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

Beautiful Day

Today, like most days, is a beautiful day here in Bend. The sun is shining and you can feel the crispness of fall creeping in. The kids are at school and it is eerily quiet around here! My husband Robbie is studying for his ski/board patrol class and I am waiting for my mandrels to dry so I can go melt some glass.

Yesterday we spent the day emptying almost the entire contents of our garage into our driveway so we could finally finish (after almost a year and a half!) moving in and organizing the garage. People kept driving by and asking if we were having a garage sale, which I think we just might do if we can find the time. My studio is in our garage along with way too many bikes, snowboards, skis, the gear that comes with, and all my craft fair booth things. Now it is a much nicer place to be. Robbie even hooked up our sound system. Yay! I'm really excited to go turn up the music and make beads today.

Here are my newest creations:

Colorful Circle Necklace in Eggplant, named by a very nice girl who visited my booth at the market this Saturday. Thank you!!!

Orbit Earrings in Turquoise, these are really different than anything I've made before. They can be ordered in many colors.
Matching Orbit Pendant in Turquoise, can also be ordered in many colors.

And a sweet and sparkly bead with little violets and cz's