Goodbye Long, Cold Winter!!!! Hello Creative, Hot Summer!!!

Happy First Day of Summer!!

I'm getting my creative juices flowing and working on some new jewelry for an upcoming show I'm doing in July! I can't wait! Here's a sneak preview of what I'm working on....

Planning on getting my etsy store re-opened soon as I get finished up with these 25 pieces I'm working on.

I'm also about to start working on a totally new-to-me but long-time longed-for jewelry making adventure!!! I'll be working with a kiln soon! I'm beside myself! More on this soon as things develop!

my paris map necklace

my scarlett necklace

one of my goddess series necklaces

one of my favorites: Frida Kahlo

me doing some blogging.....

I was in a "Featured Items" listing on Etsy!!

Letting Go to Let Creative Juices Flow

These past couple of months have been very transitionary in nature....and some of it I am still grappling with....Ending major relationships, ending a job (or two), yet facing the uncertain future with an open heart and mind and knowing that my path will at some point become more clear.......

Part of the struggle with this time is that my some of my creativity & projects has been put simmering on the back burner, which I find very frustrating... sometimes the soft intoxicating scent of my ideas mixed with inspirations from all over the place drive me to a point of near tears because I have been so exhausted I haven't felt able to move past this "purge project" of sorts, to let go enough to focus on the freedom and just create beautiful things.....

hhhhhhmmmmm.........

meanwhile the world goes on around me.....

and I come to realizations about what is really important, and now parting with collected things, memories, to not only say good bye to an era now past, also to create open space for new beginnings of new eras, creating new spaces, new memories, new stories to tell...

I'm almost back to working with my jewelry... Until I get back to that, I'm working on as much photography as I can....I create there.....and I feel good......

more soon.....

Back In Business!! FINALLY!!!

My work space down in the dark, gloomy, cold basement....the bat cave.....

My new work space in my little 6 foot x 9.5 foot office!! This window is facing east and this room just lights up in the summer - perfect timing! I'm so ready for some sun....

Everything still feels a little bit messy! I'm workin' on it!


I'm still in the settling in process....but it's coming along!
JEWELRY MAKING SOON!
YYYYYYEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!

I am beyond excited that I have moved my art/work space upstairs to my office...It's quite the cramped quarters, and I am still in process and changing everything on the walls, settling in process....I did go out and get some supplies and am going to be kicking into high production soon because I want to take part of the summer opportunities to work with other artists locally at some fairs and the kinds....I'm going to take everything down from my etsy, and start over basically....HHHHhmmmm. Working on these and other house projects, and it's all finally coming along....

More soon. Way sooner than last posting! I swear!

xoxox

Creative Therapy.....

I am incredibly grateful that I have always had a creative spark inside of me....My dad bought me pastel chalks and large pads for creating my own renditions of the roses that grew in my mother's rose garden...I then went to watercolors, and spent a fair amount of time making mobiles once I got hooked on that in art class in grade school.......

I recently took a really fun class to learn some new things!! I'm in love with learning new things, and will try as many techniques as I can to discover which I love best, and when I find something that I resonate with, I do a lot of it!!

I have a lot of my table right now, and I'm not just talking about making beautiful pieces of wearable art! In any case, the creativity is helping me to stay grounded in the midst of transition in my life.....which, really, is all for the better....Happier opportunities are just around the corner. I have the key, I'll find the right door at the right time.....In the mean time, I will continue to discover myself through creativity, through expression through color & design.......

My Beautiful Things Set on Flickr

Walking Down Memory Lane.....

I have been making things since I was a child - most of us have! For some of us, it's just born in us to create things. For me, I've always enjoyed creating Adornments....Wearable art!!

Here is a picture of me in my London days, circa 1986! Yes, really! I lived in London for 5 years, and this is what I looked like during some of that time! (I had pink hair too!!)

This pictures was used in an advertisement for the creations I'm wearing. I sold these leather creations at the Camden Market and other stalls around London. The time of my life! MMMMmmm. Memories, huh?

Seeking Out New Paths !!

Life is full of new ideas, new skills to learn and hone...Lots of art to be made, friends to meet, places to go, things to make......

So in Love with Pretty Things....

I'm really excited to start loading up my jewelry, or "adornments" as I like to call them on my little etsy space...I like to experiment and trying all different kinds of media, tools and types of jewelry, you name it.....

For as long as I can remember, my mother has always made things. She made darling matching dresses for us to wear together, long dresses adorned with daisies when she made me go to one of those "beauty pageants"....I got the "making pretty things" bug from her. She currently makes and sells items made from antique quilts and materials....While I adore textiles of all kinds, especially fun, funky fashions made with all kinds of materials, I still never really got the hang of sewing - though I still plan to try at some point in the future making bags and tops that I have been designing for years....

my dressing table
I've collected a lot of pretty vintage pieces from my travels and living in London. I used a lot of broken parts to make other beautiful wearable pieces of jewelry-art.

one of my mixed materials creations
My work space is under a bit of a transformation right now, with some changes going on in the house...As soon as the dust settles and I get myself set up in my new (actually, my old) art room, I'll be making lots of fun new pieces to put on etsy.

Preparing for Photo Show!!!

I'm so excited to finally be doing a photography showing this spring! I have done 5 shows previously in my city, and have no idea what the heck I have been doing these past few years by not doing any showings! In any case, I'm preparing to print up 4 or 5 in a series, pick my matting and framing and after I meet with him and secure my date, I'm going to go visit some coffee shops and cafes that I love and try to get some other dates for this summer and fall. October is the other month I would love to do a show! My other favorite month!

I also plan to upload more photos to my etsy as well as some jewelry. I'm a little more nervous about my jewelry, because there is SO MUCH amazing jewelry artists out there!! I have so much to learn!! AND HEY! Learning is part of my intention this year!! I'm thankful to all of your supportive words, thank you very much!

Please have yourself a very happy weekend, with whatever that means for you! If it's coffee & a book! DO THAT! Whatever you love - go and enjoy!

My Themes for 2008

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! 2008 is ALREADY GREAT!!! That's my current mantra, and I'm chanting it almost constantly right now!!

It's amazing to me that the past 12 months flew by at lightning speed as they did and as I sat and reviewed my years' experiences, accomplishments, fits & giggles and the like, I realized I let a lot of things slip by that I wish I hadn't. Opportunitites to learn, grow, shine...Opportunities to teach, give and more love....to share...isn't the list endless??? So many things I want to do...

I never loved the word "resolution" and other blogger friends are using the idea of "Intentions" and that is precisely what it is I'm working on for 2008....My list of Intentions...those things I am passionate about, that I cannot fully live without pursuing...to pursue your dreams is one of the most spiritual and fulfilling lives one can live...how you pursue is the key, yes? and if you focus your mind and your intentions, you can create a power and magic from inside of you....

My Themes for the Year 2008

• Learn – 1. to acquire knowledge of or skill in by study, instruction, or experience: to learn French; to learn to ski 2. to become informed of or acquainted with; ascertain: to learn the truth.
• Grow - to arise or issue as a natural development from an original happening, circumstance, or source: Our friendship grew from common interests.
• Create – 1. to cause to come into being, as something unique that would not naturally evolve or that is not made by ordinary processes 2. to evolve from one's own thought or imagination, as a work of art or an invention. 3. to cause to happen; bring about; arrange, as by intention or design: to create a revolution; to create an opportunity to ask for a raise. 4. to do something creative or constructive.
• Prosper - to be successful or fortunate, esp. in financial respects; thrive; flourish


I love lists!!! I have always been a list maker! Super-Viva is a site I found to help me keep my list organized and in front of me so I can continually work on things. Skip Resoltions and Make a Life List like I did!! Well, whatever you decide to do - do whatever it is that works for you!!! Just whatever you do: Follow your dreams!

Manifesting with Treasure Mapping

I was born a visual person. I started making Treasure Maps when I was very young. It started out as collaging the covers of my school books and notebooks. Then I started making collages on poster boards and on any surface I could come up with to use as my canvas - including my closet doors. I have made collage tables, too and ordered glass to fit to cover. I have sold a few of my large canvas collages and have held on to my favorites. I might start selling some of my smaller collages (8×10’s & 11×14’s) on Etsy soon. I have to allot the time to that project now that I have started my account with them.

In the mean time I am thinking about my future, and manifesting those things which I am most passionate about into my life…I’m using a bulletin board right now, so that as my focus changes, I can change my board, which will hang next to my computer station in my office. Focus is really important for me right now, redirection of purpose. I am working on being and remaining open to the paths before me.

I Have the Keys, Now Where is the Door?

I have always believed that we are divinely led to our heart’s desires if we want it badly enough, and have the necessary faith to go forth to find the path that leads us to our ultimate, highest good. I believe, though, too, that it’s easy to be diverted, sidetracked, to get lost and to just simply FORGET that we have the power to make things happen…I am standing in the hallway, I have the keys, now I have to set about trying the different doors to find out which one will be opened by the keys I am holding…

I get frustrated on this path at times, since I am, afterall, human….but I come back around and re-focus…This is where I am right now. I KNOW where I want to go in this life (most of the time) on this journey. I know what lights my soul on passionate fire and what makes me wide-eyed and giddy with anticipation to sink my heart, soul and bones into a project or job with open-hearted joy….

At times, I feel frustrated also that I am seemingly, constantly on some pursuit of some dream job (to do with photography, graphic arts, creativity, to allow me to work from home, etc.) and someone told me that I am unable to just “settle” down into any kind of “normal” routine, because if it’s not what I really want, I almost immediately dismiss it as nothing I will really put my entire being into. I have to say that person making that observation was…partly correct in his observation…I DO give up on things that aren’t “really” what I want, and maybe only pursue it half-heartedly, at times begrudgingly…So, by addressing what I DO want, and focusing on the good of what I DO have, I can further carry myself down this hallway, trying the other doors….

On the Daily Grind, Be Sure to Drink Good Coffee...

Breaking the cycle of what some call the daily grind can be something of a challenge. I find when I start becoming over-tired, forgetful, bitchy and just in general lethargic, I’m either trying to adjust to the oncoming hibernation season and/or feeling stuck in a routine, that - even while paying the bills -can become a chain of tiring to’s and fro’s, hurry up here’s, hurry up there’s, all while rapidly flailing about like so many first-timers on ice skates towards old age and “retirement” where, trust me, by the time we all reach “retirement”, we’ll be too darn old and worn out to really enjoy it. It’s one of my biggest fears….I’ve decided that I want to take my retirement NOW and get back to a job later…Anybody with me on that???

My new job working with these seniors these past two months has really put a different spin on things for me….

One of the things I keep thinking of is my Life Goals List…I don’t have that many things on there, a good 25- 30 things, perhaps…but they are all what I have deemed worthwhile goals, and even though I COULD come up easily with another 100+ goals of things to do in my lifetime, this list is the real meat and bones - not to mention spirirt of who I really am. I’ll share my Goals List soon….

So, I’m thinking about the paths we choose to take and how some people really DO make incredible things happen in their lives by the sheer force of their will, and of course beating the pavement, picking up rocks, and talking to everyone about your dream that will…I want to be one of those people. I want to move forward on these things that I have wanted to make really happen since I can remember. What has been holding me back? Regardless of any stumbling or avoidance techniques I may have ever used in the past, I’m determined to move forward in the realms of my dreams….

What are some things YOU must do in your life time? What goals really are the meat, bones and SPIRIT of you??? I wish we could sit together with a yummy treat & a good coffee to talk about it….