Vrrrroom Vroom

I spent about 3 hours today in the National Auto Museum here in
Reno. Despite being a "non driver," many of the cars were beautiful. But then...gleaming....glistening...not far past the Morris Eight and the Packard, right there in the corner of the gallery, was a display with over 30 antique beaded evening bags. The best collection of vintage beaded bags I've ever seen--in or out of an automobile museum. Just when I thought my outing couldn't be more perfect, I spotted the penny pressing machine in the lobby. Nirvana, Reno. Who knew?

The Art of Being Tuareg

The 200 square foot studio I am now living in
has become the perfect size for me. I appear to be
in a process of downsizing which will eventually lend
itself gracefully to being packaged in a a rusty old Microbus.
I sit in my studio late at night and pretend I live on a boat--the effect inexplicably heightened by the freight trains that pass every
few hours. The broom has "it's" place. My only mug is my favorite mug. The 2 plates are each the perfect shade of lime green fiesta ware. I can sweep, mop, dust and clean in just under 25 minutes--and do so with far more regularity than I did in other much larger homes. Entertaining is made irrelevant. You fit, or you don't fit. (Or choose to fit.) Should you bravely venture in, I will feed you oatmeal cookies made in my toaster oven.

I have been accused recently (and probably accurately) of being selfish. Of being eccentric. (I used kinder adjectives than were gifted me.) I do know I'm lucky to be able to make this choice. It was not foisted upon me. And how pleasant to know myself well enough that small spaces (and those that I can afford) have far more appeal than Mega Homes.

Flower Power

Thoughts of Spring! Copper and Cobalt, Brass and Bronze. Weird little Bead Caps without center holes that I smashed flat.

Sometimes You feel like.......

One more pair of acorn earrings. Copper headpins, fire polish and bead caps. Simple.

Flowering

Bloom where you are planted.

When it rains.....

It pours. This week I've dealt with: Infidelity, Layoffs, and a depression that would be kicking me in the acorns (it's good to stick to a theme) if I had them. Tomorrow I have class and I don't want to go. Being 43, even if I feel like I'm 12, I will go. I think. I've laid out my clothes and shoes and unread textbooks on the firm belief that a person can create their own path. I know I'm not the center of the universe. And I know some of you are struggling even harder than I am. If you're not, please reach out to your friends. They do need you. If you are, please hang in there. If you can't even lay out your clothes, then throw on your sweats, step outside, and breathe in deeply. And then do it again an hour later. This too shall pass. This too shall pass. This too shall pass.

Smashed

Last month it was skeleton keys. This month: elongated pennies. I'm restraining myself. Barely. But I would love, love, love to wear a jingly bracelet with hundreds of these things. So what if I don't know what a "1968 Dottie Dow Pomona Valley" penny is all about. Just picture one hanging next to the "Haunted Mansion," or "Grandfather's Mountain." Some people want diamonds. I apparently want flattened copper.

And Sometimes Y and W

I've gone back to school and am struggling with some basic tenets of student life.

1) No amount of coffee will prepare one for an 8 am class.
2) My books cost nearly as much as my tuition.
3) I still blush and stammer when I stand up in front of the class.
4) The desks no longer seem large enough.
5) At 43 I still procrastinate with homework.
6) It shows.
7) Sigh.

Shielding One's Self

It is through art, and through art only, that we can realize our perfection; through art and art only that we can shield ourselves from the sordid perils of actual existence.--Oscar Wilde

Skunk Beads

Cornaline d' Aleppo--named for their resem-blance to Aleppo stone, an agate used to ward off the Aleppo boil that left a red circle with interior pus. (Gross, gross, gross.) But long or short my favorite African trade beads. Hmmm...wouldn't these be a nice Valentine?