Polymer Clay...and more...

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.