Feature Shop: Exhausted Creativity Jewelry and EC Rosaries

Happy Wednesday! This week, I'd like you to meet Rachel of Exhausted Creativity Jewelry and EC Rosaries. A creative mom of two, she runs two Etsy shops in her quiet time. She's also an active member of our team -- thanks for your participation, Rachel! -Cori of Peace, Baby! Batiks

What is your name?
Rachel Rode

Where are you located?
I live outside Chicago in the suburb of New Lenox.

Tell us a little about yourself.
I'm the SAHM of two kids -- Justin (almost 7) and Jenna (3) -- and married 11 years to Paul, the most awesome husband in the world! I've been creative since I was very young, dabblng in pencil and pastel drawing; painting with oils, watercolors, and acrylics; ceramics; clay/pottery; fiber arts; sewing ... I really should have majored in art in college, but I graduated with a degree in communications and a minor in music. I love to sing, and I play the piano. A few years ago, I took my first jewelry class, and I was hooked!

Autumn Color Pendant

What type of merchandise will shoppers find in your shop?
I have two shops on Etsy: Exhausted Creativity Jewelry and EC Rosaries.

ECJ features classic and fashion jewelry primarily for women, and I also have accessories for men and teens. I like to try my hand at trendy pieces, such as dictionary illustration pendants, robin egg nest pendants and earrings, and wire-wrapped pendants and rings with crystals. But I also enjoy making more classically styled pieces: multistrand beaded necklaces, hand-knotted pearl and gemstone necklaces and bracelets, classic tie tacks, and elegant gemstone drop earrings just to name a few. I guess you could say I make everything from boho to bridal! If it isn't listed on my shop, just ask...I can probably make it!

My other shop, ECR, has Catholic and Anglican rosaries, rosary bracelets, chaplets, tenners and religious jewelry. There I primarily use gemstones, pewter, sterling, and bronze. I make beaded, hand-knotted, and both traditional and modern wire-wrapped pieces.

Christian Prayer Beads (Anglican Rosary)

How/why did you get started?
After I took a couple of jewelry classes at a local shop, I started making jewelry for every occasion I could think of. I gave it as gifts and made pieces for myself. People had such nice things to say about it, and some even encouraged me to sell it. So back in December 2010, I decided to take the plunge and open an Etsy shop. It's a desperately needed creative outlet, and my goal is to be successful enough to support the household with the income.

How long have you been crafting?
I've been making jewelry for the past 4 or 5 years since taking my first class. I spend a lot of time learning new techniques, and the quality of my jewelry has improved immensely, even since opening my shop.

What is your favorite thing to make?
It's hard to say what is my favorite thing to make. Every piece is important to me, and I so thoroughly enjoy the process each time. I like to make rosaries because there is a "formula" to follow, like a recipe. But I also enjoy the dynamic process of taking some gorgeous beads and allowing the creative process to dictate what they become. I make and remake pieces until I am happy with them. I don't sell it if I wouldn't wear it myself.

Octopus Pendant - Vintage Dictionary Illustration

What are your favorite materials to work with?
My favorite things to work with are sterling silver, bronze, and all manner of natural gemstones. I prefer gemstones for their earthy, organic quality. Each gemstone possesses a natural energy that can enhance the finished jewelry piece. I also use a lot of Swarovski crystals in my work because they add shine and "bling" to my work.

What inspires you to create?
I am inspired by nature, personal history, and circumstances when creating my pieces. Nature is the perfect color and texture palette, and nature provides the best resources and materials. By history and circumstances, I mean that I am moved by personal experiences and events around me, especially when creating my rosaries and chaplets. For example, I purchased a beautiful rosary center of Mary nursing baby Jesus, and I was so moved by the image to make a rosary bracelet intended for breastfeeding mothers. It reminded me of the beautiful bond between my children and I that was shared when I was nursing them. There is a lot of emotion in my work!

Aqua Blue Chunky Two Strand Necklace

What is one thing you need to have with you while you craft?
One thing I have to have when I work is relative quietness. I prefer to work while completely alone (hard to do with kiddos!) but the one thing I ask is that everyone keeps the noise down. I think and pray while I work, and it is a personal time of reflection for me.

How do you balance mothering and running a small business?
I am still figuring out the balance of mothering and work! Let me know if anyone perfects it because I don't think it's possible. Mothering IS work, and I feel like mothering is my ultimate call. Any time my attention is away from my children, I feel guilty. I know my children are learning self-sufficiency during times that "mommy can't right now." But I try to keep those times to a minimum, and I work mostly at night ... that's why I called my shop Exhausted Creativity.

What is your favorite thing to browse Etsy for?
I browse Etsy for everything, but my favorite thing is to look for goodies for my kids! In fact, my daughter's birthday is this weekend, and I've been shopping for amigurimi dolls. I love it -- so much fun to browse and get ideas.

Genuine Amethyst, Sterling Silver and
Swarovski Crystal Dangle Earrings

When you're not crafting, what are you doing?
When I am not crafting, I am usually doing household chores and doing things with the kids. When I'm not doing those things, I'm squeezing in time to list new items and shop for supplies.

Where can we find you?
I am found many places. My shops are:
www.exhaustedcreativity.etsy.com and www.ecrosaries.etsy.com
I have a facebook page: www.facebook.com/pages/Exhausted-Creativity-Jewelry/103651389718640
I have a twitter account: @JewelryEC
And I have a blog: www.exhaustedcreativityjewelry.com

My plan is to have pieces available at local businesses and craft shows as well, but that is still undetermined yet.

What is your favorite shop (not yours) on Etsy currently?
My favorite shop on Etsy? I can't pick just one! I love AmyPerrotti - she makes gorgeous prints of matryoshka dolls in all ethnicities. (I have six of them in my daughter's room!) StorybookStyles makes wonderful costumes and clothing for kids. And I just discovered EvesLittleEarthlings with her Waldorf-inspired creations. From a creative standpoint, I am very fond of Watchings, PureOXFaith, TaviaSanza, SunnySideUpStudio, TuckooandMooCow, PrayerBedes, KSickles, FlorLarios, and Skrynka.

The Real Story of Easter- Resurrection Eggs Tutorial

We all know that Easter isn't just about eggs, bunnies and baskets... but it can be hard to teach our children the true story of Easter in a way that they can grasp. This year, I decided to make my own "Resurrection Eggs"  to teach Little Sweets the story of Jesus' death and resurrection. You can buy these at Christian book stores or online but they're pretty simple to make yourself! This project is so easy and cheap... most, if not all, of the items are things you already have around your house.

What you need to make your own Resurrection Eggs*:

egg carton

12 plastic eggs

list of items and Bible verses

piece of bread

coin(s)

piece of purple cloth or ribbon

thorns from a rose stem

piece of string or rope to represent scourge or whip

cross

nail(s)

sign that says "This is the King of the Jews"

spear or sword (or piece of toothpick)

rock

Total cost: $1.00
Everything but the eggs should be laying around your house somewhere!

*Please note that these are ALL choking hazards for young children. This is meant to be used as a teaching tool not a toy for young children.

First, you'll want to write or print up a list of the items and corresponding Bible verses. Each item represents something that occurred during the week of Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection. (You can download and print my list here if you'd rather not do it yourself. Mine also includes a sign and a cross.) Tape the list to the inside of your egg carton. You might want to paint the outside of your egg carton so your Little Sweeties don't think that the true story of Easter has anything to do with a certain brand of eggs. =)

Then, put one item inside each egg, leaving the last one empty.

To teach your children the true story of Easter, you'll open each egg and read the corresponding Bible verse. (Verses below are all from the New International Version of the Bible.) You could open up one egg per day in the 12 days leading up to Easter, like an advent calendar. Or you could open them all on Good Friday to give the kids time to process the story before Easter Sunday.

1. Bread
Matthew 26:26
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”


2. Coins
Matthew 26:14-15
Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver.

3. Purple Cloth
Mark 15:17
They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him.

4. Thorns 
Matthew 27:29
...and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said.

5. Scourge
Mark 15:15
Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

6. Cross
John 19:17-18
Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). There they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle.

7. Nails
John 20:25
So the other disciples told [Thomas], “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

8. Sign 
Luke 23:38
There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

9. Sponge
Matthew 27:48
Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink.

10. Spear/Sword
John 19:34
Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.

11. Rock
Matthew 27:59-60
Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away.

12. (Nothing)
Matthew 28:6
He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.

That last one is my favorite... nothing tells the true story of Easter better than the Empty Tomb:

Image: KruseKronicle

- Tricia from Sweeter Than Sweets