In the last few weeks I have had this incredible hunger to use my hands. To play with color. To listen to my favorite radio stories, move my hands and make something.

The world of writing, the internet, e-courses, even digital photography can start feeling very ephemeral to me. Sometimes it feels like all those words, ideas and images are just floating in the ether. I wonder if any of it is real, you know? I am left living in the upper reaches of my body — just a head, at a desk, typing away at a screen.

This is how I know I am out of balance.

And so, last week I excavated all of the big plastic bins that house my beads. They have been tucked away for years and I spent the entire day cleaning my desk, pulling out bowls of delicious color and neatly placing them on the table. As I dipped my fingers in the bags of beads and turned the jewelry pliers in my hand, it was like cellular memory- A feeling of groundedness and calm came over me and then an incredible urge to get to work! Turn on This American Life or Snap Judgment and just immerse myself in the zone. The art-making zone.

I taught myself to make beaded jewelry when I was in elementary school and had my own little cottage business by ten years old, selling earrings made from toy rubber animals to clothing boutiques. If I wasn’t making jewelry, I was sewing, drawing, painting or choreographing dances to the Flashdance soundtrack. Creativity has always been part of my life.

But here’s the thing I’m realizing now: I love to be creative in a variety of ways, but at some point I need my hands to be involved. I need my body to move. I need to literally make something with my bare hands. Can you relate?

Pre-order a Superhero Necklace!

This is a long way of announcing that I will be making a limited edition batch of Superhero necklaces for the holiday season! You can go ahead and pre-order them now in my Etsy store. There was a big response on my Facebook page when I mentioned this, so I have a feeling these puppies will sell out. I will make as many as I can, but go ahead and order ASAP if you are interested.

P.S. I love you

A huge thank you for all of your kind words, wisdom and support in regard to my last post. It has meant the world to me and has been SO freaking helpful to read your stories and feel your encouragement. I think a lot of people benefited from your generosity, so I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. You guys are awesome!