Jewelry inspired by fabric. Driven by vision. Part Two - How Being Downsized Can Rock!

Welcome back everyone! So, in part two of my 'Jewelry inspired by...' series, I'm really excited to answer the second question I get quite often - what inspired me to create JāLa Designs? Read on...and enjoy my very first vlog (i.e., video blog)!

(Psst...hang on 'til the end so you can see the outtake! Yes, I said 'outtake' - who says only the big TV networks can have outtakes?)

From Darkness Comes Light

What's that saying, something about out of darkness comes light? Well, the idea for JāLa was conceived in just this way - twice! The first time around, circa January 2008, I was lying on my bed, upset about something when my eyes wondered up to this beautiful and elegant Japanese Kimono needlepoint I had made. Out of nowhere, I thought to myself, "Wouldn't something 'needlepointed' look really pretty as part of a necklace?"

I felt excited not only over how beautiful I imagined it to be, but also because I thought I was on to something. The desire to do something more creative was born, and this feeling remained with me even though, given my full-time job, I didn't have much time to pursue my idea.

Fast forward to March 2008. I was becoming increasingly dissatisfied with my marketing position. So, when I was downsized from my job that month, it was truly the best thing that ever happened to me. It gave me the freedom to figure out what I really wanted to do.

So, this brings me to "JāLa conceived" the second time around, which you can learn about in my video below! (Remember the Tom Hanks movie 'Cast Away' when he befriends & chats with the volleyball he names 'Wilson'? Filming this video kinda felt like that...but I named my Flip camera Mr. De Mille.)



So, as much as I loved the needlepoint idea (and still may pursue it one day), I knew the fabric idea would be just as beautiful and was more feasible in many ways.

As one door closes, another one opens, and this is exactly how JāLa came about. In part three of this series, I'm going to talk about how, to me and as JāLa's tagline suggests, being yourself is the secret to life. But first, remember I promised you an outtake, so here it is!



Please Comment Below...

Tell me about something that inspired you and what action you took as a result. No incentives offered for comments this time - just the genuine desire to hear about your own experiences. And, who knows, maybe what you write will inspire someone reading this blog!

Until next time!

~ Rachel
www.jala-designs.com

Are You a 'Should-er' or a 'Doer'?

Here's a little mini post before next week's 'major' one. In between talking about jewelry-related topics, I may sometimes blog about business, life or other topics because, well, my interests go beyond jewelry, and I'm sure yours do too! And, remember, I said our blog was 'anything but typical'...

Today's mini post asks the question: Are you a 'should-er' or a 'doer' in life? Are you the kind of person who always says, "I should do so and so" and never gets around to it or are you the kind of person who says, "I should do so and so" and follows through?

As a wise Vice-President taught me back in my advertising days -> When you say you're going to do something, do it.

So, are you a 'should-er' or a 'doer'? Don't answer me here; just think about it and decide what kind of person you want to be!

~ Rachel
www.jala-designs.com