known and unknown

mjd - 2015

all is not known to us.

not at once

not without work

and that is fine.

where would the wonder reside

if everything were easy,

were obvious?

mjd - 2015

where would the desire

to become our best 

and highest 

self

come from 

if there were no obstacles 

to surmount?

mjd - 2015

how indeed 

could we relate to each other -

understand another's joy

another's pain

another's fear?

mjd - 2015

there is something infinite that connects us all

something we can touch

something we can feel

something we can apply ourselves to

for the betterment of all.

surrender

mjd - 2015 - surrender - 

sterling with sleeping beauty turquoise & red coral

freedom is gained

in releasing.

life is change. 

our white-knuckled grip 

of clinging

to avoid that which is inevitable

brings great suffering.

our hands tire and ache.

mjd - 2015 - surrender

when finally we open them,

allowing our fingers to stretch,

we exhale 

and soften.

everything softens.

and in the act of surrender

we find the peace

we had been seeking

all along. 

in motion

i have been enjoying working with hoops - 

for their kinetic nature

for the way they can spin if you don't restrict them.

setting an om on each 

allows them to act like a tibetan prayer wheel,

setting a beautiful intention out into the world 

for all to benefit ... 

carving, etching & prayer/peace flags

i started carving in rubber block - and love it... 


om, lotus, feathers and a bear totem... i thought i would be using them on fabric for the peace flags project... 

but it seems i cannot escape the jeweler/metal worker mindset... and i'm ok with that... the whole idea for the project was to be interpretive - to send wishes for peace free in your own way... 

my first set of flags are on the small side, copper om and lotus buds alternating... connected in such a way that movement in possible... highlighted with floss in the correct color arrangement... one wrapped lapis drop at the bottom... 

you can read more about the project (and join in if you like) here... 

lightly

petals in brass - 2012

'lightly, child, lightly.  

you've got to learn to do everything lightly.  

think lightly, act lightly, feel lightly.  

yes, feel lightly, even though you're feeling deeply.'

- aldous huxley island

it was interesting today to realize that while working with a stiff metal, 

heating & reheating

hammering

folding & unfolding

gently bending and forming,

i was, in fact, doing it lightly... 

(contented sigh)

much gratitude to robyn gordon at art propelled  for sharing this passage... i immediately got the book and have since finished it...

a beautiful & worthwhile read... 

meditating with metal

this week was all about making pieces, small and large... getting into zen mode... 

'move and the way will open.'

 ~ zen proverb

'only from the heart can you touch the sky.'
~ rumi

(obvious)

'fall down seven times
stand up eight.'
~ japanese proverb

'actions send out ripples
karma brings them back.'

working in this way can be so relaxing - trying to grab a hold of thoughts and feelings and bringing them to life... 

from within to without

working to attain an inner peace, 

bringing together the parts of my Self 

into an unshakable whole. 


giving birth to one


who lives with intention

that i can send out into the world.

what do you want to be when you grow up?

throughout my life, i have always seen this question as being multi-faceted... professionally, i wanted to be a scientist and an artist... 

but more importantly, i have wanted to be a peaceful person... to be a part of the Solution and not a part of the Problem...

em and i got our first tattoos this week... (nick says it's easy to figure out which one is me - 'your finger has all of the wrinkles'... thanks, boo!)

this peaceful warrior has been unknowingly arming herself with talismans this year... words and gemstones that empower and protect... these types of things have an energy that works both ways i realized... while they serve to offer protection, once i feel empowered i am able to reach out from a right state of mind... not just to get centered on the inside (because there are times when i just want to close in on myself), but to let it flow outward actively... this tiny little reminder of what i want to be is a visible thing now - i see it when i work, when i eat, when i brush my teeth, while i hold the steering wheel... 

the devastating events in tucson and around the world are a constant reminder that while we cannot control the thoughts or actions of others - we are in complete control of our own... 

'if you can, help others;

if you cannot do that, at least do no harm.'

~ dalai lama

i love what emily chose - the trident... held by poseidon (or neptune), god of the sea...  she is a lover of mythology as well and connects to the stories that have helped humans understand their condition since their time on earth began...

'tattoos are forever' i was reminded... isn't that wonderful?... so is my commitment to practicing kindness, compassion and understanding... 

i will be picking the giveaway winners on lmaj soon... 

and lynn at art bead scene wrote a very touching post this morning -

shhhh...

the universe whispers...

and if you can eliminate some head static,
 ( inhale, exhale )

 what it wants you to know
 will wash over and through you...

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? 

hint of sound

namaste

'when you are describing A shape, a sound, or tint; Don't state the matter plainly. But put it in a hint; And learn to look at all things With a sort of mental squint''

-lewis carroll

a comment in one of my blog posts got me to thinking... mellisa from chinook jewelry designs mentioned about my 'who will you find in the sea' bracelet that 'it looks like it might make a subtle little jingle when worn'... and she was right... i am a very visual person... in fact, if you asked me to name my favorite sounds they would be wind, rain, wind chimes, birdsong and waves... i think i tune out a lot(a skill i refined because of all of the background noise that comes along with kids)... but that comment set me to wondering - i try to be a mindful person, but i was missing things... i love when a suggestion can make you more contemplative, taking you deeper into awareness... a friend once told me that i jingle, and i had forgotten that...

so i am enjoying making non-traditional type charm bracelets... finding ways to try to keep it simple while integrating more... keeping to a feeling or idea... like a collage of beads, unified... and speaking of collages, there is a website to help you create word collages... beth at hint, my daughter has created a number of word clouds on wordle.net and is hooked! it is now making the rounds of familiy and friends... thanks for sharing that creative link!

this bracelet is a harmonious combination of a number of ideas, colors, and symbols... it takes the spiritual gesture of namaste - 'i honor the place in you in which the entire Universe dwells, i honor the place in you which is of Love, of Integrity, of Wisdom and of Peace. when you are in that place in you, and i am in that place in me, we are One.' - and attempts to make it a wearable representation...

symbols of the aum(or om), spiral, goddess, leaf & buddha are combined with colors representing the four elements... hung from an earthy vintaj brass double chain - 2 being the number of balance and harmony...

it will have just a hint of sound to keep you aware - better than snapping a rubber band on your wrist, yes?