Tuesday, December 13, 2011

synopsis

I realized it has been more than three, four, five months,  since my last post.  It may not be an extended length of time depending on one's measure of it,  but long enough for me to feel like I've dropped off from this blogisphere forum.  The more time elapses, the more neglectful I feel, the more abandoned and harder it is to post again.  I feel overwhelmed catching up on this chasm in time, but feel inclined to create some chronological order. It has been packed with preparation, production, creating of stuff much to the neglect of everything else, exploring creative options, introspection... As to not disappoint the two people that actually read this, hopefully this condensed account satiates the curiosity to my ordinary life. 

July always seems like "working for the kids", nephew and nieces.  There are knitted toys and jewelry to be made for the birthdays.


enameled frog pendant

frogs for a "frog"

Bunny by Susan B. Anderson

the only mod is the crocheted tail


introduction to the new friend


inedible version of her favorite fruit

August now seems like a blur.  September was busy with creating jewelry, mostly for Beacon Open Studios.
The amazingly talented and accomplished Chris, graciously shared her space with me.  All of the beautiful paintings are hers.

one of my youngest fans

making a rare appearance with one of my youngest fans
 

the impressive "polar rug" in the making, just tape and her vision
Snapshots of the space.








glass leaves, and flowers, with enameled pieces

the glass "leaf" is lampwork, before my venture with enamel, which is nothing more than powdered glass



one of my favorite pieces from Jewelry 101, a dozen years ago,  that launched and influential of what i do today

another one of my favorite pieces, interchangeable "rattle"
 
 These are enameled panels that are wall plaques, a departure from my usual jewelry.



"hope is the thing with feathers- Emily Dickinson"
happily in a new home

wooden birdhouse, painted, with copper sheet and enameled feather
enameled frog mounted on wooden painted lily pad


 
"Where blossoms bloom, so does hope"- Lady Bird Johnson

this was the necklace in the group show at Hudson Beach Glass







The latter four silver pieces are now for sale at Riverwinds.
October was Rhinebeck Sheep and Wool, November was just life.... and this "stuff" for sale at The Coffee Shoppe


There is much personal and test knitting, but that deserves it's own post , and crafting of various sorts thrown in.   Still trying to work things through... In the meantime, this is the beautiful butterfly that I purchased from Chris.

Salamis temora

I don't know that my photo of it does the watercolor justice, but it has been finally framed.  I love all her bugs and botanicals, but I think this one "chose" me. 
If nothing ever changed, there'd be no butterflies.  ~Author Unknown
Butterflies undergo multiple stages to achieve complete metamorphosis.  My mission is to remain hopeful, "molt" as does the caterpillar, before emerging as the person I'm supposed to be.





Sunday, July 10, 2011

le tour de france... to fleece?

Avid knitters, general fiber enthusiasts,  Ravelers,  know of the significance of le Tour de France as it relates to the Tour de Fleece.

As an ex-"friend" of an ex-roadie, France or Fleece has a whole new meaning this year.  A roadie, as defined by Jamie Smith in The Misunderstood World of a Bike Racer, is a cyclist who road races.  Upon reading this book, I have a new appreciation and understanding of the world of cycling, from the perspective of a spectator once associated with an ex-roadie.  I was a roadie groupie.  Not exactly France, but the Catskills, 2010.


I tuned in to the Tour de France as of last year, a nightly prime-time ritual as a new-found fan of the sport.  How it relates to Fleece this year?  I've owned my spinning wheel for some months, test ran and only slightly used.  I was hoping to be inspired by the actual tour to take it out for another spin.  This is the total cumulative effort of the yarn rope I've accomplished.

"rope" on the bobbin, along with the fiber
 There's plenty watching of the tour, but no fleece spinning yet, only some yarn knitting. 

The whole world of cycling was a foreign concept and never thought I would be watching and actually enjoy doing so.  I only learned to ride a bike as an adult, and do not ride it very well.  Yet,  I am caught up in the "draft" of the tour because of it's parallel to life.  Even if you settle into the "peloton" and move along with the mass, it requires focus and multi-tasking.  It requires team-work, trust, and there are different roles in the team, as does your support network (family and friends).  It is impressive to see cyclists tackling each stage, juggling the many tasks whether it be grabbing the musettes to feed, or doing some minor mechanical adjustments, or answering the calls of nature,  all while pedaling at the speed of a motorized vehicle.  Analogous to life, the stages can be like a roller coaster, from the climbs of the Pyrenees and the Alps to the flat stages, and everything in between.  Along the way, we have to learn to negotiate the turns, weather the storms, and may be caught in a crash (there have been some spectacular and unfortunate crashes a week into the tour)  hit pavement and get scratched up, but we get up, continue the "chase" to avoid getting "dropped";  positioning yourself in the "slipstream", prepare to "attack", and "catch" the "breakaway".  Only one can have the coveted maillot jaune (yellow jersey)  riding into Paris, but to be "field fodder" (defined in Jamie Smith's book) is okay, it means you participated.  Life, like the Tour, is cumulative of the results of each stage.  Unlike it, le Tour de Life doesn't end in three weeks, the "race" continues.

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

amidst the interim

I will be the first to proclaim that I'm the least tech savvy person I know.  Whether it be to conveniently blame it on the absence of a computer due to viruses for some weeks (of which a friend was able to resolve in no time and I'm grateful for), or general laziness, lethargy due to hot weather...whatever the excuse, the writing hiatus is over, for now.  I only wish the same could transcend into "mental thoughts".  The only intermission from the daily trials was feeling like I had a "breakthrough moment".  It only but takes one trigger, one hesitation, one temptation, to negate progress.  I'm aware of my fragile resolve.

As for leisure time and general distractions, some enameling, some knitting , some jewelry making..
"Rainbow in Someone's Cloud- Maya Angelou" is a cloisonne enameling project started while taking classes at Liloveve.  I was able to finish firing at home with my recently acquired kiln.
one of final layers, drying on top of kiln before going in
piece through window, firing in kiln
fully fused and fired, cleaned, waiting to be set in a bezel and finished
Using the same enamel colors, this is a different version of the same idea.
set in silver bezel
back of the piece before it was set
Gifted pieces:



On the fiber side, Susan B. Anderson's Curly Snake was finished just in time for nephew's sixth birthday, my version is not curly.
snake in a knot
I also had the honor of test knitting Mao by Angela Tong.  A well written pattern for a super quick knit, don't be surprised if you end up with a litter of these.
my attempt to imitate her pictures

David Carradine said, "If you cannot be a poet, be the poem".  Quotes are my endorphins, they inspire, acknowledge, and assuage rough moments.  I had the idea to create Message Bubbles, some to wear, as an antidote when "sadness" creeps in.
stacked, may be worn as pendant
Akin my knitting, life is a WIP, all aspects, every moment...

Monday, May 30, 2011

eulogy to ME.

For five years, my summer starts and ends with a trip to Maine, this year marks the death of that tradition.  There are many places and sites of which I will no longer visit nor see and will sorely miss.  Through a pictorial, I want to pay homage to a place that I've endeared myself and will file away as part of my history.



the view that awaits and greets every time
 
the many walks in the woods

 milkweed


looking at kezar atop sabattus
 
kezar lake integral to every visit but i still swim like a rock


kezar lake with glorious colors
 

mt. washington in the back from one of many memorable hikes

closer view of mt.wash with snow


scat, closest ever to elusive moose sighting

moose tracks in snow covered trail

developed a liking to the quintessential soft-drink;
good name for my dog if i should adopt one

trip commences with ogunquit beach
 A slim portrayal of the vistas and limited selection of the places that was a usual part of the agenda. Thank you Maine for all the fond memories!



The paradoxical truth, the best and worst thing about life is change.  With every "death", there are new beginnings.  Hope and fear can paralyze, but also mobilize and motivate.  I hate feeling like I'm holding on to "emotions"  beyond it's natural span of life.  My feelings are ever evolving though.  I'm starting to feel like I can denounce the anger and resentment.  I may not be able to control how I feel, but can control what I do with how I feel.  Disowning this negativity will not allow it to rule me or my actions.  The "sadness" exists and probably always will, but I can choose to be optimistic!