Designs and String

While working on the designs for the leather pouch that I need to have finished by the end of the month, I was amazed by how much of the patterning I could have accomplished using a simple string, pin and pencil. After all, a compass is simply a glorified and less stretchable version of a string and pencil. And with a compass, so many designs are possible. I'm busy working on some Egyptian motifs to go along with my hallmark on the front of the pouch, and the motifs are possible because of the geometric possibilitis awarded by the use of a compass. It's also a lot of fun, even though my good compass is at my home studio and I'm using the really cheap compass that I keep for emergencies at the shop.

I love geometrics. When I was drawing as a child, I always used templates, coins, my compass and protracter, and a ruler to produce most of my art. When I was accepted to art school, it was a geometric-based drawing that got me accepted. I didn't end up going to that school, and didn't end up focusing on that career path, but it's at least nice to know that the possibility was there. I'm having fun designing the rest of this pouch. And since she needs these templates quickly, I'll have to work on these for some of the weekend also. I hope you have a safe and creative weekend - play happily and artistically.

Less Than 30 Days..

Well, time is catching up with me again. Here it is, May already. And in less than one month, I'll be leaving for Bead & Button Show in Milwaukee for my annual get-together with friends and professional acquaintences. It's a big party. I have tickets that I have to buy that I haven't motivated to get yet. I have invitations to extend to a get-together that we always have on Saturday nights that I also haven't extended yet. I'm just not in the mood - can you tell? Guess I'd better get myself in gear - too many things are still in the air and need to be nailed down.

I have my friend VerLaine making me a replacement name/badge holder. Many years ago I had a free badge/name holder that I received at a CHA show in California. It turned out to be one of the most convenient things I ever owned. But it is starting to feel its' age and wearing out, so I asked her to make me a new one from light-weight leather. She gave me the panels for design work and I have to get going on the designs for that, since I plan to have this ready for B&B at the end of the month. Tick, tick....the darned clock just doesn't seem to slow down, does it? So, while I design some end panels for leatherwork, why not pick up a writing/drawing implement today for your own fun. Or better yet....go outside (if the weather is nice) with some sidewalk chalk and play for a while. Let the child out - play creatively.

Checking Out the Past

Facebook has made me brave. OK, that statement probably needs a little bit of explanation - LOL. Because of the search feature, and the semi-ubiquitous positioning of Facebook in the lives of people in this country, I have been taking some time and searching out people that I used to know many, many years ago. You know...when we were still painting around our hands in caves and acting like total idiots in tie-dye, headbands, and beads. (Actually, those days were really quite fun, even if they were somewhat insane.)

The first old friend I found was a rival from high school. We had spent some rather intense years together, trying to one-up each other in our musical careers. I am delighted that she has continued in her music and currently teaches music at the high school level back in the Colorado that I miss (although I don't miss the cities in Colorado at all).

And last night I got an Email contact from a person I had been hunting for - the guy I almost married instead of my DH. I just wanted to catch up with him and find out if the past years have been kind to him. He was an important part of my life for several years and even though I ended up with a different guy, he was still a lot of fun and a good friend. Facebook allowed us to get back into contact, so I'm very grateful. I'm going to enjoy hearing about his career over the past years. So....have you reached out yet? Why not try finding and contacting someone from your past. It can be a totally rewarding experience.

And the Winner Is....

Like many of you, I enter my name into every drawing, contest, etc., that I come across while visiting art shows or reading posts on-line. Today I received an Email that one of these many entries and clicks actually paid off. I have won two tickets to Andre Rieu's concert on Saturday, May 23rd in the Target Center, downtown Minneapolis (that's Minnesota for those of you overseas). Andre Rieu is a unique musical director and it should be a really fun night. I would never have been able to afford these tickets on my own, so I'm thrilled. I doubt that my DH will want to attend with me, so after he turns it down, I'll think about who would be best to go with. Here's a link to a You-Tube on Andre Rieu.

I don't win things very often, although I could say that my entire life has been a win-win for me (I've really been very lucky in many aspects of my life). The last concert that I won tickets for was Neil Diamond and I went with my sister, Maja. We had a wonderful time and it was a great concert. My only difficulty with this concert is the fact that it takes place at the Target Center in downtown Minneapolis. I so rarely go there that the to and from is a challenge. I'll have to YahooMap it carefully :-) But I'm already looking forward to a fun evening of music, song and dancing. Yippee!

Blah....bleh....ick

I awakened and arose at my usual 3:30am time this morning. And decided that I was NOT in an Email mood today. So I petted, poked and stroked my "pets" on Superpoke Pets, I played a little Lord of the Rings Online, I looked through my forums to see if anyone was crafting or doing anything of interest, and I searched for some stuff on-line, and even allowed myself to go back to sleep for 30 minutes. I finally decided that I had to post and handle my Email and pushed myself over the hump.

You know that hump. Every creative person has them. It's also called the "ick" factor. It's when the painting looks like a bunch of blobs of color and you can't see how they can possibly come together as something pretty. Or when every word chosen for a paragraph just seems wrong. Or when the key seems off for a piece of music you are composing, or the glazes just aren't working for your pottery. In other words, the "blah", "bleh" and/or "ick" factors. And since everything goes through this stage, the only thing to do is work your way through them. That's what I did today, and I'm one small bit stronger because I did.

Best Laid Plans....

Saturday's plan was colors and pasta. Nice idea, but life got in the way. I didn't get a chance to play with my watercolors (although being busy at work is actually a VERY good thing), and my weekly pasta had to be postponed so that some yard work could be accomplished and a visit to the local Target for some basic staples was done. A quick meal at Micky-D's (McDonald's) ended my Saturday, along with playing Lord of the Rings Online until almost midnight. It actually was a great day, even though none of it went according to my morning plan.

I think that I may do my pasta tonight instead. I really miss it when I don't get my pasta :-) And a good friend also recommended the watercolor pencils. I actually do have some of those and probably will play with them after I get more used to the properties of watercolor on paper.

Spring is certainly here. We had thunderstorms yesterday, but just south of us in Iowa and Oklahoma, they had tornados. I have friends who live in earthquake zones, volcanic areas, and hurricane areas. I live in a tornado zone. But, as frightening as heavy thunderstorms and rains can be, tornados generally have a small path and localized damage. It is amazingly destructive, incredibly beautiful, and I'll take that over a large-scale earthquake anytime! Here are some tornado photos for all of you.