Shapes and Angles

All seen on our recent trip to the Chicago Cultural Museum - it's a great place!

reflections

I saw this wonderful reflection from my hotel room window in Chicago.  How cool.

My kind of town

We went to Chicago for a couple of days last week.  Yes, I got my nails done (if you know me, you know that's something that I adore as one of life's little pleasures), and did a little bit of shopping.  (No, really, only a little bit).  We also went to the Art Institute and the Chicago Cultural Museum. 

If you read a post I did back in November, you know we went to the CCM at that time, and I saw my first Art-O-Mat.  Joy!  Neither of us could remember why we couldn't stay and look around at that time, but we couldn't.  So, this time, we devoted several hours to poking around in there.  Joy of joys, this was a place where I just simply can't wait to go back. 

We saw an exhibit on Louis Sullivan, Chicago architect.  Wonderful stuff & so many opportunitites to get shapes and texture ideas. 

We saw the stunning architecture of the building

Tiffany dome

Inlaid walls

Beauty at every turn.

And then, we went down this hallway and there was an exhibit of the photographs of Vivien Meier (I hope I've spelled her name correctly).  They are stunning street scene photographs from the 40's, 50's, 60's.  Viven's story is a very great and interesting story, and I stumbled upon her work while reading another blog.  Much to my surprise to turn a corner at the CCM and see her actual photographs.  Bliss.

Well, off to prepare to go back to work.  I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.

New Techniques

I love trying new techniques, and lately the ones I have especially enjoyed have included fire!!  I've purchased a new torch, and this new, hotter torch has allowed me to try some new metals techniques, including my current favorite, fusing metals.  I read about this in an article by the wonderful Ruth Rae, and had to try it.  Here's a couple of earrings that I've posted on etsy, that I think came out pretty nicely. 

I also made myself a pair with green pearls and I made a pair with some pretty tiny, red facedted beads.  I think both came out nicely, too.  I'll try to get some pics of them as well.

Studio Views - works in progress

Okay, so it's been forever since I posted.  Sorry.  The life of a busy band director gets in the way - February & March - more performances than I can even count here.  Three big events, just last week, all that I hosted, coordinated, etc, etc.  And that's just last week.   I won't even get into the entire past two months.

That having been said, finding time in the studio has been hard, but very needed.  Each time I spend a little time there, it's been calming & wonderful.  Many new things to tell you about & to post here and on etsy, but for now, here's some views of my work tables.  (yes, tables....  )

I promise I won't take quite so long between posts again.  More in a few days!  Enjoy this wonderful spring weather - it's finally sunny here!  Yipee!

Melty Sunday

For all my friends in other parts of the world (read this to mean "warmer than here"), this is not a big deal.  But here, it's a HUGE deal!  We're above freezing today!  In fact, we're at 40 degrees!!

So, what do I do on a day like today??  Go hide out in my studio, of course!!  Well, this is one of the weekends when I CAN hide out in my studio, and so I did.  So many others are filled with job requirements that it becomes precious when I can just sit and make stuff.

Lots of jewelry made, and posted to etsy.  Walked by the paintings in progress - I'm feeling an itch to get after some of them, and there's a long weekend coming up.  Perhaps I'll be able to complete that long-awaited painting that was the sister to the one I donated to the ASBDA auction this summer.  And perhaps I'll see where the new ones sitting on my drying racks take me - they've been sitting there waiting to accept paint for quite some time. 

Well, I guess I'd better go tackle my list of 'real world' things to do, like go buy laundry detergent and drop off the bills at the post office.  Wouldn't it be great if that didn't take priority??  Until next time - take care!

SNOW DAY!!

It's a snow day here, and then some!  Actually at this very moment, as I am typing, the sun is shining. But... the temperature has dropped due to the storm that rolled through, and the wind is just howling - my guess is that the wind chill is in the minus something degrees out there.  A true snow day, just like I remember them from my childhood. 

I remember bundling all up and going outside on a snow day - that was just wonderful!  Do you remember the smell of wet wool?  Coming inside after rolling around out in the snow and having the time of your life?  I do - happy happy memories!

I always have a "snow day" list of things to do, but today, I'm thinking tops on my list is reading, napping, and maybe writing a couple of letters. 

I've put a sale on my Etsy shop - 12% off if you use the code "SNOWDAY" - just for today.

I hope you have a great day today, whatever you are doing!