Painted Waves from the Past

Erin, a fellow blogger with beautiful posts at Erin's Art and Gardens, was curious about the painted wave in my Halloween eve post so I thought I would share a little history.  

Many years ago in college, I thought I wanted to be in fashion so I majored in French.  Then I decided to be an archeologist, then an anthropologist.  I just couldn't decide.  Then, when I had to declare a major a year before I was supposed to graduate I realized that the only classes that I was receiving A's was in Art ....history, painting, drawing, sculpture, etc..  So, I spent an extra year and changed my major to Art Studio.  Of course, when I graduated I had no idea how to support myself as an artist so I continued waiting tables.

Working in a restaurant gave me time to paint, but I just wasn't inspired.  I looked into teaching and graphic design.... did a few internships.  My passion wasn't roused.  I decided to take a night class in interior design and had so much fun that I stayed on and three years later, I was a certified interior designer!  I missed painting but I found a way to make money and have fun. 

For about 15 years after I graduated, I never picked up a paint brush....until I met my hubby to be.  We met during El Nino when the coastal waters were like a bathtub and spent every free moment at the beach ! I was suddenly inspired to paint....the ocean.  I think this painting was the first time I touched a brush since my table-waiting days.  Then I painted another ocean-scape after we were married.... a gift to my husband for our first anniversary from a photo I took on our honeymoon in Mexico.

Haven't painted a finished picture since!

...... I will paint again someday, I'm sure.

BOO!!!!!

"Darkness falls across the land
The midnite hour is close at hand
Creatures crawl in search of blood
To terrorize y'awl's neighborhood
And whosoever shall be found
Without the soul for getting down
Must stand and face the hounds of hell
And rot inside a corpse's shell
The foulest stench is in the air
The funk of forty thousand years
And grizzly ghouls from every tomb
Are closing in to seal your doom
And though you fight to stay alive
Your body starts to shiver
For no mere mortal can resist
The evil of the thriller"

~ Michael Jackson "Thriller" ~

Halloween Spirit Please, Mommy

My husband, who loves to "put on a show", isn't too enthusiastic about putting on a costume.  Me?  I'm not much for being the center of attention but if it involves a disguise, I'm in!  I  must admit that I do love Halloween.  Maybe it's my Harris genes ...  my mother's bloodline .... as almost every family gathering involved lots of decorating, dressing up or donning costumes as well as singing and performing in some manner.  When I was younger (> 35!), I loved planning my Halloween attire and spending days shopping and getting ready. Then, I'd stick a pumpkin on the porch and I was off to party land.  Now, with a five year old in the house, we spend weeks planning his outfit and decorating the house with my costume priorities at the bottom of the list... hunting last minute for something black to wear and sticking a pointed hat on my head.  But this year, after my son voiced his wish that I would be something other than a witch, I promised to put in more effort to my own ensemble. After some thought, I was finally inspired by a Viking hat I bought at the Kingsburg Swedish Festival (my hubby and I are both 1/4 Swedish and 3/4 mutt) that's been sitting on the closet shelf for two years.  Between my mom's closet and mine, I've managed to piece together quite a get-up!  But, you'll have to wait until All Hallows Eve.......

This year, we also adopted this little handmade recycled wooly owl family (from WoolCrazy on Etsy) which actually consists of five owls...three are at home (mamma, pappa and baby) and two are away at school with our grown daughters.

“A wise old owl sat on an oak; The more he saw the less he spoke; The less he spoke the more he heard; Why aren't we like that wise old bird?”

PMC Dreamy Mandala Necklace

I have just spent the last 4 hours photographing, cropping and editing 18 different new pieces and I now have to describe, price and list them on Etsy.  This business is time  con - sum - ing!  I'm not complaining ... I just wish I had a little brownie (you know.... the little fairy helpers?) to lend a hand.  I think I will just post a couple per day so I can find time to workout (Doctors orders...I must get my bee-hind out of the chair at least a 1/2 hour per day)!


So here is one of my favorite new creations .... a mandala pendant handmade from precious metal clay using an antique Afghani bronze jewelry die, square cut labradorite beads, and tiny handmade sterling Thai beads.

Spirit Nest

The weekend before last we took a quick little road trip up to Carmel to see my step-daughter.  The skies were foggy and there was a definite chill in the air, perfectly autumn.  We himed and hawed about whether to take the long Hwy. 1 journey home and I'm so glad we decided too. There is nothing like visiting Big Sur. There is definitely a special energy there.  Wild, majestic, refreshing, intense.....I just love it.  We always stop by the Big Sur Spirit Garden for a browse and find something fun. This time...... Spirit Nests by Jayson Fann.  Ohhhh, I want one... I need one! And, Ojai needs one.....especially as Ojai means "nest". (my hubby will be reading this)  What a great place for meditating, journaling, sketching, bird watching or just hanging out! The artist will make them and transport them but they do cost a pretty penny.   If you love them too but have no place to put one (and don't feel like robbing a bank today), you can actually sleep in one at Treebones Resort in Big Sur....one with an ocean view from the clifftops!


I had to share these with you....

“When I learn something new - and it happens every day - I feel a little more at home in this universe, a little more comfortable in the nest.”

~ Bill Moyers ~

Solid Foundation

I finally got my act together the last two weeks and put my rear in the saddle again.  I've been busy assembling pieces that I made at the beginning of summer, photographing the finished pieces and loading them onto Esty.  My creative juices are flowing again.... I'm sketching, pulling out my beads and ordering more findings and clay. And, I sent my first order to a jewelry fabricator to have some of my original pieces duplicated with molds and the lost wax technique so I can create more elaborate pieces with better price points!  I can't wait to see the results.


Considering I've been under the weather the last week it's a miracle that I've been so productive .... maybe it's the new birthday year cycle getting in gear (my birthday was Monday the 20th).  I'm 44 years young now and I've heard that 44 is a powerful number. The number four "vibrates with paying attention to detail and building a solid foundation for the future.  In 44, the effect is doubled".  Well, that's what I'm doing!

Here's some of what I've been working on... all available on my Etsy shop...

"A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him."
 ~ David Brinkley ~

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 ~