The freshest of seasons........

Man made 'spring essence' and 'forced in a greenhouse essence', our daffodils are only about two inches in plain green growth at this point. I imagine that when I return from my trip they will be in bloom! Ahhhhhhhh.

Collaborative piece, Karen Flowers and myself!
Felt Sculpture

Don't get me wrong, I am entirely thrilled, pleased and grateful to be honored by "Ornament" magazines invitation to be featured in their Spring 2009 issue, which I just recieved in the mail! Alice Scherer did a great job with both interviewing and presenting me and my work in a well rounded and colorful manner. There are a few drawbacks to their editorial policy of not letting their artists proofread their facts, however. There are three facts stated that could have been so easily fixed, one of these is embarrassing. It states that I have participated in The Smithsonian Craft Show. I have not....not for want of trying, I might add! The other two facts just might make for a confusing timeline. I was married in 1990, also the year that I graduated from MassArt.......just so you don't think that Olive started college at 13 years of age. Lastly, instead of a 'pole barn' construction on my lovely studio, Michael, Steve and Jim did an incredible job of a 'post and beam' construction. Have a look, the article is beautiful! It might not be on the stands yet.

Now that I have that all straightened out...... my day has been interesting. Both Monday and Tuesday were spent with Doctors, both attending to challenges that are only facing me with the advent of time passing, i.e. getting older. Both have long term consequences, both having to do with bones/lack of bones. Bummer.

I am still working towards my big adventure....which starts Friday. If you place an order and it doesn't get right to you know that it will be taken care of, either by my husband and daughter or by me upon my return which will be April 10th.

I hope that spring is springing wherever you are!

New Offerings....

Additions to my 'Shop' page! Karen has done it again, come up with a lovely 'one ball wonder' to knit up! Also included is a tutorial for coloring, forming, stringing and embellishing a pendant.

I am trying to make sense of the Swiss Air luggage allowance so I don't arrive at the airport with the wrong weight, size and variety of luggage. For any of you that know me, minimalism is not my strong suit! I am struggling to pare down my belongings.

Since my return home from Santa Fe I have been having a lovely time with daughters home on spring break and spending some time in the studio just taking stock and working on some interesting metal conglomerations, this coloring on metal is very exciting to me.....lack of color has always been a limitation regarding metal compositions, no more!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELLIE!!!!!!!

This morning I will see my friend and Shiatsu practitioner, Shunji. This is long overdue. In a two hour session I leave feeling entirely integrated in body, mind and spirit. The wonders of a healer.

My time in Santa Fe was so lovely. The show was excellent and with the prospects of a yearly continuity, promises to only get better. My sisters came to visit and we met up with a step brother and his wife and had a 'family reunion'. I am home, recharged, filled with warmth and good ideas, ready to move on into the next phase.....preparing for my trip to Creative Glass in two of their locations, one in Switzerland, the other in Kent, England where I will be teaching both glass beadmaking and Felting!

Playing 'hookie' from my life isn't something that I often do but when my dear friend Plum suggested that a long friended group of us make a day of it at the Museum of Russian Icons and a trip to the Botanical Gardens....I jumped in, both feet.

We had a lovely time!

Today? Finishing touches on organizing belongings, kits and work to sell......

Gearing up for some new scenery....

I am enjoying the anticipation of my upcoming trip to Santa Fe!

Along with my professional 'duties' of teaching two very fun classes in feltmaking and altering the surface of metal components, I'll be selling my wares at the convention center at the BeadFest in Santa Fe. I am so looking forward to my time with sisters that will be joining me from Pennsylvania and Texas, and a brother and his dear wife that live in the area.....and my dear friends that will be exhibiting at the show....and poking around this town!

You'd think that I had nothing to do but 'pleasure seek' as I gear up to join 3 wonderful lady friends this morning at a Russian Icon Museum, a luncheon date and THEN...visit a botanical garden. I will remember my camera and hope to capture some visceral shots of plant parts!

Thought we had had enough.

Michael gallantly dug and plowed us out....one more time!

I spent the day on the torch. I'm ready for a new season.

Dust bunnies are NOT cute!

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I have never been a good housekeeper, I'd rather do anything but clean. I suffer from the consequences of that hatred. I have limitations regarding order, the more time between 'tidying' up and cleaning, the harder it is to make sense of what lays in my wake.

Yesterday I made friends with the brush attachment on my vacuum.....it only took 53 years to realize the value of that tool. Some of us are faster learners than others.


I'd rather look at Lotus pods and blossoms!