Wednesday, August 20, 2008

FROM MY (studio) WINDOW



I thought you'd like to see a few 'around the studio' images :-) ?

So with that path in mind here's one of my favorite views. This is the window in the 'beading-between classes-non-flamework-classroom' portion of my studio building...

When I built the studio I wanted the teaching/reading/research/chatting side of my studio to have an inspiring yet calming view. Did I succeed? :-)

It's a lovely view all year (yes, lol even the snow in winter). But summer holds the most beautiful sights of all for me...

Comments welcome re: my 'around the studio images' idea!

Friday, August 08, 2008

SUNSHINE IN A SEED




I planted four types of sunflowers (which I love) this year. Some are multiple blooms, some are varied in color, and of course my original favorite of all my flowers, the MAMMOTH sunflowers!

This 'little sunny' was the first to open so he is the first to be shared.

No matter what the weather, these guys provide sunshine from a seed every time I see them from my window(s)!

What's YOUR favorite flower?! (I know, a difficult question) :-)

Sunday, August 03, 2008

A QUESTION OF THUNDER OR LIGHTNING


*Seeking 'ok to share' images of lightning, the ones found here: http://www.guy-sports.com/humor/pictures/picture_lightning.html were amazing (this is my fav) If you have a moment visit there site filled with astounding photo images....
~~~~~~~~~~

Friday evening, so late as to dance on the edge of Saturday, nature let loose a lightning and thunder storm the likes of which I haven't seen/heard in years. Impressive to say the least. Humbling. Thought provoking.

As I lay awake, watching and listening, my mind wandered. I love these storms ~ such dynamics of nature in play (with none of the 'winter worries' of loss of power at freezing temps). Nature, in one of her pure, uncontrolled yet beautiful forms.

When I was younger (in my twenties) I loved the lightning most. CRACK! (the ground trembles) INTENSE DARKNESS DEFYING LIGHT! AWE IN A SINGLE STRIKE! It may only last a few seconds - but what an amazing few seconds a lightning strikes put forth. I loved them.

As I snuggled under the covers, listening to the sheets of rain enfolding the house and fields I realized that now, twenty some odd years later, I'm much more drawn to the thunder. How curious..... The thunder isn't as dramatic. It doesn't light up the night, nor does it shock. It rolls, it lingers. It has a depth and resonance that eludes the micro-moment drama of lightning.

Making the coffee and toasting bagles in the morning light following the storm it occured to me the question of thunder or lightning is something of a signpost for the different ways I see (and choose) numerous things in life now, decades past my twenties.

I'm much more patient - pacing myself for outcomes with 'resonance'. I'm far more drawn to depth than drama. While I've never fretted much about peer opinion, I now wear that feeling like a comfortable sweater around my shoulders (rather than holding it as a banner flying in the wind). I find a curious contentment in listening for the 'windows to rattle' (both literally and figuratively). Even tho they rattle in darkness and I can't SEE them rattle, there's a power that weaves thru something you feel rather than see. Much like the magic of something you can't touch but you know.... Spring will come. As certain as it is 'bad happens' so will good. Nothing you can touch - yet you know these truths and learn more of them as years go by.

Isn't that the fascination, the potential of each ordinary day ~ you never know when some small thing will show you you've how you've changed (hopefully for the better! lol) Like, the simple Question Of Thunder Or lightning.

Friday, July 25, 2008

PIGWEED & CELL PHONE

Pigweed

I thought you'd enjoy two little bits of IRL* FERRIS LOL
*(IRL = in real life)

First is PIGWEED :-) With every year that passes I find I love my flowers and (very simple) gardening more. It's so very different from the pace of the studio, the 'sitting' of computer work - and thanks to garden goddesses that have encouraged me (Sandra! & Carolyn!) the borders of the gardens grow.

Still, weeding is a vexation - akin to pulling/cleaning beads, lol. So worth the effort once complete yet better once done than in the doing. Hence PIGWEED - he just makes me laugh and is oh-so-useful as you see, holding my tools, kneeling pad (no wise cracks, lol). Here's a picture of him guarding my most recent attack upon the weedlings!

Next a DH story...

Over the weekend I was wearing a pair of capri pants - love them but HATE that they have no pockets as I always carry my cell phone in my pants pocket! What to do.......? Hmmmm. After a minute or two confirming I had no shirt pocket either I tried tucking my phone under the center of my bra in front (which is like a rubberband, lol). Shortly following that placement, DH and I were working outside together and wouldn't you know it - my phone rang, lol. DH looked at me oddly for just a moment then smiled and said 'hey babe, your chest is ringing - want me to get that for you?! roflmao.

What it takes to get a guy to offer to answer the phone! :-)

Ok, enough of my IRL stories!
PS to everyone I owe emails to, don't give up on me - I'm making progress, reallllly!

Monday, June 30, 2008

SNEAKIE PEEKIE :-)



FROM MY NEW SERIES ~ DREAMSCAPES
(Why yes, more turquoise! roflmao)
If you're on my mailing list you
know where this will (shortly) be found :-)

*Would you like to JOIN THE MAILING LIST? Then just click the JOIN THE JOURNAL MAILING LIST link just to the right*

Friday, June 27, 2008

BUSY (aka Buzzzzzzy)



Been ages hasn't it? Egads.

It's wonderfully easy to lose track of time in summer! Early morning strolls to the studio, endless light, color EVERYwhere, singing birds, buzzing bees, fireflies and frogs. Amazingly happy, this time of year....

Painted on this canvas of ease and inspriation is the hectic busy (buzzzzy lol) flow of activity of the studio in the summer season! Students, demos, and my personal torch sessions that can (and 'oft do) run from 5 am till dusk at 9pm. Bliss I say - pure bliss!

Lawns to mow, tomatoes to tend, laundry to be hung on the wind blown lines.
Simple inspiring days.

There are several new pieces and techniques I've been dabbling with - you'll see them here first of course :-) But for now, I must buzzzzz back to work!

Monday, April 07, 2008

NEW From the studio

THE COLORS in the studio have been anticipating the colors of Spring!

These three are from the CONTEMPORARY SERIES
I'm not sure about the center bead - but the other two (on each end) are destined for auction.

They do look very bouncy/springy don't they? lol

HAPPINESS

The sun is gaining strength, the birdsongs have returned....
The days lengthen and every aspect of life eases with the arrival of Spring.

Contentment is once again found in the return of this happy season!

Friday, March 07, 2008

A LEGEND (IN MY OWN MIND ONLY) LOL

Yeah yeah, I know you know: I'm working on the new website....

Website, website, website.

Yadda yadda yadda. Website. Yadda yadda yadda....

But today as I was working, going over my notes of commonly found pages on websites these days I found a note I'd made: TESTIMONIALS ~ followed by a note that
said 'RECOGNITIONS'. In short course I found myself laughing (at me of course).

For certain the only thing I'm currently & routinely 'RECOGNIZED' for is being insane. Funny maybe. Ecclectic - probably.

If I were to create such a page to add to the website it would be a very empty page. Which led me to thinking about WHY people create, what they need/desire from it. I've never submitted my work to the competitive arena as it's been perfectly fulfilling for me to have it desired by my buyers (thank you!)

I've only been published (magazine) once - in a feature about women in glass. Is that RECOGNITON'? lol Needless to say (tho I'm saying it anyway) I don't think that will be a page on the new website. So there it is - I'm RECOGNITION-LESS.

On the other hand, I've never been 'recognized' in any of the wanted posters at the post office either, so I guess recognition-less-ness isn't all bad is it?! :-)

SECONDARY THOUGHT.....

Now if you have any TESTIMONIALS about me as a beadmaker, beadmaking teacher, jewelry designer, writer, or human being, lol SEND THEM TO ME puulleeeeaaaseee!?!!
That IS a page I'm going to add (which hopefully won't be empty! :-) Now for the wise arses that I love among you - read on.... *I will read and cherish them all - (but I will reserve the option to edit any true (but embarassing, lol) comments/class stories ....

Wednesday, March 05, 2008

March? What happened to February?


My dear friend Heather just wrote ~ and mentioned my last post here was a month old. What DID happen to February?!! lol Beats me. The studio has been exceedling busy this winter. Normally the pace slows to a pleasant flow after the holidays leaving me with a flurry of inventory & paperwork (ick!) and blocks of time for R&D at the torches (which I look foward to all year). A far more hectic business winter this year (good!) but time has evaporated these past weeks. The ongoing transition of the studio website has consumed more than its fair share of time too (and my sanity) - but it's coming along well I think. Target date is April first - we'll see if I can be ready to publish it by then...

Here's a make up post for Feb :-)

THE HIGHLIGHT OF FEBRUARY was not just being 'spoiled' on Val's Day but the cheerful beauty of these flowers! They seem to say SPRING WILL COME don't they? :-)

Friday, February 01, 2008

Happy Feb!

Yes yes a step closer to SPRING!
Spin, twirl, hop, happppyyyy danceeeeee :-)

Here's a great joke to start the day (thanks V!)

An eighty-year-old lady was being interviewed by the local news station because she had just gotten married - for the fourth time.

The interviewer asked her questions about her life, about what it felt like to me marrying again at 80, and then about her new husband's occupation. "He's a funeral director," she answered.

"Interesting." The newsman thought.

He then asked her if she wouldn't mind telling him a little about her first three husbands and what they did for a living. She paused for a few moments, needing time to reflect on all those years. After a short time, a smile came to her face and she answered proudly, explaining that she'd first married a banker when she was in her early 20's, then a circus ringmaster when in her 40's, later on a preacher when in her 60's, and now in her 80's, a funeral director.

The interviewer looked at her, quite astonished, and asked her why she had married four men with such diverse careers.

She smiled and explained "I married one for the money, two for the show, three to get ready, and four to go."

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

NY WINTER POEM

I received this beautiful winter poem.
I thought it was very well written

' WINTER '
By Abigail Elizabeth McIntyre


Shit It's Cold!
The End

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(thanks V! lol)

Sunday, January 06, 2008

Lions And Tigers And Bears...Oh My

The first week of the year has been BUSY! The studio was becalmed for a day or two as I took a short hiatus to spend time with my husband (before he put my picture on a milk carton :-) Now with the start of next week, there are orders, classes, and adventure(s) ahead! Quite perfect a week (aside from the mind-numbing inventory/paperwork that cannot be ignored) But as problems go, that's a non-prob...

I did have a bit of a thump when day before yesterday I received a call that my website host had been 'acquired' (yes, we immediately know this is not good news)and a new provider would taking over. Not initially a worry. Tho I've been pleased and comfortable with 'bigstep' this last 13 or so years and wouldn't have chosen to move it's just the way of business now ~ mergers, morphing, change.

It wasn't until I learned in the course of the conversation that none (or should I more aptly say NONE! NONE! NONE! N-O-N-E!!!) of my existing site can be transferred did I feel a vague hint of hysteria. Apparently the "new host" software/systems are not compatible with the existing systems/formats so NOTHING can be easily or automatically moved.

LIONS AND TIGERS AND BEARS! OH MY!

I will need to completely create/rebuild my site, my cyber home, my internet-baby if you will.... Surprisingly sad was my reaction to losing 'her'. Of course there's the work, the time involved. And NO DOUBT it's worth every momentof effort as such an incredible ammount of my business comes to me day in and day out from the studio website. It's also true the site can be improved upon (and perhaps downsized a bit). But she, site and I as she is, have traveled a long way together. Odd isn't it how connected one can become to something that is not only inanimate, but with no physical substance at all.

So there is my newest project set at my feet, lol - If perchance you have any suggestions, input, thoughts as to things you'd like to see continued in the next iteration of my studio website (or things you'd like me to lose forever, lol)let me know! Is there something I've never done/had on the site you'd like to see? All your thoughts (+ & -) are equally welcome and appreciated. After all, it's YOU who use the studio site and in that have the most valuable of insights. I'd be ever-so-appreciative for any insights/preferences shared! (via comment here or email)

I see by the clock I must dash - but I'm looking forward to hearing from you on this!

Monday, December 31, 2007

ADIEU 2007

ADIEU indeed....

Those who share my ramblings, warped humor (lol)adventures, life challenges and rants know 2007 was for me, an "annus horribilis " (as Queen Elizabeth once said of a year). I lost several people who I'll never stop missing. I nearly lost others. Too much time in hospitals & waiting rooms. Too many 'late nite bad news' phone calls. I've not carried around so much kleenex every day since I was 13 and stuffed my bra... (remember I did admit to my warped humor).

But I'm not writing an epilogue to sadness here - at years end.

Instead I think it's actually an acknowledgement of the fact that lives shared tho incredibly painful once the 'sharing' is lost - still leaves forever intact the memories made.

I'm counting myself lucky that the 'close calls' gave me time. Time to think. Think about making time for people I love. As I've pondered it over the past months I've come to think that 'close calls' are calling cards fate sometimes leave to remind we mere mortals to 'slow down' and make memories. Tick tock tick tock.... There's no such thing as ENOUGH TIME, but there IS such a thing as WASTED time, WASTED opportunities. Control fate? Never. Control choices? Always.

So in the past year, I've been reminded (both gently and with ball bat force) that time waits for no-one (a good lesson). I've learned to strive for a better balance of the studio business and its endless needs with 'life' - family, friendships, husband, goals, day-to-day responsibility. I'm perhaps even more insane for the learning, lol. Yet better. Oddly enough more calm.

The last year has been an exercise in drinking deeply of the small, unsung pleasures that life leaves at our doorstep. I've always been an ardent advocate of enjoying the small bits of life, so I was surprised to learn how much more I could gather from each day, with a bit more discerning effort.

I think looking back on this past year that it IS true that difficult times yeild the most growth. Certainly we learn and expand in good, happy safe times too. But the fire of crisis seems (for me at least) to harden/temper the depth and resolve of lessons learned. Sharpen the eye, hasten the urgency. Crisis is a real window into the inner workings ones heart as well (but that's, well, an entry for 2008) :-)

Thanks to you - you who've weathered this year with me - Those who've given help to my heart, homes to my art, laughter to my warped humor. The jouney's always better when shared. Each of your unexpected email, notes, parcels, phone messages made some of the hardest days of this past year easier than you will ever know. Thank you.....

Here's to 2008! More melting (glass), hopes for less crisis, (tho more well learned lessons) and of course, lest you think differently, continued warped humor!!

PS Rob says THANKYOU for all the emails of offers for cookies**, roflmo He's hoping you'll force me into baking next year (wanna take bets!? rofoma)**Confused? check the previous November posts)

Friday, December 14, 2007

PC SANTA POEM

How funny ~ and sadly true...
Thanks for sharing this Christina :-)
~

Politically Correct Santa
________________________

'Twas the night before Christmas and Santa's a wreck...
How to live in a world that's politically correct?

His workers no longer would answer to "Elves,"
"Vertically Challenged" they were calling themselves.

And labor conditions at the north pole
Were alleged by the union to stifle the soul.

Four reindeer had vanished, without much propriety,
Released to the wilds by the Humane Society.

And equal employment had made it quite clear
That Santa had better not use just reindeer.

So Dancer and Donner, Comet and Cupid,
Were replaced with 4 pigs, and you know that looked stupid!

The runners had been removed from his sleigh;
The ruts were termed dangerous by the E.P.A.

And people had started to call for the cops
When they heard sled noises on their roof-tops.

Second-hand smoke from his pipe had his workers quite
frightened.His fur-trimmed red suit was called "Unenlightened."

And to show you the strangeness of life's ebbs and flows,
Rudolf was suing over unauthorized use of his nose

And had gone on Geraldo, in front of the nation,
Demanding millions in over-due compensation.

So, half of the reindeer were gone; and his wife,
Who suddenly said she'd enough of this life,

Joined a self-help group, packed, and left in a whiz,
Demanding from now on her title was Ms.

And as for the gifts, why, he'd ne'er had a notion
That making a choice could cause so much commotion.

Nothing of leather, nothing of fur,
Which meant nothing for him. And nothing for her.

Nothing that might be construed to pollute.
Nothing to aim. Nothing to shoot.

Nothing that clamored or made lots of noise.
Nothing for just girls. Or just for the boys.

Nothing that claimed to be gender specific.
Nothing that's war-like or non-pacific.

No candy or sweets...they were bad for the tooth.
Nothing that seemed to embellish a truth.

And fairy tales, while not yet forbidden,
Were like Ken and Barbie, better off hidden.

For they raised the hackles of those psychological
Who claimed the only good gift was one ecological.

No baseball, no football...someone could get hurt;
Besides, playing sports exposed kids to dirt.

Dolls were said to be sexist, and should be passe;
And Nintendo would rot your entire brain away.

So Santa just stood there, disheveled, perplexed;
He just could not figure out what to do next.

He tried to be merry, tried to be gay,
But you've got to be careful with that word today.

His sack was quite empty, limp to the ground;
Nothing fully acceptable was to be found.

Something special was needed, a gift that he might
Give to all without angering the left or the right.

A gift that would satisfy, with no indecision,
Each group of people, every religion;

Every ethnicity, every hue,
Everyone, everywhere...even you.

So here is that gift, its price beyond worth...
"May you and your loved ones enjoy peace on earth."

(c) Harvey Ehrlich, 1992

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

THANKS TO YOU



I did it...

Thanks to the encouraging words from a friend (well her words and a small threat, lol) I actually stole some time for myself as she (and so many of you) have wisely counseled. Time to do something/anything I felt drawn to do. No need, no planned outcome. Simply put, time to do whatever the HE** I felt like during those few hours. What bliss :-)

Of course I found myself called by my torches. Yet what a different thing indeed to piddle, paddle, twit~about with no intent, no plan, no needed outcome! Some of the time was spend engrossed in R & R ~ ideas that have been patiently awaiting time to be explored. No images of those adventures. Those are for another time, lol. A bit of the time was spent simply creating latticinos seen in the image above...

I also allowed myself the HUGE LUXURY of creating a total mess while I worked!

When I'm teaching my beadmaking classes I strive to be orderly (reasonably!) When I demo lampworking or beadmaking I'm extremely obsessive about being orderly, tidy and controlled. I've also found that when I'm working on orders, commissions or pieces for sale productivity is much better if I'm organized. So for all the reasons above it's a rare (treat) to be mess mess messy! I can't believe I'm showing you this, lol but here's the 'full picture' of this portion of my bench and one of my torches! Quite different from the cropped latticinos and tweezer image eh?



Happy to say, my mum's doing much better :-) Dad's doing well and back at his routine post op. And me, I'm feeling almost normal for the moment! (ok, quit laughing at my use of the word normal in relation to myself LOL)

Happier still I am ~ deeply thank full in fact ~ for the concern, care, support, encouragement and love so many of you have 'gifted' to me thru this past long difficult year.... Your gentle kindness, care, humor and encouragement have seen me thru (and then some).

Lucky I am indeed to have been given such gifts of kindness.

Tho it seems far too brief a phrase, know the simple words Thank you come from my heart....

Monday, November 19, 2007

A CAUTION

This was shared with me yesterday. Tho I don't know if it's an acutal event or 'urban legend' the point of being cautious in relation to text messages for info of a personal nature and/or to "arrange meetings" rang true. As I read this it struck me as a caution worth sharing with all of you.....

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

Be careful how you list names on your cell Phone!

This lady has changed her habit of how she lists her names on her mobile phone after her handbag was stolen. Her handbag which contained her mobile, Credit card, purse...etc. ... was stolen. 20 minutes later when she called her Husband, from a pay phone telling him what had happened, hubby says "I've Just received your text asking about our Pin number and I've replied a little while ago."

When they rushed down to the bank, the bank staff told them all the money was already withdrawn. The pickpocket had actually used the stolen hand phone to text "hubby" in the contact list and got hold of the pin number. Within 20 minutes he had withdrawn all the money from the bank account.

Moral of the lesson: Do not disclose the relationship between you and the people in your contact list. Avoid using names like Home, Honey, Hubby, sweetheart, Dad, Mom etc....... And very importantly, when sensitive info is being asked thru texts, CONFIRM by calling back.

Perhaps even more important:

When you're being texted by friends or family to meet them somewhere, be sure to call back to confirm that the message came from them. If you don't reach them, be very careful about going places to meet "family and friends" who text you.

Saturday, November 17, 2007

Yeah, Right



Last nite I had to laugh, because as I was running around like a chicken with rabies, (now there's an image eh? lol!) my DH said "wouldn't it be nice to make some christmas cookies this year"?!

He's right, it would be...

But if you take a brief look at my studio calendar filled to overflowing with commitments for upcoming trunk shows, lampwork beadmaking classes, custom orders, commissions et al thru Nov/Dec/Jan/Feb you'd understand my reaction, which was as follows: (in no particular order)

*raised eyebrows
*hands on hips
*small seizure (me not him)
*peeing pants (me not him)...

I really love this man - because without missing a beat he looked at me, smiled and said "I'll take that as a no on the cookie idea" :-)

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

NOVEMBER 1st

I'm not sure exactly what it is about the coming of November 1st that always brings my mind to the holidays. But every year, turning the calendar to November my thoughts instantly wander there.

Holidays are funny, quirky things, aren't they? A montage of memories, guilt, happiness, frustration, desires amid demands. A tumult of emotional confusion if ever I've seen one.

The last time I checked there were few people I listend to over the age of 10 who found any big holiday COMPLETELY free of conflict or happiness (in almost equal parts) and I began to wonder why it's all so convoluted. After all it sounds good on paper (as they say). Days off, good food, family, friends - Nomran Rockwell, here we come! So what's the problem?

It varies I suppose from person to person and family to family but oddly I think wanting whatever you don't have that is part of the mix:

People who have no one 'expecting them' are lonely
People who have too many places to go are pressured

People who have to be on the road hate the drive

People who are preparing dinner are annoyed with the people who ARE worried about the drive because fixing the dinner is stressful too

Kids feel uncomfortable dressing up to go visiting
Adults are uncomfortable dressing down to go visiting
If you eat too much you feel guilty
If you eat too litte lyou feel deprived/cheated
If you speak your mind you're in trouble (lol)
If you don't speak your mind you feel repressed
If you want to eat early, you'll end up eating late
If you want to sleep in, eat late,dinner will be at 1pm
If you want to fly, you'll somehow need to drive
If you want to drive, you'll end up flying

On the other side of the tumult is the intensity of the closeness, the flood of familial memories. The warmth and comfort of friends. There's the fact that sometimes the holidays (and life) ARE Norman Rockwell and the desire to 'freeze those moments' is so overwhelming it's a physical ache....

And don't underestimate the sheer volume of it all. In the span of four weeks there is so much food, so many people, so many memories (happy) so many memories (sad). Lingering regrets are gently mixed with determination to change.

Four intense weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas that find the past tugging at your sleeve, while the present hovers and the future windes gently ahead. A mental and emotional blend that leaves me (and perhpas others) oddly at ends.

It passes by Jan 1st. Twelve new months are ushered in and the hours/days/weeks/months fly by at an amazing rate of speed. New memories will be made, new challenges met. The pace is so frenzied I hardly stop to ponder the meaning of it all ~ that is until the next November 1st....

Monday, October 15, 2007

IF IT'S NOT FATAL

I have a little ceramic wall hanging that states
"If it's not fatal, it's not a problem".
Which is, in the big karmic sort of way, very true.

However there are times when that truth is hard to focus on, LOL

Take this past week. We snuck away for a few days of R & R and upon arriving home discovered our second vehichle had a flat tire. Not fun to come home to, but no biggie. That is until we inflated the tire and found that the stablizer bar shock had lost all it's hydraulic fluid so it had to go in for repair.

Then the welltrol tank went belly up (if you have a well you know this means 'no water, no toilet flushing, no showers and big repair-headache-bill. And if you have public water you now know what a well-trol tank is/does!).

All that was exciting enough :-) but wait, there's more.....

In the same week my Dad had surgery, (doing very well!), the coffee maker decided to croak, as did the dryer. All things that are not fatal (and I'm very appreciative it's nothing more serious, really truly I am)...

But I swear if one more thing breaks I'm going to drop kick that inspirational ceramic sign out into the field, roflmao!