Creative Rehab - Day 1 and 2

Happy New Year!!

Yesterday was Day 1 of Creative Rehab, but I missed yesterday, so I will post day 1 and 2 now to catch up.  Why did I miss yesterday?  Well, I was absorbed in creating my personal and business goals for 2014 using two workbooks created by Leoni Dawson called "Create Your Amazing Year."  She uses really great prompts to get you thinking about where your are, where you want to be, and what you want.  I'm not completely done yet as I need to create my dream boards still - but I will post those when they are done.

One of the exercises I did was coming up with a word and a phrase that I want to live by in 2014.  I decided that my "word" this year is Authenticity - which for me means that my goal each and every day is to live as authentically as I can, being true to who I am and what I want in all facets of my life.  My phrase is Spirit Goddess which for me means that I am embracing both my inner-spirit and my inner-goddess.

I did an Oracle reading and was amazed and surprised at which cards I pulled (if you click on the photo, you should be able to make it bigger):

So needless to say it has been an inspiring, awakening, and beautiful start to my new year! So, back to Creative Rehab!

Here is my shot for Day1:

When it's done it will be a pendent.  The stone is a garnet.

Day 2:

You might think my day 2 photo is odd but i'm very proud of my DIY lightbox!

To keep things simple, I'm just going to keep adding to this post each day rather than create a new post for each day, and I hope you'll join me by sharing your photos on my Facebook page!

And remember, it doesn't have to be "art" per se - just whatever makes your heart sing.

'Til tomorrow!

Creative Rehab for 365 days -- Starting in in 6 Days

Are you ready?  January 1st is just around the corner.  I hope you will join me on my quest to practice art once-a-day.  It can be for 10 minutes or 10 hours, it can be anything you want - finished,  unfinished, it doesn't matter.  For more details, you can check out my previous blog post here.

To make this even more fun, but only if you feel comfortable, I'd love it if you shared your creations - partial or otherwise on my Facebook Page, and post comments if the mood strikes you.

Though the following picture isn't part of the 365 days of course, but thought I'd show what I mean:

Unfinished Earrings

Let me know in the comments below if you're going to join me!

Creative Rehab - 365 Days of Art, Part Deux

Seven months ago I posted a "call to arms" in the form of an artistic revolution and never followed through.  So I am putting it out there again. 

Now seems the time as I am relaunching my jewelry, and New Year's is just around the corner.  A new year, a new me, a new relationship with my art.  I hope you will join me in whatever capacity you can and in whatever medium(s) call out to you.  

Be yourself, be happy, be authentic.

Originally posted May 22, 2013…

It has been almost a year since I posted anything, almost a year since I sat at my jewelry bench, but all that is about to change.  I moved in December and am finally getting around to settling into my space.  My jewelry bench is almost uncluttered - this coming long weekend should do the trick and get me firmly back to my passion, albeit, one step at a time.

A little bit about the title...I learned about Creative Rehab from an article by one of the founders of Rebelle Society, Andrea Balt.  The name itself instantly intrigued me as I have let my art fall by the wayside once again.  In a nutshell, Creative Rehab is about doing one art related activity per day for 365 days, as Andrea Balt says,

So choose your revolution. Whatever that is: painting, drawing, photographing, sculpting, knitting, yoging, singing, dancing, moon-dust collecting—you name it—and take one single step into it, every day, for 365 days.

One step is small enough not to allow any excuses. It’s also big enough to yield significant change in your operating mind and inquisitive spirit, your creative muscle, your craft, and ultimately, your life as a house.

So June 1st {new start date will be 1/1/2014} will by my day to start my revolution of photography and jewelry.  Each day I will create using one medium or the other or both, but I will do one of them each day.

Each day I will post either a photo I've taken of some random subject, or a photo of a piece of jewelry that I'll be working on right here on my blog.

Go "...choose your revolution," it's waiting for you.

Creative Rehab - 365 Days of Art

It has been almost a year since I posted anything, almost a year since I sat at my jewelry bench, but all that is about to change.  I moved in December and am finally getting around to settling into my space.  My jewelry bench is almost uncluttered - this coming long weekend should do the trick and get me firmly back to my passion, albeit, one step at a time.

A little bit about the title...I learned about Creative Rehab from an article by one of the founders of Rebelle Society, Andrea Balt.  The name itself instantly intrigued me as I have let my art fall by the wayside once again.  In a nutshell, Creative Rehab is about doing one art related activity per day for 365 days, as Andrea Balt says,

So choose your revolution. Whatever that is: painting, drawing, photographing, sculpting, knitting, yoging, singing, dancing, moon-dust collecting—you name it—and take one single step into it, every day, for 365 days.

One step is small enough not to allow any excuses. It’s also big enough to yield significant change in your operating mind and inquisitive spirit, your creative muscle, your craft, and ultimately, your life as a house.

So June 1st will by my day to start my revolution of photography and jewelry.  Each day I will create using one medium or the other or both, but I will do one of them each day.

Each day I will post either a photo I've taken of some random subject, or a photo of a piece of jewelry that I'll be working on right here on my blog.

Go "...choose your revolution," it's waiting for you.

My Latest Piece

I've been working on the bracelet that I started before I started working again back in April - and it's almost completed!  Just have to finish the surfaces and fabricate a clasp.

It's made using both copper and sterling silver - every piece hand fabricated, including the jump rings.  I'm thinking it looks kind of rocker-chic and am really liking how it's turning out!

I was going to use a pre-fabricated clasp, but it just doesn't go with my design.  I have an idea for the clasp, but  executing will be a bit of a challenge as I've never fabricated anything like it before.  I'll so some sketches and post them.

I'm also working on a ring and a pair of earrings - I always have several projects going at one time because sometimes I hit a snag with one piece, or just need a break from it, so need to step away from it, and work on something else.  More often than not, my subconscious is still working in background, and when it comes up with an idea for one of the other pieces, it pushes it to the conscious/aware part of my brain.

For example, originally this bracelet was going to have three stones, evenly spaced along the bracelet, but all of a sudden I realized that it would make the bracelet too bulky, and would prevent it from wearing comfortably.  So I removed the pieces with the stones and let it sit some more, because I still wasn't sure how I was going to "string" them together.  The idea with the jump  rings came to me while working on the ring.

It's very cool this process that I have no actual control over.  It's like relinquishing control from my conscious, logical side of the brain, and letting thoughts just float around, ebbing and flowing until one "catches."

I'll be back in the studio tomorrow, a friend, who is a professional photographer, will be helping me set up my camera and shooting space and teach me how to take better photographs that really make my pieces pop.  I'm eternally grateful to him as he is giving me his time and expertise in exchange for nothing.

Will post more anon....(currently listening to Henry IV, Part 1 by Shakespeare, in the courtyard)

Summer Shakespeare in the Courtyard

Forget about "Must See TV!" This is Must See Theatre!

In Portland, right here at Milepost 5.

Post5 Theatre presents, Henry IV Part 1!

"In the wake of a quashed rebellion, it seems as though King Henry IV's (Jeff Gorham) country is final

ly at peace, especially with the valiant Harry "Hotspur" Percy (Orion Bradshaw) leading his army.

If only King Henry's home life was so simple. While Hotspur is fighting with rebels and magicians (yeah, MAGICIANS), Henry's own son and heir to the throne, Hal (Ty Boice), is out galavanting with thieves, knaves, and general na'er-do-wells, lead by the boisterous Falstaff (Rusty Tennant) much to his father's chagrin.

And with the hot-headed Hotspur becoming restless, King Henry has few friends to turn to. Can his son prove himself in time to stop this new uprising? Will Hal's friends prove knights or cowards? Will Henry ever trust his reckless son again?

Post5 Theatre is proud to present their first ever Shakespearean History, directed by Don Alder and also featuring the talents of Michael Godsey, Daniel R. Somerfield, Brian Allard, and Tai Simmons (among many others) this is sure to prove a history that you never saw coming.

Fast-paced and exciting, Post5's Henry IV p.1, tells Shakespeare's tale of redemption and honor in a new and fresh way.

OPENS Friday, August 17th
Thursday-Sundays
CLOSES Saturday, September 8th

ALL SHOWS AT 7PM!
ALL SHOWS COMPLETELY FREE
(although donations are always appreciated)

In the courtyard the Milepost5 Community for Creatives
850 NE 81st Ave
4.5 blocks from the Red, Blue, and Green MAX lines
Just off of the 72 Bus line

WHEN THE PARTY ENDS, THE WAR BEGINS." (used with permission by Post5 Theatre)

Trust me, you do not want to miss this!  Grab a picnic, and blanket or chairs, grab some friends, and share in an evening of Shakespearean delight!

The Return of the Prodigal Jeweler

After a prolonged absence from my studio, I am making a slow return.  I've really missed my jewelry making and spending time in my studio.  On April 18th I was offered and accepted a full-time job, both a blessing and hinderance to the direction I thought my life was going.  In the end though, I realized that a steady paycheck and benefits are not to be sneezed at.  Of course, after almost a year of being unemployed, it's been a bit of an adjustment working 8 hours a day, and because I sold my car, a nearly two hour round-trip commute by bus.  Needless to say by the time I get home at night, the last thing on my mind is heading down to my studio.

I've been working for 3 months now, and am ready to make my art part of my daily life again - even if I just do sketches of ideas for future pieces.  I spend all day in front of/at my computer at work - I don't need to spend all my free time at my computer at home.  

The artist community where I live now has a new, excellent, results driven Creative Director who has been working hard to bring people to our First Friday openings, so my goal is to be ready to have a table at the September First  Friday, in addition, Post5 Theatre will be staging a production of the first act of Shakespeare's Henry IV in mid-August, and will have a table during those performances as well.

If you you're in the Portland area during the month of August, check us out.  You can also check out the Milepost 5 website.

A Feast For the Senses: August @ Milepost 5

Cheers!