Living my life Wickedly

Last night we went to see "Wicked". I was skeptical because I had a hard time getting into the book or listening to it on audio. But WOW oh WOW was I blown away. It was so AWESOME I just didn't want it to end. So if it comes to your town, RUN, don't walk, and get tickets. If I had some extra cash (which I never do!!) I'd go see it several times more.

Here are some words from one of the songs to inspire you today (and always):

I've heard it said

That people come into our lives for a reason

Bringing something we must learn and we are led

To those who help us most to grow if we let them

And we help them in return

Well, I don't know if I believe that's true

But I know I'm who I am today

Because I knew you.....

This blog post is dedicated to all my wonderful friends who have supported me on my fabulous journey through the years. All the good (and the bad) have made me who I am today, and I hope with your help I can continue to live my life to the very fullest. I'm certainly trying.

Beading for a Cure

Every year for the past three years I've participated in a wonderful project. Jeanette Shanigan, a beader from Alaska, organizes people from around the world to stitch tiny beaded squares (1 1/2" x 1 1/2") that she assembles into quilted wall hangings. These quilts are auctioned at the Bead & Button Show each year and the proceeds go to breast cancer research. Each year she has a theme and this year's theme is "Caring hands beading together to help find a cure for breast cancer."

Beaders from around the world stitched over 500 squares for last year's "turtle" quilt project. and their efforts raised nearly $3,000. Linda Davis (my friend and one of the co-owners of our gallery) donates her time and beads so that Albuquerque artists can participate. I am proud to say that 90 of the squares from last year were stitched by our local beaders. An anonymous donor purchased the quilt that was made from the New Mexico beads and it is now proudly displayed at local bead store Lodi's Beads.

The past two years I have participated and made a quilted square, but this year I've been overly ambitious and have made five so far!! Here are photos of four of them.

Rocks in My Head

No beans in my ears....just rocks in my head. They are there for many reasons. Probably mostly because my head is filled with so many ideas of art projects that I want to do that I would have to live to be at least 500 to complete them all. That's the bad news. The good news is that I have all the supplies I need to last me until I'm 500. So guess I had better get busy, right?

But the rocks you see in the photo are polymer clay rocks in a necklace I made for our "Mineral Spirits" show that opened this week in the gallery I co-own with six other artists. I haven't sold any of them yet - could it be that no one wants to wear the same jewelry as Wilma Flinstone or Betty Rubble? Hmmm. Perhaps I should discover a way to turn polymer clay into diamonds!! Check out the gallery at http://www.thewoodencow.com/

Remember my resolution to write in my post every week this year? Well.....I'm right on track. So far so good - and I joined the gym, too. Yep. Rocks in my head.

A clean slate for the New Year

Ed and I next to our Christmas tree on Christmas Day.

A new year lies before us. What shall we do with it? What resolutions shall we make and break? Which ones will we keep? I find this to be an exciting time of year with so many possibilities before me. A clean slate to do with what I want. And what DO I want? I have the same goals I always have each year.....eat better, get fitter, lose pounds, etc. But this year I am really going to try - no darn it - I am GOING TO spend more time doing the things I love, and get some of the clutter out of my life. (yes, yes, I promise to clean out the garage and have a huge yard sale) And of course another resolution is to write EVERY week on my blog. I can do it all. I know I can. So I bid you adieu for now......gotta get busy working on the new me (but I'll keep some of the old me, so don't worry!!)

I got what I asked for

In my last blog I asked for more time. What I meant was that I wanted more hours in the day to be able to do the things I love. What I got was exactly what I asked for......more time. Yep, I'm still here, breathing the kicking (actually I'm typing - no kicking involced), and time is still ticking away. They say (who is they anyway?) "be careful what you ask for". I should have asked for more FREE time. So I really did get what I asked for. "They" were right - darn them.

I just got back from Las Vegas where I attended my fifth Clay Carnival - a wonderful four days of taking workshops from eight national polymer clay instructors. As always it was super duper fabulous, but somehow this year it seemed all the more wonderful. I wasn't sure why so I've been reflecting on it. I think it is many reasons - I know so many of the attendees now that I feel at home, the teachers are so much fun and always informative, and I guess the main reason is that I can get totally lost in what I really love......creating.

I am sharing with you a photo of the group that attended (I'm Lavender Girl sitting in the front row) and a sculpture I did in Leslie Blackford's class. It is a pregnant mermaid. I'm not sure how that idea came out of my brain, but I bet I've got more crazy ideas in there. Now I just have to get more FREE TIME to let them out.

I just need more time

I need more time, much, much, much more time. There are so many things I want to do, and isn't it irritating that 8 hours a day has to be spent sleeping? (although I must admit that crawling into bed at night after an exhausting day is a really nice experience - it's the waking up in the morning part that I don't like too much)

And this week I've been sick with a nasty cold, so I'm at home with lots of free time, and don't feel like doing a thing. Blowing my nose, drinking lemon juice, rubbing on Vicks and coughing have consumed my last three days.

But today I think I'm about to approach finally feeling better, and then watch out....I'll be a whirlwind again trying to squeeze a million things into each and every day.

Three weeks ago I hosted Lindly Haunani for a polymer clay workshop and she was AWESOME. The photo is Lindly and me in front of my house. We learned so much and we laughed a lot. I love getting lost in the world of creating. It makes my heart sing. And speaking of hearts......the other photo shows one I made in her class. And I even got so bold as to post some for sale on etsy. I surfed around etsy yesterday and it seems there are a LOT of sellers. Wonder how many buyers will notice my little hearts?

Anyway, thanks for visiting me. I haven't seen the outside world all week, so this is my way of getting out there.....even if it is only in cyberspace.

Friends I've never met

In this crazy modern world, we are bombarded every day by flashing billboards, gas pumps that talk to us, email overload, etc, until sometimes I (and probably you) would just like to be on a quiet desert island with our thoughts - and in my case with all my art supplies!!

As an artist, I belong to many yahoo groups where ideas and shared and people post about this and that and this and that and......

My favorite on discussion group are the artists that have taken Mary Ann Moss' "Remains of the Day" online class. You can read about this wonderful class and "meet" Mary Ann by going t0

http://dispatchfromla.typepad.com/ Mary Ann is one of the friends I've never met.

And if you decide to take the online class (which I HIGHLY encourage you to do) and make some of your own magical journals (I am still working on my first one, but have high hopes of finishing soon......my, my.... doesn't life get in the way sometimes?) then join the yahoo group.

Today, Rita (who is another friend I've never met) posted that she is celebrating her 100th blog post, so I thought I'd share her blog with you.

http://www.tatteredpast.blogspot.com/

Forgive me if I ramble, but it is 6:30am on a Saturday morning (why the heck am I up so early?? to kiss my hubbie as he leaves to coach his cycling team on a 70 mile ride today)l

Anyway, I haven't posted in a long time and Rita has inspired me to get back to my blog. And I believe that I promised some of my friends - including some I've never met - to share a photo or two from our recent vacation in Utah, Oregon, California and Arizona. 3,800 miles in ten days (yes my butt is numb). It was oh so long, but oh so magical.

Now I am working toward my 100th post. Stay tuned.

hugs to all

Annie