Moving Onto Our Second Day and An Unexpected Phone Call/Video Call From a Dear Friend

Today is the second day of our "Inventory Reduction Sale". Yesterday went really well, the customers were spaced out well, so we were able to really help those who needed help, and we sold a great deal of product to very happy crafters. A total win/win. 

Black Friday turned out to be a very good sales day 
for us, with customers spaced out just enough to be able 
to really assist them. 

In the latter part of the morning, I heard my cell phone "ding" and took a quick glance at the screen. My friend Shruti from India had posted something, and since I wasn't with a customer that moment, I responded right away. She then put herself on video and we had a nice video chat for about five minutes or so. What a TREAT! I got to wave "Hi" to her mother too, but just seeing Shruti and chatting with her for a little bit. Well, it totally brightened my day so much. 

I was hoping to share a photo or two of Shruti and her 
lovely watercolors, or the mosaic wall that she did in 
her house, or any number of other photos I've seen of her 
in the past. But everything is on Instagram, and almost 
impossible for me to snag and share. *sigh* I tried. 

Shruti and I have been friends for more than a decade, probably closer to two decades. We first met each other at a conference - I don't recall if it was Bead & Button Show or one of the PMC Conferences that I attended. But we chatted and exchanged information, and she was my roomie for the PMC Conference in Indiana one year. It was FABULOUS. We had SO much fun. Towards the end of the conference, I "kidnapped" her and we drove to a nearby town with a Dick Blick art store. We both went a bit crazy in there buying all types of materials. 

I think Shruti and I had met before the 2012 conference, 
but I also know we were both there. As was Holly, 
the teacher for this class, and other friends with whom 
I'm still in touch. The ability of modern tech to 
link us all, despite distance and time, has been one 
of the truly wonderful things about living when we 
have. This linkage would have been much more 
difficult without computers, phones and Facebook. 

We waved good-bye after the conference, but stayed in touch. She traveled - all over the world. Vacations in the far north where she rode a sled down a glacier, and other trips here and there. Whenever she came to the US, she usually would give me a call. We always exchange holiday cards, and her cards are ones that I always save. She's put mosaic onto her walls, taught a bunch of art classes, she works with color and shape in ways totally different than I do, and we complement each other. I'm very fortunate in my friends, and Shruti is high on my "friends list". What a joy it was to chat for a short time. And to actually be able to see her ... what a PLUS! 

Today we'll be selling stone, bone and larger glass beads 
(anything larger than seed bead size, so 2mm on up). It 
usually brings in a totally different group of people than our 
seed bead sale does. But every one of them is SO creative. 
I just love that about my customers. So many ways in which 
they use our products. 

So what happened on your Friday? LOL I hope it was as nice as mine was. Now I'm moving into my Saturday sale - beads that are NOT seed beads are the focus for today - lots of pressed glass shaped beads, as well as the Swarovski crystals. And then this year's major "Inventory Reduction Sale" will be over and we can assess whether or not it was a success. I know I totally collapsed after dinner last night. I suspect it will be the same tonight. Have an excellent Saturday and weekend, I'll be back on Monday. And, if you haven't voted for my story on LJ Idol, I'd appreciate your vote. Check yesterday's post for the link. Slava Ukraini. 

Focus and Focus and the Unexpected and Welcome Contact of a Dear Friend

I had a delightful way to awaken this morning. Just as I was settling into my morning meditation, my phone notified me of a live text from a dear friend who lives in India. She had a query regarding a comment I had made. She makes hand-made holiday cards every year, like I do, but she's far more creative and hand-makes every aspect of them, not just the decoration. I had commented that she might want to consider putting her finished card into a commercial envelope to assure delivery, at least in the USA where most of our mail sorting is automated. She wondered about dimensions, which of course I didn't have "off hand", but I did tell her that a purchased envelope at any office supply store or on-line vendor would be fine. I also told her that her last card had arrived in February! But, I'll take her cards anytime I can get them. They are miniature works of art and they are ones that I always save. 

If I am remembering properly, Shruti lives in a Western 
suburb or smaller town, close to Mumbai. She's a very 
talented multi-media artist and a strong, confident 
woman. She's one of the gems I call "friend" - someone 
whose very presence enlightens my own life. 

After that short interchange, I returned to my meditation. So, things are a little rushed today, but for the very BEST of reasons. To exchange even a short interchange with Shruti is to start my day off on a wonderful, happy and glorious note of joy. 

I'm going to start my grocery shopping at my Co-op today. 
Mississippi Market has been around for a long time. For 
years they operated out of a rented location near St 
Catherine's University, but then they built the St Paul 
location you see in the photo. They also have two 
locations in Minneapolis. They're fabulous! 

So today is my "day off" and I have too many things to do. WAY too many things to do. But, I'm looking forward to 4:00 pm and my weekly conversation with Aearwen. One tiny island of calm in a day when I'll be hustling here and there. I'm grateful that I don't have any doctor, dentist, orthodontist, eye doctor or automobile check-up appointments today. It's just me, a couple of grocery stores, my kitchen, my laundry, and my computer. I have enough food made to get me through until Friday, so I'll be working on the laptop and DH's website today. I hope I can finally get it up and running. *sigh* 

I HAVE to get DH's website up and operational, 
so that'll be a primary objective of today, since 
I can push off cooking until Friday. 

So, I'm off to the swimming pool. One hour of silence (relatively, since I listen to audio books while swimming), one hour of activity, to start my day out right. So far, when combining swimming with my quick chat with Shruti and a lovely morning meditation, my Wednesday is looking quite positive. Have an excellent day, Slava Ukraini and חיים למען ישראל.

It's Friday - I'll Get My Swim In Today Since Wednesday Was Messed Up with Snow

Yesterday was a really slow day at the shop. The weather, although no more snow, had left us with a huge clean-up around the Cities, so we weren't busy at all. Still, we did have people and did have sales. DH spent his day clearing snow from the roof and it was a miserable and very LONG job indeed. When he was finished, it still wasn't done to his satisfaction, but he'd spent seven solid hours on the task and simply had no more energy to devote to it. I think he did great. There's no way I could do any of it, and if he didn't keep up with it, we'd have leaks all winter because of hot spots and worn insulation. It is a 1960 house, after all. 

DH uses a snow rake similar to this, but one he's modified 
to get higher onto the roofline. We had 15" of snow piled 
up from the storm, and the bottom two inches were an icy 
slush that was hell to get off. After the snow was finally 
off, it had to be cleared away from the snow mountains he 
had created in the yard, and shoveled out from the 
window wells below the roof. It's a horrid job and he has 
to do it often every winter. 

I know. My friends in Europe are probably laughing at me. A 1960 house? That's almost new! Well, yes. In some respects you're absolutely correct. But, this is the USA. We've only been a nation for a bit more than 200 years, and most of our cities are less than 100 years old - at least for the majority of their construction. So yes, living in a 60+ year old house in the USA, isn't common. We've often talked about finding a different place to live - ideally, two townhouses that we could join into a single unit with a passageway/doorway between them. He could have his side, and I could have mine. I'd still love something like that. It would suit both of us to a T. 

Ideally, DH and I would like adjoining 
townhouses. We'd each have plenty of room 
for our own activities, but could add a passage 
between them to actually have a single 
large house. That would be my ideal home. 

I an swimming today since Wednesday was taken up with the snowstorm and my trip to my orthodontist instead of being in the pool. That means I don't have a lot of time for my blog today, but that's OK. I'll be in the water in a bit more than an hour from now, and that's all good. 

My friend Shruti lives near Mumbai, on the 
Western side of India, in the darker maroon 
colored state. She's such a talent and a bright 
light wherever she travels. I'm honored to 
call her a friend and we've been roommates 
several times at various conferences and 
events. 

I had a lovely message on my phone from my friend Shruti in India when I awakened this morning. My holiday card finally arrived at her door, and she was delighted with it. It's always a joy to hear from her. We have shared creative times and events with each other over several years now, and she's a rare talent and a bright light in the Universe. It started my day out so very nicely. So I hope you also have a great day. I'll be making soup today - it seems like the perfect food for a snowy landscape. Have an excellent day and I'll be back tomorrow. Slava Ukraini. 

Toasters, Housecleaning and Conversations - It Was a Good Friday

Yesterday turned into a very busy day, but I did get quite a lot accomplished. I started out at Whole Foods - not my favorite grocery store, but the only one that supposedly carried the no-grain bagels I wanted to get. Why did I want bagels? DH broke down when he was at Target on Thursday and purchased a new toaster with wide slots so that he could toast bagels. That sounded lovely to me, so I decided to get some for myself. 

The new toaster that DH purchased is 
pretty snazzy. You need to hold the 
lever down for several seconds before 
it locks into place. For a bagel, you then 
push the left-hand button and it automatically 
senses and toasts the wider, denser bread. 

Of course, while I was looking for bagels, I also needed non-dairy cream cheese, non-dairy "butter", and a nice no-sugar jam. I already had some lovely raw honey that Chickie had given to me - friends of hers have hives and had given her some super tasty honey, but Chickie doesn't like honey so she passed them on to me. I've been enjoying them ever since. 

I ended up with this brand of non-dairy 
cream cheese. It's actually not too bad. Not 
as good as regular cream cheese, but I'll 
eat it, and since I don't do dairy any more, 
I'll manage just fine. 

I got the spreads and the bagels and some uncured lunch meat that I had run out of. I got stopped by three people who complimented my tattoo, and one very sweet guy on the autistic spectrum who said he'd never seen anything like it before, and asked what it was. I gave him the short version of what a Winged Scarab portrayed and he thought it beautiful. Made my morning, for sure. 

I also picked up a jar of this - 
no-sugar Apricot spread. It's 
absolutely lovely - very tasty! 

My main task for the day (aside from doing the laundry I couldn't do on Wednesday) was to put the micro-ban coverings on all of the pillows, the couch, and the queen-sized mattress. That was easier said than done, and the mattress would have been a LOT easier with a second person, but I prevailed. I got everything covered except the couch. I had been off on my measurements, and had to return the couch cover and order the next size up. So, I printed out the return slip to Amazon, repackaged the item, and headed to Kohl's which accepts Amazon returns at no charge. 

I have a guillotine-style cutter in the basement 
of the shop, but it's not accurate enough. I have 
a very inexpensive rotary cutter at home, but it's 
not up to the amount of pages and the weight of 
the cardstock. So, I decided to add one of these 
onto an Amazon order. It arrived earlier this 
week, so now I can proceed with the next stage 
in my holiday cards. I can already tell 
I'll be running very close to deadline for 
them this year. 

Today I'll start cutting down the fancy papers for my holiday cards. I have a lot of cutting to do. I received a new, more accurate cutter earlier in the week, and I took the time yesterday to go onto the manufacturer's website and order one of each of the custom blades they make for the machine. I should be getting those next week, and one of them is a scoring blade, which will get a lot of use for this year's cards. 

My friend, Shruti, is one of 19 artists chosen 
to be featured in this new book, just released 
on October 19th. I'll have to take a closer look 
at it, but I'm so proud of the recognition she's 
receiving from others on her journey. 

I also spent the day messaging back and forth with my dear friend Shruti, from India. For many years she has made a card for more than 500 friends, each one hand-made and highly decorated. A true work of love. I limit mine to 50 and can't imagine doing 500! Earlier this year she had said she was going to take this year off. She was feeling a little guilty about taking the year off and was bouncing things off me, so I told her she needed to take whatever time she needed to recharge her batteries and allow herself to get grounded once again. I told her to take the year off for herself - that she was entitled to it. We had a lovely conversation. It's always a joy to touch base with her. 

So have a wonderful Saturday, enjoy your weekend, and I'll be back on Monday morning. Please stay safe, be kind and do something unexpected over the weekend. It's always good to stretch your boundaries. 

Bouncing Thoughts

I've been daydreaming so today will be short. What was I daydreaming about? I was looking at possible ebooks to add to my "to buy" list, I was looking at where my state ranks in the "most dangerous states" listing (we're one of the safest 15, so pretty good all around), and I was reading an author's blog.

I'm relatively new to Pinterest, and find it a horrible time
sink. But it is nice to collect photos of things that interest
me in a virtual corkboard. 

I was looking at pretty pictures, daydreaming about catching up on some Pins at Pinterest later today, and looking at my dear friend Shruti's holiday card which finally arrived yesterday (it was a long journey from India).

It took a LONG time for Shruti's card to arrive this year. It would have been
faster if it had come via elephant. 

I was contemplating what I needed to do today (taxes, some research), and what I need to do tomorrow (grocery shopping, laundry, taking many books to Half-Priced Books). I was thinking about getting back to editing several drabbles and adding another two to the pile. I looked around me to make sure that I had all of my swimming gear ready to go. I printed out a mail order for a lot of beads that I think are probably in very short supply. (That order may end up unfilled - I'll know later this morning.)

I used to spend hours playing pinball machines, now
I play video games on my Nook tablet or my phone
instead. 

My mind slips and whirls around thoughts like balls through a pinball machine. I hit this bumper and that, veer off in odd directions, cause lots of light and motion and bells and whistles, and finally fall down the side chute, only to reappear and begin again. It's a higher-tech hamster wheel.

Sometimes I just can't calm my thoughts. I'm on a
hamster wheel of the mind. 

On that note, time to start finding pics and wrapping up for the day. Have a wonderful Tuesday, all! My friend Matt will finally be released from the hospital to return home today. Since he was admitted on Christmas Eve, it's been a long haul this time. *hugs* to Matty and his family.

Instant Communication - Blessing and Curse

Momentary amazement at modern technology, and a very busy day at the shop yesterday, left me totally exhausted by the time night came. Usually my mail orders are made via email - thus the term mail orders. Yesterday I had email questions back and forth for one order, another order was phoned in, and an international order for my friend Shruti in India.

Mail order used to be something like the Book-of-the-Month Club
or Columbia House for music. These were easy to join, but so hard
to get out of. My mail orders are filled one at a time for specific
customers. No need to fear receiving unordered and unwanted items. 

Here's the thing, though. A few years ago what Shruti and I were doing to get her order figured out and finalized would have been impossible. She wanted colored cording to use in projects, and because of modern technology, I was able to talk with her via FB Messenger, send her numerous photos of what I was choosing for her, and finally get her approval for the colors, sizes, and number of items that will be packed and put into the mail to her later today. It's my day off, but I'll push this one through while I open the store. I'd rather not keep her waiting.

I'm not a huge fan of Facebook Messenger, but for this application
it was perfect. I was able to text back and forth with Shruti,
determine that the product she originally wanted wouldn't
work for her, switch to a different product, take photos and
send her those in real time, it worked great. Her package will
go off to her today. 

All of this action took place on my smartphone - the gadget that has grown from just being a portable phone to being a full-fledged portable computer. Although I don't type my invoices out on it, I do print the shipping labels out from my phone and do so many other things. I'm totally amazed at this small, powerful computer that fits into my pants pocket.

The Vietnam War was the first war to come into our living rooms
in "real life". It wasn't splashed across a newspaper headline, it was
announced by Walter Cronkite every night as we sat down to dinner. 

For my younger friends, a hand-held phone that can be used to read books, play games, communicate via voice or text, and surf the web is almost a yawn. It's common and everyday. But I'm a bit older than my younger friends. I remember corded land lines, even party lines (those were shared telephone lines, for those of you who don't know or remember). I remember operators at switchboards and pay phones - which actually probably still exist in a few locations. I remember when bulletins on TV brought us the latest news, and I remember the Vietnam War - the first war brought into our living rooms by the media.

Human beings react to news - good and bad - often emotionally and
without a lot of thought. Tempers can flare and in today's instant
environment, that can mean anger moving into action without
fully thinking through the consequences of that action. 

It makes me wonder if we've learned anything at all. We're still at war, even though our communication has gotten so good we know what happens across the world within seconds. Communication is a two-edged sword and sometimes a bit of time and distance can grant a necessary perspective. That small waiting time between speaking in haste and acting with thought often disappears within our modern technology. So, as you're interacting with others today, take a moment to think before you speak or text. Happy Tuesday - I have my day "off" today instead of tomorrow. I'll be messed up all week because of this - LOL ...

Wrapping Up - The Best of the Best

I promised scans of the holiday cards I thought were the best I received and here they are. This DOESN'T mean if your card isn't pictured it wasn't great. They were ALL great. But I can only scan and share a few of them, and these six made the cut. So here we go ...

The front of Shruti's card was a reproduction of this wonderful
mandala that she drew. Just look at the wonderful detail! 

I'm starting with the front and back view of my dear friend Shruti's card. She's an amazing artist, has done doodles/zentagles/mandalas for years, free-hand and exacting. This year's card was jaw-dropping. It is one of her own works that she had printed to send to her friends around the world. So beautiful - so detailed.

The back expresses her wish for all of us receiving or viewing
her card. I did erase her personal information (email, website)
to protect her privacy. It's such a joy to be her friend - she's so talented! 

I had to show the back too, because the sentiment was heartfelt and warmed my heart like a warm fire on a cold night. Shruti lives in northern India and we rarely see each other in person. Talking electronically is also a challenge - it's about a 12 hour difference in time zones. But we keep in touch.

Poo's card was embossed metal surrounded by a sparkling field
of silver. Really lovely and, of course, hand-made. She's such
a talented paperworker and artist. 

Next, we have my other conference roomie and a talented friend. This is Poo's card. She lives in northern California. I don't get to see her now because I don't travel to her state and she hasn't come to mine for a while, but for many years we roomed together every year when attending the Bead & Button Show. We've stayed in touch and I'm so very happy we have. Her card is embossed metal colored with alcohol inks. The subtle tones of the color don't come through well on the scan, but you'll get the idea.

I received four cards that featured polar bears this year, but this one from Jenybeth was my favorite. She made this lovely card featuring a polar bear looking up at the sparkling stars in a winter scene. I've known Jenybeth since before she was born and she's grown into a sweet, caring, and very talented woman.

How could I resist? Kaishin's contribution had me laughing as
I added it to my long line of cards. I loved it! 

One of my newer LJ friends had this "ugly sweater" offering and it made me laugh. Anything that can make me laugh when I'm working insane hours has to be acknowledged. I've often wished I had an ugly sweater to celebrate the holidays with, but then again, a garment that can only be worn for a short time seems like such a waste of closet space. Thanks, Kaishin, I really liked your card!

Linda is the proud cat mother of two delightful
ginger cats. The card itself is just perfect, with
the lovely black cat in the foreground and the
cathedral in the back. My animals were always
black, so this was a perfect choice for me. 

To end this art show, a card from another LJ friend, this one in England. Linda and I have never met in person, but if I ever get to her part of the world, I'm certainly going to make the effort. She's a lovely person and usually sends me e-cards. To get a paper card from her as well was a real treat, and, of course, it featured a cat on the cover. She (like so many of my friends) adores cats.

So thank you one and all for making my holiday extra special. I loved each and every card I received, but had to pick and choose which to share with all of you who read my blog. I'm relieved that the holidays are over, but can hardly wait until next year's cards start arriving. Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Staying On Top Of Things

Yesterday was a VERY productive day for my holiday cards and I'm so much closer to getting these addressed and into the mail. DH sighed and asked "Didn't you start your cards earlier this year?" shaking his head when I acknowledged that, but also told him that this year's card was the most complex one I've ever done. But it is as it is, and I do see a finish line ahead. Of course, the days just keep coming, so I have to stay on top of it.

While looking for a graphic for "staying on top of things", I came
across this laptop with a rainbow keyboard and fell in love. I had
to share it. I think I want one of these ... just saying ... LOL. 

I received a totally fantastic card yesterday from Shruti, my dear friend who lives in India. As always, I am totally in awe at her artistry. I usually save cards and scan them in a group to post after the holidays, and I guarantee hers will be one I will share with all of my readers. Such an amazing artist, such a wonderful friend, and one of the best roommates I've ever had at shows and workshops.

The only way to accomplish larger tasks is to stop putting them
off and just dive in. It won't be completed overnight, but you'll
get a good start. Return to the task again the next day, and the
next. You'll finish it eventually and be amazed at your success. 

We have another warm day today, although probably with rain in the morning. DH will be working on the second shelving unit he has planned. This one will be shorter (and certainly lighter), but it won't surprise me to arrive home in the dark tonight to a garage that's still full of in-progress work. Hopefully that won't be the case since I really prefer to get home, put my laptop away, and make my dinner.

I do find the strangest photos. The mushroom placement on this bicycle
had me chuckling at 4:20 am! Good grief! Here's hoping you
get a smile from this photo also. If so, my job here is done! 

So I'm off to the gym because two days off in a row is just not permissible for me. I was shopping at Target yesterday and treated myself to a new pair of pants and two tops (sale prices were SO good!). I took a chance and went down another size and was a little bit shocked when I tried them on and they fit! I was totally doing the happy dance - LOL. Here's hoping you have a wonderful Thursday and that your preparations for the upcoming holiday are also running smoothly.

Ending With Style

What a world we live in! Terrorism hasn't ended, it's
just moved from the horrors of the Twin Towers to the
beheadings and brutality of ISIL. Still, 9-11 forged
a great deal of our foreign policy and our basic perceptions
of the Middle East over these past 14 years - not all
for the better. Honor those who died and are still being killed. 

I'm finally successful - all of my State Fair weight has been lost and I'm back to where I had been a week ago. Hallelujah! It's the little things like this that make my life happy - LOL.

Now I'm back to losing once more! Yippee! 

Shruti and I had a lovely talk yesterday for a half hour or so. I had ample time to prep the card stock I was downsizing while talking with her, and started the process of cutting and shaping when we had disconnected, after promising to try and meet up next year in New Orleans. I'm not sure if that will work out for me at all, but I'd sure like to try. Seeing Shruti in person is always like balm for my artistic soul,

I'm absolutely thrilled with this next portion of the holiday cards. The image is excellent and I'm looking forward to making this really sing. I got the ship confirmation on the actual blank cards this morning, so after I get this portion completed, it's time to plan the interior work. This year's card is NOT an easy one, but it's got the possibility of being the most interesting one I've ever designed. What fun!

The winner's lingerie will be produced and marketed with Heidi Klum
Intimates labeling and identity. That's a pretty good break for a
beginning designer. 

Although I've been feeling less than 100%, I still had to stay awake and watch "Project Runway" for this week. I missed last week because Sharon and I were having a late dinner at Red Lobster, and I wasn't willing to miss two weeks in a row. This week's challenge? - Lingerie! Bras and panties. I had to laugh with the guys' responses to this challenge. I certainly didn't disagree with who was sent home, but I think Ashley's design was better and more attractive than the winner's design. Oh well, next week we have another alternative materials challenge with products from a tech dump. That has possibilities.

Have a glorious Friday. It's back to the swimming pool for me in 45 minutes.

Friends in Far Places

Yesterday was a super productive day, but I ended up with some carryover to today's schedule. I cleaned up Sharon's room, got everything back to normal once more. You'd never know someone had been living there for several days. Adding her linens to the laundry loads made one additional load, so I got started early with the wash.

Cutting rod iron fence pieces leads to lots of small,
black pieces of paper littering the floor. I'll continue today! 

Working on holiday cards took up a great portion of the day. Little black pieces of cardstock were littered all over my kitchen floor - like a black tree had shed leaves everywhere. I think I managed to find the last of them about ten minutes before DH got home from work. Now on to the next stage. Oh - and I finally ordered the folded cardstock too - my holiday cards are becoming a reality.

Shruti is an amazing artist who works in glass as
well as draws highly complex mandalas free-hand.
One of her mandalas will be featured in a calendar soon. 

I have a normal 4pm phone call scheduled with Aearwen and I look forward to it every week. Another friend of mine - wonderful, beautiful and oh so talented Shruti - was supposed to call the hour before Aearwen, but she got caught up meeting another friend and ran out of time. She'll call me early today while I'm at the shop so we have some uninterrupted time to chat. Usually Shruti is home in India, but she's visiting relatives and friends in the US right now and wanted to catch up before she goes back home. I miss her - she has an infectious smile and a joy-filled attitude that brighten every room she enters.

I might never catch up with posts and emails, so make sure
to let me know if you posted something you think I'd be
super interested in reading about or pics you think I'd
enjoy seeing. It's good to be back, but catch-up is impossible. 

I'm going to be catching up on posts and emails, etc forever, it seems. If you posted something you want me to be sure to read, you might want to message me just to make sure I catch up with it. Otherwise, it's back to the gym today. Yesterday's swimming time was glorious, but today's machine time won't be as much fun. Have a totally spectacular Thursday!

Friends - The Best Thing About the Internet

Drummerwench is in town for a quick and unexpected visit so we're getting together for a fast breakfast this morning after she drops her husband off at the airport. Her husband is originally from this area and it's been a real joy to have had the chance to get together for a meal the past two years when she's been in town for family events. I'm really delighted that her schedule allowed this, and although I will be tight on time, it's very worth the slight inconvenience to visit with someone who has become a friend over the years.

We'll be meeting at the Colossal Cafe (where Huinare and I went to lunch
when we spent the afternoon together in June). They have wonderful food,
locally sourced whenever possible. 

I love the opportunity to meet my on-line friends and have had that chance many times over the past nineteen years since I first ventured on-line. The various communities of beaders, metal artists, enamelists, authors and gamers I've belonged to and interacted within over the past nineteen years have broadened my horizons and pushed my artistic boundaries. I've traveled to new places and experienced a variety of classes and instructors that I might never have thought about without the input and advise from these fabulous and inventive people.

Here's an older picture of me and my dear friend Shruti at the last
Metal Clay Conference in Illinois. We had such a good time
sharing a room and learning new techniques over that trip. 

So here's a call out to those on-line people who have become dear friends over the years. You know who you are - you're the ones for whom I make my holiday cards each year. You're great roommates like Poo and Shruti - two people who couldn't be more different, but both so very talented, embracing their artistic skills. There are writers like Drummerwench and Huinare, both who will have been in Minnesota this summer - my summer bookends. There are vendors who have become friends like Beki and Betsey, and there are so many others who are yet to be met in person, but whom I know I will enjoy spending time with if/when the opportunity arises.

The internet and on-line communities have broadened my friends to include those from nations I would never have dreamed of having direct contact with. Those friends and communities, in turn, have entertained, entranced, educated, and at times enraged me, all helping to make me a better person, a more well-rounded author, and a more accomplished artist.

So as I begin the quest for the perfect holiday card tomorrow, and meet with my friend for breakfast today, I send out a huge THANK YOU to each and every one of you - my online community of friends and acquaintances. I can't imagine my life without any of you! Happy Tuesday!

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!

Dreams vs Reality

Sometimes dreams can come true, other times they have to move aside in the face of reality. Yesterday I was faced with the necessity of shooting one dream down in the hope of achieving another, having the possibility of a much larger dream come true. It was a give and take, in essence. But it didn't feel that way initially.

Choices - sometimes choices can be difficult, especially when
they are things you know you really want.

Last year, as every year since the mid-1990's, I attended the Bead & Button Show. For more than 10 years it has been held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the state next door to me and less than a six hour car drive away from my home. So it's quite easy to get to. The Show has expanded year after year, offering more and more classes and more specialized classes that spur not only my artistic imagination, but also my technical skills.

I wanted to expand my jewelry-making techniques. I haven't
had a chance to sit down at my bench for an
extended period of time for far too long.

Last year my friend Shruti from India came to the US for an extended visit and we intersected for a week shared in the madness that is Bead & Button Show in Milwaukee. We had a totally fabulous time and parted with the idea that we would meet again in 2014 and each would try to get registration for one of the Master Classes offered before the show opened their full range of classes.

My friend Shruti is a marvelous artist with
a "go for it" attitude that blends with my own
"devil may care" focus very well. 

Master classes are three-day intensive classes with a single teacher - some of the best teachers and artists in the world. They are a very expensive class but you learn a lot and it can be a fabulous experience. I wanted to take Andy Cooperman's class in connections and Shruti wanted to take Celie Fago's class in metal clay techniques. I sent my registration information for the drawing the week after I returned home, but I decided I should Email Shruti and make sure she had sent her own registration in. So I emailed her last week.

Andy Cooperman is known for unusual combinations
of metals, fantastical shapes, and methods of
combining disparate materials into final items. He's
totally off the beaten path of traditional jewelry, but
based in solid technical skill. 

Unfortunately, because of a variety of circumstances, Shruti has had to change her plans and will not be able to come to the US next year after all.  I can't afford to be at the Show for an extended time period without someone to share my hotel room, so I decided that I also will pull out. I contacted Bead & Button Show organizers yesterday and pulled my name from the Master Class registration pool. If I attend Bead & Button Show at all next year, it will be for a much shorter time with a small number of classes.

I dream of sharing a vacation with my DH. We haven't gone
out of town together on any trip since 1994. I think we're WAY overdue.

But my reality will be focused on my business next year and going out of town at the beginning of June may be a really poor idea and a huge scheduling conflict. So it's looking as if I will give up one dream in the hope of realizing another, much larger, dream for my future life, my business, and my personal art. Will it be a worthwhile trade? Only time will tell, but it feels as if I've made the correct decision...at least so far. And I may still go to Milwaukee for a very short time, but it won't be the week+ of time I had originally been looking at.

Oh well, that's serious money that is now saved. Maybe I'll buy a Surface2 with the money I'm saving...