Spirals

Have completed about a dozen spiral beads/cabochons all different, of polymer clay in lavenders, aqua, and black and designed 5 of them into a piece I'm presently beading.
Some of the others will be completed in a more simple form in order to have some done by the end of the month.
Oh my goodness it is great to be crafting again.

the sun is shining, oh happy day!

Feeling so good about everything.Ready now to take on the world in general, my life in general. No longer feel I am "on hold" due to health concerns. Oh yay! Happy dance with anyone who will join me.Hi Darla, waving happily

More Air

The Elements
by Dorothy Morrison

Yellow is the color of Air:

Of winds blown strong and winds blown fair.

Red belongs to Flames and Fire,

Burning brightly on the pyre.If Water is your quest use blue

Tides rise and fall in azure hue.

The tint of Mother earth is green...

Calm and peaceful and serene.

In your mind these colors gel:

And they will serve you very well.

Air

Some ways of becoming balanced by honoring Air in my life are obvious and essential. Using the nebulizer and inhalers, practicing the lung exercises, getting well.
But I can do more. Yogic breathing, a daily practice sounds like a promising start.
Then to tend to my neglected accouterments ....take down and untangle the wind chimes. Some may need repair and some may need replaced.....but they all need. Then there's the wind sock.
Above the pond a typical Chinese Koi wind sock. Orange nylon, black permanent marker, a small hoop for the open mouth. Should be fun to make and hang.
It's a start!

Momma Moon

Not full faced and fertile, but shyly hiding an eye, she found that small area between the edge of the blind and the back of the couch and winked at me.
I smiled and wondered what message she might have for me. I awoke with the question still in mind and determined that Moon certainly had a message and it was very basic. I was  ignoring something elemental and important.
Fire, Water, Earth and Air. Of the signs I was born to Fire and it predominates my personality and lifestyle. Water has been an influence and constant source of comfort and pleasure as I seek it and honor it in many ways.
Earth is another given considering my mountain roots and love of growth and soil.
I am left with Air. (Or maybe not?) I  think Moon told me I am unbalanced in my Elements as I have not paid enough attention to Air.
The next year starting June first, I will devote to the honor and study of Air as a guiding element. I expect and improvement in breathing and lung function to occur as a result.
Moon said: "Seek balance."

spiraling into health

Hello again. Can't get back to the art table yet, busy with the tedium of recuperation.

Thinking of symbols and guides.
My symbol is a spiral, and it is permeating my recovery. It started when I began collecting visuals for art projects, beginning with nature: fern fronds, nautilus, ammonites, Sheep horn, it grew into black holes, galaxies, fractal flames, DNA, interlocking life spirals.

In my half sleep I saw spirals of light and color, all color without beginning or end moving in and out of each other, permeating, becoming one in space and time then gracefully separating and interconnecting somewhere else, growing, becoming more and greater, seeking and finding change while remaining in truth the same.

Are our lives like this? Is this how different worlds live and move together just outside our consciousness?
Are the multi-universes connected in an interplay of spiraling colored light full of the knowledge and life and love of all times, past, now and tomorrow?

And how can I learn more?

changes

While the old carpet was removed and the new plank floor being placed I was banished to the art room. (So I wouldn't be breathing in dust and sawdust). Oh poor me, .....not! I have had so much fun playing with beads, polymer and paint that I'm not wanting it to come to an end.
What have I been making? Mysterious pod-blossoms, luminescent polymer beads.
Soon the computer/printer/scanner will be hooked back up and I will be able to show you samples. Soon.....I think! Bill still has to re-wire heaters, and replace trim all round. But soon.

energy

Wow! I am suddenly beginning projects, researching others; busy, busy and loving it.
The two brilliant beaded chameleons that were started last fall are being fitted for their background leafy branch neck pieces.

A new little beaded owl wanted to come in to being and what a little character. I crocheted a form first and stuffed it. It looked like a bowling pin. so I put eyes in, that usually helps. Then it looked like a bowling pin with eyes! I didn't give up though and now she looks like a sweet little snowy owl with character.

Somehow my mind wandered back to my OT classes when we learned the basics of many kinds of crafts. One was netting. Yes like the fishermen used to do on the off season, creating and repairing nets. I didn't want a huge fishnet though but some small round containers for stones. I am using wire and netting around a dowel. Need to practice the area where you add a new length of wire. It needs to fit in seamlessly and I haven't got that yet on the first two trials. Three is the charm right?

AND, no, I'm not done, polymer clay earrings in progress. A pattern from an old Jewelry magazine....iridescent colored ink on black clay.
Looking good. Iwill let you know!

What a difference to be well as opposed to NOT!

Pain

Are you feeling the pain of the Haitian people? it is so raw it's palpable, a throb of pain and need. It is hard for many of us to part with cash but we can all keep these people in our thoughts and send positive wishes and strength and a vision of recovery and hope.
It must be very difficult to muster up hope when you are living with hunger and thirst among rubble and sewage, struggling to survive when all you knew is lost. Your family is split or gone, your love is torn and divided and you are feeling pains of so many kinds. You wonder if there is any way you can muster up the strength to face the night, to wake to another day. You wonder why?
Send strength to these lost ones. All you can. It could be you.

Befana an annual pleasure

Befana! fun and heartwarming. For twenty women drawn together by fate and the love of our similarities and differences, it is one of the best days of the year.
The original Befana? A generous old Italian woman who rode her broom around the countryside on the eve of January 4th leaving gifts and sweet treats for  the children. Sound familiar somehow?
Origins are interesting Often what you think you know is not that way at all. Try a challenge. Take one thing you assume, take for granted and research it's origin. you may be surprised.

new year choices

A new year, new beginnings. Sometimes starting over sounds so positive.

I will be healthy if at all possible by taking special care and not taking anything for
granted.

I'll continue to eat less meat, and dairy, more fresh vegetables, fruits, grains and nuts.
I will be meticulous in my crafting too, remembering to be careful about ventilation when there is even the slightest thought there might be harmful fumes. I will remember protective gloves and masks, and will use them like it or not. I can learn to get used to them right?

I will remember the fear and discomfort of being unable to get a full breath and I will appreciate the air I breathe and give thanks.

Finger bones! What a fun pendant for Halloween. Hang it on a black cord and you are set! It is life size and articulated so you can shape it if you like.
Polymer clay, beads and wire.

Dragonfly necklace

Made of polymer clay beads and wire, this is the (first) result of a necklace project that was taught by Christi Friesen at her workshop in Edmonds  Washington in August. I've played with it off and on in between working on other projects and decided today to call it done.
It isn't exactly what I planned but my stuff usually surprises me. I'd do some things differently and will, as this is just the first!!
The firefly was first too small and now is too big, and although it lays fairly nicely I would organize the main pieces differently. In fact I did but.... didn't prepare some of the connecting factors well enough. It is finished with a satin finish to which I added some iterference green, blue and gold.

Phoenix

Phoenix soon

Phoenix is done! I will get pictures today.
I think I've worked at this for months!
I love working with seed beads. It reminds me of coloring with crayons but using beads instead. I just sit and fill in the blanks!

I Live

This neck piece was done in honor and appreciation for Life, this Earth, Her beauty and generosity, and with love for Her and for all Life.
It was first painted, then beaded.

Christi's Steampunk fish

The two day workshop with Christi Friesen was a blast! Whether or not you are interested in polymer clay you would have loved this.
Christie's personality and ability to spread fun is contagious.

But then if you are in to polymer clay at all, you are bound to learn a scad of new ideas and tricks to make your own work better. Christie is thorough and patient, you couldn't ask for a better teacher!

She who would be who she would be

Except for the garden she stands in "She who would be..." is finished.
I wanted a beach comber doll. She refused. I decided with her uptilted head she could be a bird watcher. She refused. She even attempted to self destruct! She upped the heat on the oven and scorched her fingers. (What you see now are prosthesis of sorts.) Before I agreed to the necessary surgery I had my own little tizzy and threw her under the table and tried to ignore her. She pulled on my pants leg, mumbled and grumbled and generally caused so much havoc in the studio I was forced to pull her back up and see what I could do. None of this changed her haughty attitude at all. She thinks she is an aristocrat at least and maybe royalty!
I quit arguing. This is She. She who would be what she would be.

Green Goddess Doll

This is the Green Goddess doll done in Christie Friesen's class. I was great fun to take this class and learn how she does her amazing work and meet fellow classmates who are interested in making similar creations. There are definitely some things I will do differently on the next one, but all and all I am not too dissatisfied.

Great Horned Owl neckpiece

He is somewhat crowded onto the scanner. I will take a good photo once I have the chain connected that will put him around the neck.

He has been a joy to bead. One of my strongest most beloved totem.