The Sound of Silence

So things have obviously been extremely quiet over here and if you hadn't noticed, the shop has been "On Vacation" for some time now. I promise I haven't wanted to neglect this blog or my shop after putting in so much hard work last year to get them up and running, but sometimes life sideswipes you with other things. Happy things, like starting a family! We used this picture on our holiday cards this year to share the news with friends and family -the new addition will be here in June! And challenging things, like fracturing my hand in a car accident. With only one working hand, I wasn't able to keep up with the shop, let alone make anything new for it. Oh yeah, and typing, that's a miserable thing to do with only one hand, among many other things. And it's proving to be a bit of a long road to recovery - I'm still working on recovering some muscle memory loss in a few of my fingers and getting my joints to bend and work as they are meant to. I hope to open the shop up in the near future, but I'm hesitant to say when with so much change on the horizon. And I have the best intentions to start sharing things on the blog again - maybe even pick up my camera and start taking some pictures. I've missed that tremendously! So here's to a new start in 2013!

NEW in SHOP!

Yay! I finally have some new items up in the shop! Here's a little preview but be sure to go check 'em out!

Inspiration: Expectations

“I’m not in this world to live up to your expectations and you’re not in this world to live up to mine.”
- Bruce Lee

I've been thinking quite a bit about expectations recently, both those we place on ourselves and those that others place on us. In my mind, expectation often seems to correlate to disappointment - life throws you for a loop and something didn't turn out the way you thought it would or the way someone else wanted it to turn out for you. Sometimes the right choice is taking the unconventional route, doing something instead of waiting for something, moving forward (even if it's in a completely unexpected direction) instead of standing still.  And when others tell you you're crazy, that you're taking a step in the wrong direction, you tell them you don't give a damn what they think because in the end, it's your life to live. Opportunity often presents itself in ways you least expect it. Trust your gut and believe in yourself - if you do, you won't be left wondering how you let those expectations become a missed opportunity.

image via here

Of the Moment: Woody Allen State of Mind

There is something about the transition of seasons from Summer to Autumn that makes me long to visit New York City. I think it must be that Fall has always been my favorite time of year and when I lived in New York City, I reveled in the changing of colors and cool crisp air. I spent hours just walking around Central Park, taking in nature's glorious transformation and wondering how, during this magical time of year, I was able to lose myself in a natural wilderness, surrounded by millions of people and a city's rough, urban, concrete exterior.

Since a trip to New York is not eminent, I decided to visit in film and who better to visit with than Woody Allen. And it's not just New York that has been resonating with me, but more so the sense of realism (and lack there of at times too) that he incorporates in his films. I appreciate that his film's endings aren't "happily ever after" - not to say they don't end on a positive note, but more of a "life isn't perfect so you got to make the best out of what life deals you." I can appreciate that, especially as I grow older.

The other day, I saw a bumper sticker on a car that had the old saying "when life gives you lemons...", but instead of "make lemonade" it said "paint that shit gold!" Either way, you just got to make do the best you can.

Annie Hall images via the thinking tank

Back...I think

This Summer has flown by in one sense, but in another, it's been slow and arduous. I ran out of steam around June and I just now feel myself able to pick back up where I left off in the Spring. After weeks and weeks of ignoring my studio and my little shop, I found myself back at work this weekend, finally inspired enough to work on some new designs. If I'm being honest, I kind of needed to step back and take a look at the things I've been making. Are they a reflection of me? Do I even like the things I've been producing? Some things, yes. Other things, no. So, I kind of "cleaned shop" so to speak, took some things down and began toying with some new materials and new designs. Hopefully, I'll have something to show for it soon.

For those of you reading this, thanks for your patience and for bearing with me through this span of silence. I just might be back for reals this time!