11-20-15



The photos for today's post are ones I took a few years ago on a day trip to Taos, New Mexico. I know lots of folks who don't like pigeons... but I actually think they are quite pretty. And of course, possibly the most famous pigeons, Passenger Pigeons, have an interesting history... and possible future (?) as well.

The past few weeks have been rough... and thoughts of fleeing... and flying have been ever-present.
(hence the bird-themed photos for this post)
But... trying to be an optimist... I am trying to not let things "ruffle my feathers"... hehe.
See you all tomorrow (and I promise no more bad puns)...

11-19-15




...sometimes there are no words to adequately express what's going on; 
and so I will leave you with some photos I have taken... and I will see you all tomorrow.

11-17-15


I've had a migraine for several days now.
It waxes and wanes at times... but it's there.
I've been trying to "lay low"... and keep optimistic... but I'm faltering.
I want it gone.
In the meantime, I've edited a couple photos from our recent trip to State College, PA...
and I've included some links from my reading list... that I think you all might like.

*Sylvan Bourgette
*The Telling of the Bees
*Amber Leilani Middleton (an artist friend I met in NM)
*Michael deMeng
*Anna Maria Horner
*photography by Eduardo Cervantes (I met him in NM)
*photography by Emily Horne (another friend from NM)
*photography by Manuela Themes
*Day of the Dead art (tumbler page)
*Elke May
*Tea and Cookies
*Cheryl Bryants

---see you all tomorrow.


11-16-15


It's "Maker Monday!'... where I blog about something I've made recently.
Frankly, today was a hard post (obviously, as I am posting a bit late in the day... even for me).

This week, the things I have been working the most on... have been Christmas themed envelope sets made from recycled book pages... and guitar picks, made from recycled store gift cards. BUT. I've posted recently on both of those things, and I hate to be repetitive... so I was having a bit of a dilemma.

Frankly, that is the life of being self employed though... in that, sometimes... it's all making one type of thing... or one aspect of a thing... for several days... then doing a slightly different aspect... and so on... until you fulfill an order, or use up a supply. I've been working on these particular things because they are on a Christmas theme... and I want to get them in the shop. But, that doesn't make for a necessarily interesting post... or much of a variety.

I've also decorated the house a little for Thanksgiving... changed out the stuff on the fireplace mantle... and on the kitchen table centerpiece. But... while this is certainly an aspect of being a creative soul... and living the creative life.... it doesn't make for a fabulous post either.


So today... in spite of having a horrific migraine... I dragged my body down to the studio to work on a fun project.
... what did I do?
I have a lot of turquoise stone beads. Probably because I lived in New Mexico for so long, and had access to a variety of Native sellers and local shops that had it. AND... because it's gorgeous... and I can't help myself. Turquoise is found all over the world. I have some from Africa... from Tibet... from China... from Mexico... and of course, from Arizona, Nevada, and New Mexico. I am fortunate to have some pieces from all of those places... and decided to look through my "stash" and make something.

I worked on a bracelet design... that actually was not co-operating (probably because of the headache)... so it's now going to be the main element in a necklace (top photo). And then, I made a pair of earrings. I love the earrings. I have used a "petal" shaped, sterling silver, hammered hoop for the main body of the earring; and then made dangles of gorgeous Nevada turquoise rounds, faceted coral (hard to find) beads, and solid sterling beads from Santa Fe, NM... on sterling ball-end headpins (bottom photo). I think they're pretty cool.
See you all tomorrow.

for the weekend





One of the reasons I love to go to Barnes & Noble is that I get to read about all these wonderful things going on in the world...
new art, new places to go to.. new things to make... all about nature... good things, wonderful things.

And the internet is like that for me too... I am always finding new and wonderful stories about things people are creating and doing...
some of which I have saved to share with you all:

*how to make your own slippers
*essential oils for allergies
*artist Sandra Chevrier
*artist Fabienne Verdeir
*artist Ellen Jewett
*artist Marc Giai-Miniet
*artist Brian Dettmer
*artist Jane Long
*the College of Lost Arts
*free snowflake templates
*Carpathian Shamans
*centuries old papers found in bird's nests

I hope you all have a great weekend, and I'll see you back here on Monday for my "Maker Monday" post.

11-13-15


I love book stores... big and small.
Mainstream and kooky.
old books... new books... I love them all.

The other day when we went to State College, 
the daughter and I had the opportunity to visit a couple book stores,
a couple arts & crafts shops...
and a fabulous grocery store.
It was awesome.

The photo at the top is from a book of some of the very first photographs ever made... taken in France.
And of course, the immediate one below... I  blurred out people's faces to protect their identity.
It's always amazing to me how a simple visit like this can bring such great inspiration.

See you all tomorrow.


11-12-15


Yesterday we all went to State College, Pa for the day.
Jim had a conference to go to... and the daughter and I decided to bum a ride down there with him.

Even though it rained all day... it was awesome to get out and about.
Most of the brilliant fall foliage is gone... but there were bright spots here and there...
and some pretty interesting views from the parking garage.

Plus... there was some pretty amazing coffee...
see you all tomorrow.



11-10-15


...there are times when the world seems a little too harsh
a little too unforgiving
a little too cold...

Today I am off to find some warm light... and a good book.
See you all tomorrow.



11-9-15



It's "Maker Monday" here on my blog... The day when I post on something I've made or been working on recently.

Lots of you know that I make guitar picks from old recycled store gift cards.
I started making them in 2010-2011; as a series of crafts I was doing that were all eco-friendly.
I wanted (and still do) to feature items in my shop that use recycled materials and scraps of things that would otherwise end up in the trash. I felt like this was something really affordable for folks to get ... that would also enrich their lives with music... and that's important to me.

When I first started making them, I made my own template from a guitar pick that I had on hand... and traced and hand cut each one out. What a tedious process!
I quickly discovered that if I was going to make these in any quantity, I needed to find a simpler, more efficient method. Today... there are several companies online that sell punches (like paper punches) that make all kinds of shapes... and this is one. You have to make sure you get one that can handle thicker materials... and you have to keep them sharp... but it's still a much easier thing to punch them, than to cut each and every one by hand.
One thing I also do... is that I space them to get the best possible designs from each recycled store gift card. This makes them much cuter. Then, I sand the edges of each and every one... to minimize the sharpness and to get rid of excess plastic bumps that may occur when cutting them. I can usually get at least 3 cute picks from a card; which I usually sell as a set (right now I have around 70 different sets available)... and then if I can fit any more picks out of that card, I add them to my jar of "randoms"... which I sell at 5 for $1.

This past week, I've been focusing on Christmas themed items... and getting ready for the holiday season. Envelope sets, guitar picks... and more! will be listed soon in the Etsy shop.
It makes me smile, to see how excited folks get when they see them...
and that makes me happy... and grateful.
See you all tomorrow.

for the weekend



It's the weekend!
I've been trying to rest a lot this week because I've been sick.... and I find that I have missed many things that have been going on. I did, however, watch several episodes of "The Curse of Oak Island" ... which was pretty interesting.  I have a long fascination with Nova Scotia, and went on a driving trip to Peggy's Cove many years ago. I love it, and hope to go back there someday. The landscape is just stunning.

In the meantime though, autumn is winding down here on the hill; and the last blooms of the year are almost gone. And per my usual routine; I've gathered some links to share with you all:

*printable mandalas to color
*ancient trees brought back to life
*best books of 2015 and then there is this list too...
*a very cool instrument I just heard about
*some stunning photographs of elderly animals
*some interesting info on wild turkey
*recipe for no-knead english muffin bread
*some great NASA photos
*seems early to me...
*some pretty amazing honey bees

---and some blogs from my reading list:
Little Green Notebook
Lotta Helleberg
Loui Jover
Lynne Hoppe
Loveology
Love the Giver
Love Grows Wild
Love Stitching Red
Lisa Hoffman
Lia Griffith

I hope you all have a great weekend, and I'll see you back here on Monday for my "Maker Monday" post.

11-6-15



Yes, still "under the weather"... so for today's post I am featuring some photos I've taken recently.
And yes, I know several of you are not "fans" of snakes... but this little guy was just adorable. He was all curled up on a pile of leaves and taking an afternoon nap when I saw him... just enjoying the warmer weather while we have it.

Longtime symbols of healing, renewal, and transformation... it is no wonder the snake is on medical logos and such. There is a great article HERE on snakes at totem/ energy healing.... and it's pretty interesting. Healing, change and transitioning... perfect thoughts for today; while I try to get better.

See you all tomorrow.


11-5-15


Sorry for missing my post yesterday, but I have somehow caught the flu... or at least, some resemblance thereof. And so, for today ... and maybe the next couple of days... I plan on taking it "easy"... or whatever that means. So, for today's post... and tomorrow's... I am posting a couple photos that I've taken recently. I hope to be better by Saturday for my usual weekend post.
Stay well... and I'll see you later!



11-3-15


So... the daughter has been working hard in the yard this year, clearing out debris and such.
And it seems as though nature has been rewarding her efforts in many ways.... not the least of which is this massive Chicken of the Woods clumping. I've tried this delicacy many years ago... but haven't in years... so I first wanted to make sure it was, in fact, the right mushroom... and of course, more info on it. I think it may be on the menu some time this week...

~~See you all tomorrow.


11-2-15


It's Dia de los Muertos! ... and it's also "Maker Monday" here on my blog...
where I try to feature something I've made recently.

Dia de los Muertos is all about honoring your ancestors and those who you've cared about and respected; who have passed away. So... it can be a relative... but it can also be a beloved pet... or someone in history that you admired... the possibilities are many.

My paternal grandmother was a very interesting woman. She was very intelligent, and strived for academic excellence. She was a voracious reader her whole life. She enjoyed making things like quilts, sewn things, tatting, embroidery and more. She also loved to write short poems and short works of fiction. Like her, I enjoy making things... and often times while I am working on a project, I think about how she would do it... or what would inspire her, and it leads me into directions I may not otherwise have taken.

When I was trying to think of something to post on for today... I thought of the envelopes that I make from recycled/ salvaged papers and book pages. One of the things I "get" from my grandmother, is a love of books. Another thing... is that I hate to throw things out that might be potentially useful. The idea for making the envelopes came out of a desire to salvage pages from books that were falling apart, or damaged... or discarded. I wanted a way to "honor" those pages, and make them into something new. This week, I am busy making some new ones for my Etsy shop.

There are lots of free templates online that you can use to make envelopes of various sizes... or you can simply start keeping a stash of various sized envelopes; and gently take them apart to make your own templates. It's a great way to recycle... and a neat way to send a letter to someone you love.

See you all tomorrow.


((the photo at the top of today's post was one I took at the Marigold Parade in Albuquerque a few years ago. 
The bottom photo is a collage of some of the envelopes I have made))

for the weekend



It's amazing to think that October is coming to a close... and November is fast upon us.
This weekend... so many things were going on... and I tried my best to get to a couple of them...
(and took lots of photos here and here)... which is why my post is a little late.
I hope you all had a Happy Halloween & Blessed Samhain tonight.


And... per my routine... I've got some links to share with you all:
* pumpkin streusal coffee cake
* depression era photos
* music I'm listening to this weekend
* some awesome art
* poets speak out for the refugees
* the driest place on earth is blooming
* the photos for this post were taken here
* some funny stuff for Halloween... with more here and here
* and because Dia de los Muertos is coming up.... read here... and here... and here.

**and a couple of blogs from my reading list:
-Prim Pumpkin
-Time With Tascha
-The Simple Things
-The Small Things
-The Spirit that Moves me

See you all back here on Monday for my "Maker Monday" post.

10-30-15



Today is another busy day... work today... and then the 30th Annual Books Unlimited Gala this evening. It's been an odd week... I feel like I am on the precipice of something awesome. I am also on the edge of getting my plate cleared of "older" projects that I wanted to get done... so that is great as well. With the Full moon... it is (coincidentally) a time of fruition... and in that sense, I think things are coming together. We'll see.
In the meantime, I am tired... and in need of a rest... which I hope to take this coming weekend.

These past couple of days I have had the opportunity to be out in nature a bit more... and that always helps me to feel better. The photos for today's post, were ones I took in the woods the other day.
I hope you all have a great day... and I will see you all tomorrow for my weekend post.

10-29-15


well... I was up late watching that glorious full HUNTER moon ... 
and well, I got behind on things because I slept far too late today.

On the plus side... the moon was gorgeous... and well worth staying up to see.
And... today I have been working hard to list some new-ish items in the Etsy shop... 
and putting up posts on my Let's Go PoCo page on Facebook... and such.

So. I think I will head off to watch some Project Runway... and I will see you all tomorrow.

10-28-15


Today is another busy day with my mom; so today's post will be brief.
However, I really wanted to show a few of the photos I've taken recently...
Fall has, by no means... left the building quite yet.

I hope you having a great day.... and I'll see you all tomorrow.