My meandering dorkiness

I took a workshop by Melanie Doerman a few weekends ago. It was offered through the San Diego Bead Society. I had been looking forward to meeting Melanie. I had a great day! I have mainly learned through books and experimenting on my own. It was very exciting to learn so much in one day. Already I can see where learning just a few sharp techniques is opening up my horizon tenfold. I am going to kick back and take some workshops for a while. Melanie's work and instructions are impeccable. I had been admiring her work on her blog and website for a while but to see it in person I see that photographs (no matter how well done) don't quite live up to seeing a piece in person. I marveled over seeing all her treasures she brought to the class for display. She has some pieces that are so playful and interactive. If your into beads don't hesitate to check out her site and buy some kits. The cost is well worth it because you will learn sooo much. Plus you support artists to continue making art.

Check out her website
Melanie Doerman

It was so funny when, at the class, I shared that I don't work with crystals and never have and often prefer more matte finishes. I could hear breaths sucking in and you could hear a pin drop. Some of the ladies then belted out " oh no! your talking to the swarovsky embassy here!!!" Something like that. I am afraid I immediately went to the bottom of their social ladder and blackballed myself!!! Chuckle. We had a laugh about that. I appreciate the diversity of every ones passion. One day I showed a picture of a beaded ring to Tess (my spouse) and her response was "oh how gaudy!" I was shocked and told her how beautiful I thought it was and that I wanted to make one. Funny.

Back to the workshop. I learned how to make Melanie's 'Wheel of Fortune' bracelet. Very interactive and opens up the doors for a lot of creativity. It will take a while to complete and already I have ideas for other versions. I will post a pic of the bracelet when I am done. I bought a few design kits from her and am excited to tackle them too.

You know, I think Melanie is so cool. We have a lot in common. Motorcycles, yoga, creativity, no kids, chuckle. I look forward to taking more workshops of hers.

I recall back to when I moved to Newport beach for a short while as a kid and I didn't know anybody. I would go to the beach with the deliberate intention of finding girls my age and I went up to them and would say "Do you want to be friends? Do you want to play?" How we often outgrow that forward willingness to put ourselves out there with such authenticity.

Time to dig in the dirt

Our name came up for the ocean Beach Community Garden plot. Ahhhh my taurus earth-loving nature is revved up. I am enchanted with the place. There is a quaint little greenhouse in the middle, and a chicken coop all surrounded by pathways meandering amidst gardens full of veggies, fruit, flowers, cactus, ducks, art.

Tess and I have been diggin in lot's of soil ammendment and nutrients. I have been reading and planning. Starting with the winter growing season we are going to start carrots, beets, spinach, sugar peas, leeks, parsley, basil, garlic, squash. That's a start. There is already established lavendar, fennel, sage, asparagus that we kept and dug around.

I will post more pics.

I never quite realized how much I miss having a patch of earth. Where we live now there is a cement backyard surrounding a pool, which is very lovely, but now we have a garden...skippideedooda. We live with my in-laws, Tess's parents. I love living with extended family. They are the most gracious kindest people I have ever met, really. I have to share Tess with her parents as she dotes on them endlessly and sometimes forgets about me (hey what about meeee) but for the most part I truly am grateful.

My piles of stones give me great joy just to have them laying around so I can look at them. The colors and striations... I love seed beads and when shopping always look for the matte finish earth tones. Not easy to find in a bead world where many artists gravitate towards sparkle, shine, and lot's of crystal as the focal.







among other things...
I bring my camera to dog beach as there are always moments worth capturing...




The last picture here is Brunie our little Japanese Chin. He is full of sweetness and kindness... and oodles of personality. He is so happy and inquisitive. I will definitely do a portrait of him (in beads) someday.

Discovering the world

While perusing the internet I just discovered another inspiring bead artist.

In an interview with bead historian and artist Valerie Hector she said this about beads

"Wow! This is a way to discover the world, and I want to discover the world in this way".

Check her out. Her passion and work is incredible.

Valerie Hector

Basha beads The "Red" Series

Artist Barbara Metzger creates these beautiful beads. I bought 3 and I cherish their color and fire. I just wear them on a silk cord waiting to discover how I might use them someday in my work.

A few of my bracelets

"Northshore" Green glass seed beads, amber, polished agate, turquoise, green jasper, lepedilite

Rainbow Moonstone and Red Glass