Mood Altering Items

I mentioned yesterday that I went out on a bit of an adventure. Adventure may be a slight over statement. More like a hopeful errand. I got it in my head that I needed an at-home set of art supplies. Friday, I moved all my art supplies to the studio. Paint, paper, markers, pencils... everything is up there. I also decided that I needed some inspiration and a little pick-me-up. Naturally, I set off to my local bookstore and Starbucks. The inspiration came in the form of Art At The Speed Of Life by Pam Carriker and the latest issue of Art Journaling. (confession: there is a very slight chance that I already own a copy of this issue of this magazine... oops) The pick-me-up came in the form of a Cocoa Cappuccino. Toss in that red clown nosed man in the mix and my spirits were completely on the rise!!

After I browsed the very sadly, ever dwindling, down-to-a-single-shelf, jewelry book section at Barnes & Noble, I thought I might swing by the sketchbook section. Heck, I was on a roll right? Hot coffee, wonderful visual candy, clown nose induced smiles... why not grab a new sketchbook too? You really can't have too many sketchbooks. Oh what a treat I was in for! It would seem B&N now has just a handful of art supplies. I found a set of pastels (a medium I haven't worked with since high school) for just $7 and super cool set of colored pencils that fit perfectly into the jewel case for cds for only $5. Perfectly, perfect, perfectness.





Melancholy can be a powerful thing though. So, although my spirits were good, honestly, they grew gray again pretty quickly. As I sat in my living room, fire toasty behind me, the latest Script cd playing, blank page in front of me, I completely froze. What is it about the blank first page of a new journal or sketchbook that completely paralyzes me? I know I am not the only one this happens too. In fact, I was tweeting about it and Barbara Bechtel sent me this quote:

"It can be terrifying to confront a blank canvas- is it fear of destroying it? You are about to create a world in this pure and empty space, a world in which complex goals have been set. In one way, you have become God; in another way, you know you are not."
- Audrey Flack

Completely spot on. I put some seriously high goals in my mind for that blank page... that blank BOOK. How in the world could I fill it and do it justice? I swear I started and stopped and ripped out the first page at least 5 times. Then finally, with a heavy exhale, I just started writing. Actually, I started wishing. I wished I knew where to begin, I wished I knew what the possibilities are, I wished I knew how to pull things out of my heart and I wish I knew where to put them. On and on the wishes poured out. There isn't a spot of pastel or colored pencil on the page, but it is a start. And but the end of the writing, I felt a bit more at ease in my heart. Those wishes needed to get out and we'll save coloring the wishes for another day.

Twisted Tuesdays - K.reating A.rt B.eads

One of the things that a few of us instructors and students talked about this weekend at ArtBLISS was how bored blog readers must get after a big show takes place. For a week solid, it seems like it is all anyone can talk about and if you weren't there, you don't want to hear the same things over and over and over again. Right? Right. So, in an effort not to bore you into oblivion with overkill, while still giving those of you that want to hear about things some details, I am going to limit my posts about the show to just two. One post for each of my classes!!

K.reating A.rt B.eads - Saturday Sept 25th 2010 - ArtBLISS

I have to tell you, the experience of introducing a room full of wonderfully caring, bright, intelligent women to something that I am incredibly passionate about, glass, is something I am going to hold very close to my heart for a long time. I love to teach, I love glass, and I love being in such a mutually supportive environment. Oh how I wish I wasn't so nervous. That way, I would have been enjoying myself from the moment I opened my eyes that morning, instead of spending my early hours of prep worrying. Alas, jitters come with the territory. Thankfully, eventually, those butterflies calmed down enough that I was able to feel really connected to the moments we were having. One of my absolute favorite parts of a day was the last 45 minutes or so, when, even though class was over, we were all sitting around with each other just openly talking/questioning/sharing about experiences. Students got to pick my brain about my thoughts on things. We talked about making the choice to live a creative life and finding for yourself what you can let go to be more fulfilled as a person. The whole thing felt so genuine and intimate. I.loved.it.

Enough of my blather on though... you wanna see pics, right?!? Here ya go...











Thank you so so much Bev, Nadia, Heather, Amy, Michele, Frankie, and Patti for trusting me to introduce you to what I hope will be a long love affair with glass. Remember, I am here if you need me... ask questions anytime... and keep the rod hot, bead warm (not hot bead, cool rod)!

Watch Out... I Am Manipulating Metal

I had an absolutely ammmaayyzing night last night. Before I tell you about it though, you need two brief histories. First, the one between me and metal. Primarily, I am a cold connection kinda gal. I love wire, I love coming up with innovative ways to combine wire into links, I love color, I just love love love what I do. I have been know though, a time or two, to experiment with metals. I have taken classes in PMC, and I have done enameling on metal. But when I have tried to teach myself soldering, frankly, it has been a struggle. I blame the equipment really. I haven't ever had a proper soldering torch. I have always either used the creme brulee torches with solder that melts at too high a temperature for it or I try my hot head which it too bushy a flame and just melts things into oblivion. It was frustrating and it sucked. But I had plenty of cold connections to keep me busy, so I didn't fret too bad. I knew the skills were there, I just needed the right equipment!

Remember that huge bummer of a let down a couple whiles ago? At the core of it was these metalsmithing skills of mine. I am not gonna go into details, but it was one of the main reasons that I decided to sign up for Stephanie Lee's Homesteaders Metalsmithing e-course. (She is having a second session by the way!!) I wanted to expand those skills. I loved working on the class and learned a ton, but more on that another day.

Now, to the second brief history. Rewind to a strange conversation with my husband about a month ago. It went something like this Ron: "Randy at work told his wife about your book and she makes jewelry and wants to talk to you about it. Is it okay if she calls you?" Me: "Of course she can call me." And that is how I met the amazing, Anna Sprague. Anna has been teaching jewelry making (specifically metalsmithing) for 18 years at both the high school and college levels. She is taking a year off from teaching formal classes though to get reacquainted with creating because she *loves* it without being drained by the *have to* creating and exhaustion that can come from teaching. So we chatted for about an hour one nice evening about how to get her jewelry business of the ground online. I was so happy to help! I told her all about my metalsmithing woes and she offered to teach me. It was to be an exchange of sorts, my knowledge for her's. Personally, I think I have the better end of the bargin :)

I had my first class with Anna last night. OH, MY, STARS!!! It was amazing. I couldn't dream of a better instructor in the world and look at the freaking incredible things I was able to create!! I knew that, with the right equipment and getting to see the solder flow for someone, I would be able to do it. I am over the moon I tell ya! I can't thank Anna enough. Next time, we are gonna sweat solder. But first, I told her she needs to work on getting her designs ready to launch an etsy shop and blog!! So, hopefully, in a few weeks, I will have a link to share with you. I got to see some work in progress pieces in person and they are just beautiful. I can't wait to share it with you.

(ps... man my hands need lotion. they look like granny hands magnified!)

We Have A Plan

I started July with a note to this putrid, I mean, pleasant mid-summer month. I made it clear to July that, granted, we don't get along, but things can change and I am going to make an effort. Here we are and it is already the 15th. I have made it halfway through! Most of it has been a blur, but I am happy to be through it. Last week, our family and a friend got together for a special meeting. These meetings are usually reserved to work on family issues surrounding Andrew, but this time, I requested the meeting be to help me out. Together, we formulated a plan for the rest of the summer. I have always thought I should do this, but never really made it a reality. I thought I would share the plan with you in case any other Mom might be struggling to tackle and cope with July.

Weekly Themes & Activities for Summer 2010
July 19-25: Cooking Week
Plan the week's menu with the kids, visit the farmers market, create a family cookbook, have kid-cook nights where each child plans and cooks the meal from start to finish, make more jam.

July 26 - Aug 1: Camping At The Cottage
Our family is planning a trip to Keuka Lake for the week. Activities will include: sleeping out in the tent, canoeing, paddle boating, swimming, smores, camp fires, a birthday celebration for Andrew (turning 11!), fishing, exploring, and more.

Aug 2-8: Tourist @ Home
Visiting local attractions all week! Eastman House, Planetarium, Zoo, Highland Park, Mount Hope Cemetery (I am if-y on that one), go on an Art Walk, go to the local beach.

Aug 9-15: Picnics & Parks Week
Just like it sounds... pick a different park to have a picnic at each day that week. If it is hot, the parks will be beach side. If it is rainy, who knows.

Aug 16-22: Sports Week (Bead Fest week for me, so this is Ron's week)
Play: tennis, mini golf, bowling, bike rides, board games, baseball

Aug 23-29: Person Of The Day, Week
Monday, Ron. Tuesday, Andrew. Wednesday, Lauren. Thursday, Kerry. Friday, Jacob. The person of the day gets to pick which activities we will do and what meals we'll have.

Aug 30- Sept 5: Media Week
Make home movies, visit the city library, rent video games, go to the drive in, have a family photo shoot.

And just like that, they will be back to school. Anyone else have a set plan for summer? Share it on your blog and leave a link in the comments! The more support we can give each other, the better.

Because I Can

Yesterday, I spent a lot of time thinking on this new approach I am taking to the month of July. And I was thinking on some of the projects I have going on. And I was thinking on how so much is out of my control. Which led to wondering what I can control right now. And that brought me right back to thinking on how I can work on my summer attitude. I may not be able to hurry up a process that I want to hasten and I may not be able to end the vicious cycle of heat and humidity, but there are other things I have power over. Right? There has to be.

I was emailing back and forth with a friend the other day while feeling rather low. She made every effort to distract me and help me find a new path to wander down mentally. One thing she asked was "... are you imagining other things?" Of my situation, I said this, "I feel like all my eggs are in this basket and what if nothing hatches? I am not imaging anything else." What an awful feeling to be overwhelmed with, isn't it? Me, not imagining? That was when I wrote the note to July and that is why I was doing cartwheels in the wet grass at 8am this morning. I need to reconnect with ME and find a way to breathe again. It all has me feeling like there is a lot of possibilities in the weeks to come. I am keeping my basket of eggs close by, but I am looking for other hidden eggs too and I'll add them to my collection. Something is bound to hatch sooner or later, right?

So, one pretty little egg that was revealed to me by that same wise friend was a challenge of sorts. Y'all know I have been taking Kelly Rae Roberts's Flying Lessons E-course. One of the things we talked about was building a since of community. I love this idea, and I crave it. It is probably why I spend more time on my computer than in my studio recently... I want to be connected to people. Kelly Rae takes part in something she calls Lovebomb. And right there is where the challenge comes in. I have been told I should start planning a super-fabulous something to connect with like minded people. The suggestion instantly had my mind going a mile a minute with wants. Really though, the idea is in its infancy. I am thinking a weekend in a cabin/house on one of the Finger Lakes here in NY is a good place to start. Who is with me?

Twisted Tuesdays - Teacher Turned Student

This isn't going to be the usual Twisted Tuesday style post. I am not sharing any behind-the-scenes info from Totally Twisted or new jewelry or new beads. Ya know, I am finding myself venturing off topic a lot on Twisted Tuesday, but I am really really okay with that. Life can be rather twisted at times... so as long as there is good content, I am going to keep calling it Twisted Tuesdays.

Today's twist is where I tell you about the ways I am finding myself turning from Teacher to Student. We have talked a few times over the past year or so about the ways in which I am making more of an effort to listen to whispers my heart is telling me (something prompted by Kelly Rae Roberts's book, Taking Flight). You might remember that I had been wanting to take up running again, and I did it last summer! I am also doing simpler things like taking some of the pressure off that I put on myself to be constantly doing something. So, a nap under the maple tree in the back yard on Sunday afternoon was had, and it felt wonderful.

A whisper that has been growing for a while now has finally risen to a shout and I need to follow it. I want to *learn*. I always loved school, even though socially it was extremely difficult for me. The pencil and paper aspect of learning new things was, and still is, something that gets me all a flutter. I love to read, to experiment, to take notes, and draw conclusions. Going back-to-school though isn't something in the cards though, and even if it was, it isn't the kind of education I am actually drawn to now. The type of classes that get most excited these days are "e-courses". It started, who-knows how long ago, from the many, many, many art blogs that I follow. Countless (okay, maybe not countless, I just don't feel like actually counting) artists have started sharing their knowledge and experiences in online workshops. They are relatively inexpensive, their topics are as varied as their creators, and I think, I hope, they can truly inspire.

So, I have gone back and forth... what kind of e-course do I want to take? This summer I have signed up for two. The first is for the month of June, it is Flying Lessons with Kelly Rae Roberts. You may have noticed the badge I added for it on the sidebar over there. At first glance, you might think "Kerry, you already have a successful creative business, what do you need that course for?" Well, I will tell you... 1) I love Kelly, and I wish we were friends, so there is a stalker level to my wanting to take her class, LOL. 2) I have been able to make my bead business soar, now I want to do it for my mixed media art as well. 3) I am eager to learn more about licensing too. (I don't know that it is something I would ever do, but it intrigues me.) The course started over the weekend and I must say, two days in and it already has me thinking about so much. I have a journal devoted just to this and I am finding it so helpful to get my thoughts and feelings out.

The second course I signed up for just today. I have been really wanting to take a photography course. I missed the sign ups for one in particular that I really really want to take, but I know this one will be a great starting point and a fun adventure for summer. I enrolled in Picture Summer with Tracey Clark. It is a 30-day photo project and I am so excited and ready to be inspired by it. I have this freaking stinking awesome camera and I feel like I am only scratched the surface of what it can do. Now, granted, this class isn't going to teach me to use it, but it will get me off my butt to use my camera more. With practice comes expertise, no? I toyed with the idea for a few minutes that I might take July off from blogging and just do a photo a day to coincide with the project. HA! Me not run my motor-mouth for a whole month, who am I kidding?

So there ya go. The teacher in me is becoming a student and I am taking some summer e-courses. What plans do you have set for the new season?