Naughty Summer

Summer, we have to have a talk....
I know you probably have issues, things on your mind. But honestly I just don't know what your problem is this year! No sun, no warmth. Rain, rain and more rain! My sunflowers refuse to grow or bloom (they say they are after all SUN-flowers). My tomatoes are despondent. And green. Big and green. That's no way for tomatoes to look at the end of July going into August. And while we're speaking of July, do you know how distressing it is to be wearing a jacket in July? Jackets in July is catchy sounding but very distressing. Cool, cold rain day after day is fine if you're not a tree. But I'm not.

It's August and time is running out. So, Summer, if you could see your way clear to send a little sun and warm my way I'd be ever-so-pleased. Just a few days here and there. yes, that would be lovely....

Small Bird

I am a small bird
In a tall tree
Amid ever-growing winds
Not fearing the chance of a fall
Because I know I can fly

FDF 7/2009

CMOG More Images

Trying to cull thru the images I captured at CMOG for my 'favorites' to share is akin to asking me to choose a few favorite desserts, lol. So I've decided to share them all a few at a time until I can create a photobook online with a link...

This piece fascinated me with its combination of simplicity and detail!

These creatures of the sea are only three examples of the sea life and plant life created in glass (in the 1800's if I remember the detail information correctly). My images do not in any way show the true, subtle, remarkable coloration the glass artist(s) achieved.


More to come!

Two more CMOG/GAS Pics!

As it turned out the vendors area (which was our main focus) wouldn't open for two hours from the time we arrived. So what would two lampworkers with time to spend do in Corning? Not a hard choice, lol - we headed for the museum! I've visited CMOG numerous times, many times. It always was, and remains, an absolute amazement on so many levels it is difficult to frame the experience in words.

So for now, just the start of the images I have to share with you. These are of one of two Chihuly installations at CMOG.

CORNING Road Trip! Glass Art Society Conference

With the studio (and life) speeding along at the typical insane pace summer brings I've not had a chance to share the trip Dad and I took Corning with you! The GLASS ART SOCIETY held their conference in Corning this year and I can't think of a better combination than CMOG, GAS, the Vendors there for GAS and of course Corning itself. It was great, realllly great and of course the trip produced its share of stories, lol.

Today is another hectic day with multiple students in and out of the studio - so I have to run now, but at least there's a teaser picture!

More coming - lots of pictures to share...

A SHREDDER IS A VERY GOOD THING!

I ran across this article & wanted to share it with you. While it is a bit dated the caution within is not..... Sorry the link isn't 'cllckable' blogger apparently is being a tiny bit crabby today, lol)

http://www.cockeyed.com/citizen/creditcard/application.shtml

One more 'chick-pic'

Ah the age old question!!! Roflmao
I promise, no more chick humor (for a while anyway) :-)

Done, done & done!

Marigold seeds planted :-) (thanks for the seeds Mum!)
Sunflower seeds planted :-) :-)
Tomatoes (plants) planted :-) :-) :-)
And this year I'm trying pumpkins and watermelons. A new adventure for certain, lol No pictures to show just yet - I'm thinkin' dirt with marker stakes isn't all that interesting a picture. But I'll have pictures when there's something to show/share! Ah what a happy time with planting done done DONE.

Now it's time to water, watch and marvel at
the magic of seeds 'becoming'...

Peep (non marshmallow, lol)

No matter if you're a chicken lover or not, you have to admit 'chicks' are SO cute! (and clueless, lol)

Imperatives

Spring. It's all about imperatives. The birds must build nests. The grass must grow. Trees spend their days leafing. Frogs spend their nites singing. Concise, unquestionably clear. Who does what. Who does what when.

It's something that, at this phase of life, I miss....

I've arrived at the part of life-journey-ing which is free of prescribed imperatives. Not, mind you, that I necessarily heeded any of them when they applied, yet they were posted signs on the route. Carefully lettered, pounded into the ground. At predictable intervals they lingered. Read them, heed them, ignore them as I pleased, they were there.

The path winds now. Unmarked. Pleasant.

Oddly there are far more life-maintaining-imperatives. But few if any personal imperatives. Freedom amid frey. Exhilarating or confounding? Yes. Both. Neither. A mix of emotions that refuse to be named. Inspiration or anxiety? Yes. Peak and valley in rapid alternating succession with no plain betwixt and between.

Tick toc calls out the hand less clock.

My imperatives now.... None? Many? Yes. And no.

The path unfolds without signposts pounded in. No predictable intervals now.
Free to create, dance with life, dream.

Uplifting? Happy? Perplexed? Bad?

Yes.

And no.

Old enough to no longer be young. Young enough to not yet be venerable. Smarter than ever I was. More patient. More appreciative. Less patient. More confused. Wanting to conquer so much more than I would have dreamt (or dared before). But just what? Just when? Just how?

No imperatives. My call. My choice. My journey.

Turn left? Right? Rest? Run? Wait and see? Wing it? Plan? Pounce?

Yes. And no.

And so I go ....

Thrilled by the lack of (yet missing) imperatives.

100 Calorie Twinkies

Oh the happy-dance joy of it all! Mum found (and gifted me) a box of these 100 calorie per pack mini twinkies. Now what could be better than that?! Three to a 'packaage', six pkgs in a box. Slow deliberate yummy-ness at 100 cals a pop. A really nice calorie controlled way to consume twinkes... Unless you happen to be me.

MY take on this packaging concept was: 'HEY, I just ate the entire box, but that's only 600 calories, how awesome"! Faaaarrrrr improved on the caloric scale when compared to eating an entire box of normal sized twinkies dontchathink? lol

'Twas a very yummy breakfast indeed.... Thanks Mum :-)

OH-SO-DISAPPOINTED

Such sadness. Such disappointment. Such absence (aka no treat lol)

Last summer my husband, who is SUCH a softie for any living creature, found a chipmunk living in the yard. "It looked hungry" (he told me). "It stared at me" (he told me). "What could I do"? (he said to me) "but give it a few of the (non-salted) peanuts I was eating"? His kindness and sharing ways are two things I love about him, without question. But I had my doubts about feeding the 'cm' population. (I am mean that way lol)

But I said nothing and he and the cm had a long happy friendly peanut filled summer and fall.

This spring we have more cm's in the yard than you can shake a stick at!! roflmo Thus sadly (but necessarily) the peanut sharing has stopped. I'm not sure who it's been harder on - the cm (as seen above) or my DH who misses feeding him... (no picture of that :-)

(And just between you and me, I check the level of the peanut jar once a week, lol)

ALMOST!

Spring may still be best enjoyed from the inside (it's cold!) But sunlight streaming thru the windows and inside daffodils go a very veryyyyyyyy long way towards erasing my winter 'blahs' :-)

Of mice & poo

Somehow, beyond any rational impossibility of size, shape and clearance a mouse managed to find his way into one of my kitchen drawers. There was nothing of daily use in there. In fact not much aside from an nice (empty) dovetailed divided wood silverware tray.

Now I am not a fussy, girlie, if I get mud on my feet I'll pass out kind of woman. BUT I am not ever going to use that box for silverware! lol There is no way I'd be able to put nice forks where mouse poo was, then take a fork for that same tray, drive it deep into a scrumptious piece of cake and then put that forkfull of cake into my maw. Not without thinking of that mouse poo. And that kind of takes the edge off the cake, ya know? Yes I have choloroxed the box (even if it IS wood) In fact to the point that the paint may begin to peel and the wallpaper may fade. It' not the actual science here guys, it's the IDEA. Ick ICk ICK!

But here's the good news - now I have a reallllly nice wood tray for some of my glass or jewelry tools! (once the full gallon of cholorox smell passes, lol)

1 + 3 = free

I recently spent exactly one hour with a three year old.

Not unsupervised - no no. Mom and grandmom were there to tend to any maternal or grandmaternal issues had any arisen. So those of you who know me and are aware that I don't have pets or even plants can breathe easy. No need for any audible gasps at the though of my flying solo with a wee one of three :-)

With no estrogenic responsibility I was free to interact with her and watch how she devoured life over those 60 minutes.

Here's the fascinating thing: In one hours this 3 year old shared with me that:

*sequins & tiaras over jeans & sneakers still a princess make.
*plastic cows may (at some time) want to wear barbie makeup.
*gathering eggs from your grandparents barn in sequins, barbie makeup and tiara "so the chickens can see your outfit too" is very thoughtful (if not actual princess ettiquette)

Most importantly she shared with me that all things are possible (if not perfectly reasonable) when you think of them the right way, see them in the right light (or reflected sequin sparkle).

Princesses can gather eggs, plastic cows look surprisingly good in barbie makeup and you should always wear jeans and keds with your tiara - just in case you want to play like a boy too.

1 (hour) + (one) 3 (year old princess) = (remembering how to set your adult mind) free....

Giggle for the day! (wonder if it works...)

Fresh from my shower, I stand in front of the mirror complaining to my husband that my breasts are too small. Instead of characteristically telling me it's not so, he uncharacteristically comes up with a suggestion.

"If you want your breasts to grow, then every day take a piece of toilet paper and rub it between them for a few seconds."

Willing to try anything, I fetch a piece of toilet paper and stand in front of the mirror, rubbing it between my breasts.

"How long will this take?" I asked.

"They will grow larger over a period of years," my husband replied.

I stopped. " Do you really think rubbing a piece of toilet paper between my breasts every day will make my breasts larger over the years?"

Without missing a beat he said "Worked for your butt, didn't it?"

He's still alive, and with a great deal of therapy, he may even walk again.

Daisy Hill

Six months have passed since Daisy Hill
Has whispered "sit with me"
To dream a dream, or rest awhile
Amid my breeze-tossed sea... FDFerris 2009


That's the best thing about MARCH - we're marching closer to SPRING! So, in honor of March 1st here's an images of one of my favorite spring (and summer) places, Daisy Hill....

A £ TO PEE?

Most times these days the headlines are vexing. And while this online article isn't good news (link below) I have to admit it made me laugh. You know, laugh in that insane-hag-you've-got-to-be-kiddin'-me-is-this-for-real-sort-of-way.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090227/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_ryanair_toilet

I don't think I've laughed in quite that fashion since I came across a proposal to tax ranchers/farmers for cow farts. (This gem of proposed fart legislation was conceived in the US).



.Photo credit www.copyright-free-pictures.org.uk).

The premise for this proposed 'fart-tax' was based on the thought that cows everwhere are contributing to to pollution via their gas passing....

Poor cows.
Poor ryanair passengers.
Poor insane world.

The Old Ways

It may seem that the 'old ways' of things are a lot of work. That's because they were and are still, lol. But as is often the case the rewards are profound. Take my buddy COALBY - our first foray into coal heat. Many (many) years ago DH and I burned wood and in fact we cut our own wood - believe it or no, I'm pretty good as one half of a two man logging saw - but that's another story, lol.

But honestly when the desire to supplement the furnace came around again last year I had to admit I have arrived at a point where I no longer wanted to cut wood, haul wood, split wood. I love burning wood - the smell, the soothing crackling sound. But the work of cutting, hauling, splitting remained fresh in my mind. So as an experiment we adopted our coal stove COALBY. (yes I name EVERYthing, lol).


He's warm, he's cheerful, he's my new best-heat-friend. The only time he vexes me is on 'cleaning day' (my job) - Just for the amusement factor you've come to expect from me :-) I've included a pic of me on COALBY CLEANING DAY - sans hat and goggles and gloves (good mask is under the bandana). I'd have shown you the full regalia but I wanted to give you a laugh, not a heart attack or seizure, lol

So there you have it - a bit of February news from the Upstate NY homefront...

WHEN THE SUN RISES

Morning dawns on the african velt. The lioness awakens. She knows she will have to run faster than the gazelle or she will starve....

Morning dawns on the african velt. The gazelle awakens. She knows she will need to run faster than the lioness who hunts or she will not survive.....

The truth of this tale applies to everyone. Regardless of who you are or what the parameters of your life may be, when the sun rises you had better be ready and committed to hitting the ground running :-)

DOES IT LOOK LIKE I LOVE WINTER?

At the moment, not so much! LOL
SNOW SNOW SNOW in which I am covered
Temps minus 2, minus 6, windchill minus 25 ~

Geeessshhh!

A Friend Stops By For A Treat

"Any unwanted cookies, cake or cat food??????"

(If so, I'd be GLAD to help...) :-)

WEDGEWOOD ANGEL

With six days and counting 'till christmas I should be attending to the list that begs to have items crossed off as done.... But instead I find myself sifting thru boxes. Bit from here, there and everywhere. This perfect wedgewood angel ornament emerged from one of the boxes today. I've never used her for fear she'd be broken - yet it seems oddly foolish NOT to use her, not to let her see the light of day doesn't it?

I think for now I'll just set her (and her exactly matching sister) aside till I have a moment to measure care and caution against fearful foolishness!

New work (Peek or Buy)!

I'd mentioned I was working on some pieces for a trunk show of my work. This is one headed for the trunk show - unless of course one of you just can't live without it, lol. In that case first to email me glasschick at yahoo dot com will be it's new bead/jewelry mom :-) Just cut/paste/fix the yahoo email above to contact me.

Or

Claim it via comments here on this post. Whatever way the requests arrives lol, it goes to whoever claims it first!

I've placed it on a really neat dual adjustable necklace (included). The bead ties on the bottom as seen & the necklace has no clasp to fuss with - it has two slide knots @ the back which you pull together to lengthen to slip over your head. Best of all is it then adjusts (by sliding the knots at the back apart) to any length you like for wearing!

Another faboo aspect of this cord is the fact you can change beads (or add beads) to the bottom strings whenever you like ~ Fun! Just untie the knot and change to another bead. The bottom ties are aprox 2 inches long.

*** REMEMBER to re-expand it again before you remove the necklace (and pleassse DON'T ask me how that little gem of advice came to my attention, roflmao, spaz that I am :-)

If it calls to you, journal readers only price of 12.95 (NYS residents tax too :-( it's a must). US shipping ~ JUST A BUCK! ~ UK, CAN, $4.00 US FUNDS for regular first class shipping

Now, back to work for me !

Thankfulness Sunday

I know that thanksgiving day is technically the day to mentally and emotionally weigh all the things one is thankful for - but let me confess that the only weight related event that occurs for me on 'turkey day' is adding to my own personal poundage, lol! Too much of everything solid and liquid and cream covered is the priority. Then there's the laughing, talking and kidding to happy excess. The really truly serious pondering is held at bay on Thursday. Friday is for returning to a vague reality, Saturday for catching up. So each year I find Sunday is the day I really think about the year and the gifts it contained.

This Thanksgiving Sunday I find at the top of my list is simply the quiet slow return of enjoying the tiny happiness

Those who share my world personally (or here) know that recent years have been heavily woven with tragedy and worry, loss and sadness. Not that there haven't been wonderful and happy events as well - there have. But those happy aspects were forced to sit quietly at the feet of of larger life events - things uncontrollable and difficult - waiting for better times.

As is always the way with life and her path, she's changed course again and there is a calm. However long it may last, an ease. And it's stayed just long enough that I realized yesterday I honestly wanted to string some lights. I was enamoured with the thought of retrieving the tree from the attic. I was able to actually connect with these small pleasures again, for the first time in years.


As is the case with so many things in life what doesn't seem like such a big deal IS when you've lost it (or lost your pathway to it). It's just now that I've discovered the reconnect is viable again. Wonderful for the holidays and an even happier realization for the year to come - or however long these moments of calm choose to stay...

I also know as I think about it that the depth with which I'm enjoying these small bits of happiness are all the better for having temporarily lost my way to them......

There is it seems a thread of happiness woven into every journey, waiting for the right time to be seen and found.

HOPPY Thanksgiving!

A quick wish for a hoppy thanksgiving with the assistance of one of my lampwork frog beads, lol. As you see, he's happily settled into a bracelet - much as I'm happily settled amid my beads and bits, creating for an upcoming trunk show of my work....

Have a wonderful holiday everyone - and remember, one of the things that I'm very thankfully happy to have in my world is each of you!

6:30 AM - ish

Up at 4:15 each day, coffee infusing by 4:20 (first into the pot then into me asap! lol) what you see in the picture is the 'later morning' coffee with breakfast.... The never out of my reach cell phone upon a few bits of LAST Sundays paper. (A timely reader I'm not that's for certain)! The uber-yummy pumpkin bread is thanks to my mother who spoils me far beyond what I deserve (thanks Mum!)

You'll notice my mug (holds 5 tea/coffee cups of coffee).

WOMEN RULE it decrees. Indeed.

So there you have another fascinating little insight into MY world, roflmao.....

Using Fire To Create Ice!

Not much new around here :-) just using fire to create ice, lol (Icesicle Ornaments)

I'm glad the the elections are over, and I have to say I'm feeling hopeful ~

What are you working on? something in particular? holiday related? Do tell! (Share in the comments) I'd love to hear what YOU'RE doing (links to images welcome)

TTFN!

BABY IT'S COLD OUTSIDE!

Cold enough to snow actually. Drat! But I have the magic of images to remind me why I love living here (most of the year, lol) Tho I photograph horribly, this one taken during an 'inspiration walk' by my husband in late August isn't tooooo bad. MY favorite part of the image is all the GREEN surrounding me in our fields.....

Inspiration walks

really get my muse humming - so much vibrancy, detail, drama and color can be found amid the riot of nature at her summer season apex! Tho unseen in the image, there's a riot of field flowers, some yellow, others purple, even red amid the field grasses.

On this day, the heat bugs were buzzing in the background, a summer breeze blowing.

My muse wasn't muttering - she was singing clearly....

I'd love to hear (in comments) what inspires and stirs your muse to a frenzy!

WHAT MATTERS

If nothing you do matters,
then all that matters is what you do....

I heard this statement recently and I confess that at first blush it struck me as nonsense at worst, confusing at best.

The person speaking went on to explain that at those moments when you realize your actions will not change the 'big picture outcome' of a situation it's time to turn your attention, effort, heart and soul towards what small things you ARE able to do. Take actions that WILL make a difference. Those things within your control may or may not be related to the larger issue at hand - but you always have choices.

Quite profound.

It is incredibly easy (and disheartening) to look at a situation and realize that try as you may you are NOT going to control the outcome. Reasons vary, but you realize it lies beyond your grasp to rein in (or rein out) the horses and wagon you see about to go over the cliff.

The light bulb for me within the statement I mention was the tool of refocusing. Finding (if you can) some smaller inroad you may be able to attain within the bigger picture. And if that can't be found move on.

Do what you can in some other unrelated arena. Make some other small progress. Give some kindness. Change the world (or the day, or the moment) in some other small way. Do whatever you can within your reach.

To be powerless in 'given situation' doesn't necessarily mean there's nothing you can do - it may mean you just need to do something else.....

I don't know why I'd never really thought of it that way!

Sometimes life leaves me feeling a bit powerless - but as long as there are choices, other paths I can choose 'what I do matters'. Just, perhaps, in a smaller reaching circle....

THE ASPEN TREE CAFE

There are certain aspects of being 50-something that I confess I'm not keen on...

For instance needing glasses to read ANYTHING. Poo and bother. Because that leads to needing the magnifier glasses which I never have with me when I want to read something (drawing my attention to my lack of planning). Not knowing where any of these pairs of glasses are leads to an awareness of my lack of memory, as I can't recall WHERE I was the last time I used my glasses. Hunt & search for glasses. Poo and bother!

There are other aspects of this point in my life that, alternately, I love.

Take the ASPEN-POPLAR CAFE pictured above.

There was a time I wouldn't have in any way broken my routine or slowed my schedule to accept an invitation from my husband to sit and chat with him (with a wine for him and a beer for me) on a sunny Summer day. No, no. Too busy was I. Too busy was the business. Too soon would my next student arrive. No, no thank you....

Now I wonder how many moments I've lost to 'I have to's' that are long gone, forgotten and were (I know now) not of the import I assigned to them. You often read essays, articles, books reminding we mortals to savor time with our children, our parents, our friends, our hobbies. Far less often do we think of saving (or making) time for our spouses. Perhaps because our husband or wife is so integral to our days that the concept of making time for them escapes lucid thought.

Even less inclined are we mere mortals to take time to spend alone with OURSELVES....

In the rush and worry, responsibility and race of each day it seems optional if not silly to carve out time for husband/wife or ones self. But the 50-something me has come to understand that time spent with him and time spent by myself are not only important but wonderfully renewing.

It may not be so for everyone (not all husbands are created equally, lol) and not all people believe they need any time alone with themselves (tho I'd debate that with vigor).

Still, the next time you're invited to steal away for a shared moment of time (or the thought occurs to steal a moment for yourself) at your version of the Aspen-Poplar Cafe go for it!

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!

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) :-)

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.

PIGWEED & CELL PHONE

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!

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*

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!

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!

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 ....

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? :-)

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."

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)

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!

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)

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

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....

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.

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" :-)

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....

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!

"Beginning beadmaking class"

Several of my readers have asked that I note beadmaking class offerings/updates here.... So for those who've asked - here you are - and thanks for the suggestion/request! I know many of you are far from the southern tier of UPSTATE NY, but if you ever find yourself headed here (or think 'beadmaking road-trip' lol) I'd love to have the chance to melt glass with you and MIRL (meet in real life)!


BEGINNING BEADMAKING CLASSES

Beginning beadmaking classes are a total of 6 hours, generally split in two sessions so you're not 'overwhelmed' with information in one single session! In the decade(s) I've been teaching I find the split session gives a student the chance to both absorb the first day class material AND forumlate questions prior to the second three hour class. The two part sessions I offer also allow a student to rest one's arms lol, so the hands on 'torch time' is far more enjoyable and productive!.

*Tho if you require a one day class due to work or travel that can certainly be arranged* :-)

BEGINNING BEADMAKING ~ CLASS OUTLINE

During the classes we'll cover safety, tools, terms of course - but the majority of class is HANDS ON experience - I demo - then the student preforms each technique!

Step by step we'll progress, covering basic round beads all the way thru various bead shapes, embellishment techniques such as creating and using glass stringers, raking, trail wraping, dots, layered dots, adventurine, captured air and Milli's. And we'll cover more if we can :-)

In every class your pieces will be fully annealed (kiln ramped for the COE of the glass to relieve stress for stability of the piece) to take home at the next class date and the second day class beads I'll mail to you post annealing.

CLASS FEES AND INFO
MORETTI (soft) GLASS
120.00 US inclusive

The class price is for one-to-one private lessons!!! :-) I think most people (as I do myself, lol) learn much more comfortably working at their own pace & are far more at ease asking as many questions as they like (and/or revisiting any technique as often as they need to) in a one to one setting. AndI love to be able to customize the class to the pace of the student!

*(tho if you had someone you wanted to share a class with I'm happy to arrange a class for two..)*

AVAILABLE DATES
As any of my students, past or present, will tell you I'm extremely dedicated to working with my students to arrange dates and times that will work best for them! Thus I don't routinely post 'class dates' - but rather say 'email me'! This allows for the student and I to 'cyber-meet' :-)chat and discuss both the class openings I have avail and tailor them as much as possible to the student preference!

Please feel free to email me at glasschick at yahoo dot com. (I'll soon insert a proper link - thanks for working with correcting the spam-foiling email above before sending the email out


As I have the chance, I'll add more class info for those who are interested :-)

DIRTY WOW WOW

I KNOW what you're thinking, roflamo - but this is NOT that kind of post :-) Actually, it's something I stumbled across doing updates for my marketing classes and it stole my heart! So, of course, I had to share it with you.


It began as a wonderful concept:

What's a Dirty Wow Wow? It's the shabby stuffed toys and blankies you clung to and treasured from childhood, with nicknames like "Fuzzy Wuzzy," "Night Night," "Huggie," "Dup Dup," and yes, "Dirty Wow Wow."

Which led to the book....

Ten Speed Press celebrates these well-loved friends of childhood in the book Dirty Wow Wow, a touching, sweet, and funny collection of photos and stories.

But the best part of all is the online gallery of submissions (once you've clicked the link here, scroll down the opening page - and there are several pages of submissions). I'd be hard pressed to say if I found myself more drawn in by the images or by the stories ~ each so similar yet unique. Best of all was the chance to see a gathering of images and words showing & sharing 'the soft side' of humanity.

(And yes, I have my very own 'dirty wow wow' - she's a rabbit - care to see an image)? :-) PS she looks as bad as some of the other 'contestants', (but I'm happy to say she looks far BETTER than many of the 'blankets' lol...

DIAPER RASH

No matter how old I get, there are still days I feel as tho I have diaper rash, LOL. Nothing terribly wrong at all. More the 'run of the mill life' kinds of things. The sort of issues that, added togehter make one feel a tad cranky. Whiney. Pouty. You know what I mean, don't you?

Over the course of a girls life it's tagged as diaper rash, PMS, Post Partum, Menopause. But it's all a variant of diaper rash really. Some days are MEANT for a full pot of coffee, a good book, (or a box of beads) and a bit of solitary rejuvenation. Yet we all know those days, however needed, seldom happen.

Things need to be done. Simple and true. Time waits for no (wo)man. Even if she does have diaper rash! But isn't it a curious comfort to know we all (at least all of us writing/reading here :-) are bailing as fast as we can to keep our 'boats afloat'....

And who says we can't have a bit of a pout now and again while we bail?! :-)

MUM NOTES

Background # 1: Ever since her the first trip to the UK, my mother has loved the title 'MUM'. It began as a giggle when one day at tea in St. James Park we noted SHE is the Queen Mum of our family. It's a title that's stayed and truth be told it suits her....

Background #2: Mum sends me quotes online & marks/cuts newspaper and magazine clippings of note - it's a tradition between us that goes back just beyond forever, lol ~ and it's a tradition I cherish.

This is a recent MUM NOTE from the newspaper. Quite neat.

SOMEDAY

Pull out your calendar and do a little experiment. My calendar has Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and then begins again with Sunday. What about yours? As hard as I look, I can never find a SOMEday. Yet we live our lives as if we really believe there IS as SOMEday out there, figuring we'll get around to certain things ... SOMEday. Turn your SOMEDAY into today...

Thanks Mum :-) Really good advice, as always.....

DECORATIVE PILLOW ANGST

I have a real 'love hate' thing with decorative pillows.

They are so Better Homes & Gardens/House Beautiful when they're in place! But they drive me insane in real life.... Off the bed each nite. And unless you have a cute window seat to put them on, just WHERE (out of the way) do they go?!? So they are underfoot, literally, till morning. Then each morn, make the bed, fluff and place all the pretty pillows. A vague PITA.

Decorative chair pillows are the same way. The look SO NICE, gazing at the chairs. But just try sitting in the average chair ~ with the pillow in place ~ chances are it's not comfortable :-( So on the floor they go.

Granted in the scheme of things it's not an issue that achieves the status of a 'problem' lol. Yet it came to mind this morning as I was trying to decide just where to place .....

THE TWO BEAUTIFUL DECORATIVE PILLOWS I BOUGHT THIS WEEKEND

(sometimes, I am such a fool... roflmao)

FIND A HAPPY PLACE

If you've been reading you know I've mentioned some things have been on my mind, thoughtful things I suppose you could say. A variety - some work/glass/bead related. Others, more life-realted. This is one of the 'life related' meanderings.....

Years ago I watched the movie FINDING NEMO and one of my favorite lines in the movie came from the starfish who, whenever trouble appeared, dedicated herself to finding a happy place...

We all have those places, those states of mind. Moments where briefly, you know everything is ok... No particular reason nothing dynamic happens. You simply feel good. You've found a happy place. It's not easy to do and can't be done on command most times. If only there were some training, some karma, some way to travel there at will!

Recently, I was finishing my coffee, looking up thru the skylight in the kitchen and I noticed a ladybug running for all she was worth back and forth across the glass, upside down not the least bit undone by the fact she was making NO progress what-so-ever! I realized that I was unsure if I felt sorry for her or inspired by her. She was so busy going no-where ~ a trap that's easy to find ones way into for certain. But on the other hand, she seemed not to mind in the least ~ she was doing what she chose to do and was determined to do it as fast as her little L shaped legs would carry her....

She had found a happy place for herself.

Perhaps pushing 55 instigates such thoughtfullness or maybe it's hormone imbalance, lol. Some of it certainly is this phase of life and the attendant dynamic changes in life which occur on numerous levels. Whatever the catalyst may be I've recently spent many hours evaluating the distinctions between being locked in vs choosing. Pondering what the markers are that enbable us to evaluate our personal reality and life.

I think that all thru life we evaluate - the equivalent of the glass being half full of half empty. I'm continually striving to teach myself to see both sides of anything. My mother is a zen master at this and I not only admire but envy her the capacity she has to see the good in the most dire of fates.

I'm learning... (tho I seem to be a bit slow. LOL

Here's a good example. This time of year (Spring/Summer/Fall) is my very very busiest. It borders on insanity if not nervous breakdown! I normally work a 14-16 hour day (no kidding, really). The winter months are full and busy yet have a less chaotic essence. I am exceptionally fortunate I can actually function well on a few hours sleep for very long runs of time. Perhaps the luck of biology, or it may be more directly related to my wacko personality, admitted and acknowledged :-)

So I now and again in these months feel stressed out, pressed, cranky, ok, borderline psychotic... I feel a tad overwhelmed.

Enter ladybug walking across the skylight

Watching her today I realized that I have no reason to feel angst. I have no reason because just like ladybug, I choose (here's the key word I think - CHOOSE) the pace of this time of year and if I apply starfish's lesson of find a happy place I realize how content this life of mine is! I work 16-20 hours a day doing something that is as dear to me as my next breath!

I work 20 hours a day because of the loyalty and trust and return of my students and my bead customers. I am so very busy because my mind and my muse continue to generate new designs, new stories for my work, new art. I, thanks to each of you and your recommendations, see my business hold steady and grow in a dark economy. So in reality any stress I feel is really happily able to be viewed (happy place style) as a (somewhat tired, lol) celebration of the boundries of the life I've created!

Ladybug and my mother are smart women. I need to think like them more often.

Because the truth is, I've found a happy place too.... :-)

(Ref#204)

GRASS SPIDERS

As I was walking to the studio bldg this morning I noticed dozens of little tiny spider-webs reflecting dew in the early morning sun. As nature goes, spiderwebs aren't a highly remarkable sight.

What was remarkable to me was that they were all on the ground, not woven in 'high and safer' places but spotted all over the low grass, in harms way. I wondered what caused these little spiders to work so hard creating frail beauty to sustain themselves and then place in smack-dab in well trodden, easily harmed locations?

I pondered it as I worked and two conclusions came to mind:

Either they 'do the best they can with what life had offered them' - which is what I think we all do. Sometimes 'ideal' solutions just aren't in the cards, so we innovate and hope for the best....

Or the other conclusion I considered is that these weaving spider of the low grasses are artists, lol, creating beauty to sustain themselves and as mentioned before ,working hard and hoping for the best...... (And I bet these spiders are a bit insane as are all we artists! lol)

Seeing these 'ground webs' reminded me of one other thought... for what it's worth. We look forward to plan we look past to remember, we look up for the warmth of the sun on our face and to see the free birds fly. But we seldom look down, and below our feet is the most fascinating world - amid the grasses and grains of sand significant insights can be found....

COME HAVE A LOOK ~ POOR POOR BEAD

UPDATE: 'BEAD' has found a wonderful home!
As always thanks so much Heather & Sooz for your comments :-)
~~~

It's a strange thing that happens sometimes.....

I'll open the kiln to pull the work from the prior day and within the fire brick cave will be piece(s) that create giddy delight in my heart and soul! A piece/set/pieces that far exceed my anticipation when I gently place them in the nearly 1000 degress of heat for the long 'annealing nap' lol.

Here's an ideal example ~ I love the nearly jeweltone aspect of the colors! I love the sense of 'movement', the size! This piece sings to me.......



Here's another image with handmande aged brass beads and turq seaweed beads of mine that I used to complete the set ~



Are you wondering what the strange thing is? Or why the post title is poor poor bead?

Ah I'm wondering too - because this focal, this set that I adore hasn't garnered so much as a hint of interest at auction. Perplexes me to be sure, lol. And most certainly gives the bead a complex, lol

Perhaps it sings only to me? :-)

Perhaps too large? Too busy a design? Brass is bad?

Is the price, 11.95 for 3 lampwork, the brasses and the little turq acrylic beads) excessive? Are large focals difficult to design with? Hmmmmm.......

LOL these are the things that rattle around in my mind, as I wonder what it is I'm missing... Insights, suggestions, critiques, positive AND negative are very welcome -and appreciated!

And does this happen in your creaative world too? Do you ADORE a piece and find it seems to speak only to you? I'd love to hear! (confusion loves company! roflmao)

Poor poor bead - he's going to need rejection therapy, lol!