Being Sick and Being your own boss is not an advantage

After spending most of my adult life employed by a large company with fantastic benefits I got used to certain "perks"... such as sick days which entailed spending the day in bed watching cheezy soap opera's and wandering in and out of consciousness. 
I have had a wicked cold for the past 3 weeks, and instead of taking a day off, I worked through it.. I mean it was only a cold and how strenuous can taking pictures, doing book keeping, posting, updating, proof reading, developing packaging be? I mean I do 90% of that from my living room.
On Sunday morning I could barely get out of bed. This after 3 weeks of sore throats, coughing, sneezing, ear aches.. What the heck? Are you not supposed to get better with time? Monday was a little worse but I continued to work and by Tuesday I was sure I was dying.  By this time I am now sputtering like a lawn sprinkler with every cough and Darren demands I see the Doctor. 
So here I am working from bed with a bad case of bronchitis.
Work is busy this week which is fantastic, the new line is selling fast and of course my reports were due today.. And well when what you eat is determines what you make... taking a day off seems a bit nuts.
However I was successful in getting my reports in on time, updated my bookkeeping, paid some bills, photographed new pieces and updated my website most from the comfort of bed. 
Here is are links to the new pieces and the new line 'Turq'ish delight:
iCANDY 
Silver Originals
'Turq'ish Delight
Fingerprints

All I can say is.. I am so glad Darren is home right now so I have been able to be cuddle mom only, which I have to say is a slice of heaven..
Being my own boss may have a lot of perks, and I have never been happier, but I do miss the benefits of corporate world.

Best of Vancouver

I am so excited!!! A friend emailed me the other day and let me know she voted for me in the Georgia Straight Best of Vancouver.  That is a huge thing for me, the fact that while filling out 200 responses in the voting questionnaire I came top of mind when entering the jewellery/accessories box.


Which then took me to the next obvious thing to do.. vote for myself.. and then forward to the 275 people on my facebook friend list... and now.. here I am "Blegging" Blog begging..

It was never even a possibility that I would be considered or have the ability to be voted for... but alas.. here I am now, begging any and all readers to please go to:
http://www.straight.com/bov 
 And vote for me!  You do not need to fill out all 200 questions, just the ones you have an opinion about.

If you find it in your heart to vote for me, I would be forever in debted.   One of the other questions was for best Vancouver Blog and I put my vote to
http://www.givelovecreatehappiness.com/blog.html

If you haven't read it, Wendy is a great writer, is always positive and has great recipes and fun stories,  you can sign up to have an email sent to you daily.  It is how I start every morning. 

Another great and hilarious blog to read is
www.aggraygate.blogspot.com
Unfortunately the writer is no longer from Vancouver otherwise.. it would have defiantly been a hard choice. 

I added a vote to the last page to "did we miss a category"  I added editor.. I have the worlds BEST editor, she is meticulous, friendly and offers awesome suggestions.  I have hired in the past and will only ever use her going forward:  
http://www.zeneditorial.com/
 If you need someone to edit your website, book, pamphlets... she is #1 in my books :)



That is my shameless self promotion and promotion of what I find worth while reads. 
Have a great day!

From Run Way to Sex in the City: A STORY OF VALIDATION

RETAIL THERAPY: Harper's Bazaar fashion editor says bold accessories please!

We were lucky enough to be invited to a red carpet event recently that Avril Graham, executive fashion and beauty editor, Harper’s Bazaar hosted.  It was a fabulous event, Avril was great to listen to with her whimsical British accent and passion for fashion.   She gave a great update on what is being shown on the runways for fall/winter 2010 and what is being seen on the street right now.  She spoke to the economy and what people are buying and not buying.  The best thing she said was people are buying simple pieces of clothing and dressing up with great accessories.  Big, bold, bright pieces of jewellery are all the rage. With a great piece of jewellery you can wear a dress you have had in your closet and make it look brand new again.

Big, chunky, bright accessories are no longer being reserved for evening wear. The trend is to wear great jewellery anytime of the day.  Our iCANDY collection would be fantastic with a simple pair of jeans or shorts and plain tank top, wear some great gladiator sandals and you have a perfect outfit that will take you all day and into the evening. 

I recently watched Sex in the City 2 and was so excited looking at the accessories.. especially when I kept recognizing pieces similar to my current line.  I felt this amazing warm fuzziness come over me and excitement I can't even begin to express,  like somehow I had made it. It was so great to see all the beautiful druzzies and large stones, it was a validation I didn't know I needed until I got it in the most unusual of places. I went to the movie to see what the characters were up to and left feeling like I had somehow made it.  

A big Thank You Carrie for making me see in bright lights, on a big screen that I am on the right path, and what I am doing, what I am thinking is good.. That I might just be great at what I do. 

And a big Thank You to Avril Graham, hearing you speak to me in colour, and texture left me inspired and yearning to come home and continue creating. 

Now, if Harper's Bazaar would show my line in the magazine, and Carrie was to wear my jewellery in the next sex in the City Movie..my life would be a perfect dream!  

The thought of opening my favourite magazine and seeing my designs looking back at me would be the cherry on top of my already blessed life. Just got goose bumps thinking about it.  Now time to get back to work, thanks for reading :)
 

Website Update and New line of fancy jewels

I have just come back from Las Vegas where I was able to get my hands on some amazing stones.
I have named my newest collection of original jewellery iCANDY.  It is made up of some beautifully coloured druzzie stones, silver, re-worked tiles, silks, rubies, gemstones.. it is tasty! I will be adding pieces on a regular basis as I get items completed and photographed.
I have also added an area where I will add my silver jewelry as it becomes ready to be sold.
I have updated my website to include the new pieces as well as included a few new areas.  Check it out at: www.alydahl.com

Here is a taste of the delicious new pieces:

Glee and Art

I have become obsessed with the TV show Glee.  The one liners, the music, the over the top acting and scripts make it a weekly must.  My facebook status updates now see to have more show one liners than my momentary thoughts and beliefs. 

The show this week made me stop and think of my high school experience, and of my children's soon to be school experience.  I was so fortunate to go to a school (Vic High) that had numerous arts programs and opportunities for students.  We didn't have a glee but we did have band, drama, photography, and art clubs.  I kind of wish there had been a glee club... I wonder if I would have tried out...I'd like to think yes, however 17 year old Aly Dahl was much "cooler" than the 33 year old Alyson Johnson.

Watching and reading the news about budget cuts and our government shortages makes me so scared for my kids. It seems every year a program gets cut,  and at what expense?
For my children I want all the opportunities that I had, so they can figure out what they love to do before they become the decision makers of the world.

Canadians are a pretty creative bunch,  there are not many of us (compared to other countries) but we seem to make a pretty big impact on the film, music, art and the fashion worlds. Where did we learn to be so creative?  Is it the cold/rainy winters being in-doors that leads us to finding a creative outlet from sheer boredom?  Is it something we are taught? Perhaps it was from growing up in an education system that encouraged creative thinking, and doing.

I pray for my kids that I can afford to send them to private school as I think we may soon be in for a very big education disaster. When did it become ok to stop teaching our children "how to" in many different ways, reading, writing, arithmetic, science, social studies, physical education, dance, music, art, photography, the list goes on and on...  When did we start treating children like a financial burden and more like cattle than what they truly are... the hope for the future. They are the ones after all who will be responsible to budgetary cuts to our old folks homes :) 
What is the message that is actually being sent to the citizens of tomorrow?  I know there is only so much money, and I know that times are tough, but I am worried that the wrong programs are being cut at a huge expense.  I know very little about the inner workings of the government, and after sitting on a strata council I have no interest what so ever to be in politics, but I do wonder.. how can it seem so simple to so many "regular" people yet be getting missed by the "brains" that run our country?

When I look back at my life, my love of design and working with my hands came in high school.  I had a great art teacher, Robin Stefanick who taught me to have confidence in my work.  And after years of working jobs I thought I should do,  I am now doing what I love to do.   I work in the creative world.  My job designing and making jewellery is of the creative work.   It make me wonder "would I be doing what I am doing today if I had not had the opportunities I had in high school?".

So all that being said.. I am so happy that shows like Glee are on TV and are good shows.  I believe we live in a media world and no matter when we left high school, we live in a high school society that follows the popular kids.  Perhaps with Glee, there is some hope for programs of creativity to exist in our schools because they are popular.  The more the kids are exposed to the more they will want to do, the more they want to do, the more they will learn.. and the smarter, stronger, healthier they are... the better off the world will be.

I am in the works to be teaching a jewellery making class at the local arts centre and although it will be adults I teach, I think the message is the same no matter the age.
"Your work is beautiful because you made it, someone, somewhere, will love it, if you do".  
We as people are able to do so many things and anything is possible if you make it possible. You just have to want to.


That is my rant for today.  If you are looking to order a Silver fingerprint Dog Tag for Fathers Day I am about to post a new option on my website : www.Alydahl.com for a smooth finished two print tag that is beautiful.  I just got in some amazing sterling silver ball chains to accompany the dog tags from Italy that are stunning.
Maybe if I get my act together I will do a blog on the dog tags in the next day or two... knowing me.. probably 3 :)    Have a great weekend,  and thanks for reading.

Greatest compliment

Today I received the nicest compliment.  I was doing some research for my graphic designer.  I love working with people who not only get what I do but also always leave me feeling inspired.  If you need any graphic work I would highly recommend Cory at Exhibit A Design Group.

While I was doing some on line research, I found a lovely comment left by someone on a mom's blog.  I have no idea who left it, but it was so nice! So thank you whom ever left it!    The comment said they loved my work and wanted to order more pieces from me.    It is so funny how at times the little things we do can makes such a big impact on someone else!  I thank the person who left that comment,  it made a huge impact on me.  I truly appreciate it. 

I am always so curious of how people find out about me,  I have a received a lot of orders from Alberta the past few weeks.  I wonder if I am getting word of mouth referrals, perhaps another blogger mentioned my work, maybe it was simply a google search.  What ever it is,  I love it!  I love creating jewelry with meaning. True keepsakes.

I had a grandmother who ordered the granny charm bracelet send me an email a couple weeks ago,  saying how much she loves her bracelet and that she thinks it is the best keepsake she owns.  She wears it everyday.  She ordered a charm bracelet with all her grand kids fingerprints and her children are now ordering their prints to add to the bracelet for Mothers day.  It will look fantastic! That email made me fall even more in love with what I do.

Have I mentioned that I LOVE what I do?  18 months ago when I left corporate world was the last day I worked a day. Since then I have put so many hours focused on something that pays the bills, but I love it so much and it has never felt like a day of work.  
My father told me that if you do something you love, you will never work another day in your life again.    My Dad is a pretty special guy,  he also does something he loves.  He is a financial advisor in Victoria, BC,  and although markets have been tough the past few years he maintains a fabulous attitude and I think he is one of the smartest people I have ever met.   I have really great parents.


Here are few pictures of some items I have recently done:

 This is a family of fingerprint keepsake charms on a charm bracelet.  The necklace is of a dogs nose.

Here is a close up of the charm bracelet.  2 adult prints and 2 child prints on a hammered oval bracelet. 

"Charlie" This is a nose print pendant keepsake on a Figaro chain.

This is the current retail packaging for impression kits
(Cory at Exhibit A is helping re-brand and do up the new packaging)

Single fingerprint impression kit for retailers.  Looking to carry Aly Dahl Designs?
email: info@silverfingerprints.ca
To set up an account! Had to put that in there.. you never know who will read your blog.







Hope you have a wonderful day, remember the small things that make you smile make it all worth while.

Wow I suck at blogging

So it turns out I suck at blogging.  Not something I am proud of, however I am totally aware of it.  Going forward I am going to try my best to keep up on it a little better.  I am aiming at twice a week to get into a better habit. I feel very overwhelmed when it comes to blogging, like I may be doing the wrong thing, doing it too often, not enough, not specific enough, too specific, to all over the place.  I had no idea writing for what is esentially myself could be so anxiety ridden. So I am taking the anxiety about how, why, when out and doing my own thing.

I love writing, in fact I moved to Vancouver in 2001 to go to the Vancouver Film school for script writing. I got here and found out how expensive it was and let someone elses opion influence my decision not to go.  Which is how I ended up working in the mutual fund world once again.  You know, to pay the bills, make enough to go to school.. it was supposed to be temporary.  9 years, 1 husband, 1 mortgage, 2 kids, a dog, and a new career later... I find myself sitting at the computer trying to find my writing bug once again.  How could something I moved to this city to do seem like such a chore now?

I started this blog at the same time I was starting my business,  I was told that's what you needed to do.  It seemed like solid advice and the right thing to do to help promote the business.  I didnt take into account that I would be spending 15 hrs a day working and thinking about my business,  and that writing about it may no longer be a "fun" idea, but yet another chore to do.

Despite this blog being writen and run in all the wrong ways according to some, I want it to be fun.  For me. So I may be talking about jewelry one post, about my business the next, and who knows... maybe tucked in there somewhere you will find a piece about me, my kids, my husband, or something totally random and wacky.  The funny thing is, that is me.  I am all those things and more.   So I guess at the end of the day, this blog is truly an Aly Dahl Design.