Progress

Well, I've actually not been as accountable as I'd hoped these past couple of weeks, but I have, in fact, made much progress...believe it or not! I will say, however, that all the brilliant and important things I planned to do which didn't happen are simply postponed...and that should absolve my guilt a little, right?

First, we've started paying back a student loan of my darling husband's. This is quite an achievement because it is actually a consequence of our new-found accountability, which can only be surmised as adulthood; the same milestone of maturity, mind you, which I have evaded all my life up to this point, and for good reason: paying bills is so unrewarding!

The positive side is that we're conserving and not consuming as much. Even though we have to drive our recycling 10 minutes away, we're actually accumulating twice as much recycling than regular garbage, and that seems pretty significant. We're also reconsidering multiple trips in order to conserve gas, which means less eating out or impulsive shopping trips to places we have no business going...like Target.

Furthermore, staying home has made working on FireWireGems all the more convenient. Last week, in fact, my jewelry had their own proper photo shoot, thanks to the creative collaboration of Olga and her German house guests, Nick and Lina. I now have awesome pictures of my merchandise which are better than I could have hoped for.

I have posted the new photos onto my *new shop* at FireWireGems.Etsy.com, and I am working hard each day to upload them, and new content, onto my website, FireWireGems.com. Please remember: any and all feedback is so much appreciated! I'm pretty anal about the aesthetics and grammar, so it's easy to overlook something on the larger scale, like navigation, or something.

Milla is potty training first thing tomorrow, Lorenzo is doing really well for a tortured pre-teen, and our troublesome Loki is enjoying the lovely weather in the back garden/ fenced-in concrete slab lately.

Finally, my darling husband has made the miracle-of-miracles decision to go back to school! This has been a long time coming, and while I can't take the credit for planting the idea (although I have gently suggested it from time to time, dammit!), I am so happy for him to finally find what he wants in this life, or more importantly, how to achieve it. Maturity strikes again! And more gratitude to Charles for all of his encouraging support, of course!

Perhaps that's what all of this capricious change has been about: growing up. It is my perspective that we are each where we're supposed to be at the exact time in our lives when we're supposed to go through it. Good or bad, up or down. I just want to let other "adulthood-adverse" people know that it might not be so bad, once they find the need to grow up, too.

No one really told me that, and apparently their examples weren't too tempting. Not only that, but I probably would have been a bit better off if I'd not fought it for so long. Who knows? I sure did have fun while it lasted, though. Now if only I can still keep the party going while balancing a checkbook...

Thanks, everyone, for reading, and for your feedback on the website(s)!


The key to growth is the introduction of higher dimensions of consciousness into our awareness.
~ Lao Tsu, Taoist Philosopher

FireWireGems.com is Live!

My new small business website, firewiregems.com is finally live! While it is still in need of some tweaking, I am so happy it is finally up and running!

Ironically enough, once I finished adding the content, I decided the color scheme wasn't to my liking anymore, so that will probably be one of the first changes. In any case, I'm not griping about it because it works, at last! Please take a moment to check it out and leave me some feedback!

~ www.firewiregems.com ~

I will be adding pieces as they're created, along with additional pages for future collections, etc. And, each month we'll feature a different special price or deal for you to take advantage of! I can make custom pieces, and custom-fit any piece to your style.

Thanks again, to everyone who helped make this happen; particularly my brilliant husband, Vadik!

I would really appreciate comments, or send me an e-mail, and let me know which pieces you like or don't! I am always open to feedback!


Nobody talks of entrepreneurship as survival, but that's exactly what it is, and what nurtures creative thinking.

~Anita Roddick, Activist and Entrepreneur

Fire Wire Gems Jewelry at Auction for Charity!

So I recently started a jewelry company which I'd been lagging on for various logistical excuses over the past couple of weeks, but I am happy to report that my small business, Fire Wire Gems finally received the swift kick in the rear that it had apparently been lacking for the past few weeks in the form of a brilliant charity event here in DFW...

The Russian Banya (or BYOB day spa) is hosting a "Save the Boobies!" Breast Cancer Benefit this weekend, including a silent auction, etc., and they actually targeted local small businesses to donate services for auction. Me and my big mouth eagerly volunteered to help with the good cause, and subsequently, some easy publicity. Not only that, but they accepted my admission of one uber-nice piece of handmade jewelry to auction off!

So, for all of you who actually live in DFW: you are absolutely obligated to attend this event, if only to schmooze with me, and also of course because half of the proceeds are going to this incredible charity. I will be there on Sunday night as soon as the party starts, and I know it's going to be an awesome night ~ Kamryn has whipped up some super cool entertainment, and the food is so good! Again, bring your own beverage, and make a reservation in advance!

And, for those of you who might be curious as to the actual pieces that I submitted for the auction, you can (*hopefully*) check it out on my website first thing Sunday morning...and because I love you so much, I'll give you a sneak peek here...

These are completely handcrafted from sterling silver wire and multifaceted garnet and retail for approximately $130.00. However, you are welcome to post a silent bid on the set at the Russian Banya in Carrollton all day and well into Sunday evening!


I also want to send a huge THANK YOU to Kamryn at the Banya for setting this up and providing the opportunity for me to participate! I look forward to hopefully seeing some familiar faces there on Sunday night! ~ be there or be square! ~ And, as always, comments are totally welcome, and at this point, highly anticipated...


"If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am not for others, what am I? And if not now, when?"
~ Rabbi Hillel

Tattoo-Style Swallow Quilt Holders on Instructables.com

I recently finished this project that has taken just about forever, it seems! And, I've published the entire process for creating these quilt holders on the website, Instructables.com. You can follow the hyperlink, or copy and paste this link:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Tattoo_Style_Swallow_Quilt_Holders/

The beautiful quilt, comprised of eighty colorful and unique needlepoint butterflies, is hand-sewn by my mother, the uber-creative, Ms. Barbara Moncivais! It was actually a gift to my daughter, the adorable, Miss Milla Epelbaum. My mom has made one amazing, customized quilt for her precious grandchildren, now totalling six. I believe they are just about the coolest gift you could ever get from your grandmother, because they are truly handmade from the heart, and more than any expensive electronic gadget or wish list video game that your parents refuse to buy you, these quilts are absolutely priceless and irreplaceable. But enough about her amazing quilt! This post is about MY creation, dammit!

The process was pretty simple, which is why I chose to post it on Instructables.com. And thankfully, we have all the materials and power tools necessary to pull it off! Vadim did a superb job with cutting them out, although he thinks he's much too humble to admit that. My only roadblock was figuring out how to hang the swallows AND the quilt from the back of the birds, themselves...what hardware would do both jobs easily? Once I finally found the answer (or at least, the theory that worked!), I just had to purchase the relatively cheap eye hooks and framer's wire from Michael's, and voila! Project complete!

I do need some feedback from you oh-so-loyal readers, though, because I am seriously considering selling these. I have a couple of concerns/ obstacles (most notably, the recent Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (or, CPSIA) for small businesses, resellers, crafters, and charities, which states that all products designed for children up to age 12 must now be tested for lead; however, there are exclusions and stipulations that are and continue to be defined), but more than anything else, I realize there is a market for these puppies and I happen to be in a position to supply it!

I actually took forever to make 'em due to my own personal dysfunctional time-management strategies (or the lack thereof) when it comes to my crafty brain farts. If and when I actually create these for profit, I estimate they'll take 5 days to mak; however, once I get an assembly-line production going, the supply for demand should not be an issue...and I can make them in virtually any form!

So please let me know how much you think they're worth, or how much you'd be willing to pay for them...and be honest! I really want your constructive criticism, if you have any, and of course, your blunt estimates - for better or worse - and I do appreciate your opinions! Please just click a button in the Poll to the right and that's it!

Thanks in advance!!


In the modern world of business, it is useless to be a creative original thinker unless you can also sell what you create. Management cannot be expected to recognize a good idea unless it is presented to them by a good salesman.
~David M. Ogilvy

Getting Started

I am totally pumped and completely motivated to finally be, what seems to me, on the right track in my tumultuous life, at long last! I won't bore you with all the complicated details, but basically, my confidence and commencement as a public artist and philanthropist has been a long time coming.

To be brief, I am working on a few projects simultaneously, and these will be the subject matter for my posts, and hopefully a bit of encouragement for your own creativity and/ or volunteerism. Hell, if I can do it, truly, anyone can!

I really appreciate any support and comments anyone is willing to offer because, more than tooting my own little horn here, I hope to somehow embolden others in their own time and community, so feedback is essential.

Timing is everything, everything happens for a reason, and reason is the ally of intuition. With those tenets in mind, I'll close this, and hopefully each post with a relevant quote; starting with the following...


Believe only what you yourself test and judge to be true.

~Buddha [Likely paraphrased]