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Jewelry: The Lover, 20" necklace of glass and SS beads, SS clasp and 2.75" pendant of .925 Silver with cut garnets, pearl and druzy, by Tammy Vitale, $125.00

Karen of Art in the Garage suggested I try scanning my jewelry and see if it came out clearer than photographing.  It took me a bit to figure out I had to leave the top open – it does give it a nice black background that way.  I haven’t looked at it blown up, but I think it does a nice job on getting the pretty rich color of the garnet too.  What do you think?  And thanks Karen for leaving that suggestion!

Today was a day in the studio.  I made 5, count ’em, 5 torsos.  Well, I started 5 torsos.  Each has much work left to do on it, but at least by Monday they’ll be ready to go – this is 2 kiln loads, but when fired I’ll be up to my goal of 3 torsos a week so far (into the 2nd week!) this year and 1 mask a week (I’m ahead on that).  But it isn’t just making the pieces anymore, it’s packaging them, too, and that takes extra time (the booklets, finding an amulet, a necklace).  As always, the pieces seem to know what they want so I’ve decided not to make any plans for what comes, just to be the conduit.  This evening a made a Queen of Cups torso….Think I may have to find some gold leaf for the cup.

Got yet another book in today – The Antelope’s Wife by Louise Erdrich.  I think I’m going to settle in and start reading that.  Karen (of above Art in the Garage) is starting a read a book a week group.  I’m not sure that I can do that (although I do read fast and given the time, that would be no problem…and if everything works according to plan (we all know how that goes) I’ll have the time because I have a finite number of pieces to make each week.  Anyways, I’m about to finish one book (probably tonight) and will start the Erdrich book next, so I’d be up to schedule on that too (isn’t it great?  only two weeks into the new year and I’m meeting all my goals…..=]).

Son got his 6 month AA clean and sober chip this morning.  He called and you’d have thought he won the lottery!  And in his own way, he has.  Not only is he clean and sober, but he has also stopped smoking and all caffeine.  Do I need to tell you how proud I am of him? 

I’ve been saving up some other things for you to look at.  Decided I better just go ahead and list them out before my computer updates itself during the night and I lose everything (not the first time).  Speaking of losing things:  I found my mileage book for 07!!! Whew!  It was filed away between two books I had put on the bookshelf in my reading file.  Am SO happy! Okay – here are fun things:

1.  On My Desk where people share what’s on their desktop.

2.  a great blog – The Pissed Off Housewife.  Here’s why (stick around and read some others).

3.  Another great Alyson Stanfield post.  This one on how to put together your artist’s resume.  If you are an artists and don’t know Alyson’s work, well, you’re missing out.  Subscribe to her blog.  Take one or more of her courses – more than worth the time and money!

thought for the day:  How much longer before you revel in the awareness that you are enough, that you’ve done enough, and that you’re now worthy of your heart’s greatest desires?  What has to happen for you to give this to yourself? 

No biggie.  Just wondering.  Take your time.  Mike Dooley, Notes from the Universe:  New Perspectives from an Old Friend