Just a quick update – my bead mystery has been solved. I emailed Andrew (duh!) and got an answer straight away. I’m thinking he’s a bit of a walking bead encyclopedia, not to mention collector and maker extraordinaire. The artist’s line is called Basha. She lives in Oregon and is a noted recluse. The beads are in the realm of hen’s teeth, so I may move on to plan B. Depends on how married I stay to my original idea. This is a picture from a business that makes rosaries using her beads. Gotta admit – they are lovely.
So a big thank you to Andrew for allowing me to move on and stop obsessing!
I’ve been getting a lot of inspiration from cruising the internet. Granted, not what I’m supposed to be doing, but it’s been my only outlet for a bit of distraction. On a recent foray into surfing, I came across something that was that wonderful combination of compelling yet disturbing. What I love is how I went from a design blog - Style Bubble :
Really extraordinary imagery and I’m not sure what I think about all of it, but man does it suck me right in. I think these images are showing up different places, but this was my first time seeing them. Be sure to read the back story – really amazing.
Then, a couple days later from a WhiteHotTruth post, a Q&A session gave me this:
“What would I do if I were not afraid?” I’m going to be working on this one for a while. Interesting that the fears are so deeply embedded it’s hard to nail down just what I would do. Curious and compelling yet again.
Moving along … on another surfing trip, I checked in on a jewelry site that I really like – Black Sheep and Prodigal Sons. He’s got a new group of work called Theft of Light. I love the images for this work. Here’s one of my favorites.
This necklace got me to thinking about a sculptural coat that was in a Fiberarts magazine from several years ago. These days I keep a little pad of neon stickies around to mark my favorite pages and passages in my magazines and books. Unfortunately, I hadn’t done that with my Fiberarts collection. I had to stop everything and haul out my modest collection (thank goodness) and rifle through them all to come up with the image I had in mind … Erica Rasmussen’s wearable sculpture from the March/April 2002 issue of Fiberarts. How do I remember this stuff??? Anyway, you can see the similarities:
Layers, I absolutely love layers. Even more better, layers combined with the repetition of form. I’ve been wanting to translate this idea into my own work … been thinking about it for years. I got a little ways there with my plank components – I just need to figure out how I want to do the layering. This one’s been in the line for a couple of years:
This is the most recent addition:
I love both of these pieces and really love the folded planks. I’m liking them even more knotted on silk – more expensive, but very luscious. I seem to be getting much more inspiration from things woven than from things forged. I’m looking forward to taking some time to do a thorough perusal of my fiber magazines. Soon my little collection will be rife with a neon fringe.
Through all of this, I’ve been working on orders and getting quite a bit done. Of course music is always a vital component to creating and I’ve been drawn back to some old favorites. A couple of years ago, I couldn’t get enough of Nick Drake and Elliott Smith. I thought it strange that I was being so inspired by a couple of tragic figures from the musical world – it was my ’suicidal young men’ series. These days I can get to a similar place with Jose Gonzalez – he seems to be doing well, no signs of a death wish (at least not that I know of).
And then I made a radical turn after watching a couple of on-demand music videos. Now I’m on a hurdy-gurdy quest. I’m quite pleased to have found the two favorite songs that came to mind.
Loreena McKennitt’s The Mummer’s Dance
And then for something out of left field … Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, Gallows Pole. The embedding code was disabled, but here’s the link. I especially love this version. The set design is glorious and Plant’s wardrobe is divine.
All in all, it’s been a very satisfying and full week.
One more thing. I got it in my head I want to do an updated version of a necklace from many years ago. What I need are some of these beads. They’re dichroic beads by an artist that I thought was named Basia. I’m thinking that’s not right since I can’t find her anywhere. I do know someone who has a stash of them and could tell me who she is or how to find her, but my friend is otherwise engaged with a newborn. So, the questions are … #1 – anyone recognize these beads or this artist? #2 – anybody know if she’s still making and selling these beads? #3 – if yes, anyone know how to find her? Any help is appreciated so that I can stop obsessing. BTW – the raku beads are from Rory Raku – I’ve got lots of those.
Luddite: after Ned Ludd – an English laborer who was supposed to have destroyed weaving machinery around 1779. One who opposes technical or technological change.
I’ve been mulling over the concessions I’ve made to technology. Where once I balked at having a home computer, it’s now an absolute necessity. I have a cell phone, but it’s a ‘pay-as-you-go’ that I’ve had for almost 5 years and does nothing but make phone calls. I’ve dipped into Facebook as it was suggested that the social networking thing was a good way to grow my business. The more I’m there, the less I want to be. So I keep going back and forth … to Facebook or not to Facebook. To Twitter or not – definitly not going there. Gotta say, I do love blogs. Oh and I am liking that flat panel TV with 5.1 surround sound we got for a housewarming/birthday/Christmas present. I digress…
So, my mulling lead to wondering with what faction of humanity I might be aligned … can’t help it, it’s just me and my obsession with naming things. I like the idea of the Steampunk movement, but most of the work that claims that moniker is not my flavor. I’m thinking I’ll start my own movement – Neo Luddite … maybe Revisionist Luddite. Some concessions are made, but my preference tends towards a mix of the old-fashioned and relatively minimal. Sort of the 30’s meets wabi-sabi.
Here’s a visual aid. Tis the season to exchange my summer ruby slippers (wabi-sabi) for freshly polished brown oxfords (30’s re-dux).
ruby slippers
lil ol man oxfords
As of late, there’s been a lot of ‘ruby slipper’ conversations. Then last night I was reading Mike Dooley’s new book Infinite Possibilities. Something to the effect of one way to help you get to where you want to go is ‘buy the shoes’. That’s one reason it’s time to haul out the oxfords – it’s what they represent for me. Five years ago, owning this pair of shoes would have been a total pipe dream. Today, I can put on these shoes and every step is an affirmation of how far I’ve come, what I’ve accomplished so far and how easy it is to keep on keepin’ on.
Thankfully, this day has brought several glimpses of clarity. Naming things is fun and could be useful as a marketing tool, but the bottom line and my ultimate goal is to simply enjoy each day. Have fun with my work, be open to new things and accept inspiration in whatever crazy form it appears.
A couple more things to consider:
“Don’t try to stand out from the crowd; avoid crowds altogether.” Hugh MacLeod
“#38 – Explore the other edge. Great liberty exists when we avoid trying to run with the technological pack. We can’t find the leading edge because it’s trampled underfoot. Try using old-tech equipment made obsolete by an economic cycle but still rich with potential.” – Bruce Mau’s Incomplete Manifesto
Avoid balance – I’m thinking it’s a lot more fun to have a raucous ride on the playground swing than to sit calmly on the see-saw with it’s well-defined boundaries. I want the wind in my face and the better view. Danielle makes a good case for this here.
I think that’s enough for now. This will be me clicking the heels of my oxfords and sailing joyfully into the night.
This falls into the category of freeing up space – physically and more importantly – mentally. So I’m throwing this out to see what comes back …
I’m thinking about parting with my Ornament magazine collection – almost 20 years worth, back to 1991, about 80 or so issues. I would like for them to go to a good home rather than just plopping them down in the magazine swap at the library. When I parted with my American Craft collection a few months ago, I looked for a nice home around here – no takers. I’m thinking the same thing will apply with Ornament. If anyone’s interested in adopting them, let me know. I’ll even pay for media rate shipping.
I realized after looking back through my journal, I seem to be on a six month cycle of purging. Spring and fall are always big transition times, but this particular October is the 20th anniversary of the Loma Prieta earthquake in California. Hard not to think back on the vast changes I’ve been through since then.
But man oh man, that earthquake! I was 10 miles from the epicenter in our little truck on the way to pick up Dave after work. We were living just north of Santa Cruz in a little town called Davenport (recently in the news for wildfires). Davenport, by itself, was probably my favorite place that we’ve ever lived. Odwalla juice was just down the street (long before CocaCola bought it). The Ocean View Gas Station and Bakery had the best blueberry muffins EVER. I could sit out on the cliffs above the Pacific, drink my fresh carrot juice, munch muffins and watch the whales migrating north. We had famous neighbors like John Babcock, a legendary paper artist, potter Al Johnson of Scott Creek equipment fame and the truly legendary potter and author, Daniel Rhodes (I participated in the last wood firing at Daniel’s noborigama before he died).
Our teeny house was a remodeled chicken coop – sounds crazy, but the owner was a big time architect, so it was a really nice chicken coop. From our kitchen window I could see the Pacific and, on one occasion, even saw a whale spout. Our ‘yard’ was a sea of allyssum and nasturtiums and canna lilies and jasmine. We shared the property with the ‘big house’ and had access to the most sublime outside shower ever. OMG it was heaven! The decking was shipping palettes that had been spruced up, the ground was covered in a lush green blanket of baby’s tears, enormous nasturtiums climbed the walls winding their way through abalone shells. The only time you ever noticed the brisk and intense wind was when it stopped. The water was scalding, the heady fragrance of salt air and soap and wet earth embraced you. The walk down to the cove at the beach was about a 1/2 a mile past acres of brussels sprouts and through groves of eucalyptus trees. The icing on the cake was the quality of light – something about the low humidity? All I know is we’ve never seen sunsets like those anywhere else. So many times I’ve wondered if I could find another place just a bit like Davenport – just not in California. Too, too many people and, I gotta say, I really HATE earthquakes. I’m still looking.
After the earthquake, we waited a few months for the price of U-hauls to drop and headed back east for out first move to NC. Anniversaries are all about looking back and assessing one’s progress/life/process … well, lots of reflection. We’ve been on such a ride since then. I guess the ride continues. But I still miss Davenport.
One more bit of something – we actually found something interesting to watch on TV! Since we can’t get satellite, we’re stuck with cable and have been perusing the OnDemand stuff. Turns out there’s this great show on Sundance channel – Man Shops Globe. It’s about the guy who buys all that outrageously cool stuff for Anthropologie and follows him around on his shopping trips. We missed the first one to France – bumming heavily, but the next two were Turkey and South Africa. So, if anyone gets Sundance channel – look for it; anyone with cable – look for it OnDemand. A really great 1/2 hour of inspiration.
Okay, time for me to actually get some work done. Once again – anyone interested in giving my Ornament collection a nice new home, let me know.
I went on a minor shopping trip this afternoon. It’s not often I allow myself unlimited time to roam aimlessly, but this afternoon it seemed like the thing to do. I started out at one of my favorite haunts called the Screen Door. An antique mall sort of place with maybe 150 different vendors – basically a lot of stuff, not overwhelming, always inspiring. An added bonus is there’s also a whole side of the building that is an outlet for a book distributor – mostly garden and home and design and cooking – you know, pretty books. All together – translates lots and lots of eye candy.
I scored two sweet little finds. The first, a book that I owned at one time. I gave my copy to a friend, one of the most talented artists I’ve ever met, who was dealing with serious health problems. I gave the book to him without writing down the name or author. I have had it in the back of my head ever since, hoping to come across another copy some day. Well today was my lucky day. It’s called Meditative Spaces by Michael Freeman. This is one of those books where I start to hyperventilate just flipping through the pages … “places solely designed to reinvigorate the mind and spirt are not an indulgence in our fast-paced, stressful world – they are a necessity.” Feast on a few pages …
That last image is a ‘briefcase room’ , a portable meditation space. Oh my, 239 pages of glorious inspiration and half price to boot!
My other find was from a vendor that actually has a spiffy clothing store about an hour from here. I’ve never been there, but like to peruse her website and drool. The shop is called Niche and the owner has a booth at Screen Door where she sells all kinds of miscellaneous stuff from her shop at big discounts. A side note about me and bargains, it doesn’t make much sense, or maybe it does – anyway … I’ll spend three hundred dollars on a pair of shoes (well they’re handmade in Italy for heaven’s sake!), but hate to pay full price for clothing. I’m always on the lookout for BlueFish anything and today I got one! It’s the same vintage as a vest Nina gave me years ago. It’s a jumper in a heavy waffle weave knit in taupe with woven (linen?), block printed pockets. I’m trying to wean myself off boring clothes and incorporate some skirts and jumpers. I’m quite pleased with my find.
I’m feeling so incredibly grateful for these little treasures, but what I’m even more grateful for is my friend Lynne. Lynne and I met in Port Townsend and had just a few months of being best buddies in the same town before she moved back to California. Lynne is my favorite kind of person – WYSIWYG, absolutely straight forward, no b.s. EVER, the whole truth and nothing but the truth and I love her dearly. Now we’re thousands of miles apart, but manage to stay in touch on a pretty regular basis – thank goodness for blogs. A week or so ago, I emailed Lynne for suggestions about changing the energy in my studio and around our house. After a few questions, my answers referring to the jumbo cell phone tower down the street and an all electric house, she had a couple of suggestions and would send help right away.
Yesterday my goodie package arrived. Inside, one of her wonderful muslin paintings (I love the lotus blossom awakening in her 3rd eye) and a miraculous little obsidian orb.
Beneath these treasures was something new to me – orgonite, aka ‘tower busters’ - to help with what is probably massive amounts of EMF energy here on my property and in my neighborhood … a big ol’ haul of the stuff.
Right now it’s outside doing a bit of off-gassing (click the link above to find out more); tomorrow I’ll do some strategic placement around the perimeters of our property and when the resin is fully cured, some strategic placement inside. Interesting stuff … I have no idea what to expect.
Interesting stuff and interesting times. I still feel like I’m hydroplaning. My days are productive, work is getting done, my magazine ad sent off … but I don’t feel fully engaged. That’s why I’m wanting to do some energy shifting.
What I always have to come back to is gratitude. My life is absolutely awash with abundance. Good and bad, challenging people or effortless creation, I am enormously grateful for everything in my life … everything. So many opportunities to learn and grow and continue on this inexorable path towards waking up.
I got to thinking about my, well not quite, but almost … obsession, with braids and fibre and fabric. Daily life got in the way for a few days – deck finishing, prep and painting … my knees and back still ache, working on my magazine ad which I think looks pretty good for a first-time effort …
Where was I … ah yes – braids and fibre and fabric. Thinking back, this is a lifelong fascination. I’ve been sewing since they’d let me hold a needle. Muslin and scraps of gingham and rick-rack transitioned into silks and brocades and velvets then onto linen and specialty silks … I’m dying to get my hands on some hand-woven Dervish Cloth, which looks like silk burlap – yummy!
I’ve been playing around with fibre in combination with my jewelry for several years now. I just have a hard time going the steel cable or Beadalon route. I do like ‘industrial’ components, but at the back of my neck gives me the willies. Finding my ideal stringing medium was a long time challenge. My cache of assorted potential stringing material is extensive … lord knows what I’ll ever do with all of it … spools and cards and hanks and coils and I don’t know what all. I finally landed on Gudebrod silk with a huge sigh of relief. It’s been hard to beat for strength, sheen, size and color selection and it’s just downright wonderful to work with. Not so with my bamboo experiments – not strong, fuzzy, limited colors and no size choices. Even better, Gudebrod silk is also turning out to be quite beautiful in my braid experiments.
The thing is, what IS it about braiding? Plain old three strand braids to the fancy-doodle 5 loop and square 5 loop braids are so very much fun, so engaging, so mesmerizing. Now I’ve got it down to entering a meditative rhythm while I weave the strands. If I stop to think or if my mind strays, I’ll drop a loop or miss a grab. So it forces me to empty my mind and let my thoughts wash away – an especially wonderful side effect since my meditation practice went right down the toilet when we moved last year. A surprise gift from my new-found technique.
Which leads me to the concept of contemplative textile studies and the work of Gizella Warburton, discovered in the pages of my delicious new issue of Selvedge. So very reminiscent of Asian hand-sewing techniques. No surprise the exquisiteness of Japanese stitching and just as compelling the quilts of Gee’s Bend – seeing those bordered on a religious experience. Here’s one of Gizella’s pieces …
So here’s the common thread in my work (sorry couldn’t resist). Repetition … of forms and components which leads to repetitive, contemplative techniques for assembling – knotting and braiding of the silk. Jewelry making as a meditation practice. It seems to me that kind of deliberate focus and intent can transmit to the wearer, which makes jewelry making even more inspiring. Goodness, a blessing of the highest order.
Two more things …
Fog Linen Work – a lot of the site is in Japanese, but so many luscious things to behold.
And in keeping with the braids and fibre theme, another musical selection from 1 Giant Leap – Braided Hair
okay, I lied – one more thing …
My word for the day, week, month … Liminality- period of transition where normal limits to thought, self-understanding, and behavior are relaxed – a situation which can lead to new perspectives. Good word, no?
Yesterday continued to be something of a roller coaster, ending with me staying up very late reading, well – more like skimming, until almost 1am. I sort of tip-toed into today, testing the air and my mood, curious what the day would bring. Again, see-sawing a bit … our morning walk through the thick fog and 46 degrees, a yummy batch of fresh made carrot/celery/beet juice followed by my favorite strong black tea; then there were errands that yielded few results; a haircut that was not quite the pampering I had in mind.
When I finally settled back in to my studio, I was itching to work on my finger braiding technique and put all my ideas together. I’m quite pleased with my results – nice even 5 loop braids, clean closure, well balanced and just kind of sweet little things …….
turtle bead bracelets
I really do love those beads. I’m also quite pleased with my new KVK icon stamp on the button closure. I think this is a better view …
turtle beads and kvk button
Next I’m wanting to do necklace versions and then I’ve got some ideas for a different take on some theme specific pieces – initially gratitude and unity in diversity.
So I’ve eased on through most of the day and my dark mood and sadness has not returned. The pendulum swings on.
I may need to get this book, To Bless the Space Between Us, by John O’Donohue. This blessing from the book ended Malaprop’s (our local independent bookseller) newsletter.
feeling a bit off – my system is rumbling and not happy, although maybe starting to settle down a bit
feeling a bit sad … Mansuetude’s post about ideas of ‘home’ . The thing I want most in the world, more than anything – a place to stop, a place where I don’t have to think about moving again – ever – someplace to finally feel like home. I’m so weary of moving. Trying not to spiral.
Listening to space music and this just came on …
mesmerizing
hmmm, weird spacing with the link.
back to work … many things to do, things to be done, things to be made, things, lots of things………
All of a sudden I’ve got a ton of energy and ideas and feel like I’m scrambling to take advantage of the sudden burst. It probably helps that the sun is finally out, the temperature is a divine 70 and the humidity is an even more divine 40% and there’s a lovely breeze blowing.
I continue to work on my samples, but last night I got an idea for a new component and had to act on it immediately. Today, I liked the look so much, I decided to make up a few more.
turtle beads
I’m calling them ‘turtle’ beads as the shape reminds me of a turtle’s back. I started thinking of calling them ’sandwich’ beads – boring, not very appealing. I’m sort of challenged in the naming of things. Like so much about me and my life, I tend towards the unadorned, minimal, a sort of Bauhaus approach to most things (like all things, there are exceptions). I have artist friends with such a gift for the eloquent and poetic naming of things (Nina, that would be you). Eloquent I can be, poetic, not so much, kind of a nuts and bolts girl. That said, here’s a close-up of my new ‘turtle’ beads.
I debated a bit, as I’m running low on PMC and I really should keep working on the samples and all the other things on my to-do list, but I couldn’t resist. I’m thinking they’ll look really cool on my other recent diversion … finger loop braids. I sat down and watched a couple of YouTube tutorials and then started working on them. There is definitely a learning curve. You might be able to see my progress here. The brown bamboo thread is the before, the grey silk is my third attempt, better, definitely not perfect. Using 5 loops results in a square braid, well it’s supposed to. I’m getting better, just need more practice, practice, practice.
I’m so jazzed about my new component! I’ve got a bunch of ideas swirling around in my head about how to use them. They’re going to be small, probably about 3/8″ average. What’s so gratifying is I’ve had the concept for these in my head for a while and I just now figured out how to make them. That’s been happening a lot in recent months. It’s amazing how something that looks so simple is not simple at all. It’s taken all of my years of working with ceramic clay and then precious metal clay to get to this point. How’s this for a number … total years working with clay of some sort – 26.
My first coin necklaces were a revelation, that was early in 2006. For years I had been ‘trying’ to make jewelry that met my ideas of ‘wabi-sabi’, the Japanese aesthetic of imperfect beauty. I would spend hours pouring over Tim McCreight’s work. Here’s a master silversmith that works in such an exquisitely raw and minimal style. No amount of ‘trying’ was ever going to get me to that place. It took going all the way to the other extreme, making necklaces that took hours of stringing and knotting, a whole table full of components tied up into over-the-top creations.
Here’s a sample from August 2005. Cerebral and complex – it makes my fingers ache just looking at it …
After a winter of not working and deep introspection … not quite ‘dark night of the soul’, but intense nonetheless … I arrived here …
April 2006 double strand coins
This new direction was life altering. This is the direction that took me places I had only dreamed about … The Real Mother Goose in Portland, Ansel Adams Gallery, Seattle Art Museum, and the centerfold of San Francisco MOMA’s 2006 holiday catalog.
My path towards maintaining simplicity continues. It’s remains a challenge and like I’ve said before, I always come back to Occam’s Razor … the simplest answer tends to be the best answer. This is what’s true for me.
And to liven things up musically, thought I’d throw out a bit of diversity …
Some may have noticed the addition of Pia Jane Bijerk to my daily favorites . She of the Paris Mady by Hand book that I adore. Her blog entry today links to another artist’s site that can only be described as sublime. Please visit J Morgan Puett and prepare to be swept away.
Just to pique your curiousity …
Stunning, exquisite, well … sublime.
Another exciting happening on the fashion front.
Carol Lee Shanks now has a website. Granted it’s not a particularly sophisticated site, but it’s current and it’s finally a regular on-line source to see her work. My favorite ensemble of hers from years ago …
And then a recent one from the new site. BTW, that’s Carol in the pics.
carol lee shanks 2009
I guess that’s it for now. I just got excited about J.Morgan Puett and Mildred’s Lane and Carol Lee Shanks and had to share.
