Months ago....(Many months ago!)...I bent the handle of a spoon that I'd been moving from place to place around my studio for quite some time. The sharply curved metal and the feel of this piece in my hand pleased me; but I had no idea as to what else I would do with it. This unknowing is a part of the creative process for me. I have faith that inspiration will strike in its own time, and I've developed infinite patience as a result.

After bending this piece, I relocated it periodically and clipped it to a variety of temporary homes around my studio. I'd play with it when it caught my attention; but I was never moved to do anything else with it...until today. Today, while I was midway through a variety of other projects in my studio, an image of the finished piece popped into my head. I dropped what I was doing, retrieved my bent little spoon, and the creating was easy.

I'm thrilled with the results! This piece is all mine. Its substantial and interesting; it feels good to wear it; , and as I embarq on my quest for healthier living in 2010, I hope that it will remind me to breathe before I reach for another spoon... unless of course it's to add to this collection! :-)

Soon, I'll be debuting these creations in my store on 1000 Markets. This is a new venue for me, and I'm really excited about it. In the mean time, please feel free to contact me here if your need for a spoon of your own is more urgent.

"Remember to Remember"

Three little words. (Technically two if you consider that one is used twice!) It's a simple enough saying on the surface; but the meaning is near and dear to my heart.

Just before Christmas, I created twenty-one "Remember to Remember" neckaces for a customer. Their purpose in her life remains a mystery to me; but my mind was filled with the possibilities, and the significance of these three little words, as I created them.

In 2010, I'll Remember to Remember ...

• to enjoy real conversations with my family on a daily basis. (Not just the routine communication that we squeeze in while we're doing ten other things; but meaningful, "I'm really paying attention to you" kinds of conversations.)
• to reach out to my friends and family when I think of them
• to say, "I Love You.
• to send a few of the handwritten greeting cards or notes that are constantly rolling around in my mind.
• that everyone I encounter is facing their own personal challenges.
• to make good choices where my own health is concerned. Healthy food and moderate exercise are definitely a part of this plan.
• to proactively accomplish the tasks that I tend to procrastinate.
• to clebrate my accomplishments instead of focusing on what remains to be accomplished.
• to create for the sheer joy of it.
• to find peaceful time for myself on a daily basis, even if it's only for a few minutes.

And finally, I'll Remember to Remember to be greatful for all of the blessings that fill my life.

What will you Remember to Remember in 2010?

The View in My Backyard

During this season, this is the view that greets us almost nightly in our backyard. The deer alone...there are ten or eleven of them now... leisurely spend time with us. The cats are a humorous addition, and they seem to coexist quite peacefully.

The scene causes us to slow down and gather at the windows for a few quiet minutes together each day, and it provides a welcome respite from the hustle of daily life.

Happy Thanksgiving! If you celebrate, I hope that you thoroughly enjoyed the holiday! If not, I hope that you still found a few minutes to reflect on gratitude in your own special way.

I'll be participating in the Christmas Carousel Show this weekend at the State Fairgrounds in Raleigh. It's being held on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in The Jim Graham Building; parking is free; and you'll find a discount coupon for show entry here http://www.christmascarousel.com/pages/coupon.htm .

My booth number will be 2315, and I'll be sharing with Olivia Dowdy-Brown, an amazingly creative artist. If you're in the area, I hope that you'll join us. If you mention that you read this on my blog, you'll receive a 10% discount on any purchases that you make in our booth.

If you're not in the area, and you're tempted by the idea of a good sale... please leave a comment here this weekend with a description or links to the pieces that you'd like to purchase, and I'll create a special discounted listing just for you in my store. :-)

Happy Holidays!

The Sandhills Childrens Center provides a bevy of valuable services to our community here in North Carolina. Perhaps most importantly, they provide Hope. Hope to the children that they serve; Hope to their parents; and Hope to our community.

I created this Hope* pendant especially for them. Throughout the holiday season, half of all proceeds from the sale of this piece will be donated to The Childrens Center. You'll find it online in my Store on Etsy , in my 1000 Markets Store or in person at Artist Alley in Southern Pines, NC. If you're seeking the perfect Christmas Gift, teacher's gift, or stocking stuffer...or if you'd just like to make a donation to a worthy cause...please consider a gift that keeps on giving.

These Hands...

I've just returned from a whirlwind trip to Pennsylvania, and I'm scrambling to catch up. Tonight, I'm too tired for studio time or serious work, so I'm doing a bit of mindless photo editing.

I created this photo earlier this month to showcase my "Seek Balance" cuff bracelet. (I seem to be drawn to stamping words and sentiments that I need to hear. :-) ) Tonight while I was cropping the photo, I was struck by the appearance of my hands. They're hardworking hands, and this photo captured them in intimate detail in a way that I've failed to notice in real life.

My Dad had hardworking hands...the hands of a maintenance foreman in a steel mill; the hands of one who was quick to complete whatever needed to be done at a moments notice; and the hands of one who loved us with a gentle touch. My Grandma had hardworking hands too...riddled with arthritis, they were hands that nurtured ten children and countless grandchildren; hands that gestured when she spoke; and hands that never stopped even as they grew weary with age.

When I see my own hands, I imagine that there might be a similarity between mine and theirs. The very thought pleases me. And while I'll never know the intensity of effort that they or many others who went before me did; I've earned every callous and line, and I wouldn't trade a single one of them.

Strange Beauty

Since becoming the owner of Artist Alley, in each of the past three summers, a particular animal or insect has played a unusual role in my life.

First it was the grasshopper that spent the best part of the year both inside and outside of the gallery. We knew that it was him because one antenae was longer than the other.

Last year we were inundated by hummingbirds. Our solution was to place a feeder in front of the business, and they've been with us ever since.

This year seems to be the year of the most beautiful garden writing spiders. We've been watching two of them all summer long. If I happened upon them unexpectedly, I'm sure that they'd probably scare the bejeebers out of me. Instead, I've become truly fascinated by them and their habits. One has even created an egg sac that's about the size of a ripe fig. From what I understand Spring should bring even more of the little beauties to our backyard.