for the weekend


... and there are times when it all falls apart... 

I will be taking a break from my blog and from Facebook for a bit.
I will continue to update the Etsy shop.
Thank you all for your love and support.

12-11-15



Coming ... and going.
These are a couple more photos I took going down to; and then leaving Benezette the other day.
It was a very foggy morning... with a gorgeous sunset that evening.

Seems like we are always on the road to somewhere...
we may not always know exactly where we're going; but the journey should be fun.
And that is what I strive for.

Today I hope to get some work done in the studio...
I've gotten a couple custom orders to work on; and I am excited.
See you all tomorrow for my weekend post.

12-10-15


So yesterday, the daughter and I went to Benezette, PA for a PA Wilds meeting.
I won't get into the details, but the PA Wilds Artisan Trail is considering some new branding and marketing ideas, 
and they wanted some input from it's members.
It was awesome.
Plus, in a way, it forced me to get out of the house... and to go somewhere.

I haven't been feeling well for several months, and oftentimes, the tendency is to want to hermit myself here on the hill
 and hide from the world. And with all the politics and such in the news... 
I am sure you can understand the desire to run and hide from it all. 
But go out I did.

The photo for today's post was one I took as we were coming into the driveway of the Elk Country Visitor's Center. 
There was an amass of fog all the way down; and as we were driving up this road, the sun came out and tried to shine through. 
It was amazing.

And yes, we saw some elk as we were leaving...
The daughter got this photo from the passenger side of the jeep as they was grazing.
And even though it was dusky and we were driving... she was able to get a quick snapshot!
.(that's my girl).


12-9-15


Today I am running to Benezette for a PA Wilds meeting... and I'm about to head out the door.


Today's photo is a blast from the past, left unedited until today.

We haven't started decorating much for the holidays yet... but it will come.
In the meantime, I was looking through my files for a sort of festive photo that spoke to the season.

As I was working on this, I was thinking of my mother-in-law; and how she absolutely loved Christmas. 
She had tons of decor for the season, and took great delight in setting all sorts of things up... little villages, carousels, yard ornaments... 
and never less than hundreds and hundreds of lights on her tree, around the windows... on the house.... well, you get the idea. 
I miss her, but more so around Christmas... and so today's post is meant to honor her memory.

See you all tomorrow.

12-8-15


Today I am running errands with my mom.
I hope that all is well with all of you... and am wishing you peace in this busy season.
See you all tomorrow.

((the photo for today's post is one I took when I lived back in New Mexico.
It was part of a seasonal display in a downtown store, and I thought i was super pretty...
but hadn't edited until now))

12-7-15


It's Maker Monday! ... my series of posts where I feature stuff I've made recently.
This weekend I was at a show, so I made up a few holiday-themed earrings for it...
angels, trees, red flower bells, and berries...


... and I also made a necklace and earrings set... from Amazonite and branch coral beads... and aged brass findings.
I love the color combo... and how it's a bit "different"...


.. and I was up all night trying to fix things in my Etsy shop (there was a major Etsy glitch); and while I was at it...
I started organizing some of my jewelry items... and found some earrings I had made; and never listed!!!


Cool! So ... lesson for today...
Keep working... keep making... hang in there when things go awry... things will work out.
And now... off to sleep. See you all tomorrow.

for the weekend



Time to snuggle in and rest... and fortunately, the weekend is here.
I am sensing some movies, a fire in the fireplace... and tea in my immediate future >> wink<<
And, per my usual routine, I've gathered some links to share with you all:

*Jeremy England, the man who may one-up Darwin
*this book looks interesting
*the extraordinary life of Simona Kossak
*great lines from 10 great books
*6 plants to grow in your bedroom for better health
*Hogwarts is real??
*artist Dave Pollot (I think I've posted on his work before, but it's super cool; and is worth repeating)
*urban ruins 
*10 great places to visit in PA during December
*coping with the holidays

---and I thought I would share with you all, some of the movies I've seen recently:
The Words -- was really looking forward to this; and while it had it's moments... eh.
Frances Ha -- like the main actress (Greta Gerwig)... but it was pretty difficult to watch.
Chicken with Plums -- really beautiful, and gorgeously photographed.
Where do we go Now? -- quirky, but with a great statement.
The Art of Getting By -- I really liked it.

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

12-4-15


Well, today I am traveling to Warren PA for a show...  so I'm posting a photo that I took 2 years ago at this time. 
Every so often, I like to go back through photos from years past to see what I was doing, taking photos of...
what the weather was like... that sort of thing. We had much more snow on the ground then... but I am sure it is coming soon enough.

Lots of things have changed in the 2yrs that we have lived here in PA... some good, some not so good.
And that is ok. I do believe it's all a process...
See you all tomorrow for my weekend post.

12-3-15


sometimes, no matter how much you prepare for things...
other things come up, take precedence, stuff happens... you know how it goes.
And such is my week.

Good news is... it also has a way of working itself out.
Hope you all have a great day, and I'll see you all tomorrow.

12-2-15


Happy Wednesday!
It's a rainy day up here on the hill... and it's gorgeous.
I love the rain... and suspect that all too soon... it will be snow coming down out there.
Time is moving on... and I've lots to do... so I will leave you with this photo of coming holiday cheer
... and see you all tomorrow.

12-1-15


Hard to believe that December is here already...
I've been a jumble of nerves for a few weeks now... worried about this... frantic about that... not sleeping well... it's been a bugger.
This has been a hard year in many ways... and yet, wonderful in others. And now, December is here... and the year is winding down.

I've one show left for this year... and the next couple of days will be interesting to see what I will get done; what to take... what to show...
how to display, etc. It's an important event, and I want to show well and not let folks down who believe in my work.
But first... I need to calm down.

So. Today will be a day of checking out my inventory; and thinking about what to take... (see some of the things I plan on taking in the photo below)...Trying out some display pieces... gathering trays, and tablecloths, business cards and such. And then, I can figure out what I may be short on... or perhaps some new pieces to make and take.

Take care, and I'll see you all tomorrow.

11-30-15


Did you see the moon last night? She was gorgeous!
But hey... It's Maker Monday! --- where I post on things I've been working on or made recently... so let me get to it!

This past weekend, the daughter and I were leading a couple classes at our friends' place; Firestone Forge.
I led a class on making a simple pair of holiday earrings, and the daughter did one on printmaking with styrofoam plates.
It was awesome.
So... for today's post... I can show you a couple photos from those classes (see below).

This week, I hope to get a few new things made... and then it's off to a gallery show on Friday.
Busy, busy!

I hope you are all having a great start to your week... and I'll see you all back here tomorrow.


for the weekend



I am always inspired by the sea... and in the Field Museum there was a huge exhibit that included ocean creature models, carvings made from bone... even narwhals. It was amazing.... so for this weekend's post, I thought I would include a few more photos I took on that trip to Chicago last summer.

And as always, I have some links to share with you all:

*current exhibits at the Field Museum
*what are narwhals?
*isn't life awesome
*Picasso's Muse
*secret pagan basilica found
*photographs from Storyville
*music on right now...
*some really gorgeous art
*interesting history... and some more
*.. and just something fun
*some surreal veggie art photography
*Sony World photography award photographs

Well... it's going to be a busy weekend for me... but I will see you all back here on Monday for my "Maker Mondays" post.
Have a great weekend!

11-27-15


I have had a long fascination for biology and botany. It started when I was very little, gathering leaves and petals and such... and carries on to this day. When we visited the Field Museum last year, one of the greatest things for me was to see all the natural history collections. Leaves, bugs, rocks... tons of just amazing sights.

As an artist, we draw on lots of things for inspiration. It could be a color, a texture.... the way the light hits something... Opportunities for inspiration are everywhere if we but take a moment to look.

Today I am getting ready for the Open House at Firestone Forge this weekend, and a mini-class I will be leading. Next weekend, I will be showing at a gallery event down in Warren, PA.
Then... I am looking forward to getting back in the studio and creating some new work.

See you all tomorrow for my weekend post.


11-25-15


Thanksgiving is just 'round the corner... and one of the things I am really thankful for... is art.
I was editing a few photos from last year's trip to Chicago, and was reminded of how very awesome the Field Museum is.
We were there while the museum was having an exhibit of the 1939's World Fair and some of the wonders that were present during the fair. It was amazing. From natural wonders like coral and taxidermy animals, to Native American relics, items from Asia... and so much more.
The photos for today's post were some of the ones I took that day.

I hope to share more of them with you at some point...
but in the meantime; I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving.



11-24-15


Holiday season can be rough for many folks... and I am no exception.
I am feeling very overwhelmed.
I feel as though I've been in some sort of time hole... and I've lost several days/ weeks/ months/ years... and I don't know how to get out.
On the plus side, I've been watching movies and reading more... and even though my sleep hours are completely in shambles... I think I am starting to feel a little better physically.

So, how do you cope with the holidays? There are lots of sites out there on the internet with helpful hints... and here are a few:

-coping with the holidays
-spiritual tips for staying sane
-making happy changes
-stress management
-and one from the folks at Psychology Today

11-23-15


It's "Maker Monday" ... where I talk about something I've made recently.
I really love making things... which has been hard because I haven't felt well in about a month... and I am sure that I am getting cranky about it all. This week, however, I was able to make a few pair of earrings... which certainly helped.

The top photo shows a pair made with some artisan made lampwork glass. This artist lives in the Netherlands, and she makes the most gorgeous beads. I have combined them with hematite stone beads and gunmetal findings.
The photo just below, features faceted coral beads... antiqued brass findings, and some incredible Foo Dog beads. These beads are made to look like Cinnabar (which is a toxic mineral that used to be used for carvings and such)... but are actually made from resin. The detail on them is pretty amazing. Foo Dogs have been revered in China for centuries as protective beasts. There are often statues of them guarding entrances to properties and businesses.
And the last photo shows some simple drop earrings. They showcase some more lampwork glass beads... in a more mid century modern design. They are also accented with antiqued brass findings.



And I am getting ready for a class I am doing at Firestone Forge this coming weekend as part of their OPEN HOUSE event.
I will be showing how to make a basic pair of Christmas themed earrings.
It's exciting to be part of a group of artisans who focus on the handmade and handcrafted... and I am looking forward to it.
(you can click on the photo to enlarge it)



See you all tomorrow...

11-22-15


Photos for this weekend's post feature a locust tree that was in our yard in New Mexico.
I loved it, and the way the sun always made the leaves burst with color, and the wind made them rattle. The wind here the past few days have been blowing what few leaves were left on the trees all about the yard...and it's been really beautiful. The deer have visited a couple of times, filing up on some late fall vegetation... even our little black squirrel friend came back for a short visit.
Everyone seems to be getting ready for winter. Are you ready? I'm not... but that is ok. It's all a process.
In the meantime... I've got some interesting links to share with you all:

*a tadpole's perspective 
*the only village in the Grand Canyon
*one tank trip -- the PA Turnpike
*some cool antique photos
*some awesome artwork
*James Taylor's updated version of "Fire and Rain"
*veggie portraits by Lynn Karlin
*some fun art by Don Kenn
*how to make vegDucken
*and who doesn't love Esther Williams
*reasons to love possums
*the Vogel's