I am sponsoring one of my best friends, Jerrica, again for the Miss Rhode Island Pageant. Jerrica is Miss Kent County 2015, which became official not too long ago. I am very happy to be able to support her again, and her platform is also very near and dear to my heart. Her platform is Pictures in Our Heads: Changing Minds One Step at a Time; she created it herself, and its focus in on providing education for people and their families who are impacted by mental illness through public education and awareness activities. As I have mentioned before, it is so important to support those with mental illness. 

Back in November I supported Jerrica at the Miss Rhode Island Scholarship Gala.. Some of our friends from Salve Regina were there too! 

She wore a new design of earrings of mine at the event. I will providing her jewelry for the Miss Rhode Island Pageant as well as at appearances prior to the pageant. 

And yes, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to get crowned too :) 

Better late then never right?! Well anyways here is a recap of my No Craft Supply Spend July just a little bit late...

So No Craft Supply Spend July didn't go perfectly, but to be fair I only cracked twice. 

Here is what happened the first time: 
I bought washi tape on the 5th. I had done so well prior to that, going to Michael's and not spending any money. I cracked at Marshall's right at the register when I spotted washi tape out the corner of my eye. I couldn't pass up the bargain it was to buy it. I mean a whole tube of washi tape for $3.99, I would have been crazy not to buy it. 

The second time: 
I cracked at a bead store in Rockport, MA. I had never been to this bead store, and couldn't pass up the beads they had. I didn't spend a lot of money which is good, but I still did spend money. 

So all in all I didn't do horribly. It could have been a lot worse, and it was way less than I would normally spend on craft supplies in one month. I also realized that if I decide to do it again next year, to not do it in July, because all of the chain craft stores have wicked good sales. So now that it is August, I have ordered some stuff craft supply wise. I mean I do have a show to get ready for in just over a month! 

Better late than never right? Here is my recap of Art on the Green 2014! 

I've said this before in previous posts (when I was still on blogspot), but one thing about shows that I love is the positive feedback. Even if someone doesn't buy something, just getting the positive feedback means a lot to me. 

It's funny that prior to show I always think I don't have enough inventory. But as soon as I display it for a show, I realize that I have plenty of inventory. My largest stock of inventory is definitely earrings. I really love making earrings, but now it is to the extent of I need to find a way to display them all. That is my project until my next show in September (more info to come!). 

As promised here is the preview of the new designs, and some new versions of old favorites! They will be available at Art on the Green Saturday June 14th from 10-4. 

Can't attend the show but see something you like, let me know! 

I have been officially accepted to the Art on the Green at Pinehills this summer! It will be my sixth time doing the show. The show is on June 14th, from 10-4 at the Pinehills in Plymouth MA. I would love it if you would come and support! I have a lot of jewelry ready to find new homes! Plus it's my mom's birthday that day, so you will help me take her out to a nice dinner!!

Here is what my booth looked like last year (as KMS Jewels and Designs)

I have big dreams, goals for my life. They involve both my jewelry, but also my nursing career as well. 
One of those goals include buying a house. A goal that will both require work from both my nursing job and my business. I have been working hard to save up money so that I can afford to buy a house. I want a house, besides the equity portion (yay adult life), but also so I can have 24 hour/ 7 days a week access to my jewelry studio. My studio is currently split between my apartment (where I do beading, wire wrapping, knotting etc) and my parent's house (where I do my soldering, hammering, rolling, and drilling). Not that I don't mind coming home to make jewelry, I just wish I had more time to get stuff done. 

Pinterest (yes I am obsessed, 13,000 pins and counting), has been helping me to plan out what I want my studio to look like, as well as ideas for the rest of my future house.  Follow me on Pinterest (link is in the upper right corner of the page), to see what has been inspiring me lately. 
_
While this goal is a big one, breaking it down into smaller steps while keeping the big picture in mind helps me stay focused on the WHY, by working on the HOW. I am a big fan of to do lists. 

• The biggest thing for me is saving money, which means I need to cut back on my trips to Michaels and ordering of supplies online, as much as I can. I am still going to treat myself every one and a while.
•  I have also been picking up a lot of shifts at work for both the extra income and experience working as a psych nurse. 
  
• My business here, Kate Simpson Designs, is also incredibly motivating. I have been working hard to get some new designs done, as well as doing some old favorites so that I have a lot of stock available this summer (if it ever comes...come on mother nature!). 
• I have also been doing a lot of research into home buying. What questions to ask a realtor, what to look for in a house, what areas are best for me, etc. If you have any tips for me let me know below in the comments! 

So while it may not happen right away, I know that a house is in my future, and I am going to work really hard so that I can obtain this goal. I also want to go to Greece soon, but that's a whole other goal in itself!  

I am absolutely in love with my new business cards. I have had many styles of cards in the past, but none of them really fit me. I wanted something unique, and preferably hand-done. A friend, and super talented artist/.fellow vintage lover, was my choice to help me create my new cards. Amy of Stony Brook Design, my mom (because I value her opinion and artistic eye) and I worked on the design one night, and I finally decided to print them. It came at a perfect time really because Vistaprint was having a sale, so I got a bunch of cards for a very good price! I am very excited to start handing these cards out!