mairedodd

2012-02-02T08:23:00.000-05:00

complete -

and in its new home at 'eyes of the world', cookman avenue, asbury park...

waiting on some large tile to do some proper images... necklaces are challenging to photograph on a good day, but extra long focals take it to another level... saw a great dress mannequin at an antiques shop but it was nfs...

so we keep experimenting -

bsbp teaser

2012-02-01T10:38:00.003-05:00

my bead soup partner is stacey curry of star hitched wagon -

here's what is going out to her... the idea was to take rustic pieces and make them a bit feminine - even add a touch of vintage... unexpected... to give enough to inspire, but not so much that it would direct the finished piece... so i am not trying to be stingy, but selective...

opening to understanding

2012-01-29T12:50:00.000-05:00

move away from fear and into love...

moving into love requires opening the heart...

opening the heart can make one fearful, vulnerable...

realize that while it is your individual path to walk,

others walk beside you...

that you are not alone...

as the fear washes over you, shed your tears, then let it pass...

turn around, bid it farewell

and embrace the understanding that remains...

'... with intention'

2012-01-24T07:41:00.001-05:00

clay thai amulet

tibetan double terminated quartz crystal (not a herkimer diamond, they are double terminated as well but mined only in the area of herkimer, ny, usa) with a bit of rainbow trapped inside...

red is an auspicious color in tibetan culture offering protective qualities...

muslin stamped with 'thoughts, words, actions'

if we choose them with intention, our inner and outer worlds come into harmony...

2012-01-21T18:36:00.001-05:00

'strange is our situation here upon earth. each of us comes for a short visit, not knowing why, yet sometimes seeming to a divine purpose. from the standpoint of daily life, however, there is one thing we do know: that we are here for the sake of others... for the countless unknown souls with whose fate we are connected by a bond of sympathy. many times a day, i realize how much my outer and inner life is built upon the labors of people, both living and dead, and how earnestly i must exert myself to give in return as much as i have received.'

- albert einstein

on peace

2012-01-16T10:03:00.000-05:00

('there is no way to peace. peace is the way. ~ a.j. muste)

'peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek,

but a means by which we achieve that goal.'

~ martin luther king, jr.

there is a moral to the story...

2012-01-14T15:30:00.000-05:00

'portals to awakening' 2011

was not accepted to the national association of women artists open works exhibition...

and that is ok... this just wasn't where it belonged...

you stay open, you remain persistent...

you don't give up...

this project enabled me to evolve... to put things together a bit differently...

the deadline pushed me to complete something that was not otherwise on the 'to do' list...

'funny things are everywhere' 2010

this dr. seuss inspired necklace was made as a result of a challenge that erin prais-hintz had on her blog... it was fun... and it ended up in the 2010 100th nj craft arts annual at the newark museum...

and then this winter it was purchased... it was never intended for sale... but i was told it would go to a 'seuss lover'... and so i thought that was where it belonged... turns out that 'seuss lover' was susan brandt, the president worldwide of dr. seuss enterprises...

was i disappointed when i got the 'thank you, but...' letter from the nawa? yes... for a moment...

but i reminded myself (again) that part of putting yourself and your work out there is getting rejected... which is fine (it may sting a bit, but it's nothing you cannot handle)... it keeps you growing...

so don't be afraid of rejection - working as a creative means being vulnerable, no two ways about it...

living with an open heart makes you vulnerable too...

but is there really any other way you would rather live? and can you live fully if you do not?

welcome

2012-01-01T13:51:00.000-05:00

'keep on sowing your seed, for you never know which will grow-

perhaps it all will.'

~ albert einstein

thank you mother earth for reaffirming this to me on the first day of the new year... for surely it is what got me through 2011...

with eagerness i welcome 2012 - i learned this morning it is the year of the water dragon (on jan. 23) - and bodes strength and good luck...

hear, hear!

hidden messages

2011-12-30T18:13:00.001-05:00

mary jane dodd - 'portals to awakening' triptych 2011

this post is a continuation of my last...

i find it interesting when one is guided in a project by thoughts that have so permeated your being that you don't even realize it... until you are done...

while connected to 'nascent', i am ready to leave it behind... i thank it for the pregnant forms and the word 'emerge' in the first piece...

i knew this series would go further -

'evolve' comes rising up and out of the void... the backplate is opened up so that the light may come through...

i felt the pull to use a butterfly wing gifted to me by a friend... the word 'fly' from an antique dictionary... and at the last minute the fibers were calling - i am so grateful i decided to get up from the bench and go for a walk on the morning they did...

the resin is filled with air bubbles in the final piece - as if these thoughts, these desires come bubbling out as you open...

but when i began to shoot the images, to take the close up pictures, i recognized that my new word was participating as well as someone else's -

rumi...

'we come spinning out of nothingness, scattering stars like dust.'
(the first closed form with the spiral)

'you were born with potential
you were born with goodness and trust
you were born with ideals and dreams
you were born with greatness
you were born with wings
you are not meant for crawling, so don't.
you have wings,
learn to use them and fly.'

(the final form)

and my word?

transcend... (yes, it has been tweaked from 'daring'... thanks to conversations with a friend)

no matter what happens with the submission to the exhibition, i am well pleased with the lessons learned in regard to craft and self...

does your work reflect back to you things you don't realize you hold?

wishing you all abundance of love, happiness and good health in the new year... and may you always find the balance in any situation you face...

looking forward

2011-12-27T10:26:00.000-05:00

when i began blogging i noticed that people chose words for the new year... this interested me a great deal...

mary jane dodd - 'nascent' pendant 2011

i chose 'nascent' a couple of years back... but it was so meaningful for me that i kept it past the 365 days... and i find it has directed my life and work... by autumn 2011, i was using the word in my work physically, connecting it to a pregnant form...

mary jane dodd - 'nascent' triptych 2011

i end this year working diligently on a project that stems from 'nascent'...

mary jane dodd - 'nascent' triptych 2011

taking on those silly fears we all have - trying the new... and so i made my first mold...

mary jane dodd - 'nascent' triptych 2011

it will be a triptych - three is a significant number... birth, life, death... past, present, future... maiden, mother, crone... emerge, evolve, fly... three graces, three norns, three fates, religious trinities... and on and on... i didn't intentionally choose 3, it chose the project...

resin has to cure for 3 days... so i am not sure what the cast will look like... and the deadline quickly approaches...

and once the pieces are complete, there is the photography challenge - for that is what the jurors are judging on...

my word for 2012 is 'daring'...

'it is not because things are difficult that we do not dare;

it is because we do not dare that they are difficult.'

~ seneca

what ideas or words guide you?

are you ready to move on to a new one?

artists helping artists - silent auction 2

2011-12-22T18:42:00.000-05:00

once again, a number of creatives have come together in support of a member of our community... penny neil of sparrow salvage was in a tragic car accident that has hospitalized her with serious injuries and caused the death of her mother...

we are asking for your help if you can give it...

strength of spirit

'confront the dark parts of yourself,

and work to banish them with illumination and forgiveness.

your willingness to wrestle with your demons

will cause your angels to sing.

use the pain as fuel,

as a reminder of your strength.'

~ august wilson

i offered this style of earring for the first auction; i do not often make duplicates of a design, but i love how the soft ivory emanates from within the framework... and how it represents that glowing light within...

mixed metal earrings are made of naturally patinated copper and sterling... paddles are a combination of copper and sterling... padre beads are over 100 years old... sterling ear wires...

bidding will begin at $30 ... the silent auction will end wednesday dec. 28th at midnight... and all are welcome to enter - i will happily ship internationally...

i am also hosting for the very talented deborah lee taylor of e5jewelery...

Mixed metal hoop earrings made of hammered copper and fine silver wire. I gave the fine silver rings texture on the front and back by stamping dots and lines into the metal. The inner circle is a 1/4" dia. of fine silver. The outer copper circle is 1" dia. Made to look aged. Hangs from hand forged sterling silver ear wires.

deborah's bidding begins at $40.

please leave a comment with your bid. if you are the winning bidder, you will receive an invoice at the close of the auction.... there must be a way to contact you... if you have email preferences turned off in your profile, please leave your email address... (or send it to me privately - mairedodd@gmail.com)

others participating:

Patti Vanderbloemen

Lori Anderson

Lana Kinney and Marie Cramp

Beth Emery

Diana Ptaszynski

Terri Wlaschin

Andrew Thornton, Nan Emmett, and Maria Richmond

be your most beautiful soul

2011-12-15T20:01:00.001-05:00

thank you, amanda, at kind over matter for sharing this - i hadn't seen it before... she also wrote about an oprah episode where she discusses the origin... it is now hanging in my kitchen, directly across from our front door...

we bounce off of each other constantly, so why not be your most beautiful, giving, loving person...

judy glende is fighting cancer - she just found out that there are lesions on her brain
and nodes on her lungs... please send some healing energy her way...

i also just learned that penny elizabeth neil of sparrow salvage was in a very serious and tragic car accident... she is still hospitalized but her mom didn't survive... fanciful devices is having a raffle to try to raise some funds for her...

i am so numb for these beautiful people - but am sending out beams of light and love... perhaps you can as well...

this and that

2011-12-12T08:46:00.001-05:00

first of all, thank you so much to louise for her bid on my 'strength of spirit' earrings... your support is deeply appreciated...

it's our first christmas in this old home... this home that i have come to my whole life to visit... but now reside in...

no tree yet, but we are getting there...

artists helping artists

2011-12-08T08:16:00.001-05:00

a number of creatives have come together in support of a member of our community... this has been a challenging year for many - difficulties arising from natural catastrophes or personal have pushed some people to the brink... being a working artist at best has most people tenuously balancing on the financial tightrope... add something extra and it can be too much...

while we do not have an office where we congregate and see each other... where we can make a schedule of drop off dinners or pick up grocery store gift cards, donate some winter wear or secret santas - we are a community... a community of supportive and caring people... deeply feeling people... empathetic people... i know i tend to be very private and almost reclusive - but here, i am able to share what i love, what i feel... and that is a gift...

last week, lori anderson gave us the opportunity to have a massive 70 person giveaway on her blog... that was beautiful...

now we are asking for your help if you can give it...

strength of spirit

'confront the dark parts of yourself,

and work to banish them with illumination and forgiveness.

your willingness to wrestle with your demons

will cause your angels to sing.

use the pain as fuel,

as a reminder of your strength.'

~ august wilson

i will tell you honestly that by the time i had finished making these earrings yesterday (not knowing they would be used for this purpose) i was vibrating... they have some kind of power...

mixed metal earrings are made of naturally patinated copper and sterling... paddles are a combination of copper and sterling... padre beads are over 100 years old... sterling ear wires...

bidding will begin at $30 ... the silent auction will end on sunday evening... and all are welcome to enter - i will happily ship internationally...

marie cramp and lori anderson

heidi post

barbara bechtel and staci louise smith

amanda cargill austin

janice everett

rebecca anderson

shannon iko chomanczuk
kerry bogert

thank you in advance for your support...

vulnerability

2011-12-07T11:08:00.001-05:00

matters of the heart

matters of the spirit

do not cage yourself against the vulnerability it requires to experience the completeness of your journey...

be soft...

it is only in being open that you allow in love...

bits

2011-12-02T13:30:00.001-05:00

(that's what my friend barry calls the pieces he works on... )

i love making bits... they feel very complete to me all by themselves - and i can leave them sitting on my bench for weeks... just looking at them as i pass by... but one needs to help them move forward...

bits can also help to jump start a brain that has too many things it wants to do all at once... and the brain trips itself up... and then doesn't know what to do...

so it was a torch fire week... there are lots of ways to play with fire...

ways that i am so happy i am learning...

i also realized that i am feeling very influenced by the koi tattoo designs i have been looking at - the fiery reds and golds are oh so far from my usual choices... but i do love working with them and appreciating the whole process - enjoying each step of the way...

and then there is my grunge-y comfort zone...

i love the grunge-y comfort zone...

happy friday...

elemental

2011-11-28T09:15:00.001-05:00

earth and sky

fire and water

day 1 of the virtual craft fair -

2011-11-26T10:25:00.001-05:00

my 'landscape of the sky' earrings are listed today as is a beautiful bronze clay bead by my friend and love my art jewelry partner in crime leann weih...

please stop by lori's blog to see all of the other wonderful and generous items being given away... you will find work by sharon palac, nan emmett, kristi bowman and other talented people...

when you pause

2011-11-25T17:10:00.001-05:00

this is the view from my kitchen sink... i was greeted tonight by a beautiful sunset that i could see shimmering on the water now that the leaves have left the trees...

i might not have even noticed it...

but lucky for me, the dishwasher that was supposed to be installed requires some electrical work to be done (and they won't be back until tuesday)... the old one quit a couple of weeks ago but had put in about 30 years of service to my grandparents...

so instead of loading these up into the new dishwasher then running down to the basement to catch up on laundry (because the dryer decided to call it quits too)...

i got to look at a sunset... and breathe... and see if i could remember the names of the colors of my fiesta ware dishes (and ponder whether or not i thought that chocolate and black should be a part of our collection)... and daydream... i thought about my grandmother standing at the sink at the end of her day - and i wondered what she thought about...

i'll bet she came to the same conclusion as i did...

life is good...

live it well...

demonstrate patience and kindness and gratitude...

hug your kids...

tell people you love them and appreciate them...

be present...

lori anderson's first annual virtual craft show

2011-11-25T14:45:00.001-05:00

7 Days, 70 Artists, GIVING AWAY 70 things.

me included...

it all starts on lori's blog tomorrow...

until it becomes as effortless as breathing

2011-11-23T22:07:00.001-05:00

'wake at dawn with a winged heart

and give thanks for another day of loving.'

~ kahlil gibran

every

single

day.

gratitude opens...

and on a fun note, i am so happy to have gotten to see the new muppet movie tonight with the kids and my mama...

it was super - and, yes, i cried... when you watch it every week as a child and get to see it come to life all over again with your own children, it's wonderful...

happy thanksgiving, however you spend it...

2011-11-18T11:07:00.001-05:00

'fallen leaves lying in the grass in the november sun

bring more happiness than daffodils.'

~ cyril connolly

who'd of thought?

2011-11-16T15:01:00.001-05:00

'the real voyage of discovery consists

not in seeking new landscapes

but in having new eyes.'

~ marcel proust

the kids and i live in my grandparents' home... they are gone... but i 'find' them all of the time... today i was moving some boxes from around my bench and look what i found!

you would have thought i had located c.s. lewis' wardrobe (and perhaps i have!)...

a small organizer

abba

georgia

2011-11-15T11:54:00.001-05:00

nov. 15 - the birthdate of georgia o'keeffe...

honoring a woman who as a person and through her art has influenced me profoundly...

'i've been absolutely terrified every moment of my life -

and i've never let it keep me from doing a single thing i wanted to do.'

'to create one's own world in any of the arts takes courage.'

'whether you succeed or not is irrelevant, there is no such thing.

making your unknown known is the important thing.'

'the days you work are the best days.'

and here is my girl, 6 ft. above me - atop the suburban - capturing her world through a camera lens... may she always know that she is bigger than fear...

through the eyes of a fifteen-year-old

2011-11-12T14:23:00.001-05:00

me: hey alex, can you help me rake the yard?

a: mom, seriously, there is nothing to rake...

me: right, let's go...

after we were done, that man-child and i headed to the backyard where he dug the hole we needed to bury his sister's bunny...

have i told you lately how grateful i am for these kids? and how much i love them?

kinetic

2011-11-11T13:54:00.001-05:00

while the world is ever in motion, on this blustery autumn day that fact is gloriously apparent... leaves falling like rain, dancing along the road, flying overhead, forming piles that we sink our feet into...

'climb the mountains and get their good tidings.

nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees.

the winds will blow their own freshness into you,

and the storms their energy,

while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.'

~ john muir

bursting forth

2011-11-06T14:38:00.000-05:00

the wonder of you

the greatness you hold

the gifts you might share

await your call to action...

to try to withhold them goes against nature...

and why would you deny your nature?

whole lotta love

2011-11-04T09:57:00.001-04:00

the next piece of love is more tangible...

please have a look at the lovemyartjewelry blog for details -

you won't want to miss it...

unexpected

2011-11-03T14:27:00.001-04:00

'our brightest blazes of gladness

are commonly kindled by unexpected sparks.'

~ samuel johnson

authenticity pt. 2

2011-10-27T21:12:00.000-04:00

authenticity is presenting to the world that who you are on the inside

openly

proudly

honestly

uncompromisingly...

to get to that part of yourself, one must strip away habits, expectations, implementations of survival...

'this above all: to thine own self be true.' ~ shakespeare, hamlet ... piece of text preserved in resin, aged around the edges... words as old as time to be worn as crown jewels...

hematite is a grounding stone bestowing courage and and strength to the wearer...

experimenting

2011-10-27T12:24:00.001-04:00

i am sure i am not alone when i tell you that just when i need to get down to putting some things together that function as adornment (as opposed to the fun i have when i build the focals, etc...)

i get pulled in another direction...

but i was also on the phone (which i usually am not) - so i didn't want to make noise (because hammering isn't really polite - though i admit a slipped a couple of times)... and i saw this copper tubing hanging on my board... and etching is quiet...

so what if?

'all life is an experiment.

the more experiments you make

the better.'

~ ralph waldo emerson

and thank you barbara, for reminding me of where the tired brain had gotten the inspiration from... your book and a takrut i recently used in a necklace i made...

btw

2011-10-26T08:27:00.001-04:00

'when we discover the truth is already in us,

we are all at once our original selves."

~ dogen

2011-10-24T08:50:00.001-04:00

with denim lapis -

lapis is a thought amplifier...

'watch your thoughts, for they become words.

watch your words, for they become actions.

watch your actions, for they become habits.

watch your habits, for they become character.

watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.'

~ unknown

btw

2011-10-19T22:05:00.000-04:00

nascent:
coming into being; evolving

after a full day of trial and error- mind mushy, eyes bleary - i have a piece i am satisfied with... it is now in the sealing stage...

we all contain boundless potential, awe inspiring wonder within us...

it must be nurtured...

meant to evoke the ripened/fecund belly of the earth mama... a spiral navel referencing the connection to the universe...

shapes, shadows, textures

2011-10-16T12:35:00.003-04:00

it is macro sunday at studio waterstone - our weekly time of seeing life in the details...

a friend gifted me with a find of this old doorbell - when i blurted out 'wouldn't that make a cool pendant?' he kindly gave it to me... along with a book on enameling that he found...

thank you, dave...

process

2011-10-08T09:45:00.000-04:00

i am honored to have a piece included in this show at kean university in union, nj which runs through october 21st... the talent in the guild is jaw dropping (thea clark, ken mc bain and others)... i was drawn immediately to the concept - we were asked to bring in photos and tools/materials related to our work...

'the transformative power of tears'

i am done with neither this subject nor the technique... there are sketches in my book to push further...

thank you to the njmag for the opportunity...

first winner in the virtual book tour

2011-10-07T06:50:00.002-04:00

congratulations go to laura of mountaindreamers!

please be sure to check barbara's blog frequently...

gaea will be today's host -

thank you for your enthusiastic response yesterday - it meant so much to both barbara and i...

welcome to your first stop

2011-10-06T05:00:00.000-04:00

barbara lewis of painting with fire generously invited me to host a stop on her virtual book tour... there will be 16 days of people sharing all kinds of information about barbara and torch-fired enameling... if that doesn't have you racing for the book, i don't know what will...

so let's get to it -

if you have purchased the tutorial (which got me started in may of 2010) or own the book (which is a must if you want to take the technique further) you will know that often enameling is done so that it covers the whole bead or component.... this is a gorgeous effect, but it doesn't have to be done that way...

'i found i could say things with color and shapes

that i couldn't say any other way -

things i had no words for.'

~ georgia o'keeffe

this is how i feel about enamel... it allows me to add my own color - the way i want to apply it, where i want to apply it... in my work, color is sparingly used for emotional impact...

leaves - mjdodd 2011

with hints of red or green...

landscape of the sky - mjdodd 2011

with layers of opaque and transparent enamel...

and this week i set enameled metal into a bezel, the way i would a stone... i am beyond thrilled with the possibilities present for this use...

cold connection bezel - mjdodd 2011

there really are so many applications - and i look forward to finding more... i think the most important thing for you to take away from this is the realization that enamel can be used to reflect your aesthetic... (and did i mention that it is affordable and quite easy to do?)

in addition to everything you want to know about torch-firing enamel, barbara shares all kinds of tips and tricks... this is truthfully one of my favorite parts of the great books... those tried and true hard learned things that we all work through... this book is one of the ones i refer to often - for information and inspiration...

during the book tour, there will be prizes given -

i would personally like to offer a pair of earrings similar to 'landscape of the sky'... i will draw a winner for them at the end of the day from those who comment on this post...

but there is much more...

first, here is the list of hosts for you to follow:

October 6, Mary Jane Dodd, www.mairedodd.blogspot.com

October 7, Gaea Cannaday, www.gaeabeads.blogspot.com

October 8, Linda Larsen, www.objectsandelements.typepad.com

October 10, Andrew Thornton, www.andrew-thornton.blogspot.com

October 11, Lori Plyler, www.waterstonejewelry.blogspot.com

October 12, Diane Cook, www.rosa-josies.blogspot.com

October 13, Lori Anderson, http://www.prettythingsblog.com

October 14, LeAnn Weih, www.summersstudio.blogspot.com

October 15, Jen Judd Velasquez, www.jenjuddrocks.blogspot.com

October 17, Melissa Meman, www.melissameman.blogspot.com

October 18, Lisa Crone, www.abeadaday.blogspot.com

October 19, Shannon LeVart, www.missficklemediacom.blogspot.com

October 20, Cindy Wimmer, www.sweetbeadstudio.com

October 21, Laura Twiford, www.souvenirsfromlife.blogspot.com

October 22, Erin Prais-Hintz, www.treasures-found.blogspot.com
October 24, Jennifer Cameron, www.glassaddictions.com

October 25, Sharilyn Miller, http://sharilynmiller.blogspot.com/

barbara has set up these rules to play along:

"We'll have prizes throughout the book tour plus a grand prize at the end! The more you spread the excitement, the more chances you have to win some of the goodies our bloggers are giving away!

Leave a comment at your host's blog and become a follower = 1 chance.

Tweet, facebook or blog about the giveaway and leave a comment at this post (the original Virtual Book Tour post) = 1 additional chance.

While you're at my blog (barbara's), if you become a follower or say that you're already a follower in your comment = 1 additional chance.

So, you can earn up to three chances per giveaway. A winner will be selected by 10 p.m. eastern time and be announced the following day. You can check back at my(barbara's) blog for the name of the winner or at any other of the participating blogs.

To thank you for following along, we will have a BONUS PRIZE at the end of the book tour! All of the entries will be included in the drawing for a kit containing all the elements of "Floral Cascade," one of the projects in the book! You'll receive everything you need to make the necklace, including the chain, jump rings, clasp, enamel beads, and head pins!

But that's not all!

For a chance to win the Grand Prize - a Torch-Firing Kit (or $110 shopping experience at www.paintingwithfireartwear.com) - please leave a review at Amazon.com by November 24. Remember, leave an honest review... the book must stand on its own.

Thanks for playing along! This is going to be a lot of fun!

P.S. Unfortunately, we have to restrict the giveaways to U.S. residents. Winners should contact me with their name and address through my author website:

www.torchfiredenameljewelry.com so that you can receive your prizes!"

thank you, barbara, for allowing me to share my experience with enamel and to participate in your first book tour! i am personally so grateful that you shared this technique (and am certain i speak for so many others) - you are helping to spread around a lot of beauty... i wish you only continued success...

thank you

2011-10-05T20:59:00.000-04:00

'your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life.
don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking.
don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice.
and most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.
they somehow already know what you truly want to become.
everything else is secondary.'
~ his own words

thank you, steve jobs, for the hard work, determination,
vision & innovation that inspires us...
1955-2011

what if

2011-10-04T09:31:00.000-04:00

on october 5th, barbara lewis' virtual book tour begins on her blog... 'torch-fired enamel jewelry' is now available and i have been asked to host on oct. 6th...

in playing with things to show you, i came up with a 'what if' and am quite happy with the concept and result...

see you then...

coming into the light

2011-09-29T11:44:00.002-04:00

as deep and dark as some places your path may lead

are those that blind with brilliant light...

i believe in the balance of the universe

and embrace the totality of the experience...

is there really any other way?

the beauty of repetition

2011-09-27T07:50:00.001-04:00

while repetition can be tedious
we all know that there is a time and place for it...

it is in repeating an action (or thought) that it becomes familiar...
in familiarity it becomes known...

in being known it becomes understood...
and once understood it can be refined...

and all of a sudden, it feels almost effortless...

a beautiful pay off for diligence...

ommmmmm...

btw - build trapeze (with) wire

2011-09-21T18:00:00.001-04:00

or by the end of the day 'brain totally wiped'... actually i am not even yet at the end of it...

it was a day of having difficulty focusing paired with an intense desire to focus ... i am the 'host' of the october art spark on the love my art jewelry blog... and i have an idea for it that i think might be educational and fun...

(believe it or not, the tools were being put back in the rack occasionally, but it began to seem a moot point... )

i was wondering what was going to come of the day - i know a day working is never wasted - something always gets done... but exactly what was it going to be?

two pieces are one step further along the way of completion... and i got some things ready for the art spark... so it's all good... but then again, it's always good...

and for that i am grateful...

gifts

2011-09-18T17:09:00.000-04:00

'in every walk with nature

one receives far more than he seeks.'

~ john muir

a cardinal feather -

many a blue jay, sea gull and more neutrally colored feather have been picked up by myself or the kids... but never one that glowed red...

inspired by leaves and trees...

always...

i bring the gifts inside with me - and place them on my bench... feathers, nests, leaves, acorns...

feels like home

2011-09-16T21:54:00.000-04:00

we have been in our new (old) home for about 2 1/2 months now... mostly filled with summer busy-ness and transition...

now that school has started, there is space to exhale and 'be' in a way that makes me feel whole...

thursday morning i decided to clean off the workbench... it was covered in beautiful fibers and all kinds of things... it was the first time i had thoroughly and thoughtfully cleaned it off... and suddenly, i realized it was really mine... my very own space to work... it went from being a workbench to my workbench... (and my grandfather's)...

and i can work at it as long as i like - doing whatever i like...

freedom...

if i didn't have children, i could live in a studio with my cats, a bench, a small refrigerator and a comfy couch to sleep on... i have simple needs... and a deep passion...

i had purchased this miniature printers tray from lisa jurist at her mudhound studio etsy shop (in addition to all of the great silks and fibers that covered my bench) ... i love it so much... when my brain cannot wrap around making finished jewelry or i just feel the pull, i will often make components by the number... they were scattered all over, but now they are together in order... it also holds 'in progress' pieces...

'everything that is really great and inspiring

is created by the individual

who can labor in freedom.'

~ albert einstein

big love

2011-09-12T09:32:00.003-04:00

i will not play at tug o' war.

i'd rather play at hug o'war,

where everyone hugs

instead of tugs,

where everyone giggles

and rolls on the rug,

where everyone kisses,

and everyone grins,

and everyone cuddles,

and everyone wins.

~ shel silverstein

(new ink)

remembering

2011-09-11T09:23:00.001-04:00

grow still...

'love is not consolation.

it is light.'

~ friedrich nietzche

spread it...

remembering with great honor the victims of september 11...

as surreal as ever... i cringe away from seeing the coverage replayed... we all remember where we were, what we did... living near to the city, i was attempting to call friends and family - to find out if they were ok... thankfully for me, they were (though none of the phone calls went through)... like so many, i know people who lost friends and family... i know someone who just made it out alive... i know people who experienced things they wish they hadn't... and i feel the deepest sorrow for those who grieve in the deepest, first person way...

i will never forget standing in front of my little tv in utter disbelief when the second plane hit... for that took the event to a whole different place... 'this cannot be real'... and when the towers began to come down... i think probably that so many of us could write at length about that day and those that followed...

two of my kids were in school... people were rushing to take them out, but the schools wanted them to stay there... they felt they were safer... but no one knew, not really...

the winds were blowing in such way that smoke was blowing past in the sky... and so i went to the beach, driving down roads that were eerily empty... i went to the beach, to look down the shoreline towards manhattan with my youngest child asleep in my arms... it was there that all doubt was erased... seeing the source of those columns of black smoke rising into the sky... i then knew that what was on television was absolutely, horribly real -

from my home, we can see the tribute lights against the clouds or sky... it is raining today - but we will be waiting... and never forgetting... watching with so many others...

and always with the hope that through shared pain and loss, unity may result...

while we continue our journey towards peace - (thank you to barry smith for speaking what i left unspoken... )

casting shadows

2011-09-10T09:23:00.001-04:00

'where there is much light

the shadow is deep.'

~ johann wolfgang von goethe

btw

2011-09-07T17:05:00.002-04:00

'words are the voice of the heart.'

~ confucius

thoughts, words, actions ...

crazy heart
soul sister
brave heart
sisu
heart song

potential

2011-09-06T07:19:00.000-04:00

humans and acorns

vary in size, shape and color

all contain greatness.

the beauty of macro sunday

2011-09-04T12:00:00.001-04:00

seaweed that washed a block up after hurricane irene... and i do not live on ocean avenue by the beach... i live on a bay that is fed by the ocean...

lori at studiowaterstone had the idea of macro sunday... which interprets in to increased mindfulness... one pays attention a bit more to their surroundings... becomes more engaged by the detail that makes up our lives (when life can so easily distract)...

and this happens to be a week of a few macro shots that i love...

buddhas (mine) by barbara bechtel of secondsurf

a robin's nest that i found on my walk this morning and brought home...

'few are those that see with their own eyes

and feel with their own hearts.'

~ albert einstein

thank you lori, for keeping us on our toes...

a week later

2011-09-03T11:44:00.000-04:00

found on my walk -

the fragile strength of a bee's wing

the oak tree hidden inside of an acorn
the return to earth promised by rusted street sweeper's bristles

prevailing thought on life and after hurricane irene: grateful

saturday afternoon emily and i went to the boardwalk to check the building sea, view the preparations...

the winds blew, rains soaked, flooding occurred, tornadoes appeared... for us, power outages, flooding, fallen trees... lucky... water in my basement - grateful... i was so sorry to learn about the damage done in new england... how so many didn't (why would they?) have flood insurance... and so i hope that fema helps them...

a view of the ocean side of the bridge at the inlet where the river i live on enters... the apartments across the street are 2 and 3 stories high... i believe this was taken by the bridge tender...

thinking on kindness...

'it is a bit embarrassing to have been concerned

with the human problem all one's life

and find at the end

that one has no more to offer by way of advice

than 'try to be a little kinder'.

~ aldous huxley

feeling the long exhale of autumn... the acorns are falling, the trees are indicating the approach of their imminent show, nights are cooling...

open

2011-08-26T16:09:00.000-04:00

'your humble light
the fire of your mind
blinds you:
if you walk
with a lantern in the dark
you won't see the stars.'
~ hans børli

synchronicity

2011-08-23T22:21:00.000-04:00

as i was finishing stamping the word 'effect' today while thinking on karma, my stool began to rock... 300 miles from the epicenter of the earthquake in virginia, i thought i was losing my mind... in the basement looking through the window, things seemed to be moving - or more accurately, i was moving... i ran upstairs to check the news on the internet and found nothing... called my dad - nope, he felt nothing... 'great,' i thought... 'i've imagined it.'

then my 13 yr. old called me - he was at a friend's house... 'mom, did you get out of the house? there was an earthquake... we went outside and took the dog.'

really? my son knew to react... and his dopey mom sat in a basement over thinking...

cause - an earthquake/something unknown... not for us a life endangering event by any means (i am not comparing this to natural disasters that have taken many lives), just one i had never experienced...

effect - the lesson being taught again to listen to your gut... i knew something was wrong... but we tend to reason it all away as adults... and in all seriousness, i was physically nauseous from it...

i have to be honest, living very close to nyc and knowing people who were there on 9/11 i have thought many times on how i would have responded... we heard of how people in the towers were told to stay where they were after the first plane hit... some didn't listen to what they were told to do, they heeded instinct... and because of that they lived...

funny how lessons come your way...

meditating with metal

2011-08-21T13:31:00.000-04:00

this week was all about making pieces, small and large... getting into zen mode...

'move and the way will open.'

~ zen proverb

'only from the heart can you touch the sky.'
~ rumi

(obvious)

'fall down seven times
stand up eight.'
~ japanese proverb

'actions send out ripples
karma brings them back.'

working in this way can be so relaxing - trying to grab a hold of thoughts and feelings and bringing them to life...

healing

2011-08-19T12:28:00.000-04:00

'healing takes courage, and we all have courage,

even if we have to dig a little to find it.'

~ tori amos

tears and water can wash away the rough edges of life...

loosening thoughts and feelings long buried...

because you already know -

2011-08-17T16:18:00.000-04:00

'when one is pretending

the body revolts.'

~ anaïs nin

another step along the path

2011-08-14T10:37:00.004-04:00

'keep yourself firmly centered inside here

and nothing will be able to shatter you.'

~ isan shinko (1740-1815)

this beautiful enso tattoo was received yesterday... and by one i deeply admire for his artistry and knowledge... his profound and generous spirit... i look at it and my heart swells... thank you tom...

fertile

2011-08-09T10:23:00.000-04:00

are you ripe to plant the seeds of Love?

to live the life of balance?

to nurture these things,

help them grow

and send them out into the world?

2011-08-02T09:47:00.000-04:00

'your work is to discover your work

and then with all your heart to give yourself to it.'

~ buddha

thank you to the one who gave of themselves here...

the series is divine...

fulfilled

2011-07-29T20:30:00.000-04:00

'the tangle of life begins and ends with a single thread'

we moved...

and in the past 2.5 weeks i have:

completed and submitted 5 pieces (plus the written work and stepped out photos) for 2 publications

completed a piece to submit to a juried show (which went in bumps and starts - design challenges were abundant)

final deadline met 5 minutes ago...

my eyes may be bleary but i am ever so content...

and ever so grateful...

'everyone has been made for some particular work,

and the desire for that work has been put in every heart.'

~ jalad ad-din rumi

hoping the challenges you faced were met with an open heart and mind... if only they could all be as easy as deadlines...

google honors calder

2011-07-22T21:22:00.003-04:00

have you seen today's doodle? it may be my favorite one ever...

play with it and movement begins... try grabbing a paddle with your cursor and dragging it...

quite beautiful really...

inspired by

2011-07-18T12:18:00.000-04:00

the woods that surround my house...
a treasured book on fold forming...
renate at put a little magic in your life
barry at rustnstuff
that special hammer i splurged on that has been awaiting a turn...

there is space now in my head to experiment... a loosening of the shoulders that allows me to hunker down with metal, hammers and a torch... an exhale that allows me to inhale deeply and leap...

the leaves are coming from this place...

i am grateful, as always, for the inspiration...

foliate love

2011-07-17T10:16:00.001-04:00

'never say there is nothing beautiful

in the world anymore.

there is always something to make you wonder

in the shape of a tree,

the trembling of a leaf.'

~ albert schweitzer

soulmade

2011-07-16T10:21:00.000-04:00

~ confucius

choose them with care...

the ride

2011-07-11T16:14:00.000-04:00

it's not the day you have to manage, but the moment.
it's not the dragon you have to slay, but the fear.
and it's not the path you have to know, but the destination.

what a relief, huh?
the universe

(recent note from the universe from tut.com)

process

2011-07-09T10:59:00.003-04:00

i am so honored to have been notified of my acceptance into the new jersey metal arts guild juried member exhibition called 'process'...

my pull to this exhibition began with the title and then the goal of the show - to share what goes into the making of a piece of work... i almost didn't do it... i was packing and to my rational brain this was not what i was supposed to be doing... but it kept calling to me urgently, to the point that i was distracted beyond reason and almost heartsick at the thought of not bringing forth what had been gestating in my mind... while my hands moved surely through the process there was a great deal of anticipation - i was trying something new...

'the creative process is a process of surrender,

not control.'

~ julia cameron

'the transformative power of tears'

surrender...

into the light

2011-07-03T18:29:00.000-04:00

the good

we are here... as of yesterday, fully moved in and word/number play person that i am, i have always loved this address... it is a number family!

the not-so-good

a white kitty who has discovered the fireplace and is a bit too chubby and lazy to clean himself up... he prefers napping - under the covers... i'll take this level of not-so-good...

the ugly

the teeniest, tiniest glimpse of it... but i am happy to announce that i located toothbrushes and toothpaste the first night... and the cable i needed for my camera today...

the 5+ year old snapple cap that kept my eyes open...

'difficulties mastered

are opportunities won.'

~ winston churchill

the sincerest thanks to those who helped me through a most challenging period... words fail... the heart remembers...

the student teacher

2011-06-25T10:20:00.004-04:00

'curiosity is the wick in the candle of learning.'

~ william arthur ward

etching is one of my favorite techniques... you can take plain metal and give it a life of its own... at a bead shop i began noticing the possibilities for a lot of the components they had displayed - trays of vintaj, boxes of brass and copper shapes... so i asked if she would be open to an etching class...

the pieces above were made to place around the store so that people could see another side of what was available... i thought about just asking her if she would like me to etch some for sale... but i thought that teaching people how to do it would be so much more fun...

and, girl, was it!

busy... i love that about classes... how focused everyone becomes... how people talk and work together... these 7 wonderful women and i spent 3 hours together... (& i learned that 3 hours is not enough time...)

my favorite question - 'what if...' it is what drives me daily... and i love to hear/see that in others... learning something new by whatever avenue then integrating it into your personal arsenal is magical... 'what if... ' is why i keep a journal for my work - because surely i would forget everything that flits through my head...

it was a fantastic way to spend my friday... i feel badly there are no images of finished work... i had forgotten about taking pictures as the class went on...

and ai wei wei was released on the 22nd...

2011-06-15T08:21:00.001-04:00

(found at my grandparents' house under glass on a desktop)

could this be...

2011-06-14T12:14:00.001-04:00

the heart pumping, chest pounding feeling of giddiness?!

while i know that i 'should be' packing, and doing lots of other things, there is a juried show that i want to submit to (naturally the deadline is friday)... i kept putting myself off, saying that i couldn't, shouldn't, first things first and this wasn't one of them, that there will be other shows... but i need to submit to this, to try - it is for the new jersey metals arts guild... and the piece i had planned is perfect for the theme - 'process'...

yesterday, i decided to give myself permission to take some time to work - something i have not done in over a month... and it has taken a toll on my mental well being... (to say nothing of the fact that i feel like a complete stranger on blogger/flickr/etc...)

that feeling of excitement was so forgotten - i will not do this to myself again... nor should you... if something feeds you, don't deprive yourself... even if you allot yourself 30 minutes a day... my work space is in a couple of places right now, and i had to move things back and forth for this - but i am glad i did... and it may just help me to get through some of the things i am feeling so tentative about ...

'living is a form of not being sure,

not knowing what next or how...

we guess. we may be wrong,

but we take leap after leap in the dark.'

~ agnes de mille

cup bezel experiments

2011-05-22T12:19:00.000-04:00

life was chaotic so impulsively i reached for the new cup bezels and stones i had purchased...

these earrings have me thinking upon the moon and hidden places... using moonstone in one and onyx in the other - balancing... onyx aids in changing bad habits, increasing intuition... it is a strength giving stone... moonstone is believed to vibrate with goddess energy and feminine wisdom... it has a calming energy...

when i ordered the stones, these were the first ones i ordered - along with denim lapis... i never purchase onyx ordinarily - but something about the balance must have spoken to me... waiting to be worked through...

be still my heart (also posted on lmaj)

2011-05-21T13:46:00.000-04:00

i am always thrilled to find those with great imagination and the ability to execute their visions... (another potential) passion to contemplate - to leave me figuring out how to wiggle some more time into my day...

crochet tree by babukatorium

this hungarian artist came to my attention on flickr ... and yes, she has an etsy shop! i just fell in love with this idea... her delicately crocheted spider webs in beautiful colors integrated into a natural environment...

and wouldn't you know, not days later, an article in the new york times came to my attention? 'graffiti's cozy, feminine side'

i present to you some of the artists and crafters working with yarn in public places... and really, i am sure there are many others that i don't know about - no offense intended if you are one, i am new to this and enthusiastically sharing the beauty i know of... the idea of graffiti vs. fine art works well here - as with anything, there are degrees of proficiency and complexity evidenced in the different work...

pink vest on rocky outside of the philadelphia museum of art

encouraging people to 'go see the art' by

jessie hemmons a.k.a. ishknits

jessie has a website, etsy shop, flickr and tumblr accounts... she has been featured on blogs in magazines... obviously yarn bombers are doing this on the sly - attempting not to get 'caught'... jessie calls herself 'philadelphia' yarn bomber'... what i love about jessie's work is the presence of the fibers in an urban environment... this really resonates with me - fibers and metal...

ishknits - there is a photo of her installing this in her flickr acct...

agata oleksiak, olek, is an artist in nyc & has work in galleries and museums... you can learn about her work on her website and her blog...

wall street bull, nyc by olek

there is a video of this installation -

olek - image from her website

lights, camera

2011-05-17T09:49:00.006-04:00

ACTION ~

karma - beth hemmila (hint jewelry)

in a recent post, beth posed the question - does karma wait for you? while understanding that karma has to do with actions that are involved in the cycle of cause and effect, she presented the thought so very succinctly and with a sense of immediacy... beth has an incredible gift for doing this - and i admire it tremendously... in fact, i have been thinking on this for almost a week now...

perhaps because it has been on my mind i have been open to seeing other writing that builds upon the concept...

in an article called 'neverisms' printed in the huffington post, a story is told of ernest hemingway giving advice to marlene dietrich:

'never confuse movement with action.'

is there intention behind what you are doing? and of what kind?

last night i was reading an interview stephen hawking gave to the guardian... when asked 'so here we are. what should we do?' he replied:

'we should seek the greatest value of our action.'

living lives of intention through good, bad, and ugly... living our karma... being mindful of how our words and actions affect others... making the most of every opportunity...

this is your life...

conquering fear

2011-05-14T18:58:00.000-04:00

i have a new practice i have put into place during my walks... imagining things/people i fear as the pebbles at my feet... rather than feeling the fear press down upon me... or close in on me from all sides... i imagine it beneath me... something i can view from a different, more manageable perspective... it allows for the light to shine while i think upon how i choose to handle each one...

'you have brains in your head.

you have feet in your shoes.

you can steer yourself any direction you choose.

you're on your own.

and you know what you know.

you are the guy who'll decide where to go.'

~ dr. seuss oh, the places you'll go

btw - grandparents

2011-05-11T13:11:00.000-04:00

'nobody can do for little children what grandparents do.

grandparents sort of sprinkle stardust

over the lives of little children.'

~ alex haley

and that dusting lasts a lifetime...

this btw is not about what is on a table, but rather my getting a 'new' old table...

there is much, ever so much change afoot in our lives right now... change that keeps me up at night, change that infuses me with both fear and excitement...

change that will give me the chance to work here, at my grandfather's workbench... but this time, as an adult... this time, with my own projects...

i adored my grandparents and think of them every day... i also miss them painfully... they lived 3 blocks from me - i was lucky... and their house was my house too...

the basement was a wonderland that was rivaled only by the kitchen...

there my grandfather had his workbench, replete with all kinds of tools, gadgets, and things he had made himself... an incredibly self-sufficient, 'can do' type of person... an MIT grad who was an engineer that served his country as a civilian and helped to develop radar... a man who always found a way to let me help and taught me something along the way...

this space will become my own to dream in... to experiment... to hopefully facilitate my accomplishing what i hope to... and it will be so meaningful to do it here... to have them with me...

i didn't take a picture of it, but the other side of the basement has my grandmother's sewing table... i spent time going back and forth... she taught me how to thread a bobbin, read a pattern... and helped me to make a prom dress and a prairie skirt... he taught me about soldering...

and that sewing table will be where i hope to work on finished jewelry... we will see... there is much to be done...

but i cannot thank my family enough for giving me the opportunity to work here - where two of my most favorite people in the universe expressed themselves in their own special ways....