Anna Sofia Designs

Balance and Gratitude

White-breasted Nuthatch taking a stretch.  

I like standing on one leg and tipping forward, balancing with arms out to the side.  I love that strong steady feeling, and even the teetering.  The more you balance, the quicker your reflexes are when you stumble.  

The little things that are so easy to take for granted aren't so little at all.  To get to balance on one foot?  Perfectly fabulous, thank you.  I'm very grateful for that.  And birds.  And movement, dance, walking, stretching, working with my hands.  Good food.  So so so thankful for good food (and for having a sense of taste!).

What are you grateful for today?  

Thankful

 

I'm thankful for the big wonderfuls like family and love and health.  I'm also incredibly grateful for special random moments, like chatting with people in the market about Yukon Gold versus Russet for mashed (I'm sticking with Yukon).  

And the local farms around here. Seeing tables filled with homemade pies stacked up and ready to be taken home, lined up alphabetically. What a beautiful sight, all those pies, and imagining all of the happy faces when the pies get brought out and sliced.

And something about Thanksgiving... Lots of smiles on people's faces today.  Everyone looking cozy.  It gave me such a warm feeling, seeing people choosing their vegetables.  Something so tender and comforting about baskets filled with cranberries, squash, sweet potatoes.  

I'm feeling really thankful for Thanksgiving itself.

Have a happy, tasty, lovely Thanksgiving.

Anna Sofia Designs On All Things Paper

I'm so excited to be featured on All Things Paper!  Ann Martin's blog is one of my favorite daily reads - paper art, paper craft, many many different groovy paper creations.  I'm pretty much beside myself right now. :)  Thank you so much Ann!

Thanks Little Willow!

Thank you to Larkyn at Little Willow for the post on my paper jewelry!  

Larkyn features some really lovely things on her blog. One of my favorite recent posts is about beautiful letterpress prints with state specific birds and flowers.

Thanks Purple Pink And Orange Blog!

Thank you to Amy at Purple Pink & Orange blog!  In her "Six Quick Picks" featuring stripes, a pair of Anna Sofia Designs earrings are in the mix.  I made the Demi earrings with chestnut-striped silk-screened Chiyogami paper from Japan.  I adore Amy's blog and I *love* the name, with three joyous colors in a row.

Thank You Nonpareil Blog!

Thank you to Stacy at Nonpareil for blogging about Anna Sofia Designs.  Stacy has a fabulous blog with interesting finds from independent designers  - fashion, jewelry, ceramics, illustration, and all sorts of treasures.  It's a lovely, colorful collection.  I feel so honored to be included!  

Feeling Thankful

Ooooh, tart and tangy cranberries.  Creamy spiced yams.  Out of control delicious turkey.  Stuffing, oh stuffing how I love you.  And deep brown gravy.  Thanksgiving - my favorite holiday.  It was simply delicious.  

I'm thankful for for good food, loved ones, the four seasons, peace and quiet, dancing, doing what I love for work... I'm extra thankful for all of my fellow independent designers and entrepreneurs.  Life is beautiful.

Three Cheers For The Red, White And Blue

Japanese Chiyogami paper in red, white, and blue.

A JOYOUS DAY!

New Beginnings

Thanks To My Customers I Have A Website!

Can I just say?  I love my customers.  It was their persistence that made me to snap to action and start selling online. Thank you ladies!!!

Almost three years ago, when asked if I had a website, I'd blurt out, "Not yet."  And these savvy women would stop browsing jewelry for a moment and say "Well you should!"  Or they'd ask when it was coming.  Or just look at me perplexed, like "Really?  No website?"  "I will.  I'm going to. I just. See, um. First I have to..."  

Honestly the idea was pretty daunting. I thought - 'A website?  Scary! How do you even do that? Hmm. I'll think about it, but I don't know...'  

Then!  The little wheels started turning.  The thought of being able to sell my jewelry online was just plain awesome, come on.  Suddenly it didn't seem like such a big overwhelming thing. I could do it bit by bit.  In pieces. No rush.  I could ease into it, learn as I go. Ahhh. Much better.

So. This is really a HUGE THANK YOU to all of the women that nudged me in the right direction, out of my comfort zone, into the 21st century.  Muchas Gracias!!!