Intentional Stones

New Sketching Habit

Free from expectation-that's what the morning pages have always been about.  Work for long enough to scrub my brain of the bits of dreams or old feelings or doubts. 

In days past, I've tried to do the Morning Pages suggested by Julia Cameron, but writing is not really doing it for me.  Recently, though, I've busted out a little sketchbook and I'm slowly filling it up with doodles.  Some have even lead to very interesting jewelry ideas.  Those I've transferred to my "main" sketchbook.  One with graph lines to easily gauge size and metal needs.  It's pretty cool. 

Homeschooling is gradually feeling like it's under control.  I can work during school hours on little brainless things-like weaving that's repetitive and calming, or sketching that's easy to put down and take back up again.  Especially if it's these little morning pages type sketches.  Who cares if you start a new idea and lose an old one if you're not sweating the finished product? 

I'm on to something here.  Even if I'm not in midst of a formal course like the Artist's Way.  It's helping me to live more visually.  When did I ever learn these habits of pushing the visual away?  It's so natural to me.  Some of my earliest memories are of shape and form and exploring them. 

Now that school's done I can get back to the bench.  Filling my table for the Chili Event won't happen without lots of work!

-Simbelmynë

Monday Traffic

I figured it out a week ago, then the blog post was stale, now it's fresh again.

Mondays are like tunnel traffic. 

Living in Pittsburgh gives one a unique perspective on the concept of tunnels.  Tunnels and bridges are a way of life here.  There are something like 700 bridges and fewer tunnels, I've never counted.  But I live with a view of the Squirrel Hill tunnel.  It goes over 376, the main path from east to west through Pittsburgh.  When I first moved here, 12 years ago, I didn't understand why people don't like to cross town for gatherings, shops, events.  And then a few seasons of heavy construction on the bridges and tunnels showed me what it was. 

Tunnel traffic.

There's nothing quite like the psychological effect tunnels have.  Someone once told me that if the Squirrel Hill Tunnel was just 1 foot wider on each side, (East and Westbound each has it's own 2 lane tunnel), then the psychological effect of the tunnel would be lessened.  People automatically slow down when entering the tunnel.  There's a tendency for fender benders near and in it.  Most are very minor, but they can stop both lanes for a couple minutes at a time.  Stopping everyone else for 15-30 minutes.  And that's just for minor problems.

Construction is just that much more fun.  Removing lanes, putting up signs for slowdowns, rerouting exits (there's one right after the tunnel on either side).  It's all fun.

And on a busy summer weekend day, you can lose a huge chunk of your free time by braving these hazards.  Even I have started mentally assessing the construction situation before I commit to something across town.

My point, that I've gotten distracted from, is that Mondays are like my tunnels. 

Weekends are a time when I get to participate in a lot of my artistic pursuits.  I get to take classes, get together with friends, family, fellow artists, go shopping and hunting for materials in other ways.  I get to recharge. 

I also get to spend free time with my family, I get more rest.  I'm generally reenergized when Monday morning comes. 

I wake up and I feel like I could do anything.  Get through the school day, take on 2 new projects as well as finish all the old ones.  Clean up the house.  Have a great time. 

By noon, I realize that it's just like every other weekday.  School is hard work and it's using up all my energy.  Jewelry and household projects are going to need more than I have left at the end of the day.  And every day things like cooking, cleaning up after ourselves and keeping myself fit and healthy are going to take up even more of that energy.   The rest of the day is spent in that weirdly lighted, tightly enclosed space where if anything happened, I wouldn't be able to back out and I'd be stuck there forever. 

Every week.

I need some kind of alternate route through Monday.

Any ideas?

-Simbelmynë

 

Strands and strands

I have to reassure you.  If there's nothing posted here, it's due to the fact that I'm very very very very busy. 

Project Runway is on the TV on thursdays and it's vitalizing to see the design in process.

One last Sunday show is coming up at the Waterfront.  Look for us from 11-3 in the Pump House! I'll be there for their holiday market in late November, but I'm skipping the Biketoberfest on the first.  Maybe I'll stop in with my bike!  What a concept!

But, most of all, I'm getting ready for holiday shows.  I have many great pieces that I've started but need those last finishing touches or a necklace to hang from.  I have planned improvements to my displays to complete.  Photographs to get into the portfolio.  My tent needs repair or replacement.  (One gust of wind from Irene took it out [the storm never touched Pittsburgh, except that pesky wind]) And I need weights to keep that from happening again. 

Bedford's Fall Foliage Festival will be here in no time!  October 8th is coming up very very fast.  This one's a big time show and everything must be hand made!!! 

Then there's the listings.  I uploaded some photos to facebook, but they're not written up or listed yet!!!

School is in full swing around here.  Which is the primary reason for being too busy to blog.  It's like I have two full time jobs.  And while it's filling a lot of my time, I feel like my life is finally back where I want it to be.  We're having the most rich time working together and learning together.  And we completely back in control of our lives. 

Today in the studio I have strands of tiny stone beads getting ready to support beautiful stone pendants.  Woven chain with me all day long.  I'm finishing commissions and making a few larger gemstone rings.  OK, I'm overwhelmed by my aspirations.  

Still.  You get the idea. 

Out for a walk

For my Artist's Date this week I decided to take a walk with my camera.

It's been a while since I took flower photos. 

 

I came to the conclusion that I'd like to add some hydrangeas and azalias to my yard.  Maybe they can crowd out some of the plants I'm not so fond of.  Little things that might help me feel more like I'm in control of the back yard jungle. 

My vine phots didn't come out as well, but they're good enough for jewelry designing.  Hopefully you'll see them then.

-Simbelmynë

Artist's weekend

My family will be out of town having the time of their lives.

And I'm staying home to have a party! (yes, I do feel like a teenager whose parents have left town for the weekend)

It's an artist's retreat at Simbelmynë's house!  I'll hit Costco and fill the house with food. I'm used to all sorts of eaters-picky eaters, carnivores, vegetarians, vegans, food sensitivities, OmNomNomNivores... Also I have hot and cold running WiFi, which is, of course, optional.  And, never fear, coffee.

Everything's ship shape with lots of room for big projects.  I'm not far from Construction Junction, really you could get pretty crazy. I'm planning to set aside areas for specific things, and we can adjust as people arrive with their projects and goals for the weekend.  I have lots of places to sleep, if you're from out of town or just don't want to leave.

The jewelry studio will be in full swing.  I have almost every type of equipment anybody could need-from torches to finishing equipment. I have tables and corners and quiet areas for writing, being quiet, meditating.  A park next door for walks and listening to the world around us.  A full crafting room with all sorts of supplies, if you forget anything.  I even have a macro photography studio, if you want to get some small photos.

We can swap, dump, laugh, play, work, meditate, trade secrets, teach, learn, whatever we want to do.

If you RSVP I can make sure I have what you need.  Or just show up, the more the merrier!

Stay all weekend or come and go as you please. 

Official Start is 7pm Friday, March 18 and end at 7pm Sunday March 20.

-Simbelmynë

(412)608-8986

235 Oakview Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15218

(Please ignore the photo it's from the highway, for some reason)

We're the last house on the left.

Labor Day Unplugged (Sort Of)

I'm celebrating an anti-relaxed laborday.  (It's not anti-laborday because I'm in no way against Labor and all the positives that resulted from oranizing labor)  I'm spending the weekend catching up on business communication and making stuff.  I have two larger projects to finish up and drawing, modeling and planning for a million little ones.  Nevermind homework.

There is something deeply relaxing about my family having a pleasant and fun weekend around me while I work. 

I did something radical though.  I turned off twitter, I'm only showing up in blogland for a few minutes, and I've told the chat world that I'm not available.  I'm even contemplating keeping the TV off, though that may become too much, as the TV provides a buffer from chore-related distractions.  I may unplug completely by the end of Monday.  I'll do whatever it takes to keep my focus.

I hope you're having a beautiful weekend!

Focus

Sunset in the Virgin Islands

Summer's over here.  I'll hold onto the moment in this picture whenever the craziness of every day tries to rule.

Artist's Lifestyle

In an ideal world, I would spend time each week learning new skills, studying gemstones, drawing, designing, researching symbols, being outside thinking artistically about nature.  And that doesn't even cover time for making jewelry, describing, photographing it and all the other stuff required to get it out there for the world to see.

Just there I see two full time jobs! Like being in college and working at the same time.

Then I have my family obligations, which are also full time.  No wonder I finish each week wishing I'd gotten more done.

Taking drawing classes I met more people in the Art Scene here in Pittsburgh.  They made me aware of more opportunities, events and the general pursuit of art around here.  I'll be taking more classes, renewing my membership in the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, and getting to more arts events.

Art is more than seeing and being seen, though.

It's about expressing the essentials of yourself.  Giving form to spiritual ideas and capturing beauty as you see and experience it.

Making art a lifestyle needs to incorporate creation, growth, experience, practice, sharing and thinking.

-Simbelmynë

Monsters!

Brutal tearing, ripping, squishing....

it was a terrifying scene.

Way too many cherries at the grocery store called out to us.  And since that morning, breakfast had been delicious fresh bread with home canned strawberry jelly, we had no excuse not to try it.

I've never had so much buy in on a goofy project.  Especially one that ended up in two different trips to the store for jars and tools as well as sugar.  Maybe the key was letting them ignore the knives and tear the poor cherries apart like zombies.

They don't call my kids the 60 pound fruit flies for nothing.

Why did we wait so long?

We love our house and our yard.  And I've been wanting to get patio furniture for ages.  I'd walk through the stores and art fairs looking for the perfect table and chairs.  I'd marvel at the prices of the things that caught my eye, and walk past.

Last week, I cut that out.  I found one that was big enough and sturdy enough looking.  Not perfect.  No stone inlay.  No hand cut wood specially treated to endure a life outdoors.  Just metal frame, glass top, hole for an umbrella.  I didn't need to install paving stones in the back yard, I just cleaned off the deck next to the house and removed the old lounge furniture I never used.

And it's like I added a room onto my home.  One that people feel free to say "Hi!" and join us in at any time.  It's fantastic.

We've been at the table together a million times a day ever since.  Playing, drawing, eating, chatting, relaxing, writing, you name it.

And having spent the smaller amount of money, I'm far more motivated to put away those pennies for the perfect table, should we ever find it.

I love sharing our summer.

-Simbelmynë