OMG DEB...i'm a belated Eva Cassidy fan

A Tribute to "Silk Road Jewelry"

"nepalese nilo fur chank"...handmade in kathmandu, nepal by nilofur (a female tibetian artisan)

"asia meets africa #14...moroccan Tuareg silver pendant

When browsing the many great shops at the new "peace & Love" market, http://www.1000markets.com/groups/peacelove ...i found "silk road jewelry"...WOW...OMG!! was my initial impression...i think i started to salivate. http://www.1000markets.com/users/silkroadjewelry

about a year ago i bought this rather expensive "coffee table art book " called the "world of necklaces"..it showed museum jewelry pieces depicting the craftsmanship from africa, asia, europe, far east & the islands...the jewelry from this shop are so similar, the components of the jewelry probably made by ancestors of the artisans whose work is shown in my book...it's amazing.

Silk Road Jewelry gathers hand-crafted pendants from Tibet, Nepal, Morocco, Afghanistan and other Asian and African countries to incorporate in unique one-of-a-kind necklaces. Purchases support Tibetan refugees living in Nepal as well as women and families struggling to make a better life throughout Africa, the Middle East, and southeastern Asia.
Be sure to visit http://peacelovefanclub.com

Tia Bailey..."1000 Beautiful Things"

tia is a very talented artisan at the new venue "1000 markets". her specialty is photography BUT her collages & small trinkets will also leave you wanting more.

i was privileged to receive one of her collages...there is so much more passion & detail that a picture could not capture from her canvas.

visit tia as well as the other talented artisans of "1000 markets".

In Celebration of "peace & Love at "1000 Markets"

animoto video

Another page from my Inspiration Book...Terhi Tolvanen

terhi tolvanen is a finnish designer...i'm not sure if the artist is male or female...but by her work i'm guessing she is female...i base this purely on intuition & the choices she makes in materials...common and at times kitschy items used in elegant interpretations of jewelry design.

as you can see with her nail polish bottom rings, there is a wit & whimsey about her work.

then you see these "deconstructed turquoise" stones made into exquisite earrings...

or real wood branch part with amethyst pieces purposely bolted down into place :)

please visit her site... i know you will enjoy yourself.

"tuscan sun" revisited...

with the impending 2nd eye procedure, i thought it best to get a few more entries in my "insect series" at etsy...


beetles & lady bugs in particular are good omens in many cultures, but to tell you the truth i was inspired by a movie i saw on cable...i think it was called "under the tuscan sun"...it made the point that relationships of any kind take time & patience & when you find a peace from within & stop searching...a funny thing happens, what you sought comes to you in abundance.

may we all have lady bugs in our lives :)

BOY DID IT HURT!

the laser procedure on my eye was so painful...it felt like a person poking your eye, leaving their finger there & telling me to look to the right...look to the left...look down...look up...and each time hearing an electrical sound like one of those electric insect zapper-lights....ughhhhh!

the good news is that i can still see....but it's taking me a few days for the blurriness to fade.
the bad news...is that i have to go back in 2 weeks to continue the treatment...apparently the damage was so big that they have to try to correct it in stages.

but thank god...my vision is still with me...i'll try to put in a few up-beat entries before i have to go back for treatment in 2 weeks.

i'm a little scared...correction, A LOT SCARED

yesterday, i went to a new eye doctor...i thought it was only going to be an introduction and a quick review of my glaucoma (pressure in my eyes) , but apparently it is more serious than that.

in 1976, i was diagnosised with diabetes & a resulting glaucoma being a direct link to it. for years i knew my sight was at risk, but that it would be a long slow process in the lose. the doctor who i was seeing (for years) always checked my eye pressure. it was high but tolerable and he never indicated anything serious, until he passed me off to his colleague who is a specialist & than immediately stated i had severe damage and some laser surgery is necessary to control the bleeding.

tomorrow i'll be going in... if all goes well, my vision in the left eye will improve, if not...well i'll still have my right eye...thank god they come in twos...the scary part is that she says the right eye is also showing signs of damage & i'll have to have laser procedure on it as well in the future.

as my defensive mechanism steps in ...denial of anything bad happening is in high gear... BUT BOY AM I SCARED.

"strange dolls"...an amazing art doll website

i've had this website under my "favorites" for years...i keep on going back to check what other images she comes up with...they are all "dark & moody"...a little "goth" or other worldly, BUT i'm always fascinated by them.
you know how you look at things and for some reason something just clicks. you're not influence by trends or styles & what's "cool" this week...i think it "clicks" when you finally meet up with a visual artist who knows how to tell a story...doesn't matter the genre, but just tells a good story.
this artist is an excellent storyteller !!!

my favorite website for "jewelry inspiration"

velvet da vinci gallery is named after an old "perry mason" tv episode. located in the business district of 'russian hill', san francisco.
it opened in 1991. it's a gallery of contemporary art jewelry & metalworks. it represents artists from US, Europe, Latin America & Japan.
it's always so inspiring to see different views of art jewelry...checkout their website & enjoy their archives of all their past & present shows.

i had a death dream last night...

it seemed to be a pleasant dream...a high school reunion...people milling about that looked familiar but yet i just couldn't place them...than out of the blue i saw him, frank corona. he was of european spanish decent, handsome & likeable features, always with a smile. i rushed to him, amazed that he still looked so young. i tried to find my husband to introduce him, but he wasn't there. frank then introduced me to his grown son who i swear looked older than him.

i remember when frank and i were in high school he had befriended my brother who was in the varsity "B" team (that's for the boys too short & slight for the "VARSITY 'A' TEAM") with him. frank would drop in unannounced sometimes...and me being the shy akward child would run into my bedroom & hide from him. later in our junior year i started to breakout of my shell once i talked my mom into contacts and my chubby body started to charge into a more "girly" one.

i guess because frank had been a regular visitor to our house & now hung around both me & my brother, he figured it would be okay to walk me home from a football game...we stopped for a soda at the "foster's freeze" and then walked slowly (in the dark) back home...his hand at the small of my back...first time i ever got flip-flops in my tummy and my knees buckled...we didn't kiss, but he held my hand.

when i got home, my mom questioned me where i had been...it was still early and i wondered why she seemed upset. later on frank told me that my mom had come over to his house & talked to his parents and said it was best for frank not to see me anymore except at school, as friends.

my brother asked me what i did...because mom was pissed and told him not to invite frank over again. omg!...talk about not knowing what to think...but on that day i found out how much of a racist my parents were...i was so ashamed.

frank & i did as our parents wished and stayed away from each other...but it must have seemed strange to him as it did for me, but i would sneak around on dates with non-japanese boys all the time after that perfect evening with him...indirect rebellion i guess. in our senior year,

i was dating secretly a fresnman boy who i knew i would gladly leave behind for college...frank was in a serious steady relationship with a beautiful mexican girl that his parents liked very much. by a funny coincidence, we had both stopped in at the "foster's freeze" for a snack...and danced about the subject of "what if.." we continued to see each other after that football game long ago? ....at the end of this dance we realized our different paths were okay...but as he left to see his girlfriend, and turned back to wave good-bye...i answered the question posed under my breathe...i would be that loving yet scared girlfriend, pregnant with his child, knowing he would be gone in less than 72 hrs. to a war, he felt honor-bound to fight in.

(back to my dream)...frank & i made some small talk...his older-looking son seemed distracted & didn't turn to face me much & i never did see my husband nearby which seemed odd at a reunion....when i woke up, i was super groggy and remembered the dream... i remembered that frank died in 1969 in one of the first conflicts when nixon oked the expansion of the war into cambodia. i believe he was in charge of the machine gun in a helicoper that was shot down.

his beautiful girlfriend, crying, holding her newborn in church... i never found out if it was a "boy" or "girl"...i never made it to the funeral...never been able to forget frank and only accepted his death when i saw his name on the "wall"....30 years later.

OMG! another Etsy Favorite

barbara has a lovely shop at etsy called, "a luscious thing"... and it is just that and more. you can immediately see her love of vintage components & antique beads combined with her fondness for all things botanical. her creations caught me as what a "lady" of the turn of the century might entertain herself doing...and combining that with the modern edge of of her love to deconstruct & reconstruct using her well developed skills in drilling, riveting, wraping, buffing & patina-ing.
please checkout her shop at etsy... "a luscious thing".

1KM Favorites Series...JoJo Bell

joanne harrill is the owner/ creator of "JoJo Bell"...when i was browsing thru the "wearable art market" and stumbled upon her shop...i stopped in my tracks & almost cried...what wonderful craftsmanship & vision...i know 'envy' is a sin..just call me a sinner. i love her wire wrapped jewelry...it's light & airy and lyrical. i have seen quite a few wire wrapped rings, and they all look the same to me...BUT joanne takes the time & skill to make embellishments on the band of the rings as well as a complex & layered dome of her jewelry. BUT look also at her more clean & simple pieces...just a continuation of the line & fluidity of her work...all of which is exquisite. checkout her site: http://www.1000markets.com/users/jojobell

My First High Scool Dance

being a short asian woman, i won't tell you i started out as a cute caucasian woman in high school (see picture)...but i wanted to capture that intimate appeal of the first dance.

this is brought on by a surprise invite on facebook (which is a pure mystery to me...so i don't use it very often) by Bruce S....the first boy i ever danced with in high school.

my best friend at the time was Sharon, who was built like me...a chubby asian teenager BUT the difference was she was stunning and didn't really know it. she talked me into going to this dance together for moral support BUT i should have sat down with her to talk about the "rules of engagement" on the dance floor. though sharon was stunning...she was socially awkward, being an only child...of the two i was the better dancer...had some social graces, even as a teenager.

when she was asked to dance....OMG she refused unless her partner found a dancing mate for me...i guess to share the experience with me...i know she probably thinks that was the best thing she could have done as my friend BUT it was the way she did it. within earshot of quite a few people, she told the boy she would not dance unless he found someone to dance with me...talk about feeling so embarassed & humiliated...jeez, what was she thinking!! as he turned away to find a buddy, i protested to her, but she was relentless & kept raising her voice saying she would not dance unless i did too. if i could have thrown her out a window or down the stairs i would have, but i just didn't think fast enough.

before i knew it, the boy came back with a buddy...not just any "buddy" but a guy i had noticed on the grounds in-between classes...he had dark moppy hair (like the beattles), sexy eyes and seemed to have a bit of a "bad boy" reputation...he always seemed "cool" and a bit of an outsider.

the only way i could stop feeling like a "grade A" fool was to not make a fuss and just dance (omg...a slow one!). let me preface here, that i knew i was awkward...chubby, asian w/ unattractive glasses (which i didn't wear to the dance, so i couldn't see to good), and a fashion style that was not quite developed....Bruce on the otherhand was "cool" in my eyes...dressed in a monotone dark hue with a leather jacket (he says it wasn't leather, but hell this is my memory so it was leather).

i remember that he smelled good...his shouldars were naturally broad & not the result of shouldar pads sewn in his jacket...his body was warm & when i leaned into him his breath was warm against my cheek. I don't think we said much..maybe just "hi" and "don't you sit behind me in social studies?"...but what i noticed the most that night, was that he never once made me feel bad about having to dance with me as a favor to his buddy...for that moment in time, i was just a girl dancing with a guy...and it was perfect. i'll always appreciate Bruce for that memory.

note: after that dance i didn't remain friends with Sharon...my version of "throwing her out the window"...and Bruce, if you read this..."thank you".

Another "1000 Market" favorite...Gougogao

what can i say about these fine designers...their banner says it all..."nothing. everything"

their garments are exquisite, yet understated...i dreamed i could fit into all of their line, even being a rather vertically & horizontally-challenged figure, i still have dreams of fitting into the "edge coat" :)

please checkout their site...it's gorgeous! http://www.1000markets.com/users/gougoloft

"Independence Day" the movie

Tivo…a blessing or a curse?? That’s a question I would never have had to to hesitate to think about back in the VCR era of my life. OF COURSE A BLESSING…to be able to record programs at a drop of a hat without wondering if I had a blank or “unnecessary” tape to record over…to not have to worry if there was enough tape to record the 2hr. program that was only going to be on ONCE before it was locked up in a fairytale castle vault, not to be seen again for god knows how long…maybe for as long as that “sleeping beauty” girl was getting bed sores waiting for “her prince to come”…no double entendre intended J

Anyway, with all these holiday programs & surprisingly scheduled music awards, I have been craving entertainment on the tube. “Independence Day” was scheduled on cable & I had it TIVO-ed…days later, I finally was able to watch it in 2 sittings in 2 days. It sort of lost it’s glitter, but it was still far better than the holiday programs scheduled.

After watching it though, a strange question popped into my head that kept my brain leaping for hours till I finally got the answer “just right”

“The Question”: (despite all my health concerns and doctorly advice from everyone, including my doctor)….If I knew I was going to be killed by an alien invasion in 24hrs…what would I want for my last meal?

“The Answer”: ..(I would have my husband drive me to a few of my favorite places…since I would need both hands to gather & nibble such a feast)…

To “China Express”…for the best won ton soup in town

To “KFC”…for a bucket of legs & thighs w/ biscites

To “that Chinese restaurant near the grocery story”…for “Singapore Streetnoodles”

To “Foster’s Freeze”…for a large orange freeze & strawberry shake…the shake is for my husband who is driving.

To “Valentino’s Pizzeria”…for a large ½ & ½..half pepperoni & Italian sausage, half pineapple & Canadian bacon…the pineapple one for my hubby who doesn’t know that pizzas should never be made of fruit.

To “Jack-in-the-Box”…for those amazingly greasy & cheap tacos (99 cents !)

Then for desert…any donut shop that has a wide assortment of bear claws & jelly-filled.

@#$% damn it…where is that alien invasion anyway!!!

Baubles, Buttons & Beads...one of the best...

debbie of 'baubles, buttons & beads' at the new '1000 markets' site is one of the best sellers there...not only for her apparent jewelry design talent, but her generous nature to all her compatriots there. just like her avatar dancing in the grass, her contagious energy & optimism is fueling all of us at '1000 markets'.
i just love the blues in this piece and the way she combines little bits & baubles she's collected...all of which lends a deeply personal touch to all her creations.
don't forget to stop on by her shop at '1000 markets' also her wonderful blogsite.

OMG ! ...Isn't this gorgeous!

just to let everyone know...up until now, i've never promoted anyone else's work on my blog...not that i'm ego-centric, but because i am a major NON-TECHIE...plus a lazy "b" as well :) ...just a fact for you newcomers to my blog, so going to my hubby and asking how i can transport pics off the web was a real challenge for me. BUT OMG...when i saw this wonderful etsy shop, "school of charms", i just went bananas. i love the way she combines the elements of vintage, retro, & kitsch together to compose these remarkable jewelry pieces.

I Was Tagged...OMG!

lia @ bullfinch & barbury tagged me!!!...not quite sure when. i confess i don't read my comments on a regular basis...i know, i know..shame on me!

here are the "official rules":

(1) Link to your tagger and list these rules on your blog.
(2) Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog; some random, some weird.
(3) Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as their links to their blogs.
(4) Let them know they have been "tagged" by leaving a comment on their blog.

my 7 facts:

(1) the first boy i kissed was roger barsoom in kindergarten...it was a sad story, i was hopelessly in love with him, and yet if they had laws for it back then, i would have been slapped with a restraining order. when i kissed him, it was sort of hard & painful...the only previous experience i had with kissing was on the back of my hand : (

roger was saved by my family moving to another school district...didn't meet up with him again till high school, where i think he actually flinched when he heard my name.

(2) whenever i'm "blue", i find my cassette tape of "the Best of K.C. and the Sunshine Band"...what can i say, you just can't stop dancing like a white man & you can't be "blue" lip-sinc-ing to it.

(3) i don't particularly like/ love my sister...i wish i could count the ways, but let's just say i have this story i've told myself since i was young that she was raised by wolves and left on our door step...even they couldn't stand her.

(4) i delight in telling my in-laws, who are "age-a-phobes" & "sick-a-phobes", what happens to your body as you age..sometimes getting into graphic details.

(5) i don't have children...never wanted children...and the one time i thought i might have been pregnant, i called it "bubba the bobo" (luckily it was a false alarm)....now as i'm older and people ask if i have kids or grandkids, i smile and say ..."thank god, no!"

(6) when i was in junior high, i would run home and watch "american bandstand" religiously to learn all the latest dances...after a while i was the "go-to" person to see when learning to dance was required.

(7) i was a total "wallflower" at all the dances at school...until magically in my junior year in high school it changed...along with the intro of contact lens & a girly figure (finally).

***So now here is my list of taggers***

little gray pixel

pink chevalier

hearts treasure

simplyraevyn

new life designs

crochetedlittlethings

chicy-creations