Are the stars aligning?

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Remember those goals I set back in November? Of course you don’t because I didn’t shout them out here. While I dislike failing to reach goals, I dislike much more when I’ve made them public! I need to get over that and remember that great people of the past cast a lot of nets and tried many times, unsuccessfully, before hitting on their genius. Didn’t Art & Fear say something to the effect of, if you aren’t failing, you’re not doing anything new? Something like that…and maybe it wasn’t even that book. But that thought, I believe to be true.
Hello Sunshine

Anyway, back when I was contemplating goals and choosing my word to embody for the year I also took some time to dream. One of those dreams is to have a one woman show/exhibit at a gallery and the other is to be in a museum collection.

These ideas float through my mind and make me smile. Whereas once I was more driven financially these days I have continued to follow my 2013 ‘goal’ of peace and calm and making art for arts sake.

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I have to say that that almost “un focus” is working out well for me. Hot yoga 3 times a week has been amazing on so many levels. It has been a struggle to transition my thought process, but making things and not worrying about either production or inventory has been very liberating. I am fortunate and grateful that I have the opportunity to pursue my art path this way.

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But anyway, that dream. Today I was informed that I was chosen to be part of the ISGB President’s Collection at the Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, NY. Sometimes, dreaming does work and it’s a reminder to myself to believe that anything is possible. Thank you for the opportunity, Past President Terry Hale for selecting my work, and to the ISGB for the exhibit. I can’t wait to create a great piece and to see it along with the work of 39 other contemporary glass bead artists.

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I also believe this is all coming together at the right time. The micro mosaic work is a body of work that I am proud of, the finishing work is satisfying and this process yields new work that no one else is doing.

I remember at my 5 year mark of glass beadmaking I thought to myself, when I hit 10 years I will have paid my dues and I will feel accomplished. Silly to limit myself like that but that is what I felt. I am in my 11th year of working with glass and I just now feel like I’m coming into my own. I like that feeling.

Geode Micro-mosaic Necklace

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Well folks, there she is:

130517a2Whaddya think? and which photo do you like? You can click them for a detailed view.

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This piece leaves me feeling a bit spent so I don’t really know where to start to write about it. It has been a seriously time and labor intensive piece and I have to say I’ve actually enjoyed the process.

Now the big question…price. Oh, and I have enough leftover links to make a nice bracelet, I think.

 

 

Lots of things all at once is good.

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I’m loving the pace that my new work is taking. Since becoming the interim Director of Membership for the ISGB I have been playing catchup learning all of the systems and somehow ending up on a bunch of committees. Needless to say, I have had less time in the studio.

waiting for the electroform bath.

waiting for the electroform bath

To be fair, I’ve have also cut away studio time by taking up hot yoga three times a week. It was high time I found some balance, no pun intended.

I have taken my focus off of beads and bead shows. That doesn’t mean that I won’t have beads or do bead shows (although I’m down to two shows now) it just means I’m in fun mode. Making what I want, not worrying about if it will sell, but still having hopes that people will like the new work enough to purchase.

necklace component basesI am finding that I am really liking what I’m making and it’s taking less work. I mean, the work is in the pieces but it’s taking less brainpower, less struggle, less energy. In other words, it is going well and I am liking the process as well as the outcome. What more could I ask for? Oh yeah. Sales.

micro mosaic chips

The way I need to do this now though is to not ask for sales. Not think about that and just know that that part will come when I’m ready. Or not. And that’s ok.

geode micro mosaic necklaceWhat I am liking the most at the moment is working on multiple projects simultaneously. I like that I get one part done then it has to dry, while another piece is hanging in the electro form solution, another is soaking up some ammonia for a patina and yet another project is starting in the kiln.

You would think that I’d feel more accomplishment sticking to one piece from start to finish but this feels so much more productive. Maybe that was what was lacking with just making glass beads. You start, you finish. Not much choice there. I suppose you could do finishing techniques but, nah.

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So, that’s where I am and once again, just as I get going it’s time to leave the studio for a long weekend. I already can’t wait to get back and finish up some of these things!