Focus on Life: Week 17: Color

Sally Russick of The Studio Sublime is hosting a year long challenge which is... sublime... as you'd expect with such a studio name. The challenge is named 'Focusing on Life' and every week Sally is sending a prompt on what should we focus the following week.

The prompt of this week?!

Did you ever notice the way color can effect our mood and perception of the environment around us?

Colors can elevate our mood or change our perception of an object. Bright vivid colors can make us feel positive where a darker color can evoke a heaviness. Subtle colors create a softness. Florescent color not only can grab attention, florescent literally scream at you to pay attention and that can cause a feeling of anxiety.

Whether photographing a full shot of amazing colors or small pops of color against a muted background, this week break out your camera and capture some color. Think about how the colors of the shot effect your mood, feelings, perception of your surroundings! Focus on how the colors impact your decision to take a particular shot.

Did I notice colour? Sally must be kidding: I breath colour. I am incredibly sensitive to hues and shades, I purely hate dull colours and can't stand black at all. The lack of colour during winter made me create what we now call our 'indoor garden': since then I don't think there has been one single day when I don't have flowers on my desk: colourful fragrant flowers.

I love pastels, I can't even look at bright neon colours for too long (I get physically sick). I love blues and I am careful designing with reds. If I know I'll have a hard day at work I will dress in red - it energizes me and it also made others a tad careful around me :) I love orange and gold, and baby chicks yellow - but mostly for flowers, not for design.

I was wondering what to capture for this week - until nature itself presented me the perfect moment. It is a beautiful 'Focus on Life' moment, I couldn't have staged it better myself!

Look at what we found in one of the bushes (the one right below the main bedroom)!! A few years back the robins made their nest in another bush, the one in front of my desk. Then they made it under the roof for a few years - and now... they moved lower again. I always thought they lay 3 eggs, this nest has 4 brilliant blue eggs! With our Easter approaching - they just made me want to colour the eggs right now :)

I was worried: for a couple of days I could only see the blue eggs - I just went outside again to check and there she (or he) was: the parent robin, carefully watching us and not moving one nano meter! Not a lot of colour there - but a lot of Focus on Life :)

Please get yourself a glass of wine or a cup of tea and join us as we gather at Miss Sally's to chat in and about colour!

Art Jewelry Elements: Earring challenge - Week 15/16

The second installment of the AJE's earring elements - week 15/16.

I must admit I almost forgot about it - I saw pins flying in all week, but somehow it didn't register that I need to make something... and take pictures... and blog about it... and pin them!!

In a half-panic attack last night, after getting the child to bed (no small feast these days, especially with today being a PA day :)) I went into the studio and looked around myself. What can I use?

Luckily I found some copper washers I had stamped and patina-ed before (for earrings!) so I decided to use them, along with the turquoise dyed howlite in the last package from my mom.

Thus the 'Southwestern flair' was born :) And yes, I made them symmetrically asymmetric!

Southwestern flair:
copper, turquoise dyed howlite, sterling silver earwires

Southwestern flair:
copper, turquoise dyed howlite, sterling silver earwires

Now... what to do next? I looked and searched and pulled boxes until I found the main ingredient: starring at me from a plate on the desk (they've been there for a long time). Also from my mom, a previous package - something I've wanted for long - glass 'flowers'.

I added a Swarovski crystal for a nice 'bling' effect, the copper chain for fluidity and I was instantly in love!

Meet 'Fluid elegance' - a bit of autumn colours, but I still love them :)

Fluid elegance:
glass flower, Swarovski, copper, sterling silver ear wires

Fluid elegance:
glass flower, Swarovski, copper, sterling silver ear wires

There we have it - please check AJE's website on Sunday, for a complete blog-hop!

Treasures from overseas

This past week I have received many packages, all with treasures. You've learned about all others but one: the package from my mom.

She sends me various items from home: some have been in our family for years, some are brand new, some have emotional value, some have material value. For us it's like Christmas morning, a true one for adults as well. You know how you kind of know what's going to be under the tree?! I never know what my mom's packages will hold, it's fun to open them. 

I will show you part of this treasure, I need to take pictures of everything else.

First, some glass pearls: huge, probably 3/4" in diameter - but look at those colours! Hubby asked to be moved from the table,. he thought they are candy :) And they are candy: for the eye!

Various items: 3 large resin roses, absolutely lovely! More glass pearls, some turquoise, a few cute beaded beads - and those cracked paint hearts: those are vintage, older than I am (from mom's best friend's grandmother).

Do you see the green heart? There were 3 or 4 of them: they are mother of pearl, drilled through the center, and vintage too (same source as above)

Can you believe it how lucky I am? Mom sent me flower brass filigrees! I wanted some for so long - and now I have 10 to play with!

This is an exquisite collection: Swarovski crystals (she received them from a friend who likes to make jewelry, but has way too many supplies - does it sound familiar?!), some nice ceramic stones (love that colourful vortex) and Murano glass. I thought it might be Murano-like, but no, it is real Murano, her friend visited Italy a few years back. Need to figure out a special design for those flowers!

And last, but not least - a collection of glass beads and cabs. They are opalescent and in beautiful pastel shades... the yellowish pieces are large, and have no holes, perfect for wire wrapping!

My collection of beads and supplies is ever-growing... time to make something new :)

What treasures have you uncovered recently?!

The Sun and the Wind

(Old Story by Dm. Ushinsky)

Once upon a time the Sun and the mean, cold Northern Wind started arguing about which one of them was stronger. They argued for a long time, and finally decided to test their powers on a traveler, that happened to be riding his horse at that time.

"Look," said the wind, "I'll catch up to him, and rip off his coat."

He started to blow as hard as he could. But the harder the Wind blew, the more the traveler wrapped his coat around himself and continued to ride down the road, thinking how horrible the weather was. The wind got angrier and threw down some rain and snow. The poor traveler, cursing the weather, put on his coat and tied the belt. The Wind, knowing that he will never have the coat, gave up.

The Sun, seeing the Wind's failure, smiled, came out from behind the clouds, warmed and dried the ground, along with the poor traveler. Feeling the warmth, the traveler blessed the Sun and took off his coat himself and tied it to his saddle.

"See," said the kind Sun to the Wind," with goodness and caring you can do a lot more than with anger."

[from http://www.stmarkorthodox.org]

A Very Mery Unbirthday challenge

That's both a mouthful and a strange idea!

What in the peaceful world is an 'Un-birthday'? Well - is Mr. Rabbit's way to celebrate every day that's not one's birthday (if you haven't yet, I hope you'll read Alice in Wonderland, it's one of the loveliest books ever) - and Marlene's and Shelley's way of implementing it with a swap.

This time my partner was the wonderful Ginger Bishop. When Ginger mentioned she's in Japan I recalled her immediately from the first Bead Soup I participated in. I don't remember the jewelry she made, but I still have the memory of the lush vegetation she used as a prop and for some reasons it stayed with me it's somewhere in Japan. We talked about ourselves a little bit and found out many things we had in common (our sons turn 10 almost withing a month from one another, add to that my hubby and her son almost share a birthday too!), down to what we love to wear. She's a 'Diamond' birthday girl, I am an Emerald (I know - precious girls, aren't we?!) so we had to work around the 'specifications' a little bit.

I agonized over what to make her. I actually made 2 different pendants - one was almost a loss (I salvaged it in the end, but I couldn't send it as a gift, even if I still love it and wear it almost daily), the other one I tinkered a bit too long with it (there is something to be said about knowing when to stop; in fairness I knew when - I just couldn't, the glass kept popping out... but it was a great learning experience).

So here I was - learning a lot, but still having nothing to show for it. Now I got into desperation mode: the deadline to mail our gifts passed, the child was being sick again and I had to do something!

One thing has worked for me very well so far: when in doubt, go back to basics and KISS. Seems fit to KISS for a birthday gift, doesn't? Keep it simple (stupid) I did: the argentium wire came out, the jig was put together, swirl, swirl, hammer, hammer, wrap, wrap, attach, attach - yes, everything went into pairs... because... this is what went in the mail the next day:

Kiley: graceful (Argentium, Sterling Silver, Swarovski)

I agonized for weeks over what might Ginger reaction be. I love them, but then I love (almost) everything I make, so that's not a good measure. We both received our gifts on the same day - and, happily for me - Ginger loved the Butterfly Earrings!

I won't keep you any longer - I will just show you the beauty Ginger sent me: she created the most elegant and beautifully flowing necklace with the one material I longed for for a long, long time - sea glass. I wanted for so long to use or simply wear some - and now I have been given that opportunity by my lovely partner!

It went around my neck the very next day and I just love how it feels: graciously dancing and whispering of some unknown secrets of the deep. The pearls are just the perfect touch and the little sun keep me smiling and hoping I will see it for longer periods than 10 minutes here and there (this winter is brutal). I tried to will the summer into arriving and it actually worked for one day (yesterday we had a whooping 25 Celsius!)

Thank you, Ginger, for the wonderful gift - and thank you, Marlene and Shelley for yet another wonderful challenge.

Please make sure you visit Ginger to hear the story of the sea glass necklace (I am curious of it too!)

Then please visit the other participants - to learn about their own adventures in Unbirthday land!

Our hosts: 

Marlene Cupo

Shelley Graham Turner

Ali McCarthy

Alicia Marinache <= you are here

Anzia Parks 

Audrey Belanger

Cheri Reed 

Cheryl Dunham 

Chris Eisenberg

Christine Schlicht

Cynthia Machata

D Lynne Bowland

Dyanne Everett-Cantrell

Gina Hockett

Ginger Bishop <= My partner!

Gloria Allen

Janeen Burlingame

Joana Perez Stribel

Lori Schneider

Mary Govaars

Mischelle Fanucchi

Paula Gaskill

Renetha Stanziano

Robin Reed

Sherry Baun

Shirley Moore

Sierra Barrett

Susan Bowie

Susie Harris

Mowse Doyle

Cindy Muse

Ellie Grossman

Focus on Life: Week 16 ~ Take a walk!

Sally Russick of The Studio Sublime is hosting a year long challenge which is... sublime... as you'd expect with such a studio name. The challenge is named 'Focusing on Life' and every week Sally is sending a prompt on what should we focus the following week.

The prompt of this week?!


Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
                                                    ~Robert Frost

Grab your camera, open the door and step outside into the fresh air.  Take a walk!  

You know me by now... our family does not need prompts to get out and walk! So walk - more hike, in fact - we did. At 4 in the afternoon, through one of the conservation areas close by, meeting a handful of people on the trails (just enough to make you feel comfortable that you're not alone in a forest at dusk). 

What is he watching so intent?!

Yes, the quick flow of the creek - he's always fascinated by water

Spring is definitely here!

We are blessed to be within minutes from Bruce Trail!
Today - we learned about different blazes and their meaning

Do you see the faces sleeping in this knot?!
I see four of them

Lovely curves

The area is known for the abundance of fossils - William is looking for them

And right in the middle of the forest... a wall!
The property used to be someone's farm many moons ago!

How many years does the moss need to cover the stone so beautifully?

What does he see?

 A huge woodpecker!

We follow the creek as it turns and tumbles

More knots - lovely knots everywhere

This will be a lovely orchard in the spring - looks dead now, but knowing
there is life in there, just waiting to wake up is such a wonderful feeling!

Ready for a new adventure? Always!

Thank you for taking the journey with us - I hope you have enjoyed the hike.

Thank you, Sally for the lovely challenge - it is absolutely wonderful!
And please make sure you join the collective virtual walk - the headquarters are, as usual, at Miss Sally's.

Echo Creative Club

Jeannie Dukic if Jewlery by Jeannie is hosting a few intriguing challenges, one of them being the Echo Creative Club. Last year she opened the Echo Creative Club to people who would not fall into the rules - at the time I had all my ducks in the row, except for the publishing one. I wanted to be part of her club so badly that as soon as she accepted me as a guest I send what must have seemed tons of pictures to Denise Peck, the wonderful editor of Step by Step Wire Jewelry.

The rest is almost history - Denise picked one of my pieces, then in the winter she picked another one and as soon as my 2nd piece has been published I eagerly sent my application to Jeannie. Being such a sweetheart she accepted me and a couple of days ago a surprise waited for me in the mail:

Even the box is handmade (hand-painted and decorated) by Jeannie! Look at those delicious colours!

That beautiful envelope (also handmade) holds this lovely business card...

Can you imagine what surprises might wait for me there if so far what you've seen is the packaging?!

Can you spell I.N. L.O.V.E? The colours are fabulous, the designs are absolutely delicious and I found myself in the impossible situation of wanting to use all 4 of them at once!
Sketches are already being sketched... and dreams dreamed...

Thank you, Miss Jeannie for the opportunity and for the lovely components!!

And if you'd like to work with these beauties yourself - make sure you visit Jeannie's shop and 'steal' some :)

The power of habit

Below is a fable Florian Pittis (one of my dearest actor / singer of my youth) used to recite in his concerts (after the revolution he formed a group with 2 folk singers and together they brought joy to generations of people). He loved to sing / recite Bob Dylan's songs, in a perfect translation - his own.

The power of habit

One day a wolf came to a sheep farm and ate a sheep.
The shepherd took his shotgun, went into the forest, and returned with the dead wolf.

The 2nd day another wolf came and ate a sheep.
The shepherd took his shotgun, went into the forest, and returned with the dead wolf.

The 3rd day another wolf came and ate a sheep.
The shepherd took his shotgun, went into the forest, and returned with the dead wolf.

The 4th day another wolf came and ate a sheep.
The shepherd took his shotgun, went into the forest, and returned with the dead wolf.

The 5th day another wolf came and ate a sheep.
The shepherd took his shotgun, went into the forest, and returned with the dead wolf.

The 6th day a sheep ate a sheep.
The shepherd took his shotgun, went into the forest, and returned with the dead wolf.

---

I still remember not knowing if I should laugh or cry out loud when I first heard this fable.
I decided to laugh and remember.

May you remember too :)

P.S. For those who would enjoy hearing the fable recited by Pittis himself - even if you don't understand Romanian you'll have a blast listening to his crescendo:

ArtFire Collections

As you might know I am selling my creations on Art Fire - an online community very much like Etsy, art- and hand-made oriented.

Recently I had the pleasure to be included in a few collections (what on Etsy you'd call 'treasures') and they certainly are treasures to my heart.

You can see all three right here - thank you for visiting and thank you to all 3 curators for adding my pieces in their collections: I am equally humbled and happy to be featured among wonderful artists.

Artistry, Light and Magic from Members o...

Curated By: TTEDesigns

ArtFire.com

Shades of Blue

Curated By: TheBeadedHound

ArtFire.com

Sterling and Stones

Curated By: MetalJoy

ArtFire.com