Trials and Inspirations

One of the greatest gifts an artist can receive is inspiration. Living in the country, I usually turn to nature for my inspiration. My windows are free of draperies so the wonders right outside are always in view. The colors and textures are always shifting. The animals provide amusement and have served me well over the years. When we travel, my husband has become used to me taking pictures, not only of traditional views, but of colors or textures I want to remember. A tree's bark, the various colors at the bottom of the pond. If mother nature puts the colors together, I know those same colors can work in my jewelry. (The color wheel makes no sense to me. If I don't see the colors together outside, I don't use the combination.)So, mother nature has been and will continue to be my constant source of ideas. Trying to capture in my work the beauty of what surrounds me.

That said, I've found a new fountain of inspiration. Twice this year, I was lucky enough to travel to spend time with two very dear friends who are artists in their own right. Both very different types of artistry than what I do, but the time I spent with them left me energized and anxious to "play" with new ideas. Both, very generous spirits, giving back more than they take from the world. Both, friends that enrich my life beyond any ordinary expectations.

Unintentionally, I may have found a version of artist retreat that suits the recluse I am. Our precious time visiting and living under the same roof for a period of time is more enriching than I can explain. While one makes beautiful pots, garden art, and recycled sculpture, the other is a master of books, papers, and cards. Both quilt, both look at the world through many different points of view. There is always something that can be added, tweaked, or built on the germ of an idea. The variety of art forms, as well as the directions they come at their art from, is food for my soul. Add to that the warmth of friendship that revels at helping and supporting each other, and there is such joy that comes from our time together.

Yes, I belong to an art guild at home that is full of very talented women. Yes, the meetings we have give me the same sort of boost. The difference is the time spent with such special friends under the same roof with the freedom to share our lives, ideas, and interests for a number of days at a time. We talk of cooking, of decorating, of our children, our husbands, our passions. We always pick up right where we left off, no matter how much time has passed since our last visit. Kindred spirits, sharing so much and taking so much away from our time together.

So, where are the trials, you ask. Easy... You return home filled and ready to tackle the world, expand your tiny field of artistry but, where to begin? So many twists and turns you can add to your work or apply things you've discovered to other areas of your life. What to do first? Oh how I wish I'd found this blessing when I was younger and would remember all the ideas. Yes, I need to follow Doe's example and always carry paper and pen and write, write, write down the ideas or germs that become ideas. Age, and a "senior brain" don't need to slow me down.

I'm blessed and I hope to continue to spend my time on earth enjoying, creating, and adding to other's lives. May we all find those special friends who support each other, encourage each other, hand off their cast off and broken jewelry to be reworked into new, beauty. May we hold each other's hands during hard times and gently reflect together on new directions opened up by our trials.

Can't wait to see what jewelry and ideas come as a result of the warmth and sharing that I've been blessed with during these heavenly visits with my kindred spirited friends.

Reflections

So yesterday on our trip home from Maine, I felt so awed by such a short trip.

First, the addition of four new friends that happened so effortlessly and instantaneously. They walked in the door and the connection was there. I tend to be an introverted person by nature and it's something special when I don't have to sit back and watch before I decide to join in and become a part of a group. Occasionally that instant connection happens and I'm always surprised. Seldom do I experience an instant connection with a whole group - it's generally a one on one thing for me.

The bounties we enjoyed on this trip seemed endless. To arrive at the converted barn to find lots of fresh milk from the cow,  and fresh eggs straight from the chicken was such a treat, but then to have these four people walk in,  right after Rich and I arrived, with armfuls  of veggies from the garden... Pure delight. That first night's dinner of scrambled eggs with some veggies was just a shadow of what was to come. The food for the rest of the time we were together was so close to the earth and sea and wholesome and delicious.

 To me, it seems the best times are spent around a kitchen table and the barn was no exception to that. Whether you're actually eating or not is immaterial. It's the warmth and exchange that happens best in an informal setting like that. Laughing, eating, laughing, cementing an old friendship, laughing, and creating new ones made the first part of this vacation a delight. (I was nervous heading out to spend that much time with mainly people I'd never met and felt silly about it after that first dinner.)

Along the lines of friends, we had an unexpected visit with a dear friend who's had such a rough year. It was good to know we gave her a chance, if only for a quick lunch, to get away from the stress of caring for her loved ones as she has been for the better part of this year. Though it was wonderful to see her and provide a short distraction, I left lunch wondering at the strength it takes for her to leave her still recovering husband three quarters of the way across the country to take care of her daughter while she also struggles to recover. I've always felt it was better to be the person afflicted than the person on the sidelines cheering and supporting. Top that off with trying to do it for two.... She's a strong woman.

I've already alluded to the food. Lot's of seafood - it's Maine, after all. Outstanding was the fish fry we had around that kitchen table fresh from the lake we were on. Took me back to my very young days vacationing with my family where we'd eat our catch of the day in the evenings. Nothing better.

Animals.... Well, not what I'd expected, but fun. We saw porcupines every night by the barn, Cashmere goats on the road to the barn, wild turkeys, dolphins, a whale, harbor seals, a young bald eagle, and snakes. What we didn't see were the bears and moose we were told were there. (I think they just say that to the tourists - they're not really there.)

Scenery... Lush forests, beautiful gardens, stunning seasides, and lovely harbors. I remember the shore of Maine from our last trip out there in the early 80's. All the islands and curving inlets and harbors are so picturesque. The fog and mists just add to the beauty. Stand still a bit and watch it change everything in a matter of minutes.

Food..... Yum

Adventures....  My first kayaking. I love it! Can't say I'm ready or wanting to try it on anything as big or wild as the ocean, but in a quiet lake. Perfection! Soooo peaceful.
Then there was the hiking up the mountain. Besides the fun of taking novices up to something they'd not done before, to end on a mountaintop overlooking not only miles of land, but the gorgeous shore and harbor? Magnificent.
Then there was our trip to the light house. The day before we made it over to it, we stood on the shore looking at the rushing water, 15 (at least) foot depths of water ebbing and flowing between us and the islands. Rusty looking steps and ladders leading straight into the water. Impossible that we could walk across there, right? Wrong! The next day at low tide we scrambled down the ladders, across the rocks, in between the seaweed now flattened on the rocks, and up the other side (twice - two islands) to arrive at the foot of the light house. Amazing.
Exploring Campabello Island on the second day. First in the fog. Experiencing the changing views, the hush of the fog, then returning to the same spots later that day to see it all again in clear sunshine.

People... We met warm, friendly, helpful, fun folks everywhere we went. From the bed and breakfast owners, to the deli sandwich girl, schooner crew, waitstaff at restaurants, store clerks, people on the trails and streets, you name it. They were all great.

Food.... Oh, and did I mention, the food? (haha!) Fish, Lobster, Ice cream, Veggies, fresh,fresh,fresh, and repeat......

Weather.... It was cool, it was warm, it was sunny, it was rainy, it was foggy, it was clear. It was wonderful!

And so, is it any wonder that I came home feeling blessed? I laughed 'til my sides ached both with the group and with just Rich and I. The dry humor of the "Mainers" was contagious and just plain silliness happens when there's magic around you.

So now that I'm home and reflecting on all those blessings and thinking up new ideas that were inspired on our trip I can't help feeling anything other than blessed. Here's hoping you find things in your life today to make you remember how blessed you are too.

Tree Lessons

I've started walking regularly. I'm usually walking three miles a day - on lazy days, it's two. I've been much better about being consistent with it this time as I focus on how much younger I feel when I keep it up. I'm not at all upset about aging, but I don't want to be old and the walking makes me FEEL younger.

It was during my cooling off on the back patio today that I had my revelation for today. Trees. I love trees. Whenever we talk about moving, my "must have" list includes big trees. It's a big part of the reason the desert may never be home for me. I don't count cactus as a tree. I love deciduous trees especially. (The high desert is a possibility for us as you can find deciduous trees there.)

I remember our trip to Ireland and how it became a standing joke with the group we were traveling with as they would often find me snapping picture after picture of trees, tree trunks, my daughter and husband wrapping their arms around huge trees trying to meet.

So today while sitting on the patio, I was wondering what it was about trees that affects me so profoundly and then it hit me. Texture.  I love all the scars, missing limbs, the differing shapes, the shelter they offer the birds and animals. It's a genuine beauty. It's not at all superficial.

Trees are more beautiful for all the signs of aging. Their bark cracks, falls off, gets more deeply craggy. The wind blows them sometimes into a permanent tilt. They have limbs break off, they continue to grow. Their quiet strength gives me such pleasure and joy. It's their age that makes them beautiful.

They continue to offer shelter to any who seek it under and in their branches. Until they die, and even after, they offer all they have to the world. Whether it's their height, their width, dense, or sparse, they are all different and all a very special part of the world.

It's what I want to be. Bring on the wrinkles, the scars, the leaning in the wind. It gives me character and that's what I aspire to. I don't care if I'm not the current version of "beauty" as long as I'm growing. I will do my best to offer kindness whenever It's needed and even when it's not. I will strive to be a craggy, lined, gorgeous, person because of life, not in spite of life.

So as we travel through our days, let's picture ourselves as trees and embrace all that makes us who we are. The good as well as the bad. It's what our lives are all about. Texture....

And - on to my beads and adding the texture of life to my creations. (I've always loved making sure a piece has variety in textures.)

Onward, ever forward.... I feel like I've been spending way too much time on the computer and not nearly enough on my beadwork.

I've been researching what is necessary to set up a business online and setting up a domain, website, etc. and it's mind boggling for a "tech-a-phobe" like me. I can play with setting up the colors, dimensions, fonts, and layouts. That part is fun and easily enough falls to the part of my brain I use most often for my work. The terminology, addresses (url, rss, and who knows what else), and failed connections are what do me in. I really need a geek to push me forward here. This is an adventure unlike any I've taken before.

Since I'm in a rambling frame of mind today, the term geek....  I remember being referred to as a geek in school and it certainly wasn't used endearingly. Somewhere along the line, though, I learned to embrace my inner geek. The part of me that isn't quite in step with the world around me. The rest of the world swirls around things that I'm just not that interested in or focused on. I definitely step to the tune of another drummer.

One of my more recent friends recently told me one of the things she likes about me is waiting to see where my brain was going to take me when presented with an idea. She said it's always an adventure as she would wait to see where I headed. Maybe that's part of the reason my husband always feels he has to watch over me and protect and order my life. He knows I'm likely to be in my own little world not fully aware of what everyone around me expects. Given a chance to attack anything with creativity, I'll take it. Why look at anything without exploring more of its possibilities? I use that for beading, decorating, and anything else I get to take a little time to think about. It's fun, it's challenging, and probably possible because I have Rich to be Mr. Logic and usher me along when I need it (and even some times that I don't. And that, my friends, can be annoying).

So, that young girl who used to feel left out and friendless has learned to embrace the outsider in her. It supplies me with wonderful ideas for my jewelry. It makes me who I am and has brought me very special friends that encourage and support my quirkiness. I don't have to be part of the norm the way my sisters are. I stand out (not a comfortable thing for this recluse) from the rest of my family and the world, but I'm finally comfortable in my own skin.

I'm glad geek no longer has a negative connotation. I'll continue to embrace the bead geek I've become. I'll keep looking at the world through a skewed looking glass and have fun with the results.

Embrace your geek, no matter what field or area it's in. It's there, seek it out, and you'll find a special part of you that makes you who you are.

In between beading lately, I've been attempting to get some sort of web page up to expand my jewelry business. Though I've been beading for over ten years now I still feel like I'm always learning new things and finding new techniques to add to my skills and designs.

Where I'm most lacking now is in computer literacy. I'm trying and SLOWLY getting a couple of pages up before I make a bigger step and start a shop online and/or get a website set up. Talk about foreign! I feel like I'm from another planet as people quickly try to breeze through a quick lesson on getting going.

Never did I think that when I started beading that I would end up entreating friends to get involved with me and help me get a successful business going. If not for those same friends, though, I probably wouldn't be trying to do just that. I'd very likely be sitting on a huge pile of jewelry that I hadn't yet gotten to give away or sell a little.  I probably never would have kept working at learning everything I could about the process and try to push the limits whenever an idea came into my head that appeared to be impossible.

So I'm taking this journey whenever I take a break from beading to try to follow the "easy" instructions for setting up business pages, for setting up different accounts to encompass the various aspects of the business. The pages are rough, bare at first, and I long for the polish I see other places, but I'm trying to remain patient and persevere. You're never too old to learn and I'm hoping to prove that.... eventually.