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Necklace: rutilated quartz and smokey topaz focal bead 2.75" long with .925 silver, forest and ocean jasper with swarovski crystal 20" necklace, pewter clasp designed and executed by Tammy Vitale $110.00

Spent much time glazing in the studio today: two torsos with glaze, and one fired unglazed to be painted with blackboard paint for use in The Body Politic show that Heather Bartlett and I are putting together.

There was a time when I was seen as someone who pushed the envelope.  I’ve been staying very much in the envelope these past few years, keeping a nice clean image (well, except for the time we closed The Wylde Women Gallery because to stay open we would have had to agree to censorship.  My call.  So we closed it) so as not to turn off any potential customers.

Well, The Body Politic is definitely going to push the envelope (especially if we can find a place for it somewhere in Southern Maryland)(see censorship, above).  And I haven’t been so gleeful in I can’t remember when.  This is a marriage of politics and art – something I’ve been longing for somewhere in the recesses of my own true heart, but never could put together until Heather and I got to chatting.  We keep emailing each other and the energy keeps spiraling up and new ideas keep moving further and further along.  It’s exhilarating.  If our true calling and heart’s desire is always indicated by joy, then, my friends, this is it.  Something I’ve been waiting for without having the slightest clue that I was panting for it (a reference from Clarissa Pinkola Estes when she’s talking about returning to the wylde to regrow our pelt).  I am "the most curious of all to see what will happen next.!" (That  is Alice from Wonderland)(and me).  You know, this kind of creative excitement has to be grace falling down from the heavens and burying me up to my nose.

I think I shall have to go back to photography.  Scanning doesn’t make a nice clear picture in the blow up and I can’t figure out how to enlarge the focal bead, which I think is an important selling point.  What do you think?

The other thing I did today was finalize my closed for beads.  You will remember that I cleaned it out last week.  Well, today I set it up with lights and nails for beads strands and finished necklaces.  Added a chair – it’s ready to go AND I have a great writing desk again (which had been co opted by the beads almost as soon as I set it up).  This makes me feel on top of things and organized.  Which is good, because I went by Deja Vu where I have a bunch of work today to change the prices on the torso, noticed some work sold and left a message for the owner to give me a ring so I could come pick up the money.  She called back to note that she sold the place December 31.  THAT is why I want to go to wholesale.  There is no problem in this instance.  The work did not transfer and I’m meeting the new owner (and arranging to take things out no matter what) on Wednesday.  This is what comes from taking folks at face value and getting your work out no matter what.  Things are going to change.  They are changing.  Scary as it is to almost start from scratch once again, at least I’ll have money in hand as work goes out.

I also discovered that Niche magazine sells lists of its subscribers.  A bit pricey ($146/1000 with a minimum purchase of 5000).  That should keep me busy.  It seems high compared to some of the other prices of gotten, but it’s a pretty targeted list, too.  As I think I’ve mentioned before, this year is like going back to school.  I just have to chalk these costs up to the price of learning to do things in different ways than I’ve done before in order to get to where I want to be in my business.  I will name it exciting and adventuresome. 

thought for the day:  Ever wonder how many angels you have?  All of them.  The insisted. Mike Dooley, Notes from the Universe

What does it feel like to remember your soul’s task?  When the deepest part of you becomes engaged in what you are doing, when your activities and actions become gratifying and purposeful, when what you do serves both yourself and others, when you do not tire within but seek the sweet satisfaction of your life and your work, you are doing what you were meant to be doing.  The personality that is engaged in the work of its soul is buoyant…It delights in its work and in others.  it is fulfilled and fulfilling.  Gay Zukav, The Seat of the Soul