Getting back out there...

I have been shooting. Anything and everything. I recently bought the Fujifilm X20, a lovely little camera. I bought it specifically to catch all those precious moments that occur once our baby arrives... But it is so compact and powerful I carry it everywhere NOW. It is super cute, and its a fantastic camera. I usually don't use in-camera filters but this one has filters that mimics Fuji film, and I was a fan of Velvia so I use that one. A lot. The ISO is impressive, as well as the 2.5 lens. Its the fastest lens I own!

With my D60, I shot whales during a whale watch and got some fantastic pics. Heading out again over Memorial Day weekend, I think.  Also got some pics of Peoples State Park in CT, where my husband was fishing. My friend Christine, snapped a pic of me with TEMPLE GRANDIN, with the X20. I had the ISO set high so the flash would not bother Temple. It came out great.

Its good to be shooting on a regular basis, I know it (the photos) may not be "artsy", just the everyday. Its not avant garde and borderlines on kitsch, which I remember my college prof. telling me was the worse thing to be. But you know what? It makes me damn happy. And that is what art is supposed to do. Bring you pleasure, enjoyment and happiness. So while I (we) sit and wait for our baby to come, I will snap pictures of living life. And while I am at, be happy.

A view from the parking lot, with

the Velvia filter on. X20 camera

The lake across the street from us, in the parking lot

at Bickford's. X20.

Me, meeting Temple Grandin, and her book that she

signed. X20, ISO at 1000.

Along the river by the Ovation Guitar Company, CT.

X20

Humpback whales, bubble net feeding.

D60.

Humpback fluke. 

D60.

Fishing along the river, Peoples State Forest, CT.

D60

Mike and Kelly fishing.

D60

Back to creating and back to reality

Its good to be back. I am back at work, teaching students with Autism. Which, is my passion and my life! I am so glad to be back at work, even the 5:30am wake up isn't that bad.

Artist. Teacher. Wife. Sister. Daughter. Friend. I can add Cancer Survivor to that list now. Its something that I never wanted to do or even tackle, but I am so glad to be a survivor. 

Through it all I had to create...something. I tried painting and while I loved it, the chemo made me a little shaky, too shaky to paint.

So I tried making necklaces but my hands didn't want to work. As an artist, as a creative person that was hard to deal with. But oddly enough, I could make those trendy wrap bracelets that is EVERYWHERE now. For some reason, I could hold the bead and stitch it. Not sure why I couldn't string beads, or do a clasp, but I could use Fireline thread and make a bracelet. Kids, I made TONS of these bracelets:) And proudly, they are selling like hotcakes on Etsy!

Take a look!

African Turquoise Wrap Bracelet

Autism Awareness Wrap Bracelet in Black Leather

Sienna Crackle Agate Wrap Bracelet

Ovarian Cancer Wrap Bracelet

 I was on a roll! Then once the shakes went away, I really got into hand stamping metal. I just love it and its highly addicting. I have had tons of sales, ok for me 1 sale a week is a ton (and I have had about 1-2 sales a week since August), and am really happy with the results! So if you checked out my blog in the last few months, thank you :) If you are stumbling upon it now for the first time. Thank you:) Its just good to be here. Alive. Creating. Loving life and friends and family.

Dream

My Sun and Stars, Moon of My Life

Ovarian Cancer Awareness

"You love me. Real or not real." I tell him "Real."

Autism Awareness

Another gallery and news...

During the month of February I was proud to be part of a juried show at Seven Gallery in Maynard, MA. It was an exhibition of all media types featuring the night. My "Red Pipes" photo was in the show and it was the first gallery reception that I have been able to attend! It was a lot of fun!

My jewelry making and photography, for now, is being put on hold due to my battle with Ovarian Cancer. So far, I am winning! It was stage 1-c and after the fertility saving surgery, they found no more cancer! I just got my port placed and will begin chemo in a few weeks.

I have learned alot during this time, more medical information that I ever thought I would need to know.

I know having a 1-c cancer is a GOOD thing. But its still cancer, and will have chemo and will loose my hair. I think the most frustrating thing is that when people hear its level 1, it means its NOT cancer, NOT a big deal, NOT real. But it is.

But I WILL finish this battle and win. Then more art.

A "New" Idea? Puzzles, Scrabble Tiles and Rorschach.

My sister says I have irregular logic. Or was it irrational logic? She is a psychologist, and when she was getting her master's in forensic psych, she used me as one of her subjects. I took the Roschach tests. The below one, I thought was a dancing gnome. More specifically, a Russian dancing gnome because of the red hat and I just thought most gnomes must come from Russia.

Apparently having irregular logic is found among two main types of people: artists and those who are psychotic. Katie was the only one in her class to get these results, and her professor was a bit concerned as to where or whom she got the results from. Also the picture to the left is supposed to bring about feelings of violence, intense sexuality and blood (according to wikipedia). I didn't see any of that, but now that I said "dancing Russian gnomes" I am sure that   
                                                      you agree with me.

So what does this have to do with my new idea? Well my irregular logic brought me to my new idea (Scrabble Tile Pendants), which really isn't new but its new to me. FIRST I got an email from fusionbeads.com. When I read it I saw something about RESIN. I clicked on it and saw that you can use said resin to make your own pendants. THEN I thought of the Scrabble pendants which are really popular right now. Then I did a google search and found a great dealer, Annie Howes, who sells Scrabble Tile and Glass tile kits. THEN I thought of combining my photography and scrapbooking (I have an obscenely large amount of paper) into my jewelry making. AND FINALLY this brought me to my NEW NEW IDEA (which my lrregular Logic just made me think of as I was typing), to make Puzzle Piece Pendants. 

OK. You see, when I got into going to craft fairs I had a nice booth, with a tent and a sign that read "Puzzle Piece Jewelry".  Some people would stop by my booth they ask me " I thought "Puzzle Piece Jewelry" mean you sold jewelry made of puzzle pieces." I named my little jewelry biz in honor of those lives that have been affected by Autism.  Not actual puzzles.  My mom even suggested, after about 10 people asked where were the puzzles, to make jewelry out of puzzle pieces. But I didn't know how. But thanks to my Irregular Logic, I do now!

I think I can make puzzle piece pendants the same way as the Scrabble Tile pendants, with glue and resin! I can make a pendant from a puzzle with the Autism Awareness puzzle piece pattern, on a puzzle, with a name on it. AND other images too such as a dolphin, or put words on them and then connect them (like "Mom", "Dad", "Sara" and turn it into a necklace or bracelet)!  I could make a puzzle pendant with ANYTHING on it! OK I am definitely going to do this!

So in the end, I guess that having Irregular Logic, for me, is a good thing. Thank god I am not a psychopath. I am just an Suburban Artist.