In My Studio: Wild Spirit Animal Pendants on Display

Oriel Pendant Spotlight: Gypsy Melange

I recently started "dressing up" my oriels. I just have not liked my scans and photographs -- they don't do them justice. My oriels just seem to demand a new look; as they wait for their new homes, they seem to cry out: "Photograph me here!" "I want to wear that!" "Add something there!" What can I do but comply to their wishes? My beauties speak -- their wishes are my command -- as the the gallant lads say to the ingenues. So this is my first attempt to please these beautiful, demanding pendants. Each one seems to tell its own story. And remember, oriels are windows to another world, and if one seems to cry out to you...well just visit here, and it could be yours forever.
How do I look, she coyly inquired? Is not this shawl appealing? Does the green not flatter my hazel eyes? Should I keep the fan, or discard it? Are the brass buttons ripe for opening, or should I button them high?
To read more about this Boudoir Beauty go here, and don't forget to give her a flattering compliment!

My Studio

I love my little studio, even though I wish it was a bit bigger. It's cozy and jam-packed full of all of the things I love and have made or collected over the past 25 years. It is constantly evolving, like me. It is colorful and surprising, I suppose like me. A color will catch your eye here, a shape begs for you to touch it, a ribbon urges you to wind it in your hair. Images are on the walls, the bulletin board, my desks, and even the floor, and lend a chaotic and stimulating, yet soothing (to me) energy. I am most happy when I am creating a collage or constructing a box, or soldering an oriel, yet I find myself often avoiding going into the studio. This seems very odd, but I understand that many artists have a similar push me/pull me about creating art.

Come take a tour of my studio on Flicker. All photos, unless stated as otherwise, were taken early this year by my friend and sometime dance partner Michael Serescko, an artist in his own right.

...Sigh...

Plehn's Crullers...My Personal Comfort Food

Kentucky Comfort: Foods That Make You Feel Good

A "Plehn" Exterior -- Hides Treasures Within!

Leah at Plehn's with Some Beautiful Mother's Day Cookies

I was thinking that Kentucky is home to so many comfort foods, but that is a bit of a grandiose statement. How about Southern Comfort ? -- well, that's a bourbon whiskey made in Tennessee, so I can't use it as an example. Comfort foods don't necessarily have geographic boundaries, but some do, so around the second day of my mother's hospitalization I headed straight for mine at Plehn's Bakery. Phehn's has been in Louisville, Kentucky -- for what? eighty years? and it is home, at least to me, of the world's best cruller with vanilla icing. I have been indulging myself with these baby's since I was an itty-bitty girl. These odd-shaped donuts are simply heaven to me -- I take a bite of its icing-coated-ridged-lip-smacking goodness and I am one happy girl. Sugary, fat-soaked comfort food that momentarily takes away uncertainity, depression, anger. Yeah baby -- I have a standing order for two of these angels every morning, and pick them up on the way to the hospital. I am not even thinking about the calories. I don't care -- it's necessary fortification --my brand of Southern comfort.

Travel

Stars on Wall in Dallas Airport

Photo on Wall at SFO

Took the red eye to Louisville to be with my 87-year-old mom, who had to have unexpected surgery. Actually had to fly into Cinncinnati, rent a car and drive to Louisville -- because no flights -- or cars -- were available in Louisville -- because it's Kentucky Derby weekend! I was worried and uncomfortable on my flight -- hyperconscious of catching some damn bug (OMG --swine flu!) I sat next to a software salesman who dreams of writing poetry again. Go for it George, don't give up the dream, live it!

Truth: A Double-Edged Sword

Oooh, I love this oriel. She's powerful, fiery, sensual -- a force to be reckoned with. Actually, she's the Feminine Creative Principle with a strong inner male, determined, action-oriented, clean in her lines and her beauty, sees to the heart of a situation and goes into motion to remedy it. She sees the truth and her sword cuts through illusions -- her sword is flaming and cauterizes as it cleaves. No hesitancy here. Like that!

This graphic novel image was first used by me in a custom bolo that I made for a male friend. He had several dreams that contained the following images -- a girl or woman with a sword, a moon sinking onto a pyramid, a gryphon -- and asked if I could incorporate them into a piece of jewelry that a guy could wear. Wow! I had a great time finding the elements on the net and putting them together in a manner that worked for him. You can see the final pictures in my Oriel Custom Bolo listing in my Kentucky Girl Etsy Shop. I am also offering the Truth Oriel Pendant as part of my Sacred Journeys series.

What would it be like to not feel powerless? To just feel my mane blowing in the wind?

Taxes or Art or Exercise?

Spring Sprung Flowers

Petals and Limb Shadows

Hot Light and Busy Bee Caught Dancing

I have too many options in my life and not enough self-discipline. After early morning errands and stopping at Peet's for a cup of jo to go, I hung out in the sunshine with my Zeus cat who is recuperating from his near death experience last week. The ornamental plum tree is dropping its white petals on the patio concrete, and a million gazillion honey bees are singing up a storm in the 70's plus sunshine. I need to go for a walk on Deer Island since I canceled my dance class this evening for lack of students -- 4 of the 5 have reasons not to be in class tonight. Must be "taking a leap" -- they'll be back strong next week and ready to shake their booties.

I need to finish 5 oriels and post in my Etsy shop. I need to get started on taxes for our meeting with the CPA next week. Too much to do for this sleepy spring day, endorphin-overloaded filly.
Let's see what happens in the next few hours.....

What would it be like to not feel so stuck? To just feel my mane blowing in the wind?

Earth Angels

Where would I be, what would I have been without animals in my life? I have a picture of me as an infant in a stroller, and a black, furry cat lying at my feet -- my first "Kitty". Animals -- mostly horses and ponies and cats and kittens -- were always a great comfort to me, as well as an escape from an unhappy family life. I always felt better after stroking my cat or riding my pony through the woodsy trails. I think that I also learned from animals that watching and observing was a safer way of moving through life than being loud or confrontive. (Not that I don't also have those attributes -- "Oh boy, not you...," my husband would say.) So they are angels without wings to me, and for sure they have a special place in heaven.

For a description of the "Boxer Rebellion" necklace as shown above, as well as my other Earth Angel Oriel Pendants (I also do customs) visit my Kentucky Girl Etsy Shop.

Create-Full Company

I like it when my friend Tamara (lawyer, screenwriter, artist) and I get together to do art. I met her a few years back when she took one of my Pole Dance workshops. We just liked one another, and stayed in touch after she stopped dancing. One day we found out that we both like to rubber stamp, so we emailed each other for awhile about getting together to do art. Finally, last fall she came over to my house. The I went over to her studio last month, and then she came over here today.

It's just really nice to have an art buddy. It motivates me to create. Even if it's just straightening up my studio, while my friend creates, like today. I actually had time to line up a bunch of oriels to finish, and I finally put together an oriel using a photo of my grandmother Mimi. We chat, we eat, we drink cofee, we create. Nice. United in the act of creation. A nice flow and a great way to spend a couple of hours on a Sunday afternoon. Thanks Tamara!