This is a necklace I made copying a drawing done by my then 6 year old son (he is now 23). I made it using the lost wax technique. I made the bee in wax, using melting tools. Then I cast it in sliver using a centrifuge. I used amber beads in order to replicate a honeycomb. It makes me happy when I wear it. :)

June 13th, 2011, I was in Venice, Italy with my daughter. June13th, 2012, I went to the bread store. Guess I can't have exciting travels all the time ~smile~

My college girl is home.......

One of the gifts of joy today......to have my sweet girl home for the long weekend. Thanks you, Father for blessing me with such a lovely daughter. How sweet it was to have breakfast together this morning. We have some fun stuff planned. I'll post pictures...

Giveaway of THREE pounds of beads, findings, etc

I am following a neat blog all about beads- Copper Diem......the gal is having a giveaway so go to her site and sign up.

http://copperdiem.blogspot.com/2012/02/three-pound-giveaway.html">

My Symphony....

“To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion, to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not rich; to study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly, to listen to stars and birds, to babes and sages, with open heart, to bear all cheerfully, to all bravely await occasions, hurry never. In a word, to let the spiritual unbidden and unconscious grow up through the common. This is to be my symphony.”

― William Henry Channing

This speaks for me. It is how I want to live.

Beginning Drawing class

I am taking a beginning drawing class this year at our community college. Most of my assignments have been less then stellar. I am not very good at drawing. But this last assignment turned out great. I followed the directions the teacher gave and 7 hours later had a very good piece of art to show. In class we have to put our drawings on the board and have them critiqued by the class.

My drawing got picked as a favorite by a student, received nice comments from the teacher as well as a round of applause. (one of only three drawings to get this) Finally the teacher asked if she could put my drawing in the window of the class.

I smiled all the way home, felt a bit like a child in grade school who did good in class. I do wonder if this is a one time thing, if I can draw the next assignment as well.....

Art History

I am enrolled in an Art History class this semester at American River College. Many of the things I saw on my Europe trip are covered in my class. I didn't even know the name orthostats but was none the less drawn to them.

Orthostats are thin slabs of stone. Defined as ~ A slab of stone set upright at the base of a wall or building to form the lower section of it, sometimes carved in relief.

Here are the photos Emmy and I took of some orthostats displayed in the British Museum. They are from the palace on Nineveh.