delicious acquistions

So I'm still on this blue thing.  I just cannot get enough blue.  Case in point ... my trip to the gem show in Franklin, NC last week.  Notice a trend?

ghana glass, blue labradorite, iolite, mystic blue topaz, moss aquamarine, blue flourite, more moss aquamarine, 2 regular labradorite and 2 pyrite cubes.

And the other thing is, I want BIG stuff.  I've been buying teen-Intsie gems for the last two years and now I'm obsessed with this big chunky stuff.  Go figure.  Here's a closeup of some of the new treasure.

If I haven't blown my budget at the gem show, I like to get a little treat.  Well this time I went into my 'secret stash' and bought these ancient Indian coins.

They're quite small, about the size of one of our dimes.  The one in the package is about 1500 years old and the other one is 2500 years old.  I saw these at the last show in May and I couldn't get them out of my head.  I went online and researched them a bit, downloaded pics and have not stopped thinking about them since May.  Of course, the one I really wanted was $600 - minted by the Buddha's father - not going to happen, but this little one I could do.  It's the shape that gets me mostly, but the patterns in both coins are pretty compelling as well.

 And one day last week I popped into one of my favorite stores - the Screen Door - to look for display props.  I've been wanting something body-like to hang necklaces on for photographing.  I'd love to have a dress form, but I don't really have any room and the only cool, inexpensive one I let Nina buy - it was just too perfect for her.  Seems all the interesting ones I see these days are in the $300 - $400 range ... not a chance.  So what I found instead was an old grain scoop - for $24 ... much more better.  What do you think?

Then there was that little parcel of blue tourmaline I found on Ebay - very inexpensive, so I didn't feel too guilty.  I have no idea what I want to do with these, if anything.  They may just sit on my worktable in a nice little pinchpot.

And then somewhere along the line, I got obsessed with vintage French textiles - mainly homespun grain sack yardage.  I got a 2 1/2 yard piece from here.  I cut a yard and a half for a kitchen table runner.  I pulled several rows of thread for a fringe and then zig-zagged the edge.  Just beautiful!  Here's the one yard piece that's left.

 And then doesn't everything look ever so beautiful all together?

This would be me, such a happy little camper!
And even more amazing than all of this gorgeous treasure, I'm giving myself the day off!  I'm not working AT ALL ... and even better, I don't feel guilty about it one bit.  I might even read my no-redeeming-value novel.

bountiful blessings to all!
l i g a - kvk

call to arms

Hmmmm, maybe it should be call to, I don't know - gratitude or human kindness or equanimity.  Jonathan Field's current post examines this and it's an ongoing challenge for me and a lot of people I know ... how to operate a forward thinking, successful and heart based business in this world where the mean-spirited and underhanded is celebrated and emulated and held up to be the standard mode of operation.

I had lunch with the Thorntons today, Cynthia and Andrew, and of course we got around to talking business.  We've all been in the biz for a good while and got to swapping a few horror stories.  Lord mercy, the things we've seen.  Those stories got me to thinking - Why does it seem like the trend is towards the dark side?  That Darth Vadar has the upper hand and Obi Wan and Yoda are struggling.  Am I wrong or missing something?  Now, I have no delusions that the world will ever be all good or all bad.  I guess my main hope is that we might find our way to some kind of balance, no not balance.  I'd like to see it weighted towards the light, towards that equanimity.

So here's the challenge ...
  -  How can we shift the balance from dark to light?  
  -  Anyone have suggestions for new paths to blaze in the world of heart centered business?
  -  Anyone have ideas for subversive techniques?  For instance, I think the proliferation of yoga classes is an excellent subversive technique.  A good, solid yoga practice first changes you physically, but it ever so slowly changes you emotionally and spiritually ... very very sneaky that way.
  -  How do you stay focused, awake and aware?
  -  How do you avoid the intoxicating and alluring world of gossip and reality TV or would-be snarky friends - you know those black-hole people that live in a dreadful mean vacuum and want to suck you down with them?
  -  Can we be straightforward in our approach or does it call for being sneaky?  Hmmm, probably a combination.

Inquiring minds (me in particular) want to know!

I firmly believe in and make every effort to operate from a place of deep love and gratitude.  That's what I want to share, that's what I want people to feel about my work, that's really the only reason to do anything - spread the light.

One more thought - viral gratitude?

Wanna join the party?  Yeah, buddy - jump in ... the water's grand!

with deep gratitude and multitudes of blessings - kvk

p.s.  don't forget - these guys are doing it - the Daily Good: News that Inspires
p.p.s.  thanks to Cynthia and Andrew for the exceptional meal and inspiring conversation

new bag of tricks + spring!

I would say I've got a couple of tricks up my sleeve, but today I don't have any ... sleeves!  Sweet relief - zorries and no sleeves and linen, all the windows open and puttering in the front flower bed.  I know I'm probably pressing my luck and it's probably way too early to be doing this, but I couldn't help myself.
Yesterdays project - 15 bucks at the nursery and a couple of hours later ...

 

Notice my shadow?  Yep, that's from this thing called the sun that's very warm and very bright.

And then I cleared out the insulating layer of leaves in the front beds and discovered the bee balm has been very busy.  This little corner is going to be amazing and me and the hummingbirds will be in heaven.

It's such a relief when the flowering quince starts to bloom and, when leaving the windows open at night I can hear the spring peepers.  Do you love peepers?  I love peepers.  How could anyone not love peepers?

Ah, yes, but that aforementioned bag of tricks ... what might that be, what would be hiding up my sleeve if I was wearing sleeves?

Well, the plan is, I'll be combining these bags ...

with this lovely and ginormous slab of concrete in my yard ...

... throwing small slabs of white earthenware on the concrete to make small vessels and shallow pots then inlay colored clay designs accented with metal clay slip - no glaze.  The intention for this work - vessels to hold components from the forthcoming Talismans For Fellow Travelers - Elements.  I have been thinking about the concept of building your own talismans for months and I'm very much in the middle of figuring it all out, but it feels like the missing pieces are finally falling into place.  So, I'll be keeping you posted as the concept progresses.

But right this very second, I am so excited to get my hands into this fresh bag of earthenware clay ... pinch pots and slab pots ... did you know you could 'throw' slabs of clay ... probably one of my favorite things to do with clay.  This is where the slab of concrete comes in.  Way back when, in the amazing little pottery studio at Whatcom Community College on Bellingham Bay, Washington - we'd 'throw' slabs on the concrete floors.  It's very meditative and enormously satisfying and the slabs have a beautiful organic quality - so much better than chucking them onto the big ol' boring slab roller.  And, yep, it was Elephant Ceramics that got me all inspired and I can't wait to see what happens.

Okay, must play with clay now.
with much gratitude and great joy ...
blessings - kvk

bursting with light and joy ...

 ... it started last night and has carried over into this morning and that's what I'm feeling right now.
Swirling energy, light and love - kind of like this ......

This image from here

I stayed on the computer way too long last night and knew that getting to sleep would be difficult.  So I sat down to read a bit from The Physics of Miracles (which I'm really enjoying) and then a late night meditation.  The message I'm getting right now, loud and clear, is to let go and have fun doing it.  This is particularly timely as I put loads of work out in the world to sell.  But rather than being totally driven and obsessed with selling, it's feeling like I'm casting seeds out into the world and sharing my joy of creating.  

You see, I tend to be kind of obsessed with numbers - ooooooohh, I just love Google Analytics.  How many hits, anybody looking, anybody 'heart' my pieces, who's reading the blog, how many and where are they and wouldn't it be nice if I was getting tons of hits and comments and and and .... I get all out of breath and kind of itchy.

So last night it felt like the continuation of a lovely release.  At one point it seemed that light inflated my body like a balloon, my skin felt too small, something deep inside wanted to burst free and I started to giggle. 

Yes, I really am starting to get it.

The trick is to slow down.  Funny thing, it ended up taking forever to fall asleep.  I was so excited and had so many ideas swirling around in my little ol' head ... plans for new jewelry, website links to share, an idea for how I want to make my own line of handbuilt dishes - damn, wish I had a big kiln - the idea's a goodern!  Note to self - make sketches and notes so's not to forget.  And yes, the swirling image is a frequent and pleasant visitor.  Me, a being of bright white light at the center of a vortex,  with every color in the light spectrum swirling around me in a relentless upward motion. 

So, here I am, starting to hyperventilate again.   Calm down, Kathy ... breathe deep breaths, smile and keep on moving ... onward ... joyously becoming ... me. 

blessings - kvk

p.s.  here's another link to share ... All For the Mountain - crazy crazy jewelry from some folks that I think are temporarily visiting from Mars or maybe the Pleiades and working to get back home. 

p.p.s.  Thanks for all the lovely comments about the new components!  Did I mention that I love comments!

tantalizing morsels

I've spent the better part of the day loading up my Etsy shop with my Cairn Bead components.  I think this is the most I've ever had listed for sale here and I've got even more work to list tomorrow!  I've got more components and two new pairs of earrings.  Check these scrumptious creations ...

The ruby dangles give me chills - they are so over the top - I do love love love them.  And the right hand pair with the citrine nuggets are simple and elegant and just great basic earrings.

But what I'm equally excited to share are some fresh discoveries.  Our exceptional Downtown Books and News  has started carrying more and more Australian publications.  There's a couple that have been tempting me like Dumbo Feather.  I've seen it on-line and it looks really interesting and I've wanted to get my hands on a copy.  But the issue on the shelf was just not grabbing me and then I saw this one - habitus - and I gladly plunked down the $18 to call it mine.

I much prefer looking for jewelry inspiration in non-jewelry places and pretty consistently find wonderful inspiration in home and design magazines.  This one's a peach!  Wouldn't you just love to have this porcelain chandelier hanging in your home?  It's from Bocci.ca - gorgeous.  Golly, you know it kind of looks like jewelry.

 
And as for actual jewelry, you may recall I'm a big fan of Donna Karan's Urban Zen shop in NY.  On a recent visit to their website I was struck by some extraordinary "savage jewels" ... the creations of By Wanga. 

And one more wonderful find ...
I can't remember how I came across Elephant Ceramics, but Michele Michael's wonderfully minimal, hand built dishes just warm my little heart.  Thirty years ago, handbuilt pots are what drew me to work in clay and remain a deep seated passion that I will one day return to.  Thing was, at that time, there was little if any appreciation for the forms I was drawn to create.  Thank goodness tastes have changed and here's a beautiful example of a now broadly accepted method.

Gots to run and get the evening meal on the table.

blessings - kvk

new stuff

Gotta say, I'm having fun.  It's pouring rain outside and I don't have to go anywhere or do anything but focus on my work.  Frankincense resin has been burning and my Zero 7 Pandora station is hitting the spot, although I may switch over to the Incredible String Band (60's British folk).   

My first pieces using my haul of gemstone gravel are in the tumbler.  I've been thinking about these for ages and I'm dying for them to be ready to play around with.  The current plan is they'll stack on either leather or ball chain and you can add to them and switch them around, which means I'm planning to sell components on Etsy - sort of, well at least that's what I'm thinking right now ... we'll see.  The stones are rubies and sapphires in assorted seriously yummy colors.

Fueling my creative burst are multiple glasses of a really good batch of fresh veggie juice, toasted almonds and this glorious discovery ...

... an enormous baked purple sweet potato, and I do mean purple.  Not even beet red, but dead on purple.  When I bought it, I had no idea what it would look like inside, so I wanted my first experience to be just the unadulterated sweet potato, well with a little butter.  It was kind of strange - eating it and tasting something familiar, looking at it and seeing something quite strange.  I'm thinking how much fun these will be to put with other things - they are just so beautiful.  Now I'll be keeping my fingers crossed they're still at the grocery store next time.

While I'm waiting for the new jewels in the tumbler, I started working on my stainless steel foil origami box to fire my PMC Pro.  I've got the steel container from firing copper and bronze clay, but in reading about the new PMC Pro at CoolTools, they were talking about steel spalling and making a mess and here was their nifty solution.  So I bought their high fire steel foil.  Of course, me being the pigheaded sort that I am, I said "pish posh" to the recommended gloves and went to work ...

 
Note to self ... follow the instructions.
So right now I'm waiting for the slice in my knuckle to stop bleeding.  Seemed like a good time to do a quick blogland update.
I'll be back soon ...  when my gemstone stackers are done.
Glorious anticipation.

ttfn
blessings - kvk

p.s.  someone recently asked me what 'ttfn' was ... ta ta for now!
p.p.s.  here's 7 1/2 minutes of exquisite viewing ... Human Planet slide show ... absolutely stunning

oh yes, me very happy

Oh yes, yes, yes!  Me very happy indeed!  

My latest experiment ... the KVK version of channel setting raw gems.  In this case rough Tunduru sapphires (a mix of andalusite, hessonite, sapphire and garnet) set in a nice size really raw nugget, 34mm x 18mm. 

Especially love this view ...

I haven't decided which way I want to go with the pendant.  I've got several ideas brewing and the possibilites are seeming pretty much endless.  We shall see...

Once I got going on this idea, I headed back to Ebay and did a bit more shopping.  I really do try to stay in the US when I'm buying stuff, but I just couldn't resist these deals ... a 50 carat lot of rough Songea sapphires from Tanzania ($5.50) and 3 ginormous rough gemstone lots, one that's 350 carats of mixed sapphires ($11), nice and clean and slightly tumbled, one 500 carat lot of dark blue sapphires ($12) and one 500 carat lot of rubies ($15).  International shipping is a pretty good deal, usually $8 - $10.  Basically, they're all small stones, 2 - 4mm and look like gemstone gravel - perfect for setting in pmc.  I don't have any where near that many Tunduru sapphires, which is a shame since the colors are so gorgeous, but I'll be on the lookout for sure. 

I'm also very happy because the replacement earrings and components turned out just perfect and will get shipped off on Tuesday.  Always a relief to have repairs done and out the door.

And the third happy thing ... our families were really generous with Amazon gift certificates this year and I just ordered a new set of cookware.  My current set of RevereWare was a wedding present, that would be July 1980.  Needless to say, these pots and pans have served me extremely well, but I can't wait for my new ones!

Oh yes, me very very happy!

Hope you're happy too ...

happy blessings - kvk