'The little space within the heart is as great as the vast universe. The heavens and the earth are there, and the sun and the moon and the stars. Fire and lightning and winds are there, and all that now is and all that is not.' -The Upanishads.

Thursday, March 28, 2013

decisions, decisions ...



It's a good thing I don't feel about my children the way I do about my work.  I usually think that the piece I've just finished is my best work ever and I don't see how I'm going to be able to part with it.  Sometimes that feeling forces me to go back and rework an older piece, like I did last night with the necklace I wrote about months ago on the post, shell beads ..

shell amulet necklace, quartz crystal, bone, shell, coyote tooth, citrine, pearls, moonstone


I added some more dangles, some vintage bone beads I "won" on E-Bay, a coyote tooth, and I used waxed linen cord instead of the hemp that wouldn't behave itself.  (What did I expect from hemp?  Now really.)

detail, shell amulet necklace


Much, much better.  I had to lose some of the more delicate mother-of-pearl beads that had holes too small to accomodate the waxed linen.  I think it looks more primitive now - more like something a shaman would wear.  It was a little too "bridal" in its previous incarnation.

The other way I cope with the "last is best" problem is to work in series.  Short series because of my short attention span issue.  Do two pieces qualify as a series?  I may be pushing that a little.

wearing of the green, equinox amulet necklace, prehnite, green garnet, amber


close-up, Wearing of the Green Equinox necklace


So here's my dilemma: I had an e-mail from the editor of Belle Armoire Jewelry about a month ago saying that she had been following my Etsy shop and inviting me to submit work for possible publication.  She suggested four pieces that are still listed.  Do I send off the latest stuff, taking it off the market for six months or so, but getting it great exposure if it's selected?  Do I send the older stuff that doesn't compare to the latest (and greatest)?

Good thing my kids don't read my blog.

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

balance...

In honor of the Spring Equinox, I thought I'd stay up way past my bedtime and refresh my blog's look (and then of course, I had to redo my Facebook page and Etsy shop header. Kinda like painting one room and then thinking that the fresh paint makes everything else look so shabby that you just have to keep going.)  I thought about changing my avatar, but couldn't find anyone I liked as much as the teacup lady.  Talk about magnificent bosoms!!





Monday, March 18, 2013

grey skies


Grey skies - too cold to get the peas planted but perfect for photographing my latest pieces outdoors.

I've been home from the Land of Barbeque and Hush Puppies for a week now, missing my grandchildren terribly.  I found out that airport security doesn't seem to care how much wire and beads of all persuasions you've managed to pack into your carryon, as long as you have nothing in a liquid state, they are not interested.  And also - even though you've brought everything you thought you could possibly need, there will be some essential thing that's sitting on your worktable at home.

And then of course, there was this slight distraction:



Here are my latest offerings:


green man amulet necklace

close-up of green man
earth & bone charm bracelet
amethyst peace charm bracelet
the deer shaman's necklace
close-up of deer shaman's necklace

red jasper warrior's amulet necklace

close-up