AshesToArt

FINALLY!!!! After two weeks of beading, having a complete meltdown, chopping up the piece I had been working on all that time, I used the parts and pieces and finished the necklace that was going to be a collar, but turned too big and ugly. I am so happy that my Muse clubbed me down and made me re-think what I was doing. The center piece of this necklace is a piece of burnt wood from the forest fires in Colorado." In June 2012, Photographer Tim and Photo Stylist Lori were working just east of the fires in Fort Collins. They could see, smell and taste the smoke from the raging fires. Embracing the idea, when something bad happens we can make good of it, they got the idea to have artists utilize the charcoal and sell the artwork to raise money for the Volunteer Poudre Canyon Fire District." Their hope is that the artist will consider the land; it's people and how we are all connected.
My original piece was going to convey the idea that new life would soon emerge from the fire and ash, but as I was working on it, the piece became all about the fire, the hotspots and embers.  So in the end, after my "meltdown" my feeling was that beauty can be found everywhere and set about making something beautiful out of my disaster. I'm happy with the results, which is a good thing because I have to get it in the mail tomorrow to make the deadline. I am titling the piece "Embers".

I thought it was funny (sort of) that while I was working on the beaded piece, I was also working on the Burning Basket project here. I was "Consumed" with fire......ok, that was weak, but it was an odd coincidence, or rather serendipitous if you like. At any rate, after feeling that I had completely failed, I gathered myself up and got it done. 

The Burning

Well, after a one day delay, the basket finally burned tonight. We weren't certain that we would get our usual crowd of 100+ people, but they did come out after all. It threatened rain, but only a few drops fell, and the wind stayed at just a breeze. Another year done. Where does the time go? The Cranes will be leaving soon, one more sign of Winter. Rather a depressing thought, oh well, more time to bead I guess. Now that the Basket has burned, I can work full time on my AshesToArt project. I sure hope I finish in time, I have to mail it off by next Tuesday....BEAD BEAD BEAD!!! So much for now.......

Another Beautiful Basket..will it Burn?

Well they are predicting wild winds for tonight and tomorrow. I had to work today, so I don't know what if any decision was made about burning the basket tomorrow. So far the wind hasn't been as bad as they said we should expect, but then its only midnight, so who knows when or if the winds will hit. We were supposed to have our last and final Cruise ship today, but because of the impending storm, they turned back. For some reason the cruise line decided earlier this year that they would no longer be coming to this part of Alaska. Their loss. Well, I will be going out to the Basket tomorrow morning to see what the plans are, of course, you can't know the weather for sure in advance, and the last storms passed us by, well, all but one last week, so we may be able to go ahead as planned...time will tell. I am including a photo of what the basket looked like today, it was taken by a young friend who has been taking some really great photos this summer. Maybe she should re-think her occupation. ( So Today is Sunday and the wind is howling, so the burning has been postponed until tomorrow. Weather permitting. I have to work tomorrow, but should get off and get out to the Spit just in time. We shall see.)

"Inspire" Basket 2012

Its Burning Basket time again. The weather has been its usual self..nice, rain, wind, nice, etc etc etc. However, we have managed to catch up and its now going extremely well, thanks to a beautiful day today which brought out more helpers, so the work went very well. This year the basket is named "Inspire". I have heard that word used several times today, people saying that they are inspired to work harder at their individual art. I think that's what I love most about this project, every year I hear such interesting stories from the different folks who stop by to help. And you never know who is going to stop by......for instance today, a Tibetan Monk stopped by and wanted to help for awhile and also left his message behind. So his message is the first to be added this year. Well, why not...after all its Homer, the "Cosmic Hamlet By the Sea".
Homer is such a mix of people, you just have to come here and experience it for yourself to really understand what I mean by that. Hopefully tomorrow will be another nice day, but the weatherman is not predicting that exactly. And the burning is Sunday, which is supposed to be a really ugly day, ..... but we can hope. We are all trying to put a lot of good vibes out to the universe, so we shall see.....

More Sun Please!

Well, what can I say except that today was the most beautiful day we've had all summer. Yesterday was beautiful but windy, I had to work so I missed it, but today I was home and I soaked up as much sun as I possibly could. I sat outside all day, either beading or just sitting and enjoying the sun and the beautiful fireworks on the water. At least that's what the sun looked like on the water, it was just beautiful. I seemed to have used the word beautiful a lot, but nothing else can describe the day. And tomorrow is supposed to be great also, then back to rain. But we had today!!! I wish the picture I took of the sparkles on the water did justice to the beauty. They really looked like a sparkler you would burn on the fourth of July. I wish Jack would have been here to enjoy it with me, but he is still in Anchorage. I did get my laundry done today, so I didn't waste the whole day. Can't wait for more sunshine tomorrow, and yes, I will be outside enjoying it all day. I hope everyone had as beautiful a day as we had.

This and That

So, what have I been doing? Well, I have stayed busy doing this and that....Our Grandson Isaac has been in OHSU in Portland for surgery on his bowel. What a tough little guy he is, and I am happy to say he is doing well. I talked to him this morning and he was having high hopes for Jello....I hope he realized his wish today. As soon as all is working well he will be able to go home. Keep him in your prayers. We also babysat our step-dog Joey for a few days, he really is a lot of company. We (Joey and I) had our walk on the beach which we both enjoy. Its kind of fun having company on my beach walk once in awhile. I took lots of pictures of the different patterns in the sand that the water makes..they are all so beautiful. And of course, I am busy beading for Christmas....scarey how quickly that comes around. Jack will be heading to Anchorage next weekend for training on the new Dialysis machine. He is not looking forward to switching, since all has been going so well with this one. Seems like they have to keep stirring the waters all the time. So, tomorrow my friend Karen V. is coming down to visit from Sterling. They have sold their beautiful home and are moving back to Washington state. Sandy and I went up and spent the day with Karen and helped her sort through all her bead stash, she will keep some and sell some. We had a great day, who could have a bad day sorting beads? I will miss her even though we only got to visit once in awhile, she always makes me laugh. Our friendship started when she took a bead class from me, and kept showing up at my door every time she came over on the ferry. What fun!

Summer?????????????

Summer...what happened to it? This has been the coldest summer on record, did I already say that? Rain and wind, a nice day, then three or four more days of cool, windy and rainy weather. Its really weighing me down lately. I have been doing some beading and some painting, and a lot of wimping around. I really need another bright and sunny day, PLEASE!!!!! Now they have ads on TV for back-to-school....ENOUGH ALREADY!!!! Went to coffee with "The Girls" today, thought that would help..not so much. My mind just flits from one thing to the next, never really settling anywhere. The wind almost wiped out my tiny garden, broke my pole beans down and they were just starting to bloom. I really have nothing positive to say so I will just shut up. Maybe tomorrow...... (Necklace and earrings SOLD)