Blog Carnival

Some metal clay enthusiasts that I know belong to a web carnival where they all post on the same subject once a month. This month was an interesting topic - "What Technique Would You Like to Learn?". It started me thinking.

I am a workshop addict. I take classes as much as possible, as much as I can afford to. I learn something from everyone that I meet, but there are people who actually enrich my life. People with whom I can sit at a table and talk for hours. Most of those people are various teachers that I have met while taking their classes. People like Michael David Sturlin, Trish McAleer, Celie Fago and others. I've tried to learn as much as possible by attending classes at Bead & Button Show and Revere Jewelry Academy.

What would I like to still learn? I want a comprehensive course in stone setting. Either at Revere Jewelry Academy or at Brad Simon's New Approach School for Jewelers. I want to learn welding and how to form vessels. And most of all I want to continue playing with my artistic side - it's a lot more fun than my business side :-))

Only five kids last night for Halloween tricks or treats. All college age, but cute, none-the-less. More candy for DH and me :-))

Only a Few More Days

I hereby declare myself officially SICK AND TIRED of ALL political campaign ads!!!! I want to return to stupid product ads. Even the Sham-wow and Oxi-clean commercials are better than this never ending mud slinging hate-fest. At this point I don't even care who wins - just give me back my airwaves!!!

People are very involved in this election. We have a split ticket at work - my Manager is very conservative (although he may actually vote for Obama instead of McCain). My Assistant Manager is a liberal and will vote Democratic across the board. I vote for the person, not the party, so am voting a split ticket.

I wish I could vote in the California election, though. I think it is vitally important that same-sex union carry the same legal weight as male/female unions. Too often the chosen partner in a same-sex relationship end up with nothing - no rights, no say, no anything - in cases where one partner is hospitalized or dies. The tradgedy is that other family members will often shut that same-sex companion out because of their relationship and not acknowledge the years that it existed. This is simply wrong. I hope that relationships such as this can be acknowledged and strengthened through the law. But it will be a hard battle. Love and howdy's go out to my cuz, Miki and her companion Regina:-)))

Goals and Goal Setting

Tonya posted the following today, and this was my response to the primary paragraph:

"What is it that you want to attract into your life? How can you expect to achieve anything if you haven't asked for it. You are a magnet of energy. If you don't know or ask for what you desire how can that energy come back to you?"

My response to the quote above was:

That's the key, isn't it. To be able to focus on a goal and ask for it. But how to do that? You can ask the proverbial aether, or you can ask yourself to step up to the plate and perform for yourself instead of someone or something else. When you do that, you are often perceived as being selfish, self-centered, and a traitor to the corporate or family goals. The key is to walk this tightrope and get to the platform at the end of it. Only one person can stand on that platform - it should be the platform of your personal artistic goals and it should be you standing on that platform.

Catching that Rising Star

I'm often accused of being selfish because I take the time I feel necessary to work on my art instead of spending all of my time, 24/7, thinking about and working with my shop. But I've found, over the years, that my artistic side HAS to be a part of me. So, having my studio days are absolutely essential to me. Yesterday was quite productive. I got a lot of BronzClay formed and drying for the kiln, I painted a lot of copper-conductive paint onto beads and several skulls so that I can start electroforming them next week, I started working on the neckline of my cloak, and I started polishing a wonderfully layered slice of aggregate stone for the front of....something (haven't quite figured that out yet, but ideas are percolating). I just dove right into it when I got home in mid-morning and didn't come up for air until I left for the grocer in the late pm. And I was happy and have a good outlook on my upcoming day.

Oh, and I started working on my E-newsletter for the shop (Stormcloud Trading). I want to send one out every month at a minimum. It's not quite as easy as I had hoped, but I think I'll be happy in the long run. It's going to take some getting used to the software. I really wanted to have it out by the end of the week, but it will probably be next week before I really have it pounded into shape. If you are reading this blog and would like to be included in the address list for my E-newsletter for Stormcloud Trading, feel free to Email me and request to be added to the address list.

Day Off and Live Action

Here we are - Wednesday again. My list of things to do today is huge, so I know I'll only get about 30% of it finished, but I hope to get some time to make some jewelry today. There are some things that I want to experiment with and I can't do that until they exist in real life.

Speaking of real life, I thought I'd pass along some real wild life. The link is to Pete's Pond. Pete's Pond is a 24-hour live cam in Botswanna, Africa. When I'm on-line at 4:45 am, it is almost noon there. Today I saw a lot of really wonderful herons and other large birds. I imagine it could be excellent to watch around sunset or sunrise. Here's the link:

http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/wildcamafrica/?source=email_inside_20081014&email=inside&EID=0063003708

Play well, have fun.

Changes and Flexibility

By the time I finally finish the Kinetic project, it will have morphed quite a bit. Some additional design decisions were mandated by how the pieces fit together. It's been a real challenge and continues to grow, but I am hopeful that with the latest decision, I will not have to remake the bezels for a third time (although I don't mind the practice, I do mind the additional time requirements. So, I will add some peridot rounds to the piece to make it flow better visually and maybe I'll be on the final road to be able to finish the project this week. It would be really nice to be able to go on to the next project :-)

And check this out. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=13026092 Not that I have the money or would want the item, but a great job on the beadwork!! Fun colors, and what seems like great execution in the close-up shots. Fun eye candy for the day :-)

Vatican Splendors

Sunday was my last Sunday off from work for the next seven weeks. For the Holiday season, we always stay open for extended holiday hours - so my Sundays hours are noon-4pm. Not a lot of hours, but one additional day of work - ick!!! So my last Sunday was important to me and I ended up with a really nice day - lousy weather, but no arguments :-))

After waking up early for a breakfast at McDonald's (gotta love that Monopoly game - LOL), we dropped by Barnes & Noble books for a hour or so of browsing. Bought a couple of magazines, but they didn't have any books for me this time and the music that I wanted will have to be purchased from the vocal group's website directly. Then, on to the Minnesota History Center for Vatican Splendors. Some of the people in the crowds were a pain, but the exhibit itself was really interesting and we were happy that we went. Then on to TGIFridays for drinks and dinner, and then home for a relaxing evening. A good way to end my Sundays.