Chirp Chirp

Everyone is asleep except me....

and it's quiet....

except for the chirping.  

After almost a week of hot weather, today it was warm and a perfectly comfortable 80 degrees.  

Now, 

the doors are open (screens closed!)...

the night is pleasantly cool (but not cold!) and they're out...

the crickets. 

 Such a summer vacation sound.

I must remember to plant night blooming jasmine to go with my summer crickets.

I think the combination might make for some lovely dreaming and wishing upon stars.

Amberbop

When you wish upon a star
Makes no difference who you are
Anything your heart desires
Will come to you

If your heart is in your dream
No request is too extreme
When you wish upon a star
As dreamers do

Fate is kind
She brings to those who love
The sweet fulfillment of
Their secret longing

Like a bolt out of the blue
Fate steps in and sees you through
When you wish upon a star
Your dreams come true

written by Leigh Harline and Ned Washington

Body, Mind and Spirit

It's been such a whirlwind summer!  This is the first summer in eons that I actually felt like I had a summer... in a child's sense, that is.  Lots of swimming, lots of excursions, lots of playdates and lunches. I really enjoyed the kids and family but now it's "mommy time".  I just spent all day yesterday and most of today re-organizing my office/studio to prepare for inspiration and productivity.   I guess I am a true Virgo as there is nothing (almost nothing) I like more than cleaning and organizing.... Feels so good!  My plan is to be back at the drawing board/creative table on Monday morning which should be perfect timing as my mother informed me yesterday that Mercury is going "direct" on Sunday afternoon... no more of this retrograde business!  I'm hoping to have my mind, body and spirit all in sync for optimal creativity!


A flashback to my doodle days on paper....an homage to Mind, Body and Spirit....

Body

Mind

Spirit

"I love you when you bow in your mosque, kneel in your temple, pray in your church. For you and I are sons of one religion, and it is the spirit."

~ Kahlil Gibran ~

Alphabet Mandala - Origin

Each individual square is about 3" x 3".  The designs are drawn freehand with white and brown India ink on card stock.  Eventually, I plan on using these designs on notecards.  But soon, I hope to transpose all of these drawings into molds for my metal clay jewelry.  See previous post for the first silver pendant in the Alphabet Mandala series....the letter V.  

Incredible Ink

I was going to wait until she told everyone but I can't wait.  My sister  FINALLY has her own shop on Etsy, LucindasPetPortraits! 


She is an incredible talent...in more ways than one....acting, singing, drawing (ink and pastel), painting (watercolor and oil), writing, photographing, collage, giving, loving, sharing.  I am very proud that she has honed so many talents but it's about time she shares her art with the rest of the world.  Here is a sneak peak of her shop, which focuses on Pet Portraits...... and hopefully soon, she will be opening her second Etsy shop for her fine art.  You won't believe it......

This is just a sneak peak as she also draws animal friends, including endangered species... and paints lovely watercolors of birds!

Sketchbook beginnings

As an artist, I am always interested in other artists sketchbooks....and to see how their final finished pieces transformed from their first draft.  So, I thought I would share a few pages from my sketchbook and drawings.  Some were just graphic designs in and of themselves and others were specifically drawn as jewelry pieces.  All drawings have a link to the final finished fine silver metal clay pendant.

Originally a birthday card for my mom...

 transformed to the Mandala Meditation pendant. 

The top design became the Cosmic Mandala.

This design, which is about 3x3 is now ....

the Sacred Talisman pendant.

This was the first necklace I designed for metal clay.

The finished piece is a bit different...not bezel set stone.

I still need to give it a proper name.

This is another small 3x3 design that I originally made into a card.  

The necklace from this design became....

 my first blog post!