Magic

Typically, I'm a sunshine sort of gal.  You summer types know what I'm talking about...the scent of fresh-cut grass, plucking ripe tomatoes from my garden, watching dandelion clocks float on the warm breezes, and walks to the snowball stand with my son.  However, living in Pennsylvania one must come to terms that there will be, in fact, a nice, long winter.   Luckily, I get the opportunity to see this season from a different viewpoint.  My son does not see an endless driveway that must be shoveled.  He does not worry about mopping up wet footprints on the wood floors.  He does not wistfully page through seed catalogs, hoping winter speeds on by.  He does not roll his eyes at the steel-grey skies and think, "Where's the sun already?!?"     He sees the potential for icy forts, flying down the snow-packed hill on his sled, pelting mom and dad with snowballs, drawing pictures in the snow with a stick.  He sees the magic that I, somehow, have forgotten. 


So today I shall not worry about footprints on the floor, nor shoveling us out.   I will not gaze longingly at my seed catalogs, nor will I curse the twelve inches of snow blanketing the land.  I will work on building up our fort (we must keep out the ice minions, you know), and stockpiling a massive collection of snowballs.  I will make snow angels with my boy and look at that grey sky and smile.  I will remind myself that seeing the magic is like riding a bike - you never really forget if you take the time to notice.

And yet another vessel...

This little guy was created using bronze metal clay.  I just love that stuff...so forgiving, so many possibilities!  After stamping the design into the flat sheet of clay, I formed the tube shape, fitted it to the bottom piece, and allowed it to dry.  Once dry, I drilled holes on the sides and fired it in my kiln.  Out came a gorgeous, golden-bronze vessel, all ready to receive any manner of treasured bits and pieces.  I had in my bead stash these lovely, multi-colored sapphires, which I rosary wrapped to support the vessel.

Podling

I wanted to share a photo of another piece that will be listed on etsy soon.  Remember that I have a fascination with pockets, boxes, vessels, nests and pods, and so this little one came springing forth from my imagination at 2:00 a.m.  Yeah, 2:00 a.m.   It happens.   I sculpted it from fine silver clay and after much sanding, refining and firing in my kiln, I was left with this adorable little organically-shaped podling.  A perfect place to tuck away a poem, prayer, hope, wish, or even a fresh-picked violet.    I hope she finds a good home!

And so the new year begins...

So who begins the new year with the same resolutions each time (I'm raising my hand): lose weight, exercise more, eat better, manage money better, etc., blah blah blah...?  This year, I've decided to begin a little differently.  Instead of mercilessly prodding myself toward the same goals (which I seem to utterly fail at after a month or two and then feel disappointed), I've decided to look at my progress from the previous year and build on that.  Progress, not perfection.   I'd like to be a better friend, have more patience (with myself and others), sell more of my work, and love who I am, even if that changes moment by moment.  I will remind myself that I hold the seeds for a fresh start.

I'd love to hear your goals for the coming year!

Recent work

This is the first in a series of hinged boxes I'm working on.  I've always loved the notion of nests, pods, boxes and such...places to secret beloved items, words and wishes.  This lovely will be listed on my etsy site soon.