Ramblings Of An Ever Hungry Mind

2007-04-09T16:30:00.000-07:00

My blog has moved! If you would like to read more about my my art & photography please visit me at Waxing Poetic at www.rusticrelics.net/blog

A Very Very Merry Christmas!!!

2006-12-21T13:38:00.000-07:00

My Article in Jan/Feb issue of Belle Armoire Magazine

If you have been following my ramblings for some time, you may recollect me yapping on about some big news for Rustic Relics....well, I am happy to finally spill the beans! I just had an article published in the 2007 Jan/Feb issue of Belle Armoire, which just hit newstands!!! This magazine is a sister magazine of Somerset Studio and features handcrafted wearable art. The 3 page article features a how-to for my Spirit Within pendants. My jewelry/articles will also be featured in two more of thier publications; the annual Jewelry Issue, which will feature a how-to article for my "Modern Mosiac" pendants and a summer issue featuring my new "Oracle" pendants. I am SO flippin' excited!!!

The pendants featured in each article will be available for sale when I receive them back from the magazine. The Oracle pendants are temporarily out of stock, but i hope to have some new one's up after the holidays as the one's there were on the webiste have been sent to the magazine to be photographed.

If you are visiting me here from my link in the magazine and want to keep up to date on my work, please follow me to my new blog site at Waxing Poetic. You can subscribe to my page to receive updates as they are available. Thank you for visiting!!!

This certainly is turning out to be a fabulous holiday season. I am not sure if i will have the chance to post again before Christmas, so I wish you all out there in BloggyLand a safe, healthy and happy Christmas and New Year. Cheers!

2006-11-29T09:50:00.000-07:00

You can now find me at.... Waxing Poetic please show me some link love and i'll be sure to reciprocate in my new space :)

New Beginnings....

2006-11-17T23:17:00.000-07:00

Hanging Up My...... After a long stay on Blogger I have followed the ranks of many of you and upgraded....please come and visit me at Waxing Poetic @: http://www.rusticrelics.net/blog For those of you who have been kind enough to link to my blog here, I would greatly appreciate it if you updated your links :) If you are a subscriber to my blog, please visit my new space and click the button that says "Subscribe To Bloglines". Thank you again for your continued support and interest in me and my work :)!

SPC Glam Week 2

2006-11-14T09:12:00.000-07:00

Wash Away....Sarah e. Smith Art & Photography Here is my entry for SPC for the week. There is no story behind it, with all of my self portraits I was experimenting with lighting, setting and mood. I never wear this much eye makeup, but decided to glam it up a bit to convey the mood I was hoping to capture with the photo. Click HERE to see more interpretations of this month's theme "Glam"!

Trees...

2006-11-12T21:52:00.000-07:00

Trees... I know that I recently posted this pic, there is just something simple about it that I love and I was playing around with some new techniques that I have learned in regards to photo editing and these colors just illuminated my soul and I wanted to share them with you. :) At the same time, I was also looking up some info on Eco-Poetics, when I strangely stumbled upon a poem written by a long lost acquaintance. I have no idea where he is now, or what he is doing, but I remember him being a remarkable poet and was happy to see that it looks like his work has gained some recognition. Should he ever stumble upon my page here, I hope that he would not mind me sharing his poem with all of you. Breath by J. Daniel Beaudry Tree, gather up my thoughts like the clouds in your branches. Draw up my soul like the waters in your root. In the arteries of your trunk bring me together. Through your leaves breathe out the sky. Poem found on www.spiritoftrees.org

Passion For The Page....

2006-11-09T23:40:00.000-07:00

Books, books and more books :) Though I have a list a mile long of things that i need to do, I have forced myself to take a bit of time each evening to sit and read a book. I forgot how enjoyable it is to get lost in the pages of a good story...for the past few nights I have immersed myself in The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova. I have a penchant for fiction books that contain a lot of historical fact and information. I have a secret love for history, especially the history of Europe and Asia, more specifically the very early to medieval history of the regions...espcially history's many mysteries. The Historian is a book based on vampire lore from around the world and is a very entertaining read...so much so that I am almost finished with it :) I find myself taking little notes when I read books such as this... about places, myths and stories, historical figures that are mentioned in these books and look up the facts as i go along. Later in my life, after the nest is empty, I plan on doing some globe hopping....i already have a fantastic list of places I want to see, most off the beaten path that i would not have otherwise know about had it been mentioned in on of the novels I have read....it is quite a fun way to gather knowledge. Yes, I am a bit of a geek at heart, but I just love learning. I felt so guilty purchasing this book the other day. I've always been a Borders Books girl...I worked there back in the day(does anyone say that anymore?) and have always like the more relaxed, laid back atmosphere and ambiance of the place. I could walk into any Borders and tell you where you could find what you are looking for and make a Latte with the best of the Cafe folk there. But the other day,for some reason unknown, I ventured into Barnes and Noble, for just the second time in my life. I couldn't help but feel like I was betraying a good friend or cheating on a lover when i stepped inside there....it was a mixed bag of elation and guilt. I was in awe of the plethora of different books they had on display, mostly the one's that are published by Barnes and Nobel themselves, as well as the vast array of (art) magazines, writing and reading tools...and the fact that there was a Starbucks Cafe (I'm not even going to get started on my addiction to Starbuck's...that's a story for a different day :). I must have spent almost 2 hours wandering around B&N (yes we are on a nickname basis already), I purchased about 5 sale books and a few Christmas gifts and walked out with a smile and an Iced Maple Latte...oh well :) In addition to being addicted to Starbuck's, I also love hoarding magazines....especially art, decor and family magazines.....i'll leave you this evening with a few of my personal faves you should take a gander at..... The Drama - Indie art magazine with some fascinating stuff Juxtapoz - Fabulous magazine covering the new x-generation of art Bust - stylish and hip feminist-esque magazine Violet - not sure if they are publishing this anymore, but if you can get your hands on it, it's fabulous - modern family living Wondertime - My favorite family magazine Colors - Covering some interesting world issues Ready Made - awesome instructions on constructing some unique items and crafts around your home Selvedge - i browse through this one in the store....cool stuff but i refuse to pay $20 for a magazine! B & W - Black and White photography magazine....amazing photographs Eyemazing - Photography magazine...very interesting and weird stuff :)

Photo Friday/SPC - Light

2006-11-07T02:03:00.000-07:00

"The Moment Before You Wake" ..... Sarah e. Smith Art & Photography Before I head to bed...my submission for Photo Friday this week :) Also using this one for SPC this week as well....i post to many pics of my mug up here! I'll be back soon with more Ramblings...

Ugh...

2006-11-04T12:41:00.000-07:00

Houdini's Dream - Surreal Series......... Sarah e. Smith Art & Photography As an artist, like many of you who venture to my blog here in cyberland, I pride myself on the work that I create, the thought and time that goes into each piece and the never ending quest to be original in a place filled with many artists, photographers and an endless sea of visual inspiration. So as you can imagine, it truly stinks when you discover other "artists" copying or imitating your personal style or designs. Ugh! I've had this happen to several artists that I knew, some of whom took it gracefully, some who got rip roaring upset to the point of sending a slew of nasty emails to the perpetrators....but the funny thing is, after this was brought to my attention, i wasn't as upset as I though I would be...I actually felt invigorated and empowered. Even though I never believed in the old saying " Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery"....um no, it just plain stinks when you find out your work is being copied.....i felt like I needed to further my work, hone some advanced skills and get out there and make something even better. Which is exactly what I have been doing....i've created some totally new pieces...a few pendants I have worn out when i go shopping to get a feel for what people think of them and have already gotten some great feedback and even a few special orders. I am also aware of other artists and crafters who aren't familiar with my work and who construct their pieces in a similar manner, which is another driving force in my effort to be original with the art and jewlery that I create. I am working on a bunch of new pieces for the store, though I am not yet sure when I will introduce them online...they are totally different from what I have online now, and though I am moving in this new direction with my work, I will be sure to keep some of my "classic" pieces on the site. I'm pretty excited about the new designs and look forward to showing you all in the near future. In other Rustic Relics news, the gauntlets should be up by tomorrow evening and I am also thinking of expanding Rustic Relics to carrying some work by other artists. I am in the planning stages of this, to see if this is a route I would like to go with on the site, but I will keep you posted on more of this as it further develops and if i decide to have an open call for portfolios. I have several artists who are interested in having their work online which motivated me into this train of thought....i've always wanted to own my own gallery...so maybe this is the perfect start....we'll see. I still have some other fabulous news that i am waiting on posting, the anticipation is killing me...but i'll wait just a bit longer :) In other happy news, my dear friend Rebecca came into town on Thursday and we have had some great fun together these past few days. She's the kind of person who you just feel so comfortable being yourself around and just fun to be with....she is just totally laid back and down to earth. She moved earlier this year for a better job in Western, NY so unfortunately we don't see each other too often, but it is always nice to spend time with her when she comes home. I was lucky enough to sneak out of my house for the evening on Thursday to see my most favorite musician in the world Richard Shindell at a fabulous little venue called Caffe Lena. The concert was amazing, his voice and lyrics just reach the furthest depths of my soul. It was a glorious night :) Well, i'm off to get some work done and enjoy the rest of the day....hope you all are having a fabulous weekend! Cheers!

Portal

2006-10-27T22:46:00.000-07:00

Portal - Digital Collage......View Large Ive been playing around alot with my photography lately....taking more pictures, printing more pictures, enlarging pictures and creating art with my pictures here in reality as well as digitally. After the holidays I will also be setting up a darkroom in my basement so I can develop and play around with film as well. I've got some Lomo cameras on my wishlist this year that I can't wait to experiment with. The above image is the latest digital collage composed of my photographs and some textures. I have a few more in the works, and this still may be a work in progress...I really try not to complete each piece in a single sitting...this is a bad habit of mine that I have been working hard to correct. I really like to let the work marinate...sometimes I need to add a few more ingredients and sometimes it is just right in my book :) Hope you all have a fantabulous weekend!

Made With Love...

2006-10-26T23:20:00.000-07:00

Custom Pendant X-Mas 2005 - "Mercy" Front & Back I can't believe that November is just around the corner already! What happend to October?....it seemed to be here for a fleeting moment....now there is snow in the forcast, the days are shorter and the smell of a frosty winter is in the air. Atleast some of the trees are holding on strong to their glorious leaves and they days aren't bitter cold yet so I can still play outside :) I always see November as being the start of the Holiday Season, and with this I start getting my requests for custom gifts. I'll be taking custom orders until Dec 8th this year. Depending on my workload I may extend the date, but I will keep you posted. The pendants pictured above and below are some one of a kind custom pieces I made for a customer last year. She had requested several pendants focusing on Christian beliefs: Love, Trust, Mercy, Hope....these are just some of the one's that I created for her. The pictures of my pendants make it hard to tell the depth and layers in the piece, but these all had special transparent layers to them. "Trust" (Front & Back) I've already started to receive some requests that I am working on now, so the sooner the better to get your ideas into me. I am also making ornaments this year that are similar to the pendants in style, but larger in size...i hope to have some pics of them posted by next week. I'll have some new necklaces and FINALLY the gauntlets up on the site by the middle of next week as well....whew ;) Peace & Love xxoo

Unconscious Mutterings 10.22.06

2006-10-26T16:09:00.000-07:00

Bare, Canon Powershot S3 IS Unconscious Mutterings - 10.22.06

Stuff :: too much of it
Block :: stack
Ingredient :: watercolors
Flagrant :: disregard
Dandruff :: my kitty
Betty :: Davis
Tide :: pool
Judges :: robes
Take it easy :: when?
Chef :: my husband

Illustration Friday - Ghost

2006-10-25T10:54:00.000-07:00

Ghost Trying to get back into Illustration Friday. I have some new sketchbooks that I would like to start filling in....the majority of the work in my sketchbooks are more realistic drawings...the kind of stuff you would learn to draw in your typical college drawing class. Lately, with the limited time I have, I have been just futzing around with these silly single line drawings. I love single line drawings becasue they are just fun,simple,and quick to do....start your drawing and don't lift your pen/pencil off the page until your piece is complete. If you want to experiment...feel free to post a link to your drawing in my comments. If you are from Illo Friday and are new to my blog...feel free to check out the rest of it HERE

Color & The Written Word

2006-10-20T12:07:00.000-07:00

Crackled Abstraction, Canon Powershot S3 IS..... Sarah e. Smith Photography It is a rainy and miserable day outside today. Fall seems to be on a whirlwind visit this year as most of the leaves on the trees near my house are already down, the poor bare braches are trembling in the wind. This is the perfect kind of day to snuggle up with a good book and cup of warm chai. Speaking of books, I am looking for something new to dive into. Since having a little one and running full force into my art recently, I have not had too much time to read, which is something that I realized I was missing and needed to spare some time for. So if any of you have some suggestions send them my way! On days like this too I like going around my house and taking photos of unusual objects and compositions. I find it funny/interesting how color seems to be such a central and driving force in my photo and art work....considering that all of the walls in my house are a beige color, I drive a tan car and all of my clothes are earthy and neutral. Yet, I still have this secret attraction for color that pops up in the work I create. But I suppose that the two balance each other out...on my beige walls hangs a bright and colorful painting, the neutral color of the wall accentuating the vibrant colors in the piece. It still drives my husband nuts though any time I come home with a new brown or black shirt :) How does color affect your life? Do you embrace it in the everyday? Or do you too have a secret affinity for it? What's your favorite color? I always enjoy hearing your perspectives! Hope you have a fabulous weekend!

Photo Friday - Innocence

2006-10-20T12:01:00.000-07:00

Sarah e. Smith Photography Here is my submission this week for Photo Friday. Some of you may have already seen this pic in my Gallery. For more pics on this subject check them out HERE If you are from PhotoFriday you can check out more of my blog HERE and more of my photography HERE

New Banner...

2006-10-19T02:07:00.000-07:00

Sarah e. Smith Fine Art & Photography Well, I figured it was time for a banner update. I've been futzing around with some graphic designs lately, trying to find a style that I feel best suits me and my work. I enjoy working with this art form and exploring the endless possiblities it has to offer.I'm working on getting together some original graphic design elements to offer fellow artists and designers...i'll be posting more about this once I have more info. I finally got around to organizing all of my beads, trinkets and such and I am in the process of creating some new baubles and adorments for the shop. Also, I'm currently working on some one of a kind pieces for my friend Tracy, owner of Dry Goods in Lenox Mass, who has been kind enough to offer to showcase some of my necklaces at her display at the Bershire County Day School Craft Fair on Nov. 3rd. This is a high end craft show and admission to the event is $20.00. Proceeeds from each sale goes into a scholarship fund to pay college tution for bright kids without the financial means. If you are in the area, please stop by and show your support :) Well, off to bed, it's WAY past my bedtime ;)

SPC - Imperfections Week 3

2006-10-16T12:03:00.000-07:00

Scarred Well, finally trying to get back into the swing of things with SPC. I like this month's theme as it allows those who participate to come out of their comfortable shell and yet, still find art and beauty in the little imperfections and quirks that make us one of a kind. My pic this week is of the scar that I have on my neck. It is the result of two unnecessary surgeries that I had done on a mysterious infection that doctors just couldn't pinpoint. I wont get into the gross details of what this thing was like to live with for 4 years, and believe me it was rather gross. The doctors had no clue as to what it was and the only insight I was able to give at the time was that it appeared when my wisdom teeth started to move in. I had one surgery that seemed successful, the doctor had said though that in order not to damage my facial nerve and paralyze half my face he had to leave a small piece of the tissue near my jaw. Two months later, the infection was back, as gross as ever :( They put me on antibiotics, but it never fully helped. I ended up living with it for a few more years, moved to Tennessee, got married...it never hurt, never was uncomfortable and never affected my overall health so I never really worried about it too much. Eventually, I just got tired of it and went to another doctor who again seemed confident in being able to remove it and get me back to normal (the normal part he didn't fix :) I told him about my wisdom teeth and how that may have triggered it and he had me get my wisdom teeth removed...all 4 at once! Yeah, that was not a pleasant experience. Anyway, the surgery went well, a plastic surgeon was on hand to suture me up and I was on my way. No more than two weeks go by and the infection is back again! By this point I am totally frustrated, so I started to do my own research to figure out what was going on. I spent about 30 min online and found what I thought it may be. I went back with to the doctor and presented him with the information that I found: apparently a tooth can become infected and create a separate infection below it in the neck. The doctor scheduled me an appointment with an oral surgeon they took some x-rays and ended up removing my lower left molar. The infection went away in days and has never returned. All that for a stinkin' tooth! My moral to this story is...it really helps to do your own research, especially if it is something that you aren't getting answers on from the doctors that you see. The doctors i saw were all very nice and are very good at what they do, but I feel that if they may have taken some time to research what was going on I would not have had to go through two totally unnecessary surgeries. Ugh!

Harvest Time

2006-10-15T22:17:00.000-07:00

Thatcher Park, View From Indian Ladder Farms This weekend my hubs, the little one and I made out annual trek to the orcahrd. We always go to a place called Indian Ladder Farms, a beautiful orchard and farm nestled in the Helderberg Mountains, and situated below Thatcher Park. It is one of my absolute favorite places to visit and a tradition I look forward to each year. We picked enough apples to last a year (I already made a pie :), browsed through the country store and checked out the petting zoo. It was such a fun day, with perfect weather....this trip always brings me such pure joy. I took a bit of a hiadus this past week from my art to relax and recoop, catch up on some sleep, start and finish a few books, paint and rearrange a few rooms in my house, take some bubble baths and write in my journal...and I'm ready to get back into the swing of things and hope to have some new pieces for you to see by the end of the week. Things are going fabulous with the gallery and I have some other great news to share soon. I also hope to get back into the swing of things with SPC this week as well. Hope all of you are having a wonderful fall :)

Hmmmm....

2006-10-05T22:51:00.000-07:00

Painter, Canon Powershot S3 IS...... Sarah e. Smith Art & Photography I don't have too much to yap about tonight, so I figured I would do a meme...it has been a while since I have done one of these things....i pass it along to anyone who wants to answer a whole bunch of questions :).... When was the last time you shaved? Last night...goodness that is a bit personal :) What were you doing this morning at 8 a.m.? Just waking up... What were you doing 15 minutes ago? Futzing with new pictures Are you any good at math? Um...some of it but don't ask me to do Trig...ugh! Your prom night? Didn't go Do you have any famous ancestors? Not that I know of Have you ever taken out a loan to pay for school? Yup Last thing received in the mail? A bunch of junk! How many different beverages have you drunk today? Water & Vanilla Frappuccinos Do you ever leave messages on people's answering machine? Yes Do you draw your name in the sand when you go to the beach? Um...not since I was little i guess....i didn't the last time I was at the beach What's the most painful dental procedure you've had? Oh goodness, there have been too many...probably wisdom teeth, I had all 4 pulled at once :( What is out your back door? Deck, yard and woods Any plans for Friday night? A whole bunch of nothing! Do you like what the ocean does to your hair? Yes, when i was little I felt like a mermaid :) I miss the ocean... Have you ever received one of those big tins of 3 different kinds of popcorn for Christmas? No, my sister always did. I never liked them though. Have you ever been to a planetarium? Yes. The real thing is SO much better :) Do you re-use towels after you shower? Re-use them for what?? Some things you are excited about? A few exciting things going on with my art... What is your favorite flavor of JELLO? Strawberry Are any of your great-grandparents still alive? Nope Where do you keep your change? I hoard it in a secret place When was the last time you spoke in front of a large group of people? High School What kind of winter coat do you have? Orange courduroy What was the weather like on your graduation day? Hot from what I can recollect Do you sleep with the door to your room open or closed? Open 8 lasts -- 8.] last kiss: this afternoon 7.] last beverage: Vanilla Frappuccino 6.] last movie watched: Usual Suspects 5.] last phone call: Mike 4.] last cd played: Govinda O Earthly Gods 3.] last "i love you": Right after my last kiss 2.] last time you cried: Um...I don't remember 1.] last alcoholic drink: Last weekend 6 have you evers -- 6.] have you ever dated someone twice: Yes, in High School if that really counts 5.] have you ever been cheated on: Yes 4.] have you ever kissed someone: Um... 3.] have you ever kissed someone you regret: Yes 2.] have you ever been depressed: Yes 1.] have you ever been drunk and thrown up: Oh yes...ugh 6 things you've done today 1.] Played with my little one 2.] Took pictures 3.] Did laundry 4.] Painted 5.] Cooked 6.] Showered 4 places you've lived-- 1.] Cohoes 2.] Nashville 3.] Albany 4.] Why would I tell you where I live?? 3 favorite colors -- 1.] Orange 2.] Brown 3.] Blue 2 things you want to do before you die -- 1.] Visit Ireland/Scotland 2.] be a world famous artist :) Q 01: is there a person who is on your mind right now? A 01: Always Q 02: Where is the last place you went? A 02: To the grocery store Q 03: who is the last person who called you? A 03: Mike Q 04: do you have any siblings? A 04: 1 Q 05: do you smile often? A 05: Yes Q 06: do you think that someone is thinking about you right now? A 06: Yes Q 07: do you wish on stars? A 07: Yes, like I tell my little one....stars are magic :) Q 08: do you untie your shoes every time you take them off? A 08: no Q 9: do you like your handwriting? A 9: sometimes, i get picky about these things... Q 10: who's bed did you sleep in last night? A 10: My own Q 11: what color shirt are you wearing? A 11: Brown Q 12: do you have any pets? A 12: 2 kitties - Miss Kitty (AKA Pachu) & Raziel Q 13: what is the color of your bedsheets? A 13: Tan Q 14: What were you doing at 9 last night? A 14: Coming home from the mall after getting my hair cut yet again Q 15: I can't wait until.. A 15: I'm tired enough to go to sleep Q 16: Look to your right. What's there? A 16: A printer :) Q 17: Ever cried yourself to sleep? A 17: Yes, not in a long time Q 18: Song that makes you cry? A 18: Hmmm...thing that comes to mind off the top of my head Has anyone ever thrown you a suprise party?: No :( Are you easily excited? Not really What event is coming up that you're most excited about? The offical gallery opening If you won a million dollars what would be your first thought? Who me? If you could have anything right now what would it be? The million dollars in the previous question :) What was your latest dream?Um, I don't remember teh premise of the dream, but Naveen Andrews was in it....it was a good dream :) Do any of your dreams come true? They have, in odd ways What was the weirdest dream you've ever had? A dream that my husband had the same night about a girl that he knew and I never met... 5. Do you usually remember your dreams? Sometimes whew..... :)

Rustic Relics 2006 Autumn & Winter Collection

2006-10-03T21:07:00.000-07:00

Organica Necklace from the new Fusion Series @ Rustic Relics I FINALLY posted up the new 2006 Autumn & Winter Collection on Rustic Relics....I hope you like it! Please bear with me while I work on some new homepage photos. The one's that are up currently are just temporary while I work on some new one's...this part of the process was holding me back so i just posted up these few to get the ball rolling...I'd love to hear what you think about the new collection. Gauntlets will be posted to the site on Oct 15th as I am currently photographing them and won't have them ready until then. I have already started to get a few holiday orders in (goodness, it's that time already!) so if you are interested in placing custom orders for necklaces, ornaments or gauntlets please feel free to e-mail me with your information. I'll be sending out an e-mail soon to all those who are on my mailing list. If you aren't signed up yet you can sign up HERE. Thank you all for your supportive comments from my last post. I greatly appreciate your kind words and feedback as it helps my creative process flowing. I look forward to posting more and catching up here online as well as getting back into the swing of things with SPC. I hope you are all enjoying this beautiful Autumn week! Cheers!

Portal To Nirvana

2006-09-29T02:00:00.000-07:00

Portals To Nirvana - Acrylic on Paper Here is one of my latest paintings headed to the gallery. I received a fabulous phone call today from the gallery owner stating that he sold some of my pieces and more may be out the door shortly...yeah :) I'm not going to divulge how much they sold for but I was left very humbled and rather speechless at the end of that phone call. It takes a moment to let it all sink in that i'm doing what I love and that some major goals of mine are coming into fruition. It goes to show you that hard work and confidence in what you do really does come back to you. I hope all is well with you out there and I am looking forward to some quiet evenings coming up to catch up with you all :)

I've No Choice.....

2006-09-27T23:13:00.000-07:00

Rays, Canon Powershot S3 IS Someone asked me once how I knew I wanted to be an artist....it's been a question that I never had a good answer to and one that has lurked in the back of my mind for some time awaiting a response. And then it dawned on me recently...i never really had a choice....art chose me. I can't remember a time in my life when I wasn't creating something, when i wasn't using my imagination to manifest something here in reality...a painting, a collage...something, anything. Art for me is instinctual like breathing, eating, sleeping....i REALLY have no choice in the matter, I have to create, I have to succumb to this outlet in order to express myself. I create my work without reservation of how it will be perceived by others...some may think it to be mediocre and some may love it and want to hang it on their walls....I make my pieces with the intent of sharing my vision, and with the hope that others will relate and find a piece of themselves within my work. I am a rather introverted person in nature, and this is my way of shouting at the top of my lungs and letting it all out, all the pent up crap of humanity all the pent up elation of living.... is through my art. This artistic passion is so ingrained in me that there is nothing I could ever do to rid myself of it. Writing this reminds me of the character of the Marquis deSade from the movie Quills....no matter what trials and tribualtions he found himself in, he always managed to find a way to express the nature of his soul. I believe this to be true for all real and true artists...and musicians....we create because we have no choice. I've been rather absent here online for the past week or so...My Fall/Winter collection production is FINALLY complete and I am working on posting them up to the site and hope to have it all ready by Friday...Sunday night at the latest :) I've also been working on some new acrylics and will post some pics up here soon. I hope all is well with you in the Land of Blog :) I'm hoping after this week i'll be a little more present around here...ugh, I wish the day were a few hours longer. Cheers!

From Seeds We Sprung...

2006-09-18T21:04:00.000-07:00

From Seeds We Sprung, Mixed Media on Wood (Detail) Here is a detail photo of one of my latest Mixed Media pieces titled "From Seeds We Sprung". You can view more pics @ Sarah e. Smith Art & Photography as well as a new watercolor that will be for sale via the Tomasisni Fine Arts Gallery. I;m unsure where this latest piece is going, but if you are interested in it, please feel free to e-mail me. I have about 10 pieces that I am working on all at once, some for the gallery , some for the site and some to hang in my house since it has served as a gallery incognito on several occasions, as well as new jewelry for the site so i have my hands full...but just wanted to share what i've been up to :).

Wearin O' The Green....

2006-09-18T12:28:00.000-07:00

Shamrockin', Canon Powershot S3 IS This weekend we went to our local Irishfest to listen to some great music, shop and drink some Guiness :) We all had a great time! I took some photos and will be adding them to the gallery hopefully this evening under a new category titled "Happenings", so please feel free to take a peek. I feel like I have been neglecting my blog here, but I have been busy at work on my Fall/Winter Collection and getting it together, finishing more pieces for the gallery, working on commissions and starting holiday orders! Yes, it's that time already..... I say that with a smile and grimace all at once if that is even possible :) I also have some new art to post up here that I will try to get to tonight...if not the latest will be tomorrow. Thank you to those who responded to my call for Ginko leaves....My Pink Sky was the first to respond and I will be emailing you shortly :) Have a wonderful evening.... :)

New Photos...

2006-09-13T01:05:00.000-07:00

Berries, Canon Powershot S3 IS......Sarah e. Smith Photography I've finally got around to posting up some new photos in my gallery. New photos have been added to Deconstruction, Habitat, Nirvana and Visual Poetry. Feel free to stop on by and take a gander :) I'm still busy at work on some new art and jewelry. Thank you all so much for your kind words on my latest work. I find myself going back and forth between modern outsider/underground art to ethereal and surreal art....but I guess that is the good thing about art, you can do what you want to do and just hope that someone will relate to it. I would like to find a common ground between the two styles, but I am getting there slowly but surely. I hope to have some pics of some new pieces up in the next couple of days. I've been working on more three dimensional pieces, as I really like to add multi dimensions to my work, i feel that it draws more interest to the work and there are more facets of the piece for the viewer to explore. I also have an odd request...I am planning a project where I would like to use Ginko tree leaves and branches, but there is just a slight problem....i don't live near any Ginko Trees :(. If any of you do, i really could use a box full of leaves and small branches for this project. The first person to respond to me who can send me some will receive a little gift from me as a token of my thanks :) Feel free to e-mail me to let me know! Well....off to bed for now, it's way past my bedtime ;) P.S....Anyone have any idea what kind of berries are in the pic above? I have no idea!!!

What Happens...

2006-09-09T21:23:00.001-07:00

"what Happens" Mixed Media ..........see Larger Well, i finally have some new art to post up. I just completed this last night. It is a mixed media collage on masonite based on the song "Angel In Manhattan" by Ellis Paul. A lot of my work is based on the music that I listen to as my art and music are so closely intertwined it is near impossible not to connect the two. Im also working on some new pendants and necklaces fo the shop that i hope to have updated very soon as well as a few more mixed media pieces....i've gotten back in the groove of mixed media as well as some new abstract paintings...and I am having a lot of fun with the new works. You can view this pic larger in my gallery by clicking the "larger" link above. It will be posted for sale on the website soon along with the new products I've been working on. I've tried to make my rounds to your blogs, but those of you who are using Blogger, I've been having a hard time commenting....so, I will try again tonight and tomorrow night as I miss stopping by to say hello :) Have a fabulous rest of your weekend :)

Flood...

2006-09-06T10:14:00.000-07:00

Gritty, Canon Powershot S3 IS Every now and then, ideas that need to be manifested come to me in a flood of inspiration. When this happens there is just so much I want to create all at once, it seems that some things end up getting lost in the chaos and others are easily rescued and restored. Sometimes I wish that this could happen in a steady trickle, that I always have some idea that keeps my art flowing, but I'll take what i can get. Needless to say, I have been working on some new mixed media paintings/photography as well as new work for my website that I hope to update the middle of this month. (the necklace I am wearing is a little sneak peak of some of the new work for my Autumn/Winter Collection :) I've been immersed in paint, music and photography in a scramble to get it all down before this recent surge of inspiration is washed away....though I hope to be able to come up for air soon :) ....sorry, i ran a little rampant with that analogy :)

Longing...

2006-08-31T20:42:00.001-07:00

Autmn's Gentle Approach, Canon Powershot S3 IS....Sarah e. Smith Photography I am truly anticipating the return of Autumn this year....i dont know what it is about this season and why it has such a hold over me. My spirit feels alive, inspired, romantic & content....i hope that I am able to mirror these feelings in my work. I have recently returned to working in part with illumination....i have always been drawn to the beauty and intracacies of illuminated manuscripts and a few years ago worked alot with this artform. As my work is cyclical, i find myself returning to areas of art that i have enjoyed working with in the past and incorporating new techniques and styles that I have aquired since that time. I hope to have some new pieces to post up here soon. I took a trip up to our cabin recently and noticed the leaves already starting to change....I could not help but smile.

As I Try To Explain Myself....

2006-08-29T23:03:00.000-07:00

"Concerto", Canon Powershot S3 IS.... Sarah e. Smith Photography My hubs the other day asked why i am into self portraits...he is not the artistic type, his passions fall more in line with music, so explaining the artisitc side to him was not so easy...but really the main reason is really not that deep... I figured that i should give a bit of insight as to why I do self portraits, since they happen to surface on here a lot. Part of my exploration with self portraiture is a personal artistic outlet, but for the most part they are just epxeriments as I teach myself the in's and outs of photography. I am fairly new to being serious with photography, it has always been a love of mine, but until earlier this year, when i stumbled upon a few photography sites did I feel really inspired to seriously learn and teach myself everything I would need to know. If you have attempted to teach yourself this art, you will know from experience that there is a lot to learn. Though I do love macro, nature and still life photography, I really enjoy the human element and the art of "us". One of my goals is to become a professional portrait photographer...in both studio and candid photography of people of all ages, shapes and sizes. In order to learn the techniques required for this field and in order to practice taking photos...i end up taking a lot of pictures of myself. I dont have too many people around who (a) like having their picture taken (b) can sit still long enough for me to fiddle with camera settings and lighting in order for me to learn what I need to. Each photo I take, i end up writing down my camera settings and lighting I use...whether I use photo lights or natural lighting and any other specs that will help me down the line....this may explain why each picture of me looks so different as well. So in turn, with my personal education you get to see my learning process unfold....the more I learn and the more comfortable I get with taking photos of others, the less you will get stuck looking at pictures of me :) Sorry that it's not the exciting and deep answer you were probably hoping to hear... :) Well, back to work.....

SPC - Enclosed...In My Favorite Shirt

2006-08-28T09:25:00.001-07:00

Enclosed...In My Favorite Shirt, Canon Powershot S3 IS..... Sarah e. Smith Photography This is the last week for the "Enclosed" SPC for August....so I chose my favorite shirt to be enclosed in. I have had this shirt for almost 8 years and wear it every now and then. September's challenege is not one that is really resonating with me, mostly because all of the people that are close to me now are not fans of getting their picture taken (hence the reason why my face is usually the only one you see posted up here and in my gallery)....so I may skip out on this coming month's challenge and return full force again in October....unless I can conjure up my super spy skills and take some shots without them even knowing.....we'll see :) I will still be posting up pics here and in my gallery so if you are from SPC please feel free to bookmark me and come back for a visit. I'm also working on finishing up my fall collection and trying to get back into the swing of this blog thing so hopefully this little break will afford me some more time. Can't wait to see all of your fabulous shots.....

The Sweet Embrace of Autumn

2006-08-27T00:16:00.000-07:00

"Last Dragon", Canon Powershot S3 IS....... Sarah e. Smith Photography Rustic Relics is back up and running, luckily with no harm done. I am not exactly sure what happenend, but as long as it is fixed and doesn't happen again all is well. The past few days I've felt the approach of autumn, the air is cool and crisp a sign of the marvelous changes that are coming. Autumn is my favorite season here in New England....it is the spark that ignites the embers in my soul. I feel alive, inspired, full of passion and creativity. I soak in the colors, let the cool air wrap me in it's embrace. I look forward to the coming months and what creations they may bring, taking walks in the vibrant woods, treating myself to Vermont maple sugar candies and playing in the leaves with my little one. What is autumn like where you live?

Argh....I've Been Hacked!!!!!!

2006-08-25T08:34:00.001-07:00

My website has been hacked intoand crashed, my bro in law and I are in the process of trying to figure out what happened and get it back up and running. For some reason everything online has been acting screwy lately...my site, Blogger, MySpace all acting funky. Arg...i just hope I don't have to rebuild from the ground up...like I dont have enough to do already :(

Luxury of Time...

2006-08-24T20:20:00.000-07:00

"She Remebers", Canon Powershot S3 IS..... Sarah e. Smith Photography Being so busy lately has not afforded me the time to sit down and gather my thoughs lately, or catch up here online. Though I can't complain, because it is a good kind of busy, it would be nice to slow down for a bit...unwind with a glass of wine and a good book...something i hope can happen in the near future. I've become a blog lurker lately, reading posts but not always commenting, as i still love reading all of your stories, but dont have the immediate luxury of time to say hello. However, I was recently able to take a few hours for myself and head over to Oakwood Cemetery to take some photos. It is one of my favorite places to walk through, though it may sound a little morbid to some, for me i see beauty and art around every turn. Walking down the footpaths there is a meditation. I was able to capture some interesting images and have posted some in my photo gallery with more to come. Thanks to all of you who come back to read my words and view my photos, it is always a pleasure to get your feedback :) I hope to have some new photos of my recent work posted up soon. Well, back to work.....

SPC - Enclosed In Sorrow

2006-08-21T20:19:00.000-07:00

World Trade Center Site..... Sarah e. Smith Photography While in NY we made our way to the World Trade Center site. I have been there several times since 9/11, and everytime I go, the events that played out that day come storming through my mind as if it just happened the day before. I feel scared, I feel sad, I feel at a loss for words and comprehension as to what the people who experienced it first hand on that site went through that day, and what their family's had to endure every day after. You can't help it when you stand there, gazing into the cement abyss where the towers once stood, to feel remorse and anger at the fact that someone could have such a black heart to orchestrate such a disaster. This place still shakes me to the core.

That Apple Is Magic...

2006-08-20T23:49:00.000-07:00

Subway Spirit...Sarah e. Smith Photography View LARGE for detail This past week my hubs and I headed down for a day trip to NYC. Our trip was two pronged as I had to drop off some work to the gallery. The owner of the gallery is also an AMAZING artist as well as a collector of very rare and unique antiquities. Additionally, he is one of only four people in the world who are the top collectors of....get this...Barnum side show act ephemra and photos, and we were lucky enough to get a personal tour through his collection....it was truly interesting and amazing....needless to say we had a very fun evening chatting it up :) The pressure is off to get some pieces done in a hurry, so I can now be a little more relaxed with the art I am creating....whew! We headed to the city the next day to wander around aimlessly, to see what there was to see. I have been to the city many times, but never without an agenda. The last time we visited in the Spring we had plans to see Cirque du Soleil's Corteo and to have a fabulous Bobby Flay inspired lunch at the Mesa Grill. That trip, we also ended up seeing The Bodies Exhibit at the South Street Seaport...all in all we did not have too much time to explore the city. This trip made up for that...we navigated through SOHO and Greenwich Village, Tribeca, China Town, Little Italy and Midtown Manhattan. We shopped, explored and watched the world go by....it was a fabulous day. I miss the city already....it has such a strong draw on me. I love to be immeresed in art and culture and what better place than NYC. Hopefully at some point later in my life I will live there for a time to really get to know that fascinating city. But for now, I enjoy the time I get to spend there in little doses :) Some of the pictures I took while on our visit have been posted up to my photo gallery website, so feel free to poke around. Well, back to the grind once again. Cheers!

SPC - Enclosed In Reclusiveness

2006-08-15T21:07:00.000-07:00

Reclusive, Canon Powershot S3 IS................ Sarah e. Smith Photography I have felt so reclusive lately, thrust into my studio in a mad dash to get some new work done for the upcoming gallery show. My inspirations and drive for my work come in cycles....sometimes I dive deep into painting, sometimes into sculpture, etc... inspiration for my current pieces has not come so easily as I am not in a painting cycle, but I have managed to find myself creating some new work that I am happy with. I hope to post some pics up soon. Needless to say, this withdraw into my art has pulled me away from my social connections both in my everyday life and here online. I spend all day with my little one and at night I am up late working on art....so i appologize to those faithful readers and dear online friends and supporters that I have been absent in responding to your comments and personal blog posts. I hope that this next coming week may bring a reprive where I can catch up on what is going on in your world. I do thank you for all of your fabulous comments here, I do come online and read each and everyone. In the midst of the new fine art pieces I am working on, I am also trying to get my Fall/Winter inventory ready for the site. Yes, the necklace I am wearing in the pic above will be available in several styles with the upcoming collection. I hope to have the new collection ready and up online by the Sept 15th. Well, it is back to work for me. I hope your week is much more relaxing than mine :)

Swoon

2006-08-11T16:55:00.000-07:00

Tethered, Canon Powershot S3 IS..................Sarah e. Smith Photography Thank you all for the feedback regarding my blog problem and loading time. As much as I love posting actual songs, im going to have to delete the RadioBlog posts i have....it seems that they are the culprit in the extended load time. Otherwise, it seems like Blogger itself was having some issues, which look like they have been resoloved :) I watched a fabulous movie the other night...The Libertine. Johnny Depp + Period Flick = Me enraptured :) As a warning, the movie is rather sexual in nature, I acutally had thought it was a story written by the Marquis DeSade, but I was surprisingly mistaken. It was penned by Stephen Jeffreys, and the stage play debuted in 2004. It had very limited theatre release, and after watching it you may understand why. It was a phenomenal movie, though I am partial to period films...(and Johnny Depp) I am also very excited for the new CD releases from Govinda and Loreena McKennitt coming out this fall. Here is the little movie clip that has me all in a tither about Loreena's long awaited new CD. I am off to work on some pieces for my gallery show....until later..... :)

Blogger Bugs

2006-08-10T06:40:00.000-07:00

Towards The Light, Canon Powershot S3 IS.................. Sarah e. Smith Photography UGH!...I hate it when Blogger gets buggy! For some reason I have not been reciving any notifcations of comments via email, and the page seems to be taking forever to load up....maybe it is something on my end and I am too quick to assume that it is Blogger.....have you guys had any trouble loading up my blog? Please let me know.....i'll be back later to post again.....until then :)

Self Portrait Challenge....Enclosed In Borders

2006-08-08T19:07:00.000-07:00

Enclosed In Borders, Canon Powershot S3 IS.....View Larger This weeks submission is Enclosed In Borders....Borders Books that is! The above picture was taken as you see it. It has not been doctored in Photoshop...all the layers were there when I took the photo. I was sitting at the table facing outside, eating my Apple Tart and sipping my Brambleberry Tea conversing with my dear friend Thea, when the purple sky outside and the vibrant colors of the hustle and bustle in the cafe melded together in a reflection. Definately check out the Large view to get a glimpse of all that is going on in this photo, it's kind of hard to make out some of the details in the smaller pic. Here is the full version, you can also see it on my site Sarah e. Smith Photography View Large

Falling Into Place...

2006-08-07T22:54:00.000-07:00

Bright Idea, Canon Powershot S3 IS.................. Sarah e. Smith Photography Well tonight I had the best of intentions of catching up on blogs, emails etc...which has yet to happen...but it will, i assure you! I have been tremendously busy lately....but this is a good thing. I am very happy to say that my work...paintings/sculptures...will be under the gallery representation of Tomasini Fine Arts Gallery, NY with it's opening in September. I've met with the owner of the gallery, but i will have more details regarding the opening as I get them. The gallery is located in Brewster, NY....30 min north of NYC in Westchester County (home of the Clintons and Martha Stewart among others...:)Needless to say I am going to be rather busy over the next few weeks creating pieces for the show. I am very excited about this as well as another big opportunity that has come my way...something I will elaborate on further when i have final confirmation :) I also want to send some love to Arlene's Artist Supply. This store in Albany is the best fine art supply store in the Capital District and where I purchase all of my materials. They have a huge variety of products that the chain art/craft stores do not carry. Owners Arlene and Donna are two fabulous ladies who support the arts and help to keep them alive in Capital Region. They have a website and are currently working on updating their online store as well....so if you are in the Albany area and have not visited Arlene's for your materials, you much be living under a rock....check them out in person (i could get lost in that store for hours :) or visit them online. It feels like with all of the hard work, time and passion I have invested in my art, everything seems to be falling into place....Has this happenend to you? What passions of yours that seemed like a distant dream were brought into reality? I now have two things I can check off my Mondo Beyondo List! :)

Photo Gallery

2006-08-05T11:05:00.000-07:00

Spider Drops, Canon Powershot S3 IS Last night I was finishing up my new photo gallery...I found myself burried up to my knees in CSS coding and FTP servers...UGH!...but it is much easier to use than what I was doing with Blogger and it looks pretty nice if I do say so myself :) I hope you enjoy looking through the gallery, it will be updated frequently :) Take a peek....Sarah e. Smith Photography

Pretty Little Things

2006-08-04T11:00:00.002-07:00

Gerbera Daisy I've been fiddling with my camera, hence my absence online the past few days. I have been taking some Macro shots, something that I have wanted to try for a while, but a feature that my old camera did not offer. I really like the abstract characteristics that these kind of photos have, which is something that connects with my artistic side. I need a lot of refining in this department, but here are a few of my most recent shots that I have taken. I have a lot to learn with this camera...but goodness, it sure is fun :) Chunky Yarn I'm trying to find an efficient way of setting up a nice online gallery, so if you have any suggestions....please send them my way. I have a gallery on blogger that i am currently adding my photos to, but it is a pain to set up....you can view this gallery here @ Organica Photography Rose Hips I'll be back this evening to catch up on your blogs and say hello....until then :)

Positively Smitten ;)

2006-08-02T18:11:00.000-07:00

Elated :) My camera arrived today and I am elated. I am acutally very happy that I did not get the Digital Rebel as this camera has TONS of features and will take me some getting used to! The picture quality is amazing and I am looking forward to taking some great shots :) I am looking forward to a bright day tomorrow and some great photo opportunities. The shot above was taken with the old camera...i've been working with fiddling with a lot of variations in lighting to see how the camera would react to the settings and such, mostly in preparation for working with the new camera.....i do need to find someone else to take pictures of though :) My little one is sick of a camera constantly in her face :)...my goal is to eventually take candid and studio portraits of children and people....we'll see. :) For tonight I am off to dive into the manual for this thing and try my best to figure it out :) Hopefully I will have some new pics up with my post tomorrow...until then....

Self Portrait Challenge - Enclosed Spaces (Week 1)

2006-08-01T21:37:00.000-07:00

The woods seem to close in at night.... What/Who I Am Listening To Now: I'm back :) Thank you to those who sent me emails wondering where I was and if I was OK :) Everything is wonderful, I just have been busy with my family and my work. I also needed a bit of a break from posting, to gather my thoughts and to take some time for me. Thank you too to everyone who has befriended me on MySpace :) In other good news....i finally gave in and bought a camera. I decided against the Digital Rebel...for now. I would feel horribly guilty spending that kind of money on myself at this point...and it is a whole lot of camera, it would take me ages to figure it all out. I ended up getting a really good price on the new Canon Powershot S3 IS. It has great features that my current camera does not have and I still have the quality of a Canon that I can get some interchangeable lenses for. Even better....it will be here tomorrow! :) I have a bunch more to talk about, but right now it is 3:30am and I need to get to bed....i will be back tomorrow...well, later today actually! :) If you are from SPC...check out the rest of my blog HERE

Gauntlets...

2006-07-26T09:32:00.000-07:00

Gauntlets Coming Fall 2006 Some of you have asked me about the gauntlets (wrist warmers) I have been wearing in some of my photos. Yes, i did knit these myself...they are my favorite thing to knit and I love wearing them in the fall and winter. Unfortunately, I do not have a pattern that I can offer for these....i am horrible at reading knitting patterns and I am what you would call a primitive knitter...I wing it pretty much because I have no clue as to what I am doing. I am self taught, so I am sure that my techniques are totally incorrect, i know nothing about gauges, stitches etc....but hey, I still get a finished product so I can't really complain :) The only thing someone taught me once was how to make drop stitches that look really pretty when using ribbon yarns. Knitting for me has become a deterrent for a nervous habit of mine. I have the tendency to bite my nails and cuticles, a habit that drives my husband up the wall and makes my hands look like a lumberjacks....not very feminine I must say. So i figured that if I keep my hands busy i won't have the chance to bite them...this has worked wonders for me :) So far I have knit a hat (totally incorrectly, but it came out so much better than expected :) and a few pairs of gauntlets. I will be selling scarves and gauntlets, both knitted and from other fibers, for my 2006 Fall/Winter Collection. If any of you have any colors you would like to see, let me know :)I am currently working on a pair for the website I am going to call Romance In Tuscany...beautiful rich Tuscan reds, blues and greens... Thank you again for all of your lovely comments, i wish I had more to offer in the form of a pattern, but like the rest of my art, my knitting is just all over the place :) ***update: I will be making them in guy sizes and colors :)

Self Portrait Challenge As....Entranced

2006-07-24T19:22:00.000-07:00

Who/What I Am Listening To Now: Lately, I just can't get enough music. I listen to it constantly and love learning about new artists, styles and songs. I have found myself recently reverting back to old favorites and finding myself in their grooves again. Music is as much a part of me as my art is...they go hand in hand. Most of my art is influenced in some form by the music I am listening at the time I create a piece....that may explain why my art seems to have no particular style :) I've always loved ambient music....it has a way of taking you away from the mundane and transporting you to a different time and place...it can be relaxing and soothing or it can have delicious beats that your body just cant help but move to. On a side note, a bit of shameless self promotion....I would love it if you might be kind enough to take the time to nominate me for the Plummy Awards. "The Plummies exist to recognize excellence in all the many facets of crafting. Plummy award winners are nominated, and then voted on, by their peers. There will be winners in many separate categories, with a "Best Overall Crafting" award as the grand prize". There are several categories that apply to me: Jewelry, Multi-Discipline/Mixed Media Art and Craft Related Blog. Your support is greatly appreciated....you guys rock!!! You can place your votes here: The Plummy Awards. Nominations end on August 15th!!!

Sleep On It....

2006-07-22T09:21:00.000-07:00

Miss Kitty (aka Pachu) and Raziel Who/What I am Listening To Now: This is my new motto. I find myself writing on here at 3 am after finishing orders and working on art, half asleep thinking I have something interesting to post about. When I wake up in the morning and scan what I typed the night before I find myself quickly deleting the post...whether it be my horrible typing derived from caffeine jitters and half open eyes or boring topics I think I should share with the world, I find myself thinking that I should sleep on these ideas before I publish them here. Sorry to those of you who have subscribed to my blog via Bloglines and have gotten a thousand updates from me :) On another note, I was recently alerted by a fellow artist and blogger that Flickr is cracking down on accounts who list links to outside websites, etsy and ebay accounts and personal websites in their photo stream. Apparently they have been canceling accounts without notice. You can view more of their guidelines here...Flickr Guidelines...something that I was totally unaware of. Under dont's it says: "DON'T Use Flickr for Commercial Purposes. Flickr is for personal use only. If you sell products, services or yourself through your photostream, we will terminate your account." (YIKES!) It is kind of weird though since they allow you to post an outside weblink in your user profile....anyway, I though I would spread the message so those of you who have accounts, especially paid accounts so you dont get the axe! Well, off to relax with the hubs for a bit. If you have e-mailed me and are awaiting a response, I will be able to get back to you tonight.....sorry for the delay :) Cheers!

These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things.....

2006-07-18T07:47:00.000-07:00

Frustrated! Self Portrait Challenge... Who/What I Am Listening To Now: (Updated for the 21st century...:) ~ Re-discovering this song........i had forgotten how much I loved it. ~ Sorry J. William Waterhouse you now share top billing with Andrea Burden as being my favorite artists of all time. Andrea's oil paintings are breathtaking, and her website is so magical. As an added bonus, she has also done a lot of the cover art for Govinda's albums. ~ These two videos are simply fantastic: How Will We Love just tugged on my heartstrings...this looks like such a beautiful film & The Winter Of The Dance just made me smile every time I watch this...you can also check out Where The Hell Is Matt if you can't get enough of this dancing man...more people should break out into spontaneous public dancing :) ~ Check out the art over at Blue Lucy Studios Her work is so whimsical and vibrant, I love the expressions she is able to capture...the moose on her homepage is my favorite :) ~ Ways To Fall is an awesome band based in Mass. So if you live in the area, check out the site for their show dates and give them some love :) ~ Jinky Art is my sole(soul) inspiration for pursuing the art of child photography...her work is stunning...i am simply smitten... ***sorry for those who visited from PhotoFriday and who left comments on my other post....did a little editing :)

Christmas In July

2006-07-16T19:44:00.000-07:00

I usually don't post videos, but my hubs did such a good job creating and editing this, I couldn't help myself.... For my husband, July 4th is better than Christmas. Starting in January, he plans a fireworks extravaganza ( i hate that word...but it is fitting :) for Independance Day at our cabin. Each year it gets bigger, more people come to watch and my hubs gets more out of control. Surprisingly enough our little one sleeps through the whole thing in the basement bedroom (aka the bomb shelter :), I dont know how this is possible. Check out the video...it is about 3 min long and is from this years show. The crazy guy with the beer and fireworks in his hand is my hubs :) He has watched this about a 100 times...he cracks me up :) Until later...

Signs

2006-07-13T08:26:00.000-07:00

(I am not responsible for who picks up should you try to call this number :) Sometimes life sends you little signs that rejuvinate your spirit, heart and soul... I met my husband on a Tuesday night in a dark and smokey blues bar. He wooed my heart with the magical way he tickled the ivories...i've always had an affinity for musicians, and he was utterly amazing. We had a mutual friend there that night who introduced us...little did any of us know this man would turn out to be my husband. We spent the rest of the night getting to know each other...until 5 am when he brought me home. I scribbled my number on a Wrigley's wrapper and handed it to him with the hope that i would hear from him again. I did....about 5 hours later :) This has survived for 6 1/2 years....through 3 moves in 2 states, cramped in a wallet, burried under socks, thrown in a storage chest, a damp basement, a thundertorm and an impending trip to the local dump. My husband and I the other night were cleaning out our basement, throwing things away. Included in the pile of trash, was a green metal and chipboard chest that used to hold a bunch of my husbands things...keyboard cables, tapes, computer discs, cards etc....but it appeared empty when I uncovered it the other night. I brought it outside without thinking twice as it was rather damaged. The next morning we loaded up the trash and bid it adeiu. The next day, on his way to work, my husband was walking to his car when he spotted a Wrigley's wrapper on the ground. He almost passed it by, but something sparked in his memory and he went to pick it up, skeptical about the possiblity of what it might be. And there it was, after all these years and tribulations...he stumbled upon the begining of us. It must have fallen out of his trunk when I brought it outside. Needless to say, the history and re-discovery of this little piece of paper has rekindled a spark in a wonderful relationship that has grown comfortable with time. It's funny how lately I have been revisiting my romantic side...and then this should happen...what could be more romantic? :)

July Self Portrait Challenge - Self Portrait As...Simply Me

2006-07-10T20:46:00.000-07:00

My new hat I just finished knitting (yes...wool in the middle of summer :) I've been revisiting my romantic side...my love of deep rich tones, velvety textures, sensual music infusing the air, exotic incense and ethereal images...all things that were a big part of my life and art when I was around 18-20...and which kind of escaped me when my naivety began to wear off....though now this part of me is struggling to co-exist with my new modern and minimalistic style...i find that I can live out this part of my spirit vicariously through my art and my little pixie. Lately the sounds of Govinda and Loreena McKennitt have been dancing through my studio, helping to fuel my creative inspiration and connect with this long lost piece of myself. Life is beautiful :) I'm finishing up some orders and will be starting work on my fall collection, so be prepared to see this new-old side of me reflected in my Rustic Relics :) You can also find me now on MySpace @: Rustic Relics on MySpace

Work In Progress...

2006-07-07T11:05:00.000-07:00

Here is something new I have been working on, though it is far from being complete. I have started to experiment with painting again, it has always been a passion of mine to be a good painter, and teaching yourself is not an easy feat...i figure I will start with water colors and work my way up to oils depending how much I can learn and how much I really do like it....we shall see..... I have also regressed and have been exploring my "romantic" side again....but I will elaborate more on that later...it's a long story :)

Custom Relics

2006-07-05T23:43:00.000-07:00

Example of custom Rustic Relics pendant I finally got around to updating the Custom Orders section on Rustic Relics. I am also working on getting more examples of custom work I have created for customers posted up as well as a new form for ordering custom pieces. For now, if you are interested in custom work, please e-mail me with your ideas and I will get back to you with more information.

Self Portrait Challenge - Self Portrait As...A Musician

2006-07-04T22:27:00.000-07:00

My Bodhran & I While thinking about what topic to start off this month's photo challenge, I realized that I have never really exposed my "other side". In addition to my love of creating art, I also have a passion for creating music. I live in a very musical household, if there is not an artist's music filtering through the chaos that is my every day life, then there is someone in the house playing thier own. Growing up I only took piano lessons, but also taught myself to play recorder, flute, tenor sax, bassoon, bass guitar, guitar...and most recently violin and bodhran. The next instrument I plan to tackle is the sitar :)

I've Been Spotted!

2006-06-27T20:06:00.000-07:00

Handmade Cherry Blossoms I've been featured on two more websites this month! That's Hot! a fabulous "shopping blog featuring fashion and design products and businesses from the web that appeal to the modern, contemporary woman". They featured my new Mini-Illo pendants and Tree Series pendants! And...Shannon from Make It interviewed me for her site. Her site is a "blog for craft entrepreneurs" and features "stories and tips about how to turn your creativity into business, told by those who have already done so"...an awesome site with tons of helpful ideas for those of us selling our wares online :) I've got some other things coming down the pike that i'll ramble on about when I have more info to share :) Thanks to all of you who support my art!!!

Labor of Love - Part Deux

2006-06-27T19:32:00.000-07:00

Here is a little garden update...things are a' growin'!!! We have had quite a bit of rain up here in NY and it has helped nourish my garden. The ground is sandy where I live and the rain sifts through it very quickly, so the fact that it has been so rainy has been perfect for my plants...not so perfect for enjoying the lovely summer outdoors. I guess I can't complain too much about the weather not only because of the aid it has given my garden, but because I generally don't handle the heat too well...with the exception of laying on a sandy beach with the ocean waves breaking in the background....i can definitely tolerate that :)

Free The People!

2006-06-21T18:37:00.000-07:00

Original mixed media collage now for sale on Rustic Relics

Camera Throwing...

2006-06-20T17:29:00.000-07:00

Yes...you read correctly...camera throwing...well, maybe not throwing, but a gentle spin and toss...I recently stumbled upon the blog Camera Toss and thought that it was a crazy idea (with really cool results) until I gave it a whirl myself this afternoon and realized how fun it really is. They also have a tutorial on the site which was helpful. The two aspects of this whole movement that i gather are the most important are to catch your camera (this is a BIG one!!!) and to really get some good spin on the camera as you launch it...it helps if your camera has an automatic timer...and i would not recomend using your Canon Digital Rebel or other expensive cameras for this one....if you have a spare, less expensive camera lying around i would use that. Have fun with this! I would love to see what pics you come up with! The Camera Toss people also have a Flickr group set up for those who are interested in posting thier work on Flickr. Here are some other fun links I have found in my internet travels... If you have never heard of Le Parkour you must check it out. If you think Camera Tossing is daring, these guys are just crazy! I heard of them a few years back and their sport now spans the globe. Most of you I am sure have found Human Clock...but for those who may not have...check it out :) Want to turn your digital pics into "Polaroids"?... The Polaroid-o-nizer will do just that! For those of you who covet your Moleskines like i do...check out Moleskine Art...(i have to add some new art to mine, it has been a while!) Well....have fun tossing those cameras...and be careful! Don't hurt yourself or your equiptment! :) I'll be back tomorrow with some new art...

Self Portrait Challenge - Pop Art (Week 3)

2006-06-20T00:35:00.000-07:00

Here is this weeks entry for the Pop Art challenge on SPC. I have been fiddling with my photo editing programs, though not Photoshop, it still has a lot of cool tools and filters. I also purchsed the book Digital Photographers Handbook to help get a better grasp on taking/editing better photos...i'm trying to learn as much as I can before I get a better camera...

Weekends In The Mountains...

2006-06-19T21:37:00.000-07:00

Lily Pads on the Pond It is great to have a place as a retreat from the chaos of the everyday...this place is my family's cabin in the Adirondacks. It is a quaint place with modern amenities tucked away on 64 acres of glorious woodland looking out onto a mountain, a beautiful stream and pond that is inhabited by fish, frogs, a snapping turtle, beavers and loons. I tried to take some shots this weekend but the flies were out in full force which is rather unusual at this time of year. Their unruly persistence of swarming around your head is rather distracting while you are trying to hold a camera still...needless to say, i didn't take the pics that I wanted...i created a set on Flickr for any pics that I take while I am there...you can check it out here... Weekend In The Mountains. I hope to have some pics of the cabin soon, but it is currently under construction, a new sunroom and porch are being added. Pond Down the Road The atmosphere of the cabin changes with each passing season...spring welcomes the knee deep mud and blackflies and the cabin is usually uninhabited during this time...summer brings campfires,guitars and voices rising up to the millions of stars in the sky, rumbling through the woods on the quad and six wheeler, fireworks on the 4th of July, hiking and canoe trips and swimming in the lake...fall brings amazing colors, cool breezes, the annual Worlds Largest Garage Sale in Warrensburgh...winter brings warm fires in the woodstove, skiing and snowboarding, hot cocoa and guitars...always something different, the cabin seems to adapt...to turn into the perfect little weekend getaway, no matter what the weather it is always a welcome place to call home for a weekend.

Feelin' The Love!

2006-06-15T08:19:00.000-07:00

I was pleasantly surprised to find that some fashion blogs featured my work recently! You've got to check these sites out! The Awesome! Modish And back in May... Cool Mom Picks Yeah :)

Self Portrait Challenge - Pop Art (Week 2)

2006-06-13T18:51:00.000-07:00

Ok, please excuse my total lack of creativity this week. This month's challenge is just not speaking to me, maybe it's just because I have a lot going on in my studio and have decided this week not to stay up until 1 am to work on my pic. Hopefully I will have something more creative for your viewing pleasure next week... I'm working on a few collage/paintings, ATC's and some custom orders so I have been busy, busy, busy. I hope to have some sneak peaks of the collages that will be for sale on my site up here soon. I am still taking custom orders for jewelry designs as well as paitings, collages and sculptures, I hope to have more info posted up on Rustic Relics soon. I did manage to sneak in some "me" time with my art, I painted a small series for my bathroom....i needed something simple, earthy and modern. I combined my love for love painting botnical silhouettes and the smooth textures of weathered river stones so I came up with these... Well...back to work...OH, before I go, i was tagged a long time ago by the ever so lovely and talented Anna ...here are some songs that are running through my iTunes shuffle as we speak..... ~ Let It Be Me - Rosie Thomas ~ You Make Me Feel - Milosh (thanks for introducing me to this one Kim) ~ The Luckiest - Ben Folds (holy poop what a song...it was my sis's wedding song :) ~ After All - Dar Williams ~ Rain Come Down - Eastmountainsouth ~ Hide & Seek - Imogen Heap ~ Maori - Girlyman ~ Lebanese Blonde - Thievery Corporation ~ In The Waiting Line - Zero 7 ~ Sweetest Decline - Beth Orton

No Day But Today!

2006-06-12T21:19:00.000-07:00

Anthony Rapp & I outside the Nederlander Theater, NYC After seeing that evenings perfaomance of RENT Circa 1997 :) I'll let you in on a little something that stirs my soul... Have you ever had something in your life, whether it be something trival in the grand scheme of life or something totally earth shattering, profoundly change or impact you in a way that you never would have imagined. As silly as it may sound, the musical RENT did this for me. I was very involved in musical theather in high school. I met a guy from outside of my school who also had a huge interest in theather as well...this came from his mom who used to sing with the Metropolitan Opera. We were driving down to his house during the summer and in the car he had on RENT, a musical that was totally new to me. I was used to listening to Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables...mainstream musicals that my parents listened to, that most of everyone who was into that kind of thing listened to. From that day in the car, something came over me and my life became RENT. I constantly listened and sang to the soundtrack, I saw the show on Broadway twice (with the majority of the original cast...the one's who were also in the movie....yes, I own the move, I am watching it as I type, which is what prompted this post)...i even got my sister and I backstage during intermission... I painted a RENT mural in my parents basement....yes, i was a little obsessed to say the least. RENT was all I lived and breathed for two years of my life. To this day I still do not know why it had such a deep impact on my life. I don't know if it was the touching, human, sad, storyline...the melodies and lyrics that to this day give me goosebumps...the story behind the musical, that Johnathan Larson who wrote the musical, who poured his passion, poverty, heart and soul into sending this musical to Broadway died the night of the dress rehersal from an aortic aneurysm, the night before it's Broadway debut...that it opened my eyes to the fact that there was LIFE and death, very interesting, scary, exciting life beyond my little town and social circles...or a combination of all of these things. All I do know, is that as the music of RENT flows out of my speakers tonight, I am transported to that day, in my x-boyfriends car, hot summer sun blazing, hearing RENT for the first time and how today, even though my life is in a completely different orbit, the power of this musical still shakes me to my core...i just can't help but smile, shed a few tears and sing along...I'm happy to say that I still know all the words to La Vie Boheme by heart :) I was, I am, I will be...a devoted Renthead :)

Off And Running!

2006-06-07T04:52:00.000-07:00

Yeah! After a few late night cramming sessions...I am happy to announce that Rustic Relics has been given a facelift and is up and running! The name Rusitc Relics is here to stay and I have added new products to the 2006 Spring/Summer Collection as well as Sale items and more new items are on the way. Please leave me your comments to let me know what you think! I am hoping the changes and updates that were made correct some of the shipping carrier problems you experienced. If you notice anything funny with the site or still have problems with ordering, please let me know. The images on the homepage rotate through several photographs, please let me know if this is not working for you or any other little bugs you may notice. None of this would have been possible for me without the time and effort (and stress!) put in my brother in law. Pete was able to get my initial site up and running for me within hours of it's existence on the web and showed me how to manage my own store so i could update it when I needed. We make a pretty good team as he handles all of the important back end work, while I handle the photography,graphic designs and product updates. Should you want a fabulous site created for your personal or business needs be sure to check out his site Free Range Consulting and let him know what you are looking for. If you need any graphic design work or product photography please feel free to e-mail me for info. Now that this has been updated, I finally have the time to calm down a bit, work on some photography, art journaling, I have letters to write, blogs to comment on and projects that i have started that need to be completed. Hopefully I will be here a little more often to say hello :)

Self Portrait Challenge - Pop Art (Part 1)

2006-06-06T06:09:00.000-07:00

"Cliche" Self Portrait Challenge - Pop Art Wow! There have been some amazing entries for this category for SPC. I found myself fiddling with this picture for way to long...i just couldn't get the look that I had envisioned. This week's picture is in the style of Pop Art genius Andy Warhol...who's work i have been lucky enough to see in person. Construction for my new site is under way. Thank you for the feedback you provided regardign the possible name change....it looks like Rustic Relics is here to stay! :) Please pardon the dust while I finish up with the design....i hope that with the recent upgrades, the ordering problems some of you encountered have been corrected. Please let me know going forward if you still run into any of these. Thank you again for your amazing support!

Changes...

2006-06-04T21:02:00.000-07:00

Iris at Yaddo - Saratoga Springs, NY I feel like it has been so long since I have actually sat down to write a post here. Usually, I am just posting pics up for SPC and hopefully soon for Photo Friday's as well, but I haven't actully sat down to write a post with substance. I've been so busy lately that finding the time to gather my thoughts has been difficult. I have also been horrible lately at posting comments on other blogs that I read. I subscribe to about 70 blogs through Bloglines that I read as they are updated, so posting comments often is rather hard....please know though that I do read your posts even though I do not always have the time to comment. I also read each and every comment here and though I may not always be able to respond in a timely fashion, I appreciate everything you have to say here in my little space on the web. In regards to my space here, I have something that I would love to receive your feedback on. The renewal for Rustic Relics is coming up in a few weeks. There will be some exciting changes to the layout of my site, but I have also been toying with the idea of changing the name of my site from Rustic Relics to Organica Designs. I have been pondering this change because personally I feel that 'rustic relics' does not really fit the items I am creating. Since many of you support my art, I would love to get your feedback on this change. Which one is easier to remember? Which one do you feel best describes my work? Do you have a different name suggestion? Should I just stick with what I already have established? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated and considered. Should I ultimately decide to change the name, the address to the website would change as well. I will still have rusticrelics.net set up as a page that would direct you to the new site, for those of you who have been gracious enough to add a link to my site from your personal pages. In other news, this cuff bracelet is the last of the one's that I created and is currently up for auction on E-Bay. You can bid by clicking the link on my sidebar for my E-Bay auctions. I will also have some new pendant designs ready to post over the next few days....some new modern as well as earthy designs... Thank you all for the wonderful comments and compliments regarding my self portraits for SPC. They have been a lot of fun and I am working on my first entry for this month's challenge 'Pop Art'...I have been struggling as to what route I should go with this first one but i hope to have it ready soon :) Until tomorrow......

Self Portrait Challenge - (Part 5- Le Fin)

2006-05-30T16:16:00.000-07:00

Well, I stand corrected....THIS is the final week of the SPC "Introduce Yourself" theme. I am kind of relieved...i'm looking forward to a change of scenery. I'm working on finishing up some ATC's to put of for sale as well as some new jewelry designs which I hope to have on my site later this week. I'll make sure to post a sneak peak when I have some ready. i was reckless i was naive i was short i was lacking self-respect i was impressionable i was a musician i was occasionally depressed i was an aspiring actress/singer i was in love with the ocean i was fearless i was a hopeless romantic i was in love with idea of living in NYC i was willing to take risks i was open minded i was a poet i was an artist... i am a mother & wife i am open-minded i am short i am full of self-respect i am happy i am confident i am less willing to take risks i am a musician i am hopefull i am an avid learner i am a photographer i am loved i am spiritual but not religious i am shy sometimes i am a great cook i am becoming an organic healthfood nut i am a photographer i am focused and driven i am an artist... i will be a good mother & wife i will be open minded i will be short i will be old in body but not in spirit i will be healthy & strong i will be confident i will be a good role model i will be living my dreams i will be living by the ocean (someday) i will be an artist...

Self Portrait Challenge - Introduce Yourself (Part 4)

2006-05-24T10:11:00.000-07:00

No...that is not a wig, I just dyed my hair and got it cut again. My natural hair color is blonde, but I prefer dark hair much better...on my head atleast :) Well this is the last week for the SPC theme "Introduce Yoruself". In the spirit of my topic last week for Life's Little Lessons...(which I totally forgot to contriubte to my own group last week...nice job Sarah!)I'll share a little list of some of the interesting things I have seen & done in my lifetime thus far... P.S....thanks to those who have bid on my bracelets on E-Bay! I hope to have some ATC's up either tonight or tomorrow as well...your support of my art is always appreciated :) ~ lived in Nashville, TN for a year...met Martina McBride, Toby Keith, Rascal Flats, George Richie (and was in Tammy Wynettes house) ~ Saw Rent, Phantom Of The Opera, Jeckyl & Hyde, Miss Saigon, Les Miserables on Broadway ~ went splunking at Russell Cave in Alabama ~ took a flying lesson ~ saw the NY Rangers vs. Nashville Predators (hockey) at Madison Square Garden ~ saw the World Trade Centers before and after 911 ~ was in an independant film ~ i've left the country and have been to Canada, Martinique, Barbados, Aruba & St. Thomas ~ i've been in a hot air balloon ~ been cliff jumping ~ was a snowboarder for 6 years ~ i've had 2 surgeries ~ learned how to whirl by Shahram Shiva ~ saw the Declaration Of Independance ~ saw Vincent Van Gough's Starry Night and Monet's Water Lily's at MOMA ~ been to Salem, MA on Halloween ~ saw the multi-phonic singing Tibetan monks ~ had a Georgia peach in Georgia and Kentucky Fried Chicken in Kentucky! ~ been in a cranberry bog in Cape Cod ~ saw the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall ~ got a tattoo when i turned 18 ~ been on a movie set ~ been to the Bell Witch Cave in Adams, TN ~ saw Cirque Du Soliel's new show Corteo on Randall's Island in NY...(more on that and that later) ~ saw the Bodies exhibit at the South St. Seaport in NY (actual human bodies...was kind of freaky)...(more on that later)

Cuff Bracelet for Sale....

2006-05-22T17:28:00.000-07:00

You can bid on my auctions HERE Sorry for my absence recently...i've been busy around my house, my littler sister just got married :) and my anniversary is this week. I should be back up and running a bit on Wednesday, hopefully with some new art to post as well...until later.....

E-Bay Goodies...

2006-05-17T21:32:00.000-07:00

Fabric Mosaic Cuff Bracelets I am working on some things to post up for sale on E-Bay,...ATC's, Art2 and the like and these cuff bracelets will be going up for auction as well. They are kind of a prototype for new designs on my site, but are something that I am going to have to revisit in the near future as they are a little time consuming to create...and well...i just don't have the time for these right now. Make sure to keep an eye on my E-Bay auctions for the next few weeks to see what goodies make it there. You can bid on my auctions HERE

Self Portrait Challenge - Introduce Yourself (Part 3)

2006-05-16T11:18:00.000-07:00

Smoke & Mirrors... Well, I am starting to run out of interesting things about myself to talk about for the "Introduce Yourself" topic for SPC....so in the spirit of my love of lists... These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things... Favorite Musicians/Songs: Richard Shindell - There Goes Mavis Ani DiFranco - Both Hands Secret Garden - Hymn For Hope Loreena McKennitt - Dante's Prayer The Samples - Nothing Lasts For Long Favorite Movies: Amelie Sideways Braveheart Iron Jawed Angels Lovely & Amazing Favorite Foods: Feta Cheese Quinoa Cucumber, Yogurt & Dill Salad Sushi Oriental Salad Favorite Drinks Vanilla Chai (cold) Caramel Frappuccino Seabreeze Cosmopolitan Corona Favorite Cities I Have Visited Bar Harbor, Maine Clearwater, Florida Northampton, Massachusetts Nashville, TN New York City, NY Favorite Things About My Home The family that lives in it My garden My new kitchen & bathroom The character of an older home The ease of having everything I need just a few blocks away Favorite Hobbies My art Hiking/Yoga Reading Knitting Working with power tools to build things Favorite Places To Go On A Weekend Bash Bish Falls, MA Northampton, MA Our family cabin in the Adirondack Mountains Manchester, VT Thatcher Park outside of Albany, NY I'm so happy my self portraits for the past two weeks have been in the top picks of the week on SPC :) I can't wait to see all of the entries for this week... you can check out more of them HERE

Labor Of Love...

2006-05-11T01:19:00.000-07:00

My Garden This project has been two years in the making...i am so happy to say that I finally have a garden. I have always wanted a garden of my own, and was so happy when we bought our house 2 years ago that I had a perfect spot for one. This space behind my garage was SO overgrown....hence the reason it has taken me two years to complete. I had to dig down about a foot to make sure I got the majority of the roots of all the weeds out of this area....it was full of wild berry bushes, milkweed, nightshade, and lots of other weeds....oh! and a tree :). Earliler this Spring I finished digging it out before the weeds had the chance to take over, put down weed control cloth and mulch. My wonderful hubs built my highboxes and I just finished filling them in 2 days ago. I planted my veggies and herbs yesterday and I am patiently awaiting the wonderul things I will be able to harvest this summer. The rock wall surrounding the garden also separates my backyard. We have a generous lawn in the front and back of our home as well as about a football field worth of woods behind that. The rest of my yard is surrounded by beautiful lilac trees...something I look forward to seeing in full bloom every spring. I also put up my hammock last week and the little one and I have enjoyed taking naps as the warm sun and cool spring breeze blows over us. Our summer project this year is to build a deck off of our house which will finish off the yard perfectly. Needless to say I am so happy that my outdoor sancutary is finally starting to come together and I am happy that I can share it with you :) I hope to report later this summer that my veggies are are still alive...becuause I truly have no idea what I am doing yet!

The Missing Links....

2006-05-11T01:07:00.000-07:00

Old Glass Bottles In my voyage around the internet I have discovered some great new sites I would love to share ! I am sure some of you know of these already, so I appologize if these are repeats :) Uncommon Goods ...this shop has got some really interesting and fun products. A great place to shop! Chromasia Photoblog...i don't remember how I found this site, but this artist's photography is amazing! Indigo Leaf Magazine....a great little web-zine. Emerald Market...a great shopping blog featuring earth friendly products! Wonderful site full of eye candy! Last.FM...similar to Pandora, this site offers a free radio player. Plug in an artist you like and you are good to go wth similar music. I like last.fm better than Pandora. They play better music (i got some great results when I plugged in Dar Williams) and have some really cool features including a nifty little chart publisher that allows you to post what you have been recently listening to on your blog. If you have some cool links you would like to share, feel free to do so in the comments. Don't forget to participate in Life's Little Lessons. Check out the great entries for this week! Also, if you would like a link on my blog, please let me know. I will be re-vamping my link section soon and will be more than happy to add you if you are not already there. A reciprocal link would be greatly appreciated. Leave me a comment with your link.

Poetry Thursday

2006-05-11T00:56:00.000-07:00

Lantern In My Garden This poem is from the book Poems of Pleasure by Emma Wheeler Wilcox. I found this little book at my grandmother's house a long time ago. It is a littel green leather bound book of poems from the 1800's that sparked my love of poetry and my interest in antique books. The Way Of It by Emma Wheeler Wilcox This is the way of it, wide world over, One is beloved, and one is the lover, One gives and the other receives, One lavishes all in a wild emotion, One offers a smile for a life's devotion One hopes and the other believes, One lies awake in the night to weep And the other drifts off in a sweet sound sleep. One soul is aflae with a godlike passion, One plays with love in an idler's fashion, One speaks and the other hears. One sobs' I love you", and wet eyes show it, And one laughs lightly, and says "I know it", With smiles for the other's tears. One lives for the other and nothing beside, And the other remembers the world is wide. This is the way of it, sad earth over, The heart that breaks is the heart of the lover, And the other learns to forget "For what is the use of endless sorrow? Though the sun goes down, it will rise tomorrow; And life is not over yet." Oh! I know this truth, if I know no other, That passionate Love is Pain's own mother.

Mother's Day Pendants

2006-05-09T11:19:00.000-07:00

Don't forget to place your orders for Mother's Day! Orders must be received by 10pm tonight in order to be recieved in time. I'll be working overtime tonight to make sure all of your orders go out in tomorrow's mail. All orders that were placed last week are in the mail and on the way to you! Thank you for supporting my art!

Self Portrait Challenge - Introduce Yourself (Part 2)

2006-05-09T09:38:00.000-07:00

Green Green Grass :) Self-Portrait Challenge I was browsing through some new blogs I have discovered recently and came across a post on Megg's blog More To Me that totally inspired me. So for this weeks installment of 'Introduce Yourself'...since we are way past introductions here anyway :), I have followed in Megg's footsteps and created the soundtrack to my life thus far. Music is so important to me. Whatever it is I am doing, I always have music playing in the background. Which reminds me, that I haven't posted up my playlist in a while. Anyway, here is the soundtrack to my life, to the best of my recollection, with a little history behind each song. ~ Girls Just Want To Have Fun - Cindi Lauper: When I was six years old I wanted to be Cindi Lauper. I would try to dress like her and run around the house singing this song. ~ Michael Bolton, Kenny G, Miami Sound Machine, Phil Collins, Madonna: From around the age of 8 through early middle school. Because I had no means of acquiring my own music and I was not allowed to watch MTV, I had no other choice but to listen to the music my parents listened to....ugh! ~ Sail Away - Enya: The first video I saw on MTV. ~ Ice Ice Baby - Vanilla Ice: I was 10 and in 5th grade. This is one of the first songs I really heard outside of my parent's playlist. Regardless of how bad the song was, it was totally new and different. I adapted to this quickly because I got made fun of when our teacher asked the class what our favorite music was, and I was the only one who answered "classical". (I still do like classical, but it was definitely not the popular answer) ~ Phantom Of The Opera, Les Miserables, Jekyl & Hyde, Soundtracks etc:...5th grade thru 12th grade...I had an affinity for musicals and was in all of my theater departments productions. I had my sights set on Broadway for a time. Listening to these and singing along was so much fun. ~ Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana:...6th thru 8th grade. Nevermind was the first CD that I bought and pretty much summed up my angst filled days as a teenager. Nothing like listening to Kurt Cobain when you are feeling depressed. ~ RENT Soundtrack: ...11th grade thru 12th grade. This soundtrack & musical had a profound effect on my life. I lived an breathed RENT for two years. ~ Little Plastic Castle - Ani DiFranco: ...12th grade. I discovered Ani's music on a band trip to Maine. For some reason the trip really meant a lot. It is probably the favorite memory I have of that period of my life. I still listen to Ani almost every day. ~ Just To See You Smile - Tim McGraw: I listened to a lot of country music right after I graduated from high school. My boyfriend at the time was into country music and thus I was was too! Glad that is over with! :) ~ Smooth - Carlos Santana/Rob Thomas: This was my going out song. My friend/roommate Ellen at the time and I would listen to this while we were getting ready to go out. I even danced on a bar to this song....i was crazy, but it was so much fun! :) ~ Nothing Lasts For Long - The Samples: This is the first Samples song that my hubs played for me, the night of our first date. I adore the 'old' Samples and this song holds a special place in my heart. ~ Monster Ballads Soundtrack: My hubs and I listened to this CD our first month together on impromptu trips to our cabin in the Adirondacks. ~ Everything You Want - Vertical Horizon: The whole Vertical Horizon catalog represents my year in Nashville. My hubs and I listened to this CD nonstop! ~ Calling The Moon - Richard Shindell: A co-worker in Nashville introduced us to this artist and this was the first song of his we heard (it is actually a Dar Williams song) and we were awestruck! He has been part of our playlist for 5 years and continues to get better with each CD he releases. ~ Dar Williams, Ani DiFranco, Edie Carey, Coheed & Cambria, Death Cab For Cutie, Dredg, Shahin & Shepehr, Deb Talan, The Weeipies, Amy Correia, Imogen Heap, Frou Frou, Weezer, Jack Johnson, Ben Harper, Feist, Beth Orton, Blossom Dearie, Eastmountainsouth, Sia, Peter Mulvey, Richard Shindell, Anne Heaton, Josh Radin, Jose Gonzales, Rosie Thomas, The Shins, Sur Sudha, Secret Garden, Loreena McKennitt, Govinda...: These are all circulating through my playlist on a daily basis. I love discovering new music and listening to whatever suits my mood. :) What is your soundtrack? Feel free to post it in the comments or a link to your blog in the comments! Have fun!!! ~

Life's Little Lessons - Week 2

2006-05-08T13:49:00.000-07:00

Life's Little Lessons Feel free to use the banner above on your weekly post. Do NOT alter the image though. To get the address for the image, right click on the image, select properties and the address will be listed. ~ One year olds and antiquarian books do not mix. ~ Balancing pebbles atop each other is a very good exercise in patience and concentration. ~ Chinese Lantern (Physalis alkekengi) plants are part of the Nightshade family. Their leaves and immature fruits contain solanine...which is poisonous and can cause gastroenteritis. ~ Learn your limits...you can't be good at everything. ~ A Superhero told me that a dictionary might just be able to reveal your future. ~ One man's junk is not necessarily another man's treasure...sometimes it's just junk! ~ Weeds can be beautiful too :)

I Do.....

2006-05-08T10:34:00.000-07:00

Beautiful Weeds View Larger I've been tagged by the beautiful and talented Denise from FirstBorn Studio Do's & Don'ts.... i do love learning i don't love sitting in a classroom to do it i do attempt to meditate daily i don't always have the ability to clear my mind i do like schedules i don't always stick to them i do love cooking i don't like grocery shopping i do love listening to music i don't like country or rap i do love taking pictures i don't have a Canon Digital Rebel XT :( i do work on art everyday i don't always have a finished product i do love throwing dinner parties i don't like cleaning up afterwards i do have a terrible fear of dying i don't really know why i do consider myself to be 'spiritual' i don't follow one particular religion i do have two cats i don't spend enough time loving them too i do have the tendency to take the road less traveled i don't have any regrets Tag! You're it....Bohemian Girl, Thea, Michelle, Melanie, Katie & Andrea

Life's Little Lessons...

2006-05-04T23:15:00.000-07:00

Life's Little Lessons Yes...I have jumped on the creative bandwagon and mustered up my own little inspirational group. This has been a long time in the making and I have been slowly working on piecing it together. I would love for you all to participate...this group will generally post up links on Monday (so far that is the only day that has not yet been taken by another group....that I know of anyway :). Here is a brief description of what my group is all about.... What Is This? Life's Little Lessons (http://lifes-little-lessons.blogspot.com) is a social experiment encouraging you to learn something new every week, and pass it along to others! Whether it be something interesting you learned in school, a tidbit of advice you received from family or friends, something you overheard from another's conversation or words of wisdom passed through generations...share your experiences here every week. How Does This Work? Every Monday thru Sunday create a list of 5 things you have learned the previous week and post this to your blog. Feel free to be as creative as you like...include photographs or artwork that relates to what you learned that week. Please keep postings PG, and postings containing nudity or inappropriate content will not be posted. E-mail your permalink for you post into Life's Little Lessons and we'll post it here on the site. The list of participants will be refreshed every Monday, so make sure you stop by each week to send us your link. You will be able to view each weeks postings in the archives.If you do not have a blog, comments will be enabled on each weeks post so you can enter your information there. Each week Life's Little Lessons will also offer a topic of interest to get your started as well as 5 picks of the week selected from random submissions. Feel free to E-Mail us your topic ideas as well! How Do I Add Your Banner To My Site? To help support and spread the word about LLL's please feel free to add our banner to your site. The code for our banner is as follows (if you need the exact html please e-mail me): http://lifes-little-lessons.blogspot.com http://static.flickr.com/49/140098111_ec6a14ccf5_o.jpg How Can I Contact You If I Have Any Questions? Use the "Submit Your Link" button to send me an e-mail. I'll be checking each and every one, and will get back to you as soon as humanly possible. Please spread the word...i would LOVE to get as many participants as I can. I am an avid learner at heart and can't wait to start reading your posts! The first week will be a short one, but hopefully we can get the ball rolling :) I have also set up a Flickr group for the project, you can join Life's Little Lessons on Flickr by clicking on the link and joining the group. I hope to see you all there! Learn everything you can, anytime you can, from anyone you can - there will always come a time when you will be greatful you did. - Sarah Caldwell

Poetry Thursday...( A Little Late :)

2006-05-04T22:34:00.000-07:00

All of my poetry was written over five years ago. I have not written a poem since. I hope that being part of this weekly community can bring back a passion of mine that has remained in the shadows for so long. Most of my poetry was written during a very unstable time in my life. Unstable in the sense that I had no idea where my life was heading, I went with the flow, I created my own reality, I fell on my face and I picked myself up to do it all over again. For me, at that time, poetry was a way of untangling the knot of emotions that encompassed my life. It was my escape, my comfort, my release. It seems that as time passed by and my life became more stable, predictable, and less spontaneous, my poetry was left behind. It was more than a fair trade...i couldn't be happier :) My work was heavily influenced by Shakespeare and his style of writing and reflects my moods and views at that time in my life...scared, naive, confused, heartbroken, passionate, enraptured, empty, free, insecure...i am certain that if my words find their way back to the page they will have a different tone(i was a little melancholy, to say the least)...i look forward to seeing what this new challenge will bring :) Untitled by Sarah E. Smith This twisted face I abhor the sight So disturbing, so undivine Faces can't stay faithful to the body Struggling against ugliness Surrendering out of pity The face that didn't know it could be beautiful.

This Is Me....Self Portrait Challenge

2006-05-02T21:54:00.000-07:00

Well Self Portrait Tuesday is now Self Portrait Challenge...i am still going to attempt to post on Tuesdays though. This month's challenge is to 'Introduce Yourself'. I think most of you get the gist of who I am, if you are a regular reader on my blog...so I'll try to come up with some tidbits about myself I have yet to divulge... ~ I have a tattoo on my left shoulder of a butterfly that I got when I turned 18 ~ I lived in Nashville, TN for a year and worked at the Wildhorse Saloon where I met Toby Keith, Martina McBride, Rascal Flats and various other artists. ~ I have never broken a bone in my life, but have had surgery twice. ~ I am married to an AMAZING man. My husband and I met in a blues bar...he wooed me with his talent ( he plays piano). ~ I am a mom to a wonderful little child who surprises me with something new everyday and keeps me smiling :) ~ I want to write a book at some point in my life and have it published...what kind of book it will be has yet to be determined. ~ I think way too much about stuff and have the tendency to be paranoid. ~ I get bored with things very easily...hence the reason why I have so many avenues that I have explored with my art. ~ I was an avid snowboarder for about 6 years, but have not gone in the past three years...something I must do again this winter. ~ I try to rescue little animals when I see them in trouble...i have saved many frogs and salamanders from near death experiences. ~ I was raised Ukrainian Orthodox, but I now consider myself agnostic...meaning I believe in a higher power...a creator, but I am not set on what/who that is. I find myself to be a spiritual person, and take interested in learning about many different religions and religious beliefs...trying to apply important aspects of these religions into my everyday life. ~ I love learning about obscure things. I find this helps me tremedously when I am watching Jeopardy! ~ I have been on the tour bus for The Samples numerous times (Vermont, Massachusetts, Georgia, Tennessee, New York), putting back some Heinekein with Sean Kelly. One of the old band members gave me the nickname "Pretty Eyes" :) ~ My left eye is slightly bigger than my right. ~ I have a terrible nervous habit of biting my finergernails....it drives my husband insane! ~ I love reading. I like to own my books. I have an aversion to borrowing them from the library....after journeying through their pages and getting lost and found in the words, I hate to have to bring it back ( i also have a thing for collecting too). ~ I love linen clothes...regardless of how wrinkly they get. Anyway, I could go on all night...but I am off to bed for now....I'll be back tomorrow with more ramblings...until then, sleep safe, sleep sound and sweet dreams ( I whisper that to my little one each night :)

Open Hearts...Open Minds

2006-05-02T05:58:00.000-07:00

2006 Spring-Summer Collection Available for sale @ Rustic Relics Designs I find writing in such a public forum so interesting. That we (bloggers) spill the contents of our souls so willingly for the hope that someone is out there to hear us, to find connections with other humans...kindred spirits. Through my reading and writing here online, I have seen the need and desire for human connectivity on many levels...what a powerful and wonderful thing. From all of you, I have learned about new music, books, poetry, art and artists, photgraphy, silly and serious ramblings and ways to be introspective...ways for my spirit to be ever learning,ever growing and ever appreciative. It is comforting to see that in a world filled with so much hate and judgement...the there are still many open hearts and open minds out there. I find myself envious at those who can so freely write and express their thoughts without allowing themselves to be there own censors. I do this often. It amazes me that with all of this freedom of speech we have in this forum, that we sometimes censor ourselves...we are our own worst critics. Whether it be our own insecurities, family/freinds who we don't want knowing our personal business or whatever the reason...putting everything from our personal idiosyncrasies to our deepest thoughts and passions out there for the world to see can be a scary thing. Thank you to all of you who do this, who share a part of yourself for others to connect with and learn from. :)

Spring Has Sprung!

2006-04-30T12:13:00.000-07:00

Necklace Add-on's for Rustic Relics Pendants Available at Rustic Relics Desgins What a beautiful weekend! I've been spending most of my time outdoors...but wanted to drop by to say that my 2006 Spring/Summer Collection is finally posted up on my site. I am working on more pieces which I should have up tomorrow night. I'm heading back outside to enjoy the rest of this glorious day....if I have the energy I will be back later :)

2006 Spring/Summer Collection

2006-04-27T00:24:00.000-07:00

Spring/Summer 2006 Collection Now available!!! The new pendants are finally up on the site...i am in the process of making more which I will probably be posting up tomorrow night. They are available for sale on my website Rustic Relics Designs. These pendants are multi-dimensional and feature organic shapes and patterns...they have amazing depth and color...something which is hard to capture well with my camera. Perfect as a gift for Mother's Day or for yourself to celebrate the arrival of Spring! It's not too late to sign up on my mailing list to receive a updates on new products as well as coupons every now and then. Please sign up via the link on the sidebar. I am taking custom orders. Please e-mail me for further details. Thank you for supporting my art!

Self Portrait Tuesday....

2006-04-25T18:05:00.000-07:00

Don't forget to sign up on my Mailing List to receive a coupon code...just in time for Mother's Day. I'll be e-mailing the coupon code out on Saturday...so sign up now :)

Back to work.... :)

What A Little Fresh Air Can Do....

2006-04-24T20:58:00.000-07:00

I have found it hard to sit down and write since the weather has finally started to change. The fresh air feels so alive and welcoming during the day...and serves as such a wonderful sedative at night. By the time twighlight appears I am ready to fall into a deep relaxing sleep. Needless to say, my old habits of staying up all hours of the night seem to be out of season. I have been working on some art here and there...though lately I have found more satisfaction in using my free time to ready my house for summer. I am currently working on some new jewelry designs which I hope to post up for sale on my site soon. I will make sure to post some updated pics here too. I have also posted up some sculptures for sale on the site as well. For those of you signed up on my mailing list, I will be sending out a coupon soon...just in time for mothers day :) As the habits of my life seem to be cyclical, I find my inspiration coming back to my jewelry designs as well as the relaxing and rewarding practice of knitting. I started a few knitting projects over the winter which I never completed...hopefully by this winter they will be done. I thoroughly enjoy the meditative state I find myself when I knit...no other artform seems to relax me so. I have a busy week...but hopefully will be back again tomorrow to write. To those who read my ramblings regularly....thanks for stopping by through my dry spells and leaving your kind words :). I do hop on everyday to read your comments as well as a good number of blogs that I have subscribed to via Bloglines (what a wonderful tool :)...though I don't always comment, I do always love to hear what you have to say :)Thank you to those as well who have purchased my art and have written about me on your blogs :) My sincerest thanks for your support of my art and spreading the word about my art! For now I wish you 'good night' :)

Prayer Flags - For Sale

2006-04-09T07:21:00.000-07:00

Prayer Flags - For Sale Mixed Media Sculpture 7.5" (l) x 3.25" (w) x 6.75" (d) View Larger Please e-mail me at sarah@rusticrelics.net if you are interested in purchasing this piece, or having a work commissioned. This is the latest of my sculptures that I have been working on this week. I have always been enchanted by Buddhist prayer flags. A few years ago I was lucky enough to see the amazing Tibetan monks of the Drepung Loseling Monastery. They are multiphoic singers who are able to sing multiple notes as the same time. They performed The Mystical Arts of Tibet - Sacred Music Sacred Dance for World Healing around the country. They were truly amazing to see. After their performance I purchased my own prayer flags, which I will be hanging outside in my garden soon. I have visted a few Tibetan monestaries where these flags are flying in abundance, I hope with my visits to Woodstock this summer I can takes some pictures of them outside the monestary there. It is truly a beautiful sight to behold. Prayer flags are inscribed with auspicious symbols, invocations, prayers, and mantras. Tibetan Buddhists for centuries have planted these flags outside their homes and places of spiritual practice for the wind to carry the beneficent vibrations across the countryside. Prayer flags are said to bring happiness, long life and prosperity to the flag planter and those in the vicinity. A typical prayer flag has at its central image a horse bearing three flaming jewels on its back. This horse, known as a 'wind-horse' lends the flags their Tibetan name, 'lung-ta'. The three jewels symbolise the Buddha, the Buddhist teachings and the Buddhist community. These together make up the equivalent of the Tibetan Trinity. Around the horse are 20-odd mantras - powerful ritual utterances - each dedicated to a particular deity. The ideas is that as the wind passes over the surface of the flag, the air becomes purified, sanctified and sweetened by the mantras. This is beneficial for all beings in the neightbourhood. Prayer flags are printed from wooden blocks on to coloured cotton - traditionally the five colours are blue, white, red, yellow and green. The flags deteriorate in the elements and are usually renewed each Tibetan New Year. Wandering pilgrims carry strings of flags with them to adorn the sacred sites that they visit. My work above was inspired by my memory of the Drepung Loseling monks and their songs of peace.

"Spring" - Illustration Friday (Sort Of...)

2006-04-06T10:25:00.000-07:00

Spring - For Sale 4.5" x 4.5" x 6" Mixed Media Sculpture Please e-mail me if you are interested in purchasing this piece or commissioning a similar work. I know....this is not an illustration, BUT, the piece was inspired by Illustration Friday's theme for the week. I have a preliminary sketch of the piece, but I thought I would post up a pic of the finished product instead. I have a few smaller sculptures to work on, some new 'pod' shapes, and then I am going to try some larger sizes...i usually have a tought time working on a larger scale, but I have not yet tried it with these sculptures...so i'll see what happens. I'll be back later with another entry...back outside to do more lawnwork.....

Budding Artist

2006-04-04T20:15:00.000-07:00

I usually don't post about my little one on my blog...but today is an exception as we had our own private artfest. I pulled out the markers and paper and we went to town. I think I have a budding artist on my hands. My little one was so serious while working, as if in a trance....something I find myself doing when I am deep into one of my projects. We had so much fun. Luckily only one marker was tasted, and no walls or furniture destroyed :) Here is my little one's first masterpiece :) I am such a proud mom :)

A Good Days Work

2006-04-03T06:03:00.000-07:00

"Human" Mixed Media Sculpture Please e-mail me if you would like to commission a similar piece, more designs on the way. The above sculpture is the first of a series created from the current flow of ideas I have been swept away in. I have about 4 others started and will be posting them up as i complete them. This weekend was a very productive weekend. My hubs and I were able to get a lot of work done outside from raking leaves to ripping out a pricker bush that was planted near our back door....this bush had to be the most dangerous plant you could plant near your house as it had VERY sharp half inch thorns protruding from it's branches...and I swear, it would try to grab you every time you walked passed it. It was just an accident waiting to happen, especially when you have a little one who is ready to start walking...why anyone would plant such a thing near the entrance to a home is beyond me. My only conclusion was that the lady who lived in our home before us, lived alone and it was her means of warding off would be intruders...other than that I can think of no other logical reason. I plan to replant a pretty flowering bush of some sort. This weekend I also reconnected with my love of power tools. One of my nicknames in high school was "Chopsaw". I was the only girl on the stage crew for our theatre department, and the only one entrusted to handle the major power tools. Someone needed something cut..."Chopsaw" was the one to do it :). This weekend i was using our table saw to cut wood for my sculpture bases. I just love being able to use these tools to create something, and not have to rely on someone else to do it or money to pay someone to do it. This affinity I have for power tools has also helped with our home renovation. I have been able to help jack up our home to replace a sill plate, totally gut out and replace our kitchen and bathroom, and this summer help put a new deck in our backyard. I can be such a tomboy sometimes :) I'm off to work on my sculptures and will hopefully have one to post up tomorrow. In the mean time I'll leave you with a page from my Soul Catcher journal....(Feel free to post your answers in my comments or on your own blog) Inspiration: to infuse into, as if by breathing:to affect as with a supernatural influence:to give inspiration to:to enliven I am inspired by..... because..... Qualities I would like to emulate..... I inspire others because..... Until tomorrow :)

"Metropolis"

2006-03-31T22:11:00.000-07:00

Metropolis - Mixed Media on canvas 9 x 12 Please e-mail me if you are interested in commissioning a similar piece. What/Who I Am Listening To Now: ~Hurricane - Something Corporate ~Someday You Will Be Loved - Death Cab For Cutie ~This Is Such A Pity - Weezer ~Hear Me Out - Frou Frou ~Dangling Conversation - Simon & Garfunkle ~Wasted - Martin Sexton ~Morning After - Howie Day ~Constantine - Something Corporate Today was an awesome day outside...i am LOVING this warm weather. I was able to finish the above piece, which is my friend's birthday present. I have also started working on some sculptural pieces...i have experienced a lot of trial and error with these new pieces as i am not used to working in with a 3-D form. I should have some pics up tomorrow of the first piece. I'll also be posting some work on E-Bay over the next few days. There are some pieces that have been sitting around my studio that I have been looking to post up for some time and I have finally started to get the auctions together, so keep your eyes posted. This warm weather has definately energized me. I have so many new ideas that I can't wait to get started on. I have also found some new sites in my online travels to pass along before I get back to work... I am sure a lot of you have seen this site already, but it is a new one for me that I just can't get enough of Overheard In New York This is a cool new art site that I recently discovered. They still have some open gallery spots for artists, and it is free to sign up One Million Pixels Art Gallery A cool site for those avid readers...book trading @ Bookins Fun art projects to do with your kids (or just by yourself :) Art Attack Until tomorrow (enjoy this fabulous weather!!!).....

Waiting For Paint To Dry

2006-03-29T19:07:00.000-07:00

Worn - Deconstruction: The Self-Portrait Experiment What/Who I Am Listening To Now: ~Soul Meets Body - Death Cab For Cutie ~Waiting For A Superman - The Flaming Lips ~For Everyman - Jackson Browne ~Psychobabble - Frou Frou ~I Will Follow You Into The Darkness - Death Cab For Cutie ~Teardrop - Massive Attack ~First Day of My Life - Bright Eyes ~What Sarah Said - Death Cab For Cutie ~Lua - Bright Eyes (Playlist courtesy of my hubs who made me this awesome mixed CD) Please excuse my absence from this blog and responding to your e-mails. I have been busy at work on several projects, all in different stages of completion, as a I am waiting for bits and pieces of each one to dry...rather than wait around impatiently (I detest waiting for paint to dry), I ended up starting a several new projects in the process. Needless to say my work area is chaotic, and my time online has been limited. I should be able to post some new work over the next few days depending on how much I can get done. One of my good friend's birthday is on Friday, so I am immersed in getting a gift done for him, but hopefully I will get it done tonight. I am SO glad that it is getting warmer out and have been spending some much needed time outdoors. I am looking forward to the clocks changing on Sunday, littleneck clams on the grill, campfires and guitars in my backyard, hiking at Bash Bish Falls in MA, walking around Woodstock, picnics, and leaves on the trees. What are your favorite things to do and places that you go during the summer? Until tomorrow....

"Origin" - For Sale

2006-03-20T17:16:00.000-07:00

"Origin" Mixed Media Painting/Collage 4 x 4 Canvas wrapped wood block Large View & Various Angles/Detail Please e-mail if you are interested in purchasing this piece. Here is my latest mixed media collage/painting...i've incorporated many different mediums in this three dimensional piece. This is one of my favorites thus far. Each of these pieces contains a bit of myself...the writing on each piece is either my poetry or a story about something in my life which ties into the visual aspects of my work...this makes them truly personal and unique. I am currently accepting commissioned requests as well, feel free to e-mail me.

Jumped The Gun...

2006-03-20T10:41:00.000-07:00

"What Is The Worst That Could Happen?" Mixed Media collage w/ Monoprint View Large for detailed view Private Collection Please E-mail me if you are interested in commissioning a similar piece. Ok...so I jumped the gun about thinking I was over my cold. The day after I wrote my last blog entry, I woke up at 5 a.m., unable to breathe with what felt like a rock in my throat...not fun. Today, I am still feeling lousy, and though I have a bunch of new ideas for some work, I lack the energy to start them...hopefully tomorrow I'll start to get over this thing. To those of you who have e-mailed me...I will get back to you soon as well...hopefully tonight or tomorrow at the latest. I am happy to say that "immortality"...the piece pictured below...has been sold and is going to a good home :) I have another piece I recently completed and will hopefully be posting it up tonight. I am currently working on some pieces for my portfolio for gallery submissions, but I am also taking commissioned orders. If you would be interested in commissioning a piece, please e-mail me. Oh...Happy First Day of Spring!!!!!

It All Comes Together In The End...

2006-03-17T19:11:00.000-07:00

"Immortality" Mixed Media Painting 4x4 SOLD :) It's Friday night and my hubs is at a poker game, I am feeling so much better today after loading up on orange juice and my Green Goodness drink (which has yummy wheatgrass, spirulina, blue green algae...all good stuff for you, I swear :), and I am plowing full steam ahead on my art. This past week I have learned so much experimenting with different mediums and have embraced a whole new energy towards my work. I finally feel that my personal style is shining through, something that I have waited a long time to find. I always envied artists like Misty Mawn, Michael DeMeng, Brian Andreas...who had a definitive style all there own. If you have followed my blog and art I am sure you have noticed about a thousand different styles have emerged...nothing really felt like my own. I purposefully experimented with these different styles and mediums to try to find something that I really connected with...something that if someone saw a piece of mine they would immediately recognize it as being something I created. This experimentation has broadend my knowledge of working with different techniques and mediums, especially those that I was very intimidated by...those which I now use with comfort and confidence. During this process I wrote down key elements of what I liked about each piece I created as well as what I liked about other people's art, and about my interests outside of my art....whatever would help me define my work. Here are some things from my list... ~my favorite color is orange...especially rust ~texture is important...feel art, not just see it ~i love faces and hands in art...more abstract than realistic...how something like a line, the simplest form can convey such emotion ~i love layering and depth ~i love letters and words...sometimes one words says it all ~simplicity...don't add too much ~i love organic and simple shapes ~i love the environment...to conserve and recycle my resources...don't be wasteful ~never underestimate the power of a pencil ~work small...there is not as much pressure to fill a space ~incorporate sculptural elements into 2D work ~create 3D pieces...that can be viewed from various angles ~i like a "raw" look...full of emotion ~mix mediums...experiment ~don't aim for perfection...work with abandon ~i love nature...colors, textures, shapes These are just some things of the many I have written down to guide me down my path of artistic identity. Though I will always experiment with my work, I am glad that I am coming to find a style that i can commit to...something that I will be proud to submit to galleries and publications for review, and hopefully, to exhibit and sell. The above piece, was the piece that really helped me with this....i used to work a lot with mixed media collage and had abandoned it for some time. I started to get back into it when I purchased my Moleskine and found how much I enjoyed incorporating most of what I have learned into one body of work. Though the piece above does not define my style,(it is actually a little too macabre for my tastes)it opened the door that I have been struggling to find. Hopefully you will all like my new work. My jewelry is a whole other story....I have always been happy with my jewelry designs and they will not go away....I realized that I have two different sides to my art...the whimsical side and my love for fine art...i hope to incorporate them both in my journey. So there you have it, it really does seem to come together :) I feel bad that I have neglected my chatroom. I am moving the chats to Tuesday nights at 9:00 pm EST. This week I would love to talk about your artistic identities. How do you define your art? What makes it personal, how does it showcase you? How did you find your style? Is there anything you would change about it? Do you feel lost, trying to find a way for your art to define you? If you can't join us Tuesday night, feel free to post your answers here in my comments. I hope to see a lot of you in the chat, as I would love to get to know more about you and your art. Well...i think my paint has finally dried and I can get back to work...I will hopefully have some new work to post over the next few days...so until tomorrow :)

Tribute To Klimt Series

2006-03-16T21:27:00.001-07:00

Original Watercolor ATC - For Sale Bid Here Well there must be an artists bug going around because I have come down with a nasty sinus cold. I am heading to take a nice hot bath and then off to bed to rest. In the mean time here are some sites I have recently stumbled upon to keep you busy :) I could not stop laughing,...Stuff On My Cat An awesome site created by women for women...All Things Girl A great site dedicated to discovering new music artists...Discovering Artists Learn to make your own Jizos for Peace...(download the PDF file at the bottom of the page for illustrated instructions) Until tomorrow...

Poetry Thursday...

2006-03-16T09:57:00.000-07:00

Fortunes fool, am I not Nor will I ever be For a lovers game is a thick plot Full of lies, inconsistency. Though I fear it may have, from time to time Capture me in it's twisted arms And carry me to paradise sublime A concave path to a lovers harms. Hence, away with solitude I'll go And in my dreams my pleasures be Though chivalry is dead, I know Still in my heart, it dwells in me. by: Sarah Pezdek-Smith ©2006 I wrote this poem a long time ago. I was, at the time, heavily influence by Shakepeare's poetry style and sound.

Self-Portrait Tuesday

2006-03-14T18:40:00.000-07:00

Deconstruction - The Self Portrait Experiment Self-Portrait Tuesday Tonight I Can Write by: Pablo Neruda Tonight I can write the saddest lines Write for example, "The night is shattered and the blue stars shiver in the distance" The night wind revolves in the sky and sings Tonight I can write the saddest lines. I loved her, and sometimes she loved me too. Through nights like this one I held her in my arms. I kissed her again and again under the endless sky. She loved me, sometimes I loved her too. How could one not have loved her great still eyes. Tonight I can write the saddest lines. To think that I do not have her. To feel that I have lost her. To her the immense night, still more immense without her. And the verse falls to the soul like dew to the pasture. What does it matter that my love could not keep her. The night is shattered and she is not with me. This is all. In the distance someone is singing. In the distance. My soul is not satisfied that it has lost her. My sight searches for her as though to go to her. My heart looks for her, and she is not with me. The same night whitening the same trees. We, of that time, are no longer the same. I no longer love her, that's certain, but how I loved her. My voice tried to find the wind to touch her hearing. Another's. She will be another's. Like my kisses before. Her voice. Her bright body. Her infinite eyes. I no longer love her, that's certain, but maybe I love her. Love is so short, forgetting is so long. Because through nights like this one I held her in my arms my soul is not satisfied that it has lost her. Though this be the last pain that she make me suffer and these the last verses that I write for her. This was one of my favorite Neruda poems that I forgot about until I recently listened to my Il Postino soundtrack. For you Neruda lovers out there, the movie and soundtrack are a must.

E-Bay Artist Choice Awards

2006-03-14T18:04:00.000-07:00

Thank you to all of you who nominated me for the E-Bay Artist Choice Awards. I am happy to say that I was chosen as a finalist for the Small Format Abstracts category! I would greatly appreciate it if you would submit your votes for me in this category! Your continued support of my art means so much to me, and it drives my inspiration to continue creating. If you are not yet a member of the Artist Choice Awards, you must meet the following criteria ... To participate, (nominate, be nominated and vote), you must: 1) be a self-representing eBay artist with at least 10 art-sales feedbacks in the past 9 months, 2) be in good standing with eBay, 3) If you have more than one id from which you sell art, please choose one and use it exclusively.

Taking It Slow

2006-03-12T21:22:00.000-07:00

Moleskine Art Pages 3-4...See Larger size for detailed view What/Who I Am Listening To Now: ~New Slang - The Shins ~I Constantly Thank God For Esteban - Panic! At the Disco ~Oh Me, Oh My - Imogen Heap ~Exactly Like You - Carmen McRae ~Bicycle Tricycle - Rosie Thomas ~Breathe Me - Sia ~100 Years - Five For Fighting ~There Goes Mavis - Richard Shidell ~Hallelujah - Rufus Wainwright ~Gypsy Woman - Martin Sexton I'm taking it slow these days...I have found that I rush my work...I get too wrapped up in finishing a piece quickly, I anticipate a finish product because I can't wait to see the result. I have found that when I look back on these pieces, there are so many aspects of them I would change or that I would have not done if I had taken more time with the piece. I need to let my work marinate. The above picture is from my Moleskine journal, I like the way it came out....it took me a few weeks to complete, I didn't rush but let each element come together when the time felt right. (On a side note....La Vie en Rose commented a few posts ago asking if my Moleskine was worth the money....most definately...YES! If the quality of the pages can withstand the abuse I subject them to, it is definitely worth every penny :) My Moleskine has become the breeding ground for my artistic experiments....it is where I try my different techniques,color combinations, textures....before I decide to apply them to the canvas. I am currently working on a series of mixed media paintings in the above style...going back to my mixed media roots has once again invigorated my art, and this 'raw' style allows me to incorporate many personal aspects into my art. In other news, The Ganokskin Project added my jewelry to their artist's gallery...you can view my profile HERE. The work they posted is some of my older designs, I'll be sending them updated pics of my new pieces. Also, Self Portrait Day added my photo to their frontpage..yeah :) Well, I am off to finish part of a piece I am working on and then to bed...I hope to post again tomorrow. Until then..... ;)