Easy Earring #17-Simple Simon

Pink freshwater pearls and a faceted quartz pear shaped drops. Easy Breezy Peasy. (Which on a Monday is only appropriate!)

Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps.

Surely all art is the result of one's having been in danger, of having gone through an experience all the way to the end, where no one can go any further. The further one goes, the more private, the more personal, the more singular an experience becomes, and the thing one is making is, finally, the necessary, irrepressible, and, as nearly as possible, definitive utterance of this singularity. Rainer Maria Rilke

About 12 years ago, after a very long relationship had ended, I went to a tattoo convention. Blessed, I managed to come home with this wood carving of a squirrel rather than indelible ink. Art calls us. The creation belongs to us before we've seen it. When we finally lay eye upon it, it screams: "What TOOK you SO Long?" I've had plenty of people look at this squirrel, then look at me, then back at the squirrel. This squirrel didn't call to them. This both worries me, and comforts me. It's the same with the amber. (Though it admittedly has had a few more admirers.) It called to me. I answered. And for over 20 years it's the only piece of jewelry I've worn with regularity. A sort of--- pop the question--- to myself--- piece of jewelry.

This week I've had unexpected contact with old friends, old enemies, and a first love. It's as if in three days the universe expected me to do 3 months of emotional work. Picture the universe...once again a jack daw....cawing. "Here's another from your wicked past. CAW CAW. Here's the one who abandoned you. CAW. CAW. CACKLE. Wait! Another! Here's the liar and hypocrite who everyone liked better than you! CAW. CAW. Here's the one who pecked out your eyes and left you for dead!" Ok-maybe the universe is getting a little carried away.

The lesson? Oh sheesh. The lesson is that forgiveness isn't to be doled out like after school snacks. It should be a flowing fountain. I'm better with twinkies than water. But I'm working on it. As clearly they have been. And for this, I'm grateful.

Off the Cuff

I've had the opportunity this week to once again relearn a portion of my history. I've talked on this blog before about my ongoing journey towards a happy childhood. (It's never too late, after all.) In the midst of all this "development" I find it far easier to work on projects that contain vast amounts of repetition. (This would explain my new found obsession with chain mail. And my ages old love of very small seedbeads.) Both in my work life, and my emotional life, it appears that----10 gazillion stitches later, it's all sewn up.

Easy Earrings #16-Titanium

Titanium was discovered in 1791 by an amateur geologist and Anglican Minister William Gregor. (I so appreciate people who multi task well.)

If you've not played with it, I encourage it's exploration. It has the highest strength to weight ratio of any metal. While normally a flat gun metal gray, if heated with even a simple butane torch it will patina into a rainbow of colors. (You'll be amazed!) Unlike copper, the patina will remain stable for years.
Simple Earrings#16-Cocoons of titanium wire, dangled with freshwater pearls.

Easy Earrings #15-The Snowy Latte

I am a coffee addict. To quell the almost constant desire to consume caffeine, I no longer drink sodas. And I "walk" to coffee--coffee must be obtained by foot. I make an afternoon pilgrimage daily, usually around 3pm, to the HumanBean where I order my one and only drink--a Large Soy Latte. I appreciate two things about this journey. First, I'm not made to mispronounce Italian words when indicating the size of coffee I want. If I say, "May I have a large soy latte," no one says in a slightly snooty voice, "Do you mean, a Vendi?" Second, like most addicts, I immediately feel a sense of well being upon imbibing my chosen substance. All is well. The world is again full of possibility. etc. etc.

Today, I erred. First! I sent my spouse. NEVER send the uninitiated to procure one's drug of choice. I missed my walk. Granted, it's only a few blocks, but hefting my middle aged body up from the computer and going outside for 20 minutes is part of the ritual.

Said spouse returns. Triumphant. With my "Soy Latte." ONE sip later I SPUTTER, "What the heck is this?" I probably didn't say heck. But we'll assume I should have. Turns out the man brought back a "Snowy Latte," the week's most popular drink. Apparently a "Snowy Latte" is 1 part coffee, one part vanilla, and 8 parts sugar. Quite popular, but not my cup of coffee.

Chastened (They try so hard to please us.) he returned to the Human Bean and very politely said, um, "The wicked shrew I live with says this is not potable," or something like it. And to her credit, and one more reason why I Like the Humans of the Human Bean, she smiled. Explained what she'd thought he'd ordered. Made him another. ME another. And sent him back home with my salvation and a coupon.

Moral of this story, a Snowy Latte is not a substitute for a Soy Latte. Get off your butt and get your own coffee. And when you find the right coffee place, utilize and appreciate them.

Easy earrings #15--Czech glass firepolished rondelles, sterling silver wire and findings, and freshwater pearls.

Easy Earrings #14-That Good Old Mountain Dew

Let the grasses grow and the waters flow. In a free and easy way. But give me enough of that rare old stuff, that's made near Galway Bay. Come gougers all, from Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim too, and we'll give you the slip as we take a sip, of the rare old mountain dew.--John Griffith 1927.

Easy earrings #14--2 pieces of wire, 2 beads. Nothing could be simpler! Briolettes EmeraldBriolettes VaselineBriolettes

"Metalsome"

Another version of a non traditional Christmas tree. Sterling silver and Dichroic glass. What do you love about Christmas? What do you loathe? Is there one special person you exchange handmade gifts with? What is one tradition you could easily depart from? Why haven't you?

My friend Cheryl--best friend from college-- arrives in 2 weeks. Haven't seen her in years. We'll go ice skating. Gallery wandering. Coffee drinking. She arrives 3 day's before my 43rd birthday and the novelty of her presence is a present. It's harder to make friends the older I get. (It's not just a matter of being a hermit---but the pool seems to have narrowed dramatically.) Solution? Try harder? Be a friend? Be open to new experiences? (Gasp!) I have one friend who claims it's all about lowering one's expectations. He makes a far better Buddhist than I do. We'll see. Reflecting on metal. Reflecting on friendship. It's not flame that makes soldier flow. It's the heat of the metal surrounding it. What makes friendship flow?