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.

An Idea...

I have lots of ideas. Most of them never become reality.

SO I have this new idea, that if I actually follow through, will take a few years to complete.

I am embarking on my first photo essay:

Town Carnivals and Festivals: A Slice of Americana

I will be documenting the phenomenon of the town carnival that comes to your home town, sets up shop for a week and then moves out. Some carnivals are to celebrate town pride, others are for fundraising for non-profit organization. But the more I thought about it the more I realized, that these sort of things don't really happen anywhere else.  Some of my childhood memories revolve around buying zeppoles at the fair, walking around and seeing the sights.

There will be three main parts to the essay: the people attending the carnival, the rides and carnival itself and those that work there.

I realize that this will take time, that its is a body of work, and that it may be years from now that it is finished. Then hopefully a book, even if it is just mine that I made on Blurb or Mpix.

Let me know what you thing!

Another Gallery!

Here is the link to the gallery in Minneapolis where my work is currently being displayed!

http://www.mplsphotocenter.com/exhibits/current-exhibits.php

I unfortunately will not be able to expand upon my night photography that much this summer. Which is a bitter disappointment I must admit. I have to take the MTELs and it has pretty much consumed my life and my pocketbook. But once that is all over I will be able to dive right back into my work!

In the meantime I am starting a project, not sure what the title is yet, but is all Americana...The traveling carnival/fair! Not circuses, but you know the carnival rides, the game booths and the food vendors that come to small towns across America. I originally thought of it when I shot Coney Island a few years ago, and then had tried to do night shots at local fairs. But I didn't know then, what I know now, how to shoot at night, how to paint with light.

So if you have any great ideas on what I should actually call this project let me know!

Coming soon to a gallery in Minneapolis?!

So, hopefully I haven't screwed this up (because I missed the deadline for paper work) but I will have two of my photographs in an a group exhibit out in Minneapolis!

Its very exciting, but with some added stress with work lately, completing the paper work completely slipped my mind.

But here is the exciting details!
I placed in the Mpls Photo Center's Juried photo competition; "Early Morning, After Dark" with 2 honorable mentions! I and only 1 other person from Massachusetts placed, and we both took the same class "Night Photography" at the New England School of Photography, although her images were shot outside of class and are just simply gorgeous as well.

The juror, Peter Howe, was former editor of the New York Times Magazine, and director of LIFE Magazine.

Below is the link, http://www.mplsphotocenter.com/attachment/cms/5/earlymorningafterdarkjurorselections.pdf. Scroll down until you get to Ronayne and viola! You can see my work!

The Pendants!

So I have been, in my spare time, been working diligently on creating my pendants.
I will post some pics, but I am quite pleased. I have not yet mastered getting rid of every single air bubble for the wood/resin pendants and am doing ok with removing the air bubbles from the glass... it IS harder than it looks!

I have purchased an embossing heat gun that is supposed to rid me of the air bubbles for the resin pendants. Hopefully I do not scorch the resin, as I did with the matches (no worries they are not for sale and in the trash).  For the glass you are just supposedly able to PUSH out the air...so far I still have at least 1-2 stubborn bubbles that linger behind. OH well, practice makes perfect. I have been using machine cut glass tiles but there is a thin line that outlines the top of the pendant. I am splurge and purchase Annie Howe's hand cut glass. Its more pricey but much nicer to look at!

I am also using BOARDMAKER software to create some of my pendants. This software is used to make picture symbols for tech devices and for the Picture Communication Exchange Communication System (PECS). These PECS are used throughout the country by teachers, speech therapists and families with Autism. One reason why I chose these, is that from an artist's point of view, they are begging to be made into art! They are simple graphics that are universal. The second reason is because many times I have heard (as a teacher), you don't see people using PECS out in the real world. Well, now PECS can be worn, seen in the real world and communicate ideas or thoughts at the same time! Hopefully this is going to take off like I hope it will!

Take a look at some of my work...and let me know what you think!

Traditional Autism Awareness Ribbon

Glass Tile Pendant

Boardmaker Autism Ribbon Symbol

Wood Tile Pendant

Autism Awareness Pendant

Custom Graphic by ME :)

Wood Pendant

I Love My Daughter With Autism: Left Glass Pendant

Right Wood Pendant. Both graphics by me:)

Boardmaker Autism Ribbon and

"mother" symbol

Who Doesn't Like Ice Cream?

Boardmaker Symbol

Custom design by me:)

Glass Pendant

Creativity: To create or not to create. That is the question.

The one problem with being a creative person, is that sometimes I want to make lots of different things. All at once. As a result of the onslaught of creativity, I do not know which project to tackle first! I have been on a scrapbooking kick ever since Katie and I went on our scrapbooking weekend in January.

Now those who do not scrap, do not mock! It was a fantastic weekend, and although my first 2 pages had much to be desired, once you get in the flow of cutting, pasting, arranging photos, it is so calming, relaxing and just enjoyable. Ask my sister, who was once one of those that mocked the art of scrapbooking, and hated the sight of a Michaels, and now L O V E S scrapbooking. I also made a scrapbook for Mike's birthday and just have the scrapbooking bug!

I also just got in a few supplies from Art Beads this week and am just itching to start some new jewelry! I ordered these funky Czech glass with a Picasso finish, that I turn into earrings, and have quickly sold out of at craft shows. I have a pair in three different colors myself. I also got into pearl knotting necklaces. This is incredibly time consuming and if I make a mistake, usually double knotting, I can't undo the knots and have to start over by cutting each pearl off of the silk string. So while I want to tackle the great freshwater pearls from Uncommon Beads, that little project is on pause.

I have already spent a few days designing my "Scrabble tiles" for my new project, Scrabble Tile pendants and Glass pendants. I have designed my own Autism Awareness graphics; the ribbon, a puzzle piece background with "Autism Awareness", I love my son/daughter with Autism, I love my Autistic son/daughter, puzzle pieces, and fun graphics (hearts, shamrocks, flowers). I will be ordering the supplies from Annie Howes this week. I cannot WAIT to get started. I think that these will be great. I am also going to make my own actual puzzle piece pendants as well (see previous post).

Finally my photography trigger finger is just itching to do SOMETHING. I wanted to take a few classes at the New England School of Photography (NESOP) but decided against it this winter. I really wanted to take the Advanced Night Photography class, since I completely fell in love it over the summer, but decided against it with the new school/job. But in the spring I will taking a class, probably the Archetecture class and Urban Landscapes. So for now, the photography craving will be put aside.

So here is hoping that I can create in the next few days, without life getting in the way.

Peace, Love and Recycle!