Shiny white paper

Why is it, when faced with a clean, shiny, new open sketchbook, panic sets in? I love little notebooks. Currently my favorite are Moleskins in an unassuming khaki brown, and very small....little, with plain white pages. About the size of a small index card. I bought a pack of three. In one, I am writing down quotes I think I would like to use either on a pendant or an ATC. In another, I am drawing henna patterns- practicing my compositions. The third lies fallow.

I was at Borders today, and they are having their post-holiday sale. There were several really cute blank notebooks in the size I like, smallish, fits in my very small purse. Now, don't be fooled- I don't ever carry my purse unless I have a notebook with me. Otherwise, on a regular old day, I just carry my clutch- with is really just an extended wallet wristlet thingy. Everything I carry is designed to be small enough to fit inside this. I have never been fussy (or needed to be) about my looks, so I just carry a lipgloss, my phone- which is a very tiny flip phone (not much bigger than a lipstick) my debit card and a couple other cards. My keys are clipped to the handle of my wristlet with a carabiner.

Now- back to the notebooks. I just can't figure out what I would do with one. I mean, I love little journals and sketchbooks. So many of them have such wonderful covers, beautiful really. But when faced with shiny white paper....I get the most terrible fear. What if I waste it with meaningless doodles? What if I write the wrong thing? I threw out a bunch of journals from my youth because I was disgusted with myself upon reading them later. I would hate to have the same experience again with such beautiful books. This is my block- not lack of creativity, but lack of the willingness to allow myself to be "wrong" or "wasteful" with ink.

There are funny, strange things our mothers do to us- mine left me with a horrid, practical drive to never waste. That is most of the reason that my artwork tends to be on the tiny side. I battle this fear and loathing for wastefullness every time I sit down to make art. What if it doesn't sell? What if it's not perfect?

What blocks do you battle? Trust me- we all have them and it's a b$#@ getting rid of them. I may have to go back to Borders tomorrow for a sketch book.

Red-Winged Black Bird Wings

Last week, someone found my etsy shop and asked me to make special earrings for a friend. I LOVE CUSTOM ORDERS! It's so much better to make something someone wants, rather than just make things hoping someone finds what they like in my inventory. I think I enjoy the craftsmanship very much, as opposed to the artistic vision. I gravitate towards certain imagery, like the birds, wings, flowers and such...but love to make especially what my customers want. Here are the very special earrings...

Spent the weekend making birds and wings...

This weekend was lovely. I started by grading papers on Thanksgiving morning, went to a wonderful relaxing dinner at a friend's home (just 2 couples!!!) spent Friday and Saturday creating, frantically, jewelry due to the fact that I am the featured artist at a holiday party this coming weekend and I was greatly behind. Today I went for a walk on the beach and will soon be planning for my classes this week.

Here's a preview of some of the things I made this weekend. I will be listing them in my etsy shop, and attempting to sell them this weekend.

Birds- it's funny, but I don't relish the idea of birds as pets. But I love to watch them. Especially Ravens and other corvids, which are few and far between in South Florida. But I have seen a few. So a few years ago, I began to make bird beads. Actually, in 2001 I was creating bird ornaments for the Portland Saturday Market. The next incarnation was bird beads, then art necklaces. I tried stamping a bird, and the necklace sold quickly- but I wasn't satisfied. I am more a sculptor than a stamper. I need to have my fingerprints in my work. So here they are, the newest flock....