every day awakening

mjd - 2014

every day contains the opportunity 

to awaken.

we think of spring as earth's awakening,

but it occurs each day

whether or not we take notice.

there is a season for all things in nature -

and all deserve our attention

and wonder.

the same applies to you -

days of questions

days of answers

we don't always know what we are going to get.

but we can make the effort

to be sure we are present

so as to know the difference

and to learn whatever lesson

each holds.

so long as you breathe,

it's never too late. 

of the essence

mjd 2013

fragile as a leaf
or a petal
decaying after its show
of lushness and vibrancy.

form and essence 
are left behind.

but which truly is more delicate -
the glossy leaf
or its skeletal remains?

mjd 2013

perhaps the tracery
of veins and stem
are not as fragile
as they appear.

for what remains
belies the inherent strength
of that which supported life,

yet goes unseen

until that which
distracts
has quietly eroded
away.

in stillness

woven leaf - mjd 2013

slow down,

stop what you are doing

and take a breath.

'sit down and be quiet.

you are drunk 

and this is the edge of the roof.'

 - rumi

the situation is dire

for those unwilling 

to do the work 

of practicing awareness.

distraction lurks 

in every corner

and sits in the middle 

of every room.

but is there really any other option?

the tender heart

mjd - 2013

in our (mistaken) attempt to guard the heart
against vulnerability 
and pain,

mjd - 2013

we can isolate it 

from tenderness

and connection.

complete - 


and in its new home at 'eyes of the world', cookman avenue, asbury park, nj... 


waiting on some large tile to do some proper images... necklaces are challenging to photograph on a good day, but extra long focals take it to another level... saw a great dress mannequin at an antiques shop but it was nfs... 


so we keep experimenting - 

simple - cont'd

'don't pin much hope on the mail,

and when the phone rings don't expect anyone wonderful to be calling.'

~ andy rooney

oh, andy - you obviously never met anyone through etsy!!


i practically skip to the mail - that should have been on my simple things list... dear mellisa from chinook jewelry sent me a business card holder, a ponytail holder, and some gorgeous lotus tiles... you had to see these... she has more - and if i don't snag them all, you may be able to get yourselves some!!

and i also found a lovely woman named lashell on etsy at who hand dyes sari silk in gorgeous colors... do you know how hard it was not to buy more?! almost painful... her mother taught her how to do it... 

'inspiration exists, but it has to find us working.'

~ pablo picasso

here's to getting some time to work this weekend in a way you love ...  

once in a blue moon ~

'every once in a blue moon

something new comes along 

that scrambles your preconceptions.' 

a blue moon will occur tonight... it is defined as the second full moon in a calendar month... a second opportunity to give thanks as we ring out 2009... 

new year's eve brings up all kinds of emotions... hopes for the coming year and a review of the events of the past... reflections that bring up feelings of joy and sorrow, of accomplishment and yearning... 

perhaps it is fitting that one of my final pieces of the year is 'the caged heart' ~

'few are those who see with their own eyes

and feel with their own hearts.'

~ albert einstein

see, feel, be present... experience the textures and colours of life... the subtlety of meaning that imbues everything... 

break free of cages imposed from within and without... in steps large or small... have a goal to be more free by next new year's eve... 

and know that it all begins with love...

ceramic ring and heart from mellisa at chinook jewelry designs... beautiful hand-dyed yarn by myfanwy at sassa lynne... 

happy new year ~ and so very much gratitude to all who stop by my blog, who help me to grow, who share their wisdom with me... 


and congratulations to marsha neal for delivering her beautiful baby boy riley!

connected through fiber (not the kind in my cereal)

'come out of the circle of time

and into the circle of love.'

-rumi

lately i have been feeling a need to integrate fibers and fabric in to my work... it just feels right... and i realized it creates a real connection to the past... no, i am not providing warmth for my family in clothing or blankets... but working with them makes me think of women who for centuries/millenia have been doing these things for their families and communities... from the ancient times in persia, china and egypt through today... and perhaps today, it is even appreciated more - precisely because of the mechanical alternatives that are available to hands... 
'timeless' was created with a marsha neal studio shard and lisa peters art button...there is also a wonderful polymer clay bead by genevieve at jibbyandjuna... 

'warm and fuzzy' use marsha neal studio shards as well... i love the contrast of the fibers with the ceramic... 

'if your knees aren't green by the end of the day,

you need to seriously re-examine your life.'

calvin (bill watterson)

'kickin' back' encourages you to relax, take in the colors and textures of the earth, water and sky... small copper bird charm is a reminder of why this necklace was created... 

'and forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet

and the winds long to play with your hair.'

- kahlil gibran 

'caught in the breeze' were created by etching copper and nickel sheet... then wirewrapping fibers and ribbon... 

'this very moment is a seed from which

the flowers of tomorrow's happiness grow.'

'margaret lindsey

'make your wish, plant the seed' created by etching copper sheet, wirewrapping faceted amethyst and tying on a bit of floss... amethyst is associated with quiet, calm & ultimately, peace... when one calms the mind, the door of opportunity opens wide... 

'all tangled up' is a well-mixed (thanks to robert frost for my most fav quote ever) design of enamel, glass, ceramic, pewter, crystal, turquoise, leather, metals and fibers... marsha neal studio, barbara lewis, linden avenue designs, zippy beads, green girl studios & purple pozies all represented here... 

the first 3 pieces are available in the my mom pattie shop ... 

as the holidays bear down - stay centered... i am feeling very 'off' due to the avalanche of materialism... it's been present since halloween, but when i get 50 mails for promos each time i sign on, it is just too much... stay connected to what is important to you... 

p.s. i am not a scrooge!

playing with copper sheet

'at the center of your being you have the answer,

you know who you are

and you know what you want.'

~ lao tzu

copper sheet has been randomly stamped with om & lotus punches... hole at bottom is deliberately off center signifying the journey of working towards our center... faceted amethyst used for healing properties... a stone associated with calm, healing and peace... 

'all who wander are not lost.'

~ j.r.r. tolkien

a very favorite quote of mine... drifting, letting go, relaxing, going with the flow... the word 'drifting' has been stamped randomly along with leaves on the copper sheet to evoke the feeling of, well, drifting... like leaves being carried by a stream... lapis was chosen because of the properties it contains - balancing of yin-yang, bringing mental clarity... all things that occur when we let go and set our minds free...

'we all have our own life to pursue,

our own kind of dream to be weaving...

and we all have the power to make wishes come true,

as long as we keep believing.'

~ louisa may alcott

sheet metal here has been textured and punched in many places allowing for the weaving of fibers within it... a contrast in textures tied (no pun intended) together by the flowing line of each medium.. 

did you experiment today?