New Year, New Beginnings! (Cliched title ;-)

Happy New Year everyone!!!

The title for this post is cliched, over-used, chewed to death. But what can I do...it applies!
For the very first time, in fact! In all of my decades on this earth, this is the first time I am so excited and positive about something! (That probably explains all the exclamation marks in this post ;-))

The new beginning I am talking about is my entry into the world of jewelry making...aka the bead playground. Quite an unintentional entry it was too...

I was heavily into crochet during the beginning of last year. Been giving gifts (scarves...nothing else, mind you) to folks that I knew would have opportunity to wear them, and those who I knew would not be crocheting themselves. One such friend, who knew how to crochet, one day joked and asked, "So when are you going to make something for me"? I thought about it, and decided to make her some crochet earrings (I had NO clue how to do this...but the decision was made). I was planning on surprising her, and it was all hush-hush. I started looking for patterns online, and eventually reached this post on this blog:
Un Jardin De Hilo: Crochet Flower Earrings

This lady has done some AMAZING work! And her blog led me to her etsy store, droolworthy eyecandy!
While I was browsing her store, my friend walks by and in the next 15 minutes or so, we decide we need to have an etsy shop of our own...we could make things like these! Within the week, we shopped for supplies, figured out how to make basic earrings. Eventually my friend decided that she could not take this up at this time. I was a bit disappointed, but had these supplies on hand, so played with it a bit, and came up with this...my first pair of earrings!

Sent it off to a friend "R" in India. And there was no stopping me after this :)

I did, in due time, make a piece of jewelry for my other friend who had planted the seed for this in my head...this was my gift to her (yeah, a set...given to two different people ;-)

Seeing this, yet another friend asked if I would take orders. And thus happened my very first sale, to my very first supporter! She ordered a few more things as birthday gifts for her friends...here's what she inspired me to make:

 This was given to her as "customer appreciation" :)

And some other friends and family got gifts

Some I kept for myself....

And I got a couple more orders...

Didn't feel so good making my friends indirectly pay for my hobby, so I decided to donate what I made from these to my favorite cause: PWhy...

And finally, the same friend who was originally my "partner in crime", suggested that although she could not work with me full time, she would love to host an exhibition+sale for my jewelry (aren't friends the awesomest awesomest people!?)

And thus happened my first exhibition on December 17th 2011. I am amazed at how this came to be, and am really thinking of making this a constant part of my life.

Sadafulee...is going to be my brand name (if it can be called a "brand")
Have always loved the simple, yet beautiful flower. The name means "Always in bloom". Here's what it looks like...would love to know what other names it is known by!

Am hoping to promote my "Sadafulee" through this blog! And connect with the amazingly talented artists I have come across while trying to learn so many different techniques!

Wish me luck ppls!