Want to see my work?

Hello friends.

You are just going to have to wait a little longer. The day after I began my Blog my camera broke. My dearly beloved, who is a professional photographer can't fix it either. So while I find out if there is hope or if I go shopping, I will tell you today I am working in my visual journal and making some jewelry pieces.

One piece has been on my work table for a while. It involves a lovely little PMC charm with an all over pine needle design, some silver chain, deep green tourmaline stones and the last of my faceted dark green pearls.

I promise to post it and everything else I'm working on when the camera situation is settled.

Off to the studio. XOXO

Three hundred miles...

Three hundred miles, three days and three good things. This blog may be about my artistic life, but nothing stops that in it's tracks fast enough than issues with my family.

Last week we took a fast trip to Eureka to visit our oldest. We went to check in and get his world. In the course of our visit I realised it is time to let go of all the internal conversations about our son and let him unfold. For some time I have wondered if each time we saw him it would be my last. That ended with our visit. He is a grown man, not the child I once held so close. But always and forever my beloved son.

The word cherish comes to mind. Cherish the memories. Cherish the man he is. Cherish every moment we have without adding anything to it. I want him to have a life with someone to love and someone to love him. To make money, do what inspires him, to love and be loved.

My Dearly Beloved and I have been fortunate enough to make a living doing what we love as artists. We have struggled for support and money, although most people struggle with the same issues and aren't even doing what they are passionate about.

To love and be loved.

To cherish the moment.

To live your passion.

Living the Creative Life

What does it mean to life the creative life?

Sometimes it means cleaning and cooking all weekend so you can have a double birthday/ Superbowl party. We had a delicious, fun time. It was a special celebration for all the above reasons and especialy because my Dearly Beloved is begining to recover from a 2 1/2 year struggle with Lyme Disease

I didn't make it into the studio. Like so many days and weekends where life, family and friends are the important part.

But my wonderful weekend has left me thinking. What about Me? Where do I carve out some time for my art? As a wife, mother and nature lover when do I go to the studio? I think about going into the studio (I am lucky enough to have a huge studio). I think about going to my studio when I'm driving, or in the shower, or walking my princess pug.

Let's look at what I am working on. Today I am feaverishly gessoing pages in my visual journal. I'm working in my husband's studio, my "other job" and dreaming of what to make next.

I have 3 journals I am working on.

1. My visual journal.

2. My idea journal of clippings of cool jewelry, colors, shapes, anything inspiring

3. My written journal (that may be eclipsed by my blog)

4. Several repair jobs for friend's jewelry.

5. My own jewelry projects

Whew! So I really need some serious studio time. Notice what is number 5. This is the key element in my question.

Who in in charge of my creative life? ME. I am the one that says my art comes last. I'm the one waiting for some sign that says "go to your studio!"

The rest is all the ghosts in my head - yelling loudly - telling me I can't do this.

Time to go to my studio!

XOXO

Hitting the bulls'-eye

This morning I was reading the S.F. Chronicle and came across an interesting story. It was about an 80's rocker named Kip Winger. After his short success he had reinvented himself as a classical music composer. At the end of the story he said "...But every once in a while all the stars align, and you pull your arrow back from your bow and you hit the bull's-eye."

I'm thinking of the times when I was just creating, there was no time, just being there and when the piece is complete I look and am amazed by what I made. The pulling back of the arrow and letting go. The leap of faith every artist and crafts person takes when they enter the studio.

It's pure majic! The juice that fuels the artist's dreams.

The Eagle has landed

Hello out there! I've finally landed in bloglandia. I've wanted to join the artist's blog community for a couple of years. Now I'm finally here. This is the first post in my blog Blessings and Charms. I'll share a little about myself.

I live on the coast of Northern California. I am married to the man of my dreams, have two sons that are making their way in life and have a dog I adore. I have a wonderful family and friends that support me. That's the Blessing part.

The Charms part is my passion. I love jewelry! I love making jewelry, looking at other's jewelry, I even dream about it.

I've been designing and making jewelry for about 17 years. The art of adornment facinates me. It is one of any number of ways we express our beauty and uniqueness.

I make necklaces, bracelets and earrings. Nothing is ever the same, I use whatever gems and metals I am inspired by at the moment. And yes I do make charms from silver. In the coming days I will be posting what I'm making and what I'm up to in the studio. There will be pictures, an new header and links to my community.

I've dipped my toe into the blog world and like what I see!