The Beginning of JMEBeads

First of all, my name is Jamie Marie Eads. My initials are JME and I work with beads...hence, JMEBeads. And it amuses me that Eads is my last name and Beads rhymes with my last name. I have the corniest sense of humor, but that is how this endeavor got its name!

My store on Etsy got started about a month ago now because I was out of school for the summer. Without my typical part-time job during the summer (which I resolved I would not have!), I was left with a void in my day. I didn't know what to do without teaching. All I have ever done for the past three years was plan lessons and then plan even more lessons.

Now that I have overcome the learning curve that comes with the first years of teaching, I actually have time for a life and even a hobby! In reflection, I do not think I've ever had an actual hobby. Watching TV, movies, and reading books never qualified. When people asked me, "Jamie, what do you do in your spare time?", I was at a loss for a response. All I could do was come up with some lame answer like "Reading." And that's just not exciting at all.

So one day in the middle of July, my boyfriend was showing me a website that shows you how to make all kinds of things (http://www.instructables.com/) and I saw a link for how to make safety pin bracelets. It seemed simple and I tried it out. I made my first one...then I made a lot more. Shortly thereafter, my Etsy store was created.

Since July, I have expanded my store to include hair pins, earrings, and necklaces. This is a hobby that keeps me busy and is actually de-stressing after a long school day. It gives me an outlet to be creative in a different way - because I can only be so creative in teaching/lesson planning until I'm burnt out.

Also, I really want my Etsy store to be successful! This is a hobby for me, true, but I do like making people happy. When my mother and friends receive a unique piece of jewelry, their faces always light up! For me, that is the best feeling in the world.

And so my adventure begins into the world of jewelry-making...