Jewels of Ojai

Winter Holiday in Copenhagen and London - Part One

2012-01-22T17:21:00.000-08:00

I really had the travel bug last year and was able to fulfill my longing by being invited to Copenhagen to be in my friend's wedding right after Christmas before the new year. The end of December wouldn't be my first choice for a trip to Europe but I'm not complaining!

I stayed with some friends at the wonderful Admiral Hotel, right on the water in the old part of Copenhagen between Nyhavn (old colorful harbor) and Amalienborg( the royal residence) and across from the fabulous modern Opera House. The hotel was renovated from an old 18th century warehouse with restaurants designed by Conran. In addition to the beautiful wedding and festivities (of which I have no photos!), my Danish friend Filippa who I hadn't seen in twenty five years met me one morning and took me around town to many beautiful spots including the oldest tea shop in Europe called A.C. Perch's Tea Shop and the oldest confectionary shop, La Glace, for little cakes and tea. Another friend of mine from high school who now lives in London came for a visit and took us to dinner at the oldest Danish restaurant in town with character and charm galore called Det Lille Apotek where Hans Christian Anderson used to go. Copenhagen is really a fun mix quaint and contemporary with charming antique buildings and vintage shops mixed right in with super modern new architecture and hip boutiques. I look forward to coming back one day when the trees are green and the flowers are in bloom!

Admiral Hotel by day

Royal Opera House

Groovy apartments on the water

View of Nyhavn from wedded couples loft!

Nyhavn

Admiral Hotel at night

Europe's oldest amusement park...inspiration for Disneyland

Hans Christian Anderson's Little Mermaid ... more than 100 years old!

My trip was lovely though I must admit I am very happy to be home. Since I hadn't been away alone without either my husband or son in over 6 years, I was really looking forward to a little ME time. Well, what I learned about myself was that I was able to fulfill my ME need in about two days. Almost nine days away was a little too much....I missed my guys!

Jewelry Gift Certificates on PK Studios Etsy Shop

2011-12-01T11:22:00.000-08:00

PK Studios Jewelry Design Etsy Shop

now has what you have all been waiting for......

Gift Certificates !!!

Do you need a quick gift for someone but are not sure what to choose? A great treat for your mother, daughter, wife, sister, co-worker, or loved one...You can't go wrong with a gift certificate!

I have posted different gift amounts...

$50, $75, $100, and $150

but if you would like a specific amount, please contact me and I will customize a card for you.

I can send you or the gift recipient the actual PAPER gift certificate which includes free USPS First Class shipping or I can email an ELECTRONIC gift certificate if you wish to go paperless or need a last minute gift.

Our Green Black Friday

2011-11-29T06:00:00.000-08:00

I had to share some images of our lovely day after Turkey Day....

Don't get me wrong, Thanksgiving Day was fabulous too but I don't think you are interested in seeing photos of our 5 hour drive and then pigging out at my brother and sister-in-laws house where we devoured two turkeys (one roasted and one smoked)!

My hubby, six year old and I drove from Paradise (yes, this is a REAL town in Northern California) north to Sterling City to help Grandma and Grandpa pick out at Christmas tree then we took off in search of a fishing hole. We ended up four wheeling down a steep canyon on a dirt road (with NO name) pitted with puddles from the previous day's rain which always gives me a headache for fear of being stuck in the middle of NOWHERE. But we made it down to the bottom, crossed a bridge and hiked to a secluded spot on the Feather River. The air was chilly but the sun came out and the weather turned glorious. The boys fished for trout and I fished for heart shaped rocks. Unfortunately no fish were to be had but I hit the jackpot... I found five little lovely valentines (though I can't take credit for the tiny black one which my son found)!

Half way through our afternoon as I watched my son totter over the tippy rocks along the river following his adventurous father to find better fishing spots, PRAYING that he didn't fall in, I had him give me his fluffy coat in case my fear came to pass. Sure enough, about two minutes before we were to pack up, he lost his balance and fell..... TOTALLY drenched from head to toe in freezing cold water. I wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry. I decided to laugh. I'm not sure whether I'm psychic or paranoid but I thanked GOODNESS for the warm dry coat ... and my little guys courage. He just smiled and shivered. Sorry .... I don't have a photo of that one : )

"Live simply that others may simply live."

~ Elizabeth Ann Seton ~

CYBER MONDAY Holiday Jewelry Sale on Etsy

2011-11-28T12:42:00.000-08:00

I must admit that I am NOT crazy about the saying "Black Friday" or "Cyber Monday".... they don't sound very festive or full of holiday cheer. But since I decided to put on a little holiday sale I figured I should also reach out to those who use those types of terms to find great deals. SO, I am putting on my first ...

ETSY SALE!!!

November 28 thru December 4

Selected items are ...

TEN PERCENT OFF!

That is a really great deal since I am also adding ...

FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING!

and ...

FREE HOLIDAY GIFT WRAP!

.....AND.....

if you go to the top of my Etsy Shop and click the Facebook "Like" button, which will update you on all my latest jewelry listing and news, I will give you an extra 5% off your purchase (sale and non-sale items) ... but you must contact me through Etsy so I can give you the coupon code to use at checkout.

To reach my shop, you can click on "Etsy Sale!!!" above, or click on my jewelry photos on the right side of my blog.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING HANDMADE!

Unique Handmade Fine Silver Jewelry for Great Holiday Gifts!

2011-11-10T19:37:00.000-08:00

I've been busy using some of my newly acquired (and a few I haven't played with in awhile!) vintage bronze jewelry dies from Afghanistan to create new unique wearable pieces in pure silver metal clay..... still handmade by me in my little Ojai studio and fired in my mini kiln. And I decided to play a bit more with braiding Irish linen for cords in different colors. It was a little tricky securing the braided cord ends in an attractive way. I tried several different ways which failed my aesthetically critical eye and was about to give up (for the day, that is) when VOILA!, the Universe came to my rescue and a solution finally came through my thick skull. I'm excited about the results... and I especially LOVE the braided red linen!

All items available, or soon to be, in my Etsy online shop.

Tribal Heart Necklace

Floral Blossom Necklace

Floral Mandala Necklace

Arabesque Heart Necklace

"A man who works with his hands is a laborer; a man who works with his hands and his brain is a craftsman; but a man who works with his hands and his brain and his heart is an artist."

~ Louis Nizer

Viking and Celtic Wedding Mandala

2011-10-17T13:56:00.000-07:00

I have not ordered a hat yet because I decided to spend the money on silk long underwear for my trip to Denmark! Out of the blue, my "oldest" friend who I've known since we were seven (that's 38 years!!) and who is basically like a sister to me, fell in love this summer and is getting married just after Christmas in Copenhagen. I've been busy getting air and hotel reservations as well as making a special wedding gift for her. I was honored when she asked me if I would create a mandala representing her and her betrothed. As he is of Viking descent and she of Celtic descent, I drew from the knotted and triskele designs of those ancient cultures. I played around sketching the initials of their last name and finally figured a way to weave the two letters into a mandala love knot. Once she approved the preliminary pencil sketch, I elaborated on the idea and you can see the progress below. Each step was created using tracing paper over the previous sketch, all with a drafting pencil. I photographed each step with my iphone and turned them sepia on iphoto (for the blog). The final sketch was scanned and cleaned up on Adobe Photoshop, zooming in close and using a white "brush" to clean the negative space and a black "brush" to fill in any holes in the line work and smooth everything out. The original design is about 3 1/2 inches in diameter.

My friend is going to use this mandala on their wedding invitation and thank you cards. I can't wait to share the printed version with you.... it will be a surprise for all of us to see how she and the printer decide to use the mandala!

"Love conquers all; let us too yield to love."

~ Viking Runic Love Quote ~

Congratulations Shelley and Claus!!!!

Mad Floppy Hatter

2011-09-24T22:31:00.000-07:00

I thought I was impervious to the ploys of advertisers. Alas, I have been greatly influenced by a beautiful photograph which possibly plays to my dreams of youth. I am much happier now than I was at 16 so realistically, I suppose it's not the years of my youth but the skin and hair of my youth I yearn for which I obviously did not appreciate then since I baked in the sun with no remorse. I wish I had paid more attention to sunscreen. Nevertheless, I have been brainwashed by a company selling shoes. But, it's not the shoes I desire, it's the hat in the advertisement which they do not even sell! I have Googled high and low to bring you the Cole Haan ad but it's NOwhere to be had. Nevermind the fact that no one in my town ever wears winter hats, the problem I have now is to decide which color I want. So, I bring you these lovely chapeaus to ponder..... Ivory, camel, white, brown, khaki, red, black, taupe ..... hmmmm......

"Grab your coat, and get your hat,

Leave your worry on the doorstep.

Just direct your feet,

To the sunny side of the street"

~ Dorothy Fields ~

Workstatte Wonders

2011-09-14T14:47:00.000-07:00

My class in metalsmithing three weeks ago at Precious Metal Arts in Santa Monica was really fantastic. They have a great facility and the teachers, Peter and Nancy, are lovely. Just getting a taste of basic metalsmithing (sawing/cutting sheet metal, soldering, polishing, hammering) has me motivated to learn more. And luckily there are more classes!

I am also inspired by the metalsmith artistry of early twentieth century artist Josef Hoffman from the Weiner Workstatte in Vienna. I just had to share some images with you all. The Weiner Worskstatte was born in 1913 out of the Arts and Crafts movement in England of the late 19th century by artists who were rebelling against the machines that displaced artisans during Industrial Revolution. The artistans wanted to show that a machine cannot produce the same beauty and quality in an item as a person can. And they definitely proved their point!

There is an interesting article about the Workstatte in the New York Times, called Rage Against the Machine with Artisans and Beauty.

And, a book I've been dying to purchase, Weiner Workstatte Jewelry.

"Industry has operated against the artisan in favor of the idler, and also in favor of capital and against labor. Any mechanical invention whatsoever has been more harmful to humanity than a century of war."
~ Remy de Gourmont ~

Playing with Aura 22 Gold

2011-09-08T16:54:00.000-07:00

The price of gold is at an all time high ... $1,855. today! But, with the invention of Aura 22, I can still play with gold and not have heart palpitations if I make a little mistake! My cousin commissioned me to create a necklace for her thirteen year old daughter, who saw the crystal druzy and fell in love but wanted my PK touch with it. I finally found a moment to get my act together and finish it. I made a few pieces, along with the custom order, so I could practice my guilding. I made the extra tear drops in case the custom one didn't come out right... luckily they all came through with flying colors.

The process is fairly easy. You make your fine silver metal clay piece, fire it like normal, then without touching it or polishing it, you paint several thin layers (I did four layers) of the liquid 22k gold clay paste. The liquid gold has a small percentage of silver clay mixed in so it will fuse with the metal clay piece. So, after applying the gold, it goes back in the kiln at only 850 degrees for 15 minutes (or you can fire it with a torch). The first time I used it, I had a difficult time as the clay didn't want to stick to the silver after firing.... it flaked off while I burnished/polished it. I read that it sticks better if you take it out of the kiln while still warm (but NOT hot) so I tried that approach. Seems to have worked! Though from the first try, I learned not to polish with a polishing pad with any grit or it will rub the gold off. Best to use a burnisher. I haven't tried the tumbler yet.

The first photo show the teardrop metal clay pendant without any oxidation. The whiter area is the silver without the gold overlay. The following photo shows the same teardrops as earring WITH oxidation.... a completely different look. The last photo is a fine silver metal clay pendant with Aura 22 gold painted only on the granulation and floral detail, then oxidized.

GOLD

This symbolizes the purity of the spiritual aspect of "All That Is". It is symbolic of spiritual development in the realm of complete understanding, allowing one to both attain and maintain communion with the source of all being. It emits an energy to prompt one to allow beauty to come forth from the inner being as one travels through the world of experiences. It assists one to activate, to mobilize and to actualize the intrinsic potential of the self. The energy of gold can assist one in the elimination of ego conflicts and feelings of futility. It balances the heart chakra and amplifies thought forms. Gold has been used to open the third-eye and is an excellent mineral for purification of the physical body.

"PURE GOLD DOES NOT FEAR FURNACE."

~ Chinese Proverb ~

Beads and Legos of Summer

2011-07-18T16:39:00.000-07:00

Yes, I have been a bit distracted from my jewelry passion lately.

I have been very determined to help my fiver year old son learn to be a stronger swimmer so we've been in the pool practically every day this summer. He loves the water and is definitely part fish like his father but he has had a great fear of THE DEEP END! Several attempts to motivate him into the DEEP END ended up in tears. Hmmmm. I decided to bribe him.... The other day, I told him that when he was ready and could swim from the deep end to the shallow end (long length of the pool) I would buy him a new Lego set. I know, I know... I shouldn't have but I just KNEW he could do it! He looked at me and said "You mean for FREE??... No allowance?" I said "Yes!". He ran straight to the deep end, jumped in and swam all the way to the shallow end ...NO TEARS! Thank you Lego...mission accomplished!

Despite my hours in the pool, I have managed to squeeze in a little creative time for myself and managed to design and assemble a few pieces that have been sitting in my studio for a few months. I made the silver pieces months ago but as you can see, I'm finally playing with the beads I went crazy buying at the bead shows and having so much fun! Here is a sneak preview before they hit Etsy....

"You are all separate beads strung together on that one thread, God."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

Chirp Chirp

2011-07-10T22:46:00.000-07:00

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

More Ojai Beauty

2011-06-20T23:10:00.000-07:00

So, Saturday night, my hub and I had our date night just around the corner at Suzanne's. During our scrumptious dinner (as always) we started chatting with two lovely ladies seated next to us. One of them was contemplating becoming an Ojaian and wanted to know what we thought of the area. They must have thought we worked for the chamber of commerce as we started gushing and raving about our beloved little town.... and we continued to talk their ear off for the better part of an hour! Thankfully they were all ears. I hope we didn't over-do it. We just couldn't help it. As I have shared here, I told them that after six years, even in such a small place, I'm still discovering new places. I then remembered that I still had yet to post the photos of my return trip to the Ojai Foundation in upper Ojai. I was there a few weeks ago for the first time with my son's kindergarten class for a short field trip up the hill and I thank Ireshya for the soulful tour! I couldn't wait to share my discovery so I returned with my dad and sister recently to enjoy again the incredible beauty and views (and take some pics). Here is a sneak peak at some of it's hidden gems...

matilija poppy

little hand carved wooden monk

eight hundred year old california live oak

sitting Buddha

This is only the tip of the iceberg of the many wonders at Ojai Foundation. There are hand painted rocks from long gone visitors scattered around in little corners here and there, beautiful murals and sculpture, groovy hand built kivas, a stone and earth labyrinth, many wandering walking paths and really amazing views. This last visit the skies were overcast so I wasn't able to capture the vistas on film but I'll be back to share with you!

Still sketching new jewelry ideas, re-vamping my bookkeeping and compiling my new website ideas ...I'll keep you posted soon!

"Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a gift and not giving it."

~ William Arthur Ward ~

Casitas Vista

2011-06-04T00:15:00.000-07:00

My spring fever has not just affected my work but my love of Ojai. The last couple of weeks I have fallen in love with Ojai deeper than ever before. So many factors contribute to this high I am feeling..... I have made so many new lovely friends that are an inspiration and a joy to be around and I continue to meet new interesting people every week...even in this tiny little town. Also, in addition to all of the beautiful places of nature wonder that I have always enjoyed (Sisar Canyon, Meditation Mount, Krotona), I have just discovered several new little gems.... all practically in my own backyard. I will share them over the next few posts when I return to take photos.

Sisar Canyon

Meditation Mount

Krotona Gardens

....last but not least, my fabulous walk today with my friend Tegan and her sweet "Little Buns" and Sacha around good ol'

Lake Casitas

"Any perception can connect us to reality, properly and fully.
What we see doesn't have to be pretty, particularly; we can appreciate anything that exists.
There is some principle of magic in everything, some living quality.
Something living, something real, is taking place in everything."

~ Chogyam Trungpa ~

Delayed Spring Fever

2011-06-01T11:30:00.000-07:00

I think I finally have Spring Fever.....

Some say that this feeling or phenomenon is actually physical, not just psychological, because our seratonin levels rise in spring which create "giddiness, energy boost and enthusiasm".
Enthusiasm was my first symptom.... now I feel giddy.... and my energy is beginning to blossom.
It is difficult for me to hibernate in winter but now the sun is out, flowers are still blooming everywhere and I'm on a roll. Of course, the weather has been like this for awhile now and summer is almost here but better late than never!

I'm excited because I've decided to truly professionalize my jewelry business and create an amazing website to showcase my jewelry. I've been searching the web non-stop the last few days for web design ideas and have found great inspiration and in turn, I discovered so many amazing jewelry artists "out there". Here are a few that I find exceptional!

"Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm."

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~

"Enthusiasm is the greatest asset in the world. It beats money, power and influence."

~ Henry Chester ~

"I prefer the folly of enthusiasm to the indifference of wisdom."

~ Anatole France ~

Trust Those Dreams of Gold

2011-05-10T22:03:00.000-07:00

Last year, I posted a blog (She Sailed Away...) about a dream I had several years ago that prompted me to finally take a jewelry class and learn how to use Precious Metal Clay. In the dream, I (I think it was me!) was making gold jewelry. I enjoy working with silver but I REALLY would love to work with gold....high carat gold like 18k, 22k, 24k... but with the price of gold at an all time high I have only dabbled with a few findings. A few weeks ago I splurged on some 18k gold ear wires and head pins and created a pair of earrings that had been in my head for awhile. They ended up being the most expensive pair of earrings I had ever listed on Etsy and I figured they might sit on the shelf for months, if not forever. Low and behold, one week later.....SOLD! I couldn't believe it!

I know the concept but now I now I trust it...... Do what you love and the rest will come!

So, you might be seeing more gold accented jewelry soon.

And someday I WILL learn to craft in gold!

“What we really want to do is what we are really meant to do. When we do what we are meant to do, money comes to us, doors open for us, we feel useful, and the work we do feels like play to us.”
Julia Cameron

Mystery Blossoms

2011-04-20T16:38:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago on a Sunday morning after breakfast at the Emporium, I passed in front of Massarella's Firehouse Pottery (where our lovely dog water bowl is from) and saw these incredibly dreamy blossoms lining their driveway. Roses they are not as there were no leaves or thorns. Maybe some kind of cherry blossom... though they were small bushes. Can't you see them in an antique Chinese blue and white vase! What are they???

"Merrily, merrily shall I live now,

Under the blossom that hangs on the bough."

~ William Shakespeare ~

If You Care About Peace, Please Read This...

2011-04-18T12:53:00.000-07:00

Since I visited Pakistan several years ago, I feel much empathy for the people of Pakistan and Afghanistan, many of whom live in oppression and poverty. Much of the jewelry I create is made from vintage brass jewelry dies that I purchased while living there from the Afghan refugees who needed to sell much of their cultural heritage just to live. Currently, I donate 5% of the retail cost of every piece I make from the Afghan dies to Pennies for Peace which helps build schools for children in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Greg Mortenson, who wrote Three Cups of Tea, founded this charity and co-founded the Central Asia Institute. They have risked their lives to help thousands and thousands of children, men and women and continue to do so. Even the US military seeks guidance from Greg Mortenson on how to help better understand and help these people. Unfortunately, the media is nitpicking their efforts and causing a stir. Please read the following letter that was sent to me (and other suppporters) yesterday from Greg Mortenson.

Sunday, April 17, 2011
Asalaam-o-Alaikum (Peace Be With You). Greetings from Montana and on behalf of the dear children and communities we serve in rural Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Thank you (Tashakur and Shukuria) for the overwhelming response to the news in recent days, for the outpouring of support, prayers and the confidence that you, our supporters, have showered upon Central Asia Institute, Pennies For Peace and my family. In the midst of these difficult and challenging days, I keep thinking about the Persian proverb, "When it is darkest you can see the stars." You are all shining lights and we are grateful for your compassion.

Although we would like the world to be linear, orderly and peaceful, the reality is that our world is a dynamic, fluid place, often filled with chaos and confusion. In that space, I thrive and get the courage to help bring change and empower people. I also feel great pride that you have chosen to support those who live in the 'Last Best Places', where other organizations or governments offer few or no services.

I welcome and am used to facing criticism, which sometimes even turns into hostility and threats, over the important work we do in Pakistan and Afghanistan. As an introvert and shy person, it is also not easy to have to enter an arena of a media circus at the drop of a heartbeat. But, as those of you who know me and have supported my work over the years will recognize, the story being framed by "60 Minutes" to air in a few hours today - as far as we can tell -- paints a distorted picture using inaccurate information, innuendo and a microscopic focus on one year's (2009) IRS 990 financial, and a few points in the book "Three Cups of Tea" that occurred almost 18 years ago. Apparently, the CBS program is to be followed in the near future by a similar negative piece by Jon Krakauer in an unknown magazine, which I only recently heard about last week.

The Board of Directors and I made the very difficult decision to not engage with "60 Minutes" on camera, after they attempted an eleventh hour aggressive approach to reach me, including an ambush in front of children at a book signing at a community service leadership convention in Atlanta. It was clear that the program's disrespectful approach would not result in a fair, balanced or objective representation of our work, my books or our vital mission. We also turned down a last minute request for an interview with Jon Krakauer.

The "60 Minutes" program may appear to ask simple questions, but the answers are often complex, not easily encapsulated in 10-second sound bites. Working in isolated areas, in communities that are not on any map, and often in areas of turmoil, religious extremism or natural disasters where education is still relatively rare and ancient codes of conduct and social hierarchies still dominate - all these things demand constant adjustment, accommodation and patience.

We have always maintained that our work is about investing in relationships, respecting elders, and listening over a time span that stretches generations, not in one that lasts just a few minutes on prime time television.

So although I did not do an on-camera interview, CAI's Board of Directors and I have duly responded to questions provided us late last week by "60 Minutes" with both statements and answers. And as always we pride ourselves to be transparent with our financials and IRS 990 forms.

All of this can be found on our website, www.ikat.org, and more information will be added in coming days.

Because of a medical condition mentioned below, I have spoken with our hometown newspaper, The Bozeman Daily Chronicle, about this attack, and the newsroom is closely following developments on this story:

Mortenson under fire from '60 Minutes' - Bozeman philanthropist denies allegations (Friday, April 15, 2011)

CAI responds to Mortenson allegations (Sunday, April 17, 2011)

I also recently returned from Afghanistan, and was amazed to see how incredibly well everything is going there, including having five female managers (out of 15 total) and a plan to establish and build over 60 new schools this year. Our Board Chairman, Dr. Abdul Jabbar, also recently returned from an extensive trip to Pakistan. We will combine the news and send you an email and / or printed information within the next month to share the good news.

I would like to take this opportunity to disclose that for the last 18 months, I have been struggling with hypoxia (low oxygen saturation), which made it very difficult to get through a grueling schedule. My physician told me I had to stop and rest, however the urgency of what we do spurred me on. Last Friday (4/15/11), I came home and was diagnosed with a hole in my heart that was shunting blood, causing my low saturations.

Tomorrow, I will have further tests and then a heart surgical procedure this week to fix the hole. After a few weeks my doctor says I will be as good as new. For the first time in eighteen months, I will have tremendous energy, strength and lots of oxygen. At that time, I will come out fighting for what is right and just, and be able to talk to the media. Regardless of what happens, our work must go on. It's most important to know that education is the only thing one can never take away from an individual; it remains forever.

It is a true blessing to be at home now, with family and friends. In the meantime, I send you my heartfelt thanks for your continued support, and if you have any questions or concerns at all, I urge you to contact our office. Our small committed staff will be responding as quickly as they can to answer your calls, e-mails and requests for more information.

Please feel free to pass on this email to your families, friends and colleagues, and if you feel compelled, please write letters to the editor, or your on-line communities, about your thoughts.

You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Greg Mortenson
Bozeman, MT

_______________________________

Read the CAI Board of Directors Statement Regarding Recent Media Reports

Hand Tooled Beauty in Paper

2011-03-27T14:18:00.000-07:00

During my stay in Pakistan, I was constantly blown away by the amazing arts and crafts I saw ... past and present . The markets and bazaars were filled with peddlers and refugees from all over central Asia selling their goods... Western and Northern India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and many others. I felt like I was discovering treasures from an ancient civilization. There were many ancient, antique and vintage finds yet their artistic and cultural heritage is still alive and thriving with new creations borrowing from old traditions.

I'm not sure if it is an old tradition or new, but one of the artisans that I met (at Lok Virsa in Islamabad) was a man who was hand tooling intricate lace-like patterns in paper to be used as stationary. I couldn't believe the perfection he created by hand...one would swear the designs were created with a laser. And again, his prices were so reasonable. I still have many pages of these little masterpieces and save them for special occasions....they are hard to part with!

As an art major, I took many art history classes and never learned about the arts of Central Asia (Northern India, Pakistan, Afganistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan..). Why? I'm not sure. But, it infuriates me! Especially as Central Asia is home to one of the oldest civilizations on earth.... some say even older than Mesopotamia. I was and still am saddened that the only image most people have in their minds of Pakistan and Afghanistan is one of desolation, destruction, guns and poverty when there is so much beauty still to discover.

More artisans at Lok Virsa...

"Art is important. We tend to think it is a luxury, but it gives people deep pleasure because beauty is the personification of hope that something grander is at work."

~ Gil Dellinger ~

(see my post Slippers Fit for a Princess for more info on Lok Virsa)

The Kinder Chicks Are Here!

2011-03-25T23:54:00.000-07:00

Reminiscing about my travels years ago is fun, but coming back to the "now" of the kindergarden world is way more fun!

The last few weeks my son's class has been keeping track of the progress of fertilized chicken eggs in their chicken journal, singing chicken songs, reading chicken stories, creating chicken art, dancing chicken dances, watching silent chicken eggs incubate and counting the days until the big hatch day. Well, yesterday upon arriving to school, the children were greeted by almost twenty little baby chicks that had hatched overnight! And luckily, a few chicks were running late so the kids were able to watch the hatching of the last few throughout the day. Soon, each student will adopt a little chick, then name and care for it through the end of the year.

I just couldn't resist sharing their amazing class at Monica Ros School and their sweet new mascots!

And for those interested, we even have a live chicken cam....

http://99.130.101.208:8081/

"The Sky is falling!"

- Chicken Little

Slippers Fit For a Princess

2011-03-23T23:22:00.000-07:00

I promised to share more memories of my trip to Pakistan and India so I'm here to continue ...

As I mentioned before, I journeyed to Asia almost 15 years ago for several months to visit my parents who lived in Pakistan at the time. What an incredible experience. One weekend, my mom took my sister and I to Lok Virsa, the National Institute of Folk & Traditional Heritage in Islamabad which was hosting a craft faire. I was overwhelmed by so many incredibly talented artisans who were crafting their creations right there in front of us. My sister filmed the afternoon and hopefully someday you will be able to link to the video.

That afternoon, I came across a very serious man with a beautiful face and beautiful hands embroidering slippers that would seem to have come from some Arabian kings treasure chest! And he was selling them for a fraction of what I would have imagined. Alas, I couldn't resist.

Last Sunday, as I was cleaning out my closet, I found them all covered in dust bunnies. I was relieved as I had been searching the garage for months looking for them! So, I cleaned them up and photographed them to share with you. You MUST click on the photos to see them close up....and to think this guy doesn't even wear glasses!!!!

"The preservation and promotion of the traditional culture, folk arts and folklore are instrumental in strengthening a nation’s identity.Pakistan, like most other developing countries of Asia & Africa is in a transitional phase. Along with being faced with the challenge of preserving its cultural heritage, Pakistan also has to meet the needs of a nation in the modern industrial world."

"Tradition and change go together. These are like two wheels of a carriage that must move in unison for advancement. No nation can afford to progress in industry, science and technology at the utter neglect and cost of its cultural awareness."

~ Lok Virsa ~

Peony Roses

2011-03-14T15:56:00.000-07:00

Peony roses.

Yes, there is such a thing!

They are my new favorite flower...well, almost.

Peonies are still my favorite but they are impossible to purchase or grow in Southern California.

It's possible that peony roses are also impossible to grow here too but no worries because I can order them from my dear friend Liza who owns a flower company (Fiftyflowers.com).

I first saw these roses at mutual friends house who received them as a gift for Valentine's Day from her husband via Fifty Flowers. I freaked out!

When Liza and I decided to host and decorate a table at our kids school fundraiser this year, I said I would love to use the peony roses.

By the way, darlings, the official name is "Peony Rose Yves Piaget"....so fancy.
AND, they are incredibly aromatic and smell like heaven above!

Well, Liza ordered TONS....and gave me two dozen to take home. Woohooo!!!

Thank you my dear!

"I'd rather have roses on my table than diamonds on my neck."

~Emma Goldman

Ancient or Contemporary

2011-03-12T15:00:00.000-08:00

I sketched the design for the following necklace sitting in a splintery old wooden chair set in a strip of gravel next to a decomposing asphalt parking lot behind an old gas station while my car was getting it's yearly health inspection. Instead of dwelling on my unsavory surroundings, I enjoyed a quiet moment in the California winter sun and let my mind wander. I came up with several simple designs, all with curves, dots (I love dots!) and holes. I tend towards simplicity but I love detail. I think the piece below is a nice compromise. But I can't decide if it looks contemporary or ancient....maybe my creative juices went back to the future!

This piece is now for sale in my online Etsy shop.

"The distinction between the past, present and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion."
~ Albert Einstein ~

Monica Ros Kindergarden Class Project

2011-03-02T18:20:00.000-08:00

I've been busy attending to one of my new jobs....Kindergarden Room Parent!

I just finished helping guide and complete the "class project" which will be auctioned off at our Savoir Faire Fundraiser next weekend. We (parents) cut, sanded, primed and painted the wood blocks (cut from 4x4 post) then each student chose a block and painted a chicken on it. The tape came off, cubes were screwed into a 1/4" painted plywood base, cork was glued on back to cover screws and voila.... a Kindergarten masterpiece!

I'm not sure what we're going to call it....any ideas???

The chicken is the Kindergarden mascot, thus the chicken theme for the blocks. In a few weeks, each student will be given a fertilized egg to take care of, study and then watch them hatch and grow. We can't wait!!!

The hangers on the back were just attached five minutes ago and now we're finally complete! Here's a brief visual story of what they/we (kids and parents) created....
(Sorry there are no photos of the kids!)

Thank you Val, Blu, Andre, Susannah, Mrs. Fiore and Mrs. Krout and all you awesome kindergarteners!

“We can see a thousand miracles around us every day. What is more supernatural than an egg yolk turning into a *chicken*?”
S. Parkes Cadman

My Metal Clay Creative Process

2011-02-03T11:58:00.000-08:00

Making jewelry really is a process.... of imagination and digging deep. I try to be in the moment but it doesn't hurt to look to the past for inspiration. I've shown a similar process before but I thought I'd share it again....

Twenty years ago, in a college printmaking class, I drew a design on a tar covered zinc plate and etched it in acid. The finished plate was then printed on paper with black ink (see below).

Then recently I decided to have a rubber stamp made of the design to possible use in jewelry making. I photocopied the print, reduced the size and sent it in to the rubber stamp company (here's how I found the idea!). I ended up using the matrix that creates the rubber stamp to mold the clay. Below you will see the raw clay after pressed into the mold and cut out, then the finished product after firing and polishing. I have ended up creating two pieces from the original design (so far)...

I have found that this process is much easier than carving into very small pieces of clay and I can achieve a more three dimensional look. Hope this helps!

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

The Sensuous Mango

2011-01-26T12:06:00.000-08:00

Valentine's Day is typically associated with pale pink and red and hearts.
But, being that it's cold and wintery in most parts of the world (like inside my house!),
what about something spunkier, warmer, more sensual like mango, orange and magenta!
And instead of chocolate and flowers ...
how about silk, candles, lollipops and jewelry!
Sounds good to me!!!!

petrafanella $25.00	Fairyfolk $18.00
ZahnerPhoto $18.00	vixendesigner $48.00
FusionSweets $21.00	Fabricana $3.50
bunnybuttapoth... $5.50	SmadarsTreasur... $74.00
southindiabaza... $42.95	SpaGoddess $25.00
cutemonkey $8.50	LidsJamsandJel... $5.00
rawadesign $120.00	IndigoFragranc... $2.39
whatnomints $9.00	PKStudios $69.00

You can click on any image above to take you to the Etsy online shop...

Everything at Etsy is handmade and sold by small independent businesses.

Treasury tool is sponsored by Lazzia.com.

Ancient Valentine

2011-01-24T11:55:00.000-08:00

I just looked up the history of Valentine's Day and am so surprised to learn that this special day is a very ancient tradition and not invented by Hallmark! The history is a bit convoluted BUT I will give you a VERY short synopsis....

There was an ancient fertility celebration the Romans called Lupercalis/Lupercalia on February 15th. In the 5th century AD, Pope Gelasius turned the celebration into a Christian feast day honoring St. Valentine and changed the date to a day earlier. Two hundred years prior, the bishop Valentine had ignored the emperors ban on marriage and married young couples in secret and was consequently martyred .... on February 14th. In the middle ages, St. Valentine's Day became associated with romance and love....supposedly influenced by Chaucer. You can read more about it at the Holiday Spot.

I only have one heart necklace for sale in my shop so I'm excited to get into my studio to create more tokens of love!

"My bounty is as deep as the sea,
My love as deep; the more I give to thee,
The more I have, for both are infinite. "

William Shakespeare

A Winter's Joy

2011-01-18T13:50:00.000-08:00

There are definitely many reasons I chose to be born in Southern California and one of them is the winter. Though it has been unusually cold and rainy the last several weeks, the gods of California have smiled on us once again. The weather is GORGEOUS, the birds are in a frenzy outside my door and I am a happy camper!

We went to the beach two days ago and played in the sand and sea.....

joy was in the air.

"In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me

there lay an invincible summer."

- Albert Camus

Happy New Year!

Mystical Magical Winter Treasury

2010-12-14T13:05:00.000-08:00

..............hibernate, dream, create and indulge on Etsy!

2 Beautiful Jeweled Sno... Vividhome $10.00	White Wreath A Signed F... gildinglilies $75.00	Let it Snow - bokeh flu... bomobob $30.00
Sky Blue Dots on White ... TullioDesign $24.00	12mm Lustrous Snow Whit... BeadFrenZ $3.75	Dark WInter Brew Magick... whitemagic $13.00
Peaceful Song Smudging ... Tailfeather $54.00	FEROCIOUS polar BEARS f... bluemoonhare $23.00	Snow Queen Glass Ring MoseyDog $12.00
Snowballs Soap sunbasilgarden $5.00	Fine Silver Cosmic Orig... PKStudios $109.00	Ethereal Dream - Godde... EtherealArt $28.95
SALE - 12% / winter b... Patricija $22.00	Little Leather Winter W... EightSeasons $124.00	Romantic Geisha Dawn Fa... bohemianhippie... $37.50

Generated using Treasury HTML code generator by Whale Shark Websites.

check out all the groovy stuff on Etsy these days.....it's a great place to do Christmas shopping and you will support the little guy, the handmade, the home made!

Cleopatra's Lipstick

2010-12-06T23:35:00.000-08:00

Can you guess what tree is growing in my own backyard that produces a fruit that Cleopatra once allegedly used for lipstick?

I've written about them before (Pom Pom Blossoms) when the buds were just forming, but now, my little pomegranates babies have all grown up and are about to begin a new journey turning my families lips pink before they travel into their bellies.

Whether Cleopatra used the pomegranate seed juice for lipstick or not, we know that she must have drank the juice as the many of the trees were planted at Karnak Temple in Egypt 3,500 years ago!(according to Thutmose III, ruler of Egypt). She may have even had decorative items made in their likeness like the gorgeous silver vessel found in Tutankhamun's tomb (see below) and drank the fabled Egyptian pomegranate wine.... Sounds good to me!

I've been fascinated with Egypt since I was a child and was lucky enough to travel there with my family about 20 years ago and wander through the Great Pyramids, Karnak, Valley of the Kings and Abu Simbel. Now that I'm reading "Cleopatra: A Life" by Stacy Schiff, a fascinating Pulitzer Prize winning biography, it's exciting to actually visualize some of the places Cleopatra traveled to as these famous monuments were still ancient wonder of the world in her time!

I just noticed the fabulous necklace in the carving of her above. Hmmmm. I think I may have some jewelry design ideas here!

On the subject of lipstick and Cleopatra again, I must let you know that I also read that her lipstick was "made from carmine beetles, which when worked with pestle gave a strong red color pigment. This was mixed with ant’s eggs, which provided the base." I prefer the pomegranate theory but whatever was used way back then was thought to be powerfully enchanting because in 1770, "England’s parliament passed a law against lipstick, stating that women who seduced men into marriage by means of make up could be tried as witches!"

silver pomegranate vessel found in Tutankhaman's tomb

PS. If any of you witches out there are jones-ing to try pomegranate lipstick like Cleo, you can actually buy an eco-friendly one with pomegranate extract:
Korres Raspberry Anti-oxidant Liquid Lipstick

Baubles, Bangles and More Beads ; )

2010-12-04T12:48:00.000-08:00

I've been so indulgent the last year gobbling up loads of beads at the local gem and mineral shows. As I've mentioned before, my eyes grow bigger than my pocketbook at these affairs and I just can't help myself from adopting all the beautiful treasures I see! My guilt is finally starting to wane since I'm actually using them in my new designs and putting them up for sale. It is often not easy parting with my little creations but I'm so happy when someone loves them like I do....makes the separation go easier.

Available on Etsy Sunday December 5th!

Here are a few new ones....

Persimmon colored onyx layered with a fine silver floral pendant

strung with a mix faceted semi-precious stone beads

(aquamarine, carnelian, onyx, moonstone, labradorite,

fine silver pendant with Austrailian opal beads

strung on Irish waxed linen

fine silver charms mixed with labradorite,

turquoise & sterling beads on Greek leather cord

All silver pieces are created from antique Afghani bronze jewelry dies that I found in a bazaar in Islamabad, Pakistan.

“Life is a train of moods like a string of beads; and as we pass through them they prove to be many colored lenses, which paint the world their own hue, and each shows us only what lies in its own focus.”

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~

Hachiya .... Gesundheit!

2010-11-29T17:03:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving has passed but I'm still feeling it. It was paradise in Paradise.... awesome family, great fun, delicious food, silly snowball fight, relaxing. I'm so thankful for my all of my "in-laws".... how I got so lucky I will never know!

And now that I'm back home in my own paradise, I'm so thankful for living in Ojai and the abundance around me. Right before I left, our persimmon tree was ablaze in brilliant orange leaves and fruit. It was just beginning to carpet the groundcover with it's color. I shot a quick photo but realized I need to share more images with you and to finally bring some fruit inside to ripen. I hope they ripen before my bookclub on Thursday ...I'm hoping to make some tasty cookies.

Our persimmon is a Hachiya, which is a variety that produces large oval shaped fruit that must be ripened into almost a mush before it can be used...mostly for baking. And our happen to be HUGE this year! The other type is called at Fuyu, which have a squattier shape with a flat bottom. Fuyus can be picked and eaten raw in a salad or alone. Both varieties, which originate from Japan and are their national fruit, are loaded with vitamin C and high in fiber. They are good for your gesundheit (which means health) but one shouldn't eat them on an empty stomach!

Here is something I bet you didn't know. I didn't until today....

from Mother Earth News — Issue # 127 - August/September 1991 —

Remove a few twigs from a persimmon tree, cover them with water, and boil for 20 minutes. Strain and cool the liquid. Applied on a poison ivy or poison oak rash, it will stop the itch immediately, and after a few applications will dry the rash.

Lovin' Linen

2010-11-17T20:55:00.000-08:00

As I sip my earl grey tea I am thinking about my love of linen. I love everything and anything linen....sheets, dresses, napkins, pillows. Old, new....I adore it all. If I could (maybe I've said this before), I would probably live in white linen (layered with cashmere in the winter!) adorned with jewels for color! And now, I have added a new favorite to my list.... waxed irish linen cord!

I had previously used natural hemp linen thread to create braided cords for my silver pendants but my friend Tegan, the fabulous antique letterpress printer, let me in on a little secret source..... Royalwood Ltd. They are the ultimate source for basket weaving supplies and Irish waxed linen cord. For a small fee, they will send you a sample card of every color and size of waxed linen you could ever hope for. I ordered spools of about 5 colors to try out and now I'm itching to order more....purple, red, indigo, mint, fuschia.

My first experiments with the dyed linen making knotted necklace strands turned out so well, I have more colorful jewelry creations sprouting in my head. I feel like an excited kid with the anticipation of new box of crayolas!

field of flax...birthplace of linen

The necklaces are all for sale on Etsy.

That Second Windy Chi Town City

2010-11-10T23:26:00.000-08:00

Windy and cold? Yes... but invigorating! It wasn't easy going from 90 degrees in Southern California to 30 degrees in Chicago but I am proud to say I acclimated quite well considering I'm a weather wimp.

For such a huge metropolis, Chicago is really a friendly, clean and beautiful city....and a great place to hoof it! My feet were killing me when I got home but I really enjoyed walking everywhere as there was something interesting to see around every corner. We wandered to the new space-age looking Trump Tower and Hancock Tower, pre-fire antique castellated gothic Water Tower, 1922 Neo-gothic Tribune Tower and 1929 deco-inspired Carbide & Carbon building, Lake Michigan, the Chicago Loop river, Millenium Park, Cultural Center/Public Library, Chicago Art Institute... the list goes on. We only jumped in a cab one time to dinner as I was in 5 inch high heels with slippery nylons which made it impossible to walk! After that ridiculous experience I think I have decided to swear off nylons forever!!!!

Here are a few sites from this "Toddlin" town.....

wall detail from the Cultural Center

door casing detail from the Cultural Center

famous Tiffany domed ceiling at the Cultural Center

staircase at the Cultural Center

Millenium Park

The stainless steel Bean

views from Hancock Tower of Trump Tower and "Sears" Tower

peak of Lake Michigan from Hancock Tower

House of Blues and the Yonder Mountain String Band...wooohooo!

It's not my hometown but this ol' Sinatra standard reminds me of my hub (short for "husband", if you weren't sure) and me dining and dancing our way around town......

Chicago, Chicago--that toddlin' town.

Chicago, Chicago--I will show you around. I love it.

Bet your bottom dollar you'll lose the blues in Chicago, Chicago.

The town that Billy Sunday couldn't shut down.

On State Street, that great street, I'd just want to say -

They do things they don't do on Broadway.

They have the time, the time of their life.

I saw a man, he danced with his wife.

In Chicago, Chicago, my home town.

Chicago, Chicago--that toddlin' town.

Chicago, Chicago--I'll show you around. I love it.

Bet your bottom dollar you'll lose the blues in Chicago, Chicago.

The town that Billy Sunday could not shut down.

On State Street that great street, I'd just like to say -

They do things that they never do on Broadway.

They have the time, the time of their life.

I saw a man, he danced with his wife.

In Chicago... Chicago... Chicago.

That's my hometown!

.......who the heck is Billy Sunday anyway???

Painted Waves from the Past

2010-11-01T13:54:00.000-07:00

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!!!!!

2010-10-31T22:15:00.000-07:00

"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

2010-10-30T22:54:00.000-07:00

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

2010-10-28T22:29:00.000-07:00

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

2010-10-25T10:17:00.000-07:00

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

2010-09-23T16:57:00.000-07:00

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

2010-09-09T14:04:00.000-07:00

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 ~

I'm Still Alive But My Tomatoes Are Ripe

2010-08-17T14:02:00.000-07:00

I thought I would have plenty of time to blog this summer. I thought I was going to be a diehard blogger. I was very mistaken. I've been SO busy and having lots of fun BUT I DO MISS MY BLOGGING. School starts in a week. I WILL be back soon with lots to share even if it's a little belated. Gotta run and pick more tomatoes and almonds before the birds get them!

These photos are from last week.....

wabi sabi

2010-07-28T23:48:00.000-07:00

Wabi Sabi...

"is a training where the student of wabi sabi learns to find the most simple objects interesting, fascinating and beautiful."

"(It) nurtures all that is authentic by acknowledging three simple realities: nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect."

chartreuse glimmering

the stone hears not the birds song

but it feels the heat

Playing Dress-Up in Pakistan

2010-07-19T12:18:00.000-07:00

Before I blog about India I realized I should talk about how I got there.

My parents moved to Islamabad, Pakistan in 1995. Since they (we) had lived in Bangkok in the 80's, it wasn't too much of a shock. I had so wanted to go with them to Pakistan but I had just landed my first real design job and couldn't leave and my allotted one week vacation per year just wasn't long enough to get there and back. A year and a half later, I bought a one way ticket to Islamabad and quit my job. I just couldn't pass up this opportunity. I imagined myself landing at my parents pad for awhile then becoming a nomadic gypsy artist for a year or two... not knowing where I might land and settle. Then, the day after I quit my job I met my husband to be. Two months later, after my sister and I boarded the plane, I opened the card and parting gift he had given me on the way to the airport. A love letter and a lovely handmade glass heart. Well, my nomadic year only lasted two and a half months. I guess the heart worked!

My two months in Pakistan was fabulous. I met so many wonderful people and had incredible experiences of which I will share in upcoming posts. My trip ended with my close friend Jessica flying to meet me in Islamabad and the two of us setting off to Rajasthan India together for a two week adventure. I seems like a long time ago now!

First little story....

After a fun evening with a Pakistani couple my parents had become friends with, the wife invited us back to play dress up. When we arrived, she brought out an antique chest filled with stunning antique saris that had been in her family for generations as well as royal looking antique jewerly. We felt like real princesses. My dad even left work early to come see us all dressed up and take photos. Notice the mandala on my forehead and necklace.....all diamonds and 24k gold. My mom's necklace....solid gold. The shimmer of the saris.....solid silver and gold threads.

Blessed Are The Children

2010-07-14T13:03:00.000-07:00

I stood next to my sister at our quirky, fun Forth of July parade here in Ojai, both of us snapping more than a hundred of photos. But, before I could even get out of bed the next morning and wipe the sleep from my eyes, my sister had her photos up on her blog already. As I browsed through, I reallzed that if I posted mine it would look like plagerism! As I was browsing through my snaps again today, I figured there are a few I should share to brighten everyones day. There is nothing like an honest smile from a child to cheer us all and feel hope for the future.

Children are the hands by which we take hold of heaven.

~ Henry Ward Beecher, reverend and social activist

If our American way of life fails the child, it fails us all.

~Pearl S. Buck

Children are one third of our population and all of our future.

~Select Panel for the Promotion of Child Health, 1981

Children are likely to live up to what you believe of them.
~ Lady Bird Johnson, former U.S. First Lady

Daydreaming of the Third World

2010-07-07T23:03:00.000-07:00

Ever since school let out for the summer, it has been difficult to sit down and focus on a thoughtful post. I have been occupied keeping my four year old busy and by the time the day is done, I am too. Besides the regular daily activites (shopping, cleaning, cooking, laundry) I have primarily been hanging by the poolside making sure my baby fish doesn't drown. It's my goal this summer to see him swimming around like the happy dolphin he wants to be. That means no reading great novels or travel magazines, no texting friends or checking my favorite blogs.... or making jewelry....while lounging by the pool (or in the pool). But, I have been daydreaming! Fantasizing about all the places I've been and dream of visiting some day. I'm really missing the "third world".... India, Mexico, Africa. I realize I must post about my travels in India. But for now, here are a few fun places I just found that are sure to delight you!

anindiansummer

The Gem Palace

Lake Palace Resort, Udaipur

http://www.deviresorts.in/

http://www.hotpinkindia.com/

"So far as I am able to judge, nothing has been left undone, either by man or nature, to make India the most extraordinary country that the sun visits on his rounds. Nothing seems to have been forgotten, nothing overlooked."

Mark Twain

Sublime Copper

2010-07-01T12:18:00.000-07:00

I had always thought copper to be a nice metal for bathroom pipes or lighting but I never purchased anything decorative. It's not that I don't like it but I had just never seen anything that caught my eye. Then, I went to Pakistan where incredibly crafted vases, pitchers and bowls are made. I purchased a few things and my mother went crazy. Her entire house is filled with copper now!

When I heard that copper metal clay was invented I wasn't too interested as I've never come across any jewelry that called my name... until I saw some pieces made with it. And I love it in combination with silver and/or bronze. So, I ordered some and realized afterwards that the firing was much more complicated than silver so I decided to take a class. I'm so glad I did ... I would have had a devil of a time! You really have to add moisture to the ready made clay and knead it until it' the consistency of fresh silly putty. And, you must wrap and put away any unused clay in an airtight container before it begins oxidizing. When it does, it turns hard and black. Otherwise it was fairly similar to silver clay. Getting it out of the kiln is another matter. It really takes two people.... one to open the kiln and pull out the shelf and another to grab the fired pieces (with mask, gloves and long tongs) and get plunge them into water lighting fast. If you don't, a hard scale grows on the copper which is very difficult to remove. I was lucky as my pieces had hardly any scale. Then you pick of the scale, polish and put in pickle. If the pickle is fresh, it help remove the scale. As with silver, it's a delight to see your dull porous clay turn into a hard shining metal.

Here are my first copper jewelry pieces, peeks at my Pakistani finds and a sample of what raw copper looks like......

Healing history of Copper:

Copper has been used in medicine for thousands of years, apparently since before the beginning of recorded history. The ancients recognized copper as an essential healing mineral. Copper was found useful for its curative powers — largely due to its antibacterial and anti-fungal properties — in the treatment of wounds and skin diseases. In modern times, copper is becoming more widely recognized for its effectiveness in the treatment of a number of internal diseases including anemia, cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, stroke and heart disease.

Here is an interesting quote from Shimmerings on copper....

"Mystical Properties:Due to the fact that copper is such a wonderful physical conductor of electricity and heat, it is also considered the conductor of the spiritualist's belief system. According to myths, copper has the ability to conduct spiritual energy back and forth between individuals, crystals, auras, the mind and the spirit world.

It is also believed that copper has the power to amplify thoughts when sending and receiving psychic communications. New Age followers carry copper with their stones and crystals to 'straighten' the properties of them, as well they are used when crating crystal wands to be certain of their clear and straight powers. Copper is also quite instrumental in the physical and mental healing rites of many peoples of this world"

AND recently in the news, it is believed that King Solomon's copper mines have been found in Jordan!

Room with a View......NOT!

2010-06-24T22:14:00.000-07:00

When we moved in to our house five years ago, I used the back bedroom with a view of the majestic oak trees for my office. I was pregnant so..... eventually I had to give the room up to the wee babe and move to the garage. This was before I made metal clay jewelry. I had been an interior designer for about 15 years but soon after the wee babe arrived I found it impossible to work full time. And it's difficult to do interior design part-time.... as most houses are not built on three day a week schedules. I've been slowly easing out of my first profession and into my new profession the last two years.

My center bookcase is now jewelry supplies instead of tile and fabric samples..... but I still have yet to dump the rest of my design resources (right bookcase). I want to.... but..... it's a little scary. It's a slow start beginning a new business. What if I need to go back? Will I need to go back? I don't think I want to go back. Hmmm. I'll ponder this another time.... But, I will keep my painting supplies just in case I realize my dream of being a painter some day (left bookcase)

Looking ahead.... I feel positive. I love what I'm doing. I like my work space...even though I share it with the laundry (behind the hemp curtain).... and I have no window...and it's freezing in the winter....and boiling hot in the summer. But it's a nice space for fall and spring and early summer : )

I think I just need a throw rug and a window.... and some fabric and velcro to cover up my shelves. Oh, to see out to the back.....over my desk to our newly landscaped side yard and beyond. This window dream has been on my mind some time now.... like five years!

Now I'm laughing because as I looked for an interesting quote to end my post on my studio, I came upon this little piece of wisdom.......

You need a room with no view so imagination can meet memory in the dark.

~ Annie Dillard ~

......I still want my window.

Be Like the Flower....

2010-06-23T13:16:00.000-07:00

I've felt so good the last few days since my "sweat". The weather has been glorious.... sun shining, slight breeze blowing, birds singing. Life is not perfect but somehow seems so lately. Though the grass is always greener in someone elses yard because we have NO grass, I'm happy with our large plot of dirt and foxtails. Looking around, everything seems prettier, happier, sunnier. And bringing the outside in (from Farmers Market) is a must.

Be like the flower, turn your faces to the sun.
- Kahlil Gibran