a mindful step

In between setting up computers and working on orders, I've been planning the further adventures of my Talismans and Reliquaries.  It's always interesting to me the timing of how things unfold.  I thought for sure I'd have the whole concept and design and supporting details for my Talismans all nailed down long before now.  But everything moves at the appropriate pace and I'm very much okay with that.

Last week I made a couple of non-specific Reliquaries ... non-specific in that I want to use these as samples.  The idea all along has been to design a series of forms and surface images/symbols - I think I've got 5 different shapes and the imagery is still being developed.  A person will select a shape and symbols and their own intention or prayer that I'll write on onionskin paper and fire within the piece.  I'll still be doing finished pieces, but these custom pieces are a vital piece of the concept.

Here's the front and back of two sample Amphoras and one Heart ...

What hit me a couple of nights ago is the potential emotional challenges this project presents.  Remember, I'm pretty close to being a hermit.  Between our work and Dave's school, we have no social life, which is really okay with us.  I have a very few close friends, avoid crowds and big events.  I guess that's a pretty common blogging profile. 

But the responsibility of what I'm taking on started to register after reading a couple of intensely moving blogs and some comments from followers.  I live an incredibly blessed albeit incredibly sheltered existence.  We are not suffering financially, we are extremely healthy, we live simply with virtually no drama.  What I'm realizing as I move forward with this project ... my intention is that I will be engaging with people from many walks of life, with varying circumstances, that I am stepping straight out of my very secure comfort zone.

Such a blessed awareness now, to step ever more mindfully forward, to engage and embrace the unfolding.

l i g a - kvk

pondering a couple of "r" words

The first "r" word that's had a hold of me is resistance.  I've been considering it in the context of fear ... what am I afraid of, what do I resist, what makes my breath catch, what makes me want to curl into a small wretched ball?  I'm trying to see the big things and, with just as much determination, looking for the small ones.  I've bought two books by Steven Pressfield about resistance and doing the work it takes to push through that insidious barrier.  Insidious feels like a very strong word, but at this point in my journey, it feels like the right word.  I'm feeling a delicious resolve ... another good "r" word.  You know me and my visuals ... the one that comes to mind right now is, I've been slogging through thick mud for an eternity, I've just had a bit of a rest and am re-engaging with renewed vigor, anticipation and enthusiasm.  The mud seems to be thinning and I'm making progress, moving forward, excitement building.

The other big "r" word I just came across this morning and haven't had time to explore - reconciliation.  Turns out there's an astrological thing happening right now that I read about here, "Towards Reconciliation: Taurus New Moon."  What hit me straight away, for me right now at this moment in time, it's not about reconciliation with another person, but with a part of myself.  I want to re-read this blog post and do some more pondering.   

What I'm also noticing right this very moment, I've got a slew of things to do today and I'm watching the clock as I write this and thinking, "girl, you better get busy doing what you're s'posed to be doing!"  Thing is, this felt important.  So I'm just going with it.

Must say, I do like starting my day with good words to ponder.  Kind of puts a theme to the day, a bit more purpose added to my intentions.

Do you have words that drive or motivate you?
Do you have recurring themes in your lives?
Are there words that feel enormously important, but are like mercury, almost impossible to hold onto?
What's popping up on your radar? 
What feels absolutely necessary - right now?

blessings - kvk 

p.s.  the digital edition of Pressfield's new book, Do the Work is FREE on Amazon  - how cool is that?

the third millennium light brigade

So I came up with the Third Millennium Light Brigade idea on Friday. 
Then after posting a response to a comment on seeking recruits , it seemed like it deserves a post of its own ...
I think we've got some potential here.  If nothing else, we've got a conversation going  ... our thoughts and words have enormous power. 

My original comment, "I'm working on figuring out what the Third Millennium Light Brigade would like to be. I'm thinking it's about choosing positive over mean spirited, celebrating good work and efforts in every part of our lives, the golden rule and viral gratitude - then sharing this passion and spreading the word.

What is isn't - is fighting against anything. "What you resist persists" or in Borg speak, "resistance is futile". Celebrating and uplifting, moving lovingly forward guided by our hearts - yes, absolutely."

Defining a thing is very limiting and so I think it's also going to be a user defined interface; an exact description will prove next to impossible.  So far (since last Wednesday anyway), it seems like a good addition to my mindfulness toolbox.  If I'm putting this out there for everyone to see, it will help keep me 'honest' and maybe less likely to succumb to the dark side.  It's having an effect already.  I don't watch much regular TV, but I'm a lot less interested in watching Jon Stewart, I'm watching my words and thoughts more and looking for ways to make my life more congruent, having a smile at the ready and if I don't give money to the buskers, I send them a silent blessing and wish them well.  Oh yes ... joyous anticipation, I want to look forward to each day with joyous anticipation.  Not a polly anna approach to life, but acknowledging and embracing the ebb and flow, the good and bad.

That's where I am right now. 
It feels pretty good.
Any thoughts?
You know, inquiring minds and all that ....

with deep gratitude and blessings - kvk

the pervasiveness of ochre and ruby

It's been a lovely day ... a chunk of time this morning on the computer and intermittent visits through the day, eating up all the comments and traffic - a novelty for this little blog.  Big plus, I actually got done what I was supposed to be doing and now have a bunch pmc pieces ready to fire tomorrow.  But before I head downstairs to fix our evening meal, I wanted to share the wonderful way my day actually started.

While waiting for my tea water to boil, I padded barefoot outside to do a bit of trimming and deadheading in the flower pots on the front steps.  Coming back in, I noticed all the beautiful seeds from the big red maple up the driveway.  Of course, they're everywhere and I started picking up the most vibrant ones - the color is really exceptional.  Then I noticed that the pansies in the flower pots had the same colors.  So I clipped a matching pansy and carried my treasures in to discover the seeds and the pansies matched my Provencal table runner.

Pouring up my tea water, my gaze traveled over to the fruit basket.  The very ripe mango in the basket was an exact color match to the maple seeds and the pansies and the table runner.  They were all so lovely, I had to take pictures.  While doing a quickie photo setup on my worktable, I realized my favorite mug had the same colors as well.  Oh and aren't the dried rose petals I use in my packaging the very same colors?  Sitting down to load the images and do some editing, I saw that the cushions on my meditation bench were also a perfect match.  Chuckling to myself at the pervasiveness of ochre and ruby in my home, I settled down to get some work done and noticed the little dish on my table holding the river pebbles from a recent trip to the Arboretum - wouldn't you know it ... ochre quartz resting next to garnet encrusted  pebbles with one little ruby colored Roman glass disc.

Funny how I consider myself so hyper observant and it took all this time to realize I'm completely surrounded by all things ochre and ruby.  So it's great fun to share this little path to awareness.

The images ........

 

   

  

Okay, time to heat up some dinner......
Thanks everyone for joining in the 'call to arms'.  We absolutely can make a difference!

ruby colored blessings - kvk

p.s.  the little sgrafitto "want - to" dish is by Lisa Gluckin; my favorite mug is by Julie Covington

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

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!

shredding the veil of mediocrity

So I really honestly do know that I am not, nor have I ever likely been, mediocre.  But there does seem to be some lingering spider webby bits of a veil that was thrust over me in my early years.  I'm scrubbing hard and am tantalizingly close to shredding the last remnants.  And while I also know that everything I need is within me, words of encouragement along the way are a nice pat on the back, a pleasant nudge to stay on track.

Today's horoscope:
 "More than ever before, you'll feel as though it is time to take matters into your own hands and build your own career future. You are fed up with living on hope and putting off your happiness until tomorrow. Your determination will be so strong that you may even surprise yourself. Tomorrow, you'll refine your approach and make it more concrete. Today is the first day of a new life for you, dear Sagittarius."

And from today's Abraham quote ...
"Everything in its perfect time. Everything is unfolding. And I'm enjoying where I am now, in relationship to where I'm going. Content where I am, and eager for more,"

onward ......
blessings - kvk

thinking and re-thinking

I'm thinking something needs to change.
I look in the mirror and think, I'm 55 (well almost) and I've got zits - wtf?
I drink 3 to 4 large mugs of black tea most every day.
My vegetable intake is less than ideal.
I try to remember to drink more water, but even when I've got a quart jar on my desk it tends to just sit there.
I get up in the morning, wash my face, make tea, eat a little something - lately a banana and some toasted almonds, sit down with tea at the 'puter, spend way more time than I planned reading email and surfing blogs.
I look at the yoga DVD sitting next to the tv and think, "I'd probably feel better if I'd do that."
As I sit down to the computer, I think, "my time would probably be better spent meditating for a bit."

So I've been looking at the Urban Zen site and reading a bunch of really excellent posts at WhiteHotTruth which lead me to this book and was immediately smitten with this blog and I'm thinking, "enough already!" 
If not now, when?

excuse me for a bit, I'm re-thinking a few things .........

blessings - kvk

vigilant me

It seems my life's theme over the last couple of weeks is vigilance: watchfulness; the process of paying close and continuous attention.  I've been working hard to take notice of all those little things that I tend to ignore and brush off with the thought of 'later'.  It's that ongoing feng shui-ing my life thing.   Moving through this process I just never know what's going to catch my attention.

This one amused me to no end ... I decided to finally, and I do mean finally, wash the canvas from my PMC tool kit.  This is the tool kit I bought either late '97 or early '98, one of the original PMC tool kits, and it has never, and I do mean never, been washed.  I'd kind of been enjoying it all nasty and crusty, layers and layers of lord knows what built up through the years.  But the other day I looked down and said "enough".  Behold the before ...

I won't say the result is pristine, but it's worlds better ... worlds!  Then I decided my work surface needed attention as well, so it got a good scrubbing.  Then I tossed the nasty little bit of oil-soaked foam (okay, so it was less than a year old) in my vintage PMC container (anyone remember those?).  It's quite refreshing to have a shiny and clean work surface and toolkit.  I probably won't wait another 12 years to clean up my tools.

I had to take a break from taking catalog and website pictures - it was making me crazy and I was getting really bored.  Beware of Kathy when she gets bored, she's been known to take on new and daunting projects.  But you see, I've been thinking about this one for years, and I do mean years.  I've decided to teach myself how to cast glass beads.  You see, it all started when I first saw this necklace ...

I had seen it in Ornament magazine ads and then it was in the Collectible Beads book that Robert Liu did in '95.  It was those chunky translucent blue and sea green beads that really got me - pate de verre - I had no idea what that was.  Funny thing about this necklace ... the maker is Laura Popenoe and she lives in Port Townsend and we got to be quite good friends while I was there.  Wouldn't you think I would have asked her about those beads?  Nope.  I have been thinking about emailing her and getting some pointers, but being the pig-headed sort that I am, I'm going to work on my own for a bit and see where I get.

I've bought a book ...

 

And what really got me going was my idea for molds - creative paperclay.  In the early days of PMC, core material for beads was a big problem.  For years I used paperclay, which was less than ideal but there weren't really any options.  So I knew that it would fire to 1650, not shrink and not burn up - it's the volcanic ash and talc.  After firing, I would just drop my beads in water and the paperclay would crumble and dissolve.  I thought it could be great for glass molds ...  the core for the center hole  made ahead of time, dried and stuck into little pinch pot molds - no bead release or worries about getting the bead out of the mold.  Plus they're very cute ...

Next, I discovered there's a rather large art glass supplier here in town.  I bought a few vials of ground up frit to experiment with ...

My first experiments have been less than stellar ...

But another one of those late night epiphanies has me trying something else - crushing up Roman glass and seeing what it does.  I'm not sure if this might be kind of sacrilegious, but I love the colors and I've got a bunch that's been sitting in a bin for ages, so what the heck.  My first attempts are cooling in the kiln as we speak ... that's the hardest part for me - waiting.  You have to wait until the kiln is bloody room temperature before you can open it!

 

I've also discovered that Rio Grande is selling glass supplies, who knew?  Ah, which leads me to another bit of house cleaning ... I just sent back all my silver scrap.  I cleared out a ton of old components and bits and pieces that had been sitting around forever.  I had a bunch of really early glass fired in PMC failed experiments.  I took a beefy pair of cutters and managed to extract most of the silver from the glass.  All that old stuff along with a lot of not so old stuff and with silver at $27 p/oz ... well it was a fine idea with excellent timing.  I got to do some much needed space clearing, get a nice chunk of trade-in credit, buy some regular materials but also order a nice assortment of frit for further experimentation. 

As I move forward to lord knows where, I'm back to that idea of vigilance ... staying awake and aware and heart centered.  To help with staying mindful, I've started getting the Daily Quotes from Abraham-Hicks.  I used to be a big follower, but I got kind of turned off from them for a while, they've gotten so commercial.  But I just decided that if the message resonates it doesn't matter where it's from.  An excerpt from today's quote did indeed resonate, "you cannot attract the presence of something wanted when predominantly aware of its absence." 

That's a tricky one ...

So much going on ... I'll keep you posted.
blessings - kvk

p.s.  it's almost my birthday month!!!!  wowie zowie, the downhill slide to fifty-five!

p.p.s.  270degrees is not room temperature ... drat