Learning something new

This past Saturday I went to a day long workshop, where I learned how to make rings from silver clay (just the basics, of course). How exciting! I've made bracelets, earrings, and pendants before, but have never seen a ring made ever, so for me this was like science fiction. I took several photos of the process (not too many), and thought you might like to see them.

I admit that I was totally distracted while driving home. I kept looking at my rings, not believing that I made them from a small lump of sliver clay.

So, here they are after being fired, tumbled, blackened and polished. Notice how the color of glass changed! They turned into completely different colors! I know that they are not delicate, but I figured that my soul is delicate enough, so other things about me don't have to be.

Pretty or not, I feel like a kid in kindergarten, so proud of what I made! I think I just might wear them every day and stop people on the street to tell them "look what I made!".

Or maybe not :-)

Have a happy week!

101 BIRDS - Painting #29

I feel so much better than previous day! I guess you can tell just by looking at the colors in this painting :-) 

Too much? Nooooo, I don't think so. I had the best time ever making this, I feel like all the grey that was inside me simply had to move for the happiness of all these colors.

 And because the colors were not enough, I needed to add stitches... I stitched and stitched until the needle broke in half. I like this so much I might have to do the whole process several more times. Hope you're having a colorful day too!

Just pictures and a tiny amount of words

It is so difficult being an adult sometimes....

Today I am treating myself with tenderness, nature, good company and honest art.

xo

101 BIRDS - Painting #28

My art journal... after a long pause

Hello! I'm watching you!

Not really. The eyes belong to a face that's in my art journal.

I haven't played in my journal in months, but now I feel the need again. Out came all the toys - paints, pens, collage sheets, watercolors, pogo printer (love it!) etc. etc.

I hope to make journaling a daily habit again. But before that I really need to clean and reorganize my studio, and make it a welcoming place... Right now it is difficult to find a spot to journal and that is very frustrating.

By the way, did you know that if you ever considered buying one of my collage sheets you have to have a pretty deep pocket to afford them? Look at the price I put on this kit:

Not bad for three sheets, right? All joking aside, I am glad that I noticed the mistake and corrected it quickly, because it would have been really embarrassing to hear what people think of that price. Do you know that etsy people enabled immediate download for files, so now it is easy to play, no more waiting for sellers and emails and attachments. I think that's great for sellers and buyers (I am still working on updating all of my listings).

Hope that you are doing something fun this weekend!

xoxo

Love your inner bunny

 Do you ever feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders? That everyone you know is telling you their worries and sad stories because they know you will understand? And sometimes it overflows, it simply becomes too much...

I recently woke up in a daze, shaking and whispering nonsense... completely traumatizing my poor husband.  It took me a while to understand what is happening, and I finally managed to tell him. I was already in my safe spot when I could whisper in his ear that I feel like a white bunny, scared out of it's mind, shivering but unable to move or do anything.  Surrounded by warmth, love and understanding soon I felt better, but the echo of the feeling remained.

Later in the day, as I was driving, I had a strong picture in my head... I knew exactly what I want to do and couldn't wait to start. As soon as I came home, I opened a package of paper clay, found a square piece of wood and let it flow out. I am so happy with the result! It shows exactly what I was feeling, and the love that somehow always cures everything. I love my bunny! 

Interesting thing is that as soon as I woke and saw the image of the bunny in my mind, I immediately decided to treat myself. Not to judge whether I should be stronger, or process things differently... I just thought of a scared animal and with how much kindness and gentleness we approach it, and decided that it is the same way we should treat ourselves. So I did. And maybe some of you are stressed out and overwhelmed and need to do the same thing, so that's why I'm sharing. Love your inner bunny, be gentle and caring and soon it will be better.

By the way, I did everything on this painting except paint the eye. I knew that it is a very important part of what I wanted to express and wasn't sure how to go about it. Lucky for me, my daughter is fearless and talented. I simply said what I wanted, and she painted it exactly the way I could only imagine (thank you Hana). 

Happy June!