Monday, April 25, 2016

April 2016 Silversmithing Intensive at Ghost Ranch

Just returned from an incredible 2 week Silversmithing Intensive at Ghost Ranch. I had a chance to hang out with great people and hone my silversmithing and teaching skills. They say you learn twice when you teach.

Here I am with my geeky purple safety glasses. I know, not so fashion conscious. (Looks like I am planning to juggle.)

Made some incredible pieces this week. Had a great mentor and friend Bob Hazeltine who teaches in his own studio at Santa Fe Jewelers Supply. Confronted the self critic that has been keeping me out of my own studio.

All surrounded by this majesty. Check out all the offerings at Ghost Ranch. I am teaching two Fused Glass Classes this summer.
Fused Glass Classes at Ghost Ranch

Pinterest Link to Silversmithing at Ghost Ranch

Thursday, February 4, 2016

Facebook Nature Photography Challenge

Day 4: I've been nominated by Denna Kendrick Carney to participate in the seven-day nature photography challenge. I need to post one photo a day for seven days and nominate one person each day to pass this along so we can flood Facebook with interesting nature photos. Back to Kenya today, Lions after a meal in Samburu Park with Dawn 2 Dusk Safaris.
Went with 3 nominees for today, my Kenya travel buddies: Marlene Logan , Maureen Lienau, and Chris Domino. Sorry couldn't pick just one.

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Nature Photography Challenge

Day 3: I've been nominated by Denna Kendrick Carney to participate in the seven-day nature photography challenge. I need to post one photo a day for seven days and nominate one person each day to pass this along so we can flood Facebook with interesting nature photos.

Dreaming of Africa tonight. This is the first night outside of Samburu Game Park, Kenya with Dawn 2 Dusk Safaris in 2011. The quality of the light in Africa is so different. Woke up the next morning with a crocodile just on the other bank of the river.

My nominee for today, Lillian Ramey Davis! I know you have been taking some breathtaking photos from that new porch. Cannot wait to travel to Swaziland with you.

Nature Photography Challenge

Day 2: I've been nominated by Denna Kendrick Carney to participate in the seven-day nature photography challenge. I need to post one photo a day for seven days and nominate one person each day to pass this along so we can flood Facebook with interesting nature photos. This was 20 minutes after last summer's terrifying flood at Ghost Ranch photographed from the Burro Field.
My nominee for today, my niece Lilly Jameson!

Nature Photography Challenge

Day 1: I've been nominated by Denna Kendrick Carney to participate in the seven-day nature photography challenge. I need to post one photo a day for seven days and nominate one person each day to pass this along so we can flood Facebook with interesting nature photos. This was last summer's terrifying flood at Ghost Ranch photographed from the east deck of the Arts Center.
My nominee for today my friend Teri Eklund!

Saturday, January 30, 2016

Day 30: SOKEN

Fused Glass Sgraffito Challenge

SOKEN (Japanese) invention, creation, originality

創見

Listen while you read!

From the highest of heights to the depths of the sea
Creation's revealing Your majesty
From the colors of fall to the fragrance of spring
Every creature unique in the song that it sings, all exclaiming

Indescribable, uncontainable
You placed the stars in the sky
And You know them by name
You are amazing God

All powerful, untameable
Awestruck we fall to our knees
And we humbly proclaim
That You are amazing God

Who has told every lightning bolt where it should go
Or seen heavenly storehouses laden with snow
Who imagined the sun and gives source to its light
Yet conceals it to bring us the coolness of night, none can fathom

Indescribable, uncontainable
You placed the stars in the sky
And You know them by name
You are amazing God

All powerful, untameable
Awestruck we fall to our knees

image: http://static.urx.io/units/web/urx-unit-loader.gif

And we humbly proclaim
That You are amazing God, You are amazing God
You are amazing God

Indescribable, uncontainable
You placed the stars in the sky
And You know them by name
You are amazing God

All powerful, untameable
Awestruck we fall to our knees
And we humbly proclaim
That You are amazing God

You are indescribable, uncontainable
You placed the stars in the sky
And You know them by name
You are amazing God

Incomparable, unchangeable
You see the depths of my heart
And You love me the same
You are amazing God, You are amazing God
You are amazing God

Written by Laura Story

Performed by Chris Tomlin

Read more at http://www.songlyrics.com/laura-story/indescribable-lyrics/#OoDAgYf3mhYRXzOV.99

January 29, 2016

Fused Glass Sgraffito Challenge

Day 29: Chūshin

Chūshin (Japanese) Heart, core, mind, inside feeling.

January 28, 2016

Fused Glass Sgraffito Challenge

Day 28: KASHIMASHII

Kashimashii (Japanese) Noisy, Mischievous

When my Girl Scout troop is quiet, watch out! They are in to something!

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

Fused Glass Sgraffito Challenge

Day 27: KOTOBA

Kotoba (Japanese): Word.

I'm finding myself at a loss for words
And the funny thing is it's okay
The last thing I need is to be heard
But to hear what You would say

Word of God speak
Would You pour down like rain
Washing my eyes to see
Your majesty

To be still and know
That You're in this place
Please let me stay and rest
In Your holiness
Word of God speak

I'm finding myself in the midst of You
Beyond the music, beyond the noise
All that I need is to be with You
And in the quiet hear Your voice

Word of God speak
Would You pour down like rain
image: http://static.urx.io/units/web/urx-unit-loader.gif

Washing my eyes to see
Your majesty

To be still and know
That You're in this place
Please let me stay and rest
In Your holiness

Word of God speak
Would You pour down like rain
Washing my eyes to see
Your majesty

To be still and know
That You're in this place
Please let me stay and rest
In Your holiness

I'm finding myself at a loss for words
And the funny thing is it's okay

Writer(s): Bart Millard, Pete Kipley
Copyright: Wordspring Music LLC, Songs From The Indigo Room, Simpleville Music

Read more at http://www.songlyrics.com/mercyme/word-of-god-speak-lyrics/#c8Bs11IS2jlGu4UQ.99

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Fused Glass Sgraffito Challenge

Day 26: CHIKARA

Chikara: (Japanese) Power, strength, force.

Not sure why I am sharing this in a blog. A long time ago, I went to visit my cousin. On a tour of the property...in the rain...in a skirt.... We had to step over an electric fence that was ON!. My cousin touched it with his fingers and cussed a blue streak. Meanwhile it snapped up, wet under my skirt. I had a huge welt from inner knee to pantie line. My Mom asked if it got me. I said "uh huh" in a very high squeaky voice. That is what happens when you underestimate the power, strength and force of a wet electric fence. And jumping over it is always a bad idea.

Monday, January 25, 2016

Day 25: MAMIHLAPINATAPAI

Fused Glass Sgraffito Challenge

Mamihlapinatapai

Noun. (Yaghan)

A silent acknowledgement and understanding between two people, who are both wishing or thinking the same thing (and are both unwilling to initiate).

Day 24: YA' ABURNEE

Fused Glass Sgraffito Challenge

Ya' aburnee

Noun. (Arabic)

Literally, 'you bury me'. A beautifully morbid declaration of one's hope that they will die before another person, as it would be too difficult living without them.

Day 23: GOYA

Fused Glass Sgraffito Challenge

Goya
Noun. (Urdu)

A transporting suspension of disbelief- An "as-if" that feels like reality- such as in good storytelling.

Day 22: FORELSKET

Fused Glass Sgrafitto Challenge

Forelsket

Noun. (Norwegian)

The indescribable euphoria experienced as you begin to fall in love.

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Day 21: WALDEINSAMKEIT 2

Waldeinsamkeit

Noun. (German-..... Any Germans out there who'd like explain pronunciation on this one? ha!)

The feeling of being alone in the woods, An easy solitude and a connectedness to nature.

No Trees !?!!? (Trying to think ABSTRACT)

Day 21: WALDEINSAMKEIT

Waldeinsamkeit

Noun. German

The feeling of being alone in the woods, An easy solitude and a connectedness to nature.

Love our property at 9000 feet in an aspen grove. Only 7 miles from civilization but it takes an hour to get there. Need to read the book "Last Child in the Woods". As long as we have a wood stove my family will always spend time in the woods.

Day 20: HIRAETH

Hiraeth

Noun. (Welsh)

A homesickness for somewhere you cannot return to, the nostalgia and the grief for the lost places of your past, places that never were.

When I was very young, my grandparents had a house by the Florida River. My Grandmother had a bent wood rocker under a huge cottonwood tree. She had me sit there while she worked in the garden. All too soon they moved, then got a divorce, the property subdivided. It is still there in the recesses of my mind.

Day 19: JUGAAD

Jugaad

Noun. (Hindi)

Ensuring that things happen even with minimal resources, even if they happen 'by hook or by crook'

"Jugaad has all but become a movement". According to author Ella Frances Sanders, " Solving every-day problems with a combination of frugal innovation and local intelligence, perhaps even bending the rules slightly, brings people's creativity and improvisational skills to the surface."

One time I was driving a long, 240 miles home on a dark highway when my car (a 1971 Buick Centurion Convertible) quit on the side of the road. I was just getting out of the car to walk about 2 miles to the a closed service station in the middle of no where when a friends parents stopped to see if they could help. (I had never met them.) They drove me to a gas station where I phoned home (old school, pay phone.) In a couple of hours my Dad showed up to get me with truck and trailer. He popped the hood and demanded that I give him a stick of gum. (He hated gum.) Next thing I knew, he had fixed the distributor with the foil from the gum wrapper. He followed me the rest of the way home. (BTW, I was late after having had a flat tire earlier in the day and had to have it fixed.) Still amazed by Dad's ingenuity. Now that he's gone I am glad I have a cell phone and AAA.

Day 18: TREPVERTER

Trepverter

Noun. (Yiddish)

A witty riposte or comeback you think of only when it's too late to use.
Literally means 'staircase words'.

Sometimes my brain replies: "Insufficient Memory at this Time, Please try again Later!"
Meanwhile I am melting into a puddle of goo.

Day 17: RESFEBER

Resfeber

Noun. (Swedish)

The restless beat of a traveler's heart before the journey begins. A mixture of anxiety and anticipation.

So cool. Spent the day meeting with Swaziland missionaries, planning a trip to teach fused glass there. This was the word of the day today for the fused glass sgrafitto class that I am taking online this month. Think this technique would work well there. Glitch delayed its posting until after our meeting. God is so good. Every time I question if I should make this trip I get a little sign of encouragement. Sometimes they are hilarious. Glad God has a sense of humor. Now I have a word to describe the butterflies I get in my stomach when I think about flying half way around the world to teach.

Day 16: NUNCHI

Nunchi

Noun. (Korean)

The subtle, often unnoticed art of listening and gauging another's mood.

Sometimes my mood relies on the number I see on the scale or how many cups of coffee (chai) it takes to wake up.

Day 15: CONTENTMENT

contentment

noun con·tent·ment \kən-ˈtent-mənt\

: the state of being happy and satisfied : the state of being content. On the beach, with a book.

Day 14: DESPAIR

despair

Noun. de·spair \di-ˈsper\

: The complete loss or absence of hope.

January snowstorm after snowstorm, Mercury in retrograde, buried in snow.

Day 13: SLAVERY

slavery

noun

slav·ery

\ˈslā-v(ə-)rē\

The state of a person who is a chattel of another.
Submission to a dominating influence.

Sometimes we make our own chains of bondage by submitting to something that influences our lives in a negative way.

Day 12: MOTIVATION

motivation

noun mo·ti·va·tion \ˌmō-tə-ˈvā-shən

: the act or process of giving someone a reason for doing something : the act or process of motivating someone
: the condition of being eager to act or work : the condition of being motivated
: a force or influence that causes someone to do something Sometimes my motivation is like sunshine. Compelling me to stretch and turn toward the light.

Monday, January 11, 2016

Day 11 Infatuation: When the eyes override the brain.

Day 10: Elegance
Living in an area where there are mostly ducks and Canada geese, I was awed by the elegance of the first swan that I ever saw. One of my best friends wanted a pair at her wedding.

Day 9 Fragility

Butterflies are fragile but they fly long distances. Have traveled with Girl Scouts to Mexico where they winter. So many that the trees were bowed down by the weight of them. Fascinated how they can fly long distances.

Day 6 Waste:

Loss of time when I am on Facebook. Melts like Salvado Dali's clocks.

Day 5 Communication The key that turns on the light (thought).

Envy always brings to mind the thorns in Sleeping Beauty.

Fused Glass Sgraffito Drawing
Day 8 Justice: I traveled to Egypt a few years ago, they showed me a golden set of scales that belonged to King Tut. They said he believed that at judgement his heart would be weighed against a feather. Gives new meaning to a "heavy heart".

Monday, January 4, 2016

Day 4 Chaos

Day 3: Generosity
Thinking about this quote:

"The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit."
-- Nelson Henderson

Planning a tree planting ceremony for 2 ladies who have raised funds for the Girl Scout and Girl Guide World Center in Mexico for the last 25 years.

Fused Glass Sgrafitto 30 in 30 Challenge

Day 2: Efflugence

Inspiration and result.

Fused Glass Sgrafitto 30 in 30 Challenge 2016

Missed the challenge last year. Lots of good intentions but reality was the lure of 10-13 hours per day in the silver studio at Ghost Ranch. Had a great time there. This year I plan to buckle down and keep up with the challenge. So blown away by what everyone else accomplished last year. Here's to new beginnings.

Day 1 Comfort...My favorite Icelandic sweater.