And so it goes

I have started a new adventure in creativity. This soon-to-be necklace has been a real challenge. I have taken it apart at least three, and maybe four, times. I don’t usually work on anything so structured, but here I am jumping in with both feet. I wonder what prompts me to take on these challenges and to stick with it until I am satisfied.

The above photo is not my latest. I took out the beads around the neck and I have decided to embroider all that shows through of the backing. This is no easy task. I am using Brazilian embroidery floss: it tangles and twists and makes me crazy. I can’t do regular back stitches as the surface is too rigid. So, it is one stitch at a time. The upside is that I’m using floss that was given to me and which would have been thrown away.

This time, I’m taking notes on the process. It’s hard for me to be organized, but I realize that it makes my future work easier. I have cataloged all my beads and labeled all the boxes my fabrics and trims are in. That alone was an adventure. You just never know what will happen when you try something new.

The following picture is one of those new projects I took on without a pattern. Common sense is a good quality to have. I had the earring pattern, so I did have something to go by, but I was worried it wouldn’t work.

In the past, I’ve been very successful when I’ve learned a new technique. I get books and tutorials and go from there. Sometimes I just incorporate a technique I already know. Sometimes I take hours determining what a rock or piece of wood wants to be. Once this piece is finished, I’m going to make dolls and purses. I need a new adventure.

I do love what I am doing and hope I can continue to share my adventure of art with you.

It’s Hard to Know When to Quit

Sometimes others don’t love what you have created as much as you do. Maybe they even hate it. But that’s part of the challenge and the fun of creating art objects. At present, we are trying to create a buzz on Etsy for my stuff. In working the process I realized that I had a piece I’d put about 50 hours into that wasn’t going anywhere. This is the piece:

I love it, others love it, but no one wants to buy it. So, I thought I’d remake it and see how that went. I discarded the butterfly and several of the flowers. I think maybe it was just too much. It’s hard to know when to quit, and that’s what separates the great artists from the mediocre. Here’s the beginning of the re-creation. What do you think? I’ll post it when it’s completed.

As you can see, it started out as a beaded collar. I intend to use the green pearls to make the necklace and incorporate the focal piece I’m now working on. And, of course,  I kept the beaded leaves. My method of creating is rather organic and sometimes I work myself into a corner. The best thing about creating that way is that I have to discover my own way to make everything work. I can safely say that creating wearable art is the adventure. It always keeps my mind active as I try to figure out how to turn my vision into something beautiful.

While looking for those pictures, I came across others I had created. I was doing craft fairs then and sold almost everything I made. Going through the pictures reminded me of those I loved the most. They tend to be ones created with found objects and textiles.

As you can see, it isn’t always jewelry that comes to mind. I love rocks and wood and this happened when a friend gave me the driftwood. It was another of those projects where I had to figure out how to bring the idea into fruition. She is a Storyteller made from the driftwood and flat river stones and textiles and beads. At some point I want to make a dragon from wood and tattered fabrics. I guess I’ll have to live a few more lifetimes to make everything I have in my head. But it is always an adventure.

I also want to give a shout out to a really nice guy. I made a comment on his blog and he had the good graces to send me some marketing tips. Check him out at:  https://affililatelife.blog/. (…and thanks for all the fish.)

Even yoga is an adventure

I am in the process of recertifying for yoga level 1 teaching. The adventure came when we videotaped an actual class. I wrote a short note to the people issuing my certification and I wanted to share it with you. Yoga itself is always an adventure, but my classes are particularly eventful as we are all seniors. Perhaps in sharing this little note, you will understand the adventure just a little bit better:

Dear Marie:

I thought you might be interested in the fact that I only teach seniors–a truly interesting and fulfilling job. They come to the rec center for health and to socialize and we are certainly not a typical yoga class. We laugh and talk, all the while bending, stretching and twisting.

My greatest concern is that no one get hurt while in my class. We will never get the poses perfectly–in fact I tell them that if they don’t hurt somewhere, then they didn’t have much fun while growing up. I am very aware of the replacement parts some of them have–hips, knees, shoulders, and the possibility of high blood pressure. I have had three ladies with breast cancer taking my class as they went thru the process. Now they have some neuropathy from the chemo, but we manage just the same.

They are a loyal group and we form some wonderful bonds. I love them all and they love me (well, they say they do). We hug and share joy and sorrow with each other.

One of my guys lost a son recently to an accident and he has continued to come to yoga for the love and support he receives. Many of them have formed lasting friendships in my classes.

Because it is a government building, I am limited in what I can discuss, but I do share chakra info, mudras, meditation techniques–that sort of stuff. It is never not noisy in the building, so real meditation is not possible, but they are learning to “ignore the distractions.”

I did buy those squishy ear plugs, but they don’t use them either. I say either because they are all type A’s and it is a struggle to get them to use props. Since they are all adults, it’s hard to just insist, but sometimes I do. It is very important to take them all as individuals. I sometimes feel as if I am walking on eggshells. This is a small town and word gets around pretty fast, so I have to be nice–which means I have to pick my battles.

Yoga has been a joy in my life and I try to make it so in theirs. For me that is the true spirit of yoga and I hope I can still teach when I reach 80 (only 12 years away).

Thank you so much for all your help.

I was reluctant to view the video, but I needed to make sure the content was there. I found I did do an adequate job of instruction and that I have a wonderful group of people around me.

Every yoga class is an adventure. Each person is unique in their needs and abilities. As the instructor, I must figure it all out so that everyone has a good time and learns new skills to help them as they age. I love what I do and I will do it as long as I can.

A Peek At What I’ve Been Up To

Earring Obsession

It’s been a bit since I’ve written for this site. I think that’s because it’s been a long time since we have gone on a hiking adventure. Life has been pretty complicated and time at a premium. That doesn’t mean I’m not creating art though. I’ve been obsessed with making fabric earrings. The above picture is only part of it. Our local art gallery is hosting a Christmas Boutique and I have signed up for it. I had already made a ton of earring for a LuLaRoe party my daughter was hosting, and so, I had some on hand. Now I’m making some actual Christmas type earrings.

Re-purposed trim with earrings

I have been making jewelry for some time now and the earrings were styled to go with the necklaces I’ve created, but they weren’t always in fabric, which is my primary medium for my art jewelry. Then I designed and created those below for my brother’s jewelry store in Ames, Iowa and got hooked on them. No two pair are ever exactly alike and I create them from fabric samples and quilt scraps, so I’m re-purposing things that would go into the trash heap–something I can’t even contemplate.

Batik, peridot and onyx

That’s where the adventure comes in. I had to design shapes, select fabrics and then figure out how to bond the fabric to an inner-facing such that the edges don’t fray. Even after I worked that out, I found I still might have to run a thin bead of glue around the edges.

Earrings made from silk and from quilt scraps

The ones I made for Iowa have gemstones on them. The ones I sell locally have Swarovsky crystals and seed beads. It takes me from two to five hours to create one pair of earrings. That being said, it is a labor of love. I love the adventure of finding the perfect fabric and then the perfect beads to go with them. And a good friend gave me her quilt scraps which are most batik. I love batik, as these clearly show. And the scraps are just perfect for earrings.

Thai silk with quilting

My next great adventure will be making a bag from this piece of Thai silk that I am quilting and finishing with bead embroidery. I intend to combine it with leather, of which I have a drawer full. So the adventure continues.

I’d need another lifetime to create everything that is in my head as I have only a limited time left on planet earth.

My daughter is helping me with an Etsy shop–another great adventure–at silkandstoneboutique. The adventure there is getting people to even look at it, much less like and send it around. It seems people are more and more caught up in their own lives and have little time for anything else. I guess I’m guilty of that too. There is only so much time in the day.

I hope you have enjoyed the pictures. You can see more fun stuff at my Etsy store.

Life is the adventure

Adventure isn’t always what you think it’s going to be. For me, it always has to do with family, hiking, writing or art. Recently I’ve put a lot of work into an Etsy (silkandstoneboutique) shop and getting earrings done for my daughter to have a LuLaRoe party. That work is in conjunction with finally getting my book written and teaching yoga and senior strength training. All of those I love. So, all in all, life is good.

This is my lovely granddaughter modeling earrings made for the party. The earrings were made from quilt scraps given to me by a friend. I try to make everything from re-purposed items.

All of my jewelry creations are either fabric based or created from things found while hiking. We have some really great rocks, discarded metal, and wood in this area and I find pieces that I eventually turn into something.

My method is to put pieces I love on my work space and let ideas simmer. Another great source of inspiration is Pinterest. I also see metal jewelry on TV and wonder how I can make it out of fabric. I would need two more lifetimes to create everything I envision. I’ll certainly never live long enough.

This is a piece made from leather given to be because a furniture store went out of business. I have all of their furniture samples–a good example of why I need two more lifetimes. I want to make hand bags too! Something is always cooking in my brain.

It turns out that the greatest adventure is life itself and what we make of it. We are all creative and just need to find out what makes us sing inside. That is adventure.

Another Art Adventure

I haven’t really had an adventure in a great long time. At least not the kind you’re used to seeing here. My latest adventure is learning to teach chair yoga. Sounds easy? Not so much. It turned out to be a lot harder than I’d ever imagined. I teach seniors. I’m a senior. We all have limitations.

But I am trying some new things in my art world. Here’s a picture of a piece of silk I’m embroidering with floss and beads. It is stuffed in the trapunto method. Later it will be combined with leather to make a bag.

I am also making a different style of earrings. These are fabric with semi-precious gem stones added. I have them on display at Gilger Designs in Ames, Iowa. He has this great fine design shop and I am honored to have them there. And they are such fun to make. I made a pair for my niece and my nephew’s girlfriend. I made me some too.

Of course, these are in progress here, but they turned out beautifully.

Now, a friend of mine is setting up an Etsy shop for me–another great adventure in the art world. Everything takes time and energy. But creativity is the domain of us all. We are by nature creative and for me it has become a real need. I suspect it is that way with all artists. For this new year I hope you all have lots of time and opportunity to create the things you love and that this brings you great joy and peace.

 

Spring Has Sprung

I know, I promised to share my adventure with learning WordPress, but I got distracted! I get distracted a lot. This time it’s a script treatment that caught my attention. I have the script written although it needs work, so I’m writing a treatment. Maybe someone will want it. It’s a murder mystery, which is no surprise. That seems to be my choice in novels these days. I don’t read often because once I start, I don’t stop until I finish the book. I love Lee Child!

So, my next project will be a new blog page about writing a book. That and the script are my major focus, but I must pause for Spring. It’s here. I live in the desert Southwest and the Laural bush is in full bloom and the cactus have multitudes of buds waiting to pop. I want to go to Death Valley and see the wild flowers. What a sight!

So, today was a clean the yard day, one of many to come. I hope you are all as lucky as I am where the weather is concerned, but I fear many of you have great adventures ahead. My prayers go out to all who will face flooding when the thaw hits. Blessings.

Just look at that sunset!

Today’s Adventure Begins With WordPress

This a picture of a Storyteller that I created. I love them because they represent one of my passions. Writing. Truth is, I’m writing a book. In order to write the book, I have to read books. The book I’m reading is, “WordPress for Dummies,” by Lisa Sabin-Wilson. While I read it, I’m suppose to do what is being explained. There is hope on the horizon. I am going to learn how to make my page function like I want it to and to help people find me.

The things in life that bring me joy are (in descending order): family, friends, dogs, writing, creating art, reading,  hiking, cooking, yoga, gardening, camping and movies. Which means that I am enjoying the process of creating something that will, I hope, be an inspiration to people to be the best human they can be. While it’s true that nobody is perfect, we can allow our “reach to be greater than our grasp.”

I tell my yoga students that it isn’t about the end result, it’s about the journey towards it. Sure, it’s nice to have a great outcome, but is it necessary? Joy is found in the doing, in the being. I believe that’s why we’re all here: to actively create a joyful experience, or not. Maybe there are those who are here to create a miserable experience, but the fact is, at some very deep  level, you get to choose. Of course, I believe in a free-will Universe in which we are all just “experiencing.”

That being said, I intend, to the best of my ability, to share this little journey with you. Of course, you can buy the book and do it alone, but what’s the fun in that? So, here’s to WordPress and ” WordPress for Dummies”.

A Big Thanks

Thanks to all who liked my recent post. I am still a neophyte at this, so I don’t know how to thank you personally. I am learning and I will get better at it. My generation didn’t grow up with computers. We still used pencils, paper, dictionaries and encyclopedias. You can bet the only spell check we had was the teacher. So, we are a little challenged. But I’m pretty smart, so I can figure it out.

And speaking of joy: I taught a yoga session on opening to joy the last two days. It went so well that one of my guys whistled as he left class. The poses are meant to open the heart chakra and it seems they do a pretty good job of it. Even with the gloomy rain outside, I left class feeling pretty great. Joy, like everything else of value is found right inside you. If you’re looking for something or someone to bring you joy, you’ll be looking a long time. And if you think you’ve found it outside yourself, you’re bound to suffer disappointment.

Dogs aren’t feeling so joyful today, though. Too wet for their desert run, so they’re lying around looking sad and soulful. At the mere word, “go” they jump up and head for the door. Too bad little ones. No go today.

It’s hard for me too. My chemistry gets off when it’s gloomy out. They even have an official name for it: SAD. Seems appropriate, although grumpy is more like it. It explains why people in the Northwest drink beer and coffee so much. I lived in Poulsbo, Washington one year and nearly went nuts. If I remember right it’s the melatonin we have problems with, but don’t quote me on that.

So, I’m signing off for now to do a little inner work.

Adventures With Grandkids

I promised I’d write a post about the visit of the ankle biters. Well, one of them is a little older than that, but still young. They are both males, but with really different personalities. That’s how it goes with kids.

The youngest had never met us, but that didn’t seem to be a problem as long as we acted like loving humans, which how could you not do? They were lots of fun, but I’d quite forgotten what young ones were like to entertain. We gave them art stuff and took them on adventures and everything worked out fine. I now have pictures on my fridge done by both of them. Now, that’s art.

So, we loaded up food and the two dogs and the boys and headed out! Dogs can be more unmanageable than boys, but they really were quite good on this trip. I worried about all of them getting too close to the cliffs, though.

I am including a photo of this adventure: the Devil’s Fire, or as some call it, Little Finland. By either name it is totally awesome. The trek to it is a bit daunting, but neither of the boys had to be carried. As we approached the hills, the boys (Finn and Jude) noticed white staining on the rocks, so I taught them how to lick rocks (I’m not too sure mom appreciated that) to tell what it is. In this case it was alkali or salt. They got quite a kick out of licking rocks! Me too, for that matter. The desert is full of alkali areas, so they can lick rocks to their heart’s content.

We climbed to the top where the really special stuff is and right-away showed them petroglyphs on the very rock they walked upon. These glyphs are probably as much as 10,000 years old. I can’t even imagine that span of time. And to think humans were here then is awe inspiring.

I look for special rocks and twigs whenever we are out as I use them in my art. We found Moki marbles for the boys–round bits of sandstone rock. I have many of those, as well as chert and round rocks and just rocks I love. That would be most rocks. I figure we have about 50 ton of rock on our property, and aside from the landscape rock, we’ve carried it all in–from little to large. Needless to say, they had rocks in their pockets when we got home too!

It was great to have them here, and it seems they liked it to! Now we look forward to the next great adventure with them.