Here Is A Wish For You, My Child

Here Is A Wish For You, My Child.

If there could be only one thing in life for me to teach you, I would teach you love...

To respect others so that you may find respect in yourself...

To learn the value of giving, so that if there ever comes a time in your life that someone really needs, you will give...

To act in a manner that you would wish to be treated, to be proud of yourself...

To laugh and smile as much as you can, in order to bring joy back into this world...

To have faith in others,  to be understanding...

To stand tall in this world and learn to depend on yourself...

To only take from this earth those things which you really need, so there will be enough for others...

To not depend on money or material things for your happiness, but...

To learn to appreciate the people who love you, the simple beauty that The Universe gave you, and to find serenity and security within yourself...

To you, my child, I hope I have taught you all these things, for they are love...

No words needed.

ANNNNNNNNNNNNNND they're back.

Oh yes they ARE!

My Tree of Life Pendants!

And you can purchase one!

 By clicking right ----> there.

:)

OOOH YES! Wordless Wednesday. PERFECTION!

OOH this says it ALL.

Sangria! YUM!

I ADORE sangria and so does my husband.  We've been sipping sangria for years.  Usually, I just kind of throw some lemonade...wine...brandy...fruit...and assorted other items that I have on hand and let them soak overnight.  SO...for YEARS...that was my method.  Finally, I decided to go ahead and follow a recipe and I have found THE perfect recipe..ready?


PERFECT SANGRIA EVERY TIME!!!


There. You. Go.

Bubble Jewelry!

I found these AMAZING glass bubble beads a year or so ago, and stashed them away, along with so many others that I'll "get to some time."  Yes, my studio is ... interesting.  OK, I'm a bead hoarder.  SO...what do you think?  I am loving these new designs!  You can see more at http://www.etsy.com/shop/KarmaBeads

Etsy Relevancy Search Tool

Last week, Etsy rolled out a new search mechanism (new to them)...entitled "Relevancy."


There's been a lot of buzzing noises in the Etsy forums, lots of complaints, and, frankly, I've been really watching my listing and stats, and have tweaked my listing and my tags to make my shop more "relevant"" but I honestly can't make heads or tails of it.

With that said..I LOVE IT.  No longer will we have to open an Etsy search to find the same sellers dominating the first page EVERY TIME.  The little guys are getting some attention.  In the past, those who could afford to re-list, and re-list could do so and push out the people who couldn't afford to, and relied on their fresh listings to stay front page, albeit for only 10 minutes or so.


I've loved rediscovering some of the other glass sellers who have ORIGINAL ideas, no more decal-topped dichroic crap.  If that's what you like...search for it.  Otherwise, don't shove it down our throats.  


LOVE. 


Well played, Etsy! 

PINK!

as much as I love the sunflowers...I'm torn...these precious pink pendants look like tiny pondscapes...teeny tiny lily pads. <3

Sunny Sunflower Fused Glass Pendant

EEK I am LOVING this design!  I made one as a test piece and wore it out to dinner last night and the waitress bought it! haha!  I made 10 more! <3

Wire Wrapped Tree of Life

I got a lovely email yesterday from a lady who needed a cherry tree.  She has just retired from a long career and wanted to treat herself! I was so flattered.  I made this precious tree, with K.D. Lange singing in the background of my studio.  Life is good.

Fossil Vitra - A Fused Glass Technique

I have a fascination with Gingko leaves.  No idea why, maybe it's their color, or their interesting shape...not sure, but I love them.

I was out on a nature walk along Lansing's Rivertrail, and I came upon my favorite Gingko tree.  It's like running into an old friend. So, I admired her beauty for a while, and gently removed a few of her leaves from inconspicuous places.

SO excited, I came down to my glass studio, and went to work.  I coated this leaf with various colors of powdered glass (frit) and fused this leaf right into some black glass.  This is a test piece.  Now, I'm off to have some REAL fun with this technique and the rest of my gingko leaves!  stay tuned. <3

C1D1

In "17 Day Diet" lingo, that means that I am Cycle 1, Day 1. 

And...I rocked it.  :)  I did very well, if I don't say so myself.  No cheats, I ate all my food, cooked from scratch annnnnnnnnnnnn............

........swam 10 laps in the High School pool.  I've never been known for doing anything half-assed, and this is no exception.

 In other news, I made these two beauties today.

This purple swirly one is amazing in person, sometimes pictures just do not do justice to glass...

...but the blue one?   The pic does it justice.  It's THAT pretty.

Sweet dreams, chickymonkeys.

The 17 Day Diet

I'm jumping on board.

I caught a glimpse of myself in a window at church and it was...well...shocking!

I'm a big fat fatty, and, while, yes, I have been recovering from the back surgery from hell, it's no longer an excuse! 

So, tomorrow begins my new diet and exercise regimen...here goes!

Wish me luck.  I'll document my progress!

can you look at another? please?

cannot.stop.making.vases!

KICK ASS!

One of my very best friends who is a sister to me sent me this video.  She knows me so well!  I'm going to park it here on my blog so that I'll always have it, and it won't get lost, and because I NEED this. Check this out. 

Vases, Vases, Vases!

Imagine my delight when I opened my kiln this morning to find this precious baby waiting for me!

I couldn't wait to share this, so i just sat it on my dining room table and snapped a quick photo!

Then, I ran back down to my studio and began the process of another one!  Haha! I'm on a kick, I suppose.

It's been so nice to be feeling well enough again to regain my creativity.  Back surgery is NOT for wussies! :)

Blessings always.

Drape Vases!

I do believe that this is my favorite color combination!  PEACOCK colors!  


This is a fused glass drape vase that I allowed to drape freeform.  As a glass artist, sometimes I have to let the glass be the boss most of the time.  When your medium is liquid, like glass, that's the rule.


I'm rarely disappointed, however.  I couldn't have created something this lovely intentionally.  Glass is magic.


Annnnnddddddddd.......off to the gallery for this baby, too!

Poppies! A Fused Glass Drop Vase

Truly, after all these years, you would think I would stop acting like an 8 year old girl when I open my kiln but...this just turned out so lovely.


This is a fused glass drape vase.  A square of glass is cut and designed, then laid over a mold and very carefully fused.  I could not have asked any more of this glass.  It performed perfectly, and now, off it goes to the gallery!  

OOOH, glass....how I love thee...

Aaaaand...she's off! 


Back surgery is NO FUN!  BUT.  Recovery, and the gratitude that accompanies, is tremendous.  


I returned a phone call today from one of my longtime wholesale customers, a gallery that I've worked with for YEARS...and guess what...she ordered ONE HUNDRED of my Tree of Life Pendants!  


I'm SO excited!  


These types of orders give me affirmation as an artist!  YAY!

Back TO THE STUDIO! FINALLY!

*whew*


After an agonizing 3 months in bed with a completely jacked up back, and then ANOTHER 3 months of recovery, I've finally regained my mojo!  


As I write, I have a gorgeous piece of glass in my kiln, slumping into a vase, so SO excited.  Creativity is such a strange thing.  After 6 months away, I'm finding my designs taking on a whole new look...also VERY exciting!  


Stay tuned...it's going to be fab.


:)

Memories.

Look at this picture, and tell me what you see.  Do you see weird hair, funny glasses, strange clothing?  I bet you do.  This picture is 25 years old, taken in the 80's, when fashion was at it's most unfortunate phase.

Look closer.

If you know me, (and yes, that IS me), then you can see the joy and adoration in my face.  The calm, happy and content place that I am.  In his face also.  This was from a time when there were many, many carefree, fun, nights, filled with laughter, love, butterflies in the tummy, and sheer happiness.

Twenty-plus years later, I gaze into those two sets of eyes...but others?  They see the clothes. The hair. I wish with all of my hear that others could see what I see.

Look again....these people had no idea what would be in store for them.  Soon, their worlds would crash around them, creating so much chaos, hurt feelings, betrayal, pain, screams, accusations, and gut-wrenching, crying-until-you pass out, sheer agony, one cannot describe.  No words.

And when the dust settled, one thing, one precious, priceless, beautiful, gifted little person was the result of this.  It was all worth it in the end.  Every.single.bit of it.

Sometimes, I return to this place, this innocent and wide-eyed naive girl, so madly in love with this person, and I wonder where she went, because, soon, very soon after this picture was taken, she would be gone forever.

I miss her so much sometimes.  Not true.  I miss her all the time.

An Update.

We have removed our son from school.  He will be home with us until we, and our son, feel comfortable that the school has made the changes which are necessary to afford him a free and appropriate public education.

In the meantime, he will be receiving services at home, as required by law. 

The bullys? Oh, they're still at school.  But that's ok.  Our son is home, safe, warm, and adored.

I Rise, by Maya Angelou

You may write me down in history

With your bitter, twisted lies,

You may trod me in the very dirt

But still, like dust, I'll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?

Why are you beset with gloom?

'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells

Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,

With the certainty of tides,

Just like hopes springing high,

Still I'll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?

Bowed head and lowered eyes?

Shoulders falling down like teardrops.

Weakened by my soulful cries.

Does my haughtiness offend you?

Don't you take it awful hard

'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines

Diggin' in my own back yard.

You may shoot me with your words,

You may cut me with your eyes,

You may kill me with your hatefulness,

But still, like air, I'll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?

Does it come as a surprise

That I dance like I've got diamonds

At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history's shame

I rise

Up from a past that's rooted in pain

I rise

I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,

Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.

Leaving behind nights of terror and fear

I rise

Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear

I rise

Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,

I am the dream and the hope of the slave.

I rise

I rise

I rise.

Maya Angelou