see it in her mind's eye. Perfect.
"But you'll have to pay for the customs, mailing and a small charge for my labor" - said the man.
They agreed.
Many days passed. Helen really did not expect it will ever come. It is one of those things we get into when we buy souvenirs in foreign countries, she thought.
Then, one day when she had almost forgotten about it, the door bell rang.
"You have a packet Ma'am from a foreign mail"- said the Mail man.
It was that moonstone ring surrounded by tiny rice pearls!
Helen showed me her ring. It is beautiful, but more beautiful is when her eyes glistened.
-" It reminds me not to lose trust in people. Never to lose hope! That's why I wear it."
**************************************
In the mean time I am working extremely hard for this show. I'll show you what I had been doing until 2 in the morning yesterday night:
I met a wonderful lady last Saturday in a wedding party. She was a School Principal and I was in the school community for some time too, so we had many common concerns and topics to share. We were worried the way the school districts are cutting Art Programs. It is always the" budget " to blame.
I told her I was going to participate in an Art Fair on October 1 and 2 as a jewelry artist and this fair - the Art in the Park Fair, sponsored by the Alamo Danville Art Society ( ADAS) is contributing 10% to the school district. Actually we, vendors are giving 10% of our sale to the local San Ramon school community for restoring the Art program.
It is a great thing that ADAS is bringing the artists and the community together to solve this budget problem. Art is essential to many people especially children, we both agree.
Coming to know that I make jewelry she told me a beautiful story that I want to share today.
Why do we wear jewelry? Well, to show power. You know who is the king or the royal heirarchy from the crowns they wear; to show STATUS - that is why people go for expensive jewelry; just for the sake of BEAUTY, for EMOTION - that's why you wear your wedding ring and now I learned that you also wear jewelry to remind you a special message.
Here is her story:
Long ago when gold was only $35 an ounce, Helen went traveling with her husband and bought a moonstone. In this far away land this precious stone was a great buy she thought and perhaps her husband bought it to her lovingly as a souvenir. But what will a round moonstone do unless it is set?
Much later, another day on their walk, they came to see a small sign saying JEWELRY REPAIRING or something like that.
They open the small door of the shop. It creaks. A man with a heavy foreign accent appears.
"How may I help?"
They showed the moonstone and asked if he could set it to a ring.
"Yes, of course, I'll put some tiny Hyderabadi pearls that look like grains of rice around it ...How'bout that?" - he asked.
Helen could see it in her mind's eye. Perfect.
"But you'll have to pay for the customs, mailing and a small charge for my labor" - said the man.
They agreed.
Many days passed. Helen really did not expect it will ever come. It is one of those things we get into when we buy souvenirs in foreign countries, she thought.
Then, one day when she had almost forgotten about it, the door bell rang.
"You have a packet Ma'am from a foreign mail"- said the Mail man.
It was that moonstone ring surrounded by tiny rice pearls!
Helen showed me her ring. It is beautiful, but more beautiful is when her eyes glistened.
-" It reminds me not to lose trust in people. Never to lose hope! That's why I wear it."
**************************************
In the mean time I am working extremely hard for this show. I'll show you what I had been doing until 2 in the morning yesterday night:
 |
| Here I tried to integrate the Viking Knit of the West with the Bali beads of the East |
 |
| Here I tried to integrate the Herring Bone Wire work that actually came from Old World Basket weaving with a present day twist. |
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
New beads - new attempts
I got some interesting beads . But I was not looking for them. I went to buy a Lazee Daizy Viking tool. Lately I am into Viking knit. I bought a spool, the French spool kind of thing, but it did not do what I wanted. So I was dilly dallying.. should I buy this plastic tool for $29.99? what if it does not work in my hands any way ? But I did and just before going out these black and white beads rolled into my hand. The designs are so pretty I could not leave them.
Here is what I did with them.
Here is what I did with them.
Then to match with the bracelet I created a whole set:)
I am getting quite carried away. I am making some more. They are soon going to go to my etsy store. But I am keeping one for myself.Thursday, August 18, 2011
Interesting pictures from the Smithsonian Museum
I have some interesting pictures to share with you from the Smithsonian Museum.
Yesterday we went to the Smithsonian Art Gallery These pictures are in the West wing where they have the Renaissance and the early works.
Here is an interesting one :
What do you think these women are talking about? Now look at this:
Yesterday we went to the Smithsonian Art Gallery These pictures are in the West wing where they have the Renaissance and the early works.
Here is an interesting one :
What do you think these women are talking about? Now look at this:
 |
Monday, July 11, 2011
Craft Fair- Is it Worth It
The Craft Fair – Is It worth It
Craft fairs for artisans are a way of life. You pay the booth fees, mail your best pictures, and then anxiously wait for the passing score. Okay, you pass. Then you e mail one hundred friends and fans (!- well they really don’t care you come to know that gradually, yet this is the rule of the game. You shrug off and do that again any way).
Then for a week or so you worry if you have enough inventory and stay up until 2 pm until your eyes burn and neck falls off. Then in the morning you panic – do you have enough white space! So, you keep on practicing the display on your kitchen table disrupting your family life annoying everyone, and then you make several trips to Jo Ann and Michael’s craft stores brushing your credit card over and over and then get upset with your own self…
Then the final day comes. At the dawn break you haul your tent, tables and all that and get ready for the elbow grease. You put up the tent successfully. Yeh! (By the way, my crafty friends, I bought a new tent after extensive research and it has made us quite happy so far)
 |
| Before it all starts |
My friend, Kathy (another jewelry artist) and I usually do the shows together. I don’t know what I would have done without Kathy! No, we are not at all threatened by each other; our styles are rather complimentary, not competitive. That makes our neighbor, Ann (another jewelry artist from the next booth) and the others from close proximity pause to think and then they nod in approval. True, we all have unique styles, and people do need lots of jewelry. So now we all feel confident and comfortable and wish each other.
 |
| Our Booth is done |
It’s warming up. The music is in full blast now. I don’t know if I can take this rap until 6 pm. But I see Kathy is swaying with the beats. A bunch of teenagers enter with ice cream cones in their hands. One of them humming “baby baby…” Is it part of this same song? I can’t tell.
All these happy humming, swaying, people laughing and having good time kind of bring a positive mood in me too, they wash away my doubts and I am kind of liking this punk rock or whatever...
Kathy says, “I am glad that they are not playing country”
They are frying fish or something. It’s delicious and my stomach is growling. Besides, Nina told me I should not miss Bake Sale Betty. But people are coming like crazy. And you know what is sweeter than honey!
 |
| Visitors are coming |
You need to take a potty break. But there is a long line even in front of the port-a-potty. So you have to decide to stop sipping water.
I crane my neck out the tent when it is a bit less busy. There are so many vendors with so many cool things. But there is no way I can go check them out. We are all busy with our own booths. So many of them are in wheel chairs selling hand made products. We out source jobs from this country. Now, this is another America I see. I would not have known it had I not involve me like this.
An elderly lady approaches. She is looking for earrings. I think she spotted one. A young girl exclaims “ Nona, this one!”
“YES”!
The lady asks for a mirror and then with a happy smile brings the earring to me.
“I had been looking for something like this for a long time. This is the best one. I want to buy this.”
I was touched. “Is it going to be a gift?” I ask.
“A gift to mysel"' she replies " to celebrate my first anniversary from Breast cancer. One year cancer free today”
“In that case I give you a 10% off”
“God bless you” she said.
“You be healed completely soon” I say.
She nods with a smile. Kathy and I exchange glances as she walks out. We feel our eyes misty.
“She made your day” Kathy remarks.
After the show, this morning with the morning cup of tea in hand my husband comments – “Boy, you slept like a log “ True, I did. I was sooo tired.
The way your adrenaline flows …before, during these craft fairs …it’s something. It takes a lot of energy, physically...”
“Physical, emotional spiritual…” I add.
Is it worth it? I wonder.
Absolutely yes. One hundred times, for sure.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Champoussin - a charming village in Switzerland
Champoussin is a charming village in western Switzerland. Where is it? Well, you may not find it in an ordinary map but it is close to Geneva airport- about two hours away in car or train. If you find Geneva try moving eastward along the lake Geneva. You may find Lausanne, Montreaux and in a smaller font a spot called Aigles.
You may take a AOMC train from here. This rather tram like train will take you to Val d'Illiez station in forty minutes. Then you take a bus up to the Champoussin village.
We landed in Zurich airport and took a train ride to Aigle. It took us about three hours. The view from Lausanne to Aigle is spectacular. The train track is right next to the lake.
We saw tiny back yard gardens, tranquil lakes with boats floating on them. Then again, even Switzerland has its share of concrete walls and graffiti on them. But I found them artistic.
When we reached the Val d' Illiez station we expected to find the bus at 4:30 pm, but today it is Saturday and there are no school children, so no bus!
We were assured that there will be one at 6:30 pm though, the last one. We were hungry and thirsty. A lady came out of a restaurant to help us out and made us cafe latte and a very delicious dish of grilled cheese on thick bread. She knows as much English as I know French but we made it finally and she made a call for us to the hotel to confirm that we'll reach with the last bus. When the bus finally arrived, she went and told the driver to wait for us. We were the only two passengers.
Champoussin is awfully pretty and tranquil. It is an out of the world place. The little log cabin room where we stayed in was very cute, comfortable and basic. You can see the snow capped mountains from the little veranda and the rolling green hills. It is so quiet here- with only occasional cow bells tingaling from time to time . There is a farm on the top of the hill where they also make home made cheese.
There is no wifi or telephone in the room, but you may find them at the hotel lobby .
There is a grocery store at the bottom where you may find basic things and home made bread. Things are expensive here. Like an egg cost me a dollar! There is also a restaurant, para gliding things and thermal baths. This place is a ski resort in winter time.
But it is equally pretty in summer. The lupins are in bloom. There is a smell of fresh sweet milk and pine mixed in the air. You hear the rustling of the leaves and slow moos of the cows and their cow bells.
It is a happy place with simple beauty.
You may take a AOMC train from here. This rather tram like train will take you to Val d'Illiez station in forty minutes. Then you take a bus up to the Champoussin village.
We landed in Zurich airport and took a train ride to Aigle. It took us about three hours. The view from Lausanne to Aigle is spectacular. The train track is right next to the lake.
We saw tiny back yard gardens, tranquil lakes with boats floating on them. Then again, even Switzerland has its share of concrete walls and graffiti on them. But I found them artistic.
When we reached the Val d' Illiez station we expected to find the bus at 4:30 pm, but today it is Saturday and there are no school children, so no bus!
We were assured that there will be one at 6:30 pm though, the last one. We were hungry and thirsty. A lady came out of a restaurant to help us out and made us cafe latte and a very delicious dish of grilled cheese on thick bread. She knows as much English as I know French but we made it finally and she made a call for us to the hotel to confirm that we'll reach with the last bus. When the bus finally arrived, she went and told the driver to wait for us. We were the only two passengers.
There is no wifi or telephone in the room, but you may find them at the hotel lobby .
There is a grocery store at the bottom where you may find basic things and home made bread. Things are expensive here. Like an egg cost me a dollar! There is also a restaurant, para gliding things and thermal baths. This place is a ski resort in winter time.
But it is equally pretty in summer. The lupins are in bloom. There is a smell of fresh sweet milk and pine mixed in the air. You hear the rustling of the leaves and slow moos of the cows and their cow bells.
It is a happy place with simple beauty.
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