The Seasons Are Turning - Time To Start Design Work!

Autumn is most definitely in the air. My mornings are crisp - low 50's (10-14 C) and getting colder. My days stretch into the 70's (21-26 C), but not the oppressively-hot upper 80's and mid-90's (26-35 C) of summer. I'm seeing strawberries, raspberries and grapes in the store as featured fruits, along with the last of the summer's peaches. I'm looking through my wardrobe and choosing mid-weight clothing -  long-sleeved T-shirts, and long leggings instead of the shorter ones I wear in the warm months, and my daily run isn't a sweat-fest (at least, not nearly as much). 

Because of my osteopenia, I'm not allowed to do 
impact on my treadmill - so no running. I do, however, 
do fast walking - currently doing two miles in 
slightly more than 20 minutes. It gets my heart 
going in the mornings. After I meditate, I put on 
my exercise clothes and go into the den and work 
out for 30 minutes, then take my shower, grab 
my breakfast, and settle down at my computer to 
clear my emails and post my blog. Done, no later 
than 7:00 am. Now I'm trying to figure out how to 
envelope swimming back into my schedule. I miss 
my swimming pool time. 

Autumn is a comfortable season for me. It's a season of color and buoyant celebration - harvest time, canning time (although I do NOT do that at all), and time to wrap things up before the snows of winter shut everything down for a few months. I still have time before the end of Autumn and beginning of Winter, but that clock is ticking. 

Another photo from my neighborhood last 
year. I always love this tree. The one on the 
left, always turns bi-color. It turns 1/2 orange 
and stays 1/2 green/yellow. Every year it has 
this incredible duality. The forecasters are 
saying we'll have a very short Autumn this 
year because of our summer drought. I'll 
be sad to see the colors leave us so soon. 

It occurred to me yesterday, that aside from having chosen the centerpiece for this year's Solstice cards, I haven't done a darned thing to actually begin working on them. I'd better get in gear. It's September, and I want them in the mail by Thanksgiving (ideally), but absolutely no later than Winter Solstice. Some supplies might be harder to get, and I still haven't really made up my mind on design - only the central element. I think I'll have to take it along with me to work and do some serious contemplation. I can't go too complicated this year - I didn't start in July (I actually have started a couple of the designs I've done in the past in the early summer months!). 

I wish I could make something this lovely 
for my Winter Solstice cards, but this would 
require a lot of equipment I don't own and 
am not comfortable learning how to use. 
I can admire the design, though. It's a 
simply scrumptious card. 

I'm almost reluctant to get going on my Solstice cards, because it signifies the end of another year, and beginning of the next year. That's always a bit of a traumatic time - I don't like endings very much. However, I adore beginnings, so I have that to look forward to. 

I do a lot of work with stones and gemstones, and own a 
LOT of raw stone, as well as faceted gemstones of varying 
qualities. I love working with stone - it resonates with 
people and their eyes light up when they see one that 
calls to them. 

So, I am going to switch to a different set of earrings today (I tend to wear a pair for weeks, if they're comfortable), gather my card supplies up to take to the shop with me, and start some serious creative contemplation. I may not be able to design them quite the way I have been thinking, but they'll be wonderfully fun to work on nonetheless. Have an excellent, productive and creative day filled with happiness and love. I'll be at the Rock and Mineral Show tomorrow, and might have some photos to share on Monday (no guarantees - not all stone is worth photographs). I'm also going to look through some possible winter sweater patterns - I feel a need to take my knitting machine back out and play some more, now that I've lost so much weight, I don't fit into last year's sweaters very well any more. Have a great weekend, I'll be back on Monday. 

Cards Mailed - A Few Left. Want To Claim One?

The post office opened at 8:30 am and I was the second person in line. By the time I left, fifteen minutes later, the line stretched back to the entry door with people sending packages to their friends and family. I need to get Sharon's package out to her, but I'm so used to sending her things via Priority Mail. I'll still have to motivate and get that wrapped, etc. I should up my sense of urgency here - LOL. Still, the holiday cards are in the mail. 

This is a busy season and time of the year for your local postal
service. Be kind to your post people, they're putting in some
hefty hours these days. 

I have one card reserved for an elder I met at my brother's funeral - just waiting for an address. One other card has been claimed by an on-line friend who sent me a message/comment. That still leaves a few. It makes no sense to hold back on this - I keep one for my archive, but would love to send the others off to friends. Don't be shy - it's a solstice card, it can arrive late and it's not a problem. No holiday trees or Santa here, just positive thoughts for friends and relations. 

Opal is usually an inclusion in rock, that has iridescence. It can be white
or black (or a few other odd colors) and it's just a gorgeous, if
frustrating stone. Quality varies a LOT and it fractures easily, making
it a challenge to work with. But I love it. 

To give a small idea of how bizarre my life can be some days, I'll share a small bit of today's early morning before I sat down at the keyboard. I was taking my daily vitamin and looked up at the shelf of my computer cubby, focusing on an odd bottle of white/grey stone to my left. "Hmmm," I thought. "I guess I should water the opal." How many people awaken, look around them, and think "I guess I should water the opal"?  I suspect, not many. But yes, my small container of opal chips and stones did indeed need water, as did the other small container I have on a different shelf behind me. Both have now been watered and the opal is once again happy. 

I have a few bottles of opal similar to these - small, containing opal
chips and small pieces. These are Australian and really good
quality. Mine aren't great quality, but they'll be fun to play with. 

Why water opal? Well, opal are iridescent cracks in a specific type of stone. The better quality opals don't need to be watered, although they often thrive with body oils when they are worn. These opals cost me approximately $5 for each bottle. They're low grade, but I think they'll be a lot of fun to play with once I'm not running the shop any more. Keeping them wet allows the iridescence to remain strong, until I actually use the stones. My strange life - LOL. 

DH likes his fancy meals for the holiday season, so he picked up
expensive beef yesterday (it was on sale - almost 50% off normal
price) and I'll get our homey baked ham early next week. Since I
usually eat chicken, it's a once-a-year treat for me too. 

DH bought standing rib roast and Manhattan roast yesterday (once a year sale and treat), and I'll pick up our ham on Sunday or Monday. The holiday is starting to come together, slowly. I still feel at least one week behind, and tomorrow is my last and only shopping day before Christmas and DH's birthday next week. I'm going to have to keep a sharp lock on my workouts. Can't let those fall off or I'll gain too much weight and be very unhappy as I enter the New Year. Here's hoping you have a wonderful day, and DON'T FORGET to message me if you would like one of the remaining cards sent to you. I'll be back tomorrow. 

Artistic Thoughts and an Upcoming Road Trip

I've been writing, and writing for several years now, not really producing much artwork. But I do love it when I dream of projects dealing with metal, chemicals, flame and glass - my media of choice. Something popped into my head in the early hours of the morning today and I want to see if I can get it to work in a way that would make it cost-effective. That's the problem with many of my jewelry and art designs - they take too much time to be able to ask a proper price for them.

Isn't this enamel leaf brooch lovely? A leaf motif was part of my dream
last night, although it wouldn't take this form. 

This particular project would use gemstones that I purchased several years ago for a similar design, but expand the design with more depth and some color. I'm not really sure where this will go, but at least I finally have a direction of possibility with my metalwork, and I've been at loose ends with that for too long. Will it work? Maybe. Maybe not. I'll have to try some samples to see. And given the current state of my kiln, I may have to torch fire or use my mini kiln instead - not as effective or fast, but fine for a trial version.

I love working with faceted gemstones. They're like little pieces of
color that fall down just to be admired by their owner. They
sparkle, they gleam, and I can look at them for hours on end. 

I had my car into my mechanic yesterday for a full check-out and check over. I wanted to know whether it would be safe to drive it to my conference at the end of May, or whether I needed to push buying a new car into a very tight time frame. Fortunately, I got the report that my car is in pretty good shape and perfectly fine to drive to and from my conference. I had to put some money into it, but it was within the budget I allowed before it would be "too much". So I fixed up Grape and she and I will go on one final road trip before I look into replacing her by the end of the summer. I want to trade her in while there is still some value to her, and she's a great car, but there have been some serious safety advances since she first came on the scene.

Although this is not my car, it is a close cousin - same year, same color.
I really love my PT Cruiser. There's a lot of great design in this car, and
it is totally a retro classic and the first cross-over made - starting
an entire category of follow-up cars. I've never regretted owing
my Cruiser and will be sorry to say good-bye later this summer.
At least we can have one last road trip together. 

I'm quite happy, though. I didn't want to be pushed into purchasing the new car just yet. I wanted to take my time, discuss the financing options with DH who will help me figure out the best way to go about it, and I want his opinion on the new car too. I think it is a very good alternative, and he is resigned to the fact that I'm going to upgrade this year. I know he's relieved that I'm not backed into a corner either, though. The pressure is off :-)

Shruti does wonderful mandala drawings. I searched
for one of hers, but wasn't able to find one to show
you. This one, however, is quite close to the type of
wonderful work she produces. 

For those of you who had asked me - my registered letter that caused my schedule to go so haywire, was a small letter and packet from my dear friend in India, Shruti. She's a phenomenal artist in her own right, and was sending me a sample of her newest offerings to see what I thought and what pricing she should ask for them. It was wonderful to hear from her again, as well as getting the ability to hold some of her art in my hands again. Hopefully my answers to her questions were what she was looking for. Next year, if all goes well, we'll room again at Bead & Button Show - she's a really fun roomie.

Look at this completely amazing mandala by Kathy Ahrens. You can
see some really magnificent mandala art on Deviant Art if you follow the link. 

So, as I get ready to go back out into the cold and rain (I hope the snow stopped north of us, although it is cold enough that we might have received a dusting), I'll be thinking of all of my friends around the world who are experiencing sunny, warm days today. Please send some of that warm weather my way. I want a warm spring filled with flowers and chirping birds, not one that makes me want to crawl back into bed.

Oh, a bit more snuggle under the blankets time would be so
welcome, but no ... I have to get going in fifteen minutes. *sigh*

Happy Tuesday!

So, It's the Weekend

It's the weekend. I'll be working hard to help people realize their craft and decorating needs until 5:00 pm, and then I can join other workers who have days off for my evening and a Sunday off. Except....

I love helping my customers with color and design decisions. I am
a stickler for knowledge of process, and I have excellent color
sense. Now if I just cared as much about my wardrobe as I do about my
artwork and my crafts....

On Sunday a trade show is in town. We only attend the show once a year and we need to restock some items that we only buy there. So, at 11:00 am on Sunday morning, or around that time, we'll be putting name tags onto our coats and entering a room that will quickly be overheated, overcrowded, and generally uncomfortable. I have high hopes that we will be in and out within 90 minutes, but know that my partner will want to look at rough stone so I'll resign myself to a corner and a wall with my phone and a good e-book while he tries to decide on pieces of rock to buy.

I'm hoping that we are able to get out of the hotel exhibition rooms relatively quickly so that we can enjoy the first day of 50 degree F temperatures we've had since last October. Warm weather - even though we'll only have the one day right now, I'll quite happily take it!

When my egret returns to my local pond, that's when
I think Spring has finally arrived again. 

I hope all of you have fabulous weekends and that each of you have an opportunity to really do at least one thing you really want to do. I'll be enjoying the thought that the ice still covering my pond will eventually melt and that my egret will return to my deep green waters.

Schedules Filling Quickly

Why do I ever think that I have time? If I didn't carry sketchbooks with me everywhere, I would never have the opportunity to design anything at all. But even with that, most of my designing takes place in my head, not on paper, because designing time is premium time.

While at MCWC, I had a one-day class with Alan Revere on Designing. I have to admit that I loved this class. But I loved it for and on several levels. Primarily was the opportunity to allow my creative side to overcome my practical side and be the major mover for the entire day. To hold a pen in my hand and draw for an entire day - this was absolute heaven and something that I haven't been able to do since I was a small child. To have some direction from a master that fine-tuned the designs, directed the attention, and suggested improvements and focuses - past priceless. Absolutely past priceless. And I ended up with four designs that I want to make in real life, one of which I purchased gemstones for while I was attending the conference.

But my "studio" day is Wednesday. And what do I have going on? I have two doctor appointments, I have to drop off some jewelry for repair by my friend who has a laser welder, I need to pick up my computer (fixed now - yippee!!!) from the far north suburbs, I need to get the computer back into it's little space and hook everything up, I need to hit the office supply store, and my list of other errands is growing exponentially. I really want to open some clay and get my next projects going so that I can enamel in two weeks (I have to work all next week while my Assistant Manager takes vacation). I'll be lucky to have one hour free to be able to do this. Time to grab the sketchbook again, clay may have to wait :-(

Buying in a Tight Economy

Yesterday was the spring "wholesale" Gem & Mineral Show. This is a GLW show for those of you familiar with them from Tucson or other smaller venues. The basic requirement for entry is a copy of your resale (sales tax) license and a business card or check. Since my state gives out resale licenses so easily and does not charge for them or have expiration dates on them, a lot of my customers also attend the show. This can make for an uncomfortable shopping experience.

I went because I did not go to Tucson this year. One of my vendors exhibits both in Tucson and here and I hadn't purchased from him in more than 2-1/2 years. My stock was VERY low. So I went to shop with him and then to see what I could get for my own work. I got what I needed, and found some nice druzy free-form cabs to play with, along with a few lower-end (but nice) gemstones to set. It was a successful day, even though I didn't spring for the Pariba or the nicely colored Tourmaline that I also wanted. It did seem that the numbers were down and that people were being much more careful about what they were buying. Several people mentionrd that they would not be attending the fall show (which I always miss because it comes during the Renaissance Festival season). A few also mentioned that they thought this show would be their last unless the economy (i.e. their own sales) improved. So things are still hurting for people. And that is sad. But I do have faith that people are resiliant and they will pull back and land back on their feet. It's a rough sea right now, though.