Early Friday morning, I flew from the flatlands of rainy Milwaukee to the mountains of sunny but surprisingly chilly Massachusetts for a long weekend. My weekend's purpose was to celebrate my little brother's recent engagement. Our family and his fiancée's family gathered out East to get to know each other, and celebrate the couple's budding love (as demonstrated by her newly sparkling left ring finger).

I was especially looking forward to the dinner party Saturday night. Never having met her family, I wanted to make a good impression.  And for a maker of jewelry that means having great accessories.  It's crucial.

Did I plan ahead for this? Of course not.

So Thursday night while I should have been packing, instead I was madly making the perfect necklace-and-earrings set to match my dress. I ignored the half-packed suitcase on the floor. I ignored the various TSA and FAA-approved mini toiletries that had yet to make it into said suitcase. And I ignored the chore of whittling down half a dozen shoe choices to the one pair of heels worthy enough to make the flight. Instead I created, and fast!

But my perfect design of so many tiny wire-wrapped briolettes and chain was taking longer than I imagined. As I grew tired I began to fumble, making ugly wraps that needed to be cut away and re-done. My 6 a.m. flight was looming, and I was only just over halfway there. I needed sleep, and yet I still wanted to complete my perfect ensemble.

Then a little past 11 p.m. something in me shifted, and I realized that it was okay that I didn't complete this set that night. I'd rather have a well-done design later than work myself into a tizzy creating a poorly done set now. Plus the party wasn't even about me after all! It was about my brother and his new fiancée. Nobody that I met there was going to like me less for wearing some older piece I already owned. (Though they might like me less if I was cranky from too little sleep.)

So with my newfound peace, I put away my supplies and went to bed. I finished packing in the morning, and made sure to tuck in my favorite (already made) earrings to wear Saturday night. And I'm happy to report, even without my fabulous newly made jewelry set, the evening was a success.


I'm curious, have any of you run a "jewelry project sprint" lately? Did you make it to the finish line in time? Was it worth the effort, or would you do it over differently? Any tips?? I'd love to read your comments.