End of the Season

Holidays 2010 Survival Badge

     The Epiphany has passed and for me, so has the Christmas and New Year holiday season. The spirit remains, but all the decorations need to be put away, the radio is back to pop and oldies from the 70's and 80's, as well as NPR, my very favorite station. And although my new badge says, "I survived the holidays 2010," I enjoyed every minute. I love family time, cooking, visiting friends, decorating and remembering what the holiday is all about. The Reverend at our church gave a wonderful sermon on last Sunday. The part that stood out the most was to envision myself with a "team Christ" shirt on at all times. Although he didn't put it quite that way, you get the picture. Would it change the way you live your life if everyone could see that on your person? Would you be kinder, more forgiving, more pleasant, more honest...all those things that you feel are Christ like characteristics? I'd like to think I would be, but recently had it challenged. While visiting a friend, the conversation moved to less kind words about a mutual acquaintance that had burned many bridges over the last few years. And although I wanted to be kind and forgiving, it was very difficult. How do you forgive another person's lack of kindness? And then how do you tell your friends that you are over it without making them feel that you are preaching? They may not be ready to move on yet and still need to vent to a friend. I know there has to be a healthy balance, but I think it will take me a long time to really find it, but I am intent on finding it. And I respect everyone's religious and spiritual beliefs. Or lack of, for that matter. No judging, no bible thumping, no preaching. We all have our own journeys and adventures in this life.
     What do I see on the horizon lately? School starts again soon, Valentine's Day is around the corner. I want to make a few Valentine's Day cards before school starts, since I may not have the time once my classes are all under way. So I'll be collecting some fun images to play with and hopefully, I'll have a couple cards finished by next weekend. I am also being pulled by my torch and know that I have to spark my torch up this weekend, no matter what! Glass needs to be melted and beads need to be made!!! And then there is my kitchen. Enchiladas want to be made today, so I think that is what we will have for dinner. Either that or a caprese salad type pizza. I know, so completely different, but what can I say, the taste buds want what they want. More snow here as well, hoping to spend the weekend all snuggled up at home, creating, creating, creating...!

Mermaids and Insomnia

Lampwork Glass Mermaid Bead

     For some reason, I've had some issues with insomnia the last few days. Instead of lamenting all night long, I try to think about some things that I don't seem to have time or quiet to think about during the day. One particular idea that has been swimming around my brain for several years is a book series about mermaids. I have become a bit obsessed with mermaids over the last several years and think they would make a wonderful basis for a series of books for tweens and teens. I love just thinking about the story lines and backgrounds while laying in bed, letting my mind wander and play with all the possibilities. Of course, the next step is to start writing it down in bits and pieces. I've written some, but need to tackle it again since lately I've come up with lots of new ideas and story lines. Soon, soon...
     The bead you see above is one of my own lampwork glass beads. The mermaid is swimming around the outside of the bead, you can see her tail just to the left and she has lovely silvered ivory hair cascading through the water. I created a series of these, this one being my favorite. She was part of a multi-strand necklace. I said was, because after I had the piece professionally photographed, I dropped her and she broke. I dropped her on concrete from about four feet up, that  is what happens with glass. She took me about 2 1/2 hours to create, so I was very sad when she broke, but it is a reason to get back on the torch sometime and make another lovely piece. Loren Stump, a teacher I had at one time, said, "it's only glass," and I try to remember that when I lose something I really like. He lost a humongous glass sculpture that dropped at a show, worth thousands of dollars and that is what he told everyone who came by to see what had happened. Keeps it all in perspective.

Project Updates and New Beads

     I am working on the second phase of my upcycled art supply train case. The paint is dry and I've been adding the collage elements. A couple borders and images that I like, including photos of my four kids on the lid. I think I'll add another border to the edge of the lid, above the silver toned metal border. I've also stamped the words "Art Goodies" on top and plan on stamping and writing a lot more words onto the case. I would like to add some shading to the collage, but haven't decided what would be best. It will all need to be sealed at some point too.

Any suggestions for the sealing compound would be appreciated. I will start painting the new "used" train case today, I'm thinking it would be lovely in a bold shade of pink or bright lime green with a theme of food and cooking, including a couple of recipes for real and imagined goodies. I might even be able to add some food or kitchen type charms to it. Maybe a couple of my glass food beads, like a cupcake or ice cream sundae?

     Another project I am in the middle of is repainting a pair of worn Dansko shoes. I love these shoes, they are so comfy and supportive. As someone who has to deal with Plantar Fascitis, I have to wear good shoes as often as possible and of course the good shoes are always the most expensive! So I wanted to extend the life of this particular pair of shoes. They were originally a dark burgundy/wine color. I love the blue of

the train case so much that I decided the shoes wanted to be blue too. I cleaned them with alcohol first to remove what was left of the finish. Then I painted them with two coats of the blue acrylic paint over the next few days. Most recently, I added black stitches with permanent marker. I'm still deciding what to do for my next step. I want to draw some faces on them and then add some glitz like rhinestones...we'll see.

     And finally, after over 6 months, or 7 or 8, I've sparked up my torch and made a few beads. It was great to melt some glass again, but after I made a few beads, my mind went blank and I couldn't think of a thing to make! I was overwhelmed with all the possibilities and just froze, it was not a good feeling. So I decided to run the kiln with what I had already made and just call it a night. I did have one of them crack, I let it cool too much before putting it into the kiln to anneal. But it will be a gorgeous piece for a mosaic! Always a silver lining...

Art Attack

Where do I begin? I grew up feeling like I had no artistic talent because I could not stay in the lines when coloring, lol, which I've since learned is something that has plagued a lot of other people. I dabbled with crafts of all sorts, cross stitch, sewing, quilting, collage and more, always moving on after a while, falling in love with some new craft or medium. About 14 years ago I discovered beads and beading. And then I started making jewelry using beach glass and stained glass equipment. My friends called me an artist before I could call myself one. But eventually, I embraced it and love being an artist. I learned to make glass beads, lampworking, about 9 or 10 years ago and incorporated my beads into my jewelry designs. I started buying more "artsy" clothing to wear to art shows and buying art and fun things that appealed to the artist in me for my home. I even played with some pieces of furniture. And then a few years ago, I stopped decorating my house with "artsy" finds or things that I embellished. My house became less creative and more traditional. And I've lived with it like that for the last several years. Until this week. I spent some time watching a few Teesha Moore videos on Youtube. I thought it would be fun to get a little prepared for my upcoming workshop with her...but I got more out of it than I had imagined. I loved the how-to videos and began to use some of the new art supplies I purchased just for the class to create some visual journal pages. The process of painting, collage, pen, pencil, crayon and writing has gripped me and my consciousness like nothing else! I've been immersed in creating my own pages for the last couple days, going so far as to create a travel case of supplies so I can work on the go. So far I've worked in the Dr.'s office, at my daughter's piano lesson and during intermission at my other daughter's high school play. My head is filled with so many things, I feel like it will spin right off! And now I want to start adding color and layers to my house!!! To bring pleasure to me and my family without worrying what anyone else with think. I feel like some chains of convention have just been broken and discarded...I feel so liberated!!!!!!! Can't wait to start working as soon as I get up and whenever I can find even a few minutes. Can you hear me purring?

Playing with My Beads

Spent time playing with my beads and bead collection, creating some new jewelry for my Etsy shop today. I bought a gross of tiny light bulbs, the kind with two wires sticking out one end, so I was able to create wrapped loops. They are very light weight and make great kinetic earrings. I also created some new pendants with some of my lampwork glass focal beads. It was so exhilarating to create jewelry and fondle my beads, it has been way too long. I realized that I have quite a bit of sorting and organizing to do and made the tiniest of dents today. Of course, as I sort and organize, I see everything I have and get inspired all over again. If you are interested, here is my Etsy Shop.

Ready, Set, Blog!

I am drawn to art both as a consumer of art and as an artist. Jewelry, glass, collage, mixed media and cooking are my favorite mediums, but I dabble in fiber(sewing)and other mediums that happen to get too close! Although my favorite color is white, I love lots of color, especially shades of turquoise, purples, oranges, pinks and greens. And even though I am a lampworker, capable of melting glass to create my own beads, I still have quite a collection of beads from all over the world and from other lampwork artists. I am especially passionate about pearls, bali silver and turquoise(of course!) My favorite design inspirations include Rachel Ashwell's "Shabby Chic," Frida Kahlo, Teesha Moore, Char Bickel, The Real Nancy Drew and Julie Pearson. Currently, I am also pursuing a Web Developer career, taking classes at the local community college. I hope to keep track of my work from here on out, whether with beads, jewelry, visual journalling, cooking and other mediums. And...I have a weakness for the following: chocolate, footwear, Van Gogh, tools, sparkly anything, bunnies, mermaids, maps, pedicures, vintage wall mirrors, Jane Austin, Greece(though I've never been), autographed cookbooks, vintage ephemera, block optic depression glass and vintage pansy dinnerware...among others.

So a big welcome to you, please comment, share your own works or inspirations, including cooking and food, I love company!