A Day in the Life.....

new.

2012-01-08T07:11:00.000-05:00

new year, near outlook, new hope.

studio in morning

When they say 'follow your passion' I am sometimes confused. All I know is that when I sit down to operate/play/reconfigure seed pods I feel as though all is right with the world, I am where I should be and that all will be well.

It was 1985 when I went back to school. 10 years in the fish business had taken its toll, getting up at 3:30 to make art before I went to filet fish was clearing the way towards realizing that art making was where I found a center, a glimpse at joy.

A freshman at MassArt, 30 years old, taking core classes; my first and most rudimentary stab at interpreting the pod form. 26 years later I am still interpreting the pod.

I am so excited about the trajectory of my ideas, what will happen, where will this go? These questions are often met with resistance, fear, trepidation. For whatever reason I am peaceful with the thoughts and knowledge that all will be well. I'll take it, gratefully.

I am preparing at different levels for different things, some are not to be shared just yet, other things need a 'shout out'. My next outing takes me to Tucson, my yearly pilgrimmage. This year brings a new venue, I will be teaching a class with Anne Mitchell in 'Coloring and Connecting Metals; Filling the Void' a proven fun and informative experience as well as exhibiting at the To Bead True Blue show at the Doubletree, Reid Park. I hope to see many of you there! We still have spots in the class, if you are interested or know of anyone who might be, the link to Anne will take you to sign up.

As I go through my life I am often conflicted. I have written about this before, the notion of living to report or living to experience, they feel different to me. How I frame my experience in the moment is rooted in the context of my perception. In the post office yesterday it was certainly a 'live to report' moment as I asked the employee to please use his elbow to cover his cough vs. his palm where he spread his germs to the whole world. His response was, 'well, everyone coughs at me all day long', this is a baseline strategy of many, I fear, and not just with regard to spreading germs. Let us rise above this angry default and 'cover our coughs with our elbows', using this as a metaphor for protecting the good and not trashing that which we are mad at. Soap Box over.

2011-12-19T14:19:00.000-05:00

Twice in one day? Unheard of. It took Olive's knowhow to take this sweet image of the 'townswomen' out of a video format and put it into a still version, the whole window at Delectable Mountain in Brattleboro.This second stab at news in my world is to say that I finally have my web shop back up and running! To those of you that received the newsletter and have ordered things...such big thanks, it has really helped with the spirit of the season.

And the last shout out is to make you aware of a fun class that Anne Mitchell and I will be teaching january 28 at the To Bead True Blue Show in Tucson in metal joining techniques, coloring metal and resin using vintage and new brass forms as the vehicle.

The Antithesis of the Feeling of the Day...

2011-12-19T08:56:00.000-05:00

On this last weekend before Christmas I headed to Brattleboro, VT., home of the quaint and homespun. Streets were bustling, sites like these included carolers, windows seductively foreshadowing the seasons offerings, artists having front and center billing in the twinkling lights.I walked over to one of my favorite stores, "Twice Upon a Time", went to open the door and saw that a young boy and his dad (or someone acting in that role)were on their way out, I stepped aside and held the door. All smiles in my heart, rejoicing in the spirit of the season and all, I looked down at the child as he looked right into my eyes. He raised his right hand to his waist as if it was a gun and mouthed the word 'kill'. Wow, what a buzzkill.This left me conflicted after the hairs laid down on the back of my neck. Should I have called him on this? The parent saw nothing as the child was uber discreet, adding to the creep factor. I know we assign our adult interpretations to things that we observe and deem appropriate (or not so) but this child knew he was wrong, I believe, or he wouldn't have acted so secretively. I guess the part that disturbs me is that the killing is everywhere, is it any wonder that it is just another expression...maybe this kids way of saying, 'lady, get out of my way'?

Northern California...you lend such perspective.

2011-11-16T10:50:00.002-05:00

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This 36 year long love affair lives on. It was 1975 that I moved to San Francisco I think, I only stayed 6 months or so but I bonded with this most beautiful of cities and continue to have a fantasy of some day living in this region again. This trip took me to Alcatraz for the first time after so many attempts, mostly foiled by not thinking ahead and finding that tours were full.

Anne Mitchell and I took the tour last Wednesday, a weepingly beautiful trip to this most haunting of places. While on the subject of sharing fantasies...it has always been a source of entertainment and escape to consider incarceration as a relief from the stresses and strains of keeping this train on the tracks and all that goes with that to consider three squares and time to read and create without having to pay mortgages, and keep up with an extremely busy life. Of course Alcatraz has always been the setting for that fantasy. How about a room with a view?

The day was perfect, warm, sunny, scenic. Impressions to remember were the chinking sounds of the doors to the cells being closed, interesting to me to put myself into that sobering conclusion to my idea of surrender. The sound, haunting in all that it represents.

The picture I've included of the garden represents a whole other reality on the 'Rock', that of the families that lived on the island whose spouses and parents worked there, the children's joyous interpretation of life and their lack of knowledge surrounding how the inmates reality differed from their own. Circumstance and perception, one a reality, the other a choice.

I was in the Bay Area to attend the Bay Area Bead Extravaganza, otherwise known as B.A.B.E. This show continues to be my favorite show to do in the course of my year, I usually teach a class associated with the show and then participate on the show floor. The students are consistently smart, capable, curious, fun and supportive! The show has a great variety of beads, collections and is limited in ultra mass produced items. Trarie does a nice job with promotion and curation. I want to say thank you to all who came, over the years I have developed wonderful relationships with so many, I come home full and grateful.

I had a day yesterday to bask in the afterglow, today it is back to work. My goal for the next few days is to get my 'shop' page back up and running. It seems to be the last thing I make time for, Olive, my eldest daughter, has offered to help. With that promise I'll proceed.

I hope that all of you in 'Blogland' have wide open channels to your muses, can take a moment to smell the roses and can clear the clutter towards the road to 'be here now'.

Time away...

2011-10-08T06:49:00.009-04:00

The further and longer I am incommunicado the harder it is to drop back in. It has been a couple of months. In that course of time so much 'goes down'.

Since Sunapee I have been working on new work, some turning out, other areas falling short of desired results, I'm leaving those on the back burner as I prepare for fall shows.

October is here, how did that happen? I am working on a new computer, this is good but everything takes a bit longer and I need to make decisions regarding what I bring from my old computer and what I can leave behind.

My thoughts were to take a break and sign up for a retreat to Haystack with MassArt Alumni, hoping to find beauty, community and a jump start...these thoughts changed as circumstances did. I signed up for a class In New Hampshire that meets every other week where I take my metal smithing problems to the incomparable Kerstin Nichols. The class is the best, full of interesting people all doing some thing different. Kerstin guides us through our own particular problems , we learn by seeing each others challenges. Anne, great grandmother, is making cups and spoons for her people. In both my yoga class and this metals class I am struck by the vigor and interest found in women in their 80's and 90's~

Olive is back home and being a great help with show prep, Lily is ensconced back at Putney, starting her senior year and all that goes with that. I see her at soccer games, and she and her friend Greer were so helpful in photo generation for the latest round of neckpieces shown here. Michael's progress is continuing with help from his yoga practice and acupuncture.

I am thinking as fall progresses about last year at this time. I was traveling to Denmark, Sweden and Holland. My dad was sick. My eyes were so open to 'being here now', a state that I find myself in while traveling. Why is it so markedly different to be so open to everything while in unfamiliar surroundings? It is wonderful to be thoughtful and present and not bogged down by the tedium of everyday. The poignancy of that time away and the reality of parents leaving this world has made for a bittersweet anniversary. I think so fondly of the people that I met, the places that I saw...and the dutch cookies that I ate.

Back to now...time's-a-wasting, the studio needs me to warm it up. Next in line is the Bead Affaire in Watertown next Saturday, then on to Washington, DC and the Smithsonian Craft 2 Wear show at the Building Museum, a beautiful space. This first trip to D.C. is one of three trips this fall to the area. I will return in November to teach for the Northern Virginia Bead Society. The first weekend of December calls me back to the Washington Crafts Show, to be followed by my left thumb surgery...and then I will rest.

In mid November I will attend BABE to teach a fun class with Anne Mitchell and to show my wares at this favorite show and location. Will you come join us?

I can't help but revisit the cheese portion of a Dutch grocery store, amazing.

2011-07-11T07:19:00.002-04:00

A trip to the MFA in Boston yesterday yielded a beautiful connection with my dear friends and a great trip through the Chihuly exhibit. I was so impressed with the curatorial interpretation. All of that reflection put to such good use.

ah, so, life continues at a pace where I am just jumping from one faction of my life to the next, barely uncovering the surface before I need to skip to the next fire.

Largest and most demanding 'fire' at this moment is the idea generation and then the practical considerations surrounding class proposals for next year. how do I create a class that will inspire, teach many techniques and not call for a tractor trailer load of props, tools and materials?

Next in line 'fire' is preparing for Sunapee, that 9 day show that always comes along the beginning of August and takes me into the middle of the month. Once it is set up I enjoy myself, just manning the shop on a daily basis but it is such a chunk of time and takes so much energy!

The graphite paint for electroforming is SUCH a leap in generating a flawless surface. My results are pleasing me. Add some enamel and ooh lal la!

I still am considering insect forms as voids to be filled with ?. Containers, lockets, reliquaries.

Michael needed to capture another swarm, the bees proliferation calls for finding a new home, so off they go. We were lucky that they settled so low in the tree, made capture relatively easy. Still more activity than Michael had wanted at that point but it was a successful capture, a new hive has begun.

My web shop is still not up and running. I apologize. As it stands I won't get to it till mid August.

The fires are burning hot, off I go.

so much fun!

2011-06-03T05:40:00.006-04:00

Since I have been home from Canada my time has been focused (mostly, other times I've run off on tangents) in the studio. I feel so blessed to be able to string together so many days where all that matters is creation. it is a whirlwind, a tsunami. Today I need to clean up after all of these 'storms' and refocus on order and presentation as I leave early tomorrow for Milwaukee.

Spring moves into summer. Lily is due home next week, tomorrow she will be a part of the Strolling of the Heifers parade in Brattleboro, VT. I wish I could see the parade. She has been working with Hula H. Hoop, a 3 month heifer, in order to get her ready to face a crowd and be 'street presentable'. I spent some time last weekend up in Putney where she was working with Hula, so green, so lush, so sweet.

Pictures include wares ready for packing. Glass beads, mesh bangles adorned with deer skin and metal parts and a charm necklace, 'JuJu' going on!

Michaels progress continues. It is never quick enough but I am amazed at the bodies abilities. In two months he has come such a long way. I know that to him it feels interminable but from the outside he has come so far. A full nights sleep is a challenge as is his energy level, when he hits the wall he HITS it, he doesn't want to be too far 'into the woods'.

Ah, the phases of time, the mind and forward thought. It is as if my mind has hyperactive filters acting as blinders as each filter is engaged, losing sight of the big picture. I need to bring this 'Big Picture' into focus and get this show rolling. My hope is that you can engage so completely that you can temporarily lose sight of that big picture...at least temporarily.

P.S., Kate, I enabled comments...finally.

Chasing Spring.

2011-05-11T09:03:00.004-04:00

The yellow green of early spring has been my companion from Washington D.C. to Toronto, how lovely to live it over and over again, to rest at home with some daffodils still in bloom.

It is time for the Brimfield Antique Show, thrice yearly for a full 5 day period. I am hoping to be able to make it there, for the visual stimulation. Clearly, as I try to weed out the excess of stuff accrued I don't need to bring anything home.

My life is a whirlwind, with no hope of rest as I prepare to set my sites on Bead and Button. I am slated to teach 2 separate days of Foldforming and a day of an introduction to Borosilicate glass. Nothing is full, sadly, and I would love to entice some more takers. I promise fun filled days and will be sharing knowledge learned from the 'school of hard knocks' so that you don't have to learn it this way!

As I reflect upon my last ten days spent in Canada I want to 'shout out' just how awesome my neighbors to the North are. Smart, civilized, unpretentious, supportive. The first part of the trip was spent in Toronto teaching for the Bead Society in a facility where the twice yearly Bead Show is held. Spacious, sunny and welcoming, the students open, willing and generous. Maureen Warland was my hostess with the most. Organized, upbeat and prepared she filled the classes to the brim and foresaw what was needed long before it was. We then moved onto Bead FX, where Marg was ultra generous with her store and tools and unfortunately I only saw her briefly. We'll have to ammend that.

After my time in Toronto I moved on down to Beads of Colour in Dundas and was in the kind and thoughtful care of David and Debi Nicholson. They took me to Niagra Falls, I had never experienced the awe and power of the falls, fortunately the sun came out to show us a rainbow, so beautiful. Between a day of teaching on Lake Erie in their cottage where David kept us extremely well fed and watered and the second day moving up to Dundas we created BronzeClay slides, colored metals and even snuck in a felting demo. We were all rewarded at the end of day two with an incredible surprise dessert, home made apple dumplings~ they were incredible, as are the Nicholsons'.

A huge, heartflet thank you to all involved!

Things here at home are coming along, Michael is slowly healing. Today we will go to watch Lily in a Lacrosse game. It is hard to measure from day to day the progress. It is only when you look back over the last month that one can see where we have come from. The incredible stories that people have shared with me over this past month are inspirational and offer hope for an eventual full recovery. Time, time, time.

acceptance.

2011-04-22T08:06:00.003-04:00

Some things are easier to accept than others, i.e. cancer, bears destroying the hives and many others....my job today is to trust the order of the universe and to choose a positive approach to the chaos in my wake.

I am gladly home after a challenging time away. Lots to digest and process; finding my husband 25 pounds lighter, trying to establish a healthful and well nutrified plan for his eating many SMALL meals in the course of a day. As the doctor says, "you will need to be a grazer, just like we were all meant to be". Lovely friends have been bringing by heartfelt, well cooked meals that I am divyying up and freezing in 'Michael size' portions.

He is rid of all but one external apparatus and is coming along so nicely, albeit TIRED, TIRED, TIRED. The doctor says he is rid of cancer and doesn't recommend any further chemo or radiation, truly a miracle! Huge thanks go out to you all for your healing thoughts, prayers and well wishes. I believe in the power of 'many' now more than ever.

The first picture is of the remains of the bees in our yard after a bear came through and had 'his way' with the hives, the next two pics are of the incredible Building Museum which housed my booth at the Smithsonian Craft Show this last weekend and the last is a picture from outside my studio looking in at the incredible glass window that my friend Ruth made.

I count myself so fortunate for having so many generous friends, for the ability to observe another spring come around and for the emerging daffodils.

A few changes....

2011-03-25T08:44:00.003-04:00

As I sit and wonder and work and create my thoughts are overshadowed by life's complications. My husband, Michael, has been diagnosed with esophageal cancer, if you think about it, the esophagus is the column, channel, tube that gives us all sustenance.

Wednesday, March 30 he will undergo an esophagectomy. This is a big deal, he will be in the hospital for 10-14 days. Up until Monday of this week we were operating on the plan to include 6 weeks of radiation and chemo followed by surgery. The doctor called to give us the best news possible, the cancer is thought to be well localized and he thought he could eradicate the cancer through surgery. If any of you are scheduled for a test, scan or other health evaluation, please go do it, it is only through his periodic screening that this was detected.

These are scary, uncertain times. As we prepare for this surgery, I am also preparing for Beadfest Wire where I will teach 5 classes and then I will move onto D.C to participate in the Smithsonian. Conclusion being we don't need to suffer bankruptcy along with the other stresses. I will be here for the first 5 days after surgery and then our eldest daughter, Olive, will take over.

As of Wednesday of next week I am going to shut down my Big Cartel shopping cart on my website. This will be until Mid May where I hope to reopen a new and improved version. If you need any sequins, etc. now would be the time to order.

winter to spring.

2011-03-20T07:18:00.002-04:00

A collection of images.

Seasons shifting now,
new promises unfolding,
don't always have choice.

Haiku for the day.

2011-03-18T14:53:00.002-04:00

So I had to go and tweak the inner workings of this 'Blogger' thing, change to 'new editor' from 'old editor'. I have wasted ENTIRELY too much time here today, I'll add the promised photos later.

Thrashed.

2011-03-18T07:53:00.006-04:00

By life's curve balls.
Blogger isn't helping. I am proceeding as if the images will finally find the text.
Pictures include.... a picture of the wonderful and often photographed Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto, an incredible sight and experience and reminder of all that has been lost in Japan.

Spring is starting here in central Massachusetts, each day the melting snow reveals more and it is not just mud, yesterdays traversing between the studio and house sparkled with dropped sequins, long covered in snow as 65 degrees comforted my body and soul.

Beadfest Wire is coming right up! I will be teaching several classes, the always fun 'Color & Patina on Metals with Metal Joining Techniques' with Anne Mitchell and two Foldforming classes, as well as a slide class in the new Fastfire Bronzeclay! Sign ups are strong but a few spaces remain. I would love to see you there. Pictures above represent the classes I will teach. You have choices~ earrings out of sterling, a copper brooch, a bronze clay slide as well as a fun time playing with vintage findings and color.

From Philadelphia I travel on to Washington D.C. to set up for The Smithsonian Craft Show, I am furiously adding to my body of work.

My wishes are for love to abound, the people of the earth to live in peace and for everyone, everywhere to foster and share a spirit of generosity in the face of the many challenges that confront us.

Next up, NORCAL and Santa Fe....

2011-02-25T07:41:00.004-05:00

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So many factions of a life scream for attention, I try to choose wisely. Sometimes I just go with what is more fun, ahh, the choices we make.

I am gathering materials to take into Boston for a weekend workshop I am taking in making molds for casting. Included are natural forms, altered natural forms, some already made pieces and some fun shapes. We'll see where it leads.

Pictures included today are of the 3 classes that I am teaching in Santa Fe. Class signups are going well, there is still some space, though. I'd love to have you aboard. For those that have already signed up, Thank you....we are in for a fun time! I am really looking forward to this trip, for March 5th I will be in Oakland, CA at the NORCAL Bead Society Show, and then I'll make my way towards Santa Fe, stopping to visit my friends Susan and Richard in Sebastopol, CA.

I won't have a booth in Santa Fe, my teaching location will be in The Lodge. I will have supplies and a mini trunk show going on in my classroom, if you are in the area at lunchtime or before and after class, I'd love to see you!

It is snowing AGAIN this morning, a heavy, wet snow. I rest in the knowledge that as each day passes we are closer to the shift towards spring. What a welcome promise....

Loving.....

2011-02-24T06:05:00.001-05:00

My time in the studio.
My family of friends.
The fact that I have been graced with the ability to turn thought into action.
Insights delivered deep in the night.

NOT loving:
Health challenges and recovery from damages to family and friends.
The all too fast passage of time.

All in all a 'hopeful halo' rests atop my head, letting me think, plan, dream.
I wish the same for you.

Feng Shui to Chickens.....

2011-02-15T06:46:00.003-05:00

I was impressed with Michael's winding path to the chicken house. I am always impressed with eggs, chicken or otherwise. The Psankied eggs are from my 'wayback work'. They were made around 1976-77, probably.

Yesterday was the first hint of spring here, snow was melting for the first time in weeks, the trip from the house to the studio was joyous, didn't need to scurry, reveling in the warmth on my back.

My brain is in 'strain' mode as I think about the 'now', the near future and ahead of that. I know about the notion of 'one day at a time', it certainly has its place and is a great model for my thought process but in this business we need to consider 'far ahead' in order for things to run smoothly; ordering, organizing and trying on scenarios.

I leave tomorrow for a trip to Cape Cod to visit friends and 'train' my friend Susan in some projects where I need help and then I go onto The Bead House where I can see Jeff and Kim and share with the group a fun class in the new Fastfire Bronzeclay.

I love that feeling in the core, knowing that Spring will Spring...even if it retreated overnight. I loved yesterday's taste, now my hands are cold again.

Snow Day.....

2011-01-12T12:00:00.006-05:00

There is at least a foot out there of new snow with lots more coming down and the beginning of a big wind, who knows where it will end up?

Lots has happened since I last updated my blog, the culmination of which was an exceptionally heartwarming 'Celebration of Life' honoring my dad last Sunday. This was uplifting and enlightening, offering closure for some, an opening for others. May we all touch as many lives as my dad did and in as positive a fashion. He had more lives than a cat, finally used them up. We will miss him.

After my decision to postpone my second hand surgery, an opportunity to go and exhibit at the Baltimore Bead Society's annual show came along and I accepted...so in this snowstorm I am regrouping, repacking and repurposing lots of inventory. Components, finished work and piles of bagged beads that I no longer have a use for are headed to the DC area tomorrow morning, weather permitting. Please come by and say hi, I look forward to seeing you.

Next up is my annual pilgrimmage to Tucson, I will be in the ballroom at the Whole Bead Show. I hear it is a lovely 70 degrees today. I look forward to the desert sounds, smells and people connecting from all over the world. In conclusion after all of these years, however, one must wash their hands frequently as I believe the infiltration of foreign germs passed along through money exposes us to 'bugs' we haven't yet developed immunities for. Every year people are 'struck down'.

After Tuscon there is an upcoming workshop in Bristol, RI. I'll be teaching a FastFire BronzeClay workshop, focusing on two sided slides, riveting and moldmaking as well as coloring metals, both what we will make in class and some new and vintage brass findings that I will be bringing along. The Bead House is where I will be. Go, have a look. This shop is delightful as are the owners, Kim and Jeff!

I guess my time is up for putsying around in my studio, it's time to 'get back out there' and see what you all are up to. This past month and a half has opened new doors, expanded ideas and got me into a moldmaking workshop...as a student, yes! This 'found time' has been excellent, I am renewed.

Just checking....

2010-12-23T07:11:00.003-05:00

...to see if blogger can upload images...and post words at the same time.
It appears to be in synch today.

I send well wishes to you in hopes for a warm and fulfilling time to be experienced by all.

Another day before me with which to experiment, and savor the time spent in the studio.

2010-12-16T07:23:00.006-05:00

So, what is up with blogger? It won't let me import pictures and won't let me post verbage with pictures? It has co-mingled my post from last week with this week. sheesh.

Suffice it to say that I tried, these 3 pictures are what have had me thoroughly enjoying myself, reveling in the contrast between matte black, and high chroma. The 'glowing lotus' will house my fathers 'ash capsules'. The candlesticks to light my way.

Life IS good.

2010-12-16T06:50:00.009-05:00

2010-12-07T06:54:00.003-05:00

So I was grounded. My trip to Japan did not happen, tooth trouble kept me close to home. It is now a couple of weeks later, all is well in toothland (and otherwise).

I am reveling in new found time. I made a decision to postpone my thumb surgery after my acceptance into the Smithsonian Craft Show, which occurs in April, and would have left me only a month of production time had I gone through with plans. So, I am giddy with the options in front of me, time to explore, to work up so many new ideas. Basically I have been given two months, months that I had set aside to recover. My next 'gig' is Tucson, early February. Until then I am in the studio!

I have been feeling so connected to my world and grateful for the many wonderful people, places and things that are in it. Maybe that is a luxury that people that work in a deliberate way consider. Instead of my usual 'which fire do I stomp out first' response that I am usually caught up in, I can take some time to evaluate. Ahh, the gift of time, and the luxury of choice.

Pictures as promised, Amsterdam mostly, Rembrandt's home, watched a transaction go down in the Red Light district, chilly birds on bicycles, David Bowie in a gallery, boat photo taken in the sweetest thatched village in Sletten, Denmark. Such a wonderful trip, I am still savoring the experience.

Dancing on hot coals......

2010-11-16T17:24:00.005-05:00

'Arrived home last night after a wonderful time at BABE in sunny Oakland, CA. Just in time to whip stuff out of suitcases and re-whip them into others. I'm pretending that I am ready to drive the loaded rental van down to D.C. to participate in The Washington Craft Show, truth be told, I am probably as ready as I'll be with the exception of the washer full of clothes, which isn't really very ready given my travel schedule for the past month and a half. I hear my old friend Anne Gainey saying, "you can sleep when you die". Yes.

I have been busy, which is an understatement. After arriving home from Holland I had a few days to prepare for BABE, get myself out there, meet up with my pals, visit the MOMA, an incredible couple of photo exhibits currently shown; go to General Bead on Thursday and teach a wonderful Foldforming class on Friday. The class was great, it is always challenging to introduce something new. I am pleased with how the class worked out, I believe everyone enjoyed themselves, including me, thanks students!

The show was great, saw many of my friends, new and old. California always makes me happy.

I was finally able to download some photos from my 3 day Amsterdam adventure, I think that these should wait for a next posting as I just reached my max for this round.

This week brings the craft show, visits with my mom and sister and brother and sister in law, hopefully some nephews thrown in and then I'm off to California again next Monday in order to get me closer to my Tuesday flight to Japan. After that I get to rest...and have my other hand operated on.

This urchin fountain is situated in Jack London Square in Oakland, so cool. A cute picture of my friend Anne, a canal photo of boats on boats and a ceramic pod from my friends garden in Leende, also a typical cheese section in a grocery store in Holland...Snapshot hodgePodge.

2010-10-25T00:07:00.002-04:00

Our dear dad left this world yesterday. Hospice lovingly saw him through the transition from this world to the next.

The image that pervaded my vision upon awakening today was a collaboration of time, impermanence and the delicacy of a soap bubble, each of us inhabiting our own.

I am on a journey, as we all are. My physical self is here in Holland, many miles from home, but feeling at home as I have been lovingly cared for by my new family of friends here in Leende.

I will miss my dad.

Copenhagen is Beautiful.

2010-10-14T16:56:00.004-04:00

As always the doorways intrigue me.
The luxury of time to walk and observe and reflect, what a joy.
The architecture, colors and smells, the perfectly tasteful presentation of food, clothing, storefronts.
I have the best job and meet the best people!

A wonderful time.....

2010-10-11T17:49:00.003-04:00

This beautiful farm just to the north of Stockholm was the setting for a fabulous gathering of students from Sweden and Finland, with Tove and Jette as co-hosts, responsible for organizing and making happen a very special weekend.

We drove back to Denmark today with a much more welcoming weather pattern than our trip last week. It was a beautiful day, chilly and sunny with the fall colors transforming the countryside. Tomorrow I'll take a day trip into Copenhagen, I look forward to juxtaposing the country experience with a trip into the city!

Be here now.

2010-10-03T06:53:00.005-04:00

This is the challenge, my own personal challenge that is. My work calls for me to 'be here now' as well as WAY out in front of myself. The pictures of these new Assemblage/Bronze pieces are examples of upcoming workshops at Crystal Creations/Beads Gone Wild in W. Palm beach Dec. 10-12 and The Bead House in Bristol, RI, February 19-20. I am loving the thought of pulling together all of these ideas, FastFire BronzeClay, new and old Brass findings, color and personal objects.

I leave today for my trip and my focus feels like the autofocus on my camera only spanning time, from here, NOW, to way ahead, to here again.

This favorite photo taken in Oregon last year at this time while Meesh and I pranced around the pumpkin patch, look at that sky.

Manhole Covers and Ovaries

2010-09-27T07:47:00.005-04:00

My personal and current mission is to marry these two things, along with preparing for a month long journey. I leave next Sunday for Denmark, Sweden and the Netherlands....did I say for a MONTH? Daunting facts given my life here, caring sometimes via satellite for my sick dad who lives 3 hours away. This life offers us so many challenges. I am amazed, perplexed and touched by lifes many permutations and so grateful for the generosity of spirit that prevails, if you let it.

I don't know how to put my Big Cartel Shop site on hold for the month. I guess I will deactivate it so that people aren't left wanting, but I don't want you to think that I have abandoned it or gone out of business, it's just until the first week in November.

I will try to post occasionally from the open road, I find as I travel a more urgent need to stay in touch emerges.

I hope that this fine Autumn weather is stirring all souls to create and love and carry on the best you can!

ultimate design

2010-09-13T06:46:00.003-04:00

Fridays trip into Boston satisfied a long held desire, to photograph the glass flowers at Harvard. In all of the documentation of these incredible specimens there just isn't a collection of the ovaries, my favorite parts! I have so many images now, I can see a whole new world of work waiting for me. After this time in the museum and filling my photo card I DROPPED my camera. Luckily it only shattered the UV filter, got a new one AND a case, duh.

This weekend was lovely, I saw several friends, some that I haven't seen in years. This connection to the ones we love is so important, the 'too busy' sentiment just doesn't cut it anymore. This is what is important.

Time Travel

2010-09-09T06:17:00.004-04:00

Yesterday I took a trip to the Brimfield Antique Market, what a visual feast! The weather is changing, Falls nearness brings with it a bittersweet essence. This calls for a schedule evaluation and update, Thanks Meesh.

September brings a return to school for some, a laying in of wood and harvesting for others.

For me this first week brings appointments, lots of them; physicals, mammograms, x-rays, scheduling of the next hand surgery.....visits to old friends, time at the Glass Flowers Museum and time with my dad will fill up the next few days as I head into Boston and down to Cape Cod.

Naples and The Amalfi Coast, come on, share the experience!

2010-07-19T19:19:00.011-04:00

Pictures of the fountain and the coast by none other than Maggie Meister of her favorite place on earth, Naples and the Amalfi Coast.......we need a couple more takers to make this trip a reality!

Beadventures knows how to do it right and make any trip special but this one I have a special interest in....I want to see these Trulli houses, and record their finials...and soak in the mosaics and look at water that color, and meet Aldo and look at Mt. Vesuvius and the Pompeii Museum. How about you? I look forward to shopping for old stampings that Maggie has found available along with a treasure trove of found objects that we will turn into art. I want to see Southern Italy through Maggies' eyes, and develop some of my own, I look forward to my time with a group discovering treasure that has personal meaning and reconstructing the intended purpose to make us gaze upon the new juxtaposition with a fresh eye.

September is a great time of year to visit as temperatures are moderating and the tourist load gets lighter. Come join us.

I leave for Madison, WI in the morning, I am packed and looking forward to a weeks worth of felting and frivolities with the Midwest Felting Symposium, I will be vending to the public on Thursday night and teaching 4 classes. There are classes for all skill levels. Come on by if you are in the area.

So many factions of my life are calling for my attention, wish I could divide and conquer. 'Have to settle for one thing at a time, I guess.

chaos and calm....

2010-07-13T05:33:00.004-04:00

As I prepare for yet another jury gathering (as the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen requires a re-jurying everytime you add a new material to your repertoire) I find myself resenting rules. This is nothing new for me, I like to think that every one will do their best and trust them to do that, probably naive of me. Instead, I need to travel 3 hours each way, present a body of work, and wait for the 'yay' or 'nay'.

I have used this as an opportunity to focus in and consider my motivations for my ever changing need to entertain different materials. This is the third time I have met with the jury; glass, fiber and today I present metal. I bore easily. I am always seeking to use a new material that offers a complementary surface or edge or texture or context that lets me incorporate these many tools to my working vocabulary. My need is to become proficient in any material that calls to me so that I can incorporate it when that particular facet of a design or idea requires it. It is not that I am presenting a new 'body of work', it is the same body of work, just hopefully using a larger 'vocabulary'.

Incommunicado.

2010-06-29T10:54:00.009-04:00

Turn this...

into this!

In my time away from this blog I have been 'around the block'. From manic jewelry construction, reveling in the nuance of production, to traveling to California where the NORCAL customers and friends came out in droves, and showered me with friendship and support.... onto Bead and Button where I nearly drove myself crazy burning the candle at both ends in order to create the volume necessary for a lovely presentation, home for 3 days and off to Damascus, MD where I taught a wonderful group of women all sorts of things to returning home, bankrupt. Bankrupt of spirit and energy and positive thinking.

I am trying to regroup. I never thought of myself as particularly manic, go like hell, yes, for long periods. I would count on a requisite time period to refuel and off I would go again. The 'go again' is elusive this time. This is where I count on my past and the knowledge that all things change....and not always in 'my' time frame.

Patience, trying to be kind (to myself, mostly) as I still always think of how my bitter moods might affect others, and try to engage in meaningful tasks to pass the time until my world looks brighter, more generous, more optimistic. I'm sure that part of my lowly attitude has to do with physical limitations and the fact that I was rolling along so nicely, performing the tasks I was choosing to do leading up to all of those commitments. Here, in the world where my parameters aren't so closely defined and I am wanting to expand my work I am running into limitations and discomfort.

As I try to reenter the world of positive thinking I look ahead towards my next few ventures out into the world. The Midwest Felting Symposium is happening in Madison, WI from July 21-25 where I will be teaching 4 felting classes. Come, submerge yourself in the land of wool, and encrust the surfaces with beads! No previous experience necessary.

On August 21-22 I will be in Maine to teach 'The Felted Lariat' at the studio of Stephanie Sersich. A spot has just opened up, won't you come and play with us? Her home and studio and baby and sweetie, Tom, are the bomb.

Maybe it won't take me 6 weeks to decide to share again? I hope that your world is feeling kind and generous and that you are urged to notice the goodness that abounds.

a new world......

2010-05-10T05:44:00.009-04:00

This post comes with it a new and refreshing outlook and an ability to manipulate some materials, yes!

Every day I am more able to use my hands, (now if I could only keep BOTH hands in working order, I drilled through the thumb on my 'good hand' last week).

I am gearing up for a trip this coming weekend to Oakland and the NORCAL Bead Society Show. I am showing off some new work that I am excited about! I am home for two days and then off to Chicago and The Fine Line, where I will be teaching a glass and a Felted Brooch class.

Generally I am looking at the next few months and the excitement that is to follow, I have many shows, classes and travels to prepare for.

Several felting classes take me from Maine, at Stephanie Sersich's Studio, to the Pacific Northwest Art School, with an option in the midwest,at the Midwest Felting Symposium.

Plans for my big trip to Europe are coming together nicely. Jette from Bifrost Studio in Copenhagen is adding another class in Stockholm for the weekend of October 9-10! She is the 'can do' gal, amazing!!!!

Time flies...and I apologize!

2010-04-21T06:20:00.006-04:00

The auction has finished, as of a week ago! It was a resounding success. Unfortunately I have been on the road, I am home now and all auction objects that were in my care are packaged and ready to be posted.

My heartfelt thanks go out to all of you, contributers and bidders alike. This has been a lovely coming together of a generosity of spirit and a desire to help out one of 'our own'.

While on my recent hiatus I was asking for movie referrals. Larry Scott recommended I watch 'Son of Rambow' I entered it into my Netflix queue and it was here waiting for me upon returning from my wonderful week with the Baltimore Bead Society. I enjoyed myself and want to thank all of you who came out to listen and learn and participate in the workshops and watch me fumble with my first Powerpoint presentation, it was high time I joined this century. I was tiring of being laughed at for my slide carousel!

Back to the movie, though. It's delightful, if you haven't seen it, do!

I am looking forward to time in the studio, spring is here, weather is conducive to carefree, non heated days out there.

I can't believe....

2010-04-13T07:05:00.006-04:00

Backside of the Mascot

This sculpture delights me, and it could be yours!

Hard to believe that 10 days have come and gone since we started this auction. I write this from the road. I am in Maryland spending a lovely overnight with my nephew and his adorable family en route to my week ahead with the
Baltimore Bead Society.

The auction starts to terminate the middle of this afternoon, won't you give it a last visit? I want to thank you all for your participation, this is a lovely gathering of objects with the goal of offering just a bit of relief to our dear friend, Meesh!

I can hardly contain myself....

2010-04-08T05:55:00.004-04:00

New Bronze Clay

I can hardly contain myself with the excitement of 3 days in the studio, my daffodils in bloom and the receipt of an exciting package. Monday's mail brought me an oddly heavy priority mail package from Bill Struve containing about a pound and a half of the new formula of Bronze Clay.

I got right to work on it, the timing couldn't have been any better. Ever since my return from Japan I have had this idea, up until right now my hands haven't been able to keep up with my mind, it seems as though there is a direct line of communication open and my hands are keeping up!

The new clay is cleaner with a short and simple firing schedule...and looks and feels GREAT, thanks so much, Bill!

Auction Update.....

2010-04-07T07:49:00.008-04:00

A Pair for Everyday!

I am hoping to give you all a better picture of these incredible earrings by Stephanie Sersich. The auction is for SEVEN great pair of earrings, have a look...and a bid... for a new look everyday!

I wanted to let you know that the first 3 auctions, #20, 30 and 56 are only up for 3 more days, a glitch in the system, so if you are interested in Jamie Hogsett's necklace, Kate Mckinnon's beautiful bracelet kit,
or Kathy Dorfer's fabulous painting you might not have as much time as you think! The auction is going along beautifully, thanks to you all, let's keep it up!

Meesh's auction is up and running!

2010-04-05T08:58:00.007-04:00

Seren and Jordy

So, have you had a look at this most incredible collection of supportive offerings to raise funds for Michele, Seren and Jordy Goldstein?

Please keep in mind that all of the proceeds will go directly to Meesh and her boys, so bid high and often! The auction will go on for 8 more days, please share with your circle of friends and family.

Spring is finally upon us, for this I could not be more grateful or ready. The winter has offered me personal challenges that I am in no hurry to repeat and I'm feeling like there is light at the end of the tunnel.

I leave a week from today for a drive to Baltimore where I will give a talk and teach 4 classes to the lovely people of the Baltimore Bead Society. Tuesday evening will include a slide and trunk show to be followed later in the week by the classes.

Today I will carve out time in the studio, loving the emancipation of not needing to feed a fire to control my comfort out there.

Ahh...daffodils and the promises they bring.

Where will you be?.....

2010-03-27T09:21:00.000-04:00

...On May 16?

Anne Mitchell and I will be teaching a "Coloring Metals, Assembling Outrageous Components" class the day after the NORCAL Bead Society Show in Oakland at the City Center Marriott on May 16, follow the link to Anne's site to sign up!

Angela Neal from The Jewelry Report wrote the nicest things to accompany a brief interview we had a couple of weeks ago, have a look!

I'm faced with the ever present observation of wondering where time goes, can't believe that my last post was March 9...the month is all but gone already. I'm still not able to make anything but I have been busy, busy, busy.

My plans for my grand European adventure are coming along nicely. In addition to my Italian trip with Bead Ventures, I've added a stop at Facet Designsin Leende, Netherlands to spend a week teaching and exhibiting at Miriam Steger's studio and the Bead Show, and a stop in Copenhagen to teach at Bifrost Studio. What a lineup!

here we go....

2010-03-09T09:28:00.011-05:00

Here, another gorgeous grouping of 'Meesh Auction' offerings, I know...I know....when? Soon, I promise!Donna Menhart is responsible for this scrumptous string of delightful beads, Kristina Logan, for the adorable orange 'mini'earrings, Barb Switzer, soon to be married maker of the volcanic, wire clasped, beaded bead bracelet, Andrea Guarino, responsible for the winged heart, Stephanie Sersich, for the incredible 'New Earrings for Every Day',and Gail Lannum shares a beautiful Bronze Clay necklace incorporating a Meesh bead. How's that for a lineup?

I am being put to the test regarding computer capabilities....new, everywhere. I have been invited to join Craft Edu as part of the 'faculte', an honor and a challenge but I look forward to learning the skills necessary to share my skills as an educator through this forum. Thanks Donna!

Recycled...restocked...rejuvenated

2010-03-07T06:16:00.010-05:00

I had been out of these scallop shapes for quite sometime, they are back in 4 different sizes, ready to install and house your treasured objects. Techniques for altering color on metal and cold joining pieces will be shared in Santa Fe at Beadfest, coming up later this month. I will be teaching a class with Anne Mitchell and exhibiting at the convention center in a shared endcap with Steff Korsage,Bronwen Heilman, Anne Mitchell,and Terry Caspary Schmidt!
Also new to my 'shop' are 5 new hologram flowers. I confess to loving these. With their sparkly surface they are the perfect juxtaposition for embellishing fabric and felt!

Puglia and Naples....

2010-02-28T10:32:00.010-05:00

Day dreaming of a time up ahead where life is for discovery, sharing and experiencing....new, different, healthy (all limbs in working order) and openness. These Trulli homes and the finials on their roofs are most intriguing.

This trip to southern Italy holds a beacon of potential, centering on my teaching of a course for meaningful artmaking, collaging found materials, coloring and joining metals and other componenets while soaking up the drastic and subtle differences between cultures and exploring Naples and the Puglia region through the eyes of the magnificent Maggie Meister and Bead Ventures.... reliquaries, anyone? I hope that you can join us in this exciting prospect!

Progress....

2010-02-24T10:09:00.011-05:00

measured....by auction donations being received, cataloged, and photographed, here are 5 awesome pieces! Also, progress being measured in teensy increments, it doesn't hurt to pat the kitty, an activity that a few months ago was painful, yay!

The first bead is just beautiful from Amy Waldman-Smith, I totally love the translucent hearts floating over the subdued colors of the background. The next bead is also just perfect, the first out of two lampworked beads/sculptures from Jennifer Geldard. This long and lovely bead would make an incredible focal, love how it moves from 'region to region'. Next up... I loved how this solitary bird looks like he is skating, alone.....so I didn't crop it, I liked the solitariness that the extra space offered. Such an excellent sculpture, I want pants like his!

This bead by the incomparable Terri Caspary Schmidt is a fine sample of her 'Bird' series. I LOVE the fact that it is matted, it did make the photography a challenge, however. Trust me when I say that it is SO much better in person!

Sarah Moran, what can I say? These are such tremendous beads, like everything she does! I especially love the rich colors in contrast to each other, the murrini, perfection!

Last Call......

2010-02-19T12:23:00.010-05:00

For objects to be included in the auction for Meesh and her boys. I have started the photography. What fun to handle and photograph such beautiful pieces, thanks to everyone who has contributed so far, this is a lovely collection of objects. Here is an initial sampling....stay tuned, we are aiming for an end of the month auction on ebay!
Images are from top to bottom: A lovely green Turquoise and Bali silver necklace by Tari Kahrs, a colorful mosaic polymer flower necklace by Rosemary Cohen, A handmade lampworked lotus bead by the one and only Kim miles and a lampworked winged heart bead and hand made fine silver chain collaboration from Anne Mitchell and Terri Caspary Schmidt, how's that for a start?

Universal truths......

2010-02-18T07:57:00.002-05:00

Most people are good.
Vulnerability brings about humility.
Inactivity is exhausting.
Being grateful alters perspective.
Things can change very quickly.

I'm sure I could go on...and on. Suffice it to say that I am stretching for perspective.
My job is to get my hand back into fine working form, a slow and painful process.

Today is my first day in a long line of many where I am alone, on my own, to push my little wheelie cart that propels my broken leg around, and to carry out the necessities inherent in a 'day in the life'. Michael has gone off to a job.

More Netflix, some correspondence, some preparation for an Australian Beading article, (thanks Jean) and generally gathering gumption for 3x day physical therapy. The balance still evades me, this time in a completely different direction. Usually so busy that things fall through the cracks, now so 'unbusy' that my mind is one big crack.

My blog posts have been sparse, not a lot to report. No tangible manifestations of creativity.

Tucson was delightful, however difficult. Friends rallied around me, customers came and supported me. It was good to be out of the frigid depths of rural Massachusetts and see the fabulous skies of Tuscon changing with the hours of the day.

How quickly things change....

2010-01-30T07:30:00.003-05:00

I prefer bones to be intact, rather than the state of my very own fractured fibula. It took me 54 years to be casted and this week I have both limbs on my right side restrained.

Ice covered with a little snow = treachery. All of you out there in frigid climes, please be careful!

I am going to proceed with plans to sell in Tucson. Leaving here Monday morning being met with a cart/scooter/mini walker to rest my knee and cast on in order to negotiate the rigors of a six day show.

It has been interesting, trying to make this decision to go to AZ, informed by conferences with doctors and availability of cool tools like this cart thing, all signs have led me to believe that it is doable.....so I will go. It has been too long for me in a laid up state, I really am looking forward to the sociability of being 'out in public', and Tucson in February, Yay.

Gathering.....

2010-01-26T06:45:00.004-05:00

One of my favorite parts of my job is to gather all of the bounty into one place and then to pack it up, organize it for a safe journey, and to consider how to juxtapose it for display.

This activity is one that I am good for. I have been noodling around in the studio for the last two days, feeling hopeful and entertained, as I pack up the 'goods' for sale. It is not a typical 'readying' but fun nonetheless. I spent the day yesterday with copper clay, noticing that a lack of dexterity can bring interesting results.

After my time at The Whole Bead Show I will be in Mesa,AZ at a meeting of the East Valley Beaders on February 10 where I will give a talk and have a trunk show, won't you come by?

Tucson bound.......

2010-01-22T07:17:00.004-05:00

To illustrate the bounty of the universe.......I have willing and ultra capable help to carry out what my right hand usually does. It will be so nice to be at my booth and have help! Thanks Beth, Anne and Kathy!

Included in these pictures are bits of what I will have with me. Lots of metal pieces, glass eyes, felted brooches, earrings and kits as well as glass beads and pendants and plenty of finished jewelry! Luckily I got ahead in production this fall which will enable me to have plenty of handcrafted work along with my bits and pieces.

I will be at the Windmill Inn at The Whole Bead Show, inside to the right in the ballroom. I am loving the thought of moderate temperatures, good friends and the stimulation of so much to look at!

looking forward..........

2010-01-13T17:37:00.006-05:00

Anne Mitchell and I will be teaching this class at three different locations this coming year. First section will be in Santa Fe at BeadFest Santa Fe, THE place to be in March. I love that we now have the continuity from year to year, it lets you look forward to the visit within a reasonable time frame. Two years between shows in a lovely and fun city is too long to wait. There is so much more to explore, I look forward to it and hope you will consider adding Santa Fe to your roster, hopefully joining Anne and I in this fun, colorful and useful class! We'll not only add tons of color to our metal pieces but we will learn and practice ways of cold connecting all of your bits and pieces together.

The other venues where we will offer this workshop will be at Bead and Button on Tuesday, all day! Then we jump ahead to August, accompanied by a trip to Pennsylvania....The Philadelphia BeadFest. We hope that you will join us at one of these locations!

visualizing.....

2010-01-12T09:16:00.002-05:00

.....both hands in perfect working order. I bought my tickets to Tucson. Still more movies to watch, friends to connect with and time to tame my frustrations.

Trying to remember the 'grateful list', and that all is temporary, all things change.

cross bones...

2010-01-03T13:04:00.005-05:00

As I was walking, walking, joyfully walking, the streets, avenues and alleys of Kyoto, I happened upon this sign. Thought of Meesh and wondered what this sign was telling me, if anyone can read it, please let me know what it was telling us....curious with its attachments and all.

In wanting to be as efficient as possible regarding the outpouring of people's desire to help surrounding the proposed ebay auction to start a trust for Meesh's boys, Jordy and Seren, I thought that I would include the following letter that I have drafted, just to save any more typing than is necessary.

I say Thanks again to all, what a wonderful thing...to rally around and want to make a difference.

If you would like to be part of this auction please read on,

I am thinking that the best way to proceed is for people to determine what
they would like to contribute to the auction and if you could photograph it
to be shown in a clear, 'intriguing and eye catching light' with the
emphasis on the piece/product, and not the background it would be best.

These images are what we would use for an ebay auction in the near future.

If people could do the photography and send the image to either Anne
Mitchell, aemitchell6482@yahoo.com or myself, gail@gailcrosmanmoore.com and
then send the piece/object/parts along with a description and a copy of the image to:

Anne Mitchell
1004 W. Alameda St.
Tucson, AZ 85745

It would be perfect.

I decided to write a 'group letter' as this is gaining momentum and with
only my one hand in working order answering individually was a challenge.

The outpouring of love and support is so grand, thank you awesome and
generous humans!

My very best,
gail

the fast train.

2010-01-02T21:24:00.002-05:00

Yesterday's post brought forth so much support and love, words just don't say it~ how awesome it is to get out of your own way in order to try on somebody else's shoes for a bit. There is a spirited desire for people to help where they can, the requests from you to be a part of the auction or to help in other ways is so great. If you want to be a part of the auction, please email me. I have written up a couple of paragraphs to help us come together with a possible way to proceed. Thank you all.

This photo, taken of the iconic Mt.Fuji was taken a couple of weeks ago. This was at the end of my journey, as the light changed to become my last night on this wonderful and foreign experience. In third grade I made a stitchery on burlap, featuring this mountain.....with an alligator in front of it, ha.

Traveling on the bullet train proved to be more of a challenge than I had thought it might be. I was first ousted out of first class, not knowing I was in it. Mr. Miyamoto, my wonderful host, had said to get on the right side of the train in order to see the mountain. In my cozy first seat I was in the perfect position, it went bad fast. I was in car 5, told that any of the 'four fore cars would suit me'. They were either smoke or people filled, I was all the way up to car one and took a seat on the opposite side of the train. At this point exhaustion and humiliation took over as I was sure we were passing the mountain, I rubbernecked around people and seats to try to catch a glimpse of this most important visual.

The train stopped and let a few people off, I switched sides of the train, on the off chance that we hadn't passed it yet, through a mist of tears this did appear.

A new dawn.....

2010-01-01T15:05:00.003-05:00

In my ego-centric world things aren't going so great, but my plight will be relatively short lived. I'm going to follow sage advice and bring your attention to my/our dear friends plight....Michele Goldstein is caring around the clock for the dying father of her children. (There is no time for their family to prepare for the end of his life. Steve's sickness was unexpected and the cancer is moving quickly through his body. His death is imminent, and it's only been three weeks since he was diagnosed.)

If you know Meesh, you know that she is the kindest of souls and is always generous and puts others first. She would never think about asking for money from others. That is why her friends are asking you to think of sending her something.

In looking at the dawning of a new 'age', a new year, I want to start it right and send a loving message of direct help to one of us who is in need. Meesh has been unable to work, has needed to cancel shows and is looking at an uncertain future for herself and her two young boys.

It is my hope that we could take some immediate heat off of her situation by laying down a little padding to her nest. Could you help?

If you can help, the most direct route would be through her Paypal account.(meesh@michelegoldstein.com) If you could forward this to anyone who might be interested in helping, please do!

We will be following this up with an interesting auction of donated items, if you would like to become a part of this please contact either me at gail@gailcrosmanmoore.com or Anne Mitchell at aemitchell6482@yahoo.com to develop a trust for her children.

flounders floundering.......with parameters.

2009-12-31T08:44:00.003-05:00

Tsukiji Flounder

Much as I feel right now. I'm struggling with time and healing and the fact that I can't DO any of the things that I am programmed to do. From mind to hand is how I usually operate. An interrupted circuit, the sounds of a grinding and frustrated engine, trying to become 'quiet'.

different kinds of offerings....

2009-12-29T07:57:00.003-05:00

Ema (絵馬?) are small wooden plaques on which Shinto worshippers write their prayers or wishes. The ema are then left hanging up at the shrine, where the kami (spirits or gods) receive them. They bear various pictures, often of animals or other Shinto imagery, and many have the word gan'i (願意), meaning "wish", written along the side. In ancient times people would donate horses to the shrines for good favor, over time this was trasferred to a wooden plaque with a picture of a horse, and later still to the various wooden plaques sold today for the same purpose.

Ema are sold for various wishes. Common reasons for buying a plaque are for success in work or on exams, marital bliss, to have children, and health. Some shrines specialize in certain types of these plaques, and the larger shrines may offer more than one.

The second picture is of a Pachinko Parlor, a different kind of shrine. Bowing to chaos, smoke and loud, loud sound.

48 hours in.....

2009-12-24T06:30:00.003-05:00

Just saying 'no' to evil
Kyoto Side Street

almost 48 hours into my new thumb. a left handed update. the only problem is getting to the question mark on my keyboard.

i suspect this will be slow going for awhile.

i hope that every ones holidays are enjoyable, and that you all can take some time for yourselves!

Home safely.

2009-12-20T09:48:00.002-05:00

Fushimi-Inari

From Wikipedia:
"Fushimi Inari Taisha (伏見稲荷大社?) is the head shrine of Inari, located in Fushimi-ku, Kyoto, Japan. The shrine sits at the base of a mountain also named Inari, and includes trails up the mountain to many smaller shrines.

Because Inari is the god of business, each of the Torii is donated by a Japanese business.

Merchants and manufacturers worship Inari for wealth. Donated torii lining footpaths are part of the scenic view.

This popular shrine is said to have as many as 40,000 sub-shrines (matsuji) throughout Japan."

The single most breathtaking batch of images from my trip came from this location. I don't know where to begin on my recall from this time away.

I'll start here, with much to digest.

So many thanks go to so many people for making this trip possible, not the least of which has been ongoing well wishes for a safe return (now completed) and healing thoughts towards Tuesdays procedure.

I'm off......

2009-12-08T05:42:00.005-05:00

The time has finally come. Today is the final pack job for my trip to Japan.

Last week I had a loss of a most treasured accessory, unquestioningly my favorite scarf. It has traveled with me for 6 years or so, essentially my 'security blanket'. A silk and wool scarf created by Inge Bauer, a German feltmaker extraordinaire.

Yesterday I was possessed to create a version of my own. In this time of anticipation it seemed imperative to have a warm and soft 'comfort object'. In my long hiatus from feltmaking I was pleased to have a new found communication with the fibers, the result was a piece I am pleased with......and of course look forward.....way forward......to the resumption of my time to create more, later.

In the meantime, a junket around Japan, traveling to Tokyo, Kobe and Kyoto. I am armed with a couple of travel guides, figuring I'll have 17 hours of study time once I leave the ground. Ooooh, monkeys and fishmarkets, oh my.

For those who might place orders between now and then. I apologize beforehand that I won't be filling orders until my return, 12/19/09.

I returned Sunday late from a lovely time in south Florida. The guild and its members surely make you feel welcome. I loved my time in Diane's home and the jungle outside, made to think about how much time and effort needs to go into trying to tame nature and fight back the inevitable and rapid growth of vegetation in a tropical climate. It's challenge enough here in currently dormant New England. A giant thank you to all who chose to come and spend some time with me in the three great days that I spent with all of you.

I leave conceding to take my 'real' camera, and trying to channel a zen approach to packing as I have to haul whatever the choices are all over the country. Oh yeah, minimalism.

Just focus on the important parts....

2009-12-02T06:11:00.001-05:00

....and it is up to each of us to determine what is most important.

I am reminded.....

2009-11-26T06:22:00.007-05:00

Clouds over the Isle of Man

.....of a comment while traveling with my daughters, both lots younger than today, Lily probably 5, Olive 8. Lily said after watching the video on board the plane,
specifically the slide to safety, "we'll just land in the clouds, right?"

Such delightful naivete.

A day at home with all 4 of us roosting together, a large chicken to roast.

May all of your thanksgivings be thankful.

One week from today I start on my big adventure. I leave for Miami in order to teach for the South Florida Jewelry Arts Guild, 3 classes, one in Copper Clay, one in a Felted Brooch and one in Coloring Metals. I fly home, have a day to repack and then head to Japan where I will spend 10 days, 6 of which will be teaching and demoing. 2 days in Kyoto where I will look for the monkeys in the mountains, visit some temples, and just take it where it leads. My time in Tokyo calls for a visit to the Tsukiji Fish Market. The excitement is strenuous. I am home for 2 days and then have my surgery on Dec. 22. Who knows what then? At least I will have technicolor memories of days passed that were action packed!

I am looking forward to so many things.

oh my........

2009-11-02T11:20:00.004-05:00

Bronze and Copper Clay Pendants
Fine Silver Pendants

Needing to trust the bigger 'timeline'.....I am finally at a stage to switch activities from production to tagging and packing......after a trip up to Putney to watch my girl, Lily, play a soccer game this afternoon.

I have been hard at it for many days, ever since the porcupine siting actually.

From morning till night......make, make, make, occasionally wondering if this or that might be the last 'one' that I will make. I am reminded by my wise friend that I had full trust in the chosen Doctors abilities when I booked the surgery......keep remembering that.

The 3 ring circus is down to 2 rings.

Plenty of time to think while in solitary 'lockup', accompanied by Pandora radio, set to stream 'Bob Dylan radio'.....they make excellent choices.

Amorous Porcupine....

2009-10-22T06:29:00.004-04:00

I'll fight my repressive tendencies to share a true story. In the course of flitting back and forth yesterday between house and studio I encountered 2 porcupines. The large, logey, prehistoric looking one hot on the trail of the smaller, demure and childlike version of same. He starts to mount her...a few times. I , wondering how this all works with quills and tails in the way, was surprised to see the male, up in prairie dog fashion, turn to me with his claws crossed over his upper chest while sporting an enormous erection. We had a stare down, I laughing, and he went back on all fours...after the 'sweet young thing'!

Country living at its best, HA!

Thanks Boston......

2009-10-18T11:02:00.002-04:00

Yesterday the show was fun, thanks all!

Back to the drawing table.

I'll come up for air soon.

Trips Completion....

2009-10-14T08:58:00.006-04:00

My long trip has concluded.

It had me on the outskirts of my organizational abilities, amazingly enough I didn't forget anything......some things were more challenging than others to put my hands on....but they all made the trip. The challenge was packing for 6 different classes in two different cities.

So much for my challenges.....my time with family, friends and students, both new and repeat, were heartwarming.

Art and Soul was funfilled and eye opening with the myriad of cool material manipulation that is going on. I think people enjoyed their introduction to felting as a viable addition to their cache of materials to call upon. Many thanks to you folks that stuck with me for all 3 days, I enjoyed that continuity so much.

This pumpkin patch picture, taken with my iphone, so beautifully captures a hauntingly beautiful afternoon with my sweet and always fun friend Meesh, known to some of you as Michele Goldstein. We not only went to this great place but we took a drive to the Oregon coast and had a climb up an old lighthouse and had lunch next to a whole flock, pod, gathering of sea lions, so cool. Thanks Meesh and family for tolerating me for this extended time!

Southern California and time spent at the home and store of Carole Tripp at Creative Castle was just great. She and her workmates, friends and customers did so much to make me feel welcome, a hearty thanks go out to each and every one of you!

Now, I have a brief window to try and gather materials, have a beadmaking day and repack in order to head into Boston for the Bead Designer International show in Watertown this coming Saturday, from 10-5, please come on by!

things I love.....

2009-09-29T09:11:00.003-04:00

In preparation for painting I took these photos, plan to use parts of them for an abstraction.

At the edges of my ability to organize...I leave on Thursday and need to be prepared to teach 6 different classes..

Art and Soul Retreat and Creative Castle, anyone going to be in Portland, OR or Newbury Park, CA?

There will be a sale night at the Embassy Suites at the Portland airport on this coming Saturday night, lots of good stuff for sale!

My teaching at Creative Castle will have an ongoing trunk show while I am teaching...October 9-11.

Hope to see some of you out there.

Animated carrots.........

2009-09-28T17:09:00.004-04:00

What will they do next? They came to visit in our CSA package.

surgery is scheduled....

2009-09-26T07:22:00.003-04:00

originally I had thought that I would schedule surgery for earlier in December when I got a most incredible invitation to go to Japan to demo and teach both felting and glass! I feel like the luckiest gal alive!

This gets me home from Japan on Dec. 19 and into the O.R. December 22, leaving me 5 weeks to gather my wits, indoctrinate the physical therapy and see what my limitations are before heading to Tucson.......

all I can do is take it as it comes, and invite whatever that is instead of hiding behind a wall of fear...i say to myself...and you.

this life is so full and rich....and short.

i am going to paint today, giving myself that luxury as I then need to choreograph the next two weeks....pack for two different gigs in two different cities.

i have finally found the person that i trust to give me a 'thumb replacement'. yay.

with thanks.....

2009-09-24T07:24:00.006-04:00

...To you out there in 'blogland' for noticing and commenting so encouragingly on my painting results! There is so much going on in my mind and world. This past week is a blur....from my lovely time at Squam, spending two days with the incomparable Mary Beth Shaw and finding Kathy Dorfer and Stephanie there at registration, how cool is that????.... Bunking with a new found friend, Coco.....only to scurry off.....feeling like I had given birth .......to meet up with my sister and dad in Portland, ME where we spent the night, got up and headed up into the Rangely Lakes area of Maine to meet up with Tom and Sean where we spent our day aside the beautiful Dodge Pond and captured the stories of my dads life on film (of course it is no longer film....) and had such a special time. I can't thank all of you enough....for showing up just when you were needed, and doing your 'jobs' flawlessly!

Squam Lake........

2009-09-19T15:47:00.002-04:00

Where I gained the courage to push paint around. uh oh......am loving it, wondering how I might proceed, wanting to head directly to an arts supply store....tomorrow, heading into Portland,Maine. Perhaps I will get lucky there?

urchin distraction/abstraction

2009-09-11T18:09:00.001-04:00

It's sick how much I love urchins...and pods.

Tiara turned Necklace.....

2009-09-09T19:48:00.004-04:00

I had intended to make a tiara, it just kept growing and has a new life as a necklace. My life is interesting right now, with plans and projects filling my days nicely, happily in the studio.

Loving the weather, filling orders, thanks for your interest!

I see Shunji tomorrow, it's been months since I've been under his care. Shiatsu isn't what I ever would have thought of when someone said 'massage', he breaks through barriers, I swear.

The Empty Nest.

2009-09-06T19:50:00.005-04:00

It was a really different experience dropping Lily off as a sophomore, things were on a much lower hummmmmm. Her new room assignment is a dorm room that feels like a tree house, I loved it.

I took a detour through the turkeys, pigs, chickens, lambs and horses.......the sky was a 'Simpsons' sky, accompanied by georgeous colors, smells and temperatures. Sadly I drove home, just feeling like some measured time is lost.

2009-09-05T20:19:00.006-04:00

I am home and catching up~ slowly. My adventures have been action packed and full of so many details that my head is sometimes swimming.

Lily goes back to school tomorrow which leaves Michael and I in the empty nest again. She is ready.

Today was lovely, spent time with my friends in and around Boston, the day splendid. I'm a big fan of September in New England, the weather and air quality can't be beat. Blue, clear, puffy white clouds, 70 degrees. I was remembering the feeling of Labor Day on Cape Cod when there was a mass exodus and the cape returned to those of us that lived there year round, all errands became much simpler. You didn't have to hibernate if it was raining outside, a trip into town on a rainy day was always a challenge, all of the people that had come for a beach vacation would explore the towns and villages and totally clog up the passageways.

I have started to update my 'shop' page, a bunch of cool metal shapes are now available for sale, more to be added tomorrow.

This acorn is accompanied by a cuttlefish casting of a heart done by Sarah Nelson whom I used to teach with at 'the Worcester Center for Crafts'.

I have some time this month.....to catch up, jump forward and hopefully get some fresh ideas going. A painting workshop mid month is starting to capture my attention and has me thinking of subject matter, I want to abstract the inside of some pods, of course.

I really have had a fine time since my last entry here. Philly was fun and the Felters' Fling was exceptional, what a lovely group, 60 felters! I had the pleasure of transporting 3 other instructors, Jeannette Sendler, an incredible woman who lives in Scotland and has done some inspired projects, all over the world, have a look......and Karoliina Arvilommi , and Rod Welsh (whose website is down).They are felters from Finland who guided a dozen women through a rigorous process of hand felting the most incredible rugs and were a joy to spend the day with. It was such a comfort to see friends made over the last 7 years and to meet new ones, gain courage from talking to friends about their experiences with the surgery that I am contemplating, see my friend Pat from MassArt days, and to uncover layers of friendship. That only happens over time, and can't be forced and so beautifully illustrates the truth that none of us are one dimensional, we all have a story and a series of experiences that mold us into our current permutation.

We traveled together into NYC and the Cooper Hewitt Museum where there is a felting exhibit going on currently, we had a nice lunch and I took them to a hotel where I left them and I headed back to NJ where I picked my car up with a new fuel pump......wow.

Murphy's Law, again?

2009-08-25T07:47:00.009-04:00

According to Wikipedia:

Murphy's Law: The perceived perversity of the universe has long been a subject of comment, and precursors to the modern version of Murphy's law are not hard to find. For example, in 1841 a newspaper in Norwalk, Ohio printed this verse (a parody of famous lines in Thomas Moore's Lalla Rookh[1]):

I never had a slice of bread,
Particularly large and wide,
That did not fall upon the floor,
And always on the buttered side.[2]

My version of an example:
Yesterday, after leaving a lovely time at the Philly Beadfest, armed with my friend Susan Nestor, we were loaded with suitcases and headed for NYC when the accelerator on my car was no longer connected to the gas pedal. I was going fast enough that I had momentum enough to negotiate over to the side of the road and stop, conscious of the possible view to our right, a corn field WITH deer in it, I stopped.

First call, AAA. "No, sorry, we can't pick people up on the turnpike, you need to call a 'sanctioned' tow company". Tow company #2 arrives and tells me that I will need my registration so "why don't you get it out now, before we load your car up". At this point I am trying to wire a repair possibility near Maplewood, NJ, where my in laws live, up the road 100 miles. I have my registration in hand, along with a map, pen, talking on the phone and who knows what else and a gust of wind whips the registration out of my hand, (we are parked on an overpass) and it flies out of my reach and floats like a feather down like a cartoon. Truck #2 took us up the road a bit, dropped us where AAA could find us.

We hooked up with the AAA truck which took us to the Maplewood area and to a repair place where I left the car, got a rental, took Susan into the city, abandoned our plans for a fun filled shopping day and cruised on home...a 12 hour adventure. Still haven't heard from the repair place...but I needed to get home as I leave again at 6 AM tomorrow. This is my part of the story.

When I called to tell my husband of the circumstances he tells me that his chain saw just totally seized up, while trying to get 3 cords of wood 'processed' for next winter and that he was off to the dentist.....fast forward ....the dental report, "sorry, Michael, you need a SECOND crown on that tooth"!

WOW.

Got to go to work. Felters Fling, here I come!

2009-08-18T06:03:00.009-04:00

Ice storm last December

Talk about the grass looking greener.....it is hot here in MA, has been for a few days. 95 is too hot for me. I've spent the last two afternoons in the movie theater.

'Getting up early to try to accomplish the repack, regroup, preparation for both Beadfest, and The Felters Fling.

I leave with my daughter, Lily, early tomorrow and will drive to New Jersey where I will drop her with some cousins and then carry on towards PA. I am ready to get back to work in the public realm after some solitary time and recovery after Sunapee, that really is an event, defined by its HUGE time commitment.

Hope to see you 'out there'.

2009-08-13T06:21:00.000-04:00

I love the Copper Clay.

Totally wiped....

2009-08-12T06:07:00.009-04:00

After trying several times to post a pictoral link to Kate Mckinnon's huge soul clearing/smallerizing/simplicity promoting web sale, I just guess you need to hop on over for yourself and see what she is parting with! It will be added to for several days and promises to include treasure aplenty.

I am in a full blown 'used up' place. Trying to regroup, recharge and forge on. I start this process with an early morning dental appointment.

A week from today I will drive to Pennsylvania where Beadfest Philadelphia will take place. I will be teaching a Coloring Metals class and my favorite, The Embellished Brooch class. These both take place on Thursday the 20th and then the show goes Fri., Sat. and Sunday, I would love to see you there!

Here we are, mid August and summer has finally hit. I have worn my wool socks almost all summer long.

This picture offers a taste of some possible 'Embellished Brooches' including housing for them.

Sunapee is over.

2009-08-10T11:53:00.005-04:00

Sunapee is over for the next 12 months. The weather was entirely in our favor with the exception of the set up days' rain. Beautiful, blue, nice air. Lots of talk of time passing as each year this long event brings back together a large group of independent artists with some time to share the years stories.

Thank you attendees, friends and fellow craftsmen, I certainly had a nice time!

These pots of Natalie Blake, ceramicist extraordinaire, always blow my mind in her use of color, form and texture.

My world feels fractured, I need to piece it back together today.

Lockets anyone?

2009-07-30T20:29:00.004-04:00

Bead and Button proposals are in, of which these lockets are included. I have been having fun with the scarab form.

So we're off on our marathon junket! Set up began for Sunapee today and all went surprisingly smoothly, given the 5 inches of rain that fell overnight. Tomorrow all inventory will be installed and then I'll be a shopkeeper for a full 9 days. I am looking forward to it. My reality shifts every year for this span of time.

Juanita, parts of the pile!

2009-07-23T19:29:00.002-04:00

So many projects, so little time.

How about those polka dotted daggers?

The pile accrues.

2009-07-22T20:20:00.003-04:00

As anybody in this bead business understands, my life is a series of baggies, all sizes, all shapes and I've handled most of them, many times, over the last few weeks. I am heartened to report that finished pieces are starting to emerge out of the chaos. Two long days of assembling has yielded some fun work.

2009-07-20T18:19:00.002-04:00

I was so sure that yesterday was Monday that I went down to the mailbox....I didn't figure it out until way later in the day. It's always so strange to lose total track of time, a whole day, though?

I am immersed in so many different things, like a kid in a candy store and it has all of my favorite kinds of treats.

Having fun.

2009-07-18T18:35:00.006-04:00

The objective was to see how many layers I could incorporate into one closing acorn. The answer is many.

Anyone out there interested?

2009-07-15T13:09:00.004-04:00

Squam Art Workshops is a lovely thought and a prospect I have been relishing. As I think the fall through and try and line up my priorities I see that my limited time and 'thumb power' leaves no room for R&R, and taking on ANYTHING new. I write this in hopes of drumming up an interest in someone to buy my spot. Elizabeth, the director has assured me that whomever takes my spot is not committed to the same workshops that I signed up for. Anyone ready to experience the early fall in New England immersed in an art undertaking in an idyllic setting on the pond???

Please let me know!

2009-07-15T09:47:00.007-04:00

Just for fun a necklace created for Jessica Lundevall of Studio Beads using dog chew toys from her sweet husband, Torias's company, Petstages. I was totally taken with the luminous play of light in the blue beads/dog toys. They also come in red!

Yesterday I turned 54, aaack. I feel every inch of it. Weird to think that my grandmother died at 108, exactly twice my age now. Can't imagine.

When life throws you a learning curve.......

2009-07-13T09:05:00.009-04:00

Between learning curves, bee stings, studio clean up, children coming...and going....and preparations for Sunapee I have been out straight but in a way that is different than when I am in total 'reaction mode', i.e. home for three days, just time enough to clean clothes, repack, reorder and fly out the door again.

I have been enjoying working with all 3 metal clays and working on some neckpieces. My metal smithing skills are rusty and haven't been practiced since my time at Mass Art when I had the priveledge of taking some classes with Joe Wood, a thorough and disciplined task master. Of course the metal clays weren't on the scene yet but the stand by methods of forging and soldering live on. It comes back to me slowly, I make many mistakes. It is frustrating and rewarding.

As I look over sign ups for my next teaching situation, I see that people want to learn more about metals and less about feltmaking. The Embellished Brooch is one of my very favorite classes to teach, Beadfest Philadelphia is the place to find me, for either Coloring Metals or the lovely brooch, the feltmaking is probably coming to a wind down so if you would like a taste, now is the time.

Eagle sightings, power animals!

2009-07-03T19:37:00.005-04:00

My time on Camano Island with my dear friends and the out of doors, including probably 40 eagle sightings, was lovely, restful and fun. These 2 days were the final reward for a hectic paced, non stop extravaganza running hard since Tucson in February....not kidding. I have no shows or teaching dates planned for the ENTIRE month of July. Sunapee starts on August 1 and goes for 9 days so it really is just a delusion/illusion that the month is 'OFF', but I can make progress with out total interruption during this time. Karen Flowers will arrive here towards the end of the month so we can work together on new ideas and she can 'ransack' my stash,and go home with an influx of new materials.

All is well here, I'm setting my sights on creating order and paving my way. Maybe even some time to update this blog?

From one coast to the other...

2009-06-23T06:10:00.003-04:00

I witnessed the Manhatten skyline in so many permutations as I drove into the city from NJ for the past several days. My favorite was early Sunday morning. The Statue of Liberty to my right, bold and beautiful, lower Manhatten somewhat obscured by fog on the lower parts of the buildings, Midtown still shrouded in a bit of mist and Uptown was bright, clear, beautiful fluffy clouds and blue sky. Too bad I was driving so I couldn't capture it with a camera....I just blinked a couple of times trying to imprint the image.

Tomorrow I head for Seattle/Bellevue/Camano Island. A trunk show, teaching three classes and a badly needed couple of R&R days.

I'll be back July 1 and have the month of July to try to catch up on ALL of the things that have landed in the 'defer' pile!

Quiltworks, NW and Beads and Beyond....become one!

2009-06-15T15:21:00.007-04:00

Bronze Clay, an Embellished Brooch or Coloring Metals/Pendant Class???? Come to one or to all, my first visit to Quiltworks NW, blending with Quiltworks, NW and Bead and Beyond in Bellvue, Washington. There will be a trunk show on Thursday, June 25, when I will 'man' the table, classes start Friday and someone else will be 'manning' my table through the weekend.

Yay, the pacific Northwest and the people that live there...the best!

Taken from a barnacle.........

2009-06-13T17:37:00.007-04:00

Karen has been working overtime, LOOK at this incredible bracelet!

I am back in the studio for a few more days...it feels good to be making things.

Who out there in 'Feltland' wants to learn how to make your own glass buttons and findings as well as incorporate them into felted accessories? If so, there is an ultra fun week planned at Snow Farm in Williamsburg, MA. The Felters Fling is where you want to be, scheduled for August 27-30, I'll be teaching Borosilicate Glass and Feltmaking in session 'B'. During session 'A' I will be in Philadelphia at the Beadfest show teaching and vending, either place I would love to see you!

2009-06-02T11:48:00.004-04:00

Hoover Dam Construction

A minute to update from the Phoenix airport.

Let's just say that Las Vegas and I operate in a totally separate reality with an aesthetic that is equally as polarized! My trip out of the frenzy of the 'Strip' was a welcome change, the mountains, rocks, lakes and dams were a great reprieve.....and a reminder that all is not 'sin city'.

Where these favorite things lead me....

2009-05-29T09:44:00.006-04:00

The eggs lead to larvae which leads to explosives.

Sort of like the inside of my brain this morning as my ADD really gets rolling. I leave tomorrow EARLY AM to head for Las Vegas, I'll spend three nights, hopefully with my friend of 45 years! Nothing like last minute decisions. Tomorrow evening there will be the Saul Bell awards dinner, followed Sunday by a photo shoot of all of the winners to be used in next years ad campaign. Also going on in L.V. is the Wholesale Crafts show, I'll plan to stop in as well as sniff out sequins in the land of glitz.

Tuesday I head right to Milwaukee where I will meet up with so many of my friends and acquaintances to laugh, teach and sell things at the annual Bead and Button show. Always a good time.

If you place an order I won't get to it until after June 8. Thanks for your patience.

My favorite things.......

2009-05-28T18:17:00.012-04:00

Yesterday was just great, from early morning as I headed into Needham to meet up with a powerful group of women artists..... where we showed and told and talked of our creative motivation and examples of our inspiration, until the evening. These were some of the topics of the day. In my case the forms that continually pop up are eggs, seeds, pods, shells. Simple forms that house potential....with a hint of mystery.

Mid afternoon I headed into Lexington and met up with my dear friend Plum. We had an early dinner prior to gathering at The Lexington Center for Crafts where I was scheduled to give a talk on essentially the same topic. Notions, we all have them. Some are grounded in experience and reality and some are just bizarre accumulations of percieived untruths. The title of my slideshow was "Evolution of an Idea: Illustrating a Notion" which is really a survey of the last 25 years of my artmaking. In thinking of this presentation I was able to identify some of the common threads that permeate my mind and work. My reception was touching, many people showed up and they had comments and thoughtful questions, many people went home with a new creation in their pocket, or around their neck. Many thanks go out to Bead Designer International and all of the people and the efforts that go into keeping a society of like minded people together! Thank you.

I am thinking ahead. For all of you Pacific Nortwest people. I will not be exhibiting at the Puget Sound Bead Festival this year but will be in your area a few weeks earlier than that. I am scheduled to teach 3 classes and have a trunk show at the new Beads and Beyond/Pacific Quiltworks newly combined superstore! I'll be teaching classes in Bronze clay, Coloring Metals and an Embellished Felt Brooch class. I would love to see you there.

Green, the color of the season.

2009-05-25T06:16:00.002-04:00

Everything is GREEN. Growing , growing, growing. My fertile ground is working overtime. I am always amazed at how quickly we go from stark to lush.

Inside as well as outside.

Michael and Bradley

2009-05-20T08:02:00.005-04:00

An addition to this mornings' post. While I was away, Bradley, from The Farm School came down with his two plow horses and they extended the garden with the help of these two great animals, so sorry to have missed it, just glad that there was a photographer who thought to capture the moment!

Chicago from the river....

2009-05-20T06:11:00.016-04:00

Studio Beads in Deerfield, IL is fabulous, made more so by the team of proprietors Jessica Lundevall and Donna Zaidenberg. My week in their company and with the students of the area made for an action packed creative time. Thank you to all of you, I thoroughly enjoyed myself!

Monday I had a day in Chicago with my weeklong accomplice, Jess of Jess Imports. We went to the new wing of the Art Institute and took an architectural tour of the river, then met up with my LONGTIME (since second grade) friend, Michael Desmond, who was in Chicago for the restaurant convention where we got together for a lovely meal!

Next up? A slide show in Lexington, MA on the 27th through the Bead Designer International group and then off to Las Vegas where I will be attending the awards ceremony for the Saul Bell Awards, then directly on to Bead & Button. Whew, so much to do, so little time!

A new therapy to me.

2009-05-10T20:31:00.002-04:00

My husband went out to the bee hive this morning and brought one of our honey bees into the living room and offered to have him sting me, we lined him up with the most uncomfortable part of my thumb and turned him loose. I have never been in a situation where I was 'ready' for a bee to sting me, kind of a trip, exhilarating in a queer way. I am willing to give this a go.

while looking through my iphoto library.....

2009-05-09T06:11:00.003-04:00

It is always interesting to see how your children view things. These two pictures were downloaded to my iphoto program and I came across them. Olive took them, I really think that they are great, the composition, exquisite.

Awoke, wishing I had a sfogliatelle....

2009-05-08T05:58:00.007-04:00

Sfogliatelle

I must be feeling better. After 9 days of misery following a most brutal tooth extraction I finally am THINKING about something to eat other than yogurt, hummus, eggs. Sfogliatelle are one of my all time favorite foods, the look, the texture, the nuance. It seems as though every Italian bakery has their own recipe, with huge variation in flavor. Bostons' North End had a particularly great version at the Modern Pastry. In Northampton, MA, La Forentina Pastry Shop has a great one also, though they only make them on the weekend....hmmm, weekend is near!

I guess that I need fuel to gather together my wits, my kits, and a bunch of good energy to head to Studio Beads next week for a full week of fun, a two day trunk show followed by four classes, won't you come by?

newly in command.

2009-05-02T07:39:00.005-04:00

This Rooster has 'stepped down'.

After a winters worth of literally being cooped up, the roosters have undergone a shift in command. The white 'Mr. Chicken' is now in charge! They have been SO happy to be out of doors, taking dirt baths and chewing up bugs, the bad part is they have taken to having fun in the woods, makes it hard to round them up at the end of the day. Always a concern is the looming coyotes.

Update: Michael got some new fencing so they can frolic until dark in relative safety!