Journey of a Jeweler

a journey into fashion decorating style and life with jeweler lisa lehmann

Lisa Lehmann Designs, formerly StudioJewel

On being me

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I haven’t written much lately. Much of my story isn’t just mine to be told. So instead? Silence. Easier on everyone. I have struggled with what to write. Everything seemed too…fluffy.

What I CAN write about is what I have discovered about myself. Through years of struggling with insecurities. Wrestling with insignificance. Battling depression. I have learned more about being me. Myself. Living with who I am is not easy, but I am hoping for gentle acceptance even as I pen the words. Acceptance of me for me. Finding the best within myself. Learning to celebrate it. So, lest you think I’m writing this for you…don’t be disillusioned!

I am an artist. First and foremost.

I am an artist. First and foremost. Many say those words, and for them they are true. But being an artist and doing art is very different. In fact. I think you can be an artist without actually doing something within what others may think of as “the field of art”. BEING an artist is often more of a personality trait. My personality traits. And sometimes that can make me feel tormented. Emotional. Heavy. Wild of heart. Vibrant on some days. Melancholy on others. Seeing color in everything. And creative possibility in every corner. Feeling. Oh, so much feeling. And most importantly? Vastly misunderstood. This is not a complaint or a cry to be heard. It’s my reality. And if you are an artist, you understand. But sometimes. Often. It’s lonely.

behind the eyes of an artist

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On being a mom

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This thing called motherhood is not for the faint of heart. As we approach what is considered the mother’s day rush in my business I have been quite reflective of late.

As a young girl, I loved children. Babies. Toddlers. Littles. I dreamt of being a teacher and a mom. Having small lives of my own to care for. To love. It was as much of my planning as my career path.

This thing called motherhood is not for the faint of heart.

When we got married and found ourselves expecting within the first 8 months I was surprised, a bit overwhelmed…but never scared. No one could have told me what it would be like to grow a life inside me. To feel his feet pressing against my ribs. Watch his tiny head roll across my belly. I found myself staring at my swelling middle – mesmerized and overflowing with love for this child I still didn’t really know. The day he arrived I found a love I didn’t know existed. Watching his gaze meet mine. Cradling to my breast. Flesh of my flesh. Bone of my bone. A part of me. A mother’s love is fierce and beautiful.

I poured myself into motherhood while trying to balance a very busy graphic design career. I read every book. Followed “all the rules”. I wanted to be so present. I celebrated every milestone. Wiped that ever running nose. Threw ball after ball after ball. And then. Six months later I found myself expecting again. And then again. And again.

Each pregnancy gave me that same sense of awe and wonder and love. Each felt like the first time. Just when I thought I couldn’t love anymore…I did. These gifts. These children. Such a part of my heart and soul. A part of me walking around outside of my body with their own set of emotions and feelings and personalities. Sometimes it just seemed surreal. [Read more…] about On being a mom

The love of a parent

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Parent love. Being a human almost always dictates that you were a child….first. Someone’s child. Maybe you had a mom and dad. All families look different. But that really doesn’t matter. A family is family and you grew up somewhere.

Being a child is somewhat an odd thing. Because no matter what age you are, you are ALWAYS someone’s child. But those rolls change so much over the course of a lifetime, don’t they?

no matter what age you are, you are ALWAYS someone’s child

As an infant, you are completely dependent on your mother. For food. For clothing. For every basic need. You clearly would not survive without someone taking care of you. For most of us that is our mother. We grew in her womb. We heard her voice first. Felt her touch first. Looked into her eyes first. She was our first love.
And then toddlerhood. Oh, how we begin to idolize those or that parent in our life. They seem like rock stars to us. Larger than life. The sun rises and sets with them. The love that flows from them to us? It feeds us, sustains us, contents us.
 
In elementary school, we start to push and pull a little bit. More of a push, then run back! A little bitty scratch sends us running to mama. A slight tummy ache, we need consoling. We just are starting to explore our boundaries a bit. How far before we need to come back to that security we depend on. We still need them for so so much. We rely on them. They are our world.

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Happy New Year and welcome 2019

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There is nothing magical about the calendar turning over to a new year. There is no fairy dust. There is no automatic renewal. There is no instant change. But. There is something. Something I like to look at as a possibility or opportunity. There is something incredibly exciting about the newness have a brand new year. A chance to start over. Take on a new challenge. Do something you said you were always going to do. I realize that many people make New Year’s resolutions and never keep them. I get it. I’ve been there myself. But I still believe there is something about saying those things out loud and at least making some sort of effort to do something new and different.

What is wrong at looking at the new year as a brand new clean slate. You get to choose. What goals do you want to set. What word of intention do you want to have for 2019. Are you ready to face some of those things that you put aside for so very long? Maybe? Maybe not? But it is up to you.

What is wrong at looking at the new year as a brand new clean slate

And maybe it’s not so much goals like financial freedom or weight loss or eating more greens or spending more time outside or reading new books. Maybe it’s more of things like taking the time to appreciate yourself more. Taking more time away from work. Taking time to serve others and volunteer. Taking time playing Candyland and less time watching Netflix. Maybe it’s more about those kind of changes than actual lifestyle changes.

What if you looked into volunteering once every other month? Maybe doing a pay it forward once a month. Maybe that just means paying for the coffee in the drive-through one time a month. Doing something not for yourself but for SOMEONE ELSE. Because ultimately that is when we start to change. When we start looking outside of ourselves.

Because ultimately that is when we start to change. When we start looking outside of ourselves.

malachite pendant stone of transformation

(Malachite – one of the best crystals for change, because it doesn’t sugarcoat the situation. It teaches you to look at the challenge you’ve been presented with realistically. Malachite encourages you to take on surprises with an infusion of insight and confidence in your heart. To begin thinking about how to use what is unexpected to your advantage, work with Malachite. from http://energymuse.com)

These are just my ponderings. My thoughts. My conversations in my own head as we move into 2019. I definitely have goals that are tangible and real. But I also have many heartfelt goals that I need to embrace fully.

One of the reasons I became a fitness coach this year was for that very reason. So I could do something for others. It’s small but it’s something. I’m going to keep looking at how I can serve more instead of serving myself. Looking outside of me. People say we need to love ourselves more. I think we need to take care of ourselves more.

And the harsh reality is…like other resolutions…I will probably fail. But I’m certainly not going to let that stop me from trying. It matters. People matter. You matter.

So here is to a very happy new year. A year filled with tremendous love. A year filled with blessings. A year where YOU make a difference.

xoxoxo, lisa

one of a kind stone of transformation cuff bracelet

(Chrysocolla – is the perfect crystal to transfer your intentions into realities. Harness your inner power and positivity by recognizing all of the amazing attributes you have at your expense. In repelling negativity, both from outside sources and from within, you will have the emotional and mental stability you need to stay positive in this time of change. taken from EnergyMuse.com)

It’s that time of year…Birthday Sale season!

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Kids back to school. Seasons change. And. My biggest sale of the year. Birthday Time!

If you have followed me at all over the years, you are well aware of my big birthday sale. It started with 40% off for 40 minutes on my 40th birthday.

Well. Years have passed. Numbers have climbed. So this year I have a new idea! And I’m pretty stoked!

Want in? Make sure you are on our mailing list. (click the photo…or here) Details go out Thursday!

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Can’t wait to see you there!

xooxoxo, lisa