Letting Go.... Moving Forward....

It's been a long time since I've looked at my blog. Over 2 years in fact. In those two years, our family has endured cancer, our daughter going off to college, and a whole lot of other changes. But, the biggest change came last week - we sent our 20 year old daughter to Florence, Italy for a semester in a study abroad program. While she is dining on pizza, pasta, tiramasu, and having the time of her life, I sit here and am simultaneously proud, jealous, and very weepy. This is so different from sending her off to college. SDSU is only 20 minutes away. I could hop in a car or pick up a phone and be instantly connected to her. Now she is half way around the world and a 9 hour time zone difference. She's also, for the first time, completely on her own. During her first two years at school she lived in the dorms and then her sorority house. There was an adult on the premises at all times - a comforting thought for any parent. Now she lives in an apartment in the 'city center' (to quote House Hunters International) with 5 other college students. They are completely responsible for the cooking (iffy), cleaning (yeah, right), and locking the door (praying). She is now a grown-up. Gulp!

However, this change has also brought another surprising emotion - excitement. I, for the first time in 20 years, am on my own to pursue my passions. Yes, I'm still married to a wonderful man and still have to clean the house, cook dinner, pay bills, etc. But, I have a new sense of freedom in how I spend my days to pursue my jewelry business. I have to admit that it feels very liberating. I literally jump out of bed in the morning, my mind filled with new ideas and inspiration! It feels great!

Hence, this is what brought me back to my blog. I expect to post at least 2-3 times a week. It will give me the opportunity to reconnect with my customers, let people get to know me a bit better, and give me another avenue for communication. I'm somewhat limited in how I post photos and information on my Etsy site, so I hope this also allows me to showcase my jewelry, answer questions, and post tutorials on the creative process that I go through.

I leave this first post with a favorite photo of mine. This is a picture of my daughter and I on the morning she left for Italy. While I'm so excited for her and look forward to hearing about her adventures in Europe, I do still get teary from time to time. But, it's time to let go and move forward to a new, and equally, exciting chapter in our lives.

September Giveaway Results

Thanks to everyone for participating in my giveaway.

We have two winners - Jess was #44 of 87 entries.
Elizabeth used all 5 ways to enter (blogging, FB fan, FB post, visiting my shop, tweeting).

September Giveaway Contest

Well, school is back in session and fall is nipping at our heels. I'm not ready yet for summer to be over, and anyone who lives in San Diego can agree with me that we didn't have much of a summer anyway. It was the coldest summer on record since 1933. I'm still hoping for an Indian Summer and a warmer than normal October and November.

But, since summer is over and we're back to school and work is in full force, it's time for another giveaway. I am trying something different this time. The winner of this giveaway can choose 2 of the 5 earrings I'm showing in this post. Another change is the number of ways you can win. I've decided that it's time for me work harder at this 'social networking' thing. I'm still learning and this contest will give us a win-win situation. I'll tap into more social networking arenas and you will have more opportunities to win. So, here are all the different ways you can increase your chances of winning (you get one entry per method, up to 5 chances):

1. As always, goto my website:
www.TheresaRose.etsy.com
Enter a comment in this blogspot about what your favorite item is in my shop and why. I always love to read the feedback!

2. Become a fan of my facebook page:
www.facebook.com/TheresaRoseDesigns
If you are already a fan, comment again in the blogspot for a 2nd opportunity to win.

3. Re-tweet about this contest and provide a link to the tweet in another comment in this blogspot. I'm assuming that you can link to a tweet (I told you I'm not good at this social networking stuff yet!).

4. If you have a blog, blog about this contest, then provide a link to the blogpost. Or, if you don't have a blog, post about my giveaway in one of the giveaway blogs that advertise these types of contests.

5. Mention the give away on Facebook with a link, let me know that you did.

For anyone who enters all 5 ways, their name will be put into a drawing, and I will randomly select one name. That person will also win 2 pairs of earrings of their choice.

So, I think this will be a fun giveaway. I'm really curious to see if how much networking this achieves.

The contest will run until Saturday, September 25th.

Good luck!

July Contest Giveaway

$15.00 Gift Certificate Giveaway!

Now that vacations are over and life is settling back down to normal (before the craziness of getting my daughter off to college in August), I thought it would be a good idea to host another contest. Once again, I'm offering a $15.00 gift certificate to my Etsy shop.

The certificate is only good on www.theresarose.etsy.com. The winner will be selected randomly.

This time you have two opportunities to win:

1) Visit my shop and add a comment to this post letting me know what your favorite piece of jewelry is in my shop and why.

2) Become a fan on my facebook fan page. If you are already a fan, let me know. Add a comment to this post letting me know that you are a fan.
Here's my fan page:
http://facebook.com/TheresaRoseDesigns

At the end of the contest, I'll randomly select the winning entry. The contest runs from today to July 31st. Be sure to include your e-mail so I can contact the winner.

I have lots of new items. Here's a fun, vintage-inspired necklace:

May Contest Winner!

Congratulations to Heather for winning my May Giveaway contest! She was #23.

Watch for a new contest coming in July.

May Giveaway Time

$15.00 Gift Certificate Giveaway!

Once again, I'm offering a $15.00 gift certificate to my Etsy shop.

The certificate is only good on www.theresarose.etsy.com. The winner will be selected randomly.

This time you have two opportunities to win:

1) Visit my shop and add a comment to this post letting me know what your favorite piece of jewelry is in my shop and why.

2) Become a fan on my facebook fan page. If you are already a fan, let me know. Add a comment to this post letting me know that you are a fan.
Here's my fan page:
http://facebook.com/TheresaRoseDesigns

At the end of the contest, I'll randomly select the winning entry. The contest runs from today to May 31. Be sure to include your e-mail so I can contact the winner.

I have lots of new items for the spring and summer season:

April Contest Winner

Congratulations to Sharon - our contest winner for April!