Bits of Grey Matter...

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Spruill-Center--Open-Air-Market-October-15.html?soid=1107600698531&aid=REVtcxidCDo

2011-10-08T11:24:00.001-04:00

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Spruill-Center--Open-Air-Market-October-15.html?soid=1107600698531&aid=REVtcxidCDo

Moving Through October...

2011-10-06T14:07:00.000-04:00

School is well under way. Mac's schedule is crazy hard, and she is learning that it is impossible to do it all; a life lesson which we all must learn, over-and-over. For the next two weeks, the kid will be at school from 7:40am to 9pm at night. It's just a few days till her play, Imaginary Invalid, makes its run, so it is crunch time.

Fi is busy as well, working on her studies, and enjoying wheel classes. Her teacher is really helping her to move on to a whole new level. She threw a huge bowl this week. I wish I had snapped a picture of her smile, when she was done. Here's one of her recent bowls, which she's still working on.

Art is something this family loves, and its presence is seen throughout our studies.

We are also starting a Botany unit. Our badly overgrown vegetable garden needs some love and care. Fi and I plan on tackling the weeds, and hopefully getting some winter greens planted by the end of the month. If not, we will at least get the bones in place for next spring.

Etsy Metal Blog Carnnival for October: Let's Talk About Food...

2011-10-02T10:29:00.001-04:00

Food; a very complex and frustrating subject for me. From as far back as I can remember, I have loved food in all its varied forms. Both my parents loved to cook, and loved traditional foods from around the globe. Never a Autumn Sunday went by without my father cooking up a pot of Italian vegetable soup, or baking a fresh loaf of crusty sourdough bread. We ate Asian, French, Middle Eastern, Mexican, you name it. My family was unusual, in that we tended to eat more whole foods rather than Wonder Bread and TV Dinners, like most of my friend's families. To this I am very grateful. What I'm not so grateful for, is my struggle with loving food too much. As a kid I was never heavy. My childhood in New York was full of lots of physical activity; walking to school, swimming, biking, just being outside and moving. That all came to a crashing end when the family moved to Atlanta. No one walked in Atlanta. Very few "played" outside, as it was too damn hot or the speeding cars flying through your neighborhood would plow you over. My level of physical activity plummeted to near zero, while my appetite stayed the same. The food down here was so much richer, fattier, and just over all less healthy. Within a week of stepping off that Delta Airlines flight, I was eating my first chicken fried steak with biscuits and gravy. Kiss my lean figure good-bye!

After the birth of my first child, I knew I had to do something. After years of not loving my body, it was beginning to give up on me. I started exercising more, eating better, and feeling good. Then after my second child was born, at the tender age of one, she was diagnosed with Type-1 Diabetes. I learned more about food in a week, then most will in a lifetime. Now we were a low carb family/whole food family; lots of fish, lean meats, veggies, and low sugar fruits, like berries. To add insult to injury, she was later diagnosed at three with Celiac Sprue, an autoimmune disease that attacks the small intestines. My youngest was not the only one to be diagnosed with Celiac, my older daughter was as well. So now we were a low carb/whole food/gluten free family. OMG! What was there left to eat? Well, there was a bunch left, and once again I, along with the rest of the family, embraced eating in a whole new way.

Even with a healthier lifestyle, the damage had been done. All those years of being overweight had taken their toll on my body. In my forty-sixth year on this planet, I've come to the conclusion that I must do something more drastic. As much as I love food, I'm now trying to look at it as fuel, and not as pleasure and comfort, a very hard thing to do. I've started replacing two meals a day with either a green smoothie or a veggie juice. I've cut back on the red wine, and chocolate (one of my believed treats).

I'm hoping this works, as I'm tired of being tired. I want to feel more energy, to recover faster from a workouts, to stop this middle age spread that seems to have reared its ugly head. I will still treat myself, once and a while, to a family favorite. It's just not fall without at least one pumpkin pie or warm bowl of Italian Vegetable Soup. I will still have some home made gluten free pizza with the kids, but just not as often. I need to woo my body back into liking me. I know it will not be an easy thing to do.

So for those nights I'm treating myself to a favorite. I know this recipe will be at the top of my list.

Tom Kha Gai - Chicken coconut Soup
Ingredients:
2 cups of coconut milk
6 thin slices of galangal
2 stalks of lemon grass (cut into 1 inch strips and crush with cleaver)
5 fresh kaffir lime leaves (torn in half, not cut)
250 g of boneless chicken
5 tablespoons of fish sauce (naam blaa)
2 tablespoons of sugar
Half a cup of lime juice
1 teaspoon of black chili paste (nam prik pow)
Quarter cup of coriander leaves
5 green chili peppers (I will use red chilis)

Slice the chicken into thin strips.
Smash lemon grass with the flat side of a chef's knife once and then cut into 1 inch pieces; slice galangal into thin rounds; tear lime leaves into thirds; cut chilis in half.
Heat coconut milk and water in a saucepan for 2-3 minutes. Don't let it boil. Reduce heat to a medium and add lemon grass, galangal, lime leaves, chilies and cook for another 2 minutes, stirring continuously and not letting it boil.
Add chicken strips and cook for 5 minutes, stirring over medium heat, until the chicken is cooked.
Add 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, 1 tablespoon of fish sauce and quarter tablespoon of sugar. stir, and continue cooking for another minute or two/
Transfer to a soup bowl and serve immediately, garnished with fresh corriander leaves.

Enjoy!

See what my fellow Etsymetal compadres have to say about food...

1. Inbar Bareket - http://www.inbarbareket.info/blog
2. Victoria Takahashi - http://vtakahashi.blogspot.com/
3. Cynthia Del Giudice - http://cynthiadelgiudice.blogspot.com
4. kate jones - http://www.katejonesdesign.blogspot.com
5. Twigs and Heather- http://www.twigsandheather.blogspot.com
6. Nova of Sweden - http://www.nova-designs.blogspot.com/
7. Beth Cyr - http://bcyrjewelry.blogspot.com
8. Nodeform - http://nodeform.blogspot.com/
9. Rebecca Bogan - http://www.AdobeSol.com/blog
10. Panicmama Jewelry - http://panicmama.blogspot.com
11. Evelyn Markasky http://www.evelynmarkasky.com
12. 2Roses: http://www.jewelrytutorial.blogspot.com
13. Evelyn Markasky : http://markasky.blogspot.com/

Looking for a way out...

2011-09-23T11:44:00.000-04:00

Frustrated with the world, with my to-do list, with the lack of time, the rush, the feeling that nothing is ever good enough. For some reason a train ride would feel nice. Unfortunately, I'd have to come back to it all... the never ending rat race.

Summer's End...

2011-08-03T10:15:00.000-04:00

School will be back in session in less than two weeks - I'm not ready. It's too dang hot to do anything... Alas, school cares not for the forecast. We already have a load of theater meetings and events lined-up. Mac will soon be off welcoming the new theater freshmen, and finding her way as a sophomore.

Fi's second camp session was a hit. A huge improvement from fashion camp. The group made sculpture from found objects, and one of my favorites was their Reliquaries. This was Fi's.

She too is not thrilled to hit the books again, as this was the first year we did not school over the summer.

I had fun taking pictures each week for art camp at Spruill. The kids do so much amazing work. I still don't understand our culture's lack of support for the arts. It's all football and Dancing with the Stars... BLAH!

I guess now that camp is over, and the grind is just around the corner, the girls and I will try to spend as much time in the pool as possible.

That's if we can stand the hot drive to get to the Grand's pool.

Painful Lessons at Fashion Camp

2011-06-25T09:43:00.000-04:00

Reliving one's childhood through one's child, has to be one of the most painful experiences. Fi was in a fashion camp this week. The group was comprised of 14 girls (ages 11-14). Why did I not see the writing on the wall...? There was one wonderful teacher, and two very sweet, but unskilled helpers. So, they were quickly reassigned to another room, and I was ushered in to take their place; big mistake. The first day went fine, all getting to know each other, and all equally frustrated at the awful sewing machines, which began to die one by one. After the second day, we were down to four machines for 14 kids.

Next nail in the coffin; we start on our model sketches. Fi decided to make her model into a sugar skull. Ugh, most all the girls immediately started to make fun of her and her picture. Talk about peer pressure and conforming to the norm. I found this all very interesting, since they all idolize Lady GaGa, yet exhibited the antithesis of everything she stands for. The isolation of my child had moved into full force, mainly lead by one girl. I'm not sure why she hated my daughter so, but I feared it had to do with the fact that I was in the room. By the end of the week, Fi was totally alone. I finally lost it with two of the girls, and that only made it worse. Fi was crushed, yet she was able to create a wonderful outfit, one of the most complicated in the room. Her dip-dye t-shirt matched her paneled skirt and bag. I was so proud.

Melting...

2011-06-08T16:30:00.000-04:00

It's been a while since I posted. Mac finished her first year in the big house; 95 & 96 GPAs for the year. Not bad for a un-socialized "homeschooler". Fi is not far behind. Not sure how much longer she will put up with staying home, though witnessing some of her sister's less than stellar experiences this year, has at least cooled her excitement about giving up the learning at home experience.

It's once again summer here in the south. I've been here since 1978, and I'm over it. Sure, there are some lovely things about the south, but the summer weather is not one of them. Even my flowers are tired. Hopefully my frustration will get my creative juices going again. I need to get back into the studio and bang out my angst on some metal!

Etsymetal's Blog Carnival, for February 2011

2011-02-07T00:13:00.011-05:00

This month's topic: what crafts besides working with jewelry and metalsmithing, do you do? What other mediums do you explore? How often do I get to play, and does this other work relate or inspire my metalwork and jewelry design?

I love all forms of art. I can't remember a time when art was not a part of my daily life - whether making it or just admiring the works of others. Since both my parents are artists, (very talented ones), I fight a constant battle with finding my own path. I can draw and paint, but I have always frustrated by those mediums. Later I gravitated towards clay. I've dabbled in hand-building, sculpture, and wheel. Unfortunately, I had to give up throwing a few years ago due to a bad back. I still love to work in clay, but now focus on free forms and incorporating clay (via plastic clay) into my jewelry/metal work.

I also found fabric arts, while on my journey. I like quilting, again free-form and story quilts from old scraps of fabric. I need more hours in the day! So, instead of trying to make full size quilts, I've switched to making small pieces, often making them into gift bags. I also knit, usually in the winter. That along with bead weaving, have become my waiting in the car, while the kids are in class activities.

Last but not least is photography. Again, I wish I had more time to explore my love of this art form. I do get to do it often, taking pictures of my work, but I don't have the time to truly explore just taking pictures for fun. I love candid photography; capturing people, nature, and life without pretense. There's something about capturing a moment in time, that is magic.

I've also recently started playing with paper making with my youngest. We took a mini intro class and ever since I've been thinking about how to fit yet another medium into my bag. I'd love to make my own journals with metal accents. So little time, so much I want to do.

So, do all these other interests relate to or inspire my metal work and jewelry design? YES! All my interest always relate to each other, and I see a common thread through most of them. The real question is, do others see it too?

Check out these other Etsymetal members to see what they have to say about the subject.

Kate Jones - http://www.katejonesdesign.blogspot.com
Kathryn Cole - http://www.kathryncolejewelry.blogspot.com
2Roses - http://www.JewelryTutorial.blogspot.com
Twigs and Heather - http://www.twigsandheather.blogspot.com
Erin Austin - http://www.metalmusing.blogspot.com
Thomasin Durgin - http://metalriot.blogspot.com
Nodeform - http://nodeform.blogspot.com
Beth Cyr - http://bcyrjewelry.blogspot.com
Stacey hansen - http://wildflowerdesigns.blogspot.com
Nina Gibson - http://ninagibsondesigns.blogspot.com/
Elizabeth scott - http://esdesignsjewelry.com/blog
Evelyn Markasky - http://markasky.blogspot.com
Amanda Conley - http://amandaconley.blogspot.com

Winter Bones...

2011-01-26T11:51:00.001-05:00

Red Brass, Sterling Silver, Polymer Clay & Labradorite Beads.

3rd Annual Spruill Student & Instructor Jewelry Market

2011-01-16T10:40:00.002-05:00

Third Annual
Student & Instructor
Jewelry Market
Sunday, February 27, 2011
11:00am – 5:00pm
at
Spruill Center for the Arts-Education Center
5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Road
Atlanta, GA 30338
Please join us for this exciting fundraising event
showcasing beginning to professional level jewelry
artists who will sell their unique handcrafted
jewelry to the public.
Selections will include diverse jewelry styles in
precious metals, glass, beads, gemstones, and
more at prices to fit every budget.
Admission is Free!
For directions please visit www.spruillarts.org

A January Snow...

2011-01-10T10:21:00.000-05:00

Resolutions...

2011-01-03T08:00:00.002-05:00

This month's Etsymetal Blog Carnival is about New Year's resolutions. 2011 is a blank slate. This will be a year of great change for my family, of which I have no control nor, at this time, know exactly what that change will be. If I have any resolutions, the first is to be open to whatever happens, not fight nor fear, but look for the positive in the motions, in the experience. I've spent my life being a planner, and for the first time I have no plans, no trajectory... In some ways it's extremely freeing, and in others, terrifying.

Check out what other Etsymetal artists have to say about their New Years's resolutions...

http://www.inbarbareket.net/
http://esdesignsjewelry.com/blog
http://nodeform.blogspot.com/
http://annhartleystudio.blogspot.com/
http://www.catherinechandler.blogspot.com/
http://metalriot.blogspot.com

Christmas 2010...

2010-12-26T14:54:00.000-05:00

Some Xmas Eve sights around the abode...

2010-12-24T22:11:00.000-05:00

Feeling rather plastic these days.

2010-12-19T18:08:00.000-05:00

Or maybe it's just what I'm surrounded by...

Etsymetal Nov 2010 Blog Carnival...

2010-11-08T01:00:00.008-05:00

Etsymetal's Blog Carnival topic for this month is; Business Success Secrets!

Success, not one of my favorite subjects. I got into the business end of jewelry, so I could afford to continue to learn, create and explore as a 3D artist. It's a love/hate kinda of thing. So, I'm not sure at this stage of my journey, as an artist, that I even feel comfortable talking about success, let alone business side of success; oh heck, here goes...

What does it mean to you to be "successful" in business as an artist? At this fledgling stage, I would say positive feedback means as much to me as a sale. Anyone can buy a pair of earrings, but for that person to take the time to engage me in conversation, to share how a piece of mine makes them feel, that's a total high. Long term success means, to me, the financial freedom to continue my metalsmithing education, to have access to better tools, to other artists, and more time to create.

How do you walk the line between creativity and profitability? Not sure I've found that line yet. I know I'm often caught-up in the trap of trying to make what I think others will like or buy, so much so, that I don't follow my creative voice. Working on a very tight budget is a double edge sword; at times it can be that push, one needs, to think outside the box, for trying something new, and at other times it serves as a suffocating force, leaving me frozen in a box of self-doubt.

What is the best thing you've done for your business? I think I truly need a few more years to figure that out.

Check out what other Etsymetal artists think about what success means to them.

stacey http://wildflowerdesigns.blogspot.com
victoria takahashi / experimetal http://vtakahashi.blogspot.com/
2Roses http://jewelrytutorial.blogspot.com
Beth Cyr: http://bcyrjewelry.blogspot.com
Heather: http://www.twigsandheather.blogspot.com
Purified: http://purifiedart.blogspot.com/
Nina Gibson ~ http://ninagibsondesigns.blogspot.com/
Nodeform: http://nodeform.blogspot.com/
Gaby / India y a la Luna: http://indiaylaluna.blogspot.com/
Norsola: http://norsolajohnson.blogspot.com/

A wonderful Day of the Dead Giveaway!

2010-10-28T16:38:00.000-04:00

If you love Mexican Folk Art as much as I do, you will want to check out this amazing giveaway at Lorena Angulo's blog. She is wonderful artist and teacher. Spend some time looking through her posts, and enjoy! Here's the link...

dia-de-muertos-giveaway.html

Gecko J is having a sale!

2010-10-22T01:00:00.000-04:00

In celebration of Etsymetal's 4th anniversary I'm having a sale (20% off everything in my Gecko J Etsy shop), and Etsymetal is having $50 gift certificate giveaways the last 4 Fridays of October; there two Fridays left to win. Just click on the Etsymetal name above for more details.

Is a picture worth a thousand words?

2010-10-13T08:46:00.002-04:00

I love to take pictures... So why is it I feel so stressed taking pictures of my own work? Maybe with time and practice I will grow accustom to this whole self-marketing thing. I've never been good at it.

Drama project...

2010-09-19T08:19:00.000-04:00

Mac's first drama tech class project. They were to pick one small slice of theater history; she picked Kabuki makeup. She made this video to go along with her power-point presentation. I thought it was pretty cool, and wanted to share.

Goin' back to school?

2010-09-06T00:01:00.009-04:00

Each month, members of the Etsymetal are asked a question, and then they are requested to blog about it simultaneously. This month's question is: Back To School

Where did you go to school? Are you still a student? What kind of student were/are you? If you had the opportunity to go back to school, would you? Where and what would you study?

I wonder, does this question refer to my formative years, or later? I guess I'll stick with the more recent (well ~20 years ago). The above chairs are from my Alma Mater, Georgia State Universty. It was an odd kind of college experience. After being adrift, in what I like to call my lost years, at a crappy north Atlanta high school, I found myself among like-minded individuals, on what locals call the "Concrete Campus".

Doing what freedom-loving folks tend to do, we skipped class, hung out in Little Five Points, went to clubs, and got little-to-no studying done. Age, maturity, or just a general lack of funds soon brought me back down to earth, and I finally hit the books. After wasting a year, then taking another off to travel to England, I finally finished my studies, and graduated with a B.S. in psychology.

But, WAIT, what was that...? Richard Mafong was at GSU, while I was wasting my time studying the brain! I could have been awash in ecstasy, as a student in the metalsmithing program... Talk about missing the train/boat/plain/etc.

So, now 20 years later, I find myself a student again. Though not enrolled at a university, I study along with my kids, as they learn all I've forgotten, and I spend as much time as I can as a student and assistant in the metals program, at the Spruill Center for the Arts.

I'd love the opportunity to go back and get a BA in Metals. I dream of attending UW's School of Art in Seattle, or even just to have more time and money to travel to the local area folk schools for classes, as well as take more at Spruill.

Hopefully, with time and patience I will be able to continue this life long journey, one filled with learning, always learning.

Please read the replies of other Etsymetal members. Follow the links to their blogs:

Victoria Takahashi

Caitlyn Davey

Thomasin Durgin

Danielle Miller

Stacey - Wildflower Designs

Ann Hartley

Konstanze

Beth Cyr

Kathryn Cole

Off She Goes...

2010-08-23T21:33:00.000-04:00

Today was Mac's first day at a real brick & mortar school; something she's not experienced in eight years. It was a mixed bag, some good and some... well you know. This will be an interesting experiment. I almost want to log data, marking each day, each subject, and compare teaching methodologies. Already, on her first day, Mac had a pop quiz, saw a few kids booted from class, and learned to dash to the restroom in five seconds flat. This odd microcosm is now where she will spend much of her time, for the next four years.

Last Week of Spruill Camp... More Treasures For the Eyes!

2010-07-30T18:43:00.000-04:00

Crazy, hard, amazing 2010 Tour!

2010-07-25T13:25:00.000-04:00

Brazil Week at Spruill

2010-07-25T13:22:00.000-04:00

Double Digits... the Big 10

2010-07-20T14:29:00.000-04:00

Cuttlefish Anyone?

2010-07-17T19:40:00.001-04:00

Aussie Week at Spruill

2010-07-17T07:41:00.000-04:00

After missing last week, due to an awful stomach virus, I was back at Spruill to capture some of the wonderful creations from this week's camp.

The Sights of USA Week at camp

2010-07-02T16:50:00.000-04:00

While Fi was off from camp this week, Mac stayed on another week to help with performing arts. I was around for my usual classes, and Open Studio in the Jewelry Dept. Here are some of the wonderful projects the kids completed this week.

It's a party!

2010-07-01T22:44:00.000-04:00

It's the Spruill's 35th anniversary... If you can, you really should come by the Spruill Gallery and see the amazing works by the Center's instructors & staff. Here is just a peek, a tiny taste, of what can be seen and purchased. Proceeds will benefit the artists & the 35th Anniversary Campaign.

Japan Week at Spruill

2010-06-25T17:07:00.001-04:00

We've finished another hectic week at camp. Fi loved her working on her projects, while Mac & I stayed busy helping wherever we were needed. Here's a peek at some of the finished art work. The kids did an amazing job.

Summer Camp...

2010-06-16T20:52:00.000-04:00

Here's a peek at some of the things we have been up to.

Bath bombs & lip goo

2010-05-15T13:43:00.000-04:00

Day two of our bath & body chemistry experimentation. We started with some bath bombs. We used some Mayan Gold as our scent. They should be ready to use by tomorrow.

Then we moved on to the lip goo... I think we will have enough lip balm to last us for a while.

Off to watch Ashes to Ashes... Everyone needs a little Gene Genie in their life!

All done...

2010-05-14T19:16:00.000-04:00

We're pretty much finished with school till mid July. Since Mac is off to high school in August, she has an even longer break from formal studies, but she will be busy with camp (as an assistant in jewelry & drama) and with her reading.

After a two week-long Spruill Center marathon (classes & open studios) we spent a mellow day re-batching some soap...

beading... (learning right angle weave)

And making some very yummy pizza! Thanks to "P" we have found a new GF flour that is wonderful. It's called Mama's Almond Mix Blend. I even got her cookbook, despite all the Biblical stuff, but who cares, when the dough is pretty darn close to the real thing; well at least as close as we've found over the last six years.

I can tell you, not a slice was left!

We made soap!

2010-04-10T19:31:00.000-04:00

Our first batch of soap... Waiting the four weeks till we can use it will be hard. Fi is so excited to start the next batch; already planning which fats to use, and if we will French Mill some of this batch. Thanks to Ann at Spruill for an awesome class. I finally feel comfortable working with lye and a nine-year-old all at the same time.

Black & White or Color....?

2010-03-30T17:35:00.002-04:00

Well, it's done...

2010-03-25T17:59:00.002-04:00

We signed Mac up for High School yesterday. She is beyond excited, and should be, given her class line-up; Adv/Acc Algebra (she's already finished this at home), Honors English, Bio, Health, something called Freshman Focus (study skills/mentoring?), Latin I (It's Cambridge... she's already read the whole first bk), Acting I & Technical Theater. She better bring home straight A's... :) I love the vibes at the school. Being a charter/magnet school, there is just this feeling that both the students and teachers really want to be there. This is not the public school of my teen-hood.

All this is going to be a major change for us, especially after eight years of homeschooling. Fi is going to miss Mac, but I think it will also be an exciting time for her being the sole focus of our studies.

So, I guess we are now part of the Spartan family. It still feels a bit odd.

Wordless Wednesday... well maybe not.

2010-03-10T15:29:00.004-05:00

I was very honored to be asked to help make the copper binding & a bead for this amazing handmade bk. It's a collection of art donated to help raise money for the Spruill Center For the Arts in Atlanta. I thought I would share a few of the pages with you.

2010-03-07T10:12:00.000-05:00

A snowy day...

2010-02-14T11:27:00.001-05:00

A Slow Sunday Afternoon

2010-02-07T15:57:00.002-05:00

Come to the show!

2010-01-20T13:10:00.003-05:00

This is a wonderful fundraiser for the Spruill Center's Jewelry Dept. Gecko J will be there, along with many other amazing jewelry artists.

Then and now.. Happy 14th Mac!

2010-01-11T00:00:00.000-05:00

A Frosty Friday

2010-01-08T14:33:00.004-05:00

Mac documenting Fi's travels in the very cold snow.

Cooking at Nanny's

2010-01-06T18:52:00.001-05:00

And Andee waiting to see if she gets a little taste.

Fi's first Flip video!

2009-12-31T19:52:00.000-05:00

I may have a future movie director under my roof.

New Years Eve..

2009-12-31T19:26:00.002-05:00

As we come to the end of 2009, our family is having much fun playing with a couple of our Xmas gifts, a Flip video camera & a new Cannon Power Shot. Here are photos taken with Mac's new camera. Fi's first video to follow.

A scarf I made, one I actually needed to count to make! LOL

Some gift bags for Gecko J Designs...

2009-12-29T16:48:00.000-05:00

I'm ready to get back to class... I love working from my home studio, but there is just something about creating within a group, watching others as they problem solve, and sharing new ideas. So, I will count the days till winter session starts, and work on my knitting.

Out of Dark Chocolate Covered Candy Cane Jo Joe's?

2009-12-27T19:35:00.004-05:00

We were, so we made some of our own...

Got frogs?

2009-12-27T14:59:00.000-05:00

Transforming yarn into... well she has not yet decieded.

2009-12-27T14:03:00.001-05:00

The sights of Christmas 2009...

2009-12-23T20:18:00.000-05:00

Wordless Weds!

2009-12-23T10:39:00.000-05:00

2009-12-21T11:26:00.002-05:00

Wordless Wednesday...

2009-12-02T15:27:00.000-05:00

All the leaves are brown...

2009-11-25T15:02:00.000-05:00

Wordless Weds...

2009-11-18T17:06:00.000-05:00

Artists' Market!

2009-11-15T08:34:00.000-05:00

We had a great trunk show yesterday. Even with a small turnout, as the weather was just too nice to stay indoors, I got some good feedback, and the feeling that I'm heading in the right direction with my work. Thanks so much to my friend Pattie, for letting me be apart of her annual shin-dig.

Fi's GSU Show...

2009-11-11T20:29:00.002-05:00

Fi took part in a class to help GSU art education students. The focus was on our ecosystem. She enjoyed her presentation and sharing her experiences with these new, soon to be art teachers.

One week down, and one to go...

2009-11-09T23:18:00.000-05:00

Got drama?

2009-11-05T15:09:00.001-05:00

el Día de los Muertos

2009-11-01T07:36:00.000-05:00

Waiting on the rain...

2009-10-31T18:20:00.001-04:00

It's almost Halloween...

2009-10-30T16:47:00.001-04:00

Got a black cat?

Got a Princess Pumpkin?

And a Knife?

Now you have a skully pumpkin...

And lots of pumpkin seeds...

Yum...

Last but not least, a scared cat!

Handmade contemporary jewellery - What is the HCJ-Project?

2009-10-15T08:56:00.001-04:00

Handmade contemporary jewellery - What is the HCJ-Project?

Shared via AddThis

Fi's silkworms are now all grown...

2009-10-09T12:53:00.001-04:00

A poem by Fi...

2009-09-29T15:26:00.003-04:00

Fall fall whispers the crickets
Fall fall cries the scarlet leaves as they scrap against the bark of trees
Fall fall cries the late Morning Glories as they slowly close
Fall fall whistles the wind as it blows through the trees creating an endless tomb

They are growing and growing...

2009-09-17T13:23:00.001-04:00

and eating like mad! We should have some cocoons soon.

CCYP at The Cobb Energy Center...

2009-09-13T13:39:00.005-04:00

Mac and some of her CCYP cohorts performed at the Cobb Energy Center this morning. They were showcased along with a number of other Atlanta area performing arts companies, like the Atlanta Ballet, The Center for Puppetry Arts, and the Ferst Center at GA Tech.

The first group to go on was this amazing modern dance group. They are called Full Radius Dance. Fi and I were blow away by how powerful they were. Here is their web site if interesed. www.fullradiusdance.org/

Then it was time for our troop to go on. They did a couple numbers from past shows, and last but-not-least, a number from Bye Bye Birdie. Mac has never done a musical before, so this is a whole new world for her. For the first time in a while she has a none speaking role; all she does dance and sing. Sore feet and tired vocal cords rule the house right now. They looked great, and the show should be a smash come November.

They're back...

2009-09-04T14:45:00.002-04:00

It's Fi's turn to study the Eastern Hemisphere, and with that comes raising silk worms. Hopefully we will have some beautiful moths in a few weeks.

A crown, for me?

2009-07-28T19:08:00.008-04:00

Keptwoman has tagged me to be the Queen of Awesome!

In order to accept this award I need to:

1. List Seven Things That Make You Awe-Summm!
2. Pass the award on to seven bloggers you read religiously.
3. Tag those seven bloggers

OK, seven things that make me Awe-Summm:
1. I've survived living in Atlanta for 31 years. Not sure how much longer I can do it.
2. I've learned how to play with fire and melt metal. Also make metal tools!
3. I've acted as my youngest pancreas for the last eight years. I wish I could buy her a new one. :(
4. I can eat the worm w/o gagging... lol
5. Even when things look glum, I try to look for a bright spot... I try.
6. I make a mean fish taco.
7. I'm still homeschooling.

The seven bloggers I am tagging: Only a taste of those I love to look in on.

socksandbooks.blogspot.com
www.hopalog.com
asmallcornerofnowhere.blogspot.com
wakefieldacademy.blogspot.com
cuppadangie.blogspot.com
fivewhites.blogspot.com
therockermom.blogspot.com

It is done...

2009-07-26T12:46:00.003-04:00

Somewhat a sleeper of a Tour, but how about that finish! Rock on Mr.Cavendish! Nods to Alburto... well done.

Summer camp...

2009-07-25T16:45:00.004-04:00

Paint, clay, and a whole lot of fun.

She's 9...

2009-07-20T04:00:00.000-04:00

A new bench!

2009-07-14T17:26:00.004-04:00

Many many thanks to a wonderful teacher and artist, Joanne Hernandez, for this amazing gift. It will be well loved.

I already have a few projects ready and waiting...

Our new education building at the Chattahoochee Nature Center!

2009-06-18T13:21:00.013-04:00

Rest in peace brave soul...

2009-06-05T18:19:00.001-04:00

Thembi Ngubane

School planning and such

2009-05-22T14:31:00.001-04:00

The Taste of East Cobb...

2009-05-02T19:09:00.004-04:00

It was a wild and wet Saturday. Mac and I did the Taste of East Cobb Festival. I sold some stuff and ridiculously wet from not one but two storms, that blew through while we were there. Here are some of the pictures Mac took. The last ones are of my friend Kathy, and her amazing creations.

Your inner Queen...

2009-04-25T17:12:00.002-04:00

Just said something to me...

Paper anyone?

2009-04-25T17:01:00.005-04:00

Nothing like spraying cool cotton pulp from a compressed gun on a hot spring day!

The art show!

2009-04-04T16:47:00.005-04:00

We went to the girl's art show opening. They are becoming old hands at having their work on exhibit. I love to see the kid's work, and not just my kids. They are all so talented.

Mac's Jewelry is in this case. She made the star burst pendent with the purple stone, the copper crazy chain, and the small copper box towards the front.

Then these last few are the works of Fi. Her cardboard people, clay works, and her fairies. She loves to create.

A rainy Thursday song...

2009-04-02T12:15:00.002-04:00

The Upper Peninsula by Sufjan Stevens

I live in America with a pair of Payless shoes
The upper peninsula and the television news
And I've seen my wife at the K-Mart
In strange ideas we live apart

I live in a trailer home with a snow mobile, my car
The window is broken out and the interstate is far
I drove all night to find my child
In strange ideas he's been revived

In strange ideas, in stranger times
I've no idea what's right sometimes
I lost my mind, I lost my life
I lost my job, I lost my wife

Exploring texture and color

2009-03-19T09:14:00.003-04:00

Something is missing!

2009-03-18T07:17:00.002-04:00

.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.... a whole bunch of hair!

Missing Cape Cod...

2009-03-15T09:16:00.003-04:00

These photos, from a NY Times article, made me weepy this morning. It's been so many years... I miss the sand, the smells, the sounds. I miss Cape Cod. How odd it is that we become attached to a place, trapped in time, trapped in our memories.

One more day till opening night

2009-03-11T17:53:00.001-04:00

She really is becoming an old hand at this... Brake a leg Mac!

Nothing like pancakes for dinner!

2009-03-05T12:46:00.003-05:00

Fi has been busy making all sorts of creations in her hand building class. Not only did she make us pancakes and eggs, but also a myriad of creatures and vessels for our enjoyment.

Well done young artist...

Etsy?

2009-03-04T14:42:00.002-05:00

OK, the shop is up and running. I have only a few items in there so far. It is not a simple process to get one's treasures in there, so my goal is to have all I have available into the shop by this weekend. It's kind of like playing store, like we did as kids! Well, kind of.

Pieces for the show...

2009-02-20T15:51:00.001-05:00

It's my first show!

2009-02-18T15:54:00.000-05:00

I'm a bit freaked out...

Lux Interior ... RIP

2009-02-05T11:07:00.001-05:00

J's new toy!

2009-01-30T16:05:00.002-05:00

I've waited a year and-a-half for this... It's heavenly. Who would have thought I would fall so in love with metal and fire. Sure as heck not me.

Then and Now

2009-01-28T08:19:00.003-05:00

For Rocker MOM!

2009-01-23T12:00:00.002-05:00

Does this say it all?

How far we have come in such a sort time...

2009-01-20T12:54:00.002-05:00

And how much farther we have yet to go...

Yet another CW story by Mac...

2009-01-14T13:19:00.003-05:00

Paula and Pip’s Adventures in the Corn Maze

Paula sighed contentedly as she maneuvered around haystack after haystack, trudging along until she arrived at the entrance of Beach Tree’s famous corn maze. She’d heard about how tricky and spooky the maze was in the local newspaper, and thought it would be a fun thing to do the night before Halloween. Earlier that week, Paula had called up her friend Pip to see if she wanted to come along. Pip had hesitated at first, asking Paula if she knew of any diseases that could be contracted from corn stalks or mud. Paula had of course laughed and said no. Pip had agreed as long as Paula promised to bring sanitizing lotion and spray. Paula grinned as she remembered the time last summer when Pip covered herself from head to toe with an ultra strength bug spray. She’d hoped of saving herself from what she called, “Those vicious Manhattan bugs!” Sadly, instead of detracting a mosquito here or there, every mosquito and insect imaginable couldn’t get enough of poor Pip and her sugary lotion.
Paula pushed away the thought, giggling as Pip walked up to her, wearing a ridiculous neon wet suit, complete with rain boots and a beekeeper’s hat.
“You’ve got to be joking!” Paula guffawed at Pip’s ludicrous outfit, but afraid of offending her, she added, “No offense or anything Pip, but I mean come on, don’t you think that’s a little bit over the top?”
Pip ignored her question, and stated simply, “You can never be too careful, there are thousands and thousands of germs and insects in that cornfield just waiting to infect us. I myself am not taking that chance.” She sniffed in a very dignified manner, and attempted to push up her glasses underneath the beekeeper’s hat. Unsuccessful, she crossed her arms and huffed out, “Well, are we ready to go?”
Paula nodded yes, and they headed hastily into the shadowy cornstalks.

About twenty minutes into the maze, Paula noticed two sets of footprints in front of them leading off into the distance. She stopped abruptly, trying to come up with an explanation. Paula thought back to the newspaper, which had specifically reported that the farm smoothed over the mud in the maze before each new group entered, making it harder to find the way out. Trying to keep calm, she simply told herself that they had forgotten to smooth out the mud. She reassured Pip that everything was fine, and they continued their trek through the mud.
A few moments later, Pip pointed out that there were four pairs of footprints in front of them. Paula couldn’t help but start to panic. Maybe the farm had hired actors to jump out and scare people, as a new edition to the maze. Or maybe we’re following someone… Or then again, maybe someone is following us! Paula attempted to laugh it off, trying to give Pip a supportive look. But to her disappointment, Pip’s already huge blue eyes had expanded to their full volume. She looked about ready to dig a hole in the ground with her bare hands, and live there happily forever.
“Paula, um, I… I’m scared! I don’t… Don’t… I don’t think I can do this!” Pip said through her now viciously chattering teeth.
Before Paula could respond, Pip whipped out her cell phone and dialed the farm’s number, telling them to evacuate her from the maze immediately!
As Paula watched her friend being driven out of the maze, she couldn’t help but long to go with her. Biting her lip, Paula pushed on, telling herself she would finish the maze whether she liked it or not.
Paula continued walking for another ten minutes before stopping, frustrated that she wasn’t getting anywhere. She jumped when she heard a laugh above her, and looked up to see Chris, one of the tenants in her apartment duplex.
“What’s so funny?” She demanded, looking up haughtily at Chris.
“You.” He grinned down at her.
“What about me do you find so amusing?”
“I don’t know, I guess it’s the fact you’ve been going round and round in circles for the past twenty minutes or so. Not to mention that you and your friend got spooked about your own footprints, that was just classic.”
“Those were our footprints?” She asked incredulously.
“Yep. It was pretty funny watching your friend hyperventilate on the way back to the farm.”
Paula sighed in disbelief and extreme exhaustion, finally asking the dreaded question. “Chris?”
He looked at her questioningly, and asked, “What?”
“Can you see the way out of this black whole from up there?”
“Maybe.” He smiled sweetly.
“Mind sharing?” Returning his sugary smile.
“I’ll only tell you if you promise to make me honey toast for breakfast for the next week.”
She groaned inwardly, so tired she didn’t care, and said, “OK, deal.” Paula watched as Chris jumped down from the tree onto the ground, and walked smugly ahead of her as she followed. It wasn’t long before they came out into the open, finally out of the wet icky maze. She wiped her arm against her forehead, clearing the sweat from her eyes.
“Don’t I get something else?” Chris asked, offended.
“Like what?”
“Something that rhymes with ha choo?”
Begrudgingly, Paula thanked Chris, and without further ado headed off to her car, where she was greeted by a torrent of complaints, showered upon her by the more than cheerful Pip.
“I am NEVER doing that again!”
“Ok, we’re never doing that again Pip, alright? I messed up and…” She was cut of as another complaint was thrown sharply at her,
“Not to mention I have a mosquito bite! A mosquito bite! Do you have ANY IDEA how many diseases a mosquito carries?”
“No Pip, I don’t…”
“A LOT! That’s how many! You’re lucky I didn’t get two! Oh, and did I tell you how rude the guy that drove me out of the maze was? The entire time he was trying to crack these awful jokes about farming, not to MENTION what he said…”
Paula cut Pip off as she turned on the radio full volume, trying to zone out the continuous stream of noise that flowed unhindered from Pip’s oh-so-happy mouth.

Winter light

2009-01-13T14:52:00.003-05:00

2009-01-11T00:00:00.000-05:00

She's 13...

Wordless Wednesday

2009-01-07T13:26:00.003-05:00