My new love!

I've been doing kiln-formed glass for about a year now and have found my medium. This is one of my first pieces from last year. I really like making platters and also have done quite a few pendants. The results are surprising every time. There is so much to learn. I took the huge leap and got a kiln this month and am going to start working in my own studio space. I still enjoy spending time at the Pratt studio as there are so many talented people to share information with.

Our Whirlwind Trip To LA

Terri and I just got back from a whirlwind trip to LA. It was two nights and three jam packed days of activity. We went to promote our business. I'm guessing that the presentation that we made for the national sales opportunity won't work out, they pretty much said we were a little too risque for them, but we met some really great people. One of the more comical moments is that we were placed between an adult diaper product and a woman's leakage product. (As an aside, I would have to say that the woman's leakage panties have a really good chance at being selected. Not my own personal experience, of course!:0) Our big celebration happened after we found an amazing rep at the LA Mart for Tastie Pasties. She is going to rep us in California, Arizona, Nevada and parts of Hawaii. We are delighted!

Monkey-ing Around

I just finished reading a book about the importance of playing in staying young. As I move through this time of my life and really reflect on what it means to be vibrant and alive, I keep coming back to play. I believe this to be true. The book that I just finished cited studies where it is not only just a nice thought to consider, but that it actually does physically make us stay younger. Regular laughter makes us less prone to heart disease too! Good to know, don't you think?

Alto!

I think the best part of being on a vacation is really getting to stop the everyday bits of my life and look around at what I am doing. I can see my experience in a totally new and distanced way and it gives me a perspective that is really priceless. To me, that is the the great value of a vacation. Yes, it is great to see a new place and meet new people too. This photograph was taken two weeks ago when Nick and I were in Mexico.

Ah, Children

How can one describe a typical day as a parent? Many (most) moments are nothing as you imagined when you were dreaming about what parenthood would look like. At least it is far, far from what I imagined. Maybe other people have the experiences we see on movies and in tv commercials. You know what I mean, long walks on the beach with the baby up on dad's shoulders with the child looking oh-so-cute in the perfectly knitted cable sweater (handmade, of course). Then there are lots of little glances back and forth between the mom and the dad as the baby coos happily while the sun sets.

Yes, yes, there are moments (teeny tiny fractions of moments) that look a little like that. I don't want to say there aren't. Our moments tend to be more colorful. I suppose this is to be expected as my son nears adolescence. And it is not to say that I don't enjoy it, because I do. For example, today Nick wanted to make a cake. (It is baking as I write next to fire. That is a lovely image, isn't it?) While he was cracking the eggs and measuring the ingredients he was singing his "new" song that he learned--We Are The Champions, by Queen. Remember that song? I hadn't expected to hear it again at this point. I think he might have learned it from watching ESPN with his dad, though I'm not sure. But what I am sure of, is that I will hear it a lot in the coming days as he tends to really enjoy singing new songs.

The photo I included today was one that I took last Halloween. Nick had received from his paternal grandmother a shirt that was handcrafted out of puff paint and halloween decals. (I believe she found it at a garage sale.) He thought it was a hoot and thought it would be great to pose in. I have a lot of pictures like this. My son loves being goofy. (Hmmm...funny, but his mom does too.) And although it wasn't exactly what I expected when I thought of having a child, it is more than I ever dreamed it would be. Yes, it is more challenging, but it is also a whole lot more fun.

Community

Working in a community can sometimes (ok, often) be very challenging especially when we have a project that needs to be completed. I say this because I'm feeling a bit resentful about how little people are willing to put forth their energy, time and resources. And then, there's the few (always the same ones it seems) that are willing to do much more than their share. If you are one of the ones that contributes it's suddenly easy to find yourself saddled with the duty of the whole project when you hoped (assumed) that other people would pitch in when needed. And then they don't. And then you feel used. So how does one balance this? Some people use the excuse that they are busy and don't have the time. We ALL are busy and don't have the time. In frustration today, I found myself writing (and sending) and e-mail that ended with the often quoted "many hands make light work". So far, it doesn't seem to have motivated many. But, at least I feel better after having said my thoughts on the subject.

Trying Something New

A few weeks ago I was intrigued with a book I found about drawing with chalk pastels. I haven't done much before with them, but am now really enjoying them. The key to using them is to spray the paper along the way with a fixative. That way you can add more detail while keeping the parts that you like on the paper. With this flower (I have no idea what kind it is), I started with a dark grey paper and then layered many colors with fixitive in between each layer. It's a fun process and so different than working with paint.