Life is full of surprises if you are open to them...

I like change. It keeps life interesting and exciting. It can be difficult to go through, but when you're on the other side of it, doesn't it usually seem like it was for the best?

I love making glass beads and jewelry. I love having my studio at The Workhouse. That makes it even more difficult to be saying and doing this... I am moving my studio back to my garage.  It has been a great 2 1/2 years, but it is time for me to move on. April will be my last month of The Workhouse being home to my studio. It's definitely bitter sweet.

Why the change? I have another passion and career! It has been quietly brewing for many years. It was brewing so quietly that I didn't fully acknowledge it's existence until after it hit me, seriously, like a lightning bolt. Have you ever felt like you were just meant to do something? Like you just had to do something? That is how I still feel about beads and jewelry and that is how I feel about being a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (NTP). I didn't know that NTPs existed, but as soon as I did, I knew that was what I needed to become.

It was just before Thanksgiving 2014 when I discovered the NTP training program. It was only a week after that before things came together and I was enrolled. Some people like to take their time and ponder their options before making major life decisions, not me, when I know, I know. Luckily school didn't start until February, so I had some time to adjust to my decision. It seemed crazy to take on something new when life was already so full. I remember thinking on multiple occasions, and even laughing about it, "I have no idea how I am going to do this, but I know I am." And I did! In October 2015, I graduated as a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (NTP).

I have since been juggling Larissa Spafford Designs and getting my budding Nutritional Therapy practice going, along with everything else that comes with life. I have been doing some serious soul searching and wondering how I can continue to do both things well. The answer I have come up with is I can't do it all. Well, I probably could, but I don't want to. I want to have free time, to enjoy time with my friends and family, to have time to do other things I enjoy. I want more balance. To have this I am going to work less on glass and jewelry and more on Bend Nutritional Therapy.

Some things aren't changing though...you will still be able to find my work at The Workhouse, Red Chair Gallery and my Etsy shop. And...beginning in June I will be teaching nutrition workshops at The Workhouse!




 

I made a little movie to show you how my earrings are made

This is one of my newest pieces, and I am really happy with how it turned out. The idea for this necklace came to me one day while I was driving down the street. I had to pull over and sketch it out on a scrap of paper before I forgot, or got distracted by another idea. It's always satisfying to get a complete idea and be able to go make it and have it turn out pretty much how I imagined it. I just happened to have the perfect chain already too. The chain is long so you can put it over your head without a clasp. You can wear it with the glass and circles in the center or off to one side. Having options is so much fun.

These are my newest rings. The one on the left and the blue one second from the right were made using cabochons made by my husband Robbie. They are SO pretty. The colors are amazing. They change and shimmer depending on how the light hits them and have little silver flecks that remind me of tiny stars.

This weekend I'm heading to Lake Oswego for the Lake Oswego Festival of the Arts. I'm looking forward to it and hoping for great weather! I'll be in booth G-7. If you are in the Portland area come by and say hello!

In Love

I have fallen completely in love with metalsmithing! It opens up so many creative possibilities for me. I'm already full of ideas.

The Calm Before the Storm

I am getting excited for one of my busiest craft fair seasons to begin. Right now is kind of like a calm before the storm and I'm just enjoying it. Mostly. I felt a tiny twinge of anxiety last night when I was typing up an e mail to send out to my mailing list. It was the first time I really put the pieces of my schedule for the next 6 weeks together. Seeing it all in black and white was a little intimidating. I'm going to do shows in Seattle, Chicago, Bend, and Port Townsend. And somewhere in there is Thanksgiving. And hopefully some snowboarding. AND actually making the things I will be selling. And being a mommy & wife. Yes I am.

This weekend I will be at the Bend Indoor Market again, one last time before the holidays. The market has been pretty slow for me. People keep saying it will pick up for me around the holidays, but guess what, I won't be there. I keep telling people that so hopefully this weekend will make up for it. I'll just have to wait patiently and see.

November 12,13 &14th I am going to be participating in The Best of the Northwest in Seattle. I really love Seattle and am happy to be going there and participating in this show again. I will be and staying with friends, which always makes doing a show WAY better. After Seattle I'm going to Port Townsend for a day or two to visit my family and friends. I really want to spend some time with my grandpa Norman who just had his 90th birthday!