Autumn Adorned

2009-12-17T19:35:00.000-08:00

I love the world I live in.

Specifically, my little corner of it, and the things that happen here.
I feel a little sad about it, but Christmas is hardly on my radar at all this year. With a budget-less wedding four months away, the hunt for a "day-job", and my craft/art work, it's just one more thing to do.

I'm enjoying the season, don't get me wrong! Christmas tunes on Pandora.com, the tree is up, and I've been visiting all the places I usually go shopping for gifts and inspiration. I'm just not buying anything. If things go well, we'll take an evening to go see the lights. We're planning to have the holiday we have every year, and I'm doing my part...but my focus is definitely elsewhere.

Tonight, I hauled out the boxes of vintage lace to make my garter. A little thing, of dubious necessity, but the kind of small thing that lets me feel like I've "Done Something". As I was playing with layers of laces and ribbon, looking for the right combination, I looked up and saw that my iPhone had become engulfed in bits of lace that my grandmother had stashed away, saved from worn garments.

It struck me funny, charming, and very appropriate. I like to think that Gram would approve.

Oh, and the crane count is somewhere around 675.

2009-11-24T08:28:00.001-08:00

Just a quick check in, smack in the middle of one of the busiest weeks I've had in, well, weeks!

Getting ready for Thanksgiving with family and friends, I ran across this post by one of my favorite bloggers... Shauna over at Gluten-Free Girl has a way with words, and frequently says things more elegantly than I can...so for the "GF-ers" and those that love them, and love to feed them, I offer you this bit of wisdom.

As for the rest of life, school is nearly finished...mid-December will see the end of the semester, and the end of my coursework, for this round at least.
I've been in the studio, working on new designs that I may save for 2010, and a few custom orders.
Wedding plans are moving nicely, the dress project has begun, and I approved an invitation proof just this morning!

The blog, clearly, is in transition. Is it a wedding blog? A GF blog? A bead blog? All of the above? Finding a way to incorporate it all, without flinging bits everywhere is a challenge, one I hope to have resolved sooner, rather than later.

2009-08-19T16:09:00.000-07:00

Just because I've been quiet, that doesn't mean I haven't been busy!

I tackled summer school for the first time, ever. Not so bad, just 8 weeks of eating and sleeping my political science text. It's over, and I have a couple weeks of downtime before the fall semester starts. I'm using it to finish a few projects, start some new ones, and oh yeah... BLOG.

We've taken time for a couple trips this summer..camping in Big Bear, and a run up to San Luis Obispo to spend a weekend with friends. Not to mention all the dinners, late-night LOLcats, lazy patio afternoons, job-hunting, wedding research, and sunshine naps.

That's pretty much what's been going on here, but it's been enough to fill the days and keep me from posting.

I'm also guilty of perfectionism... if I can't post glorious pictures of where we've been and what we've done, why bother? Until I log in and see that I last posted on 6/25. Ouch. Dangerously close to 60 days....all for want of follow-through.

Sort of an unitentional summer vacay....and one I think I needed.

What have you been up to this summer?

2009-06-25T19:10:00.001-07:00

I'll never stop getting excited about this kind of thing...

I submitted a brooch to Piecework Magazine's 2009 Excellence in Needle Arts Awards this spring....confirmation came today, that while my piece wasn't a winner, it was selected to be part of the travelling display, and for publication in the July issue of Piecework!

Here's the proof!

Scroll down a bit, and there she is. In living color. Surrounded by 43 other beautiful, inspiring tiny works of art.

Of course, we'll be picking up an issue ASAP, for the "scrapbook"...I just survived my first jury!

2009-06-03T12:56:00.000-07:00

It's grey and rainy today...no kidding.
We've been working on the garden this week, fluffing it before the big party next weekend. New plants, most of them purely decorative, with attention paid to butterfly, hummingbird and bee draws. Lots of salvia. My tiny "courtyard" is finally starting to feel green and cozy.... the kind of space I want to invite people into..the kind of space that invites people all by itself.

We're throwing our first party of the season next weekend...A's work peeps for dinner in the garden. I can hardly wait to set up the shade, dress the tables, and feed a fun group of strangers that are becoming friends.

Today, I got to spend the morning baking cupcakes for a party tonight, celebrating our friend's 15 seconds of fame on Wipeout. The party has a "black and blue" theme, so... Devils food, with blue icing just. made. sense.
I used started with this version, substituted my gluten-free flour mix, tinted the cream cheese icing blue, and had a party with a pastry bag....The rum dissapears into the chocolate, and the coffee gives it the slightest, elegant, bitter twist. Duncan Hines, eat your heart out.

The semester is nearly over, the art class has been eye-opening, and I've registered for summer school. Political Science and Pilates, four days a week. The excitement hasn't worn off yet..the sense of finishing something, tying off a loose end. There's some paperwork to do, and three dance classes to take in the fall, and then...graduating. Finally.

2009-05-27T14:45:00.000-07:00

What a whirlwind these last few weeks have been!

Since the big announcement, we've thrown ourselves headlong into planning our wedding..where, when how... finding solutions to sticky issues and finding ways to craft a celebration that is authentically, genuinely ours. And of course, the BIG question....what to wear?! Needless to say, this won't be the typical white dress/tuxedo affair! I've been frequenting a couple of new blogs: Offbeat Bride and A Practical Wedding predominantly...with the occasional side trips to Martha Stewart. Too much fun!

We spent Mother's Day (which also happened to fall on A's birthday) with my mom and some close friends at brunch, followed up with a trip to the Renaissance Faire.
I made MS's meyer lemon coffee cake, modified to be gluten free (of course), and it was a huge hit! It was our first trip out to faire in a couple years, and we shopped and drank ourselves silly.

Memorial day weekend, we spent both days out at the Highland Games in Costa Mesa....the plan was to take mom on Saturday, watch the sheepdogs, the drum majors, and the dancers, then head back out on Sunday to watch a friend compete in the heavy games. Plans changed on Saturday, when said friend talked A into competing as well! He did well for a first-timer, coming in 17th overall, out of a group of 24.

So yeah... a busy (but hella fun) few weeks. In between all this, I've finished a sweater:

...whipped up a couple of necklaces for the hand-cut pendants we've had sitting around for too long:

...and put together a bracelet and an anklet out of the "broken bits" jar:

Today, I'm working on the second half of a pair of socks.

Do you see a theme here? They're all personal projects. For me and mine...bringing it home, in a sense. My poor Etsy shop has been neglected lately.... It's on the list for next week, believe me....I just need to look at one. more. page. of wedding gowns first.....

2009-05-11T12:10:00.000-07:00

It's taken me a week to come back down to earth.

We went camping with our tribe last weekend...four days in the desert, hot springs, food, libations and magick....good stuff, and an annual tradition. We got to the site late Thursday, set up, settled in, hugs and hellos. Windy, cool in the evening, warm but not horrible during the day.

Friday 5/1 (Beltaine, for those of you playing along at home), we had a VERY bawdy maypole circle mid-day. At the end of it all, someone asked if we (the assembled company) were ready for a surprise.... which is when my dearest beloved stepped up, and in front of 80 of our closest friends, dropped to one knee, offered me his grandmother's ring and aske me if I would be his wife. Oh yes, yes, yes.

We've set a general date for April 2010, and have spent the last week planning our party, and the getaway ceremony that will precede it. Laundry from the trip? Dishes? Cooking? Pffffttt....we've been too busy dreaming together and making plans.
Who, what, when, where, how.....the most fun I think I've ever had daydreaming, because I get to do it with him.

So I'm sorry that there's truly nothing studio related to relate today.... I'll be back at it this week though! For the moment, I REALLY need to sort my house out and catch up on the work we didn't do last week....

2009-04-21T18:16:00.000-07:00

I want to give a big round of applause to Etsy Artisan Emilie, of TimjanDesign.etsy.com

Look...just LOOK at what I got this morning:

This poor package has taken over a month to arrive...and Emilie has been so great about returning my emails and assuring me that all was well....and here it is!
It arrived yesterday, but I missed the post, so I walked over this morning to claim my prize...and instead of the usual padded manila envelope, I was handed a tiny, lovely silk bag, sewn shut, and COVERED with beautiful postage stamps.....what a delightful thing to receive! Inside, no only my gauntlets (which are FAN-freaking-tastic!!!), but a reusable totebag with her lovely logo on it, and...and...AND....BINDIS!!! Surprise rhinestones, in the mail. Nothing could make today anything less than gorgeous after that!

The gauntlets, of course, will be going with the "water belt" (see previous post), and the gigantic seashell bindi I bought from Big Ass Bindis...another awesome etsian....

Warming up some homemade soup for dinner in a little bit....with some fresh cilantro from the garden (I have to keep it trimmed somehow..), with a bottle of wine and a quiet evening to look forward to.

2009-04-20T08:19:00.000-07:00

I'm writing for writing's sake this morning, as there's not much new to report:

I've been knitting like a woman posessed these last couple of weeks, mostly for nothing. What you're looking at above, is the bulk of my progress) Three summer "sweaters" (a halter top, a tube, and a short-sleeved off the shoulder number) have all been ripped out because I was kntting them too big, and then, in the case of the halter top, too small...and then again somewhere in the middle that still didn't fit. (Note: Body Dysmorphia + Knitting = Frustration) So now I have YARN for three skimpy summer sweaters, that may not get knit up until next year. That kind of wated time annoys me in a big, big way....and I'm learning that I'm more of a "product" knitter than a "process" knitter. I did manage to finish a hat and a pair of socks for Aidan, and he loves them.

I've also been putting together part of my costume for the Beltaine Ritual I'll be participating in. Part of it is a choreographed bellydance piece for the five goddesses. I'll be dancing for the western quarter, invoking the energies of water...I needed something appropriate:

I've taken every possible shortcut, without sacrificing durability....nearing completion, which is good, because I have a little over a week left to get it together.

Last week was spring break for me, and we chose to use the downtime for a juice fast...which went well, and has left me feeling better prepared to remain in control of my eating habits (I have a tendency to load up on cheese and starch in the winter, and that just wasn't feeling very good....)so back to the kitchen, with a renewed emphasis on fresh veggies, meat alternatives and "clean" food.... spring is my favorite time to cook that way....and then take it out to the patio with to enjoy.

So now I'm off to the chiropractor, and spending the rest of the afternoon looking for alternative uses for the lovely yarn that I would love to be able to wear before it gets cold again.....

2009-03-24T08:14:00.000-07:00

There's a shipwreck less than 10 miles from my door. I've lived here most of my life and never made the trek.

A few minutes driving, and they say, a 2-hour hike to the remaining stern section that can be seen above water. (Mom, who was living here when the ship went down, thinks it can be seen from the cliffs...we've yet to prove it.)

Sunday needed an adventure. Sunday was also remarkably windy for the mild coastal area we live in....windy enough to make driving difficult along the PV cliffs.

It took us a couple tries to find the right trail:

Steep always makes me a little nervous...especially in that wind!

But we knew we were in the right place:

There are ship-bits strewn for miles

along the rocky coastline(which is fascinating on it's own).

We stopped for lunch and a breather about halfway back

and got an airshow:

In the end, we didn't make the whole trip to the stern, since the tide was coming in hard and fast, and we didnt' want to get stuck in unpredictable weather, but we did get to see bits of 40 year old freighter.

We kept the beachcombing to a minimum (which wasn't easy! HUGE, perfectly intact limpet shells...beautiful broken bits and lots of spiraling snail shells! (It's a little bit inaccessible, so it's relatively untouched, we thought it best to leave it so), but I did find my very first (if slightly dissapointing) piece of seaglass!

What interesting places are "hiding" near you?

2009-03-18T18:56:00.001-07:00

I only want to tell this story once...

We went camping this weekend. YAY camping!
A few friends, a fire, natural hot springs....this should be good, yes?

We got a later start than planned, which put us at our destination about 2 hours behind schedule. Half our group was leaving very, very early in the morning, so the plan was to hit the hot springs by sundown, then hike back, eat, drum, dance, drink, etc.

None of us realized that the springs were a 2 mile hike from the campsite, with an elevation change of 1000'.
None of us realized that we would have to cross an ice cold river to get there.
None of us realized that I was about to come down with digestive distress.

We lost the trail. We balked at the river. ("Dude...Darwin Awards stories start like this...")
At this point, it's dark, we really don't know EXACTLY where we're heading, just that there's warm water on the other side.
Oh hell. We go for it...stripped down, shreiking all the way across to the first spring, which is almost too hot to handle. Trying to find the second spring, a kind stranger with a flashlight guided us around the rocks to Nature's own hot tub.
We chatted, we soaked, we sang. Turns out the kind stranger with the flashlight is a christian missionary. Bless him for finding us amusing, and not offensive.
We did the whole thing in reverse...uphill. With excruciating stomach cramps. Took our time, singing, laughing, refreshed and (all things considered) replenished.

I've spent the days since conserving as much energy as possible, not knowing what was wrong with me, or when it would end. I survived a rehearsal for our festival on Monday, my classes yesterday, and bit the bullet and went to a friend's for corned beef and cabbage last night. Got good and drunk in the process. Either the booze or the beef did it, because today I'm right as rain...with enough energy to scrub my kitchen down.

No show and tell tonight, but I spent some time cleaning up my worktable, and playing in the UFO (UnFinished Objects) box...finding new ways to wrap up old loose ends that have followed me around for a lifetime. Set up a shop at ArtFire.com in hopes that it will reach a different audience...time will tell!

2009-03-11T17:27:00.001-07:00

Finally! A has been suggesting, pleading, and subtly suggesting that I make him a bag for his bodhran out of a remnant of faux fur that I inherited some time ago. Seriously.. this thing has been on the drawing board for far too long.
We're coming up on festival season, and I know he'd like to be able to tote it in something other than the carboard box it came in.... which is awkward at best, and down right dangerous in certain situations.
I had actually started the thing last week, but set it aside and quickly became distracted with any number of things...we're going camping this weekend, so finishing it in time for that seemed appropriate:

The back is the red bee fabric with a patch of gold brocade at the bottom. Needs a drawstring, which will also be the strap. Ta-Da!

I've been sewing more than beading lately...de/re-construction an old bridesmaid dress/costume, working on some pieces for myself, and a few things for the new concept. Although some of those projects do involve some beadwork:

In the misdst of all my doing, I'm having to carve out time to keep up with my art class...weekly sketchbook assignments and two-week portfolio projects. It's daunting, but I'm doing it, and with some degree of success! Funny, that something I was determined I couldn't do is finding it's way into my fingers so easily.

On a last note, if you're in the LA area, you must check out The Edison, Downtown. The venue itself is an amazing steampunk dream come true. Wednesday nights, Lucent Dossier Vaudeville Cirque takes it over, and blows the roof off. We decided it could be compared to "Cirque de Soleil, in your lap". Unbelievable. Sadly, I have no pictures of the evening, although I know that some exist...somewhere...on someone's iPhone. I pormise I'll share when they turn up. ;p

2009-03-04T12:52:00.001-08:00

It's all getting easier..slowly.
The ballet class is a challenge...what was easy as breathing ten years ago feels foreign, but muscle memory is an amazing thing. My strength is slowly returning, and with it, my confidence.

Art is a different story. That class is three loooong hours, hard work, but neccessary. I'm pushing through, and for now, that's enough.

There's not a lot of new work to talk about at the moment, as I've been busy with school, and taking care of some personal catching up, and toying with some new ideas.
Managed to crank out a few of these and get them up:

Aaaaand.....there's nothing there yet, but I've set up a second Etsy account, something I've always said I'd never do. It just makes sense, since the super-secret goodies in the works have little or no bearing on my jewelry work. Curious? You'll just have to wait a little while.... I'll be announcing a launch date before the end of the month.

2009-02-10T16:14:00.000-08:00

Over a month? REALLY?
It's been a ride, and unfortunately, it hasn't felt like anything to write home about...so to speak. The last few weeks of work were...tedious at best.

I've been adjusting to this abundance of time.... I started out with a plan, and quickly started making excuses... now I'm finding ways to make my "excuses" achievements. Being kind to myself. Celebrating the little wins.

My original intent was to list one new item into the etsy shop every day, finish one thing every day, and photograph one thing every day.
I'm still making attempts at that. Most days I can "accomplish" three things, and I call that a good day.

I've registered for school, for the spring semester. I'll be taking a ballet class, and a drawing fuindamentals class....rendering has always been my weakness, and I'm tired of listening to myself whine about it. I had intended to take political science as well, since it's (to the best of my knowledge) the one class I need to finish my degree....but I got on the bus too late, and all sections were full. There's always summer.

Not thinking, I got into a piece of veggie bacon on Saturday night. No one's fault but mine. TVP = wheat gluten. Gluten = three days now of symptoms, including but not limited to: an upset tummy, reflux, fatigue, and a barely controllable urge to break things. Needless to say, I'm keeping a low profile, taking long naps, and trying to be gentle with myself.

I've been crossing things off of the "one of these days" lists... I've always wanted to make myself a knitting needle roll, and yesterday, when it was too wet to go outside, I did.

This one holds all my straights and DPN's, for now. I'm planning another, smaller one for circulars, and a tiny one for the crochet hooks. (maybe that one will even be small enough to fit into one of the larger two.) Mom & I briefly discussed adding them to the Etsy lineup, but I'm not really sure enough of my sewing skills....there's always some tiny screw-up. For now, I'm content to sew for myself.

One last note...since I have the time to cook again (yay!), I thoght it would be a fun challenge to pick a cookbook (from my extensive and ludicrous collection) and cook my way through it. One (maybe two) recipies a day, until I've done the whole book. I'm starting with this one, and I'm starting tonight.

It's one of the older, and less used books on the shelf, and it should be diverse enough to keep me interested. And...garlic. Yum.

2009-01-05T11:21:00.000-08:00

"Do one thing every day that scares you"
- Eleanor Roosevelt

I did two.

Within the last hour I have:
- Requested offical transcripts sent from my previous college (where I failed to finish) to the college I plan to start at next month. Next. Month. Now to decide a major....

-Enrolled in a bellydancing class through my local parks & rec department. Starts next week.

Both things I've talked about doing for a long time, but didn't see how I could with my freaky work schedule...Now it all seems ridiculously possible.

Rewarding myself now, with lunch: Toasted pecan bread (GF, of course), spread thick with cream cheese and smoked salmon, topped with the tiniest bit of caviar.

After lunch, I'll dive into rereading "The Artist's Way"... it's not writer's block I struggle with, but life block. Too many choices often leave me paralyzed, and too overwhelmed to narrow it down. Classes start Feb 9th, so I have a little over a month to set a course for my next phase.

2008-12-30T17:26:00.000-08:00

A Clean Slate

Have you ever noticed how year after year, the resolutions we make are about deprivation and denial? Eat less, spend less, curse less, waste less time...(and by this I mean the collective "we", if you can honestly tell me that you haven't done this, then pat yourself on the back, and know that you inspire me.)

I'm not doing it this year. Oh, there will be resolution (there always is with me....I can't approach potential without making plans...), but thiw year, what if it was about abundance....in all things? Do more, rest more, make more, give more, share more, write more, talk more, cook more, feed more, volunteer more, play more, learn more, teach more....more love, more permission, more time, more beauty, more grace, more joy....heck...maybe even more money. Why not? More. I've been enjoying the sound of it all day. More. Plenty. Enough. Abundant. Generous.

I want to be generous with myself this year, and with those around me....I want to give myself permission to check things off of the "I've always wanted to.." list. I want to speak more, reach out more, love more.

Think about it.... wouldn't we set a warmer tone for the year, if rather than dreading the diet we must start, we gave more focus to the possibilities?

2008-12-08T10:14:00.000-08:00

Playing Catch Up

I finally got some work done last week!

The decorations are up:

Amanda's Moon is finished, at long last:

I worked up a par of earrings for my aunt's gift:

And I spent much of the day Saturday working on a comissioned fascinator/earrings set..not sayin' for who or for what, and CERTAINLY not posting pics until after delivery, but I'm quite proud of myself.

That's all the news that's fit to print really...I'm laying low for the time being, writing holiday cards, avoiding the seasonal madness, and conserving energy and resources for the (metaphorical) winter ahead.

2008-11-18T08:31:00.000-08:00

Tag!

The lovely and talented Christina Silverio has tagged me! You should go have a look at her beautiful, whimsical watercolors...

So here you go... seven completely random things about me:

1) I'll put christmas lights on anything that will stand still long enough.

2) My small-screen debut was on Romper Room in 1982. With Smokey the Bear. I haven't worked since. Ah, the fate of child stars.....

3) I would rather sleep that do just about anything else.

4) I get upset when businesses "sell out" and lose track of "their original purpose". Good thing A is here to remind me that the purpose of any business is to make money. Geez.

5) I can make pancakes out of nothing. Or so it would seem.

6) The "Migrant Mother" in Dorthea Lange's famous photograph is actually my Great-Aunt. (Dad's side)

7) I sometimes wish I could be content with working 9-5, then collapsing on the couch to watch reality TV all night. Perhaps life would be simpler if I were less fascinated by it? As it is, we don't watch TV, ever.

So there you go! Now here are the four fabulous bloggers I'm tagging for the next round!
Evermore Soap
Lindsey
Mary Tafoya
TotusMel

2008-11-09T08:48:00.000-08:00

Breaking Silence

Sorry 'bout that.

I thought I was going to handle the news of my impending layoff with much more... detachment. Instead, I've been in a bit of a panic, nesting frantically and acomplishing nothing. I'm better now. ;-p

There are decisions to be made...who do I want to be when I grow up? What now? School? What focus? More retail? Something that doesn't involve working weekends (yes, please)? A paycut? I'm starting to work through the options, do some research, post resumes, make connections, discoveries.

I was trying to knit a smaple sweater for a local yarn importer who is going through "stuff" of her own, but I've had to abandon the project...it's not the time to challenge myself that way...it's time, rather, to nurture and soothe.

My mall has the christmas decorations up already, and we're doing better business than we've done all year, so at least we can go out on a high note. I'm just not ready to face the holidays yet.....

In the meantime, I've unloaded a bookcase that is overloading my studio space, and clean out three "junk drawers"... I feel a lightness in my home that speaks of possibility.

2008-10-20T16:46:00.001-07:00

Child Self

I know.

As a native Southern Californian, I'm supposed to be over it. Roll my eyes at it. Loathe the deeply commercial, enormous corporateness of it.

I'm incapable.

Aidan & I went for my birthday yesterday... we've never gone together, and decided it was about time....and as good an excuse as any.

The last time I was there, half the park was under renovation, and he hadn't been in nearly 5 years, so it was almost like coming at it with fresh eyes. I got to show him the high points of California Adventure (which, let's face it, are precious few. In 50 years, maybe that will be a different story, but for now, meh.), and he has more patience for Main Street that anyone I've ever gone with.

In fact, we did things that I've never done before:

Ate ourselves nearly sick on ice cream, popcorn and peanut brittle, closed the place out and fell into bed after midnight, exhausted, footsore, and in a way, completely refreshed. You see, the real magic of Disney, for me at least, is the complete suspension of reality. All the cares of the world left at the gate...shoved into a locker with the sweaters (just in case), to be shrugged on only on the way back to the car.

We had been listening to a recording of Obama's New Hampshire speech on the way there yesterday morning. Some of the words he used echoed as we walked the park.

Improbable Experiment.

Walt was a dreamer, and a gambler, there's no doubt. His dream has connected to and ignited the dreams of people around the world.

What dream am I willing to gamble on? What chances am I willing to take? How big is my vision?

It's a scary thing to think about. Wonderful, but still terrifying.

You see, it was just announced that I'll be a victim of corporate layoffs at the end of January...and it's time to decide what I want to be when I grow up.. or at least what I want to be NEXT. Finding the dream, and finding a way to make it happen. Giving myself (ourselves) permission to take a chance, and not say no before we've given it a shot.

Given all that, I don't mind standing in an hour long line for a 3 minute ride one bit.

2008-10-14T09:20:00.000-07:00

Why I Surf

Skimming this morning....finishing my coffee, should have washed my hair by now, but one thing, as always, leads to another.

I've been knitting...trying to make some headway on the football field of acrylic stockinette that will eventually be the sweater that A asked me to make for him over a year ago....closer to two, actually, but there it is.

While I work, I'm thinking about the NEXT sweater I'll make for him, one that is far more interesting, in a yarn that feels good between my fingers...something with some silk in it. A velvety color, a pattern with some interest...simple, but elegant, and just a bit challenging. Maybe I'll go looking for it... just for a minute...

At Knitty.com, I ran across this, and while not what I'm looking for, I find myself interested enough to check out the designer's blog.

More surfing... but wait... Retail Hell? Isn't that a familiar concept... And while I may sell clothing, rather than books, and make well more than 5.25 an hour, isn't this nearly what I grouse about most evenings....or work very hard at NOT grousng about, lest I become a bore? Yep.
Even from a "lofty" management position, the song remains the same. They paycheck is nice, but the damage the job does, sometimes, hardly seems worth it.

Where I was going with this, I've forgotten now, the coffee is gone, and it's nearly time to gird my loins for battle, once again. On vacation next week, because I have to take the time before the end of October, not because I'm going anywhere (A has to work..new job, no vacay.), but because If I don't, I'll lose the time, and possibly my mind before the end of November.

Plenty of time then, to read blogs, knit, finish those commissions, poke at the growing stash of clay, and finally work on that second article. Freelance has such a pleasant ring...

Especially the "Free" part.

2008-10-09T15:16:00.000-07:00

As Promised

They say a picture is worth a thousand words....so I'll spare you lengthy stories:

This came in the mail:

I made this for my studio space:

I made this for dinner with a dear friend:

And I made this for dessert:

Another friend came over, and we made these to adorn HER studio space:

(and we finished off the cake...)

What did you do this last weekend?

2008-10-08T09:37:00.000-07:00

In Between

AT & T, I've decided, is run by someone with a personal vendetta. Or they are, for this lifetime, the instrument of Karma.
We don't watch television. Our news, media, entertainment, connection to the world is the 'net.

I'm writing now fro my mother/neighbor/landlady's IMac, because my internet connection has been down (for no obvious reason) since Friday. This is only the latest in a long, long series of unpleasant experiences I've had with them in the last 4 years.

Certainly, a few days offline has been restful, grounding.

I've been busy in all the good ways: productive, meditative, nurturing to myself and my partner...we've had friends over, I've baked and fed. He went to Houston over the weekend (business, not pleasure), I, with no internet, played with clay, felt, paper, paint. And took pictures of all of it. The next time I post, I think, will be extraordinarily photo heavy.

They're going to be checking our line tomorrow. Spirit willing, I'll be back up & running in a day or two.

Oh... and we're heading out to the Downtown LA Artwalk tomorrow night....that will have it's own new batch of inspiring imagery as well, no doubt.

2008-09-26T10:51:00.000-07:00

Unsure...

Apparently, I've been off-center for a while.
My eyes are open to it, and I can see the mess I've made.

(It's predominantly physical, the mess....at least the part I'm overtly aware of and affected by at the moment.)

Nearly every garment I own is on the floor of my bedroom....some are on the floor or the closet, some are draped over furniture. Very little is stored as it should be. I've obviously been having a hard time deciding who to be in the mornings. This disarray makes it even harder. That has to be dealt with.

My studio space is in an equally non-functional state. It's been too hot to work out there, too close. Too much clutter. SO I've been bringing projects out to the kitchen, and putting them back out in the studio in the evenings. Kudos to me for not letting this chaos linger in the kitchen? Perhaps. (The kitchen has it's own story to tell, and I can't even go there right now.) But the piles of bins, boxes and work surfaces has gotten out of control. Not to mention the mess made of the table by the cats' games of tag. This also, must be dealth with.

Both are easily a full day's work....the way I work.

So which interior landscape gets tidied first? The place where I present myself to the world every day, or the place where I travel within myself and play?

There's a farmer's market in San Pedro today.... Maybe I'll go down there for a little while, breathe the salt air and return with a fresh eye.

2008-09-24T19:44:00.000-07:00

The Wonders of Wednesday

Midweek
Hump Day

Whimsical, Wild, Wet, Wandering, Wooly, Wonderful, Wicked.

Wednesday.

And a reasonable excuse to share some variations on my favorite things.
Things that make me smile. Simple pleasures that make living a sensual adventure.

I have a very small collection of perfume bottles on my dresser. Some are in use, some are empty. They're all charming.
Vessels, in general, fascinate me. There's something so sweetly old-fashioned about a perfume bottle that I can never resist the urge to pick them up, fondle them, admire how they catch the light, and wonder how they would look with my others....so here's a sampling of what Etsy has to offer:

2008-09-22T18:44:00.000-07:00

From the Ashes

I never stay down for long.

Am I saying that all is rosy and wonderful at the end of the day, no. But I'm breathing, and my loved ones are near. Gratitude, always. I am reminded again and again that the Universe won't hand me anything I can't, ultimately, bear.

Sometimes the simple comforts are the things that get us through.
Jammies. Soft music, a warm bath, candles, and yarn. Oh yes, yarn. I started a new shawl today:

And made something just for me:

(it's a wee hair clippie to go with the olive green dress that I'll be wearing to Aidan's Daughter's wedding next weekend.)

I also decorated some boxes to ship out jewelry orders in:

My dear one needed comfort too.... so we finished our day with chocolate milk and Gluten-free brownies...then he kneaded my aching back until I was barely able to get off the floor and stagger to bed.

If I can only manage to be grateful for two things today, it's the creative impulse that distracts, soothes and centers me, and the partnership that allows us to hold each other up when the challenges seem insurmountable.

2008-09-22T14:56:00.000-07:00

Ohfercryinoutloud.

This is not the place I usually go to dump. Who wants to hear another struggling artist sob story?

Sorry... I gotta.

Let me start by saying that I don't hate Mondays. My days off are different every week, but I ALWAYS work on Mondays, and they're just about the only "predictable" day of my week. They're like a little island of stability in the whirling (mostly joyful) madness of my life. Believe it or not, I was actually looking forward to today. And I looked pretty sharp too.

Mushy brakes. REALLY mushy brakes. Realized once I was already on the freeway that they were well past mushy, and weren't going to get any better. Shit.
Off the freeway, turned around, headed for the repair shop that's been doing all our work lately. All the while, calling work, covering my shift, calling Mom (who did a very good job of not panicking), and calling Aidan (who was a paragon of concern and sympathy).

An hour(maybe?) later, I had the news... new rear brakes, wheel cylinders and a master cylinder. Over $600 that I need for, you know... EVERYTHING. But whatever.... we've gotten through worse.

Around 2-ish..Aidan called, sying something about wanting this day to be over.
His car, parked at a job site in LA, was towed. Expired tags (that were on the list for this week, just hadn't gotten there yet). Another $500 + to get the car back.
Nevermind the bills that we're still catching up on from the last year's worth of nonsense.

I give up.
At least there's still gin in the freezer.

2008-09-18T17:01:00.000-07:00

Outside the Box
I gave myself permission today.

Permission to make mistakes, to waste (materials, time, the whole gosh-darn day), to make a mess, to stay in bed until mid-morning and finish my book.

All of which I did.

I made an attempt at ACEOs. Foamcore, watercolors, sharpies (what else?), not sure they're finished. Played with my stashed poly clay until my hands ached. A crystal from my long-dead prom earrings, (why do I hold on to things for SO. long.?), a bone face, cast offs from the earrings I made for my bridesmaids a lifetime ago, some stray bits from the "stray bit" jar.

Not until I'd cured them, of course, did I realize that I'd put the bail wires in the wrong way. Silly girl. That's alright though...they'll find they're niche.

2008-09-12T16:24:00.000-07:00

I love surprises

Even more than that, I love mail.
So I really, really love surprises IN the mail!

Jennifer Morris makes some of the most astounding, sensual, beautiful polymer clay beads and jewelry I've ever come accross. Every time I log on to Etsy, I spend a few minutes looking at her work...and it never fails to take my breath away.

I finally broke down and ordered a little thing...a "surprise" heart...just a taste, to tide me over until I can have what I REALLY want. It came the other day....beautiful, beautiful.

It arrived on a mocha satin ribbon....and wanted to be worn on something soft, warm, soothing. Not a chain. No...not a chain.

I poked around the studio looking for just the thing....until I picked up my stash of cotton embroidery floss. Some of this, a little of that, something deeper for contrast...aha! A delicate rope for my beautiful bead.

But wait!
There's more floss.... so many colors! Wouldn't these be lovely together? Or these? And these metallic fibers.... oh dear.

The rhythym of the twisting and winding is meditative, and colorplay is really the heart of all my work. Seems I got a little carried away....but it's true that one thing always leads to another... so why not surprise necklace cords? Not the kind of thing I usually do, but maybe that's not such a bad thing.

2008-09-09T18:36:00.000-07:00

I've always been drawn to college towns.

My first crush was Westwood, at 13. I spent most of Winter break there..dad was hospitalized at UCLA. Every chance I could, I'd get out of there, explore the neighborhood in the rain, as much as was possible given the circumstances. I wished we could live there.

In high school, I took two trips to visit a boyfriend in Davis. I was in love as only a girl of seventeen can be. I fell immediately and irrevocably in love with
Davis as well. He had classes... I had time to kill. Much of those trips are very blurry... late night arrivals, CD's on repeat, Murder Burgers, long walks, blisters from my boots, tearful airports. I wished I could live there. I brought some things back that are still part of my existence.
There was a bead shop in town. Being me, I couldn't resist. I've had these for years, and never really known what to do with them. 15 years later, they're a pair of earrings. Funny thing is.. I've never been much of a deadhead.

I also sharply remember the tiny New Age bookstore/gift shop there. I bought an extravagantly large box of assorted incense.
15 years later, there is still some left, and it smells as good as it did then. Not lying.. it's burning behind me as I type.

When I lived in Orange County, I spent as much time as I could in Fullerton.

San Luis Obispo is where my dreams live now.

I think it has something to do with the energy of those places...where people have congregated to learn, to grow, to expand. There is a sense of encapsulation there that appeals to me, of possibility and potential. Anything is possible, and it's all transitional.
I'm pretty sure that my deep and abiding passion for Long Beach is rooted in the same sense of a place that is part of the world, but in a way, seperated from the dreariness of it by the energy and focus of the people there.

Coffee there tends to be good too.

2008-08-28T13:08:00.001-07:00

Creator/Creation

I usually don't write about some of our "wilder" (read: less conventional) adventures here, because I've always been very concerned about the impression that I might make on someone interested in my work. Would I be taken less seriously as an artist if people knew about my other interests, pastimes, etc.. or would publicising my broad eclecticism enhance my credibility? Screw it.

Several weeks back, I posed for a local artist that does AMAZING black and white portraits. Last night, I got to see the finished work.

(that's me in the middle, above my head)

I squealed. I giggled. I spent all night dragging friends over to see it. "Look! I'm ART!".
I'm used to creating, involving others in my process, even if it's in an indirect way. This is (with some possible exceptions) the very first time that someone else's creative process has involved me in a direct, meaningful way. And let me tell you, it feels pretty. darn. good.

Trying to convince Aidan NOT to buy it....that's another story.

2008-08-28T10:44:00.000-07:00

Gratitude

* I love and am loved by beautiful talented people.
* Our new little espresso pot! (and Ikea)
* I get to throw a party!
* Netflix
* The little antique fan that keeps my house tolerable in this weather.

It's all about friends & family right now. Home, comfort, welcoming light and energy into our space.

I'm taking a big bag to the goodwill later, then cleaning out my closet. Again.
The more of the clog of old, unused detritus of former lives I can clear out of my life, the more space I have to welcome all the beauty that is to be.

2008-08-13T09:25:00.000-07:00

New Work, and Process

Not MAJOR new work, just starting to spend time in my space after a lull, learning to breathe again, again. It's what I do.

Two new pair of earrings finished, one in the works, and more ideas hatching... trying still to steer wide of the huge, overblown, almost unwearable things I have the occasional urge to play with, that ultimately go nowhere. What is the point of functional, wearable art, if in the real world, it's not ACTUALLY wearable?

At any rate, I'm still trying to "use up" my extensive stash before buying any more beads. (Not doing well at it, since I just bought four strands of stones from AzhuresJewels, after she was kind enough to help me identify a stone I was unsure of.
Still..I was out of garnets, and there's no point in paying shipping for one little strand of beads...You know how it goes.)

Dug around in one of the boxes, waiting for something to leap into my hand, and ran across some lovely ivory vintage glass leaves that could only have come from SFA&C.... it was late afternoon, a warm day, my gin & tonic was melting at my elbow, and all I could think of as I fondled the beads was a chunky irish wool sweater, a walk through warm ambergold countryside (which one just doesn't GET here..) and these earrings. I know it's early in the year for this, but there's something leaf-crunchy, fireplace-curling-up-cocoa about them to me:

They worked up quickly, and there were enough of the leaves for two pair, but you know me... I hate duplicating myself. As I worked, I wandered... and that chunky sweater became a simple ivory gown. I love a fall wedding (and I'm a hopeless romantic). I though about what that bride might wear for a casual, lighthearted, handmade celebration...particularly if she were me.

These came then... a little sparkle, a little shimmer, but not so much that they couldn't be worn later, again and again, with jeans, and that sweater:

There are two leaves left still... waiting for a home. A hairstick perhaps? Or the ends of a lariat?

These earrings are addictive to me. They go relatively quickly, and are a fun way to play with color and texture... and they will burn through beads in a hurry...with few exceptions, and even fewer leftovers, I can lighten the storage load considerably, and build something beautiful in the process.

2008-07-15T19:48:00.000-07:00

This is how much I'm loved...

The man in my life not only tolerates this kind of behavior....he embraces, encourages, aids and abets it....

Finally, a larger surface, bigger mirror (the middle of the top surface is hinged, storage and mirror below), and DRAWERS! No more dust on my lashes..wheee! Not to mention the OMG shade of pink. Found it secondhand, cheap. Even sold the little old rickety brass one that has served me so well for so long in the process. A little paint stripper, a lot of elbow grease (thank you baby!), a quart of new paint, et voila!

If nothing else, today, I am grateful for this, and all the little indescribably wonderful things that go into allowing it to happen.

2008-07-10T08:11:00.000-07:00

Black Cherry Kool-Aid

...was never my favorite. Come to think of it, Kool-Aid was something that just didn't happen in our house. Mom was kind of a hippie where food was concerned, and chemical soft drinks and sugary cereals just weren't on the menu.

But I turned out all right, and there are other uses for those colorful little packets.

Picking through my stash yarn, I came acoss some hand-me-down recycled cashmere. Yum. Sofft as fluffy baby bunnies, but the most uninteresting shade of yellow-y ivory possible. Ew.
Had to go to the market anyways. Half-cocked, as usual.
Sadly, our local grocer has an appallingly small selection of kool-aid, and I had no idea how much I'd actually need. They we're 5/$1. So I got a buck's worth of Black Cherry to play with....

First off, the yarn was in cakes... it needed to be in skeins. Funny how as soon as I say something like "skein" or "wind" my house empties. That's alright...I was a Girl Scout:

Once I had it wond off and tied loosely into skeins (3 of them) it was time for a good soaking:

I scared Aidan a little...We're low-carbing right now, and apparently that looked just.enough. like pasta....

And then, the dye bath. Kool-Aid mix, and enough water to cover the yarn. How much easier could this be?

OOoh....ahhh....deep gothy red. AND my kitchen smells like a tee-ball team.

Medium high heat, but don't boil! 20-30 minutes (I'm terrible at timing things...)until the dye bath is clear, which means that the yarn has absorbed all the present pigment:

Let cool, rinse in water the same temp (or close to) as the still-warm yarn, squeeeze, hang over towels, go to bed.
In the morning, realize that you probably wanted $2 worth of Kool-Aid, and decide that you'll use it as is, see what you get, then re-dye the finished piece if it's not to your liking. (The yarn could be re-dyed now, but frankly, I'm not that kind of perfectionist.)

So much for deep gothy red.... more of a deep cherry rose color...still pretty. But note the uneven saturation, and the white mark where my skein was tied too tightly.

One more thing I can say I've tried....only this was actually easier than I had myself believing....the idea of cooking wool yarn still gives me pause, and the real trick is going to be getting an even dye job, but all in all, fun and rewarding.

And the cashmere is still cuddly and lush. Even if it does smell ever so faintly fruity.

**Update..I caved to the pressure, re-dyed it on Friday, and am much happier with the result. It's still more of a "semi-solid", but I like that, and it will work up nicely. Oh, and the lovely ladies of my knitting group helped me "un-ply" it on Sunday... taking it down to singles for more yardage, and more options. Hooray!

2008-06-25T08:54:00.000-07:00

I'm featured!

A little bit about my space, and how it's used....
Thank you to ReneesPaperandYarn.etsy.com...check it out:

http://etsyspaces.blogspot.com/

2008-06-23T23:08:00.000-07:00

Gratitude

*My beautiful, charming, cozy home.
*I can craft for hours without hand/wrist pain.
*The most amazing man on the planet is in the next room.
*I am nurtured and loved by the pople closest to me.
*My mother is my friend, and my biggest fan.

I've tried several times to keep up a gratitude journal...but it's such a cumbersome thing to carry around. (I wonder what that says about me...is gratitude such a heavy thing?)
Morning pages (if you haven't read/tried The Artist's Way, you should. Whoever you are.) get socked away until they're purged, shredded...never reviewed, reread.

Gratitude deserves better. Shout it from the rooftops, remember it, re-read it, come back and revel in it better. So I'll try it this way.

2008-06-23T22:40:00.000-07:00

This is so cool.

I'm in THREE Etsy treasuries tonight!

All three CCCOE team treasuries, but it's still pretty cool to be seeing some exposure. Views on those items are up, but I still have them...hm.

Not alot else going on right now...knitting more lately, trying to get "caught up", whatever that means...but I'm getting a gorgeous shawl out of it at least. Feels good to do something just for me once in a while.

Isn't she pretty? Amazing what can be made out of scraps and leftovers...

2008-06-13T10:39:00.000-07:00

We took the day off yesterday. Way off.
It's been a while since we've had an adventure...the kind where you pick a direction, point the car that way, and hope you have enough gas.

We settled on Malibu, neither of us having spent any time there, and knowing nothing about it....undiscovered territory is the bestest. ;-p

We drove. We wandered. We were hungry.
If you ever find yourself here: http://www.paradisecovemalibu.com/beachcafe/
Order this:

That, and a pineapple mojito.

Summer's here.

We made a sunset run over to Redondo, but it was too cloudy to see much. You'd think that as long as I've lived here, I'd know that Summer doesn't REALLY start until July. Oh well....I brought home yet another pocketfull of shells and sand. I have a project (or 18) in mind for the shells.

More projects are being finished by the day. Yesterday it was a wrap/scarf thingy in the morning, and the infamous bikini in the evening. Now for a day warm enough to wear it!

2008-06-06T09:34:00.000-07:00

Holy Cow....3 FO's in one day!!

I overhauled my yarn storage situation the other day....no more unsteady, dust-collecting wire baskets! I moved it all into a storage tub that fits on the shelving unit, in the hole left by the removal of the epic stash of old jeans.
Some yarn had to be, well, disposed of...it was filthy, cobwebby and not worth the cleaning. Seriously...Lion Brand acrylic nonsense....the world is a better place.

In the process, I realized that I had way too many UFO's (unfinished objects) in the knitting pile. So, I picked a couple that just needed ends finished, and one that I could knit on while watching a horrible movie, and went to work. By the time the horrible movie was over, I had three, count 'em, THREE finished objects. (Four, if you count each dishcloth individually.) Talk about your sense of accomplishment...I actually feel like I'm not just spinning my wheels, getting nowhere. It's kinda nice.

So, my goal now is to make headway on the seemingly insurmountable accumulation of half-finished projects, both beady and fiber-related. Watch for updates!

See? Downsizing can be beautiful!

2008-06-02T07:37:00.000-07:00

Stop by:
http://prettylittleloveobjects.blogspot.com/
and check out my interview with Jodie...or Jodie's interview with me. Whichever way that works. ;-p
She's running a series of hard-hitting in depth chats with Etsy artists from all areas of expertise...it's definietly worth reading!

2008-05-29T16:40:00.001-07:00

Have I ever mentioned how much I love this tiny garden? We picked up some new plants to replace the pansies that were done for the season, and a fresh assortment of herbs. Rosemary, basil, thyme, sage. Nothing exotic, just the beginnings of a new collection. Some of them should be perrenials, I know, but that little yard has had a rough go the last few years.

With any luck, this will be the last new rosemary I plant for a while...everything is in pots this time, and the spider plant has a new home. I'm even taking a crack at houseplants again...armed with a list of what is and is not kitty safe. Sadly, while the kitty is safe from the plants, the plants are somewhat less safe from the kitty. We're working on it.

Managed to get some work done on what I've started to think of as "Amanda's Moon" this morning. Sometimes, deciding that the work, or a portion of the work, is complete is half the battle.

The embroidery is done, and the backing applied. An edging, and a neck attachment of some kind is all that's left. Start saving your pennies Amanda...she'll be ready before you know it!

Not a lot else going on lately, just adding to the shop and trying to lighten the load of stashed supplies and such in the studio. Took a HUGE pile of old jeans to the Goodwill last week, and had a "clear out the storage unit" yard sale that weekend. Feels good to be less burdened, but somehow in the process, there's a huge pile of STUFF on the studio couch. Makes it hard to be in there, let alone find things and work.

Keep your eyes open for updates, I have yet to decide if I'll be vending at LBWS this year...http://www.longbeachwomanspirit.org/
At least the site has updated info this time...that's a good sign.

2008-04-29T11:22:00.000-07:00

Bead Pr0n!

Twice a year, I work for San Francisco Arts & Crafts when they come down to do the LA Bead Society Bazzar. The spring show was Sunday the 27th.

I've taken about a three-show hiatus from it, due to my day job, and "life-stuff". It was good to be back...just like I'd never been away. The show has changed a lot, not nearly the frenzy it has been in years past. I missed many familar faces, but had more time to chat with some of our regulars, and browse the show in less of a rush. I behaved myself though, and only bought a few tubes from my "home" booth...I've been trying to work down my (rather impressive) stash to a more reasonable level, so the few thingbs I took home were TRULY neccessary. Ahem.

Having been gone for over a year, I was dissapointed to not see many of the usual vendors...old standbys that I always made a point of stopping by, if only to dream and drool.

I started out working with them about 7 years ago... and what a long, strange trip it's been. Good people, selling good beads. They've just opened a shop in Sonoma, and I couldn't be happier for them.

By the time I rolled into my driveway, twelve hours later, I was wiped out, yet completely refreshed. Being back at the show reminded me of where I've been, how far I've come, and who I am now in relationship to "bead world". And it's all good.

For more information:
Bead Society of Los Angeles: http://www.beadsocietyla.org/html/mainmenu.html\
San Francisco Arts & Crafts: http://www.sanfranciscoartscrafts.com/

2008-04-11T21:22:00.001-07:00

The second piece of the Random Lengths/Colorplay series is well underway....those are pieces I get lost in...forget about the world while my hands keep the rythym of the work. Changes happen when I surface. Coming up for air, shift something, and dive back under. When I'm done for the day, I can breathe again.

The severed chopstick in the foreground is a product of me, finally learning to use my Dremel tool.... for years the chuck has been "jammed". Right. The trick, I find, is to be smarter than the tool. So once we got it working, I spent a happy afternoon shortening chopsticks that were dangerously long when worn in the hair.
(One of which has since sold! Viva la dremel!)

2008-04-11T21:09:00.000-07:00

We got up late this morning, had breakfast at the little place around the corner, and cruised down deeper into the harbor to chase down a farmer's market. I needed produce, and it had to be sun-warm, fresh, and gloriously real. We happily lugged berries, asparagus, tiny cherry tomatoes, peppers,our first cherimoya and a silk skirt (I couldn't resist!) back to the car.

As it happens, the market was down the corner from a loft/condo development that we're interested in, but hadn't toured together.... so we did. Beautiful. Right size, right light, and while the neighborhood is still a teensy bit questionable, it's a thousand times better than it once was. And charming in it's own grotty way. Loads of art galleries and craftspeople nearby, and a charming homey pub. Yeah... I could live there.

The day was to inviting to work in the studio, so I brought a project out to the kitchen to work. Made precious little progress, but I'm not in a hurry.... I haven't yet decided what she's going to be when she grows up, so why hurry the process? Too large for a brooch, the wrong shape for a pendant, she may become a hair ornament of some kind...time will tell.

2008-04-08T22:39:00.001-07:00

They say that you should do one thing every day that scares you.

Here's one for today.

Starting a new blog. A blank page. Getting up in front of a roomful of virtual strangers. (Ha!) The myspace blog was safe....I could control it, contain it, pick & choose who saw it. There's no risk in that, is there? Anyone reading it already had a pretty good idea who I am & what I'm about. This is more public, more exposed, and therefore, in a sense, more real. And much, much harder to start.

The studio speaks for itself, and frequently, me. I'm not well organized. I don't try to pretend that I am. While that isn't my only fault (and I'm not always sure it is one...), I like to think I'm a pretty decent human being, and a decently talented artist. Beader, knitter, occasional seamstress and gluer-of-things-together. If it's sparkly, I'm in. If it's wearable, I'm definitely in. I've learned the last few years that if it can be done with two hands, there's no reason I can't give it a shot. Bead crochet is still giving me fits, but I'll win.

Creative. Eccentric. Eclectic. Flamboyant. Myself and my work. And my studio.