Everyone's heard of creative block - artists of all different media lament those days where inspiration just isn't within reach. I've always had the opposite problem - anything and everything in the world around me is just begging to be my muse. Time constraints only allow so many ideas to animate, so I've learned to sift through, pluck out my favorites, and apologize to the rest.

Because of the nature of my creative inspiration, it was easy for me to fall wholly in love with polymer clay at a young age. The huge range of colors available became virtually infinite, once I figured out I could mix different colors to get that exact shade I desired. It was like holding freedom. With colorful clay, simple tools, and my own two hands, I could create anything. The possibilities were irresistible. Soon, I filled my family's house up with clay creations - usually gifts for my mom.

I've always had a hard time making anything for myself. I'd prefer, a million times over, making something for someone else. The desire to create for others, mixed with my mixed media tendencies, led me to further creative experimentation.

After clay, it was beaded and wire jewelry, then CD's decorated with Sharpie designs for friends. Later, it was card-making, illustrated story books and memory books for friends and boyfriends.

While studying abroad in Prague for my last quarter of college, a new idea sparked: I wanted to own my own creative business. However, I was just months away from graduating with an accounting degree. and had already signed on with an accounting firm to start work in the fall.

I spent most of the summer between college and work holed up in my apartment, happily and madly cranking out polymer clay and mixed media jewelry for my fledgling Etsy shop.

Then, work began. With the hours ranging from 40-70 per week, updating my shop was no longer sustainable. I was unhappy with the quality of my photos, the small window of free time I had for making jewelry, and my inability to ship out packages quickly. I switched to a less demanding job after two years, hoping that would provide me enough time to run my shop effectively. Still, I continued to be frustrated by the lack of time available for my shop.

Finally, after nearly five years of working as an accountant, the love of my life asked me why I wasn't doing what I really wanted. The question didn't make sense; I was working hard, hoping to eventually be promoted to management. I was "on track." He told me, "You are always talking about your jewelry ideas. I've heard so many times about the pieces you are going to make 'someday'. Names for your new collections. Pictures you're saving for the blog you haven't had time to re-launch. THAT is what you really want to be doing. Why don't you just do it?" I told him I gave up that dream a long time ago and listed all of the things that might go wrong. But even as I said it, I knew he was right. I had told myself I gave up the dream because hoping for 'someday' had become too painful. I thought I'd just forget about it. But, after five years, that dream just wasn't going away. If I didn't do it now, would I ever?

So, here it is. The culmination of years of dreams and ideas... and a lifetime of experience. Materials sourced from all sorts of places - some vintage or antique, some new, some hand-sculpted from polymer clay, some pre-made charms, but all in the Kelsea Echo style. And all made for you. Thanks to your support, I can continue to turn those ideas floating around in my head into real, tangible treasures. Thanks for reading my horribly long story and for supporting my little business! :)

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