PESKY INDEED

Today my connection is so painfully slow that I'd have to say it's making the listing of auctions difficult indeed (just LOVE to have a listing nearly loaded only to receive the 'timed out' message. Arrrgghhh). Yes, pesky indeed.... So I thought I'd put some images up here, for those who wonder what's new.....

And then in a moment of cleverness (or lunacy, lol) I thought perhaps rather than continuing to fight with my connection and auct lisitings any longer today I could simply make these a JOURNAL READERS ONLY special... Each pair of beads below (earring size created on larger mandrel) is $3.50 a pair & 1.00 shipping to US destinations for journal readers! :-) . If you would like any of these email me via the MINE MINE MINE! (lol) link. Each set/pair will go to the first person who emails me. If they con't call to any readers here they'll eventually get listed, but this gives you 'first chance' :-)

Does this sound like a good (or bad) idea? Let me know!

Email me by 'clicking' on the MINE! MINE! MINE! link, lol & tell me which set!
MINE MINE MINE!

SOLD! Thanks Pam! SET ONE ~ SOUTHWEST TURQ MINE MINE MINE!

SOLD! Set TWO ~ SUMMER SKY BLUE MINE MINE MINE!

SOLD! Thanks Heather!
Set Three ~ Girlie Girl PINK! MINE MINE MINE!

Set FOUR ~ SOFT TURQUOISE MINE MINE MINE!

BEE WORRIES

I'm distressed this morning to hear of 'bee worries'....

The news brings word that more of my fuzzy, buzzy, busy

pollen moving buddies are dying and no one seems to know

just why....

Bees and frogs have always been near and dear to my heart.

Never having been a 'normal girl' (or normal at all actually)

golden eye toads, jumping frogs, spring blooming trees and

flowers 'a-buzzzzz' with bees form a core of memories past

and current that never fail to make me smile.

They were one of

the (many) reasons I could not imagine living in a city....

Now, as with past news of frogs in peril, bees join the list.

Too much pesticide? Too much chem-lawn? An off-handed

twist of fate from 'mother - nature'?

I just hope those far more clever than I can find the key

to keep the buzz going.....

THE SOUTH OF FRANCE

Just thought you'd like to see some of the latest work!

(Already sold)

I WILL be adding work here from time to time tho,

so check back if you're looking for new beads!

CREATIVITY

My head hurts! lol...
Not a headache, not a bump.

One of the joys of life for me are the unpredictible times when I find I have SO MANY ideas rushing in it's nearly a physical sensation... It's a wonderous gift that arrives unbidden and leaves much as it comes, unexpectedly and determinedly.

My students often ask me about 'where creativity comes from'? It's a much harder question to answer than 'where do babies come from', lol... For me it has always been there, arriving like a crashing wave on the beach. Bundles of ideas that flow thru my mind at breakneck speed. A nearly physical sensation as I said, with a corellating emotional rush of well being.

Early in my journey as an artist it vexed me that I couldn't 'control' it, summon it if you will to suit myself. But as time went on I thankfully developed the sense to understand it for the wonder that it is. But I don't think it's a question of 'your're born with it or you're not'. Returning again to discussions with students I've often said (and seen) that for the majority it turns out to be more a question of connecting to your creative side again as an adult. In a marketing class I taught last nite a student made an insightful observation: "the corporate world conditions you to diminish your sense of doing things your way". As does for some, family, spouse, time constaints to name a few. It's wonderful to watch my students who consider themselves to be 'uninspired' discover that the flow of creativity IS there, be it a beadmaking idea or a marketing idea. If you set out to UNLEARN the habit of thinking within constraint when it comes to your art, the ideas trickle in, then they flow. It will always be a very personal, individual process, but very few people are actually uninspired. You just need to re-learn how to hear the whispers (which is by the way different than hearing voices, lol). Eventually you will likely find "your head hurts too" from the ideas rushing in! :-).

Now if we can just figure out how to have it happen on demand :-)

IT'S A GREAT LIFE IF YOU DON'T WEAKEN

The title of this post is stolen from my DH. He's fond of sayings much the way I'm fond of quotes. This one is his most used, in fact the very first I can remember him saying when we met. Over time the depth of its wisdom increases.

Without going in to great detail because a) it still weirds me out to fling too much deeply personal data into cyberville 2) because each of you faces sufficient challenge enough in your own lives that you need not come here only to find mine abounding and III) by nature, intent, and DNA I'm inclined to be 'chirpy' as someone once said of me :-) So we'll float pass the details.

The mind-boggling truth is that in the last months I've sat in way too many waiting rooms, exam rooms and funeral parlors with people I love. I've begged fate unfailingly to be kind. Many times she's been beyond kind ~ granting me the wishes of my soul. Some events that have passed were beyond entreatment before I even knew of them.

The sum and substance of what remains in my mind now is an abundance of confused and conflicting emotions. Joy and thankfulness for time 'given back' - futures returned and relief mixed amid grief, shock, and worry. And thru it all I kept hearing my husbands voice saying

~ IT'S A GREAT LIFE IF YOU DON'T WEAKEN ~

He is of course right.

When life flows in easy, lovely ways that point is obvious.
But when fates' outcome dangles the lives of those you love by a gossamer thread it's far more difficult to remember it is still true. Anxiety and pain exist only if you care (caring being a cornerstone of a great life). Pain only finds its mark if you love (love also being a cornerstone of a great life). Worry can only "sit your shoulder" if you wish you could control more of lifes' events (and that only comes because you desperately want to protect someone yet know you cannot). Memories are painful only because they were made - without memories ever being formed they can cause you no harm - nor stay with you in the future and grow to do what they do best - give joy.

The trick it begins to seem in 'not weakening' is to accept (as best one can) that life is comprised of a curious mix of pain and pleasure, comfort and anxiety, phases, plateaus, and challenges. I'll be the first to tell you that I dance (sometimes not very deftly) between the Yin & Yang oposites hoping I don't stumble.

If reading this makes any sense to you at all you at least know you're not alone. I'm dancing right along with you hoping to always see what I know ~ which is that it IS a great life ~ but you have to always concentrate on the "don't weaken"

Adult life is wearying - it rubs the shine off & leaves you wondering sometimes. Other times it's downright scary. No matter how old I grow I still find when crisis comes I FEEL like an akward, underskilled 10 year old. Perhaps some of what causes us to weaken.

As trite as it sounds, hug your kids, call your parents, tell your significant other you love them. Try to let go of what you can't control ~ both present and past. Make time for what matters to you because tho time goes on forever , we don't. Follow your dream(s) as far as you can at this point in your life, and take joy in small daily happiness. Drink in the here and now. Fill your glass. Drink. Repeat.

Most of all, don't weaken!

ATTITUDE (As my mom always says...)

There once was a woman who woke up one morning

looked in the mirror, and noticed she had

only three hairs on her head.

Well," she said, "I think I'll braid my hair today?"

So she did and she had a wonderful day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror

and saw that she had only two hairs on her head.

"H-M-M," she said, "I think I'll part my hair down the middle today".

So she did and she had a grand day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed

that she had only one hair on her head.

"Well," she said, "today I'm going to wear my hair in a pony tail."

So she did and she had a fun, fun day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror

and noticed that there wasn't a single hair on her head.

"YEA!" she exclaimed!

"I don't have to fix my hair today!"

Attitude is everything.

SMALL TRUTHS

Small truths are, is seems after all is pondered, the greatest. As the years press on they strike me as soul stirring insights that masquerade as tiny unobtrusive thoughts. So simple and direct are they that like dust they settle in the corners and 'out of the way' parts of our minds with little notice....

Until we seek them out, they wait patiently for us.

This quote below by Channing is one such 'waiting small truth'. I don't know about you but it rings resoundingly for me.
~~~~~
To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not rich; to listen to stars and birds, babes and sages, with open heart; to study hard, to think quietly, act frankly, talk gently, await occasions, hurry never; in a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common — this is my symphony. ~ william henry channing

MY DOMESTIC POLICY IS "FROZEN AND CLEAN"

My 'DOMESTIC POLICY' is FROZEN and CLEAN!

Ok I really should explain...

Each year most of us review our lives - goals, priorities, issues, outcomes.

For me, each yearly review almost always comes back to Frozen and Clean....

(still curious? read on).

When I was in my early 20's I thought "perfect" housekeeping mattered, that cooking (tho I stink at it) should be routinely attempted lol and EVERY piece of laundry in the hamper was a major issue'. In my MID-20's I wondered about the veracity of the previously mentioned points and wavered a bit (ok, ok, I staggared and fell.. lol). AS I slid toward the end of my 20's I decided I was going to have to more or less choose priorities... I know (and have unDYING respect for!) women who can run a business or hold a job, run a household, maintain a good marriage and function within the bounds of sanity all at the same time - in fact I tried to sign up for classes instructing how this is accomplished but DAMN! no one offered any...

Thus I decided I needed to develop a 'DOMESTIC POLICY' that was within my grasp.

So I trimmed the list of MUST DO DAILY.

I re-arranged the list of 'IMPORTANT'

I pondered the meaning of life.

I figured out how many hours it ACTUALLY takes me to run a business well.

I calculated time for fun (like spending time here),

I figured in some time for 'being there' for people I love

(and a few minutes for people I like too :-)

I reviewed time spent with my DH

(still adore him - quite a lot as a matter of fact).

Crunched a few numbers, ate a few twinkies laid it all out with business plan efficiency and clarity. My bottom line (no pun intended!) domestic plan for a life I can both manage and enjoy is this:

A FREEZER FULL OF FROZEN DINNERS & CLEAN UNDERWARE.

Maybe if 2007 is a good year I'll upgrade my domestic policy to include

NEW UNDERWARE and some of the GOOD frozen dinners! lol......Then again the upgrade may have to wait till 2008!

THE CLASH OF MUSE & CASH

CREATIVITY AND CASH CLASH

AKA the muse/money dance...

I shared a series of interesting emails with a marketing student of mine recently discussing the clash between pure creativity and the reality of cash flow. It's a netty but necessary issue that touches each of us, be we full time carrer artists or those who create solely for personal fullfilment. Interestingly, I think it's a multi-faceted issue that has no simple answer.

In my marketing classes I tell my particpants that part of the creative journey is to discover what their personal need and style is - you have to form a a business based on both who you are, what you desire from the business in the final outcome. That's clear. What's less clear is how much your muse will rule each day, session, hour - and how much cash flow will affect your creative choices.

Do you choose to create ONLY what clients respond to, what markets well? Do you work with clients who desire a great deal of input in your art as you create a pieces(s) for them? Or do you remain aloof, choosing to create by 'following only your own heart?' As the market of self representing and gallery represented artist grows, as the number of shows and festivals increases it's a question that each artist will find they must consider.

Is there a 'correct' answer? I don't think so. Each life, each muse, each fiscal reality and desired outcome is different for each artist. And to further complicate the issue, at various times the reality can and often does alter, meaning that the weight you give to creativity/muse vs financial recompense can change throughout the years of your creative journey......

No, there's no simple answer. But if you can establish what your goals and needs are as you create your works, it certainly gives you a bit of roadmap to guide you!

THE 88 CENT SWEATER SAGA

Ok, ok....

I've had requests to publish this holiday tale! (LOL it is funny) I think the "88 cent sweater story" may become a blog-holiday traditon (somewhat like the movie Christmas Story with it's famous line "you can't have a beebee gun - you'll shoot your eye out" :-)

This story of mine is many years old now, but I admit, it still makes me smile...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I have a funny story for you..

I have a long history of being 'hard to buy for' when it comes to gifts. I'm not fussy and it's not about price at all it's just that I have 'quirky' taste in everything from clothing to dinnerware - maybe it's the artist thing or maybe it's just me, lol.. In fact, after years and years of struggling with my husband (who loves buying surprises) and subsequent returns he finally agreed to pick out gifts for me together - and it's turned into a great tradition of lunch and 'it's all about me' shopping (LOL) for a few hours two times a year.

So anyway, the few hold outs in the family who still determinedly purchase are kind enough to enclose receipts for return allowing me to cater to my quirkiness via exchange. Works well, till last week.... :-)

Last week I happily made my way to the nearest mall (almost 40 miles from here) the item, gift receipt in hand and a bit of 'exchange funds free shopping' lol in mind... I was stoked for several reasons. First, the obvious fact is due to distance I don't just 'swing by the mall' - too far. Second, my lunatic schedule prohibits much time for shopping anyway and if I do actually steal a few hours to shop I'm by nature more interested in odd, one only kind of stores - so the mall is a rare bird trip for me.. But back to my story.....

So there I am standing in the endless 'return line' You know, one clerk who I'm fairly sure HATES her job looking over at the growing line with a deer in headlights expression... (me hoping she doesn't just abandon her post before I make it thru, lol) The line itself, is full of women who are vaguely disgruntled (who enjoys the returns credits department scenario?) There is no happy chattingering, just lots of foot shuffling and sighing.

At last I make my way to the counter. The prize ('free' shopping a la' return credits) is at nearly in my grasp! My tired (from standing in line for half an hour) feet are feeling rather happy-dance-ish...

But wait - I see alarm and or confusion in the expression of the 'deer in headlights' clerk facing me (and mind you the delay is calling the FULL attention of the standees in line as DELAY is not DESIREABLE). The line is now fixated on my transaction as they want to know WHAT the hold up is... The clerk fusses and fusses and calls the manager and then another department head (oh my gawd is the sweater stolen?! lol I think to myself!??) what could possibly cause this kind of three tier management hubbub? The powers that be and the clerk talk as in the background I hear the mob in line plotting my death if this takes much longer. Finally the clerk and assorted management come back towards the counter and the clerk (who's now been abandoned by supervisory staff) clears her throat and loudy announces as if the town crier the following:

"I'm sorry maam, but apparently your gift was purchased at sale price so I can't refund you the full price". I'm relieved - that's ok, just a bit less replacement shopping. I say 'no problem' and smile. She looks at me with great seriousness and repiles (a bit loudler still as she's stressed to the max by now) "you don't understand - your sweater was purchased on sale for ............88 cents.... and I can't even issue a refund for less than a dollar..."

There was an audible gasp from the mob at the line. The clerk is nearly in tears (poor thing). In the retail gift giving world, time stopped...... EIGHTY EIGHT CENTS you say?All eyes were on me, and for me at least (after the initial thump and annoyance of being the receipient of an 88 cent gift) it was just plain funny..

I ran various options thru my mind. It occured to me to say 'call 'The world book of records people'!

I thought of simply giving this sad little 88 cent sweater to someone in the line as I walked by them on my way out.. :-)

I thought of asking the clerk if I gave her 12 cents if she'd give me a credit for one full dollar? (but decided the humor would be lost on her and the last bit of stress would kill her...)

In the end I simply said 'thank you'for your help put the poor 88 cent wonder sweater that had stopped retail time back in it's bag and it's home here with me now...

Acutally I hate to admit it, but I feel sorry for it. And you know me, once pathos enters the picture, the item has a home for life. At least some good came from it all - I didn't shop funds free, so it was a short trip. I was able to morph the planned shopping time into meeting my husband for a rare, unplanned and very enjoyed late lunch.

I've long ago moved past being worried over 'public embarassment' (one of my friends said 'weren't you horrified all those people in the line heard you were given an 88 cent gift?") Actually no, as in the scheme of things it's just not that important - abit of a sting? maybe - but hey in the stream of life, no biggie.

In fact, pitiful sweater saved my life. The mob in line would most certainly have KILLED me for the time the whole transaction took had it not had the 'tragic 88 cent' ending it did - yep, saved by the 88 cent sweater.

You have to be amused by the irony of the entire story, really you do....

So 'sweater' has become one of those bittersweet funny little stories that comes up now and again for a laugh, and will (every time I wear it in all it's not-my-style-ness) remind me of the stolen chinese lunch with my husband that day, the deer in headlights clerk, and the fact that life is too short to fret over things that don't go the way you think they will.

Yep, oddly enough I think pathetic 88 cent sweater (who is now living in the studio with me) and I are going to become good friends....

Hope your day is a good one :-)

PROCESS & OUTCOME

I came across this quote in the way one does on the internet - one toe in the sea of cyber leads to wave upon wave of interwoven links. A click from 'here' leads a merry wander to 'there' and unexpected treasures are discovered. My only regret is that my system locked prior to my noting just where I was when I found this quote.......

The reson I found this quote by Kent whispering to me was that it IS in fact the way I feel when at the torch, in the midst of the 'process' of creating and why I find it ever fulfilling.

Tho the quote refers more to the 'appreciation' of art I think it curiously interesting that

the the emotion behind the PROCESS and the emoiton of the APPEAL of the outcome may be more alike than I'd ever thought.......

What do you think?!

(Read the quote below)

______________________

"The thing about art that delights and confounds us is that it never happens again. This delights us if we have learned how to look because the esthetic experience allows all of our human faculties to be absorbed in the environment of the present

and for a while to be fully alive without reflecting, without turning back or looking ahead.

Uniqueness confounds us because there are no rules for guides. There can be no science of the particular. In a sense this confounding is a delight because it puts us in touch with that aspect of reality which is described as uniqueness--the fact that nothing ever happens twice in the same way in every respect."

corita kent

RED (RUBBER) RAT DOG

I'm always bemused and caught a bit off guard by the oddity of things that trigger 'light bulb moments' for me....

Take red rat dog for example.

How I came to meet red rat dog is a long story, so I'm going to head directly to the interesting part(s). I've never had nor do I at the moment have dog - cats when I was a kid, cat when first married and outside cats now. I'm not 'un-fond' of dogs, just never had one.

As we entered the domain of Red Rubber Rat Dog, I heard barking, but no dog in sight, more barking no dog, louder no dog.

Then, moving at the speed of light appeared an astoundingly energetic daschaund ~ enter "red rat dog"... Tail flying to and fro like a single windshield wiper stuck on high, lol... Once he decided he approved of my DH and I he stopped barking, and after a bit of watching us he vanished, back to his regularly scheduled routine I assumed. But I was wrong. He reappeared in a bit with what was explained to be his prize posession, a red rubber rat chew toy, almost half his size. Most of the middle of the rubber rat's tummy had been chewed out, so it was quite the curious visual, lol...

Red rat dog (not his real name of course but what he'll always be named in MY mind, lol) stood in front of us with his beloved red rat drooping from his mouth, windshield wiper tail going so fast now I felt certain it would fly off his little posterior at any moment.

His owner explained he loves to play fetch with red rat - but there's a trick to the game - 'you'll see' she said and smiled. Sure enough after a few more minutes of studying us, he dropped the rat at our feet and my DH reached out to grab RedRubberRat for a toss.

BUT, red rubber rat dog flew forward and grabbed it first. The process repeated several times (getting a bit funnier with each attempt) till my husband got the timing right and was able to get and toss RRR for a rolicking chase and return :-)

As I watched Red Rat Dogs curious game it struck me how much I had in common with him. He's a contral freak like me, lol.

There's the desire to play, yet the need to set the structure. There's the joy of sharing beloved rat yet needing to be in control of who and when it's released .... A great game, just has to done in rat dogs way.

For me, it's not a queston of contol of a red rubber rat, roflmao, but interestingly, I could see myself in this odd moment of clarity (see I told you gain insight thru the strangest of things!) For me, actually watching Red Rat Dog shone a light on issues such as learning to delegate without too many 'constraints or guidelines...' I had to laugh at both Red rat dog and myself because I do the same thing he does! If something doesn't get done quickly enough or just the way I would do it I snatch it back and do it myself which makes it pretty darn challenging for anyone offering to assist me, be it my accountant, or my advertising rep, my UPS guy, even my DH!

My tail keeps wagging but because I routinely jump in to do the task on MY timeline in MY way, I end up holding the rat most of the time, enjoying the toss and run a lot less often.

My rule, my choice.

I learned a good lesson from RED RAT DOG ...

If the rat sits a moment or two that's ok - there may be more to be said for the toss and the run than red dog or I think. Maybe (just maybe) Red Rat Dog and I should ease up our 'game rules' a bit (grin)... Maybe sometimes life should be less about 'control' and more about fun. A truth that's especially hard for self employed business owner(s) - and perhaps people in general - to remember.

I'll have to get Red Rat Dog a nice treat (maybe a green rubber frog?! lol...)

Hope your day is a good one :-)

A LOVELY TESTIMONIAL

If you are a full time studio artist you spend your days heeding the muttering of your muse....

True happiness washes thru your days because you know how rare it is to derive a living from creating what you love, what you feel and see in your minds eye which appears to you and you alone.

But the zenith for any artist lies in finding that your work 'speaks' to others - that the thought
in your mind, the fancy of your heart, the song of your soul put into a tangible object touches
someone else....

This gift of "acknowledged connection" between your work and those who follow it may be given to you in an email, a phone message, a forum post, a snail mail note, or.......

An online ARTICLE......

http://www.ijewelrystoreonline.com/2006/09/faith-davis-ferris-lampworking-bead.html

However the gift is shared - it is treasured....

Knowing my work and secondarily who I am is carried within and seen thru my work is the gift of lifetime anew - each and any time it is given.

Thank you Christina....... :-)

A RAINY DAY & A BOX OF PICTURES

Shufffling thru boxes of old images is something I love to do....

The years rest in random order amid each other in the box.

Each frozen moment of time I hold in my hand brings back memories, sounds, feelings.
Places come alive again, adventures are relived, good times, bad times - all there for revisiting.
Some precisely as I remember, some different thru my eyes now decades have passed.

And some ~ some are just too funny for words! Take this one for example :-)
THIS one remind me that I've NEVER been able to tame my hair, roflmao...

(And as you can see I have ALWAYS loved red - some things don't change) !

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THE WINDS OF NOVEMBER

November is restless time for me.....

As much as October brings a soothing joy, November lays the obverse at my feet.
Days wrapped in the lingering darkness & melancholy winds the days of November
whisper of worry ~ as they have since the beginning of time.

Yet I remind myself they give way to the winter, the time to rest, to ponder, to
explore the corners of life (and art) that patiently wait their turn thru the brilliant
bursting of summer and the delirious delectablity of summer and early Fall.

Spring beckons 'come hither' to see life return again - sandwiched inbetween the classes
the torchsong and the software that are my days. She and I steal moments to share
and smile over the return of birdsong and branches laden with unfurling leaves.

Summer is a defiant dance of schedules and goals set under a blazing sun and liquid breezes
Gentle rains and singing frogs in my tiny pond are the backdrop to frenetic energizing days.
"No time no time" is the mantra of summer - no hours for reflection and experimentation
~ in life and in art~

So the winds of November and the restlessness they bring are perhaps just the earth
reminding me it's time to turn my path inward, to replenish and ponder, experiment
and seek.

Art and life both demand a time of rest/renewal if Spring is expected to have the verve to
arrive again...

CRACKS & FLAWS

I'm really fortunate to receive emails from so many of my clients and beadmaking students that really 'share' life news and oftentimes attached are ideas or 'clippings' found somewhere such as this one below...

I really treasure these e-notes because they are person to person - not just a forward where the recepients are one of hundred emails on a list. Each of these emails shares a pebble of good news, or troubles, triumph or tragedy, or just a cheery 'good morning!' along with the piece that often promts the letter (again such as this one below).

Each of these emails is like getting a letter in the mailbox years ago! (am I dating myself?! lol)
This is one such e-note from someone, (thank you!) and I thought I'd share....
___________________________

In a village far away an elderly woman had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which she carried across her neck.
One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water.
At the end of the long walk from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.
For a full two years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home only one and a half pots of water.
Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments.
But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it could only do half of what it had been made to do.
After 2 years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the woman one day by the stream.
"I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house."
The old woman smiled, "Did you notice that there are flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side?
That's because I have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you water them."
"For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table.
Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house."
Each of us has our own unique flaw. But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives interesting and rewarding.

THE WRITTEN WORD

4:59 a.m.

I love email ~ and now that I've met blogger I love 'comments' too)!
I sink deeply into reading the content of notes from friends and 'not yet discovered friends' (each email/meeting holds that possibility!) and I'll tell you why I feel this way about email...
Even tho tech-culture has made the world spin faster and made us endlessly available it's also returned to our culture something the phone and fax removed - the art of written communication. Not unlike scripted pen and paper letters of old, WRITING (via email) returns to us the ability to ponder what people say to us and the ability to form our thoughts replied in a way that is (IMO) deeper and more lasting. Don't think for a moment I don't enjoy a rollicking spontaneous phone conversation with a friend or client - I do! But still when it's over, it's done. Admittedly long saved emails don't have the VISUAL allure of a stack of old letters tied with ribbons in a box. Yet I find I go back to my email folders to re-read thoughts people have shared with me. You'd be surprised how often you'll write to me sharing a story or quote or a bit of chat, and within those lines I gain an insight, or a laugh in the midst of an impossible day..... And when I write in return, I immerse myself in the words, able to stop and think as I write. Things I'd like to share come to mind. Perhaps a story from years past that may help - or some insight that I'm hoping may be useful in a difficult time someone's facing.
I'm dismayed at the many things that I wish I'd shared but escaped my mind when I'm on the phone. How often I've thought 'I wish I'd remembered to say/share that!' after I've hung up the phone. But the immediacy of the telephone (as good as it can be) doesn't allow for 'pondering' the way writing does. I don't suppose I have a point to this, aside from the fact that I enjoy your emails/comments tremendously.... Be it a series of missives we share about life, a chat about business, a line or two in relation to vexing moments in life or a quick 'hello! ' from an old friend or client (or a friend yet to be made)!
In my mind the written word still rules because of the way it allows us to REALLY connect!
So do feel free to write ~ any time!.....
refo315

OLDIE # 3 ARE YOU FAMOUS?

*

2004-01-13 - 4:48 a.m.

ARE YOU FAMOUS?

The email exchange that sparked this entry has so many facets, it’ll probably be good for several writings… lol.. But let me begin at the beginning…

As a full time studio artist one of the apsects of my business is teaching. I teach lampwork beadmaking (among other lampwork and marketing classes) on a very regular basis & have for years. I hope to always teach. I’ve been an artist in residence, I’ve done copious numbers of demos, I’ve been invited to teach at some significant events. No matter what the particular situation, teaching is one of my joys. For me there is no greater thrill than working with/teaching someone who is simply curious about glass and seeing them, step by step, fall in love with it as a material, an art, a passion. I consider it a great honor to be part of the ‘time line’ of holding these ancient skills in my head, heart and hands and passing them on as my father passed them to me...

So, I advertise, I have class info on my website, many students arrive by word of mouth reference. I am incredibly pleased that students travel from all over the country to study with me. It’s really and truly wonderful and I watch the progress of every one of my students with fondness and pride.

But this email requesting class info, well when I read it, I just had to laugh out loud! ;-) It started out normally enough, the usual yadda yadda about I see you teach, I’m interested in yadda yadda, can I have further information etc etc… So far very normal exchange. But the last line was the treasure …. It said“and I also wondered, are you (as a teacher, glassworker) famous” ?Hmmmmmm….Now aside from wondering how Emily Post would recommend I answer, (grin) I really had to stop and think…. Just what would qualify me as ‘famous’ in the art glass/bead world? Hmmmmmmm….. And just why would that matter? (I understand wanting to know qualifications, asking for recommendations - for sure!) But famous… hmmmmm…I’d really LOVE feedback on your thoughts on this one guys…. I haven’t a clue what qualifies one as ‘famous’.

But it did make me wonder how/if/why it matters and if so what YOU think of when ‘famous beadmaker' or 'famous lampwork teacher' is bantered about…. So please DO write and share with me your thoughts/insights on this one…But I digress... As it turned out after I”d supplied all the other class info and was at the point I had to respond to her last question of "are you famous", here’s how I decided to reply:

I simply wrote:

"Not Yet" :-)

OLDIE #7 REJECTION (OR PTRS)

One of my fav oldies....

Like the basic black dress

it's a post that never goes out of style

but addresses (lol pun alert)!

Black dress - addresses, lol)

a topic that tortures all artist

established or new....

Odlie 7 REJECTION (or PTRS)

2004-03-04 - 7:30 a.m.

Fear of failure....

A client (who's become a close friend!) and I were recently discussing

professional rejection - you know the dreaded 'your work is lovely,

we'll let you know...' that ends in a thick envelope of returned slides

generally accompanied by a single limp piece of paper full of check

marks in the 'rejected' column. Speaking for myself I have enough of

these letters to wallpaper a room (or two).

I think it's one of the more difficult

aspects of being in business for yourself ~ this process of

putting your work out in the world for the publishers to publish

and/or for the public to adore and (hopefully) adopt.

You and you alone are 'it' from the first design draft to

the submissions/hopeful waiting to success or rejection.

And you're the only one to deal with the PTRS

(post traumatic rejection stress, lol).

It's something working

in the corporate world spares you.

If 'the company' (fill in the name) loses clients, business,

profits, accounts, employees it's obviously the 'fault' of

management' thereby insulating you from agony and angst on

a personal responsibility level. But the arrows head for

you and you alone when you are in biz for yourself

or are self promoting your art, your dream your vision.

Me, I'm particularly insane, as I do both.

I run my own business which offers

and promotes my art, heart, soul, dream.

But I have a theory (don't I always?! lol)

I think that rejection, a tough form of responsibility, makes

you stronger, makes you sharper, and encourages and forces

you to higher levels of skill in business, marketing, creativity

and emotional growth. All of which are

(IMHO) solid artistic, business and life skills.

Fear whispers

'you'll never be able to succeed on your own'

but I think of a quote

of Dave Barrys (which I edited slightly).....

"Never be afraid to try something on your own.

Remember a large group of professionals built the Titanic".

Dave Barry

Rejection, like pain, confirms you're out there trying and

alive in the midst of the adventure! So my advice to

anyone with a love of art and the desire to sell it?

Simple... just tell fear to 'fluff off'!

(and pick a room that you think will look good

decorated in 'rejection-letter-wallpaper..roflmao).

If you persist the time will come when

successes will outnumber the rejections.

Hope your day is a good one :-)