A little deviation from jewelry tonight… At this time of year, much like any other time of year for me, I like to reflect on the things I consider to be my greatest blessings.  Little things like being able to witness the changing of all 4 seasons and waking up to stunning sunrises and big huge blessings like my darling girls and my amazing, wonderful husband and the health and happiness of my family and friends.  I am so very blessed to live this life – each and every day.  And I thank God every day.  Please teach your kids the value and gift of being thankful.

I think I said in an earlier post that I LOVE custom orders… I am so humbled and amazed when people come to me with their ideas, and trust me to make them into something beautiful.  I’ve had several of those opportunities over the last year or so… from beautiful wedding jewelry, cool groomsman gifts even personalized wedding utensils!  I love this stuff!

Here are a couple more!

This is a wallet card with a beautiful inscription from wife to husband.  But turn it over.. and you see in black and white (and copper of course) the love of this couple.  I am so blessed to be able to make things like this for my customers.  Humbled that they chose ME to help them make their memories.

Here is another project I just finished.  My friend asked me to create this for her sister.  I hand sculped a 99% silver ‘fortune cookie’ and turned it into a fantastic necklace!  The inscription or ‘fortune’ is hidden back by the clasp and says ‘for to have faith, is to have wings’.  Can anyone guess what famous ‘person’ said this!?

This… This is one thing I love.

So today, I was having one of THOSE days where I just wanted to be creative and crafty and hide in my own little world – which happens to be in the middle of my kitchen at the moment.  Alas, we had company on the way and my daughters – as darling as they are – were absolutely NO help what so ever.  My husband tried…

This began my super-woman style day…  Flying thru my house cleaning as quickly as possible with the hope there might be a few spare moments to do something fun!  Well… much to my dismay, my company arrived early.  I did get a tiny bit done, but it’s not done yet so I can’t share… yet.

Instead, I will tell you about my current obsession.  Rocker-chic fabric cuff bracelets.  I absolutely LOVE them.  I love to sew, and I love metal jewelry, so it made perfect sense to combine the two.  This… is the result!!

Ever wonder where artists get their inspiration from?  I sure do… funny thing to hear from someone who designs jewelry, right?

Designers and artists pull their inspiration from everywhere.  Literally, everywhere.  I see things in nature that just speak to me… quotes in songs that jump out of the speakers… fabric that screams ‘use me!  use me!’ from the racks.  Sounds crazy – I know!  But think of it this way.  When you are listening to the radio first thing in the morning, and you know every word of THAT song.  And it ends up stuck in your head all day.  Then, you wake up singing it at night… well… that is where it comes from.  Things (shapes, phrases, color combinations) just stick!

There have been nights I have had to get out of bed and sketch a piece just so I could get it out of my head and go back to sleep.  Or times I have heard a quote in passing and HAVE to write it down.  And until I do, it keeps repeating in my head, over and over, like an old Queen song.

I am happy to say, at least I love what I do!  I love my sleep, but  I can’t even get angry at myself for occasionally having to get up and sketch something at 2:38 in the morning… not that it happened last night or anything.  Ha!

I challenge you seek inspiration in everyday things too – even if you are not an artist.  Let the sunrise inspire you, or the shapes of the leaves falling off the trees.  The lines your children sing incorrectly to the new Taylor Swift song can be magical, as can the color combinations they come up with for school clothes.  There is beauty everywhere you look – you just have to SEE it.

Welcome to Copper Creek Design – a place to find crafty inspiration, custom handmade jewelry by yours truly and bits of wisdom in a sometimes challenging world.  My name is Jamee and I am a stay at home mom to 2 darling girls and 5 dogs – yes you read the right.  We have 5 dogs: 4 Brussels Griffons and a crazy Corgi.  Our lives are busy, crazy, hectic, and a bit loud – but I wouldn’t change a thing.

I have always been a crafty person who loves to sew, crochet and just about any random crafty project.  I started making jewelry after seeing a custom ‘mommy necklace’ a friend was wearing.  I researched them, and decided to make my own… and so it began!  This began as a ‘getaway’ for some time to myself and has become a passion to help others.  Most of my time is devoted to doing fundraisers for various groups including several pet rescues, CorgiPals, Easter PA Down Syndrome Center, 1p36Deletion Syndrome Awareness, and ProjectRespect.org.  I am so blessed to be able to do something I love to help people and pets everywhere!  Do you know a group who needs some help – please have them contact me!