Great deals to be found on ArtFire!

So you're gearing up for the holidays and starting your shopping or maybe just you just love a good deal.  Everyone wants to find great gifts at great prices, right?  Well, RockBug is having a studio wide sale and everything is 10% off!  If you have a beloved pet, animal lover or even someone who just enjoys unique and fun items, check us out.  RockBug on ArtFire

Now if RockBug just isn't your style, I'm certain that you can find the perfect gift with one of the other fantastic artisans on ArtFire.  Just click on the "Holiday Shopping Deals" banner to start browsing all the wonderful sale items available.   Or you can click on this link and jump right in!  Holiday Shopping Deals

Gift Ideas

If you're like me, you're already gearing up for the holidays.  Here's a collection I put together to help you get started.  I love red and this collection has gifts in all price ranges.  These wonderful items are made by the members of the You Can Sell It guild.  

Gifts in red

   Curated By: RockBug

ArtFire.com

Handmade Gifts

The power of the break.

I think we're all feeling the pressure to get our sites and studios ready for the shopping season.  I know quite a few of us are practically living in our workspaces right now.  This is my first real holiday season and I'm working hard to have a nice variety of items listed.  I'm also shooting for that 100 items threshold.  It's a lot of work but I know it'll be worth it in the long run.  It's certainly a balancing act to get regular orders done as well as the additional items.  I'm having a blast with the fast pace though!

After my regular job, I stay pretty busy with RockBug work.  I've been forcing myself to take breaks for about 45 minutes at a time though.  It's enough time for me to watch a favorite tv show or get in a little reading.  It helps me recharge a bit.  It's especially helpful after I lay something out that I'm just not sure about.  I was totally stuck on a bracelet and was ready to give up on my design idea and when I came back to it, I figured out how to make it work.  So the lesson I've learned?  Don't underestimate the power of the break!



Here's my most recent piece, I love the colors!

Recharging...

If you're looking for inspiration, you'd be hard pressed to find a better source than the natural beauty of the Northeast, this time of year.  We recently spent some time taking it in while hiking in a state park and camping.  Obviously, I had some fun with the camera too.

Before this trip, my idea of "roughing it" was not having sweetener for my morning tea.  I certainly have some perspective now.  The temperatures were a little uncomfortable at night, at around 35 degrees.  It was a bit chilly.  Needless to say, the campfire was a welcomed source of warmth.  The meals also tasted a little better after a long day of hiking. 

I work day after day in an office setting.  Spending a little time in the great outdoors really recharged me creatively.  I came home and immediately finished this piece.