Hi! Remember Me? by Karen McGovern

Just a heads up...this post is going to be all over the place.

It seems like forever since I've posted to the blog! I've flaked the past couple months--life getting in the way and all that. Plus, summer. Everything gets weird in the summer. Trying to juggle work, family, and cramming in a vacation if you can, plus WORK....and it's been one of the hottest summers in South Florida. Days and days of temps hovering around 100 degrees. I work and live on a 40 acre wildlife sanctuary and work out doors EVERY DAY. I wilted about a month ago and am only now beginning to feel even remotely life-like.

So, here's the highlights of the past couple months. I went to Maine with my BFF, who happens to have a family home on the island of Vinalhaven off the coast of Maine. I spent four days with her and her lovely sister STUFFING MY FACE WITH SHELLFISH and generally laying around in a coastal paradise. It was HEAVEN.

Then, a major event for me personally--I GOT MY OWN STUDIO BUILDING! That's right folks, I am moving out of the garage and into my very own space on our property!!!!!!! I am SO EXCITED. I got an all wood shed from WeatherKing Sheds. 10 x 14. It arrived after my Maine excursion and I have been working on it non-stop with my patient, understanding and heroically helpful husband. A few pics below of the process. Painting, flooring, AIR CONIDTIONING (OMG), and today we installed the shelves. I set up my soldering station an hour ago, next I move my bench. That is where the nightmare truly begins. My bench is a TOTAL MESS. Since planning for this building I have basically abandoned my work space and have been dumping A BILLION THINGS on it that I plan to somehow move. UGH. So many things. I am amazed at all the STUFF I have accumulated. I had no idea. I started several boxes of beads and findings that I plan to destash in a week. Yes, I am holding a HUGE destash sale starting on Friday the 25th if I can get myself together by then. Here is the Facebook link--I'll be offering beads, findings, finished works and whatever else I don't want to move!!! So, join me if you can. There will be some pretty amazing deals.....seriously. Until this is all done, I am not creating anything new, which is killing me. Can't wait for the fresh, shiny new space to totally wreck in a matter of weeks!!!

Prior to the building excitement, I had made a new line of pendants featuring my favorite stone of the moment, Rio Grand Rustics. This stuff so amazing--I'm obsessed. Angela Fowler cuts it and I fell hard for this organic material. I have a pile more set aside and have some ideas for bracelets as well as pendants. Can't wait to begin!!! Hopefully I'll be back at work artistically within the next two weeks....or I'll go CRAZY.

Finally, I also took a break from posting much (other than photos of monarch butterflies because I hatched and released FIFTY monarch and queen monarch butterflies on my back porch) because I was getting really burned out with all the noise I found myself in the midst of online. I am a member of and follow several arts groups on Facebook, and I have become really sad and depressed the seeming WEALTH of negativity rolling off folk's keyboards. Slamming artists left and right for every perceived slight or misspoken word, attacking people behind their backs (or not) and just general shitty behavior. I've written about this before, and I'll say it again. Don't support this online bullying. Please. Follow the THINK rule. Before you post, consider the following. Is your post thoughtful, honest, important, NECESSARY and kind? There is so much horror and sadness in the world. As artists we need to lift each other up. Art is an intimate expression, a link so someone's often private thoughts and feelings. Unless you are explicitly asked to critic this work, keep your negative thoughts and opinions to yourself. Pleaseandthankyou.

To close, I leave you with a video of an amazing artist named Riusuke Fukahori. I've seen his work before in images, but never a video of his process. He creates STUNNING three-dimensional paintings in resin of fish and other undersea creatures. IT WILL BLOW YOU AWAY. I love finding images and video like this. Art and artists that take your breath away. That is what art should do!!! 

Now, go make something AMAZING!

Summer Fun

by Staci Louise Smith

Same old same old here, busy having summertime fun and working.  Between creating beads and jewelry for shows, and spending time with the family, there is not much time left for anything else.  Balancing work and summer fun can be pretty difficult.

Last weekend we headed up to North Central PA to the Grand Canyon of PA, for a long weekend.  It was amazing and refreshing.  So very needed.  We went with my parents, and my best friend and her family...who really is more like family.  Her oldest son is my youngest sons age, and it warmed my heart to see what great friends they are becoming! 

grand canyon of PA lookout

We were barely unpacked and the kids were in the water.  I mean, how could you not be?

 left to right, my youngest collin, my BFF's oldest Nicky

beers for us, creek for the kids

There was lots of fishing

 sr. fisherman

Jr. fisherman.
Yuuummmy dinner

some hiking

and lots of playing in the beautiful Pine Creek.

The kids took tubes, and we all got to have some fun tubing down the creek a little bit. 

I really had nothing prepared for a post, other then sharing the importance of taking time to enjoy life.  It was truly a beautiful weekend.  Even more then that, there was very little phone or internet, and it was good for the soul to just be in the moment, in the very place I was.  I did not want to come home.  I could easily move into one of those cabins for good.

fun with Gram on the porch swing

However, I am back, and I feel much more centered and prepared for the work that lies ahead. 

BFF selfie the last day they were there

Summer is hard for me.  The kids are home, and for them, its vacation, but for me, its a very busy time.  Trying to balance that is hard most days.  Taking time away, like last weekend, keeps me sane, and creates wonderful memories.  Not to mention the beauty of the tree's

and water and the appeal of the little old towns and building

really inspired me.

We came home tuckered out with happy hearts.

Now I am off to make beads and run some errands.  Typical summer day here at home, at the office.

Anyone else work from home?  Isn't summer difficult to find that balance of summer enjoyment and work?