VERSATILITY OF CERAMIC.......TOLD YA SO!

Today I could not wait to Blog about the wonderful work I am seeing on facebook, flickr and other blogs using my pieces! You gals ROCK! Really you do! I know alot of you also have been asking about my current health situtation and I address that here as well (way at the bottom, LOL!)

The Versatility of Ceramic (One Artists View) was the title of my solo show at the New City Library in NY last April 08 but today the wonderfully talented gals who use my pieces in their work really confirm what I was trying to say. The reason I created that particular exhibit was to show people that CLAY is not just for utilitarian items or for sculpture but for smaller items like beads & buttons that can make a really big impact. Well, today I wanted to show just how much of an impact these artists are making with the little guys! First we have Kristie Roeder, from Artisan Clay...You know Kristie, right? She makes those fabulous Clay Pieces using stoneware and crushed glass. Well Kristie purchased a shank button from my etsy shop and made the cutest embellishment for her purse. I think its totally cool and will copy her idea as soon as I finish my blog post! LOL! I have a bag that needs one of my buttons right away! Then while I was on Facebook for the 100th time today I happened upon two pieces at once from 2 more very special gals, Carol Dean Sharpe from SandFibers and Jennifer Ledford from Tocadora Leather. Two Cuffs done up two totally different ways! Who doesn't love cuffs right? And of course a necklace, but not just any necklace -- two necklaces from Patrizia Tager, Triz Designs..two necklace's that just make my heart skip a beat!

I returned home from a week at the lake last night which followed some really bad few days in the hospital the week before. I have to say I have not really been feeling to well the last few weeks and not getting better as quickly as I would like to report. My very concerned friends have been asking and I have tried my best to respond to each email about whats been going on but I do not know if I did get to everyone's email as I should have and even then not sure I answered every emails questions either..I'm taking some med's I am not really used to, so I will blame everything from now on, on them. LOL! In a nutshell, I have a C5, C6 disc problem that is compressing my spinal cord. The last week in August I lost feeling in my fingers of my right hand and on most days, most of the feeling in my right hand and arm. With my hospital stay and the med's I was pretty sure it would have gone away by now but it has not, so, is it something else? Is it worse than the studies show? Are we missing something? have I not been patient enough? All questions that I hope get answered soon. My next appt is with my Dr's in NY around the 21st of Sept with more tests to follow so maybe then we will have some more answers. I am not a stranger to spinal issues.. I have had my lumbar spine operated on (S1,l5,l4,l3) and have Klippel Feil Syndrome (that means no disc c4 since birth) so lets just say I do pretty good for someone with a kinky spine :) but this particular issue seems to be stumping me a little.. I saw my films -- In my unedcated opinion (no comment) those discs dont seem to be doing what the result is feeling like..so I'm curious and in a heck of a lot of pain! But I am working and dealing..and will keep you all posted! Thank you for all your emails and well wishes when I was in the hospital and your constant support while Im going through whatever it is, this is. Very Big Virtual Hugs to you!

Creative Jewelry is Right!

Creative Jewelry 2009 featured alot of great designs by alot of wonderful designers! It was alot of fun to play the "I know who made that bead" without peeking at the answers game while looking through the pages.. Do you do that too?

I had recieved a few emails regarding a stoneware piece I created that Jane Dickerson purchased from me a year ago. It was the only one I had ever made of this particular piece (gee, how unlike me) and I was really excited to see how it came out.. I had to rush out an get a copy of the mag and am really pleased with the results! The Stoneware Crescent shape was hard to make, Jane did a fantastic job on Rich Earth, I really love this and the piece that was shown on the opposite page entitled Sleepy Trees was really cool too!

For the customers who did request via email the Crescent Shape Pendant, thank you so much and I should have a handful of them created by this October (cross fingers please!). To my blog followers if you would like a piece like the crescent shown in the magazine please let me know in advance or I will show my progress on Flickr.com & the regular venues!

I am back from the Lake Ontario, picking vegetables from the garden and making lots of soup! When the laundry is done and the Lake Gear all put away I'm getting that clay bag out! I found lots of good textures waiting for me at some garage sales over the weekend and they are just itching to be pushed into some new buttons & beads!


Til Next time!