All things Computer.

Yes, I know I should be in the studio today....yes.

But, I am in a computer mode. Just this morining I subscribed to the blog Polymer Clay Daily and hope to recieve any new postings automatically. I don't always remember to go to the site and read what has been published. Now.... I don't have to. It will come to me.

So, I did some research and found that feedburner will do the same for my blog. If you would like to check in on my journal, and read my sporadic ramblings, then click on the subscribe button to the left.

Today's photo (click to enlarge) is in my newest glass series. It is opalescent frits, silver and black glass fused together. Then I will use my metal clay to create an artful pendant. This is a work in process.

I guess I should get to work.....

Wednesday Procrastination.

The glass is fired, ground and fire polished. What is keeping me back?

Just getting in and starting, I guess. That is what I'll do when the blog is done. This procrastination is not for lack of ideas.... I think that I've kept up such a super fast stream of life since 'retirement'. My body and soul wants me to slow down. I have been reading a lot and I love it. Now, I am getting closer to the quarterly deadline of submitting work to a Portland, OR gallery I want to get into.

What is that Nike saying, "Just do it!"?

My problem is probably stemming from a 'deadline'.... We had that every day with our gallery and I am balking at the very thought of it.

Enough of this self-pandering... I am off to the studio. I will post later.

Here is an image I took of a Tehachapie morning outside the cabin
at a Klew Polymer Clay retreat.

Hmm... feels good.

It's THAT time again.... Jewel Carnival Blog

Okay... it is Friday the 20th and the topic for this group blog is, " What is My Favorite Jewelry Book?".. Yikes, there are so many.

When I was at the Revere Academy, I bought every repair book, stone setting book, fabrication book I could get my hands on. When I finally put out the $100.00 (now it is way more) for Oppi Untrachts book, Jewelry Concepts and Technology, I knew that I had found the ultimate book.


Click image for amazon books and get this item at a reduced price.
A lovely review by Rich Waugh on this book starts out with:

"...Oppi Untracht was a Fulbright Scholar in both India and Nepal from 1957 to 1959 and 1963 to 1965 respectively, and during those stays he visited many metalsmiths, studied their art and took copious photographs of their work. Much of what he learned in India and Nepal is included in this book, including filigree, enameling (his forté), niello, bidri, kuftgari and others. The majority of the illustrations for this volume appear to originate with Untracht’s eastern sojourns, and the scenes of craftsmen producing magnificent works using the most primitive of techniques and tools are truly fascinating..."

I love this book because of the techniques he shares from all over the world.... yes, this is true. But the main passion that comes through to me is the Art Forms, the unique samples of break through artist's work that is astounding. We as jewelry artists, in the 21st century, believe that we are stretching the boundaries of the medium, that we are creating such new and exciting work that the world has never seen.

Bah! We are all using techniques that have been around for 3000 plus years. The materials may change, the tricks may change but the process is all following those before us. If you think I am mad, get a copy and look at the outrageous works using: resin, copper, plastic and more.

There are 807 readable pages in this huge tome of incredible information. Go to a library, a metalsmith's book stash and just browse... have a cup of tea and some time and you'll know what I mean.
Visit these other bloggers to find out what their favorite metalsmithing book is/are:

Angela Crispin (scroll for the English version)
Tamara Gentry
Lora Hart
Elaine Luther

When other things get in the way...

Yup.... stuff happens.

I haven't touched my art for Three Weeks!!!!! Yikes! But, sometimes other things have to be done. Like clean the house, go away for a week, build a closet.

Build a closet? Well, Phil built it. He did a great job. But, now I have been going through clothes trying to decide which to throw away, what to give to Hospice, what to put in a bin for when I lose enough weight to WEAR THEM AGAIN, and which to hang up in my pretty new closet. I got to help paint it and put up thin cedar sheets. But my honey did a fabulous job.

Our son is coming home to stay for a month or year and we have needed space for me for ages and he needs space for his stuff too. I have been tutoring him on computerese... he has never had a computer. Amazing.

Today I am finishing up the clothes thing-y and then going out to the studio to finish up the glass/metal clay charms I am making for the Metal Clay Charity. See my blog of March 18.
In the mean time I am totally enjoying him being here... Oh, and his son, Ben, came down from Oregon too. So we have four peeps in our small home.... a real challenge. But, it is working.

Our son-in-law, Gram, seems to be holding his own and barreling head on into his cancer... if you have a chance check out his CaringBridge site.

Well, time to get to work and finish up the clothes.....

It has been a while....

So, when life slaps you in the face you don't necessarily want to blog. Besides with a family event that just took place, I have been blogging in another way.

Friday May 23 we got the news that my dear son-in-law, Gram, has pancreatic cancer. So the last week was filled with getting information to him, setting up a CaringBridge website for him and joining them last Thursday at a chemotherapy class.

Needless to say, I wasn't in an artistic writing mood.

The good news is that he is a fighter and is in relatively good health. All his blood work came back in the normal range and his family doc said that he didn't look like a man with stage 4 cancer. Also, the chemo class gave us great hope. He is a fantastic guy who has loved, cared for and spoiled my daughter .... big time.

Yesterday I took a bit of time to start my charms for the Charms for Charity event coming up. (See my March 15Th blog.) I am making them of pure silver and fused glass. Hope that the group likes them. So, the artfulness is slowly coming back and it feels good.

Kind of like therapy.