Polymer Clay...and more...

The Uniqueness of KLEW

The first time I set my eyes on one of Klew's "drum beads", I became a devotee to her work.  I remember buying the bead...on eBay or something, and then carrying it around looking at it.  It has been several years ago.  I've got to go find that bead so I can drool over it some more.  Yes, I have tried to imitate her work, but there is obviously only one Klew.  I find every bead that she makes intriguing, and could stare at it for hours.  SOO....as I am conditioning this pile of clay for the class this weekend, I am freaking out.   Five sheets of translucent....how can I possibly condition it without dog hair inclusions?  I know I can't!!  And as I am beginning to condition, I am making those 5" x 7" sheets...trying to get them fairly perfect and uniform in size.   I am still not finished conditioning, and let me tell you, the last sheets aren't quite that perfect 5" x 7" !!!!!  What am I expecting to get out of this class with this wonderful artist?  Oh, the hints, techniques, caning are going to be wonderful.  But I'd really like some of Klew's mojo to rub off on me.... You know, some of her creativeness.  And, I have never met her, but I feel this kind of spiritual feeling about her.  I guess that she is kind of a new age, spiritual person.   I am really looking forward to this weekend.  Seeing old friends after a long time.  And hopefully making some new friends, and getting me some of that 'mojo'. 

See more of Klew's work at The Spirited Bead and Klew's Gallery.

Fire Mountain Gems is now serving more of our needs....

Anyone look at the October - January Fire Mountain Catalog???  In between pages 110 and 111 is an ad for Bridgeview Vineyards in Cave Junction, Oregon.  I'm thinking that between the beads and the wine, it about covers it!!! 

Been slacking some on the blog as we're working towards getting our house in Castalia ready for my niece and her family.  When I've been getting home from working out there, I've been conditioning clay for the KLEW class this weekend.  I'm telling you it's a lot of clay to condition! 

It's rainy and gloomy out, but thinking ahead to KLEW, it will be a good week!! 

Rosey goes in for her fourth chemo session tomorrow.  That means three days in St. Vincent's hospital for them.  Rosey is a trouper.  And the quicker these get done, the better.  I think she has four more sessions to go after this.  Most of her chemos are three days. 

More later....happy week!

Bald Chicks Rock!!!!!

Rosey is living proof!!!!  Isn't she adorable!!  She wears the hats so well.  I love her so much.  She really does rock!!

Why not dance???

Back from Chicago!  What a great trip.  Hanging out with Emily and Wally and my sister...drinking a little vino, lots of retail therapy....what more could you ask for??

I am trying to get back into some half-way decent spirit.  I got an email today from my friend Anita Behnen, and the last line of the post was "LIFE MAY NOT BE THE PARTY WE HOPED FOR, BUT WHILE WE ARE HERE WE MIGHT AS WELL DANCE".  You know, I haven't let myself "dance" in ages...I know how good it is for the soul.  So I did some searching for some fun stuff, and hopefully everyone can will find this as amusing as I have.

This first youtube find is the greatest!!!! It's actually Pier Voulkos and her hubby Daniel Peters teaching a a Tango Class.....Pier and Daniel Teaching Tango.  Of course, I still wish Pier was claying, but she is following her heart and happier for it, I'm sure!

This one is too cool.  The Evolution of Dance  It kind of makes me want to get out those old records, ummmm 8 tracks, ummmmm cassettes, ummmm CDs and dance!!  I think I need some dance right now.....

OK.....what about dancing on treadmills?  Talking about getting it on!!!  Check this out and try it on for size..... YouTube - OK Go - Here It Goes Again

Last, how can we forget this one?  YouTube - Abba - Dancing Queen 

Wikipedia describes Dance (from French danser) generally refers to movement used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting.

But you know....it all boils down to this..."Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here, we might as well dance."

Heading to Chicago

My sister and I are 'getting away' for the weekend.  We need some relaxing, getting away from it all sister bonding time.  She is the best, and I know she is the one person who truly knows the pain I am going through right now.  We are going to stay with the 'newly weds' for the weekend.  Emily, my niece and her wonderful hubby Wally.  What are we going to do?  SHOP, find at least one bead store....., go to Half Priced Books.  Emily works at Half Priced Books, and I love the place anyway.  Look for a couple new fantasy books I've been wanting.  EAT good food.  I need a new purse.  Maybe retail therapy IS the answer.  OH, I am taking beads with me.  Beads and Clay have been therapy, too.  Hey, I bought two new beading magazines at lunch time and that made me feel good!   So....we're leaving tonight when we both get off work.   Heading for the big city.    So...bye until Monday....

"God, It Hurts"

My friend and coworker Patty gave me this poem today.  She is grieving the loss of her step father.  I think this says it all.

God, It hurts

I said "God, it hurts"   

And God said "I Know"

I said "God, I cry a lot"

And God said "That's why I gave you tears"

I said "God, I get so depressed"

And God said "That's why I gave you loved ones"

I said "God, my loved one is dead"

And God said "I watched mine nailed to the cross"

I said "God, where are they?"

And God said "Mine is on my right, and yours is in the light."

I said "God, it hurts"

and God said "I know".

AMY LOUISE KERSWELL - AUTHOR

Production Work

I am  a production artist. I do a several shows during the year that require "inventory".  I usually pick out the gem stones or beads that I want to use, and make 3-4 boxes of polymer beads to match, then sit down and start assembling.  Picking out the beads first is essential.  I have, in the past, made up a batch of beautiful clay beads, and was unable to find any glass or gem stones to match!  It's much easier to mix your clay to match the beads..... And although I am doing production work, I don't think I ever make two pieces alike.   Right now I am 'stuck' on a bead shape, and need to move on from that.  I have been making pillow beads for two years.  And although I LOVE the shape and designs I can do with them, it's time to move on.  Repeat customers want something different.  I am SOOOO looking forward to the class from KLEW in November.  Good things and fresh ideas have to come from that.

I generally go to 'fashion forecasts' for upcoming colors.  It's amazing that they are so predictable!  My hubby can't get over the fact that I have come up with my current colors for the year, and we walk into the stores, and there they are!  Fire Mountain Gems is really good at cluing us in on what colors are in.  Fire Mountain included a really nice beading booklet with one of their recent catalogs that included the following color forecast pages.  This booklet was put together by beader, wire worker, polymer and precious metal clay artist, Tam Honaman.  Hope everyone got a copy!   OK.  I don't know why these pictures posted so far apart.  I need to read up on blogging for dumbies, or something!

How Can This Angel Have Cancer?

How can this beautiful child have cancer? 

Her name is Rosemarie.  She is my great-niece.  She is beautiful.  Her smile makes me happy.  She is a wonderful child with no sense of what is wrong with her.  She is a joy to us all.  She has cancer.  Something is wrong with this picture.  No baby should ever have cancer.  I am not trying to be political here, but our country spends IN TWO WEEKS in Iraq, what we spend in an entire year on CANCER RESEARCH.  I feel that the cure is already "out there".  We need to fight to have that cure.  Does anyone else notice how many 'cancer centers' are popping up all over the place?  How much money is being made because of cancer?  We need a cure and we need it now.   Go to visit Rosey's webpage at Rosey's Web Page .  And watch a wonderful video of her made by her Aunt Emily at Rosey Walking.  Cancer sucks.  It's hurt my family so much. 

I promise I'm getting back to art.  Just venting.  Which, I think is part of blogging.

"Girls Night Out"

About a month ago, a past co-worker called me and asked about 'where they could find breast cancer charms'.  He and his wife run a "window cleaning" business, and were one of the sponsors of "Girls Night Out" held at one of our local resorts.  It was wonderful hooking up with John and Jody again. I decided to do a piece of jewelry to raffle off, and donate the funds to cancer services.  We made some money on it, but unfortunately I didn't realize that I needed to have the piece there quite a bit earlier!  I was totally amazed at the shindig.  It was sold out....there were 1200 tickets gone, at $30.00 a crack, and the money was all donated....in some form, to cancer related services.  I made a piece with freshwater peals and pink coral..... I thought it was appropriate for breast cancer month.  The month of November is pancreatic cancer awareness month.  As my friends are aware, this is what my brother died from.  It is the deadliest cancer.  The average pancreatic cancer patient lives four months....only 4% make it through the first year.  AND the least amount of money is spent on pancreatic cancer research.  Go figure. 

"Girls Night Out" was fun.  I enjoyed being around all the people.  There was a wonderful group from Detroit singing old "Motown".  That was my thing as a teen.....

I have decided that I need to direct part of my art to cancer awareness.  It has affected my family so much, and I haven't even blogged about Rosey yet!!!! 

OH!!! I had a tarot card reading.  It was very interesting.  I have never had one before.  Several things the reader hit 'right on'.  I'm "not supposed to tell anyone else what she told me" because it's bad luck.  Anyone else had a tarot card reading? 

How do you get past the grief?

How do you get past the grief?  I have lost my brother.  My baby brother.  Someone that is so close to my soul that I feel like my heart has a tremendous hole in it.  How can I explain how much I loved my brother?  He is the one that I got in trouble with.  I was Lois Lane, he was Superman.  We watched westerns together.  (Our dad loved them)  Remember "Sugar Foot"? And "The Rebel"?  We loved it when "The Avengers" came on......We got "sent to our rooms" together, and swore we'd "never go back down there!"  "We'd show them!" 

Why do I feel that I need a sign from him that he is "OK"?  He had so many kids that loved him.  At his services, every person that I talked to said "he was my favorite teacher".  I still need him.  I need to hug him.  I need to tell him again how much I love him.  He is part of me.  And I can be around hundreds of people and feel lost and alone.  My brother passed September 9, 2007.  He fought pancreatic cancer for seven long years.  And he never gave up. 

I will get back to writing about art.  And my loves polymer clay and beading.  But please excuse my need to grieve.  This first week or so, this blog may be the center of my grief. 

A special thanks to those who have supported me most through this.  My husband who is everything.  My sister....she is the only one who knows how I feel.  Three of my best buds...Cindy Celusta, Lynda Gilcher and Kimberly Arden.  I love you guys for being there.