VOTE

I may be disillusioned with nearly all politicians, but I voted today. It is a privilege and your civic duty, so go do it!

Studio Space

I thought I would post a picture of my work area. This is where I melt glass, set things on fire, and generally create. Aside from being curled up on the couch with my hubby & dogs, this is the happiest place in my home.

Byzantine Chain

Yesterday I took the Byzantine Chain Class with Meg Tang at Kalamazoo Institute of Arts. I had so much fun. The chain is much easier to make than it looks, and Meg is a wonderul teacher. This is the second class I have taken from her. I'm placing an order for more jump rings this evening, so be on the lookout for more chains from me.

I Love Dogs

I love dogs. I've almost always had a dog or two in my life. Nothing beats coming home after a really crappy day at work and having your dog freak out because she is so happy to see you.

They can be somewhat trying, though. This is a picture of Kaylee, our 2 y.o. lab immediately after she had a bath. We let her out, and she immediately ran to the marsh, chest-high into the muck. Her scond bath of the day consisted of very cold water from the hose.

I Love Horror Movies

So October is just a great month for me on tv. Right now I am watching a Friday the 13th marathon. It is the third one, so it is cheesier than scary, but entertaining nonetheless.

The earliest movie I can remember that scared the absolute hell out of me was Phantasm. When the Tall Man raised his hand and growled, "Boy!", I was hooked!

So what is your favorite horror movie?

Some goodies in my Etsy store!

I had a wonderful time at the West Michigan Bead Expo this weekend. I have listed several items in my Etsy store. Pop in and take a gander!

Quote of the Day

"Bitterness is like a cancer. It east up the host. But anger is like a fire. It burns it all clean."
-- Maya Angelou

An Open Letter, or, Non-Adventures in the Void

To my old friend Depression,

Nice try. No, really, it was. You've always been a sly little bitch that quietly creeps in unnoticed, but the sneak attack of nearly overwhelming apathy was a new one. You slipped in, wrapped me up in gauze and stashed me into the corner of my own mind, lost in the Void. I could still feel emotion, but from a great distance. Passion, happiness, sadness; while not gone, nearly inaccessable. To the casual observer, everything seemed to be fine. I got up, I went to work, I cooked dinner, and I did it every day. But, it all meant nothing. I felt (nearly) nothing. I lost weeks.

But we've danced this dance, in one form or another, for a couple of decades now. You may be able to creep in, but I have learned to creep in, too. I rebuilt the connection from me to me, that which makes me. I've learned over the years that it isn't enough to survive. I enjoy living.

So cue the Gloria Gaynor music. I will survive.

In short, my old friend - Fuck. You.

Wordless Wednesday

Rain

Not much to post today. We do have a lot of rain coming, and I am looking forward to it. I love rainy, dreary days. I don't find them depressing at all; rather, I enjoy the peace an serenity of a rainy day.

A Night for Choice

I recently created a necklace for an upcoming fundraiser for Planned Parenthood of South Central Michigan. The auction will be this weekend, September 17th & September 18th at the Epic Center in Kalamazoo, immediately following the play, Mitzi's Abortion.

The criteria for the auction was to represent women; their strength, their beauty. One of the most important things for me, and often the most difficult thing to hold on to, is my dreams. For this piece, I created a goddess bead with my favorite glass, Psyche. I crafted all of the sterling silver links myself. I've been holding onto the Bali silver bead with stars and moons for nearly three years. As soon as I heard of this auction, I knew I wanted to create something around it.

Sylvia Ji

Last week I bought a magazine called Hi-Fructose. It is a magazine about contemporary art. I never really like anything "contemporary", but this volume is way cool. Particulary, the article on Sylvia Ji.

From the article:

"In Sylvia Ji's work, Death is the maiden. Her paintings all feature darkly seductive women, and her most well known images are those of her Day of the Dead series: heavy-lidded, full-lipped, calavera-faced vixens; glamorous Catrina images influenced the archetypal skeleton woman of mod of death itself, both seductive and manacing."

Check out her work. I'm in love. I wonder how I can work this into glass...

Check It Out, and Checking Out

My friend Tracy has entered the blogosphere! She is a great lampworker and jewelry designer. Check her out.

Life has been getting the best of me lately. Ok, *I* have been getting the best of me lately. I must create. I NEED to light the fire and make some beads. It is so frustrating how sometimes little things can throw me off the track, how I can lose track of my muse, my creative side, my mojo.

Lori Anderson Rocks!

Lori over at Pretty Things had a drawing for people who donated to assist Kimberly Wilcox after she lost her entire studio to a fire. I was so very fortunate to win the drawing! I cannpt describe to shiny goodness of the box. Like a kid on Christmas morning, I keep reaching into the box going, "OOOOh! Look at that one! OH! Look at that one!" I had a necklace to make tonight that has to be shipped out by Thursday, but I will get some pics of the 3 pounds of wonderful soon!

2010 Hastings Summerfest

Thank you to all of my customers at the Summerfest show this weekend. I had a spectacular time! Pictures to come.

eta: Holy cow, I wasn't online for three whole days. I am never going to get caught up reading blogs. LOL

Nostalgia

"I don't like nostalgia unless it's mine."

-- Lou Reed

I just thought I would throw in a picture of one of my early beads, a mutant fish with a butt. All of my early fish had odd-numbered eyes, and nearly all of them had butts. :) I made this little guy about 3 - 4 years ago. I think I need to revisit my mutant fish. (Or Blinkies, as my friend Suzanne calls them. (Yes, a Simpson reference.)) They were so much fun to make!

Help an Artist in Need

(mainly reposted from Lori Anderson)


Last month, Kimberly Wilcox's studio was completely and devastatingly destroyed by an electrical fire. Gone. All her tools, many of which were large and expensive. The entire studio structure. Insurance has barely scratched the surface and won't come anywhere near to helping her rebuild her livelihood.

There's a way you can help Karen. Daily Art Muse has set up a donation button via Paypal, and even if you only have $1, it can grow and help. If you hurry and donate by Sunday the 22nd (and sorry, I only learned of this today), you can be in the running to win $150 worth of books.

Plus, the wonderfu Lori Anderson has also thrown in a goody drawing for those that donate. Click here for Lori's post.

A Fistful of Bookmarks and a Wristful of Bracelets

Here are just a few of the items I've made over the past few weeks for the Hastings Summerfest, August 27th through August 29th, on the couthouse lawn in Hastings, Michigan. I'm feeling good about my stock, now I just need the weather to hold out. No rain, no humidity; about 75 degrees would be great. :)

Where Have I Been?

I just realized I haven't blogged in nearly a month. I've just been enjoying the summer, and I've also been preparing for the 2010 Hastings Summerfest. I have found that I need to avoid the eye candy when I need to design. It isn't really because I'm afraid of getting others' ideas stuck in my head, but more that as I create all I can do is compare my stuff to other people's. So, when I don't look, I accomplish more.

Ah, the pathetic smell of low self-esteem. :)

Please Vote for Beads of Courage

We are currently in 13th place, but need to be in 10th by July 31st in order to stay in the running. Please take a moment to vote!

Through the Beads of Courage Program children coping with life threatening conditions received colorful beads each which symbolize the many treatments and procedures they overcome. Their Beads of Courage collection serves as a tangible, visible symbol of their accomplishments during a challenging treatment journey. Funding provided by Pepsi will help us provide the Beads of Courage Program as a source of support for children in 10 children's hospitals wishing to provide the Program as a source of psychosocial support. The Beads of Courage Program strengthens resilience and quality of life for children coping with cancer and other serious illness.