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. : About me : .
 Name::Sapphire Dakini From::Santa Fe, NM, United States "The secret of life is in art." - Oscar Wilde View My Profile . : Artist Statement : .
My art is an exploration of the importance of change and releasing the past, especially the people and situations
that hinder personal growth, empowerment and transformation. The utilization of mythic figures, archetypes, motifs
and themes allows me to explore letting go of the familiar, safe and secure in order to travel to the dark, often
frightening, places of the soul. In this way, I've learned to trust my inner voice and honor my soul's need for
expression and challenge. . : Recent Posts : .
Words of Wisdom from the Daily Om . : Archives : .
May 2005 . :Blog Rings : .
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. : Social Media : . . : Daily Om : .
. : Portfolio : .
www.flickr.com
This is a Flickr badge showing public photos from Sapphire_Dakini. Make your own badge here.
. : Printmaking : .
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Artists Foundation . : Yahoo Groups : .
Art Dollz . : Blogrolls : .
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Wednesday, January 31, 2007Big-Haired RedheadsAs you can see, I've updated my profile pic. I'm back to being a wicked redhead with big hair. About a year ago, I decided to stop coloring & perming my hair. HATED IT! Every morning when I looked in the mirror, all I could see was this drab colorless person looking back at me. So, off to the salon for hours of torture & I look like me again. Now, if I could just get motivated enough to drag myself back to the gym. Labels: life 
Monday, January 29, 2007What I'm Reading "It is fall in New York City. On live television, the re-creation of a legendary magic trick goes horribly awry -- a terrible accident, everyone agrees. But 2 people know it is not. One is an aged magician in a private hospital in the northern corner of New York state. What a worthy performance, he thinks, murdering a man while a million people watch.The other is Kathleen Mallory. Once a feral child, loose on the city streets, she is now a New York City policewoman, & not much has changed: a tall young woman with green gunslinger eyes & a ferocious inner compass of right & wrong. For her, the death is too dramatic, too showy, & she is convinced that there will be another one -- this perp loves spectacle. But even she cannot predict the spectacular chain of events that has already been set in motion, or the profoundly disturbing consequences it will have for those she holds most dear. For misdirection is the heart of magic. The lady never really gets sawed in half, does she? So why is there so much blood?" Labels: books
Sunday, January 28, 2007TAST - Week 4 - Cretan Well, I finally finished this week's project for Take-a-Stitch Tuesday. I added some czech crystal beads to the detached chain stitch area to give it a little sparkle. They don't show up very well in the scanned picture. My cretan stitch still needs some practice. I've added a "Take-a-Stitch Tuesday" Flickr badge to the right hand column of my template which will show all of my TAST work in one place. Labels: embroidery, masks, Take-a-Stitch Tuesday, TAST
Saturday, January 27, 2007TAST - Week 4 - Cretan This week we're focusing on the cretan stitch for Take-a-Stitch Tuesday. For some reason, I had the hardest time getting the hang of this stitch. So, as a result, I'm a little behind in getting the piece finished. I thought I would post a WIP picture in order to make Sharon's weekly roundup. The upper wing is comprised of 4 rows of cretan stitch separated by rows of backstitch & some beading, the lower wing is layered detached chain stitch which I really like because of the texture & dimensionality (Ok, I may just be making up words now.) it adds. Labels: embroidery, masks, Take-a-Stitch Tuesday, TAST
Wednesday, January 24, 2007What I'm Reading "When the death toll of serial killer "Mack the Knife" exceeds 100 victims along historic Route 66 in America's heartland, Kathy Mallory, on vacation from her job with the NYPD, decides to give the locals a hand. Aided by her longtime partner Riker & police psychologist Charles Butler, Mallory butts heads with just about everyone, pursuing the case as if it were hers & hers alone. She makes little progress until the killer starts leaving a new calling card, depositing fresh kills on the highway, all with one hand chopped off & replaced with the tiny hand bones of a previous victim pointing to a new grave." Labels: books
Tuesday, January 23, 2007Feng Shui IssuesWell, the infamous drafting table has been travelling around the studio again. Let me set the stage here... I live in a 1,200 square foot loft so it's primarily open space. At one end of the loft near the windows I have a small living & bedroom area. At the other end is the kitchen area & a small storage area. The remainder of the space is my studio. Needless to say, I live alone. One would think that it would be easy to find a home for a small drafting table in my studio. Plenty of open space, right? Hah! This poor table has been moved so many times it's a wonder it hasn't just fallen apart. For months it lived at the far side of my studio where my kitchen area is but I was never really comfortable working there. And since this is my primary work space for my textile work, it's been a bit of an issue. Kitchens give off bad vibes as far as I'm concerned. Let's face it, I'm a woman who uses her oven for storage. So, I spent an entire morning rearranging the shelves & storage units on the other side of the studio, clearing a space near the electrical outlets so I could put the drafting table over there. Dragged the table across to the other side of the studio (really wish I had installed those wheels when I assembled the table), sat down with my cup of coffee & no, still doesn't feel right. If I face the brick wall, I feel closed in & if I turn the table around I'm looking at the kitchen. And you know how I feel about kitchens. So... dragged the table out to the middle of the room, moved all of the shelves & storage units back to their original positions (and really, those dust bunnies I found should be kicking in some of the rent they were so big) then rearranged the work table & other furniture that was in the middle of the floor so that I could drag the drafting table (yeah, the tenant living below me is loving me right about now) over to where my other drafting table is. Of course, you're asking yourself why don't I just move my supplies & work on the other drafting table. Excellent question! That particular drafting table is set up for my beadwork & I try to keep separate work areas so I don't have to shuffle supplies around as much. Yes, I'm lazy. Coffee in hand, I sat down & hey, this feels pretty good. Cozy, even. Yep, I can work here. The table looks really out of place where it's at right now (or maybe it's just because I'm not used to seeing it there) but I can live with that since I doubt Architectural Digest will be dropping by any time soon for a photo shoot. Of course the feng shui spirits probably threw up their hands while muttering curses under their breath & have abandoned me forever. Maybe the drafting tables just wanted to be together (hopefully, I won't wake up 1 morning & find that they've mated leaving me with a 3rd drafting table to deal with). Leaving the subject of my psychotic relationship with my drafting table aside (as fascinating as I know it is), I have been working steadily over the past week on my samplers for the School of Stitched Textiles Embroidery course. As well as working on my piece for this week's Take-a-Stitch Tuesday (TAST). Hopefully I'll have some photos to post by the weekend. Labels: life
Monday, January 22, 2007What I'm Reading "In Wales, where hoards of English immigrants buy up the land & dilute the cultural identity, folks in the town of Y Groes uphold the ancient traditions. There, the air is clearer, the light brighter & the population blessedly free of English inhabitants until the arrival of Claire & Giles Freeman. Giles tries desperately to fit in with the old-fashioned locals, but things become strained when his Welsh wife starts to transform into some sort of Druid priestess. An inordinate number of English deaths in this tiny town prompts Giles's American journalist buddy to investigate."Labels: books
Friday, January 19, 2007TAST - Week 3 - Detached Chain I did a little more work on the butterfly mask for Take-a-Stitch Tuesday... added some additional seedbeads, added detached chain stitches to the wings so that the fibers wouldn't be quite so puffy, added a piece of dichroic glass for the head, & chain stitched some antenna.Labels: embroidery, masks, Take-a-Stitch Tuesday, TAST
Wednesday, January 17, 2007TAST - Week 3 - Detached Chain Detached chain was this week's stitch for Take-a-Stitch Tuesday so I thought I would do another butterfly mask. I may go back & do some additional beadwork on this but it's done for now. Labels: embroidery, masks, Take-a-Stitch Tuesday, TAST
Tuesday, January 16, 2007Science Fiction, Fantasy or Horror?No, I'm not talking about my social life... I found this book meme at The Stitch Witch this morning so I thought I would steal it. :-) 1. Science fiction, fantasy, or horror? I prefer horror. I read the occasional science fiction or fantasy novel usually based on a recommendation. 2. Hardback, trade paperback, or mass-market paperback? Trade paperback or mass-market paperback usually. I read so much that I rarely go to the expense of buying fiction in hardback with 2 exceptions. I will buy the latest books by Phil Rickman or Carol O'Connell in hardback as soon as they're released. 3. Heinlein or Asimov? Tough choice but I would have to go with Heinlein. Although I loved the Foundation Series, it's hard to top Stranger in a Strange Land. 4. Amazon or brick-and-mortar? I prefer visiting bookstores in person (well, except right before Christmas when they're filled with screaming children) because I like to browse, checkout the sale tables & pickup magazines. But, if I'm looking for something specific, I'll usually buy it online just because it's easier & there's no guarantee that the store will have it in stock. So, I shop both. Although I generally shop Barnes & Noble online instead of Amazon. Barnes & Noble delivers quicker. 5. Barnes & Noble or Borders? Barnes & Noble although I don't really see much difference between the 2 in Boston. 6. Hitchhiker or Discworld? I would have to say the Hitchhiker series. I've had Discworld sitting on my shelves for a couple of years now & just haven't been able to get into them. 7. Bookmark or dog-ear? Bookmark or I just remember the page I was on. 8. Magazine: Asimov's Science Fiction or Fantasy & Science Fiction? I don't read either one. 9. Alphabetize by author, by title, or random Okay, this is probably going to seem really neurotic but my shelves are organized into non-fiction & fiction. The non-fiction shelves are segmented according to subject matter. The fiction is shelved according to size because I tend to stack books on top & I don't want an avalanche. I also have the books I haven't read on a separate shelf so I don't have to excavate to find something to read. I'm equally as neurotic about my magazines. 10. Keep, throw away, or sell? I keep all of the non-fiction because I use it as reference material. I usually keep all of the fiction but will periodically weed out the shelves & take books to the office to be picked over by my co-workers. The last time I moved, people actually ran from me when they saw me coming into the office with a shopping bag of books. 11. Year's Best Science Fiction series (edited by Gardner Dozois) or Year's Best SF series? Neither 12. Keep dustjacket or toss it? I keep the dustjacket unless it's really tattered then I throw it out. 13. Read with dustjacket or remove it? I remove the dustjacket while I'm reading then replace it. 14. Short story or novel? I prefer novels. I can't remember the last time I read short stories. 15. Harry Potter or Lemony Snicket? Neither. I have to be honest here... I just don't get all of the hype surrounding the Harry Potter books. I succumbed to peer-pressure & started reading the 1st book then abandoned it, which is something I NEVER do. I have to admit though that the marketing surrounding the Harry Potter series is hard to top. 16. Stop reading when tired or at chapter breaks? I always stop reading at the end of the chapter. 17. "It was a dark and stormy night" or "Once upon a time"? Definitely "It was a dark & stormy night...". 18. Buy or borrow? I always buy books. There's just too much stress involved in borrowing books. I feel like I have to read it right away so I can return it. I also feel like I have to like it. 19. Buying choice: book reviews, recommendation, or browse? All of the above. I've discovered some of my favorite authors by just browsing the shelves at the bookstore. 20. Lewis or Tolkien? Tolkein 21. Hard science fiction or space opera? Hard science fiction 22. Collection (short stories by the same author) or anthology (short stories by different authors)? I rarely read short stories but when I do, I prefer anthologies. 23. Hugo or Nebula? No preference. I never buy books based on the awards they've won. 24. Golden Age Science Fiction or New Wave Science Fiction? Golden Age Science Fiction 25. Tidy ending or cliffhanger? Definitely, cliffhangers. "And they lived happily ever after" has never worked for me. 26. Morning, afternoon, or nighttime reading? Evenings during the week since I work during the day & afternoons on the weekends. I never read first thing in the morning. 27. Standalone or series? Both 28. Urban fantasy or high fantasy I like both. It really depends on the author. Mercedes Lackey & Neil Gaiman for urban fantasy; Terry Brooks & Ursula Le Guin for high fantasy. 29. New or used? New 30. Favorite book of which nobody else has heard? Chalice by Phil Rickman is relatively unknown in the United States. 31. Top X favorite genre books read last year? (Where X is 5 or less) I'm just going to throw out that genre limitations & list my 5 favorite books from 2006. Man in the Moss - Phil Rickman The Smile of a Ghost - Phil Rickman Exiles in America - Christopher Bram The Time Traveler's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger Drawing of the Dark - Tim Powers 32. Top X favorite genre books of all time? (Where X is 5 or less) Stone Angel - Carol O'Connell Killing Critics - Carol O'Connell The Wine of Angels - Phil Rickman Queen of the Damned - Anne Rice Stranger in a Strange Land - Robert Heinlein 33. X favorite genre series? (Where X is 5 or less) Incarnations of Immortality - Piers Anthony The Merrily Watkins Series - Phil Rickman The Mallory Series - Carol O'Connell Tales of the City - Armistead Maupin The Vampire Chronicles - Anne Rice 34. Top X favorite genre short stories? (Where X is 5 or less) Um, nothing really comes to mind. Labels: meme
Monday, January 15, 2007What I'm Reading "Thirteen years ago, on a cold night in December, a rock band called The Philosopher's Stone gathered in the ancient ruins of an abbey to record their new album--the evening ended in bloodshed & death. Now, the tapes have been released as "The Black Album" & the scattered band members know that it's time for a reunion. Time to return to that dark December night--for 1 final performance. Labels: books
Sunday, January 14, 2007TAST - Weeks 1 & 2 - Herringbone & Buttonhole Thought I would play around some more with the herringbone & buttonhole stitches for weeks 1 & 2 of Take-a-Stitch Tuesday. This is a small 6in butterfly mask incorporating both stitches, as well as, some beading. Labels: embroidery, masks, Take-a-Stitch Tuesday, TAST
Saturday, January 13, 2007TAST - Week 2 - Buttonhole The stitch for Take-a-Stitch Tuesday this week was the buttonhole stitch. As usual, I got a late start & I seem to be all thumbs so it was hours of stitching then removing the stitches... stitching then removing the stitches. Here's what I have so far. Labels: embroidery, Take-a-Stitch Tuesday, TAST
Monday, January 08, 2007What I'm Reading "On the border between England & Wales lies the tiny town of Crybbe, not picturesque enough for the tourist trade, quietly sliding into decay. Max Goff means to change all that. Goff has made millions in the record business, but his heart is in New Age philosophy. He has learned that Crybbe was once a spiritual center of sorts, surrounded by ancient standing stones that were emblems of power. He means to replace the stones that have fallen - or been destroyed, as many of them were - & establish a thriving New Age community that will draw tourists & students from all over the world. What Max Goff doesn't know is that the standing stones of Crybbe were destroyed in the 16th century for a very good reason. Some of the endearing customs of the town - such as tolling the church bell for curfew each night - are actually deadly serious rituals. The people of Crybbe know that evil has been kept at bay here by the old ways, & that there's nothing quaint about them. And the power about to be unleashed by Max Goff is nothing like the soothing music & herbal remedies he associates with the New Age. This is the power of the old age, pent up for centuries & about to be released with deadly fury."Labels: books
Sunday, January 07, 2007TAST - Week 1 - Herringbone Herringbone was the stitch for Week 1 of the Take-a-Stitch Tuesday Challenge at inaminuteago & I've discovered that I'm not really a "sampler" person. It's a little too rigid for me. I think I'm going to combine Take-a-Stitch Tuesday with the pieces that I was working on in Susan Sorrell's Organic Embroidery course. Take more of an abstract approach to things. I love the landscape created by Allison Aller. Labels: embroidery, Take-a-Stitch Tuesday, TAST
Tuesday, January 02, 2007Addition to My Art Library "Grids like you have never seen before. Or have you? This book shows you a variety of grids, many of which you meet in your everyday life & then explores them as a source for design & shows how they can be converted into wonderful works of textile art."Labels: art books
Monday, January 01, 2007Ushering in 2007There has been a LOT of navel-gazing going on here at chez Dakini Dreams over the past 3 months. One of my shortcomings is I always tell myself that the next piece will be "the" piece (whatever that means) so I should wait to submit that one for publication, shows, challenges, etc. As a result, I have a hard time really taking the leap. That will change this year. I've spent a lot of time thinking about where I want to be with my artwork at the end of 2007 & the steps I need to take to get there. Alyson Stanfield at Art Biz Blog promotes the concept of SMART goals (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant & timely). So here are my SMART goals for 2007... Art Education Goals
Art Business Goals
Art Goals
Labels: goals
 "An intriguing tour of mysterious Venice & its most fascinating residents, centered around a 1996 fire that destroyed the city's historic opera house. Venice may be sinking, but in Berendt's capable hands, the city has never seemed more colorful, perplexing & alluring. The story focuses on the destruction by fire in 1996 of the famed Fenice Opera House, where Verdi first unveiled Rigoletto & La Traviata. Berendt decides to take an apartment to record the drama that ensues. What follows is part police drama, part cultural tour, with many pauses for comic relief along the way. While visiting some of Venice's ornate palazzos & their aristrocratic inhabitants, we encounter characters like the chameleon-like Mario Moro, whose wardrobe includes a different official uniform for every day of the week, & Massimo Donadon, "The Rat King of Treviso". Eventually, 2 electricians are charged with torching the Fenice, but as is customary in Venice, the whole truth seems to lie hidden in the city's dimly lit alleyways & winding canals. Berendt also finds intrigue in unexpected quarters. We follow a vicious boardroom feud that ignites within Save Venice, an international fundraising group formed to help restore the city's old buildings & artworks. We also encounter Philip & Jane Rylands, caretakers of Ezra Pound's aged companion of 50 years, Olga Rudge, who are later accused of exploiting the woman's senility in a bid for Pound's Venice cottage & private papers." Labels: books
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