But now I've found

I think I've found my niche! At least for now. I have been making earrings, more for myself than anyone else. I am my own walking billboard.  Anyway back to my niche.  I think the wire wrapping is the biz!  I enjoy the technique, the look, the simplicity and sometimes the extravagance.  It can really be whatever you make it, literally.

These are the bigger, original version and my absolute personal fave!

Smaller version in sterling silver

I love these!  Simple, classic, everyday and also in sterling silver.

Its pure coincidence that these 3 are black and silver.  I just noticed that and these were not made around the same time. Well the small ones are a replica of the bigger ones.  Those are my favorite and seems to be everyone else's favorites as well.  I get loads of compliments every time I wear them.  The smaller ones are for my bff and now I have to make some for myself.

BTW, I love working with sterling silver!  I will never go back to aluminum or the cheap stuff.  I read that beginning jewelry makers should skip the cheap stuff and go straight to sterling silver and the better metals to save themselves a lot of hassle and headache.  And they were absolutely correct!  I immediately noticed the difference in the handling of the materials and I must say I loved having silver smudged fingers.

Hiatus

Its been awhile since my last post.  I thought about just erasing everything and starting completely over to give it a more professional feel but the truth is no one reads this at time.  At this point, this blog is purely for my own purposes as far as documenting my process.  I decided to keep the posts the way that they are so that the progress that I make is seen and documented.

Since the last time I posted, several things have happened.  I played Joanne in a production of RENT.  I'm not sure if Ive said it before but I love to act and sing.  I have a minor in Theatre (should have fully majored but waited too late) and it is definitely a passion of mine.  Here is a snippet our version of Seasons of Love.

As far as COCOBLISS as goes, Ive been trying to set an official focus for the brand.  (Yes I said brand)  I have been toying around with different names, different ideas and I have changed this site countless times.  So I guess I didnt want to post anything else until I had more of  a focused idea.  Honestly I feel as though I am there or at least a lot closer than I was before.

All in all I love being creative in many forms and will continue to share that here!  YAY!  Im excited about it!

The Meaning of COCOBLISS

I wanted to explain why I chose the name COCOBLISS (which may or may not be the final name).  I wanted something that expressed me and what I was trying to achieve in life.  Not trying to make it overly deep and meaningful or heavy, just truly reflective of me, hence the reason that COCOBLISS is the tentative name.  I am an "ever-changing" individual.  As we speak, my taste buds are changing.  My style is changing.  I am experiencing new things and new people.  Life is a learning environment and as I get older I become more my true authentic self.  I've always heard that that happens when I was growing up but never really believed it until I began to experience it first hand.  I am the same CoCoDee but I go thru things that change my outlooks and perspectives and responses to certain things.  People who know me understand and appreciate this.  I believe it's all apart of being human.  Some things about me may not have changed dramatically but overall as a whole, I am human and I am becoming who I was truly meant to be.

I digress.

The meaning of COCOBLISS is simple.  I, CoCo, am trying to find my bliss.  Just like any other person.  (See?  Its really not deep at all)  Right now in my life I would say that I am the happiest I have ever been.  And discovering new things about myself and going back to my roots on some things help me to live a blissful life.  It's definitely not all roses but we can always do things that make us happy and live in pure bliss.

Creating and making things makes me happy.  Its the little things.  Earrings make me happy.  It's kinda crazy actually!  That (and sunglasses) are probably my favorite accessories.  I love bags and cute things.  I can wear the most plain outfit known to man but I will be nicely accessorized!  And going thru this process and learning how to make these things has really been bliss!  It may sound silly to some but just the act of making things and wearing my creations brings me something that I can't fully explain or put into words.  It's as if the fact that I know that I like to do it and am taking action to actually do it is almost enough pleasure in itself.  Just please take my word for it. 

Who knows if this will turn into something bigger if anything at all.  But right now I will continue to learn and grow and create!

How high the moon

Ok, so I think that  I have found it!  What's that you ask?  Ive found *drum roll please*  the technique and style of earrings that I want to make and improve on!!  Ok maybe that was anticlimactic but its still exciting for me!!  I had been toying with the idea of somehow putting beads onto hoops as if you were to sew the beads on the hoops.  Let me back track by saying that I had already figured out that if I make earrings then they are probably going to be hoops.  I love them and they are my preferred style of earring.

Anyway so I've discovered that I want to work with metals and shaping and hammering and adding beads somewhere in that mix.  After doing some slight research on different ways to do this and scoping out finished results of others, I finally had enough confidence and excitement to try it on my own.  And voila!!!!

These are my absolute favorite creation ever!  I think of most things I've ever made in life, I would put this in the top 3!

Introducing the Moondoggle earring!

Ok the name may not be so great but I cant get the word moondoggle out of my head.  These are simply inspired by a midnight moon.  And I am in love if I must say so myself.  Nothing wrong with patting yourself on the back.  As with other creations one is slightly bigger than the other.  When I began to make them I had halfway finished hammering, bending and "sewing" the beads when I realized that I hadn't measured the wire for the other one.  *kanye shrug*  I plowed thru anyway.

I can tell this metal block and hammer are going to be my best buds!

I absolutely love it and can not wait to start using sterling silver!  (This is aluminum wire.  Baby steps) 

Of course I had to start with the cutting and shaping and hammering of the 12 gauge aluminum wire.  Then I used 24 gauge silver wire to thread the beads around the hoop.  I actually sketched and planned these out before I started which is so unlike me.

I am so pleased with the end result!!

Rings, Rings, Glorious Things!

OK so this is actually the first ring that I ever made in life. 

I discovered rings later in life.  I would never wear them or just wear one for a short while then quit. 

So one day I wore one ring, then the next day I bought another, and the next day wore 2 more and so on and so forth.  Before you knew it I was hooked.  And sometimes the bigger, the flashier the better!  I should not that I am always moving through phases in my life.  Like the time everything I wore had to have a hood on it.  Or the time that I would only wear flip-flops and not real shoes.  There have been so many.  So I shall name that time, my ring - a - ding-dong phase.  Anyway after I got married I dropped all rings besides my wedding ring (unconsciously) and now I'm back (still married). 

This one was just made freestyle.  I literally just wrapped around my finger and picked up beads as I went along.  This was the end product and I thought it was so simple and nice and "organic" as a co-worker put it and I'll take that.

Adventures in Jewelry Making

So anyone that knows me knows that I love earrings. It is absolutely one of my favorite accessories (along with sunglasses). A few years ago I decided, I spend so much money on these things I should make them myself! Great idea right? Well I didn't do anything about it at the time. For some reason as much as I wanted to do it, it just never happened. Until now! So among my quest to make many handmade and homemade items I am once again (interest never left) ready to make earrings. I know lots of people that make jewelry, it's like the new thing and very crowded. And now I see why, it can be easy. Well let me rephrase that: At this moment it is easier to make jewelry than to sew for me. But I'll save that for another time.

I always get these mini bursts of " I MUST DO THIS RIGHT THIS SECOND!" So during one of these bursts I made a pair of earrings. I've had many bursts and made things that will not make the blog or I made before I officially started the project.

This is a pair using small gold beads and 24 gauge "gold" wire.

I just looped the wire through the beads and made the shape.

They are not the best pair ever but I think they are so cute and I wear them all the time. Like everything I make (I'm starting to see) they are not identical. However, maybe this will be a signature thing for me, who knows. (this is how I justify my mess)

Anyway I like them and I may perfect some more of these.                                                                                    

      Btw, I made the ring also but it was made without a ring sizer and not knowing (now I get it) I used my own finger and since it's wrapped so much it turned out to be about a size 4 1/2...........yeah its a baby ring. In the future you have to start about 2 1/2 sizes bigger than the size you want. Who knew? I was just wrapping wire. *kanye shrug*

But I think it's really cute for a spur of the moment design. I wish I knew someone with kiddie fingers.

What do you think?

Welcome to the COCOBLISS project!

I have always been someone who has had a creative spirit.  The creativity has always been there in some form whether it be small or fullscale.  Recently, however, I have not been able to find it.  I have been kidnapped by the corporate empires and the daily routines of life have robbed me of my juice.  I have felt completely stunted in my creative growth.  I often kick myself for allowing that to happen by just following along with the protocol and getting trapped.

So I have realized at 30 years old,  it is time to regain the dream and live the life that I want for myself.  I am alive, young (even though most times I forget) and I need to be happy in my everyday life and routine.  Life is too short!  Overused but oh so true expression!

I asked myself what is it that will make you happy?  What would you want to do in life?  The answer is to be able to express myself in some creative aspect on a daily basis.  This site will follow me on the journey of pursuing this goal and ultimately unstifling the stifled.  I need to unravel and unwrap the thing inside of me that has wanted to get out.  Many people won't care and some may call me silly.  Who cares?  It's not for anyone else but me.  I have many interests and am multifacted like any other human.  The cocoBLISS project is just one of those facets that I am exploring and focusing on this year.  Getting back to happy and being truly CoCoDee (thats me) is extremely important.

Join me as I take on this new venture!  Feel free to comment and share with me!

Maybe we will both learn from one another!

Thanks for stopping by!