When I was growing up my stepdad had a lot of little phrases he liked to use. He often would say them in a joking manner with a little chuckle. As a kid, it just kind of seemed like a funny thing to say, "Today is the first day of the rest of your life."

Even though it's a cliche, that same sentence has real meaning, especially now as an adult and a yogi. Every day can be treated as a new beginning, with a sense of curiosity and wonder, but some days really are bigger and brighter than others. Today starts a new chapter in my business and my life since the two are so interconnected.

At 1:00 am this morning, Alex changed the domain over to the new site as we finished up the last few touch ups. Within a few minutes, BethCyr.com became a brand new website. I've realized over the past few years that websites are never really finished.  There is still a lot more work to be done - new products to be added and some behind the scenes pages to be created. But we set a date and everything on our list has been checked off, so it is time to release it to the world.

Within the next week we'll have the wholesale catalog and ordering form completely done - the general public can't see it, but it's there! I'll have a convenient way for retailers to purchase my work - both made to order and one of a kind work that always seemed to mentally prohibit me from doing wholesale. It is a big step to be creating another focus for my business.

It's time to release the anxieties of the past and welcome the changes of this new path.

A huge thank you to everyone that read over content and tested links and gave feedback - I am so grateful.

We hope you all enjoy the new site!

This month's topic: How about this month we discuss that piece/pieces of jewelry that left such an impression on you that you went into jewelry design.

Initially I couldn't really think of anything. The main reason I started making "real" jewelry was that I took a class while in art school and loved it. But thinking back, I definitely made loads of beaded necklaces and braided/knotted thread and hemp necklaces. And I sold them to my friends. But before that, before I even had my ears pierced, I remember looking at this specific jewelry catalogue that had all these cute little animal post earrings. I loved the catalogue and I loved all the earrings. Looking at them made me want to get my ears pierced! 

It is kind of funny because I don't really like post earrings and rarely wear them now. And I don't really make many post earrings either, but I'm sure there is something about that feeling that inspired me to make jewelry. It is such a clear and vivid memory still, 25 years later... 

Check out the other participants this month to see if they have any exciting jewelry inspirations:

Andrea Ring: http://www.amuckdesign.blogspot.com/
Debbie Ritchie http://www.fentondesign.ca/blog

This week's topic is the top 5 Things that are on our minds - in no particular order: 

1. Astral Collection - the next round of pieces is being plotted... and some are actually being worked on!

2. Bernie Sanders - I've taken over a twitter account for our local Athens office. I've never really been in to twitter before, but I'm beginning to get the hang of it! I'm always on the search for good articles and memes and paying attention to events that are happening around GA or the southeast. 

3. New additions to nature collection this spring - With the amazing comments about my little turtles, I've been thinking about a whole spring collection based on woodland type creatures or plants. More than just my usual tree bark or leaf designs. I don't have much planned out yet, but I have things rolling around in my head.

4. Wholesaling - For years my business was simply dominated by only doing wedding rings. The market has changed and though I will still be doing a majority of wedding rings, I will also be working on other things that I can wholesale. I got an account last week and sent some stuff off. I was just accepted to Etsy Wholesale and will be putting some things out there. There are some other exciting things in the works that I am not announcing yet though... 

5. Teaching yoga - I've been teaching yoga every other Thursday for a few years now. Students come and go. Since the new year it's been very sparse and all the regulars have a lot going on. The other teacher and I have busy lives (she's a judge) and building a yoga class is not on our list of things we want to focus on right now. It isn't feasible for us to leave work early if no students end up showing up that night. We're considering taking a break for a little while or canceling the class all together. Or just keep it going as is... though that doesn't seem to make the most sense. So, while it is not a big deal, it is something that is very strongly on my mind right now. 

Check out the other participants this month:

Andes Cruz: https://andescruz.wordpress.com/2016/02/20/thoughts/

marie bell :: http://www.pencilfox.com/2016/02/five-things-on-my-mind-february-blog-o.html

Kathleen Krucoff ~ http://wp.me/pA5jX-OB

Robyn Hawk: http://flyviewsandreviews.blogspot.com/ 

I had initially planned to do the launch on Feb. 1st, then I realized that is the Iowa Caucus! I'm sure there will be lots of social media buzz for a few days, so I figured Feb. 5th would be better. Now that I'm writing a blog about it, it is set in stone! hahaha!!! 

It will be a continuation of the meteorite and rough stone pieces I've been working on, but expanding to include rings, particularly, unconventional engagement rings! I'm really excited about these and I hope they find homes with other ladies who love the night sky or science and don't want a traditional diamond ring. And of course, they do not need to be engagement rings at all! I wear one every day just because I love it. 

I'll be doing a mix of metals - some in palladium sterling silver, some in yellow, rose or palladium white gold. The dark gray of the meteorites I think looks best in a contrasting metal, so probably not too many pieces in palladium white gold. Here is a sneak peak at some of the waxes I'm working on! If you see one you would like, you can choose the size and the metal before I cast! 

This month's topic is to post pages from my sketchbook! I've been just playing around with different possible formations of meteorite rings (or pendants). It is interesting with the meteorites - they're all different shapes and sizes, so some of these probably aren't realistic, just a way to think about planning out a collage of stones - I don't have them in front of me when I sketch out designs.

It's funny because on one of the pages - I ended up orienting a pendant just like the drawing without even realizing it! Maybe there really is something to this sketching thing... 

You can follow me on IG for finished pieces! @BethCyrJewelry or @BethCyrArts

check out pages from the other participants this month:

Cynthia Del Giudice: http://cynthiadelgiudice.blogspot.com
2Roses: http://jewelrytutorial.blogspot.com
Amuckdesign http://amuckdesign.blogspot.com