btw ...

... and so's you know I've not gone totally off the deep end and that I'm still in maker mode ... here's a few more new pieces that are in that pick-box headed to Gallery Morada in the Keys.

a few pairs of earrings ...

textured orb ... elegant simplicity

iolite stilettos

And I've revisited a couple of designs ...

disc and link trio

5 link

and one of my favorite themes - the chain collage.  This time in russet.

And right when I was getting ready to box everything up and ship it off, one of my collectors in Australia called dibs on the Ocean Muse.  The color combination was so perfect for the keys, I had to make another version.  Luckily I still had a nice selection of interesting components to make this chunkier variation.

Epic Ocean Muse

Okay, that's it for now ... back to (re)assembling.
l i g a - kvk

(re)assembly required

I'm all about imagery ... totally visual.  So, I finally came up with a visual to help me see how I'm feeling and what's been happening since my session with Marilyn.  

Marilyn said, "we went really deep."  Okay, so that's what that was.

What I got at the end of our session - a brilliant rainbow laser blasting open my heart center.

  

 I'm still feeling pretty much discombobulated - out of sorts - perplexed - guarded - almost itchy - that feeling where my skin doesn't seem to fit.  I'm realizing a big challenge with working remotely is I've been feeling kind of hung out to dry.  We've had a couple of follow-ups and I had some homework, one piece is done, another I'm still working on.  I've been feeling frustrated.  Now I'm seeing that I was hoping for an instant solution, I wanted Marilyn to fix me ... silly silly me. 

Where I got to today - we dismantled my existing "engine" ... my usual m.o.  All the parts are laid out next to me.  What I've been trying to do is reassemble them exactly as they were before ... been a bit frantic about it.  What I thought I needed was for everything to immediately fall into place, newly assembled, all fresh and brand new and fully functioning. 

What I'm seeing today - there's a reason for my discomfort ... maybe I don't need all those bits.  Maybe I can leave some out or gather some new ones.  I'm designing a new me, my existing paradigm is shifting and reassembly takes time.

  

The whole reason I scheduled this session was to work through my stuckness.  I'm thoroughly sick of listening to myself whine, no doubt you are as well ... lord knows, it's been going on for a long time.  I've done multiple posts, written pages and pages, meditated and cajoled my psyche to no avail.  Lines drawn in the virtual sand, ceremonies, prayers and intentions and wishful thinking ... sheesh.

So, right now - today - as we speak, here's something different ... a visceral dismantling.  My knee-jerk reaction is to immediately freak out, scream bloody hell and try to start putting it all back together

 . just . like . it . was .  

But as of right now - today - as we speak ... full stop ... step back ... breathe.

I'm looking at what I make, why I make it, what makes my heart sing, what makes me cringe, why did I make that, what would I make if I wasn't concerned about price or marketability.  What about wholesale - do I want to continue designing collections and following that model?  How do I want to connect with my clientele ... on-line, in person ... and what will be the vehicle for that connection?  I'm looking at what motivates and inspires me; I'm looking at how I price things and what feels right.  

I'm looking at everything.

I'm looking at all those parts and bits laid out alongside me and choosing which ones I bring back.  Conscious selection and reassembling.

Today's final card sums it up pretty well - from The Enchanted Map oracle cards, #19 Dragon's Lair:

 "The path you're on now is one that will challenge you to the core.  That said, peril is also exciting and exhilarating, like the danger you feel before you enter a new relationship, knowing that you'll be changed forever ... A new experience is calling to you, one that will test your courage.  The choice is yours, but there is greater value in risk taking than remaining unchallenged.  New territories are waiting to be discovered."

Indeed.

So I am endeavoring to slow myself down, resist my compulsion to put everything back together just as before and explore the uncharted territory before me, picking up only the parts I need to move forward and, with a blessing and thanks for the memories, leaving the rest behind.

onward.

l i g a - kvk

adjusting ...

... and sifting and sorting and still don't really have words to describe the past week.

But I've had to get back to work and put together a pick box for my gallery in the Keys.  So, while I'm still sorting my thoughts and adjusting to a different way of being, thought I'd share the newest work off the bench ...

Venetian Muse:  vintage Venetian glass beads, vintage carnelian, iolite, kyanite, Basha bead, fine silver on hand-plied linen cord

Ocean Muse:  flourite, lapis, artisan lampwork glass beads, apatite, chrysocolla, vintage trade beads, fine silver on hand-plied unbleached linen cord.

Amber Muse:  agatized bamboo, rutilated quartz, fire etched agate, freshwater pearls, fine silver on hand-plied linen cord

furthering the inner explorations - taking a pranayama workshop on Saturday ... brushing up on breathwork - a good thing.

light filled blessings ...
l i g a - kvk

...

... appointment was rescheduled for this morning.
I have no words for where I am right now ... my brain seems to be taking a time out ... probably a good thing.

with deep gratitude and a laser of rainbow light to open your heart ...
l i g a - kvk

diving in

I had already made an appointment to work with Marilyn from Awaken to Grace.  I've been getting consistent messages from a variety of sources to dig deeper, shiver out a few more niggling bits.  So this week's horoscope via Free Will Astrology  made me smile ...

"Are you ready to go deeper, Sagittarius? In fact, would you be willing to go deeper and deeper and deeper? I foresee the possibility that you might benefit from diving in over your head. I suspect that the fear you feel as you dare to descend will be an acceptable trade-off for the educational thrills you will experience once you're way down below. The darkness you encounter will be fertile, not evil. It will energize you, not deplete you. And if you're worried that such a foray might feel claustrophobic, hear my prediction: In the long run it will enhance your freedom." 

We will Skype tomorrow at 11am.  I'll spend the morning in meditation and preparation for a completely new experience.  I'm going in with no expectations, no holds barred ... being as open as I possibly can.  I'm looking forward to maybe meeting a couple of my demons, shaking hands and getting to know them a wee bit.  

Wish me luck ........

l i g a - kvk

and the winners are ..........

Firstly, accept my apologies for the delay in announcing the winners.  My computer's been unplugged a good bit of the afternoon and early evening as we've had a series of severe thunderstorms blowing through our area ... impressive amounts of rain and wind and, thankfully, lightening strikes not terribly close.

Now, back to the business at hand ...
I am enormously grateful for all the comments both here and on Facebook.  I'm thrilled to say, I had 21 responses to my query.  The verdict is unanimous ... durability, which is looking like nylon.  But more on that in a minute ...

Here's a big congratulations and thank you to Kim, who has won the petite petal earrings ...

and Ruth via Facebook, who has won the raw pebble necklace ...

Kim and Ruth, use my email link in the sidebar and send me your snail mail addresses, and I'll get your treasures in the mail right away. 

I got so many excellent responses, some perfectly succinct, some more lengthy with much food for thought.  Each one agreeing, durability is paramount. 

Sourcing materials in this business is always a challenge.  In my daily life, I'm very mindful about how my dollars are spent.  Trying to translate and sustain that in my work is not easy ... metals, gemstones, threads and leathers, packaging and shipping materials ... weighing the usually increased costs for the green/sustainable/ethically sourced options vs. less expensive, "easier" options.   

As many of you very eloquently stated, even though at first glance the nylon seems like a less "green" option, ultimately, it's durability combined with it's "made in the USA" pedigree, make it the better option.  Your comments have addressed all of my concerns and I feel confident moving forward with the switch.

And the universe has been listening as well ... while waiting for today to arrive, I've had two stories of pieces breaking, one piece lost (a sad story that one), one on its way back for repair ... further fueling my decision to move away from using silk in my production work. 

Now I just have to decide which nylon.  Over the weekend, I ran into an old friend who gave me the name of another online source for materials - Beadshop.com.  They carry the Beadsmith line of materials and their Superlon-D sounds very promising.  It's a bit more expensive than the bobbins of Bonded Nylon #69 through Marion's, so I'll have to do some comparing.  Another consideration is I can get bigger spools of the bonded nylon for a really good price from Superior Threads ... just not as many colors as offered in the bobbins.

Working alone in my little bubble is not always an optimum situation.  Not doing shows and infrequent contact with humanity makes this blog an invaluable resource.  I've still got much to consider, but the biggest decision has been made. 

Once again, a heartfelt thank you to each of you who took the time to respond to my plea for feedback. 

And once again, congratulations to the pair of winners.

with deep gratitude ...
l i g a - kvk

HELP ... opinions please + a giveaway

Okay peeps ... I'm looking for honest opinions and feedback.

I'm starting to do a major revamp of my wholesale line of jewelry, gearing up to do a trade show (hopefully) in New York this fall.  Basically everything that's on the KathyVanKleeck.com website is part of my wholesale line.  If you've been following along with me for awhile, you'll know that I've gone through some trials with the thread I use in most of my work.  Mostly I use this silk from Big Stone.  It's a close copy of Gudebrod silk which is no longer available.  I use the size F or FF for most things, single strands as well as plying it into cords of varying thicknesses.

I've always loved the sheen and hand of the silk.  Plus, the idea of silk is much more appealing than nylon or Tenara.  The thing is, it's a natural fiber and wears and abrades much faster than synthetics. I've just started doing a 2-ply cord to string the Stitched Silk series and I'm liking it so far.  It's definitely stronger and should be a bit more abrasion resistant.  But it's still silk and my worries about the durability of my work will continue.  That makes it an area of concern for shops looking to carry the work.  I always stand behind the work 100% and will restring or repair pieces for the duration ... but the genuine potential for breakage and cautionary tales to retailers is not one of my favorite conversations. 

Today I've been writing down concepts I want to associate with my work.  One thing that keeps coming up is durability.  I like the idea that my jewels can be someone's signature, go-to pieces without worrying if the silk is wearing out ... kind of like that beloved old Toyota pick-up truck, I want the work to last and last.  Plus, I like the idea that someone could wear their Coin necklace rafting the Grand Canyon and not worry about it.

So here's my question ...
Which is more important to you, the aesthetic and feel of silk, knowing you'll have to keep an eye on it ... or the durability and almost as nice a feel of a synthetic? 

I thought about Tenara, but the original version only comes in black or white.  There's a version that comes in grey, but I'm not sure what a "lubricated" thread would feel like, plus a half pound spool is frightfully expensive.

This Nylon #69 that Marion sells has a pretty nice hand, comes in great colors and, if I buy in quantity, is less than half the cost of the silk.  Plus it would be a whole lot easier to use, especially with tiny faceted gemstones, which means faster production time.

I wish I could factor in green/sustainable options, but that seems like an impossible challenge.

To encourage your opinions and feedback I'm throwing in a bit of incentive ...
I'll draw a name from peeps who leave their opinion either here or on my FaceBook page.  The winner will get to choose one of the following ...

this pair of Petite Petal earrings

or this Raw Pebble pendant

I'll draw a name on Wednesday the 22nd, 5pm EST.  Can't wait to hear what you think ...
Thanks in advance!

l i g a - kvk

musical interlude

for a smile and to calm your afternoon ... a musical delight

l i g a - kvk

p.s.  I think spring might have finally sprung

recent reads

Been reading a fair amount ... complete with staying up late to finish books ... and it's been quite  a while since I'd done that.  So thought I'd share what's been keeping me up late at night and what's been fueling my current surge in inspiration.

Janisse Ray is a recent discovery.  Pretty much loving everything I've found, Wild Card Quilt because it resonated deeply and The Seed Underground for deepening my resolve to support local food ... but they're all pretty wonderful.  She writes of the north Florida and south Georgia landscape of my childhood and it's been helping gain a new perspective on my own history.

I used to read everything by Isabel Allende and then I didn't.  I found Maya's Notebook on the new bookshelf at the library and devoured it straight away.  Might need to do some backtracking and see what I've missed over the last few years.

Just finished Sabina Berman's  - Me, Who Dove into the Heart of the World, another library find.  It's written in the voice of an autistic savant.  No idea how accurate it might be, but the book was an absolute delight and I blew through it way too fast.

Just started The House at the End of Hope Street by Menna van Praag and it's looking to be a good one ... magic and mystery in a lovely setting.  Thanks to my beloved librarian husband for snagging this one while he was cataloging it.  Gotta love a spouse that knows my reading habits so well.

These are all looking like books with some redeeming value.  I haven't read any flat out tripe in a bit, but I will say I'll be at the head of the line when the final book of the All Souls Trilogy comes out.  I've never read any other vampire silliness, but love how Deborah Harkness throws in lots of historical detail ... tripe with a wee bit of redeeming value.

Okay, now back to work for this little peep.

ciao for now

 love and gratitude and light filled blessings ...

l i g a - kvk

p.s.  it's the middle of May and the heat is on ... what up wit dat?

minor rant

mid-day minor revelation ...

It occurs to me that those often heartrending Facebook posts challenging me to re-post something, "if I dare" or "if I have the courage" or "let's see who really cares" ... are a form of bullying and why I will not share or re-post any of them.

If the quality of my morals or the depth of compassion are to be judged, be direct and ask where I stand. The message should stand on its own merit; don't challenge me or bully me ... I will not participate.
 
love and light filled blessings to all the beautiful Moms ...
l i g a - kvk