As freaky as it may be, sometimes you just have to go for it. No questions. No holding back. Stop worrying. And just…dive in & go for it.
As I sit here writing this first post, I cannot help but feel completely overwhelmed with emotion. If you know me, this shouldn’t come as a big surprise. The past couple of years were full of confusion, frustration & self-doubt. All feelings that led me to feel very lost & anxious all of the time. There were moments–many, many moments–when I truly believed that I would never find my calling.
Right now, in this exact moment, I feel a lot of things. Excited. Anxious. Grateful. Scared shitless. But above all, I don’t feel lost anymore…I feel ready. I am ready to begin AmazziRoots metallic adventure. Who knows where or how far Amazzi will go, but I’m ready to dive right in. And I’m not the best or most graceful swimmer. So come along, join me and tread the beautiful element of water. Some pretty groovy waves are on the way….
A little background: Almost exactly one year ago, I began taking Metalsmith classes at Lillstreet Art School in Chicago. I did it for fun, hoping to enhance my simple, amateur creations I was selling on Etsy. At the time, I wasn’t happy where I was working yet I wasn’t happy thinking about finding a new job. I worked as a temp at a food flavoring company in Geneva and would commute through rush hour after work to take this Beginners metalsmith course. Best. Decision. I. Ever. Made. A year has flown by, and a lot has happened. I moved to the city, became a nanny-by-day and amateur metalsmith by night. I completed several Metalsmith night courses, grown immensely not only as a novice jeweler, but also as a believer. If you think you may have found your ‘nitch’, or one of your many callings in life, don’t hold back–go for it. I admit, there is still so much to learn & experiment with. So if you visit AmazziRoots shop and feel it isn’t ‘your style’, please come visit the shop again–I have creations brewin’ in this mind that will require more time, practice & skill. This is only the beginning. So stay tuned!
Also, most importantly, thank you. You all know who you are. A thank you to those who have been right by my side as I’ve tried to figure out what it is I’m here for. A thank you to those Etsy customers who bought my first pieces and told others to check out my shop. A thank you to those who have heard me cry, given me endless hugs & have listened to me through this whole journey. A thank you to those who have challenged me to go a step further and go for this website. Without you, absolutely none of this could have happened. Because of you, AmazziRoots was created and will continue to grow and flow just as it is supposed to. So welcome, welcome to AmazziRoots.
METALS CREATING CHANGE
Enjoy wearing your Amazzi pieces knowing that you are a part of impacting and improving lives across seas. 10% of your purchase will go directly to the grassroots organization, Blood:Water Mission. I chose this organization because I truly believe in what they do. B:WM partners with HIV-infected communities in East Africa to empower and improve social, economic and health implications caused by HIV/AIDS and unclean water conditions. What I really love about B:WM is that they partner with Africa-based organizations already within the communities and use various provision projects that best improve specific environments for long-lasting development.
Learn more here: http://www.bloodwater.org/solutions