Making Do.

I try to think of myself as a person who is not wasteful.  Someone who cares deeply about the planet and
the world that we live in.  I try to make do with what I have.   Anyone can go out and just buy stuff.  I like to make it myself.

  So as I was sitting at my studio/kitchen table...my little cat Princess, now blind and elderly, clawed her

way up into my lap as I was just beginning to get started.  Not wanting to move her, after all she so bravely made her way up and was already purring madly, I decided to work with what was right in front of me.

 Normally I walk around, pick up this bead and that one, ponder it, put  it on, take it

off, try something else...I make myself crazy with indecision.  But this time was different.  Just make something with the pile that was within arms reach...so I presented myself with this challenge.

and this was the result after sitting at my workbench for nearly

two hours without getting up.

I had a dimestore plastic necklace that I got at a garage sale

this weekend.  I was planning on using just a part of it...

I never thought I’d use the beads.

Much to my surprise those beads took on a whole

new vibe once released from their old habitat.

 They looked tribal, ethnic, like old bone.

They were free!   They were happy! 

and I have discovered that sometimes it’s the

touch of the human hand that puts life

and meaning into objects.

Beauty can be in the simplest of materials.

We all think semi-precious stones, gold, silver..,

these are the status symbols of wealth and cool

but this little humble necklace already exsisted...

it was bound for the bin. 

  Giving these things a 

new life is rather thrilling....and pretty feel good.

Wisteria Time

My back garden is busting with color.

Yes it’s my favorite time of the year...

My Wisteria is in full bloom.

I planted this out of a tiny 10 gallon pot about 9 years ago.

She is now a mighty thing...

even after lots of pruning she still kicks butt each and every springtime.

In fact I think that it is the pruning that makes her stronger and prettier

each year.  

And I love her for it.

Those doors lead into our bedroom.

So as I lie there, I can see her...and smell her.

and today 88 degrees outside....magic.

The buzzing of the bees is almost thunderous...

there are millions of them.

My Ginger enjoys the view as well.

Done for another year.

   We are done with taxes and you probably could hear  a big, huge sigh of relief wherever you are.
My “earnings” are so meager, I don’t even know why I have to bother.  I guess I’m easier to get
stuff off of than the big guys with the gazzilions of dollars.  They probably pay less taxes than I do.
Hope they don’t catch me dodging the money I made from a little song we did inspired by them when I was with my little group.

   

Let’s talk about more important things...

more grown-up things 

like making beads and jewelry.

                                                                           

Here’s da beads

 Here’s what I made with them.

Zen

I took the aforementioned beads and then I

used some “decayed” bead caps meaning I took some nice

bright and shiny bead caps and then put them in Mr. B’s

"magic solution"...which takes off all the shiny crappy plating

and makes them nice and funk-a-fied.  

Then I hammered a piece of steel wire, put on some

vintage brass beads that I wish I had a million of

and attached the two together. 

  Then waxed them and buffed them.

I like the simplicity of these and the gentle lil sway

they have.  They’re like little, oh I don’t know church bells.

Now I’m off to put these in the shop and make my fortune!

A few of you have asked me if I wanted to sell some of the beads

that I’m making.  So I’m giving that some thought.  Perhaps I'll list

a few just for ducks and see how it flies.

Doing Taxes...yeah right.

Yesterday was such a beautiful, hot day.

Mr. Beatnheart and I have our tax appointment

on Monday morning at 11am.

This is a stressful time for us and we

  HATE DOING THEM!

so instead of doing them I did this ...

my latest addiction...making polymer beads.

I said to Mr.B.."can you imagine your parents

sitting outside together making beads?"

I mean really we are like a couple of kids.

These little beads are just so cool to make and

with practically instant results.  I was able

to sit outside and roll these out, poked in the holes

and then rolled them on the concrete and then on

 a old ratty sponge.

bake for 15 minutes...

 I wonder if they would bake in an

Easy Bake Oven ?   remember those.

I always wanted one but never got one.

Then the fun part.  Painting them...

all of this is experimentation  for me...I’ve never done it before...

haven’t taken any classes...I  do it like I do everything else.

I just do it.

Mr.B brought out bronzing powders and pastes and inks...

cool.  I’m trying em all.  I love the way these are turning out...

Maybee I’ll make somepin like these with em.

So that is how I did my taxes.  Today is Saturday.

Another nice day is predicted...

wish me luck.

Genius at Work.

My husband made me this box...

Fabricated out of reticulated copper.

Cast pewter birds on a hand-hammered

copper plaque ground.

work by Giuseppe de Piero

Display at his last show at Sherry Frumkin Gallery

in Santa Monica, California

Arts and Crafts Style box.

Pierced sterling silver 

bevel mounted cabochon

For Valentine’s Day

Beaten Bronze.

Latest in the Studio

In the middle of cleaning up my work space and organizing stuff,

which seems to be an ongoing process cause as soon as I do it,

the next pile mysteriously appears again...

I managed to make some new pieces.

The Lady of Shallot.

These came together rather quickly for a nice change.
I love to wrap up these mysterious little bundles and on the
cloth I write little messages...and then tie them up with wire,
wax them and burn them...I can’t wait to get to the burning part...
It’s like my own little secret ritual...sealing its fate,
sending it out into the Universe...whateva.

Sedona Series

Then these...which sold as soon as I listed them by sweet Pam.

 These are made with the beads that I have

just started making out of Polymer clay...I love doing this...

the textures you can come up with not to mention the exciting 

colors to paint them with...especially if you have an artist for a husband

who has a ton of supplies I can borrow...too bad he doesn’t have beads.

The Myth.

These came out of the fact that I HAD to buy these coyote teeth

that I found on Etsy.   I wanted Wolf teeth for obvious reasons but they are really

expensive...so coyote teeth had to do.  I remember in high school

all my brothers friends used to call him “coyote”...even on the phone

“is coyote home?”   so I thought of him while making this

Talisman piece...a real departure for me.  I tend to make up

little stories as I'm working...I invent characters, give them names,

and then make them little talismans or charms to take with them

on their journeys 

or to keep as tokens or remembrances.

on a less cheerier note...

Anywhozits....time to start thinking about doing taxes...oh man how

we enjoy this time of year around our house! With two self-employed

people living under one roof... stay far, far away. 

Already the Spring BULBS are in bloom.

We are having a very early spring this year.

Many of my bulbs (AND MY BLUBS) are already flowering.  I saw

the first of the bright yellow daffodils peaking

their little bonneted heads within the hedge.

The bees, the hummingbirds love this bush...

I don’t know what its called...I think it comes from

Australia.   It’s a massive vine like thing that I have

to hack away at a few times a year or it would cover our house.

I believe it could have been planted when our house was first

built back in the 1920s...It is that gigantic.

My boy cat Ginger just loves to eat grass...He’s

like a little goat.  I let him out to graze...under

my watchful eye of course.

Mallow bush kicking butt in the front garden.

Yeah that’s right...peach tree already in bloom.

Hope winter is treating you kind.  You are probably ready

for some blossoms yourself.  Life in California does 

have its advantages.

Things are going so well for me right now...it’s a little scary almost.

My Llama gave me a poncho.

Oh boy...I sure got lucky.  Some say blessed...I say however you want to say it, I scored.

I was the fortunate recipient of a gift certificate at an online shop called Novica.

I went online and started looking...clothes, jewelry, pottery, rugs, home furnishings, Shawls! Capes! Ponchos!  I am a real die hard shawl person.  I love them and I am  always wrapping myself up in them... I get ready to leave the house and no matter what I am wearing, I grab a shawl or scarf.  And you should see the choices at Novica.

Now this is not some fly by night establishment.  It is in association with the fine folks at National Geographic Magazine.  They searched out some of the finest artisans to supply the shop with some of the best and finest goods in the land.  These are folks that would not be able to sell their goods without
this
shop.  These are people who have been handed down their skills for generations....and without this
shop they might not be making it.  So not only are you buying quality, you are supporting these people...
not greedy money grabbing big corporations but honest to goodness hard working people who have been doing this for generations.  You are keeping them and their art alive...now how cool is that!

  Well I looked for awhile, honed in on the shawl department and saw that they have Alpaca.  Do you
have any idea how long I longed for anything Alpaca?  Have you ever touched Alpaca?  Dream fiber..
soft and warm ...luxurious.  I narrowed it down to several choices,  and finally chose Warm Earth
Poncho.  A blend of colors... browns, beige's,creams...loomed into a little piece of heaven with a hood!

                                                                             


I placed my order online and within a week or so my package arrived.  Not in a big giant
overkill box but a simple bag.  I opened the bag and inside, wrapped in a brown paper Aztec print paper
with a fiber ribbon and a tiny little lama charm was my poncho....Well swoon... words can’t describe.
Soft, glorious, cozy, glamorous...  one of the most  beautiful things I have
ever had the pleasure of putting on. Also there was a little envelope...
inside was a picture of a Llama...My Llama...and a card from the artist who made the poncho, Alfredo Falcon.                                                              

                                                                           

   I don’t gush over something unless I mean it.  I want to turn you on to this place. If you ever need to send someone a present, how about a feel good, win-win gift.  One that makes you feel great about your purchase.  Your money is going where it is sorely needed...and you get a wonderful treasure for yourself.
  Go and choose something for your friend or loved one  and buy an extra one for you.  I already
have my eyes on my next treasure from Alfredo..Here’s the Shop link...Novica

And here are links leading you directly to what you are looking for:

Men’s Wallets 
womens accessories
womens shawls Bali
Mens India accessories
Pearl Dangle Earrings
Sterling Silver Jewelry