Week end work

I"ve been obsessed like a crazy woman this weekend, I can't stop thinking of jewelry and of making it. Last night I was up until all hours searching the isles of esty for chain, stones, metal findings, beads, lace ect ect. Of course I didn't lose my mind and kept my shopping cart empty. Although I did come away with many ideas. Before that I worked endlessly on the necklace that I'm showing you. Some of the wire wrap knots are good others need work, I just need to keep practicing. Making the cocoon bead was tricky for me, it took me several tries to get it as thick as I wanted. I still have to make a hook and a closure but do not have heavy enough gauge silver, but I know how to do it! Now if I just did not have to return to that boring dull day job everything would be fine.

Fair hopes

Fair hopes

Clouds of snowy blossoms,

flushed with tints of rose;

sheaths of brown which opening

tender leaves disclose;

Buds of fairy beauty,

grouped in perfect sprays

these are coming for us

with the sweet spring days.

author unknown

Reminders

One week ago today I was sitting in Ninas class learning to wire wrap. Surrounded by 21 other women who were full of creative energy, laughter, words, and ideas. Today I spent the day at work, that sterile cold and dull atmosphere. I've been doing my job for over 30 years and the magic is gone. As much as I try to find a place of heart in it I can't and following something as wonderful as this past week-end it is impossible. My mind wandered to wet trails, early spring blossoms, quiet gentle deer, and watching mist roll down the tree lined hills. In my mind I walked the class rooms and looked at art work, painted canvases, collage pages, and fabric art. It was all lovely. Thank goodness it is Friday evening, I've not had a chance to practice what I've learned since I've been home so out comes my tools and wire. I hope you all have a good week-end.

Ninas class

What did I create? That was the question on my husbands lips as I walked in the door, and I said I created more of myself. And along the way I learned many jewelry tips as well. No I did not make a necklace or even come close. But I learned so much. What I was taught was numerous what I tackled and conquered was wire wrapping and the "Nina knot". I practiced it for three days, I am a slow learner and it took me that long to get comfortable with it. I wanted to get so it became second nature to me and I would not forget it when I went home, all of her techniques are based on that basic wrap. I also learned about resin, I learned to make a cocoon bead, to draw a bead using flame, to make a hook, to tarnish metal, and to feel comfortable working with tools and wire. I also learned about a dremal as a drill and an engraving tool. I don't have a lot to show for the class but the knowledge in my head is just busting and I'm very excited about all I've learned.

I'm Back!!

I"m back from my get away and how wonderful it was. I love being surrounded by nature and quiet and I was. It was misty, foggy and rainy most of the week end but that did not dampen the spirit of the retreat. A candle at my bed side a bouquet of tulips brightened the room. Soulful eyed deer would stare at me from the woods as I made my way to the class room, not moving an inch from their green feeding grounds. It was lovely and peaceful. The patter of rain on the roof would lull me to sleep at night and the hooting of an owl would awaken me in the am. My cottage sat down a hill at the base of the woods. Between the rain drops I spent much time walking, cup of coffee in hand mist on my cheeks soaking in the quiet. Between Ninas class of making little wire knots and walking I spent much time in reflection. A weekend of getting to know myself and others better.

Away I go

Tonight I am packing for an Artful Journey Retreat with Nina Bagley. I leave in the morning for the 3 hour drive to the Presentation Center in Los Gatos and check into my little cottage at 3pm. I'm very excited to have this time to my self to relax, rest and recharge. I'm looking forward to walks on the grounds with my camera in hand discovering new worlds and landscapes. I'm also looking forward to spending 3 days in a jewelry making class with Nina. I love to collect found objects and if she can teach me ways to incorporate them in to my art work I would love it. Fortunately I have a list of items to bring, it is difficult to know what to pack. Beads, silver wire for wrapping, ribbon, pearls, found objects, lace, and lots of other stuff is going into the mix, I'm just not sure what I'll want once I get there. I'm also taking a suitcase full of journaling supplies so I have that to work on if I want to. It is going to be a full week-end. I don't know if I"ll be able to post or not, if not you won't hear from me until Monday. You all have a wonderful weekend.

First cut

Our lawn got its first spring cut today. I did not realize it had happened until I went out to plant some flowers- and oh the smell. That fresh wonderful fresh smell of cut green grass. I don't have words to describe it but it was warm enough that I was able to take off my shoes and wander barefoot through the blades of newly cut green. Today has been the first day that it has felt like spring, the sun was warm, the sky was blue and the fog lifted early. I had planted some sweet peas earlier this year but added a few more to the mix today.

"Sitting quietly,doing nothing, spring comes and the grass grows by itself."

Buddhist proverb

Valentine Day

Life has taught us that love does not consist of gazing at each other but in looking outward in the same direction. Antoine de Saint-Exupery I hope that you all have a wonderful day that it is full of love and goodness.

To be my best

Sitting in my car waiting for the sun to rise, watching rain gently fall, drinking coffee. Waiting, wanting, wanting changes but not knowing how to make them happen. Not quite sure what those changes should be. Fall is the time of year for settling in, winter the time for rest, spring the time for growth. Maybe that is what I'm feeling the start of spring, ready to shed the blanket of winter and stretch towards something new. I know the answer will come I just have to keep looking. So often in the past I've buried myself in numbness allowing things to just be ok. I want things to be better than ok, I want to live the best life I can live.

Tea and Friendship

When the world is all at odds

And the mind is all at sea

Then cease the useless tedium

and brew a cup of tea.

There is magic in its fragrance,

There is solace in its taste;

And the laden moments vanish

somehow into space.

And the world becomes a lovely thing!

There's beauty as you'll see;

all because you briefly stopped

to brew a cup of tea.

author unknown

Bare with me and my poetry mood, it just seems to be calling to me lately. To paraphrase what I read in PoemCrazy-poems catch a moment within us and move us to someplace new. That is what I've been experiencing with poems. This has been helped along by a wonderful treat I received in the mail from Kary of Farmhouse Kitchen, a delightful blog that you need to check out. She talks about gardening, Buddy, food, and food again, it always makes me hungry to read her tales. We have gotten to know each other through our posts and I must say I consider her a good friend. It is amazing how wires, computers, electronic stuff can lead to something warm and personal. I never would have thought so when I started this blog but it has brought me more joy than I can possibly imagine. Thank you Kary and all of you.

Wednesday pm

Why do you paint?

For exactly the same reason I breathe.

Thats not an answer.

There isn't any answer.

How long hasn't there been any answer?

As long as I can remember.

And how long have you written?

As long as I can remember.

I mean poetry

So do I.

ee cummings

Poetry

Over the river, across the bridge to my friends house I drove for a morning coffee, conversation, and creating. Nothing like a good bit of girl talk to make one feel better. I've let the "discussion" go for the time and have turned my thoughts to more fun things such as ribbon, lace, charms, words and journals. I've been spending time with poetry researching poets online and reading bits of their work, it has been a good learning experience for me. It is amazing what can be said in just a few words put together in the right order. I'm reading Poemcrazy by Susan Goldsmith Wooldridge-it is excellent. It is fun to read for how she plays with words and makes them come alive. My plan is to read some poems by e.e. cummings and that is what I'm off to do.

Relief

The husband and I had a "discussion" the other day and since then my head has been spinning. Full of information I can do nothing about and letting my imagination run wild making up scenarios that make my hair stand on end. Trying to quiet the beast that is my brain I went for a walk with a friend this morning. What a relief- blue skies, a crisp wind and the word "tiny" floating in my head. My daily assignment from a photo-journal class I am taking. For a period of time the conversation in my head stopped and I found peace. These beautiful eucalyptus blossoms reminded me of the forest scenes in Avatar. If you have not seen the movie you should go, I don't see many movies but it was a visually stunning movie and a wonderful experience. I'm not going to question how long this good mood will last but enjoy the peace and quiet my head is feeling right now.

Sweet honey

Last night as I was sleeping, I dreamt-marvelous error! that I had a beehive here inside my heart. And the golden bees were making white combs and sweet honey from my old failures. Antonio Machado

I love this quote, sometimes I want to wish my past away. But when I read this quote I realized that I need my past it makes me who I am today. I can learn to make it a precious treasure and not a bitter remembrance. The art work is by esty artist Michele Maule.

Thursday PM

Snowdrops-that is what I call this little white flower that blooms on the tip of a mass of green. It dangles there so innocent and delicately. Being the first green plant to push its way up through the wet dark soil announcing the end of winter and the start of spring. Although it may be cold and overcast, the next few days it is suppose to rain I know that the worst is over when I see these little flowers. In two weeks like the snowdrop I will have to push myself up out of the comfort of my safe studio, where my heater blasts away and music fills silence. I'll be attending a 3 day workshop taught by Nina Bagley. I will get to spend time in a cottage in my own room in the redwoods. Part of me is excited another part of me is apprehensive. I have placed expectations on myself that have me scared and anxious. Try as I might with all this self talk I am into I have not found a way to resolve the situation. I'm coming to the conclusion that the only way out is through and just to do my best and it will probably be fine but I am still nervous (alittle bit)

Growth

I am still absorbing the pleasure of my home. To reconnect I've been cleaning my studio/spare bedroom. Dusting off my shelves and touching my favorite objects, it is grounding me and helping me reconnect. I felt rather torn from my roots these past 10 days. But it was good for me to be taken out of my comfort zone and shaken up a little bit. It reinforced in me a desire for a life of peace and calm, it made me realize just how important that has become to me. It helped me realize that I have grown and that the growth is not just a temporary thing, but can hold up in adverse conditions. Life in the present is important to me. Taking time to pause and meditate are things I'm trying to learn. I learned this past week how much this has become a part of me and isn't just wishful thinking. There is still so much to learn, life is always throwing curve balls. Like the fact that I have to go to work in the morning and I would rather stay at home and play!

Home

Here at last, it feels so good to be home. Back amongst my stuff. I just wandered the rooms touching, picking up items feeling home in my hands. I've not been away from home this long in several years. It was necessary to reacquaint myself with my surroundings. My dogs were happy to see me but I think they were more excited to see my husband who had only been gone an hour to pick me up. Lily found the doggy toy I brought home for her and Penny found the airline peanuts I had tucked in my purse. Dogs have amazing noses!!! I am adjusting to the quiet of my home, unwinding from 10 days of being "on". I slowly feel myself shutting off and I want to take a nap, join the dogs on the couch. It will be good to be in my own bed tonight, and awaken to that cup of coffee in bed.