May showers bring spring flowers.....so what does the cold bring. A grumpy Mandy for sure. It was so cold I never even bothered putting in my spring wardrobe.
We did two away trips.

A week in Hilton Head South Carolina. Good food, relaxing by the very cold pool (heated my patootie). The highlights of the trip were two side trips. First to Savannah Georgia for lunch and shopping then out to Tybee Island to the Crab Shack. The last day we went back to New York through Charleston ate a fantastic lunch at Hominy Grill- I ate and loved shrimp with grits. Then we strolled the Charleston Market and picked up a few pieces to make necklaces with- a bold bulldog for the USMC and two enameled pieces a crab and a 6 pt flower or is it an abstract Jewish Star.

My adventure at the Omni Hilton Head involved a rustling bush, okay I was getting a bit worried when finally a cute gray cat sticks its head out. A minute later while reclining in my chaise lounge pool side I see out of the corner of my eye a snake slithering beside my chair. I have to tell you I froze- no scream, not sure which way to dash. Then the cat pounces pulls the snake back in the bush and the leaves are whipping every which way. Okay from a safe distance away I wait until I see the cat come out and lick its paws. Needless to say I never sat out at the adult pool again but headed daily to the family pool area and far away from any vegetation.

The last trip was a two night run down to Annapolis to pack Becca out of her dorm room. Got a chance to meet Julia who she was traveling to Europe with. Also got to meet the boyfriend and his family and the other Mids they sponsor. It was a lovely time.

gifts for friends

I was able to use some of the great pieces I had printed with Gail to make some girts for friends. The crown bags were from Michael's and were plastic lined making them a bit tricky to sew on.

 I also upcycled an old denim jacket that had been languishing in my closet. I used a hedgehog Gail's original stamp along with an original rabbit stamp of Gail's to make a multi-media piece I adore with painted pieces, machine embroidery and beading. I have worn this piece more than I have any other this Spring.

Life Gets Busy

I have been busy with Family the last few months.
Spent February with son, his now fiancee, and her family on the Big Island. I had so missed the heat, the sun the sand, hula, turtles, papaya, Kona coffee. It was a lovely trip once we got there....United Airlines messed up big time getting us there...the low point was sleeping with the homeless at the airport because they got us there so late and it being President's weekend no hotel rooms on Oahu available.

March, April and May are traveling almost every weekend to USNA Women Crew events.

I have been creative but fewer opportunities.

Did a Torah based watercolor challenge- lvoed the results.

Got together with Gail and did multi-media challenges for Cloth Paper Scissor. We used a skeletan papermache base, painted it, created a black crow out of clay, decorated with a veil. This was for the Day of the Dead Challenge. Mine was the tavern wench and Gail's was the Titled landowners daughter-both betrayed by the same casanova......

Donated two necklaces to the synagogue for Kar Klub. I enjoy being able to give back to my Jewish community. I do not do religious artwork for this as the majority of people attending are not Jewish by faith. 

Pasta and Wine Seneca Wine Trail

Took the weekend off from artistic pursuits to enjoy the Past and Wine Seneca Wine Trail Event.

2 days= 29 wineries and 26 bottles of wine.
I learned

• I can drink and enjoy drier wines if paired with food. Still prefer my sweeter wines.
• Wine always tastes better when you server is knowledgeable and has a great personality.The top three winners for exceptional owners and staff were:Villa Bellangio- Chris and his wife, Matt and their lovely Mom, Catherine Valley winery owner is so gracious as well and the staff at Lakewood that remember us each time we visit.
• The lake views are absolutely gorgeous and I so love when the tasting bar is set up so I can enjoy the scenery while tasting. In winter the empty grapevines against the wintery snow with the blue lake behind all of that is absolutely stunning. With so many of the wineries clinging to the steep sides of Seneca Lake the view is breathtaking.

Now the funny part will be that by experience the wine I purchase at any winery after the first five has been know to disappoint when I open it later as in "what the heck was I thinking" so this time we tried the new to us wineries first and did our usual ones later where I have over the years had multiple bottles from each place. We do find that it will definately depend on the year produced as to the level of sweetness so we have learned to return to a winery and give them a retry through the Polar Pass-35 wineries over 3 months usually equates to a slower wine tasting day 5-6 wineries maximum.

Let the sun shine in the sun shine in

I am glad for the new year to be here.
Last year was one of terrific changes- launching a daughter out of college into a career in a different city, watching a child leave plebe year behind and mature into a young officer, a son return from war, a beloved pet diagnosed with cancer and a father-in-law die. Not all of these changes brought joy but the one constant of life is that change is always happening. I can be at peace with it or I can at times give into grief.
I have found myself needing to do more art. To be creative to make beautiful things to make my life filled with more joy. To use my art to give back to friends and family that support me.

I am so looking forward to our next trip. We are meeting our son, his girlfriend and her parents in Hawaii. Not on Oahu where I lived but on the Big Island. That was the only other island I visited while living there from '69-'72. It was beautiful less populated more open it felt closer to nature.

So here I sat house bound by the big storm of the season-snow piled up outside. Yet I was in a Hawaii State of Mind, I found myself reaching for sea glass, pearls, shells- bright colors that remind me of the sky, ocean and the beautiful orchids I remember.

The first one is a long starfish dangles with shells, pearls and seaglass and ceramic beads which evoke shell broken sand.

The second necklace is a sterling silver turquoise peace with faceted stones, silver buddha's accented with hand made glass beads from the Corning Glass Museum. Luckily I live one town over from a major museum with art studios and an international community of glass artists.

The third piece is a large focal starfish with a starfish clasp and chain nautilus accented with silver-tone disks and shells, more fantastic handmade Corning glass beads and milk-glass beads. It turned out adorable and in fact I ended up dressing for the day so I can wear it out wine-tasting on Seneca Lake. 

The last piece is a carved Jewish star Moonstone sterling silver pendant done with lilac sea glass, pearls and the composite sea&sand beads. I have had this pendant for years but since making my own jewelry it languished on a silver chain in a drawer never seeing the light of day or my neck for that matter. Now I have it made it mine and it will be enjoyed again.

Jewelry Making Morning

It has been a tough few days for our family. My husband's father has been on a respirator and not seeming to get much better. Friday our oldest dog had a seizure and when we took him to the vets he was diagnosed with lymphoma and it had spread throughout his body. We were able to get him on steroids and to buy some time so the girls each could have some time to say goodbye. Add on top of that youngest child was off to Israel and hubby was having to drive to NYC with her.
So the dogs had me up early today and I was not teaching Hebrew school so I had a few hours to myself.
I got out my beading supplies and with no pre-set ideas started to work on some projects.
As you will see there is really no rhyme or reason no theme, just using some of my stash to bring some joy and light into my house and into my soul.

 The hearts are made at the Corning Glass Museum they are normally $20 per class to make one heart, I was lucky at the annual Studio Sale I got them for much less. I usually make very symmetrical necklaces so I enjoyed doing different chain on each side.

The next piece is for Valetines day and is made up of Art-i-cake pendant and head pins. Added crystals and beads to the head pins I love how the queenbee seems to be flying off the flower.

The next pieces is an ICE RESIN bezel with small cut out hearts and an embedded key. It was place on a dark metal chain. It was a fun project I did with 3 girlfriends and my first time using resin I am quite pleased with it.

 This is a sterling silver and stone pendant I had first made years ago with wire wrapping I did not like how the metal had tarnished and did not wear it much. I cut it all apart add some wonderful barrel stones, the ceramic beads are also from the Corning Glass Museum studio sale. I put the clasp on the side it is a large leaf and added some playful metal bird beads. I am thrilled with the piece and know I will start wearing it again.

This is a iolite and peart pendant I have had for years it was special and I was not ready to put it together. Iolite is tricky as it seems blue one moment and purple the next. I got hold of some really nice barrell pearls and decided to just match the white pears and clear crystals. I used 3 sizes of graduated pearls. I just love how it turned out very elegant and one I will keep for years and years to come.

Snow People of Hector

The large snow woman was an ugly $1 doll from the Bargain Bin in Montour Falls. Working in Gail Walker's Studio I deconstructed the jacket and scarf- added a ruffle,  4 Jewish stars free embroidered on the sewing machine to make the scarf into a tallit. I made a flower rosette for the cap-the stamens were re-purposed from the beads that had been her smile. She was missing her nose hence the $1 price tag- so Gail whittled one for me and colored and covered it in orange glitter. Her jacket button is an old military button with an eagle and an anchor.

The three snowmen are made of Crayola paper clay seed beads for eyes and mouth. They sport brass military buttons with eagles. The large one we made a striped stocking hat with a pipe cleaner center so the stocking cap can be positioned. Base was a re-purposed plaque we removed the wire hanger. The bottom of the snowman has heavy glitter and it was added to the base as well. 

The last snowman although the tiniest took the most time to make. He is in a handmade wired cage the base has book print paper and black glitter around the outside. The body is paper clay with pipe cleaner arms and legs, the scarf is wrapping string. His hat is hand made with paper cone fastened with a jewish bard, then glittered. The small tree was mod-podged and glittered. It is amazing the smaller one took as much time as making two of the big snowman.