10-26-16


Several months ago, I started a new "series" of posts... if you will...
And so on Wednesdays; I intend to post an old photograph to inspire your creativity. 
 Write a poem!  
Plot out a short story!     
 Have inspiration for a piece of art or composition.... let your artistic soul shine.        
(you can click on the photos in this post to make it larger to see).

What an enchanting photograph.
This couple looks so dapper and content... perhaps it's their anniversary?
I used to own my grandmother's bowler hat, like the one the gentleman in the photo is wearing.
It was awesome. ... and always made me think of a gentler time....
when people retreated to the parlor for quiet conversations and to smoke fine cigars.

What do you think their story is?
See you all tomorrow...

10-25-16


Well, I've gone through all the fabric... no small task.
And I was able to whittle my "stash" down to just a little over half what I had 4 days ago.
Labels are made, and the tubs are back on the shelves in the studio.
Going through things like this is hard. Lots of the fabric pieces, I can look at and say.... "that was a dress my grandmother made"... or "that was an apron my mom had"... or "that was my dad's shirt." The impulse is to automatically keep it all, and lots of it was saved for future quilt making. Some will go to new homes. Some has been donated.
It is good... and all part of the process of clearing out and making room to make new stuff.

See you all tomorrow.


10-24-16


It's "Maker Monday!" 
... my series of posts where I feature something the daughter or I are working on, 
and encourage the maker lifestyle.

So... I would show you photos; but it's embarrassing.
My house looks like a Joanne Fabric shop blew up, and landed in my living room.

Now, let me preface this by saying that I can sew. I'm not great, but I can do curtains, pillowcases, Halloween Costumes... and I do hand quilting. That said, most all the sewing I have done is completely by hand. I own a sewing machine, but frankly, am a bit phobic about using it. A problem I hope to overcome one day... but in the meantime...

I adore fabric. I come by it honestly.
My grandmother was an incredible seamstress, as was my sister.
Both of my sister's daughters made their own wedding gowns (with help from my sister).
When my grandmother passed away, my sister inherited all her fabric (rooms full). When my sister passed away, I inherited the bulk of it. Over the years, I have added greatly to the stash.
Many years ago, when we lived in Albuquerque, I went through the fabric and donated 13 big garbage bags full of fabric to charitable groups that did quilting and sewing, and then donated these items to nursing homes, foster care and the like.

A couple days ago when I started going through the fabric I still had about 10 large tubs full;
plus 4 boxes/bags of misc fabric stuff and clothing to chop up. Yah... I know.
So today's "Maker Monday" is about "making it work" as Tim Gunn is oft to say.
It's about figuring out what is, perhaps, a more realistic amount of things to potentially use.
I am almost through it all.

See you all tomorrow...

for the weekend


One thing being sick for the past couple months has taught me... is that if I get to it; I get to it... and if I don't... it will still be there tomorrow. I know. Common sense, but a very hard lesson to learn and actually put into practice. I am a do-er... .and I try really hard to do everything I can, and more each and every day.... but sometimes it just isn't feasible. Things happen. Stuff gets in the way... some things don't go as planned... and you just need to roll with it.
I have also been trying out this magical word called "no" ... as in... no I can't do that, I am sorry. It's been a foreign word to me my whole life. And it's a very hard one to use, and follow through with. This year I had to say "no" to doing several shows, and the guilt was incredible. I am getting better though about it... but it's definitely a work in progress.

But... it's the weekend, and per my usual routine; I have some links to share with you all.
For this weekend's post, I will be linking to some of the movies we have watched these past couple of months.... I think you will like some of them.

Movies from Netflix:
* Let's Get Lost: story of trumpeter Chet Baker. wow. Interesting, but really tragic.
* Salmon Fishing in the Yemen: watched this last night. Yes, it's predictable. But it's cute.... in a very British, dry humor sort of way.
* Behind the Burly Q: a documentary. Interesting, and thought provoking. I like that they actually interview lots of the girls who used to work in the industry.
* It Might Get Loud: This is also a documentary of sorts. Very good. And I was surprised to find I really, really like some of the music by Jack White.
* Fantastic Mr. Fox: a kid's movie. But cute.
* AustenLand: ugh. So bad. Even mindless fluff movies need a relatively good plot.
* Love and Mercy: Let me preface this by saying that I love John Cusak, and have never seen a movie of his I didn't like. This is excellent. Sad, tragic, frustrating.... but excellent.
* O'Horten: ironically, we saw this back in 2011. I kept saying... I know we've seen this, but I forget how it ends. Cute. A little slow and dry, but cute.
* The Age of Adaline: Surprisingly, really really good. And it has Harrison Ford in it.


Movies from our local Library:
* Philomena: really, really awesome. Sad, tragic. Makes you want to shake a few people. But what a good and important story.
* My Old Lady: I love Kevin Kline. And although he plays a difficult character, this was good.
* Travels with my Aunt: horrible. I kept waiting for it to get better.
* Nebraska: another one that was surprisingly awesome. Lots of great characters that will surprise you. Stacy Keach did a great job playing an asshole.
* The Intern: mindless fluff movie... but good. Robert DeNiro is such a class act.
* Around the Bend: LOVE Christopher Walkin. Such a good movie.
* The Artist: the ONLY good thing about this movie is the dog. Don't bother.
* Enchanted April: sometimes we pick up movies just because the covers on the case are pretty. Don't bother with this one.
* Olive Kitteridge: this was, apparently, a mini-series on HBO. Truly excellent. Tough, mostly unlikable characters that draw you in anyway. You cringe, you feel bad.... you can't help but watch and love it. Stunningly beautiful photography.

Well, that's it for this weekend. Sorry I am posting so late.
See you all back here tomorrow for my "Maker Monday" post.

((the photo for today's post is another one of my mandala designs. This one started out as a photo of a gorgeous orange flower))

10-21-16

Yesterday and today, I have been working on a couple of things...
One is a new mandala, made from a photo of autumn crocus and fall leaves (above)...
and the other is a new piece of jewelry made with PMC.

PMC (precious metal clay) is a product that when fired, becomes 99.9% fine silver...
which means it contains a higher amount of silver than even sterling silver.
It is durable, beautiful, and amazing.

For this pendant piece, I formed the clay into the shape of a tiny leaf from my yard, and then pressed a fern frond into it (also from my yard) to form the textured design on the front. I have added texture to the back of the piece as well, so that it's interesting on both sides. I have also intentionally "crinkled" it to mimic a leaf floating in the wind.

After firing, cleaning and polishing this piece, I then wire wrapped tiny REAL EMERALD faceted beads for a dangle on the front. Completing this is a textured sterling chain and magnetic clasp.

I am so in love with the work I am doing right now.
See you all tomorrow.


10-20-16


These past few days have been absolutely gorgeous.
Unfortunately, I have also had a migraine... which  made things a bit rough... and I spent quite a bit of it in bed. 
Today, however, things are easing up... and while it is currently rainy.... it is a much better day.

I am so excited, because this week I've been working on some new things in the studio;
and building on a dream I've had for the past 7yrs of working with metal clay. Stay tuned...

10-19-16


Several months ago, I started a new "series" of posts... if you will...
And so on Wednesdays; I intend to post an old photograph to inspire your creativity. 
 Write a poem!  
Plot out a short story!     
 Have inspiration for a piece of art or composition.... let your artistic soul shine.        
(you can click on the photos in this post to make it larger to see).

What a wonderful photograph.
I would guess, that this little baby has recently learned to stand, and perhaps
is learning to walk... which is why the occasion that prompted the taking of this photo.
The carriage is awesome... and I love the little pinwheel.
Perhaps they have been to a parade or family gathering?
Perhaps it was even this little one's baptism? ... as she seems dressed in her finest.
Either way, it's a gorgeous photo.

What is your story?
Is this perhaps an heiress? Has she been kidnapped?
Is her nanny up to no-good?
You tell the story...

See you all tomorrow.

10-18-16


Well, yesterday was "Maker Monday"... and things got away from me and I missed writing my post.
My sincerest apologies. Sleep has been rather a wayward friend these past few days, and I ended up napping most of yesterday, and then working into the wee hours.
That said... I thought I should post what I would have done yesterday, had I been a bit more coherent.

So, usually on my "maker Monday" posts, I feature something the daughter and I are working on, and encourage the maker lifestyle. This weekend, we worked on a couple projects that really needed done. One, was to cut down a couple of trees in our yard (we have 11 that need to come down, or are down)... and cut them up for firewood. the daughter has discovered the profound joy of working with power tools, and was doing her best frontierswoman impersonation in the yard with a small chainsaw we borrowed from a friend. 
I was using our little portable table saw, and decided to cut up "sticks" that I have been drying for the purpose of making more walking sticks and canes. I also had a nice chunk of cherry wood, and tried to work off a few bits for future use in jewelry making, along with some gorgeous lilac pieces I had. 
Surprisingly, some had a profoundly purple streak in them, that I think will be gorgeous in pendants.
And, the daughter was busy working in the garden. 
She has cleared most all of this year's plants to make way for a layer of mulch from our compost pile.
And, we are considering the construction of another large bed to house squash next summer, as they simply took over the one bed this year.
She's also been busy harvesting herb seeds for next year, and she gathered a bunch of little scallions that will be wonderful in soup.


AND, today we (finally) had new steps built for our front deck. It is the main entry to our house, and the steps have been bad since we moved into the house. It will be nice to not have to grip the railing for dear life every time we go up and down.

I am sure these seem like "little things"... but I am reminded of the wisdom of my elders, who reinforced the idea to keep working on the (seemingly) little tasks... that they eventually add up.

Hang in there... keep creating... and I will see you all tomorrow.


for the weekend


Today went by really quickly, and I spent most all of it either editing photos or listing descriptions of the same items I was editing photos for, to sell. In between of course, floors were swept, food fixed, dogs walked, dishes taken care of, phone calls made... in other words... a normal day. But it still seemed really busy to  me. And here it is, later in the evening, and I am just now getting to my weekend blog post. 
It was gorgeous out today though. Time was also spent clearing out the garden a bit, and the daughter was excited to be gathering seeds from, and drying some of the herbs for use over the winter.
The rest of the weekend, I hope, will be a mix of resting, reading, watching a movie or two, and making some jewelry.
But before I go, here are some links I've gathered to share with you all:

* about Bob Dylan's many influences
* artist Sarah Sitkin
* In Focus: Photography
* artist Kiki Smith

See you all on Monday.

10-14-16


Remember the post where I had discovered more fiction books and was lamenting how to get through them all? 
Well, I've finished 5 more... which brings my current total to 13 books out of the 82 or so that I have read.

This week, I went through the following:
*  Tulipomania by Mike Dash- I love flowers. But, this was a long and VERY thorough history of tulips. To be honest, I was bored.
*  Short Stories of F. Scott Fitzgerald - I didn't read the whole book (It's huge). But I did read several of the stories, including: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (which frankly, I didn't realize he had written) and The Lost Decade (about a man who goes on a bender for 10 yrs and comes back to society). Eh. I didn't realize how "iconic" F. Scott and his wife Zelda were to the whole 20s time frame. But I can see where the couple typifies a certain part of that culture, and I give him credit for writing about what he knew.... I'm just not convinced that I relate to it, or like it.
*  Life of Pi by Yann Martel -- beautifully written, but I must say, I liked the movie just as well.

*  --and I skimmed 2 books by Lama Surya Das, Awakening to the Sacred and Awakening the Buddha Within. To be honest, they were much more "technical" and wordy than I anticipated them being, and although I had looked forward to reading them, I just couldn't do it. They reminded me too much of college textbooks to be enjoyable.

So... I still have about 70 books in the stacks to go through.... 
and will do another post when I get a few done.
See you all tomorrow.

10-13-16



Today has been an odd mix of emotions.
Anxious about work I want to be doing... need to be doing...feeling behind all the time...
Exhausted and worn out... both emotionally and physically. 
Seems like there is just so much going on.
Reflective... going through memorabilia and such in the basement/ studio...
Grateful... for my hubby and daughter who do so very much for me... 
Happy... looking at the fall leaves in the yard... 
and enjoying the brief spots of sunshine this afternoon....

---so here are just some photos I took this afternoon.
See you all tomorrow.


10-12-16


Several months ago, I started a new "series" of posts... if you will...
And so on Wednesdays; I intend to post an old photograph to inspire your creativity. 
 Write a poem!  
Plot out a short story!     
 Have inspiration for a piece of art or composition.... let your artistic soul shine.        
(you can click on the photos in this post to make it larger to see).

What a funny photo!
I am guessing that this fine (and quite agile) fellow is wearing a Drum and Bugle Corp uniform.
I have family photos that show people in similar dress, and it seems like this style was sort of a standard uniform. However, everything else about this is, shall we say, not ordinary.
What is he on? Perhaps a mile marker sign?
And it seems like he is way out in the middle of nowhere... dirt roads
plowed fields... I wonder what he was up to?
It seems that hi-jinks and mischief were certainly involved...
What is your story?

10-11-16


Last night, we had our first strong frost of the season... and in the next few days we will probably be losing most of the fall color off the trees. It is so beautiful here this time of year, and unfortunately, I haven't been feeling well enough to get out and about much. That said, it is truly lovely just looking here from the house... and one of the trees in our yard is particularly gorgeous. The photo for today's post is one I took over at nearby Lyman Lake State Park. A friend of mine calls these hills the "gumdrop mountains" .... because of the color they display in the fall; and it's easy to see why.

Today the daughter is tearing up a lot of our little garden, and sharing it with the critters by putting it near our compost pile. Last night we heard rumblings in the yard, and guess that it was perhaps a bear or two nibbling on crab apples in the yard.  Today we picked the last of the lettuce, a few cherry tomatoes, a couple peppers, and some gorgeous shallots. It is sad to see our garden done for the year...
but I am so happy with what all we were able to get from such a small patch...
and we are grateful...

See you all tomorrow.

10-10-16



It's "Maker Monday!" 
... my series of posts where I feature something the daughter or I are working on, 
and encourage the maker lifestyle.

One of the things I have been saving for several years, are broken old dishes and shards of broken glass in all varieties. I know. On the surface, it probably seems strange... but in the past, I have used these bits for jewelry making.... as well as for mixed media projects and mosaic pieces.

This weekend, the daughter and I went through a couple large tubs of broken glass, and saved what we could of the more interesting pieces. And while it seems tedious, it is all the process of recycling what we can, and using things into new pieces; instead of filling up the landfill.

I also went through some of the raw stones I have, to see what would be better off tumbled and wire-wrapped, what would be great for display around the house, and what could be cut and used as cabochons for jewelry.
Among the stash, was this gorgeous fossilized bit of fern on shale.
It was broken and rough, having been found locally...
but I managed to smooth the edges and form it into a free-form cab.
I can't wait to set it... and this the new adventure begins....

see you all tomorrow.

for the weekend


It's a rainy, chilly weekend... and it's also the local high school's homecoming.
I remember it being this type of weather when I was in high school... 
and it seems to be absolutely perfect for wandering about after the football game and dance.
It is not, however, conducive to working in the yard; which is what we sort of had planned... 
so we are busying ourselves with other tasks in the studio.

All the links for this weekend's post are from the online site for Juxtapoz magazine. When we lived in Albuquerque,
this magazine was a "must read" on our art dates to Barnes and Noble.... it always had such great art related articles:


Hope you all have a great weekend, and I will see you all back here on Monday.

10-7-16


Fall is typically a time for finishing up things, getting things taken care of outside, and preparing for winter... and we are doing some of that this week. The daughter has been working a bit in the yard, and we've both been working more in the basement/ studio space. 
It's a tedious process going through things, then photographing and listing things for sale... but in the end, I know it will be worth the work. It's great to be able to see tangible results of what you are doing... and to this end it is gratifying when you clear a space, or empty a shelf. It has also been a good exercise in figuring out what  you really love to work with, and what is more easily let go of.
See you all tomorrow for my weekend post.


10-6-16


throwing of stones
lives seeking stability
rest from the chaos

-----

I think sometimes, it seems like the world is spinning too fast,
and hearts are cold and unyielding. Too quickly, folks cast their rocks at each other...
and comes a time when we have to lay them all down. Stack them in a pile...
and learn to support each other. To build each other up, to protect each other in times of storm.

Take care out there. See  you all tomorrow.

10-5-16


Several months ago, I started a new "series" of posts... if you will...
And so on Wednesdays; I intend to post an old photograph to inspire your creativity. 
 Write a poem!  
Plot out a short story!     
 Have inspiration for a piece of art or composition.... let your artistic soul shine.        
(you can click on the photos in this post to make it larger to see).

Traveling on!
These folks appear to be well dressed and getting ready to head on down the road.
Wedding? Church? Funeral?
Or just on there way to a fancy get-together at the house of a family member or friend?
The car is amazing... and I love the spoke wheels.
Imagine bumping down the road in this fabulous contraption... destination unknown.
Are you in the driving seat? or are you the navigator?!

See you tomorrow...

10-4-16


...ah, running late on posting tonight.
Hope you all had a great day.... see you tomorrow.

10-3-16


It's "Maker Monday!" 
... my series of posts where I feature something the daughter or I are working on, 
and encourage the maker lifestyle.

In the midst of clearing out the studio space.... we've been discovering/ rediscovering things we have.
A couple years ago, I bought a HUGE stack of scrapbook papers (in addition to papers I already had),
and while I have used some... most have just sat awaiting the time for me to make envelopes.
Over the years of making envelopes, I've come to find that most templates don't really work unless you have huge sheets of paper.
The way most templates are designed, they incorporate big side flaps or folds at an angle, and they are not really functional when you are using recycled papers or book pages. They are just too big. So. Over time, I have designed my own templates. 
This weekend, I used one of the larger templates and made about 100 or so envelopes. 
I hope to make flat cards to go with the ones I am putting into sets, 
and the rest will go into a listing of random envelopes in my Etsy shop.

Keep creating folks!.. and I will see you all back here tomorrow.