Catch up and Something Completely Different

Remember when I said a client and friend passed away a couple months ago? Well, she was a beader and she left me all her beads and findings, at first I was going to give them away, but then I thought since my art sales are not exactly good right now, I might try my hand at beading. I did it in my 20's, so I am a bit rusty, but like riding a bike it comes back to you. These are my first efforts and I am sure I will get much more creative as I go, it is great fun and very addictive. I will be putting them in my ETSY shop this week, but if you would like anything here let me know, I take paypal or a check. I am not sure of what I have, some brass, glass and plastic beads for sure. Prices are 25 for the top two and 20 for the bottom two pairs, I can't get a great photo of the necklace, but here I have a close up in the last photo. I will be beading all November and will be sharing with you my efforts.
I have been busy, one of my best friends from the bay area came for a long overdo visit, M is pictured here, we ate out a lot and my favorites were the Love Apple (the photo of the steeple) and The Old Martina's Hall, (the bar pictured above), out of this world great food. We took a trip to Santa Fe and these photos are of buildings and things we saw around Canyon Road. We had so much fun and now I miss her more than ever. She brought me the best gift, a juicer! I have been making yummy juice all week. I love you dear one.
The last photo is of our first snow last week.
That is about it for me. Let me know what you think of the jewelery! XOXO

Santa Fe

First, I am sorry, I got so caught up in the day I totally forgot to take photos. I did remember to take my camera though :-). Second, no, I did not find a gallery to take my work. I only got one to even look at the Cd. She liked the work, but did not think it fit into her gallery. A cool thing though is she gave my friend J and I a bunch of new painting brushes, I got about 150 dollars worth! None of the other galleries would even look at the Cd's, they have all the artists they have room for (I have been hearing this for 30 years, yet these galleries DO take on new artists). Perhaps I am just a bad salesperson, but it seems futile at this point. Not sure what to do, but I have to find a different way. Third, I had a great time anyway. We had a wonderful breakfast with my friend K at Cafe Pasqual's, I had french toast, Yum. And at the end of the gallery hunt we went to see Alexandra Eldridge at her studio, that was the highlight of the day. She is too wonderful for words. Kind and beautiful, and open and giving, and so talented! She showed me all sorts of things I can do with the venetian plaster, so I have some new techniques to try out. It was a blast to spend time with her. So, that's the trip in a nut shell. Happy Tuesday! XOXO

Santa Fe Here We Come (and other stories)

It's Sunday, Yay! And the rain has stopped, so I am off on a run and then cleaning my car for my trip to Santa Fe tomorrow. Yes, my friend J and I are FINALLY going! I have spent at least 40-50 hours getting some beautiful Cd's ready to take and I even designed some lovely CD labels for them. I even got my hair cut! I am ready and I am expecting to have FUN. Other than that I have no expectations. I go to Santa Fe to hunt down galleries about once a year, but it has been more like 3 years this time. Breaking into the Santa Fe galleries is very close to trying to break into New York galleries, so what I am saying is, it is not a sure thing, but it is possible. I believe in miracles after all. I also believe in my work and myself. I am a damn good artist :-). I have a list of galleries, some I have tried before, but J and I will play it by ear and use our intuition. We are also bringing actual pieces of art with us, just in case. My work does not translate well in photos. They are WAY better in real life. Also planned for the day is a lovely breakfast with my friend K and then after the gallery hunt, we will be going to Alexandra Eldridge's Studio!
It may rain, but even if it does, it won't dampen my spirits :-). I will take my camera and if I get permission I will photograph the whole day for you.
In other news, I received my book finally "Busting Loose From the Money Game", I will tell you that I feel I have gone down the rabbit hole and now I know what those coyotes were telling me.
I will explain more later this coming week as I want to do a post about it.
Have a wonderful, care-free Sunday! And please say a little prayer for J and I tomorrow and also for my dear mom, who is still having a lot of pain in her leg.
Love you. XOXO